[Opinion]: The blurry list of looters - Israel Ebije

The second list of looters has been released. The names are pretty much the same with what every Nigerian knows since 2015. In fact, the names of virtually everybody in the list are in court. The federal government verdict on persons on the lists as guilty before court declare its judgment is not the problem, but names of missing usual suspects have rubbished the purpose of the release. It is difficult to convince people the intention of the release is not another scheme for APC to take the lead in 2019 elections.

The absence of many former PDP politicians now in the ruling party who are complicit in looting spree has made the list empty of substance. Those trying to politically prepare president Mohammadu Buhari for 2019 with shallow, hollow publicity stunts are indeed his enemies. The recent Martin Luther King “award” and Naomi Campbell “accidental” meeting in Lagos only complicates things for the president.

The so-called lists of looters is indeed another distasteful episode in the unending drama where “lovers” of Buhari are seen trying hard to score points for him ahead of 2019 election.

The list is skewed, featuring only opposition members who fed fat from the previous administration looting fiesta. Also missing in the lists so far released are APC members who were caught hands deep in fraud since 2015 in the ”Change” administration. Once again, the ruling party has put its neck through the hangman’s noose as Nigerians wait to see those who would feature in subsequent lists. They are wielding names of ex-PDP alleged looters who are presently occupying top government positions in this administration and want them included in the next batch.

Nigerians will not forget how the grass cutter scandal and many others were almost swept under the carpet. Those who love Buhari are indeed making 2019 more difficult for the president with the drivel they throw to the public.

The Buhari led government underestimates rational, analytical thinking capacity of Nigerians – that is where they get it horribly wrong. What is the use of war on corruption when the government stinks of corrupt officials?

Loyalists of the president have failed to realize that propaganda, blackmail can work for a political party in opposition, but not for a ruling party. Government is expected to show their worth in fulfilling campaign promises and not to stage-manage part of a story to represent everything – which they have failed to achieve with the release of lists of looters.

The Joseph Goebbels of this administration have practised the art of propaganda so badly, they cannot draw the lines to the limits of what they dish out  to the public. They didn’t realize that Nigerians are aware of documents indicting APC politicians or “repentant” PDP politicians now in the ruling party. Why is it so difficult to investigate them? Once Nigerians attempt to probe into matters involving the FG, those who love Buhari more than Nigeria will
react aggressively.

One of Buhari’s aides called Nigerians “animals”, the other who is a minister proposed the deregistration of PDP. They have forgotten how they freely made Jonathan suffer physical insults
when they were in the opposition.  In fairness to Nigerians, critical opinions expressed by this administration are based on glaring wrong turns.

Sadly Mr. President is usually not aware of the harm they are causing him. He
has become a prisoner to his loyalists who are fragmented, uncoordinated and desperate to profess their love in the race towards making Nigerians accept him again for 2019.

The recent Martin Luther King hoax, which was followed by Naomi
Campbell scam reflects on the level of competition among Buhari's lieutenants.  It also expresses the level of desperation on account of waning goodwill. While those on social media talk or write tirelessly, fighting and cursing, those who are in government with access to public funds are working tirelessly in finding and paying the next
‘mascot’ to tacitly endorse Buhari for a second term.

For the love of Buhari, unrepentant loyalists fail to understand that Nigerians will not buy staged endorsements by individuals who know nothing of our political clime. The most valid endorsement, which would have gone a long way in laundering the waning image of the president, has become irretrievably lost. His military peers and some prominent socio-cultural groups in the north have lost confidence in him.

Buharists spent so much time criticizing and blackmailing the immediate past government instead of working the mills to steer Nigeria back from the fringes. Bringing heavily bribed individuals to
endorse Buhari is like using heavy make up on an old woman, she can only last as bride until the make up comes off her face.

What many or most lovers of Buhari political appointees lack in capacity, they gain in being conning. It does not come as a surprise to see so much desperation, when most prominent positions were doled out to family and cronies in flagrant disregard to our rich and powerful human capita diversity. In this administration, capacity is not regarded. The international embarrassment Nigeria is going through on a daily basis could have been avoided if the right people were
engaged to work with Buhari.

The likes of IBB, OBJ, Yar'Adua, GEJ
worked with seasoned technocrats. They may have their weaknesses, but
achievements were recorded. After three years in power the Buhari-led
administration is still striving in a game of blackmail and swimming in
self-induced scandals.

Ebije can be reached via; ebijeo5@gmail.com or @ebijeisrael

- ReubenAbati

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