The United States Secretary of State, Senator Hilary Clinton, yesterday expre-ssed concern about Nigeria’s anti-graft war, saying the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had “fallen off in the last two years”.
She, however, earlier expre-ssed strong support for Nigeria’s electoral reforms ahead of the 2011 elections and efforts taken so far by the Federal Government including the granting of amnesty to militants in the Niger Delta.
Clinton, who spoke at a Town Hall Meeting at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja – which was largely controlled by the Transition Monitoring Group, an NGO – as part of activities during her visit, called for the “reinstatement of anti-graft initiative,” as was conceived in the beginning.
“The EFCC has fallen off in the last two years. We want to see them start work again as before,” she said.
She expressed US support for Nigeria’s anti-graft war, saying all those found to have been involved in corrupt practices would be brought to book. She said that already two US citizens implicated in the Halliburton bribe scandal had been convicted.
The former first lady said that the perception of Nigeria as a corrupt country continues to be a problem and that the concentration of wealth at the top to the detriment of the vast majority may prevent Nigeria from attaining its full potentials.
She described as unacceptable a situation where Nigeria cannot translate her huge revenue from crude oil into development of infrastructure.
She decried the failure of government due to corruption and bad governance in African countries.
“Africa does not need more strong men, but good governance,” she said adding that “with good governance nothing can stop Nigeria. Oil cannot stop bad governance, but can provide basic infrastructure.”
She flayed the win-at-all cost syndrome in electoral battles and called on politicians to put the interest of the nation above self.
“Part of creating a strong democracy is that the losers accept defeat and know that it is for the benefit of the country,” she said.
The former US presidential candidate expressed support for the Federal Government’s amnesty initiative for militants in the Niger Delta.
She said that the political parties need to imbibe internal democracy within their parties and that the National Assembly need to be convinced to pass a strong electoral bill that will ensure the independence of the body charged with conduct of elections.
Earlier at a joint press conference with Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Clinton stated that the US is exploring how best to support Nigeria in its quest for electoral reforms and in bringing about sustainable peace in the Niger Delta.
“I will be talking with my counterpart, the Secretary of Defence and we will through our joint efforts, through our Bi-National Commission mechanism operate. We know this is an internal matter, we know it’s up to the Nigerian people and their government to resolve, but we will work to see how we will offer that assistance,” she said.
She endorsed Nigeria’s “comprehensive political framework approach towards resolving the conflict in the Niger Delta, in co-operating with the region’s stakeholders, focusing on the region’s development needs,” and in granting amnesty to the militants.
Asked what the US and its allies are doing to ensure that the continent’s money stashed overseas are returned and that the Western countries do not continue to be a haven for Africa’s loot, the former Senator evaded the question and[b] instead urged other African countries including Nigeria to borrow a leaf from Botswana’s zero tolerance on corruption, and in deploying resources from mineral resource, to building infrastructure.
[/b]Clinton would not comment on whether the violent crises in some parts of the North-eastern region is a manifestation of the incursion of Al-Qaeda into Nigeria, but warned that the global fight against terrorism requires concerted effort of all nations.
She acknowledged Nigeria’s enviable contributions in peacekeeping efforts, fight against human trafficking, reduction in trade barriers and international cooperation, among others.
Clinton leaves Nigeria for Liberia today in continuation of her seven nation African tour.

You didn't provide the link to this story though I know it was reported by Thisday Newspapers: http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=151483

@ Topic

I hope Madam Farida will take this as a serious challenge and face the job she was appointed to do rather than shouting Ribadu's name all over Nigeria. We have said this time and time again but now that it is coming from Clinton and this is perceived as the way USA sees EFCC, let's hope the call will sink in at this time.

Madam Farida isnt going to do jack

Clinton has asked the EFCC to step up against stealing of public funds. Then they asked her what the USA on its own part will do in trying to make sure thieves don't hide their money with them, she didn't answer.


An unrepentant accomplice of thieves is complaining about the thieves she works for. What's the difference between armed robbers and the "edede" that provides a safehouse for their weapons and loot?

nex:

Clinton has asked the EFCC to step up against stealing of public funds. Then they asked her what the USA on its own part will do in trying to make sure thieves don't hide their money with them, she didn't answer.


An unrepentant accomplice of thieves is complaining about the thieves she works for. What's the difference between armed robbers and the "edede" that provides a safehouse for their weapons and loot?

Well excuse me, if our politicians are stupid enough to embezzle billions into foreign reserves then I don't think you should be blaming foreigners, politics and the world economy is dirty, America wouldn't be what it is by returning what rightfully belongs to others, and it hasn't been known to.

How serious can Madam Farida take her job? I f to the extent of risking her life, even unto death, then she will achieve. But can she achieve in the midst of sharks waiting to eat her up? No person performs in any task except given the free hand and the right support.

Many odds are against her performance. Chiefly among the odds are the interference by the powers that be and the unserious stance of the courts.
Assuming she has solid evidence to deal with a corrupt official or individual and suddenly gets an instruction not to go any further on the case, what do you expect her to do? Obey to survive or go ahead and risk her job and life?
Also, assuming she has solid evidence to deal with a corrupt official or individual and takes the supposed culprit to the court and the court starts their delay tactics with their various injunctions, what do you expect Madam EFCC to do? To  allow justice to prevail by allowing the courts to decide or go ahead to confiscate/seize the accused property or froze the bank account, thereby contravening the rule of law? Check out how many cases are presently pending in the courts and you will see how EFCC has been incapacitated by the judiciary.

EFCC is a tool ideal to stamp out corruption or, at least, reduce it to the barest minimum in Nigeria. However, it can not perform if the right atmosphere and support is not given to it.