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.
Comments
Post a Comment
Hello