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Obasanjo Larger than the Waziri's EFCC

By Hakeem Babalola

As Nigerians start to hook to the bait of debate concerning the EFCC melodramatic despair new movie, it is pertinent as a social critic to remind them about one of the best actors Nigeria ever had. The actor in question has been in the news recently. Some newspaper reports have it that the EFCC won't try this former Aso Rock principal actor, and in the same breath other reports say that investigation is inevitable. The director/producer of the film who is also the chairman of EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, seems a hapless victim as she disclaimed any evidence of Ribadu's investigation and acquittal of our principal actor, saying there was no evidence of any such investigation at the Commission.

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I see the script as a steadily escalating sense of foreboding. Although Nigerians know the truth about the probe, the flood of manipulation left them bewildered and confused. Such woolly thinking has re-directed or wandered their focus from the main theme to the vagueness of the plot. Nigerians are now busy discussing who is better: The former EFCC Malam Nuhu Ribadu or his successor, Mrs. Farida Waziri. The latter recently accused the former of "fighting a bogus anti-corruption war which, according to her, was sometimes based on deceit". The drama continues when Ibrahim Lamorde, EFCC former Director of Operations told The Nation that this principal actor had no case to answer, for he had earlier been cleared by the agency under Ribadu. Are Nigerians terrible and latent audience? Are they following the plot with emotional or rational affliction?

The allegations the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), according to the Daily Independent, levelled against this actor include illegal accumulation of resources from oil sales, involvement in power contract scandals, illegal acquisition of N200 million shares in Transcorp, illegal acquisition of resources for his library project, and using public funds to establish his university. These are damaging allegations that could put him in the dock for years, but CACOL may be wasting its valuable time because not one will touch this man who may eventually benefit from this rigmarole.

His name is Chief Pastor Balogun General Olusegun Matthew Okikiolakan Aremu Obasanjo. He is larger than Nigeria, even life. He is a lucky ducky whose life a perfect example of what they call destiny. He has greatness thrusts upon him, yet lacks the ability to understand and profit from experience. He is not brave but the brave cringe before him. He is a man who has triumphed over the worst tribulation that can be imagined, yet so dummy to realise the significant of being humble. He's a man of experience yet inexperience to administer its application. He likes chewing patriotism like kola-nut yet unpatriotic to have violated the constitution many times; as when he tried unsuccessfully to amend it for that infamous third term.

Here is a man who triumphed over his son's abomination charge ( Gbenga had accused his father of sleeping with his wife). I do not know how he managed to withstand such grotesque accusation, a taboo in his culture. So also the sudden death of his wife, Stella Obasanjo, in a cosmetic surgery hospital in Spain ! Such a great loss and misfortune would have dampened the spirit of many but not Baba Iyabo alias 007 who had one of the greatest opportunities to make Nigeria great. Now I understand that the film ends the moment the actor dies. But our actor is still much alive, so we are in for more plots and sub-plots. Get ready to buy your expensive entrance tickets - for more suspense.

Yet he lacks fortitude - of being prudent and sensible; of common sense and insight. Otherwise how could one explain his inability to lay a political atmosphere where peoples' votes count? Twice or thrice as Head of State, the opportunism in him manifested with his famous "do or die" bravado. Though he had all the weapons and equipment to device a way of thinking benevolent to his people, he wasted the moment because of self-seeking which of course, is not a crime if one is a private person. Sure he is smart, too smart to leave the trace for a possible probe, yet he's like a dunce at school for such cocksure attitude. It is simply self-deceit if he thinks he could fool Nigerians all the time.

Whilst others toil and sweat, Obasanjo reaps and gleans. Here is a man who did not fire a shot during the 1967 civil war, yet regarded as a war hero. In 1976, he was too timid after the assassination of the then Head of State, Murtala Ramat Mohammed, yet the man was called upon to succeed Mohammed. Also, he was to spend the rest of his life in Abacha's gulag, but as fate would have it, Abacha died, and the prisoner within a twinkle of an eye had become Nigerian president. Shehu Yar'Adua and MKO Abiola did not survive Abacha's Russian Prison Camp. Likewise, Obasanjo seems to be good at political manoeuvres. It was he who allowed the "least qualified" candidate to become the president in 1979. He repeated the same in 2007 when he handpicked the incumbent to lead the most populous African nation.

Obasanjo has successfully pitched Ribadu against Waziri. Neither will ever probe him. The only thing they would continue to do is pretend to be fighting each other in order to avoid probing Obasanjo, who as I have mentioned, is too large a man for the law of the land. To know whether the man is financially corrupt or not, search for Fela's songs and, or read the Nigerian dailies/websites. You will not hear from my mouth that the king's mother keeps a strange bird in her stomach. And was it not Obasanjo that coined the phrase, "There's honour among thieves" when referring to the two Chris - Uba and Ngige of Anambra State on how they rigged election. Also, he used to be a ferocious critic of Babangida until the latter released him from prison and anointed him.

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I wrote in The Farida EFCC: Expect the Expected that the woman could only fight petty criminals but not the big ones like presidents, governors and other Nigerian "fat or large" men. But let us sing and dance for her relentless efforts fighting the Yahoo boys. Waziri is occupying the office today because she must protect certain people. The position is more of a political appointment. No matter how incompetent she may appears to be, calling for her resignation isn't the solution. After all, the removal of Ribadu has never been the solution. Whoever occupies the office would always serve somebody interest. This is the area to focus on. Ribadu knew what he had to do in order to remain in that office. So is Waziri. So is X.

Even if we detest Waziri and accuse her of incompetence, we need to listen to this woman. As they say, it is unwise to throw away the baby with the bath water. Our madam recently spoke on corruption in government, saying the immunity enjoyed by the President and State Governors made them to be "senseless and reckless", and should therefore be expunged from the constitution. "The immunity clause makes the people to be careless and reckless. I tell you that somebody just bought a house for N1 billion in Abuja and he has just been made a governor. So the awareness is there and the Nigerian people are very tired," she said.

Her speech at an interactive session with the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes on the 2007 audited report of the commission and the strategic workings of the commission was sweet and up-to-date but I am afraid it may turn out to be the usual rhetoric. And for as long as David Mark remains the Senate president, nobody, not even God would be able to probe Obasanjo. The reason why Obasanjo did not probe Babangida is the same reason why Yar'Adua or anyone for that matter would not probe Obasanjo and the corrupt governors. We are talking about esprit de corps among the Nigerian fat men (or is it big men?)