If I Were Beneficiary Of Dasuki’s Handout, By Yusuf Ozi-Usman

When an old man swears to do something or not to do anything, wise people around would simply take heed. And so when 73-year old President Muhammadu Buhari swore, at his maiden media chat a fortnight ago, that he would retrieve all the money meant for Nigeria and Nigerians from those who looted it from the treasury, wise people around ought to have taken heed.
Even before he publicly swore, his body language, in addition to his famous inauguration declaration of ‘I’m for everybody and I’m for no body’ ought to have sent clear message to the past treasury looters that their days of glorious looting-without qualms are gone. The President body language also sent a clear message to the leadership of anti graft angencies that they should retrieve the loot from the looters wherever they were, whoever they were and at whatever cost.
Nigerians seem to have under-rated the enormity of the scandal that had ruled this country for a long time under the past leaderships, and equally, the determination of the Buhari government to bring the few cliques who have milked the country to the point of bleeding to book.
Indeed, it is not unexpected that in the real fight (not the former political grandstanding) against corruption, and of course, the treasury looters, a few elements who were either beneficiaries of the loot or affiliates of the looters through blood relation or political parties, would make noise, citing human rights violation, insensitivity on the part of the government and all such innuendos, but the issue still boils down to the cornering of the nation’s resources by few powerful and ruthless ones.
As a matter of fact, the leadership of the anti graft agencies, especially the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) would not need to be given any form of verbal or written command from the President to go with the Presidential rhythm by being ruthless in the drive to recover the loots from those who were entrusted with public funds but abused the trust.
Of course, it doesn’t appear as if the aim of the government or the anti graft agencies is the pleasure of molesting, disgracing and denigrading the treasury looters and their sundry allies; as even EFCC had earlier begged them to quietly return the money that passed through their hands, to the treasury. They were given enough time and option to save themselves from the embarrassment that could be visited on them if they thought that the war against corruption has any resemblance to the ones that was fought by the past leaders.
The message actually, is that Buhari is after the recovery of the money stolen and or distributed illegally to political, religious, traditional, women, youth and other leaders for the purpose such money was not meant.
If I were part of those who benefited from the master-distributed, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, I would not wait until EFCC come calling. I would do what the former Kaduna state military governor, retired Colonel Jafaru Isa did: bring out and hand over whatever is remain from what Dasuki gave me and hand it over to the anti corruption soldiers – EFCC, with a promise to refund whatever is remaining. I would not bother myself trying to explain the rational, the reason, the mode and even the point at which the money was given to me, or try to organize some ignorant or tribal war-lords or even political hangers-on to stage a fight back on my behalf, knowing very well that after all such side shows, and after going through some kind of public disgrace and show of empty bravado, I would still be made to cough out the money.
I would not want the government and its anti graft agencies to twist my two hands to my back, even when I’m crying and shedding tears of blood, to collect it from me.
Why would Metuhs, the Falayes the Yakasais, the Yugudas, the Obaigbenas, the Dokpesis and their likes want to escape the reality? That because they are what they are, Buhari and his government should just apologise to them and allow them to eat our money and smile to sleep?
What kind of adults are these? [myad]