Landmark achievements of the anti-graft czar


Many people, especially those who believe so much in decency, uprightness and holiness, in most cases attribute almost every negative things to the work of Angel Lucifer the author of all deleterious activities. Nevertheless, there is a specific peril in the society which human-beings out of their gluttony, egocentricity, superciliousness and egotism, use themselves to create, which in all human endeavours, had caused, and still causing, a lot of disasters. Yes, it may not sound good to those who are in larger quantity benefiting from this man-made evils, but, I don’t give a dawn because, I am 100% a victim. I am talking about the most dangerous monster, which has caused serious damages and set back across the global community, particularly. It is called ‘Corruption’. Today, this monster has so much eaten deep into the fabric of human lives across borders especially, our beloved nation, Nigeria. Though, some nations, countries, states, communities and private individuals are doing their best via charting fantastic policies to curtail the trend, however, the more they try, the more the cankerworm keep raising up its ugly head principally in our dearest God established country, Nigeria.

You see, the dangers and the evils of corruption have no regards for anyone. Corruption is wicked. It is a princedom with destruction and backwardness as Siamese companion. Corruption doesn’t know brothers. It has no regards for religion, ethnicity, tribes, culture, political affiliations, parental background, etc. That’s why I cherish the proclamation of Actress Jennifer Lawrence where she said, "We need to tell each other our stories and experiences about corruption to everyone, our neighbours, families, community leaders, government and private organisations because; everyone is touched either directly or indirectly by corruption’. Some people may say she is not right with her statement? She is very right in my own opinion both back and front as well as in all angle. Corruption causes set back and break down of law and order. It give birth to injustices, marginalisation, dehumanisation, as well as mass illiteracy because, when the funds designed for educational upgrade is not utilised but, diverted into private pockets, it leads to mass failure of the education sector both humanly and infrastructurally. Honestly, Corruption is inimical to the progress of every country and especially in our beloved country Nigeria. It leads to poor health facilities, deplorable roads network, lack of good drinkable water etc. Definitely, those who are benefiting hugely from corruption may see Jennifer Lawrence statement and several other organisations as well as a dogged Anti-Corruption war lord like Chief Barrister Okoi Obono Obla, the Special Assistant to the President and Chairman Presidential Initiative on the Recovery of Public Properties, that are waging war against corruption as useless or meting out selective justice. But then, their efforts cannot be overlooked because, those who practice corruption, especially the looting of public treasuries and wrongful acquisition of public facilities, understand nothing but, just a few languages or singular language. Yes, I mean few languages which is to make sure they enrich themselves to the detriment of the poor masses. All they know and understand is to cause destruction through whatever means in as much as it will improve their selfish and gluttonous curiousity. So, they go all out to carry out their dubious, heartless and reprehensible act just to exist in affluence while the larger members of the society that put in their energy to create the wealth both through direct and indirect labour continue to wallowing in abject lack. In all conscience, corruption is terrific. In fact, every human race who believe in having a society where the system and the structure should work in lieu for the benefit of all and sundry must rise up to give all the necessary support in every areas to an anti-corruption czar like Okoi Obono Obla who is by every tickling of the clock deploying all the necessary machinery and intellectual prowess to bring Nigeria back on track to the days of old where lives were meaningful for every Nigerian devoid of ethnicity, religion, tribes, political affiliations, parental background etc, in line with the Next Level Agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari. They should come out massively to support him to fight corruption else, the global community shall continue to see us as unserious nation dangerously blessed by God with abundant wealth but only get milk and cart away by few charlatans, heartless citizens and satanic self-made personalities. 


Meanwhile; corruption is not only the stealing of public funds, fraudulent lifestyles and stealing of public properties, it goes beyond those itineraries. This is true because, many people believe it's only unnecessarily acquisition of wealth that is corruption, far be it. Corruption cuts across all human sectors and lifestyles. Yes, stealing of public funds and unexplainable acquisition of mass wealth is corruption, but defecating, throwing of dirty things in the public is corruption. Tribalism, religion fanactism, cheating during exams or attitude text etc are all corruption. For brevity of space and time factor, let me dwell on the issue that made me to come up with this commentary. I mean issues regarding the landmark achievements of one of the anti-corruption Czar. A man who is bend on using all the available means in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the ethics of the panel he is chairing to ensure that corruption is totally eradicated from Nigeria. No doubt, the task is very huge for him and his well-trained fearless, highly professionals, hardworking and intelligent staff, notwithstanding, he and his dogged staff are doing all their best to bring the menace to its kneel. And yet, the enemies of Nigeria are by every tickling of the clock practicing evils to jettison their efforts. But, thank God for his protection, wisdom, preservation and guidance spirit that has been keeping Barrister Obono Obla and his team going to sanitize the entire Nigeria of corruption. Indeed Barrister Obono Obla is working. His achievements since his inception as Special Assistant to the President and Chairman Presidential Initiative Panel on Recovery of Public Properties are so broad for everyone to see. So, those who are using their ill-gotten wealth to destroy the high reputation of the chairman and to as well kill the efforts of his team and massive supporters across borders to clean Nigeria of corruption shall fail. My candid appeal to them is to stop what they are doing, join hands together with him to transform Nigeria in a positive directions. Before I drop my pen for this piece, let me highlight just a few out of his landmark achievements in the last three years that he steer the ship of the panel. Among them were; the recovery of the whopping sum of 7Million US Dollars which when conver1ted shall give the sum of N2.1 billion naira at official rate as at the time the money was recovered. They also recovered N533 Million and landed property worth the sum of N1.5Billion all from the previous NEXIM Bank. And as a man who believe in the anti-corruption crusade of the no nonsense President Muhammadu Buhari, he instantly sent all the recovered loot and properties into the safe account of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

He also used his office of authority to record the following landmark accomplishments, they are; recovered of the sum of N24m from a director with National Theatre which he illegally diverted.  Recovery of two hectares of landed properties in Abuja valued at the total sum of over N2billion, the land which belongs to National Council of Arts and Culture. Parts of Agura Hotel which is originally owned by Federal Government through Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) was also recovered. Other recovered items include; 19 official sports utility vehicles made away with by former commissioners of National Population Commissioners after their tenures in office.  He also achieved huge success by charging to court a particular Director in the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing who is seen by many as untouchable as a result of enormous power he exercise in the Ministry for his failure to declare his assets as stipulated in the Nigeria constitution. 

Prominent among his landmark achievement was when he took the bull by the horn after thorough investigation to forward some names to the Nigeria Immigration Service to forestall Nigerians who used their office of Authority to acquired wealth illegally to the detriment of the poor masses from traveling out.  Prominent among them was Distinguished Senator Peter Nwaaoboshi a Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District. Peter Nwaoboshi who claimed to be above the law was taken on by the panel based on their claim that; he allegedly enrich himself and abused his position as the then Chairman Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) through illegal awards of contract in billions of naira to companies linked to him without those companies executing the projects. 
Honestly, if I am to write on the landmark achievements of Chief Barrister Obono Obla, time will fail me in view of how tremendous and grand breaking they appear. At such, It is my candid appeal to all those supporting the detribalize move of the fearless, intelligent, hardworking, humble, outspoken and indomitable anti-corruption czar to watch out on this platform for quarterly enumeration of his landmark achievements. 

Odeh is an Abuja based media practitioner, public commentator and human development expert. 

Leave a Reply