Obasanjo Decries Dwindling Efcc Stature

SAN FRANCISCO, March 06, (THEWILL) – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lamented the diminishing clout of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in fighting economic offenders post- Nuhu Ribadu reigns.

Obasanjo said that though the anti-graft body became dreaded during the time of the pioneer Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, it has now become a toothless bulldog.

While speaking during his 79th birthday celebration, held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the former Nigerian leader noted that actions must be taken to revitalise the Commission in order to forestall doldrums in the nation.

The former President also advised the Buhari government and stakeholders to take a critical look at the situation that made the agency lose its power to tame corruption and avoid it.

“Honestly, when Nuhu was handling EFCC, he handled it in such a way that people coined the saying that ' the fear of Nuhu Ribadu is the beginning of wisdom ' and then the question you will ask is, how did we go down? How did we lose that?

“Nuhu Ribadu is still here, he's still alive.
“The institution we started together is still there, but what made the institution to become a toothless bulldog? What? And that's the matter we have to keep looking at, so that we don't take two steps forward, one step aside and three steps back,” he said.

Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari speaking through a statement by his media aide, Mr. Femi Adesina, congratulated Obasanjo as he turned 79 and prayed that God grant him long life and strength to continue in the service of humanity.

Story by David Oputah