PRESIDENT BUHARI AND THE ANTI-GRAFT WAR:

Written by LUCAS ANUFORO, Dublin Ireland

Email: peter.lemachi@yahoo.com

“To oppose corruption in government is the highest obligation of patriotism.”... G. Edward Griffen

All facet of Nigerian society is drenched with corruption as the day goes by; many avenues are still been exploited by the same old recycled crook politicians to pillage the country’s wealth.

Since Buhari assumed office rumour has it concerning the much anticipated anti-graft war but in the minds of many Nigerians, some believe that the effort of the dogged leader may be reduce to a wild goose chase hence it involves many highly placed individuals.  But being who President Buhari is; many see him as a man who can pull surprises.  Some ex- leaders have started imposing themselves on Buhari as advisers, thus pointing accusing fingers on the last recent government as the most corrupt regime the country ever had it’s like ‘kettle calling pot black’ this is a gimmick and hypocrisy just to avoid indictment and  prosecution from the current government.

For President Buhari to achieve his set objectives especially in the area of corruption he should do away with the so-called ex-leaders who try to play shenanigan all in the name of advisers but they are ravenous wolves in sheep clothing. He should remember on how difficult on several occasions, he tried to save the country from the abyss of corruption but this same group of so-called ex- generals- ex-leaders connived and frustrate him in almost every election even when he was military Head of State because, they were so much afraid of his persona especially for his zero tolerance on corruption. These men are like those who snatched the cub from lion and sat to romance with scorpion. Buhari should be very careful because they will try to run him down.   

He should also be bias-free and set goals for himself by probing all leaders who tasted power either, as military Head of state or as civilian President.  Let the anti-graft campaign not serve as witch-hunting to some certain individuals but let justice take its course irrespective of on whose ox is gored.

Even in the All Progressives Congress party (APC) Buhari’s victory in the last concluded general election saw many of these crook politicians as an opportunity and avenue to continue conning and stealing from the nation’s wealth should they be appointed as ministers or CEOs in some parastatals but unfortunately; their dreams have not come to fruition as the President, is yet to appoint ministers and same time looking for seasoned, quality and competent hands that will run the government with him. Let alone within APC, there are lot of dirty vessels which Buhari cannot work with. These are charlatans and dickheads who see APC as an avenue to re-launch their dented political career without knowing the consequence of what they are doing, with time they will be disappointed.

Within the APC there have been series of dissension after the last concluded general election, leadership tussle and individual’s self interest were characterised as the same group of loafers who destroyed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are bent to destroy the party. Though it’s not quite surprise in as much as APC is the reincarnation of PDP nothing good much is expected from the party. Moreover it was not the APC that made Buhari he is a self-made man, his record of sincerity, honesty, discipline and love for his country speaks for him. He is a man with an impeccable character that’s why is he’s so selective in making choice of decent men and women who will work with him to rewrite the history of the Nigerian nation because as the saying goes “birds of the same feather congregate together.”  

The anti- graft campaign initiated by President Buhari will be a propitious moment in the country’s history if the campaign serves its purpose because in recent years many ad hoc and panel of inquiries were set but sadly, it never achieved its purpose.  The country has invested much trust on the present government which they must not fail Nigerians. 

For sanity to be restored back in the country the government should give voice to the people and allow press freedom to flourish that is, the only way the public confidence can be restored. In recent years individual’s rights had been trampled and human right abuses hit the roof especially; from the law enforcement agents. Unfortunately the anti-graft agencies the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) that were set up by the previous administration did not achieve its purpose but rather, served as weapons to silence oppositions with lot of compromise from the officers working with the agencies.

Recently, one of the country’s national dailies ‘Punch’ newspaper on 26 of August 2015 published a tabloid captioned “Senate to probe Lamorde’s alleged diversion of N1tn.” That the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions will on Wednesday begin a probe of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, over an allegation that he fraudulently diverted over N1tn proceeds of corruption recovered by the anti-graft agency.

Part of the money alleged by a petitioner to have been diverted by the EFCC boss included the loot recovered from a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; and ex-Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun the paper reported.” Unfortunately these were men in public cynosure which were reposed with much trust but sadly, they abused their office and failed to leave an indelible footprint consequently; they have taken their own place in the country’s chequered history.

 However, if President Buhari is ready to be tough on corruption he should be also ready for a tough fight from these forces of darkness. In every sector of the economy in the country they make their presence visible waiting for the next opportunity to purloin from government coffer either through award of bogus contracts to their cronies or through budget funds meant for the fiscal year.

 The world is watching with keen interest on how the President will handle the anti- graft issue which he promised Nigerians earlier before he was elected as President to play fairness. He should to live up to his priceless mantra ‘I belong to everybody, but I belong to nobody.’ He must avoid every pressure from any quarter either from his retired military colleagues or from his political associates that may induce him to derails from his mission objectives.  The public expectation will come short if anything less than this.  

However as the President garner support from all Nigerians to fight corruption he should abide by the rules of the game and avoid repression and infringements of individual’s rights. There should be proper judicial procedures and process to all accused individuals. This reminds me of Friedrich Nietzsche who said “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”   “It is true that nobody is above the law but power can make somebody invisible.”- Toba Beta.

While all Nigerians throw their weight to support the present government against corruption the government equally should also reciprocate the gesture by being transparent in running open government and also try to diversify the economy. This could be done through competent and well proficient individuals with creditable record that will manage the economy.  This will signify a good narrative on how serious and eager; Buhari administration is willing to transform the country’s economy to a competitive and economic power which would attract foreign investors and same time propel Nigeria to an enviable position among the comity nations. As the nation enter into another threshold of history of governance let every Nigerian rise up and fight against the scourge of corruption which has eaten deep into the country’s system that’s the only way the country can regain its enviable position in the African continent and the world stage at large.  

LUCAS ANUFORO, Freelance Journalist.