Ideologically and etymologically, justice could only be said to have been adequately discharged when all modicum of equity and fairness are followed. Thus, for justice to be discharged, virtues of fairness must be extolled. And in the process of encapsulating justice, the spirit of equity must be adorned.
Today, the slogan everywhere in the nation of Nigeria is war against corruption which I support. It is very sacrosanct and germane that the endemic disease called corruption which has rendered many Nigerians homeless, killed many tomorrow leaders and sent the economy and infrastructure of the nation into disarray is killed before it kills Nigeria.
However, since we are in a state where we are guided by laws and order, I want to declare unequivocally that it is very fundamental that the Nigerian government tow the pact of equity, justice and fairness in her fight against the looters and embezzlers of our common patrimony.
Therefore, today, I consider it key to articulate without any fear or favour or ill-wound that the ongoing war being waged against sleaze, mal-administration and indiscipline in the public sphere by the Buhari led Federal Government (FG) is selective, choosy, picky, fastidious and absolutely discriminating against those against the interest of “Abuja”.
Moreover, while I concur with every sense of responsibility that indeed, those currently being prosecuted for pillaging the commonwealth of Nigeria and plugging the vast majority of their people into squalor, hunger and starvation are, from all available empirical evidences, guilty as charged, however, I reject without any fear of intimidation, the selective measure of operandi which “Abuja” has directly and indirectly endorsed in the purported plan aimed at sanitizing the entity called Nigeria.
I wish to say without any prejudice that it is totally unfair for the Federal Government, through the Code of Conduct Bureau to be prosecuting the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki while a former Governor of Kano State now Senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District in the senate, Rabiu Musa Kwakwaso is still walking freely across the streets of Nigeria.
The Federal Government should urge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to arraign Kwakwaso before a court of competent jurisdiction over the N20bn kano pension funds which reportedly disappeared into the tin of air when he holds sway as the Governor of the state. Kwakwaso, a member of Buhari’s kitchen cabinet arrested the move to arraign him before a court through a jankara court injunction yet; “Abuja” claimed to be fighting corruption. What a contradiction!
I shall continue to consider the current anti-corruption struggle as a war against those against the political interest of “Abuja” until the EFCC and ICPC are allowed to arrest and arraign a former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi before a court of competent jurisdiction. The current injunction which barred all the security formations in Nigeria against “touching” Amaechi should be vacated to serve as a good precedence.
Let me also say expressly that It amount to a double-standard for FG to claim she’s fighting corruption and yet, Buhari wallows around the globe with the likes of Amaechi who shunned the invitation of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry constituted by Rivers state government to probe his stewardship when he held the insignia of power in the state for eight years.
In reality, it is awfully discriminatory and utterly disproportionate for a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido to be in court for corruption charges while Amaechi junkets around the globe with President Buhari, the Chief Executive Officer of the anti-corruption Nigeria Limited.
Today, series of people who looted their state dry are walking freely around the streets without being questioned. Take for instance, the move by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force to arrest a former governor earlier this year was reportedly thwarted by “Abuja”. The former governor currently writes President Buhari’s speeches.
While constitutionally, an accused is presumed innocent until found guilty by a law court, however, I consider it as phony, deceitful and duplicitous, the agitation by some supporters of the ruling party in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC), that Saraki should resign because of his current corruption charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The above affirmation was borne out of the fact that it is height of hypocrisy for those supporting the candidature of two former governors who are presently standing trial for multiple corruption charges, Audu Abubakar and Timprieye Silva, for Kogi and Bayelsa States Governorship tussles under the platform of the APC to be demanding for the resignation of Saraki. Ideally, he who wants to preach equity must come out with clean hands.
Consequently, I urge the federal government to look inward in her battle against the epileptic disease called corruption that has recklessly and mercilessly ravaged the souls of the Nigeria economy and infrastructures with an amazing ease.
Using the institutions of government to fight perceived opponents in a democracy will definitely boomerang. Using the judiciary, the police, the Armed Forces, the State Security Services (SSS) et al to coax political enemies into prison custody may serve the purpose it is expected to serve now but in a long run, it would set a dire precedence for the nation.
Thus, Instead of unleashing the institutions of government against perceived foes, I advise Political gladiators to lobby for the support of the people through all means necessary when ever they want to fight perceived political enemies.
Earlier this year In Ekiti, the state governor, Ayo Fayose has no relationship with Abuja, yet, he fought some advocates of Abuja in his state to a standstill when they attempted to impeach him because he lobbied the people into his side.
In a democracy, the power of the people is greater than the power of guns and institutions of government. Ire o.
Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye, Magodo, Lagos.
@adefolamax on twitter
