By Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha
I am constrained to write on the above subject matter. But before I
do, let me firstly and formally congratulate our new President,
General Mohammadu Okechukwu Buhari for winning the march 28th, 2015
Presidential election. Let me also commend His Excellency Dr. Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan for accepting and conceding defeat. It is my prayer
that this new government will not disappoint the wishes and
aspirations of Nigerians in Jesus mighty name, Amen.
Ever since Gen. Buhari emerged as the winner of the Presidential
election, all manner of people have suddenly started clustering around
him. Many of them have placed congratulatory advertorial messages,
describing him as the messiah and king of kings; and also as the lord
of lords. However, beneath these sycophantic sudden praise singing and
worship, is the ruthless desire and brutal ambition for political
appointments. Defections from other political parties to the new
ruling party is the ‘’new” song now. Some so called leaders are now
making headlines in our daily newspapers, giving the new president
“pieces of advice” on how to make Nigeria a “wonder on earth” country.
All these because a Buhari has won an election. Some state Governors
and leaders of the All Progressive Congress (the new ruling Party)
have turned themselves into the road map for political appointments.
Many of these Governors have reportedly submitted ministerial lists to
the new president. They want to dictate to General Buhari how to run
his government. Better put; they want to balkanize the new government.
Let me open the minds of the reading public; General Mohammadu
Okechukwu Buhari upon being declared the winner of the just concluded
presidential election made a speech that has sent corrupt politicians,
leaders, fraudsters and their likes panicking. Among the statements
made by Buhari include inter-alia: “My Administration shall strongly
battle another form of evil that is even worse than terrorism,; ____
the evil of corruption. Corruption attacks and seeks to destroy our
National Institution and character by mis-directing into selfish
hands, funds intended for public purpose; corruption distorts the
economy and worsens income in-equality. It creates a class of unjustly
enriched people. Such an illegal yet powerful force soon comes to
undermine democracy because its conspirators have amassed so much
money that they believe they can buy government. We shall end this
threat to our economic survivals. I repeat that corruption will not be
tolerated by this administration and it shall no longer be allowed to
stand as if it is a respected monument in this nation”. This is Buhari
on the marble. Fear has therefore enveloped the very corrupt
politicians, leaders, fraudsters and their likes ever since Buhari,
the foremost anti-corruption crusader made that famous statement.
Therefore, in a bid to checkmate General Buhari, state governors have
sent lists of those to be considered for ministerial appointments to
him. These Governors few days ago visited the new President and
“tested” the ground by complaining that they do not have money to pay
workers in their respective states. But a response by Buhari shattered
their plot. General Buhari is aware that these Governors have been
collecting State and local Government Allocations from the Federal
Ministry of Finance. The question is; what have they done with these
Allocations that workers are today owed between three to four months
salaries? Buhari has clearly informed state governors and others party
leaders that he would never accept ministerial lists from anybody;
arguing that since state governors choose commissioners by themselves,
he should be allowed to choose loyal and committed Nigerians as
ministers. Very beautiful defense!!! I am therefore calling on Buhari
to stand by this singular decision. He needs selfless and committed
Nigerians as his ministers. He needs people who will assist him to
fight corruption. He needs people who will assist him to be very
brutal and ruthless with corruption. He needs people who will assist
him to make cost of governance to be less. He needs people who will
fight the monster called corruption in all the sectors of the economy
namely, education, industry, transport, energy (oil and gas),
agriculture, commerce etc. For Buhari to fight corruption he must step
on toes; and these toes will fight back. When you fight corruption,
corruption will fight back at you. Presently, I am fighting a brutal
and ruthless war against corruption in my state – Imo. The leader of
corruption in Imo state is Governor Rochas Okorocha and his cabal.
They have also fought back at me. Okorocha, the Speaker of the Imo
State House of Assembly and their cohorts connived with the very
corrupt and compromised Imo State police command to accuse me of
murder , (the very crime they themselves committed) and used the
judiciary to remand me in prison custody, all in a bid to cover their
nakedness. But Almighty God brought me out after spending 328 days in
illegal detention. Conversely, President Buhari should expect tones of
allegations from these corrupt cabals. He should expect their stooges
at the National Assembly to frustrate some of his efforts to sanitize
the country. They will gang up at the oil sector to frustrate him. The
will gang up at the power sector. They will give reasons why they have
not done local government elections in their respective states. These
very corrupt governors will not tell Buhari why they submitted lists
of very corrupt people to be made ministers. Some of the people whose
names appeared on the supposed submitted ministerial lists are those
with questionable characters. And those with criminal cases already
with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). For example,
Governor Okorocha submitted the name of Speaker Benjamin Uwajumogu as
a ministerial nominee from Imo state. The governor submitted the name
of a man who has a case of monumental corruption hanging on his neck
at the EFCC. He submitted the name of a man who used state funds to
acquire properties all over the world and these details are not only
with the EFCC but also with all the security agencies in this country.
This clearly shows the personal character of Governor Okorocha. At
this point, let me advice our new president; (A) Develop a thick skin
and stand firmly on your decision to appoint credible ministers. (B)
Overhaul the police commands at the state level. (c) Remove the EFCC
Chairman for his incompetence to fight corruption. (D) Withhold local
government allocations for States operating without elected local
government chairmen. (E) Overhaul the Judiciary and ensure credible
justice system. (F) Ban State governors from travelling outside
Nigeria. (G) Withhold State Government allocations for states whose
governors are not able to account for allocation previously collected.
(H) Set-up a credible module that will fight ghost workers both at the
state and federal level. (I) Apply the ‘’doctrine of necessity’’ to
remove any state governor found to be corrupt.
Let me at this point state in clear terms that Nigerians actually
voted for Buhari and not the party. Buhari is the President of this
great country come, May 29, 2015. All lovers of socio-political,
economic, religious and technological development should file behind
Buhari and give him maximum support to succeed. We should all join
Buhari to jump into the boxing ring to give corruption the beatings it
deserves, to the glory of Almighty God in Jesus mighty name I pray,
Amen.
Signed
Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha
Former Senior Special Assistant on Media
Imo State House of Assembly
27th May, 2015.