On Wednesday, Muhammadu Buhari's All Progressive Congress (APC) welcomed Godswill Akpabio, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State and a serving senator into their fold. Some days before that, Akpabio had visited President Buhari in London where he (Buhari) is currently observing his ten days official vacation. Akpabio's defection is one of many series of defections we have witnessed in the past weeks.
Buhari's sudden romance with Akpabio who is said to be having a case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) calls for questioning on Muhammadu Buhari's anti-corruption stance. Buhari, whose popular slogan against corruption pre-2015 election was "If we don't kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria" has been seeing fraternizing corrupt political moguls like Akpabio and others.
Oshiomhole on Wednesday, during the grand reception of Akpabio into APC in Akwa Ibom state was heard urging the people of the state to embrace Akpabio as the leader of APC in the state, saying it is the party who would deliver the state from PDP's destruction on-going in the state. What Oshiomhole forgot to mention to the people was the fact that Godswill Akpabio was part of the People's Democratic Party member when he was governor of the state for 8 years and then afterwards, a serving Senator under the same party before his defection into APC.
According to an interim report by the EFCC, the former governor allegedly gave a bank N1.4bn for unknown reasons. Akpabio has also been accused of acquiring choice properties across the country, namely: Plot 5 Okogosi Spring Close, off Katsina-Ala Crescent, Maitama-Abuja; a multi-billion naira mansionette at Plot 28 Colorado Close, Maitama, Abuja and another multi-billion naira mansion at 22 Probyn Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Responding to a text message sent by Punch, EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren said the cases against Akpabio haven’t been closed. When asked if Akpabio was still under probe, the EFCC spokesperson said, “EFCC does not close cases or give clearance to anybody.” But here is Akpabio in the same ruling party, shaking hands with Muhammadu Buhari, our supposed anti-corruption warrior.
It would be interesting to note that other high profile corruption cases in Buhari's government are, the certificate forgery leveled against the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun on the authenticity of the NYSC certificate she tendered while taking up Buhari's appointment as the Finance Minister. The President has remained mute regarding this matter while Kemi Adeosun have acted as if nothing had happened.
The case of Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation who was involved in the grass cutting scandal has not seen the light of day. Even with all the indictment by a presidential panel that investigated misuse of funds meant for people displaced by Boko Haram, the former SGF, who was once quoted for asking "Who is The Presidency" while answering some questions from the journalists, is still a free man.
President Buhari's un-looking over these corruption matters leaves one wondering whether he Buhari is really fighting corruption, or the whole anti-corruption fight was all a sham from the beginning.