An anti-corruption crusader, Abba Kaka has spoken out against the planned protest of a shadowy group against the operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), adding that the protests are being sponsored by a governor and two ministers.
He said this in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, following earlier encouragement by the EFCC for parents and guardians to warn their wards against participating in the planned protest against the operations of the EFCC.
He said, “On this planned strike, it’s very sad and unfortunate. This is probably one of the highest forms of criminality you can find. Of course, citizens, once they get a permit, they can protest for whatever they’re looking for. But in this particular case, this is a protest that is being organised, sponsored and paid for by one former governor and two former ministers who have cases with the EFCC. If they are not interested in the cases, they shouldn’t have stolen the money they have stolen.
Kaka further stated, “Your guess is as good as mine. Let the security forces unravel who they are. It is a strike that is being sponsored by some politically exposed persons who are bent on tarnishing the image of the country and tarnishing the image of the Bola Tinubu administration and others. Let the police and the DSS and the EFCC itself go and look for what I’m talking about and they will find the answers clearly there. This is just criminality. How come all the civil society organisations in Nigeria are not part of it? These are just cyber criminals.”
Speaking on why he is leaning towards the ministers and governors as sponsors of the protest, he said, “It’s because they have cases with EFCC and we have seen in the past, what has also happened with one of them, when he escaped from a house. The news is all over. It’s trending. EFCC itself was being blamed at that time for allowing the suspect to escape. Now, we are coming back to also blame the EFCC. It doesn’t make any sense. Let’s be realistic and consistent in what we’re doing.”
He however made it clear that he has no issues with youth staging protests, as long as they do so legally.
“I have no problem with young people organising themselves legally and peacefully to protest, but if there is a criminality or criminal element involved and if some people are sponsoring the protest for a different purpose, then young people need to understand that they are being used, they need to understand that they are not supposed to be part of this crime.”
Melissa Enoch
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