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Obasanjo: Where is that War Against Corruption? By Ladi Ladan It has finally become a routine for Nigerians to wake up every morning with one or two eye-popping story on the pages of our national dailies, otherwise known as newspapers. The stories tend to center around our politics, the latest ones being the hurricane impeachments sweeping away governors who are believed to be unfriendly to the government of the day. This is characterized by misuse of state power, abuse of our constitution and flagrant violation of the rule of law and courts orders. We have also witnessed the promotion of despotism, stagnated economy, corruption, mourning as a result of plane crashes, assassination of both persons and character, diversion of national assets in the name privatization, wanton harassment of innocent citizens. All these are being carried out by a cabal that feels that it has the raw power to force things down our throats. Just like the saying goes “everyday for the thief but, one day for the owner.” The literal implication of this assertion is that the powers that be have had enough of their bite and now it is the turn of the poor but ever hopeful masses of this country to take control of issues that border on their interest as bona fide citizens. Many have argued that the present administration being headed by a military-turned politician has done so much and needs to continue in office beyond the constitutional requirement. This is the thinking that gave birth to the third term agenda that met its death on arrival in the National Assembly. However, I tend to agree with some reasonable and logical critics that have continued to bare their minds on the total failure of this administration – a fact that is imminent and clear for everyone to see and judge, except those that are afraid of being harassed by the government’s security apparatus. “He who chooses to go to equity must also go with clean hands.” Today, whether you belong to any of the aforementioned class or not, the truth is that the unfolding scenario in the country, is leaving no one in doubt that the so-called anti-corruption war and its agencies most particularly, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has other invisible functions aside the one that is being made public, like it is being used to harass, intimidate and curtail the freedom/movement of those perceived to be the enemies or opponents of this administration precisely, President Olusegun Obasanjo. It is equally a camouflage to dissuade Nigerians from knowing that the President that has always raised his voice against corruption is indeed the most corrupt individual as he is comfortably looting the treasury and the nation’s assets since the notion being created by his anti-graft agencies does not give room for such insinuations or suspicions. The internet was awash with news about the money laundering escapades of the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba popularly referred to as Andy Uba We read on Monday 6th, 2006 that he was indeed involved in a money laundering scandal in the United States of America by using a presidential plane to smuggle $170,000 into New York on September 22, 2003. We also read that the said money were purportedly used to procure a Mercedes Benz car for himself (Andy) while some part of the money were used to procure equipments that were delivered to President Obasanjo’s Ota farm through his girlfriend, Loretta Mabinton who resides in the United States. While the nation was still wondering whether the story is true or false, The Guardian of Wednesday 8th November 2006 validated the report giving it backing from the U.S Authorities. With all these happening at the same time when not too long ago, the U.S exonerated the Vice President, Atiku Abubakar of any wrongdoing, the big question on our lips is that between the President and the Vice President, who is actually corrupt and deceiving the people? This I believe is a big question but with a very simple answer, that is; he that is guilty of all that is currently going. Thanks to Almighty God as there are signs that there will be light at the end of the tunnel and the righteous ones shall be vindicated!
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