Etteh, finally went after the death of Dr. Safana, a former Secretary to Kastina State Government order President Umar Musa, Ya€„¢Adua. The Surprise was not the scandal and the arrogant defiance of the public € but the public outrage itself. It was not the novelty of a woman, the highest woman political office holder in Nigeria€„¢s history partaking of the €œsweetness€ of corruption. Rather, the surprise was that Nigerians were expected anything different
But why were Nigerians outraged? What is N628 million compared to the theft of ballot boxes and the whole democratic process? Are we fair to insist that a pig should not be the mire? Do we really expect thieves not to steal? Are we so deft as to assume that people who have no regard for democratic process would suddenly follow financial procedures?
Why were Nigerians outraged? That some people called a meeting of principal leaders and left out others, so that they could take decisions to favour themselves1 Haba Nigerians just a few months ago there was a general election. Many Nigerians including the senate president came to vote and did not see ballot boxes and papers. Results were declared. The beneficiaries of the criminal charade are sitting pretty in offices € assuming titles, they did not win € and we expect those same people to follow procedures in the award of contracts!!!
The Bible says that you can not plant guinea corn and harvest rice. It is a natural law every animal gives birth to its kind. Snakes to snakes, goats to goats and not chickens. Evil gives birth to evil and not good. To expect that the grand of April 2007 will result in people who respect and follow procedures is naïve € and indeed foolish of us. A leopard cannot change its skin.
Now what do our €œwomen chauvinist say€? Are they also surprised? That what corrupt men do, etheh will do better. Yes oh!! What a disappointment too to the good women folk toil day and night for the good society.
Not to worry € corruption has no gender. Just as there are men € so too, there are corrupt women.
What are really the options before the PDP. Though Etheh epitomizes the tragedy of the PDP and it would be more tragic of the PDP and it would be more tragic for the nation of she is allowed to remain in office € or needed, even given any form of soft landing at all.
Firstly such an attempt would undermine the fragile legitimacy being construed by Yar€„¢Adua through the revision of the Obasanjo €œdeformation€ of the body polity, and the process. The message would be sent by that singular action that is business as usual. Secondly, the major set back the anti corruption campaign appears to be suffering under the Yar€„¢Adua watch would be regarded as a true to the character of the regime. While it pleases the PDP, the EFFC was used to hound opponents of third term. Politicians and Public officers perceived to be loyal to the government were left untouched. Now that the EFCC succeeded in the task of destabilizing opposition parties and helped to orchestrate one, the biggest scans known in history namely, the 2007 elections it has to size. The government now gives clean bill of health to some of the most corrupt public officers and understandably the chief law officer who should be investigating crimes, says that a former Governor, who has over 30 million dollars seized abroad (itself a criminal offence €since such money was not declared in his asset declaration form) was not under investigation! That was not the first time. In the year 2003, the chief law officer of the nation, one olusegun obasanjo, also of the PDP told a bewildered nation that two people € Chris Uba AND Chirs Ngige has confessed to him that they rigged the elections in Anambra State.
He claimed to have been angry with them € and later, promoted Chris Uba to the Board of Trustees of the PDP!
Thirdly, the National Assembly itself especially the House of Representatives would effectively be using all of the good will of the public.
It would be looked down upon by the public and members would be regarded by the public contemptuously. The moral right to investigate the ministries and other public officials would be lost.
The greatest loser would be the democratic process