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The Selective Justice of President Obasanjo By Abdu Isa Kofarmata
General Obasanjo has over the span of six years made Nigeria a laughing stock in the committee of nations especially anytime he opens his big mouth to talk about fighting corruption. I want to start this write up with a story about a minister in Obasanjo’s first term in office – 1999-2003. He (the former minister) contested a governorship election in one of the northwestern states and was squarely defeated easily. I was opportune to participate in most of his campaign tours even though I was not from that state. It was only a kind of political solidarity because we shared the same political Godfather then.
When election result were announced a few disciples of change and I turned his house into a condolence – like arena, where people came from different locations within and outside Kano to sympathize with us over the loss of his election. The living room and the entire house then were not more than a typical house of a village primary school teacher. In fact, every evening I had to volunteer my hard-earned N20.00 for the purchase of candle to illuminate the environment as there was no alternative power source and the house owner was not in a position to afford a simple rechargeable lantern.
The situation remained so until Obasanjo appointed him a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The first year was the year of demolition and the second year witnessed the construction of a mansion by a construction firm giant Julius Berger. A house worth description, in the elite quarters of NNDC in Kano. A 100 KVA generator sound proof was installed to take care of the incessant power failure by NEPA. The old V boot Mercedes used by our deputy apostle of change and champion of talakawa was replaced with Toyota V8 Jeep in addition to the other custom made vehicles. By 2002, the cheapest vehicle in use in his house was Peugeot 406 prestige. This is Nigeria for somebody who does not know it. Where people either elected or appointed into public office with bathroom slippers and came out staunchly rich as once said by Governor Joshua Dariye of plateau state.
Be that as it was, the focus of this write up is the selective justice of president Obasanjo as it relates to his recent fight against corruption. For those that know him or worked with him, it is not something surprising as Chief Sunday Awoniyi once said. It is disheartening that Obasanjo always choose to look the other side whenever his men are found wanting in the issue of corruption. One still wonders the type of sentiments being expressed by president Obasanjo in making selective inactions against corruption practices. For better understanding of these assertions, it is pertinent to examine some of these selective justices by president Obasanjo.
Tafa Balogun the former IGP was caught stealing over N13 billion and was RETIRED with full benefit but Professor Fabian Osuji and Professor Njoku who were only facilitators in the bribery scandal of N55 million were DISMISSED.
Similarly, professor Osuji was DISMISSED in connection with the N55 million bribery scandals and has already appeared before a court but Mrs. Osomo was only RELIEVED of her appointment with no further prosecution for selling federal government houses to some Edo thieves at give away prices.
The EFCC had to apologize to the former IGP Balogun for handcuffing and bringing him in an air-conditioned Peugeot expert to the court, but for six years, General Ishaya Bamaiyi a former chief of army staff (CAS) is being humiliated and brought to court in handcuffs inside black a Maria with no apology.
Again, professor Njoku was dismissed from the service of FUT, Owerri, for playing the role of “cash mobilizer” in the N55million scandal but to this date professor Okebukula is still presiding over NUC, in spite of his deep involvement in the bribery scam by playing the role of “chief collector” in the primordial case. Additionally, professor Njoku has already appeared in court along with other culprits in the N55 million bribery scandals but professor Okebukola of NUC is busy inviting foreign expert for university accreditation.
Another episode similar to the above is the dismissal of professor Fabian Osuji while Professor Charles Soludo remains as governor of CBN. Every Nigerian is aware of his N50 million DONATION to members of the national assembly. Mrs. Mobolaji Osomo was relieved of her appointment for dishing out government properties to thieves, but none of the receivers or beneficiaries of these stolen properties has been arrested and prosecuted.
The first lady and her siblings, Charles Soludo, Dora Akunyili etc, are yet to be quizzed or arrested by EFCC. In particular, the crime commission should question the sources of the over N100 million used by each of them to pay for these houses. Everybody in Nigeria is aware of the fact that the last gainful employment of Charles Soludo before his appointment to the office of Economic adviser was UNN, similarly, Dora Akunyili couldn’t make or save as much as N100 million from her little brief with PTF and UNN as lecturer.
The president was happy and also in a hurry to make a public broadcast on the N55 million scandal involving his minister and some national assembly members but funny enough the same president described the N54 million bribery allegation against Nasiru Mantu, the Deputy senate president by Nasir El’Rufai of FCT as PDP family affairs, that need no investigation and prosecution.
These kinds of selective justice or injustice by president obasanjo are not limited to corruption issues only. One can easily remember how that illiterate terrorist called Gani Adam killed and destroyed peoples property in Lagos and other southwestern states. He killed a police officer on duty, burnt down a police station, and carted away some police weapons, but he was not shot at sight nor was he arrested or prosecuted. His terrorist outfit known as OPC is still alive while he continues to enjoy state protection and even accorded a red carpet reception anytime he visited the president in the Villa. Can you compare that treatment with what happened to the Bakasi Boys? When OPC went on rampage, destroyed markets at mile 12, ketu, and killed the Hausas, Igbo and Ijaw in the apapa area nothing was done and nobody was arrested; then, compare that with what happened in Tiv town of Zaki biam or Odi of the south-south zone.
In concluding this piece, it is pertinent to at this stage, quote the ACF chairperson and elder statesman Chief Sunday Awoniyi on spiritual corruption of president Obasanjo. He said, “Corruption includes creating situation of uncertainty and stress for the entire populace in order to gain selfish advantage. Corruption includes playing one religion against the other and ethnic group against another for whatever gain.”
As for my humble self, I remain and pray to see when someone will become a president of this country, and one day insist that Stella Obasanjo and her relatives, Charles soludo, Dora Akunyili and all the crooks involved in the Ikoyi houses robbery be arrested and tried for engaging in that fraudulent act. With all sincerity, there is no difference whatsoever between that fraudulent purchase of government houses that was cancelled and the looted public funds that were returned. I seek to advise here that all monies said to have been refunded to these fraudsters should have gone through the EFCC, so that Mallam Ribadu can have an opportunity of knowing the sources of the wealth.
Let us at this time loudly say AMEN to the prayer once offered by the current special assistant to the president Mr. Femi Fani Kayode in the comet newspaper of march 18, 2001. I quote “OBASANJO MAY END IN UTTER DISASTER AND SHAME.” AMEN.
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