Human rights lawyer and a Senior Advocate of
Nigeria, Femi Falana, in this interview with Bayo Akinloye says
that while corruption continues to fester under President Muhammadu
Buhari administration, it could not be compared to the rot that
occurred under former rulers Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan,
and Ibrahim Babangida
First is the herders-farmers crisis; it appears the security
agencies are stretched and thus are unable to handle the ongoing
violence in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, and others. Some think, as
claimed by Governor Ortom, that the security agencies and the
federal government are complicit in the killings going on.
What is your honest assessment of the
issue?
The nation is largely ruled by ignorance, incompetence and
arrogance on the part of the ruling class. Since 1999 the country
has witnessed avoidable ethno-religious and communal clashes. We
have witnessed insurgency, militancy and herdsmen’s attacks which
could have been prevented by the government. Each of these crises
has confirmed the failure of intelligence and incompetence of the
government. It is simplistic to reduce the violence in Benue state
to the complicity of the federal government alone. It goes beyond
that. Governor Samuel Ortom once revealed that 1,878 people were
killed in herdsmen / farmers clashes from 2013-2016. In September
last year about 723 Fulani herdsmen were killed in reprisal
attacks. In Plateau State over 3,000 were killed in 10 years. In
Zamfara State over 2,000 people have been killed. According to
Senator Marafa, not less than 5,000 women have been raped by
bandits. The post election violence in 12 Northern States and Akwa
Ibom in April 2011 claimed 864 lives. These figures exclude
killings by terror gangs and killer squads set up by some state
governors, armed robbery gangs, kidnap gangs and other criminal
gangs. Life has become totally valueless in the country. In very
many cases of unlawful killings and violent attacks the police made
arrests but the suspects were hardly brought to justice. That is
why the killings have been on the ascendancy. Apart from the
attacks traceable to herdsmen in Benue State there have been
killings by militia groups and other gangs. While it is true that
the state government is not in control of the police and other
security forces is the Attorney-General of the State not in charge
of prosecution of criminal elements? I am aware that the police
arrested scores of criminal suspects in all the attacks. Why were
the suspects not tried by the State government? In the latest
attacks, the police and the army have arrested over 100 people. I
can assure you that they will go scot free and the killings will
continue.
What do you think is the solution: anti-open grazing
law, ranches, or cattle colonies?
I have shouted myself hoarse over the lasting solution to the
crisis. Nobody has challenged the solution which is the
establishment of ranches. Ethiopia, Mozambique, Botswana and other
African countries have solved the problem of animal husbandry. With
ranches, Botswana is the largest producer and exporter of meat in
Africa. The first ranch, the Obudu cattle ranch was established in
Nigeria in 1951. Later the Ahmadu Bello regime founded a ranch in
Mokwa, now in Niger State while the Obafemi Awolowo regime set up a
ranch in Akunu, now in Ondo State. Under the Yakubu Gowon regime
the Audu Bako regime in Kano State had the best ranches in the
country. Currently the Nigerian Army has set up a ranch in the
Federal Capital Territory. In 2014 the Jonathan administration sent
a number of young men and women to Botswana to study the
development of ranches. They trained, returned home and were made
redundant. That regime made available N100 billion for the
establishment of ranches. The fund was diverted by some state
governments. By 2016, the Buhari regime announced that it was going
to establish ranches. and claimed that 11 states had provided
55,000 hectares for the ranches. But not a single ranch was
established. At the height of the crisis, the Minister of
Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe came up with the provocative pet
project of cattle colony. Happily, the Miyetti Allah Breeders
Association has dissociated itself from cattle colonization.
President Buhari also kicked against the idea. But the Miyetti
Breeders Association should be encouraged to obtain loans from the
banks to establish ranches. Majority of the owners of the cattle
are very rich. They should be made to own ranches. We must stop
sending cattle rearers to the street in this age and time. With
ranches, the animals will be fatter. They will produce quality meat
and milk. The cattle rearers will live in the vicinity of the
ranches and have schools for their children. It is the height of
primitivity on the part of any government to dispatch young men to
the street to rear animals. You are risking their lives by allowing
them to bear AK47 rifles.
Does it bother you, sir, that each time there is tragedy
or scandal in Nigeria, the government’s response is to set up a
panel or committee to look into the matter with the law enforcement
agencies appear to wait for the government to tell them when to
act, where and how to do so?
It bothers me. Hence, I have decided to challenge the culture of
impunity with respect to the killings. For instance, I have asked
the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to produce the
reports of police investigation into the killings that have
occurred since 2011. I have also written to the Nigeria Bar
Association to compel its members who are attorneys-general of the
federal and state governments to prosecute all the suspects who
were arrested by the police for engaging in unlawful killing of
people. I am sending the reports of some of the judicial and
administrative panels which investigated the killings to the
appropriate authorities. We just cannot allow murderers to go scot
free while the relations of those who have been killed are
frustrated in their search for justice.
The President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s critics
think the A PC government is displaying the same symptoms of
governance that the former President Goodluck Jonathan regime
showed. What’s your thought on that?
The criticism is not unfounded in view of the composition of the
APC. The leaders of the national assembly, a substantial number of
legislators, ministers and governors were in the Peoples Democratic
Party who migrated to the APC a few weeks before the 2015 general
election. With respect, the APC was a special purpose vehicle for
changing the federal government in 2015. No more, no less. No
commitment to any ideology or principle. The leaders of the APC
cannot agree on restructuring or federalism. Nigerians had relied
on the personal integrity of candidate Mohammadu Buhari and the
change agenda of the APC. Of course, unlike the Jonathan regime,
the APC administration has, to a large extent, won the war on
terror. But the gain recorded in the north east region has been
lost in other parts of the country where insecurity has taken over.
No doubt, the Buhari administration declared a war on corruption.
But the regime is currently sabotaging the war through the
questionable reinstatement of highly corrupt public officers. Apart
from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission other anti-graft
agencies have been tactically castrated by the Senate which has
refused to confirm the members of the Independent Corrupt Practices
and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct
Bureau. The national assembly has also failed to pass the bills for
the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Court, Whistle Blowing
Bill, Proceed of Crime Bill etc.
The Buhari regime has not mobilised and involved the Nigerian
people in the fight against corruption. Hence the people have not
joined issues with the legislators on the refusal to pass the
necessary bills to fight corruption. By reinstating and retaining
corrupt public officers the regime is encouraging corruption to
fight back. The APC controls the majority of the members of the
national assembly. Yet the assembly is dedicated to the frustration
of the war against corruption. Out of the 21 states controlled by
the APC only Kano state has an anti corruption agency. Is it an
irony that the PDP government in Ekiti state is trying to set up an
anti corruption agency?
Some have said it is shameful that state governors in
the South, comprising the East, West and South-South, have failed
to condemn the herdsmen menace, especially in Benue and Taraba.
What do you think about that?
It is a shame that all the 35 state governors have allowed the
federal government to usurp police powers in Nigeria. Mind you, the
Constitution has not created the federal government police force
but the Nigeria Police Force. Section 214 of the Constitution
provides that the President cannot appoint or remove the
Inspector-General of Police without seeking the advice of the
Nigeria Police Council. The principal function of the Nigeria
Police Council is the organisation, administration and supervision
of the Nigeria Police Force. Who are the members of the Nigeria
Police Council? The President, the Chairman of the Police Service
Commission, the Inspector-General of Police and the 36 state
governors. But since 1999, the 36 governors out of a body of 39
members have allowed the President alone to control and supervise
the Nigeria Police Force. It is on record that in the appointment
and removal of all the Inspector-Generals of Police the advice of
the Nigeria Police Council has never been sought. Neither has the
Council intervened in the administration, organization and
supervision of the Nigeria Police Force. Never! So the state
governors could not have done much in policing their states.
So far, so good, how has the government performed in
terms of fighting corruption?
In 3 years, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has
recovered over N750 Billion, and properties worth much more. It has
also recently succeeded in the conviction of a few politically
exposed persons. The regime has implemented the BVN policy, the TSA
policy and Whistle Blowing policy. The Chief Justice has ensured
the creation of Special Judicial Divisions to hear and determine
corruption cases. To that extent, the Buhari administration has
recorded more success than previous regimes in the fight against
the menace of corruption. But as far as I am concerned, the regime
has not addressed the root cause of corruption which is the
peripheral capitalist system operated imposed on the country by
imperialism. The system encourages tax avoidance, capital flight,
total profit repatriation by foreign companies, dollarization of
the economy, mass importation of goods including those that are
locally produced, indiscriminate duty waivers, reckless award of
contracts etc. It is a system that has produced a few billionaires
in the midst of poverty stricken millions of people. President
Obasanjo said that he measured the success of his economic
programme by the fact that he produced 25 billionaires. President
Jonathan said that his economic programme succeed ed because some
business men once flew their jets to Kenya while he was there on a
State visit. Even though President Buhari is not as lousy as the
two ex-rulers the situation has not changed. The point I am
struggling to make is that an economic programme that generates
poverty and mass unemployment of youths cannot meaningfully fight
corruption. A civil servant who knows that his or her gratuity and
pension will not be paid several years after retirement may be
tempted to steal public funds. If the government seriously wants to
fight corruption it has to fix the economy and promote the welfare
of the people. The mortgage system has to be organized to build and
sell houses at affordable prices to the citizens. The health
insurance scheme has to be managed to provide health insurance to
all employees in the public and private sectors. The bank interest
rates have to be reduced to the neighbourhood of 5 percent.
In your view, reviewing the inaugural speech President
Muhammadu Buhari gave on May 29, 2015, do you think he has
performed as he pledged to do, so far?
People who know President Buhari say that he is a man of integrity.
The electorate voted for him on that basis. So far, he has not been
accused of involving himself in corrupt practices or primitive
accumulation of wealth like his predecessors. But members of the
cabal of power mongers who are close to him have been accused of
abuse of power, corruption and breach of due process. Since the
President chose his friends you cannot exonerate him from the
allegations associated with the cabal. It is a case of tell me your
friend, I tell who you are. His wife, Mrs. Aisha Buhari was the
first person to alert the nation that a cabal had hijacked power
from the President. For instance, the President says he is now a
democrat. But a democrat must ensure that court orders are obeyed.
The President says he believes in the rule of law. But why does he
allow officials of the government to engage in impunity by
disregarding court orders? Or why should a democratic leader allow
people who are persecuted in Cameroon to be abducted and handed
over to their executioners? I believe that the President has the
golden opportunity to distance himself from shady and corrupt
people. Otherwise, his integrity will be ruined by them.
In your view, reviewing the inaugural speech President
Buhari gave on assuming power in 2015 do you think he has performed
well as he pledged?
In fairness to President Buhari he concedes that he has not met the
expectation of the electorate. However, the government has blamed
its inability to perform on the ruination of the economy and the
looting of the treasury by the PDP regimes from 1999 – 2015. Having
been in power for almost 3 years Nigerians are no longer prepared
to accept excuses or trading of blames. In fact, the patience of
Nigerians has been lost due to the decision of government to treat
certain corrupt public officers with kid gloves. Whereas President
Buhari had pledged to fight official impunity, the menace is on the
increase. Laws are breached with disdain. Court orders are treated
with contempt. Indiscriminate arrests and detention without trial
by the police and other security agencies have continued unabated.
The infrastructural decay has not been addressed. Unemployed is on
the increase while kidnapping and armed robbery are on rampant.
Hence, Nigerians have not seen the change promised by President
Buhari and the APC.
Some think the Obasanjo-inspired Coalition for Nigeria
Movement is a circle of same uninspiring politicians and so-called
leaders. What do you think?
It was Olisa Agbakoba who set up the Third Force or the Nigerian
Intervention Movement. So the idea was stolen from the Agbakoba
group. With respect, the Obasanjo-led coalition is a movement for
disgruntled members of the PDP and APC. To confirm my
categorization, the leaders of the coalition are ex-pdp chairman,
Colonel Ahmadu Ali and ex-governor Olafinsoye Oyinlola who has not
call it quits with APC. But the members are entitled to enjoy their
freedom of association and freedom of expression. So let the
security forces not harass them. Chief Obasanjo is yet to
appreciate that Nigerians are not looking for politicians whose
ideas have expired. In the words of former President Obasanjo, the
members of the Coalition are not the messiahs that Nigerians are
looking for.
Recently, you were quoted to have described Buhari and
Obasanjo as ‘birds of a feather.’ Is that correct? Will you say
Buhari has institutionalised corruption as you alleged Obasanjo did
during his reign?
Both are retired Generals. Both declared a war against corruption.
President Obasanjo was the Petroleum Minister, so is President
Buhari. For 8 years President Obasanjo had three Yoruba
Inspetor-Generals of Police namely Mr. Musiliu Smith, Mr. Tafa
Balogun and Mr. Sunday Ehindero. The Director-General, Mr. Kayode
Are who was in the saddle for 8 years is an Owu man like President
Obasanjo. The CBN governor was Mr. Joseph Sanusi. Even the Chief of
Staff was General Mohammed, a Yoruba man from Kwara State, the
Press Secretary was Dr. Doyin Okupe. But President Obasanjo later
expanded the government to reflect federal character. He is asking
President Buhari to also reflect federal character in the security
forces and the government in order to give members of the ruling
class a sense of belonging. It has nothing to do with the masses
who are on the receiving end of oppression and exploitation.
Let these Generals not think that our memory is so short. I
never said that President Obasanjo institutionalised corruption. It
was General Babangida that did that successfullu. His new breed
politicians colluded with him to annul a presidential election
which almost led to a civil war. With the imposition of the
imperialist inspired Structural Adjustment Programme General
Babangida wiped out the middle class. Under him official corruption
became the directive principle of state policy. President Obasanjo
equally had a number of young men and women in his government who
aided him to manipulate and fix election results. Together with the
young people in his government the assets of the nation were sold
through blind trusts. Even though the era recorded the sale of a
barrel of oil at over $120 the nation’s energy sector, roads,
hospitals etc were not fixed. Did the government not generate
darkness for the nation with the sum of $16 billion. Majority of
the elements who engaged in the criminal diversion of the public
funds were young men and women. So, it is not about age but ideas.
There are old people with revolutionary ideas. To build a new
nation we need the experience of old people and the energy of the
youths. Therefore, we need political parties and political movement
founded on ideology, whose vision will be clearly set up. We need
discipline political parties like the African National Congress in
South Africa which can withdraw its officials from the
government.
How can Nigeria avert bloodshed in 2019 general
elections?
Since government has become the easiest avenue for personal
enrichment politicians have become very desperate for power. But
with the rising consciousness which is exhibited in the social
media, the days of godfatherism may soon be over. Millions of young
men and women have registered to vote in 2019. With the
determination of Nigerians to participate in the democratic process
we are not likely to witness any orgy of violence. The security
forces are familiar with the dark spots all over the country. They
are going to be mobilised to prevent violence. In any case,
movement of persons and goods will be restricted on election days.
I am confident that the Nigerian people will not allow violent
politicians and their ilk to disrupt the elections.
Can Nigerians get Buhari out of power in 2019? If yes,
how can they do so?
I am not in a position to predict what will happen in 2019. Some
pastors have already engaged in that diversionary exercise. I am
however sure that there are political groups that are determined to
make the election issue based. Some politicians are going to insist
on restructuring. But young people will demand job creation, the
rural people will demand poverty elimination, the human rights
community will demand a commitment to the actualization of the
fundamental objectives in Chapter II of the Constitution. Other
interest groups will make specific demands from the political class
during the electioneering campaign. No doubt, the APC and PDP have
zoned the presidency to the north. But there are southerners who
are going to run for the presidency. Majority of the 68 political
parties that have been registered by the independent national
electoral commission will field presidential candidates from all
over the country.
Which northerners do you think can successfully pick up the
gauntlet? Atiku Abubakar? Sule Lamido? Aminu Tambuwwal? Or, is it
Emir Muhammad Sanusi?
Some of the people you have just mentioned have not indicated any
interest in the presidency. Frankly speaking, I cannot recommend
any candidate whose programme or ideology has not been unveiled. In
the interest of the development of the country let the media start
promoting programmes instead of big names and size of the pockets
of politicians.
Do you think as some have argued that it’s time
Obasanjo, IBB, and Buhari left the centre stage?
To the extent that these retired Generals have vested interests in
Nigerian enterprise they cannot voluntarily quit the centre stage.
It is the APC regime that has given them room to manipulate the
consciuosness of our people. But they will soon be rendered
irrelevant in the affairs of the nation. I know one of the groups
which is determined to ask these two gentlemen to answer questions
on the disappearance of $12.4 billion from the central bank and the
$16 billion earmarked for the energy sector. Another group is not
bothered about 2019. It is dedicated to mobilise Nigerians to
challenge police brutality, official impunity and criminal
diversion of public funds. One group wants to ensure that some
reactionary legislators are not reelected. The 2019 general
election is not going to be business as usual.
Some people have said that by default a northerner must
emerge as Nigeria’s President in 2019. Do you agree?
It is almost certain that President Buhari is going to ask for a
fresh mandate in 2019. The electorate will judge him on the basis
of his performance in office. I am comvinced that APC will not find
it easy to ride to power. At the same time the Nigerian people will
not go back to a rogue regime. As for Generals Obasanjo and
Babangida they won’t go far this time around. The alternative
perspective that Nigerians are looking for has excluded both of
them. But they should continue to convey the frustrations of
Nigerians to the presidential villa through letter writing and
public speeches.
Human rights lawyer and a Senior Advocate of
Nigeria, Femi Falana, in this interview with Bayo Akinloye says
that while corruption continues to fester under President Muhammadu
Buhari administration, it could not be compared to the rot that
occurred under former rulers Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan,
and Ibrahim Babangida
First is the herders-farmers crisis; it appears the security
agencies are stretched and thus are unable to handle the ongoing
violence in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, and others. Some think, as
claimed by Governor Ortom, that the security agencies and the
federal government are complicit in the killings going on.
What is your honest assessment of the
issue?
The nation is largely ruled by ignorance, incompetence and
arrogance on the part of the ruling class. Since 1999 the country
has witnessed avoidable ethno-religious and communal clashes. We
have witnessed insurgency, militancy and herdsmen’s attacks which
could have been prevented by the government. Each of these crises
has confirmed the failure of intelligence and incompetence of the
government. It is simplistic to reduce the violence in Benue state
to the complicity of the federal government alone. It goes beyond
that. Governor Samuel Ortom once revealed that 1,878 people were
killed in herdsmen / farmers clashes from 2013-2016. In September
last year about 723 Fulani herdsmen were killed in reprisal
attacks. In Plateau State over 3,000 were killed in 10 years. In
Zamfara State over 2,000 people have been killed. According to
Senator Marafa, not less than 5,000 women have been raped by
bandits. The post election violence in 12 Northern States and Akwa
Ibom in April 2011 claimed 864 lives. These figures exclude
killings by terror gangs and killer squads set up by some state
governors, armed robbery gangs, kidnap gangs and other criminal
gangs. Life has become totally valueless in the country. In very
many cases of unlawful killings and violent attacks the police made
arrests but the suspects were hardly brought to justice. That is
why the killings have been on the ascendancy. Apart from the
attacks traceable to herdsmen in Benue State there have been
killings by militia groups and other gangs. While it is true that
the state government is not in control of the police and other
security forces is the Attorney-General of the State not in charge
of prosecution of criminal elements? I am aware that the police
arrested scores of criminal suspects in all the attacks. Why were
the suspects not tried by the State government? In the latest
attacks, the police and the army have arrested over 100 people. I
can assure you that they will go scot free and the killings will
continue.
What do you think is the solution: anti-open grazing
law, ranches, or cattle colonies?
I have shouted myself hoarse over the lasting solution to the
crisis. Nobody has challenged the solution which is the
establishment of ranches. Ethiopia, Mozambique, Botswana and other
African countries have solved the problem of animal husbandry. With
ranches, Botswana is the largest producer and exporter of meat in
Africa. The first ranch, the Obudu cattle ranch was established in
Nigeria in 1951. Later the Ahmadu Bello regime founded a ranch in
Mokwa, now in Niger State while the Obafemi Awolowo regime set up a
ranch in Akunu, now in Ondo State. Under the Yakubu Gowon regime
the Audu Bako regime in Kano State had the best ranches in the
country. Currently the Nigerian Army has set up a ranch in the
Federal Capital Territory. In 2014 the Jonathan administration sent
a number of young men and women to Botswana to study the
development of ranches. They trained, returned home and were made
redundant. That regime made available N100 billion for the
establishment of ranches. The fund was diverted by some state
governments. By 2016, the Buhari regime announced that it was going
to establish ranches. and claimed that 11 states had provided
55,000 hectares for the ranches. But not a single ranch was
established. At the height of the crisis, the Minister of
Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe came up with the provocative pet
project of cattle colony. Happily, the Miyetti Allah Breeders
Association has dissociated itself from cattle colonization.
President Buhari also kicked against the idea. But the Miyetti
Breeders Association should be encouraged to obtain loans from the
banks to establish ranches. Majority of the owners of the cattle
are very rich. They should be made to own ranches. We must stop
sending cattle rearers to the street in this age and time. With
ranches, the animals will be fatter. They will produce quality meat
and milk. The cattle rearers will live in the vicinity of the
ranches and have schools for their children. It is the height of
primitivity on the part of any government to dispatch young men to
the street to rear animals. You are risking their lives by allowing
them to bear AK47 rifles.
Does it bother you, sir, that each time there is tragedy
or scandal in Nigeria, the government’s response is to set up a
panel or committee to look into the matter with the law enforcement
agencies appear to wait for the government to tell them when to
act, where and how to do so?
It bothers me. Hence, I have decided to challenge the culture of
impunity with respect to the killings. For instance, I have asked
the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to produce the
reports of police investigation into the killings that have
occurred since 2011. I have also written to the Nigeria Bar
Association to compel its members who are attorneys-general of the
federal and state governments to prosecute all the suspects who
were arrested by the police for engaging in unlawful killing of
people. I am sending the reports of some of the judicial and
administrative panels which investigated the killings to the
appropriate authorities. We just cannot allow murderers to go scot
free while the relations of those who have been killed are
frustrated in their search for justice.
The President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s critics
think the A PC government is displaying the same symptoms of
governance that the former President Goodluck Jonathan regime
showed. What’s your thought on that?
The criticism is not unfounded in view of the composition of the
APC. The leaders of the national assembly, a substantial number of
legislators, ministers and governors were in the Peoples Democratic
Party who migrated to the APC a few weeks before the 2015 general
election. With respect, the APC was a special purpose vehicle for
changing the federal government in 2015. No more, no less. No
commitment to any ideology or principle. The leaders of the APC
cannot agree on restructuring or federalism. Nigerians had relied
on the personal integrity of candidate Mohammadu Buhari and the
change agenda of the APC. Of course, unlike the Jonathan regime,
the APC administration has, to a large extent, won the war on
terror. But the gain recorded in the north east region has been
lost in other parts of the country where insecurity has taken over.
No doubt, the Buhari administration declared a war on corruption.
But the regime is currently sabotaging the war through the
questionable reinstatement of highly corrupt public officers. Apart
from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission other anti-graft
agencies have been tactically castrated by the Senate which has
refused to confirm the members of the Independent Corrupt Practices
and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct
Bureau. The national assembly has also failed to pass the bills for
the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Court, Whistle Blowing
Bill, Proceed of Crime Bill etc.
The Buhari regime has not mobilised and involved the Nigerian
people in the fight against corruption. Hence the people have not
joined issues with the legislators on the refusal to pass the
necessary bills to fight corruption. By reinstating and retaining
corrupt public officers the regime is encouraging corruption to
fight back. The APC controls the majority of the members of the
national assembly. Yet the assembly is dedicated to the frustration
of the war against corruption. Out of the 21 states controlled by
the APC only Kano state has an anti corruption agency. Is it an
irony that the PDP government in Ekiti state is trying to set up an
anti corruption agency?
Some have said it is shameful that state governors in
the South, comprising the East, West and South-South, have failed
to condemn the herdsmen menace, especially in Benue and Taraba.
What do you think about that?
It is a shame that all the 35 state governors have allowed the
federal government to usurp police powers in Nigeria. Mind you, the
Constitution has not created the federal government police force
but the Nigeria Police Force. Section 214 of the Constitution
provides that the President cannot appoint or remove the
Inspector-General of Police without seeking the advice of the
Nigeria Police Council. The principal function of the Nigeria
Police Council is the organisation, administration and supervision
of the Nigeria Police Force. Who are the members of the Nigeria
Police Council? The President, the Chairman of the Police Service
Commission, the Inspector-General of Police and the 36 state
governors. But since 1999, the 36 governors out of a body of 39
members have allowed the President alone to control and supervise
the Nigeria Police Force. It is on record that in the appointment
and removal of all the Inspector-Generals of Police the advice of
the Nigeria Police Council has never been sought. Neither has the
Council intervened in the administration, organization and
supervision of the Nigeria Police Force. Never! So the state
governors could not have done much in policing their states.
So far, so good, how has the government performed in
terms of fighting corruption?
In 3 years, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has
recovered over N750 Billion, and properties worth much more. It has
also recently succeeded in the conviction of a few politically
exposed persons. The regime has implemented the BVN policy, the TSA
policy and Whistle Blowing policy. The Chief Justice has ensured
the creation of Special Judicial Divisions to hear and determine
corruption cases. To that extent, the Buhari administration has
recorded more success than previous regimes in the fight against
the menace of corruption. But as far as I am concerned, the regime
has not addressed the root cause of corruption which is the
peripheral capitalist system operated imposed on the country by
imperialism. The system encourages tax avoidance, capital flight,
total profit repatriation by foreign companies, dollarization of
the economy, mass importation of goods including those that are
locally produced, indiscriminate duty waivers, reckless award of
contracts etc. It is a system that has produced a few billionaires
in the midst of poverty stricken millions of people. President
Obasanjo said that he measured the success of his economic
programme by the fact that he produced 25 billionaires. President
Jonathan said that his economic programme succeed ed because some
business men once flew their jets to Kenya while he was there on a
State visit. Even though President Buhari is not as lousy as the
two ex-rulers the situation has not changed. The point I am
struggling to make is that an economic programme that generates
poverty and mass unemployment of youths cannot meaningfully fight
corruption. A civil servant who knows that his or her gratuity and
pension will not be paid several years after retirement may be
tempted to steal public funds. If the government seriously wants to
fight corruption it has to fix the economy and promote the welfare
of the people. The mortgage system has to be organized to build and
sell houses at affordable prices to the citizens. The health
insurance scheme has to be managed to provide health insurance to
all employees in the public and private sectors. The bank interest
rates have to be reduced to the neighbourhood of 5 percent.
In your view, reviewing the inaugural speech President
Muhammadu Buhari gave on May 29, 2015, do you think he has
performed as he pledged to do, so far?
People who know President Buhari say that he is a man of integrity.
The electorate voted for him on that basis. So far, he has not been
accused of involving himself in corrupt practices or primitive
accumulation of wealth like his predecessors. But members of the
cabal of power mongers who are close to him have been accused of
abuse of power, corruption and breach of due process. Since the
President chose his friends you cannot exonerate him from the
allegations associated with the cabal. It is a case of tell me your
friend, I tell who you are. His wife, Mrs. Aisha Buhari was the
first person to alert the nation that a cabal had hijacked power
from the President. For instance, the President says he is now a
democrat. But a democrat must ensure that court orders are obeyed.
The President says he believes in the rule of law. But why does he
allow officials of the government to engage in impunity by
disregarding court orders? Or why should a democratic leader allow
people who are persecuted in Cameroon to be abducted and handed
over to their executioners? I believe that the President has the
golden opportunity to distance himself from shady and corrupt
people. Otherwise, his integrity will be ruined by them.
In your view, reviewing the inaugural speech President
Buhari gave on assuming power in 2015 do you think he has performed
well as he pledged?
In fairness to President Buhari he concedes that he has not met the
expectation of the electorate. However, the government has blamed
its inability to perform on the ruination of the economy and the
looting of the treasury by the PDP regimes from 1999 – 2015. Having
been in power for almost 3 years Nigerians are no longer prepared
to accept excuses or trading of blames. In fact, the patience of
Nigerians has been lost due to the decision of government to treat
certain corrupt public officers with kid gloves. Whereas President
Buhari had pledged to fight official impunity, the menace is on the
increase. Laws are breached with disdain. Court orders are treated
with contempt. Indiscriminate arrests and detention without trial
by the police and other security agencies have continued unabated.
The infrastructural decay has not been addressed. Unemployed is on
the increase while kidnapping and armed robbery are on rampant.
Hence, Nigerians have not seen the change promised by President
Buhari and the APC.
Some think the Obasanjo-inspired Coalition for Nigeria
Movement is a circle of same uninspiring politicians and so-called
leaders. What do you think?
It was Olisa Agbakoba who set up the Third Force or the Nigerian
Intervention Movement. So the idea was stolen from the Agbakoba
group. With respect, the Obasanjo-led coalition is a movement for
disgruntled members of the PDP and APC. To confirm my
categorization, the leaders of the coalition are ex-pdp chairman,
Colonel Ahmadu Ali and ex-governor Olafinsoye Oyinlola who has not
call it quits with APC. But the members are entitled to enjoy their
freedom of association and freedom of expression. So let the
security forces not harass them. Chief Obasanjo is yet to
appreciate that Nigerians are not looking for politicians whose
ideas have expired. In the words of former President Obasanjo, the
members of the Coalition are not the messiahs that Nigerians are
looking for.
Recently, you were quoted to have described Buhari and
Obasanjo as ‘birds of a feather.’ Is that correct? Will you say
Buhari has institutionalised corruption as you alleged Obasanjo did
during his reign?
Both are retired Generals. Both declared a war against corruption.
President Obasanjo was the Petroleum Minister, so is President
Buhari. For 8 years President Obasanjo had three Yoruba
Inspetor-Generals of Police namely Mr. Musiliu Smith, Mr. Tafa
Balogun and Mr. Sunday Ehindero. The Director-General, Mr. Kayode
Are who was in the saddle for 8 years is an Owu man like President
Obasanjo. The CBN governor was Mr. Joseph Sanusi. Even the Chief of
Staff was General Mohammed, a Yoruba man from Kwara State, the
Press Secretary was Dr. Doyin Okupe. But President Obasanjo later
expanded the government to reflect federal character. He is asking
President Buhari to also reflect federal character in the security
forces and the government in order to give members of the ruling
class a sense of belonging. It has nothing to do with the masses
who are on the receiving end of oppression and exploitation.
Let these Generals not think that our memory is so short. I
never said that President Obasanjo institutionalised corruption. It
was General Babangida that did that successfullu. His new breed
politicians colluded with him to annul a presidential election
which almost led to a civil war. With the imposition of the
imperialist inspired Structural Adjustment Programme General
Babangida wiped out the middle class. Under him official corruption
became the directive principle of state policy. President Obasanjo
equally had a number of young men and women in his government who
aided him to manipulate and fix election results. Together with the
young people in his government the assets of the nation were sold
through blind trusts. Even though the era recorded the sale of a
barrel of oil at over $120 the nation’s energy sector, roads,
hospitals etc were not fixed. Did the government not generate
darkness for the nation with the sum of $16 billion. Majority of
the elements who engaged in the criminal diversion of the public
funds were young men and women. So, it is not about age but ideas.
There are old people with revolutionary ideas. To build a new
nation we need the experience of old people and the energy of the
youths. Therefore, we need political parties and political movement
founded on ideology, whose vision will be clearly set up. We need
discipline political parties like the African National Congress in
South Africa which can withdraw its officials from the
government.
How can Nigeria avert bloodshed in 2019 general
elections?
Since government has become the easiest avenue for personal
enrichment politicians have become very desperate for power. But
with the rising consciousness which is exhibited in the social
media, the days of godfatherism may soon be over. Millions of young
men and women have registered to vote in 2019. With the
determination of Nigerians to participate in the democratic process
we are not likely to witness any orgy of violence. The security
forces are familiar with the dark spots all over the country. They
are going to be mobilised to prevent violence. In any case,
movement of persons and goods will be restricted on election days.
I am confident that the Nigerian people will not allow violent
politicians and their ilk to disrupt the elections.
Can Nigerians get Buhari out of power in 2019? If yes,
how can they do so?
I am not in a position to predict what will happen in 2019. Some
pastors have already engaged in that diversionary exercise. I am
however sure that there are political groups that are determined to
make the election issue based. Some politicians are going to insist
on restructuring. But young people will demand job creation, the
rural people will demand poverty elimination, the human rights
community will demand a commitment to the actualization of the
fundamental objectives in Chapter II of the Constitution. Other
interest groups will make specific demands from the political class
during the electioneering campaign. No doubt, the APC and PDP have
zoned the presidency to the north. But there are southerners who
are going to run for the presidency. Majority of the 68 political
parties that have been registered by the independent national
electoral commission will field presidential candidates from all
over the country.
Which northerners do you think can successfully pick up the
gauntlet? Atiku Abubakar? Sule Lamido? Aminu Tambuwwal? Or, is it
Emir Muhammad Sanusi?
Some of the people you have just mentioned have not indicated any
interest in the presidency. Frankly speaking, I cannot recommend
any candidate whose programme or ideology has not been unveiled. In
the interest of the development of the country let the media start
promoting programmes instead of big names and size of the pockets
of politicians.
Do you think as some have argued that it’s time
Obasanjo, IBB, and Buhari left the centre stage?
To the extent that these retired Generals have vested interests in
Nigerian enterprise they cannot voluntarily quit the centre stage.
It is the APC regime that has given them room to manipulate the
consciuosness of our people. But they will soon be rendered
irrelevant in the affairs of the nation. I know one of the groups
which is determined to ask these two gentlemen to answer questions
on the disappearance of $12.4 billion from the central bank and the
$16 billion earmarked for the energy sector. Another group is not
bothered about 2019. It is dedicated to mobilise Nigerians to
challenge police brutality, official impunity and criminal
diversion of public funds. One group wants to ensure that some
reactionary legislators are not reelected. The 2019 general
election is not going to be business as usual.
Some people have said that by default a northerner must
emerge as Nigeria’s President in 2019. Do you agree?
It is almost certain that President Buhari is going to ask for a
fresh mandate in 2019. The electorate will judge him on the basis
of his performance in office. I am comvinced that APC will not find
it easy to ride to power. At the same time the Nigerian people will
not go back to a rogue regime. As for Generals Obasanjo and
Babangida they won’t go far this time around. The alternative
perspective that Nigerians are looking for has excluded both of
them. But they should continue to convey the frustrations of
Nigerians to the presidential villa through letter writing and
public speeches.
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/buharis-government-sabotaging-anti-corruption-war-falana-san/