RE-LOOTING THE LOOTS: A Tale of Thieves

I've heard alot of stuff about the recovering of the looted loots, but this is my own tale of the re-looting of the looted loots............

Daddy always bought meat pie and Limca for all of us in the house, everyday on his way from work. This was yet another highlight of our growing years. Though, we lived in what is considered face-2-face two-room apartment, he could afford the basic things of life according to his means. This was in the heat of the early 90’s, whence the socio-economic climate of the Nigerian state was somewhat cloudy as there were mixture of feelings as to the possibility of a better future. But of course, things were better off. Those of us who grew up and stayed in typical face-2-face neighborhood could afford three square meal. Presently, the black gold (even though it has reached its menopause in terms of its produce and relevance to the economy) still contributes to the economy, plus there are other means from which the government generates income. Yet, Nigerians can’t make ends meet. A civil servant cannot afford three quality square meal; meat pie and coca cola have now become luxury! (Ask my father for clarification,*I laugh in Urhobo*). But in the midst of all these, government officials go about in fleet of cars and travel abroad for treatment of “common cold”. They hinge their inability to manage the situation on the previous governments who have eloped with a vast majority of the nation’s treasure. But have these loots not been returned or so they say?

For a long time, the Nigerian antigraft agency, the EFCC has been ostensibly recovering funds looted by protuberant office holders. From the reign of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to the administration of Ibrahim Mustafa Magu, trillions of naira have been said to have been recovered. While we applaud this unprecedented giant stride, we often forget to question the whereabouts of these “recovered loots”. Or are these great recoveries just mere propaganda to make us believe that the war against corruption is actually being fought? It is no longer news that Nigeria is currently experiencing unparalleled economic hemorrhage, worsened by the fall in oil prices and the obvious devaluation of the Naira that has placed Nigeria behind the tide of economic activities in the world.

We seem poor today because of unrestrained merciless siphoning of the treasury by every Tom, Dick and Harry saddled with the charge of managing our Commonwealth. Salaries are not being paid by states who actually get monthly allocations from the federal government as well as generate revenue internally, in spite of the fact that Nigerian civil servants are actually underpaid, and the employment ratio is actually abysmal. That’s by the way. But wait a moment, has anyone ever tried to X-ray the educational system? To find out the rot in our government universities? That's a story for another day. The loots allegedly recovered from “corrupt Nigerians” by the EFCC is enough to fund the entire Nigeria’s budget for years. Funds recovered from the Late Sani Abacha, the ever celebrated James Ibori and a host of others have eye-propping figures that can get to every Nigerian when shared even in millions. But, where are these recovered funds? What have they been used for? The EFCC cannot claim to be fighting graft when it cannot render fitting account of how the recovered loots, which according to them runs into trillions of Naira have been spent or saved. The federal government cannot claim to be fighting corruption if issues such as these cannot be made clear. I think it is high time we stopped this “Buharization” of Nigeria because it seems to be heading for ruins! You can imagine the hogwash he said about corruption during his October 1^st speech.  “Corruption is a cancer which must be fought with all the weapons at our disposal. It corrodes the very fabric of government and destroys society. Fighting corruption is Key, not only to restoring the moral health of the nation, but also to freeing our enormous resources for urgent socio-economic development…..”  (No.17 presidential speech, October 1^st ‘16). Has there been any record of account read to any committee on the looted funds? Has there been any proof that these returned loots have been put to full utility? Or Nigerians are not entitled to these information? Yet, a supposed president came out with his political jargons of anti-corruption achievements! On a day the nation ought to be celebrating freedom and fairness. Oh Nigeria!

The problematic with most Nigerians is that we often show “I-don’t-care” approach to matters regarding our communal wealth. There’s nothing to show that the recovered loots have been put to civic use. Even if they have, the impact has not been felt. We need detailed clarification in that regard. I dare to say that as far as loots recovered are re-looted, we would continue to cuckold ourselves in the fight against corruption. The “Dasukigate” and “Metugate” are just a few of the thousands of “gates” that we have not yet unearthed. Ribadugate, Wazirigate, "Melayegate", Lamordegate, Magugate and of course Buharigate should be investigated. Did I just say investigate?  Wait! Who will investigate the investigators? This Nigeria sef!