Are Buhari’s Men Safe Under Tinubu’s Government? -By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

The suspension of Godwin Emefiele,the powerful and controversial CBN governor under the immediate past administration of Buhari by president Ahmed Tinubu on Friday, and his subsequent arrest and detention by DSS unfolds many things to come in the life of this new government.

Emefiele the embattled CBN governor has chewed more than what he could eat. During the last administration, there was an attempt by DSS to arrest him afer he returned from UK on the allegation of terrorists financing. However, he was able to escape the DSS hammer through federal high court’s order which stopped it from arresting him. Besides the allegations of terrorists funding, Emefiele stirred the honeth nest with his rumoured 2023 presidential bid which the villa cabals drag him into. His failed attempt has since become the topic of public discussion and painted the apex bank reputation black. By showing his interest to contest the last general elections without resigning his position, Emefiele had contravened the laws establishing the CBN. His naira redesign policy few weeks to general elections had also pitched him against some powerful forces, including president Tinubu,who was the candidate of ruling party. While president Bola Tinubu has said, his suspension is no enable the government reforms the financial sector,nigerians await more explanation on the reasons behind his arrest and detention.

In an interview granted to AIT “morning show” program, governor Abdullahi Sule, of Nasarawa state open up a Pandora box. Sule stated how the past administration spent whopping sum of 19billion dollars on our four moribund refineries without commensurate results. The amount he further said was equivalent to what Dangote invested to build his Lekki new refinery. The mindboggling and shocking statement credited to governor Abdullahi Sule,has indirectly indicted the past administration for financial misappropriation. The present administration of president Ahmed Tinubu can beam its searchlight to unearth how these funds vanished into the thin air.

With 16 trillions allegedly spent on fuel subsidy in Buhari’s eight years,nigerians need more information about what happened in our petroleum industry.

Governor Sule’s bomb shell is just a tip of the iceberg of how some Buhari cabinets frittered away huge funds budgeted for projects. For instance,at the tail end of Buhari administration,the former minister of Aviation,Hadi Sirika,in a laughable and dramatic manner, hurriedly unveiled Nigerian airway Carrier. The Nigerian airway was later found out to have been hired from Ethiopian to impress nigerians and covered some shoddy deals. Why has project like an air carrier with immense benefits allows to take long time before it is unveiled ? Hadi Sirika in July, 2018 said, Nigerian airway logo has been designed and unveiled in United kingdom.

Nigerians were optimistic with the development and expected the National carrier to hit the ground running. Alas,this has never been the case,until at the twilight of the Buhari’s administration. Sirika’s shame and last minute rush call for an urgent probe.

The immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari came to power on the promise to fight corruption. One is visibly shocked how under its watch, corruption blossomed. This reminds us the coup staged by general muhammadu Buhari which ousted the late Shehu Shagari’s government. Buhari accused Shagari administration for corruption. After he was investigated,late Shehu Shagari, was never found wanting. But some of his ministers were indicted for corruption.

What nigerians are currently seing is the replica of the second republic. While the former president remains an incorruptible,some of his ministers are not. They might have exploited the trust he entrusted on them to abuse power and corruptly enriched themselves at the detriment of national development. Do they forget power is transient? Now,they have to account for their stewardship.

Buhari’s men should get ready to defend their actions or inactions while in office. The arrest and detention of embattled CBN governor, points more arrest in the coming days or weeks. President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration will receive boost, if those who steal the country blind are held to account for their deeds. Nigerians expect paradigm shift on the fight against corruption.

Nigerians want to see those who steal public fund cool their feet in jails. President Bola Tinubu has set a good example on why past governments should be probed including his own when he exists.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna state. 08169056963.