Why they are blackmailing the customs boss

We forget that the creator of Heaven and Earth promotes those He wills. Besides, our essence as human beings is to love our Neighbours as ourselves. We should be instruments of praise, understanding, comfort, consolation, motivation and encouragement. Let us look briefly at some of our past leaders. Who among them did we not denigrate? […]

We forget that the creator of Heaven and Earth promotes those He wills. Besides, our essence as human beings is to love our Neighbours as ourselves. We should be instruments of praise, understanding, comfort, consolation, motivation and encouragement.

Let us look briefly at some of our past leaders. Who among them did we not denigrate? Let us start with General Yakubu Gowon (rtd). At his ascension to the position of Head of State in 1967, some thought he was too young. But he kept the country unified despite the war.

In 1975, when late General Murtala Mohammed took over and attempted to eradicate corruption, he was thought to be harsh. When General Olusegun Obasanjo succeeded late Murtala, many believed he was sluggish. When Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari became the President, some lashed at him as weak. When Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) toppled Shagari Nigerians yelled that he was hard on them. General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) overthrew Buhari and many wailed that he had introduced corruption.

Chief Ernest Shonekan came in as interim Head of State and was quickly labelled weak and illegitimate. General Sani Abacha rolled in and was widely condemned for being a dictator. Lt. General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) came for only nine months and was alleged to have squandered national funds on white elephant projects. General Olusegun Obasanjo became a civilian president and was soon given a garment of evil. Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua came two years ago. They call him more names every new day. We never see any good in our leaders.

I am not trying to equate the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko, with our presidents. I am only making the point of how we freely castigate our leaders.

The needless castigation of the Customs boss has taken many forms. There is the sworn affidavit by one Olajide Oyewole Ibrahim who claims that he had on two occasions forged certificates for him. So many witnesses have since punctured the petitioner’s allegations. Now, if  Dikko has forged his certificates, how could he  have secured employment at the Habib Bank Nigeria Limited, for example, without being detected? Or, how could he have obtained admission into the University of Dimitrov Apostle Tshenov Suishtov, Bulgaria with fake certificates?

Olajide Oyewole Ibrahim, from the discrepancies in his residential addresses in Oyo and Lagos States, among other things, has been ascertained to be a chronic liar and fraudster. The solicitor to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Barrister Amobi Nzelu, [SAN], a fiery lawyer and a Human Rights Activist, said he has documents to show that Oyewole is a blackmailer who extorted money from the CGC and wrote apology letters, recanted at other previous times and collected five million naira from some insiders to humiliate the gentleman customs officer.

Hajiya Zainab Magaji, a Yola indigene and a business woman of repute, hailed the appointment of the CGC and faulted Oyewole, who claimed to have met the CGC in 1995. She pooh-poohed Oyewole’s 14 years of silence from 1995 to 2009. She asked, “Why now? To cut the service of Abdullahi Inde Dikko at this point that he has started so well?”  

Mustapha Abdullahi, another citizen, condemns those who distract patriots and hardworking Nigerians.

Have his classmates come to  approve he completed Government College Kaduna in 1980 in more than five newspapers?

Ibrahim Zailani, Executive Director, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in-charge cabotage and Labour Services, a longtime associate of Abdullahi Inde Dikko denounces the smear. He says he has not known the CGC as a person and friend to have a defective character. He countered the current barrage on the Comptroller-General. He charges unscrupulous Nigerians to leave the gentleman to face his official duties.     

Someone who wants his position appears to have gone haywire, paid money to someone to swear to an affidavit to try to derail him.

It happens every day, anyway. How many times have Nigerians sworn with the Bible and the Qu’ran and go ahead to commit atrocities? Have evil and wickedness not overtaken the land?

Some idle and evil-minded individuals are pained because some others are elevated. But Dikko should not be discouraged. Success often does not come on a platter of gold. Disloyal associates thrive on evil. Liars are everywhere. As you go up further, they will increase. But put at the back of your mind that you can trample upon them, as you remain focused in transparency, purity and the hard work.

Kwache, a freelance Journalist, Wrote this from No. 30 Gambia Crescent Bekaji Estate, Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State.