Oshiomhole and the $6bn question

In from Enite Benjamin …

The recent pronouncement made by Governor Adams Oshiomhole that a minster in the Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration made away with over $6bn, has raised mixed reactions in many quarters.

A number of observers are throwing up questions, wondering if Oshiomhole was just brandishing figures or playing politics to run down the government of Jonathan, and by extension demonise the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This school of thought affirms that $6billion is a lot of money that is inconceivable for just a former minister to make away with, and that the governor may need more than just words to convince Nigerians.

Meanwhile, the National Economic Council headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has set up a panel to probe alleged misappropriation of $3.5 trillion from the coffers of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Watchers are curious to know if the alleged $6billion was part of the discovery of the committee, which includes the governors of Edo, Gombe, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom states as members.

And if this is the case, has Oshimhole been drafted as the committee’s spokesperson, or could he have been picked in the absence of a substantial minster, to play the role of federal government’s spokesperson.

Many Nigerians are of the view that government should move away from throwing accusations targeted at throwing aspersions on opponents, and gaining political points, or stirring up issues that make it seem as if it is on a witch- hunt.

Rather, analysts are of the view that in the genuine fight against corruption, government needs to do away with the urge for public prosecutions with headline grabbing statements, to present hard evidence.

Read also: Jonathan’s minster stole $6bn

It should not end there; there is also the need to ensure cases of corruption, especially one of such magnitude as presented by Oshiomhole is discouraged by legally prosecuting anyone found to have impoverished Nigerians, by economically plundering the nation’s common resources.

It is also not enough to make claims without putting names to the crimes, or mentioning those suspected of involvement. Why is Oshiomhole scared to mention names if he is sure of his sources? And if not, why abuse the sensibilities of Nigerians, who have been inundated with such mind-blowing allegations severally in the past, that has almost assumed a commonplace.

This has given stakeholders in the polity like National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh a chance to cry out that the ruling APC is only looking for an avenue to witch-hunt those who served in the immediate past administration.

According to him, “To make such an outlandish claim without mentioning the name of the alleged minister smacks of sheer politics.

“The governor was just playing to the gallery and trying to give the party a bad name. He’s part of the panel, so is that what they discovered?

“Or is he just calling a dog a bad name to hang it. If they have such evidence, they should go ahead to name the concerned minister and prosecute instead of making it a media show.”

Former Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Ahmed Gulak, also faulted Oshiomhole’s claim.

“If any government has anything against anybody, the proper thing is to charge and prosecute, not to incite people against a party without further information.

“The government should release whatever it has against anybody who worked with President Jonathan instead of just brandishing figures,” he said.

The issue is still being debated by Nigerians. What is your take?

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