MAGU IS HISTORY: Just Like Adam Oshiomole.

Francis Ilenloa Igberaese, Ph.D

Early enough in life, I learned that it is dangerous for a man to submit himself for dirty jobs, or to be known for his ability to perform dirty jobs. Hence, I have long deliberately decided that I should be known for integrity, even though I may posses the capacity to be a commander of dirty jobbers. 

This is why I may sympathize with the embattled EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, who may not have had similar enough experiences early in his life. If he had, he wouldn't have be in this mess; being dumped in such a humilating manner by those whose sole benefits he had served in the last five years . I do not intend to dwell *on* the legality of his disgraceful arrest or "kidnap" in the street of Abuja; the Femi Falanas can do that for us.

What I want "us" to learn from it is as simple as watching it when it appears too rosy working for the interest of a cabal, "we" aren't really part of.

Magu remains in the history of Nigeria, the only EFCC Chairman who acted for as long as five years, that is, without confirmation by the Senate.

Whereas, Magu was not supposed to remain in office for more than 90 days, after the Saraki-led Senate refused him confirmation twice (for the same purpose he is being persecuted now), the Presidency came out strongly, rewriting the law. The  Vice President,  as a lawyer, suddenly found a job and relevance, to explain to us that Magu could remain in acting capacity for as long as the president wants. Then, Magu was on top of the world. He didn't know that soon, he would, as my grandma would say, be sent on an errand as that of the arrow; an errand without a return and with a lost destiny.

Unlike Nuhu Ribadu, I can't recall any case initiated by Magu against any APC member (in power). At least, the cases of the former Secretary to Federal Government, David Babachir Lawal and that of the former Chairman of APC, Adam Oshiomole were clear enough to have made Magu a shining light and by now, elicit sympathy from the public court and become a legend like Robadu 

Magu blew opportunities to be feared by "them" and respected by "us". Maybe he feared "them" so well that he wouldn't dare their many troubles. But didn't Shakespeare write that "cowards die many times before their deaths", as it seems to him so strange that men should fear, seeing death as a necessary end, which must come when it would come? 

Now that like Oshiomole, Magu's end has come because he has become too dirty by his former benefactors, you want Nigerians to kill themselves for him as they nearly did for Ribadu ? Please, he has enjoyed it when it lasted; we only have to entertain and enjoy ourselves with the televisions and newspapers.

Francis Ilenloa Igberaese writes from Benin.