Nigeria Content Online

Nigerians need to
hold their leaders accountable if the nation is to develop, the
chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
Farida Waziri, has said.

Mrs Waziri, who
received a delegation of the National Association of Nigerian Students
led by its president, Imagwe Jude Gabriel, at the commission’s office
yesterday, said it is the responsibility of citizens to ask relevant
questions and hold those that govern them accountable.

She attributed many of the problems the country is facing to corruption, which she said must be shunned by the youth.

While acknowledging
the role of young people in the anti- corruption war, Mrs. Waziri
lamented that the country still grapples with intractable problems such
as power outage and fuel shortage.

“Let me remind you
that as youths and future leaders, Nigeria’s hope of a better tomorrow
lies in you because quite a large number of our present leaders have
failed the nation,” she said.

She also called on
the student leaders to mobilise their peers to join the Anti-Corruption
Revolution Campaign, saying this would lend support to Acting President
Goodluck Jonathan’s commitment to the fight against graft.

The EFCC
chairperson berated those she called ‘arm-chair critics’, who, she
said, rather than contribute to nation building, find succour in
condemning those who do so.

She vowed to continue doing her job despite the recent spate of attacks on operatives of the commission.

“Even if they kill
all of us, the war shall continue. We shall continue to investigate and
prosecute corrupt elements in our midst; we shall continue to ask for
special court, asset forfeiture bill, anti- terrorism bill,” she said.

Mr. Imagwe, the
leader of the association, said it is unfortunate that Nigerians have
failed to identify with people who have excelled.

He called for a
closer relationship between students and the EFCC and demanded the
commission’s intervention in the education sector, which, he said, has
deteriorated badly.