“Just as it is impossible not to taste the
honey or the poison that finds itself at the tip of the tongue, so it is impossible
for a Government servant not to eat up at least a bit of the King's
revenue".
Katyla, 300 BC
It is sad to see, hear and read, and indeed,
very nauseating, that some Nigerians, whether in high or low places, are
advocating to "let bygone be bygone" and leave looters alone. This is
very sad; however, it is expected and unsurprising to me, knowing the hypocrisy
and praise-singing culture of my people. I have written thrice about this “A
People beyond Redemption”, “A Virulent Form of Absurdity: When Society and
Politics go Insane” and most recently “Our Own Worst Enemy: The Iniquities of a
People”. I know my people head to toe.
Have they considered how many Nigerians are
dead, still dying, because of the direct and indirect effects of corruption in
this country? Why should people who deny others independence, livelihood,
welfare, better lives, etc. be let off? However, my stance is not based on
righteous indignance, religious belief, hypocrisy or moral certitude; it is
based, as you will read in the last part of this article, on the laws of the
land.
In a country brimming with enviable natural
and human resources, we see poverty, yes, dire poverty, hunger, unemployment,
desperation and misery everyday on the street while at the same time we see and
suffer under unbridled, unashamed, un-apportioned and inappropriate affluence
of the looters who denied their own people and fellow human beings, good lives
and welfare.
We have been letting our looters and corrupt
leaders, politicians, military, civil servants and other public officials off
for decades, and that has been the wrong message and precedent, and this is why
corruption in Nigeria is ever proliferating and daring, because the
perpetrators do not fear Justice or God. They keep saying, "Nothing will
happen anyway; they will shout and shout, go to court and all charges will be
dropped, I know the justice, I know the investigators, no problem".
Yes, by all means, looters must be prosecuted
and given long prison terms (if we cannot execute them like in China). We
cannot continue to bury our heads in the sand and shy away from the bitter
truth and reality of the damage treasury looting has done and is still doing to
this country. So, if peace and smiles are to be restored to people, it is then
good enough to bring to books those that deprived the people good things of
life, such as good roads, good medical facilities, employment for the teeming
youths of this country, good education, etc. When we are talking about this
country, we must be talking about how to rebuild this country and this may not
happen overnight. It may take time, but then, there is light at the end of the
tunnel. People that had stolen our money must return it. The problem we have as
a people is our inability to ask questions from our leaders, but I know now
this government has opened our eyes and henceforth people will be asking
questions. Buhari may never complete the job, but he would have laid a solid
foundation that will be difficult to succeeding leaders to follow, but which
they must follow.
It's interesting to know that even the Sultan
of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, a member of the dubious National Peace
Committee, led by ex-Head of State, Abubakar Abdusalam and Catholic Bishop of
Sokoto, Rev Martin Kukah, has come around in supporting President Buhari’s anti-corruption
crusade to prosecute any person's found to have short-changed the Nigerian
people in looting the nation treasury. Unlike our past Commonwealth Secretary
General, Emeka Anyaoku, advocating for pardon, "let by gone be by
gone" When he was the Commonwealth Secretary General, would he have
allowed the collective funds of the organisation be embezzled under his watch?
I believe not, otherwise he wouldn't have had a splendid career in service. As a
society we have allowed public funds to be looted, mismanaged and wasted. The
result is suffering of ordinary people, unemployment, extreme poverty, mental
illness on the streets, homelessness, unable to afford basic essentials,
affordable Medicare, education. Most importantly infrastructure that benefit us
and improve and upgrade our country among the comity of nations are lacking.
Where income generated should be used for the citizen’s welfare, these almost
always end up in the private pockets of people entrusted with the
administration of this country but who instead, betray our trust and take
advantage of their positions in government to abuse their authority and oppress
the people they are supposed to serve.
The
President needs the support of Nigeria people to bring sanity back to society
that have lost her pride and sense of belonging. It is our duty as good citizens to
support the President; corrupt leaders, past and present must be probed,
recover the money they stole and then prosecute and jail them. No room for
corruption any more.
Mr President must not listen to those calling
for a stop to probe. It is annoying to see people's self-interest and selfishness
overpower reasoning and rectitude. At
the end of the day, they may even have the day. There is no Truth in Nigeria,
and that is why we are like this, and may be like that forever.
The current EFCC and its leadership,
rank and file are not fit for the present dispensation. And same goes for the
Judiciary. There was so much compromise on their part during the last regime
and should be made to answer and punished appropriately. Is the EFCC leader
just waking up now? What was he doing during GEJ tenure, when for the 6 years,
not a single case against corrupt ex-governors was won in court? His own tenure
during GEJ as well should be subject to a rigorous probe by a separate and
independent anti-corruption body.
The question should have been when they were looting what
were agencies meant to check mate them doing? Sleeping, I suppose! So if Buhari
had not come, those agencies will still be sleeping, abi? So a president must
prompt agencies to do their job? If yes, why? Are they not supposed to be
working irrespective of whoever is in power? Why is it that in a system which
is supposed to be propelled and monitored by institutions, individuals working
in those institutions are afraid to do their job or have compromised? If institutions
are working, is the Presidency not supposed to be under close monitors by
democratic institutions? If Nigerians can now start working because Buhari said
so even though they are supposed to be doing their jobs without let or
hindrance under previous governments, then I think Nigeria should, structurally,
be redefined. As it is now, the system we are running is not fit for purpose.
It stinks!
Its high time things changed in this our nation, Nigeria.
Corruption has thrived so outrageously to the extent that it has become a norm
in our society. Those advocating that a blind eye should be turned to the
nefarious activities of the looters are just playing to the gallery and are
birds of the same feathers with the looters. It is very obvious, even to the
common man on the street that Nigeria cannot continue along this path of internal
destruction. A honest man has just been sent to bail out the country from an
impending socio-economic destruction in the person of Buhari. May God be with
him, grant him wisdom and energy to cleanse this nation, although it will be like
Hercules cleaning the Augean stables. The looters should be prosecuted,
irrespective of their position and personality; their pecuniary loot should be
confiscated and returned to the national treasury and appropriate jail terms
should be meted out to them.
The advocates of “let bygone be bygone” have benefited
from the loot directly or indirectly that's why they are advocating such
nonsense. We cannot continue to run our government on corruption and dirty
politics again. Now is the chance and the time to clean up the corruption mess
and stigma hanging on Nigeria so, we have to support the present government in
fighting corruption by all means and make Nigeria a better country for all with
all the potentials at her disposal.
Morally, the sinner is not allowed to get away with
his/her sins. The Bible and the Koran prescribes punishment for sin. Corruption
and stealing are sins and must be punished. Those looters, Nigerian looters,
who thought they are above the laws of Man and have gotten away with their crimes,
have not yet met the judgement of God, as He will visit the sins of the father
on many generations to come.
Above all, my reason for supporting probes is predicated
on the Laws of Nigeria. Those advocating “No Probe” are actually asking the Federal
Government of Nigeria to ignore its own laws. In Nigeria, it is a crime to take
bribes and offer bribes; corruption by public officials or those entrusted with
the administration of the country. Such persons must be arrested by law
enforcement agents, investigated, prosecuted and jailed, if found guilty.
What then are we deigning for to let people off? That
means we are encouraging lawlessness and preventing the law and justice to take
their actions and courses. Shame on those advocating for the government of Nigeria
to shove its own laws aside, to satisfy the corrupt few!!
Please see the part of the relevant Criminal Code,
Nigeria Law below.
Criminal
Code Act-Part III-IV - Nigeria Law
Chapter
12: Corruption and Abuse of Office
98. (1) Any public official (as defined in
section 98D) who-
(a) corruptly asks for, receives or
obtains any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person; or
bribes, etc.,
(b) corruptly agrees or attempts to
receive or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other
person, on account of-
(i) anything already, done or omitted,
or any favour or disfavour already shown to any person, by himself in the
discharge of his official duties or in relation to any matter connected with
the functions, affairs or business of a Government department, public body or
other organisation or institution in which he is serving as a public official,
or
(ii) anything to be afterwards done or
omitted, or any favour or disfavour to be afterwards shown to any person, by
himself in the discharge of his official duties or in relation to any such
matter as aforesaid, is guilty of the felony of official corruption and is
liable to imprisonment for seven years.
98A. (1) Any person who- Official corruption:
person giving bribes, etc., on account of actions of public Official.
(a) corruptly gives, confers or
procures any property or benefit of any kind to, on or for a public official (as
defined in section 98D) or to, on or for any other person; or 1966 No. 84.
(b) corruptly promises or offers to
give or confer or to procure or attempt to procure any property or benefit of
any kind to, on or for a public official or to, on or for any other person,
on account of any such act,
omission, favour or disfavour on the part of the public official as is
mentioned in section 98(1)(i) or (ii), is guilty of the felony of official
corruption and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.
98D.
In sections 98 to 98B, "public official" means any person employed in
the public service (within the meaning of that expression as defined in section
1(1)) or any judicial officer within the meaning of section 98c.
99.
Any person who, being employed in the public service, takes, Or accepts from
any person, for the performance of his duty as such officer, any reward beyond
his proper pay and emoluments, or any promise of such reward, is guilty of a
felony, and is liable to imprisonment for three years.
100.
(Deleted by 1966 No. 84.)
101. Any person who, being employed in the
public service, knowingly acquires or holds, directly or indirectly, otherwise
than as a member of a registered joint stock company consisting of more than
twenty persons, a private interest in any contract or agreement which is made
on account of the public service with respect to any matter concerning the
department of the service in which he is employed, is guilty of a felony, and
is liable to imprisonment for three years, and to be fined at the discretion of
the court.
The offender cannot be arrested without warrant.
On this singular basis of the Law, if
nothing else, I rest my case.
Let the Truth be said always!!!
Akintokunbo A Adejumo MSc, Dip Mngt, CIHM, MCMI, FITP
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