"Witches" Boo EFCC Boss

It has now become fashionable for associates of persons suspected of corruption to accuse government of “witch-hunting”. The latest was the booing of the chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri by some members of the National Assembly. This is most shameful and should be condemned by all patriotic Nigerians. It will be safe for one to argue that there is really nothing wrong in hunting “witches”- corrupt persons. This is so because corruption has destroyed the foundation of good governance in the country.

There is no doubt about the fact that the widely reported story of the booing of the EFCC boss by some members of the National Assembly is very disturbing. The nation’s legislators should not squander the patience of the Nigerian masses. The masses have not yet recovered from the revelation by the CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido that a whooping 25% of the nation’s total budget was used to service the welfare of members of the National Assembly alone. Indirectly supporting corruption will therefore push the poor suffering masses to tow the path of self help which is too extreme and dangerous for our democracy.

Rather than accusing the anti-graft agency of witch-hunting opponents of government, the legislators should condemn whatever form of corrupt practices by their colleagues and go ahead to make public the names of those being shielded from prosecution. The time has past when associates of persons accused of corruption fueled narrow sentiments or simply hide behind the banner opposition to buy the sympathy of Nigerians. This is a new Nigeria.

Those who live in glass houses are not supposed to throw stones- misappropriate or steal public funds. This is one reality most public office holders have failed to accept. The long arm of the law will always be there to flog them despite any amount of booing.