July 10, 2003 will always evoke sad memories in the political calendar of the country, albeit for those who could very well interpret the import of that incident. It was a day Anambra State treated Nigeria and indeed, the world to a bizarre story of the abduction of a sitting governor, Chris Ngige, now Minister of Labour by the state’s self-styled political godfather, Chris Uba, also now a prospective senator, and aided by the late Raphael Ige, then an Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
The story was almost impossible. But it was true. And the tales that followed after were even the more “stories for the gods”. Uba would later tell the world how he, in cahoots with others, rigged Ngige into office. He told the story with such blitz and bliss that showed he was a very important member of the then ruling class. Confident and unperturbed, he got away with it, his guts and gush being his strength. What more, today, all things being equal, Uba might be a senator-in-waiting, courtesy of a Supreme Court judgment. Welcome to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where everything goes.
As if that was not enough an image mutilating conspiracy of a morally debased political class, 13 years after, another clown by name Dr. Tope Aluko, who by now should be helping the police with details on their investigation (and remanded for a long time) is still grandstanding about town, having announced at a planned live television interview how they rigged Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti into office in 2014. He actually gave details of their electoral heist as if he was doing the people and the country a favour with his confessional interview.
What was he thinking before he chose to ply the ignoble road in the first place? Where then was his sense of decency and patriotism, which appears to have overwhelmed him now when he and his gang of “thieves” robbed the Ekiti electorate (according to him) and almost plunged the state into needless crisis but for the sanity of the other camp led by former Governor Kayode Fayemi? Wait a minute, could he be possibly waiting to be applauded for a job well done? Like seriously?
Of course, he would have no hesitation treating the people to such distasteful drama and shame. If Uba could get away with it and years after, he is set to walk into the hallowed red chamber in whatever capacity regardless of his deficient education, nothing stops the appalling example of an Aluko following suit. After all, if the deal with Fayose did not fail, he would not be out today spewing his claptrap. He is simply shameless.
President Muhammadu Buhari, a question for you sir: do you really want to fight corruption and change this awful national psyche? Then, it must be total and without colours. Truth is President Buhari has not started yet. He is still just chasing shadows. It is understandable, therefore, the perception that he is merely victimizing identified enemies or Politically Exposed Persons, who are not in camp with him.
As a victim of alleged electoral fraud for many years, it would have been expected that the president would seek more than a passing interest in such cases and make good examples of them, at least, to make scapegoats of one or two. But soon, you will find this Aluko, a former ally of Fayose and PDP stalwart in their midst – pointing fingers, moralising, showboating and of course, ingratiating with the new order since that’s the way to go with new regimes.