Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Saturday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to shop for a replacement of Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.
He said that this was necessary should the Senate decide not to clear him again for the third time.
Akeredolu, who said that the country must not be allowed to grind to a halt over the non-clearance of Magu made this suggestion in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, while featuring on Fresh FM Ibadan live radio program monitored by DAILY POST.
The Senate it will be recalled had twice refused to clear Magu on account on security reports it received from the Department of State Services (DSS).
But Akeredolu while speaking said that there are 1,001 people who can be chairman of the anti-graft agency.
“For me, the issue has to do with interpretation of the law. I think the Senate has gone to court over it. Let the Supreme Court determine what the status of the law is. The argument arose as to whether the Senate needed to clear him.
“My take on this is: If the Senate did not need to clear him, why was his name sent there in the first instance? The Presidency must clear the air on that. Then the argument changed that his clearance is in the EFCC Act and not in the constitution. But it is there.
“Is the Act in conflict with the constitution? If it is not, then you have to apply it. It is a gray area for now and needs the imprimatur of the Supreme Court to decide where we go from there.
“The Supreme Court can ask the question: Have you had an EFCC chairman who was not cleared by the Senate? That can be raised. It can say then we have established a convention that he must be cleared. The clearance is provided for in the EFCC Act and so why don’t we go by it?
“The Supreme Court can also explain if the provision in the EFCC Act is in conflict with the constitution it will explain how that happens. We have wonderful Judges everywhere and the way we give interpretation is different. It may be subjective.
“For me, I know what I believe. I don’t see any reason for instance why the clearance must not be sought. If the Senate decides it will not clear Magu, then the Presidency should pick another person,” he said.
When asked if himself, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Babatunde Fashola represent the interest of Buhari in the South-West region, Akeredolu reiterated his belief in the party.
“This colouration does not fit in at all. In the first instance, I can’t be a boy to anybody. I am a man of myself. This is why I have always insisted on a few things. So, to be described as a boy to anybody can’t fit for me.
“Today, whether we like it or not, the leader of our party is President Muhammadu Buhari and you can’t dispute that fact. The party has hierarchy of leadership. So, don’t let us trivialise the position of the president. He remains the leader of the party.
“So, if I believe in and stand by the party and anybody feels otherwise, so be it. I don’t have apologies to make to anybody on that point.
“If tomorrow, the president takes a position that I am opposed to, I will come out and say it and there is nothing that will stop me. That is my life. I will first tell him in private and if he decide to go out public to maintain the same position, then he can be on his own and I, on my own. If I lose thereafter, there is no problem. If he wins, so be it”.
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