Injustice to one is injustice to all, anywhere in the world. I have chosen this abridgement from a text of a press briefing issued on this same subject Tuesday in Abuja on the platform of the Coalition of Concerned Nigeria Political Pressure Groups; a coalition of over twenty-two Civil Organization groups calling on the government to redirect its steps on certain moves it’s taking against some Nigerians as it pursues its anti-corruption war in the country.
First, the President must be commended for this irrepressible war which has earned him immense national and international recognition. We believe that all well-meaning Nigerians are solidly behind him and sincerely wish him success as he aggressively pursues this single cancerous scourge that is shredding our nation Nigeria into pieces. However, we have regrettably observed as concerned Nigerians that certain elements within the President’s administration are bent on diverting attention from this noble course by unnecessarily politicizing the war to achieve their own selfish motives, philosophy, mission and vision.
It is already history that in our unprecedented show of good faith and patriotism, His Excellency, the Former President Goodluck Jonathan conceded victory to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari and accepted defeat mid-way into the announcement of the presidential poll results. This is monumental in the history of African continent.
Also it is commendable that both in President Buhari’s acceptance speech after the result was announced and his inauguration address on the 29th of May, 2015, he duly acknowledged this great act of statesmanship which ensured a smooth handover of power to an opposition party without intervention of the judiciary (an unprecedented development in the political history of Nigeria, and indeed Africa). We all know that it was only a single call from President Jonathan and the resultant interactions with President-elect Buhari that averted bloodshed and instability in the country to which both must take the glory. This act to us requires a reciprocal respect to the person of the former President where issues concerning him should be subjected to extra caution.
While we do not, and won’t support any act of corrupt tendencies and or actions from any Nigerian, no matter how highly placed, the Convention world-wide and indeed in Nigeria since independence, is that no former First Lady has been specifically singled out, harassed, embarrassed and persecuted in the way and manner Dame Mrs. Patience Jonathan is currently being treated, in spite of the historical role her husband played in mid-wifing this administration.
Statistics are there that nobody persecuted Dr. Mrs Flora Azikiwe, Hajiya Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Mrs. Aguiyi Ironsi, Mrs Victoria Yakubu Gowon, Mrs Murtala Mohammed, Mrs. Olusegun Obasanjo, Hajia Shehu Shagari, Hajiya Muhammadu Buhari of Blessed Memory, Mrs. Maryam Babangida of Blessed memory, Mrs. Ernest Shonekan, Mrs. Mariam Abacha, Hon. Justice Mrs. Fati Abubakar, Late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo and Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua. Neither of these First Ladies nor their husbands were ever investigated, harassed, embarrassed, and persecuted by their successor governments in the unfortunate manner that we are witnessing today by the EFCC under the President and current administration.
In the United States whose democratic principles we try to copy, the incumbent President Obama had, in the past few months risen up fiercely in defence of former First Lady, Hillary Clinton over all allegations leveled against her by Donald Trump (and even in respect of investigations over allegations of leakage of Wiki emails, etc during her tenure as Secretary of State). This is how it should be.
You will further observe that all the while, President Jonathan has maintained a studied silence over this persistent controversial persecution and ridiculing of his amiable wife. This is probably because he does not want to distract the President and equally heighten the already tensed environment both in his region and the country at large. Jonathan has concentrated on his very busy international engagements, all of which he is undertaking on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as former President, in respect of which he is constitutionally required to report to President Buhari.
Jonathan is also a key member of the Council of States which is the country’s highest policy advisory organ which President Buhari chairs. Jonathan maintains a deep marriage bond with his wife, Patience thus any harm or insult to Dame Patience Jonathan is also harm to Jonathan. There is absolutely no difference “…between Hannah and Awolowo” President Goodluck Jonathan served loyally as Vice President to President Yar’Adua and both of them laid the solid foundation for the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme in 2007/2008; a firm foundation upon which President Buhari is currently building on to contain the ongoing militancy in the area.
As the only former President from Niger Delta region, he remains a member of any implementation initiative due to the confidence he enjoys among the various segments of the region. As Commander-in-Chief, during the initial (5) years of the amnesty programme, Jonathan did not abuse his office by diverting and concentrating all the national infrastructural projects in the region merely to satisfy local agitations at the expense of other parts of the country.
It is against this background that the Coalition members as concerned Nigerians are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly intervene and halt this unnecessary persecution of Jonathan through his wife by the EFCC. Mr. President should demonstrate his respect for the humble, humane former President Goodluck Jonathan and womanhood, by publicly expressing his confidence in the ability of Mrs. Patience Jonathan to keep her husband’s home affairs from the scrutiny of the public domain just as he commendably defended his wife’s domestic and public roles in a recent event in Germany.
Mr. President should quickly direct the immediate unblocking and defreezing of all personal accounts of Mrs. Patience Jonathan from the ‘No withdrawal’ status they have been placed by the EFCC.
Facts remain that Mrs. Jonathan did not authorize anybody to open any company accounts for her and lodge any money therein. She is neither a Director, Shareholder nor member of any of the companies being tried or convicted by the courts. Patience has already claimed that monies being queried rightfully belong to her.
Rational logic clearly shows that if Mrs. Jonathan the former First Lady had wanted to lodge the subject monies into a corporate account, she already had her own personal charity foundation called ALHERI FOUNDATION. She would have lodged them there. But she did not want to mix up her own personal funds with either the accounts of her foundation or the accounts of the Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (or indeed mix same up with funds of the AFRICAN FIRST LADIES SUMMIT which she presided over as the chairperson). The African First Ladies Summit also had a separate functional office in Abuja. Our investigations showed that the subject monies are her personal funds, sourced funds and voluntary gifts and donations which she received from friends, relations and well-wishers from across the world during the turbulent period she was ill and variously hospitalized in different hospitals in Nigeria and overseas.
As a wife of a former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state, Mrs. Jonathan became the wife of a Governor, then the wife of a Vice President, wife of an Acting President, wife of a President up until when she left office as First Lady of Nigeria; a total period of (16) years. She and her families made numerous friends and had countless well-wishers across the globe and no aspect of her tenure is being officially probed by any government agency. No other persons have come forward to claim that the subject monies belong to him or her. Her monies can therefore not be forfeited to anyone or any authority whatsoever under any guise. If an ordinary Civil servant in the Nigeria Army could save enough to acquire property in Dubai, one finds it ridiculous the questioning of the purse of a woman who had attained the status of First Lady both at state and national levels.
It is important here to note that there is no criminal charge pending against Mrs. Patience Jonathan in respect of the subject monies or any other matter. We hereby advise that even if such is being conceived by the EFCC or any other agency, same should be withdrawn and discontinued immediately, either by nolle prosequi, or otherwise, because both her persecution and prosecution would be tantamount to mere propaganda that is politically motivated. This will no doubt constitute a big distraction to the otherwise well-intended anti-corruption crusade of Mr. President.
We understand that a civil action has already been instituted by the former First Lady challenging the powers of the EFCC to confiscate/block her personal bank accounts as well as the constitutionality or propriety of linking her said personal money to phantom companies in which she has no connection, whatsoever. Like every other former President’s wife, she is entitled to any amounts of her personal family funds (so long as their acquisition has not breached any known Nigerian laws). She can therefore utilize same for whatever charitable and other purpose she may deem fit.
Finally, it is important to reiterate once again that investigating and attacking the matriarch of the former First Family when those before her were never investigated will be highly misinterpreted by her Niger Delta minority people. We are of the view that Mr. President should come out publicly and declare his intention to probe the former President Goodluck Jonathan instead of hiding behind and dissipating energy and resources fighting a harmless woman. This to us looks cowardice and unmanly, and we do not see our President as nerveless. It is important therefore that Mr. President takes immediate action on this urgent presentation, both in the best interest of Justice, equity and good conscience, as well as, overall national interest.
We would also like to call on the National Assembly to critically review certain aspects of the Act establishing the EFCC. The EFCC under Mr. Magu should not be made a monster organization to be used by the Executive against perceived opponents. The Commission should desist from its lazy man’s posture which makes it often apply media trial on matters that ought to be tried in law courts. The Commission must ensure that it rounds off investigations on matters on its table before going public as this would not only give its prosecution a sound presentation, but also wins it persistent favourable judgments in courts at all times.
EFCC must not continue with its brand of motion without movement created from the days of its former chairman, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu. To achieve this, EFCC must stop playing to the gallery. Chasing around Mrs. Patience Jonathan on the pages of newspaper instead of openly probing her husband is like spanking an innocent baby in retaliation to its mother’s offence. It is childish and irresponsible. GREG NWADIKE is of the Coalition of Concerned Nigeria Political Pressure Groups and can be reached via 08099088443
Written by Greg Nwadike
