But the political opposition in Nigeria does not appear to know when and where to draw the line. Any opportunity to embarrass the government in power, however much it brings the Nigerian state to ridicule is welcome to them.
Such it was that in the middle of last year, the nation was jolted with the amazing news that nearly 50billion dollars or 70% of national revenue was missing. This statement had much credence to it coming from the governor of the Central Bank at the time. Amid the hullaballoo of this startling revelation, the governor of the Central Bank reversed himself and admitted to the Senate Committee investigating the allegations that 20billion dollars was really the sum in question.
Not a few people wondered why the governor of the Central Bank would go public with such damaging information when he did not know or have the correct information. The entire scenario reeked of high wire politics and subterfuge. It emerged later that the CBN governor was under probe for misuse of public funds. His accusations against the government were a smokescreen, therefore, to divert public attention and anger which quickly rallied to his support when the government suspended him for financial recklessness.
But in May, this year, the Senate approved a report by its finance committee dismissing claims by the former Central Bank governor that $20 billion (N3.2 trillion) oil revenues had been diverted from government coffers. The Senate’s finance committee, which probed the allegation, said that any claims that the huge sum had been diverted or stolen was incorrect and misleading. “There was never any unremitted $49.8 billion,” the committee, said. The only funds not accounted for by the NNPC- which must be paid to government- stood at $927 million, the committee maintained.
The committee broke this figure into various subheads like Holding Strategic Stock Reserve; Pipeline Maintenance and Management Cost, Capital Expenditure, Royalty and Petroleum Profit Tax to the federation account. The report also mentioned an independent forensic audit authorised by the government.
On that occasion, the Senate President David Mark said. “Whether it is funds yet to be remitted or funds yet accounted for, I think we shouldn’t play politics with it.” Senator Mark was only echoing the sentiments of well meaning Nigerians who like to see national issues without the tinted lenses of partisanship. He may have been whistling in the wind.
In the build up to the presidential elections of February next year, the opposition APC has fired up its rhetoric with a strident call for the head of Diezani Allison Madueke over the “missing 20million dollars” it’s of no importance to its spokesmen whether the Senate has investigated the matter or not, and given its qualified opinion on the matter. No, the party can in good conscience hound a public official without any proof whatsoever for whatever sums of money it may conjure up in its imagination. Apublic statement issued on August 18, this year went on to catalogue what 20billion dollars may buy for the APC. The party spokesman failed to tell Nigerians what the hounding of Diezani Alison Madueke will earn for the party.
But Nigerians of a good conscience and proper discernment are not fooled. Nor does it seem as if Diezani will be distracted from her job by the ranting of a jaundiced crowd of paid hecklers. The sole distinction of this band of political jobbers is their infamous ability to tear down the well earned reputations of their betters. That is what opposition means to them, PhD; Pull Him Down or as in the case of Diezani and other achieving women in the Jonathan administration, Pull Her Down. And by whatever means necessary! Falsehood most importantly required.
*By Oliver Ekwebelem, public affairs commentator who writes from Abuja, Nigeria
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