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Long before the death of Gen. Abacha, there were enough indicators that the nation was being looted, though no one could know, much less say, the extent. It was his death, like most deaths, that revealed the scam that characterised his administration. Abacha was certainly not the first corrupt leader the nation has seen, but he perhaps was the first to go beyond the hitherto known methods of embezzlement to dip his hands directly into the coffers of the nation and take what pleased him without any qualms or remorse. More than that, he had the audacity to arrest small fries over chicken-feeds under one decree or the other. Much more than that, he wanted to continue ruling the nation forever. Yet he found people not only willing to draft these decrees for him but to campaign for his self succession – what a man, or better still what a people! Since his death revelations have been pouring every now and then about the loots and the ways he did them. But they never seem to end and the amounts seem to be getting beyond comprehension. First Gwarzo’s withdrawals running to a total of N64.66 Billion, far more than the PTF had spent since its creation. Prof. Ayagi, who quoted this figure was jubilating that if PTF had not been created, even the PTF sum (N60.243 Billion) would have gone the same way. Perhaps, but that seems to be missing the point, for it could be argued that if the looted sum had been properly utilised, it would have obviated the need for the PTF. For one thing the PTF did, if inadvertently, is to cover Abacha’s real character and motive, PTF was a smokescreen that covered his looting and projected an image of a caring and responsible regime. We did not quite recover from that shock when the Ajaokuta scam of over $2billion came out. Some of us had read about it in Africa Confidential much earlier but thought that if the event ever happened they may have gotten the figures wrong. What was alleged to have been lost is four times what was required by the National Commission for Mass Literacy to eradicate illiteracy in the country. The costs of such looting on our development as a nation and as a people is enormous. For a developing country, which had made so much sacrifice to catch up with fellow developing countries to be short-changed and swindled in a manner that frustrates its aspirations and cripples it ability to continue, one cannot think of something worse. One cannot similarly imaging what punishment could be commensurate to this economic and technological genocide. To under estimate the damage and take the issue with a pinch of salt, as the current administration appear to, is the height of insensitivity and irresponsibility. The pain is beyond words. This week came yet another shock, in Today newspaper, the allegation that in just one day, the sum of N95billion was swindled by the Abacha family through the inflation of a contract at the ALSCON. Such astounding revelations makes one feel that we may never know really how much we have lost to the looters. It also make one burn with the agony of imagining how many lives were lost in hospitals, how many hopes were dashed, how many young people’s future was destroyed because these funds that rightly belong to the public and ought to have gone to serve their legitimate needs have been diverted to private pockets by the very people who were holding them in trust. The were attempts by people in government especially those around the late General and in the almighty presidency to enrich themselves illegally, as abundant allegations suggest. The case of the fertiliser company NAFCON, which was moved from Industry to Agric and then dragged to presidency where it finally ‘slept in the lord’, is only one example among many others. The taking over of people’s property by those in authority like the case of NECOTES of Port-Harcourt is another case in point. The present regime does not appear to be interested in these issues and this is making many to be susceptible to insinuations of complicity and cover up. Part of the delay may be explained by the fact that a lot of the dramatis personae are very much around and are doing everything to hide what they can when they can. This may also explain the otherwise inexplicable treatment of some of the surviving culprits and accomplices by the present regime. The way the current regime has responded to the issue of looting of the Nigerian treasury is to suggest that the current regime has some interests or have something themselves to hide. It might be necessary therefore to remind them of their responsibilities and remind us of the implications, if only for the records. Governance, we ought to know, is not a joking matter, the fact that one shoots his way to State House or comes to power through some miracles does not absolve one from responsibility. Certainly one of these primary responsibility is to protect the property of the governed, the public property, which, for many, is the lifeline on which their daily survival depends. Even atheists will concede Kipling’s remarks that, “power without responsibility: the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages.” Anybody with an idea of God, does not need Kipling to know that power comes with responsibility and one will be held accountable both in this and the next life. For Imam Ali, there are no two ways about it, condoning injustice is itself injustice. Such excuses as not having enough time, as some have volunteered, neither explains nor justifies the leaving of criminals to be walking, or more correctly, driving in the streets scot-free brandishing their loot with impunity. If, as a government, you cannot protects people’s property and in this case their lives and their future, what on earth would you have time for? Press conferences? The implications should be easy to see. First we are sending the wrong signals to the coming generation, looting public property is no big deal, many have done it and gone scot-free. All you need is steal enough to find your feet in politics or become a philanthropist of a kind and no one will bother you again. As this message sinks, and it is sinking into the minds of the young, there will never be funds available for development in this country and it is bound to remain perpetually underdeveloped or more likely crush under the increasing weight of looting and corruption. Morality itself will acquire a new meaning as we loose the moral courage to call a thief a thief. When the young take the cue and begin their own thing, even God may not save us! We are about returning to a democratic culture where we ought to be free to question such improprieties and excesses. But the foundations are already faulty and the civilian regime can always look back and see that they are not as bad as the military and the military would have lost any moral courage to condemn any civilian regime for looting and corruption. Without a culture of probity and accountability nor democracy can survive, but will God save us when we return to the military again? I have my doubts! Usman Bugaje 12 January 1999 |
