Bribery allegation: In defence of Oshiomohle

 Comrade Adams Oshiomohle

By Ibrahim Mohammed

Penultimate week, the press was agog with bribery allegations against the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomohle. These politicians serving as fifth columnists not only accused Oshiomohle of taking bribe from aspirants amounting to $50 million, but also asked EFCC to commence investigation against the Iyamo born politician.

This Trojan horse masquerading as angels of light alleged that the former governor of Edo State had no moral grounds to remain in office for allegedly receiving money from some persons to influence the decision of the National Working Committee in their favour.

Again, in their own evil machination wanted to pitch the “Peoples’ Chairman” against Nigerians by stating that Nigerians are waiting patiently to see how the President will handle the serious allegations against his party chairman by informing that they expect the President with his anti-corruption campaign to institute a thorough and transparent investigation into the allegations against Oshiomohle.

In their own mischievous calculations, they noted that failure of the President to get to the root of the matter will finally destroy his ability and that of the party to continue to talk of any anti-graft battle as this is no time for cover up.

But given their antecedents, political pundits were quick to point out that these politicians were not just comfortable with Oshiomohle’s stance on transparency and party supremacy and in quest to institute trouble and divert attention have called on EFCC to commence investigation on the alleged bribery. They believe that since the APC reform being carried by Oshiomohle has displaced them, it is time to bring him down politically and install their henchman.

Although, a weightier allegation coming from big political actors, but it has raised more questions from a cross session of Nigerians who were interested in knowing where and why the statement is coming now. It is just to plant bad blood within the APC political hierarchy to break their ranks for a possible defeat.

It is unfortunate that these political gladiators could degenerate to such a low level by concocting fictions and presenting it as fact thereby calling on EFCC to investigate matters that are not founded. That is why informed circles have dismissed it with a wave of hand describing it as figment of their own imagination.

Indeed, it is highly depressing, but not unexpected, that these people that are politically drowning, would make such grievous comments against Oshiomohle and Nigerian in their right senses have challenged them to mention name of one aspirant that gave money to APC Chair.

Most of these people accusing Oshiomohle of corrupt practices unfortunately are wearing garment of corruption around and have been in the eye of investigations by the EFCC and the ICPC for sundry cases of corruption. These are the same people that have taken it upon themselves to question Oshiomhole’s integrity.” What an irony of life?

More disturbing to the discerning minds is that these accusers have not even mentioned one person who has claimed that he gave money to Oshiomhole to influence him and the decision of the party’s national working committee in the just-concluded primary elections. A case of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it. Man and its perfidy, what a word?

There is no doubt that the vultures are gathering again. This time with another sinister plan to bring down the hardworking “Peoples’ Comrade” Mr. Oshiomohle by trying to pitch the transparent anti-graft agency, Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the performing National Chairman of APC by calling the anti-corruption agency to arrest and investigate him. This came after their evil plot of trying to cause disaffection between Oshiomohle and the APC caucus failed like park of cards. As devils they are, they can’t stay idle but must stir up trouble to have their way. But this won’t work on Oshimohle, because Nigerians are wiser now and well informed on their desperate move to thwart the new Nigeria project which Mr. President and his party led by Oshiomohle are courageously piloting to the good of all Nigerians irrespective of age, tribe and religion.

These mischief makers who are bent on truncating our hard earned democracy should spare a thought on how we were when the military boys held sway. We are already in Jerusalem and wouldn’t want to go back to Egypt. Nigeria and Nigerians have moved forward astronomically under Buhari and APC and nobody should thwart this good progression on the altar of personal aggrandizement.

The whole thing is but a handiwork of political opponents, who by all means want to destroy the good image of Oshiomohle and by extension that of APC. The defamatory act has the tendency to affect not only the personality of Oshiomohle.

One should wonder why true Nigerians should embark on this mischievous adventure that is aimed at bringing down our good leader who is now seen as an epitome of good leadership and one who works assiduously to develop our democracy and give it a good reputation, through among others developing internal democracy, and fiercely combating corrupt practices as exemplified by the federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Let it be known that Oshiomohle has put machinery in the party that has ensured transparency with a view to complementing the activities of the Anti-Graft Agency led by Mr. Ibrahim Magu and by extension, Buhari’s anti-corruption fight which is gathering currency by the day. For one to ask EFCC to investigate this just man sounds absurd.

Again, any sensible adult must doubt the authenticity of the vilifying allegation, giving Oshiomohle’s adverse stance to what he is being associated with in the baseless allegation. It can be asserted that no former Governor or a party Chairman throughout the country, apart from President Muhammadu Buhari that detests and fights corruption more than Oshiomohle. A number of awards from both local and international anti-graft organizations were given to him on the basis of his unflinching stand against corruption and dishonest exploitation of power for personal gains.

Most reassuring is that Oshiomohle is not the only person who fall victim of this mischievousness by these mischief-makers and political jobbers; even President Buhari has been accused of condoning corrupt practices thereby protecting looters and promoting corruption by these same people. We are all victims of these mischief makers, whose prime mission is to promote falsehood to fact and cause disharmony between APC leadership and Nigerians and to destabilize the system for their own selfish interest.

Their trade in stock is to ridicule leaders before their people and make them a laughingstock in the sight of their counterparts. However, in all these attempts, none was successful; likewise this. This uproar generated arising from the fabricated claims against Oshiomohle will make no impact, and will inexplicably vanish in no distant time.

Nigerians in their millions have called on EFCC not to express their agreement to this allegation, which they believe is an orchestrated move by those envying the success of APC under Oshiomohle, to distract him from doing the good work for his party. We see how other parties are organizing their affairs, Oshiomohle stands far ahead of them. He is a good party man and administrator. He has sanitized the party which even the mischief-makers are in agreement with.

The APC establishment should rise up to rally around Oshiomohle in this trying time, they should do everything possible to ensure his success, which I believe is theirs too. They shouldn’t accept to lose him at this moment when other parties are praying and working tirelessly to have a leader like him. I am quite optimistic that the Magu-led-EFCC won’t allow mischief-makers to ruin the progress made and confidence it currently enjoys from Nigerians.