Dasuki: I Have a Lot to Tell Nigerians if Jonathan Isn't Talking

Dasuki&Jonathan

The Presidency is a prize with a
heavy price. As a result, when things go wrong, to use the words of Hans Morgenthau,”the virtues of the politician can easily become vices when they are brought to bear upon the statesman’s task.” This is why the burden of national unity rests heaviest on the man who holds the le- vers of power-the authority. 

This is why by all accounts former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan must answer questions on what he knows or doesn’t know about the current astonishing and chilling revelations on the $2.1 billion arms procurement by the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col.Sambo Dasuki (retd) under his presidency. The tate-tales that are trailing the disbursement of the money and the characters involved, sums up an incredible putrid story of how Nigeria continues to rank in the top bracket of the World’s most corrupt countries.

The hefty amounts involved are mindblowing for which nothing should be left to chances, and no individual, no matter how big, should be spared, if found remotely or directly connected with the scam. This is a scandal from which box office movie can be made. It is a rip-off of unspeakable dimension. Already, as we all know, this is a running story for which Dasuki, the star at the heart of the scandal has been taken in by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), after weeks of siege to his Abuja residence by the operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS). Also in EFCC custody over the same matter, are former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, former Minister of state for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, Chairman of Daar Communications, Raymond Dokpesi, ex-Defence Minister, Haliru Mohammed and others. Many more are likely to be in EFCC net in the days and weeks ahead. 

From the names already fingered in the scam, and questioned by the EFCC operatives, as regards their role, is Dokpesi’s receipt of a hefty N2.1bn of the share. He didn’t deny it. And Bafarawa’s share is even bigger, N4.6bn.

That of Yuguda is put at N1.5bn from the office of the ex-NSA, for unstated purpose, and another N775m from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, also for unspecified purpose. The former Defence minister’s son, Abba is also caught in the web, having allegedly received N600m in the name of Bam Properties Limited.

 But these are just few of the puzzling issues in this arms scandal. But, by far the gordian knots to untie are these questions: Is it true that former President Jonathan was in full knowledge of these transactions of $2.1bn arms purchase, and indeed, approved them for Dasuki? Dasuki had earlier said that all approvals were made by Jonathan, put differently, did Dasuki apply and received $1bn on March 27, 2014, and $200m on May 2014 and another $200m same day, up from $250m which he reportedly requested for?.

It was also alleged that Dasuki in January this year received $100m. These monies, we are told, were sourced from outside the budgetary provisions for security, in addition to the $1bn loan that Jonathan administration had secured to fight insurgency in the North. Was it also true that the former President’s senior special assistant (Administration), Matt Aikhiobere wrote the covering letter conveying the presidential approval, contrary to ex-president’s denial last month from far away Washington DC, USA?

We recall that Jonathan had said that his government never awarded any contract in the range of US$2bn. He queried:, “where did the money come from? Repeatedly he said, “I did not award any contract of $2bn for arms procurement.

 But the 13-man panel set up by President Buhari had found that questionable deals took place, involving a revolving door of high-profile corruption. And that extra- budgetary spending was secured by Jonathan, amounting to N643.8bn, and additional foreign component of $2.2bn, all managed and super- vised by ex-NSA were used for the illicit deals.

Only last month, Dasuki was widely quoted to have said, “I have a lot to tell Nigerians”. Now, between Jonathan and Dasuki, who do we believe? Is it not rationally difficult to believe how one man, in this case, Dasuki could have disbursed such stupendous amount of money without the approval of the President and Commander in Chief? That’s why I ask: where was Jonathan when all these were happening?