President Buhari and the perpetuation of authority stealing

You be thief, I no be thief…

You be rogue, I no be rogue …

You dey steal, I no dey steal ….

You be robber, I no be robber ….

You be armed robber, I no be armed robber ….

Many years after this Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s classic, and ahead of the 2019 elections, the argument about ‘authority stealing’ is back in the headlines, this time between the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Following the release of the series of the Gandollar ‘Nollywood’ like videos that show the highest level of desperation and child-like visible desires in a candy store (see my article last week), the supporters of the President, with full understanding of the implications for the 2019 kept mute. The presidency also, fully aware of the strategic importance of Kano State for the elections, have kept mute.

But in a classic hypocrisy moment, in which the fight against corruption is juxtaposed with the desperate quest for power, the President in far away in Paris commended the responsible Gandollar for completing projects started by his predecessor Rabiu Kwankwaso. The President provided the classic APC response. While commending Gandollar for completing projects in Kano State, the President chided the former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso for using the resources of the State for the pursuit of presidential ambitions in 2015. Hahahahahah, I no fit laugh, I beg. Was he the only one?

Now, following the release of the audiotapes where the Senate President Bukola Saraki told his supporters in Kwara State in details why he withdrew support from the President’s second term ambitions, the president’s supporters have woken up from their slumber. According to the tapes, the Senate President argued that there were expectations after supporting the President very strongly for the elections in 2015. He expected that there would be appointments for his supporters in the State as reward for the support they gave the President in 2015.

There is logic in the expectations of the Senate President until there was heavy suggestion in the tapes that the reward will provide the opportunity for personal and community empowerment and enrichment. The President’s supporters now argue that the tapes provides the evidence that the reason the Senate President and all those that left APC back to PDP is because the President has not allowed them to be corrupt.

They may be right, but the fact that the allegations of corruption and the stigma of corruption is starting to stick around the neck of APC is the most disgraceful turn of events. But only the ignorant will be surprised. Let me explain.

Nigeria’s variety of corruption and the acquisition of power are like Siamese twins. This combination is at the root of Nigeria’s inability to provide the required long term policy choices for the country’s development, provide infrastructure development, and put the country on the path of long term economic growth and prosperity. So, for those that continue to wonder why someone like me will not support the President, it is because he has not shown, nor demonstrated that he understands, nor willing to break the link between corruption and the acquisition of power. He has had over three years, and rather than start to break the link, he has entrenched it. He has done so by continuing to provide evidence that there is a dichotomy between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ corruption. Good corruption (corrupters) are those that support the president and bad corruption (corrupters) are those against him.

The understanding required to fight corruption will start with the acknowledgement and premise that nowhere in the world where is politics is funded from personal accounts. Countries that have therefore made progress in minimising the corruption linked to politics have either resorted to largely unambiguous use of State resources, and or clear campaign financing rules that allow large participation of the public and the private sector. So, the cycle of corruption in Nigeria is largely dictated by the cycle of power and the continuous quest for power. After the most competitive elections in Nigeria in 2015, we will witness another competitive elections next year and no one should be under the illusion that the resources are from the pockets of some nationalistic benevolent Nigerians.

But if progress has been made since 2015, there would not have been a major opportunity for any opposition. And because progress has not been made either directly on the issues that drive corruption, or the reduction in opportunities for corruption, the President, relying on “strong man” syndrome has failed to reduce corruption.

But just in case, the President or the opposition, if it wins, wants to truly make progress on the fight against corruption, it is possible through the following methods. First, through the reform of the oil and gas industry in relation to licencing, joint ventures, production and downstream activities, and reduction in the discretionary powers of the President. Second is by the reform of the Land Use Act. The power of allocation of land ranks amongst highest opportunities for corruption in Nigeria public service. Third is the reform that will enable the full disclosure and public registration of properties in the country. Fourth, the reforms that significantly reduce the use of bulk volumes of cash, and that only allow the transfer of monies between accounts. Finally, provide the right policies and environment in the banking system to fight corruption. There can be no corruption without the banks.

In conclusion, when a government has not made progress on the systems and methods of corruption, it can only rely on some hypocritical nuances in its quest to keep power.

I thank you.

Ogho Okiti