Renowned journalist and publisher, Wole Arisekola, has questioned the approach of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to its anti-corruption campaign, arguing that the fight against corruption should be based on credible evidence rather than political considerations.
Arisekola, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Europe Chapter, and Chairman of the Association of Online Media Practitioners of Nigeria (AMPON), expressed the position in his recently published opinion piece titled ‘School of Thought’.
While acknowledging that many Nigerians consider the anti-corruption campaign necessary to recover public funds and restore confidence in the country, Arisekola said some critics believed the campaign was being applied selectively against political opponents of the administration.
He argued that corruption cases should be thoroughly investigated before suspects are prosecuted, stressing that public institutions should avoid pursuing cases that cannot be adequately established in court.
‘Goje Has No Reason To Be In Court’
Arisekola cited the case of former Gombe State Governor, Senator Danjuma Goje, as an example of what he considered a questionable prosecution.
“I give you a very good example. Look at the case of Danjuma Goje, former Gombe State governor. He has no reason to be in court,” he said.
According to him, Goje’s administration recorded significant infrastructure development in Gombe State despite the state’s relatively low revenue allocation at the time.
He mentioned the construction of roads, an airport and a university among projects he attributed to the former governor.
Arisekola questioned whether it was fair to assess a former governor solely through corruption allegations without considering the overall performance of his administration.
“Every day, you read on the pages of newspapers that Danjuma Goje is being taken to court. Why? You are supposed to judge people on the basis of their performance,” he said.
He, however, acknowledged that corruption allegations should be investigated where there is credible evidence, while arguing that prosecutions must be supported by facts capable of standing judicial scrutiny.
Arisekola Defends Akpabio’s Record
The publisher also cited former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio, whom he described as another example of a politician whose administration recorded significant development.
“Another good case is former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio. See how he transformed the state,” Arisekola said.
He argued that the performance of public officials should form part of the broader conversation about governance and accountability.
“So, when you talk of anti-corruption, who are we fighting and how are we fighting it?” he asked.
Arisekola questioned whether anti-corruption investigations could be influenced by political rivalry, warning against using state institutions to settle political differences.
“What they do today is pure vendetta,” he alleged, while describing the charges against Goje as, in his view, lacking sufficient merit.
‘We Need To Strengthen The EFCC’
Arisekola, who publishes The Street Journal, also called for reforms in the country’s anti-corruption institutions.
He identified the police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as key institutions involved in the fight against corruption.
According to him, the roles and responsibilities of the agencies should be clearly defined to prevent duplication and institutional confusion.
“I think out of the three, EFCC is the most prominent because we hear about them every day,” he said.
Arisekola called for greater investment in the EFCC and argued that the commission should be allowed to rely more on its own specialised personnel.
“The President needs to stop the police from posting their officers to the EFCC. We have EFCC officers that are trained,” he said.
He also warned against political interference in anti-corruption institutions, arguing that such interference could undermine public confidence in their activities.
“We must give them freedom to do their job. When you allow politicians to penetrate an agency of government, the result is what we’re getting today; because they will be using it as vendetta against one another,” he said.
Arisekola Criticises Economic Policies
Turning to the economy, Arisekola expressed concern about the economic policies of the Buhari administration, particularly monetary and foreign-exchange policies.
He argued that the country was experiencing serious economic difficulties and questioned the existence of multiple exchange-rate windows.
“What happened to the dollar we were spending in 2015? How did dollar disappear from this country?” he asked.
Arisekola said the government needed to review its economic team if the policies being implemented were not producing the desired results.
Asked whether he supported the replacement of some ministers or members of the economic team, he said he favoured a more sweeping change.
“I’m not canvassing for a swap. What I want is for the President to sack all of them,” he said.
According to him, public officials who fail to deliver on their responsibilities should be replaced with people capable of producing better results.
“Nigeria is not a trial-and-error country,” he added.
‘Give The Army Credit For Fighting Boko Haram’
On the fight against Boko Haram insurgency, Arisekola acknowledged the efforts of the Nigerian military but argued that the performance of different administrations should be assessed within the circumstances under which the military operated.
He noted that Nigeria had experienced difficulties obtaining military equipment during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“I remember that when former President Goodluck Jonathan was in power, and Nigeria was looking for where to buy arms, the U.S., Britain and France did not allow foreign countries to sell arms to Nigeria,” he said.
Arisekola argued that the Nigerian military nevertheless continued to fight the insurgency despite the reported difficulties in obtaining weapons and equipment.
He praised Nigerian soldiers for what he described as their courage and patriotism.
According to him, improved access to military equipment could make a significant difference in the fight against insurgency.
‘Do Not Believe Everything You Read’
On allegations surrounding the handling of funds meant for military equipment under the previous administration, Arisekola urged Nigerians to exercise caution before accepting every claim reported in the media as fact.
“Be careful; don’t believe everything you read on the pages of newspapers. Some of the things you hear are not true,” he said.
He stressed that he was not defending anyone accused of wrongdoing, adding that he was not in a position to establish what happened to funds whose handling had been questioned.
“Yes, there is corruption in Nigeria. People are stealing money. But do not write them off; some of them are loyal to this country,” he said.
Arisekola said his years of reporting and interactions with political figures in Europe had given him an appreciation of the complexities surrounding terrorism, diplomacy and international politics.
He recalled his professional experience in the Republic of Ireland and his interview with Gerry Adams, a prominent Irish republican politician and former president of Sinn Féin.
“I know what is called diplomacy,” he said.
‘Who Is Financing Boko Haram?’
Arisekola also raised questions about the sources of funding and logistics available to Boko Haram, arguing that greater attention should be paid to the networks that sustain terrorist organisations.
He questioned how the insurgents obtained weapons and resources to maintain their operations.
“Where does Boko Haram get their arms? Where do they get money to prosecute their war? Who is financing them?” he asked.
According to him, understanding terrorism requires more than simply focusing on individual attacks or statements by political actors.
He urged Nigerians to examine the international and regional dimensions of terrorism before reaching conclusions about the causes and sponsors of insurgency.
“You need to understand diplomacy. You need to understand international politics, because we are quick to jump into conclusion,” he said.
Arisekola maintained that Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign, economic policies and security challenges required serious institutional thinking rather than political rhetoric.
He called for stronger institutions, better investigations and greater professionalism in the management of public affairs, arguing that the ultimate objective should be the protection of Nigeria’s interests and the welfare of its citizens.
Credit: The Anchor Online
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