The Hydra View of Maina Gate: Contending Issues

 

 

The Nigeria political conversation has gone wrong overtime. It is a worrisome situation indeed. How our political institutions, under the watch the ruling All Progressives Congress has been fondly found wanting on the issue of corruption.

 

Permit me to say this legendary maxim “how is the mighty fallen?” If the change administration could be involved in such a saga among numerous others, then who is safe?

 

Recently, it was Baru Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru versus the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Emmanuel Kachikwu over $25 million dollars quagmire. Then now, the Almighty return of Mr Abdulrasheed Maina, a former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms to the civil service.

 

Sincerely, without fear or favour, I have followed the debate, contending realities about the said Maina Gate. It is critically obvious that Maina seems to be a victim or scapegoat in the hands of the political cable of the Buhari led government. Mr maina was returned to the service, a letter was sent by the constituted authorities. The court acquitted him all charges brought against him. It is expected that the complainers ought to have re-appealed the case, but that wasn't done.

 

So Mr Maina after winning his case has the constitutional rights to be reinstated and all allowances due to him paid. The point is simple, Maina was accused, he was charged to court and he was declared free of the charges brought against him by law. So therefore, he is free to be re-instated to his position like any other Nigeria who is victorious in a court case.

 

Did you know that other bodies are involved in cases of pension affairs? For your knowledge, let me bring to your table the details of other establishments that collaborate with the pension office over any issues on civil servants pension. They include and not limited to the following: 15 representatives from the EFCC, 2 representatives from the ICPC, 4 representatives from the state security service, 2 from National Intelligence Agency, 15 from the office of the head of service, 3 from the office of the accountant general of the federation, 2 from attorney general office, while other core representatives are from public complaint commission and national association Nigeria pensioners respectively.

 

This is the issue. If all these aforementioned bodies are involved in the Maina Gate, how come they are all quiet and silent while only Mr Maina is accused?

Where are they above mentioned names? Why can't the government agencies in question not be called to give account of the roles the play? This is a national issue, and it is expected to me treated nationally without any form of prejudice or fear or favor.

 

Back to the case of Baru versus Kachikwu, the latter said the former didn't carry him along, so therefore all contracts signed without the knowledge of his desk or office are illegal. That is understood because of lack of due process. Then in case of Maina versus the government agencies present and involved in the issues of pension, have they come out to say Maina acted alone without their consents? No. So why focusing on Maina’s return, calling him so many unprinted names while his counterparts from other government establishments, who worked hand in hand with his office are left out?

 

The PDP on the other hand has every right to dance to the thrones with the issue at hand. But this issue is not political at all, it should be national. Because whatsoever ever we do today shall resurface tomorrow. So we must learn to do things with posterity in mind.

Maina didn’t act alone, Maina was charged and acquitted by a court of competent jurisdiction, his accusers didn't appeal the case of his victory. So the man is innocent.

There is no need criticising him over what those in authorities took parts in.

 

Government and governance continue indeed. Whether it happened under PDP or APC, Maina is a Nigerian and must be treated as one.

 

Points of interest from the Maina Gate:

 

1. Maina worked with over 6 government agencies as constituted by the law of the federal republic on pension matters.

 

2. Maina was discharged and acquitted by the court of competent jurisdiction.

 

3. Maina accusers didn't re-appeal the case.

 

4. Maina was returned to service.

 

From the above mentioned points, what then makes Maina guilty aside political sentiments and emotional analysis without fact?

 

This situation is not as bad as it appears. Nigerians must learn to look into matters from the standpoint of truth than mere sentiments.

 

Until all the agencies involved in the pension scam are brought to testify against their involvement and role they played on this, Maina should not be seen as the evil genius and corrupt fellow because he didn't act alone.