BUHARI’S WORRIES:

Written by LUCAS ANUFORO, Dublin Ireland

Email: peter.lemachi@yahoo.com

“There are those who are legitimately corrupt, who cannot admit that legitimacy allows them to corrupt legitimacy, and to legitimately corrupt others.”...Justin.K McFarlane Beau

 “For a nation to be corrupt free, that culture must first be created through the proclamation and propaganda of a correspondent value system.”...Sunday Adelaja

Since Nigeria got her independence in 1960 no government had ever tried to fight corruption. All successive administrations were at one time or the other, the benefactor of this cancerous disease that has eaten deep into the country’s system.

The year 1983 saw the emergence of anti- corruption crusade tagged ‘War Against Indiscipline’ (WAI) led by the current President Muhammud Buhari who was the then military head of state that overthrew the civilian government of Shehu Shagari conversely, his administration was short lived when Gen.Ibrahim Babaginda took over power in 1985 since then corruption became part of Nigeria lifestyle.

In his second return to power, President Buhari's’ administration has witnessed some good changes mostly, with the newly appointed ministers who are at the moment doing some good job in their respective jurisdictions. In the area of recovery of looted public funds, the newly re-structured body of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has gradually restoring back the public confidence. Nevertheless above all these changes, there are still lots of challenges which the administration has to wrestle with.

Corruption will continue to be the most challenging factor facing the present administration hence some corrupt politicians are still making a huge presence in the government. In as much as Buhari is at the fore- front of the campaign against corruption but within his government, there are some dirty vessels working with him. For instance, the ministerial appointment of the former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi by Buhari may come to play out nasty towards the tail-end of his administration. Amaechi who was indicted with some other former political office holders by the Rivers State government over the sale and misappropriation of some state assets worth over 97 billion naira supposed to have been cleared from such indictment before given him any appointment. Even after much disapproval by some Senate members, Buhari still went ahead to appoint him as a minister.

History will not be lenient with the current administration if they fail to redeem their campaign promises especially on the war against corruption. Buhari should by all means set the record straight by distancing himself from the old rapacious and rascal politicians who specialized on embezzlement of public coffers. They have nothing left to offer the nation rather than to continue playing political diddle just to undermine the effort of the administration in fighting corruption. If the current government is to make headway against corruption and other hogwash and twaddle in the system there should be a total sieve of the old rambunctious rogues from the implacable and uncompromising men and women of goodwill who will be ready and willing to serve the Nigeria nation with wholehearted.  

Since the fallout of the probe of $2.1 billion dirty arms deal tagged ‘DasukiGate’ many political armed robbers are now on their heels looking for safe haven but the prayers of the poor masses of Nigeria is to see them go to jail for stripping Nigerians their wealth and their future. The time for avenger is overdue and it's payback time, for this reason, the sword of Damocles is now dangling and hovering over the heads of guiles and the Luddites who for their own selfish and inordinate ambitions reject and denied the country the millennium development. The race, Nigeria started with other developing countries like Malaysia, Brazil, and Indonesia sad to know, that two decades later these countries have both advanced economically and technologically they are among the group of emerging economies, whereas Nigeria still remains within the limping region in its economic development. These same political rogues who looted the economy and set country backward today are the same set of people singing kumbaya to Buhari’s regime something they could not achieve during their tenure. Sometimes it beats one's imagination that some past leaders who did not achieve a single developmental landmark for the nation could have the courage and temerity to cast aspersion or lay accusing finger to any failed regime. That’s hypocrisy at its height!

Until those past leaders who stole and fed fat out of miseries of poor Nigerians are sent to jail which will serve as price- paid for their wicked deeds the nation will not, witness any economic or developmental progression. These rogues are within PDP and APC watching the President’s next move. Some are serving governors, senators, Reps, Head of government parastatals, including former CBN governors and other key office holders. These political robin-hoods prince of thieves have amassed so much wealth which made them be highly connected and remain untouchable. Buhari needs to break these mafia mobsters otherwise, it will continue to be a vicious circle.  

 However, some Nigerians are casting doubt whether Buhari can carry out such enormous task without shooting himself in the foot. What about the campaign money he used for the election and the sponsors? Where did all the money come from? Did the money come from a legal source or stolen wealth? It will be very ominous to confront the demons. May God give the President the courage and wisdom to fight on and win this war that has kept the country in the dark since independence.

No country can fight corruption with a kid- glove.  Recently in Israel, the former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was sentenced to six years prison term for an indirect kickback of $140,000 which was given to his brother by a businessman.  He was also convicted on the second count charge which involves $17,000. Regardless of his connection and position in government, he was indicted without the state caring whose ox is gored. That shows a civilized society where laws are no respecter of individual rather an executor of justice. In Nigeria, corrupt leaders are free to walk on the street and display their stolen wealth without considering the opprobrious consequence their actions will bring to their families and cronies. Nigerian politicians are no longer stealing in local currency but in Pound, dollars and Euros just to enable the figures to go up a bit higher.

As the cloud is gathering for the big showdown in few months time, the keen interest and expectation of many Nigerians will be the prison locations where these politicians who have stolen much from the people will be serving their jail terms. This will justify the President’s effort in his anti-graft war campaign. Nigeria has been let down for so many years by this set of leaders who have ruled the country in such repugnance manner.  It can only be Buhari who has got such leverage to confront this legion of demons since it takes a great deal for a courageous man to do the type of cleaning and sanitation he’s doing at the moment. Equally; he deserves some pat on the back. Leaders of his type are few no wonder why John Kenneth Galbraith said “All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This and not much else is the essence of leadership.”

 The war on corruption cannot be individualistically fought and won but when collectively fought, it could be won.  Buhari needs support from all Nigerians if the expectation of the country is to eradicate the scourge of corruption just as Ebola disease was fought and defeated by the country’s heroic medical personnel. Together we can make it! God bless Nigeria!

Lucas Anuforo is a Freelance Journalist

Twitter: @anuforo

TITBIT

http://www.channelstv.com/2015/10/09/rivers-panel-of-inquiry-indicts-former-governor-amaechi-others/