In spite of burning national issues facing our country, some Nigerians whose hands are supposed to be on deck steering this country in the right direction are heating up the polity unnecessarily or how else would one describe the noise being made over the decision by the police authorities to send the chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu on a one year
course at the Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies. EFCC as an organization should not and cannot be dependent on one man. For crying out loud, is he indispensable? Are we saying that EFCC is finished without Ribadu as its helmsman? Are we saying that there are no more credible men of valor in the force that could do better if given the chance? Then why the hullabaloo? The debate and heat being generated over this issue is an unnecessary distraction. This is because the aim of sending officers on course is to advance their careers in order to serve effectively and if such officers refuse to go, it would not only amount to insubordination but also appear as if they have something to hide. Don’t get me wrong, Mallam Ribadu deserves a lot of kudos for a job well done so far. His fixation with his job and the way he carried out his work with gusto is highly commendable. But let’s not forget in a hurry, this was the same man who fought a selective battle against corruption. I do agree that the men he has brought justice against were indeed
corrupt but EFCC and Ribadu not only turned a blind eye when it involved the presidency or friends and allies of the ex-president but also deviated from the initial motive of setting up the commission to being a willing tool in the hands of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo to fight his perceived political enemies. There are enormous proofs to show that the eight year misrule and maladministration of the ex-president was a cesspool of corruption. For instance, where was EFCC and Ribadu when the special assistant to the ex-president on domestic affairs, Andy Uba smuggled $170,000 into the United states aboard the presidential jet on September 22, 2003? You will do well to remember that part of this
money was used to purchase farm equipment and shipped to Obasanjo farms. Where were they (EFCC and Ribadu) when Obasanjo withdrew over N1 trillion from the NNPC and the federation accounts without authorization neither were they appropriated by the National Assembly? What is the outcome of the so called investigation of the ex-presidents daughter Iyabo Obasanjo over alleged N3.5
billion contract scam involving an Austrian firm? What of the Siemens bribery scandal involving former top officials of the Federal Government headed by Obasanjo? What happened when the ex-president and illegally self appointed Minister of Petroleum never rendered proper accounts of the oil industry
revenue to the relevant agencies like the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC)?Investigations show that between 2000 and 2006 Nigeria lost over $130 billion unaccounted revenue. Where is the over $1 billion spent on refineries rehabilitation between 1999 and 2006 that yielded no fruit and was later illegally sold to cronies of the ex-president under the name of privatization? This goes for NITEL as well. Where is the PTDF fund that was being spent like money meant for groceries? This is just a tip of the iceberg to the many corrupt acts perpetrated by the Obasanjo administration. The ex-president and his cronies embarked on the abuse of public office for private gain, illegal wealth acquisition, violation of existing legislation governing government activities, coveted state owned enterprises and properties into private ownership. Well, I do not entirely blame Ribadu because you don’t bite the finger that feeds you. Ribadu was a piper being paid by his master, Obasanjo and therefore had to play the tune being dictated. Ribadu should go on course. The ripples caused by this debate are unnecessary to say the least. There are better and much more pressing issues to focus on.
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