09102019 - 2020: Buhari presents N10.33trn job creation budget to NASS

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2019—31
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Was Abdulrasheed Maina a
fugitive?
IN July 2015, Abdulrasheed
Maina who was last week
arrested by operatives of the
Department of State Services,
reportedly escaped from the
country to Dubai in the United
Arab Emirate. He was the
Director of Human Resources in
the Ministry of Interior. But it
was in his capacity as Chair of
the Pension Reform Task Team,
now defunct, that Maina had a
run-in with the law. Or so it was
reported. Maina alongside
Steve Oronsaye, former Head
of the Civil Service of the
Federation, OsarenkhoeAfe
and Fredrick Hamilton, among
others, were charged before a
Federal High Court in Abuja on
24 counts bordering on fraud
and obtaining by false pretences
(is that a euphemism for
419?) to the tune of N2.1 billion
in their management of the
pension funds. Generally, the
Nigerian Civil Service is a
cesspool of fraud but perhaps
this should not be surprising
considering that heads of the
Civil Service somehow manage
to get entangled in issues of
fraud and corrupt practices. It
was only weeks ago that Winifred
Oyo-Ita was sent on terminal
administrative leave following
corruption charges. As was
the case with Oronsaye and the
pension funds, Oyo-Ita was
forced to forfeit properties and
funds worth billions of naira.
While others involved in the
pension fund swindle were
hauled before the law and have
been having their time in court,
AbdulrasheedMaina was the
special one, the sacred cow that
could not be made accountable.
Rather than face the law, this
former director, a relatively junior
officer considering the
amount of funds he was put in
charge of, decided to go on vacation
to Dubai. Yes, he went on
holiday even though the authorities
wanted us all to believe
that Maina was on the run from
the law; in other words, a fugitive.
But the reason Maina
could not be properly described
as a fugitive is that he regularly
came into the country, more or
less dividing his time between
Dubai and Nigeria. Not only
did Maina do this in plain sight
of security agencies and their
agents, he was in fact accorded
full protection by the agencies.
He went around heavily guarded
and surrounded by state security
agents. On one near-fatal
occasion, Maina’s security
details had a face-off with
agents of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission.
Against the advice of (who
else?) Oyo-Ita (her words) after
she took over as Head of the
Civil Service of the Federation,
Maina was not only recalled
from his Dubai base (assuming
he stayed there for any long
period), he was also asked to
return to duty at a higher position.
In plain
language,Mainawas promoted.
Was this as reward for his crime
against the people of this country?
Only Abba Kyari, President
Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of
Staff and AbubakarMalami,
have the explanation to that.
For, as Oyo-Ita told Nigerians,
the decision to recall Maina was
Maina has a lot to
account for and it is
what he has to say
and give back by
way of restitution
that should interest
us all
hatched between AbubakarMalami,
the Attorney General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice
and Abba Kyari. It was the
reason for that infamous spat
between Kyari and Oyo-Ita during
a Federal Executive
Council, FEC, meeting
presided over by Yemi Osinbajo,
the Vice President, on one of
those occasions President
Buhari was on medical vacation
in the United Kingdom. Then
Oyo-Ita had alleged in a memo,
that not only Abba Kyari and
Malami but also President
Buhari knew of the
reinstatement of Maina against
her informed advice.
Apparently, Kyari did not like
the president being outed in that
manner.
The quarrel between Kyari
and Ita played out before members
of the FEC and in living
colours on the screen to the rest
of Nigerians, on the occasion of
the swearing in of Boss Mustapha
as Secretary of the Government
of the Federation. This
was in November 2017, two
years ago. All of this happened
then only because Maina’s cover
as a so-called fugitive was
blown off and the attempt to
sneak him back into the Civil
Service was exposed. To date,
many Nigerians believe the
sacking of Oyo-Ita and the rumoured
ongoing travail of
Osinbajo had something to do
with this episode, among a few
others. The simple moral here
is that Maina is just a face for
more powerful elements in the
corridors of power. Which is one
reason many Nigerians found
it difficult to accept the anti-corruption
posture of the Buhari
government and have questioned
Abuja’s commitment to
ridding the country of corruption.
Not only is Maina connected
to powerful forces, he is both
conscious and full of that awareness.
Which was why he went
about openly with full security
details, hiding right under the
nose of those who pretended to
be looking for him. Those who
blew off his cover were not unaware
of Maina’s connections.
They probably wanted to call attention
to it by their action.
Awareness of Maina’s privileged
standing could also not
have been lost on those with
whom he was charged for fraud.
It must have been a reason for
their silence when they were
being prosecuted and Maina
was nowhere to be found. They
knew or were assured by Maina
or others better placed that
the charges were headed for nowhere.
They knew that at the
very least Maina, if not they
who had to COOPERATE with
him in his schemes, was a mere
messenger of the Ogas-at-thetop
and there was no way a messenger
could be held to account
in plain sight of his sponsors.
Otherwise, could any Nigerian
have pulled the kind of stunt
Maina’s 20-year-old son pulled
on the DSS operatives who went
to arrest his father on Monday
last week and still have lived to
tell the story? Like Omoyele
Sowore, convener of the
#Revolution Now campaign,
Maina and his son were in a
hotel (obviously known to the
security agents). But unlike Sowore
who had only ventilated
with words about overthrowing
a government and had not resisted
arrest, Maina’s son pulled a
gun on the security agents. Elsewhere,
he would have been shot
dead. Had Sowore pulled a gun
on the DSS operatives that went
to effect his arrest, would that not
have been taken as proof of his
readiness for a bloody revolution?
How many Nigerians had the
luxury of even explaining themselves
when accosted by Nigerian
security agents before they
were shot dead by the likes of the
same security elements on whom
Maina’s son had pulled a pistol
and nothing happened to say
nothing of the heavens falling?
Power pass power, abi?
Over and above his arrest, Maina
has a lot to account for and it
is what he has to say and give
back by way of restitution that
should interest us all. Let his trial
begin and let him pay fully.
Of moles and blackmailers in DESOPADEC
By Prince Akpo Abugo
THOSE fortunate to work with Gover
nor Ifeanyi Okowa must understand
his vision, mission and personality in order
to fit perfectly into his goals for a better Delta
State. This is because the Governor is leader
for all, apart from the fact that he is incorruptible,
morally upright, accommodating,
honest, detribalised and carries all
sections of the state along. And by so doing,
Okowa personifies stability which has resulted
in a stronger Delta. Any political
appointee must be thankful that out of
millions of Deltans they are chosen. Which
is why we must not be involved in anything
that will become a clog in the wheel of
progress in the state.
The Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development
Commission, DESOPADEC, was
established to address age-long neglect,
underdevelopment and ecological problems
of oil producing communities who,
despite their oil deposits, lack basic amenities
and are ravaged by environmental
pollution. The continuing damage to the
ecosystem and the attendant health and
economic challenges as a result of gas flare
confront them daily. DESOPADEC derives
its funds from 13% derivation for oil
producing states. Note that 50% of this goes
to DESOPADEC and the other half to the
state government.
Note also that it was Okowa who restored
the independence of DESOPADEC, ensuring
that there was no meddling in its operations.
In the event, the hope of oil producing
communities was activated, especially
following the completion of abandoned
projects and undertaking new ones.
Prior to the emergence of Okowa, DESO-
PADEC was a mere cash cow, a milking
ground saturated with diverse interests and
bitter politics of greed enmeshed in corrupt
practices; it never implemented budgets as
fraudulent cartels employed, without due
process, employees with forged certificates
At a time the Okowa
administration is building a
stronger Delta State, insatiable
political bats are
thinking of personal gains
rather than what to offer to
strengthen the state; shame
on them because no
blackmail can rock a solid
foundation
with ghost workforce dominating the pay
rolls. It was a den of corruption. Those who
were lucky to be appointed there saw it as
an opportunity to marry many wives, acquire
a harem of concubines and mistresses as
well as display extravagant lifestyle.
DESOPADEC stank to high heavens on
account of the greedy hyenas and vultures
who fed on the common wealth of oil
producing communities. All that ended
when Okowa emerged on the scene.
The Okowa administration decapitated
corruption, the ghost workforce and unqualified
personnel with forged certificates. Particularly
affected were the godfathers who
delighted in illicit sharing of money on nonexistent
projects, apart from placing their
wives, concubines, girlfriends and non-indigenes
on salaries at the commission. Indeed,
this corrupt clique was running a parallel
government from the commission.
The good news is that a progressive wind
of change has been blowing since they were
flushed out. This explains why there is now
prudent management of funds and goals are
being actualised under Okowa’s DESOPA-
DEC. However, corruption is fighting back;
same retrogressive forces are not happy; they
want the former rot to continue for selfish
reasons. These greedy moles and vultures
have resorted to blackmailing Okowa and
the Managing Director of DESOPADEC.
The leading mole wants his hired colony
of jesters to subdue board members through
blackmail and intimidation so that the
transparency Okowa has entrenched is compromised.
This is the reason for the recent
verbal diarrhea against the state
government.
They want to sponsor protests, raise agitations,
employ blackmail and character assassination
as tools for achieving their inordinate
desires. This onslaught must be resisted
by the DESOPADEC Board headed by
Bashorun Askia Ogie. The recent online publication
by hatchet reporters to blackmail
Governor Okowa and the Board is fraudulent.
Their recent online publication entitled:
“Has Governor Okowa Made Any Successful
Person in Government?” smacks of
blackmail. Its motive cannot be far from
stomach politics.
Unfortunately, many cannot see who is
behind the mask or the fictitious identity
paraded by the hack writer. Boasting of
partnership with EFCC, these questionable
characters have been around government
circles long enough to extract information
for blackmail, even as they play the sycophants,
pretending to support the government
on one hand and resorting to blackmail
if their demands are not met.
No society survives the kind of criminality
these social miscreants impose on us.
Same characters frown at some appointments
in the board, hiding behind social
media to invent imaginary allegations of
extortion and blackmail against the board.
They blame Okowa for every imaginary illusion
to get attention; they create ethnic
divisions to cause friction and blame that
on the failure of governance. They are agents
of a mole in DESOPADEC; a political appointee
must understand that service is not
for personal profit or mischief. Those who
earn a living by causing misfortune for pecuniary
gains will similarly receive same
measure.
At a time the Okowa administration is
building a stronger Delta State, insatiable
political bats are thinking of personal gains
rather than what to offer to strengthen the
state. Equally sad is the use of the name of
the revered Chief Edwin Clark for political
mischief. Also unfortunate is the mischievous
use of the names of Okowa and Ibori;
we must accord them their political space,
respect, dignity no matter the travails or
temptations. The Edwin Clark University is
a product of sweat. Pa Clark personally sold
his properties to establish that university.
Delta has three private universities which
Gov. Okowa is doing his best to encourage,
knowing their contributions to development,
employment generation and knowledge
transfer. They must not be sacrificed by merchants
of greed. Shame on them because no
blackmail can rock a solid foundation
Okowa has laid in sustaining brotherhood
above division.
Those blackmailing DESOPADEC to get
money for peace to reign must understand
nobody holds monopoly of violence; we must
cherish the greater good of society. Rumour
peddlers should stop using Clark’s name in
their blackmail. Chief Clark, as a father,
bears no grudge; he supports Gov. Okowa
for his accomplishments as Okowa holds
him in highest esteem. Okowa is responsive
to the yearnings and aspirations of Deltans;
that’s why he created a synergy that allows
foes, friends and political opponents find a
point of understanding in the state.
Askia Ogie is doing well in taking development
to the people through community
development initiatives, where consultation,
choice and execution of projects reside with
the people. The detractors should direct their
energy to supporting Okowa for the benefit
of the state. We must entrench equity, fairness
and respect elders because leadership is
sacrifice. We must not encourage stomach
politics that only end up destroying our values
and identity.
*Prince Abugo, a concerned
Deltan,wrote from Uzere, Delta State
C
M
Y
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