By CHIDI OBINECHE
Former chairman, House Committee on Appropriations and member, representing Kiru/Bbeji Federal Constituency, Kano State, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin, on July 21 sparked off controversies on the sore issue of budget padding, which has been on the national front burner for years. It was on the heels of his ouster as the chairman of the committee, by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara. In his widely reported statement, he said; “I am obliged to make further statements after listening to the full statement of Speaker Dogara on why I had to leave as Chairman Appropriations. It is a fact I went up to the speaker and told him clearly I wanted to leave. He confirmed this in his statement, but it appeared he wished he had fired me instead of my personal decision to step down.
“Thereafter, I proceeded to my office. I was therefore surprised when an aide of mine walked into my office to inform me that the speaker had announced my departure. I was relieved and went straight to address the press and released a statement.” The statement signaled the formal declaration of “warfare” which has rocked the House, stood the nation on edge, and drawn jitters and blood from a people already on economic siege. He let off his guard revealing intricate details of sleight and underhand practices in the 2016 budget, and incriminating four principal officers of the House including Dogara, His deputy Yusuf Lasun, Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor. He had added in his statement: “ Mr Speaker, this issue will never be swept under the carpet. We are closing for recess with it, and we shall commence the next session with this issue.” True to his words, Jibrin has at every bend of the way ensured that it is ever present on the scale of national discourse. He has stoked its embers the more with regular fresh revelations and allegations, thereby putting the accused on a frenzy race to keep their jobs. The desperation, energy, and resourcefulness thrown into this exercise have sent tongues wagging and perhaps created the nexus for various interpretation of the raison d’être behind it.
Nothing really has been spared, and not a few people have insinuated that behind the bitterness is a poised claw of revenge and desire to go down with the speaker. That, however, remains in the realm of speculation.
According to Wikipedia, “ a whistleblower is a person who exposes any kind of information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct within an organization that is either private or public. The information of alleged wrongdoing can be classified in many ways: violation of company policy/rules, law, regulation, or threat to public interest/ national security, as well as fraud, and corruption. Those who become whistleblowers can choose to bring information or allegations to surface either internally or externally. Internally, a whistleblower can bring his or her accusations to the attention of other people within the accused organization. Externally, a whistleblower can bring allegations to light by contacting a third party outside of the accused organization.
They can also reach out to the media, government, law enforcement, or those who are concerned but face stiff reprisal and retaliation from those who are accused or alleged of wrong doing.” They also face legal action, which is rapidly playing out in this case; criminal charges, social stigma and termination from any position, office, or job. Deeper questions and theories of whistle blowing and why people choose to do so can also be ascertained through an ethical approach. It is said that whistle blowing is truly an ethical “decision and action.” They are also vulnerable to retaliation and turbulence.
This is the dilemma of Jibrin, a fate clouded by uncertainties. Issues about the legitimacy of whistle blowing, and the import of institutional whistle blowing is largely acknowledged to be part of the field of political ethics. Therein again, is the psychological impact of the budget padding saga.
Jibrin was born in Kano into the family of Alhaji Labaran Mohammed Jibrin and Hajia Amina Gambo on September 9, 1976. He attended Army Primary School Janguza, Kano (1983 – 1986) before moving to Command Children School Jaji, Kaduna (1986 – 1988). He had his secondary school education at Science Secondary School, Abaji, Abuja.(1989-1992) and Bwari Secondary School, Abuja (1992-1994). He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Abuja in 1999, MSc in International Affairs and Diplomacy at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 2003 and PhD in International Relations at the University of Abuja in 2009.
He also attended the London Business School in 2009, Harvard Business School in 2010, International Business House, London, 2009 and European Institute of Business Administration INSEAD France, in 2009. After a stint at Century Research and Communications Ltd, he moved to Green Forest Investment Ltd in 2003 holding various positions of General Manager, Managing Director and Chairman/CEO. He taught International Relations at Nasarawa State University and authored the “New face of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy, Nigeria’s role in Peace Keeping Operations.”