He is remembered by political historians as the honest man of the Senate, the man who brought sincerity and truth to the fore in the face of the sophisticated twists and turns of many of his contemporaries at the time of one of the most salacious scandals to have swept through the National Assembly.
The narratives of Senator Adighije in the bribe for budget scam of 2004/5 that eventually forced the resignation of Senator Adolphus Wabara as Senate President in April 2005 was a double edged sword that he probably hates to remember. However, in the eyes of many right minded men of the public it was the sacrifice of a man willing to project truth and sincerity in public office.
Since his eventful stint in the Senate between 2003 and 2007, not much has been heard of Senator Adighije as an attempt to return was frustrated by Senator Nkechi Nwogu, who incidentally as a member of the House of Representatives defeated Adighije and Adighije’s predecessor, Senator Bob Nwanunu.
But Adighije has since 2010 found himself in perhaps more productive grounds as Abia State representative at the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMFAC.
At the RMAFC, his professional qualifications as a geologist have also helped him add value to the commission’s job of settling disputes between the states.
Tasked on his experience in the commission, Adighije said: “RMAFC is a mini- Nigeria where every state has a representative. The commissioners are all men of honour, tested and groomed in their various disciplines: former senators, House of Representatives member, ambassadors, permanent secretaries. Indeed RMAFC boast of men and women who have achieved quite a lot by way of experience. Inspite of their status, the atmosphere is that of comradeship, patriotism, cooperation and understanding. Our motto is ‘Nigeria first’.”
On his most memorable experience, the former senator took pride in his role in helping his native Abia State recover lost funds.
He said: “I am chairman of Indices and Disbursement committee. Under my watch, a new Indices regime for sharing of revenue amongst states and local Govt was successfully undertaken and passed unanimously. I also participated in arriving at a new Revenue Formula which is awaiting presidential nod. On a personal note, I was able to assist Abia State to get refunds for Revenue from Ishimiri oil field and the long ceded 22 oil wells.”
Is he still in politics? “Obviously my period At RMAFC greatly reduced my political activities. The responsibilities at RMAFC demanded some degree of neutrality, since we needed to be impartial arbiters at the local, state and federal levels. I am now in APC because the PDP especially at Abia threw democratic principles overboard. PDP became a one man show where divergent views became ‘treasonable felony’,” he said.
Continuing Senator Adighije added: “The PDP leadership in ABIA became ‘tin god’ and intolerant of any differing opinion or view. Prudent management of Resources is the key. The Buhari Administration is already blocking leakages in the Economy and this is the only way- given the diminishing Revenue sources
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