One cannot help but worry about what the future holds in stock for the present
generation and the generation yet unborn going by the crops of Shennanigans and
selfserving public treasury looters that parade themselves as politicians.
The recent decision of the ruling party PDP to re-instate the just indicted
senators, namely: Owie Roland, Gbenga Aluko and Florence Ita-Giwa amounts to
self-shooting in the leg and the worst political blunder of the century.
Going
by this unpopular decision and the attendant spuriuos and flimsy excuses given
shows how unserious and uncommitted to the so called "Anti-graft measures" of
the Obasanjo's administration and spearheaded by the PDP itself. It is high time
these politicians were told to desist from manouvering and decieving the
electorates and the public in general. One wonders how the PDP leadership can
condone or forgive this type of day-light robbery having condemned such in the
strongest terms possible earlier only now to turn around and say the culprits
are to be re-instated.
Analysing the reasons given why each of the three senators were to be
re-instated:
Senate Chief Whip, Senator Roland Owie
is said to be called back
because the allegation levelled against him by the panel and his subsequent
indictment has been denied by the company from which it was said the generators
were bought by him, hence, the man is pronounced not-guilty in the 'appeal
court' of the PDP caucus. Scruntinizing this, mere verbal denial by the company
is far from being enough to acquit this senator after being found guilty by the
panel based on overwhelming verbatim evidence in his own words, from his very
mouth and documented facts.
Senator Gbenga Aluko:
The most annoying part is the frivolous excuse given here
as the reason for re-instating this youthful senator. Gbenga Aluko is found
guilty and himself as much addmitted in his own words at the public hearing that
he committed all these thefts.
While this senator is a betrayer of the hopes of
our generation's assumption or insinuations of better managements of the Economy
and general overhaul of the country's policies given the chance, Senator Aluko
has betrayed this assumption or insinuation with his greeds and arogance.
The PDP leadership gave the reason for his re-instatement as being the only
Senator from the South-West from the party having zoned the position of deputy
chief whip to this zone.
I am a South-Westerner and I believe in intergrity and honesty. This excuse does
not hold water and such stinks to the high heaven. Assuming Gbenga Aluko is the
only senator from this Zone and having found guilty of embezzlement of public
fund up to the whooping tune of US$740,000.00, and in the light of the present
administration's campaign against grafts in the public offices, why can't the
position be given to another Senator from either the AD or APP? and if this is
too much to do, why not reconsider and transfer the position to the South-South
if the senators from here prove to be more honest and reliable? Aren't we
brothers afterall or are they not also from the South? and what is going to be
the punishment for Senator Gbenga Aluko or is he just going to get the pat on
the back for a job well done? The public is watching with awesome interests!
Senator Florence Ita-Giwa:
It is allegedly stated by the PDP that it will be wrong to ask her to resign her
positing when the outcome of the probe that indicted this woman is yet to be
debated on the floor of the senate.
Here is very interesting. The same panel that indicted Senator Ita-Giwa was the
same that indicted the ex-senate president Senator W.W.Chuba Okadigbo,
Senator
Ita-Giwa was equally found guilty as Okadigbo unless the PDP leadership is
telling us that the amount involved determines the level of punishment, however
to us the amount involved is immaterial, Senator Okadigbo was impeached based on
the verdict of the panel against him without having subjected the panel's
findings to debate on the floor of the house. The crux of the matter is that all
these indicted senators have betrayed the public trusts and should be all made
to face the same punishment, the saying goes that what is sauce for the goose is
also sauce for the gander. Owie Roland should go, Gbenga Aluko should go and so
is Florence Ita Giwa.
If the PDP leadership will not trace back it's steps and retract this unholy
decision, it will only go to confirm the fear of those accusing both the
executive and the PDP caucus of with-hunting and vendetta.
I will also advise the PDP leadership to facilitate the extension of the probe
to all other remaining arms of government if it is to be taken seriously with
the Anti-graft policy.
Samuel F. Onipede,
Moscow, Russia.
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