News analysis… Buhari and the Anti-corruption war

In from Timothy Enietan-Matthews (Nation’s capital) . . .

The news of the arrest or in his words ‘invitation’ by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of a former governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, may not have come to many as a surprise.

Aside the fact that there is a petition before the anti-graft agency against Akpabio for allegedly looting the state treasury to the tune of N108 billion, the Senate Minority Leader is seen by many as one of the last vestiges of the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration that is still very much relevant in the present dispensation.

Akpabio, against Senate seniority rule, became the leader of the opposition at the Red Chamber despite his being a first timer. He has remained visible and influential at the Senate on account of his leadership position. This may be a sin for a man who was a strong and highly influential man in the last administration.

Some analysts are of the view that though there is nothing wrong in inviting or investigating Akpabio or any other person who may be suspected to have corruptly enriched themselves, but also contend that the current anti- corruption crusade of the Buhari administration is beginning to look lopsided as many have said before.

A cursory look at the people who have either been invited or arrested by the EFCC under the Buhari administration seems to attest to this.

The former National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki, his Chief Security Officer, Obuah, Diezani Madueke, whose house was raided and sealed after her purported arrest in London, business man, Jide Omokore, former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido and Akpabio are known high ranking members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or people that served in the last administration. They have been at one time or the other had things to do with the EFCC under Buhari.

It is however curious that nobody in the APC, except Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his wife, Toyin, who many say are still PDP in soul, have been thought wise to be investigated, arrested and questioned by the anti- graft agency.

One of the cases that continue to cast serious question mark on the anti- corruption war of the current government is that of the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi. Despite popular outcry over the alleged fraudulent practices reportedly perpetrated during Amaechi’s tenure, the EFCC has not deemed it fit to extend its searchlight to him but the President has gone ahead to reward him with a ministerial nomination.

Many, feel that if anybody deserves compensation over the good work they did in ensuring the electoral victory of President Buhari at the 2015 presidential election, Amaechi is one. But that, they submit, should not be done in blind disrespect for the many cries of allegations fraud against the President’s man.

Ignoring genuine calls for the probe of Amaechi and turning a blind eye to the efforts of the Rivers State government’s investigation of his tenure and the many revelations coming from the proceedings of the panel of inquiry, is like saying only PDP figures can be genuinely accused of corruption.

It is also noteworthy to say that even the poster boy of the APC, former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, could not adequately answer a question thrown his way during his ministerial screening by the Senate. Instead of addressing the allegation that he built a personal website for N78 million and boreholes at N100 million each, Fashola cleverly launched into endless rhetorics and how he never signed a cheque.

For those who know, you do not have to sign a cheque but you can give directives for them to be signed. You do not have to sit on a contract bidding process, but you can influence and approve the process. Fashola was cleared by the Senate without sufficiently clearing his name. That is what the anti-corruption under Buhari is doing.

For the records, the Akwa Ibom State government has not accused Akpabio of corruption and looting but the Rivers State government did against Amaechi and went ahead to institute a panel to look into the various alleged acts suspected to have been fraudulent. The panel indicted him and asked that he, alongside others, refund monies in excess of N100 billion.

If Nigerians are to take the anti-corruption war of the Buhari administration seriously, it must be seen to be waged without partisan consideration. Every animal must be seen to be equal and none more equal than others. Every corruption infested individual, no matter how valuable he may be to the ruling party or the Presidency, must be investigated and brought to book. That’s the minimum majority of Nigerians are asking for.

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