Why are we using Dr. Jim Obaze’s personal failings to judge his  public work after his sack as boss of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRN)?

We seem to be confusing two things – Dr. Obaze allegedly bathing himself in the Nigerian corruption pool and at the same time doggedly executing the mandate of the Council that he was asked to lead as Executive Secretary.

Folks, there’s (a) the official work of FRN team under Obaze which is central to the controversy that arose following the resignation of Pastor Adeboye as overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church in Nigeria, and (b) the alleged personal corruption of Obaze himself which was exposed after his sack as boss of FRN.

Both are distinct and separate matters.

Nobody has yet established a nexus between the desire for private enrichment and the institution of a public policy to stop religious groups from exploiting the poor and using their sweat to set up lucrative family businesses.

This is where I think that various combinations of emotion, mischief, and lack of clarity have crept in.

What exactly is the origin of and the focal point of this Pastor Adegboye controversy? Is it Obaze’s official work or is it his personal corruption? Why is it difficult to separate the two? For the sake of argument, is it not possible that good things can be done by a thief? The FRN law requires not-for-profit organisations which are engaged in profit-oriented ventures to separate them, and to subject the commercial arm to public regulations. Is this a discriminatory law and does it not apply to Muslim and Christian religious organizations alike? How come it that Muslim and Orthodox Christian leaders do not have a problem with this law but Pentecostal leaders do – even when the law was enacted under the leadership of a Pentecostal pastor?

Corruption is bad and most people in Nigeria condemn it vigorously. I deplore it. But this is not the point.

Does a good public action become bad because it is taken by someone without “integrity” howsoever defined?

If we agree that this is the way to go, then the time has come to begin dismantling every infrastructure, policy and laws ever made in this country by dictators and military leaders, since these were also the works of corrupt politicians and military administrators?

I tire o.

Author

  • Ogbuagu Bob Anikwe, a veteran journalist and message development specialist, is now a community journalism advocate and publisher of Enugu Metro. Contact him on any of the channels below.

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