As the thought of Chief Okoi Obono Obla, chairman of the recently disbanded Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Properties, crossed my mind, the memory of my African American brothers who put all their best to better lots of every American, irrespective of ethnicity, tribes, race, religion, etc but, were yet not well recognise, reechoed. I am talking about African Americans that died in order to save the lives of others even when they had all the opportunities to save their own lives. So they died in the course of their service to their beloved country, but yet not well pleased. However, the American case is even far better compared to Africa nations, particularly Nigeria. In Nigeria, it takes a fraudulent person to get more recognition than an upright man who believes in honesty, integrity and hard work.
Nevertheless, thank God for the present APC led government that is currently been piloted by President Muhammadu Buhari, an internationally recognised anti-corruption war lord with no regard or fear for any citizen of Nigeria who dares go against Nigerian constitution to enrich himself/herself to the detriment of the Nigeria masses. No doubt, the second coming of Buhari as the number one citizen of Nigeria brought in a lot of hope to every Nigerian, especially for his stiff stand against corruption. He began the anti-corruption crusade by putting up formidable structures to clampdown those who were benefiting massively from the national wealth of the country. On the other hand, when the Special Presidential Investigative Panel for Recovery of Public Properties was established in the third quarter of 2017, it added more splendour and seriousness to his anti-corruption fight in view of the indomitable, fearless and upright Nigerian, Chief Okoi Obono Obla, whom he appointed to serve as chairman of the panel. The singular act of appointing Obla made several Nigerians that are familiar with Obla’s upright and honest lifestyle to take President Buhari serious.
As expected, the fearless Obla assumed the position with clear vision and well defined target which is nothing but to ensure the total recovery of public properties that corrupt Nigerians used their fraudulent means to convert into their own personal use. Within few weeks, the panel recovered properties worth billions of naira and, as weeks move to months and months to years so the panel’s level of fantastic success continues to skyrocket and the success story of the panel was all over the media, which along the line convinced many human right activist like Femi Falana and several well-known political pundits as well as social commentators across party lines, religion and ethnicity to begin to describe the panel as one of the most outstanding anti-corruption agency in Nigeria.
Some of them even went all out to suggest to the presidency to convert the panel into a full fledged commission in order to in totality rid Nigeria of corruption. Meanwhile, as Nigerians across borders were hailing the landmark achievements of the panel through prudent and pragmatic leadership of Chief Obla, the panel chairman, so other satanic-devilish Nigerians that have been feeding so fat from Nigeria’s national wealth without proper account were by every tickling of the clock plotting how to destroy and to even put an end to the activities of the panel and as well the life of Obla. Like joke, petition upon petitions began to fly from all angles against the chairman to the level that the chairman on several occasions appeared before both the green chamber and the red chamber of the Nigerian National Assembly to clear himself of some of the unverifiable allegations. The more he kept clearing himself, the more Nigerians who never want any good thing for the country kept pursuing Chief Obla.
Meanwhile, Chief Obla as an indomitable leader with clear vision for the panel and the entire Nigerians never gave a damn. Rather, he kept fighting hard to rid Nigeria of corruption. But, as time progresses, the wishes of Nigerians with ill-gotten fat pocket, which is to make sure Obla is removed, had recently been achieved. Yes, the panel is being disbanded by Mr. President because, some Nigerians feel they are untouchable and Obla said; it can’t be so; that the constitution of Nigeria supersedes every other Nigerian”. So, Obla summoned the courage as a fearless man, stepped on their toes, fished out many of them and made sure they returned their ill-gotten wealth into the country’s national treasury. So now, my questions to all my fellow patriotic Nigerians: ‘How long shall we continue to fold our hands and watch our best brains being destroyed; yes, I mean our detribalised, honest and hardworking Nigerians to be allowed to be chased away from the country by some few crop of men that have been feeding so fat from the national treasury of the country as if it is their own personal inheritance or birth right?
As I conclude, I will like to liken Obla’s predicament to the unsung African American heroes of the days of old as I briefly highlighted from the onset of this column in the first paragraph.
Honestly, the society is not justifiable at all! I don’t think we even need to tell the present government before they should decide to handsomely reward Obla. Obla deserves an honour. In fact, I am using this forum in line with millions of Nigeria across board to appeal to the Presidency to reward his efforts with another appointment. Obla deserves a place in this government. We cannot afford to lose a workaholic, intelligent, fearless, detribalised and honest vital personality like him. I call on Nigerians to sing of his heroic deeds before the day gets dark.
Odeh is an Abuja based journalist, public affairs analyst and a community development expert.
