Every Nigerian agrees that corruption is a cog in Nigeria’s wheel of development and want President Muhammadu Buhari to tackle the scourge head on. But most Nigerians seem divided on where the anti-corruption war should begin. Michael Oche writes on the uneasiness breeded by Buhari’s anti-graft battle.

Few days after President Muhammadu Buhari declared his intention to probe alleged illegally withdrawn of $2.1b from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), a group known as Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI) described the president’s decision to probe the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan as a blackmail and witch-hunt.

Though the group said it is “not against probing corrupt leaders in the country, but it must not be centered on Jonathan and his cabinet alone”.

Also, few days after agents from the Department of State Services (DSS) raided the home of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, on allegations of money laundering and treason, supporters of the former NSA described the action of president Buhari as being vindictive against the former NSA because he was the one who led solders to arrest him in 1985.
Indeed, where and how President Buhari decides to begin his anti-corruption war seem a big burden on his administration.

“We expect the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government not to embark on selective probing of public office holders found wanting before or during his government,” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson Olisa Metuh said recently.
Though, Metuh agreed that “Corruption is a crime against the people, the nation and our Constitution,” he also pointed out that [color=#990000]“If your hands are clean, you will not be afraid of any probe.”
Since President Buhari declared his readiness to probe past officials, words like ‘blackmail’ and ‘witch-hunt’ have suddenly found their way into Nigeria’s political lexicon.

Analysts and commentators all agree that the president has no choice but to recover stolen funds, if he hopes to raise enough money. But the question is, how can the present administration approach the issue of corruption without being seen as selective or vindictive?

“As is often said, he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. The advantage for Buhari is that Nigerians consider him a man of integrity. The president must take advantage of this,” president of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ibrahim Khalel told LEADERSHIP Sunday.

A public affairs analyst, Sunday Ajala, also said, “The truth is Nigerians are always going to be sentimental. In this country there is a lot of sentiments attached to religion and ethnicity. The last administration of president Jonathan helped to polarise this country along religious and ethnic lines. Now, and unfortunately, whatever you do in this country, no matter how sincere, is judged along this line. But president Buhari has an opportunity because he has the backing of  the majority of Nigerians. The truth is every Nigerian is tired of the level of corruption and want to see change. That was why they voted for him. People must be brought to book, irrespective of their political, religious or ethnic affiliation”

The problem of funds embezzlement was one of the major focuses of Buhari’s presidential election campaign. The APC candidate vowed to put an end to public funds stealing. After his swearing-in, Buhari on numerous occasions, reiterated commitment to his ideas.

Analysts say there is evidence that President Muhammadu Buhari is gradually succeeding, as his anti-graft war has started yielding results. The country’s foreign reserves has improved, some ex-governors have been arraigned on charges of corruption while some of the nation’s refineries have begun to work.

On his part, the president of the Nigeria Union of Local Governemnt Employees (NULGE), Ibrahim Khaleel, counselled the president to ensure that there are no sacred cows in the fight against corruption.

“Justice, like they say, is blind. President Buhari must be blind to region, ethnicity or religion
If you are caught and found guilty, you must face the law. By the time he approaches corruption that way, Nigerians will believe him. It is this position and approach that will make Nigerians more comfortable. I am very happy with the statement he made while in the US, where he said he would not spare even his party members. Now, he must match his words with action. Nobody is happy with the level of corruption in the country.’’

Also speaking during a courtesy visit to the president of the Senate, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Ayuba Wabba, said: “President Buhari disclosed that in the last decade alone, over $150 bn of our commonwealth was stolen by public officers and stashed away in foreign banks.

‘‘Amidst these developments, the feeling and perception of Nigerians is that our anti-corruption laws are either overwhelmed or do not have the requisite edge to respond to the renewed assault on our collective conscience by those taking advantage of their position to steal and loot our commonwealth, without any qualms.”

He lamented that corruption cases being handled by our anti-corruption agencies are taking too long –some having gone on for as long as seven to nine years – are often thrown out, not for lack of merit or points of law but on mere technicalities.

“For Nigerians to regain confidence in our anti-corruption agencies and the judicial process, high profile corruption cases need to be more diligently and competently handled and dispensed with more quickly and timely at the level of the courts.

“The NLC believes that the National Assembly has a key role to play in ensuring that justice is not only done but truly seen to be done. One of the most credible ways of doing this is by strengthening the existing anti-corruption laws, so that people who steal our collective wealth can be brought to justice far much quicker than we presently have.

Corruption will reduce once people know that there is no hiding place for those who perpetuate it and that corrupt enrichment will not necessarily be able to buy them freedom from the long arm of the law. Conviction of perpetrators of corrupt practices is how corruption is being tackled in other climes, where they have fought it and brought it to a standstill.”

On his part, an executive director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre(CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, said the war on corruption must be total.
[b“The fight against corruption must begin from somewhere. It must begin from somebody’s doorstep.
“In my opinion, the president is not selective. I am happy that people from his political party have been invited for questioning. Otherwise, people will say he is selective

“I think in the fight against corruption, cannot be selective. It will be a disaster for him and the good will he enjoys both locally and internationally. The fight against corruption must be total.[/b]

“We have seen some APC members arraigned. Even some people who don’t belong to any political party have been arraigned. He should go ahead and ensure that those who have looted this country are brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

“In my opinion, what president Buhari needs to do is to ensure that government puts more efforts and carries out thorough investigations before anybody is arraigned. Otherwise, it will just be like in the past where corruption is fought on pages of newspapers.”

He adviced citizens to be involved in the anti-corruption war, stressing that it cannot be left to law enforcement agencies alone.

Another commentator, Kalu Uche, said, “I don’t believe the president is selective. What Nigerians want is result  and the buck stops at the president’s table. Most of those crying fool are only trying to blackmail the president. We know they are hirelings. Every genuine Nigerian who is interested in the development of the country wants to see the president fight corruption”

midolian:
This is a long piece. Buh its worth the time of every "well meaning" Nigerian. And it's especially dedicated to the TANoids.

TheSonOfMark:

Leech, if you had an I.Q one-seventh the size of a proton, you'd be rational enough to realize that those being probed are seemingly those who are from or who are sympathetic to the cause of the arch-rival political party which is the PDP.

Purely incidental or schemed?

How come close associates of PMB like Fayemi who spent #50 million on a single bed or Timipre Silva who also funded PMB's election campaigns aren't being probed?

Purely (co-)incidental or schemed?

Keep mastùrbating to the delusion of your foolhardiness.

Happy Sunday by the way.

TheSonOfMark:

Leech, if you had an I.Q one-seventh the size of a proton, you'd be rational enough to realize that those being probed are seemingly those who are from or who are sympathetic to the cause of the arch-rival political party which is the PDP.

Purely incidental or schemed?

How come close associates of PMB like Fayemi who spent #50 million on a single bed or Timipre Silva who also funded PMB's election campaigns aren't being probed?

Purely (co-)incidental or schemed?

Keep mastùrbating to the delusion of your foolhardiness.

Happy Sunday by the way.

TheSonOfMark:

Leech, if you had an I.Q one-seventh the size of a proton, you'd be rational enough to realize that those being probed are seemingly those who are from or who are sympathetic to the cause of the arch-rival political party which is the PDP.

Purely incidental or schemed?

How come close associates of PMB like Fayemi who spent #50 million on a single bed or Timipre Silva who also funded PMB's election campaigns aren't being probed?

Purely (co-)incidental or schemed?

Keep mastùrbating to the delusion of your foolhardiness.

Happy Sunday by the way.

IdisuleOurOwn:



Have you send your petition to the EFCC?

Have you thought about murdering your English Language tutor(s)?

It's "sent" and not "send".

Few days after President Muhammadu Buhari declared his intention to probe alleged illegally withdrawn of $2.1b from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), a group known as Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI) described the president’s decision to probe the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan as a blackmail and witch-hunt.

Also, few days after agents from the Department of State Services (DSS) raided the home of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, on allegations of money laundering and treason, supporters of the former NSA described the action of president Buhari as being vindictive against the former NSA because he was the one who led solders to arrest him in 1985

People must be brought to book, irrespective of their political, religious or ethnic affiliation”

“I think in the fight against corruption, cannot be selective. It will be a disaster for him and the good will he enjoys both locally and internationally. The fight against corruption must be total.

“We have seen some APC members arraigned. Even some people who don’t belong to any political party have been arraigned. He should go ahead and ensure that those who have looted this country are brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

Upnepaa:
One simple question,is GEJ and others guilty of siphony or not if your answer is positive then your argument is baseless since it is lawfull for a govt. to probe its predessecors

They are guilty because you opined so? I thought there's no need investigating a person who's been proven guilty?

TheSonOfMark:

Have you thought about murdering your English Language tutor(s)?

It's "sent" and not "send".

TheSonOfMark:

Have you thought about murdering your English Language tutor(s)?

It's "sent" and not "send".

IdisuleOurOwn:
cc: Barcanista, Dearpreye, Whynothetruth, NDPVF,

TheSonOfMark:

They are guilty because you opined so? I thought there's no need investigating a person who's been proven guilty?

TheSonOfMark:

I take it that these are the monikers whose summissions have continually laid waste to your pseudo-change stance.

You haven't made any meaningful contribution to the issue.

Even the twin bickering voices in your head do not take you serious.

midolian:
Answer his question. This is not an English class

midolian:
Answer his question. This is not an English class

IdisuleOurOwn:


OK

Of course. Just true to type. We'd soon be on the second page and you still can't posit an argument of yours like others and myself have been doing.

joseph1832:
All these self appointed English Language teachers we have in Nairaland is becoming an eye sour!.

The thing dey taya me!.

IdisuleOurOwn:


Mr man, stop been sentimental.
You might live in abroad or you might be among those who enjoy the stolen loots.

But man, be reasonable for once.

You still don't get it, do you? According to you, GEJ is guilty of siphoning funds. Premised on that, I inquired about the evidence which lends credence to your assertion that he stole from the country and here you are with a retort about sentimentality.

It's ON RECORD that Fayemi spent #50 million on a single bed which makes him guilty of corruption.

I deal with facts which are rational enough not hearsay like you.

TheSonOfMark:

Who controls the EFCC? The President, right? Which party do the President, Silva and Fayemi belong to?

Why petition an anti-graft body which isn't independent and whose actions are according to the dictates of the President?

Why report to an umpire whose puppet master makes it prejudiced against seeming enemies?

joseph1832:
All these self appointed English Language teachers we have in Nairaland is becoming an eye sour!.

The thing dey taya me!.

It's "eyesore".

If anything, I am adhering to rule 21: "Please SPELL ALL WORDS CORRECTLY when you post, and try to use perfect grammar and punctuation".

The joke is on you.

TheSonOfMark:

It's "eyesore".

If anything, I am adhering to rule 21: "Please SPELL ALL WORDS CORRECTLY when you post, and try to use perfect grammar and punctuation".

The joke is on you.