The most critical factor in the ongoing onslaught against corruption by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled Federal Government is President Muhammadu Buhari’s personal integrity. Buhari is widely perceived as one of the country’s few icons of moral uprightness. This is one of the factors that combined with other variables to propel him to Nigeria’s presidency in last year’s elections.
In pursuit of his pre-election promise to frontally take on the corruption menace, the Buhari administration has been dogged in its determination to expose and recover stolen public funds. Despite the persistence of inherited structural and attitudinal impediments, the administration has significantly raised the level of popular consciousness as regards the pervasiveness and insidiousness of public corruption.
The fear of the anti-corruption agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is, once again, becoming the beginning of wisdom. So far, the signal focus of the administration’s anti-graft offensive has been the far-reaching probe of military equipment procurement by the armed forces between 2007 and 2015.
In the process, there have been shocking revelations of how over $2.1 billion meant for the acquisition of weapons to contain the Boko Haram insurgency was criminally diverted through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), under Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd). This is only part of no less than $15 billion reportedly stolen through the criminal perversion of military procurement processes.
The top hierarchy of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s military high command and many leaders of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been exposed as embezzling humongous amounts in this scandal. A good number of those indicted have actually refunded substantial sums.
Following the receipt of the Third Interim Report of the Presidential Committee on the Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement in the Armed Forces (2007-2015), President Buhari has ordered the probe of two former Chiefs of Army Staff, Lt-General Azubuike Ihejirika and Lt-General Kenneth Minimah, alongside 52 other serving and retired officers as well as civilian contractors believed to be culpable.
However, some retired military officers and other observers have expressed surprise that two key members of the Buhari administration, Lt-General Abdulrahman Dambazzau, Minister of Interior, and Lt-General Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), were excluded from the probe.
While Dambazzau was the Chief of Army Staff between 2008 and 2010, Buratai was the Director of Procurement at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) for part of the period under consideration. In the case of the COAS, further questions have been raised by revelations that he acquired properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) valued at $1.5 million. The Nigerian Army has claimed in Buratai’s defence that the properties were bought through his legitimately earned income.
Also weighing in on the side of the COAS, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) says the properties in question were duly declared in the name of his wife as required by law. But what was the total amount of Buratai’s income for what period and from which sources? What does his wife do to earn such income? These are legitimate questions that cannot be swept aside by a government that places premium on public probity.
The administration has debunked insinuations that the report of the defence procurement audit probe was doctored to exonerate Dambazzau and Buratai. But the best and most effective response is to publish the report in the spirit of openness and transparency. Those who seek to derail the anti-graft war will do all they can to impugn Buhari’s integrity. This should be expected. They must not be given any opportunity to credibly do so. There must thus be no sacred cows in the arms procurement probe.
END
Read this twice now and still don’t agree that Buhari’s fight is one sided. And yes at the moment there are some sacred cows. Now these two facts can be argued but one fact that can’t be argued is that his fight against corruption has not so far been effective.
By my opinion it hasn’t been effective for the following reasons:
1) Poor judiciary system. Let us not forget that the judiciary in this country is also corrupt. I’m not just speaking from assumptions. Some politicians have judges and not just lawyers in their pocket. These same politicians are most likely corrupt and the same politicians who will be sent to court to be judged by fellow corrupt judges who with a couple of millions presented to them will grant them bail or keep adjourning cases.
2) lack of procedure. This explains the lack of finese shown by the investigation and prosecution of corruption officials and individuals. To start with we the masses do not know who to go and make a report to for certain crimes or practices. Is it the EFCC or ICPC or the Police. Even these agencies don’t have set procedures on how to handle or prosecute cases. Do we detain suspects or what are the requirements before we can make an arrest and so on. It is with this that we end up reading in the news how maybe the DSS for example who have no business in this end up arresting or detaining someone suspected of some corrupt malpractice. It leaves room for errors and loopholes for the accused to Exploit. It brings further mockery to such a necessary and vital battle.
3) lack of enlghtment of the masses. Honestly if Mr President is going to truly win this then he needs to realise that he cannot fight this battle without the support of the masses. The Tue masses like myself who have been affected by corruption of the past and present. The ministry of information and the national orientation agency have failed woefully in doing this. They need to come out and educate the people of the importance of fighting corruption and the effects of corruption on the country. Most do not know or realise that nothing can work with the level of corruption in this country. People need to understand that when a politician or government official is at some party spraying money or some nightclub popping bottles of exotic champagne, that he or she is squandering money meant for every Nigerian.
I’ll like to conclude this by suggesting that Mr President revisit his methods and be ciritca! About them. He isn’t going to truly win this fight or reduce corruption with this way nor with these people he has with him. I mean how do you intend to fight corruption when you have people in your government who have one probe or court case to answer for? How do you win when you have an old man in Lai Mohammed who doesnt realise that Nigeria is at war and as a minister of information, it is his duty to lead a propaganda and not be a politician about it. But then how can he when it might mean him biting the fingers that have fed him for years. The sooner Mr President surrounds himself with younger people of integrity the better. People who want to see this country move forward and where it is meant to be. Young men and women who are ready to stand by strong Morales and values no matter what. I beleive it is when this is done, we shall all truly march on and make longer strides towards winning this war. Thank you.
I concur.