In 1999, when Obasanjo was to appoint the Inspector General of Police, I wrote that credibility, competence and seniority should be the consideration in his choice of who became the IG of police and it worked out. The recent suspension of the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission took many Nigerians by surprise. As the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency sets to fill in the vacuum as expected, it is my opinion that mediocrity, godfatherism and man-know-man should be put aside.
It is only expedient that the most senior and competent director in EFCC should be appointed to head the commission and the idea of bringing an outsider should be buried. This is because, since the establishment of the commission, only Bawa emerged from within the career officers. Nuhu Ribadu, Farida Waziri, Ibrahim Lamorde, and acting chairman DC Umar were all police officers. If the commission must succeed, a personality with proven integrity, impeccable character and patriotism should be the consideration. At the inception of the commission, a lot of controversies were recorded in the trial of corruption suspects ranging from top political office holders to Top security echelons and some private sector players, none of these accusations went unnoticed. President Bola Tinubu is a man of his word who believes in competence as such, much is expected from him on the appointment of the next chairman.
As an anti-graft activist, security analyst and media practitioner, I am a proponent of brilliance and competence and my clear demonstration of these virtues could be seen in how at the point of appointing Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as CBN chairman, I wrote an article published in the leadership newspaper titled “CBN governorship seat, matter of competence and not federal character’ And same method should be adopted in the choice of EFCC chairman by the President and Commander-in-Chief. When I also wrote Tinubu on the sustainability of Jakande’s legacy, little did I know that the President knows what is right, when and how. A standard maintained in the Police, Armed forces and regimented agencies where only internal succession takes place is necessary in the case of EFCC. So far, the commission has trained its own armed squad the same way a commandant of the EFCC institute ensured that all staff of the commission undergo compulsory cadet training for efficiency and meeting up of tasks.
Presently, a total restructuring of the commission is necessary going by the mess created by past and present headship. There was a particular chairman who stagnated promotion, and considered juniors above seniors due to mediocrity and interest. This show of personalizing the affairs of the esteemed commission created indiscipline, corruption, nepotism and self-centeredness against the mandate of the commission. When a foresighted most senior director with academic intelligence is allowed to head the commission, sanity and discipline in meeting goals and objectives could be achieved. As Mr. President is set to make a replacement capable of correcting the image of the country in the fight against corruption, he must erase the possible sycophantic gesture and infiltration of some political lobbyists, traditional rulers, retired police, military and paramilitary officers who might have their external candidates. The EFCC at this material time must be strengthened for achieving its mandate of fighting corruption through norms, ethics, standards and values. Administrative brouhaha in the commission must be addressed to move forward. Nigeria in the Comity of Nations has shown commitment to fighting corruption but corruption seems to be fighting back which ought not to be.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Salihu Dantata Mahmud is the director of security, Salute Nigeria initiative. He is also a security and public affairs analyst.
