EFCC to disqualify 54 PDP aspirants

GOMBE—IN its determination to stop corrupt politicians from participating in the 2011 general elections, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, identified 54 corrupt aspirants on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP.

The commission said it has forwarded their names to the party to disqualify them from contesting for any public offices.

Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment to the EFCC Chairman, Dr. Abubakar Othman, who disclosed this during a courtesy call on Governor Danjuma Goje, however, did not name affected aspirants but promised that the same thing would be done for other political parties.

Othman said he was in support of death penalty for corrupt practices, stressing that such measure was imperative, considering the damage done to the nation by corruption.

He noted: “If you consider the quantum of money stolen by such persons and the attendant hardship inflicted on the ordinary people, one sees a clear manifestation of animalistic behaviour.’’

While assuring that the commission was not going back on its decision to bar corrupt politicians from contesting in the 2011 general elections, he stressed that the commission’s decision to bar corrupt politicians was being “misconstrued’’ in some quarters who were bent on dissuading the anti-graft agency from sanitising the nation’s polity.

Othman said the EFCC was determined to carry out its plan in the best interest of the country, adding that the commission had been keeping a tab on the financial transactions involving some corrupt politicians currently aspiring to contest in the 2011 elections.

He said the commission would stand in the way of corrupt officials to electoral success adding that the EFCC planned to work with the political parties and INEC in disqualifying corrupt aspirants, “but if all else fails, their names will be made public.”

Othman said the commission had embarked on public enlightenment across the country to ensure that Nigerians were duly informed on the need to elect credible politicians into public office.

Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Bage, who represented the governor, said the state government would support the commission’s actions that were deemed to be in the overall interest of the country.

The EFCC team was in Gombe on enlightenment tour of the state.

Nigeria is a country that is unpredictable. You cannot trust anyone, least of all politicians. I hope the efcc will not be used to witch hunt opponents and candidates that are likely to pose challenge to favoured candidtates as we saw under obj? This is the only thing that dented ribadu's credential; allowing himself to be used by obj

The list of 100 people was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria. The list contains former governors, former and serving ministers, ex-bank chiefs, top government officials and some foreign and Nigerian businessmen.

The EFCC has already sent the list to several political parties in Nigeria, among those the People's Democratic Party (PDP) which has among its ranks many of the names in the list. The EFCC urges parties not to give them any spot in the upcoming 2011 polls.

Among those on the list is:
Former Jigawa State Governor Sen. Saminu Turaki.
Former Abia State Governor Orji Kalu who is contesting for president in 2011.
Ex-Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose.
The daughter of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello.
Joshua Dariye (Former Governor Plateau State).
Read more: http://www.nigerianelitesforum.com/n...html#post10681

Originally Posted by hassan

GOMBE—IN its determination to stop corrupt politicians from participating in the 2011 general elections, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, identified 54 corrupt aspirants on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP.

The commission said it has forwarded their names to the party to disqualify them from contesting for any public offices.

Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment to the EFCC Chairman, Dr. Abubakar Othman, who disclosed this during a courtesy call on Governor Danjuma Goje, however, did not name affected aspirants but promised that the same thing would be done for other political parties.

Othman said he was in support of death penalty for corrupt practices, stressing that such measure was imperative, considering the damage done to the nation by corruption.

He noted: “If you consider the quantum of money stolen by such persons and the attendant hardship inflicted on the ordinary people, one sees a clear manifestation of animalistic behaviour.’’

While assuring that the commission was not going back on its decision to bar corrupt politicians from contesting in the 2011 general elections, he stressed that the commission’s decision to bar corrupt politicians was being “misconstrued’’ in some quarters who were bent on dissuading the anti-graft agency from sanitising the nation’s polity.

Othman said the EFCC was determined to carry out its plan in the best interest of the country, adding that the commission had been keeping a tab on the financial transactions involving some corrupt politicians currently aspiring to contest in the 2011 elections.

He said the commission would stand in the way of corrupt officials to electoral success adding that the EFCC planned to work with the political parties and INEC in disqualifying corrupt aspirants, “but if all else fails, their names will be made public.”

Othman said the commission had embarked on public enlightenment across the country to ensure that Nigerians were duly informed on the need to elect credible politicians into public office.

Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Bage, who represented the governor, said the state government would support the commission’s actions that were deemed to be in the overall interest of the country.

The EFCC team was in Gombe on enlightenment tour of the state.

They are just out to deceive the masses. Who place them there, is it not the politicians?