A couple of weeks ago, I got an email from a young man in Lagos asking me to go to the Lagos State office of Ministry of Lands to document and report blatant corrupt practices.
Apparently, he must have seen my recent article on Sahara Reporters “Nigeria: Divide by tribe, United by corruption”, and needed help in exposing the ongoing open extortion at the Ministry.
He went on to narrate how all his attempt to process his Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) since 2008 is being frustrated by one Mrs. Ojo who has been insisting the he pays additional seventy thousand Naira (=N=70,000) before his file will be moved. This was after he had paid over five hundred thousand Naira including over five thousand for “typing”. The said Mrs. Ojo in room 32 in the Ministry of Lands told the young man that “the file cannot walk by itself”. She even had the guts to show him a heap of files that have been gathering dust on her desk simply because the landowners refused to “oil her hands”.
The young man who cried for help is not alone in Nigeria. His definition and practical experience with corruption is in a different planet with what this administration perceives as corruption. Everyday, everyday Nigerians are being forced to part with their hard earned money (the recession notwithstanding) for routine services in different government agencies and ministries all over Nigeria. On Nigerian streets, motorists, okada drivers, keke, truck drivers are confronted with crude acts of open extortions by Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and officials of Nigerian Customs. Traders who move their good across the country are being harassed, intimidated and finally extorted. The story is the same at the seaports, airports and borders. The question is; what is the plan of this administration to protect everyday Nigerians from corrupt public officials?
Meanwhile, Mr. President and his aides in their attempt to nail political foes have ignored some stark realities of endemic corruption in our government institutions that affect the common man. This administration have been claiming that things have “changed”. They brag about corrupt former government officials that returned less than 10% of millions and billions they embezzled. A claim that is ridiculous and meaningless to a bus driver at Upper Iweka Onitsha.
If President Buhari does not see acts of illegal extortions as a form of corruption and corrupt practice, then, he needs a re-orientation. If he knows but does not care, he needs a reorientation. If he cares but is not taking any action to help the ordinary people, he needs a reorientation.
It is worrisome that Mr. President and his administration that campaigned on the platform of “fighting corruption” have not bothered to protect ordinary citizens from corrupt government officials and agencies. His approach to the so called fight on corruption has no meaning whatsoever to ordinary Nigerians. We are not feeling you Mr. President. We don’t see any element of your anti-corruption crusade when we need it most. So, in order to understand the stark realities of corruption to ordinary Nigerians, I strongly believe that Mr. President needs a reorientation. We need you to cover our backs Mr. President. That is not too much to ask.
There is no doubt that the said Mrs. Ojo at the Lagos State Ministry of Lands has her back covered by her bosses. There is no doubt the policer officers on the streets extorting money from motorist have the express blessing of their “ogas at the top”. That’s the reason they are bold enough to sometimes kill innocent drivers for just 50 Naira as a reminder to other motorist of the extent they can go (if necessary) to “collect” their returns. What is this administration's’ strategy in going after these institutionalized corruption? What is the master plan to clean up the Nigerian Police Force, Customs and Port Authority? If Mr. President has no immediate plan at sanitizing these dangerously corrupt agencies with most contact with everyday Nigerians, then, he needs a reorientation on the meaning of corruption.
How bad is the situation? Terrible. Terribly bad that Mr. President’s aides carry corruption within them like a virus. Terribly bad to the extent that Buhari’s aides are now interfering with the activities of EFCC and stopping them from investigating their friends and corrupt political allies. It is so bad that Aisha Buhari is finding it difficult to reconcile the body language of her husband with who her husband is. It is terribly bad with devastating effect on poor people that voted for Mr. President and have been looking to this administration to sanitize the system. It is so bad that…Now we are all united in our disappointment.
As a matter of fact, the longer this goes on, the more the various anti-corruption agencies will look like mere window dressing to create the harmful illusion that something is happening in the corruption fight.
As the scheming for the 2019 election continues, the cabal around Mr. President have suddenly realized that the fear of Atiku and Tinubu in the beginning of wisdom. As President Buhari and his aides appear willing to throw his anti-corruption crusade under the bus, it is becoming clearer day by day that Buhari has lost It! Slamming of charges and “harassing” Saraki; withdrawal of charges and suspicious slowing down of proceeding; then countless closed door meeting with the same man accused of massive embezzlement. It’s puzzling.
Couple of years from now, the story of President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade will be summarized thus; “…and corruption fought back and rendered President Buhari politically ineffective. To avoid this requiem, Nigerians deserve to see and feel the change they voted for.
That’s why Mr. Presidents needs a reorientation on the meaning of corruption, NOW. To truly restart the anti-corruption crusade, President Buhari must urgently assume direct watch of all the government agencies entrusted with investigating and prosecutorial responsibilities. He made a promise to Nigerians, NOW, we want to see his signature on the anti-corruption war.
You can email Churchill at Churchill.okonkwo@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @churchillnnobi.
President Muhammadu Buhari
BY CHURCHILL OKONKWO
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