Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation Kanu Agabi has said corruption is more capable of breaking the country than religion or ethnicity.
He made the remark while presenting a paper, “Rewarding Excellence and Integrity in Service” at the maiden rewards and recognition ceremony of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at its Academy in Karu, Abuja yesterday.
He said: “I’m speaking to you at a time when nothing seems to be predictable, a time that virtually, all the structures of accountability provided by law have been knocked down and destroyed.”
Agabi who insisted that there was no “discord between the Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo nations, between the Christians and Muslims,” stressed that the only enemy of Nigeria is corruption.
“If we do not give up corruption, it will not be long before we stop to exist as a nation,” he maintained.
The former minister of Justice noted that Nigeria’s problem started from multiplication of public institutions, stressing that most people occupying offices were unqualified to take up such responsibilities.
While maintaining that corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of Nigeria, he said the EFCC could only do little to salvage the nation.
Agabi however, advised EFCC operatives to continue in the task of fighting corruption in the country as her survival depends on the commission.
Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde praised the dedication of staff of the commission to carrying out its mandate.
He said through their efforts, “the EFCC that only a few were willing to give a chance of succeeding 11 years ago, is today an institution of reckoning in law enforcement.”
While charging the awardees to continue to do their best while carrying out their respective assignments, Lamorde said EFCC will continue to reward hard work. http://dailytrust.com.ng/daily/news/42624-corruption-could-break-nigeria-ex-minister