By Paul Orie
Buccaneering in governance of Nigeria at different times has
constituted a major draw back to the economic development of the country.
Painfully organised slaughter by raiders of the National treasury against the
nation and her people has pushed the national economy crashing to the ground,
with the Nigerian degraded on daily.
 |
| *Buhari |
The startling revelations by the Economic and Financial Crime
Commission, EFCC, coupled with the melodrama in Abuja and Lagos court rooms,
have exposed the buccaneers who are mainly the shameless political class and
their collaborators in the’ Federal Bureaucracy and parastatals. These are the
personages who have deliberately plundered the economy in the most callous
manner through official corruption, which is still alive, writhing and
rendering Nigerians in agony.
The political class, later joined by the soldiers who
criminally shot their ways to the seat of power in January 1966, in the name of
rescuing Nigeria from social wreckage not only compounded this social malaice,
but legitimised it. Late Major General James Oluleye, who was in the military
cabinet, admitted sincerely in his book, Military Rule and Role- 1966 – 1979
that corruption was deeply rooted in the military, but ‘’we couldn’t do
anything”. Politicians, especially key power holders have made politics the
most lucrative business enterprise, thus attracting dubious elements to
governance. It is baffling that corruption now thrives, growing a
wild plant and producing money bags who cannot use their brains to explore and
exploit legitimate avenues to earn incomes.
With the absurdities going on since the end of the Nigeria
Civil War, one keeps wondering, is this Nigeria that produced decent business
tycoons who made fortunes without sucking government treasury dry. One readily
remember Sir Louis Ojukwu of Nnewi, the late father of Emeka Odimegu Ojukwu,
Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola of Ijebuland, who voluntarily handed over his vast
school complex to the defunct Western State government without demanding
compensation, and The Danta of Kano and several others to mention but a few.
Today, we have Aliko Dangote, a serious investor whose business empire is
creating wealth and jobs across Africa, he is worthy of emulation.
Nigeria can still proudly parade names of top politicians of
first republic whose reputation remains undented with corrupt practices. They
include Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Governor of Northern Region, Sir Tafawa Balewa,
the first Prime Minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Ribadu, Defence minister of the
First Republic, Dr. Akano Ibiam an excellent gentleman, one of earliest Medical
Doctors of Igboland, Mallam Aminu Kano. None of these politicians left
illegally acquired huge housing estates or humongous sums of money in their
bank account for their children. We still have fine Civil Servants like Allison
Ayida, late Peter Odumosu of Old West Region who left the Civil Service
honourably.
Why do politicians continue to plunder the economy despite
the seizure of their assets and clamping in prisons? First Military Regime
seized their assets, Muritala/Obasanjo’ s regime seized several assets
illegally acquired by politicians and military officers but all these
have not deterred the buccaneers. The scorched earth policy of General Muhammed
Buhari of December 1983 to August 1985 as a military head of State instituted
the Justice Uwaifo Commission of enquiry that found most of the public office
holders guilty of corruption, thereby clamping them into prison. That was
enough deterrent to halt larceny in national politics.
What is really wrong? Despite General Buhari’ s efforts then,
corruption still thrives tenfold, primarily because the Ibrahim Gbadamosi
Babangida’s regime truncated the crusade of Buhari in the most
unpatriotic manner. This action also pummelled the ethical Revolution started
by the Shehu Shagari’s regime which Buhari came to revive with verve and
intensity. Don’t forget Babangida’s regime in its quest to get legitimacy to
rule or to shame General Buhari’ s Military regime also released politicians
jailed by the Uwaifo’s Tribunal. The civilian administration of Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo 1999 – 2007, saw the stunning acceleration of corruption with
politicians and past military top brass elevating it to a high art.
Concerned about this Octopus called corruption, Chief Obasanjo’s regime
established EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC.
