The Peoples Democratic Party, on Saturday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress to break their silence and comment on the alleged N21billion, guns and thousands of Permanent Voter’s Cards, allegedly found in the residence of the sacked Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura.
The stand of the main opposition party followed series of posers by Nigerians on how the residence of the head of one of the major arrowheads of the current administration’s anti-corruption war would become the alternative strong room of the Central Bank of Nigeria, if indeed the report is true.
As embarrassing as these tests could be to a government, which rode to power on the wheels of a well-articulated anti-corruption propaganda, they are nothing compared to the ridicule the Daura expose, if found true, would make of what appears to be the fulcrum of the re-election propaganda of the ruling party
The fact that the PDP was sold to Nigerians as the most corrupt political party, not only in Nigeria, but in the entire world, makes this development very interesting, especially when one considers the fact that Daura, in line with his mandate, should have been the one exposing such a “juicy” residence.
There have been so many tests of the ruling party’s commitment to the struggle against corruption in all its ugly forms. Let’s pick three.
The letter emanating from DSS’ quarters, which nailed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission boss, Ibrahim Magu, as a very corrupt official not fit to hold the position, was one big test. The Presidency, many analysts said, virtually ignored the weighty allegations and insisted on confirming Magu even when Nigerians were not told that the DSS had swallowed its highly revealing statement and given the EFCC boss the nod.
The reckless vote-buying by the two major parties in the race – the PDP and APC – in the July 14, 2018 Ekiti Governorship election, even in the presence of almost the entire Nigeria Police Force, without anyone prosecuted till date; and the inconclusive case bearing on an allegation of certificate forgery levelled against a key Buhari minister are two other tests.
As embarrassing as these tests could be to a government, which rode to power on the wheels of a well-articulated anti-corruption propaganda, they are nothing compared to the ridicule the Daura expose, if found true, would make of what appears to be the fulcrum of the re-election propaganda of the ruling party. How would the ruling party explain, if established, the fact that the head of the almighty DSS was involved in a multi-billion-naira loot scandal, right under the nose of our own symbol of integrity? I’m sure the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole would appreciate that this is a serious matter that must be explained clearly, with facts and figures, and not one that would be swept under the carpet with caustic but vague reactions.
Already, Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, have raised the alarm that the Federal Government is planning to implicate them and their colleagues in the PDP for the invasion of the premises of the National Assembly last Tuesday.
In a statement, jointly signed by their media aides, Yusuph Olaniyonu and Uche Anichukwu, they said, “We have been reliably informed that instead of the Presidency to set up a public inquiry or judicial commission to probe last Tuesday’s early morning invasion of the National Assembly as being demanded by the general public, they have commenced a process of manipulation and fabrication.
“The Presidency has set up a closet panel, which would work to a predetermined conclusion in which they will now claim that the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President worked in collusion with ex-DG of DSS, Lawal Daura to stage the invasion.”
Whilst supporters of the senate leaders may throw this alleged pre-determined conclusion away as a far-fetched possibility, keen watchers of Nigeria’s unfolding game of political chess would rather ask for thorough, results-oriented investigations into the invasion as the senate president had earlier demanded. Though the tribal leaning of the embattled former DSS DG looks so much in favour of the President, it’s a Charly Boyshow, especially when one considers the abracadabra that led to the emergence of the leaders of the Eight Senate, so anything could have happened!
Now that there are further allegations of billions of naira discovered in Daura’s residence, the Senate president may have more to worry about in this era of alarms because followers of this event would also ask for the source of the money.
However, it appears almost clear that Oshiomhole, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, and other key members of the Buhari administration must urgently look for some other visible achievements as basis for re-election, far away from this over-flogged corruption propaganda. On the other hand, if they have to stick to their claim of having tackled everything that is grouped under corruption in Nigeria, they have to go beyond rhetoric and prove to Nigerians, and indeed, the international community, that what may soon be tagged Daura-gate never happened under Buhari.
This is no time for Nigerians to queue behind a favoured group or party in the whole penkelemess (peculiar mess), it is time to stand together against leaders, who are only interested in their own pockets and the wellbeing of their family members and close associates at the expense of the common good.
Meanwhile, the Legistature and the Executive, in the little time remaining to usher in the next democratic phase, should respect the intelligence of Nigerians and play politics in a civilised manner. We’re tired of perceiving the drivers of the nation’s affairs as hooligans masquerading as statesmen. No matter how long this game of chess continues, voters are wiser now and would rather vote with their conscience, notwithstanding the guage of their stomachs when desperate politicians come knocking with their miserable naira notes.
For now, Nigerians await the formal reaction of the Federal Government to the cash-warehousing allegation on ground. We, the President’s fans, sincerely wish it would turn out a mere fabrication!
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