Oduah
By Obichi Ikechi
Like a plot unfolding in stages, the attacks on Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Madam Stella Oduah have sunk to a sad new low. As the commissioned attackers could not nail their target on the leaked BMW purchase ‘scandal’ they have resorted to attacking her widely acclaimed airport renovation projects calling them a scam.
Given the strategy swerve, anybody still believing that the co-ordinated attacks on Oduah is a fight against corruption can as well buy a bridge on offer for sale somewhere in Alaska. From all indications, the relentless attack is a very personal and well-orchestrated hatchet job aimed at the Aviation minister’s person, and I will not be a part of it. Not only were the allegations continuously changing and inconsistent; from two bullet proof cars, to no bullet proof cars, to six bullet proof cars etc etc; but the attacks have been very petty and lacking in any true substance.
Since 1999 Nigeria’s aviation sector has been under the clutches of a corrupt cabal whose depraved modus operandi left the sector in the rather poor, sad, sorry, decrepit and derelict state of neglect met by Oduah. It was a period of time during which a whopping N19.5 billion Aviation Intervention Fund released by the Obasanjo administration to revive the sector grew winds and flew away without questions leaving the rot to linger till Oduah’s arrival. It was also the same period of time that saw the corrupt cabal that ran the sector aground, turning a blind eye while airliners brought in outdated aircrafts many of which have cost Nigeria dearly in human and material resources as a result of aircrashes.
It was in that rotten state that Oduah came in as minister willing to make positive changes which might or might not have been radically transformational, but which Nigerians attest to as representing meaningful progress never seen before her. But all of a sudden we have these flurry of attacks masked as anti-corruption crusades. Please!!!! Where were these same anti-corruption crusaders when billions were budgeted and expended for so-called aviation projects with no noticeable change in the sector? I remember travelling to Nigeria a few years back and the first port of entry, Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, was a National disgrace; no working airconditioners or conveyor belts, an unbearable stench filled the airport lounge, there was chaos everywhere, and people were almost passing out after long stressful international flights that dump you into a so-called international airport with no ventilation, inadequate or proper sanitary conditions, and dilapidated facilities. Port Harcourt airport my next port of call did not fare much better. In fact I remember that airport being shut down for ‘renovations’ for almost two years, and when the airport was finally reopened in 2009 after the so-called ‘renovation’ it was in a worse state than before it was shut down; unreal, unless of course you know the Nigerian system. Billions were expended for the ‘renovation’ of course. There were aviation ministers during these times. Where were these anti-corruption crusaders then? How come our anti-corruption crusaders attacking the current reformist minister did not ask where these billions released to the then ministers were being funneled into?
Since Stella Oduah took over the position of aviation minister on July 2 2011 all the major airports have been renovated with working facilities, we have added another international airport, added more international flights from multiple top world airliners, Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) are being signed that are favorable to Nigeria, unlike the previously signed, lopsided ones that put Nigeria at such disadvantage that would make a critical mind wonder if Nigeria’s Aviation ministers of the period negotiated for the counterpart country instead of Nigeria.
Yes, some may argue that the current aviation minister is not doing enough, and that is their prerogative, but the truth remains that when her performance is compared to the combined performance of her predecessors since 1999, she trounces all of them.
There have even been attempts to blame a recent plane crash, which ironically involved one of her predecessors, on her even after the investigation revealed it was a pilot error that caused the crash. Investigations revealed that the captain ignored warnings from the cockpit and his co-pilot to abort take off due to faulty flaps. But that has not stopped the opportunists from placing that at the neck of the minister also. Yes, she made a faux pas by saying some of the air mishaps in the country were an “Act of God”. That was no doubt a gaffe. Be that as it may, even with a couple of unfortunate air mishaps, Madam Oduah does not deserve these very personal and petty attacks. I will support any attacks based on facts and substance that can be proven, but not petty attacks employing the use of unflattering pictures of the minister, and allegations that cannot be proven.
The minister did go before the National House of Assembly to give her side of the story under oath and none of her media traducers could pick any holes in her defence. Rather they retorted with another attack strategy. This is just the story of Nigeria. Why do we hate ourselves so much? Some of those shouting “crucify her” will do ten times worse when given the same position. In fact some of them held the position before and we know how they fared. One of her critics happens to be a predecessor under whose administration, the whopping Aviation Intervention Fund mentioned above was released by the Federal Government. I have little doubt that there is an interest group behind the scenes pulling the strings and many are oblivious of the fact they are being manipulated.
Here’s the bottom line, if there is a valid allegation of corruption leveled against the minister, investigate her. If found guilty, she should be made to pay to the full extent of the law. But trying her in what has become a lynch mob and attack dog media rings hollow, demonstrates pettiness and betrays the lack of any true substance to the allegations. In due course I hope those pulling the strings behind the scenes will be exposed and also made to give account of their time in office.
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