Akunyili, Buhari, the returned £12,000 - Why the Boss must show the way

This is the story on Late Dora Akunyili, Muhammadu Buhari, integrity and why it’s important to have a head that has a very public stance against corruption. It’s a popular story, but I have refrained from talking about it because there was no evidence. Until now.

 
Dora Akunyili was the Zonal Secretary of Petroleum Special Trust Fund (P.T.F.), co-ordinating all projects in the five South Eastern States of Nigeria (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States) between 1997-2000 under Muhamamdu Buhari who was the Chairman of the PTF. The PTF was created by Sani Abacha to use the income from increase in fuel prices to carry out developmental projects across the country.

That is not the  story.

Sometime around 1998/9, Dora Akunyili was very sick.  She needed to go abroad for treatment for cancer treatment and applied to the PTF for funds, being her employer. The Chairman, Muhammadu Buhari, approved the sum of £17,100 made up of £5,100 for diagnostic tests and £12,000 for surgery and hospitalization. However, after the diagnostic test and therapy, the doctors determined she no longer needed the surgery.

In a rare show of integrity, Dora Akunyili returned the £12,000 meant for surgery to the PTF and wrote a letter to Buhari to thank him for giving approval. Buhari minuted on the letter thus:

“See above report from PTF Zonal Secretary Zone 1. You see there are still Nigerians will personal integrity. Please take action in line with PTF Financial Regulation”. I’ve attached the letter (courtesy of Tolu Ogunlesi, ace journalist).

I don’t know how true, but rumor has it that when Obasanjo wanted a Director General for NAFDAC and someone mentioned Dora Akunyili, Muhammadu heard about it and called Obasanjo to vouch for her, given the above story. Obasanjo is one of the rare believers in the integrity of Buhari (see what he wrote about Buhari in his new book, My Watch) and appointed Dora Akunyili to head NAFDAC.

What lesson is there for us?

There are no guarantees Dora Akunyili would have returned the money if she didn’t have a no-nonsense man like Buhari as Chairman, but my opinion is that she would have done the same. However it helps when everyone knows the boss is someone of high personal integrity and will not take any bullshit. When Dora Akunyili took over at NAFDAC, she worked with some people she met on ground and a few new hands she brought it. But they all worked together to clean up the mess at NAFDAC. We all know the story of NAFDAC under her. It took only one person, the head, for every other person to sit up and act properly.

How is this related to Nigeria? I am a firm believer in the school of thought that reckons that corruption is Nigeria’s biggest problem. Under this government, corruption has assumed an alarming rate and everything is free for all. We need a leader that not only has a track record of zero tolerance for corruption, but whom everyone fears and knows will do all within his power to punish corrupt people. There is probably worse corruption in China or US than Nigeria, yet there is development there. Why? Simple. Everyone knows he will get the maximum punishment if/when caught.

 I believe if this is done, everything else will fall into place.