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Why Obasanjo Should Purge His Cabinet By Hassan S. Indabawa
“We must match our words with sincere, honest, transparent and serious action. Then, the world will take us seriously” ……President Obasanjo in a radio and television broadcast to the nation on 22nd March, 2005. President Obasanjo must be agonized by the amount of filth, which his March 22 public address has raked. Obviously, Chief Obasanjo has not in a twinkle envisage the kind of reaction his opening of the pungent can of worms, has generated so far. By sacking Prof. Fabian Ngozi Osuji and the Simultaneous dethroning of “Senator” Adolphus Wabara, Mr. President has unwittingly stirred a hornet’s nest, full of sleazes, both of who were operating either as “Hon Members” of the house, or, as members of the federal Executive Council (FEC) In spite of the fact that his action was received with mixed reactions from many observers; however, most commentators and analysts had reasoned that for Obasanjo to be taken serious, especially by international community, he need to be more assertive by widening his anti-corruption dragnet to rope in more of his cabinet ministers, who were believed to be suspected and or indicted for corruption. It is a widely held view that Obasanjo administration pays only lip-service to it’s war against corruption. While the Government usually glossed over apprehending a mere “pick-pockets” most of the bigger crooks are allegedly right under the bulbous nose of Chief Obasanjo. In fact, a study carried out by USAID in conjunction with some NGOs had indicated that most of the corruption been perpetrated under the present administration, are actually taking place in the presidency! Therefore, the outright sacking of Prof. Osuji from the Cabinet, for bribing MPs to the tune of N55m in order to increase the budgetary allocation of the Federal Ministry of Education, president Obasanjo has send a strong signal, that he was now serious to tackle this menace of corruption that had rendered the Nigerian economy comatose. Meanwhile, there was however a pending case of the former IG, who was also forced to resign his appointment on account of corruption. Many observers thought that Tafa Balogun, the disgraced former Number One Cop, could not be prosecuted as his case was becoming puzzling, just like most of the so many unsolved murders and assassinations that were carried out during his tenure as the Nation’s top Cop. More so that some media houses had reported that some Yoruba leaders have interceded on his behalf. They (Yoruba leaders) wanted their “son” to be accorded a soft landing, whereby he could be given an “Abacha option”, in which he would be allowed to return some of the N13b he cornered to him self, while retaining some. This is hardly surprising in the present-day Nigeria, where there is seem to be a parallel justice. Many Nigerians are of the opinion that justice is sometimes deliberately skewed to disfavour some body if someone has the misfortune to come from anywhere other than Oduduwa land. For how could anyone explain the Government’s handling of Dr. Julius Makanjuola, Afolabi and others who were literally caught red-handed, while the likes of Abachas and the Bulamas are facing the music? It is indeed this concern and the attendant suspicion from the public, that presumably galvanized Obasanjo into arresting and hauling Tafa Balogun before an Abuja high court recently to answer some seventy count charges, on how he corruptly enriched him self to the tune of N13b! It is also this perceived dynamism that prompted Mr. President to sack the Housing Minster, Mrs Moboloji Osomo, for selling Ikoyi Housing estate to some highly placed Nigerians, in a shoddy manner. Therefore, with the President’s anti-corruption crusade hitting new gear, it remains to be seen on how he would go a step further and purge his cabinet of any member whose name has even been remotely linked to a corruption charge. Though it is gladdening to hear that Chief Obasanjo has given his nod of approval to the probe of almost 10 Ministers by the Ubiquitous EFFC. This was necessitated by the volume of complains reaching the presidency from the public on how president Obasanjo had allowed Political consideration to hamper his resolve to deal with some of his “boys” who were charged with corruption. There is for instance this Minster, who has been severally linked to financial scandal ranging from the “missing” NNS African Pride, to misappropriating students scholarship fund, but yet remain untouched, as a result of an alleged Mr. President’s god fatherism. In fact, a judicial commission of enquiry, duly constituted, had indicted this serving minister in a white paper released by his state government, whereby he was requested to refund almost a billion naira he misappropriated while he was holding fort as the Chief Executive, in one of the North-Western state. Allowing these discredited and apparently political liabilities to continue serving under the clearly refocusing Obasanjo administration, would no doubt cast aspersions on the whole anti-corruption crusade. Also the palpable silence from the presidency on this issue and the perceived “shielding” of some ministers who were accused of sharp practices, from facing the law, would not in the least, portray this government as serious, despite Obasanjo’s recent volte-face in his war against corruption. Therefore, Nigerians and indeed international community are watching with keen interest on how Obasanjo could summon the courage and decisively purge his cabinet of these bad eggs. Indeed, it is the fervent wish of all Nigerians in seeing that president Obasanjo goes the whole hog, by dealing with these pretenders, whose political relevance is ticking away by the day. This would by no means strengthen our Democracy, sanitize our polity and enhance our profile as a nation within the comity of nations. The world is eagerly waiting to see if President Obasanjo would match his words with action. Over to you, Mr. President
HASSAN S. INDABAWA 6A AHMADU BELLO WAY KANO, NIGERIA 6TH APRIL, 2005 |