By Chidozie Egbuna<\/p>\n
When is Nigeria going to get a Jerry Rawlings to arise and
\nredeem what is left of Nigeria before Armageddon dawns on us?
\nThere is a good reason why Nigeria earned the notorious honor of
\nbeing the world\u2019s most corrupt nation. We have our thieving politicians
\nto thank for this accolade. The masses that tolerate this wanton abuse
\nby those in power are coequals in this destruction partnership. In
\nfighting corruption, we must keep a close watch on the actions of our
\nso called leaders. Mr. Akpabio is a good example of what happens
\nwhen the lust of power runs amok.<\/p>\n
Just when you think that you have seen the worst display of criminal
\nmismanagement of public funds, they surprise us with a new standard
\nfor depravity and utmost disregard for what is best for those who elected
\nthem into office. A case in point is Mr. Akpabio who found a new way to
\nsteal N100 million using his House of Assembly to enact a law that will pay
\nhim that amount in pension benefits for life. Mr. Akpabio\u2019s actions are so egregious
\nand immoral that it degrades all decent governors who have a good intention
\nof improving the lot of their states.<\/p>\n
One Joseph Okon shamelessly defended Mr. Akpabio in a piece he wrote in
\nPointBlankNews titled “Before Mr. Akpabio is Crucified”. In this patronizing piece,
\nhe defended Mr. Akpabio’s scheme listing supposedly all the so called accomplishments
\nof Mr. Akpabio for the Akwa Ibom. Mr. Okon in the same article stated that governors of other states
\nare enjoying the same outlandish benefits.\u00a0 In other words, Mr. Okon is telling us that
\njust because other governors are ripping their respective states off with this
\nill conceived pension plans that it is justified for Mr. Akpabio to do the same.
\nThe reason is that I can rob the bank because others are doing the same.
\nThis shameless defender of the indefencible goes on to lecture his reader on
\nall that Mr. Akpabio is doing to improve education, industry etc.
\nHe finally entails the reader to allow Mr. Akpabio’s pension scheme because
\naccording to him other governors are doing the same thing for themselves.
\nHow sad that in a country that has been destroyed by corruption, we trade off
\none evil for another.<\/p>\n
What exactly did this 419 governor did?
\nThe Governor of\u00a0 had the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly
\npass a bill that gave him a N100 million health pension benefits for life.
\nThis wanton abuse of office is troubling because\u00a0 this man used other corrupt
\npoliticians to justify his evil scheme. The actions of Mr. Akpabio is both
\ntroubling and could set a dangerous precedence for the rest of the thieving governors
\nwho I am sure would be wanting to outdo him. This abuse of power and flagrant
\ndisregard for the affairs of the people make these men deserve the
\nhangman\u2019s noose to put it mildly.<\/p>\n
To say that this bill is grotesque, immoral, corrupt, unconstitutional is perhaps
\nthe understatement of the year.\u00a0 This action clearly shows the level and
\ncharacter of the leaders that we have in Nigeria. How can a man stoop
\nso low and rob his people using state institution that lacks integrity or morals?<\/p>\n
Governor Akpabio must be investigated for financial crimes against humanity.
\nThis man has no conscience or decency.
\nThe public funds of Akwa Ibom do not belong to Governor Akpabio.
\nThe governor cannot steal the money of the state under
\nsome dubious and questionable bill. The people must demand justice
\nand accountability from these criminals that use the label politician or “big man.”<\/p>\n
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if it still has any credibility
\nmust investigate this man and pressure him and also perhaps
\ninform him that the funds that he has appropriated for himself belongs
\nto the people of Akwa Ibom State.
\nThe governor should reject this dangerous legal scheme to steal from the people.<\/p>\n
Governor Akpabio is not the only thieving governor in Nigeria but his case
\nhas brought great outrage among many political observers.
\nThis man basically gave himself from state fund,\u00a0 a health pension
\nplan for life that will pay him the sum of N100 million per annum.
\nThe deputy of this clown also was given N50 per annum for life.
\nOnly in Nigeria is this type of wanton abuse possible?
\nHow can a brain dead State House of Assembly approve
\nthis rip-off of enormous proportion?
\nWhy is it that they even had the fortitude to pass such a bill?
\nWhat would happen in the future if the state is unable to continue this outrageous obligation?
\nWhy is the governor not spending his energy developing and improving
\nthe hospitals in his state? Is the governor securing money that he will
\nuse in the future to fly overseas for treatment while the hospitals
\nthat are currently being neglected and underfunded left to decay?
\nWhere is the soul of the Nigerian politician? How would he reward
\nthe house of assembly for this favor? Who is the loser in this game
\nof mismanagement of public resources?<\/p>\n
Mr. Akpabio\u2019s conduct highlights the evils we face as a nation in
\novercoming our history of various dictatorial corrupt regimes, high levels
\nof economic mismanagement, human rights abuse, graduate
\nunemployment of enormous levels, poor medical resources, poor roads,
\nabysmal educational sector, out of control corruption and high crime rate,
\nMr. Akpabio reminds us of why Nigeria is the most corrupt country in the whole world.<\/p>\n
The Berlin-based transparency International has ranked Nigeria the most corrupt
\ncountry in the whole world for five years in a row. This is troubling considering
\nwhat we are currently facing as a nation with the menace of Boko Haram
\nand the mass insecurity in the nation. Why then do we continue to feed this monster?
\nMr. Akpabio\u2019s behavior is reprehensible and in poor taste.
\nThat this man has the audacity to do this using an instituted
\nstate assembly is even more troubling.<\/p>\n
The Boko Haram menace that we are facing as a nation is not helped when we promote
\nand implement corrupt practices that enhance the lifestyles of a few. These men at the
\nhelm of state office do not come with an attitude to serve the people of their state.
\nThey are criminals and robbers of fortune. They lack integrity and the welfare of the
\npeople is not their primary concern. Their main goal is to loot and divert public funds for personal use.<\/p>\n
Nigerians must rise up and hold their leaders accountable for mismanagement of public funds.
\nThey must request that elected leaders show high standard of ethics especially
\nwhen it comes to public funds. Nigeria is operating a democracy not a dictatorial
\nsystem where one man is king and rules with iron hand.
\nA governor is there to serve the people and promote their interest.
\nAny personal self-serving interest must not be allowed to be the norm.<\/p>\n
Mr. Akpabio should be impeached from office so that the
\npeople of that state can begin a healing process.
\nThere must be justice for the people of that state.
\nThe pension law is a corrupt design aimed to oppress
\nthe masses and raise one man above the law.
\nWhy doesn\u2019t Mr. Akpabio use the funds to develop hospitals,
\nand build infrastructure in the state?
\nWhy does he feel that he is entitled to such high unusual benefits?
\nLeadership is not about what you can take from the people
\nbut rather it is about what you can invest in your community or state.<\/p>\n
The good people of Akwa Ibom should\u00a0 impeach or recall this man for the sake of justice.
\nDo not mortgage the future of your children to pay a very corrupt politician
\nwho have come to steal your destiny in broad day light. Regardless of what
\naccomplishments that this man may have worked for his state, this single
\nact of corruption to set up a scheme to defraud the people of the state in
\nthe future exposes him for what he really is which is a soulless governor
\nout to rob the people of their future potential.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Chidozie Egbuna When is Nigeria going to get a Jerry Rawlings to arise and redeem what is left of Nigeria before Armageddon dawns on us? There is a good…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n