Still on EFCC, DSS feud
In my view, what happened on the 21st of November, 2017, between operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Department of State Services (DSS) as well as National Intelligent Agency (NIA) in Abuja was not only a “national” but also an “international” embarrassment. It is pertinent to note that the bodies are all […]
In my view, what happened on the 21st of November, 2017, between operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Department of State Services (DSS) as well as National Intelligent Agency (NIA) in Abuja was not only a “national” but also an “international” embarrassment. It is pertinent to note that the bodies are all government agencies under the executive arms. The executive arms of government should and or must put its house in order.
It is not crystal clear to most Nigerians whether the “supremacy battle” between the EFCC boss and the DSS counterpart is about their “personal ego” or “constitutional issues”. However, my humble advice to President Muhammadu Buhari is that if their feud is “personal” he should try and reconcile them in order to stop the ongoing feud between them which, in my view, is an embarrassment not only to his government but also to the country as a whole.
Security and anti-corruption war are among the “three” major promises made to Nigerians by the Buhari administration the other being diversification of the economy. In fairness to the Buhari administration one could argue that it has performed beyond average on the two promises made through the efforts of both the EFCC and the DSS alike. The feud between the said officers make some of us believe that the government and its officials are working at cross purposes rather than being on the same page.
It is rather dangerous for officials of one government to be pursuing different goals. If the reason for their feud is about” personal ego” the president should tell them to keep their “ego” aside and work as a team to his government and country. On the other hand, if it is “constitutional issue” then the president through the office of the Attorney General of Federation should guide each of them accordingly. Furthermore, if the feud between the officers is beyond “reconciliation” the best thing the president should and or must do, in my suggestion, is to “sacrifice” either both of them or one of them in the interest of his integrity, government, and country.
However, I do hope that they get reconcile not sacrifice due to some obvious reasons. The DSS being a body charged with the responsibility of internal security intelligence gathering. In my judgment, under its present leadership has performed beyond average. The DSS through its intelligence gathering has minimized suicide attacks as well as “foiled” so many bomb attacks. On the other hand, EFCC under its present leadership has succeeded in securing the “forfeiture” of billions of naira of looted funds as well as landed properties from corrupt officials. More so, through the Whistleblower Policy it has also recovered billions of naira.
It is on record that DSS operatives had sometimes ago arrested some Judges who were alleged to be corrupt. The EFCC in its response declared that it was not the duty of the DSS to arrest them. It is equally a public knowledge that DSS report against the acting EFCC boss is the reason for his rejection twice by Senate. It is very disturbing to note that DSS operatives have prevented the operatives EFCC from arresting the former DSS boss who is alleged to have played role in the alleged arms scandal involving the immediate pass NSA. In my view, agencies of government should not be seen fighting openly or one of trying to prevent the other from doing its job.
Let’s reconcile or sacrifice them! May God bless Nigeria!
Nurudeen Dauda, Kaduna