By Yemi Itodo
Some people want us to believe what the Binance Executive said, simply because he’s a white man. That’s mental slavery!
There’s no magic on earth that would make me believe an outsider more than my own brother, until the matter is proven beyond every reasonable doubt.
How do I trust or choose a man whose background I don’t even know; someone who is being tried for defrauding Nigerians; accused of being used to finance terrorism in Nigeria; someone who escaped from the prison, despite the sophisticated apparatus of our security; above my own brother, whose background I know, who grew up with me and who we all went out in 2023, to queue behind him and elected him to represent us?
Beyond this, the institution of National Assembly is the only democracy legacy and an emblem of true democracy. Because, during the military regime, there was Executive and Judiciary as arms of government, the only difference is the absence of Legislative arm of government which is National Assembly, which makes this government a democratic government.
Then, one white Man who is already known for fraud internationally, will just come out to make spurious, sweepy and unsubstantiated allegation against our cherished symbol of democracy, and I would join him to rubbish my own identity?
I’m not standing in for anyone and I’m not exonerating anybody. I would even prefer the National Assembly set up an ad-hoc committee to thoroughly investigate this allegation and unearth whatever it is.
I’m happy the matter is already in court. I’m also happy the Federal Government is handling it with the American Government and this will lead to a successful conclusion of investigations.
Let all hands be on deck. Let the National Assembly too set up an ad-hoc committee, so we would be having both the executive, legislature and judiciary handling this weighty allegation.
Until the reports of these investigations are out, those accused remain innocent, until the guy man advances evidences against them at various panels to prove them guilty.
Let us not be too quick to crucify our own. Let us not contribute to the mantra being sponsored by enemies of Nigeria that we are all corrupt. At least, not everybody. Let’s learn how to trust ourselves, for once.
Let me submit by warning those who want to make political capital out of this or use this avenue to settle personal scores, to think twice before selling their own to outsiders. For when you sell your brother to outsiders, even the buyers will be scared of you.
If crocodile could not spare its own eggs but eats it, what would it not do to the flesh of another animal? Remember, he who trades in gravels, will receive his payments in stones.
(Itodo contributes this short piece from National Assembly, Abuja).
