Betta Edu: Nigeria’s suspended minister in limbo

In the ever-turbulent waters of Nigerian politics, few stories have captured the public’s attention like the suspension of Betta Edu, the former minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster Management.

Six months have passed since President Bola Tinubu dramatically removed Edu from office amid allegations of a N585 million scandal, yet the nation remains in the dark about the outcome of the subsequent investigation.

I find myself compelled to ask: Where is Betta Edu, and what has become of the case against her? The saga began in January when Edu found herself at the centre of a storm that threatened to engulf the entire Tinubu administration.

The allegations were serious: a purported N585 million payment to questionable accounts, raising eyebrows and ire across the nation.

In a swift response that seemed to underscore his commitment to transparency, President Tinubu suspended Edu and ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the matter.

Edu, for her part, vehemently denied any wrongdoing. She claimed the payments were legitimate, intended for vulnerable groups in several states, and defended the practice of transferring funds to private accounts of staff members as standard procedure within the civil service.

Her explanations, however, did little to quell the public outrage or halt the wheels of justice as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) summoned her for questioning.

But now, half a year later, we find ourselves in a peculiar state of limbo. The initial furore has died down, replaced by an unsettling silence. What has become of the EFCC’s investigation? Has Edu been cleared of wrongdoing, or has damning evidence been unearthed?

The Nigerian public, ever vigilant and increasingly cynical about the machinations of power, deserves answers.

I boldly assert that before her suspension, Betta was among the top five performing ministers of this administration. In a cabinet of over 40 ministers, I can’t count more than five that are actually working. Most of them are sleeping on the job and have earned the title of ghost ministers.

Even after being suspended for more than six months, I still rate her higher than 80 percent of the current ministers.

So what has happened to the investigations and probe? I believe six months is more than enough time for the EFCC to conclude their probe into her.

If she has been cleared, I think the president should reinstate her to her former position. If she has been indicted, she should face the wrath of the law. I don’t believe in the arguments that even if she is cleared, she should not be brought back to the cabinet.

She brought energy and dynamism into the ministry and the administration of President Tinubu. In a cabinet full of sleeping ministers, she deserves to return and take her place, assuming she is cleared by the EFCC.

Moreover, this saga underscores the urgent need for a cabinet reshuffle. President Tinubu must recognise that the time for political settlements and appeasements has passed. Nigeria faces unprecedented challenges – from economic instability to security crises – that demand a cabinet of the highest calibre.

The luxury of carrying deadweight ministers appointed more for their political connections than their competence is one the nation can ill afford.

As we ponder the whereabouts and status of Betta Edu, let us also contemplate the broader implications for Nigerian governance.

The president must understand that his legacy hangs in the balance. Every day that passes without resolution to cases like Edu’s, and every month that goes by with underperforming ministers still in office, chips away at the goodwill and hope that greeted his administration.

The buck, as they say, stops at the president’s desk. It is time for decisive action – not just in the case of Betta Edu, but across the entire spectrum of governance.

The Nigerian people deserve nothing less than a government that operates with transparency, acts with urgency, and delivers results.

Views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of TheCable.