By
Jaye Gaskia
In the past
few days, as is often the case whenever a new can of worms involving one of the
corrupt elites superintending over the grand looting of the treasury is opened,
we begin to be fed with very nauseating, putrid, and unacceptable verbiage in
defence of the thief and or abuser of our trust whose hands or fingers have
just been caught deeped firmly into our collective teal!
And what do
they say? What do you hear from the paid official and, patronage dependent
clientele of unofficial spokespersons; as well as the hurriedly
put together rented crowds of supporters rallying in defence of their ‘son’ or
‘daughter’ who is being persecuted by so-called political enemies or some other
envious ethnic group!
Haba? What
arrant nonsense? What a culturally convenient lie to tell to cover up
criminality of the highest order, from the different summits of power?
We do
ourselves loads of harm when we allow ourselves to be told, and to believe such
patent lies! Some even go so far as to ask, why is the particular thief being
hounded and chased about? Why are other thieves not being hounded? Was this
thief the first to steal? Were things not already bad before the time of this
particular light fingered pirate? And on
and on they go with such stomach turn and nauseating , but lame excuses to save
someone who is after all just a common thief in high office, a common kidnapper,
holding our collective development prospects captive by their looting spree!
Let us examine
the most recent of such cases, the one involving the Minister of Aviation, with
respect to the purchase for her use of 2 armoured BMWs by one of the agencies
under her supervision1
What are the
facts as we now know them? The approved budget for the purchase of 25 vehicles
by the ministry in the 2013 appropriation act is N240M; 10 Toyota Hilux Pick Ups, 10 Toyota Corollas, 5 Toyota
Land cruisers, 5 Toyota Hilux Pick Ups, 3 Toyota Hiace Buses, and 2 Security
Inspection vehicles.
The Minister
on her own, and as far as we now know, went ahead to unilaterally approve N643M
instead of the N240M approved by the NASS, and signed into law by the
President, in the 2013 appropriation Act, for the purchase of 54, and not the
25 operational vehicles approved for the ministry.
Furthermore
the agency, NCAA, then went ahead to purchase the 2 armoured BMWs for the use of the Minister,
at a cost of N255M from this pool of N643M approved by the Minister.
We now know
from the HoR committee on Aviation, the legislative oversight committee for the
ministry, that the purchase of the 2 armoured BMWs was in the budget proposal
submitted to the NASS, and which was rejected and not approved in enacting the
2013 Appropriation Act. We also now know the BPE contrary to the claims by the
NCAA was not involved, nor was it in the know of the tendering process for the
purchase of these vehicles.
Now, there are
a number of issues involved in this case, quite a number of criminal breaches
and gross violations of a validly made law of the Federation involved in this
case!
For starters,
in authorising a budget of N643M for the purchase of 54 vehicles, instead of
the approved N240M for the purchase of 25 vehicles with recourse to the NASS,
the Minister breached the 2013 Appropriation Act; And if she granted approval
without the knowledge and or authorisation of the Federal Executive Council
[FEC] , and the President; then this is also a gross act of insubordination and
undermining of the authority of the office of the President, in addition to the
institution of the National Assembly [NASS].
Secondly the
N255M expended in the purchase of the 2 armoured BMWs is already N15M more than
the amount legitimately appropriated for the purchase of 25 operational
vehicles for the Ministry at N240M. If these are the only two vehicles that
have been bought, then it means that in order to satisfy the Minister’s needs, the
nation through the NCAA and the supervising Ministry, would have lost the
opportunity for the purchase of 25 operational vehicles this financial year. In
other words, the minister’s interest was a priority over the interest of the
country.
If the
remaining 52 vehicles have been bought or are in the process of being bought,
then there are quite a number of issues to be raised? Where and how did the
ministry get the additional N403M over and above the approved N240M in the 2013
appropriation Act? Next it is important to point out that whereas N255M was
used in the purchase of only two vehicles for the Minister’s use; N388M was or
would be expended in the purchase of 52 operational vehicles! In other words,
the minister’s two vehicles alone is more than the combined cost for 25
operational vehicles!
How cost effective is such a decision? Was the minister
lacking official limousines? Is it the responsibility of the Ministry or of the
FEC to purchase vehicles for Ministerial use? Do different ministers of the
same government use different makes and or brands and specifications of
official vehicles? Whose responsibility is it to decide, approve the type and
specifications, purchase and ensure the maintenance of official vehicles for
members of the President’s cabinet?
These are the
questions begging to be answered, and they are the issues involved in this
ODUAGATE that once again affirm not only the sleaze and rottenness going on in
high places, but also the culture of impunity that underlies and drives the
official, remorseless, and rapaciously ferocious looting of the treasury that
has been going on, and whose intensity has increased tremendously in recent
years.
So when anyone
comes to you to say aferall it is only N15M or N403M difference; point out to
the person that the opportunity cost of that is at least 25 to 52 operational
vehicles for the ministry; the completion of a perimeter fence at some airport,
the completion of the renovation of one airport etc; not to speak of the
impunity involved in the flagrant breach of a valid law, and the gross
undermining of the authority of the President of the Federal Republic that is
involved here!
And when they
make excuses about Oduah not being the first or only one involved in impunity;
then let us respond by emphasising the fact that although it may be convenient
for thieves and treasury looters to justify their pillage by claiming that they
are stealing on behalf of their respective ethnic and or religious groups and
sects; in reality, ordinary citizens from their ethnic groups and religious
sects benefit nothing, and are in fact short-changed by their unconscionable
and inhuman looting spree!
How many rural
roads, fully equipped and fully staffed community hospitals can be built with
the N255M expended on 2 armoured BMWs? How many Public Primary and Secondary
schools, can be built, fully equipped, fully staffed, and or completely
renovated with the N403M additional funds that the Minister unilaterally
appropriated for the purchase of additional unapproved vehicles?
Impunity is
impunity, and it is the bane of our collective underdevelopment and we should
neither ethnicise it nor justify it on the basis of religious or political
affiliation.
It is
important to state that it is an insult to our collective sensibilities and our
collective common sense to allow executive law breakers, abusers of office, and
treasury looters to attempt to get away with criminality on the flimsy excuse
that they are not the first or only one involved, and that what is involved is
a small amount of money compared with others!
If we do not
take a firm stance to reject corruption and abuse of office whenever it is
exposed, then we would be laying the foundation to justify the political
elite’s ‘turn by turn’ approach to treasury looting; and we would be helping
them to steal in our name, on our behalf, and to our detriment.
Enough Is
Enough! It is Time To Take Back Nigeria! It is up to us to take collective
action to take our destiny into our own hands, and rid ourselves of the death
grip and chokehold of these swarms of locusts and Vagabonds In Power!
Follow
me on twiiter: @jayegaskia & @[DPSR]protesttopower; Interact with me on
Facebook: Jaye Gaskia & Take Back Nigeria
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