I am not concerned about the details of this ill-advised association.
I am not surprised, not because I had doubts about Abba Kyari but because we live in a country where very little should surprise us.
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I hope, however, that we get to learn and establish a few things from this ongoing incident.
Firstly, however, to this end, Abba Kyari will remain tainted. For the position he holds, that should be enough for him to resign.If he opts to or is forced to, it will allow the NPF to revisit and hopefully readjust itself.
Trust in a police force should reign supreme else, confidence wanes or dies completely.
An already largely undisciplined population needs no further encouragement to continue enjoying what they do best which is to break the law with the support of a few good friends in important positions.
Secondly, the new generation of ‘e-money’ making which currently rule the consciousness of our society must be looked at again.
Such set of people are now the mentors and inspiration of many young men and women.
Many lack any antecedents of note. They simply emerged one misty morning and ruled the social media day and night. We ask no questions. We worship money after all. They tell us whatever story they wish as their backgrounds. Backgrounds nobody seems to have previously had any idea about. They have exotic names. They remain largely illiterate but very heavily weighed down with loads of cash and heaps of praises. We worship money after all.
Thirdly, holders of important and visible public offices must beware.
Corruption in Nigeria requires “collaboration” to succeed and last a long time. High corruption has always been fuelled by a convergence of those who regularly wear the toga of holiness, decency and professionalism.
Mere association is enough to bring you down. At least, it should but not many care in Nigeria.
The shame of any indictment of Abba Kyari will stain us all. Any highly-placed or high-ranking official of state caught up in a mess like this will further paint a picture of Nigerians that every decent hardworking Nigerian will suffer for.
If the world walks away with the notion that every “big” or “small” or “ordinary” Nigerian is a fraudster in the making; imagine how much tougher it will be for you to succeed in the larger world.
I don’t think Hushpuppi is done yet. I don’t think Abba Kyari is the only high-profile and high-ranking personality shaking in his or her boots this morning.
Hushpuppi has nothing else to lose. This is when he will be at his most dangerous. He will do more now than when he was a threat to every decent account holder anywhere in the world.
Finally, to the instagram generation, study your heroes well. Sooner or later, you will be stripped of the filters and contrived poses. You will have to answer for yourselves.
Oga police, I hope you can get yourself out of this one but I fear great damage has already been done.
Making a successful comeback is always very difficult. Ask former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. The damage is done.
Ivor Ekpe writes from Lagos.
