It is no longer news that corruption
is fighting back. Ironically, and rather curiously, its defendants are
allegedly able to employ the services of those closest to the President to
thwart his efforts at taming the beast. One remembers Goodluck Jonathan’s past
claims that his own cabinet had been infiltrated by Boko Haram sponsors (he
never clarified his statement) which points to the fact that virtually every
Nigerian administration since independence has been infiltrated by nefarious
individuals who fight progress, or any developments which are not personally
beneficial to them, from within.
These “cabals”allegedly take
advantage of their closeness to the President and ensure a “turn-by-turn”
scenario which operates behind the scenes of Nigerian politics.
Unilateral prosecution Meaning that
no matter who is in power, the political elite which is unified in its desire
(and ability) to plunder the nation’s resources always places its “boys” in key
positions so as to ensure that business carries on as usual and that they are
undisturbed by whatever the administration of the days’ plans might be.
We, the public, rather than calling
for the unilateral prosecution of whoever is suspected of corruption, endorse
factionalism (and therefore continue our own enslavement) by refusing to assess
any information without viewing it through an ethno-religious or partisan lens,
therefore ensuring that the politicians who benefit from this always find
someone to defend their misdeeds, no matter how grave. To put it simply,
President Muhammadu Buhari brought a knife to a gun fight. The political elite,
many of whom benefit from the system he was elected to change, aren’t in
support of his plans.
As for Nigerians, many are too
hungry and impoverished to realise where their interest truly lies. One could
ask, what came first, corruption and greed or poverty and unemployment? The
former (corruption and greed) enables the latter (poverty and unemployment),
while the latter reinforces the former. So one finds that Nigerians are still
too complicit and accepting of corruption, all too willing to justify it, in a
society where it doesn’t pay to be honest or hard working.
The latest scandal, involving
Abdulrasheed Maina, the former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension
Reforms,who was reportedly readmitted into the civil service despite being
wanted by the EFCC and INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organisation)
due to his masterminding a N100 billion pension fraud scheme, is yet another
example of the President apparently being betrayed if not by his inner circle,
then by a system that protects its own. How does a fugitive, a man who is
wanted both in Nigeria and internationally, return to the country without some
form of high level protection? How did Mr Maina sneak back into the country
without alerting the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, or the
Nigerian State Security Service, SSS? How could he have been so bold as to come
back and not go into hiding but rather, return to the seat of power which he
stands accused of defrauding, without some high level help? Who assisted him
and why? The President needs to make an example of those who covered for Mr. Maina
and put an end to the impunity which has always characterised the handling of
such scandals in Nigeria.
Not doing so will prove Mr.Maina
(and all those who are brazen enough to continuously exploit Nigeria
unchallenged) right in their belief that this country belongs only to a few
rather than to all. Who are these men and women who surround Buhari? Why do
they systematically seem to act in ways which disparage him, destroy his
reputation and why has he not got rid of them despite their insubordination and
clear acts of sabotage? Festus Keyamo (SAN) HE was recently quoted as saying:
“Calling for a change (of government) around this time simply means we are
saying PDP should come back. Calling for change right now means we are talking
of going back to where we came from. Calling for the change of this new
governing order means we are saying we should return to the culture of misrule
of the past.
“What some people are saying is that
it pays us to go back to that unacceptable place of the past, where executive
recklessness, impunity, indiscipline and irresponsibility, merciless looting of
the resources of the people of Nigeria etc. were the order of the day.We gave
PDP a chance and enough time to improve, but the party messed everything up. We
must give this APC government too time to prove it’s worth.” What is most
upsetting about the acts of sabotage occurring in the Buhari administration,
particularly in regards to the fight against corruption, is that it allows some
shallow minds (and some malicious, ill-intentioned, corrupt elements) to claim
that we might as well “return” Nigeria to the PDP (as if Nigeria belongs
exclusively to it). Don’t fall for it, Nigerians.
Those who benefit from corruption
are hoping we will prove ourselves to be docile, easily manipulated sheep. We
must hold the APC and its government accountable, certainly, but why should we
bring back an era that brought this country to its knees? Goodluck Jonathan THE
former President recently claimed that the PDP did well in 16 years. One would
have to define “well” using a very mediocre yardstick to agree.
Where are the billions spent on
power? Why was privatisation done in a manner as to favour only politically
connected persons, thus ensuring that incompetent owners of our national assets
are unable to work them to the benefit of the majority? Why do we still lack
critical infrastructure and basic social amenities despite his government, in
particular, earning huge amounts from the sale of oil at around $100/140
dollars a barrel? Only people who either don’t know what that kind of money
should have done for Nigeria or people who are part of the system which
short-changed the common man, could agree that the PDP did well for this
country. Nigeria earned N51 trillion from oil sales under former President
Jonathan which is more than half of the N96 trillion Nigeria earned in 58
years.
During all this time, the PDP, its
members and sponsors in both army uniform and civilian garb, have mismanaged
this country’s finances and many of its members still have the gall to tell
Nigerians a good job was done. We only have ourselves to blame. We allow it. We
don’t ask questions till it’s too late; we accept lies and propaganda so long
as its clothed in ethno-religious terms. The former President made no mention
of Diezani, Dasuki and others who claim they only acted on his orders. Nor did
he care to explain how his wife, a civil servant, or her mother, could access
the millions of dollars found in their accounts. In a sane society, a man with
so many scandals and allegations trailing him would have neither the confidence
to speak in public, nor would his party want anything to do with him, for fear
of being tainted by these unresolved allegations. But this is Nigeria where
some people believe the common man is at their mercy.
Prove them wrong by continuing to
question their tales and clamouring for justice. Court-ordered forfeiture of
all money linked to BVN numbers How is it possible to open an account without a
Bank Verification Number? Corruption fights back and finds a way to circumvent
every initiative meant to prevent corruption in the first place. Till banks
(and bankers) are fined and punished for ignoring regulation, the financial
system will continue to aid money laundering. Why would you want to hide the
identity of the owner of a bank account if not because the money was obtained
illegally? The flimsy excuses given by some lawyers and bank executives in
defence of obvious illegality is yet another excuse of the system protecting
itself.
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