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The first is that contrary to popular pretence, the evidence ostensibly gathered from the recordings purportedly
painted Mr. Farouk Lawan as politician many believe to be experienced in the business of extortion and
bribery. Many of us who publicly expressed disappointment about his action were told clearly that the apparent
evidence did not portray a man who has (or had) any leftover integrity. How could he have allegedly visited Mr.
Otedola’s house, at such an odd hour? How could he have allegedly packed part of the money, rather
shamelessly into his cap, if he was not a master of such games? Could such a stunt be pulled by an alleged
first timer? There are already stories flying in the air.  With hindsight, the question on the lips of every one is
whether his leadership of the so called powerful Integrity Group might have been all about – to collect, share
and clean mouth?  But again if his supposedly putrid pedigree is known to the leadership of the House of
Representatives, how come they still went ahead and gave him such a sensitive job to do? I will come back to
this later.

My second point is in relation to the report itself. The decision to probe the subsidy payments was a very noble
one. I have perused the report and I am prepared to argue that it contains mind blowing revelations about the
extent of corruption in the downstream sector and a glimpse at the perpetrators in government and their
collaborators in the private sector. It remains a potent ammunition and background material for anyone who
wants to lead knowledge driven advocacy in the oil and gas industry. However, with the purported action of Mr.
Farouk Lawan, my confidence in the report has been punctured as the report is now severely tainted. We might
have heard of  Mr. Otedola and Zenon Oil, what of many other companies who we do not know and who might
have allegedly made similar or ever greater payments to Mr. Lawan to get their names removed but were not
smart enough(or may be not interested) to get him on tape? I agree that those who have been indicted should
be made to face the law but how can anyone convince Nigerians that the list is a complete one?  Do we ignore
the blow that this scandal has landed on the report and go ahead to insist on the prosecution of the companies
including (or excluding) Zenon Oil and Synopsis Enterprises Limited?

My third point is about the trend of the drama. Did Mr. Farouk Lawan act alone as being alleged? Or better still
- could he have possibly acted alone? We were told by those who watched the video that he (Farouk) boasted
that he knows the right buttons to press to get the companies removed. What are those buttons? What was
the role of the House Committee on Financial Crimes and Narcotics in a desperate attempt to save Farouk?
Many pundits who reviewed the debate on the day that the report was submitted on the floor of the House
insist that the obvious body language of both the Deputy Speaker and other committee members spoke
volumes. In fact many commentators wonder why the presiding officer gave Mr. Lawan an unnecessary
opportunity to repeat the possibly rehearsed motion of amendment while other committee members were in a
visible haste to second the motion. Many observers have highlighted the fact that Hon. Emeka Ihedioha even
sought further clarifications as to whether the amendment was the view of Hon Farouk Lawan alone or that of
the entire committee. Could all these be considered coincidental or can we envisage that a few more chapters
of the drama may yet unfold in the near future?

My fourth and final point is on the growing legitimacy deficit of the House of Representatives as an institution.
The parliament is (or ought to be) a very important institution in a democracy by providing the requisite
oversight aimed at curtailing the excesses of the executive arm of government. At the core of this role is to lead
the fight against corruption on behalf of the people they represent. With the scandals opening up in the last
three months, there is a need to pause and rethink how the House of Representatives have fared in discharging
this essential role. Are they really fighting corruption or aiding, abetting and deepening it?  Who will watch the
watchdog? Now let me come back to the statement of Mr. Obasanjo in the context of all of these. Clearly as
someone who superintended over civil rule in Nigeria for eight years, one cannot dismiss his comments with a
wave of hand. He might have had some first-hand experiences or at least seen a few more things from his
vantage position as former President. If therefore the emerging verdict is our House of Representatives is filled
with thieving legislators and dull bribe takers as Farouk Lawan is being alleged, even with their fat salaries what
then is the hope of the common man in Nigeria?  It is very sad to note that Obasanjo might have once again
been vindicated.

Uche is a governance expert based at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. He wrote via
ucheigwe@gmail.com
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Faruk Lawan’s Comedy as the
Vindication of Obasanjo
____________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
By Uche Igwe
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Copyrights © 2007  All Rights Reserved African Examiner Online is owned by RD Frontline LLC, a state of Maryland registered company
P. O. Box 11582 Baltimore, Maryland, 21229, USA Tel: 443-904-1239. Editor-In-Chief: Oludare Sunday Fase
WHEN former President Obasanjo lambasted the national
assembly a few weeks ago, I was a bit worried. In fact I wanted
to respond to him and suggest that such a sweeping
statement should be received as a hasty and inappropriate
generalization.  At least there are a few people who are
currently in the national assembly and whose pedigrees still
remain impeccably unquestionable. It is public knowledge that
some current legislators actually made decent name and
impressive fortune before their foray into politics and one could
make exception for them in terms of integrity and commitment
to service.

Views about the Obasanjo era remain very diverse and
contentious.  There are those who strongly see him as
someone on whose shoulders history bestowed an important
opportunity to change Nigeria but who squandered it due to
uncanny lust for power. Clearly, Obasanjo did implement a few
laudable reforms in this country but along the line, analysts
argue that he lost his vision and betrayed his mission.
However, I must also say that the former President has three
things that no one can wish away- age, courage and
experience. Obasanjo is an old man. He is very courageous
and has many years of experience at the highest levels of
politics in Nigeria. When such a man makes a statement, the
best approach is to watch events further with studied silence
rather than take on him tactlessly as is often fashionable.  
Today, we now know that Mr. Obasanjo might have known little
more than many of us as he was allegedly privy to the
shameful solicitation and collection of bribe by someone who is
‘famous’ for anti- corruption posturing in the parliament. Even
as we wait for the final pronouncements of investigating
agencies, it is believed that unfolding drama in the House of
Representatives has exposed the selfish and unpatriotic
character of the Nigeria political class and the decay in an
institution constitutionally empowered to provide an anti-
corruption check on our democracy.  

I have watched the probe sessions repeatedly, followed up the
reactionary ostrich games that followed the leakage of the
video footages to the media. I wish therefore to draw attention
to four issues apparently dominating the arena of debate in
order to situate a more nuanced conversation.
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