The victory of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki at the Supreme Court on Friday had further thrown up the sincerity of President Muhammadu Buhari anti-corruption war.
War against corruption has been the battle cry of Buhari since he came on board. While some hailed the move, others had questioned the sincerity and the motive, with the excuse that the President, who is making anti-corruption his priority, rode on the crest of corruption to power.
The method President Buhari decided to use to fight corruption may not be the exact method majority of this country would expect. But, unfortunately, the pattern and narrative of Buhari’s anti-corruption fight has left much to be desired. For obvious reasons left for him, the fight is centred on a particular directive, forcing many to think if the President is actually sincere or serious in the fight against corruption.
Many have been caught in this web of selective anti-corruption war and the President of the Senate was not left out. He was dragged in through alleged falsification of assets declaration, which the government of Buhari said that there is something about it that Saraki needs to explain to Nigerians.
In his own statement, Saraki on Friday, during the victory dance, said that Federal government decided to waste three years and its resources in a war that was uncalled for.
In his own words, Saraki said, “I am happy that I have been vindicated. The Supreme Court has affirmed that there is no evidence of false declaration of assets. The court also observed that certain agents took over the responsibility of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in this trial, and one can infer that this was done towards a pre-determined end.
“This outcome has gladdened my heart and further strengthened my belief in this country and as well as my faith in the Almighty Allah, who is the righter of all wrongs. God has vindicated me today before the judgment of man, and I am most thankful and humbled at His grace and infinite mercies.
“Through it all, I refused to be shaken, knowing, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, that the arch of the moral universe may be long, but it bends towards justice. I knew the day would come when justice would prevail and I would be exonerated.
“I have always believed in the infallibility of our Judiciary, secure in the knowledge that our courts – the last refuge of the oppressed -would never condemn the innocent. This outcome is also a vindication of my belief in the rule of law.
“As I said in my first appearance at the CCT, this is a politically motivated case. The case was trumped up in the first instance because of my emergence as the President of the Senate, against the wishes of certain forces. Ordinarily, I doubt anyone would be interested in the asset declaration form I filled over 15 years ago.
“As a result of the war of attrition, various arms of government have wasted resources needlessly. It has been three wasted years across board in this country. Three years that would have been devoted to tackling issues affecting Nigerians, including: economic recovery, insecurity, youth unemployment and strengthening national institutions – were wasted on malicious prosecution. People were ready to trade-off three years that would have been devoted to fostering cooperation, unity and economic progress for their selfish ends. It is my hope that those who are behind my persecution will see the handwriting on the wall and leave me to do the work for which I was elected, so I can continue to give my all to this great country of ours.
“As many have rightly observed, it is plain to see that the anti-corruption fight is being prosecuted with vindictiveness, to target perceived political opponents. I believe in the need to fight corruption, but I will never be party to the selective application of the law or the rhetoric of an insincere anti-corruption fight.
“I believe in fighting corruption and I have made my own humble contributions to the fight against corruption in this country.
“The apex court has once again demonstrated his supremacy and had further exposed the witch-hunting in the political circle of, if you don’t belong to my group, you are an outcast.”
Saraki has been set free from the web of this circle, which many, including the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have cried out that the way and manner the fight against corruption is carried out would destroy the foundation the existence of this country is laid.
The President of the Senate, as political watchers would say, has had the last laugh, but the question is that, what effect would this victory have in the workings of the parliament and by extension its implications in the executive, especially now that the ruling party is having a running battle where a splitter group in the name of Reformed-APC, which have people like Saraki emerged.
credit link: https://independent.ng/saraki-victory-at-supreme-court-questioning-the-sincerity-of-buharis-anti-corruption-war/
