A federal lawmaker representing Imeko-Afon/Yewa North Federal Constituency in Ogun State, Mr. Kayode Oladele has urged Nigerians to support President Buhari’s fight against corruption. The lawmaker, who until his election into the House of Representatives was the Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) made this statement in Abuja yesterday against calls from certain quarters that the president should stop demonizing former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration but focus on good governance and the promised change.
According to Oladele, it is impossible to talk of good governance without fighting corrupt players that make good governance impossible. “How do you define good governance in the absence of probity, transparency and accountability? Good governance requires building very strong institutions and we have identified weak institutions as a major cause of corruption. Corruption has a high propensity to thrive when legal and political institutions are weak, and government policies generate economic rents.” Oladele added.
According to the lawmaker, under the Jonathan’s Administration, Nigerians witnessed corruption with impunity. Top government officials and political office holders abused public office for private gains and governance was dominated largely by patronage and vested interests in which the sharing of bribes and favors became entrenched as an official state policy. “Therefore, for President Buhari to focus on good governance and deliver on the promised change, there must be a holistic shake up of the old order, hence, not only should Nigerians support President Buhari’s crusade, anti-corruption war should be a civic responsibility of all Nigerians”, Oladele stated.
On whether there should be specialized Courts to try corruption cases in Nigeria, Mr. Oladele stated that the issue of having a special tribunal to conduct EFCC cases though crucial is not as important as having a good criminal justice system as well as a vibrant and incorruptible judiciary.
“To me, the real issue is the poor criminal justice system that we operate in Nigeria coupled with the weak judiciary. There are many things which I call anti-system players that affect effective dispensation of justice in Nigeria and in so doing affect our war against corruption because they go hand in hand. For instance, if you are waging war against corruption and you have an archaic criminal justice system and a feeble judiciary with whom the buck stops, then you cannot win the battle because, in the final analysis, it is the judiciary that will decide the fate of your battle” Oladele concluded.