These are indeed interesting times for Nigeria and Nigerians, courtesy of Muhammadu Buhari and his fledgling presidency.
Last week was particularly so when “anti-corruption crusaders” took the centre stage, declaring unalloyed support for his quest to loosen the grip of the cankerworm of graft on the country.
And what a motley crowd it was – unlikely anti-corruption crusaders. Who says leadership does not make all the difference in the life of a nation?
Suddenly, even those that ordinarily would never have touched the anti-graft crusade with a pole, who never said anything against corruption in all the years they were in government, have become converts to and apostles of the cause, imploring Buhari to ensure that corruption no longer pays in Nigeria.
Why are Nigerians falling over themselves in their haste to pledge solidarity to Buhari’s iron-clad anti-corruption deportment? Are they sincere? Or are their actions borne out of fear that Buhari has no sacred cow?
The new anti-graft crusaders were unwittingly recruited by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Fr. Matthew Hassan-Kukah, whose pronouncement penultimate week and the reactions that followed convinced the nay-sayers of yesterday that there is fire on the mountain.
On Tuesday, August 11, the outspoken Kukah, who doubles as spokesman of the National Peace Committee (NPC) headed by former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, advised Buhari not to be distracted from the core issue of governance by paying too much attention to probe.
The NPC, which comprises eminent leaders, was established to help broker the peace agreement signed between Buhari and former President Goodluck Jonathan in the run up to the 2015 general election.
After the committee’s visit to Buhari in Aso Rock, Kukah insisted that “there is no such thing as probe in a democratic setting like ours. What obtains is investigation, and once people lead and things are not right, investigation becomes necessary.
“However, in doing that, we must never be distracted from the spectacular actions undertaken by … Jonathan. He is an individual.
“I think this whole thing about probe can be ascertained once investigations are concluded. But we are saying that a lot of talk and speculation about this probe are the distractions nobody needs.
“So, the most important thing is that we need a stable country first, before we can talk about these things.”
There was an instant uproar against Kukah’s perceived attempt to shield Jonathan.
“Anyone who attempts, either by deeds or words, to sabotage the recovery efforts is not a patriot and deserves nothing but public opprobrium,” the All Progressives Congress (APC) fired back almost immediately.
“Failure to go after those engaged in graft is tantamount to offering a thumbs-up for looting,” and no responsible government would do that.
The ruling party warned leaders in the Peace Committee not to interface for those who looted the treasury irrespective of party or tribe.
The APC said nothing but the total recovery of funds looted by officials of the former government would be acceptable to all patriotic Nigerians, an indication that the probe agenda of the Buhari government is irreversible.
“It is absolutely gratifying that Nigerians are vehemently opposed to the few who would rather have the government of the day turn a blind eye to the looted funds and, in their words, carry on with the process of governance.”
As if to give credence to APC’s claim, a hitherto unknown group, Buharian Culture Organisation, staged an anti-corruption protest at the gate of Aso Rock, urging Buhari to continue his fight against corruption.
The protesters were received by Presidential Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, who assured them that Buhari’s commitment to the fight is a consuming passion.
That was when the rat race started. On Sunday, August 16, former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, said he had become the newest anti-corruption convert.
Speaking to journalists at his Hilltop mansion in Minna to mark his 74th birthday, Babangida said: “During the tenure of my boss … Obasanjo, he had a similar strategy, and to be fair to him, he made a lot of recoveries.
“So, we should support this present federal government, which is trying to do the same to achieve the same objective.
“You talk about oil theft, I am sure … Buhari is resolute to stamp out all those and to bring to book all those who have tampered in stealing our oil.”
Then, on Monday, August 17, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, a member of the Peace Committee, expressed support for Buhari’s anti-corruption at a National Security Summit organised by the police in Abuja.
“Mr. President, we are 100 per cent in support of you and your fight against corruption in this country and it is our belief that all those found guilty should not only have their entire assets seized and forfeited to government but also face jail sentences,” said Abubakar, a retired military officer now foremost Muslim cum traditional ruler.
Curiously, he did not say who the “we” are. Could it be members of the Peace Committee?
Buhari was present where Abubakar gave this interesting advice. It is also interesting that what he said at the security summit was quite different from what Kukah said the committee told Buhari only a week earlier.
Was Abubakar playing to the gallery or did Kukah misrepresent what transpired at the meeting?
Whatever is the case, the reaction of the majority of Nigerians shows that most people are on the same page with Buhari on the anti-graft war for obvious reason.
Corruption is the reason why Nigeria has become a good for nothing country in the comity of nations 55 years after independent. The malaise is at the root of all our woes as a country.
So, any attempt by any leader to confront it headlong resonates well.
Nothing says good governance cannot go hand-in-hand with anti-corruption war. In any case, isn’t corruption the foremost nemesis of good governance? If the Jonathan government is correctly deemed today to be a failure it is simply because he lacked the capacity to put the monster of corruption on a leash.
Buhari is executing his campaign promises which were fight against corruption, fight against insecurity and revamping of the economy. He is on course.
But he must be wary of those volunteering to accompany him on this virtuous journey. It will be unfortunate if those who brought this country to its knees suddenly become the new kids on the anti-corruption block.
They will derail the anti-corruption locomotive.