The controversial and indiscriminate disbursements of $2bn
allocated for arms procurement by the ex-National Security Adviser in the previous
administration, Col. Sambo Dasuki(rtd) will undoubtedly presage a perception of
either accountability or political vendetta depending on the mindset of the
spectators.
Following this predicament, Dasuki is presently facing
prosecution bordering on fraud and money laundering along with other suspects
including former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; chairman of Daar
Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi.
Out of the fund, the chairman of DAAR Communication Plc, High
Chief Raymond Dokpesi admitted receiving a whooping sum of N2.1bn ‘only’ from
the NSA, however as a bill accrued on the media and publicity services rendered
by Daar Communications for the re-election campaign of the former President
Goodluck Jonathan.
On another account, the embattled former NSA is being probed
over the indiscriminate distribution of public fund amounting to the tune of N6.7bn
which was arbitrarily transferred from the office of the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation to his office, the Special Services Office and
Department of State Services. Among the beneficiaries is the President of the
Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, and chairman of Thisday, Nduka
Obaigbena.
Following these developments, public reactions have never
ceased in diverse ways. Some allege that the issues are simple cases of
vendetta against the former NSA who played prominent roles along side with
former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida in the overthrow of
the military junta of General Mohammadu Buhari earlier. Obviously, most names
on the anti-probe are the members of the Peoples Democratic Party leading to
insinuations that the exercise was selective and strategically targeted at the
oppositions particularly, PDP. According to a source who spoke on the condition
of anonymity, “the anti-corruption exercise must be balanced and not a
selective one”.
Others citizens on the other hand are strappingly of the view
that such inadequacies should not be swept under the carpet in a democratic
system where accountability should be inevitably sacrosanct, thereby asking for
thorough probes and prosecution of the suspects irrespective of who is involved.
A prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana also recently enjoined
the Federal Government to ignore the critics against the probes, nonetheless to
ensure that the culprits are brought to book for prosecution in the court
accordingly. Similarly, the Nigerian
Guild of Editors at its 4th quarterly Standing Committee meeting
held in Abuja recently critically pledged its support to the Federal Government
and calls for a thorough investigation particularly over the allegation linking
one of its members in the looting of the treasury. The Guild said, “The Guild
notes the efforts of the Federal Government to recover stolen funds and
commends the courage behind it, while urging the government to respect the
fundamental human rights of the suspects in the process”. Emphatically, it
added, “the Guild asks the government to thoroughly investigate every corruption
case and pursue same to a logical conclusion. It advices judges to be
circumspect in granting injunctions and be more painstaking in the adjudication
of corruption cases”.
Other notable groups have also pledged supports for the
prosecution including the Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics,
Professionals, and Businessmen; Federation of Middle Belt People and Arewa
Consultative Forum. Others are Afenifere Renewal Group and Niger Delta Civil
Society Coalition, and Igboekulie, a pan Igbo-organization.
Similarly, the Punch Newspapers withdrew its membership from
the NPAN following the disclosures linking the association to the looting of
the nation’s treasury stating that it didn’t participate in any way to such a
deal.
By and large, the present disclosures are inimical and should
be condemned irrespective of ethnic diversity or political affiliations. No
doubt, such developments are not new in the history of the nation though in
military juntas. Hence, to encourage it to continue is excessively dangerous
and treacherous, and therefore must be rejected. Looting of the treasury
indiscriminately in a democratic system of government where people canvass for
votes into elective offices from the helpless electorates, and sadly where
virtually all basic amenities are lacking is clearly indicative of
insensitivity, oppression and psychosis.
Following the failure to use the fund budgeted on security for
its purpose, insecurity has escalated to an unimaginable dimension leading to
incessant loss of lives and properties. Succinctly, the unanswered question is
what else could be worse than diverting funds earmarked for security of lives
and properties in a highly miserable situation to self, friends and associates despite
that citizens are on daily basis slaughtered as animals.
The contention in some quarters that those in the roll for
questioning are so far members of any political party is baseless knowing that
people outside the government cannot be accused of treasury looting except perhaps
accessory to the crime. The suspects party were in government, and reasonably,
should only be responsible for governance at that era. APC or any other
opposition party then wouldn’t have had access to the treasury.
It should be recalled that from 1999 to May 29, 2015, PDP was
the ruling party in power and reasonably, should be responsible for all
transactions in the government except those members that later defected to the
now ruling APC. However, the onus lies on the PDP to substantially link them in
the dealings with facts. Until that is done, those linked to the
obnoxious and monumental scam should face the music squarely by submitting to
investigations and prosecutions. To politicize the issues as PDP or APC is
simply a diversionary tactics.
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