YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CANNOT HIDE

When Chief Olusegun Obasanjo assumed office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in 1999, he put a Council of Ministers together that did not include a Minister of Petroleum Resources. That effectively made him the head of that pivotal ministry.

Now, this was unprecedented. Not even the military regimes, including the ones he was either part of or which he headed dispensed with the services of a cabinet rank overseer for the most important sector of the national economy. So, inevitably questions were asked. But, Obasanjo had an answer, which back then seemed satisfactory to all but those who, even back then, had smelt a rat.

Speaking on one of the earliest editions of the television programme, Presidential Media Chat, I recall his explanation went something like this. He told the story of how, on a visit to Cuba, he had a leisurely stroll with the then President of that country, Fidel Castro. On their way, Castro pointed to a particular tree or plant (memory fails me here) and told his visitor all about it, its contribution to the national economy and all that. Obasanjo was impressed and wondered aloud how Castro, in spite of his high office as president, could know so much about just one product. His host told him that, that was his job; his was an agricultural country and he was the minister of agriculture. Like a good student, Obasanjo decided to adopt the Castro Formula. He reasoned that since Nigeria derives virtually all her revenue from petroleum resources, it made sense for him to be in charge.

That was the beginning of what many saw as an aberration which concentrated so much power in the hands of one man, with all the potentials for abuse. It was the beginning of a situation which somebody very recently analysed like this: The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, which runs the industry, is supposed to have a board, headed by a chairman; in the absence of a board, Obasanjo was both board and chairman. The board was supposed to report to a Minister; Obasanjo was that minister. The minister was supposed to report to the President; Obasanjo was the president. It was therefore the beginning of a journey that culminated in the Federal House of Representatives’ motion on Tuesday to probe the activities of the Oil Sector since 1999.

If newspaper reports of the House plenary, where the motion was tabled, passed and implemented, are to be believed, the representatives would seem to consider this as their most important assignment to date.

The Daily Independent report, for instance, spoke of a “joyful mood in the House of Representatives on Tuesday as a committee of 26 members was set up to probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)”.
The report continued: “The committee, according to Speaker Dimeji Bankole who announced its composition at the plenary, has Igo Aguma (PDP, Rivers) as Chairman. Aguma is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Gas.The probe panel equally has as members the Chairmen of the Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Upstream, and Intergovernmental Affairs; all of whom are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). There are members of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and Action Congress (AC) as well. The announcement of the committee members elicited instant applause from the House.

“Aguma said those who have had dealings with the top echelon of the NNPC between 1999 to date would be questioned at the public hearing that would soon begin. They include Minister of Energy (Petroleum), Odein Ajumogobia; former Minister of State for Energy, Edmund Daukoru; as well as former NNPC Group Managing Directors, Gaius Obaseki and Funsho Kupolokun, he said. Oil firms and contractors, among others, would also be called in for questioning. The hearing, which may be aired live on television - as was the case with the one conducted by the Power and Steel Committee - is expected to unravel the mystery about the operations of the NNPC and the DPR.
“The investigation was requested in a motion moved by Halims Agoda (PDP, Delta) and 92 others, who drew attention to discrepancies in the two agencies since 1999. Agoda said there are complaints that the NNPC, DPR, Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) all parade conflicting figures on oil revenue…”

Another thing that can be gleaned from newspaper reports is that this may well be the ultimate trial of former President Obasanjo’s claim to probity in the handling of the national treasury during his eight-year tenure. This much was reflected in Daily Sun’s version of the report. Headlined, “The Noose Tightens” with a file photograph of the ex-president praying, the report said by the House of representatives decision “has become apparent that Nigerians would know how former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo presided over the nation’s oil wealth, as he was de-facto Minister of Petroleum for eight years.“

The paper also noted the House Speaker Dimeji Bankole’s warning to his colleagues not to use the exercise to witch-hunt anyone in these words: “Do you really have an idea of what we are about to start? My advice before we start is that there will be no witch-hunting of any individual. Please, there must be no witch-hunting of any group or individual. The credibility of the House is on the line. We must not trivialize a serious issue. We must let our debate be in line with what will improve the conditions of the people that we are representing.”

Against the background of the two on-going investigations: the power and steel sector probe by the House and the Federal Capital Territory’s by the Senate, one can only say, these are truly interesting times. The current probes, which have been a mixture of the hilarious, the absurd and the saddening, with twists and turns of soap opera proportions, have done nothing to help the image of the former president, and it is doubtful that this new one would be different.

Without prejudice to the eventual finding of the committee, it is clear that the sage who said ‘power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ knew what he was talking about. That is why many wise men deliberately leave the door of accountability wide open.

When anyone becomes accountable to nobody, danger looms large! Ask David, the king and priest of Israel, the man after God’s own heart. The bible records that he stayed at home “at the time when kings go forth to battle …And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child…”(2Samuel 11: 1-5).

No innuendos are intended in the choice of analogy, please! It is quite appropriate. David had sent everybody else to war; all he had around him were servants, who dared not counsel the king. And soon he added murder to adultery and thought he had it all covered up. But of course, even if he could hide it from men, could he also do so from God? Read the rest of this instructive story in 2Samuel 12.

God’s judgement upon David was severe, but the most instructive is this declaration by Prophet Nathan, the messenger of God: “You did your deed in secret; I'm doing mine with the whole country watching!" (2Samuel 12:12 MSG).

The Lord Jesus was to emphasise this principle later in his earthly ministry when he said: “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops” (Luke 12:2-3).

Does this tell you anything about the real source of the spate of exposures, on-going and coming? Whoever said, you can run, but you cannot hide, must have spoken the mind of God.