Curse on those who collected blood money- Bolaji Tunji

This is an unusual period. It is indeed a season in which the war against corruption is taking a new, different dimension. It reminds me of a Yoruba proverb- Orun nyaa bo, kiise oro enikan. Simply interpreted, it means, if the heavens (Sky)  were to fall today, the effect would not be felt by only an individual, but everybody. 

The revelations from the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki aptly capture this. The heavens are falling, albeit figuratively, and everybody is feeling the effect.

The former NSA has opened a can of worms which has also opened the eyes of Nigerians to the monumental waste of our collective resources. From him alone  a staggering sum running into billions has been discovered to have been distributed to cronies and used for purposes that are embarrassing to the ears and knowledge of sane minds. But of critical importance is the distribution list of the funds allegedly meant to procure arms for soldiers fighting for their life against the Boko haram insurgents.

Former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki 

When the news of the arrest of the NSA broke and he was then accused of being in illegal possession of arms, most people felt he was unnecessarily being persecuted by the new administration, more so when he requested to be allowed to travel abroad to take care of his health challenges which suddenly became critical after his arrest and he was denied this. Nobody is talking about the ill health or otherwise of the NSA. Indeed, what Col. Dasuki has on his plate now is beyond that.

But the issue we are confronted now is the list of those who collected the money. In fact, I would want to call it blood money on account of the fact that the money was expected to be spent in the procurement of arms to enable our soldiers be on equal fighting footing with the Boko haram insurgents. Recent revelations have gone to show why it has been difficult, prior to the election, for the Nigerian Army to effectively tackle the insurgents, necessitating the postponement of the election for about six weeks. Our soldiers were continually bested during that period by the insurgents who even took over some communities and planted their flags.  Back to the beneficiary of the money. In one of the revelations by the NSA who is now singing like a canary, Senator Iyorchia Ayu was given the sum of N345 million to allegedly build a supermarket. The senator has since responded that he collected the money for the consultations he did. What sort of consultation would you do for the sum of N345m.

The former minister explained thus, “ when Colonel Dasuki  assumed duty in June 2012, he approached me to assist based on my background as a social scientist and my previous involvement in government. Understandably, I provided the requisite advice whenever consulted on difficult issues”. Do you believe? Personally, I do not. I do not know the sort of consultation or advice that was rendered and would warrant the payment of that huge sum. Would Ayu, in his private business pay any individual such colossal amount? Another  sum of N260m was allegedly passed on to former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) BOT chair, Chief Anthony Anenih. What was the job done to warrant this? Would that money be for consultation too? Senator Iyorchia Ayu and Chief Anenih should therefore be given the Raymond Dokpesi treatment too. Chief Dokpesi is facing trial for collecting N2.1 billion from the NSA. The DAAR communication chairman explained that the money was collected for the campaign job done for the PDP during the election period. It therefore follows that if Chief Dokpesi is facing trial, Senator Ayu and Chief Anenih should be put on trial too unless we are saying that the money that the duo of Ayu and Anenih collected is more legitimate than that of Dokpesi.

The former NSA also allegedly funneled N1.45billion to Acacia holdings  for special prayers to ensure victory for PDP in the election. Who or what is Acacia holdings limited? Is it the front for a church or mosque? Would this be the money said to have been paid to some religious leaders prior to the election which was vehemently denied by the men of God.  Who collected the money? And how was the prayer done and what was the result of that prayer? Who indeed were the prayer warriors?

Another company, Reliance Referral hospital also collected N750million for special prayers too.  It is important to know the people behind these two organizations as it is obvious that they were used as front by some people.Of course we know the result of the prayer- PDP lost the election and that amounts to a default or breach in the execution of the contract. Since PDP lost that election, it follows that the contract was not executed. That one does not need the court to deliver a guilty verdict, the money should simply be returned to the federal government’s coffers.

I asked myself, would any of these people pay such colossal sum for this frivolity? If they had to take the money from their pocket?

It does goes to show the sort of people who controls the destiny of all of us.   In any case, what these revelations have also shown is the fact that  Nigerians have been sorely short changed. Our soldiers who needed arms did not get the arms and so many of them fell to the superior arms of the insurgents. Many families have lost loved ones whether among the civilians populations in the North east who constantly face attacks from the insurgents or members of the armed forces who died because they were poorly equipped for the battle they were confronted with. The fight against insurgents which should have ended before it got to this level could not because the armed forces did not have the wherewithal to fight. May the blood of the dead continue to worry those who contributed to their death. That’s not my only prayer. And nobody should call it a curse.  May the blood of those Nigerians who died in road accidents due to bad roads, in hospital because doctors were not paid and they had to embark on strike while hospitals were poorly equipped,  be on the head of those who led this country to this sorry pass. I am not talking of Dasuki alone. There are still some other agencies of government that have also contributed to the problem of this nation.

I am not particular about the immediate past administration, the sleaze has always been part of every government in power. We have only seen the current one, one only needs to probe all past administrations to realize that Nigeria and Nigerians have been unfairly treated by the people elected to pilot their affairs.

Daily Sun