The Tuesday Column Spare us the sanctimonious posturing
Suddenly, the public space is filled with lamentations that President Muhammadu Buhari is favouring certain sections of the country with his appointments, with many who had conveniently thrown the Constitution away long ago, now looking frantically for it to buttress their cry for “Federal Character”, something they had never accepted in the first place. Apparently, Nigeria has not started “nation building” because some sectional elites are no longer dominant in key executive and regulatory positions. Some are even digging up the usual threats of Biafra and other dangerous adventures, like babies whose toys had been taken away. Frankly, it is irritating.
Was it not just some two months ago that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) was Anyim Pius Anyim; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke? Did they not know that Bright Okogwu was Director-General Budget Office while Emeka Eze was in-charge of Due Process Office? Was anyone screaming when the Central Bank had a Godwin Emefiele (he is still there), the Securities and Exchange Commission had Arunma Oteh and the Nigerian Stock Exchange was under Oscar Onyema and Chinelu Onuoha was running the nations pension fund? Some termed all this “financial incest” but really it was shameless nepotism. Yet we kept mute, hoping our clueless leader would correct the terrible bias, which he never did. The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Bank of Industry, Sovereign Wealth Fund, Housing Fund and anything that had serious government money or regulatory significance was a one-tribe affair yet other Nigerians kept away from playing the ethnic card, preferring to judge them by their performance.
Now some ethnic champions would not allow us to sleep because PMB did not give them SGF. Why do they even assume that Rotimi Amaechi or Ogbonnaya Onu, if they had been appointed, would have continued with Pius Anyim’s bankrupt and shameless partisanship? They should not insult the integrity of these two gentlemen. And pray tell me how that lopsided government of Jonathan impacted on the average Igbo or Ijaw person any differently? Or is it a case of “better my own crook” than anyone else, no matter how good the new person is?
The other irritating chorus is the nauseating excuse that Goodluck Jonathan was a good man surrounded by bad people. We had the misfortune of having him as our leader for over six years. As an executive president he had the powers to select those he was to work with. He made his choices and must accept responsibility for their actions and utterances, along with those of a wife he failed to control. It is noteworthy that even in dealing with national security, maritime surveillance or even Boko Haram he allowed ethnicity and religious bigotry to becloud his vision, for which we are still paying dearly. This is why I find it very strange that some people
Tell me how that lopsided government of
Jonathan impacted on the average Igbo or Ijaw person any differently? Or is it a case of “better
my own crook” than anyone else, no matter how good the new
person is? would expect Buhari to allow ethnic champions decide who he picks for National Security Adviser (NSA), Service Chiefs or even NIMASA. They better find other grounds for condemnation, or shut up.
What should really bother us is this: are these people the right ones for the jobs? By and large, they are. Even the choice of the CG of the Nigeria Custom Services, which seems to have raised some eyebrows, is, to my mind, very appropriate. I never met the retired Colonel, but Hameed Ali’s reputation alone is enough to scare the most hardened smugglers and their corrupt collaborators in the service.
While most would focus on revenue accruing to the nation I believe Buhari’s reasons for appointing him to head that organisation are more long-term. Hameed Ali’s appointment will save lives and livelihoods. Our borders are too porous. Fake, sub-standard and even expired drugs are smuggled into the country with impunity, silently killing millions of hapless victims. So are smallarms, fake agricultural chemicals, expired reagents and dangerous narcotics. All these pose serious threats to lives. Toxic wastes and banned chemicals are also brought into the country freely, by simply “settling” customs officials. It is understandable that Buhari has resorted to someone he can trust to check all these, without the luxury of scouting for a CG from within the service.
In addition, other long-term considerations must have also contributed to this posting, as against our hope that the Colonel would be going to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). For our agriculture and manufacturing industries to develop they need to be supported, usually with some tariff and non-tariff measures, which we expect the Customs and Excise to enforce. Our border officials must not only ensure they save lives by stopping the smuggling of weapons, dangerous wastes and narcotic substances, they must also support job creation by strictly enforcing such policies aimed at protecting our local farmers and manufactures, as is the practice everywhere. For now, a retired and incorruptible soldier would seem the right choice for the job. It is heartening to hear, as someone has reliably informed me, that Hameed Ali is still the easiest person to see because even after his name was announced his house is totally free of the usual congratulatory crowd of smugglers, drug barons and dubious “well-wishers” that would usually besiege the abode of such new appointees. Apparently some fear him more than they fear his boss. We can now begin to expect an end to false declarations, under/over invoicing, non- or under-payments of duties, dubious waivers and favours.
Heartening also is the appointment of Abba Kyari. Now we know that to see “Baba” we do not have to cough out millions to any Chief of Staff, ADC, Imam or Chaplin as long as we have a genuine reason to seek for audience.
Democracy is all about citizens’ vigilance and we must keep an eye on all elected and appointed officials as they seek to implement the changes we hope to see, in an inclusive, fair and transparent manner. Even those who in their “groupthink” mentality decided to reject Buhari at the polls would be fairly represented. Yet all appointees must remember that ultimately they represent the nation as a whole, not just the section they come from.