By ABBA DUKAWA
With three cardinal programs of PMB’s campaign promises Security, Corruption, and Economy, Nigerians expected effective and rebut fighting of Insecurity, Corruption, and improved Economy in the country.
It will be recalled that following an intense presidential campaign and the victory in the March 28 presidential poll in 2015.
Let me start with the war on Corruption, For long PMB had been pontificating about his desire to fight Corruption which made Nigerians believe that he is capable to beat his predecessors in the fight against corruption and improve the nation’s economy.
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PMB‘s supporters believed that he is capable to overshadow previous administrations ‘efforts war against -corruption war and improved security and economy.
To the extent that the war waged by the administration against corruption proved to be toughest and it’s fighting back each passing day because there are several allegations of corruption within the administration.
The most disturbing scene of the war on corruption is becoming a subject of public scorn. There are several examples I can cite as proof but I will limit myself to a few.
Nigerians may recall that in less than two years of PMB’s administration, its first litmus test in fighting corruption was when a court fined MTN to pay billions of dollars to the government.
Another shocking scenario was when approval of a $25 billion contract awarded by NNPC without the input of then acting president at the time and the said approval was said to be given by PMB while in sickbed in London, this cast’s serious doubt in the mind of Nigerians.
In spite of highly celebrated profiled corruption cases like ex petroleum minister Diezeini Allison, Defence gate, and PDP campaign funds, five years into the administration, there were no convictions of the alleged looters.
The most worrying development is that the anti-graft war, which used to be the government’s major Slogan, is becoming a compromise.
Magu, the anti-graft Czar, has himself been accused of various infractions — some of them contained in reports submitted to PMB.
Did PMB heard Prof Pondei, NDDC acting MD, told a Senate panel that he spent N1.5 billion as COVID-19 relief on the staff?
Did you hear him glaringly telling the committee that “we took care of ourselves”, and the man is still in office?
Any of President Appointees could make such a reckless statement on corruption and go scot-free.
Did the president know that the struggle for power among his appointees is becoming a subject of public ridicule?
Minister of Labour once suspended the management of NSITF and said he had PMB’s approval, Former MD of the Niger Delta Development Commission vs. Minster of Niger Delta.
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Another palaver was when police officers were deployed to the house of Mrs. Joi Nunieh, former MD of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to intimidate her on a day she was supposed to testify about the massive corruption in the agency.
The latest episode of indiscipline minister of labor Dr. Chris Ngige Vs James Falaki on the screen of the TV called him Mushin boy.
It seems the government is not willing to instill discipline within the administration.
Many Nigerians are asking whether President Buhari is the man to depend on when Nigerians elected him.
Dukawa can be reached at abbahdukawa@gmail.com
