By Ariyo-Dare Atoye
Naivety is not an excuse in politics and certainly not after spending
about two years in the topmost level of powers. Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo is certainly learning the ropes; but how very fast is only known
to him. He could only be on top of his game in the nasty days ahead, in
dealing with people who are vociferous about using powers to peddle
influence and undermine anything. No doubt he had, in acting capacity as a
President for 50 days less, demonstrated, affectionate capacity to preside
over the affairs of Nigeria, but the covert side of power play is far more
than that. It is wickedly sophisticated in our clime. The daunting
question is, has he, reasonably, learnt how to navigate the dangerous bend
of power politics which is trapped with deadly potholes? This road
destroys if; you do not know how to maneuver it with the right speed and
sense.
The VP has been saddled with a delicate task of unraveling the mystery
behind the huge cash discovered in the Osborne Apartments in Ikoyi, Lagos
State and to equally untangle the invasive scandal of grass cutting
business allegedly awarded to self, by the now suspended Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, Mr David Babachir Lawal. This assignment is
deceptive and is laced with some elements of conspiracy on all sides. It
would require sound political wisdom for the Vice President to come out of
it unscathed. He is presiding over a committee in which the remaining two
other members have some level of interests and involvements in the matters
under investigation. Caution.
While the villa, albeit pretentiously, and some very naïve persons had
bandied the rising unassailable and adorable image of Osinbajo as the
reason for being saddled with such “an unnecessary” task, the covert
motive is very well known to the schemers. Remember the impulsive echo of
Babachir Lawal: “Who is the Presidency?” While we were busy scolding him
for that pregnant statement, he had strategically “unleashed the dragon,”
by confirming the “government within government,” allegation once made
against the executive by the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.
AsoRock has become a den of a few influence peddlers and power mongers who
would continue to take advantage of our indisposed President to run the
affairs of the state by “working from home.”
In this unfolding tricky complex game, did Osinbajo really know, and has
he ascertained who the Presidency is that constituted the panel and the
underlying motive for it? There would be no excuse in future for a
Professor of Law that he was used as a pawn by influence peddlers in a
hatchet task. And if he is unaware, this is the time to put on his
thinking cap to discreetly unravel the web of conspiracy spiraling around
the seat of power. You don’t need to be a lawyer to know that the Osinbajo
panel is inconsequential to the extent of its formation. The VP is advised
to do his own backend findings, including the slant in commentaries by
pro-establishment writers and commentators.
This administration is soiled in divisive religious card; it is yet to
acquit itself of some allegations bothering on parochialism and religious
bigotry. Babachir Lawal has seen fellow cabals in the administration
getting away with worse acts in a circle of impunity, and the system came
out to defend them vigorously. He is still startled as to why his own
should be different as member of the cabals. But I always knew that
Babachir would be used as the “fall-cabal,” someday, and sorry to tell him
that, there are some cabals who are more equal than other cabals, and
coupled with that, he is from the “guinea pigs” Christian minority, of the
Hausa/Fulani dominated Northern politics.
The top members of the club have found him suitable for the much-expected
political sacrifice to remedy a discredited anti-corruption campaign and a
failing government. The Pastoral garb of Osinbajo, a Christian leader in
the administration was found to be helpful enough, to sacrifice and exit
Lawal from the notorious league of the presidency cabals, and equally
neutralise the emerging allegation of “because he is a Christian” biases
in the media.
It is obvious that the suspension of Lawal by the same system that had,
through the Attorney General of the Federation, Ababukar Malami,
previously cleared him on allegations made by the Senate, is curious,
suspicious and indeed an afterthought. But it is my take that Lawal and
those who are found to have betrayed public trust deserve to go, but it
should not be to the exclusion of other “sinful cabals,” because of the
content of their bio-data. This may apparently be the worries of the
suspended SGF.
In a similar fashion, the Director General of the National Intelligence
Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, is also in a shock over his suspension. The media
is awash with a claim that he had appropriately informed the National
Security Adviser, Babagana Moguno, about the Osborne “covert” cash. The
NSA on the hand has not denied this media report and back-channel
information that he indeed had knowledge of the cash. The superior
information remains that the Presidency was aware of the money via the
NSA.
The question then is, why did Magu ignore the Galton’s whistle in the
security circle and deliberately moved after the cash to burst
“something?” Is it a payback? Yushau Shuaib, a media expert who had
previously worked with the office of the NSA, in his latest article titled
“That NIA’s Black-Budget and Mysterious Whistle-blower,” said something
very instructive:
“The incident is coming at a period of an intense inter-agency rivalry
where security agencies were allegedly reported to be behind the leakages
of classified and confidential information to smear their perceived
oppositions within the same government….. With all fingers pointing to
the fact that the money belongs to NIA, the burden of proof is who is the
mysterious whistle-blower? Could the whistle-blower have acted on behalf
of an agency engaged in the rivalry or was it as major
counter-intelligence operation by foreign interests to expose and
embarrass our intelligence network?”
The VP doubles as the most senior legal mind of the administration, but if
he had accepted the headship of a needless committee in order not to be
misconstrued; there was no justifiable reason in accepting the membership
of the AGF on that panel. Also now that emerging facts have confirmed the
culpability of the NSA in the “Black Money,” why then is Osinbajo still
carrying on with these two “culpable” figures without asking the President
to excuse them?
The whole truth concerning the attached interest to the Osborne cash may
never be uncovered under the Buhari’s administration, except maybe if, the
Senate decides to investigate the matter thoroughly through a bipartisan
committee. However, legislative inquiry itself is not a full guarantee of
full disclosure. But one day the truth will come out. However, Osinbajo
must be very wary of the sharp political bends ahead of him. Truth and
audacity in humility are sacrosanct.
* Atoye contributed this piece from Abuja via aristotle001us@yahoo.com