News Investigators/ A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), *Inclusive Citizens’ Advancement Network (Inc-CAN), has condemned a Northeast youth group for issuing a 7-day ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu to probe the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).
It described the action as an empty outburst coming at a time the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu has just got Nigeria de-listed from FATF’s grey list.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja by Inc-CAN’s Executive Director, Mrs. Esther Nwankpa, and interim general secretary, Olufemi Adeniyi, the group described the Northeast youths’ ultimatum on the NSA as hollow and misplaced.
It maintained that the youths’ stance was totally against popular view among many Nigerians that Nuhu Ribadu has worked tirelessly to be an invaluable asset in President Bola Tinubu’s counter-terrorism agenda.
She maintained that Ribadu’s presence in the President Bola Tinubu administration has continued to prove that absolute integrity, patriotism and commitment to the greater good were enduring virtues of public officers.
Commenting further, Mrs. Esther Nwankpa believes that the campaign of calumny against the Nuhu Ribadu is being driven by envious and mischievous interests who are increasingly scared by the towering height of the former pioneer EFCC’s chairman who has continued to prove his mettle in the scheme of things.
She accused the unnamed persons of ploys to distract and discredit ongoing national security reforms of the ONSA which she said had proved effective in tackling emerging security threats across the country.
‘’We find it regrettable that a certain amorphous group, particularly from the North East region where the NSA hails from, have chosen to pursue fruitless venture inspired by a pull-him-down syndrome. It is crystal clear even to the blind that Nuhu Ribadu has fully committed to using his space to advancing the growth and development of the country in all ramifications.
‘’It is even unthinkable and unfortunate that the so-called youth group chose a time the nation is still gripped by the euphoria of the recent FATF de-listing Nigeria and celebrating the efforts of Nuhu Ribadu to achieve it in synergy with other key figures in the federal government.
‘’The big news of the historical de-listing of Nigeria from the grey list of money laundering and terrorism financing nations by the world’s foremost standards-setting body, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is still reverberating.
‘’The ONSA under Nuhu Ribadu’s effective watch provided the critical strategic oversight and ensured coordination among various security and intelligence agencies. FATF’s historic announcement, widely considered as a major milestone in Nigeria’s two-year hard journey towards corporate governance transparency, is still trending.
‘’Today, there is a major opinion shift in the global community on Nigeria’s economic reform, institutional integrity and global financial credibility. Any discussion on this development is incomplete without mentioning Nuhu Ribadu.
‘’To formally remove Nigeria from the list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring, commonly referred to as the ‘grey list, is one of the best things to happen to the nation.
‘’The FATF’s decision to remove Nigeria from the grey list is a strong affirmation of its reform trajectory and the growing integrity of our country’s financial and counter-terrorism architecture, reflecting a clear policy direction and the coordinated efforts of key national institutions.
‘’The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), etc, synergized reforms that addressed the FATF’s concerns regarding anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF)’’, Nwankpa said.
She further disclosed that Nuhu Ribadu is certainly one of the most valuable figures in President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a $1 trillion economy which the FATF’s de-listing has now made more achievable than ever. The envy is palpable.
‘’With restored global financial credibility, Nigeria is now better positioned to attract the foreign investment needed to develop infrastructure, create jobs, and lift millions out of poverty.
‘’The FATF’s delisting has opened doors of job opportunities hitherto closed against young unemployed Nigerians including the ignorant and jobless so-called North east youth coalition hired by opposition politicians to run down the NSA’’, she said.
Inc-CAN reiterated that Nuhu Ribadu had served Nigeria with utmost distinction, as a former anti-corruption czar and now as National Security Adviser, noting that his integrity and rare commitment to fight insecurity and threats to national stability remained unquestionable and unequalled.
’We urge the Federal Government, the national security community, and Nigerians to ignore the outbursts of the misguided youth group who have nothing meaningful to contribute to the nation’’, she said.
Continuing, the civil society organization seized the occasion of the epoch-making delisting from FATF grey list to laud and celebrate womanhood for the significantly pivotal roles played by the Chief Executive Officer/Director General, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hajiya Hafsat Bakari and spearheading the process to the satisfaction of all national institutions involved.
Mrs. Nwankpa said her organization had resolved to nominate the NFIU boss for the next round of national honours award. According to her, all agencies involved in the process leading to the delisting unanimously agreed that Hajiya Hafsat Bakari took the job as if her life depended on it. No wonder President Bola Tinubu praised her to the high heavems.
‘’NFIU could not have done better judging from how Hajiya Bakari faced the job. She ensured that her agency led the coordination of all national efforts and implemented key reforms to address notable deficiencies in the country’s anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) framework. She courageously led from the front, leaving no stone unturned to the admiration of all. In fact, she has made me proud as a Nigerian woman’’, Mrs. Nwankpa said.
