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CACOL LAMPOONS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, OVER REPS RIFT ON COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS AND SENATORS’ DISAGREMENT OVER N5, 000 STIPENDS FOR UNEMPLOYED NIGERIAN YOUTH

PRESS RELEASE

 

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders CACOL, has lashed out at the Senators over the rejection of the motion for the payment of N5, 000 stipend to each jobless Nigerian and on the honourable members of House of Representatives over the reported ongoing rift that is almost tearing the lower federal legislature apart in the past few days.

Media information has it that the disturbing development has led to mass resignation by a good number of appointed members of some standing committees while many others are threatening to follow suit. The cause of the rift, according to reports, is not unconnected with the disgruntled honourable members’ dissatisfaction with their appointment into certain house committees. They were alleged to have protested against the manner with which the appointments were made by the honourable speaker, The Rt. Honourable Yakubu Dogara.

Led by the House Leader, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, the protesting members had faulted the lopsidedness in the appointments. Honourable Gbajabiamila particularly faulted the speaker for not consulting him as expected before the list was forwarded – an action he considered as a clear deviation from the normal practice and disrespectful to his office as the House Leader. Those who resigned had complained that the speaker had deliberately sidelined them from those committees they described as ‘juicy’.

Senators of the All Progressives Party and their Peoples Democratic Party counterparts were also reported to have disagreed on the payment of N5,000 monthly stipend to each unemployed Nigerian youth. The motion which was raised by the Peoples Democratic Party senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Philip Aduda, urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to fulfill its campaign promise, without further delay, the N5 ,000 monthly allowance to every unemployed youth nationwide.

Debo Adeniran, the Executive Chairman of the Coalition lamented over what he described as “a shameless display of sheer opportunism by our ‘honourable’ law-makers. It’s disturbing seeing the frequency at which these people fight for issues bordering on their selfish gains. How very impressive it would have been if they take issues of national interest with the same zeal and seriousness.

“Thanks to members of lower legislative chamber; at least, we are now being made to know that certain committees are ‘juicier’ than the others. Are we not now beginning to understand better that all the claims by these people that ‘the driving motive behind their contesting for legislative positions is basically to serve the nation and to loyally represent their respective constituencies’ have been nothing but mere lip service; otherwise, why should they be selective and not just take whatever was given and get to work for the nation, in whatever capacity they find themselves? It’s getting clearer by the day that Nigerians still have to continue the long wait for that time to come when people seeking political offices would be doing so, strictly altruistic, out of the desire to serve the nation and not to please themselves.

Commenting on the senators’ rejection of the monthly allowance to the unemployed youth, Adeniran opined that “since the authorities know the number of graduates of different higher institutions in the country, they would have considered it as a burden to carry and should have created workplaces for them.” This he continued, “is the more reason why we want the government to create business friendly environment, encourage cottage industries for those with requisite capacity and establish more industries and central vocational centers that would absorb the unemployed graduates and competent artisans.”

Speaking further Adeniran stressed, “The fact that all these promises, the monthly allowance for the unemployed inclusive, were voluntarily made by the APC during its electioneering campaign makes it incumbent on it to honour the promises without any further excuses whatsoever, now that it is in power. No excuse will be good enough.”

As for the monthly allowance, the CACOL boss asserted, “all that is now expected of the APC-led government is to begin to collate necessary data with a view to determining the accurate population of potential beneficiaries of this and all other of its campaign promises and the cost implication and commence the implementation without further ado. However, giving such paltry sum of money to Nigerian youths will not solve their problems outright. Government should be reminded that it has to create the enabling environment for employment generation and ensure that business set-up, maintenance and sustenance are enhanced by government policies, which will include provision of micro-credit, reduction in taxes and rates payable, and moratorium for new business loans.” He concluded.

 

Temitope Macjob

Acting Media Officer, CACOL

temitope@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com.

5th November, 2015.

 

 

 

For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at

www.corruptionwatchng.com, www.cwatch.thehumanitycentre.org

 

 

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CACOL Condemns pro-Saraki Senators Unruly Behaviour at CCT

By on November 7, 2015
senate
The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), has condemned in strong terms, the apparent indecorous and rascally behaviours of a group of senators numbering about 40 who had accompanied the Senate President Bukola Saraki to the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday, November 5, 2015, to answer to charges of false declaration of assets preferred against the latter.
The law-makers, according to the Coalition, who took their seats in the tribunal chambers in obvious bid to intimidate the Tribunal and show of solidarity with the senate president, were reported to have engaged in acts considered indecorous as well as demeaning to their calling as senior law-makers of our dear country.
They allegedly created a rather rowdy atmosphere at the tribunal as they intermittently disrupted proceedings by either shouting down presentations by the prosecution counsels or making unsavoury and yet noisy comments in the process. The situation reportedly got to an unbearable point at which the leading prosecution counsel was forced to remind them that the tribunal should not be treated like the senate floor where ‘disorderly’ behaviours are tolerated – all in the name of immunity.
It’s worth recalling that CACOL once condemned this show of shame in which senate proceedings had to be locked down or postponed each time the senate president or his wife had to, either appear before the court or to honour a mere invitation by any agency of the state.
The Chairman of the Coalition, Comrade Debo Adeniran recalled with sadness and lamented, “The other day, as many as 80 senators abandoned their constitutional legislative duty, for which they were voted and paid, to accompany the senate president to the EFCC’s office. At some other time, the same shameless and obviously ‘jobless’ senators played the ‘aides-de-camp’ to the senate president’s wife on her visit to the anti-corruption agency, on invitation to be interrogated for her roles in corruption allegations. What a show of shame and gross irresponsibility!
“Besides that, Adeniran added, “even if they had shamelessly made their appearance in the tribunal chambers, should they, as ‘distinguished’ senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not conduct themselves in a most honourable manner and accord due respect to law and justice? As senior law-makers, they, presupposedly, should constitute an epitome of decency, decorum and civility and exemplary in the way they demonstrate respect for the constitution which they swore to uphold and defend at all times.”
“CACOL, therefore, calls on well-meaning Nigerians to rise up and condemn what is fast becoming a fashion by these law-makers; to be abandoning their duty post at will for sheer mundane activities that are not in any way relevant to their assigned constitutional responsibility. Nigerians voted them in and should therefore be able to call them to order whenever they appear to be overstepping their bounds. We cannot continue to have our Houses of Law occupied by lawless, indolent persons who dress themselves in the garb of outlaws,” Adeniran admonished.
Source: NewsNow
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CACOL CONDEMNS THE RASCALLY BEHAVIOUR OF SENATORS AT THE CCT

PRESS RELEASE

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), in reaction to a media report, has condemned in strong terms, the apparent indecorous and rascally behaviours of a group of senators numbering about 40 who had accompanied the Senate President Bukola Saraki to the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday, November 5, 2015, to answer to charges of false declaration of assets preferred against the latter.

The law-makers, according to the Coalition, who took their seats in the tribunal chambers in obvious bid to intimidate the Tribunal and show of solidarity with the senate president, were reported to have engaged in acts considered indecorous as well as demeaning to their calling as senior law-makers of our dear country.

They allegedly created a rather rowdy atmosphere at the tribunal as they intermittently disrupted proceedings by either shouting down presentations by the prosecution counsels or making unsavoury and yet noisy comments in the process. The situation reportedly got to an unbearable point at which the leading prosecution counsel was forced to remind them that the tribunal should not be treated like the senate floor where ‘disorderly’ behaviours are tolerated – all in the name of immunity.

It’s worth recalling that CACOL once condemned this show of shame in which senate proceedings had to be locked down or postponed each time the senate president or his wife had to, either appear before the court or to honour a mere invitation by any agency of the state.

The Chairman of the Coalition, Comrade Debo Adeniran recalled with sadness and lamented, “The other day, as many as 80 senators abandoned their constitutional legislative duty, for which they were voted and paid, to accompany the senate president to the EFCC’s office. At some other time, the same shameless and obviously ‘jobless’ senators played the ‘aides-de-camp’ to the senate president’s wife on her visit to the anti-corruption agency, on invitation to be interrogated for her roles in corruption allegations. What a show of shame and gross irresponsibility!

“Besides that, Adeniran added, “even if they had shamelessly made their appearance in the tribunal chambers, should they, as ‘distinguished’ senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not conduct themselves in a most honourable manner and accord due respect to law and justice? As senior law-makers, they, presupposedly, should constitute an epitome of decency, decorum and civility and exemplary in the way they demonstrate respect for the constitution which they swore to uphold and defend at all times.”

“CACOL, therefore, calls on well-meaning Nigerians to rise up and condemn what is fast becoming a fashion by these law-makers; to be abandoning their duty post at will for sheer mundane activities that are not in any way relevant to their assigned constitutional responsibility. Nigerians voted them in and should therefore be able to call them to order whenever they appear to be overstepping their bounds. We cannot continue to have our Houses of Law occupied by lawless, indolent persons who dress themselves in the garb of outlaws,” Adeniran admonished.

 

Temitope Macjob

Acting Media Officer, CACOL

temitope@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com.

6th November, 2015.

 

For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at

www.corruptionwatchng.com, www.cwatch.thehumanitycentre.org

 

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CACOL expresses shock over Goje’s arraignment

Newsverge Nigeria  

Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has expressed shock over the newspaper report on the arraignment in court by the EFCC of Senator Goje Danjuma and others.

CACOL expresses shock over Goje’s arraignment
Goje

This came on the heels of a media report on PUNCH newspaper of November 3, 2015, of a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and former state governor who was arraigned on charges of money laundering and embezzlement.

Reacting to the news, the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran said the charges couldn’t have come as a big deal; after all, we have lived with the likes for years now. It’s in fact becoming a fashion, sort of. That most of our past and serving state governors and federal law-makers are having one case of official corruption or the other, is no longer controvertible. What is however unusual about Goje’s trial is the shocking submission of one of the prosecution witnesses in person of Mr. Shehu Atiku, the former Clerk of the Gombe State House of Assembly who served during Goje’s tenure as governor of the state, in which he was quoted as stating that Goje, as governor then, forged a resolution of the state house of assembly, as having approved his (Goje’s) request to obtain a bank loan of N5bn from Access Bank plc – two crimes in one, you want to say – forgery and criminal misrepresentation, with intent to defraud.

CACOL finds this rather strange dimension to corruption very shocking. A former chief accounting officer and head of government of a state and a serving senior law-maker, allegedly perpetrating such a heinous crime of such magnitude – a criminal misrepresentation of his state’s house of assembly through an act of forgery as well as obtaining money under false pretences, in clear contravention of Section 419 of our criminal code, by presenting to the bank a forged document. For crying out aloud, here we are talking about a governor; the number one citizen of the state! By the way, where is morals; where is integrity; where is value and for goodness sake, where is virtue?

Speaking further, the anti-corruption activist said the revelation should send shocking waves through the spine of any patriotic citizen of our dear country. If this report is found to be true, then Nigerians should be worried and even disturbed by the horrifying level that corruption is assuming in our land. It, naturally, must be embarrassing that someone in the person of a state governor or senator would present a document for whatever purpose, and the recipient would first begin to seek the verification or authenticity of such document before admitting it. What a national shame and embarrassment.

“With this kind of revelations about some of our leaders, why should we be protesting any disrespectful, dishonorable and sometimes dehumanizing treatment being meted out to the average Nigerian tourist in foreign lands?”

The Coalition however wants to take solace in the present Buhari-led government’s consistency in its drive at wrestling corruption to submission. We are happy to see the EFCC now waking up to its responsibility and hoping that the judicial arm of the government will give the commission the necessary cooperation it requires in its quest to rid our nation of this scourge.

“This is one case that must not be allowed to go the usual way of undue protraction through unending adjournments by the courts. That the resolution of a hallowed chamber of the legislature of a state was forged by a sitting governor of the same state to defraud a bank is, by any measure, a mind boggling height of executive lawlessness and criminality. Justice delayed, they say, is justice denied. Nigerians can no longer afford to have criminals governing us or making laws for us. President Buhari has consistently promised us a change; let’s begin from here.” Adeniran concluded.

Source: Newsverge.

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GOJE’S ARRAIGNMENT – CACOL EXPRESSES SHOCK

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has expressed shock over the news paper report on the arraignment in court by the EFCC of Senator Goje Danjuma and others.

This came on the heels of a media report on PUNCH newspaper of November 3, 2015, of a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and former state governor who was arraigned on charges of money laundering and embezzlement.

Reacting to the news, the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran said the charges couldn’t have come as a big deal; after all, we have lived with the likes for years now. It’s in fact becoming a fashion, sort of. That most of our past and serving state governors and federal law-makers are having one case of official corruption or the other, is no longer controvertible. Continue reading “GOJE’S ARRAIGNMENT – CACOL EXPRESSES SHOCK”

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FG Should Stop Humiliating Heads Of Anti-Graft Agencies And Panels -CACOL

By   /  October 28, 2015

ibrahim-lamorde-300x267The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has called on the Federal Government to refrain from supporting the humiliation of Heads of anti-graft agencies and panels.

This came on the heels of a directive from the Federal Government through its Ministry of Justice asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to investigate the allegation that its chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, diverted about N1trn proceeds of corruption recovered by the anti-graft agency and new directive by the House members to its Committee on Financial Crimes to take over the investigation from the EFCC for a thorough and proper investigation since it would be impossible to separate the EFCC from Lamorde in the instance.

According to the House, the EFCC could not be a judge in its own case by investigating the circumstances surrounding the non-remittance of the funds generated from the proceeds of corruption.

The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran while reacting to the new development has asked the authorities to refrain from humiliating the heads of anti-graft agencies and panels noting that such practices is fast becoming a regular practice especially when highly placed public exposed person is under investigation or prosecution. The House, is not an investigative institution; they should continue with their oversight functions and not take this up especially when the wife of the senate president has a case to answer with the EFCC.

We should recall that both Nuhu Ribadu and Mrs Farida Waziri were humiliated out of office in similar circumstances while investigation and prosecution of some highly placed government officials both at the national and state levels were going on. The same pattern plays out in the National Assembly where heads of committees that tried to probe corruption allegations have been humiliated one way or the other. While we are not holding brief for these heads of agencies and panels, we believe that the substance of their findings i.e the cases they are pursuing before their own issues came up should be prosecuted first before the hunter is hunted.

“If in the course of doing their statutory duties, they are accused of wrong doings, they should be made to complete the assignments they are handling, get to a logical conclusion before they are prosecuted or made to quit the office because quitting the office abruptly will be more of advantage to the accused persons than to the cause of justice. And getting the heads of these agencies and panels out of the way might be the only reason why the complainant could have accused the heads of agencies investigating or prosecuting them so that the process of getting the criminals diligently investigated and prosecuted may be truncated”. Adeniran stressed

Speaking further the anti-corruption crusader sited a handful of experiences; he noted that apart from Nuhu Ribadu and Madam Farida Waziri, when Hon. Ndudi Elumelu headed a similar probe into the power sector NIPP, he was alleged in a N5.2 billion contract scam in the Rural Electrification Project of the Federal Government. Another is the case of Herman Hembe, the Chairman of House of Representatives Capital Market Committee probing the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) during the tenure of Arunma Oteh, and Faruk Lawal who probed the issue of Petroleum subsidy where Femi Otedola was involved and recently is that of the Chairman of Code of Conduct Bureau, Sam Saba, while a case of false assets declaration was going on at the Code of Conduct Tribunal against the Senate President. While those that were been investigated never faced the law, it is those who headed the body that investigated them that were harassed and maybe humiliated into submission. If such a practice continues, people of good conscience would not want to serve in such agencies and panels as nobody would want to commit his life and career to projects that is most likely to ruin such life and career. These heads of agencies and panels could have been given the benefit of the doubt; if they had earlier been found wanting they would not have been appointed to head such sensitive bodies where high level of integrity is required. The confidence of integrity that was reposed in them should be allowed to hold sway until the contrary is proven.

It is to our knowledge that Ibrahim Larmode has always been with EFCC from the beginning. He was the Head of Operations during Nuhu Ribadu regime, and acting Chairman during the transition between Ribadu and Madam Farida Waziris’ and now the full blown Chairman of the EFCC. From our own little investigation, we discovered that nobody has traced the destination of the 1trillion naira that he is been accused of cornering for himself. And by our own understanding, it is not likely somebody will all alone steal as much as 1trillion naira and keep it to himself. We believe that some financial institutions and controlling authorities could have been involved and definitely some other staffers of his commission would also be in the know of such transaction.

Emphasizing that his Coalition is not holding brief for Larmode, Adeniran said that his Coalition believes that Larmode couldn’t have been the only one who would steal as much as N1trn without accomplices or collaborators. If there are collaborators like financial institutions, why is it that the accuser didn’t trace the roles played by these other collaborators before they come up with the allegation? There should also have been a preliminary investigation by the authorities to corroborate the allegations of the petitioners before they made the accusations public.

Adeniran, while expressing his opinion said, “We are not saying that Ibrahim Larmode should not be probed, as nobody should be treated as being above the law but we believe that the communication between the Ministry of Justice and the EFCC is more of a query than a mandate for investigation and possible prosecution.” He then urged the authorities, members of the public and Larmode’s accusers to allow the EFCC to state his own part as a response to such a query before asking him to resign.

As far as we are concerned, Larmode is not infallible and we don’t see him as being different from any other Chairman of any anti-graft agencies to us but we should allow the rule of natural justice to work. We should not ask him to loose his job just because somebody probably due to selfish reasons wanted it that way. If he has to resign, the reason must be presented to the whole of Nigerians by the controlling ministry, which is the Ministry of Justice, and it has to be issues that come in contrary to the rules and regulations that guide his appointments and operations. The alternative is for the regime to hold it peace till his term expires in a few weeks time.

Adeniran also backed the call that the petition ought to have been sent to other anti-graft and regulatory agencies. He however said asking Lamorde to step aside could derail the EFCC from performing its duties.

He said, “What they should have done is to allow other agencies, such as the police or the ICPC. The question of probing people is a kind of confusionist approach to the war against corruption. When people are asked to resign on the account of allegations it will sound as if enemies of anti-graft war want to remove the head of the agency that will derail diligent investigation and prosecution of corruption cases by the agency.

A petition by a wounded person does not make Lamorde guilty until it is proven. The so called petition could also be a move by those who want him out because they are afraid he cannot be compromised. He should remain in place until proven guilty. If the authorities believe that enough evidence has been gathered against him, we believe that it is the duty of ICPC to prosecute public corrupt officials.

Adeniran concluded by recommending that the bill on the Proceeds of Corruption Act (POCA), should be given expedient hearing and passage in the National Assembly to take care of cases like this where it would be easy to monitor and keep accurate records of recovered funds.

Source: Universal Reporters.

 

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Corruption is Nigeria’s biggest problem – CACOL

 

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has affirmed that Corruption is Nigeria’s primary problem and it is a major challenge the country must battle and overcome if indeed Nigeria must enjoy the dividends of democracy.

This came on the heels of a statement made by the President of Igbo Leaders of Thought, Prof. Ben Nwabueze. According to PUNCH newspaper the professor, said corruption is not Nigeria’s primary problem and observed that the present administration’s anti-corruption campaign has relegated other serious national challenges to the background.

Reacting to the statement, the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, noted that the group believes corruption is the biggest problem the country is facing and there is an urgent need to tackle the menace because, if corruption is combated frontally, it would definitely put an end to the many other challenges facing us as a nation. Though corruption as a concept has broad definition; so there is no society that can be entirely corrupt-free but it can be reduced to a minimum.

Adeniran said, “Corruption has become a way of life in Nigeria and the country is deemed to be so corrupt to the extent that even corruption is scared of us. Corruption has virtually become the second nature of the average Nigerian and the level of impunity going on in the country is disheartening. The question of illiteracy, poverty and security was borne out of corruption and that should inform the need for Federal Government to address the endemic problem.

Speaking further, Adeniran asserted that no sustainable democratic culture and development could be established as long as our No. 1 enemy, corruption, thrives and CACOL has decided not to relent but remain in the vanguard of the forces fighting against this seemingly untamable monster that had overtime assumed the overbearing status of an albatross that has constantly been threatening the very existence of this nation and are urging all well-meaning citizens of this country to join hands with President Buhari in this battle for national survival. The anti-corruption crusader noted that the Federal Government has demonstrated some political will to combat corruption and however opined that the regime still need more political will to engender public-will with a view to developing the synergy between the government and members of the public to enhance the trust of the people.

“The Buhari that we know is an epitome of discipline and we believe that he can give corruption its biggest fight in Nigeria. The President needs that revolutionary spirit in him to succeed in the anti-graft war because there are many bobby traps in the system he just need to avoid stepping into. He should not behave as a politician but as a revolutionary soldier on a special mission to rescue the nation,” Adeniran advised.

In conclusion Adeniran stressed that we should also not forget that Nigerians voted for the change mantra of the present ruling party. They would have to do everything they need to, in fighting against corruption in clear departure of what the previous government was criticized for.

Source: Newsverge

 

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CORRUPTION IS NIGERIA’S BIGGEST PROBLEM -CACOL

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has affirmed that Corruption is Nigeria’s primary problem and it is a major challenge the country must battle and overcome if indeed Nigeria must enjoy the dividends of democracy.

This came on the heels of a statement made by the President of Igbo Leaders of Thought, Prof. Ben Nwabueze. According to PUNCH newspaper the professor, said corruption is not Nigeria’s primary problem and observed that the present administration’s anti-corruption campaign has relegated other serious national challenges to the background.

Reacting to the statement, the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, noted that the group believes corruption is the biggest problem the country is facing and there is an urgent need to tackle the menace because, if corruption is combated frontally, it would definitely put an end to the many other challenges facing us as a nation. Though corruption as a concept has broad definition; so there is no society that can be entirely corrupt-free but it can be reduced to a minimum.

Adeniran said, “Corruption has become a way of life in Nigeria and the country is deemed to be so corrupt to the extent that even corruption is scared of us. Corruption has virtually become the second nature of the average Nigerian and the level of impunity going on in the country is disheartening. The question of illiteracy, poverty and security was borne out of corruption and that should inform the need for Federal Government to address the endemic problem.

Speaking further, Adeniran asserted that no sustainable democratic culture and development could be established as long as our No. 1 enemy, corruption, thrives and CACOL has decided not to relent but remain in the vanguard of the forces fighting against this seemingly untamable monster that had overtime assumed the overbearing status of an albatross that has constantly been threatening the very existence of this nation and are urging all well-meaning citizens of this country to join hands with President Buhari in this battle for national survival.

The anti-corruption crusader noted that the Federal Government has demonstrated some political will to combat corruption and however opined that the regime still need more political will to engender public-will with a view to developing the synergy between the government and members of the public to enhance the trust of the people.

“The Buhari that we know is an epitome of discipline and we believe that he can give corruption its biggest fight in Nigeria. The President needs that revolutionary spirit in him to succeed in the anti-graft war because there are many bobby traps in the system he just need to avoid stepping into. He should not behave as a politician but as a revolutionary soldier on a special mission to rescue the nation,” Adeniran advised.

In conclusion Adeniran stressed that we should also not forget that Nigerians voted for the change mantra of the present ruling party. They would have to do everything they need to, in fighting against corruption in clear departure of what the previous government was criticized for.

Temitope Macjob

Acting Media Officer, CACOL

temitope@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com.

28th October, 2015.

 

 

 

For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at

www.corruptionwatchng.com, www.cwatch.thehumanitycentre.org

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Screen nominees with open mind, CACOL tasks Senators

 

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has tasked the Senate on the need to allow for open mind during the screening exercise of the nominees for ministerial appointment by the President.

Senate_newsverge.com

This call is coming against the background of discordant tunes emanating from across the ranks of members of the red chambers. The body language of some vocal senators since the submission of the list by the president, has so far given a lead to what is likely to witness a war of allegiance rather a supposed constitutional exercise aimed at ensuring that those given the mandate to administer the affairs of governance as ministers are eminently qualified to do so.

If the grapevine account is anything to go by, the senate, in the course of carrying out its duty in this regard, might turn out to be a ’house of commotion’ in which tent-pitching and premeditated vendetta, premised on political persuasion, take precedent over consideration for merit. This is why CACOL considers it expedient at this point in time, to remind members of the upper chambers that their allegiance as representatives of the Nigerian people should be first, to the people and the nation of Nigeria and therefore should take precedence over all other considerations.

“A focused, patriotic and objective legislature remains d key to any resourceful democracy and for our hard-fought democracy to be successful and to stand the test of time, a healthy synergy between the executive and the legislature cannot be substituted”, the group’s head, Debo Adeniran stressed.

Although CACOL has overtime remained in the forefront in demanding on behalf of the Nigerian masses that a thorough screening job be done by the law-making body, to ensure that people of character and integrity be assigned ministerial responsibilities, this however should not be done on the altar of score-settling and blinded antagonism – all in the name of politics. They should remember that the common interest of Nigerians is Nigeria.

Source: Newsverge.

 

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SCREEN NOMINEES WITH OPEN MIND – CACOL TASKS THE SENATE

 

 

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has tasked the Senate on the need to allow for open mind during the screening exercise of the nominees for ministerial appointment by the President. This call is coming against the background of discordant tunes emanating from across the ranks of members of the red chambers. The body language of some vocal senators since the submission of the list by the president, has so far given a lead to what is likely to witness a war of allegiance rather a supposed constitutional exercise aimed at ensuring that those given the mandate to administer the affairs of governance as ministers are eminently qualified to do so.

 

If the grapevine account is anything to go by, the senate, in the course of carrying out its duty in this regard, might turn out to be a ’house of commotion’ in which tent-pitching and premeditated vendetta, premised on political persuasion, take precedent over consideration for merit. This is why CACOL considers it expedient at this point in time, to remind members of the upper chambers that their allegiance as representatives of the Nigerian people should be first, to the people and the nation of Nigeria and therefore should take precedence over all other considerations.

 

“A focused, patriotic and objective legislature remains d key to any resourceful democracy and for our hard-fought democracy to be successful and to stand the test of time, a healthy synergy between the executive and the legislature can not be substituted”, the group’s head, Debo Adeniran stressed.

 

Although CACOL has overtime remained in the forefront in demanding on behalf of the Nigerian masses that a thorough screening job be done by the law-making body, to ensure that people of character and integrity be assigned ministerial responsibilities, this however should not be done on the altar of score-settling and blinded antagonism – all in the name of politics. They should remember that the common interest of Nigerians is Nigeria.

 

 

 

Temitope Macjob

Acting Media Officer, CACOL

temitope@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com.

9th October, 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at

www.corruptionwatchng.com, www.cwatch.thehumanitycentre.org