EDITORIAL: Olukoyede’s anti-graft war ‘a must win’

Since the lowering of the Union Jack and hoisting of the Green-White-Green flag in Lagos, the then capital of Nigeria, on October 1, 1960, signalling the nation’s independence from Britain, corruption has been seen as  a cancer stunting Nigeria’s growth and development.

For close to 64 years now, corruption has continued to be the biggest challenge to Nigeria’s socio-political and economic attainment.
Nigeria is known as the Giant of Africa. Pitiably and according to reports from successive administrations, it is also known as a giant in corruption. 
A clear example is the fact that 26 years after his death, money, running into millions of dollars allegedly stolen by former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, is still being returned to the purse of the Federal Government by some Western countries.

As if the embarrassment is not enough, it was alleged that ‘the Abacha loot’ was re-looted by some officials of a particular administration.
How despicable can some people be!
So, when the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), some Nigerians thought an end had come to corrupt practices in the country.
They were wrong because, according to statistics, corruption did not only balloon arithmetical but rose geometrically.
From federal to state and council levels, corruption was alive and gathering disciples.
So, when Olanipekun Olukoyede was appointed to head the EFCC, he knew he had a difficult task ahead of him.
And he was determined to ensure that corruption becomes history in the world’s most populous black nation.
Olukoyede has every reason to be angry.
The scourge called corruption has permeated the society such that leaders and the led are equally guilty of the same crime, but at various levels.

The figure released recently by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is a negative eye-opener.
In 2023 alone, a whopping N721 billion was received as bribe by public officials in Nigeria.
So, during the 2024 African Anti-Corruption Day marked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olukoyede was livid.
To him, if Nigerians don’t kill corruption now, eventually, corruption will kill Nigeria.
And he was determined that corruption does not kill Nigeria.

During the anti-Corruption Day, he was visible. And he spoke convincingly.
With the theme: “Effective Whistleblowing for Corruption-Free Nigeria”, Olukoyede said a perfect system must be put in place to ensure a total reduction, and eventually eradication of the scourge.
Olukoyede, who spoke at the Unity Fountain in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where those who took part in the activities for the day gathered, said Nigeria’s path to greatness was in combating corruption.
This was a view also shared by those who joined the EFCC boss in “talking and walking against corruption”.

Olukoyede led the Walk from the Wuse 2 Zonal office of the EFCC through streets of Maitama and terminated it at the Unity Fountain.
He called for enhanced and consistent commitment to whistle blowing by Nigerians from all walks of life to tackle the menace of economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
He said the fight against corruption “has become more compelling owing to its increasing threat to individual, corporate and national quest for growth and development”.
The EFCC boss charged Nigerians to be more prepared to explore the whistle blowing initiative as a demonstration of their sincerity and seriousness to break the fangs of corruption.
To him, if there is any concrete solution to the plethora of problems confronting the economic and general growth of Nigeria, it is the eradication of corruption. 
He vowed not to spare anyone in the fight against corruption.

He also said Nigerians should be alarmed at the NBS report titled “Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends”.
The N721 billion paid in bribes across the country in 2023 amounted to about 0.35 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
To Olukoyede, this is unacceptable.
The report which was based on a survey conducted with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, stressed that the average cash received by public office holders in 2023 was N8,284, an increase from an average of N5,754 in 2019.
The report read in part: “According to the 2023 survey, the average cash bribe paid was N8,284.
“While the nominal average cash bribe size increased since 2019 (from NGN 5,754), this does not account for inflation. The inflation-adjusted average cash bribe in 2023 was 29 per cent smaller than in 2019 in terms of what could be bought with the money.
“Overall, it is estimated that a total of roughly NGN 721 billion (US$1.26 billion) was paid in cash bribes to public officials in Nigeria in 2023, corresponding to 0.35 per cent of the entire Gross Domestic Product of Nigeria.”
Olukoyede told the gathering that Nigeria undoubtedly has a serious fight to wage against corruption.

To him, apart from terrorism, corruption is the next deadliest affliction of humanity.
He said most of the governors being prosecuted today were those who couldn’t pay minimum wage to workers.
He asked Nigerians to embrace whistleblowing by exposing  corruption in the country.
He also called for enhanced and consistent commitment to whistle blowing by Nigerians  to tackle the menace of economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
“Aside terrorism, corruption ranks as the next deadliest affliction of humanity in every region of the world.
“In view of the danger and threat to our existence which corruption represents, it is imperative that individuals, communities, corporate bodies and indeed the whole world join hands to tackle it frontally.
“One way of doing this is through the whistle-blowing initiative”.
Olukoyede said the fight against corruption required absolute commitment to integrity and unfaltering focus.
“We cannot win the war against corruption through lip service, emotional outburst or mere mob campaigns.
“There is need for commitment, passion, consistence and credibility of intelligence. Every whistle blown must point towards truth and evidential proofs”, he said.
He pleaded with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to be part of the anti-graft war.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said: “This is an urgent need for us to fight corruption and NLC will throw its weight behind the agency in the fight against corruption.”
Various stakeholders at the Road Walk spoke on the need for more affirmative actions against corruption.
The Chairperson, Conference of Civil Society and Coordinator Civil Military Co-operation (CIMCO), Adams Otakwu, commended the EFCC for galvanising Nigerians to stand against corruption.
Otakwu said: “It may interest us to know that upon all the threat to national security inclusive of terrorism, insurgency, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, the most insidious of them is corruption and that is why the fight against corruption must be tackled head on”.
Other speakers were the Representative of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal Etim Markus, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Nigerian Correctional Service and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), among others.