Anti-Corruption fight very fraught with problems-Kassim Afegbua

Deep rooted connivance in high places and impurity are some of the factors making corruption difficult to tackle in Nigeria.

Former aide to the presidential candidate of the people’s Democratic party, PDP for the 2023 elections Atiku Abubakar when he was the vice president from 1999 to 2007 has revealed some of the reasons why corruption cannot be pinned on him .

In a damaging corruption allegation against Atiku, the former Aide, Michael Achimugu went to court to establish that the former vice president is allegedly corrupt.

In the affidavit, he swore before the court of the federal capital territory fct on the 2nd of December 2022.

Achimugu said there was an allegation of corruption against Atiku regarding a 100 million bribe given to him by former governor of plateau State Joshua Dariye.

The court action was preceded by a video in which Achimugu played back an alleged telephone conversation Atiku had with him where he requested to know how to respond to an issue of corruption allegation leveled against him when he was the vice president.

In his reaction, Kassim Afegbua, a journalist speaking on Journalists’ Hangout said corruption is not just mismanagement of naira and Kobo or financial gratification or Financial Plus figures but also about abuse of process that is why the global definition of corruption is Monopoly plus discretion minors accountability.

He added, it is not just when you monopolise your position but repeal on your discretionary powers, then you’ll be found wanting because there will be lack of accountability.

Atiku Abubakar allegedly by Mike Achimugu set up a special purposed vehicle for which certain monies monies will be paid into for the running of the party and other activities.

He said for a sane society, if the rule of law were to be applied, Atiku Abubakar should be cooling off with relevant security agencies to
provide further insight into the claims on the voice note that is in circulation to ascertain the authenticity and once it is accepted then you take up issues with him.

But we see Atiku Abubakar campaigning to be president of the federal republic of Nigeria and commander in chief of the armed forces.

He said if a man with this kind of background and allegations flying all over the place that are so real and authentic by virtue of what Mike Achimugu has put out, even in his affidavit and his videos then Nigerians are in trouble.

Mr Afegbua recalled that in 2018 he was not an Atiku Abubakar supporter but a member of the PDP.

Speaking on the issue, Mr Yayaha Abatan said there is more that meets the eyes adding that as a Nigerian anybody is free to associate or to take a particular position on any particular issue but the fact remains that by what Achimugu has said now, if Nigeria were to be a sane Society, a lot of Nigerians parading the streets are not supposed to work freely on the streets.

He added that there are quite a lot of things wrong with Nigeria because there are no good institutions in place.

Mr Abatan said a lot of things is swept under the ground in Nigeria because our political leaders at any point in time lack the courage to use the law and to be sincere about what they are doing because it’s all about sincerity.

Further speaking, Mr Afegbua said there are laws in Nigeria for the big men and there are laws for the poor men because if the law is supposed to be the common habitat for all persons to provide a level playing field then the likes of Atiku today should be facing serious interrogation in the hands of the security agencies but everybody is pretending that nothing is wrong, yet we are being told that we want to fight corruption.

The journalist who noted that Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight is still very fraught with problems added that when merit is not used to get who qualifies for certain positions we will continue to have issues.

” I want the relevant agencies, ICPC, EFCC, NFIU, DSS, they should be bold enough to bring Atiku to book, he should be interrogated.

“Mike Achimugu should also be invited to speak on hose issues because these are issues that have to do with the resources of the country” Mr Afegbu added.