Fighting against the established presence of corruption, pervading atmosphere of insecurity and the drooping economy was the tripod upon which the APC administration promised to sit. At that time, popular disillusionment has amassed around these issues as a consequence becoming sources of overwhelming repudiation of the Goodluck administration.
The recent interview by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, with the BBC effectively let the genie out of the bottle; that has further besmirched the integrity of this struggling administration.
Not a few have pointed to this as the extent of the miasma of sleaze at the highest level. Monguno stopped short of calling names. Many were worried and showed signs of prescience in anticipating mismanagement just as the one billion dollars was approbated.
The revelation is earth-shaking which has all the trappings of the Dasukigate. The renunciation and further explanation by the government is a thinly veiled attempt at cover up. And the ensuing hurriedly issued statement on the expected delivery of 6 out 12 Tucano jets offers no scintilla of trust and comfort to Nigerians.
It speaks to the dissonance in the government and how the team is working at cross purposes. How can one describe the situation where the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is oblivious of the equipment that one billion dollars was splurged on under the former service chiefs? An office that is meant to be a clearinghouse of matters of security in the country! It then clearly means that an important appointee of the president has been sentenced to the fringes of the administration.
A leaked memo authored by the same NSA last year revealed infighting with blame on then Chief of Staff of the President, a civilian usurping the role of the ONSA without any disavowal by the presidency, is a testament to the absence of unity and amity. Could this be the release of pent up anger and frustration over the relegation of his office? In truth, it will be too asinine for him not to know the full weight of his revelation.
At any rate, the revelation should not be taken with pinch of salt owing to the sensitivity of the matter and the growing insecurity in the country. The claim should trigger a wholesale investigation knowing full well the staggering expenditure that have so far been made in the prosecution of the war against terror. It has clearly emerged that a nexus exists between the insecurity and corruption in the acquisition of military hardware. It behoves on citizens to demand for accountability knowing full well the weight of the insecurity and the harm’s way the security agents are routinely exposed to.
Even the rabid cheerleaders of the government are in serious perturbation over the legacy of the president. The very sins of his predecessor if not the most virulent are deeply entrenched in his government. This government can’t escape the harsh judgement of Nigerians especially riding on the wave of huge expectation and glowing promises.
Back to Monguno, I’ll wager that he will not escape comeuppance over the shocking claims. His predecessors were only seen but hardly heard. Already, one of his closest aides is in the dock over allegation of corruption. There’s no telling what will happen in the coming weeks or months.
Abachi Ungbo, [email protected]
