No doubt, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo has these days, been receiving solicited and unsolicited, private and public counseling from the right, from the left, from the center and from above and below. A few days ago in an unsolicited act, we released a commentary on the ex-President’s favorite daughter questioning where she thinks she can hide in the face of agitated sentiments. As if Iyabo Obasanjo read NigerianNews on Monday the 21^st of 2008, the answer came just one day later publicized in other news media.

Indeed, a lot of questions have been raised on why the Senator chose to flee rather than submit herself voluntarily for questioning and clearing the air once and for all. This at least, is the general impression pervading the air in the battle for public sympathy.

Having had negative psychological strings attached to her name as the blockbuster movie star perfecting disguises and scaling fences spontaneously in the style of an Olympian athlete, Iyabo Obasanjo’s response truly gives every objective and fair-minded observer sufficient food for thought.

What is Iyabo Obasanjo being truly prosecuted for? It has been reported that a huge amount of unspent budget money was misappropriated at the Ministry of Health. Is the Senate’s Health Committee now being docked for failing in its oversight functions and for failing to prevail on the Minister of Health to return unspent budget money rather than joining the Ministry officials in the willful and arbitrary disbursement of the said budget money?

This would sound perfectly logical, as the EFCC in its counter-oversight function owes a duty to follow every lead.

In all of this, the Chairperson of the Senate’s Health Committee owes a public duty to blow the whistle on the Ministry of Health to have unspent budget money returned without delay and even threaten to initiate criminalizing legislation on the issue if the system functions without hitches. Instead, the existing situation is such that the crime investigation instance is blowing the whistle on the Chairperson of the Health Committee for even aiding and abetting the illegal disbursement of unspent budget money. This is shameful indeed.

One way or the other, there is definitely unmistakable illegality involving the Senate’s Health Committee’s conduct on the Health Ministry’s scandal.

But why for God’s sake is this being so badly personalized? Why is Iyabo Obasanjo and not the committee itself being required to pay back N10 million that was spent by the committee headed by her and not embezzled by her?

In seeking to seal the loopholes – which democracy is all about – uncovered by this conduct of the Senate committee, legislative or judicial remedies are adopted. Since the EFCC is not a legislative organ, it goes without saying that the only option at its disposal is the judicial remedy.

But why should the Chairperson of the Committee be arrested and detained in her personal capacity? Aside from the reality that there was no immediate risk of the Senator fleeing the country, it is extremely questionable, what purpose an arrest and detention of the Senator is expected to serve, i.e. assuming it makes sense to arrest and detain her in the first place for allowing her committee to accept money that was spent on official duties.

This complex knot is not only becoming puzzling by the day, it smells very much of vendetta and cheap populism at its best.

If indeed, Iyabo Obasanjo has filed a court case challenging the legality of holding her personally responsible for the N10 million saga, it will then be truly bemusing what gallery the EFCC is playing to. If the Health Committee is officially charged for breaking the law, it will be the duty of the Senate as an institution to stand up to the charges and challenges since the committee did not constitute itself all on its own. Indeed, the committee acts on behalf of the Senate and it is the senate that should be held accountable by all logical comprehension. It would therefore be left to the Senate to sort out erring characters from within its own ranks and subject them to internal disciplinary mechanisms.

As is typical of Nigeria’s Hollywood-type politics however, it will come as no surprise that every possible avenue and opportunity is exploited to settle political scores. Who is best suited for the role of a prominent and high profile victim than the daughter of an erstwhile badly hated President?

Yet, we hear no call from hypocritical self-styled apostles of due process called Aondoakaa or Olisa Agbakogba, who would have wasted no time to descend heavily on the erring side if his name bore the semblance of Obasanjo. Thank goodness, voices of reason are beginning to come up lately to point out that the morally acceptable threshold of decency is gradually being overstepped in lambasting ex-President Obasanjo. Thank goodness many also agree that all his evils (brought foolishly and unwittingly upon himself and by himself alone) notwithstanding, the legacy of Obasanjo the ex-President far exceeds these maliciously designed focus on negative coverage.

One thing is certain so far, while evidences of impropriety and financially untenable practices abound, there has so far, been no single indication of the willful stealing of public funds on the part of Olusegun Obasanjo or Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello.

Disgrace Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello all you can by locking her up and proving to the world that her father can do just nothing about it, but will it be moving Nigeria forward any bit? If an Obasanjo-leaning power takes over the helm of affairs in days to come, will the seed of vendetta not have been perfectly sown? Above all, is the reason for seeking Iyabo-Obasanjo’s head justified in the first place? If Olusegun Obasanjo is truly proven to have masterminded several unjustified political killings and victimization, should his sins be visited on Iyabo?

One cannot help but remember past instances, in which the son of a former powerful head of state by the name of Ibrahim Babangida was arrested under the watchful eyes of Olusegun Obasanjo in a move that was widely interpreted as testing the waters to ascertain how much influence the General was still able to wield. Many agreed that Olusegun Obasanjo was on a self-acclaimed mission to decimate the powers of Ibrahim Babaginda.

Whoever kills by the sword dies by the sword. So is the saying of the wise in centuries past. Primitive philosophies however, hardly have a place in our modern world of progressive advancement. The result of this ancient philosophy in the past had always been one of vendetta. A vicious circle of wiping off successive families in endless orgies!

First, there is an endless spate of media revelations highlighting charges of duping and financial scams with contracts awarded, paid for and never executed. There is a huge crowd that pre-concludes that these are money stolen by Obasanjo and his proxies by tricky dispensations. After all, Obasanjo was transformed into a multi-millionaire in eight years.

The ex-President may chant how much loan he obtained from banks as much he will, it will and continue to fall on deaf ears until proof is furnished of what happened to that huge sum expended on the power sector without results. Unfortunately however, none of these charges have been competently investigated. But judgments have been passed. Volitionally. Pitiably, these cries are coming out from those sectors of governance that are themselves, stinking a stench of impurity.

Then, there is a sudden frenzy in reaching out for the jailing of a serving senator for an official misconduct being sold to the world as corruption. Who has a mole in the eyes not to see vendetta?

What credibility can Aondoakaa claim to possess today, if all he knows about due process is to volubly demand the head of Nuhu Ribadu and turn a blind eye to undue process in seeking to jail a serving senator? It wouldn’t or shouldn’t matter as long as the senator in question answers any name in the semblance of Obasanjo.

While anyone – Obasanjo or not – deserves to be duly punished for any proven crime, should the system be made to devour the innocent? If Obasanjo and Ribadu misused the EFCC as an instrument against political opponents, at least they did not cook up accusations against innocent souls. No one victimized by the EFCC under Obasanjo – political enemy or not – can claim innocence of the crimes for which they stood accused. Besides, who says two wrongs make a right, when one claims to be on a mission to correct the evils of the past?

The Nigeria that we seek to build should by all academic standards of practicality stand the test of time and the rugged test of credibility. It should be a Nigeria for everyone of us – the deviants and the conformists. Creating a Nigeria for vagabonds in power no matter the shape and color or period in question is definitely, the construction of high-fly towers on a sandy foundation. 

Robot  Villager

# 1 No doubt, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo has these days, been receiving solicited and unsolicited, privat...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 25.04.2008 16:36

Falconer  JJC

# 2 Frisky Larrimore, please do us a favor - do not expose your ignorance. You do not understand the crux of the issue you wrote on. There is no point writing a piece for the sake of writing! Posted by Falconer| 25.04.2008 17:05

Ukpana Okpoko Gbulu  Villager

# 3 The dogs have gone to war or the war has gone to the dogs! Whichever way you look at it the expected fight back has started! What we do not know is how long this will last but behold truth cannot be crushed! I strongly believe that Nigerians are not ungrateful people and that they remember those who laboured for them but will not bear hypocrites. That is why today Gani is being celebrated despite his faults. Aminu Kano is celebrated despite his faults. That is why no one can sell IBB to them! So why are they labouring so hard to sell us this man? If Obj really deserves it the accolades they want us to give him, it would have come naturally for we never forget despite what may be termed as our short memory as a nation! Let the new Wada Nases continue - nothing will change the truth - Nigerians have decided - they have weighed Obj on a scale and found him wanting. I know somone will say the artcile is all about the daughter but we the people in the street know the real issue behind the series of articles now appearing on this site and in some national papers. She can clear herself if she is not guilty. Suharto's son in Indonesia did not need anyone to inform him to face the law of their land and he has been found not guilty. So what is so special about this princess? Posted by Ukpana Okpoko Gbulu| 25.04.2008 17:06

AISAGBON OMOGIADE  Villager

# 4 Frisky, it looks like a coincidence.If it is, it is an unfortunate one.Since you reappeared on this forum after about two months of an apparent absence of your articles,some men of your same school of thought about OBJ have been posting articles to express similar views as yours. As I have repeatedly said, I admire your style of writing.But your most times unjustfied support for OBJ and his family is beginning to appear to me sinister.What part of our 1999 constitution prevents a serving senator from prosecution if he/she violates any of the criminal laws of the land?Does our law give immunity from prosecution to sons and daughters of ex-presidents? In one of your recent articles, you described Igbinedion as notorious but said he gave himself up to the EFCC.Was it the Edo State House of Assembly that indicted Igbinedion?Why should financial crimes committed by Iyabo be now the sole issue of the senate and not the EFCC? .Is Nnamani the ex-governor of Enugu State not a serving senator?Was he not remanded in prison custody before his bail?Your pen at one time or the other has descended heavily on Atiku and some of the ex-governors. Have they actually been tried and found guilty by a competent court besides the impeached Bayelsa governor? I shall end this short comment in the words of Joseph Story "Here shall the press the people's right maintain;Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain" Posted by AISAGBON OMOGIADE| 25.04.2008 18:32

Paradisevog  Villager

# 5 =AISAGBON OMOGIADE;4295010149>Frisky, it looks like a coincidence.If it is, it is an unfortunate one.Since you reappeared on this forum after about two months of an apparent absence of your articles,some men of your same school of thought about OBJ have been posting articles to express similar views as yours. As I have repeatedly said, I admire your style of writing.But your most times unjustfied support for OBJ and his family is beginning to appear to me sinister.What part of our 1999 constitution prevents a serving senator from prosecution if he/she violates any of the criminal laws of the land?Does our law give immunity from prosecution to sons and daughters of ex-presidents? In one of your recent articles, you described Igbinedion as notorious but said he gave himself up to the EFCC.Was it the Edo State House of Assembly that indicted Igbinedion?Why should financial crimes committed by Iyabo be now the sole issue of the senate and not the EFCC? .Is Nnamani the ex-governor of Enugu State not a serving senator?Was he not remanded in prison custody before his bail?Your pen at one time or the other has descended heavily on Atiku and some of the ex-governors. Have they actually been tried and found guilty by a competent court besides the impeached Bayelsa governor? I shall end this short comment in the words of Joseph Story "Here shall the press the people's right maintain;Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain" My brother di questions asked here are quite legitimate and logical. that is what matters, no be Igbinedion and all that. they did not give iyabo a share of stolen money to grob. they gave the chairman of a senate committee money for an official assignment (that is the official story). she says she spent it officially with expenses well documented. the senate says this is true. to defy and disrespect efcc is not a crime. it is at best wrong and immoral. make we talk true. they also say she is running from efcc because efcc wants to lock her up whenever she goes there again. they say na yar'adua save am last time she went. so i understand say she no wan go there again. the question i understand frisky to be asking is if it is right to arrest her and lock her up for money she is proven not to have embezzled even after she is challenging the charges in court. if there is proof of embezzlement, of course, dem go lock am. but you cant just go and lock am because Nnamani was also locked. there is something wrong here. they should present a better case. that's how i understand it. i think the court should provide a precedence. Posted by Paradisevog| 25.04.2008 19:29

AISAGBON OMOGIADE  Villager

# 6 =Paradisevog;4295010166>My brother di questions asked here are quite legitimate and logical. that is what matters, no be Igbinedion and all that. they did not give iyabo a share of stolen money to grob. they gave the chairman of a senate committee money for an official assignment (that is the official story). she says she spent it officially with expenses well documented. the senate says this is true. to defy and disrespect efcc is not a crime. it is at best wrong and immoral. make we talk true. they also say she is running from efcc because efcc wants to lock her up whenever she goes there again. they say na yar'adua save am last time she went. so i understand say she no wan go there again. the question i understand frisky to be asking is if it is right to arrest her and lock her up for money she is proven not to have embezzled even after she is challenging the charges in court. if there is proof of embezzlement, of course, dem go lock am. but you cant just go and lock am because Nnamani was also locked. there is something wrong here. they should present a better case. that's how i understand it. i think the court should provide a precedence. My brother, the primary school education I have does not permit me to argue with people with law degrees like you.The little I understood of the case is that Iyabo was warned before she went and share the money with her committee members that the money was stolen and should be returned.But she did not heed the warning.She said she is waiting for the ruling of the court before she could honour the invitation of EFCC.She had applied through her lawyers to the court that it lacked jurisdiction to try her and secondly to drop the charges against her. From what I know,the charges against her are criminal and not civil, so she cannot argue or support her application without personally appearing in court.The precedence the court should set in this case should demonstrate that no Nigerian is above the laws of the land no matter how well placed. Posted by AISAGBON OMOGIADE| 25.04.2008 20:23

tonsoyo  Villager

# 7 Frisky and Paradisevog, I totally disagree with you guys. Number one, there was a Presidential directive that all unspent budgetary allocations be retired back into the treasury. Number two, there was a criminal conspiracy in the Ministry of Health and I am sure other minstries too, (but the focus here is Health Ministry) to distribute this money illegally in contravention of the Presidential directives and our laws. Number three, a proceed of this criminal conspiracy found its way to Iyabo as the head of the Senate Health Committee. Whether solicited or unsolicited. Number four, Iyabo was put on notice by the EFCC of the ongoing investigation regarding that fund and was told to return it. Number five, Iyabo ignored this directive with impunity and even went ahead to spend the money. Questions arising are, one, since when did the Health Ministry start to pay for Senator's retreat? Do the Senators have their own budgetary allocation for such spendings or not? Does Iyabo as the Chairman of that committee have the right to spend or disburse the money in whatever manner after she has been put on notice that the money was a proceed of a crime? My verdict is that she is guilty as both the Chairman of the committee and in her personal capacity. Not only must the Senat remove her as the Chairman for internal discpline, the laws of the country must also take its natural course. If Iyabo has not been runinng from pillar to post, it would not have been necessary for you to put up an article in her defense. If she thinks that she is right all she needs to do is to get a good lawyer and face the law. Clear conscience fears no accussation. Posted by tonsoyo| 25.04.2008 20:45

DoubleWahala  Villager

# 8 Tonsoyo, I believe you've covered all the bases. There's really no need for me to add anything to what you've posted up there. Thanks. DW Posted by DoubleWahala| 26.04.2008 01:37

denker  Villager

# 9 ...... i felt doing a Neurological Surgical Corrective Brain Operation on dat CR.E.TIN(Freak Frisky Larrimore) from Bochum, Germany..i knew his Reappearance on the board would only be seen as UNPRODUCTIVE - the leopard never changes his colour...i tire for dat Dross(Freaky frisky)! Posted by denker| 26.04.2008 03:27

Mikky jaga  Villager

# 10 =DoubleWahala;4295010232>Tonsoyo, I believe you've covered all the bases. There's really no need for me to add anything to what you've posted up there. Thanks. DW Just a little addition here, please! Grange shared the proceed of crime with all her ministry workers as Christmas gift. It was not all the ministry workers that were prosecuted, only the Head and heads. That Iyabo is invited to appear in court does not mean she has been declared guilty or will be locked up without due process. Even those on 150 count charge were released on bail. Senators have been known to face court processes during their tenure (even senate presidents) under OBJ. There is no precedence set, therefore, if Iyabo is asked to explain what she knew about the criminal misappropriation. Vendetta is also not new in Nigeria. Abacha's son, Mustapha, Bamaiyi may also attribute their travails to vendetta. Whatever a man sows he shall surely reap. Lastly, Iyabo ran from the law in US, she is also running from the law in Nigeria, when will she understand that the only way to be free from your past is to face it squarely and not run away from it. Posted by Mikky jaga| 26.04.2008 04:39

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