Will Pondei escape with his loot?

President MuhammaduBuhari has built the reputation of an employee who doesn’t like being prodded by his employers, to act. That smacks of irreverence uh? Well, he is President and maybe should not be seen scampering everytimeNigerians, want something done, no matter the urgency.

He wants Nigerians to own his anti-corruption crusade but wants to execute it, primarily his own way. Definitely, there must be a disconnect, because if the opinions of the people won’t count with you, then, your ways may also not count with them.

Buhari opened his assault against the opposition big-time, with the SamboDasuki alleged bazaar and DiezaniMadueke’s ATM delivery, allegedly to aid Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 ambition. Nigerians cheered wildly until it was the turn of a friend to the President, Colonel Jafaru Isa.

After the fanfare of his arrest on the night of Wednesday January 6, 2016, everything just went quiet on him, unlike his co-sharers of Wadata connection, whose faces constantly adorned Crime Fighter, as African China would croon the palpable bias. It was later learnt he quietly “returned” his N100 million booty and vamoosed from the spotlight, while the JumokeAkinjides, OlisaMetuhs and co, who also agreed to refund their electoral kola, still faced the drama of trial. Femi Fani-Kayode may appear a scoundrel but he was firm in his I-no-get-shishi-to refund stance. There is also a story about the Presidency directing Isa to where to source the refund. Something about an unexecuted contract at a ministry where another President’s man holds sway. Oju o shagbodotianaoba (the king’s in-law must not be shamed).

Nigerians appear to have settled with the President’s pattern of not seeing the evil around him. Yet, they won’t stop making a noise anytime a thief is caught among the princes of this regime.

When the Adamawa grass-cutter, BabachirLawal, was caught in the kitchen helping himself to tasty meat he shouldn’t have, Nigerians shouted, the King in Aso Rock demurred. Maybe, if the burly fellow had not infamously asked, “who is the presidency” when his suspension from office was belatedly announced, the former SGF would have probably got the Jafaru’s treatment and go home in “peace” with his loot. A court drama today swirls around him.

KemiAdeosun, once-upon-a-time god-daughter of IbikunleAmosun, who got “fired” for saving the “enemy” in Lagos, didn’t also drop anything behind, when dropped by his adopted grandpa in Aso Rock.

Today, Lai Mohammed still struts in his heavily-starched three-piece agbada and oversized trademark Arabian cap, claiming to be defending the central government, despite the NBC’s N2.5 billion scam for which the erstwhile DG, ModibboKawu is facing trial alone. Did Buhari buy Lai’s claim of signing away the humongous public money, in error?

Well, we may never know as long as Mr. Mohammed is left in office, hobbling after DJ Switch and lying to the employers of Mr. President in order to deodorise his boss. But Nigerians won’t forget.

There was also this perpetually-angry, disagreeable fellow at NHIS. He was practically left off the hook with all the billions of Naira traced to his greed and sartorial taste, unbecoming of an academic. The list of Aso Rock princes and princesses, whose heads chose to sleep outside, by choice, is pretty long.

However, regardless of Mr. President’s full-blown leadership style of using the back of his hand to push illicit children out of trouble which they constantly run into because they were practically one and same with the past power-mongers they tried to demonize, it does appear a marathon is set between Nigerians and a father who doesn’t want to control his wayward children and doesn’t want neighbours to chuck mouth. Both father and children will probably end up like Eli and his children; Hophni and Phinehas. They all perished same day. God forbid.

Whatever is happening in NDDC, only Buhari and his accursed children like GodswillAkpabio, KemebradikumoPondei, EffiongOkonAkwa et al, can actually tell, but they should be certain Nigerians won’t stop wailing about a rescue agency that needs to be rescued from vultures ogling it away. It is time to call a spade its real name. Since Akwa-Ibom warlord, Akpabio seized control of the billions in the agency and hypnotized Villa to go along with his different Wild Cards, NDDC has tumbled from one illegality to the other, one unconstitutionality to the other and acquiring a lorry of financial scandals and scams to last a nation, a lifetime.

Yet, instead of the President whose responsibility it is, to fix the rot, routing the entire leadership to pave way for genuine probe, he, as usual, is using the back of his left hand, to push Akpabio behind him, while pretending to be remonstrating with the evil men, troubling the “comfort” cover for the South South people.

In 2019, Amnesty International compiled 40 valid court orders not obeyed by the Buhari administration, but within 72 hours of a Federal High Court in Abuja issuing an ordinary restraining order against Pondei and co, Buhari was giving vent to it, dropping the disgraced Professor into the tempestuous sea like Jonah, so that calm, could prevail. Who no sabi game?

No problem, except the aspect of the suit, seeking Akpabio’s probe for alleged N3 billion fraud, must also be vigorously pursued and acted upon with the same alacrity once a ruling is given, giving ICPC the go-ahead, despite the minister, succeeding in shooing-in, another protege, MrEffiongOkonAkwa, as the Sole Administrator. Imagine, the same Akwa, was SA Finance to Bassey Dan-Abia as NDDC MD between 2013 and 2015, a period expected to be covered by the so-called forensic audit, approved by the President. Dan himself was Akpabio’s former Commissioner, who he nominated to NDDC, seconding Akwa to work with him as SA!

Only the eyinAdepele’s anecdote would fit the rots in NDDC. Some make you cry, some make you sad, some make you angry and some simply make you laugh, confirming the Yoruba belief that certain tragic matters are beyond tears.

 

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