The timely suspension, investigation and possible prosecution of Dr Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is a clear signal that under the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is not going to be business as usual.
When the whistle sounded and the wind blew open the anus of the fowl, it didn’t take Mr President a day longer than necessary before announcing the suspension of the Minister from office. He consequently instigated the EFCC to swing into action. That is responsiveness in governance and the kind of leadership that Nigeria desires at this critical period.
What offence did she commit? The Minister was alleged to have ordered the transfer of N585 million from the account of the National Social Investment Office to a private account. This was done in contravention of the 2009 Financial Regulation Act. The provisions of the Act expressly states in Chapter 713 that “neither personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into private account” The act is simple and unambiguous.
Although, it is premature to pass any valid judgement on the suspended Minister for now as investigations are in progress by the appropriate authorities. But the media and beer parlour trials which are going on pari passu with the official investigations on the issue are not strange as the corruption saga is big enough to attract public interest.
Corruption in Nigeria is systemic, endemic, prevalence, cancerous and ubiquitous. The ill has actually permeated all the sectors and strata of the society. Since 1999, successive governments have been claiming to have zero tolerance for corruption and corrupt practices. But none has been able to fight the menace to the admiration and satisfaction of Nigerians.
Not even the immediate past president, President Muhammadu Buhari whose major attraction that endeared him to the hearts of Nigerians while campaigning to out-stage the former President Goodluck Ebelle Jonathan in 2015 was his incorruptible stance. It can only be said that PMB did just a little in this regard. In fact, his tenure has been adjudged to have witnessed a sort of monumental loot in Nigeria similar to that of late General Sani Abacha’s regime. Under his nose, the CBN that ought to be the custodian of the national treasury became the center of national thievery.
But President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, contrary to public expectations and without making any noise about his intention to wage war against corruption during his electioneering campaign has so far been able to do some things that beat the imaginations of Nigerians in the fight against corruption.
As we speak, a couple of the Ministers appointed by him are in the eye of the storm over corruption allegations. Dr Betta Edu of Betta gate, and Halima Sheu, the head of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) are currently under suspension.
The immediate past Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Services Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq is also facing the baptism of fire in the hands of the EFCC over financial improprieties.
Dr Olu Agunloye, a former Minister of Power is also cooling off right now in detention. This is not to mention the immediate past governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele who is being alleged to have been the field marshal of corruption that pervaded the last administration. The list is endless.
Notable members of the opposition have been applauding the step taken so far by PBAT. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 presidential election, his spokesperson at the time of the election, Mr Daniel Bwala and a renown public affairs commentator and table shaker, Mr Reno Omokiri among others. They have nice words for Mr President not to have foot dragged on the suspension of Betta Edu . When your strong political opponents come out to give a public commendation and acknowledgement of your action, it means you have done wonderfully well.
Is there any hope for Nigeria? The answer is yes. If this tempo is sustained by Mr President and there are no sacred cows, then the future is bright. It is a good omen for a country that has been hitherto bastardized by pen robbers masquerading as public officers to be witnessing a cabinet minister being treated in the Betta Edu way.
Nigerians are living under excruciating economic condition, no doubt about that. And corruption is a major contributory factor to the economic woes facing the people. If the officials who are put in charge of distributing stipends in the form of palliatives to mitigate the sufferings of the vulnerable in the society are the ones pilfering it, then no drastic measures taken against them can be said to be too much.
In fact, recently, someone mentioned that fighting corruption with kid gloves is like encouraging corrupt practices to thrive. This is the time to be decisive, brutal and possibly eliminate the pen robbers in the system employing whatever instruments available. In the saner clans, such are being done already. You dare not deep your hands in the public purse in Singapore, caught and expected to go scot-free. No, you must have to face the consequences of your actions.
Taking preventive measures against the practice as opined by the Chairman of the EFCC during his screening exercise at the Senate is good, but applying stringent sanctions on the culprits for now is the way to go. Whoever that is fingered or caught in the act should be prosecuted and tried with military dispatch. Then, severe punishment should be meted out promptly in order to serve as deterrent to others.
The country is ill, bleeding, rotten, and stinking of corruption. The Politics, The Politicians and The People are overwhelmingly guilty of this. The solution to clear the mess is in the hand of no other a person than Mr President. In the word of Mr Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of Singapore, “let’s keep our system clean”.
B. Aderemi Ogundele
(Jagunmolu)
