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Chairman Ribadu: Probing The Dead And The Living By Victor E. Dike
The story of Nigeria is, more often than not, a chronicle of struggles to deal with recurring home-grown problems. One must submit that the area in the domestic politics that has received considerable attention lately is the 2007 elections, EFCC and corruption. Some people are questioning the constitutionality of the proposed involvement of the commission in screening the gods for the 2007 elections. Why are they complaining if they have nothing to hide? With their intoxicating political power they are the problem Nigeria is facing today. Until now, many of them have been above the laws of the land, but the commission is presently making them to be at least mindful and watchful of how they display their ill-gotten wealth. Is it not interesting that many of them are now shivering at the sight of the officials and running for cover? The EFCC is making history, as nothing of this nature has happened in the history of Nigeria.
Nigerian dailies are awash with news of how public officials and “the old Generals” are acquiring million-dollar homes abroad and stockpiling stolen public money in foreign banks. And presently, the first and second citizens of the nation are pointing accusing fingers on one another. Yet they are all saints! They must know something about each other the general public does not know. EFCC to the rescue! How and why are Nigeria’s top public servants very rich? The EFCC is now probing both the dead and the living. Death wouldn’t save the looters any longer! Recently, there were reports of how the commission seized the stolen wealth of a deceased INEC official. As it were, the evil that men and women do lives after them. Perhaps, the commission waiting for the “big gods” to die before it zeroes in to their ill-gotten wealth?
The determination of the commission to demystify the gods has attracted massive public attacks from the bad boys and their handymen. And even some of his “learned” but corrupt “friends” are asking for his head. The commission is really doing a good; the chorus of venomous criticism should not distract the commission. Many well-meaning Nigerians want positive change; only the guilty wants it to be scrapped! The EFCC needs all the support it can get from the general public without which it may not be successful in its efforts at taming corruption in the society.
Responsible people account for their obligations. Recently, Chairman Ribadu revealed that “Over $400 billion oil money has been stolen by bad leaders” and vowed “to trace the activities of …those…who had laundered money…and [expose their] banks.” This shows that there is a genuine commitment by the commission to save the nation from the dubious activities of the gods. Without the commission Alameyeseigha of Bayelsa could have remained a Governor today, Mustafa Adebayo Balogun (former IG) would not have been jailed, Mike Adenuga would have remained an untouchable, and Mohammed Babangida, the son if IBB would not have been questioned. The commission should spread its dragnets to the big-time looters and the political contractors that embarked on white elephant projects and abandoned them.
Some people are complaining that the EFCC is harsh in dealing with the suspected looters. And others think that it has become a partisan outfit. It is not surprising that the bad boys would hackle and attack the Commission. Optimistic people look for what is positive in every situation. The EFCC may not been perfect, as the President may have used the agency to harass his political enemies. But in every war there are some accidental damages. Nigerians should be happy that somebody has the political will and courage to question the gods, even if the method may not be perfect. However, any person that did not care about the rights of the people when stealing their money does not deserve to be treated with any “royal gentleness and mercy” when he/she is being arrested. To really tame corruption in Nigeria the society should allow the commission to continue to dig dipper (even crudely) until all the stolen wealth are exhumed and recovered. Probing them is not enough; the nation should strip them of their ill-gotten wealth and put them under lock and key.
Nevertheless, there is room for improvement in the way the commission conducts its affairs. The commission should be civil in its modus operand. Nigerians should not be harassed, or use commando style of operation to arrest the suspects or detain them indefinitely. Those who need to be questioned should be officially invited to the office, but could be arrested if they refuse to honour the invitation. The suspects should not be tortured, but the procedure to extract information from them could be tough, but safe and lawful. However, chasing them around like criminals in the manner some members of the Plateau House of Assembly were treated in Abuja recently was too military. However, in a lawless society such as Nigeria it takes a rude shock and public humiliation to get the message across. Some of the rude drama should inform the public that the commission is serious and alive to its duties.
The real problem in the society is more of structural than political because the society lacks effective institutions to tackle corrupt practices. And this has hampered the struggle to develop Nigeria. The nation should de-emphasize the politics of “money bag” and ostentatious living beyond their means and begin to keep track of people’s source of income. The society should subject every person aspiring to lead nation to serious screening to ascertain the source of their wealth. That has been the trend in many developed economies keep tab of people income and require everyone to file end-of-the year income tax return. Also they hold their politicians to a higher standard. In the United States, for instance, even marital infidelity and traffic offense could disqualify a candidate for elective office. But, in Nigeria even convicted felons are masquerading as political leaders because there is no system in place to keep track of people’s activities. It is a national disgrace that some of the leaders have serious criminal records; some of them are known “419” scam artists and certificate forgers. The “Toronto” certificate scandal is a case in point; there may be many of such cases in the national assembly, if the nation looks closely.
History will see the reign of EFCC as a period of dramatic political development – a period the overzealous and powerful gods were challenged. It will be seen as a period of transformation that stretched the capacity of any imagination. The period will be seen as a time the so-called “great personalities” were forced to give account of their lives and stewardship. Nigerians are suffering today because those in the position of authority are mindless looters. A World Bank Report indicates that about $170 billion stolen from the public treasury are stashed in foreign banks. And Nigeria has been competing with Bangladesh and Haiti for the first position on the Corruption Perception Index. The on-going battle is a kind of revolution Nigeria needs. To sustain Nigeria’s democratic experiment there must be some serious institutional changes. The EFCC should be institutionalized and empowered to question any person who aspires to lead Nigeria: Police IGs and Commissioners, Ministers, Local Government Chair, Governors, National Assembly, Presidential aspirants and university administrators. A unit of the commission should be established in every state and local government in the federation; and a special court should be established in every state for expedited trial of any person or group fingered for corruption. And any person who attempts to stop the officials from performing their duties should be arrested. The EFCC is one of the best things that have happened to Nigeria and if allowed to perform its duties the 2007 elections could be better the previous elections. The reign of Chairman Ribadu will remain a memorable one in the annals of Nigerian political history because of his unparallel zeal to probe both the dead and the living in the quest to tame corruption in Nigeria. Victor E. Dike, CEO, Center for Social Justice and Human Development (CSJHD), Sacramento, California |