The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has warned the
federal government not to capitalize onthe controversy generated by the illegal removal of Justice Ayo Salami as President of the Court
of Appeal to distract Nigerians from serious issues of governance.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
the party said Nigerians are not unaware of the sponsors of the series of newspaper and television
adverts being placed by shady groups in recent days to confuse the issues involved in the Justice
Salami issue.
Salami issue.
”There is no doubt that huge public funds are being frittered away on these self-serving adverts by
mushrooming phony groups, who are simply echoing their master’s voice and seeking to distort the
facts in a case of serious constitutional infraction.
”It is sad however that this dirty game of distraction is being played at a time of worsening insecurity in
the land from the activities of Boko Haram, armed robbers and kidnappers; at a time of rising
unemployment due to lack of ideas on the part of the government, and at a time that innocent Nigerians
are being slaughtered like chicken due to the resurgent crisis in Jos.
are being slaughtered like chicken due to the resurgent crisis in Jos.
”Nigerians are more concerned that their country is fast becoming a police state, where public buildings
and other facilities are being guarded by armed soldiers and the entire polity is militarized, and the
government of the day spends little or no time on governance,” it said.
government of the day spends little or no time on governance,” it said.
ACN repeated its earlier warning that the Salami issue will not go away until those who precipitated the
crisis do the right thing, which is to reverse their illegal actions and reinstate Justice Salami.
”These people can spend all the money in the coffers or use all the media in the world in their attempt to
justify their unconstitutional acts, but they will not succeed in hoodwinking Nigerians.
”All they need is a little introspection, and it will become clear to them that only by doing the right thing, which
will not even involve wasting public funds, can this lingering controversy be laid to rest,” the party said.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed
National Publicity Secretary
Action Congress of Nigeria
Lagos,
Sept 4th 2011
