Dasukigate: Why silence is not golden for Jonathan – Tsav
Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, a former commissioner of the Lagos state police command, has said that the ex-president Goodluck Jonathan has to break the silence and explain the role he played in the $2.1bn arms funds scandal also known as Dasukigate.
Abubakar Tsav
According to Tsav, “silence is not golden for Jonathan at this period,” therefore, he should speak out or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should invite him.
In an interview with The Sun, Tsav also spoke on the recent Panama Papers scandal and prominent Nigerians involved in it, President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption and its results.
On Dasukigate & Jonathan’s side of the story
“Why should Jonathan be untouchable? People tend to forget that whosoever offer himself for service should be ready to be accountable. Accountability is part of service. In other countries of the world, former presidents have been tried and jailed for corruption if they are found guilty. So why should Nigeria be an exception?
“There is no way EFCC can have it easy resolving the Dasukigate scandal without hearing Jonathan’s because nearly everybody involved mentioned his name.
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“We need to hear from Jonathan himself what happened. Jonathan has questions to answer. He is not untouchable. He is not above the law. If Jonathan’s side of the story is not heard, it will be difficult to try those people involved in Dasukigate scandal.”
On Panama Papers scandal
“It is a big shame. It is a national embarrassment. What I expect President Muhammadu Buhari to do is to order the EFCC and the ICPC to investigate those Nigerians whose names were on the Panama Papers. If it is discovered that they were truly running foreign accounts while holding public office, they should be put on trial.
“For those people mentioned like the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, David Mark, James Ibori, and Aliko Dangote, some of them have denied any link with the Panama Papers. But that is not enough, security and anti-corruption agencies should conduct their own independent investigations.
“If I also have my way, I would have recommended that the National Assembly make laws to deal with anybody indicted in the Panama Papers scandal. It is shameful that in a nation where millions are hungry that some individuals could still be stashing money abroad. We need to get to the root of the matter, and ensure that culprits are fished out and punished.”
On Buhari’s anti-corruption crusaide
“I believe Buhari is a different man who has the will to take the bull by the horn. Corruption has reached such an alarming stage in Nigeria that I believe that Buhari should declare a state of emergency in the war against corruption. He should expand the scope of operations of the anti-graft agencies. Above all, he should have the courage to move against those corrupt elements dragging Nigeria down no matter how highly placed they are.
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“At 70 plus, Buhari should fear nobody again. He, who he should fear now is Almighty God and his conscience. It should no longer be business as usual in Nigeria – corruption has wreaked a lot of havoc on Nigeria, and those responsible should be brought to book. Nigerians voted for Buhari because they believe he is capable of fighting corruption, he should not disappoint Nigerians.”
Assessment of the anti-corruption war
“I believe the war is on course, and the campaign is yielding results. Look at the loots being recovered and revelations being made, I believe the administration is making progress in the war against corruption. Although nobody has been convicted but a lot of money has been recovered and I also strongly believe that he will have convictions before the end of the year.
“If former president Goodluck Jonathan had done half of what Buhari is doing regarding corruption, Nigeria would not have been in this situation. Jonathan failed to fight corruption, and here we are today.”
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