Corruption isn't only fighting back, Buhari too is shooting himself in the foot

Someone guessed Magu is not very holy or angelic enough to lead the anti-corruption squad that'll sweep the country clean of corrupt practices in both high and low places.

Yes. That guess is not wrong.

The Senate rejection of Magu is based on the conclusions of the Department of State Security Service that he failed the integrity test and confirming him as the substantive EFCC Chairman would make him a liability to the Buhari Administration.

The DSS is an arm of the executive and one would have expected that, when the president appoints someone to lead the fight against corruption, which is the sole focus of Buhari's administration, the DSS would investigate the candidate and give him an easy pass.

ALSO READ : The real reason behind Senate rejection of Magu

However, it is worrisome that the Department of State Security seems to be the obstacle blocking the president's chances of getting his anointed man confirmed by the Senate as the DSS unashamedly nullified Magu as the man for the job.

In the face of a regime that promises to fight corruption and bring national thieves to book, rejecting Magu is a smart move to get rid of the mad dog and usher in a lapdog, that will not have the will to look through the files let alone bark at corruption.

Some of the senators who voted against the confirmation of Magu are being prosecuted or investigated for one corruption charge or the other and confirming Magu is tantamount to self-destruction. It is like opening the door to Kirikiri for oneself.

This is the reason corruption has to fight back. Corruption will do everything to ensure EFCC chairmanship does not get a Magu or his likes. Corruption is a strong fat cat in the Nigerian political system and ironically, Magu is procedurally at the mercy of corruption to lead the fight against corruption.

As the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Magu has exposed a number of high profile corruption cases against some big names in the country. Some of these fellows form the honourables that have the constitutional right to determine who calls the shot at EFCC.

ALSO READ : Presidency yet to receive Senate's decision on Magu

However, while we blame corruption for everything, it is important to note that President Muhammadu Buhari is losing control of his administration.

The president should be worried more than all of us that his subordinates truncated his desire to have Magu as EFCC boss.

The senate may claim to have rejected Magu simply because of DSS damning report about him, but they won't deny the anti-corruption maxim that the fear of Magu is the beginning of wisdom.

In October 2016, the DSS reports indicted Magu for a number of allegations such as living in a house allegedly paid for by someone being prosecuted for corruption and flying first class in an Emirate Airline to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj.

Based on these, Magu was rejected when the president first sent his name forward for confirmation.

It is unbelievable that Buhari didn't deem it necessary to clear the controversial matters hanging on the neck of Magu with the DSS before he sent his name to the Senate again for confirmation.

Magu appeared before the Senate again and a DSS report dated Tuesday, March 14 was brandished and read out loud by Senator Dino Melaye.

"In the light of the foregoing, Magu has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption stand of the current government"

Magu must have left the hallowed chamber very embarrassed.

Is this the end of the Magu appearance and rejection session in the Senate ? Maybe.

The President may decide to re-forward his name or look elsewhere. But if Magu must face the senators again, it is expected of the president to restrain the State Security Service from sabotaging his fight against corruption.

Only then would we know who does not want Magu to head the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission between the Senate and the DSS.