Chike Okafor, a former Commissioner for Finance in Imo State says that people of questionable pedigree may not make Gen Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet list. He also spoke on other issues. Excerpts:
Do you think that democratic institutions have the capacity to tackle corruption given their activities in the last 16 years?
No institution was designed to encourage corruption but what we have had over the years is absence of quality leadership. In recent times, conscious efforts have not been made to fight corruption. That is regrettable.
The question is, do we have the right people heading the institutions? We need a President, who is ready to fight corruption. Working with the right people in the legislature is also important. We need to have a President, who will work with the legislature and judiciary to fight corruption. Apart from that, we need to have the right leadership in the states and local governments who must also be on the same page with the right leadership at the federal level. God has visited Nigeria through the election of Buhari, we know his antecedents and have no doubt about his capacity.
Going by the combined efforts of different politicians who ensured his victory, do you think Buhari would be fearless in the fight against graft?If he has a minister who is found guilty of corruption, he is expected to fire the minister. Every institution that is corrupt will be sanitized.
His War Against Indiscipline succeeded then even without democratic institutions. Now there are institutions like the National Assembly and judiciary that will provide checks and balances.
Nigerians are tired of corruption and impunity and they have elected a leader who is also prepared to work for them. They know him to be incorruptible. The man who is going to emerge as Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and other principal officers of the two chambers already know what to expect from Buhari and the expectation of the average Nigerian.
They know that the right thing to do is to complement the efforts of the President.
On possible impeachment should Buhari become authoritarian
No one can use the legislature to checkmate a man who is on the right track. Nigerians are no longer naive. We are no longer stupid. For instance if the president says he will not disobey traffic rules, will the National Assembly say no that?
This is a man, who will on assumption of office, dissolve all institutions and appoint Nigerians with integrity to head them. It is not for you to use your powers as a legislator to fight the policies and visions of government that appears to be on the right path.
Do you think the anti corruption agencies as presently constituted are strong enough to fight corruption?
We are going to follow the constitution and there is no where in that corruption is legalised. If he needs a new legislation, he can send a bill to the National Assembly. But looking at our existing anti corruption laws, there are sections that are draconian. Those sections can be looked into.
The laws are there and what we need to do is to apply them. We have the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigerian Police and other agencies saddled with the responsibility of tackling corruption.
Its a matter of time...
ReplyDeleteThe massive and unimaginable looting of Imolites common wealth by the Governor, Rochas Okorocha whom you served as commissioner for finance is a litmus paper test that you Okoafor is not clean and have panted personality and therefore not qualified to be elected to the NASS. Look at the so-called roads Rochas constructed in Imo, within 1 year, all the roads have gone. All that Rochas are building in Imo lack quality, they cannot stand the taste and test of time. Rochas have acquired new Lamond Hotels in Owerri. Rochas have built a presidential mansion for his private use in Owerri. Rochas has paid all the money he was owing some banks before he became governor etc. Who made this looting possible, is you Chike. Chike, do you know the holistic definition of corruption or are you just ranting simply because you have been elected to the NASS?
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