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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has called on traditional rulers in the country to complement its efforts in the anti-corruption fight by helping to reach out to the members of their communities.
Speaking during a Town Hall meeting organized by Right Thinkers Initiative, aka EaglePing, on Thursday, November 25, 2021 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the EFCC Lagos Zonal Commander, Ahmed Ghali, said traditional leaders had a crucial role to play in the ongoing war against corruption and economic and financial crimes owing to their proximity to the grassroots.
He also stated that traditional rulers have important roles to play in entrenching the values of integrity, discipline and honesty in the lives of their subjects, particularly in this modern time.
Ghali, who was represented by the Deputy Zonal Commander, EFCC, Lagos, Emeka Okonjo, said: “Since time immemorial, traditional leaders have played key roles in the growth and development of the society. And more than ever before, they are needed even now.
“Irrespective of the changing times, leaders at the grassroots have key responsibilities in ensuring the distilling and dissemination of the core values of correctness and morality among members of the grassroots.”
Ghali also lamented that the EFCC, in the discharge of its mandate, had found out that the core values of morality and integrity had been eroded by unbridled greed for instant wealth by some members of the Nigerian society.
He, therefore, urged traditional rulers to help in reversing the trend, adding that “Our royal fathers and paramount leaders have an onerous, but achievable task in this regard, by using your good offices to champion the crusade against corruption among your subjects.
“You will all agree with me that one strategic means of curtailing corruption in the society is through value re-orientation.
“As a result, we consider you as critical partners in achieving this task because it cannot be left to the EFCC alone.”
Ghali, who stated that the Commission had always engaged religious leaders of both Islamic and Christian faiths, also used the occasion to highlight the importance of the newly launched strategic plan of the Commission, which is a paradigm shift in the fight against corruption.
According to him, “The EFCC Chairman, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, is putting in place machinery to engage more with traditional and religious leaders, community leaders, and youths in schools – primary, secondary, and tertiary, including law enforcement agencies.
“Before that, a mobile Application that will make the Commission accessible to all had equally been launched. It is called the Eagle Eye. It is available for all android phones and can be downloaded through the Google play store or iStore on iphones. It is user-friendly and self-prompting. It was designed to make exchange of information seamless and convenient. You don’t have to travel any distance to reach us. “
He, therefore, encouraged patriotic Nigerians to take advantage of the Whistle- blowing policy of the government and freely come up with credible information that could assist the Commission in the pursuit of its mandate.
“We all owe our nation the duty of making it free of corruption and its kindred crimes.
“With your support, we will eradicate corruption and economic and financial crimes through prevention, enforcement and coordination,” he added.
