Who Blinks First?

The last has not been heard of the ongoing feud between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Fresh damming facts have continued to emerge as both parties engage in verbal war and the public is all but ready to see how things turn out.

It started with APC openly stating that NIMASA, a government establishment that should remain apolitical, engaged in a smear campaign that discredited the candidature of the presidential flag-bearer of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, where APC accused it of being the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of the PDP.

NIMASA replied by denying the allegation and ordering APC to retract their statement within 72hours otherwise, they would take legal action against them.

Instead of doing that, APC further accused NIMASA of embezzling $800m Cabotage fund and charged them to account for it publicity. How may NIMASA answer as they have chosen to remain silent over the allegation? Does that imply that they have no answer? The stage is set, the audience ready, waiting to see how issues will play out.

The allegation of embezzlement of public funds, and contribution is a very serious one, so NIMASA must give an answer otherwise the audience would take the allegations to be true. It is often good for winds like this to blow to ascertain the hidden rump of the fowl. The accusations and counteraccusations are definitely taking center stage.

The gladiators are taking and receiving; NIMASA received the last punch, and the audience is waiting to see how and from which direction NIMASA will return the punch.