COLUMN – EFCC’s Selective Anti Graft War, And The Political Disdain For North Central: What If Yahaya Bello Was From North West?
Even as reprehensible as the murky water of Nigeria’s politics, it’s disheartening that a historically significant region like the North Central,where the name of this great nation is birthed can be so repeatedly devalued, demeaned and relegated to the backseat of the country’s polity.
The North Central region has often finds itself relegated to the role of a mere pawn in the country’s political chessboard. In fact, its significance has always been overshadowed by the dominant narratives of othe regions despite its strategic location and diverse demography.
The region has frequently been treated with contempt and scorn as a peripheral player, seen as a region that politicians only turn to during elections before discarding it like a tool once their objectives are met.
Historically, especially since the turn of the fourth republic, the North Central has been viewed through a lens of disdain. Its leaders, while capable and experienced, have often been sidelined in national discourse. Instead of being recognized for their potential to sway political power, they are used as temporary assets.
The region is seen as voting blocs activated during election cycles and then abandoned once its utility has waned In fact, It is politically “North” during election cycles, and then Middle Belt immidiately elections are over. The impression about North Central is that of a mere electoral number, a region to be courted rather than a vital component of the national political landscape.
An exemplifying illustration of this neglect and disdain for North Central is the case of Abdullahi Adamu, the legally elected national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who hails from the North Central, Nassarawa State precisely; one of the state’s former governors.
Despite being legally elected to lead the party, his tenure was undermined and shortlived by the very government that he is supposed to represent. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adamu was effectively forced into impromptu retirement, and replaced by Abdullahi Ganduje from the North West, a former governor of Kano State, who holds the position on an interim basis till date for over a year now.
This move not only disregarded the constitutional zoning arrangements of the party that currently favourd the North Central, but also signified a broader trend of marginalization. The political maneuvering that led to Adamu’s ousting encapsulates the North Central’s precarious standing in Nigeria’s political hierarchy.
Instead of being embraced as a key player capable of influencing the direction of governance, the region’s leaders are frequently viewed as expendable. This unruly perception is damaging and perpetuates a cycle of neglect that stifles the region’s potential for political leadership and development.
The consequences of this marginalization extend beyond political representation; as it is also fraught with political selective persecutions of the North Central region’s leaders, in the guise of prosecution.
The region, is increasingly at the mercy of politically motivated actions that extend beyond mere political representation.
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Laying credence to this is the relentless pursuit of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following the expiration of his tenure. Despite the Kogi State government’s assurances that no funds are missing from its coffers, the EFCC has launched a campaign of alleged financial misconduct against him, raising questions about the motivations behind such scrutiny.
Bello’s plight in the hands of the EFCC is particularly disturbing when contrasted with the experiences of his peers from the North West. Governors from states like Kano, Kaduna, and Zamfara seem to operate under a different set of rules, escaping the kind of intense scrutiny directed at Bello. Take, for example, the case of former Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who in the recent past had faced accusations involving a dollar bribery video.
Despite calls from the current governor of the state, Abba Yusuf, for the EFCC to disclose the results of its investigations, the agency remains curiously silent. Meanwhile, Ganduje retains significant influence in President Bola Tinubu’s administration as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while the specter of corruption looms over him.
Similarly, former Zamfara Governor Bello Matawalle, accused by his successor, Governor Dauda Lawal, of leaving the state in financial ruin and even of complicity in terrorist activities, continues to thrive in the political sphere. Rather than facing accountability for allegedly mismanaging an astounding ₦250 billion (approximately $325 million), Matawalle has emerged as a prominent figure in the Tinubu administration, serving as the Minister of State for Defense.
In Kaduna, the situation is no less disturbing. The state’s House of Assembly had in the past months recommended the prosecution of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai for alleged money laundering and abuse of office, with a staggering ₦423 billion reportedly siphoned during his tenure. Yet, El-Rufai walks the streets freely, untouched by the kind of investigations that have ensnared Bello.
This uneven application of justice raises critical questions: Why does the EFCC, under Tinubu’s government, treat Ganduje, Matawalle, and El-Rufai with kid gloves while subjecting Yahaya Bello to what can only be described as a political witch-hunt? What political undercurrents are at play that justify this disparity in treatment?
This brings to mind a Yoruba proverb: “Anki fi obe faari igun, ki a fi faari akalamagbo, ki o wa de ori atioro ki awani obe ku.” This essentially means that it is unfair to use the same knife to scrape the hair of a vulture and a ground hornbill, and then suddenly claim the knife is dull when it’s time to scrape that of hornbill.
Then where is justice in this and what are Bello’s unforgivable sins, that are threatening to reduce him politically to zero?
Could it be that Bello’s vocal support for Tinubu’s emergence as president has somehow become an unpardonable offense in the eyes of those wielding power? Or is it because of his effrontery to contest the APC presidential ticket against Asiwaju over two year ago in 2022?
The consequences of this political marginalization are profound. It fosters a climate of fear, discouraging capable leaders from North Central from stepping forward, and perpetuates the idea that political allegiance is rewarded only in certain regions.
The selective persecution faced by Bello not only undermines the integrity of anti-corruption efforts but also raises serious concerns about the motivations driving such actions.
In another random questions, will the marginalization and victimization of the North Central region continue to play out in a manner that stifles its political voice, or will there be a reckoning that brings equity and justice to all corners of Nigeria? These are questions rhetorically begging for answers.
Diyaris God, as former first lady, Dame Patience rightly exclaimed several years ago.
Ozumi Abdul is a journalist, columnist and public affairs commentator. He can be reached via [email protected]
