EFCC and the Hangman’s Trick
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- Category: Within the nation
- Written by Kabir Mato
- Hits: 811
This is a few months into the general elections. As Nigerians prepare to go to the polls likely in January 2011, and with the usual heightening of political tension across the land is enmeshed in the usual desperation by certain political forces to entrench themselves and their hegemony over and above what the citizens may want, the atmosphere is getting charged and a lot of issues that are both ethical and unethical are at play signifying the dangers of what lie ahead.
I am of the view that the political class on the field and outside of it must be very cautious this time around because the unorthodox traditional contraption which characterized previous elections in the country might soon give way to either the attainment of the peoples will or the rapture that has been waiting to happen, God forbid.
I am of the view that what must be done and should be done is for both the political establishment and their cohorts to tread the path of politicking and elections with great and extra care and caution if we are to save this hard earned even if epileptic civil rule that the nation has crawled on in the past almost twelve years.
I can see desperation palpable and very thick in the air. I can see politicians and their appendages fast gearing for action at no matter what cost. When the Trust reported in one of its covers early in the week that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had earmarked some state governors and governments that have clearly shown their disdain for a Jonathan candidature in 2011 elections, a lot of skeptics wrote off and dismissed the story and simply categorized it as false.
The EFCC through its spokesman claimed that it was merely a routine exercise. Yes, truly it was, it is and it will be because we have seen systematic erosion of order and procedure by the EFCC in the heat of the 2007 elections against all those who were perceived as enemies of the state and its leaders. We remember very fresh in our minds the ‘EFCC advisory list’ which automatically disqualified very many capable candidates who were seen as threats to those favored by the ruling PDP across the states of the federation.
We remember how governors that were ‘rude’ to the infallible Obasanjo were dealt with, removed from office unconstitutionally by very few minority member of their state assemblies. Joshua Dariye, Rasheed Ladoja and DSP Alamiseigha whose removal opened the way for the current president’s ascendency to political height. it will be amazing therefore if similar or even worst tricks and infractions are not committed now that the major beneficiary of this disorder and brute reaction of coercive apparatuses of state machine is on the saddle as number one citizen who desires to truncate a subsisting party understanding so he can rule for eight more years after completing the half that he started with his former principal, the late Umaru Yar’adua.
When the papers reported again that the EFCC had stormed Jigawa, made some arrests, also in Kwara, one thing that came to mind readily was, this is a resurgence of the Obasanjo days, the application of odd tactics in order to cause compliance and achieve very cheap political advantage. We all know that Sule Lamido stands astute against the dribbling in the PDP high command. We also know that Bukola SARAKI Apart from being a likely candidate of the Governors Forum for the presidency in 2011, he stand the risk of facing the political tribulations of those that control the federal might.
I am very worried because in the ordinary, the EFCC must not be allowed to derail into a Gestapo that it was in the prelude of the 2007 elections. There is no doubt about the fact that corruption is both a local and national malaise in the country. It can only be fought if those who are charged to lead the crusade are a-political. Even if as the allegations may be, there are issues of corruption in these states, the timing of the fight in relation to what is palpable even in those states that ‘support’ Goodluck Jonathan does not depict any sincerity in the war against corruption.
I thought that after having witnessed what happened in 2007 and to Nuhu Ribadu himself despite all that he did to pave way for the Yar’adua candidature against all odds given the more falmbouyant political personalities that were in the presidential race, any one that finds himself on the saddle ought to be cautious and honest in matters relating to corruption and politics.
What is certain is that Nigerians are as sentimental as they are emotional. Nigerians thrive in insincerity and dishonesty. That is why the institutions of politics and governance are in deep shit and confusion. That is why it has become impossible to build institutions against personalities. That is why the national economy, national politics and society are increasingly on the decline.
Can the EFCC convince any skeptic that its ‘war’ in Dutse ad Ilorin are not politically motivated? Can anybody convince Nigerians that the hands of General Obasanjo are not clearly seen in this desperation to foist Godliuck Jonathan on Nigeria in 2011? For how long shall we continue to suffer this humiliation from the people that claim to be bearing our mandate?
To those who hold political power, it is important that they are reminded that they can truncate process and procedure as long as they find themselves in power. The frequency with which people are taken for a ride will ultimately be for the betterment of the society in not too distant future. It is clear that the people will sooner or later get fed up with these short-circuiting and the end result will of course be the entrenchment of what the people want.
As for Rotimi Ameachi in Port-Harcourt, the reported brushes between him and Patience Jonathan is a well known knowledge of most Nigerians. I don’t know why wives of public officials arrogate to themselves powers that they don’t have. I don’t know why the wife of the president should insult a sitting governor or is it a confirmation of the unintelligence thesis that those who know her well tell us of the first lady?
The wife of the president must remember that even in that rigged polls, her husband was not a candidate, he was merely a lackey. It is the twist of fate and irony of history that we are having someone who was never a candidate in any election sitting on top of over 140 million people and all their resources. She should mind her business and remain low key until they retire in 2011.
For the EFCC, the lessons of the past must be well comprehended if those who are on the saddle are to survive the tremors of history. It is just a matter of time. Order and procedure and not political linkages must inform the strategies and actions of the commission. It depends on how they really want to be remembered in the coming months, and years. It was just like yesterday that Nuhu Ribadu and all the sensation was there.
As long as the war against corruption is politicized, so shall the country continue to drift away from reality and get further consumed by vestiges of failures as exemplified by our contemporary realities. That is why the level of poverty in the country is unimaginable. That is why Nigeria ranks lowest amongst all oil exporting countries in terms of infrastructure and the application of the vast resources that accrued to these countries in the last ten years arising from the astronomical rise in the price of crude.
Governance in the country has been badly personalized to the extent that people in control of state power erroneously get over drunk by its opium that seem more intoxicating than alcohol. Where there is bad governance, there is corruption and democracy is certainly absent. Nigerians have a historic role to play in cautioning against the wrong hold and use of power as is the case with our central government today.
I can see the hands of Olusegun Obasanjo dumu-dumu in this Jonathan agenda. Let those who will hear hear very well that Obasanjo shall remain a political liability in Nigeria till the end of time. All those who think they can rely or associate with him for political fortunes and favors have missed the mark. Clearly, this obvert or covert directive on which the EFCC seem to be working against those who say no to Goodluck Jonathan is another colossal failure just as the ones before it.
Such infractions, humiliations and political muscle flexing shall water seed that will flourish the required national consciousness to challenge bed ruler ship so that Nigeria may live.
Our papers
EFCC and the Hangman’s Trick
Category: Within the nation Written by Kabir Mato Hits: 811
This is a few months into the general elections. As Nigerians prepare to go to the polls likely in January 2011, and with the usual heightening of political tension across the land is enmeshed in the usual desperation by certain political forces to entrench themselves and their hegemony over and above what the citizens may want, the atmosphere is getting charged and a lot of issues that are both ethical and unethical are at play signifying the dangers of what lie ahead.
I am of the view that the political class on the field and outside of it must be very cautious this time around because the unorthodox traditional contraption which characterized previous elections in the country might soon give way to either the attainment of the peoples will or the rapture that has been waiting to happen, God forbid.
I am of the view that what must be done and should be done is for both the political establishment and their cohorts to tread the path of politicking and elections with great and extra care and caution if we are to save this hard earned even if epileptic civil rule that the nation has crawled on in the past almost twelve years.
I can see desperation palpable and very thick in the air. I can see politicians and their appendages fast gearing for action at no matter what cost. When the Trust reported in one of its covers early in the week that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had earmarked some state governors and governments that have clearly shown their disdain for a Jonathan candidature in 2011 elections, a lot of skeptics wrote off and dismissed the story and simply categorized it as false.
The EFCC through its spokesman claimed that it was merely a routine exercise. Yes, truly it was, it is and it will be because we have seen systematic erosion of order and procedure by the EFCC in the heat of the 2007 elections against all those who were perceived as enemies of the state and its leaders. We remember very fresh in our minds the ‘EFCC advisory list’ which automatically disqualified very many capable candidates who were seen as threats to those favored by the ruling PDP across the states of the federation.
We remember how governors that were ‘rude’ to the infallible Obasanjo were dealt with, removed from office unconstitutionally by very few minority member of their state assemblies. Joshua Dariye, Rasheed Ladoja and DSP Alamiseigha whose removal opened the way for the current president’s ascendency to political height. it will be amazing therefore if similar or even worst tricks and infractions are not committed now that the major beneficiary of this disorder and brute reaction of coercive apparatuses of state machine is on the saddle as number one citizen who desires to truncate a subsisting party understanding so he can rule for eight more years after completing the half that he started with his former principal, the late Umaru Yar’adua.
When the papers reported again that the EFCC had stormed Jigawa, made some arrests, also in Kwara, one thing that came to mind readily was, this is a resurgence of the Obasanjo days, the application of odd tactics in order to cause compliance and achieve very cheap political advantage. We all know that Sule Lamido stands astute against the dribbling in the PDP high command. We also know that Bukola SARAKI Apart from being a likely candidate of the Governors Forum for the presidency in 2011, he stand the risk of facing the political tribulations of those that control the federal might.
I am very worried because in the ordinary, the EFCC must not be allowed to derail into a Gestapo that it was in the prelude of the 2007 elections. There is no doubt about the fact that corruption is both a local and national malaise in the country. It can only be fought if those who are charged to lead the crusade are a-political. Even if as the allegations may be, there are issues of corruption in these states, the timing of the fight in relation to what is palpable even in those states that ‘support’ Goodluck Jonathan does not depict any sincerity in the war against corruption.
I thought that after having witnessed what happened in 2007 and to Nuhu Ribadu himself despite all that he did to pave way for the Yar’adua candidature against all odds given the more falmbouyant political personalities that were in the presidential race, any one that finds himself on the saddle ought to be cautious and honest in matters relating to corruption and politics.
What is certain is that Nigerians are as sentimental as they are emotional. Nigerians thrive in insincerity and dishonesty. That is why the institutions of politics and governance are in deep shit and confusion. That is why it has become impossible to build institutions against personalities. That is why the national economy, national politics and society are increasingly on the decline.
Can the EFCC convince any skeptic that its ‘war’ in Dutse ad Ilorin are not politically motivated? Can anybody convince Nigerians that the hands of General Obasanjo are not clearly seen in this desperation to foist Godliuck Jonathan on Nigeria in 2011? For how long shall we continue to suffer this humiliation from the people that claim to be bearing our mandate?
To those who hold political power, it is important that they are reminded that they can truncate process and procedure as long as they find themselves in power. The frequency with which people are taken for a ride will ultimately be for the betterment of the society in not too distant future. It is clear that the people will sooner or later get fed up with these short-circuiting and the end result will of course be the entrenchment of what the people want.
As for Rotimi Ameachi in Port-Harcourt, the reported brushes between him and Patience Jonathan is a well known knowledge of most Nigerians. I don’t know why wives of public officials arrogate to themselves powers that they don’t have. I don’t know why the wife of the president should insult a sitting governor or is it a confirmation of the unintelligence thesis that those who know her well tell us of the first lady?
The wife of the president must remember that even in that rigged polls, her husband was not a candidate, he was merely a lackey. It is the twist of fate and irony of history that we are having someone who was never a candidate in any election sitting on top of over 140 million people and all their resources. She should mind her business and remain low key until they retire in 2011.
For the EFCC, the lessons of the past must be well comprehended if those who are on the saddle are to survive the tremors of history. It is just a matter of time. Order and procedure and not political linkages must inform the strategies and actions of the commission. It depends on how they really want to be remembered in the coming months, and years. It was just like yesterday that Nuhu Ribadu and all the sensation was there.
As long as the war against corruption is politicized, so shall the country continue to drift away from reality and get further consumed by vestiges of failures as exemplified by our contemporary realities. That is why the level of poverty in the country is unimaginable. That is why Nigeria ranks lowest amongst all oil exporting countries in terms of infrastructure and the application of the vast resources that accrued to these countries in the last ten years arising from the astronomical rise in the price of crude.
Governance in the country has been badly personalized to the extent that people in control of state power erroneously get over drunk by its opium that seem more intoxicating than alcohol. Where there is bad governance, there is corruption and democracy is certainly absent. Nigerians have a historic role to play in cautioning against the wrong hold and use of power as is the case with our central government today.
I can see the hands of Olusegun Obasanjo dumu-dumu in this Jonathan agenda. Let those who will hear hear very well that Obasanjo shall remain a political liability in Nigeria till the end of time. All those who think they can rely or associate with him for political fortunes and favors have missed the mark. Clearly, this obvert or covert directive on which the EFCC seem to be working against those who say no to Goodluck Jonathan is another colossal failure just as the ones before it.
Such infractions, humiliations and political muscle flexing shall water seed that will flourish the required national consciousness to challenge bed ruler ship so that Nigeria may live.