The national Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, recently opened a jar of warms when, all of a sudden, he developed a conscience by apologising to Nigerians in the interest of himself and his members for the 16 years of mismanagements.

Secondus, in his expression of remorse, said they were people and accordingly were to commit errors. He, in any case, guaranteed Nigerians that the party had developed and gained from its mix-ups and is prepared to do things differently if it came back to control.

His words: “I hereby, as the national chairman, do admit that the PDP made a lot of mistakes; we are humans, not spirits; and the ability to admit is key in moving forward.

“We admit that we have made several mistakes; we have passed through all our challenges and have acquired the experience no other party can boast of. We were sanctioned by Nigerians at the polls in 2015. Let me use this opportunity to apologise for our past mistakes.

“It is the honest thing to do, a legacy to transfer to our children; we cannot continue like that. When we make mistakes, we should come out boldly to the people and apologise. It is important to do so because we have learnt from our mistakes; unlike the All Progressives Congress (APC) that will make mistakes and lie to cover it.

“We apologise to Nigerians that we have made mistakes. We have learnt our lessons and we are ready to begin on a new agenda; experience is the best teacher, no other party has it. When things are not positive and the mindset is negative, it is then time to reset it.”

The remorse set off a response from the Presidency, who believed that the PDP ought not to only apologise, but be willing to return the stolen public funds.

The Minister of Information Lai Mohammed said this in a statement days after the PDP's apology. He said: “The PDP presided over an unprecedented looting of the public treasury, perhaps the worst of its kind in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world. Therefore, the best evidence of penitence for such a party is not just to own up and apologise, but to also return the looted funds. Anything short of that is mere deceit.”

Scarcely days after, another exceptional reaction exuded from the President Muhammadu Buhari's media aide, Garba Shehu, who portrayed the expression of remorse as “under fair”.

Garba claimed the PDP apologised for its edgy move to regain power in 2019, including that the party never again have access to national assets for its private use.

“Even desperate thieves apologise because they are caught and not because they are incapable of repeating the crime if they had another opportunity,” Shehu said, adding:

“We believe that the PDP should not only apologise for the imposition of candidates, and the culture of impunity, but must also come clean and acknowledge that they participated in large-scale corruption and massive diversions of public funds to private pockets, while poverty was ravaging the ordinary Nigerians.”

Another open battle between the PDP and the APC in March was “who the genuine plunderers are.” The minister of information, in his typical push to shake the PDP, released a few names of PDP individuals who he called “some PDP looters.”

Lai Mohammed in his usual style took a step forward to list the names of PDP members on Friday as follows:

“The national chairman, PDP. Allegation: On the 19th of February, 2015, he took N200 million only from the office of the NSA. Former PDP financial secretary. Allegation: On the 24th of October 2014, took N600 million only from the office of former NSA. Former national publicity secretary Olisah Metuh. On trial for allegedly collecting N1.4 billion from the office of former NSA. Dr Raymond Dokpesi, chairman of DAAR Communications. On trial for allegedly taking N2.1 billion from the office of the former NSA. SSA to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dudafa Waripamo-Owei. On trial, over N830 million allegedly kept in accounts of four different companies. Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Robert Azibaola. On Thursday, a Federal High Court ruled that he has a case to answer for allegedly collecting $40 million from the office of former NSA.”

On Easter Sunday, the information minister released more names as follows:

“Former NSA, Sambo Dasuki: Based on EFCC investigations and findings alone (this is besides the ongoing $2.1 billion military equipment scandal), a total of N126 billion, over $1.5 billion and 5.5 million British pounds, was embezzled through his office.

“Former Petroleum Resources minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke: In just one of the cases the EFCC is investigating involving her, about N23 billion is alleged to have been embezzled.

“Lt-Gen Kenneth Minimah (retd): N13.9 billion. N4.8 billion recovered by EFCC in cash and property. Lt-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika: N4.5 billion. N29 million recovered by the EFCC so far. Alex Barde, former Chief of Defence Staff: N8 billion, and EFCC recovered almost N4 billion in cash and property already. “Inde Dikko: former CG Customs: N40 billion, and N1.1 billion in cash recovered in cash and choice properties. Air Marshal Adesola Amosun: N21.4 billion. N2.8 billion recovered in cash, while 28 properties and three vehicles also recovered.

“Senator Bala Abdulkadir, former FCT minister: N5 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured. Senator Stella Oduah: N9.8 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured. Former Niger State governor Babangida Aliyu: N1.6 billion – from NSA. Senator Jonah Jang, former Plateau State governor: N12.5 billion. Bashir Yuguda, former minister of state for finance: N1.5 billion. $829,800 recovered. Senator Peter Nwaoboshi: N1.5 billion. Aliyu Usman: Former NSA Dasuki’s aide: N512 million. Ahmad Idris: Former NSA Dasuki’s PA: N1.5 billion. Rasheed Ladoja: Former Oyo governor: N500 million. Tom Ikimi: N300 million. Femi Fani-Kayode: N866 million. Hassan Tukur, former PPS to President Goodluck: $1.7 million. Nenadi Usman: N1.5 billion. Benedicta Iroha: N1.7 billion. Aliyu Usman Jawaz: close ally of former NSA, Dasuki: N882 million. Jonah Jang, former Plateau State governor: N12.5 billion. Godknows Igali: over N7 billion.”

The PDP national Chairman Uche Secondus gave the minister 72 hours to withdraw the statement or be ready to explain it to the court.

“We shall within 72 hours from today, proceed to a court of competent jurisdiction to ventilate our clients’ right under the law and shall further seek the protection of the court against you,” Secondus said.

Reacting, the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in a statement by its executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni said: “The authorities should withdraw the looters’ list and come up with a comprehensive list as ordered by Justice Hadiza Shagari last year. Allowing the published looters’ list to stand will undermine the credibility of the government’s claim to fight corruption, and signal to Nigerians that it is not serious to satisfactorily address the allegations of grand corruption under the former government of President Goodluck Jonathan, and involving those close to this government.

The organisation urged Lai Mohammed to immediately withdraw what it termed as “clumsy, arbitrary and selective looters’ list, as the list would seem to serve a political objective or carry out political agenda.”

“This kind of action can only diminish the government’s ability to fight corruption, frustrate its oft-expressed goal of a transparent government, allow suspected perpetrators - whether from the All Progressives Congress or the Peoples’ Democratic Party - to escape justice, and ultimately, deny victims of corruption justice and effective remedies” SERAP added.

Why now?

The APC is as of now on what possibly named ‘heat period’ as the party is experiencing strain from Nigerians who believed they had performed below expectations for the three years of rule.

The criticism from the Transparency International hasn't helped proven otherwise, as the corruption index punctured a gap in the affirmed advance report announced by the Presidency.

In the present administration, Nigeria is additionally evaluated as one of the poorest nations on the planet, which additionally brace that cries by numerous Nigerians that the present government had denied them of the social status they had amid the last administration.

Individuals from the Peoples Democratic Party opined that the APC is edgy to paint the party badly as 2019 methodologies. This was contained in a statement by the former national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who is at present facing charges for supposedly collecting N1.4 billion from the office of a former NSA.

Metuh reacted to Lai Mohammed after he included him on the rundown of thieves. According to the former party scribe, the APC had subjected him to two-fold trial: on the media, and in the courts.

He said the All Progressives Congress had turned out to be frantic because of the challenges in government, as he noticed that the ruling party was currently resolved to paint the PDP to guarantee that there was no compelling resistance ahead of the 2019 general election.

Also, the national Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, depicted President Buhari as poser who declined to scrutinise the sources of funds prior to and in 2015.

“In spite of the fact that Buhari burned through billions to run his campaign however, he couldn't afford to purchase the presidential form of N27.5 million,” Olagbondiyan asserted, noting that the cash originated from defilement proceeds, especially from the APC governors.

His words: “If the Federal Government and the APC are serious about fighting corruption, and not just out to persecute PDP members, they should have begun with the probe into the source of the billions of naira used for President Buhari’s 2015 presidential campaigns, particularly in the face of allegations that the fund was looted from treasuries of various APC states.

“The PDP ask: Can President Buhari in all honesty claim ignorance of reports in the open media that a South-south governor looted several billions from his state accounts and diverted the sums into Buhari’s 2015 campaigns?

“Can the Presidency and the APC inform Nigerians what steps the Federal Government has taken to investigate this allegation, which has been in public domain, and to clarify their roles as beneficiaries of the alleged looted funds?

“If they are not complicit, why are they not demanding the truth in the matter and the possible refund of the fund, for the good of the people?

“We challenge President Buhari to tell Nigerians what he has done regarding the leaked memo showing N9 trillion ($25 billion dollars) corrupt oil contracts at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), as well as the alleged stealing of N1.1 trillion worth of crude oil, all in a sector under his direct purview as minister of petroleum.”

Reno Omokri, a former aide to the former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, released a list entitled ‘The Real Looters List That Buhari and Lai Mohammed Do Not Want You To Know About’ last week Monday morning.

The rundowns are individuals from the APC who are as of now arraigned with not an indictment to be seen in sight. He asked why the APC declined to disclose to Nigerians that the President is a recipient of the assets professedly stolen by the previous National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Omokri listed the following politicians:

“Rotimi Amaechi: Indicted by the Justice George Omereji-led Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry of looting ₦97 billion, along with co indictees, including a former army general.

“Saminu Turaki: Alleged to have looted ₦36 billion. First charged before Justice Sabi’u Yahuza of the Federal High Court in Dutse, Jigawa State. Currently facing trial before justice Nnamdi Dimgba at the FCT High Court.

“Timipre Sylva: A well known financier and supporter of the APC administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Alleged to have looted ₦19.7 billion. Was facing trial before Justice A Y Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja. However, two days after President Buhari was sworn in, the new APC government WITHDREW the charges preferred against Sylva on June 1, 2015 and on October 3, 2018, the EFCC returned to Sylva, 48 houses seized from him during the administration of former president, Goodluck Jonathan, in 2013 to him.

“Murtala Nyako: Alleged to have looted ₦29 billion. Currently facing trial before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja

“Senator Danjuma Goje: Alleged to have looted ₦25 billion. Currently facing trial before the Federal High Court, sitting in Jos, Plateau State. Senator Abdullahi Adamu: Alleged to have looted ₦15 billion with the help of 18 co-accused. Charged on March 3, 2010. The case continues to linger in court. Orji Kalu: Alleged to have looted ₦3.2 billion. Currently facing trial before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos. Kayode Fayemi: Indicted by the Ekiti Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by former Ekiti State chief judge and the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Ademola Ajakaiye, of sundry financial malfeasance totaling over ₦2 billion.

“Senator Joshua Dariye: Alleged to have looted ₦1.2 billion. Currently facing trial before Justice Adebukola Banjoko at an FCT High Court. Babachir Lawal: Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Allegedly gave a ₦200 million contract to his own company, from monies meant to look after internally displaced persons (IDPs). Has been sacked after protest by the opposition and civil society; has still not been charged; was allowed to be replaced by his own cousin.”

Transparency International had evaluated Buhrai's administration as more degenerate than the Goodluck Jonathan's, regardless of the war against defilement propelled by Buhari.

Nigeria, in the current Transparency Corruption Index, dropped 12 points in reverse from 136 to 148: a score the Presidency likewise couldn't help contradicting. Amid Jonathan's administration, Nigeria moved from 144 to 136 in 2014. This result addresses the genuineness of the anti-graft war by the present administration.

The compromise by the present authority of the nation is another sign that it's difficult to chomp the hands that nourish you, as Buhari's government profited from the plundering of the past administration.

Nigerians believe that their politicians are burglars without a weapon, as their most prominent weapons are their pens.

It isn't clear if the reason for the open, bold fight is the closeness to the 2019 presidential election. Yet, the administration of the day is by all accounts romancing with past PDP individuals who decamped to the ruling party, while those still in the opposition camp are blamed for causing the 16 years misrule.

It is obvious that the Nigerian government, both former and current, are neck-deep into corrupt practices from the public display over the weeks. It's perplexing that politicians are shameless to publicly accuse themselves with the exact amount they stole. It's an indication that pilferage is no longer a ‘wow’ crime, and it's one of the many reasons the country, despite its huge natural resources, has refused to develop.

Nigeria is a country where politicians, yet to be caught publicly, shame and ridicule politicians caught. The public battle has only showcased the dirtier pigs, and it has reached the point of accepting the culture of shamelessness.

•Ehi Ekhator, Publisher of Naija Centre News, is a Nigerian journalist based in the United Kingdom.He can be reached via e-mail: ehidan@naijacenter.com; Phone: +447459853859; Twitter/instagram: @ehiehidan

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