Last week Wednesday I sent a message to a friend on Whatsapp, in which I stated that since May 29 2015, when President Buhari was inaugurated as the President of Nigeria, he finally made me happy on the 19th of April 2017. I've had reasons to worry about the capability of the man I vigorously campaigned for in my own little capacity, about his ability to bark and bite as a president.
The Buhari we know is a strong and tough general and a man of more actions than words but since May 29 2015 we've seen the opposite. The president has been cold for no reason. The behavior of his appointees has been akin to that of the Biblical sons of Eli, bringing disrepute to the president’s name.
If the grass cutter (former SGF) doesn’t berate members of the National Assembly today, tomorrow he will descend on the Bring Back our Girls group. His appointees had been in the news for the wrong reasons and many were wondering what deters the president from using the sledge hammer where necessary.
But alas! Baba woke up from his long sleep of silence and showed the stuff he was made of on Wednesday. Like wild fire, the news resounded that the former SGF Babachir David Lawal had been suspended by the Presidency, he never expected it (in falz voice) as he denied the suspension in an interview with state house correspondent by feigning ignorance of it.
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in his leaked memo to President Buhari described the former SGF as lousy and disrespectful and he proved El Rufai right, by asking journalists “who is the Presidency?” That exposes him as a disrespectful individual. The presidency is the highest decision making body in Nigeria and it deserves to be respected by everyone.
A few months ago I wrote an article regarding this same SGF in which I advised the president to be wary of people like Babachir Lawal. I'm happy Mr President has finally recognized Babachir as an albatross to the progress of his government and he has been cleared out.
In the same vein I would be happy if the president could rejig his cabinet and bring in individuals that will translate his change vision into reality as the current Federal Executive Council as composed is nothing but zero. Nigeria deserves a better deal.
The lesson to Babachir David Lawal and other political office holders is that power is transient. It won't last, as a result they should preserve their integrity for future reference.
Also last week president buhari suspended the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency. The NIA is one of the most secretive agencies of government after the DSS. Their activities are kept away from public glare due to their sensitive nature but that has ceased to be. On the 12th of April 2017 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission made a discovery of over 10 Billion naira at Osborne Towers Ikoyi in Lagos due to the activity of a whistleblower.
Immediately the discovery was made public, Nigerians were looking forward to those that would be arrested but instead what we saw was a drama of wits over who owns the money. The first entrant into it was the Rivers State Governor Mr Nyesom Wike. In his words, that the money was part of Rivers State funds looted by his predecessor and current minister of transportation, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. An allegation which Amaechi subsequently denied.
The second entrant was the NIA which declared through its suspended DG that the money was kept in the apartment for a "covert operation" and that it was given to them by the CBN and approved by Former President Jonathan. In a twist of events the apex bank denied giving the NIA such money and Jonathan kept mum on the matter.
The involvement and interests of the NIA in the matter came as a surprise to many Nigerians, including me. Nigerians wondered how a government agency would keep over 10Billion naira in a private apartment for its use while the EFCC went ahead to declare it as stolen fund despite the presumed existence of inter-agency collaboration between these two institutions. Up till today no arrest has been made, but the axe fell on the NIA chief same day Babachir Lawal was booted out of office.
Nigerians are still waiting for the next line of Action. Will Babachir Lawal face prosecution for his role in the contract awarding process for the Presidential Initiative for North East Development?
Will Ayodele Oke face prosecution for the Ikoyi loot too? These will unfold in days to come.
As an individual I believe these two individuals must account for their deeds in their previous offices to serve as deterrent to others.
To Mr President, we need more of these actions; the change you promised is yet to come but with such acts of bravery as outlined above, I'm assured the future is bright.
Now that you've woken up from your long sleep of silence, I say good morning Mr President.
Adesina Tosin Nathaniel is a Forward Looking Nigerian Youth
For more of his writings visit www.donteewrites.blogspot.com
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