By Felix Izu.
The military regime of Gen. Yakubu Gowon has remained unforgettable majorly because of the establishment of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in May 1973. The envisaged purpose was to render selfless service to the nation, and among others is to ensure unity and strength in the nation’s wide diversity. Whether this intention has been achieved is a subject of argument among various school of thoughts. This conflict of opinions was in full expression in the ongoing NYSC 50 Years Anniversary celebration flooding the socal media space with a hash tag ‘#NYSC@50’. Many Nigerians have reacted positively, showing their support for the program; however some have on the other hand equally stated their displeasure with the Federal Government program, trying to dent the long-held image and reputation of the organization at this present administration of its Director General, Brig. Gen. Y.D. Ahmed.
A member of this later category has moved a step further amidst celebration by going to court against the management of the scheme. Of course people’s behavioural patterns and reactions on particular matter are always different, owing to the disparity on their emotional and total psychological make-up. So one might not be entirely wrong saying that the ‘over’ ambitious legal reaction of Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party and the Enugu State Governor-elect, is simply his unmanaged emotional celebration of NYSC at 50. However, I would personally have preferred to call it an ‘Ajija’, in my own dialect, or better tagged ‘AJIJA2023’. Hold on awhile, I will explain…
Recall that various human rights groups and concerned Nigerians had gone to the National Youths Service Corps under the freedom of information act, to seek the verification of the NYSC Certificate of the Governor-elect. The NYSC had maintained in all their responses that the purported NYSC certificate being paraded by Mr. Mbah is allegedly fake and was not issued by NYSC. The Director General of NYSC further confirmed this in an interview with Arise News against an ex-perte order given by an Abuja court restraining NYSC from further issuance of disclaimer of Mr. Mbah’s certificate. He comically emphasized that NYSC certificate are not obtained on the streets nor by sitting in one corner of a hotel. “No certificate racketeering in NYSC”, he said.
Although one of his lawyers and his media aide, Prince Ejeh Josh had publicly declared his hatred for the continuous existence of NYSC, I doubt if this degree of legal suit could be filed without the conscientious approval of Mr. Mbah. Because on his side, there have been histories of abysmal reactions to issues. He was widely reported to had fainted at the headquarters of the NYSC in reactions upon the ugly news of the failed verification of his certificate, probably in an unholy attempt to attract sympathy for remediation of the certificate saga.
Also, one Emeka Ozoani (SAN), Peter Mbah’s lawyer was reported to have said in an interview with newsmen, that with the bundle of papers they have filed in court, it is clear that he(Mbah) was mobilized; at a certain stage he went to do his Bar Part 2, and applied for deferment. “Subsequently he came back and was re-mobilized. He completed the NYSC and was issued the certificate”, Mr. Emeka continued in a manner that deceitfully portrays that winning a case in court depends on the amount of bundles of papers filed.
Critics claim that the period of his initial mobilization and remobilization superimposes Mbah’s tenure as Chief of Staff to the former Governor of Enugu State, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani and later commissioner. And that the NYSC, according to its objectives, is supposed to be a selfless service to the nation but Mbah was fully and gainfully employed with evidence of salaries. Also that he was mobilized or re-mobilized as the case may be in Lagos State, but Mbah was fully engaged in Enugu with evidence of documented official functions.
The annual budget of NYSC is a little greater than the amount of money Mr. Mbah is praying the honourable court to grant on his favour against the NYSC as damages for alleged conspiracy and fraudulent misrepresentation of facts. Does Mbah want the Federal Government through the NYSC, to repay him for all the expenses incurred during and after his embattled and controversial election? This question shall be answered by his lawyers in the court.
This is why I prefer to refer to this Mbah’s suit as Ajija2023. ‘Ajija’ in my Igbo dialect, is an action against a tradition. It is like a sin against the people or the superstitious ancestors that doesn’t go without repercussions. In my context, Ajija is the wonderful Karma. Is it a coincidence that after the last unfortunate dramatic general election in Enugu State and particularly the declaration of results from the ‘miracle’ centers in Nkanu East, Mr. Mbah took himself to court against his ‘savour’ in his alleged NYSC certificate forgery saga, demanding a whooping N20 billion? I don’t think it is a mere coincidence, it is Ajija2023. He just nailed himself.
Why do I say so? The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Ltd (which Mbah’s lawyers are calling to testify against NYSC because they merely printed the certificate), does not have the right to issue NYSC certificates. Only NYSC does… Mbah’s lawyers and advisers failed to recall a recent similar incidence; that the same or similar company printed the naira notes for the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, but when CBN rejected the old naira notes sometime this year, all the affected notes in their possession were no longer legal tenders. I am aware none of the lawyers met any minting company for clarification. The minting company has no such powers in the constitution.
Any certificate that has been rejected by NYSC remains rejected, invalid, null and void irrespective of where it was printed. Even if it was issued by NYSC, NYSC still has the power to recall any certificate according to the Decree 51 establishing it. If this is not Ajija, why drawing this battle line against the Federal Government?
This mistake is as grievous as suing a judge in a matter he will preside. It is a clear Ajija because even if NYSC had wanted to remedy his situation by refuting its initial statement, this suit has crippled the possibility.
What does this matter mean before the ongoing election tribunal in Enugu?
Recall that the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Labour Party have both filed petitions against the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and its sponsored candidate, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, alleging among others, that he submitted a forged NYSC certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. If found guilty, this is an offence of perjury and capable of disqualifying him. Although NYSC certificate is not a requirement to become a governor in Nigeria, but criminal forgery of certificate and submission of fake documents under oath are serious bridge of the Nigerian constitution and ‘fatal’ to prospectives.
In my opinion, Mbah’s ambitious legal actions against NYSC is more or less denting the image of the scheme during this important and historical time of its existence and celebration of five decades of fostering national unity and development in Nigeria. Or what else does he want to achieve knowing fully well that by the immunity clause, all suits by or against him except those before the election tribunal will abate after his swearing in on 29th May, 2023? And again I maintain, it is Ajija2023. Can he escape the repercussions?