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Inquest, Probe Or Shadow-Chase? …Trial Of Suspected Treasury Looters
Buhari and Prof Sagay
Last week, after countless assurances by the Federal Government that it has details of where rogue politicians stashed away stolen public funds, President Mohammadu Buhari announced that formal trial of suspects would soon commence. But from the nature of speeches, and body language of the nation’s ruler, those involved do not seem to be mere suspects; they appear to me, convicts already.
After a meeting Buhari held with members of the National Peace Committee, headed by a former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, where, the subject was discussed, members emerged with valid concerns.
Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, and spokesperson of the Peace Committee, Father Mathew Kukah expressed deep concerns over the way and manner the Federal Government was handling the issue of probe.
“This is not a military regime. This is a democracy, where, investigations and valid trial by competent courts of jurisdiction are expected to discharge their constitutional responsibilities and not probes and incarcerations|”.
Kukah is troubled that a lot of trial is going on, on pages of newspapers, apparently tilting towards the body-language of the incumbent president, which he fears, would diminish the gains of a united, peaceful and hopeful nation, achieved following the patriotic concession by former President Goodluck Jonathan in course of the 2015 general elections.
“No amount of billions could buy the peace and stability which that singular act of patriotism Jonathan exhibited, earned us as a people”, Kukah told a panel of interviewers on channels television.
“If the Federal Government has specific cases, they should hand-over to constitutional authorities to investigate and charge suspects to court for trial, and not use the process as a substitute for governance,” he said, adding, “the people want actions, signs of good governance and indeed governance and not spend all the time on threats and vilifying key actors of the immediate past administration”.
Kukah said that government should start something by forming a credible cabinet of Ministers and not spend all the time heating –up the polity with probes and threats of probes, when what is required is proper investigation of the affected issues and then trials.
Father Kukah is not alone. Former Head of State, Abdulsalam Abubakah himself said, no sane Nigerian would be against an objective recovery of stolen public funds, but warned that the rule of law must be followed.
That indeed is the crux of the matter. Early last week, President Buhari assembled a team of criminologists and academics headed by Prof. Sagay to investigate the same issues, the federal government had claimed, it had answers to. After his US trip, Buhari told Nigerians that he had details of all dubious transactions, foreign bank accounts where stolen funds from crude sales were lodged. They also know the location of such banks, some tankers impounded in foreign lands and indeed the former public officials involved.
Government even said it had details of how Nigerian crude was shared among public officials and sold by individuals and proceeds paid into their personal accounts. And that all such details were within government’s grasps. If that is so, what is the duty of the Sagay Committee, now calling on people to come and confess?
Is the committee a replacement of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a Probe Panel or a Judicial Commission, without a serving or retired judge or is the Committee to confirm the claims of the Buhari government, so as to justify any further action it might take, thereafter, including incarceration?
Nigeria operates the accusatorial process of prosecution, by which, an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Its opposite is the inquisitorial process by which an accused is presumed guilty until he or she proves himself or herself innocent.
The nature of public comments on a matter yet to be properly investigated and suspects put to trial, cuts the picture of condemned criminals. What this does is that institutions finally entrusted with the trial of such cases go the extra mile to ‘re-affirm’ what the master had already told the public, so that the master is not portrayed as a liar.
Infact, many Nigerians believe that no trial will be just enough to guarantee justice to those already convicted by the government. This is because, the government whose duty it is to transfer information to the judicial arm for proper trial has already assumed the position of judge in their own cases, if official public comments on the issue are any leads to go by.
No one wants to question Buhari’s integrity or resolve to fight corruption. But there are indeed civilized ways of doing it, in a democratic dispensation.
Whatever ‘facts’ government has or thinks it has amount to mere suspicion and the affected Nigerian or foreigner a mere suspect. Such ‘facts’ should be properly investigated by a competent constitutional institution, in this case either the EFCC or ICPC or both. It could also include other constitutionally approved security institutions.
Then follows facts analysis. Where the facts are weighty enough to get conviction, the suspect is then charged to court for trial, with government and its agencies represented as prosecutors. It is only in a Military regime, that government prosecutes, makes the laws and also serves as judge in its own case.
It is indeed only in such instances, that the nature of pre-trial vilifications and condemnation on pages of newspapers will sell, not in a democracy where, the judiciary must be allowed to perform its constitutional duty.
This is why many agree with the National Peace Committee, particularly its spokesperson, Bishop Kukah, that the way government was going about its war against corruption was grossly undemocratic and could merely succeed in heating-up the polity. A polity claimed by the patriotic concession of defeat by a serving President, only to be the target of a vicious probe and threat of probe.
In My Agony last month, I pointed to one reason why African leaders prefer to die in office rather than hand over power. It is the fear of the unknown indeed of the uncertainities after power. It is surely for those, the incumbents do every and anything to protect their seats and become despots.
For such sit-tight rulers, human life, national stability, peace and indeed unity are not considerations. The only consideration is self-survival. It is this same consideration that for years made democracy a mirage in Africa. What is going on in Burudi, the blood birth, the unrest and the fear of more deaths, all stem from the same individual insecurity and the unwillingness to let go of power.
This indeed was what President Jonathan saved Nigeria, by simply picking the phone to congratulate Buhari, even before the final results of the February 28, Presidential election results had been announced. Rather than ordering loyal soldiers to enemy areas, as most despots would do or kidnapping the INEC Chairman and forcing him to announce favourable results, Jonathan did the honourable things, not knowing that he was mortgaging the future of his supporters, his ethnic group, his family and friends and indeed all other Nigerians who identified with his ambition. He thought, it was a personal sacrifice for peace, unity and survival of a nation, long predicted to be heading towards its last days, by prophets of doom.
It was a sacrifice which all the billions allegedly stolen could not buy. It was a sacrifice which all the human blood saved could hardly quantify. It is indeed a sacrifice which does not deserve political vendetta, vindictiveness and hate in recompense. This indeed is the worry of the National Peace Committee which played a role, in assuring President Jonathan that history would never forget his rare demonstration of love for nation, of selflessness and of uncommon statesmanship.
To be rewarded with the nature of official public vilification and demonization being dramatized by beneficiaries of Jonathan’s sacrifice, is the height of ingratitude posterity hardly ignores.
My Agony is that many of those playing the drums for the dancing bird, fail to remember, that today, was the tomorrow many talked about yesterday. And as usual, this same today will be yesterday some day.
Methinks, the best difference Buhari can present to Nigerians is how he utilizes the four-year mandate granted him and not spend most part of it demonizing others before him, against the dictates of a line in our national anthem ‘the labour of our heroes past, shall never be in vain’.
If to Buhari, Jonathan is a villain, to many Nigerians, like Kukah and My Agony Jonathan remains a national hero, fountain of democracy and beacon of national peace and unity, who deserves respect and honour. Nothing less.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.