It's Unfair to Detain Dasuki While Jonathan Remains a Free Man

Col. Sambo Dasuki (Left) and ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (Right)

 

Trending news on air has it that A foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party and former member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Sena­tor Joseph Waku has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prosecute all those involved in the corruption scandal as he said there should be no space for any sacred cow.

 

Responding to an interview with the Sun, Waku said it is unfair to detain Dasuki, while Jonathan remains a free man. He said this while reacting to a question put to him.

 

While describing the recent 2.1 billion US dollars arms fund scandal otherwise known as Dasukigate as a shame of a nation, Waku who is a lead­er of the pro-North Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF expressed disgust at the caliber of people involved in the scam.

 

He said: “What does Anenih want again at his age? What does Yakassai want again at his age? It is a big shame on these two men refered to as elderstatemen, to be involved in alleged sharing and looting of funds meant to purchase arms for our troops to fight Boko Haram. These two old men should not only apologise to Nigerians, they and others that par­took in the sharing should refund the money to the national treasury.

 

"It is very shocking and disgraceful, most especially when you look at the caliber of people involved. Look at the names that Dasuki has been mention­ing as beneficiaries of the loot. These are people that Nigerians until now look up to with respect. Tanko Yakas­sai, Tony Anenih, Haliru Bello, people who are supposed to be role models, now turning into looters. It is a big shame. I’m highly disappointed with these people.

"What still baffles me is this, what constitutional power did Dasuki have to withdraw and disburse public mon­ey to few individuals? Dasuki is not an official or treasurer of PDP. Even in his role as the National Security Adviser, he lacked the power to share and dis­tribute the money the way he did.

"What Dasuki did was not only crim­inal, but it is also illegal. I’m surprised that former President Goodluck Jona­than has chosen to keep quiet. Please he should be told that in this case, si­lence is not golden for him at all. It is even unfair that up till now nobody has deemed it fit to ask Jonathan questions including security agencies.

"Is Jonathan bigger than Nigeria?"

 

Reacting to the question whether Jonathan should be prosecuted if he is found involved in the arms deal scandal considering his reputation as an ex-president, he replied blatantly: "Rubbish. That is one of the big­gest problems confronting Nigeria. The big man syndrome culture of the untouchables, that is one of the things killing us. Is Jonathan bigger than Ni­geria? Will Jonathan be the first former president to be investigated or quizzed over corruption? We should be able to draw a line between sentimentalism and patriotism. To me, asking Jonathan to speak out or being quizzed is an act of patriotism. Asking that he should be left alone is sentimentalism.

"How can they leave Jonathan alone? He is a central and key figure in this scam. Dasuki has been mentioning his name repeatedly, and let’s look at it this way, can Dasuki do anything on his own without the consent and approval of the president and the commander-in-chief? It is very unfair to detain Dasu­ki, while Jonathan remains a free man.

"Jonathan should be arrested now. He should be quizzed and if he is found culpable let him be put on trial. If he is eventually found guilty, he should be sent to prison. Yes, Jona­than should be sent to prison if his hands are not clean, heaven will not fall if he is jailed. He will not be the first former president to be jailed. There are several other examples and instances across the world.

"For those Jonathan’s apologists who keep on saying that we leave the man alone because he handed over power to Buhari peacefully, what is the big deal in that? I ask again, what is the favour Jonathan has done Nige­ria by handing over to Buhari? Was Jonathan not defeated at the polls? Did he not admit defeat? If Jonathan had stubbornly refused to hand over power after he lost the election, he would have ended up in shame, he would have been disgraced like the former leader of Cote d’Ivoire, Lau­rent Gbagbo who refused to quit after he lost to Alassane Quattara, where is Gbagbo and his wife now, they are both in prison in The Hague, Neth­erlands. Both of them fell from grace to grass, that would have been Jona­than’s lot if he had tried to play funny games.

"I’m not saying Jonathan is guilty in this arms fund scandal issue, but if his hands are clean let him come out and clear his own name. Nigerians are waiting for him to speak out." he said.

 

However, many have argued that there can be no way Dasuki would have disbursed such hefty amount of money without the knowledge of the president. Some are of the opinion that the ex-president must be made to face the music if found to be involved in the arms deal scandal.