NextierCan President Buhari Score?
Any soccer enthusiast understands the term, open net. It is that rare occasion when a striker dribbles the defenders and the goalie and faces an empty goal post. Only soccer gods like Ronaldo, Messi, Jay-Jay, and a few others create such opportunities. Sometimes, providence blesses a few lesser mortals with such opportunities.
President Buhari has received such blessing. The alleged financial scandals of the last few weeks have gifted President Muhammadu Buhari an opportunity to substantiate his public persona as the “Voltron” who would rid Nigeria of corruption. Five years into his tenure, he has scored poorly on the anti-corruption fight. These scandals are easy wins. Will he use them to reverse his rating? Or will the scandals fizzle out like previous ones?
Ibrahim Magu’s case has done more damage to Buhari’s image that many of the other scandals that have occurred in his tenure as civilian President of Nigeria. Buhari picked Magu as his “Corruption Czar” and stood behind that decision even when the National Assembly took a different position on the appointment. Today, Magu is in detention on allegations of grand theft. It will damage the President’s integrity or his ability to pick his staff if those he handpicked to lead the corruption fight are found to be corrupt. However, it is an opportunity for the President to prove his integrity. How he handles the Magu case will shape his legacy. The President should ensure an open and transparent process for the probe. Such an approach will earn the President the stripes he needs to bolster his anti-corruption persona.
Godswill Akpabio and Joy Nunieh have presented President Buhari with another gift. They have dribbled themselves and their goalie and placed the ball on the goal line. All the President has to do is shake his body, and he will score an easy goal.
NDDC has been a cesspool of unmitigated corruption for years. What Nigerians see today in the Joy-Akpabio scandal is a result of years of putrefaction that can no longer be masked by incense. Various accountability actors have published damning reports on the Commission. The government has failed to act on any of the reports. Indeed, Nextier and Premium Times recently concluded a study that showed the depth of the corruption at NDDC. The data presented in the report were obtained through the diligence of the investigative journalists at the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism as NDDC refused to respond to the Freedom of Information Act request sent to them.
The NDDC scandal is particularly painful for what it means for the poor people in the region. NDDC received over N2.16 trillion in the last 18 years, yet the quality of life of the widow picking periwinkles at the waterside has not improved. Furthermore, many heads were sacrificed to secure the alleged misappropriated funds. Ken Saro-Wiwa and his co-travellers lost theirs to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Niger Delta militants killed many innocent oil workers during the “struggle”. Many residents of the Niger Delta continue to die because the NDDC has failed to deliver on its development mandate.
President Buhari, this is an opportunity to add a feather to your anti-corruption cap, which is devoid of any real wins. The NDDC and Magu cases should be easy win. Just peel back a few layer, and you won’t be able to stand the stench. Engage a reputable international forensic accounting firm and a prominent local counterpart to conduct the audit. Ensure that both firms have global franchises that they can’t afford to compromise at NDDC. For sure, efforts will be made to compromise them. The amounts at stake are high enough.
President Buhari, the ball is on the goal line. The net is open. Take the shot. These are easy wins.
