No doubt, when he finally speaks, and former President Goodluck Jonathan said he will open up soon, many mouths will shut, the political ground will shake and Nigerians will be shocked.
His administration, at least until he speaks, is seen by many Nigerians as the most corrupt in the history of the country, with many top government officials that served under Jonathan facing charges for alleged corrupt enrichment and embezzlement of public fund.
But how soon will Jonathan speak on the allegations made daily against him and his former aides? The ex-president, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, said it’s too early to speak on the graft allegations against made him and other officials of his government.
“I don’t want to talk about that one because there are too many cases that are in court, it will not be fair to make comments,” he pointed out. “I will talk at the appropriate time when most of these things are resolved.”
Yet, in truth, Jonathan may just never get to the curve of speaking on that matter. He may never get to point of having to tell Nigerians what corruption, if any, actually took place under his watch and by whom. The former president may never get to that junction where he will feel constrained to tell Nigerians which of the allegations made against him was actually sanctioned by him and, or which, he benefitted from them.
In fact, by hiding himself under the garb of the law, which we all know how it works in the country, Jonathan, for many years to come, will not deem it appropriate to talk on the alleged corrupt practices perpetrated by him and some of his aides, some of who now are in court facing different charges.
The law, they say, its hands are long. In Nigeria, though, the length of the hands of the law seems limitless. While investigation of offences and institution of cases in law court seem difficult things to occur, prosecution and eventual determination of cases almost always take eternity to accomplish.
And, of course, it is not only expected but proper, as the ex-president has pointed out, not to speak on matters pending in courts. To speak about an impending suit is tantamount to showing disrespect to the legal process, and, no doubt, a man of Jonathan’s calibre should not be seen doing that.
That a certain provision of the law provides him with an escape route from having to reveal, with intention to help the state fight corruption, the alleged atrocities that took place under his leadership and the amounts and identities of those responsible for the despicable actions, is therefore, no fault of his. Yet, that is where the issue is.
The country’s legal system, at least, in the eyes of laymen, seems porous, corrupt, cumbersome, and imbued with many technicalities which readily provide leeway to escape conviction and or unnecessarily delay determination of cases.
Under such circumstances, and where some of those who served under Jonathan are facing trial for alleged looting of cash and not ready to relinquish such huge resources at their disposal, one wonders when, and if, it will ever be appropriate for Jonathan to open up.
Some of the cases now in court involving some of his men, without been exaggerated, and if no attempt is made to reform the justice system, could linger in courts for more than a decade.
Recall, investigated cases involving some governors who left office many years ago, are only now considered for prosecution while some former governors have been in and out of court rooms for close to 10 years.
Thus, with many legal tussles involving some of his former aides now looking to take long period to end, the stage is set for Jonathan not to ever find that mysterious and “appropriate time” to speak.