Kelly Ovie Umukoro
Benin City, Edo state
The series of scandals that have engulfed this administration recently are beginning to cast a shadow over the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari and the government he heads. What is more, the deafening silence on some of these weighty allegations is making matters worse.
President Buhari was roundly supported by Nigerians because of his vow to tackle corruption before it kills us among other things and recent events plus his body language have left much to be desired. This is not why we kicked out arguably the most corrupt administration this country ever had.
The slow motion with which this government has handled sensitive issues – from delays in appointments to policy making, despite complaints from all quarters, has proved to be a real threat to our development in that it has affected businesses and investments. It is imperative that this government understand that inordinate delays in making vital decisions make for a poor image of a government and the country it leads.
Recently, a letter to the President from the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, where some very damning issues were raised was leaked. Forty-eight hours after the news broke, no scratch that two months after the letter was sent to the Presidency, there has been no action whatsoever from President Buhari. In the said letter, Kachikwu accused Maikanti Baru, the GMD of the NNPC, of insubordination and award of contracts to the tune of $24bn, without due process among other allegations.
I didn’t believe a day would come when I’d have some doubts and questions about President Buhari’s war against corruption and his Presidency in general.
Is there really a cabal in President Buhari’s government? Recall that there had been similar allegations against some members of his inner cabinet, notably, his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. Sometime last year, it was reported that he was behind the reduction of the fine levied against a big firm here and in the process skimmed extra money as a bribe on the side. That this was swept under the carpet seems to buttress the fact that there truly are untouchables in President Buhari’s government.
The true test of President Buhari’s Presidency has just been presented and the way he handles this will determine a lot as his legacy is on the line here.
Is the legacy he’s built over the years based on his modesty and integrity worth losing over some jejune decision and obsequiousness to some good-for-nothing cabal? Mr. President can’t continue to make bets in a burning house. This won’t-talk attitude will not even cut it this time round. It’s already one too many and this is too heavy to ensconce.
It is pertinent to note that the silence that greeted the former CBN governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi’s similar allegations in the last administration, I believe, is part of the reasons why we are here today! We don’t want to repeat the same damn insane mistake!
