EFCC
Rivers State officials are crying foul over the attempted arrest of two of its commissioners today, by the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC).
The attempted seizure of the two men—the Commissioner for Finance, George Feyii, and the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Tammy Danagogo—is alleged to be at the instance of the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, who recently had a public falling out with State governor Rotimi Amaechi at an event in the state.
The two commissioners and three local government chairmen have reportedly gone underground in the state. But the EFCC operatives arrested three persons namely: Jessy Ogulor, Treasurer of Port Harcourt local government, Da-Wariboko, head of personell, Ikwerre local government area and Hyacinth Nwosirim, cashier Obio/Akpor local government area.
Sources in Rivers state told Saharareporters that the recent public spat between Governor Amaechi and Mrs. Jonathan arose because Amaechi has so far refused to declare his support for Jonathan’s presidential bid. The EFCC would likely pay similar visits to Gombe, Kwara, Zamfara and Delta states, a source in the Abuja offices of the agency told Saharareporters. The reason for the raid is attributed to the refusal of governors in those states to endorse Jonathan’s presidential bid.
Rivers State officials have described today’s siege on the state capital as a cynical display of “make-up” loyalty to the president and his wife, especially in view of yesterday’s Saharareporters story which revealed that Mrs. Farida Waziri is heaping the blame for the collapse of the anti-corruption effort in the country on the excessive interference of the President Goodluck Jonathan, his household, and members of his kitchen cabinet.
Interestingly, Rivers was the state Waziri as EFCC chair made her first poor showing when she similarly went in there to arrest Nyeson Wike, the Chief Of Staff to Governor Amaechi. Mismanaged handling and underhanded deals regarding the investigation and prosecution of Wike's case have emboldened more serious acts of corruption in the state. Waziri, it is now known, is not really trying to catch any thieves in Rivers. Hers is a survival game around the nation.
A source told Saharareporters that yesterday’s report has greatly upset the EFCC boss, who has faced mounting opposition from many quarters and a serious clamor for her removal. Mrs. Waziri has managed to survive her removal in the last few months, and has gone to a great extent to play to different interest groups by telling different stories about her "predicament." It is a card she has played well so far.
She has equally gone after her former Director of Operation, Tunde Ogunsakin, a police officer who has been touted as her replacement. Last week, the agency announced that it planned to charge Mr. Ogunsakin with examination malpractices. The EFCC said the charge derives from a cheating incident that led to Mr. Ogunsakin´s removal from the agency last year. However, despite the fanfare over the case at the University of Abuja at that time, the EFCC did not charge Mr. Ogunsakin until last week when it began a new media blitz.
Although Mrs. Waziri may have enjoyed a boost with the operations in Rivers State today, it is unclear how long she will survive as the head of the EFCC. Her reported friendship with former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, is said to be giving Mr. Jonathan a headache.
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