TAIWAN'S FORMER PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN, IMPRISONED FOR LIFE!

Call it obsession if you like, but the only reason corruption have eaten so deep into the body-fabric of the Nigerian polity and still metastasizing, is Nigerians lack of determined deterrence! There is a lack of consequence for criminality which is the reason Olusegun Obasanjo is still walking the landscape of Nigeria, a free man!

In a civilized society where corruption is frowned at like Taiwan, Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo would have long been put away for life in prison for his atrocities in office. And were Nigeria to be Taiwan's mighty neighbour and big brother across the strait, Olusegun Obasanjo would have since been tied at a stake and shot to death for what he did wrong while in office. But no, he is a Nigerian and one of the henchmen-marauders therein; who are holding Nigeria hostage since Independence in 1960?

That his inept, highly corrupt and mischievous eight years in office is being celebrated as if it was just yet another eight years of picnic in the park and not being held to account is another example of Nigerians behaving badly and condoning looting by another section of the country! Icheoku says, until Nigeria starts getting tough with her corrupt officials just like the Taiwan example, the world can only look on and lament the appetite for corruption and the level of corruption bedevilling Nigeria; and then bemoan the lack of will to eradicate it, even to an acceptable barest minimum.

Icheoku asks, is there any lesson learned by Nigeria from what happened in Taipei with the life sentence handed over yesterday to a former president for his corrupt practices? Taiwan Ex-President Chen Shui-bian was sentenced alongside his wife, who would qualify were it in Nigeria, as the first lady! The learned court in Taiwan has figured out that first ladies are always welding too much powers in their husband's administration - the example of Turai Yar'Adua of Nigeria; and decided to similarly hold her accountable for the sins of office of her husband. Their children were not spared the rod by the courst either, as evidence abound of the excesses of such first children as then Segun Obasanjo?

In addition to his life imprisonment, the former President Chen Shui-bian was ordered to pay fine to the Taiwan state, the sum of $200 million Taiwanese-dollars as a restitution to the nation for corruption and money laundering he engaged in while serving in office as president. The court also yanked all his civil rights including right to stand for an election or vote for or be voted for! Far reaching and the Nigerian courts need to brace this stare decisis! There was also a standing threat to confiscate his assets in event he fails to pay his fines. Gladly enough his wife, the former first lady was equally yoked with her husband in his punishment, until death do them apart. Not even the former president's closest advisers were spared as they too received heavy sentences including his very close adviser Ma Yung-cheng, who received 20 years in prison and lost his civil rights for ten years. Another aide was sentenced to 16 years.

Icheoku says, kudos to the Taipei District Court, the prosecutors and the people of Taiwan for holding your former president accountable. The proposition now is 'if the former president could be made to account for his corruption, who else in Taiwan is above reproach? The answer is none, hence every other lesser Taiwanese mortal will strive to be upright; knowing fully well that he or she is such a small fly for the laws of Taiwan having seen the hand that was dealt their former president. The way to go Taiwan as no person should be allowed to be above the law of the land; - the example of the Untied States of America. But unlike Nigeria, where corruption has grown into an 800-pounds gorilla and still fattening! Icheoku is particularly happy with what went down at Taipei because of the example it showed, and pray the former president received a fair trial.

The Taiwanese verdict is very reflective of a country that is serious with fighting corruption and not Nigeria, which hamstrings its own anti-corruption agency, EFCC; and frustrates it from going after well known highly corrupt officials who are well connected? Also it shows that it is usually not only the president that is corrupt; but a retinue of hangers-on who disappear as soon as his curtain of power falls; and turn around to blame the president for all the ills of society as if he acted alone! Like Judas Iscariot, they always and easily betray the person who lost out in the power struggle and hurriedly form new alliances with the new man of power; which shames the word, loyalty.

Once again the Taipei court's sweeping decision, holding the president, his wife, children, friends and advisers accountable, shows a court well grounded in the realities of a president's life. No president acts alone or by himself in isolation, engages in corruption; no they are usually goaded, aided and assisted by numerous hangers-on and egomaniac family members, who try to cash in on their God-given access to the president, and bilk people seeking contracts and contacts in the government mercilessly. Icheoku salutes the courage of the Taiwanese judiciary for taking on such a political elephant and also the political establishment, for allowing the rule of the law to take its place! At this sage it does not matter if the planned appeal succeeds, as the Taiwanese state proves that the law is no respecter of person. The Taiwanese society is better off today with the judgment. Way to go Taiwan!