Is HE Really bothered?

A good leader is characterized by the level of pro activeness and decisiveness in responding to issues that affects his or her followers. In Nigeria today, it is becoming worrisome , the seemingly unperturbed disposition of our dear Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, towards the spate of cases bordering on corruption under his administration. 

In fairness to this present administration, the rate of corruption and maladministration in Nigeria under former civilian presidents and military rulers lead to the ranking of Nigeria as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. The advent of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2011 was welcomed as a new hope for Nigeria as he was the more preferred presidential candidate, most  Nigerian then proposed a political hypothesis in that “they are voting for the Man (Jonathan) and not the party (PDP) which was ironic as I believe a party and its candidate are inseparable.  The then assessment was based on the sincere empathy that our dear Mr. President rose from grace to grace with the punch line of not wearing shoes in his elementary days in Otuoke and knows the ravaging effect of corruption on our economy especially in the Niger-Delta, He would bring in change. However, the fresh air of relief after his swearing-in seems not to be breathed for long given the rate of continuous impunity in corruption cases in the country.

At several occasions, mostly from church pulpits to the holy land of Israel, our dear Mr. President have made speeches iterating the fight against corruption, he stated emphatically his resolve to tackle the evil menace which is the bane of the degradation in our nation, little is yet to be seen of the prosecution of any official found guilty of corrupt charges.

With so many indicators that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC is labelled as a citadel of corruption where gross financial misappropriations thrives as it is the major institution where past governments have collaborated intrinsically to siphon the nation’s oil wealth, the guise of reducing corruption by the removal of oil subsidy in January 2012 was welcomed by a national strike by Nigerians across the country. In tackling the rot in the oil sector, a House of representative Ad hoc Committee on fuel subsidy regime was set up to investigate the issue of subsidy payment to oil marketers, unfortunately the hunter became the hunted as the Chairman of the Committee, was caught on tape collecting money from Mr. Femi Otedola, chairman, Zenon oil, in order to thwart the report of the committee on indicted companies involved in the oil subsidy payment theft over the years. Since then the case have been adjourned from one date to another and presently adjourned till March, 2014. No one was asked to resign or was suspended.

In the same guise to investigate the near collapse of Nigeria Capital market by the house of representative

Ad hoc committee on Capital markets where Ms. Arunma Oteh, DG of the Security and Exchange commission, SEC, was indicted also with the case of the fraudulent financing of the controversial “Project 50” in 2011 to commemorate 50 years of the capital market regulation in Nigeria. In similar streak, the credibility and integrity of House Committee on Capital markets, chaired by Hon. Herman Hembe was questioned by the DG, SEC as she alleged funding of the committee to attend conferences and demanding of extacode monies amounting to about N45 million. The Hunter once again became the hunted, However, Ms. Oteh has since resumed back as the DG, SEC despite protests and allegations.

Another feather to the cap of corruption in this administration was the pilfering of about N32 billion meant for retired police officer’s pension payment.  The Anti graft agency arraigned Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo and five others on a 20-count charge on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust. The recent adjournment of the case is scheduled for February 2014, we earnestly wait to the final verdict and prosecution of those to be found guilty. Powerful and influential people apply inappropriately the controversial ‘plea bargain’ in the Nigeria judicial system in crimes like corruption, kidnapping, murder and rape.

The controversial CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, over the non-remittance of $49.8 billion crude oil revenue into the federation account.

The allegation was found incoherent after the meeting between the NNPC , CBN and the Finance Minister and Coordinating minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Sanusi later admitted that it was $12 billion that was yet to be remitted, however, the Minister of finance stated that it was only $10.8 billion. After further reconciliation and political ruse, it was stated that no amount was missing and that the money in question is part of the subsidy payment yet to be reconciled.  The irony of the story is the call for the resignation of the CBN governor whose tenure would end in less than 5 months by some quarters in this same Country where a minister indicted over N255 million car scam is still in office!. Is this to say that the CBN governor is immune to the endemic corruption in high places? Is there justification to his largesse of about N20 billion donated to six academic institutions in Nigeria in 2012 and 2013, where Lisabi Grammar School, Ogun State got N500 million through the influence of Mr. Tunde Lemo, Deputy Governor ,Operations, CBN?

Dr. Kolade

Nigerians have lost faith in the controversial Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, a further prove of this was the honourable resignation by the Chairman, SURE-P, Dr. Christopher Kolade, in September, 2013 although he stated that his resignation was not influenced by the alleged missing N500 billion  SURE-P fund. Many Nigeria criticized him for accepting the Chairmanship of the SURE-P initially and they predicted that it would lead to a dent in his image as a credible and eminent elder state man in Nigeria. Many Nigerian youths are awaiting the promise of job creation through the scheme.

The last is yet to be heard of the alleged purchase of BMW B7 series bullet proof cars purchased by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, for the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah.  As usual a committee was set up to investigate the matter –The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation’s report is yet to be acted upon by our dear Mr. President after many calls for her to resign. Will Princess Oduah’s latest certificate scam where she claims she had a Masters degree in Business Administration from St. Paul’s College, Lawrenceville, Virginia, US be enough for her to be sacked? I certainly think not, as the minimum qualification to be the number one citizen of Nigeria is a secondary School leaving Certificate (SSCE)… 

I sincerely hope our Dear Mr. President would tackle corruption especially among high ranking officers in his administration by enforcing the combination of the prosecution of culprits with his articulated communication of the gospel of his government fighting corruption in the mass media. This will give Nigerians hope and set the right premise for 2015 elections. God save Nigeria.