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| Saraki |
Per revelations from Nigeria’s Premium
Times amid other global media reports, per the Mosseck Fonseca
papers, we are appalled by this rising saga, involving top-ranking Nigerian
officials, among other persons in the evolving Panama papers.
It is noteworthy that this Council
was just adjusting to the humongous task of assisting in restoring Nigeria’s
long-lost glory, as long as the work is complemented with a vibrant
anti-corruption agenda. However, what we now see are more damaging goods
from some of Nigeria’s current leaders, specifically Nigeria’s 3rd
ranking politician, and a man a few heartbeats away to the Nigerian presidency,
Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki.
As The World Watches
We and the rest of the world are
aware that Dr. Saraki is embroiled in a messy corruption matter in court already,
amid the attendant political scandal and other ripples. Based on the
evidence tendered and admitted in court so far, we believe the public
prosecutor in Nigeria has a very compelling case on behalf of the Nigerian
people in this matter. However, that Dr. Saraki wants to hang in there by
the threads, and hope for a political solution, is already an exercise in
futility, because this is a “justiciable” matter.
We are also in full support of the
African Union (AU) panel on illicit financial flows, and the call for firm and
comprehensive action against the world’s tax havens, in their 2015 resolution
on illicit financial flows from the continent. We intend to work closely
with former South African president Thabo Mbeki, per his assertion that: “The
staggering amount of illicit practices and the large number of global actors
exposed by the Panama Papers demonstrate that Governments of Africa and the
rest of the world cannot avoid firm action against the Tax Havens/Financial
Secrecy Jurisdictions,”
Other “Politically Exposed Persons
(PEP’s)” in Nigeria, including former Senate President David Mark also
have damning evidence about them at Mosseck Fonseca. As a Council
with legal as well as public policy experts, we see Dr. Saraki’s feeble efforts
to exonerate himself, by asserting that the noted assets belong to his wife,
in-spite of mounting evidence to the contrary, as mere holding onto straws in a
fast moving wave.
Also, other PEP’s, including David
Mark’s gullible attempts to exonerate himself from ownership of the
identified assets, in-spite of rising “real evidence” of his culpability,
suggests that these men have been taking Nigerians for developing toddlers, who
do not have sufficient common sense. Available records from our researchers
also show a vast Golf Course owned by David Mark in the Republic
of Ireland, even while Mark held various public offices in Nigeria,
including as President of the Senate, among other off-shore assets.
Our researchers have also informed
us that there are more damning evidences coming from the Panama files,
pertaining to other Public and not so public personalities in Nigeria.
NAL Council’s Recent Official Trip
to Nigeria
Senior officials of this Council,
were in Nigeria recently, and are yet to conclude filing their reports on
Nigeria. However, the reports already portray some serious challenges,
pursuant to the government’s anti-corruption efforts. As an example, our
officials observed serious wastage by public officials in Nigeria, including
army officials whose official cars include S550 Mercedes Benz
cars that cost in excess of $100,000 USD, among other wastage. The above
observations are happening right under the nose of the current
government. For the records, comparable officials in the richest country
in the world, the United States, operate official vehicles that cost the
treasury about $25,000-$35,000 USD.
The wastage would not be so obvious,
if there was not such a dearth of 21st century infrastructure in
Nigeria, including unreliable internet connectivity and electricity.
Suffice it to say that Nigeria is operating at less than its optimal level,
because of the dearth of modern infrastructure.
Specifically, it is extremely
difficult to live in Nigeria and file timely reports online, to public or
private organizations outside Nigeria. The reason is because the internet
and its backbone of reliable electricity, is in short supply in Nigeria, and
extremely expensive where available. We bring this up because the monies
that have been misappropriated by these officials are sufficient to provide
first grade infrastructure, including reliable electricity, internet services,
and operational refineries in Nigeria.
How Better Infrastructure Would Have
Helped Nigeria’s Economy
Corruption and misappropriation of
public resources have hurt Nigeria’s economy badly. If there is reliable
connectivity in Nigeria, businesses in Nigeria could deliver certain services
to English-speaking countries around the world in real-time, including services
to US, European, and Asian companies, as is the case with India. Several
US companies have stationed their call-centers in India because of reliable
connectivity infrastructure.
Nigeria, as an English speaking
country, of highly intelligent young people, with lighter English-speaking
accents, would have been such a great hub for US and other English speaking
service companies, which require English language skills; only if there was
sufficient connectivity infrastructure. We also have observed that young
Nigerians are sharper and more rounded than young Indians.
A Time to Resign
Again, we hereby call on the Senate
President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to spare the Republic of Nigeria of further
embarrassment and resign. It is wise for Dr. Saraki to resign and utilize
his energy, time, and considerable intelligence to resolve his legal matters in
court at this time.
Nigeria has so many challenges on
its hands right now, and Saraki’s self-imposed problems should not be one of
them; attempting to hold onto power, and delay Nigeria’s efforts to rebound,
should stoke the wrath of the 180 million people Nigeria has to contend with
right now.
Saraki’s resignation should signal
that other public officials should also retrace their steps or get out of the
public arena completely. Only persons demonstrating sufficient patriotism
and not self-interest should hold such high offices in the land. Dr.
Saraki may very well redeem himself in the future, and he may or may not return
to high public office, but this is not the time. The right thing right
now is to resign.
C. Goldie,
Media
Relations
NAL Council Washington, DC (Nigerian-American
Leadership Council)
Web: www.nalcouncil.org
Tel: 202 379-2848, Ext. 101
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