Still On Abubakar Malami And Tinubu’s Politics Of Persecution (2) -By Hjia Hadiza Mohammed

The Nigeria political atmosphere at the moment as the political regrouping and realignment has begun preparatory to the 2027 general election is full of intrigues, confusion and uncertainties. This, as I have always pointed out is because one man who believes it is his turn to rule us and who foisted himself on us wants to continue unchallenged. That man is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose policy is to hack down anything or anybody that stands on his way. Many observers believe that Tinubu is suffering from the illusion of powers. He has personalized power and believed that he can do anything that pleases him under the guise of fighting corruption and protecting the state. He erroneously believes as the president, that every citizen is his subject and he should be worshipped by all. He mistakes holding different political opinion from his as disrespect. He mistakes belonging to a different political group as his as rebellion. He forgot that power is transient. To Tinubu criticism and civil advocacy is treasonable while sycophancy is akin to patriotism. He surrounded himself with loyalists and political turn-coats who will not have the guts to tell him the truth about his failures and inadequacies.

Having performed woefully in governance thus far, Tinubu knew he has nothing tangible to hold on for campaign. All Nigerians have seen and experienced from his administration in the last 3 years are misery, hardship and insecurity. So, he has to turn his attention to the governors, political heavy weights and regional power brokers and try to lure or intimidate them into his failed political party (the APC) to help revive his sinking political boat, having compromised our National Assembly and weaponized the Judiciary and the security agencies against the people and the opposition. And having accumulated much funds from his multi-borrowing misadventure, he thinks that he can buy everyone. Many, especially those self-seeking political mercenaries and those with corrupt cases fell for his trap but those with principles did not want to identify with Tinubu who has wilfully thrown Nigeria into political instability and socio-economic quagmire.

And among these men of principle who refused to jump on the bandwagon are Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former FCT Minister and the immediate past governor of Kaduna State and Abubakar Malami, SAN, the erstwhile Attorney-general of the Federation and Minister of Justice and for which reason many believed that they are being harangued by the Tinubu’s moribund anti-graft agencies.

Malami’s case with Tinubu did not start now. It is said that it started when Malami was the Attorney-general of the Federation and Minister of Justice under President Mohammadu Buhari. It was speculated in the media that Malami’s principled stand on the case of the removal of Ibrahim Magu as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in July, 2020 infuriated Tinubu, whom many believed that Magu was his candidate and protégé. But, Malami believed that Magu’s conduct while in office contravened the law and best practice as such should be relieved of his duty; one who is appointed to enforce the law should do so without compromise or with conflict of interest.

The Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets headed by Justice Ayo Salami report indicates that Ibrahim Magu abused his office. The committee received oral and written evidence from over 100 witnesses in the conduct of its investigation. It was revealed that seized assets and recovered loots by the EFCC under Ibrahim Magu including real estate, automobile, and cash and other non-cash assets were mishandled, illegally converted and sold to his associates. Media report has it that a whooping of N118 billion and $309 were unaccounted for and the sum N48 billion recovered loot in foreign and local currencies were not remitted to the government account. Added to these infractions is the allegation of suppression of fraud cases under his watch. The Presidential probe panel discovered that about 14 high profile fraud cases involving some ex-governors and political heavy weights were suppressed and abandoned.

Now, how could the Attorney-general and Minister of Justice who is the chief law officer of the country support the continuing in office of a personality like Magu, who has been indicted and found to have abused public trust. It would be an aberration to do so. But, Malami’s traducers refused to see reason and continued to fire in their arrows. The needless media attack then was spearheaded by the Sowore’s Sahara Reporters which many believed was sponsored Tinubu against Malami.

Now, Abubakar Malami’s refusal to join Tinubu’s political camp as the race to 2027 begun added to Tinubu’s anger against the former two-time Attorney-general of the Federation and stoked his determination to deal with him using state power. But, the legal luminary is also determined to pursue his case without fear. His emergence as the NDC gubernatorial candidate in his home state, Kebbi, despite his travails in the hand of the security and anti-graft agencies shows that he is the part to victory. Is Tinubu shooting himself on the foot by harassing perceived political enemies? Only time will tell.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK