My eyes are on Olanipekun Olukoyode, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). I am fed up with our politicians, in and out of power, over the management of the economy. While they bamboozle us with dogon turenci (long grammar), hunger has taken over from insecurity.
We all should be bothered that after some Nigerians cornered our commonwealth, government continues to go cap in hand begging international finance institutions for money. I do not come from a culture of beggars, it is shameful.
Olukoyode did not mean anything to me when his appointment was announced by President Bola Tinubu on October 12, 2023, two days to his 54th birthday. Some of those who eyed the job were disappointed and, I am sure, that was why the new man was welcomed into office with bullets of strictures.
I thought the name was Olukayode, until February 14 when I cross checked. The 2024 Valentine Day was red, in the negative sense of it. Families and couples, lovers and toasters, all had no cash to buy ordinary red rose flowers.
With the Nigerian account painted red by gluttonous leaders, poverty trickled down the chain. The hitherto all red for love environment was enveloped with lamentation. Then, it occured to me that red is the dominant EFCC colour.
The first time I heard of Olukoyode, there were protests, from Jerusalem to Jericho. Some said he was not qualified to head the EFCC because of his non paramilitary background. Others alleged that he was once under scrutiny.
When the man appeared before the Senate, I became his fan. Olukoyode was quite unlike some of his predecessors, who would have harangued the audience with jackboot stories of wiping out corruption with thunderous precision.
When he spoke, one saw the face of a dude ready to work with scientific accuracy. The forensic analysis of how in just three years, between 2018 and 2020, the country lost 2.9 trillion naira through contract and procurement fraud made my day.
He broke everything down, like a trained teacher. That stolen wealth would have given each of the 36 States a world class teaching hospital. It was enough to build 200 standard tertiary institutions in the Muhammadu Buhari years and construct kilometers of road.
The Fourth Republic has produced the worst criminals in our History. The day of reckoning will come. However, what happened between 2015 and 2023, must not be waved aside. Buhari was president, some of his workers presided over the looting of Nigeria.
Olukoyode should not bother about Buhari. Stealing is not in his DNA. You cannot find him partying in Dubai and drinking choice wine with ladies of the night. I am not sure the former president cares about wonders on wheels and mansions.
Olukoyode should also leave out Tinubu. The president is not a poor man and with all in his fat account, does not need finance for anything personal. Having made money outside the Villa, the problems facing him are just enough to contend with.
Beyond the contract fraud, there are individuals and agencies that must answer their names. Former governors Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye were sent to jail. A deeper look will show that these men are saints. The jumbo criminals are walking free.
Any governor accused of stealing more than 10 billion naira must face the law and make some refund. I say this because some of these governors were under pressure. There is demand from the party, from the family, from friends and even from enemies.
Many of them below the 10 billion mark used part of the money to maintain peace or balance terror. From the day he stepped down as governor, I doubt if Dariye could afford a first class ticket to Australia. Yet he was sent to prison.
The jumbo criminals are all over our space. Portfolio contractors, some uniformed men in paramilitary agencies, directors in ministries and departments, they have injured the economy more than inflation. All eyes are on governors, no. This mindset must change.
Some bank owners are part of the rot. Abstract Economics makes it difficult for people to understand why banks rise and fall, without investors shying away from the industry. The EFCC should not run away from responsibility.
Talking about oil theft without looking at the Nigeria National Petroleum Company ( NNPC )will be a futile exercise. Oil business in Nigeria is so crude. What has been stolen is enough to buy Nigeria. And that is exactly what is happening. The country has been sold to poverty.
Olukoyode’s main job is to recover money to save the masses. All of us are now downtrodden. The only thing that can redeem the country is to get some of the stolen money and pump it back into the economy. When Tinubu removed subsidy on petroleum products, Nigeria collapsed.
Olukoyode can bring back all our looted cash. He has capacity to stop the borrowing. I am with him in this aspect. The EFFC boss should not be afraid of death in the course of this job. As a pastor, Heaven will gladly welcome him and Nigerians will celebrate Olanipekun Olukayode as an eternal hero.
