Leonard Shilgba
I endorse this punch editorial against corruption.
If President Buhari takes his foot off the pedal in order to indulge certain corrupt Nigerians who are now fighting back against his onslaught against corruption, we are done for. I can see clearly the various masquerades and masks behind which those despicable cowards are hiding: Niger Delta Avengers and similar militants, Biafra agitators and separatists, and propagandists against "islamization agenda" whose only likely converts are the gullible, illiterates and uneducated in the art of deceit. Why did all those pitiable souls go to sleep during the regime of plunder, corruption, impunity and barefaced rapacity only to awaken now that a squeeze is being pressed against sleaze, easy loot and careless waste of resources; when people are being called to account for spending and living above their means?
Are those corrupters instigating the bombings of Nigeria's oil infrastructure as a blackmail? Do they think they can extract a deal against the public interest? Those that are now raising their voices for "restructuring" of Nigeria as a solution, do not seem to get it. I support and have proposed some restructuring myself. I have faulted the poor and hasty organization of Jonathan's National Conference of 2014 without an operational clause of a referendum first inserted in the constitution. But I am no fool, and I hope you are not one.
I urge Buhari to step up this fight even as the "militants" step up the bombings:
1. I support the set up of Special Courts to handle corruption cases. Corruption cases should be handled as an emergency. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 should be strictly enforced; and I agree that corrupt judges should be identified and quickly taken out of the system.
2. Institutional corruption should be fought in a more vicious manner. Directors, heads of MDAs, Vice Chancellors, provosts, etc., must be held responsible and quickly punished for delay in payments, overpayment, and contract frauds. Why, for instance, would TETFUND interventions in a university be delayed for more than three years while private companies are paying into the funds yearly? Why should NUC hold back funds meant for federal universities? I call on President Buhari to confront all forms of corruption in the education sector as he is doing in others. Is it not disgraceful to hear that Vice Chancellors who are unwilling to part with certain percentages of allocations will find difficult accessing such?
3. I endorse setting time limits for corruption litigations just as we have for election matters. Buhari should explore some executive orders if the National Assembly is too inured to corruption to act in the public interest.
If President Buhari can succeed in whittling down corruption in Nigeria in his first term, then Nigerians can see the benefits and consider some improvement on our union
in the second term. Some are quick to argue that corruption is fueled by the structure of the country but fail to convince how their proposed restructuring will change us. We cannot afford to excuse corruption. I also wonder why the Niger Delta militants don't see any cause to confront their governors who steal or waste their 13% derivation gain. This explains who might be their benefactors in their heinous acts.
No let off, dear president. And insist on full recovery, full prevention and full reward of the faithful.
WATCH OUT FOR MY PIECE ON BREAKING UP NIGERIA
I endorse this punch editorial against corruption.
If President Buhari takes his foot off the pedal in order to indulge certain corrupt Nigerians who are now fighting back against his onslaught against corruption, we are done for. I can see clearly the various masquerades and masks behind which those despicable cowards are hiding: Niger Delta Avengers and similar militants, Biafra agitators and separatists, and propagandists against "islamization agenda" whose only likely converts are the gullible, illiterates and uneducated in the art of deceit. Why did all those pitiable souls go to sleep during the regime of plunder, corruption, impunity and barefaced rapacity only to awaken now that a squeeze is being pressed against sleaze, easy loot and careless waste of resources; when people are being called to account for spending and living above their means?
Are those corrupters instigating the bombings of Nigeria's oil infrastructure as a blackmail? Do they think they can extract a deal against the public interest? Those that are now raising their voices for "restructuring" of Nigeria as a solution, do not seem to get it. I support and have proposed some restructuring myself. I have faulted the poor and hasty organization of Jonathan's National Conference of 2014 without an operational clause of a referendum first inserted in the constitution. But I am no fool, and I hope you are not one.
I urge Buhari to step up this fight even as the "militants" step up the bombings:
1. I support the set up of Special Courts to handle corruption cases. Corruption cases should be handled as an emergency. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 should be strictly enforced; and I agree that corrupt judges should be identified and quickly taken out of the system.
2. Institutional corruption should be fought in a more vicious manner. Directors, heads of MDAs, Vice Chancellors, provosts, etc., must be held responsible and quickly punished for delay in payments, overpayment, and contract frauds. Why, for instance, would TETFUND interventions in a university be delayed for more than three years while private companies are paying into the funds yearly? Why should NUC hold back funds meant for federal universities? I call on President Buhari to confront all forms of corruption in the education sector as he is doing in others. Is it not disgraceful to hear that Vice Chancellors who are unwilling to part with certain percentages of allocations will find difficult accessing such?
3. I endorse setting time limits for corruption litigations just as we have for election matters. Buhari should explore some executive orders if the National Assembly is too inured to corruption to act in the public interest.
If President Buhari can succeed in whittling down corruption in Nigeria in his first term, then Nigerians can see the benefits and consider some improvement on our union
in the second term. Some are quick to argue that corruption is fueled by the structure of the country but fail to convince how their proposed restructuring will change us. We cannot afford to excuse corruption. I also wonder why the Niger Delta militants don't see any cause to confront their governors who steal or waste their 13% derivation gain. This explains who might be their benefactors in their heinous acts.
No let off, dear president. And insist on full recovery, full prevention and full reward of the faithful.
WATCH OUT FOR MY PIECE ON BREAKING UP NIGERIA
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