A National Assembly of Panel Beaters
By Nick Apata
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
napata@nigeriahorizon.com
May 30, 2008
Forget about the enactment of laws, the nation’s lawmakers are busy probing Obasanjo’s government of the past eight years. All manners of panels have been set up within the two Chambers so as to get to the root of what is wrong with us especially our power sector. These men and women of law are so serious in their determination to stamping out corruption by our governments that they have abandoned every other aspect of their mandate so as to devote all their time and energy to these probes. By the way the new slogan in Abuja now is “we have become an Assembly of Panel Beaters so as to serve you better”.
In Nigeria, it is not unusual to throw away the baby with the bath water. This is what is happening with OBJ at the moment. Granted, the man fought his old friends as much as he fought his enemies. He fought and demystified ethnic institutions that had until 1999 remained invincible. He had no political constituency while in office and he did not bother to build one. He probably mistaken investment in political jobbers as a way of building an enduring political legacy. At the same time, he had managed to offend some of his military friends. But to cap his missteps, Obasanjo listened to those hangers on who convinced him that his performance was so great that it deserved to be extended beyond its mandate.
Yet he was the President of a stable Nigeria for eight years. When his attempt at imposing himself on the country was soundly rebuked, he did not slide back to his military arrogance to create any constitutional crisis. The business environment in Nigeria today is better than what it was in the past and the financial sector seems to be doing fine even though I find the huge profits being declared by the banks as mind boggling and unrealistic. At the individual level, Nigerians seem to be doing better but as an entity, the country is in a perennial state of disrepair. Given our level of greed, corruption, and obsession with the self, it will take more than a president to move Nigeria forward.
I have absolutely no problem with anyone being asked to give an account of their stewardship. I think that is the right thing to do. But when we do that, we must ensure that it is done properly. We must show ourselves and the rest of the world that our democracy is as robust as what they have in the U. S.
Leadership thrives on the notion of trickle down process. If the investigating body had done its job thoroughly, there would have been indictment of a few Ministers, some of their assistants, a few civil servants, and definitely a number of contractors. That is when you invite the President assuming that there is evidence linking him directly with any improper financial transaction.
That was not the case. Ministers who were invited by the Senate were hastily cross examined and let go giving the impression that Obasanjo was the main target. But as the Reps summoned the embattled President, it was without any political finesse neither was it well thought out. Obasanjo could have honoured the invitation so as to blast them in his usual caustic manner, but he thought the invitation was not worth a trip to Abuja, hence his claim of being indisposed.
By the same token, a similar panel set up by the Senate to probe land allocation in the Federal Capital Territory during Obasanjo’s tenure was unravelling a while ago. It was fitting that el-Rufai made members of the FCT probe panel look stupid for their lack of knowledge of the working of that department and for their total disregard for protocol. He was contemptuously implying to them that he had done his best for his country and that our under-utilised Senators should go out there and do their own bit for a reeling nation.
Nigerian politicians would never seize to amaze. Land allocation in Abuja is elitist and fraught with corruption. The so called big men of the country have managed to corner the choicest parts of the Federal Capital. Some do not know how many plots they have acquired in their names, the names of their wives, girlfriends, children and their unborn children. This land grabbing had commenced in earnest since the establishment of a Federal Capital Territory was being contemplated. Now a panel of Senators, people whose hands are as soiled as that of their targets want to fix the land problem in Abuja.
I have a suggestion for Senators Abubaka Sodangi, Smart Adeyemi and the rest of these pretenders. Let them go back in time and compel anyone with more than three plots (actually one person one plot is the ideal thing) in Abuja to forfeit those excess plots so as to initiate a more just and equitable land distribution system around the country. Until then, they must realise that their sitting have been nothing but a waste of taxpayers’ money. But when was the last time our leaders care about the people?
El Rufai is probably not without blame. I certainly disagree with his buying the Vice President’s guest house under such controversial circumstances. I am also sure of other infractions under his leadership of that ministry.
But if his performance as a Minister was to be compared with what we’ve had in the past, this man was a shining star. He was dedicated, fearless and brilliant in the performance of his job. Give me the likes of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Nasir el-Rufai, and Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and I can certainly live with their leadership any day any time. All you have to do is look at their scorecards.
It is ironically curious though that these are the same men the current government is doing everything to destroy. Little wonder the country continues to vacillate between bad and terrible. The real thieves and economic saboteurs in the country continue to enjoy unalloyed freedom, protected and buoyed by the government while the few dedicated ones who have managed to transcend our debased political trappings continue to be hounded by a government that prides itself on the rule of law.
Probe panels are an ideal part of the democratic process. If properly utilised, they are capable of showing us our past mistakes while at the same time they recommend the way forward. Sometimes reports of such panels become useful tools for government to navigate the treacherous political trenches especially common with emerging democracies. Considering the amount of public money and time invested in these probes, they must only be instituted for public good and not for political expediency or witch hunt.
Our elected Senators and Representatives must realise that the onerous task of moving Nigeria forward is the primary reason why they are in Abuja. It would mean absolutely nothing concrete if they come out tomorrow with an indictment of OBJ and el-Rufai without addressing the fundamental problems of corruption, patronage, incompetence, greed and other related problems that have consumed the country.
By the way Ayo Fayose, Chimaroke Nnamani, James Ibori, and Kalu Orji, continue to enjoy unfettered freedom as prominent members of the society while EFCC is being dismantled. Nnamani continues to sit on important Committees in the Senate while Fayose is locked in a public tug of war with the legitimate government of Ekiti state. Ibori hobnobs with the rich and powerful in the country, while Kalu remains as bombastic as ever.
These men, all former governors in Nigeria were accused of money laundering while in office. Their alleged crime is grave, it could be equated to economic terrorism, yet the hand of the law has been deliberately incapacitated for them. Nigerians will be better served by this government when the administration of justice is thorough but swift. And ultimately, that’s when any probe will have the desired effect. Until then, Nigeria will continue to cart away all available medals in the sport of shadow chasing.
Post your comment(s)
Other articles by Nick Apata:
Ribadu as Scapegoat for a Nation's Failure
The Houses Obasanjo Built
Wanted: A Few Good Men and Women
Barack Obama: The Dream Continues
Between Party Leaders and Elected Political Office Holders
Zimbabwe: Challenge to African Leaders
|
