A Commission of Inquiry was recently set up by the Taraba State Government to review financial dealings in the state Ministry for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs between 2003 and 2007. CHUWANG DUNGS tries to unravel the salient reasons that led to the establishment of the commission.

On Monday 1st March 2010, Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba state set up a nine-man judicial commission of inquiry to be chaired by Justice Philibus Andetur to beam its searchlight into the affairs of the defunct state Ministry for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs from May 2003 to May 2007. This was with a view to probing into the amount of money received on behalf of local government councils in the state from the federation account during the same period and how the money was utilised.

Other terms of reference of the commission were to ascertain the amount collected as loans on behalf of LGAS under the joint account, by whom and how such monies were disbursed to the councils; verify the mode of collection of value added withholding taxes, as well as ascertain whether such collections were properly remitted into the government coffers or not. It is also to identify individuals or groups of persons responsible for such collections, as well as consider whether there was embezzlement , mismanagement or diversion involved. The commission is also to recommend appropriate disciplinary measures that would lead to the recovery of such funds wrongly diverted or mismanaged as the case may be.

The panel is also to consider any other matter that is incidental to these issues and make further recommendations on measures to be taken. The panel was given four weeks to complete its assignment, effective from the date of its first public sitting.

Reasons advanced by government for setting up the commission were the public outcry on the abuse of public office, public trust and alleged mismanagement of the affairs of the ministry by some government functionaries during the period under review.

But, since the inauguration of the panel on Wednesday 3rd March by the state deputy governor, Sani Abubakar Danladi, the matter is generating serious questions among political analysts and observers in the state, as even those within the government circle are shocked by the development.

Some political analysts ask why will Governor Suntai not probe the whole of the past administration in which he served as Secretary, in place of just zeroing on only one ministry. They also queried the motive behind the setting up of the panel towards election period and who Suntai is targeting.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, Ibrahim Hussaini, a former speaker in the state assembly said, in addressing the issue at stake, "we have to first look at the motive behind setting up of the panel at this period; we have to look at who is doing the investigation and who is being investigated and at whose instance."

Hussaini said other issues to be critically examined are the terms of reference of the committee and the law used in creating it. "On the other hand, we have to ask why investigating just a particular ministry in the state and within the period of 2003-2007 only," the former legislator queried.

According to him, in as much as there is nothing wrong in conducting investigations, it should be conducted with some sense of dignity, adding that there is a wider dimension to the setting up of the commission. In his view, it is not about public interest as claimed, as, "if it is to the interest of the public, I believe the investigation would have commenced long ago, let's say in the first year of the governor in office."

He went on that, the trial is all about politics and there are very important political considerations at stake, adding that "even though I am not a lawyer, it is time we shed light on how some people use the instrument of power and the law to intimidate political opponents, as this is an act of witch-hunting in the name of justice." He regretted that, Suntai is using the instrument of government to fight those that were instrumental to his success in life.

Similar feelings were expressed by Habu Isa Ajiya, also a former speaker in the state assembly. In his words, "I was baffled when I heard of the news that a panel of inquiry was set up by the governor, it beats my imagination to ask questions like, do people really have conscience at all?"

He said he expected the governor to act like Jang, his counterpart in Plateau, who, when asked to probe Dariye's administration, declined and said instead of wasting time, money, energy and other resources digging the past, he better uses same in developing the state and allow the people to assess and see which administration is better.

Ajiya said further that, although he is not trying to defend any individual, he wants to advise Suntai that, if he is sincere and sure there was mismanagement in the last administration which he served as SSG, then he should accept part of the blame and sweep the past under the carpet and map out ways of developing the state better. "He should please avoid issues that will divert his attention and save the state from controversies."

LEADERSHIP reliably gathered that, the setting of the panel was instigated by the state party chairman, Abdulmumuni Vaki, the deputy governor, Sani Abubakar and the SSG, Abubakar Tutare, as a political strategy to indict some persons and bury them politically, especially Danladi Baido and Mustapha Hamangabdo, who both served as commissioners in the ministry under probe within the period under review.

A key government official who was a top member of Nyame's administration, told our correspondent in anonymity that, he felt highly betrayed by what is going on. According to him, he had advised Suntai to allow a sleeping dogs lie and settle down to work instead of digging the past which may likely consume a lot of people. "I am afraid a lot of people will be consumed," he lamented.

According to him, the monies in question were used to finance the PDP campaign in the state, stressing that if Suntai will now come out in the name of investigating a development he was aware of, then he would look like someone who has no conscience. "Everybody in the state is aware that it was public funds that were used to finance PDP campaign in the state at all levels and he is now benefiting what was sown with public funds; if he claims that the system was bad, he should also know that he is a beneficiary of a bad system, so he should simply resign and apologize to the people of Taraba"

Just like what most members of the public are saying, this source also insisted that the investigation is politically-motivated and is targeted at Mustapha and Baido.

Danladi Baido, who won the PDP gubernatorial primaries, but was disqualified by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and immediately replaced by Suntai who was then the SSG, became the enemy of Suntai since he instituted a legal battle in an attempt to regain his mandate. He recently came out publicly lambasting Suntai of betrayal, which development according to those close to Suntai, has made the governor to vow to destroy Baido politically. This assertion may very well be true as the governor was quoted to have vowed to use all the power and resources at his disposal to cripple Baido and those behind him.

Mustapha, who is currently the special adviser to the Governor Suntai on political affairs, is said to  be haunted because of his senatorial ambition. LEADERSHIP gathered that he has vehemently refused to set-aside his ambition for the central senatorial seat to support the current SSG, who is also desperately gunning for the same position despite the intervention of some party stakeholders.

A source told our correspondent that a few weeks before the panel was set up, Mustapha was invited to a meeting and was asked to forget his ambition and throw his weight behind the SSG. But he stubbornly rejected the idea insisting that he cannot relinquish his ambition to Tutare, whom he termed as "unpopular". This and other factors have been advanced as some of the reasons why Tutare plotted the investigation as a way of nailing the Gashaka Prince.

Our source further said, Tutare is bent on dealing with any individual perceived as a threat to his senatorial dream, citing an example with the recent impeachment of the chairman of Gassol Local Government, his own locality. According to the source, Tutare, with the aid and support of the party and the deputy governor, spearheaded the "unjust" removal of Iliya Goje, because he was said to be a strong supporter of the incumbent senator. Another version of the story with regards to the setting of the panel is that, the act was hatched and masterminded by the state commissioner for justice, Ibrahim El-sudi also for political reasons and as vendetta against Mustapha’s family.

According to our source, the Attorney-General, who is from the same locality with the prince-Gashaka, is eyeing the House of Representatives and with Mustapha in the race for Senate, it will thwart his ambition knowing that the two seats cannot be zoned to the same local government.

Our source alleged further that, El-sudi is of the strong view that if the commission succeeds in indicting Mustapha, then he will have a smooth sail to the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

On the angle of vengeance, it will be recalled that at the advent of this administration, El-sudi was nominated as a ministerial candidate, but did not scale through the screening process and it was alleged that it was the Lamido of Gashaka, Mustapha's father, that used his influence to stop him from being a minister. Since then, he was said to have been nursing that grudge and waiting for an opportunity to pay back. Observers are of the view that this is likely one of the opportunities for the Barrister to administer vengeance on the royal family.

As analysts and political players await the panel to commence sitting, thousands of Tarabans are nursing suspicious feelings. Perhaps the only way Suntai will prove his sincerity is to investigate the entire Nyame administration including himself to prove to the public that he was not part of the corruption that was said to have characterized the former government.

The LEADERSHIP column, Last Word, of March 8, 2010, entitled: "Who Does Onovo Work For?" is nothing but a rhetorical farce aimed at discrediting not only the Inspector-General of Police, Ogbonna Onovo, but the entire police force.  The report coming at a time the country is trying to re-brand and restore hope and confidence leaves little to be desired.

The columnist and so many other columnists like him should exercise caution whenever they handle national and sensitive topics since the nation deserves unbiased, well-investigated and conclusive reports at this critical time of our national history.  Speculations and warped rhetoric should not form the fulcrum of their discourse since what they write most times could have some irreparable effects on the psyche of the people.

But what is the crux of the matter in the submissions?  It is Onovo, The Nigeria police and the issue of robbers ordering the driver of a robbed luxury bus to run over the passengers who did not have money on them.  This matter has taken some bizarre and alarming dimension since the purported report and pictures of the said incident graced the pages of some newspapers recently.  But more political is the matter since it has equally taken the front burner at the National Assembly, which called for an inquiry into the issue. However, at this point, the most important thing should have been the veracity or confirmation of the said incident.  Since the protection of life and property falls within the purview of the Nigeria police, the onus then falls on it to refute or confirm such an incident

The purported incident where robbers ordered the death of those passengers was propagated out of conventional norms and rationale by not only the media, but other concerned stakeholders.  It is, indeed, frightening that such a sensitive security issue of life and death was garnished with obvious drops of illusion and political connotations.

Although one is not holding brief for the police force, but the sad incident of July 31, 2009, along Ijebu-Ode/Sagamu expressway should not be exploited politically or for whatever other parochial reasons to hound Onovo or dent the image of the Nigeria police.  The incident should not be subjected to such myopic and sentimental diagnosis as the case has been since the events of that day remain clear and incontrovertible.

On that day, a luxury bus in the "Young Shall Grow Motors" fleet with vehicle registration number XF 285 AKD driven by one Mr. Oke Okafor from Enugu to Lagos, was attacked by robbers between the Federal Government College, Odogbolu and Babcook University junction along the Ijebu-Ode/Sagamu expressway.  The passengers were ordered to lie face down beside the road.  That was when an on-coming truck with vehicle registration number XN 808 BEN and driven by one Osayinde Idahosa from Edo State appeared and refused to be stopped by the robbers, thereby crushing the passengers by the road side.  It is indeed sad and tragic that a total number of nineteen passengers lost their lives in that single incident.  Even if no one died in that attack, the incident remains tragic and a criminal matter the police should not relent in fishing out the culprits.

Armed robbery incidents have become a recurring phenomenon in our society such that the authorities should do more to empower the police.  The authorities should do more to fund and motivate the Nigeria police.  The National Assembly should also not stop at investigating the robbery incident, but should expedite action on the release of the 2.7 trillion naira police fund already trapped by bureaucratic protocols.

Security in the country should not only be the sole responsibility of the police since every citizen has a contribution to make.  Nobody is praying for such an incident to occur, but given a typical robbery incident that was compounded by the gruesome and bizarre death of the passengers, the anger and agony of the people is no doubt understandable.  In all ramifications, it should be condemned by every decent mind, but not exploited by the public to smear the integrity or competence of Onovo or the police.  Such adverse and negative disposition can only aggravate the situation and work up the society.

I am sure that the columnist only relied on the earlier reports of LEADERSHIP on the incident without confirming it from the police authorities. He should have sought the police angle to the incident before spreading tension and anxiety across the nation.  Journalism should be practised with tact, truth, honour and diligence.

As a citizen of this country, I know that the image of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has become a subject of doubt for sometime.  People still regard the force with disdain such that any positive news from the force is taken with a pinch of salt.  The reputation of the police has, indeed, become its greatest headache.

But it seems the Nigeria police in recent times have buckled up and ready to project an acceptable image.  Although it would take some time to have a completely rejuvenated police force, it is obvious that the current leadership under Onovo has taken the right steps to achieve this herculean task.  Being a tactical administrator, Onovo, it appears, understands the dynamics of policing a nation, especially a multi-faceted society like ours.  He has equally shown some progressive reflexes by his achievements so far, like the outcome of the Anambra State gubernatorial elections and Edo State House of Assembly re-run elections where the police played vital and positive roles.  It is also worthy to note that it was crime-free in all the venues when the nation hosted the cadet World Cup recently.  Even the way the police handled the recent civil protest by civil society groups is also commendable.

The columnist should therefore, use his column to propagate well-researched national issues rather than appearing to be in a haste to churn articles like the current issue, thereby causing disaffection and tension in the country.

•Madueke wrote in from Wuse II, Abuja

How have the mighty fallen and the instruments of war destroyed. Times were when the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, spoke for the nation. Yes, it spoke and the nation reverberated in unison, poised for showdown with all enemies of the people and progress. Times were when it spoke, and Nigerians stood up to be counted, calling the bluffs of even the military and their bullets. Times were when the NLC spoke, and dictators shivered and wetted their pants. Indeed, times were when the NLC's mere breath caused tremors in the camps of the enemy.

But that was then; the fast fading good old days when national interest was always uppermost; when the NLC eschewed partisan politics, fought the cause of the nation with clean hands and pure heart. Yes, looking at the present with the mirror of yesterday, memories of the NLC as the unarguable conscience of the nation and the memories of the vibrant and incorruptible leadership of its veterans come rushing back. In fact, the fast decadence of NLC under its present crop of leaders, makes the charismatic, focused, and trustworthy leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomole of just yesterday look like it occurred centuries ago. And it is a palpable sign of deterioration of any group when people begin to yearn for its past so passionately over its present. It means such a person, individual or nation has stopped making progress, just like a knocked car or dead clock. While such in some organisations may have minimal effects on the nation, same can never be said about the NLC and trade unionism in general, especially given the sacrifices and dependable leadership it used to provide in the nation's trying times.

That is why I am definitely paranoid over the growing loss of public confidence in the present crop of the NLC leadership headed by Comrade Omar Abdulwaheed. A physical giant compared to Oshiomole, but it stops there. We are moved to understand, once again, that big frame neither makes big brain nor does it necessarily confer bigger leadership qualities. Here is an NLC leader that lacks charisma, character, and consistency; the most treasured qualities in labour leadership. An Oshiomole-like leader, for instance, would have spoken up and acted vibrantly in the face of the abuse of our sensibilities by a few individuals who have grabbed the nation by the scrotum over Yar'Adua's French leave.

Worse still the alleged N500 million bribery scandal is a big hole in the integrity vista of the NLC leadership. I have chosen to believe it didn't happen- lest I die of a heart attack. Wise men don't take bribes (cash or kind) from the government anywhere in the world. The result is always scandalous since the intentions are always to mess up the beneficiaries. The same government and its agents will leak the facts of the transactions and instruments of compromise to the press. But looking at the NLC's lukewarm attitudes on some recent national issues, the expunging of its statement of January 19, 2010, against deregulation from its website and the internal crises of confidence even within its leadership and between its leadership and affiliate organisations and the civil society allies, I grow paranoid. You look again at its folktale-like that it maintained silence over the Yar'Adua saga so as not to overheat the polity and also to prevent a situation in which some nefarious interests would cash in on that to truncate our democracy, then you cannot afford not to pity the NLC a great deal.

Unfortunately, just when we thought the National Executive Committee (NEC) convoked in Kaduna last week, was to settle the bribery scandal rocking its ranks, re-strategize on means of self-rediscovery, the resurrection of its voice and vibrancy, it turned out that NLC woke up on the wrong side of the bed, and the whole meeting turned out to be about just one man: Maurice Iwu, not even the INEC as an institution. It is also ironical their reason for planning to hold a march to call for Iwu's removal was over the Anambra election. I didn't really believe it, but now I do believe that some persons reason that from the brain. So, of all the conflagrations of imminent problems facing the nation, all that seems most important to Omar Waheed's NLC leadership is to stage a rally against one man over an election local and international observers, including the UK High Commission and the Observation Board led by the NBA's 1st National Vice Chairman had adjudged free, fair, and credible? Something is definitely fishy!

It is becoming clearer by the day that the NLC leadership is bent on self-destruction. Yes, that is the portion of every group or person when they trade the paths of shady deals or want to deploy privileged positions of leadership and trust to pursue personal interests or wage personal wars. That was exactly the source of Ezeulu's tragic end in Chinua Achebe's "Arrow of God". Against cautions by Ulu, the god of Umuaro which he ministers to, he chooses recalcitrance and uses his privileged office to fight personal battles. Such examples also abound in the holy books. One would have expected the NLC to stage a march to the National Assembly to compel the 109 Senators and 360 Reps who feed fat on the tax payers and oil money to expedite actions on the electoral reforms and related constitution amendment which are very imperative for credible elections in 2011. NLC does not even consider it necessary to march to the Edet House to compel the Police to immediately complete investigation on myriads of unresolved political killings which have also picked up in various parts of the country as 2011 approaches and bring the culprits to book. People keep getting killed over politics and the Police only keep turning stones. Omar and his clique did not also consider it pertinent to even convoke a national conference of political parties and politicians to sensitise them against do-or-die politics. And if Omar and the NLC is so convinced Iwu must be sacked, why did they have to wait until they had disagreements with him over the outcome of Anambra election in which the NLC had publicly endorsed a candidate who eventually lost?

I conclude that these personalised attacks against one man- Iwu- bears every imprimatur of abuse of office. That is the bane of our nation and a sure path to self-destruction. But this deviousness and petty interests should stop the NLC to reverse this journey to self-destruction. If it decides to wake up, it should do so on the right side of the bed and repackage itself as an unbiased and potent voice of the people.

• Lawal, a public affairs analyst, wrote in from Ilorin, Kwara State

Hon. Nelson Alapa represents Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. In this interview with OSBY ISIBOR, he speaks on some international and national issues.

Recently, the Federal Government re-emphasized its commitment to deregulation, are you sure we are ready for it yet?Deregulation in my own opinion will make us well, in the sense that every developed country that has improved was able to do that due to the private driven sectors.When the private sector is given the ability to exercise leverage and expatiate, it helps to put that country on track, face the reality on ground, and I think the result will be desirable.What I am trying to say is that, we have how many refineries in this country, we have crude oil, there is subsidy on the product, as well as regulation in practice and yet we are crying, that shows a lot of fundamental issues needed to be addressed before we completely deregulate the down stream sector.What is your take in the crisis in Niger Republic, having advised against actions that could elicit the crisis earlier?As a moralist and parliamentarian, it is possible for me to perceive what is happening in the politics in our nation or in our sub-region since it is an aspect I represent.Recently, I spoke on the impasse in Niger Republic, as if I was pre-empting what has actually happened. I was not actually pre-empting this, because in my wildest imagination I wouldn’t expect a military coup. As far as I concerned, a military coup is out of fashion, undemocratic and I condemn it in totality. But while saying this, it is the situation in Niger Republic that created room for the military junta to come in. The military would have relied and remained on their constitutional responsibility of defending a nation. When a democratically-elected government chose to deviate from the concept of democracy in trying to truncate the constitution to achieve tenure elongation, you find out that this situation calls for anything that may have happened now. But while I condemned it in totality, I think this should serve as an eye opener to other nations, to see that nascent democracy in the sub-region should be nurtured.You see, I advocated that Nigeria should take decisive step, because I foresaw the situation in that country, that has actually had history of military junta taking over and of course the incumbent president is a military man, he took over by military coup as I was made to understand and transmuted into a political leader and in the same way, he wanted to selfishly truncate the constitution of the country in order to achieve his aim.In a very strong term, I condemn that act of military take over in totality and condemn the act that actually preceded it. Nigeria needs to take more steps too to forestall what would happen in the future, like I predicted earlier on my return from Guinea Bisau. So I equally want to use this opportunity to demand that Nigeria should take her position as the leader in the sub-region and see that peace and tranquility return to Niger.Recently, you traveled to Borno State, what can you say about the achievements of Governor Ali Modu Sheriff?I want to tell you as an advocate of truth, progress and people, my impression of Borno State is wonderful and laudable, the government should be commended. These are the kind of people we need in this country, people who give what they have to satisfy the people. I am impressed with the infrastructural development of Borno State, I may not know the level of development in the state before now, but what I saw for myself is commendable. Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has shown financial discipline as Borno State is not indebted to any financial institution. You can recall that during his inaugural speech, just like I was told by a colleague, the governor promised the people of the state that his administration would not collect any loan from any institution. True to his words, the governor has not received loans from anywhere, yet, the state has enjoyed unprecedented development in all sectors.One of the major challenges facing people today is the issue of poverty. How has the Sheriff administration fared?What I gathered is that, Ali’s administration has taken the fight against poverty to another level. The governor wisely created the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Youth Empowerment and saddled it with the responsibility of formulating and executing policies and programmes to tackle poverty among the people of the state. I can assure you that much has been done in the area of youths, who now enjoy certain privileges through a micro-credit loans scheme to enable them embark on business ventures. In addition, other youths have been trained in skills after which they are given some financial assistance to enable them buy tools.Borno is renown for cattle rearing and agriculture, has the administration done anything in this regard?To the best of my knowledge, the sate has the largest number of livestock in the country. The governor has established veterinary clinic to help cattle rearers.One of the fundamental duties of government everywhere is to ensure that people have access to education. Has the administration accomplished anything in this sector?The education sector in Borno has been revamped. As a result of the efforts of the administration, enrollment in schools has increased considerably well. I am also aware that almost all the schools in the state have been renovated and new ones built. The administration must also be commended for introducing computer education to the young ones.Another notable achievement of this administration in the educational sector is the construction of a boarding primary school in each of the 27 local government areas.What is your advice to Nigerians on 2011 elections?The issue of seeing election as a do-or-die should be avoided. We should be more democratic in our approach to election. In recent time I’m happy with the present rule of law playing in this country that is why I said we are in a developing country.Gradually, we are setting out of teething problems and embracing some developmental approaches to the growth of the nation.We need to be democratic in our attitude. It does not matter, whether one is in the PDP, AC, APGA, my party (ANPP), or any other party, there must be internal democracy, which is the bedrock of peace or crisis in a party.Violence would never in any way help us in this country, we are actually moving towards a goal of having Nigeria in the forefront of countries that have come out of problems.