Members of the National Assembly have inundated Nigerians, in the last few months, with a rash of probes like opening a floodgate. The leadership of the legislature suddenly came to the realisation that only enquiries into the past could give a pointer to the future of the nation. The House of Representatives must specially be commended for this very bold initiative.

First, it must be noted that the initiative has set them apart from the rest. They have seized a golden opportunity to write their names in gold. Many of them have defied all kinds of blackmail to do that which is right and noble for the polity.

It started like a joke when the Power Sector Probe was set up. By the first week of it's sitting, it had dawned on many discerning Nigerians that they were in for shockers... shocking revelations. Unfortunately, the executive arm has not given the added fillip that these efforts need to begin to bear bountiful harvest. Believe me, some of the culprits should by now be behind bars with many of them serving various long jail terms. That looks the opinion of the average Nigerian who is at loss for the enormous amount of money that has been wasted through corrupt enrichment.

The popular Nigerian factor has since set into many of the probe panels. Because of the fear of the mighty that are likely to fall once the reports are released, some members of the panel are already being blackmailed, since they have rejected all acts of inducement from contractors who collected the money and did nothing in the first place.

I listened to the Chairman, Power Sector probe, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, the other day and my heart bled for Nigeria Newspapers in the last two weeks or so, were agog with the story suggesting that his committee had been compromised; that some of the contractors had infiltrated their ranks at last and bribed his members. So prominent were the placement of the stories that you are likely to fall prey to the suggestion that Elumelu and his committee members have stepped on the banana peels.

Because of the outcry, the House has had to refer the matter to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges to ascertain the veracity of the claim. The report in various media almost adjudged them guilty, even though the committee is yet to investigate and come out with its findings. The mere reference to the privileges committee was all the blackmailers needed to get at Elumelu and his committee.

However, his robust defence a few days later gladdened my heart. He explained that he had warned his committee members to beware of the contractors and other culprits who would be all out to bribe or stain their image. To Elumelu, anybody who colludes with the contractors and their accomplices and takes money from them has received 'blood money.' He said he appreciated the level of suffering of Nigerians caused by the power problem; the level of unemployment which poor supply of electricity has created; the number of industries that had laid off workers because of non-availability of electricity; the number of artisans that have been put out of jobs and compelled to do okada (motorcycle) business in order to eke out a living. My heart leapt for joy when he dispelled the rumour.

With the amount of murky politics being played with Elumelu's report, Nigerians are becoming apprehensive that the report may not see the light of the day or at best may come out distorted and disjointed. And if it ever does, the executive will be too afraid to carry out its recommendations, just because of the calibre of people involved.

Remember that our former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, lectured the Assembly members on how not to invite a former head of state to such probes when he was invited; how to respect elders, even if the elders are patently wrong. At the end of it all, he gave them a written response.

For a persona like that, what level of encouragement are we giving our lawmakers to do a good job? When has the law become a respecter of person or persons? If the war against graft is to be truly won, can we afford to have some special people, who are above the law? Is there anything wrong if Chief Obasanjo had come to the panel to clarify some issues that would have helped the panel nail some culprits. Or has Obasanjo himself agreed that he was likely to be unable to give satisfactory answers to probing questions? Who is the right person to answer charges of many of the contracts that did not follow due process?

This actually leads one to the oil sector probe. If the decision of Baba to reject Power Sector Committee's invitation is tolerated, will Nigerians be able to absorb the shock of Baba's decision not to appear in the oil sector probe if invited? I ask the question because all Nigerians know that Baba was the nation's Oil Minister for eight years? Considering the avalanche of information coming out of the probe as it affects allocation of oil wells, will Baba be excused from testifying at the probe?

From the look of things, Chief Obasanjo is not likely to appear at any probe venue, except of course, it is a military probe just like the one set up by late Gen. Ibrahim Abacha that eventually jailed him. His refusal therefore raises several moral questions that are hardly good for his image and that of the nation in the international community. A ready example is the on-going probe of Ehud Ohnert, the Prime Minister of Israel. Obasanjo's body language suggests that Nigerians should appreciate his sense of service to the nation instead of coming to embarrass him as a statesman.

But if the truth must be told, he must be willing to avail himself the opportunity to assist the probe panels anywhere his input is needed. He should be able to throw light on how 11 power projects, for example, was commissioned with fanfare even though he knew none of them would light a candle in the next two years. Why he thought it was good to open the power projects when the gas pipelines expected to power the turbines are yet to be laid.

For the oil sector probe, some questions raised by House members are lacking in-depth knowledge of the industry. Their technical competence to deal adequately with the situation is therefore in doubt. In essence, some of the culprits are sure to escape because many of the actors have been passing the buck. Tony Chukwu, after being boxed to a comer, openly told lies at the public hearing. Eventually, he owned up that most of the decisions taken by his department, especially as it related to oil blocks, were ordered from above.

Who ordered it? It can only be Nigeria's Oil Minister and president of the Republic, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. The facts on ground show that he and not the subordinates took most of the decisions. The point is that if he does not want to appear as former president, he ought to appear as former oil minister to clarify many knotty issues that arose front the way the affairs in the ministry were handled during his tenure. Let it not be seen that all the efforts sunk into probes in the Senate and House of Representatives are fruitless. They should yield superior returns such that generations after us would appreciate that something was done to curb graft in our national life.

Babatunde Jose: Exit Of A Titan

Alhaji Babatunde Jose, former chairman and managing director of Daily Times passed on last week. It was the exit of an icon that lived a fulfilled life and contributed immensely to the growth of modern journalism in Nigeria. The nation is sure to miss him.

Alhaji Jose started from being a small printer in the print shop and rose to become editor of the then largest circulating newspaper in Nigeria and sub Sahara Africa. He later became the managing director, thereby setting the stage for the phenomenal growth of the industry as it has, become today.

The newspapers have been doing justice to the coverage of his exit and deservedly so. He singularly introduced the idea of recruitment of university graduates into the profession, thereby raising the standard of professional practice and opening the space for ideas to thrive.

As managing director of what became a conglomerate, with several titles on its stable, he never lost sight of expanding the empire, moving it into property, investment and other spheres of human endeavour. Jose led a group of fine professionals who laid the building blocks of modern journalism practice in Nigeria today. Credit must be given to him for showing maturity and leadership. This is because at the time the military people decided to take the company from him, he exhibited rare courage and 'let go' a company he gave his life.

Unfortunately, anybody who passed through Daily Times in its days of glory and national acclaim would not help but mourn what it has become today. A derelict. A carcass of a vibrant empire built by Alhaji Jose. What a pity!

What else can we wish the old man who joined his ancestors at the ripe age of 82? A peaceful repose and perfect rest in the bosom of Almighty Allah.

PUP. Alhaji Babtunde Jose.