Press Releases

EFCC Chairman, Farida Waziri Commends Fashola On Focused Leadership

Jan 29, 2009 - The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC), Mrs Farida Waziri on Thursday commended the Governor of Lagos State , Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) for the focused manner and hardwork with which he is presiding over the affairs of the state.

Mrs Waziri who spoke when she paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) at the Lagos House, Ikeja added that as a resident of lagos for over 20 years who is visiting the first governor since she was appointed, she has been overwhelmed by the physical development which the governor has brought about in Lagos.

She said on her arrival in Lagos during the last yuletide season, she was impressed with what she saw at night with the Christmas lightings on the Island and this prompted her to go round the city, commending the greening and beautification which is taking place in most secluded and abandoned places which were hitherto haven for criminals and miscreants.

Said she; “This young Governor is working wonders. I have gone round the city and I’m very happy with the physical development and greening efforts at most of the hitherto abandoned places. I encourage you to go on with the hardwork because you are focused”.

She charged Lagos State to explore the full potentials of the new look which the city is wearing by having tourist centres like ones that are obtainable in cities like San Diego and Turkey which could attract tourists and earn foreign exchange for the country.

She invited the Lagos State Government to partner with EFCC as it continues to fight the scourge of economic crime and corruption adding that with the support of people like Governor Fashola, “We will make a difference”.

She said corruption is no longer fashionable globally, saying some countries like China have even legislated outright death penalties for corrupt practices and enlisted the support of all state governors in stamping out corruption in the country.

She said everyone irrespective of status should be equal before the law as championed by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and solicited the support of Governor Fashola in this quest.

In her words: “You should support us fully through the Governors’ Forum on the fight against corruption and criminal activities in the country. I hope at the Forum you will be talking about the way forward for this country”.

She expressed the view that the country does not need any immunity clause since it is operating a democracy where everybody is equal before the law.

Mrs Farida said: “Once upon a time, Governors were revered that when people see them, they rush to touch them and collect their briefcase, but what we see now are thieving governors, corrupt governors, cocaine governors, but with people like you, I am sure that kind of signal will be a thing of the past but we have to work on it”.

She also revealed that she was in Lagos as part of preparations for the launch of the second phase of the anti- corruption and crime crusade of the commission which was launched in Abuja last month by President Yar’Adua, saying she intends to extract a commitment on the presence of Governor Fashola at the event.

Governor Fashola in his remarks, urged caution in addressing problem of corruption without an analytical understanding of the root causes of corruption.

The Governor said all Governments should make it a preoccupation to prosper the people and provide opportunity for the people to excel, adding that failure to do this would amount to governments labouring in vain.

Continuing, he said: “I have identified economic problem and the fear of the future, poor healthcare where men and women watch their children die from malaria and malnutrition because they cannot afford the cost of treatment”.

He added that globally, the emphasis now is on massive investment in infrastructure to provide jobs as a way of bettering the lives of the people and breaking the shackles of poverty.

The Lagos State helmsman said unless he is convinced by superior arguments that immunity is the cause of prevalence of corruption, he would not share the belief that immunity for just 74 public officials is responsible for corruption in the country.

Governor Fashola also contended that many years after serving governors have left office and lost immunity, many have still not been arraigned before any court of law for any corrupt offences, thus giving credence to his assertion that immunity clause is not responsible for the prevalence.

He charged all Nigerians to be methodical and analytical in finding solutions to the problem of corruption and should be mindful of the fact that this is an environment where people in public service do not have the opportunity of benefitting from mortgage facilities.

He said several factors will also be considered such as what roles political parties play in governance as well the fact that the country has not strengthened its capacity to conduct investigations such as the capacity to detect handwritings and many more.

He revealed that he has a flexible mind which would accept superior argument through a debate on the issue of whether removal of immunity clause from the constitution would eliminate corruption in Nigeria.

He promised to give his support to the crime and anti-corruption campaign of the agency billed to hold in Lagos very soon promising that if he is around during the programme, he would surely attend.