Dismantle the EFCC, Sack Bawa, IG, and All Service Chiefs; Agbakoba Advises Tinubu
Maritime lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba SAN, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to hit the ground running and purge his government of the major players in the previous administration.
Speaking on Arise TV on Wednesday, May 31, Agbakoba opined that there is a need to cleanse all anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria to position them effectively in the task of fighting corruption.
He said, “The anti-corruption process is not working; I have challenged the constitutionality of the EFCC.
The EFCC is a behemoth; it needs to be dismantled. Mr. Bawa needs to go; what he is doing is not attracting people’s confidence. He is always in battle with people, and that is not how to fight corruption.”
In the face of insecurity, he advised the service chiefs to honorably resign. He said, “Tinubu cannot carry on with these service chiefs; all of them should resign, including the Inspector General of Police, because they’ve not done well.” We need to create a new security infrastructure to tackle our security challenges”. Mr Agbakoba said.
He also condemned Kanu’s continued detention.
“On Nnamdi Kanu, there is no reason to detain him unnecessarily. They are just heating up the polity. If I were him (Tinubu) whatever it is, I will draw a line for Nnamdi Kanu and tell him that as long as what he is doing is in the context of the Constitution, you are expressing a desire for Biafra and you are not fighting, you are not causing trouble, then go ahead.
“It is because the government uses the wrong method by putting him in prison which makes it becomes an issue. Also I will tell Kanu that all charges against him are dropped,” he said.
Agbakoba spoke of the need for the new government to utilise leaders of sub-national ethnic groups in strengthening national unity, peace and stability.
“This administration can use the leaders of the sub-national ethnics like Edward Clark, Arewa, Afenifere and Ohanaeze because these are people who I feel if Tinubu uses, can calm the situation and that will enable him to deliver good governance. These are the ones who handle sub-national issues.
“All of Nigeria’s problems are known to us. But it is this sub-ethnic nationalities that will help Mr President validate the new constitution. Whether the constitution is going to abrogate the 1999 Constitution and a new one will be introduced I don’t know but those are the things he needs to do to create national order.
“Forget President Buhari’s eight-year tenure, it is gone. If I were Tinubu I would be looking at what I can do because if he starts looking back, he will carry a lot of issues and baggage. We all know the issue around President Buhari but right now I think he is in Daura and he is no longer the issue. The issue is that President Tinubu is the man in Aso Rock and not Buhari. Whatever it is I will urge Nigerians to forget the past and to see what President Tinubu can do to make us happy.”
He noted that tension would reduce if the new administration provides basic social amenities and essential services.
“Nigerians don’t demand much; what they want is a good job. What they want is housing, water, fuel and electricity. If he looks backward we would not advance.
“Also, one of the problems confronting Tinubu as President is the issue of national unity and Nigeria is presently struggling with disunity.”
