While we support the intention of
President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to probe the administration
of former President Goodluck Jonathan, we are of the opinion that the
officials who served in the past administrations of Gen. Ibrahim
Babangida up till that of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua should be
given the opportunity to return the “excess luggage” that belongs to the
state (if any) in their own interest and for reasons of clear
conscience towards God and humanity. It is in their own interest because
such money that was ill-gotten at the expense of the state or as a
result of betrayal of trust on such public officials may result in
misfortunes.
To be seen to be fair and just, public
officials (both politicians and bureaucrats) who are comfortable
multi-millionaires and billionaires by Forbes’ ratings should be
encouraged to come forward and donate or better still return to the
nation’s coffers whatever they cannot defend through their legitimate
earnings, investments or intellectual properties. The public officials
who were not known in the business circles before they got appointed or
elected into offices should be made to account for the reported millions
of dollars in their foreign accounts.
The same should apply to some
self-appointed whistle-blowers in this present administration and in the
immediate past administration. The self-appointed roles of these
whistle-blowers may be a ploy to divert government’s attention from
their own alleged shady deals which could not be hidden from the preying
eyes of the international community and social media. No doubt, these
whistle-blowers are doing a good job by raising public awareness to
where some looted money is hidden. But the fact remains that they too
may be having some skeletons in their cupboards when scrutinised.
We
are on the same page with President Buhari’s administration for its
stance to probe the immediate past administration because of the alleged
monumental fraud or reckless looting of the nation’s treasury.
However, in order to free itself of
allegations of any form of carrying out a witch-hunt as the opposition
is already insinuating, the Federal Government should also beam its
searchlight on both current and past public officials and create a
window of opportunity for those of them who have some restitution to
make by voluntarily returning some “excess luggage” which they are
illegally keeping to themselves which can attract misfortunes to them
either now or in the foreseeable future.
In the meantime, the Federal Government
should busy itself with plugging the loopholes in our economy and also
ensure that the managers of our economy and treasuries at various
strategic points of revenue generation are men and women of proven
integrity and good record who do not develop itching fingers. Otherwise,
it may be a case of drums of water being poured into baskets. So,
government should seal up all these leaking holes and get good managers
before the commencement of its loot- recovery drive.
Punch
No comments:
Post a Comment