Buhari, Magu And The Fight Against Corruption

Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari sought power desperately; in fact, he contested for the top office severally and failed. While challenging the victory of one of his opponents he was seen weeping in court, but he later fulfilled the dream of becoming Nigeria’s leader. Currently he is serving his second term as a democratically elected president.

Buhari’s core agenda is to fight corruption and eliminate corruption in Nigeria. He quickly introduced the whistle-blowing system for calling out the corrupt elements in the society. The whistle-blowing policy paid-off as few corrupt elements were exposed; however, it was short-lived for dearth of enabling structure to sustain the “idea”. Apparently, it came and disappeared like a shooting star.

To further leverage the existing established structure birthed by the Obasanjo-led administration President Buhari appointed a man considered to be incorruptible as the new anti-corruption Czar. So much noise was made about him, even when the National Assembly severally kicked against Ibrahim Magu’s selection and continuity in office the President remained adamant, created the impression that the members of the National Assembly were corrupt, and needed to be investigated by the same Magu. Few Nigerians may be wondering why Magu remained an acting Chairman for the EFCC after several years.

Sadly, after five years of Buhari’s administration, there are problems with Magu’s appointment as the Chairman of the EFCC. His suspension attests to that. Apparently, Buhari wasn’t prepared to be Nigeria’s President. All he had was the passion to lead the complex entity called Nigeria out of some motives which many could perceive as selfish. Nigerians should remember that he was forcefully removed as Head of State. That must have informed his resolve to get back to Aso Villa at all costs without having a clear-cut agenda and having certain select people in mind who will revolutionize the problematic sections of the Nigerian entity. One of these sensitive areas is the issue of corruption. Buhari has failed almost on all fronts; he has not been able to decimate the Boko Haram terrorist group; even worse, while many well-meaning Nigerians called for the removal and replacement of service chiefs he remained adamant and played the same card he played at the National Assembly when they refused to confirm Ibrahim Magu. Nnamdi Abana, Lagos