Judicial Probe as Synonym for Witch-hunt in Nigeria
Igboanugo Oyichibu
There is a saying in Igbo land that goes thus: “do not eat yam in the public if your pseudo name is yam eater.” In the wisdom of the elders, such a man can easily be targeted and poisoned by his enemies. In the same vein, it serves no useful purpose to be the jury, the judge and the prosecutor at the same time when you are the accuser. This is the situation Hon Emma Okah, a member of Gov. Nyesom Wike’s team, has found himself. Okah, the Commissioner for Lands, in an attempt to dismiss the clear witch hunt his boss has embarked upon ended up ridiculing his principal. My question to him is this: why not charge Amaechi to court if you have already found him guilty? Why the need for a judicial commission? Why waste the tax payers money on a matter he has loads of evidence and witnesses?
For the education of Hon Emma Okah and his co-cast in the odious soap- Wike & co, churning out lies in pursuit of cheap popularity will end the way of all ephemeral guises no matter its colouration. The beauty of democracy is that the people are perpetually shepherded by the dictates of their stomach, pockets or values they hold dear. They might praise the actions of a deluded political upstart but will surely ask relevant questions when the dividends of democracy are not forthcoming. While the cast keep stoking the fire the main act has ignited, I enjoin them to take a little time to study the history of Judicial Inquiries in Nigeria. The history of probes, inquiries, tribunals and other associated terms used in attempts aimed at getting answers for administrative or governance purposes are not new in Nigeria. It is also pertinent to surmise that they are not necessarily instituted in the interest of truth and the political leaders behind them are not altruistic in their implementation of the outcomes and conclusions they reach.
In fact, these became useful tools in the hands of political undertakers in the execution of their inglorious agendas. During the colonial era in Nigeria, the late nationalist and doyen of the independence struggle, The Rt. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, was forced to relinquish his shares in the then African Continental Bank (ACB) after a kangaroo Tribunal of Inquiry handed the bank to the then Eastern region. Today, the bank is no more but the name of Azikiwe withstood the smear campaign and prevailed.
The machination shifted to the Western region in 1963 after the 1962 post independence election. The target was the federal opposition leader and life leader of the Yoruba race. The NPC/NCNC coalition and the Ladoke Akintola political wing which included Remi Fani-Kayode connived to indict late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and convicted him of treasonable felony. The man selected to do the hatchet job was late Justice Sodeinde Sowemimo. Today, Chief Awolowo’s name and legacy have towered above his adversaries.
Fifteen years later, offspring of nation wreckers machinated another accusation, but targeted at the most disciplined, honest and incorruptible leader that emerged in our polity. They trumped up imaginary accusation of missing N2.8bn against the then Minister of Petroleum Resources, Muhammadu Buhari. The Head of State at the time, Olusegun Obasanjo, set up an investigative panel to look into NNPC’s books and report accordingly. The report of the panel cleared the incorruptible leader and went further to state that no money was missing.
Not done with the outcome, they regrouped and pressed President Shagari to probe the incident further. He obliged and instituted a Judicial Panel of inquiry headed by Justice Ayo Irikefe to unravel any iota of latency in the matter. The panel cleared him and praised his exemplary administration of our oil resources during his tenure. Today, his traducers have become the benchmark of negativities while he bestrides our political firmament like a colossus.
In our present democratic dispensation, the politics of retribution and witch hunt has evolved considerably. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was constituted to act as the watchdog and protector of public coffers. As everything Nigerian, it degenerated into an instrument of coercion and decimation of political ambitions. However, this has reduced drastically following the consolidation of civic education in Nigeria. Nigerians are no longer shy to uphold their fundamental human and administrative rights. This combination has rendered the ability of a political office holder to orchestrate the “destruction” of his opponents extremely difficult. The axiom that when the heart is intent on doing evil, it divests itself of any milk of human kindness is once again manifesting in so many power points within the federation.
Dusting the old book of infamy, the governor of Rivers state, “miraculously” sighted the actions of political actors of yore and sang “Jubilate Deo” and embarked on unadulterated implementation of its contents. Unknown to him, the political fatality of the route he has taken could probably end with a rendition of the famed “Nunc Dimitis” which was the lot of his “heroes.”
The action of Governor Nyesom Wike is not only ill advised but distractive and could politically backfire. In favouring a Judicial Panel against a forensic audit, what is the overall intention(s) of the governor? Considering the enormous powers availed to a Judicial Panel, is the objective to convict his immediate predecessor and wave that as a reason to stop his political ascension? These are questions only Wike and his encouragers must answer. He has already compromised the ability of the panel to bring peace and justice because of his utterances. The big question is whether a goat will get justice in a court presided over by hyenas and lions. Ability to dispense pain and evil should not be considered a virtue needed for national development and stability.
The paradox in the drive of Wike for a judicial probe of Amaechi is located in his latest demand for an outstanding sum of N105billion owed Rivers state by the federal administration under former President Goodluck Jonathan. Under his instigation and approval of the then President, Rivers state was denied the refund of the money it expended on federal projects in the state. With a monthly wage bill of N9billion, the state of Rivers under Amaechi could have paid about twelve months wage bill upfront to the workers of the state.
It is hypocritical on one hand to demand for refund from Abuja on listed completed projects by the Amaechi government and on the other hand accuse him of doing nothing while in office. While Wike’s hero (Jonathan) failed to complete the East-West road, Rotimi Amaechi used state resources to construct the Rivers section of the Port Harcourt –Owerri Highway and fitted street lights from Umuapu in Imo to the Garden City. While Jonathan failed to complete the Imo section of the Highway, the Amaechi government delivered on the Rumuokuta-Choba Highway, Eleme section of Aba road and the Ikwerre motorway. These projects are what the present administration in the state is asking President Buhari for refund. Nothing defines hypocrisy better than this.
While it is important and needful to examine the activities of former office holders, the procedure and intent is more important than the outcome. A process that is primarily designed to achieve a predefined outcome is worthless and will negate the push for accountability in public administration. The governor of Rivers state has a responsibility to the people he is leading and must not allow himself to be distracted by cheerleaders angling for a comfortable chair in the gravy train. What happens when the train is divested of essential recipe required to prepare delicious inducing dishes? Your guess is as good as mine.
Finally, I urge the governor to read what Zik told Ukpabi Asika when he was administrator of East Central state: “Every public officer will one day be an ex this or that.”
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