Nigeria as world’s biggest circus

The circus involving the country’s Minister for Aviation Ms. Stella Oduah climbed a high note in the National Assembly where everyone denied having done anything wrong, even though the sum of $1.6 million the equivalence of N255m is reported evidentially to have been paid to a motor dealer.The whole saga is a galore of absurdities […]

The circus involving the country’s Minister for Aviation Ms. Stella Oduah climbed a high note in the National Assembly where everyone denied having done anything wrong, even though the sum of $1.6 million the equivalence of N255m is reported evidentially to have been paid to a motor dealer.
The whole saga is a galore of absurdities that terminate to a simple conclusion.  Our country is rotten.
Suddenly, Stella Oduah, the Honourable Minister is no longer topical, even after the House of Assembly concluded and published its conclusions on line, interest has waned like a bush lamp flame whose wick can no longer suck up oil. That is the story of abuse of office, corruption and misapplication of funds in Nigeria. The system douses all flames until in time the fire leaves only glowing embers, while the maligned and the accused gradually secure restoration and continue to flow as VIPs. How “badder” can it get? Is Alamieseigha not a free man now, pardoned by once protégée now Comman-der in Chief?
The news broke that the Minister of Aviation Ms Stella Oduah had cajoled a parastatal under her ministry to order bullet proof BMWs for that whooping sum of N255 million. The explanation offered was first that it was international practice for visiting dignitaries in the aviation industry. Hogwash says the world. It is not the norm. It is an aberration because there were priority issues needing attention that were overlooked – specifically staff emoluments and serious environmental issues, for which the organization had cried there was no money. Then came the further explanation that the purchase was to be financed by a bank which paid in full for the parastatal in question to pay from projected revenue! Again hogwash says the nation. The expenditure was not budgeted for, in fact it was deleted at the national assembly for there being dearth of money. As for the bank that covered the expenditure – ask the question, how much has the bank lent money given to it by the Federal Government for menial farmers? A scandalously paltry sum. Thus for all the nation cares, this was the nations money being misapplied. Hogwash again, this charade that the money was sourced from a bank.
It was a highlight of one area that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has not been looking and needlessly screams his head off that states are over borrowed. Why should banks lend governments so much with such ease, when they cannot lend a trustworthy farmer so little with such difficulty? The landscape is ridden with huge debts that many banks have surreptitiously lent governments; and these banks are scheming bogus interests from the statutory allocations. On this hard work, they return annual profits and adjudge the industry, the most prolific.
It got more absurd. The Minister was being harassed because of her tribe and special accomplishments in the transformation of Nigeria’s airports in all parts of the country, said her kith and kin. Hogwash still the nation replied back. Give that erudite Minister of Agriculture the same type of money and attention and see national wonders. Nigeria will forget it has murky business called oil and guarantee its food security, the reason we have insecurity.
Under pressure, the Presidency sets up a probe headed by erstwhile Head of Service of the Federation, with the National Security Adviser in it. Embarrassing. Is there not in existence, executive briefing from the NSA’s office that a cabinet minister is about to rock the boat with a series of misdeeds for caution? If there is none, look at the plate of the NSA. It is full and unpalatable with a mixture of cocktails from a long winded grappling with Boko Haram for which critics are quiet in support despite costly mishaps. Does he have time to scratch a profligate vehicle purchase itch?
Then the President went off to a pilgrimage and or working tour to the Holy Land of Israel, with the controversial Minister and the National Security Adviser! In functioning democracies, this would have been advised against, but the President was being applauded by aides too cowed to whisper helpful hints.
Last week, the House of Representatives gave a blow by blow opinion on the conduct of the Minister it had approved for the country and concluded simply, Ms Stella Oduah is tainted as Minister of Aviation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Under her watch and by extension President Jonathan’s watch a federal parastatal under the ministry broke the law by overspending the legal and approved budget. The attempt to seek financing for the purchase of bulletproof vehicles was considered, an afterthought that cannot justify the inappropriate intent to hide the inflated costs and to inadvertently profit individuals and privately owned financial institutions. That the whole process tainted everyone involved – from the civil servants to the suppliers was not in doubt – it was a clear case of profligacy on non priority purchases and would go on to taint any investigating institution. Indeed, the funds should be recovered from the vehicle marketer.
Oduah may have done a “decent” job of refurbishing our airports but any one enjoying unfettered access to the President’s approval and release of funds can achieve as much. It does not justify the indiscretions now apparent. Thus in all decency, Oduah should have taken another bow and leave. Indeed, an opportunity exists for a thorough cabinet reshuffle – a necessary Presidential redemption undertaking and President Jonathan would do well not to let it pass. Should I counsel?
There have been several more acts in the running circus. A police Divisional Police Officer with orders from the top made to break up a meeting being attended by seven Governors and a onetime national chairman of the ruling People’s Democratic Party! And the courts have verdict that rebel party’s secretary Olagunsoye Oyinlola was the bona fide Secretary of the ruling PDP. The weekend verdict survived till Monday when it was officially vacated by the suspension of the said Secretary. In future, history will record the events of President Goodluck Jonathan’s time, and it will indeed be acts from the world’s biggest circus – what you could term our dear country Nigeria.