To say the war against corruption is far from over is stating the obvious. Efforts by well meaning Nigerian citizens to own their own government, fight corruption and direct energy towards real developments may have been foiled by our own constitution and politicization of war against corruption. Our own political class may have swindled the process to suit their mercantile idea of politics, political rivalry and political relevance.

It is no longer tenable to measure the war against corruption based on the unquestionable good intentions of President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) to internalize and institutionalize positive change. Instructive to intimate that some governors, some politicians at the center have hijacked the fight, using it as weapon of relevance, strategy to cover for their mal-administration and tactic to buy cheap popularity ahead of the next general elections. Important to also intimate that the war against corruption has been politicized, directed at political opponents with little or nothing to do with the core mandate of the change mantra against corruption.

It is known fact that some Nigerians who collected monies for grass cutting contracts, some have mansions outside Nigeria, some have mindlessly looted their states when they were governors, many have collected bribes, yet the law simply turned a blind eye because they are in APC. Anti-corruption war in Nigeria since 2015 has been selective, vindictive and geared towards destructive objective far removed from people based recovery process targeted at fixing Nigeria.

What Nigerians have come to realize albeit late is the fact that corruption war under PMB is only specifically fashioned to deal with opposition political threats. It has become a mantra used to threaten or shackle enemies (real or perceived). There is no immediate past governor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that has not been a guest of the EFCC, ICPC or DSS. How many can we count in the ruling party? Sadly allegations as puerile as use of security votes, and vicarious liabilities are brought against former governors unfortunate to hand over to opposition.

The asinine measure used in the trumped up war against corruption is only valid in the estimation of persons either blind to the truth, numb by sentiments, high on ‘vendetta drug’ or a combination of all. The opposition is so silenced so much that gate crashers under the understanding of quantum of protection from paymasters are running affairs of the PDP to ground zero.

All these are not happening in a vacuum. There are disconnects in our laws, norms, perceptions, policies that have left us at the mercy of political gangsters. It is instructive to elucidate on the established gaps in our constitution. We must understand the root cause of our problem to redirect attention towards areas we need to muzzle our way through to get the freedom we need from thieving politicians.

Security votes for chief executives of states, presidents are provided in the constitution. It is also provided in the constitution that a government in exit can clear accounts for the next administration to start afresh. The immunity clause specifies freedom from penalty for political office holders like president, vice president, governors, their deputies, others while holding such political offices. All what the constitution implies in highlighted areas is impunity, financial recklessness enabled to satisfy prebendal politicians. Interestingly, not all animals are equal when judging serving or ex governors, presidents along above constitutional gaps.

Another clog working against war on corruption is our constitutionally enabled electoral process. The process demands too much money a poor but qualified Nigerian cannot afford. Our leadership recruitment process is also faulty, it permits only political monarchy of thieves.

The judiciary is another arm of government alleged to be corrupt. They are alleged to have helped in using our porous constitution to arm-twist the law in desperate attempt to free their paymasters after executive recklessness while occupying political offices. With the ‘Janjaweed’ largely unsubstantiated arrests and alleged planting of evidences in homes of some judges by the PMB administration, it is obvious that the approach may have indeed radicalized the judiciary.

The national assembly is largely accused of festering corruption in other arms of government where it is supposed to check and balance. They hold the “knife and the yam”. They cut the law, policies, decisions, appointments the way it satisfies their interests. From the foregoing, a full triangle carved out of a tripod tacitly holding fort for corruption to fester in the three arms of government has happened on us already.

It is therefore, impossible for Buhari led war on corruption to succeed if he fails to have partners truly committed to accomplish the fight against corruption. It is indeed instructive to alert on the sad reality that the war against corruption is now a smoke screen to unleash ceaseless attacks at political threats. Many Nigerians may not want to look at the alleged war against corruption any other way than emancipation from fraternal kleptomania in private and public spheres. Sadly, the war has become personalized, politicized and individualized

It is therefore not surprising to see Nigerian politicians from the PDP thronging to the APC to seek safe haven and relevance. Countless criminals alleged to have siphoned billions are protected in the APC not withstanding the quantum of petitions filed against them.

Our democratic system, electoral process, leadership recruitment style, leadership and followership relation, systemic challenge in dealing with corruption will not gain traction for the best if the ‘change’ is left on the platform of a mere mantra. It is therefore sad but a looming reality that in 2019, the ruling party will never hand over to an opposition party regardless of any glaring vote margin. Nigerian politicians have learnt that people don’t win or accept defeat in good strides. Winners take all and come back for a pound of flesh. The battle line is drawn and Nigerians may face tougher political times.

• Ebije lives in Abuja, can be reached via: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.