It has become a now more familiar trend in our dear country (Nigeria) where public officers after working their hearts out to salvage the country are being dismissed unceremoniously.
The trend has been more sophisticated in this administration, where heads of MDAs, Judges and high ranking Public officers are being suspended and ultimately dismissed thereafter.
In this episode I will use four person's as case studies.
FORMER SGF(Babachir Laval): After reports emanated that relief items meant for IDP camps in the north eastern part of Nigeria, worth billions of Naira have been diverted.
Eyebrows were raised on the possibility of such diversion, after much pressure from civil societies, the federal government decided to investigate the issues raised.
After over a month of investigation, a high ranking official in the presidency was indicted, and one would have thought that the present administration with the " Zero corruption Agenda" would have swung into action immediately.
To our greatest surprise that was not the case, it took a few more weeks before the presidency did the needful by dismissing the then Secretary to the federal government, but he is yet to be persecuted till date.
Minister For Finance(Kemi Adeosun): Information broke out from a renown investigative blog (SaharaReporters), that the then minister for finance held a forged NYSC discharge certificate, the presidency again didn't give it any attention.
After a lot of pressure and the minister admitting that the certificate was sorted out by somebody on her behalf, at this point the presidency had no choice than to investigate the issue, the minister thereafter resigned and left for the UK.
In a country were forgery is a big offense and punishable by law, one would have thought that she would have been persecuted accordingly, but she is moving freely.
Chief Justice Of Nigeria(Onnoghen): After over three years of battles between the executive and the judiciary, the chief Justice of the federation had to pay the ultimate price.
The presidency alleged that the chief Justice was involved in financial crime, citing that he had undeclared funds in some accounts that were not included in his asset declaration forms, the chief Justice argued that he didn't do anything wrong and that he did the needful.
The presidency exercised their power and suspended him before investigations was concluded, and a new acting chief Justice was announced and the rest is now history, because nothing have been heard about the issue again.
Acting EFCC Boss(Magu): Nigerians woke up on Monday to the news that the EFCC boss has been arrested by men of DSS, but few hours later both EFCC and DSS denied the arrest.
Fast forward to Tuesday afternoon, news again sprang up that the presidency had suspended the EFCC boss pending investigation into allegations of corruption which he was indicted.
The said EFCC boss has been in acting capacity for over Three years on the instance of the presidency, this is because the senate refused his confirmation as the substantive head of the agency, citing that he has a pending case of corruption to answer.
The presidency refused to give in to the issue when the legislature raised it, thereby making him the longest serving acting head of government agency in the modern age, this is because the presidency trusted his abilities to deliver on her fight against corruption.
After delivering on the job thus far, I guess he has reached the end of the road in his service delivery, hence he has been retired.
In conclusion in this episode, let me leave you with this few questions:
1. Why did the presidency leave it this long to do the needful In the EFCC Boss case?
2. Is he yet another scape goat?
3. If he is found guilty will he be persecuted accordingly?
4. Why are we fighting unfinished corruption cases in Nigeria?
5. Are we now practicing use and dump policy?
6. What's the guarantee that if one deliver in his/her duty diligently to the best of his/her capabilities that one won't face the same situation?
7. Can appointees trust the presidency anymore?
Let's answer these questions pending the next episode.
Chris Riwo
Publisher/Head of content
Voiceofyala.com.ng
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