Hello, Ex - Governors

By

Maxwell James

maxodaudu@yahoo.com

 

Nigerians must commend the vision, strength of character and clarity of intention with which the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has repackaged the anti -corruption drive to go with the new democratic order. We salute their courage and their deep - seated concern for poverty wounded Nigerians. We are happy that this time around, there is more action and less talk by the anti-corruption czar, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

 

As I write this piece, the international and local media have been inundated with your dishonourable roles as former corrupt Chief Executives of your various states and your bizarre confessions ranging from claims of sponsoring, funding, aiding and abetting a political party’s rigging apparatus, to acceptance of guilt by refunding looted tax payer’s money. There are other dull tricks of evading justice (as some of you did previously) such as seeking bail or doctors’ endorsement to remain in the hospital ad infinitum. This latest actions of yours have finally put to rest the speculation that the last administration was replete with corrupt tendencies. Also, that Nigeria is a country where corruption meets greed. How else can we explain the disappearance of colossal amount of money running into billions of Naira traced to your private and cronies account?

 

Now that you have left the comfort of your government house apartments, take a look at your environment and imagine your achievement in 8 straight years. Rather you have succeeded in weakening your states from deep poverty to deeper poverty within this pace of time. Today the things that could be attributable to your names after all these years of self - service are crisis - ridden state, refuse - dominated state, high debt profiled state, educationally backward state, excruciatingly poor state with uncanny media fanfare to celebrate nothing even to the point of using God’s name.

 

 

All these have reduced you to a group of men that were given a unique opportunity to affect lives positively but ended up immorally enriching themselves and some selected cheerleaders. It may interest you to know that unemployed university graduates that your brazenness has affected so badly have resorted to job scavengers via newspaper vendors’ stands as free readers. In that way, they cease the moment to descend on you very heavily as originators - in - chief of their misfortunes. I have developed lately great affinity with these unfortunate friends of mine as they establish large debate club at these stands. As it is being rightly said vox populi vox dei ‘the voice of the people is the voice of God.’ I admonish you to seek atonement before these helpless Nigerians whom you have failed woefully. It is saddening that the National Youth Service Scheme can no longer foot their stipend of just N 8, 500 per month to serve their fatherland. What a shame of a nation! Your act has lifted Nigeria once more to the zenith of corrupt nations of the world.

 

My first reaction after marathon appraisals of the investigation report was to hide my face in utmost disgust. Our foreboding future can only find abode when characters like yours are allowed to work freely in the street. Your present home at Kuje sounds good. Despite our weather - beaten status in our rich country, we have continued to witness massive and unbearable poverty due to endemic corruption necessitated by your covetousness.

 

Nigerians have collectively resolved to support the ongoing war against corruption that you have come to represent albeit shamelessly. Gone are these days when Nigerians canonise fraudulence and celebrate impunity which in turn pollute the ethical hygiene of our dear country. Your on-going travail is also a beginning of a process of social rejuvenation as against the social anomie, reign of roguery and unvarnished dishonesty classic of the rule of terror that Nigeria was subjected to in the recent past.

 

When my views were sought about the ongoing mêlée, I did not mince word. I told a foreign media house that what we are faced with at the moment is a typical example of ethical recklessness that ultimately leads to normative chaos - a good example of what erodes every fibre of a sane social value. Even if shameful, some iniquitous Nigerians are still interested in sharing from your pickings as soon as you are left off the hook. For instance the demonstration against your trial can only be excused by beneficiaries or would-be beneficiaries of your ill-gotten gains.

The joy expressed by Nigerians in saner quarters is palpable because you have attempted to steal our aspiration and embezzle our future by leading the way as your surrogates (present Governors) follow - thus consigning us into the pillars of stagnancy and debauchery. If there is any social vice that empowers, patronises, promotes and encourages the forces of social retrogression - then it is corruption. This is particularly linked to my second home Jos, plateau state. Having lived all my adulthood and had all educational attainment in this former home of peace and tourism that can easily be passed as home of pieces and terrorism, I can feel the pain associated with the profane recess of basic social needs in the tin city. Today the prevailing circumstances in most of the states of the federation reveal the nakedness and litany of negatives that bestrode our various states like colossus during your evil reign. It is also possible that you were victims of Nigerian praise singing cartel with its enormous ability to arrantly smile at impunity, tolerate unjustified wealth, glorify the success and triumph of fraudulence, sanction the supremacy of double standard, eulogise indiscipline, promote the ostentations of arrogance and adore obediently any master with unmerited wealth like your Excellencies.

 

Against the backdrop of all these, I challenge all these columnists and Nigerians campaigning for your ‘unconditional’ release to state one credible achievement recorded of you that was not shrouded in corruption. Under your watch, education became criminally bastardised as students learnt to spend more time at home than in school. This is sad. All the agricultural initiatives that were sold to you by Development Agencies were converted to conduit pipe for siphoning tax payer’s money. What with the enormous loan facilities that were granted your Excellencies to lengthen the laudable cassava initiative? The hoopla was just a lip service paid to embezzlement. I may not like to inconvenience you with other gaffes in your past administrations, but suffice it to mention that your states were the nastiest managed state in Nigeria considering the colossal resources at your disposal. This may sound like a vendetta but many a Nigerian who has visited your states can confirm the fact that your reign was a reign of sleaze. The days of marooning all Nigerians especially the undiscerning and unsuspecting ones that only see your states through the pages of magazines, newspapers, billboards, and radio and television screens are over. Too bad!

 

 

 

 

For our present Governors or your various lackeys, please tell them your experience, tell them your inner minds and tell them that desperation for power and licentiousness could be counter productive. We all pray that as the crime busting agency steps up effort to bring other ex governors to book especially in the Niger Delta; it is not too late for you to renounce your crimes as Nigeria is a forgiving and loving country.

 

Maxwell James

Media Consultant

Media - Max Consulting

Kpansia - Yenagoa

Bayelsa State