By Otive Igbuzor
Many commentators have argued that Nigeria is exceptional in many instances. The level of poverty in the country is exceptional when compared with other countries in the world with oil resources apart from those in war. The level of rigging of elections in the past (up till 2007) was unprecedented. The level of tax avoidance is unparalleled.
The extent and depth of corruption is fantastic. But other commentators insist that everything that is happening in Nigeria can be explained by its history and political economy of oil.
The rejection of the Senate to confirm Mr. Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after two submissions as a result of report by Department of State Security (DSS) is another issue that defies normalcy. In a normal situation, the Presidency will screen potential appointees and the screening will include background check by DSS.
In a normal country, the Presidency will engage the DSS before the second nomination after the first rejection. In a normal country, someone will pay dearly for the embarrassment caused the Presidency especially considering the fact that this administration has been unwilling or unable to fill several vacant positions in INEC and other organisations. Things cannot happen like this in a normal country without consequences.
But if we examine the kind of people that this Senate has rejected since 1999, will this be surprising? Is Nigeria really exceptional?
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