Hilary Clinton: EFCC Has “fallen off in the last two years”

[maxsiollun]

Her reference to the EFCC tailing off in "the last two years" and wishing it would work "as before" is clearly a coded reference to the EFCC losing its bite since Ribadu's exit.


Clinton: EFCC Has ‘Fallen Off’
...Supports Nigeria’s electoral reform, amnesty
From Paul Ibe, Chinwe Ochu and George Oji in Abuja, 08.13.2009


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 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.
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.

[Auspicious]

+

In other words, Faridah is just hanging out there..

It is evident, from what I posted HERE on March 5,

That EFCC under the Farida girl not only "lost its bite",

But became, if I may borrow EMJ's teminilogy, EFZZ.

Auspicious.

--


"I am not a coward. As you see, I may not look like an anti-corruption Czar or 007 or James Bond or Malcom X. When I have my head-tie on my head, I sling my back and I look at the mirror, sometimes I look like a full-time housewife. But that is where the story ends. I am not a push around."

Err..is Madam EFZZ talking about her Ikebe?

Is she trying to tempt Baba Congo Shiner?

Source: The Nation
--

[Mikky jaga]

So, what was she saying in excess/essence? That she preferred the hypocritical grandstanding of Ribadu to the paddy paddy-no problem of Madam Waz? These Americans can be fooled easily.

The fact remains that for the past 10 years, nobody has scratched corruption on the surface. That is the reason the country is so heavily weighed down under the yoke of the endemic disease.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by Mikky jaga

So, what was she saying in excess/essence? That she preferred the hypocritical grandstanding of Ribadu to the paddy paddy-no problem of Madam Waz? These Americans can be fooled easily.

The fact remains that for the past 10 years, nobody has scratched corruption on the surface. That is the reason the country is so heavily weighed down under the yoke of the endemic disease.

If there's any topic that best fits the description "Argued to Death" on this Forum, it is the one that has to do with the fellow whom the Jagas of NVS like to call "Ribadun". Raising it again in continuation of the argument amounts to bashing one's head indefintely on the wall to improve the functionality of one's brain.

The vast majority of people at home and around the world know the truth as it partains to the tenure of Nuhu Ribadu at EFCC; they know that his tenureship was not exactly guilt-free, but they appreciate that it took Nigeria from pariah to emerging and hopeful - from 'Hopeless Alcoholic' to 'Recovering Alcoholic'.

Today, we are back to Hopeless Alcoholic. People like Hillary aren't ediots; they know what they are talking about. In ALL my life as a citizen of that country, I never saw anything close to combating corruption as Ribadu's. Hillary too probably didn't. And so do many young people of that mercilessly sodomized country.

Hillary didn't say Ribadu was awesome, she only appreciated the work in progress (as imperfect as it was) at EFCC under his tenure. She recognizes what EFCC was like, prior to Waziri - that it was more deserving of whatever support her government can give in assistance - that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

Using her comments to re-launch an endless Ribadun debate is at best, petty.

Auspicous.

[agensheku]

Auspicious,i beg to disagree with you o.we recall that expired general abacha also FOUGHT corruption before in the 90s.he locked bank chiefs up in prison cells and gave their gaolers the managers 090 mobile phones to help them call those who would pay up the embezzled funds so that they could be released.some of the detainees at that time have now graduated to senators and the integrity record of the one who ordered their detention is NOTHING to write home about.ditto for ribadu.when he was wrestling with minor thieves,certified robbers were all around him and he never saw any of them.if you doubt this assertion,go back and read El Rufai s testimony on how nija got to its present day situation.the one who would cleanse nija is not yet born or has not yet arrived on the scene.lets see how Sanusi s battle goes!

[Mikky jaga]

Originally Posted by agensheku

lets see how Sanusi s battle goes!

Sorry about the Sanusi angle. One of the sacked MDs, Erastus Akingbola, has taken the guy to court. The court will soon rule that Sanusi was not in order... and we will be back to square one.

The lesson is this: the one(s) that will attack corruption must be ready to do so within the rule of law, or else nothing goes. The rule of law grinds slowly but surely.

[easekieled]

Really sometimes I find it strange how we go about this Ribadu /Waziri EFCC issue. Clinton made an observation, whether we like it or not thats the way the whole world is looking at it! the stealing taking place now has never happened before! is the EFCC working presently? NO...because if they were working ; they would have put Aoondooka behind bars considering the properties he is buying out cash in Abuja today!

[easekieled]

Originally Posted by Mikky jaga

Sorry about the Sanusi angle. One of the sacked MDs, Erastus Akingbola, has taken the guy to court. The court will soon rule that Sanusi was not in order... and we will be back to square one.

The lesson is this: the one(s) that will attack corruption must be ready to do so within the rule of law, or else nothing goes. The rule of law grinds slowly but surely.

...where is the rule of Law? in Nigeria? did Rawlings fight corruption with rule of Law? is Ghana now not the shining star around here?
Abegi...leaf matter to matter!
Ask anyone doing property business in the FCT on the properties these corruption fighters are acquiring and then come back and tell us to do rule of Law!
This 9ja is just doomed when it comes to leadership and CLinton was right 100% right!
At least during his tenure (Ribadu) these thieves had some semblance of fear to steal...but today? they just steal in broad day light with paper and pen and if care is not taken they will soon jump into the streets and collect from the poor!

[Mikky jaga]

Originally Posted by easekieled

...where is the rule of Law? in Nigeria? did Rawlings fight corruption with rule of Law? is Ghana now not the shining star around here?
Abegi...leaf matter to matter!
Ask anyone doing property business in the FCT on the properties these corruption fighters are acquiring and then come back and tell us to do rule of Law!
This 9ja is just doomed when it comes to leadership and CLinton was right 100% right!
At least during his tenure (Ribadu) these thieves had some semblance of fear to steal...but today? they just steal in broad day light with paper and pen and if care is not taken they will soon jump into the streets and collect from the poor!

It is very simplistic to assume that what worked in Ghana must also work in Nigeria. Nigeria is more complex than Ghana and the forces of corruption are more entrenched.

Anyone thinking that mere killing off of some corrupt people will free Nigeria of corruption must be day dreaming.

That is why people advocate systemic fight against corruption that is not personalized. In places where the anticorruption fight has been institutionalized, people are not deprived of their freedom arbitrarily on the pretext of fight against corruption. Those that claim to fight corruption will not need to break the law to enforce the law. That is what I call the rule of law, not anything Andoakam is doing at present.

[Abraxas]

Hi, folks!

I hereby publicly challenge Hajiya (Mrs.) AIG Faridah Waziri (rtd.) to take on either Hajiya (Mrs.) "Dr." Turai Yar'Adua, or any of the wives of the governors of the 36 states of Nigeria, on the matter of institutionalized treasury looting called "pet projects"!

It is not a secret that the wives of governors simply throw caution to the winds, and shamelessly LOOT the treasuries of the states that their husbands typically misgovern!

Anti-corruption my balls!

Obrigado!

Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III)

[easekieled]

Originally Posted by Mikky jaga

It is very simplistic to assume that what worked in Ghana must also work in Nigeria. Nigeria is more complex than Ghana and the forces of corruption are more entrenched.

Anyone thinking that mere killing off of some corrupt people will free Nigeria of corruption must be day dreaming.

That is why people advocate systemic fight against corruption that is not personalized. In places where the anticorruption fight has been institutionalized, people are not deprived of their freedom arbitrarily on the pretext of fight against corruption. Those that claim to fight corruption will not need to break the law to enforce the law. That is what I call the rule of law, not anything Andoakam is doing at present.

...Mikky..unfortunately Aondokaa alias "Anaconda" is the defination of Rule of Law in Nigeria! in fact he is the LAW!

[Ewuro]

Originally Posted by Mikky jaga

It is very simplistic to assume that what worked in Ghana must also work in Nigeria. Nigeria is more complex than Ghana and the forces of corruption are more entrenched.
Anyone thinking that mere killing off of some corrupt people will free Nigeria of corruption must be day dreaming.

That is why people advocate systemic fight against corruption that is not personalized. In places where the anticorruption fight has been institutionalized, people are not deprived of their freedom arbitrarily on the pretext of fight against corruption. Those that claim to fight corruption will not need to break the law to enforce the law. That is what I call the rule of law, not anything Andoakam is doing at present.

What works in Ghana can surely work in Nigeria. It used to be. The coloniast made what worked in Ghana to work in Nigeria while they were running both countries. Nkrumah made what worked in Ghana worked in Nigeria during that era.
Fashola is making what worked in Ghana working in lagos state, and that is one complex state which OBJ labelled a jungle.
MJ, if we have the right type of leadership, Nigeria can work better than Ghana.

[Mikky jaga]

Originally Posted by Ewuro

if we have the right type of leadership, Nigeria can work better than Ghana.

The problem is IF.

Now let's consider the scenario:

1. Junior officer staged a successful coup in Ghana, it can never happen in Nigeria

2. By the time Nigerian officers reached a position to stage a successful coup, he has already become part of the corrupt system.

3. The civilian counterparts are no better. They will never allow an "outsider" to get to the position of leadership through rigging and falsification of election results, and so the rot continues.

4. Fashola's case is different. He has a history of Action governors that had ruled Lagos State to challenge him. Nigeria has no such history. It has been a litany of failed presidents since independence.

5. Ghana is much more compact than Nigeria, so it is possible to agree on a consensus on the way forward. Nigeria has a lot of centripetal forces (ethnicity for example) that make working towards the desired goal impossible.Every act of government is first viewed through the prism of ethnicity before the merits or demerits are considered.

The only thing that is common to many Nigerians is how to make their dough, the country can go to hell. But Ghanaians have an undying love for their country, which made them work to make their country great.

If we have good leadership, how? The odds are one in a million.

[Ewuro]

Originally Posted by Mikky jaga

The problem is IF.

Now let's consider the scenario:

1. Junior officer staged a successful coup in Ghana, it can never happen in Nigeria
Never say never. Okar nearly succeeded!
2. By the time Nigerian officers reached a position to stage a successful coup, he has already become part of the corrupt system.
Probably yes, but there is always a one percent chance which may produce the right type of leadership.3. The civilian counterparts are no better. They will never allow an "outsider" to get to the position of leadership through rigging and falsification of election results, and so the rot continues.

Yes also. But there is also a chance of mass revolt one day. This may inlude the soldiers joining hands with even areas boys to depose bad leadership. A sudden mass anger from somewhere could create a tsunami that may wipe away the OBJ, IBB and co in one go.
4. Fashola's case is different. He has a history of Action governors that had ruled Lagos State to challenge him. Nigeria has no such history. It has been a litany of failed presidents since independence.
AC is equally corrupt but God has created a Fashola in order to get rid and expose the evil ojuyobo Tinubu. Fashola's action has put him to disgrace. If you talk to lagosians now, all they say is Tinubu is the one debarring fashola from doing the good he intended to the fullest. They will also conclude 'Tinubu ti te'. I understand that language. Once lagosians are saying 'O ti te', it means the fellow is finished. If he tries any abacadrabra, Tinubu will become the food for the fishes in the lagoon.
The chances now is Nigerians would be looking for more people like fashola in all the states.




5. Ghana is much more compact than Nigeria, so it is possible to agree on a consensus on the way forward. Nigeria has a lot of centripetal forces (ethnicity for example) that make working towards the desired goal impossible.Every act of government is first viewed through the prism of ethnicity before the merits or demerits are considered.

Ghana also has big ethnicity problems. maybe not as big as Nigerians. The difference is they are managing it. There is something sophisticated about the leaders who accept when an election had been lost and won.
The only thing that is common to many Nigerians is how to make their dough, the country can go to hell. But Ghanaians have an undying love for their country, which made them work to make their country great.
Rermember, not too long ago, Ghanaians abandoned Ghana and were everywhere in Nigeria. It took providence for a rawlings to emerge to wipe out the mongrels. It shall happen for we cannot continue this way forever.If we have good leadership, how? The odds are one in a million.

Then if there are indeed 140 miliion Nigerians, it means by your chances of one in a million, there are 140 potential Nigerians who can create an egalitarian society we all wanted. So it is not impossible.

[MrOneNaija]

ECHOES OF PROPAGANDA AND PEDESTRIAN TANTRUMS

A lot of what Mrs. Clinton reportedly said about the current situation in the country is no doubt a statement of the obvious. But beyond that, when her address is said to have curiously bifurcated into what is tantamount to a partisan, if questionable comparison of the EFCC under the Obasanjo attack dog called Ribadu and that under its current leadership, one is left to draw the conclusion that the intelligence which informed her unfortunate outburst was deeply flawed, most likely due to the inability of her handlers to rise above the din of propaganda and pedestrian posturing on the part of the more boisterous elements of the ancien régime of Aremu Ali Baba.

It is intellectually dishonest for any rational person to imply that somehow, the EFCC under the noisy, hypocritical, microphone-hugging and corrupt Ribadu-Obasanjo reign of terror and impunity was actually fighting sleaze. The Hilary Clinton remark regarding the EFCC must therefore be dismissed as an unfortunate gaffe that nevertheless does not infirm the essence of her rendition in Abuja.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by MrOneNaija

ECHOES OF PROPAGANDA AND PEDESTRIAN TANTRUMS

A lot of what Mrs. Clinton reportedly said about the current situation in the country is no doubt a statement of the obvious. But beyond that, when her address is said to have curiously bifurcated into what is tantamount to a partisan, if questionable comparison of the EFCC under the Obasanjo attack dog called Ribadu and that under its current leadership, one is left to draw the conclusion that the intelligence which informed her unfortunate outburst was deeply flawed, most likely due to the inability of her handlers to rise above the din of propaganda and pedestrian posturing on the part of the more boisterous elements of the ancien régime of Aremu Ali Baba.

It is intellectually dishonest for any rational person to imply that somehow, the EFCC under the noisy, hypocritical, microphone-hugging and corrupt Ribadu-Obasanjo reign of terror and impunity was actually fighting sleaze. The Hilary Clinton remark regarding the EFCC must therefore be dismissed as an unfortunate gaffe that nevertheless does not infirm the essence of her rendition in Abuja.

Bia sit down and stop shouting or you go burs' nut.

All dat big-big oyibo wey yu dey yurn, 'e nor shalala nobody.

So okay, we don hia; Ribadu na Baba eim Puppy Rottweiler.

Just nor come hia begin dey big-up Muhammadu Buhari again O,

And if I hieh yu defend Atiku for dis Village again, I go off ya bilala.

Sebi na pesin wey be like God eimsef yu dey find, eh? No froblem.

Just hol' am dieh and put a sock on all that Alhamdulai Grammar for now.

This is AuspY!