By Wisdom Nwedene
As we approach the 2019 general elections, it becomes imperative for me to drop this piece. Although I wanted not to write any article concerning the election but as a journalist, I deem it necessarily to do so.
Despite having other presidential candidates, ranging from Kingsley Moghalu, Oby Ezekwesili, Durotoye, Sowore, etc, it seems only Atiku Abubakar is the most popular candidate against the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari.
The question remains, Is Atiku Abubakar the best candidate to replace President Muhammad Buhari?
For us to answer this question, it is pertinent to look at the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, candidate’s pedigree and why he avoided USA for good 12 years.
What is known is that nine years ago, there was a US Senate Committee report detailing money laundering activities against the former Vice-President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar including being a recipient of a bribe by Siemens.
The Committee known as the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations was chaired by Senator Carl Levin.
The probe was motivated by US government concern about corruption in the Third World and its corrosive effects on the development of honest government, democratic principles, and the rule of law.
“It is also blamed for distorting markets, deterring investment, deepening poverty, undermining international aid efforts, and fostering crime. Some have drawn connections between corruption, failed states, and terrorism. Corruption also continues to be a massive problem. The World Bank has estimated that $1 trillion in bribes alone exchange hands worldwide each year,” the committee noted in its bulky report.
Abubakar was not the only foreign Politically Exposed Person(PEP) probed by the committee. He had company in Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, now the 48-year-old son of Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mbasogo, the President of Equatorial Guinea (EG), late President of Gabon, Omar Bongo and three Angolan PEP accounts, involving an Angolan arms dealer, an Angolan government official, and a small Angolan private bank.
The committee submitted its report on 4 February 2010, three years after Abubakar left office as Nigeria’s vice president.
The report unveiled violations of US laws by Abubakar and his fourth wife, Jennifer Douglas. It also included revelations about Siemens bribe paid into one of the accounts, and it possibly provided the basis for Abubakar being barred from entering the United States, since then.
This Report examines how politically powerful foreign officials, their relatives, and close associates – referred to in international agreements as Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) – have used the services of U.S. professionals and financial institutions to bring large amounts of suspect funds into the United States to advance their interests. Using four case histories, this Report shows how some PEPs have used U.S. lawyers, real estate and escrow agents, lobbyists, bankers, and even university officials, to circumvent U.S. anti-money laundering and anti- corruption safeguards. This Report also offers recommendations to stop the abuses.
In 2007, Mr. Abubakar was the subject of corruption allegations in Nigeria related to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund.
Of the $40 million in suspect funds, $25 million was wire transferred by offshore corporations into more than 30 U.S. bank accounts opened by Ms. Douglas, primarily by Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Ltd., LetsGo Ltd. Inc., and Sima Holding Ltd.
The U.S. banks maintaining those accounts were, at times, unaware of her PEP status, and they allowed multiple, large offshore wire transfers into her accounts. As each bank began to question the offshore wire transfers, Ms. Douglas indicated that all of the funds came from her husband and professed little familiarity with the offshore corporations actually sending her money.
When one bank closed her account due to the offshore wire transfers, her lawyer helped convince other banks to provide a new account. In addition, two of the offshore corporations wire transferred about $14 million over five years to American University in Washington, D.C., to pay for consulting services related to the development of a Nigerian university founded by Mr. Abubakar.
American University accepted the wire transfers without asking about the identity of the offshore corporations or the source of their funds, because under current law, the University had no legal obligation to inquire.
The case put Atiku in bad spotlight, with his mansion in Potomac, Maryland searched by the FBI in 2005. But there was nothing incriminating found in the house.
About 12 years after the raid, Atiku sold the property.
Another question is,
Why is Atiku Abubakar now being looked upon to be the best candidate by many Nigerians to replace President Muhammad Buhari?
I will simply say it is because of the lopsidedness of President Muhammadu. Nigerians have not got the change President Buhari promised them so they have decided to try Atiku who has been packaged as a “Saint” by the same cabals who forced Buhari on Nigerians.
The only thing that makes Atiku Abubakar to seem as if he is the best candidate for the job is because he has been packaged and repackaged by some political elements grasping to loot the country again.
I don’t really see any magic which Atiku is coming to do in Nigeria but if nepotism, lopsidedness, political witch-hunt and marginalization will come to an end before we will all have our own share, another candidate should be given a chance.
For now, I have not seen any candidate who will be able to take power from Buhari apart from Atiku, not because he is the best candidate to replace him but because he has been packaged and repackaged by some cabals.
(Wisdom Nwedene is an editor, writer, journalist and motivational speaker. Contact : [email protected])
