Thoughts on the Ibori saga

After months of intense politicking, and a television-managed political cum legal hide and seek game, which featured prominently the Attorney-General of the Federation, former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, was finally arraigned by the EFCC before a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna, on a 103 count charge of corruption and fraudulent acquisition of N9.1 billion public funds from the coffers of the Delta State government.

Though not unprecedented in the wanton embezzlement and criminal governance that has been the hallmark of the Nigerian democratic experience since 1999, the Ibori arraignment has continued to elicit varying reactions, from different sections of the nation. However, looking beyond all those who have applauded this latest move of the EFCC, the most infuriating part, is the systematically organised agitation that has been coming from some groups masquerading as supporters of the embattled former governor and demanding for his immediate release. What is even more nauseating, is the fact that these faceless groups, obviously being inspired by some shameless sponsors, have been posing as representatives of the Delta State citizens.

It all started with Ibori’s cousin, who now occupies the throne in Delta State. When a London court temporarily over-turned the freezing of the ex-governor’s assets in London, Governor Uduaghan was reported to have led the people to church, dancing and rejoicing in celebration. Not long afterwards, he proceeded to court to get an injunction, restraining the EFCC from looking into the finances of the state. All these have now been followed by the acts of a group of youths from Oghara, who, acting out a well-rehearsed script, recently stormed the Kaduna High Court to demand that Ibori be released and told to go and sin no more.

It is indeed the height of moral filth that the present governor of Delta State, who swore to defend the will, and pursue the progress of the people, would now descend to the arena of unpretentiously trying to shield an individual accused of mind-blowing sins against the state. It is disheartening that the sitting government would not understand that the siphoning of a whopping N9.1 billion meant to provide the basic things of life for the people by one man, is not only a crime against the state, but a crime against humanity, that demands total condemnation from the state.

It is so terrible that the helpless people of Delta State would be burdened by this kind of lot.

Well, the new drama on the block is not strange to this polity and cannot be a surprise to the discerning minds that make up the population of this country.

It is all a reflection of the happy marriage between corruption and deceit, as ordained by this “Ghana-must-go” democracy. After all, we all know that soonest, “Plea Bargain” would re-surface in the on-going trial, to prophetically end the Ibori saga, as another comedy.

Olusola Adegbite,
Faculty of Law,
Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife.

PDP, LG elections and future of democracy

WE should be happy that President Umaru Yar’Adua and the PDP national chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, were so prompt and fierce in condemning the violence, rigging and the protests that marred the recent local government elections in some states of the federation? We should also be glad that the PDP national chairman, in particular, threatened the cancellation of the elections and the party’s readiness to testify against un-cleared candidates at election tribunals? It takes far-sighted leaders to see what they saw and react accordingly.

The recent LG elections and the brazen lopsidedness of the results are enough indicators that our democracy might be going to the dogs once again; that our politicians could be going insane again, desperate for landslide victories without minding the consequences.

It was politicians like these, thoughtless and short-sighted, who made our democracy nose-dive in the past and trumped up soldiers as our rulers. The president and the PDP national chairman have been able to see these desperados frustrating and killing democratic norms, and they won’t be partners in the crime.

Their interest primarily might be to save their party, the PDP, from reversal of fortunes or from total collapse, in view of the shocks it recorded at election tribunals, yet such responsiveness is still commendable.

Were the PDP governors like these exemplary national leaders, the threats to their party and to democracy would not have arisen in the first place. Rather than be exemplary leaders, PDP governors have lately come to believe in imposition of candidates; in dictatorial tendencies that render primary election processes mere window-dressing.

PDP governors now simply want to trample on the opposition, even within PDP. Well, thanks to President Umaru Yar’Adua and Dr. Ahmadu Ali who are offering new hope for sustenance of democracy today. My urgent message to them is that they should not go back on their intervention. They must ensure that election processes take the normal course, devoid of manipulations.

Biodun Ojo,
Ido Ekiti.