For President Goodluck Jonathan to say that stealing is not corruption does not go down well with many people. Supporting his position, ironically, is the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Ekpo Nta, and this beats imaginations. With such a statement coming from the leaders, it grants a certificate that could encourage stealing not only in the public but also the private sectors. Though Mr. President insisted that stealing is not corruption; still and luckily, he averred that corruption is worse than stealing. If stealing is not corruption, what then is it, and what punishments would be commensurate for stealing and for corruption, respectively?
In philosophical, theological or moral discussions, corruption is the abuse of official power or position to acquire a personal benefit. Corrupt activities include but not limited to bribery and embezzlement. Government, or ‘political’, corruption occurs when an office-holder or other government employee acts in an official capacity for personal gain.
With this as contained in the Wikipedia, where would one place the fact that President Jonathan formed a company, Ebele Integrated Farms Limited, with a capital of N30 million with the two shareholders/directors, being himself holding 90 per cent and his mother, Madam Eunice, 10 per cent The company was registered in December 2011, according to records obtained from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Ebele Integrated Farms Limited’s sins did not stop at that. It sounds strange that the company applied, for farming purposes, a land measuring 94.04 hectares in size and belonging to the Aviation Village in Abuja on March 6, 2012 and got it approved and allocated on March 8, 2012 – just within a space of two days? Not only that, the conversion of the land to farming distorted Abuja masterplan; thereby contravening part of the constitution he swore to uphold. His action contravenes the Fifth Schedule Part 1 (Code of Conduct for Public Officers) of the 1999 Constitution, Section 1. Now what has Mr. Nta of the ICPC got to say about this?
Also, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Bala Mohammed, had to help himself with 40.40 hectares, a land area very close to his boss’. The president’s media men had the effrontery to say that after all, former President Olusegun Obasanjo did similar land-grabbing. Two wrongs cannot make any right. If it were to be in a well-organised country, this is enough to ask President Jonathan to resign. This, as committed by the president, may be a tip of the iceberg – just thinking!
Corruption is one of the issues on the table against Nigerian government officials. Little wonder why Mr. President finds it difficult to give graphic details of how he has been fighting corruption; hence, in one of his campaign outings, says that he will use technology in fighting the monster, if re-elected.
Yet it was for similar reason of conflict of interest and conduct inimical to a public office-holder that President Jonathan relieved Prof. Barth Nnaji of his appointment as the Minister of Power. Whereas it is on record that before Nnaji was appointed a Minister, he was already building Alaoji Power Station in Aba with a consortium of investors, in Jonathan’s case, he was already serving as President of Nigeria before registering the Ebele Integrated Farms Limited.
In this matter of the president soiling his name, I think he has disappointed most of us that held him in high esteem. What do we do?
• Okiri wrote in from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.