Auchi attack: Oshiomhole wants Police probed

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Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has called on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate how criminals sacked the Police Area Command and Divisional Police Station, freed inmates and held Auchi town in Edo North hostage for over three hours with no response from the police.

The Governor who made the call yesterday during an inspection of the First Bank, Access Bank, Ecobank, soldiers’ quarters and the police formations attacked by bandits last week Auchi, said there is need for the police to do a soul-searching to see if there are no men within the police who did not compromise security.

According to the governor, “to think that a police station with arms could be attacked and the police could not gun down one criminal gives cause for worry.

“I was not happy that the police had to park the Armoured Personnel Carrier behind the Area Commander’s office instead of being at strategic locations in Auchi town. It shows that the police are not using the funds given to them maximally. I am not impressed because the APC ought to be in operation.

“The fact that the APC was packed at the back of the station and bombed there means that it was not put to maximum use. It is unacceptable. They should begin to account for their negligence of duty, incompetence or both. Until we begin to do that, this lamentation will continue and criminals will continue to operate and demystify the state and make us look like a collection of mushrooms that can be consumed with minimal efforts.

“I believe the police will have to do investigation to reassure us that we are safe. The fact that they can attack two police formations and do that kind of damage shows the need to revisit the role of policing and their operational order,” he said.

The governor however praised the Army for the five soldiers who repelled the attack and killed one of the bandits who attacked and attempted to bomb a private residence where the soldiers reside.

“The point has been made that if you attack a military base you will pay a huge price. For me, that is a little relief that one of the bandits was killed by the soldiers in the sense that his identity will help us to assist the security agencies in their investigations,” he noted.

The governor expressed shock at the sheer guts of the criminals, saying that investigations being carried out by the security agencies will help to unravel what happened.

“The security agencies are investigating and I have no reason to believe that their investigation will not lead to positive outcome that will help us to identify these criminals. But much more important is to learn the right lessons from the incident to take security issues more seriously than has been the case.

“I am troubled by what I saw, but we are not giving up. The criminals cannot win; they must be defeated and brought to justice. Let reassure your highness that the irreducible responsibility of any government is to protect lives and property. If government cannot protect lives and property, then we are in trouble.

“I accept responsibility as the Governor of Edo State for what happened. We have a duty to contribute in ensuring security. I do hope that you appreciate that what has happened is not because of wont of efforts, it is in spite of efforts.

“We have spent our meagre resources at the level of Edo State government to support the Police by providing vehicles and even communication gadgets. We have set up ‘Operation Thunderstorm’ and persuaded the President and Commander-in-Chief to allow the Army to join the Police to complement the efforts of the Police to patrol the cities across the state.

“Ordinarily, the Army should not be involved in civil policing but because of the sheer deficiency on the side of the Police, we had to get the Army to reinforce the Police. This is why you have seen soldiers manning the Operation Thunderstorm. We will continue to provide support for the Police, we will continue to pay allowances to officers and men who are involved in patrolling; we will continue to ensure that the Police must search their ranks to ensure that we don’t have criminals wearing uniforms, providing sensitive information to criminals that seems to help them to achieve the kind of damage they have done here without the criminals counting their losses.

“We must ask more fundamental questions on the role of the Police and insist on responsible answers. Everything must be done to ensure that Edo State does not become part of the high security zones in the country.

“I’ll like to commiserate with the people of Auchi Kingdom. My heart goes to the families who were killed, and in particular, those soldiers whose only reason for being where they are is to watch over us so that we can keep our eyes closed.

“I’m calling on the Police authorities to do proper internal investigation and ensure that those who were negligent are brought to book.”

The Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe 111 said he praised Almighty Allah that although the bandits operated for over three hours, they succeeded in taking money from only one of the three banks attacked and he congratulated the governor who has done everything to ensure the security of the state.

He said to complement the security agencies, the government set up vigilance groups. He however lamented that the vigilance groups did not have arms to repel the criminals and defend the community.

He said a way out of the present security challenge is for the government to liberalise the law on weapons so that everybody can defend himself.

The traditional ruler disclosed that he is aware that approval has been given for the deployment of Mobile police men to Auchi which is the fastest growing community in Nigeria with boundaries with other states and for about a year now they are not there.

He prayed Allah to bring perpetrators of the criminal act to justice saying “anybody who has come to this community to do this harm will come to justice, Insha Allah. Almighty Allah will bring them to justice.”

Why we sealed off TV station —Edo Tax Board

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Edo State Government said it sealed off the premises of the Independent Television/Radio (ITV/Radio) in the state because of outstanding tax liabilities to the tune of over N12 million.

In a statement signed by Courage Eboigbe,Head Media, Edo State Board of Internal Revenue, the agency said: “based on a subsisting court order, the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue sealed off the business premises of Independent Television/Radio (ITV/Radio) this morning for failure to pay accumulated tax to Edo State Government from 2005 to 2010.

“The outstanding tax liabilities of ITV/Radio to Edo State Government amount to N12,882,596.43.

“Indeed, all well-meaning residents of Edo State appreciate the concerted efforts of the Adams Oshiomhole administration to rebuild the state. As a matter of policy, the administration has deployed enormous resources to build social infrastructure with a view to creating more enabling environment for businesses to thrive. It is only reasonable that corporate citizens assist the government by fulfilling their tax obligations to sustain the progress.

“To be sure, the Board wishes to reassure the public that it will continue to enforce the tax law without fear or favor.

“At some point in the past, the Board had had cause to seal off NTA, NDDC, PHCN, UBTH, NPDC, Union Bank, First Bank, Mainstreet Bank among others. These corporate citizens have since settled their liabilities to the state government and are operating freely in the state.”

Federal Government Pays Lip Service to Prison Reforms, Says ANPP

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The All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] received with interest news in the media yesterday where the Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission, Professor Bem Angwe, said that 70 percent of inmates in Nigerian prisons have no business there because they are awaiting trial. This is a manifest admission of helplessness and incompetence by the Government as regards the nation’s prisons and correctional service sector. At this time in the life of our great country, when insecurity and socio-economic uncertainty reign supreme, weak and porous correctional infrastructure is the undisputed fodder to the surging wave of crime. Our party wonders whether the Federal Government is aware of the criminals it is inadvertently breeding in our jails.

The overall intent in establishing prisons was to rehabilitate criminals by teaching them personal discipline and respect for work, property, and other people. Fundamentally, the philosophy and practice of the correctional institution is to punish the bodies of criminals less and improve their souls more, but a situation where prisoners in Nigeria are exposed to inhuman conditions, with many of them wasting without trial, is a travesty of civilization and affront on human dignity. But most significantly, it is gross insensitivity on the part of the PDP led government.

Our great party believes that when the true essence of the penitentiary is abused or neglected it loses its objective of reforming errant citizens and sanitizing the polity. Today we are accosted with a situation where people convicted and jailed for unserious crimes come out hardened, ready and willing to commit more heinous crimes against the country and fellow citizens. In the same vein, affluent public officers convicted for serious crimes, helped by an unjust and incompetent correctional infrastructure and administration, end up getting punished like juvenile delinquents and come out ready to commit worse crimes. What more can engender a confused, insecure nation than this?

The ANPP hereby calls on the National Assembly to ensure the speedy passage of the prisons reform Bill to enhance effective reforms of the prison system in the country. It should also focus on areas of crime and punishment in the ongoing Constitution Amendment so to align with the current security challenges of the nation. As a party, we believe that the Justice System is not complete without an efficient, just and competent correctional system.

Signed:

Hon Emma Eneukwu

National Publicity Secretary

ANPP

Around Ojukwu, the legend, an ethical house, ACN sues for decorum on initiative of Igwe Orizu

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Action Congress of Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter has noted with deep concern the degenerate attendance of negative publicity, after the name, candor and dignity of our illustrious son and father in Anaigbo, which in our considered view is avoidable.

The world over, there are thin lines between heroism and villaincy. In the circumstance it is easy to allow those who thrive on individual and sub-group interest to perforate gaping holes in the image of Ezeigbo Gburugburu, hence lowering the profile attained by the Igbo nation in the last one year.

We are discerning and appreciative enough to understand that the commemorative events of the last one year which have reverberated n over 250 great cities of the world has made the name of Dim Chukwumeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu a tradable asset, which all sons of Anambra State and Anigbo cherish with all their heart and therefore ought to be able to defend by all means at their disposal.

Being a tradable asset, we need to observe that nations and sub-nations have been known to go to war to defend their assets and as such, it is our considered view that the name of Dim Ojukwu Ikemba Nnewi, Dike di Ora mma Ndigbo and Ezegburu Guru Igbo, must be protected against all sorts of assailment by interested parties in the enclave of the biological and political family .

In doing this, we do no suggest the censorship of the press nor desire to shield individuals with blood and political ties to the late Ikemba Nnewi from pursuing their micro-interests tied around the subject. Such will be impracticable. But the scions of Ojukwu can do more of meeting behind closed doors than firing individuals shots in the media.

What we find,not just practicable, but expedient is that the larger interest of the Igbo nation who now have a vested interest in keeping this valuable name holding out vast potentials for our joint economy particularly in the areas of history, preservation and tourism should give rise to a eminent group to urgently create clear ethical boundaries in pursuit of these little interests against the weight of the larger image of our legend.

Unfortunately ,we note with pain that the political leaders of at least Anambra and Imo states as well as the last wife of Ikemba are all involved one way or another in one pursuit of interest or another in this matter.

We therefore call on the Traditional ruler of Nnewi, His Royal Highness, and Igwe Orizu to step in and seize the initiative to call all biological and political sons of the late Ikemba Nnewi to come under one roof and provide them with some home wisdom .

This glowing image must never sink under the resurgent wave of negativism, which would gladly be celebrated by centrifugal tendencies against Igbo core values in and outside Anigbo with representatives in major sectors including the media.

He may wish to invite the governors of Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi to assist him along with a few eminent taken from across the Igbo nation, particularly outside the rank of those with direct vested interest.

For: ACTION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA, ANAMBRA CHAPTER

Okelo Madukaife

HIV infection is preventable –Dr. Ekiyor’s wife

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As Patani LG Mark 2012 World AIDS Day Celebration

By Ikpibako Shepherd

Nigerians has been urged to join hands to fight the spread of the deadly disease Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) by knowing their HIV status and taking needed preventive measure.

Mrs. Gloria Ekiyor wife of Patani Council Chairman made this appeal on the occasion of declaring open the 2012 world AIDS day in Patani Headquarters Patani Local Government Council, Delta State.

Her words, “we should be reminded that HIV infection is preventable. We all have our individual roles to play as parents, guardians and children in this regard by delaying sexual activity among the young and unmarried, using certified latex condoms regularly and correctly, avoiding the sharing of needle or other instruments used for piercing the body, and more importantly knowing your HIV status by being tested”.

The Council first lady noted that poor dissemination of information about AIDS at the grassroots have made many casualties or victims of this deadly disease. She called on all stakeholders to be involved in the enlightenment campaign. According to her “this enlightenment must not be left to Government alone. It must not end here. Civil societies, Non Government Agencies, Religious groups and all humanitarian organization must be involved in this global effort to stop the spread of the deadly disease. I wish to call on our religious and community leaders to use their various fora to increase awareness among our people”

Kogi: Fresh suit instituted against Governor Wada

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A fresh legal battle challenging the nomination and declaration of Captain Idris Wada as the governor of Kogi state commenced on Tuesday before a Federal High Court sitting Abuja.

However, the governor through his counsel, Chris Uche SAN has urged the court to dismiss the suit for being an abuse of court process and that the plaintiff lacked locus to institute such suit.

A former Ward Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party PDP( Odu Ward1) in the state , Yunusa Omagada had through his counsel, Bola Aidi dragged the governor,PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to court seeking the nullification of the election that brought in Wada as the governor of the state.

In a writ of summon filed by the plaintiff,he is praying the court for a declaration that Wada is not a fit and proper person to be nominated by the PDP to the INEC as its standard bearer for the December 3, Governorship Election in Kogi State.

He also wants a declaration that the nomination of Wada as the Governorship candidate of the PDP to the INEC is mala fide, null, void and of no consequence whatsoever and also a declaration that some information contained in INEC form as deposed to by the 1st Defendant is false.

The plaintiff also wants a declaration that the nomination and consequent purported election of Wada as governor of Kogi is in breach of the provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended.

Omagada therefore prayed the court for an order declaring the candidature of Wada to the PDP in the Kogi State Governorship election of 3rd December, 2011 null and void ab nitio as being in breach of the provisions of Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution as Amended.

He therefore prayed the court to allow the application.

In his preliminary objection to the suit, Wada challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit submitting that plaintiff did not have any locus standi to institute such suit because he never participated in the election and that he had failed to show how the emergence of Wada as the governor affected him.

He added that the fresh case was a gross abuse of court process adding the suit was the same as the as the one filed by one Abalaka which the court had earlier dismissed.

He further stated that the only difference between the new suit and the one earlier dismissed by the court was the change in the name of of the plaintiff .

Chris Uche also submitted going by the time the suit was filed and the reliefs sought by the plaintiff, it showed clearly that the matter was a post electon one which the court did not have jurisdiction to entertain.

He noted that the suit was filed in March, which was almost four months after the general election was conducted.

He cited Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution which provides that only the election tribunal can entertain any post election matter.

He therefore prayed the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.

The presiding judge, Justice Adamu Bello adjourned till Febuary 20 for ruling.

President Jonathan’s Brother to Be Buried On Saturday

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President Jonathan will leave Abuja for Bayelsa State on Thursday to participate in the burial ceremonies of his younger brother, Chief Meni Innocent Jonathan who passed away on the 20th of November, 2012.
Chief Jonathan is to be laid to rest on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at his hometown, Otuoke, in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
His remains will be conveyed from Abuja to Otuoke on Friday, December 7, 2012 and will be received by the Otuoke Council of Chiefs at the Otuoke Community Hall at 2.30pm on the same day.
There will be a Service of Songs for him at the Dame Patience Jonathan Square, Otuoke at 6pm that evening while a commendation service will be held at the St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Otuoke at 10 am on Saturday.
He will be interred after the commendation service.

Constitution Review: Matters Arising – By Ugonnia Pat Anyadubalu

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Introduction

Recently, the National Assembly has embarked on further amendment of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

We indeed need to further amend our constitution. It is a notorious fact that no constitution is perfect but the present constitution ab initio is flawed. It started on a faulty note, with a lie if you like by saying that “ we the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria..” Ironically, the same constitution that claimed that “ we the people of Federal Republic” was decreed into existence through Decree No.24 of 1999 promulgated by the military administration of General Abdulsalam Alhaji Abubakar.

Again, even though the constitution has been hurriedly amended, there are still some areas that require amendment which was dropped because of the obnoxious quest for third term. The following areas need to be commented upon.

IMMUNITY CLAUSE: SECTION 308

Section 308 of 1999 constitution as Amended exempts the President, Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor from civil and criminal proceedings while in Office. Many political pundits have called for deletion of this section so that the office holders mentioned thereon will no longer be immuned from civil and criminal proceedings.

I personally do not subscribe to the removal of immunity clause from the constitution. The office holders mentioned therein need all the concentration to enable them discharge their functions without let, hindrance or harassment.

It is also dangerous for our fledgling democracy to subject such office holders especially to criminal proceedings as that will create an avenue for intimidation and removal of such office holders from office by the Federal Government or presidency. We all witnessed the illegal impeachment of some Governors during President Obasanjo’s administration with fingers being pointed at the presidency as the mastermind of such actions.

Will it not amount to trivialization of the hallowed office of the Governor that a commissioner of police who is an appointee of the federal government has power to arrest a Governor, charge him with commission of a heinous crime and clamp him into jail pending probably for advise from the Attorney – General. Let us take a cue from what happened to former senate President, Adolphus Wabara. He was accused of corruption, removed from office and was discharged and acquitted by the court but he lost his exalted position and humiliated out of office. Similar treated will be meted out to such office holders if immunity is removed.

I do not agree with those who argue that corruption will be checked if immunity clause is abolished because, it is extremely difficult to successfully prosecute a sitting Governor. I ask the question, who will have the audacity to testify against a sitting Governor. Let us not forget that the Attorney- General who is an appointee of the Governor has power to enter a nolle prosequi thereby stopping any prosecution against the Governor. I believe that it is easier to prosecute a Governor when he had left office than when he is still in office.

We need to strengthen the House of Assembly so that the members can perform their assigned legislative and oversight functions effectively. Today, most member Houses of Assembly are merely Governors stooges that lack the will power to question the Governor.

PROCLAMATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY: SECTION 305

Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution as amended provides for proclamation of state of emergency and further provides that the president has power to issue a proclamation of a state of emergency only when the Federation is at war, Federation is in imminent danger of invasion or involvement in a state of war, breakdown of public order and public safety in the federation or any part therefore requiring extraordinary measures to avert such danger etc.

There is no place in the entire section 305 that allows the president to decapitate the elected office holders yet we witnessed during president Obasanjo’s administration the removal from office of some Governors like Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti because of proclamation of state of emergency. The basic principle of interpretation is that you do not read into a document what is not in the document. Today, the bad precedence has been laid and it is regrettable that attempt to correct this bad precedence through judicial pronouncement was frustrated as in the case of Plateau. State v. A.G. Federation (2006)25 WRN 1.

We now need an amendment to expressly add that the proclamation of a State of emergency does not empower the president to remove the Governor or any of elected office holder unless as provided by the constitution.

If this is not done, I bet you that tomorrow, a president may rise, declare a state of emergency in a State and remove the elected office holders in that State citing what President Obasanjo did as precedence.

STATE POLICE: Part I, item 45 OF EXCLUSIVE LEGISLATIVE LIST

Part 1, item 45 of the Exclusive legislative list makes the police exclusively under the control of the Federal Government. Recently, there is a renewed agitation that states should be empowered to establish their own police.

I do not support creation of State Police, the situation is not yet ripe for establishment of State of Police. It is also interesting that most states that survive on monthly handout from the Federal Government, are calling for increased expenditure through establishment of State Police.

The country is still polarized based on ethnic sentiments. It is in this country that a State sacked all the civil servants who have been working in the State because they are not from the state. It is in this country that a judge was denied elevation to higher bench just because he is not from the State. We are all guilty of ethnic jingoism therefore a State Police will no doubt operate in that line of ethnic sentimentalism and emotionalism with it attendant hostilities to the non indigenes .

As an Igbo, I will not support a State Police because we are the most peripathetic and gregarious ethnic group in Nigeria therefore a State Police will be akin to release of Alsatian dog to your us. We shall be at receiving end of the excesses of state police.

Our politicians will also use State Police against their perceived political opponents even intimidate the electorate during voting.

Another reason, I am against the State Police is because it will engender disintegration of the country since States will now have their Police and equip them with arms. The Federal Government cannot regulate the amount and nature of arms that will be among the people.

This will also lead to proliferation of arms and increase in violent crimes rather than check crime. Today, arms are easily smuggled into the country; you can then imagine when more arms are in the hands of more people through State Police. The existing para-military bodies is pointer to what the State Police will look like.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM

The country should deliberate whether it intends to retain the local Government system or not. This is because, the Governors have literally destroyed the local Government system by their refusal to organize a local Government election and refusal to release the funds due to the local Government Areas.

If we indeed intend to run an independent local Government system then we should release the local Government system from the strangle hold of the Governors. To do so we then need to amend the following provisions of 1999 constitution

1. Exclusive Legislative List Part 1 item 22 which excludes the conduct of local Government election from the control of Federal Government and by extension INEC. I advocate a full presidential system of government at the Local Government Councils and where their elections will be conducted by INEC like the latter does for House of Assembly, National Assembly etc. we are witnesses to a situation where the Governors bluntly refused to organize a local Government election and where the few hold the election, the fairness of such election is always in doubt. The question that will continue to agitate discerning minds is why parties win elections in a State but when the Local Government election is organized, the same parties hardly win any Local Government seat.

2. To ensure the independence of the Local Government system, section 162(7)(8) of 1999 constitution should be amended to grant financial autonomy to the Local Government councils wherein they will receive their allocations directly from federation account.

The present situation of joint State and Local Government account is very attractive to the Governors who in order to retain the hinge resources meant for all the local Government councils in that states refuse to organize election or run the local Government through care taker committee and appoint their surrogates who cannot question than to run the Local Governments. In a situation like above, the growth of democracy is stultified. Local Government is the closest tier of government to the people and should be promoted. It should also serve as a training ground for budding politicians. Democracy at that level should be encouraged therefore Governors who refuse to conduct local Government election are greatest enemies of democracy.

The third provision is Part II B which creates independent State Electoral Commission should be deleted in view of the transfer of the function to INEC.

CROSS CARPETING

My position is that it is immoral for a person who is elected under a platform to abandon the platform and join another platform without resigning from the position. Section 68 (1)(g) and section 109 (g) prohibit that though they provide a leeway that allows cross-carpeting as a result of a division in the political party of which a parliamentarian was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.

This proviso though commendable but it has been abused. We witness a situation whereby members of legislative House cross-carpet from minority party to a ruling party in the State or Federal Government without any qualms irrespective of whether there is any faction or merger in the party they were previously sponsored.

The only protection is that their new party is the ruling party therefore nobody will ask them to vacate their seats as provided in section 68 (1) and 109 (1) 1999 constitution as amended.

My take therefore is that since we now operate tyranny of the majority in this case, let us delete the proviso so that any member of the Legislative House whether National or State shall vacate the seat if he joins another political party except the party he was elected into the seat.

STATE CREATION

I advocate that the amendment of section 3(1) and or First Schedule of the 1999 constitution to include a State from the South- East. Equity is Equality therefore out all the six Zones in the country, the South-East has the least number of States (5) five as against Six (6) or even seven (7) by other zones.

The same South –East has the least number of Local Government Areas yet the local government system forms part of the distribution of the commonwealth. South – Easterners are being cheated in the distribution of the Federal allocation and other common wealth.

It would be recalled that during President Obasanjo’s regime, a State was approved for South- East but this was scuttled because of the fear of third term.

This is therefore another opportunity for the hallowed Green and Red Chambers to right the wrong by creating a State for South-East

–

Mr. Anyadubalu, a lawyer cum prolific writer, writes from 129 Okota Road Lagos.

 

Jonathan Administration is painfully profligate – ACN

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The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has raised an alarm over the reckless extravagance of the Jonathan
Administration, saying it could plunge the country into bankruptcy if left unchecked.

In a statement issued in Ilorin on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party described as totally unacceptable and utterly shameful that a government that has not made a positive impact on
Nigerians will engage in such wastage.
It said the government has now beaten its own record for profligacy by its decision to build a 2.2 billion Naira

Banquet Hall in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, which the man who announced the white elephant project,

FCT Minister Bala Mohammed, justified by saying ”other smaller countries have better Banquet Halls near their

Presidential residences”.

”It is interesting that a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is comparing the country with ‘smaller countries’

when it comes to justifying a project that will only benefit a few elite. Does the Minister know that the citizens of the

so-called smaller countries enjoy uninterrupted electricity supply? Does he know that the citizens of those countries

don’t have to queue up endlessly for petrol and kerosene; that they don’t have to depend on Okada for transportation;

and that they have no road as terrible as Lagos-Ibadan expressway?

”In any case, nothing can justify the decision to spend such a huge amount of money on a Banquet Hall in a country where

many go to bed hungry most nights, where youth unemployment is at a high 46.5% and where projects that could make

Nigeria to achieve the MDGs, less than three years to the target date, are almost non-existent,” ACN said.

The party also condemned the decision by the Petroleum Minister to spend 6.5 billion naira for ”sensitization” on the Petroleum

Industry Bill (PIB); the President’s propensity to travel to international meetings with a bloated entourage and the continuous

allocation of huge funds to purchase aircraft for the presidential fleet, saying they all fit into the mindless profligacy of the

Jonathan Administration.

”One would have expected that a government headed by a man who himself has publicly acknowledged his humble beginnings

will be less profligate and more inclined to allocate funds to developmental projects that will uplift the standard of living of

his compatriots, including ensuring better security for them. Sadly, what we are witnessing under the discombobulated Jonathan

Administration is the exact opposite,” it said.

ACN advised the Administration to retrace it steps by spending the nation’s scarce resources only on projects that can benefit

the masses, rather than a few elite, and urged all Nigerians to join in calling the government to order before it runs the country

aground

Text of a Press Statement of the Public Interest Lawyers League, PILL

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In the course of 2012, the Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL) consistently bemoaned the level of corruption we have had to contend as a nation of people; and had consistently argued that President Jonathan had not shown (and still don’t ) the will and desire to fight corruption. This lack of will and desire PILL argues has given rise to the disdain for the law, impunity, outright and unbridled theft of our patrimony. Under President Jonathan’s watch, no public servant of importance (read notoriety) has been convicted of the most heinous public crime of abuse public trust. Those oil subsidy scammers accused of swindling the state are daily treated with kid gloves, heralded into our courts and barracked by batteries of cameramen as if they were Nollywood stars. Sadly, these trials are sadly what they are: show trials orchestrated to feed the frenzies of our Court of public opinion!
The Executive arm of government isn’t alone. The Legislature has shown outright disdain for public trust as well. During the year, the House of Representatives was rocked by two scandals that involved two high profile House Committees’ chairmen, Herman Hembe and Farouk Lawan. Whilst Herman Hembe was accused of bribe solicitation, Farouk Lawan was allegedly caught on tape soliciting and collecting bribe. Sadly, the Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, who has consistently shown industry by exposing the shenanigans of the Executive Arm, sees nothing wrong with the laundry his leadership has given to the two errant and morally dubious members of the House of Representatives. Only last week the Privileges’ Committee of the House cleared Farouk Lawan of all wrong doings. A case of Aminu Tambuwal protecting his own!
The Nigerian Judiciary remains what is it is, corrupt. The erosion of the credibility of that bastion that the common man believes is his rampart of justice has been quite noticeable in 2012. And at no point in our history than now has our judiciary become the laughing of the world. No thanks to our cash-and-carry judges and to who foisted the shame that attended the illegal removal of Justice Salami on our country.
Today, our country is at the crossroad of death as it writhes under the weight of corruption. The three estates of the realm must show the resolve to breathing life into our dying country. The first step is to rescue our country from corruption that is killing it. The leaders of the realm: President Jonathan and Vice-President Sambo, Senate President Mark and Speaker Tambuwal, Chief Justice Mukhtar and Court of Appeal President Bulkachuwa must publicly commit themselves to fighting corruption by publicly declaring their Assets. At least this minimum doesn’t take much of a damn.
Abdul Mahmud
President
3rd December 2012                     
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