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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on its corruption charges against some state governors and local government council bosses at the time the nation is looking forward to conducting elections that will bring to an end this present regime, is nothing but another evil device to cause political confusion that is capable of causing instability in the country which may not be healthy for the forthcoming transition to another civilian regime after decades of military rule in Nigeria.
The sudden corruption charges against some individuals by the EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu are political gimmick and ploy that will facilitate the illegitimate elongation of the Obasanjo regime which has been the primary aim of the executive arm of government headed by a power-thirsty and desperado in person of President Olusegun Obasanjo. There is no doubt that corruption is one of the greatest problems in Africa today as such the resolve and determination to fight the menace should be a welcome idea but, not when the fight against it has become an added advantage to the “powers that be” to harass and intimidate the opponents which it is the case in Nigeria today.
The Nuhu Ribadu-led EFCC has been in existence for over 3 years now. Though it has recorded some successes in the fight against corruption, but the questions are: Why is the commission being used to over heat the polity by indicting almost 90 percent of the political office holders or contenders? Why is it coming after President Olusegun Obasanjo’s dream of life-presidency has been shattered? Why is it that most of the key players that scuttle the third term agenda are the top victims? Are these not indirect plots to extend the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo after being denied constitutionally? Of course to every wise Nigerian, the answer in the affirmative.
It is very pathetic to have learnt that Nigeria as widely publicized by this regime to be fighting against corruption both at home (Nigeria) and in the International Community is not even recognized in that line. Isn’t that a cause to ponder in view of the wide claims by the Presidency that its administration is battling with corruption in all its ramifications? Perhaps the absence of Nigeria’s name in the list of the countries fighting corruption has proven that the whole exercise and claims lacks sincerity, integrity, moral justification which it has always claimed. And that the International Community too are beginning to see and judge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) the way many in Nigeria perceive it today.
In what seems to be ridiculous and counter-productive, the EFCC chairman, Nuhu Ribadu has consistently defended his inability to beam its anti-corruption search light on the President, sighting the flimsy excuses of the President Obasanjo (demi-god) being the commander-in-chief and also one that elected him into the office which he operates. In a nut shell, the man (Nuhu Ribadu) and the agency itself truly has “no go areas” as always reiterated by the electorates and that is why we have insisted that the whole exercise is “bunkum” as far as the issue of credibility is concern. In view of this development, the saying that “nobody is above the law” is automatically false and does not hold.
It is absurd for the EFCC chairman to claim he has no evidence linking the President to the N50Million bribery allegations against him to secure the legislators conscience on his quest to remain in office ad finito (i.e. the devilish and ill-informed agenda called third term). Those monies in question passed through the banks and bank accounts so, what evidence does he need? Perhaps the reason could be that, it is a “no go area” and that is just it. Moreso, all the calls for the Presidents unconstitutional and misanthropic conducts in office as related to the financial aspect of the country vis a viz the daylight looting of the treasury by the President in the name of privatization, the development of the Niger Delta and the power sector under which billions of naira have been spent and yet, there is nothing to show for it is not enough to warrant the demi-god’s investigation. Again, it is true that the EFCC sees only what the President wants them to see and even if there is nothing to look at, the agency then must ensure they create something out of nothing just to satisfy the civilian dictator. Haba Nuhu Ribadu!
Well, the President is very good at making impromptu u turns when the journey gets sour to save his face from come absolute shame. Lets see how the latest revelation by Ms Frazer, Assistant secretary of State for African Affairs on behalf of the United States of America on the William Jefferson’s case during State department Briefing at the Foreign Press Center New York city, where she categorically responded to the question and I quote “There is a very intense dispute going on in Nigeria right now, and the name of the United States has been invoked. The president and the vice president, you know, they have a lot of differences, and recently, the president invoked a response from the U.S,--(inaudible)—of the interpretation of the vice president. Are you concerned that the name of the United States in being interjected into what seems to be otherwise a local political (disputation?) between the president and the vice president? Now her reply “Well, I think that the references to one of our own congressman, William Jefferson, who has a case against him that includes a charge—an alleged charge of his trying to bribe the vice president. That’s the context, and that’s really a legal case. And I, frankly, am not privy to the case, but it’s a case against our congressman; it’s not a case against the vice president.” End of quote. Yet, this is another bomb shell that has rubbished the claim by President Obasanjo that the congressman petitioned him, intimating him on the ploy to siphon monies belonging to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF). Why must the president always tell lies even at the detriment of his integrity and that of the country and by extension the continent as a whole? Holding political office should not be a matter of life and death. The wishes and desires of the people must always prevail in a democratic setting. The fact of the matter is that the President remains a military man, with military mentality and military approach to doing things. That is why he has resorted to crude, barbaric, uncivilized and retrogressive way of doing things. He is indeed a bull in the china shop. He has turned the country upside down; hence, nothing is working in the country except ordinary speeches on print and electronic media. May Nigeria, never have this kind of character as president again, Amen!!! |