Years ago, many Southern Christians believed the myth that Northern Muslims were honest and transparent. Then Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) happened. His junta institutionalized corruption. When we thought things could not get worse, Sani Abacha came into the picture and redefined what corruption is all about. His rein took thievery to new heights where these days, whenever Nigeria is very broke newfound Abacha loots are discovered and announced because among other reasons our creditors want our humongous debts servicing that Buhari’s administration has increased astronomically to be itch-free. It has gotten so bad that Buhari who famously said his former boss Sani Abacha was not corrupt has finally swallowed his words. When Olusegun Obasanjo was given a second chance to lead Nigeria, we all hoped he would help to cure the pandemic called corruption because among other reasons we felt he has seen it all and his prison experience has Mandelaed him. So, when the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) was established many Nigerians rejoiced. When Malam Nuhu Ribadu was appointed to head EFCC, his appointment reinforced the notion that Northern Muslims are largely incorrupt.
In the corrupt history of EFCC, no Christian or Southerner has been appointed to head the commission. The irony of this occurrence is that all the Northerner anti-corruption czar have been accused of corruption. It seems the corruption of the appointees has been increasing progressively with Nuhu Ribadu seemingly being the least corrupt and Ibrahim Magu being the mega corrupt. Ribadu started well until he became a political tool in Obasanjo’s arsenal to fight real and perceived enemies. His successor Farida Waziri was dismissed on accusations that the EFCC had been selective in its investigations. Her rein engendered the famous plea bargain era that saw the likes of Lucky Igbenedion cheating justice. And Timipreye Sylva going off the hook easily to re-emerge as a current minister. Ibrahim Lamorde who preceded Magu was investigated by a Senate committee on charges that assets and cash recovered by the EFCC were diverted, a similar charge against Ibrahim Magu that may make him a guilty scapegoat.
The truth is that no tribe, region, or religion has a monopoly on corrupt or incorruptible individuals. At least Muhammadu Buhari has destroyed the myth that Northern Muslims are somewhat incorruptible. Before becoming president, he was the symbol of anti-corruption. One of his selling points for those who were deceived to vote him, mixed with the Yoruba’s vendetta against Goodluck Jonathan, was that he would fight Nigeria’s biggest problem – corruption. Under Buhari’s leadership, the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) arguably experienced its biggest financial scam. If the figures being reported by the media are true, Magu would have added a new paragraph to Buhari’s corruption records. Gone are the days when the gullible supporters of APC and Buhari became energized by fictitious headlines of loots traceable to Goodluck or Patience Jonathan which were the handwork of Magu’s EFCC. For 5 years, APC, Buhari, Tinubu, and their supporters with government funding and access to Interpol have done all to incriminate Goodluck Jonathan unsuccessfully. I wonder what would happen when Bola Ahmed Tinubu who Magu refused to investigate his election bullion van saga and who Tinubu’s TV Station TVC has been praising, loses his grip in Abuja and Alausa?
Ata Ukuta, Editor – www.towncryyers.com