Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido says the Buhari administration’s tactic of fighting corruption by instilling fear in people will not work.
He said that government institutions should instill confidence and make the people want to do the right thing.
The 72-year-old disclosed this in an interview published by Sunday Vanguard.
Lamido, who was Foreign Affairs Minister, further explained that heads of government institutions fighting corruption and other ills in society should not be so visible but should conduct their work away from public glare.
“You once found Magu sitting next to President Buhari in a public occasion. And there is a Police Commissioner in Abuja. Magu is Deputy Commissioner of Police. In the same occasion, you found the AIG, DIG sitting far off from the President, and Magu is seated beside the President. The operators of the institutions should be anonymous.
“The duty of the EFCC is to investigate and prosecute. I mean they are too visible. And that, on its own, puts fear into people. And because they are feared, therefore they can do anything. If you want to buy a house in Abuja, EFCC can make a call to invite you because they are monitoring your account. As you make withdrawals, you are invited, as the owner of the property receives alert, he is invited and he would be asked how he came about the money. And then they pressure you.
“My pension fund account has been blocked for the past three years because they say I laundered money. This means, as far as government is concerned, I shouldn’t even eat.
“So, this approach which purely instills fear into people is not the proper way to fight corruption. The institution of government should not frighten the people. They should give you confidence and inspire you to do the right thing.
“Today in Nigeria, the culture of fear has become the new normal. Government should be compassionate, humane because they say it is for the people.
“Government is held in trust for the people and so therefore you don’t use power to harass and humiliate people,” Lamido said.
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