First off, I
would love to congratulate majority of the OAU student community on the
successful completion of their exams. I wish us all good success “ Insha Allah,
Insha Jesus”. However, this article was
majorly inspired by the Panama Papers Saga which has become the major headline
of most news bodies in recent times. The incident simply involved the leakage
of about 11.5 million files from the database of the world’s fourth biggest
offshore law firm, Mossack Fonesca. It is claimed that the records were
obtained from an anonymous source (Hmm Hmm) by a German Newspaper which then
shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists
(ICIJ). Those who have had the privilege to examine these documents claim that
it exposes the various ways by which the rich exploit secretive offshore tax
regimes. It is therefore not entirely surprising that some Nigerian names have
been poping up since the begining of the saga. But then the issue is quite a
very big one in the global view as a lot of big names have been mentioned as
being involved in a number of illegal financial dealings from the Prime Minister
of Iceland, who has consequentially retired, to Vladmir Putin, the President of
Russsia and many other national leaders. In fact, according to the UK guardian,
the leak is regarded as one of the biggest in history, bigger than even the
popular Wikileaks incident in 2010.
Growing up on the
streets of Lagos, one particular yoruba adage whose pidgin English adaptation I
loved was; “ When breeze blow, fowl yansh
go open”. Apart from the playful and moral touch to the adage, I
particularly appreciate its almost perfect illustration of the fact that the
truth would always be revealed, at least as long as “breeze dey blow”. Also, in as much as it is worthy to ensure the
persons and parties involved in the scandal faces Lady Justice and her sword,
this article is not merely to request that justice be served, it is also a
warning. It is now obvious to the blind and audible to the deaf that the
corrupt leaders too get breeze and
one day e go blow. So if you are a
leader in any capacity; whether it is the head of your fellowship or your indigenous
association, the chairman of your hall or the President of your Union, the Head
of your Department or Vice Chancellor, Whether you are the Local Councillor or
the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, I advise you not to do those shady
deals at all because “When paper leak, na
oga yansh go open o”
Pope Jay
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