Hours after DAILY NIGERIAN publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Jaafar Jaafar published a video showing Kano state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, tucking dollar notes into his pockets (allegedly receiving bribe/kickback from a contractor), the governor has filed a court case against the publisher for ‘defamation of character’. This is impressive and one of the fastest civilized moves made by Nigerian politicians following allegations.
The only other responsible move would have been resignation of the governor, if he knows he was with a contractor on 1/12/2017 (as the recorded video carries) and actually received a contract kickback. This too will be purely based on what the governor knows (or remembers) about himself and the truth of the claim.
There are already adverts too about radio programmes (most likely sponsored) tonight, featuring analyses of the released video by graphic and filming experts. Earlier the state commissioner of information, has also released a statement in defense of the governor, alleging political blackmail and possible extortion. The social media too is graced by efforts of the government media team working impressively hard, to convince us that the governor is clean, citing in most cases limitations of the video. All these will intensify!
However, all these efforts are only timely and productive if the governor is innocent, since public image and opinion remains very important long after an alleged scandal is confirmed/disproved. But all these, in the absence of a court judgement, which may likely come after February 2019 elections, is not sufficient to prove innocence of the governor, at least in the eyes of more critical among the masses he rules. However, in the past, delay tactics have worked effectively and efficiently for Nigerian politicians, since in our culture, the maximum we give to a scandal/trending issue is a week or two, before we got distracted by a new one. Luckily for our politicians, we also forget quite easily, and somehow forgive.
But there are two twists, statistical confounders, in the absence of which we would be able to plot a straight line graph. First, Jaafar claims to have nine of such videos in possession, and it is apparent he will be releasing them in grand style, a tactic that will not allow us forget this matter easily and move on to another. Granted that the first video is cloned, as claimed, what are the chances that the remaining videos are not cloned? Jaafar too has stated that this effort, aimed at exposing corruption, has started some 2 years ago, with good support of one of the contractors. To add more weight to the matter, Jaafar claimed international graphic experts including those working with Amnesty International, have analyzed the videos and confirmed they are authentic, and not cloned or tampered.
The second twist, albeit more important, is the DAILY NIGERIAN report that the videos have already reached the eyes of the president, who has angrily ordered for security investigations and analyses are already in full gears. As usual, this side of the story citing officials who craved anonymity has no proof identified. But if the allegation turns out to be true and if this part of the story is right, then APC and President Muhammadu Buhari’s integrity will be at stake and the two, most likely, will do something impressive, or dramatic.
That aside, there are about 10 questions that can be raised around Jaafar, government and the video released. Let us go;
- Considering Jaafar’s participation in the past administration of Kwankwaso, who turned out to be Ganduje’s current political archenemy, would Jaafar really be working for the opposition? Isn’t his integrity and that of his brainchild, DAILY NIGERIAN, more important to him NOW since same online newspaper has several times published news and opinions not very nice about his former principal, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso? But will Jaafar even put his life to risk (he is in hiding following threats) just to please the opposition?
- Some months ago, when some sexually related disgusting video involving face of Sarkin Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II went viral on social media, DAILY NIGERIAN quickly called its experts, who proved that the video was tampered and unauthentic. That put to rest an impending national scandal of the year. Will same Jaafar participate in cloning videos against Ganduje or will he report cloned videos this time around without caution?
- The amount of money in the first released video is hard to be verified but was reported to be $230,000. May be Jaafar knows more about the encounter in the video than he revealed. Is it possible for the governor, a former deputy governor and federal director, to possess such amount personally? What are his declared assets and net worth as at his inauguration?
- The video, with edited sound, showed only the governor, some parts of a room or office and hand of a ‘giver’. That is not enough to prove that he was collecting a kickback from a contractor. Are the other yet-to-be released videos going to sort out the puzzle?
- The contractor and others who claimed that it is the practice of Kano State Government to ask for kickbacks from contractors in the report craved anonymity. How do we then fill in the many gaps in the video?
- Is the ‘anonymous’ contractor ready to support Jaafar’s claim and appear, if needs be, in a court of law, or at least give his side of the story to media?
- Jaafar claimed to have been offered some money to destroy the videos before release and after his refusal to negotiate, his life was then threatened which forced him into hiding. For how long will Jaafar be in hiding and who will be this desperate to harm a reporter over a video that may likely be “at best cloned”?
- Can Jaafar escape in a court, if the ‘anonymous’ contractors fail to give testament in a court, a possibility since they already didn’t want their names in print likely in the best interest of their business?
- How long will it take the federal government to act based on the judgment of the security officials it asked to investigate the videos? Is party interest and the governor’s immunity not going to affect Buhari’s possible line of action even if the videos are confirmed to be true?
- How long will it take Jaafar to release the rest of the videos? Doesn’t he think that one of the possible actions a court may take is to restrain him from further ‘defamation of character’ of the governor?
These questions will continue to vibrate as we watch this potential strongest game changer in Kano politics. How soon we will get answers, nobody knows. The line is drawn and integrities of 2 men are at stake as well their respective political and journalistic careers.
Dr Marzuq Ungogo can be reached via myzooq@gmail.com
