Corruption is a social menace that has ravaged Nigeria since independence and is largely responsible for the stunted growth and development of the acclaimed sleeping giant of Africa which is abundantly blessed with both human and natural resources, but has been unable to fulfill its huge potentials.
Successive governments over the years have always mouthed strong campaigns against corruption but were too weak to take drastic and concrete action against this hydra headed monster which has the capacity to kill the Nigerian state with the way the country was being run.
However, the coming on board of the Muhammadu Buhari administration has changed all of that to the extent that for the very first time in a long while, we are all witnessing a change in this direction in our national life by the frontal and resolute war against corruption.
Thus, one must give a big kudos to the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration for the zeal, sincerity of purpose and doggedness to confront this hydra headed monster which the government has stated emphatically must be killed before it kills Nigeria and which is a fact.
Despite the lies, falsehood, hypocritical and derisive comments of blackmail and calumny of persecution, selectiveness, vendetta, etc against the anti corruption war which is one of the cardinal programmes of the present administration, she has remained courageous and undeterred in prosecuting it to a logical conclusion in line with the rule of law.
The results of the governments anti corruption war is manifesting as beneficiaries of corrupt practices of the past era of stealing is not corruption have been returning their share of the loot, though some have vowed not to refund because they are yet to come to terms with the fact that change has come, but we wait and see, cases are being prosecuted in court without fear or favour by the judiciary whose functions have been engendered by the administration of criminal justice system. In all, we give glory to God.
A vivid testimony of the victory of the anti corruption war manifested yesterday when it was reported through the counsel of the embattled spokesperson of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, who is standing trial for corruption, that he has voluntarily agreed to return the sum of N400 million which he admitted collecting from the Presidency of Mr. Goodluck Jonathan for a job in which the documents exposed payments but no details of what the money was meant for, which he also refused to disclose and vowed not to make refund.
Seeing the handwriting on the wall with the way, his criminal prosecution was progressing and to buttress Mr. Olisa Metuh’s position, the media reported that the family through one Mr. Gilbert Metuh, issued a statement pleading with the Federal Government to accept their offer to return the fund.
Also, we are bitter, feel insulted and want to ask, where was the Metuh family when their son was unleashing his theatrics and drama of intimidation of the institutions of state charged with prosecution of corruption cases and assaulting our collective intelligence with his what late Afro beat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti calls “Shakara Oloje” hunger strike, eating up of his confessional statement paper, assault of our judiciary by alleging bias against the judge just when it was the turn of the defence to make it’s submissions, after allowing the prosecution to open and close it’s submission, etc?
In as much as we appreciate this gesture, we want the family of Mr. Olisa Metuh to know that what their son has done amounts to a crime against the Nigerian people for which the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is very clear on the consequences.
Thus, this development is a victory for the focused war against corruption because of the tenacity and responsibility of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration to ensure that all looted funds are recovered and culprits punished according to law in order serve as a deterrent and lesson to all that public funds is meant for public good rather than enriching some criminal few.
. Ekujumi writes from Lagos.
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