General Danjuma, A Thunderous Applause Or
Scathing Rebukes?
By
Paul I. Adujie
Lawcareer@gmail.com
New York, United States
Shall we offer General
Theo Danjuma thunderous applause or scalding, scathing, scorching rebukes?
A unique set of circumstances were presented in Nigeria very recently.
General Theo Danjuma of Nigeria announced a hundred million dollars
surplus with which he intended to do public good, for Nigerians’ common
good. And the reception which he received was uproarious, in the most
negative sense of the that term, this, even though he may have expected
thunderous applause and ovations for his “philanthropy”
Many questions have therefore arisen, the most crucial, among them are
whether Nigerians and the entire world should applaud General Danjuma or
should he be bathed and drenched in scalding and scorching criticisms?
Criticism predicated on the inappropriate means employed by Danjuma and
others like him, in gaining wealth and opulence in the first place.
But are the means peculiar, unique and limited to General Danjuma? Have
the rest of Nigerians who employed and continue to employ similar
identical means come forward with surpluses and plans for public good?
There are quite likely 1000 Nigerians as rich as Theo Danjuma, and this is
not because these Nigerians were making candles, matches or ice creams or
engage in any beneficial productivity for our society, our nation, NO.
Danjuma, quite unlike the 999 other Nigerians similarly situated, Danjuma
has come forward with remorse, contrition, Mea Culpa and confession with a
pledge to make amends and give back... and we are excoriating him?
When will we spare a thought about the 999 other Nigerians who are
remorseless, unapologetic... and are as we are speaking, still seeking to
get richer at our national expense and do so with impunity still. When are
those now shrill-shouting Danjuma down, going to arrest and stoned to
death, the other 999 Nigerians who have offered no contrition or
contribution or give backs because the got rich inappropriately or even
illegally?
Danjuma dirties our street with litters without getting caught in the act
or getting his just reward by way of punishment or penalty. He returns to
our community to confess and wants now to contribute and participate in
cleaning up... we abuse him... this, even though there were others just
like Danjuma who dirties, littered our communities and continues to
pollute with impunity and unapologetic and without remorse or contrition
or contribution or give back and we as a community are currently doing
zilch and nadir about the rest of the looters 999 of them
Why are we so hard on Danjuma, the one who came forward? We the most
religious people on earth? same us? Why are we subjecting the seemingly
repentant Danjuma to suffocating and withering criticisms
I am as good as the next person who pretends to know Danjuma’s mind,
motives, ulterior or unsavory. We ought to be prepared to recognize that
there are Robin Hoods, Robber Barons elsewhere in the world, historically,
outside of Nigeria. Abiola and Okotieboh properties depreciated in Lagos
and elsewhere as their families fought over shares of inheritances, monies
saved in secret overseas accounts are frequently forfeited abroad by
Nigerians and other African political office holders upon death, with
monies in bank accounts and or houses, flats and apartments abroad which
becomes the resources and wealth of other nations soon enough, secrecy and
all
A lady married to one of Nigeria former president received $40 million
dollars in bogus consultancy fees, and this clearly siphoning and capital
flight from Nigeria to the ensuring continuing underdevelopment. Questions
to be asked of these characters, should include, the source of funding for
the American University in Nigeria. What is their annual budget? And how,
within such budget could they afford $40 million dollars as “consultancy
fees” within a very short period of time? And what exactly is the nature
of such consultancy services? What other similar consultancies have the
entities and character performed or undertaken for institutions similar in
the same categories as American University? What is their track record of
performance and revenue generation and tax payments etc?
There is a pattern in all of these, nods and winks are offered to those
who siphon money out of Nigeria, nay Africa, then, we have a deprived
education sector, as other sectors, without resources or adequate funding.
I recently attended a forum or public event, facilitated by The New York
Times Reuters, so-called Education initiatives, where begging to fund
education in Tanzania was essentially the issue, that is, begging for
funding in the midst of abundance in the case of Nigeria for instance
I quite clearly recognize the importance of best business practices, and
how crucial accountability and transparency is, for growth and development
in Africa, and worldwide. However, in this particular instance of Danjuma
action or pronouncements, in comparison with others like him in the
Nigerian environment, who are not atoning or repentant, I do have a clear
understanding of the clear distinction, between “What is, and what ought
to be. And the difference between utopia versus reality as reconciled
There should be no confusing my position here with defending those who do
not play by the rules in Nigeria. Those who act inappropriately and do so
frequently and with impunity. I have no respect or admiration for those
who pillage and plunder our collective national wealth of resources and
patrimony
My stance here, should not be mistaken for any suggestion that Danjuma and
others, should have neglected to pay taxes, play by the rules and adhered
to best business practices from the beginning and in the first place. But
Danjuma’s public announcements have taken us quite beyond that initial
point. We are therefore well past the issues of questionable methodologies
of oil block or oil well allocations to private citizens who are well
connected to those at the helms of government, instead of, say,
allocations based on competitive bidding contracts which allocates oil
wells to entities with the wherewithal and resources for oil exploration
and exploitation, with kind regard to maintaining a balance in ecosystem
and clean safe and unpolluted and without degrading our environment.
We are here addressing 500 million dollars steps beyond that infant stage.
Money is declared as profit, “owner” of the money, offer a fraction,
albeit, a tiny fraction, and others, similarly situated, are unwilling to
offer identical tiny fractions of their loot from same identical source,
why hang Danjuma for being a tad better than the rest of his constipated
class Nigerians?
There is nothing here to suggest that there should be dancing in the
streets by Nigerians in celebrating Danjuma as patron saint and angel,
angel he is certainly not. But in comparison to other Nigerians in his
class, he comes out of all of these smelling like fresh cut roses or
basil!
There was this Nigerian cartoon which I saw last year, it portrayed a man,
and an armed robber, the man being robbed of bags of money admonishes the
robber for his robbery, and asks, how can you do this to a senator? The
armed robbers now retorted, “in that case, give me what belongs to me, you
senator, stole the peoples’ wealth” It is quite understandable therefore,
that in this context, it can be successfully argued, that Danjuma is
merely returning to us, what belonged to us, all along. But, the truth of
the matter is that there many more like Danjuma, who are splendidly
uninterested in returning to us, what belonged to us, or sharing or using
part of it to “burnish or launder” their image, so what do we say to those
others? What are we doing about those others, even as we subject Danjuma
to these public damnations?
What all the above statements of criticisms directed at Danjuma omit and
ignore, is the fact that in Nigeria, there are 500 or 1000 more persons as
rich or richer than Danjuma and quite unlike Danjuma, they have impunity,
continuing impunity, they offer no contrition, they are remorseless, and
unrelenting in their pillage and plunder. Danjuma is a Robbin Hood or
Robber Baron, but where are the others?
Give Danjuma a break already, especially when we consider him alongside
the others, in comparative and analytical terms! So far, too many people
seem merely satisfied to have an emotional reaction devoid of the cost
benefit analysis of accepting the return of one hundred million dollars by
Danjuma to the people of Nigeria, compared with rejecting the amount, in
the face of the high rate of unemployment and abject poverty in our
homeland.
What we should be debating here, in my view therefore, is how the $100
million dollars largess should be utilized for the maximum benefits of
Nigeria's poor or might be better invested and managed for public good,
adding value to Nigeria’s wealth and happiness and without opprobrium and
penalty to Danjuma.
In this regard, there are examples to be had as to how other nations deal
with matter such as these. Recently, President Obama of the United States
of America, eschewed penalties and punishments in waivers for Americans
who operated bank accounts outside the United States. There were about 55,
000 Americans engaged in offshore banking through the Swiss Banking
System. President Obama eschewed punishments and penalties, when those
engaged in these activities, came forward to disclose their offshore
accounts and outstanding tax liabilities and obligations etc, during a
moratorium and amnesty period.
Nigerians and Nigeria, can similarly, allow, Danjuma release the $100
million dollars, perhaps other millionaires, billionaires, Nigerians who
got rich through similar-identical process, will get jealous of the
admiration-adulation Danjuma gets for doing Nigerians the "favor" of
returning the $100 million dollars... and then, this might just spur
competition between the billionaires and millionaires to do public good
for our common good? Who knows? Conversely, Nigerians can engage in
endless tirades directed at Danjuma, and in essence, kill his initiative,
in the act of giving back or returning our wealth for our use.
First of all, we must ask ourselves whether there are currently efficient
and effective instruments or machinery to compelling Danjuma and other
millionaires-billionaires, to pay tax and dislodge monies in recompense
for their sordid rules averse pasts. We must also as pointedly state,
when, for instance, we plan to hold others to account for their imperfect
or greedy pasts. Are there immediate plans to compel good behavior from
our rule averse decadent millionaires billionaires? Are we arresting or
doing something about those other Nigerians and non-Nigerians who
identically-similarly got rich inappropriately, unethically, at the
expense of Nigerians and Nigeria, if not, why are we so emotional about
Danjuma who is returning some money? Danjuma who is arguably atoning for
his sins? His past?
Nigerians including myself, will be satisfied if General Theo. Danjuma
should invest or use the $100 million dollars in Niger Delta where there
are polluted rivers and streams and farmlands due to oil prospecting and
exploration activities which have resulted to ruined farmlands and
polluted rivers and streams, with consequent sufferings and hardships to
Niger Delta locals, whose livelihood are deprived and denied, through
unconscionable oil spillages and wanton environmental degradations, for
decades
A majority of Nigerians and myself, will be satisfied, if Danjuma funds
and build Low Cost Housing in the Niger Delta or award scholarships
directed at Niger Delta citizens, and perhaps nationwide. After all,
nations are only as developed, advanced and great relative to their
investment in education and increase in her national knowledge base
In all of these therefore, the crucial point remains, which is that,
Danjuma might not be a saint, but there are many incontrovertible
Double-Devils in Nigeria, unrepentant devils, industrial strength devils.
Why then, does it appear that those criticizing Danjuma so harshly, seemed
to have lost sight of the environment in which Danjuma and the rest of us
have been operating and still do? Why now, play holier than Holies? Why
must a repentant Danjuma’s blood be the one with which some seek to
exorcise Nigeria
Why the fixation on the guy with some contrition/remorse. The lopsided
nature of our social-political structure has not changed. Rules regarding
transparency and accountability enforcements or the lack thereof, is still
same. Machinery and tools of enforcements are unchanged or nonexistent. We
may add that, by the way, new oil blocks are about to be allocated, even
as we debate these issues now.
The point is well taken about preferred emphasis on insisting on Best
Business Practices, and the decent and morally outstanding idea, of not
entrenching and or, encouraging a culture of Robber Barons and actors who
frequently act impunity
Nigerians must judge Danjuma by a fair, reasonable and even, I dare say,
an equitable standard. Let us see Danjuma as one of our debtors among
hundreds of debtors. He is repentant and willing to atone for his debt,
even if grudgingly and in bits and pieces. Comparatively, there are the
others, who are equally or more indebted to us. But who are unwilling to
atone or repent or return and repay us the debt they owe us, or return
what the stole, looted, pillaged and plundered with impunity and
immeasurable greed, how then do they stack up against the tearfully
repentant Danjuma?
Instead of holding Danjuma‘s feet to the fires, and engaging in moral
preachments, Nigerians ought to focus on how to invest the money which
Danjuma plan to return. We know that $100 million dollars can build and
equip state of the art hospital, in Katsina State of Nigeria, the home
state of our President Umaru Musa YarAdua, a hospital which could be a
replica of the Jeddah Hospital in Saudi Arabia, or any good hospital in
the world, so that we can bring our president home, for treatment and
recuperation, after all, having him abroad for almost a hundred days is
poignant metaphorical indictment of the decadence in our health care
system or medical infrastructure, and it is also a monument embarrassment
to our prestige and national pride; our president the symbol of our
nation! It is monumental embarrassment to have him in Saudi Arabia for
another 100 days! Has anyone inquired how much President YarAdua's
hospitalization is costing Nigerians?
Additionally, we Nigerians also know that $100 million dollars will fix
Nigerian refineries or build new refinery and enhance regular petroleum
supply throughout Nigeria, hence big relief and alleviation of sufferings
and hardships in our homeland as a consequence of frequent petrol shortage
or scarcities.
Furthermore, $100 million dollars can be donated to all medical schools in
Nigeria for medical research and or, a good addition to the poor funding
of the education sector in Nigeria, which is currently less than 5% of
Nigeria’s annual budget and a far cry from the UNESCO recommended 30%,
especially if Nigeria aspires to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals
or MDGs
Our nation currently generate and transmit energy in inadequate megawatts,
and as such, $100 million dollars could be devoted to energy research, so
that in our life time. There will be steady supply of electricity in all
the 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria, all 36 states and the Federal
Capital Territory, Abuja with such additional investment in energy
research and development, preferably, new energy in these modern times of
solar, nuclear, wind, hydro electric and varieties of energy sources.
Pipe borne water in Abuja, clean water anyone? $100 million dollars well
targeted, would help and go a long way, to ensuring the provision of clean
water for domestic use in Nigeria. It is public knowledge that many
avoidable and preventable diseases arises from drinking and use of unsafe
water supplies in Nigeria
There are many other Nigerian individuals similarly situated sans oil
blocks and donations
Foreign Oil Companies have command and control of all the oil blocks
originally awarded to individuals. And how many of these oil companies are
good, responsible corporate citizens? How many of them have foundations
established for promoting Nigerians and Nigeria‘s public interests? How
many of them sponsor Nigeria’s Olympics Committee efforts or International
sports fiestas, just as most of those same companies do in America and
Europe in their home countries?
All these entities and persons are merely parasitic opportunists., but,
perhaps Danjuma is arguably an opportunist with a human
face/heart/conscience or remorse? Is having a human-face, heart,
conscience and or remorse not better than unrepentant impunity?
Again, it must be remembered that Nigerians and Nigeria must not be
discussed in vacuum, but in comparison with historical happenstances in
other nations similar to ours. After all, proceeds-profits or blood-money
from slavery is the foundation of the bulk of western industrialization.
Proceeds-profits from slavery was used to establish the now world famous
Harvard University veritas my veritas
There are many other Nigerian individuals similarly situated sans oil
blocks and donations
Foreign Oil Companies have command and control of all the oil blocks
originally awarded to individuals such as Danjuma. I quite understand any
argument ideally, justice should be blind to the idiosyncratic
peculiarities of citizen Ibori and citizen IBB. In my law enforcement
mode, I take the view that if you do the crime you do the time etc. I also
know about the essence of justice and when a plea bargain might just serve
the end of justice. But, here is plea bargain or deal, a Nolle Prosecui, a
half-way house for Danjuma
This is therefore about half-decent or extremely indecent or half-loaf
versus no-loaf gesture on the part of a repentant and an atoning Danjuma,
who is, in my view, deserving of our circumspect reconsideration and not
deserving of being ostracized. The situation which we have in our hands is
rather not ideal or perfect, we are not yet in utopia. It is what it is,
we have to work with what we have and make do.
This situation we have is, as if a guy owes you a hundred dollars for a
year, he eventually offer a bit of it, say thirty dollars, and as your
lawyer, I will advise you to take it. But, your argument in favor of
rejecting the payments in bits, is hinged on the fact that you do not
want the money broken up, because that would make nonsense of the huge
money your lent in bulk, t is devalued over time etc... But would you
rather that you are not paid at all, forever?
In all of these, Nigerians must bear in mind that there are plenty other
debtors of ours, who are not willing to pay anything shows no contrition
or remorse. Important question remain, and they are whether half-decent or
totally indecent persons are preferable. And whether half-loaf or no loaf
is better?
We must strive to focus on the big picture, instead of appearing to
completely missed the thrusts of the competing arguments, as to what
constitutes Nigerians’ and Nigeria’s best interests.
It is almost trite to note here, that we are all aware of the impact of
corruption on Nigeria. We are all also aware of the roles of persons such
as Danjuma and others, and their various roles in specific exactitude!
This knowledge of our society, our nation and the role of individuals,
including unsavory characters, is reason why, I have publicly stated in
published opinions, in the past, that the magnitude and
pervasive-permeating impact of corruption on Nigeria, is worse than the
impact of terrorism on America and her western allies.
All things considered, the ideal or perfect situation would have been to
have all those responsible for Nigeria's poor state of affairs, already
arrested, tried and detained in maximum security prison, and I am not here
saying arrested, tried and jailed persons, should be let go without
consequences for their criminal, antisocial and inappropriate enrichment.
Instead, my stand is that laws on the books are only as good as their
enforcements and bite. Laws and rules which are not enforced, are dead
laws and rules.
If Nigeria had enforced existing rules and laws, the pillaging and
plundering will not occur, but if they did, there would have been swift
moves to hold those who break the rules and the laws to account. In that
regard, I would have liked to be the prosecutor, I would have ensured the
convictions and lock up of those avaricious and unconscionably greedy
persons who have deprived Nigerians and Nigeria development, advancement
and greatness and I would have been willing to swallow the keys to their
prisons!
But, it is not the case that Nigeria is currently making looters face
justice. Therefore, when the time comes and others like Danjuma are being
punished, I will revise my current stance. However, what we currently
have, is not quite a situation in which many looters have been compelled
to account and to face justice and if a plethora of others are not facing
penalties and punishment, why hold the atoning, and repentant Danjuma to a
separate, and even, quite unreasonable standard? Why is it not okay for
therefore to assert that Danjuma is better, a scintilla better than all
the others, at a minimum? In all of this, we must recognize the difference
between what ought to be, and what is real and what is. As the aphorism
goes, if wishes were horses, even beggars would have horses on which to
ride, but, we know they do not.
Many of those who have pillaged and plundered Nigeria are doubly evil, as
they routinely stash their loot overseas. These looters, Nigerians and
non-Nigerians among them, individuals and corporations included, have
always deprived Nigeria twice, through stealing and then, not investing
the stolen wealth within Nigeria. Some human beings they have a lot, they
still want more. Is there a chance, that Danjuma’s act or mere
pronouncement, may actually register something in the radar of Babangida,
Ibori,, Cecilia Ibru, or Akingbola etc. Greed, avarice, unconscionable
accumulation of wealth, at the expense of long term public interest should
be discouraged in every society. Encouraging citizens to put public and
private wealth and resources for the benefit of all members of our society
and nation must be emphasized.
General Danjuma is apparently doing inelegantly, and imperfectly, what
others haven not done, and are still unwilling to do, the truth is, there
are still many others, who are quite unwilling to broach at all, what
Danjuma is being scolded for. Danjuma openly does albeit inelegantly what
others in Nigeria are unwilling to do, Danjuma may have opened a Pandora’s
box or a new window into the Nigerian human soul, and this may well be a
paradigm shift in national attitude, at the very minimum or at the very
least, Danjuma act or surprise announcement, has opened a national
dialogue or conversations about the “morality” of wealth. An oxymoron,
and mutually exclusive terms?
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