Posted by By OLA AGBAJE on
Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has declared that the nation needs foremost human right activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) now more than even before.
Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has declared that the nation needs foremost human right activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) now more than even before.
Ribadu expressed the view in Lagos, on Tuesday, during this year 'Fawehinmism," an annual lecture instituted by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch in honour of Fawehinmi who was absent due to ill health.
The former EFCC boss, now on study leave at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), who sneaked into the venue but instantly drew a thunderous applause said his coming into the occasion was informed by his total belief in Fawehinmi's ideals.
Declaring himself as a product of Fawehinmi, Ribadu said: 'As far as I am concerned, I'm a product of Fawehinmi. Everything I do is all about Fawehinmi.
'I follow him without repentance. I will keep on following him. In my five times daily prayer, I pray that God should preserve him and restore his full health early so that he can continue his good service. Nigeria needs him now more than ever before."
Speaking to journalists at the occasion, the Chairman, former Minister of External Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi condemned the culture of impatience among Nigerians.
Alluding to the recent deployment of Ribadu as EFCC boss, Akinyemi noted that certain individuals are often associated with building of great societies.
While noting that, there is no perfection in any institution run by men, Akinyemi insisted that what is important is to address whatever shortcomings identified and not to cut off the head of the institution.
'You don't have to cut off the head of an organization simply because there are shortcomings. Rome wasn't built in a day," he said.
On his part, former Attorney General of Lagos State, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) commended Nigerians and the civil society groups for their effort at ensuring the continued preservation of EFCC without intrusion of outsiders following the exit of Ribadu.
According to Osinbajo, bringing in an outsider to lead EFCC might have spelt the death of the organisaiton and the war against corruption.
According to Osinbajo, 'the consequence of corruption is so great on any society and in a case where dishonesty is not punished, it would be attractive to everybody to cheat."
The legal expert noted that the only difference between Nigeria and other nations is the failure of Nigeria to take serious steps against corruption in the past while linking corruption to the pervasive rot in every sector of the country.
He cited the examples of banks who under the guise of selling shares, would retain investors money for long without justification.