By Paul Michael, Defence Editor, Abuja
Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa has again called on youths and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to embrace hard work and shun economic and financial crimes, noting that there is no shortcut to wealth and fame.
Bawa stated this Wednesday while delivering a lecture on the “Role of Youth in Curbing Corruption” at the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp, Issele Uku, Delta State and also added that Corps members should be role models that helps in building a society that has regards for the law.
The EFCC boss, who was represented at the event by Williams Oseghale, Head, Public Affairs, Benin Zonal Command, urged the corps members to shun acts of corruption and economic crimes.
“There is no shortcut to wealth and fame. The fact that the rate of unemployment is high should not be an excuse to resort to crime. Acts of criminality might deliver wealth in the short term but ultimately, there will be misery and gnashing of teeth.
“We are inviting you to lend a hand in helping us build a society where there is respect for the rule of law and where impunity is a thing of the past,” he said.
In a related development at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Gombe, the EFCC boss who was represented by Chris Oluka, Head, Public Affairs, Gombe Zonal Command, challenged the youth to take ownership of the fight against corruption.
He urged the corps members to understand their place as critical stakeholders in the fight against corruption by being the ‘eyes and ears’ of EFCC in their primary places of assignment.
“You stand at a threshold to either chart a path for good or bad by your actions and we at EFCC encourage you to stand with us in securing a corrupt free Nigeria, through your attitude and partnership with us.
“The message to you all this morning is that you should become whistleblowers in any place you find yourselves by reporting acts that fail the simple test of integrity. This you can do anonymously by downloading our specially developed APP called the “Eagle Eye” via the APP Store and Google Play and using it to report all economic and financial crimes,” he stated.
Similarly, at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Superintendent of EFCC, Martha Ojochokutami Eche, who delivered the chairman’s lecture, called on the corps members to take up the gauntlet in the fight against graft.
“One critical group of stakeholders are the youths. Apart from the fact that they are considered as the leaders of tomorrow, most economic crimes, especially cyber-crimes, are committed by young people. It therefore follows that young people must not be mere spectators in the anti-graft campaign. Rather they should actually be the foot soldiers chasing corruption and economic crimes out of our land,” he said.
More so, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE Dele Oyewale, who represented the Executive Chairman at the Nonwa Orientation Camp, Port Harcourt, Rivers State called on corps members across the country to develop hatred for corrupt practices and tackle them as dangerous and fierce enemies against the nation
As a practical way of confronting corrupt practices, he tasked corps members to be change agents, accountability vanguards and civil mobilisers against corrupt practices.
Additionally, the EFCC boss stressed that the Eagle Eye Apps has made citizens reporting corruption cases convenient.
“Our experiences as a nation have shown that our greatest enemy and threat to sustainable development is corruption. We are all victims of the deleterious effects of this monster. To this end, I charge all of you to treat corruption as a mortal enemy and tackle it as such. You must develop aversion towards corrupt practices and you must confront every compromise of integrity with hard tackles.
“In your place of primary assignments, you should demonstrate your determination against corrupt tendencies by changing the people around you, campaign against economic and financial crimes and mobilise the people against every breach of integrity. It is by being change agents that you will be able to draw the world to the right direction.
“As young Nigerians, you can offer whistle blowing services to the EFCC through the Eagle Eye App. It is a digital means of conveying information to us without necessarily disclosing your identity. Only ensure that information supplied to the EFCC is true and credible” he said.
From NYSC Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area, Kwara State, Ayodele Babatunde, Head, Public Affairs, who stood in for the EFCC Chairman charged the corps members to see themselves as anti-corruption crusaders for the greater good of our country.
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According to him, “the Commission believes that the NYSC is a veritable platform to rally the Nigerian youth against corruption.”
He noted that the fight against corruption should not be left to the EFCC alone, stressing that it was essential to sensitise the youths against corruption, cybercrime, illicit financial flows and illegal oil bunkering, all of which contribute to economic sabotage.
He assured the corps members that the EFCC is resolute in its efforts to curb corruption, money laundering and other forms of economic and financial crimes.
“The Commission would ensure that those who had plundered the resources of the nation or amassed wealth through illegitimate means are brought to justice through the instrumentality of the law.
“I enjoin you to stand up and say no to corruption. Let us take the future of this country in our hands and let us not lose hope in our efforts to bring the country back from the brink,” he started.
Adewoye Gbenga, of the Public Affairs Department, Ilorin Zonal Command who was at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Asaya, Kabba, Kogi State, on behalf of the Chairman challenged corps members to support the EFCC in raising the campaign for a corruption free country through uprightness, volunteerism and patriotism.
He observed that corruption was responsible for the problems faced by many Nigerians and urged youths to team up with the EFCC in the fight against the menace.
“Once we are able to get rid of corruption and criminality, then you can walk the street freely and successfully set the country on the path of sustainable development.
“Say no to corruption. Report any act of economic and financial crime within your neighborhood to the EFCC and be assured that you will get quick response from us,” he added.
That was also the thrust of the message delivered by Bethel Ude, Head, Public Affairs, Enugu Command at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Awgu, Enugu State.
She said, “There is still hope for the country and Nigeria would be great again if everyone including the youths join hands with the EFCC to end the menace of corruption We are convinced that all hope is not lost in the effort to bring this country back from the brink. As dynamic young men and women, our desire is to harness your intelligence and energy for greater public good in your areas of primary assignments.”
Adeniran Adebayo, Head, Public Affairs, Makurdi Zonal Command, at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Wannune, Tarka LGA, Benue State enjoined corps members to join the EFCC/NYSC Community Development Group for a more robust relationship. The platform, he says, would offer corps members the opportunity for an enduring relationship with the Commission and other stakeholders.
“It will also avail you the opportunity to work with the advocacy arm of the Commission and be in a position to serve as change agents,” he stated.
Same message was delivered by Mary Ogolekwu, an officer of the Public Affairs Department, Benin Zonal Command and a host of other officers who represented the Executive Chairman at other Orientation Camps across the country.
