Posted by By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta on
Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State yesterday canvassed the decentralization of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying it could not achieve its objective without decentralization.
Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State yesterday canvassed the decentralization of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying it could not achieve its objective without decentralization.
Daniel who canvassed this position while fielding questions during a live programme "Governors' Forum" on the state owned Gateway Television (GTV) said that the EFCC as presently constituted is incapable of monitoring the Federal Government, Ministers, the 36 state governments and the 774 local government areas.
His words: "EFCC as presently constituted does not have the capacity and the personnel for taking on the things that they are doing, to investigate claims against the Ministers, 36 Governors and 774 local governments. If the EFCC is to be efficient, they have to dismantle the central structure"
Explaining that the EFCC was a welcome development in the nation's politics, the Governor said that he was being careful about his statements in respect of the anti graft agency so that he would not be seen as criticizing it because of the several petitions that have been written against him to the commission
According to him, his administration has set up Financial Investigation Unit (FICU) to tackle the issue of corruption in the state, adding that the EFCC was to go after corrupt people based on petitions against them, but FICU would try to stem corruption by not allowing it to be perpetuated in the first place.
"EFCC, I have no problem with them, but they are trying to catch the thief. There is nothing systemic to prevent corruption. So there are many things wrong with the EFCC.
The way EFCC is operating is not wholesome. Its investigation is after petition. That means awful corruption can take place where there is no petition. The difference is that FICU is preventive, emphasis on how government is run and ensuring that things are done properly. The process is such that we are detailed," he added.
Meanwhile, Governor Daniel has dismissed insinuations that he is not an indigene of Ogun, saying that he's a bonafide son of the state.
His words: "My ancestors are from Agbele, settlement in Sagamu area of the state, but I was born and bred in Ibadan, then capital of Western Region. My great grand father went to Omu and married there. My father married there. So that was how I came to be said from Omu.
"People from Agbele, some migrated to Omu, some to Sagamu, some to Ikorodu, some to Agbowa. So let nobody get confused about my ancestral home. I am from Ogun State ."
Daniel who also spoke about the pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere said that the group as currently constituted is politically partisan.
Asked his problem with the group, Daniel said: "I don't have problem with Afenifere, but there is only one issue. My fundamental disagreement with Afenifere is whether Afenifere should be partisan or not.
Afenifere should not be about political affiliation, but about cradle, about principles, and not about personality; not about because somebody or group is in a particularly political party. I have discussed this issue with our leaders including Pa Adesanya."
Daniel who also fielded questions on his relationship with his predecessor, Aremu Oluegun Osoba, and the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said he has tremendous respect for the two Yoruba leaders.
Describing both Osoba and Tinubu as highly intelligent personalities, Daniel added that he had to disagree with the due on political issues. "I am part and parce of Chief Osoba.
We disagreed on political ground and to say the fact that he has my respect all times while I salute the courage of Senator Tinubu stand on federalism but I do not share his own kind of politics. For all I know he is an highly intelligent person," he stated.