Date Published: 11/12/09

Why threaten Farida Waziri?

The anti-corruption war embarked upon by EFCC must be embraced by all and sundry. We all agree that corruption has been the cancer which has eaten deep into the society since our independence and to tackle it properly, it must be accepted by both the bigwigs and the less privilege. The high profile who claim they are untouchable depriving the masses of the basic needs the money is meant for.

So far, Mrs. Farida Waziri has been able to recover over 170b from the so- called high profile persons who have been looting our economic in the various sectors in Nigeria since her inception in office. This, of course, is part of the fight against corruption, why then, would anybody threaten the innocent woman in the course of her performing her duties.

Recently, I read how she was threatened by some ministers, government officials and influential Nigerians over the arraignment in court of Chief Olabode George, a former Deputy national Chairman of the ruling party, PDP. She said and I quote “I brought out the case file of chief Bode George from where it was buried…there was really no threat, blackmail and pressure that I did not receive, but then we were strictly guided by the fact before us we were unmoved.” She even had to change her mobile lines to blackout the pleasure. This was however not the first time, she would explain; while on the case of the Vaswani brothers, she said she was also threatened.

Come to think of it, why would a foreigner come to our own beloved country with the sole aim of just enriching himself, corrupting institutions in our country, committing money laundering and economic sabotage, an offence they can not commit a quarter in there own country or anywhere in the would.

 For example in China , they would be executed straight away if they try such nonsense. But the perception globally is that Nigeria is corrupt and you can get away with anything; they want to come here and get rich by flaunting our Laws.

Why threatening her? As regarding Olabode George, he was the “director general” of the election of the President in 2007, it probably might be a kind of suicidal for Waziri to arrest and arraign the former deputy national chairman of the PDP in court for corruption.

Secondly, the trial of George might erode the gains of PDP in 2011 because of the influence of the opposition in the south-west.

On a recent conviction of Bode George, the ruling actually is not only a plus and an elixir for our judicial process, but more importantly, the war against corruption and other forms of economic crimes is not what a few, Farida and EFCC, can fight alone. It is a battle for all Nigerians to get involved in. This is the basis for the mass mobilization and awareness campaign initiative tagged, Anti-Corruption Revolution Campaign, ANCOR. She must not be a candidate to be threatened. She must left alone to do her job and do it well.  

MARYSLESSOR,

KAFANCHAN