With the 'two BMW armoured cars unauthorized purchase' saga that engulfed the nation which emerged from revelations, consequent to the Aviation Minister's infamous speech where she described the crash of Associated Airline's jet, an incident in which 13 persons were killed, while seven others survived and are currently receiving treatments at various hospitals; as 'an act of god'.
A first time visitor to Nigeria (because majority of the citizens are no longer fooled ) would think that some disciplinary measures would be employed to ensure that loosed ends were tightened in activities not only in the Aviation Ministry, but in all governmental parastatals, to help put a check on some illegal activities that occurs on daily basis therein.
More-so, that ministries were purged of frivolities and unnecessary expenditures from the nation's purse.
Immediately after the 'whistle was blown' prominent individuals and groups called for the head of Princess Stella Oduah, The Aviation Minister, threatening fire and brimstone if her royal majesty was not removed from office with immediate effect. As was expected, political opponents hinged on it to bring down the current administration.
No day passed by without a dramatic head line in the dailies and on-line blogs in connection the story.
Some of these headlines read:
- "EFCC Moves to Probe Oduah’s N255m Armoured Car Deal",
- "SHOCKING: Another aviation agency, FAAN, admits buying 4 armoured cars for Stella Oduah, MD",
- "Senate Uncovers Illegal Purchase of Another 4 Armoured Vehicles for Stella Oduah, FAAN MD",
- SHOCKING: Aviation Ministry Declares War on Man Who Exposed Stella Oduah's N225m Armoured Cars
- "Will Oduah survive these numerous probes by Reps, Senate?"
- Okonjo-Iweala screams again: " I didn't grant waiver for Stella Oduah's armored cars
- Oduah's N225m car scandal: We're searcging for those who leaked story -FG
- "255m car scandal: Senate suspends probe of Stella Oduah indefinitely"....
Allegations and counter allegations threaded, to the extent that no one talked about the fate of the crash survivors abandoned to their fate in the hospital.
In all, the President maintained a state of quietness; the Aviation minister on her part maintained her peace and carried on with her normal activities, embarking on religious trips with her colleagues, like one who would say "dare me, and i will tell what you also did last summer" while she waited the much dreaded summon by the Legislators.
As usual, a panel was set up to look into the matter; the Aviation minister was summoned, and several other questionable financial activities was reportedly uncovered.
But In the typical Nigerian mannerism, two months on, the case is fading off, but not after stake-holders had hijacked and politicized it. One would think that with these evidences, some punitive actions would be meted on perpetrators, if not for anything, to prove to the watching International communities that indeed, Nigeria is serious on her war against corruption.
My concern here is not to campaign for a re-visit into the case and crucify any one, but i wondered the necessity of going the extra mile of 'whistle blowing', when nothing was intended to be achieved with that. Or are they trying to tell Nigerians that they only wanted to make it known that certain top government officials have been busy helping themselves with the nation's purse, while neglecting their primary call to duty?, they din't need to let us in on that, we already know.
As a matter of fact, this is what has come to be the 'un-written manifesto' of most government officials, "Operation cut as much piece as you can from the national cake, while you can"..... why rob it in our face?.
Frankly speaking, I am not bought over by these gang of whistle blowers, i simply see them as the real criminals, because going by similar events that had played in the past, one will really begin to question their intentions. Were they targeted at sincerely exposing corrupt government officials, with the aim of bringing them to justice and sanitizing the nation?.
Do i perceive a genuine interest of the masses here?
Or is my instinct right in telling me that those acts were only revealed because these opposition groups were aggrieved, and probably had some scores to settle with the accused, who by the way they are not any better than?
Otherwise, why the sudden silence? have you been settled to keep mute?.
Have you, as usual sold your birth right and that of your un-born children for a pot of porridge?.
Or are the accused simply very powerful that they have become some sort of sacred cows to be called to order or brought to book?, are you meaning to tell us that some group of people are larger than Nigeria?. mmmmph!
Like i stated earlier, i don't have any personal issues with any of these parties, (the accused and the accusers),
nah here i sidon dey do my own things when them blow whistle, I follow rush come out make i see watin go happen sef, but my people....... notin happen.
Howbeit, I have not lost hope for Divine intervention, because going by what i see, it will take only Divine intervention to redeem Nigeria from the clutches of certain elements, who think that due to some reasons best known to them, they owe it as a duty to rip this land of all she has got to offer her children. People who see them selves as called and anointed to shamelessly embezzle for themselves and theirs, the resources meant to cater for all generations of this nation.
Individuals who feel that the nation's purse is their private purse where they can go to sign and withdraw ( under any disguise possible) and launder funds meant to be judiciously utilized for the benefit of all, while 95% of the populace bears the consequences in terms of:
In all, the President maintained a state of quietness; the Aviation minister on her part maintained her peace and carried on with her normal activities, embarking on religious trips with her colleagues, like one who would say "dare me, and i will tell what you also did last summer" while she waited the much dreaded summon by the Legislators.
As usual, a panel was set up to look into the matter; the Aviation minister was summoned, and several other questionable financial activities was reportedly uncovered.
But In the typical Nigerian mannerism, two months on, the case is fading off, but not after stake-holders had hijacked and politicized it. One would think that with these evidences, some punitive actions would be meted on perpetrators, if not for anything, to prove to the watching International communities that indeed, Nigeria is serious on her war against corruption.
My concern here is not to campaign for a re-visit into the case and crucify any one, but i wondered the necessity of going the extra mile of 'whistle blowing', when nothing was intended to be achieved with that. Or are they trying to tell Nigerians that they only wanted to make it known that certain top government officials have been busy helping themselves with the nation's purse, while neglecting their primary call to duty?, they din't need to let us in on that, we already know.
As a matter of fact, this is what has come to be the 'un-written manifesto' of most government officials, "Operation cut as much piece as you can from the national cake, while you can"..... why rob it in our face?.
Frankly speaking, I am not bought over by these gang of whistle blowers, i simply see them as the real criminals, because going by similar events that had played in the past, one will really begin to question their intentions. Were they targeted at sincerely exposing corrupt government officials, with the aim of bringing them to justice and sanitizing the nation?.
Do i perceive a genuine interest of the masses here?
Or is my instinct right in telling me that those acts were only revealed because these opposition groups were aggrieved, and probably had some scores to settle with the accused, who by the way they are not any better than?
Otherwise, why the sudden silence? have you been settled to keep mute?.
Have you, as usual sold your birth right and that of your un-born children for a pot of porridge?.
Or are the accused simply very powerful that they have become some sort of sacred cows to be called to order or brought to book?, are you meaning to tell us that some group of people are larger than Nigeria?. mmmmph!
Like i stated earlier, i don't have any personal issues with any of these parties, (the accused and the accusers),
nah here i sidon dey do my own things when them blow whistle, I follow rush come out make i see watin go happen sef, but my people....... notin happen.
Howbeit, I have not lost hope for Divine intervention, because going by what i see, it will take only Divine intervention to redeem Nigeria from the clutches of certain elements, who think that due to some reasons best known to them, they owe it as a duty to rip this land of all she has got to offer her children. People who see them selves as called and anointed to shamelessly embezzle for themselves and theirs, the resources meant to cater for all generations of this nation.
Individuals who feel that the nation's purse is their private purse where they can go to sign and withdraw ( under any disguise possible) and launder funds meant to be judiciously utilized for the benefit of all, while 95% of the populace bears the consequences in terms of:
- Incessant Academic strikes by aggrieved teachers and lecturers who feel they have been marginalized and cheated for a very long time by those in the corridors of power, with the console to be patient and receive their reward in heaven, thereby keeping our children out of school with no option than for our girls to be forced into early marriages they weren't quite prepared for, or our youngsters being engaged in anti- social activities. Denying the average young Nigerian the right to receive quality education so that they can favorably compete with their peers out there, and since most parents and guardians fall into the category of unimaginable low income earners, they can hardly cater for their daily bread talk-less of sending these young ones abroad for proper education. These set of kids are left to fate.
- Poor Electricity supply which has caused us pain and more deaths than a homicide situation, owing to environmental pollution from generator fumes, and fire outbreaks from candle lights in most poor homes.
- Heartrending Medical facilities, how else am i supposed to best describe a situation where the average Nigerian who can not afford treatments outside the country is left to die in hospital wards due to the administrations of antiquated drugs, and also incessant strikes of medical practitioners who wants to be better appreciated.
- Death traps called high ways, depicted with pot holes and dangerous coveted spots caused by erosion, absence of good lights for night travelers thereby exposing them to hoodlums. Our high ways are infested with the presence of various identifiable and un-identifiable uniformed officers who resume there to collect their daily wages. Travelling by air is not the better alternative as we have lost many lives as a result of cut corners between air-line operators and licencing authorities who issues licences based on how much the operators were willing to part with for settlements, and not based on their credibility as regards to meeting up with the required criteria.
- Unemployment, a situation that leads to our human resources jetting out of the country through any means possible, out of frustration, to become illegal or second class citizens in foreign lands; engaging in menial job or some crime they otherwise would not do here in Nigeria in order to survive. The very lucky ones who can afford to, go back to school over there, and manage to secure some employments. But my dear, going by tales from affected persons, It is never the best idea.
These situations can be easily avoided if top governmental officials sincerely have the interest of our nation and that of the masses at heart, shun greed, shun covetousness and shun evil.
If they would cease diverting the nation's resources and finance into private purses and interests.
If they would cease diverting the nation's resources and finance into private purses and interests.
If the Education, Economic and Finance, Power and Steel, Aviation, Petroleum, Health Ministers etc, etc....
If Honorable members of the Senate and the House of Representatives at the federal and state levels....
If Heads of Government's Parastatals and Agencies....
If Governors and their Commissioners...
If Royal fathers.....
Would cease from engaging in collecting kick backs before they can be seen or award and approve the payments of contracts awarded to individuals and organizations who can deliver because it is in their line of expertise. For the DEVELOPMENT of OUR COUNTRY.
Not hording and dishing out contracts only to where they have stakes.
Not hording and dishing out contracts only to where they have stakes.
If all the above mentioned can decide to simply do the work they were VOTED FOR to DO, if we all play our parts..... then my friends, we would have solved 95% of the challenges we face today.
God Bless Nigeria.
God Bless Nigeria.
By Obianuju Mbanusi
