An Abuja-based anti-corruption group, Vanguard for Credible Representation (VCR), has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to disregard the call by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), for the sack of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Olanipeku Olukoyede.

In a press statement released on Wednesday and signed by the group’s Head of Mission, Onche Ugbabe, the body said that “the CUPP, a body now consisting of largely deregistered political parties, was glaringly siding with the former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, and against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; their mission is also to deny Southern Nigeria its first shot at the leadership of the anti-graft body.

“We and many other sister anti-corruption and pro-transparency bodies are aware of all that is going on. But our advice is that President Tinubu should disregard the wailing of the corrupt minds and now be more resolute than ever on the matter of the anti-corruption drive of his government”, the group said.

The pro-transparency and anti-corruption group further called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and other anti-corruption agencies and units like the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, to join hands in the fight against corruption, saying “what is going on is not about EFCC or Olukoyede in person or his competence but one against Nigeria and its people”

“It is not about Mr. Olukoyede, his competence or any other matter; it is about the fears of class suicide of those on trial who do not want to be either exposed or called to account.

“Like the majority of Nigerians, our group shall continue to stand tall behind any agency of government or private entity, whose mandate is to encourage transparency and equal distribution of wealth”, Ugbade promised.