Itse Sagay: the making of an attack dog

Since his appointment as chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC), foremost constitutional lawyer and academic, Itse Sagay, has taken the liberty to rain invectives on anyone who as much as disagrees with the president or any policy of his administration. Rather than restricting himself to his job and taking the opportunity to study the multidimensional nature of corruption and recommend policies to tackle it, the garrulous professor has instead chosen to become the president and government’s attack dog. Since his appointment, he’s been all over the media accusing anyone any politician not of the ruling party’s stock of corruption. He has also not spared members of the National Assembly and even of the ruling party whenever they disagree or voice their disagreement with any policy of the government.

The latest subjects of attack were Nigerians who had the temerity to criticise the president for including the names of eight deceased persons on his new list of appointees into the boards of federal government agencies. Sagay described them as stupid and of Lilliputian mind. Defending the president’s action, Sagay queried whether the president was “supposed to have visited the homes of each of the appointees to know if they were still alive”? He concluded that the outrage against the list, which had been under preparation for over two years, was unreasonable and needless. Then came the attack: “The impression that I have is that the Nigerian elite has a Lilliputian mind. For me, the whole episode shows the stupidity of those who were outraged. I think it is evidence of idleness of mind.”

We may need to remind the voluble professor that it is the democratic right of all Nigerians to scrutinise government actions, comment, criticise and demand for accountability from both elected and appointed political office holders without exemption. That is the essence of democracy and Mr Sagay cannot deny Nigerians that right or insult them for exercising that right.

Perhaps, if the professor has not lost his capacity for sober thinking and incisive analysis, he would have realised that the mistake was simply indefensible. Appointing people who have died to positions, no matter the explanations, reeks of laziness, incompetence, inefficiency, and lackadaisical attitude to governance that is not acceptable. Were the appointees screened for competence and merits? Even if the government claimed they were, two years is a long time to warrant re-screening and re-checking to ascertain whether those to be appointed are still alive or even available to accept the offer.

Just like Oby Ezekwesili, former minister and World Bank Vice President counselled, “There is a golden rule in strategic communication of policy where you are advised to “own the fiasco…eat the humble pie…show penitence…ride the storm…avoid any braggadocio…just pray the media and public show mercy and move on”.

Sadly the professor has been doing quite badly in the work he was appointed to do – to advise the present administration in the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system. Is it any wonder then that the war on corruption of the administration is failing and unable to secure any conviction till date?