Nigerian Senate Vows To Wipe Out Corruption
The President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani, has warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against selective prosecution of the war against corruption
Nnamani said this on Sunday during the Grand House Reception held for him at The Coliseum in Lagos.
He said, "There is no corrupt politician that is more important than the other. There should be no sacred cow. Our people are watching. Selective fight will not succeed.
"All the countries that were at par with us 15 years ago - India, Malaysia, South Korea, Pakistan, etc - are by far ahead now. Most of them have no oil.
"The EFCC is a very good commission aimed at curtailing the excesses of our people. But it can only do much if we allow it to work without anybody"s interference."
He said, "We are operating a federal system. States can emulate the EFCC just as we have the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy and State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy.
"Some states are having problems doing this because leadership by example is difficult. If the governors are being hounded by the EFCC, how can they set up an EFCC equivalent?"
He said he had survived the legendary banana peel that had caused the fall of his predecessors in this dispensation.
The President of the Senate said that he was able to survive in office because senators acted as one family and trusted him.
Nnamani said, "In the Senate, we are 109. The issue of banana peel, popularised by the late former President of the Senate, Chief Chuba Okadigbo, has been curtailed by our collective effort. We work in harmony. We embrace one another by being forthright and transparent as much as possible.
"You earn people"s trust. I have confidence in myself and I trust them. Because of the way we have been relating, they trust me.
"The way and manner I emerged as the President of the Senate is a factor. They made the choice. I was not forced on them. I"m their product and they trust me."
Banana peel is a metaphorical expression for the incessant fall of senate presidents in this dispensation over official misconduct. It was popularised by the late Okadigbo, who was the second victim of the impeachment.
He also explained that the selection of the members of the Ad hoc committee that looked into the mismanagement of the Petroleum Trust Development Fund was devoid of bias, contrary to the claims by some Nigerians that the committee was composed of pro-third term tenure senators.
Nnamani agreed that the 1999 Constitution was defective and required amendment.
He said, "Our constitution requires a "panel beating." It requires an overhaul. The way people defect to other parties indiscriminately is a constitutional problem."
The President of the Senate said that the National Assembly was doing its best to ensure a free and fair poll.
He said, "Our role as National Assembly is to ensure that we craft an effective electoral law and that is what we have done. Our committee in charge of INEC is keeping an eye on INEC to ensure that they follow the rules. I believe INEC will follow the rules accordingly."
Nnamani said, "It is incumbent on the electorate to elect people who can protect their interest. It is unfortunate that most of the senators will not return. It takes time to learn legislative proceedings. It is now time for the electorate to be cautious."