Ribadu I Know; Agbakoba I know; But Tell Me About This Task Force

As I continue to follow President Goodluck Jonathan, my affect seamlessly switches between rage and pity. The very few happy moments were occasioned by the appointments of Attahiru Jega, Reuben Abati, and, just recently, Nuhu Ribadu as chairman of the Petroleum Task Force. I was also happy to note that Olisa Agbakoba is a member of the task force. Reuben Abati has already developed an about-face and thrown his good name into the gutter. How Jega turned out is now public knowledge – we had some of the world most expensive elections in 2011, yet as fraught with fraud and rigging as any other bad elections Nigeria has had (the Delta rerun and April election are ready examples).
Certainly, I am happy that Ribadu was picked as chairman of the Petroleum Task Force. But as a progressive, I know we must ask the tough questions that are begging for answers. First, it is obvious that the task force is not the product of serious deliberation. It is not a commission established by law. It is not the EFCC, which was created by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment act (2004). It is a whimsical design that can be easily erased or crushed by another capricious move by the Federal Executive Council. It is a knee jerk contraption, whose powers and reach are yet unclear. This is not how corruption is fought. The battle against Nigeria's corruption must be deliberate, well thought out, all-out, and relentless.
This sort of half-hazard design is characteristic of Jonathan's every move – whether it is the removal of oil subsidy, the announcement to build new federal universities, the nebulous SURE (Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment program), the guns-for-money exchange program (a.k.a. Amnesty Program), the continuation of the despicable and corrupt security votes that are never accounted for, you name it. Not one of his programs or policies is the product of serious, rigorous deliberation and firmly established in good laws.
Furthermore, Jonathan has shown a consistency in avoiding the very burning issues that cannot be swept under the carpet and meandering to issues that can wait a while. Insecurity of lives and property is unprecedented (the mindless murders of southerners in the north continues unabated; MEND has worn its cloak of terrorism and begun bombing), our electoral system remains as broken as ever, corruption is more blatant and refractory, the lack of constant power is more real than ever, the call for a sovereign national conference is still very deafening; yet Jonathan continues to pursue a different set of priorities.

Anyway, the Petroleum Task Force has been created and Nuhu Ribadu is the chairman. Now what? What should I and my people in Nairaland expect? Has the fight against corruption begun? Methinks not so fast.

How will the task force be funded and what will be the remuneration of its members? There does not appear to be any provision for the task force in the 2012 budget.
  
What powers does the task force have? Can it arrest and put people on trial? There is nothing of such in its terms of reference.
  
Can it terminate questionable contracts and revoke licenses or oil blocks that have been given away without following due process? There is no such thing in its terms of reference.
  
What would be the relationship between the Task Force, the Minister for Petroleum Resources, the Attorney General, and the Inspector General of Police? There is no indication of this in its terms of reference.
    Or is the task force going to be an advisory body merely that would gather information and submit said information to the Federal Executive Council, which will never act on the report/recommendation?
  
It seems to me, as I read the terms of reference of the task force, that it has no real teeth. I am doubtful even about its ability to bark. The task force appears to be nothing other than a group of people tasked with the responsibility of oil debt collection for the Federal Government.
While I am excited about Ribadu and Agbakoba, I'm afraid that some of Nigeria's finest are merely being made to walk in the footsteps of Reuben Abati. I hope this is not the case; I really do.
Having said the above, I wish the task force well; I wish the members success. But we will be watching and we will hold the members to the same standards that we hold Goodluck Jonathan to. Nigeria’s progressives will be unsparing and relentless in the fight against corruption and the insanity in government. This will be true for the Petroleum Task Force.