THE administration of President Bola Tinubu knew ahead the legality deficiency in proposing Olanipekun Olukoyede as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and preempted the blowback, with a vigorous defence. Femi Falana, staunch champion of legality, constitutionality and jurisprudential fidelity, this time, caved in to ethnic patriotism and joined forces with the Tinubu administration to dismiss the concerns over the perceived tangentiality between Olukoyede’s resume and the law, governing the appointment procedure. The regular interventions of the Senior Advocate in matters of law, policy and public good, are always well-received, but they remain what they are; his opinions. Maybe, a court of law, should pronounce on the qualification of the new czar of the war against financial and economic crimes, for the seat he is currently occupying, for the sake of precedent and future references.
In its almost 22 years of existence, Olukoyede is the first ever Southerner to lead the Commission and the sentiments are well-understood. For the President to go for someone whose appointment could be and was contentious, it signals that whoever or whatever tendency that recommended him for the job, came highly regarded. Even if he was just a darling of the President, who must be cared for in the life of this administration, he could remain the Secretary of the Commission where his resume is more fitting, with unfettered access to the President’s bedroom and the benefits that usually come with such negotiated filiality. Taking the narrower path, shows that the incumbent chair was wanted for the job and the question is, why, considering that he had to be pulled from the Magu saga-induced suspension, to be crowned. That sounds like from-prison-to-palace story of the biblical Joseph. Olukoyede of course, would be very very familiar with that story, since he has pastoral calling and mentored by globally-regarded G.O of RCCG, Pastor Adejare Adeboye. As a pulpit man, the EFCC chair would have countless times, used the inspirational Joseph story to encourage his parishioners to always keep hope alive, even when Armageddon appears to be at their doorstep. The crime-fighting pastor also definitely knows about the ministry of men in the life of a man, who God has decided to help. Even Jesus needed and received the ministry of men, which is routinely referred to as helpers of destiny.
Luke 2:52 attests to this, saying, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man”. Without attempting to preach to a preacher, one of the favours of man Jesus got, was the tear-rubber colt He rode for His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Anyone who thinks it was no big, should approach next door neighbours or colleagues at work, for their brand new cars, which the owners are yet to ride in.
At his senate confirmation hearing, Olukoyede disclosed that it was Nuhu Ribadu, the high-flying National Security Adviser to Tinubu, who got him acquainted with EFCC and brought him in, doing back room cameo to support prosecution and forensic stuff. From that “little beginning”, he is the boss today. Before Olukoyede is eternally tied to the Ribadu apron as his major handler, it should be remembered that the Ekiti-born hunk, also practised his law at the chamber of former VP, Yemi Osinbajo, SAN and his subsequent rise in the Commission as chief of staff and secretary, has been consistently tied to the influence of his former boss as Aso Rock’s junior tenant then. So as much as the EFCC boss can be called Ribadu’s man, he can also be tagged Osinbajo’s boy.
A story I heard, claimed that the President had to tactically spurn two elders of his party from the South West who played crucial roles in his emergence as the party’s flag bearer in the face of daunting odds, when they jointly propped up a candidate for the EFCC hot job. All, for Olukoyede and his sponsors, including a global citizen, chiefly for whom the President reportedly settled on the RCCG pastor as his choice chairman. In fact, Olukoyede keeping his job when Tinubu was divesting the polity of the last vestige of Osinbajo’s influence, which led to the questionable sacking of CEOs, further reinforces the credibility of the story that a whale of an influence, far larger that the combination of Ribadu and Osinbajo pled Olukoyede’s case, this time.
Considering the reported triangular support for his EFCC odyssey so far, the chair is someone Yoruba will refer to as omo aniya meta (someone with a metaphoric three mums, meaning being supported on all sides) and the same race will reason that aro meta ki nda obe nu (the soup pot is best on a tripod of cooking stones). It is good when benevolent spirits are helping a man crack his nuts, but the greater good is what the man, does with the opportunity given, regardless of the how.
Yoruba will say, won nba ni wase ni, won ki nba ni se (you alone are responsible for what you make of a given opportunity). Cognate experience or not, three months into a possible four years and every indication points to the crime fighter, doing the job, though it is still early in the day. My prayer for him, is that he will receive the Omega anointing to end well, just like the Alpha anointing appears to be at work for him now.
If Nigerians are not lavishing effusive praise on him, despite his impressive start, his predecessors are to be blamed, especially Ribadu and Ibrahim Magu, the two who stand out in bravado while in office, only to become notoriously parochial and political, serving self and cabals of their eras, after Nigerians began immersing them in adulation.
Beyond the presidential support which appears to be abundant for him right now, the EFCC chair needs divine wisdom, not to end up in disgrace like all his predecessors on what is likely the most consequential seat in Nigeria’s power configuration after President’s.
Ribadu-wannabe Abdulrasheed Bawa while trying to impress at a media parley in Lagos, marking his one year in office, wondered why he would need to tamper with stocked evidence, as was alleged before his appointment, when governors, deemed mini oracles, would jump for joy if he should just put calls to them, requesting visitation. He was right. The office of EFCC chair, cannot but be powerful and feared, in a clime like Nigeria, where public offices are routinely treated like private fiefdoms, and public funds; as a chunk of national cake to be consumed with all greed that can be mustered.
Yet as feared as the throne is, so is as humbling, when occupants tumble from it. Olukoyede’s spiritual father, Pastor Adeboye famously said, “learn from the wise, to be wiser and from the fool, not to be foolish”. He taught about those who started well and ended in shame in the Bible. That teaching would sum up the journey of Olukoyede’s predecessors-in-office. The moment the job is no longer being done as unto God but as unto men of power, defeat is around the corner. It is always a terrible thing to be a man of yesterday. Yes, the chairman of EFCC is as powerful as the President that appoints him, but there is a God who controls the heart of kings. Olukoyede will have to hold on vehemently to that God, lest he be disgraced like those who came before him. May God be with the crime fighter, amen.
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