Anti-graft war: Slow but on course

The danger of the unending debate that followed the deployment of Ribadu, is that the fight against corruption in the country has been personalised which I believe is detrimental to the sustainability of the crusade. In this regard, the better we separate personalities from the EFCC as an anti-graft body, the better for the prosecution of the war against corruption.

Though critics believe that as a product of the contentious April 2007 presidential election, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua would find it difficult to prosecute the anti- corruption war as expected, it appears from all indications that most Nigerians are yet to understand the direction of the present government. Admittedly, the government took off with a snail pace, but the reality is that the president cannot act without a thorough knowledge of what is on ground or over issues raised.

However, events of recent have proved critics wrong. Though some people attributed the removal of Ribadu to the recent arrest and detention of the former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who is seen as the major financier of the president’s campaign in 2007, the man is today languishing in detention and facing charges of corrupt practices while in office. Therefore, it is a pointer to the fact that the war against corruption and corrupt leaders is on going and gradually all those involved in the act would be dealt with. To prove this further, former governors Ayo Fayose and Lucky Igbinedion are presently in the custody of the anti- corruption body, while the ICPC is currently on the verge of arresting some governors who are yet to explain how they expended monies allocated for execution of key projects in their respective states.

The point of emphasis here is that the rule of law is the cardinal principle of the Yar’Adua government in prosecuting the war against corruption. The EFCC of today, I believe cannot and will never be like the EFCC of yesterday; but it will remain the anti- corruption czar of this administration. The provisions of the constitution and the EFCC Act 2004 are very clear on its modus operandi. The commission cannot behave as was the case in the past when its operatives arrogantly displayed disrespect to the laws of the land in effecting arrest of perceived corrupt persons or enemies of the then government with total disregard to human rights, rule of law and due process. And it is on this pedestal that we expect today’s EFCC to operate henceforth.

Therefore, from all indications, I believe the fight against corruption is still on course, though not on the fast lane as most Nigerians may have wanted it to be.

- Mustapha Danjuma, No 45, Lafia Road Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

Nigerians face hell obtaining e-passport

It is annoying and disheartening to note that despite our exposure to the international scene, government organisations in the country still offer shoddy and poor services to Nigerians.

One would have thought the man in charge of Immigration in the country and his officers who muted the idea of E-Passport in Nigeria considered the expected problems the new system would create for Nigerians.

Honestly, the E-Passport process is nothing, but another charade, which is greatly giving Nigerians lots of pain, agony and sleepless nights.

The Ibadan Immigration office, which serves the entire South-West is a sorry sight to behold where scores of children, aged people, sick and handicapped Nigerians seeking to obtain the new passport have now turned the place into their homes because of the delay in getting their passports.

They arrive the place as early as five a.m daily and leave when the office closes without any hope. Reason for the slow pace of issuing the passport according to an immigration officer, is the shortage of scanning machines. The only laminating machine for Ibadan (South-West) has broken down some weeks ago and nothing has been done to replace it.

This is why it is not possible for Nigerians to process and collect the passport within a week, but have to wait for weeks before they can obtain the new E-Passport at the lbadan centre.

I think the lbadan centre and other centres in the country should be given adequate, necessary equipment that would facilitate quick service delivery and make obtaining the celebrated E-Passport an easy process for Nigerians. After all, value must be given to the huge payment Nigerians now pay through their noses for the new ‘green gold’.

- Alhaji Sulaimon Abubakar, 9, Majekodunmi Street, Ajitadidun, Abeokuta. Ogun State.