FEATURE ARTICLE

Temple Chima UbochiSaturday, January 2, 2016
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Bonn, Germany

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TOO MUCH NOISE AND NO ACTION: NOT THE BEST WAY TO FIGHT CORRUPTION (12)

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Continued from Part 11

All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree (James Madison)

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys (P. J. O'Rourke)

Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison (Henry David Thore)

Authority intoxicates, And makes mere sots of magistrates; The fumes of it invade the brain, And make men giddy, proud and vain (Samuel Butler)

Besides being a prime cause of poor economic growth, poor governance breeds corruption, which cripples investment, wastes resources, and diminishes confidence (Ahmed Zewail)

he Department of State Services (DSS), on December 29, re-arrested former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, shortly after he was released from the Kuje Prison in Abuja. That's the snubbing of court rulings that has become Buhari's hallmark. The Former Director-General of NIMASA, Akpolobokemi, were released by a court, but, was rearrested shortly afterwards on fresh charges! The National Mirror reported that on December 14 "In a somewhat commando style, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, rearrested former Director- General of Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpolobokemi, within the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos". A court ordered Nnamdi Kanu's release, but, they refused to release him, and instead, fresh charges were filed against him. And now, Dasuki was released, but, was rearrested.

In the case of Dasuki, the federal government doesn't want to turn him loose or see him on the loose, as he will spill the beans. The federal government is afraid of him, because, he knows a lot and will reveal them if not caged. That's why the federal government is not comfortable trying him in an open court, and has asked a court to grant that Dasuki's trial be a secret one, while also requesting that witnesses against him, Dasuki, be given special cover, including use of facial mask while giving evidence against the ex-NSA. In addition, the prosecution wants the names and address of all its witnesses not be disclosed in any record or report of proceedings that may be accessible to the public; the prosecution also wants that the witnesses be permitted to use pseudo name in the course of proceedings; the prosecution is still requesting the granting to its witnesses access to a non-public route to and from the court premises and court rooms; as well as to allow them use private witnesses room. The government also requested that only lawyers and accredited newsmen, and not any member of the public, should be allowed to witness the trial.

Dasuki was also prevented from travelling out for medical check-up some months ago. Femi Aribisala wrote: "Nevertheless, the president's order to arrest Dasuki is unlawful for the simple reason that it violates a subsisting court order that Dasuki should be freed and allowed to travel abroad to seek medical attention. The government disrespected the rule of law when Dasuki was prevented from traveling, in spite of the court order. For the president to now top this by ordering the arrest of Dasuki is to show absolute contempt of the court and blatant disregard of the judiciary as an independent arm of government". Governor Fayose was right when he wrote "As it was in 1984 when an accused was presumed as guilty and must have to prove his innocence, Nigerians are now being told by Buhari, a democratically elected President, that those he accused of corruption are already guilty and they do not have rights to enjoy bail granted them by the courts, even after meeting all the bail conditions. That is enough a signal on what is to come in 2016 and the international community and lovers of democracy in Nigeria must be watchful of the level of human rights abuses that will be perpetrated by President Buhari. However, I want to assure Buhari that democratic time will surely catch up with him because no dictator has ever succeeded in muzzling the rule of law, which is the basic ingredient of democracy".

Unfortunately, Buhari has convicted Dasuki and Kanu even before they have been tried by a court, and that will worsen their chances of getting a fair trial. In saner climes, Buhari will be charged to court for contempt. Daniel Elombah wrote ""......it was 'a serious contempt of court to make public assertions about the guilt or innocence of an accused which have a tendency to prejudice the fair conduct of an impending trial. It does not matter whether the assertion is of innocence or guilt. Either is capable of affecting a potential juror's mind and of defeating the [right to a] fair trial � It must be made plain in particular that the courts will not tolerate the deliberate intervention of those in positions of authority who deploy their power and prestige in support of assertions of that kind.'" -- DPP v Wran (1987) 7 NSWLR 616"

Buhari has not changed; this is not the Buhari who was going about begging for people's votes. He deceived many by claiming to be a converted democrat. Now I know that man is the most devious of all creations, as they can change shape, loyalty/form/colour like chameleons. There's only pandemonium and anarchy all over Nigeria. President Buhari should be careful or else Nigeria will unravel during his watch. He has caused so many problems in less than eight months he has been in office, and as such, he must start "retracing his footsteps", otherwise, there will be no more Nigeria left for him to rule. In the north-east, Boko Haram rides roughshod over there; in the north-west, the Shiite Muslims are rampaging; in the north-central, the middle belters are at war with the Fulani cattle rearers, and, ethnic strife and religious animosity are rife over there; in the south-west, kidnappers, ritualists, arm-robbers hold the zone to ransom, and things are aggravated there by the human and material destruction being perpetrated, in the zone, by the Fulani herdsmen; in the south-east, Biafran agitators have almost shut off the zone; and, in the south-south, the militants are threatening fire and brimstone, and are gearing to go back into the trenches. Never has it been so tensed up in all parts of the country simultaneously.

President Buhari cannot fight corruption when he has only corrupt people around him. Even most of his ministers are corrupt elements. If Buhari has accepted to work with corrupt persons, how can he then fight corruption? Buhari preferred to reward party loyalty and friendship rather than appointing capable and clean hands to help him rule Nigeria. Surprisingly, President Buhari, during his first media chat on December 30, said that none of his 36 ministers is corrupt and challenged anyone who has a contrary view to present evidence against such a minister. What a reckless disregard of the truth? So, it means that Buhari doesn't know that half of his ministers have corruption allegations hanging on their necks? My friend, Dr. Benneth Onoh, was incensed by that statement that he wrote this: "What am I reading? Buhari will insist that alleged corruption cases against any of his 36 ministers, if existing, should go to court of competent jurisdiction. He however falls short of saying if he will accept the court ruling if it should turn out to confirm the allegations. On the other hand, if he knows to that extent, why then all the noise from him and his Crusaders about alleged corrupt practices of his predecessor, even when in most cases no legal charges has been filed in a court of competent jurisdiction, but, on pages of the Newspaper? The ones that are in Court are still pending, and in most cases where judgment has been delivered new charges are brought up to reject the court ruling. Reading between the lines it seems to me that Buhari believes in the rule of law but only when the outcome favors his position".

https://www.igberetvnews.com/32451#comment-2990

Buhari should know that Cory Booker (1969) wrote that "If you look at great human civilizations, from the Roman Empire to the Soviet Union, you will see that most do not fail simply due to external threats but because of internal weakness, corruption, or a failure to manifest the values and ideals they espouse". We hold President Buhari to his words when he said, during the campaign, and reiterated same later that "Corrupt acts will always be punished, and there will be no friend, no foe. We will strive to do what is fair and just at all times, but people who refuse to embrace probity should have every cause to fear". President Buhari also said that "As I stated recently, a good number of people who abused their positions are voluntarily returning the illicit funds. I have heard it said that we should disclose the names of the people, and the amount returned. But I must remark that it is yet early days, and any disclosure now may jeopardize the possibility of bigger recoveries". During this year's edition of the annual Osigwe Anyim-Osigwe Foundation Lecture, Buhari assured that "In due course, the Central Bank of Nigeria will make information available to the public on the surrendered funds". Concurring that Nigerians have a point in demanding for details, President Buhari added that "But we owe Nigerians adequate information, and it shall come in due course. It is part of the collective effort to change our land from the bastion of corruption it currently is, to a place of probity and transparency." I ask Buhari to match words with actions, as many Nigerians take anything he says nowadays with a pinch of the salt. He has built his government on lies, as no one can bet that his words here have any substance.

Most of all, if President Buhari wants the war against corruption to succeed, he must start by getting the Nigerian families right! As King Felipe VI (1968) noted that "We mustn't hesitate to cut corruption at its roots note", and, also as A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (1931-2015) advised that "If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher", every Nigerian comes from a family, and families make a clan; and clans make a village, and villages make a community, and communities make a town, and towns make a state, and states make the nation.

As Rahul Gandhi (1970) note, "We are all aware that corruption is pervasive. It operates at every level. The poor may carry its greatest burden, but it is an affliction that every (person) is desperate to be rid of", If persons from the families are upright and clean, then, corruption will not be as pronounced as it is today. The family is the bedrock of the society, and things started going wrong in Nigeria right from the families, and if we must get them right again, we have to also start by getting things right in the families. As I wrote previously, even a child in the womb in Nigeria knows what corruption is all about, because, people in Nigeria think, breathe, and engage in corruption, and, it is seen as a way of life. For instance, If a politician or a government official returns back home, after his tenure or after occupying an office, "empty-handed", his family, village, community and friends would cajole him or her for not "seeing road" or "doing as others did", exactly as Lincoln Steffens (1866 -1936) wrote that "the system of corruption which has grown up about us, rewards an honest man with a mere living and a crook with all the magnificence of our magnificent modern life".

This was what I wrote in my article of November 22, 2009 (excerpts): "The government needs to evoke the "light" in the soul of every Nigerian for there to be order in the nation. It's the duty of the leaders to evoke the best in every one, and when that's done, every other thing would just fall into place. A Chinese Proverb says: "If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world"

To be continued!

NEW YEAR WISHES

Friend,

Our journey together began so many years ago; and through those years, we have held on together, and will continue like that in the New Year and in the years ahead, "hand in hand, through thick and thin". I must thank all of you for keeping the faith in me. I'm and will remain always grateful and appreciative of your steadfastness; and on that note, I must confess that you and the publisher@nigeriaworld made the difference, because, if not for/because of you, this journey would have ended a long time ago, as you have been the "wind beneath my wings", and my strength, even when my hands were weary. Though we are miles apart, I hope you know that I think of you often; we're like a family, we're like one clan. We all want the best for Nigeria. I hold you in my heart. That's why I sincerely wish you the best in this New Year my dear friend. May we all, in the new year, and in the years ahead, find our personal and national dreams all come true. Start This Day With a Smile, and put some love in your heart. Happy New Year!

TIT BITS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWx4ZgjC2O8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xfKqxdv3Gk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhqV49us4J8&list=RDyhqV49us4J8&index=1

THE THANX IS ALL YOURS!!!

Continued from Part 11

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