Given the year we’ve had, with all the dramas around those in power, intrigues and political grandstanding, it would have been an anti-climax if the year were to end without an incident, or an icing on the cake. And so ladies and gentlemen, the closing act of what has been a show that will rival the best Nollywood has to offer. The show is getting clearer now as we are increasingly lighting up the stage.
The drama will continue shortly and all masks will be removed. Just get ready for another thrilling episode of government drama.
Oh by the way, it is Christmas!!! And can you imagine that I am still searching for my cutleries. I haven’t even thought of what I am going to eat with them. But I’ve got to have them in place. You’re probably wondering what I’m up about this time.
Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari’s integrity was put to a litmus test, forcing him to call out for an investigation on top cabinet members. You know how they say a man’s enemies are the people of his household? Well, that may be true in this instance. I can imagine that President Buhari is torn between letting go the very people he trusts, especially in his so-called anti-corruption campaign. The whole drama has become embarrassing and it made me question if the president still bothered about issues of his integrity.
So late on Sunday, the president’s mouthpiece released a statement to the effect that the Attorney General of the Federation has been “ordered” to probe all top government officials accused of one infraction or the other. While the statement was not specific, it was very obvious who those to be investigated were.
The week through, Nigerians expected the president to either suspend or sack outright those members of his kitchen cabinet whose names had come up in issues that smeared his now not-so-impeccable integrity.
Rather, he’s been slow to take action. In fact, he’s been forced to by the clever stage-managed show put up by Senators on the day he was to deliver the 2017 spending plan.
To refresh your minds, Secretary to Government of the Federation Babachir David Lawal (a.k.a BD) was indicted by a Senate committee led by Shehu Sani. The committee’s report accused Mr. Lawal of receiving a N233 million contract to clear “invasive plant species” (simply put, to cut grasses) in Yobe State through a company called Rholavision
Nigeria Limited which he owns.
Claims that Mr. Lawal had resigned his position as director in the company was rubbished by the fact that he remains a signatory to the company’s account. Following the disclosure, lawmakers asked that Mr. Lawal be kicked out of office, investigated and prosecuted over the alleged contract fraud and conflict of interest as the contract was awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) over which Mr. Lawal’s position as SGF have oversight.
On the other hand, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu’s nomination was rejected by the Senate, on grounds of a security report. Magu, who has seemingly promulgated the President’s anti-graft war agenda, is on the spot himself for alleged infractions.
At first, we started to believe that it was some sort of vendetta by the lawmakers, especially since some of them already had cases instigated by Magu himself. On a second look, the picture of in-fighting in the President’s kitchen cabinet seem to blend in, as some staff in Aso Rock believe that Magu was haunted by a different cabal in the in the President’s kitchen.
I will not want to give you just any kind of story now, but a very top official who should know, asked me to hold my braces that the matter was beginning to take a new twist. Meaning, in the next couple of weeks the story will take a new dimension, what it will be, I cannot say.
BD has been tensed, let me say shaky. He had been approached by journalists at the State House penultimate weekend to hear his side of the story but he reneged. After the Presidency released a statement on Sunday, supporters of the SGF swung into action. I learnt that his loyalists called for a press conference though it was later cancelled, to brief newsmen obviously to tell them that BD is innocent.
Meanwhile, on Magu, Senate Leader Ali Ndume brazenly told journalists that Magu had not been rejected, contradicting the statement released by
the Senate. It will not be entirely out of place that Ndume is probably standing up for his kinsman, as they are both from Borno State. During an interview with journalists where he tried to address the Senate’s position, Ndume lost his cool when we tried to get him to give us a concrete answer.
“Are you arguing with me?” he retorted angrily. Of course, we weren’t in a debate with the lawmaker. We only pushed him after we spotted the obvious contradiction in his statement. More journalists are becoming bolder and more professional and they push politicians to the limit as we try to hold them to account. Gone are the days when we’re told something is white and we’re expected to report it even when the contradiction is glaring. So the drama continued next day at the Senate when they reiterated their stand.
So the terse statement which was released late Sunday obviously after the president had read several reports hitting on his refusal to take
action against his allies said: “The attention of the presidency has been drawn to a number of reports in the media, in which various accusations of corruption have been levelled against some top officials in the administration.
In that regard, President Buhari has instructed the Attorney General of the Federation to investigate the involvement of any top government official accused of any wrongdoing. If any of them are liable, they will not escape prosecution”.
We can try to accept that this will be done but I assure you that the last has not been heard. Feelers from the inner circles of power show that the president is more circumspect lately as he now has some idea that Nigerians are really unhappy. It may not be unconnected with another electioneering circle starting in about a year from now.
And this brings me to the town hall meeting that held at the State House where six cabinet members including the Ministers of Information, Finance, Power, Works and Housing and Solomon Dalung got all manner of jibes. While some were meant for onward delivery to Mr. President, others were aimed directly at the ministers present. And
unlike during the budget presentation, they were all fully awake this time.
If you haven’t seen the meme of the bored and sleeping ministers you’re on a very long thing.
During the Question and Answer session, a young man, probably in his 20’s was handed the mic, and he goes “Nigerians are hungry! We are suffering”. It didn’t stop there, he said he would have loved to ask each minister a question but instead he decided to send a message to their boss.
“Please, I want the Minster of Information to tell the President that when he was campaigning he had the interest of the youth in mind but now I don’t know if he has changed or he is changing. 2019 is coming and we are waiting for him”.
The hall erupted with laughter. People clapped, cheered and jeered and I could see the look of horror on the ministers’ faces. The Villa is usually quite intimidating for a lot of people but for the young man to boldly threaten the president’s re-election ambition, if any, and certainly the All Progressive Congress party’s bid to get re-elected,
speaks volumes of how deeply the frustration in the land runs. Is there anything surprising about that? We are all in a difficult situation and no matter how his hailers try to excuse the president and his handlers insulate him, the reality is that the buck stops at his table.
After some more questions and comments, Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, who moderated the session, cleared his throat and said: “My dear ministers, it is time for everyone to carry his own cross”, implying that fellow cabinet colleagues should respond to the questions directed at them. I couldn’t help it. I laughed too. It isdifficult when even the usually loquacious Mr. Mohammed is short of words. He always seems to have an answer for everything. Not this time.
So as you enjoy the Christmas holiday, please don’t make it an everybody “is on their own affair”. Let’s show love to those whose plates are ready, yet still empty because situation has made it difficult to put food in there. Thank you for having me in your home today.
Merry Christmas
Elizabeth Archibong
