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OSUN STATE MUST NOT BE TURNED INTO A BATTLE GROUND OVER RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS – CECURR

The students of Baptist High School, Iwo, Osun State, appeared in school on Tuesday in their church apparels to protest against the court judgment which approved the use of Hijab by the Muslim students.  One of the leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) was reported to have said, “if the Muslims are allowed to wear Hijab to propagate Islam in schools founded by Christian missionaries, it would also be appropriate for Christian to wear religious garment to school.”

 

The Centre for Cultural and Religious Rights, CECURR, finds this situation and the background to it very worrisome as we believe if the situation is not properly handled, the situation might degenerate into chaos and wreck untold havoc in the hitherto peaceful state.

 

CECURR is a child of necessity borne of the need to bring a succor for victims of religious and cultural persecution in any part of Nigeria. It is a non-religious organization of men and women of different religious background including atheist; it is non-sectarian, non-gender bias, gender- sensitive, non-profit making and non-governmental organisation. Its activities cover all parts of the country, its work strategy centres on study, research, education, advocacy and enlightenment.

 

The National Coordinator of CECURR, Mr. Debo Adeniran, in reacting to the development said “education is very important to the future of this nation and should not be affected by religious sentiment. Education sector is already in a serious quagmire and requires rejuvenation; the mode of dressing of students should have nothing to do with education ordinarily and should not be made a priority.”

 

Adeniran advised that the Osun state government to ensure that religious differences does not tamper with the secular status of the country and government owned institutions as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. He said “government should avoid any situation that could allow religious sentiments to sip into governance issues or policies as this could become counter-productive and may lead to catastrophic outcomes.”

 

“We encourage the Osun state government to act fast before the present situation degenerates into anarchy by calling for dialogue and arbitration to intervene in the unfolding scenario beyond legalism and other issues that won’t matter when the latently looming chaos comes into bold relief.” the CECURR Coordinator added

 

“CECURR calls on all parties involved in the crisis to eschew violence and altercations and imbibe peaceful means of resolving the imbroglio as none of the parties stand to gain anything significant should the situation escalate beyond the present state.” Adeniran concluded

 

Debo Adeniran

National Coordinator, CECURR

www.deboadeniran.com

dadnig@yahoo.com

June 17, 2016

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CHILDREN Project DENOUNCES THE PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OYO STATE

Child Help in Legal Defense of Rights to Education in Nigeria, CHILDREN Project, a developmental, child-right, non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Nigeria which takes special interest in cases that concern women and children condemns the irrational attempt to privatize public schools in Oyo state by the state government.

 

Reportedly, the Oyo State government in its insensitive move commenced the process of allowing private organizations to partly or fully take over ownership of public primary and secondary schools; a move which have been meet with resistance by right thinking Nigerians including the primary victims, that is the school children.

 

No matter what reasons the Oyo state government is advancing to justify its decision, they defy logic, fly in the face of dialectics and betray the very essence why government was instituted in the first place.

 

It is bad enough that government is not abiding by the recommendation of UNESCO to plunge 26% of annual budget in to education which has led to the parlous state of the sector with poorly paid teachers and incondusive learning environment, dashing out publicly own schools to cronies of the politicians in government is certainly unacceptable.

Education is a foundational requirement for any society that is serious about its development and progress, putting such an important sector in the hands of profiteers will certainly leave millions of children out school, thereby retrogressing society in the end.

 

Coming from a state that can be called the home of free education in Nigeria when it was practiced under the leadership of the great Obafemi Awolowo is like assaulting the sensibilities of Nigerians. It is also insulting that it is those that benefitted from free education that are the harbingers of the commercialization and privatization education.

The diabolic move which has led school children to streets in protests is indicative of what the future hold in stock for Oyo state and the country in future. The government gradually; if not stopped, is breeding future ‘militants’, ‘terrorist’, ‘armed robbers’ etc., this we must not allow to happen!

 

Thus, we condemn unequivocally the move to privatize public schools in Oyo state and in the country generally. We advise the Oyo state government to take a cue from the Kaduna state government that just put six billion naira into the renovation of public secondary and primary schools instead of their self-aggrandizing and bankrupt position to privatize public schools.

 

Those that want to own private schools should use their own funds to build schools like we see all over the country. The reason why government is instituted at all is at the very heart of this matter; with this move, we need to ask, what exactly is government doing for the people whose resources has been put under its control besides continually increasing their pains? Government must wake to its constitutional duty as enshrined in Chapter 2, Section 14, 2b that ’ the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’. Education falls in the category of welfare, an uneducated society is one that lacks welfare, therefore failure to provision for education is government failure, and a failed government is a worthless one and should be discarded with.

 

Education is a fundamental human right of every child as enshrined in different conventions and treaties which Nigeria is a signatory to; from the UN to the African Charter, it is emphasized! No child should be left out of school; it is a betrayal of international conventions which Nigeria as a country is a signatory to.

 

Signed

 

Debo Adeniran

Coordinator, CHILDREN Project

08037194969,

dadnig@yahoo.com,

www.deboadeniran.com

June 11, 2016

 

 

 

 

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

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

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PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI SHOULD NAME AND SHAME LOOTERS OF PUBLIC FUNDS – CACOL

The President Mohammadu Buhari-led administration on Saturday 3 June, 2016 released the figures of funds and assets recovered from the looters of the country’s resources without revealing the names of the people that are involved in the crime as requested by many Nigerians.

In an unambiguous interview as if to counter the refusal to name the looters, the Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay said that there was no legal impediment in shaming the alleged thieves adding that not naming the looters was more of a political decision than a legal one.

 

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, reacting through its Executive Chairman, Debo Adeniran in an interview said “stealing is a crime against the state and should not be covered up, it does not augur well for the President not to name the looters of the country’s commonwealth. He further stressed that the government needed to be more transparent and accountable about recovered loots and the looters’ identities as the refusal to name the looters would amount to covering up or providing protection for corruption criminals. And this will encourage corrupt persons to remain recalcitrant in the act.”

 

Adeniran explained that those who returned their loots did not do it out of their own freewill but because the authority was closing-in on them, so they must be penalized accordingly. He said “for those that have voluntarily returned looted funds, their punishments can only be discounted but not totally forgotten, as for the corruption criminals who make the state to expend so much more resources before their conviction is achieved, they must face the full wrath of the law.”

 

Continuing, the CACOL leader said “like we have also said in our coalition, the best approach to dealing with corrupt leaders is by naming, nailing, shaming and shunning them anywhere and everywhere. This and the application of punitive is what will deter other corrupt leaders or individuals from corrupt practices.”

 

Concluding, Adeniran advised the government to use the recovered funds for the initial purposes they were meant for and where such projects have been completed with other government funds, the funds should be put in the Federation Account through Treasury Single Account, TSA or an escrow account specially dedicated for recovered funds.”

 

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

080141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,

cacol@thehumanitycentre.org 

June 8, 2016

 

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

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

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PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI SHOULD NAME AND SHAME LOOTERS OF PUBLIC FUNDS – CACOL

The President Mohammadu Buhari-led administration on Saturday 3 June, 2016 released the figures of funds and assets recovered from the looters of the country’s resources without revealing the names of the people that are involved in the crime as requested by many Nigerians.
 
In an unambiguous interview as if to counter the refusal to name the looters, the Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay said that there was no legal impediment in shaming the alleged thieves adding that not naming the looters was more of a political decision than a legal one.
 
The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, reacting through its Executive Chairman, Debo Adeniran in an interview said “stealing is a crime against the state and should not be covered up, it does not augur well for the President not to name the looters of the country’s commonwealth. He further stressed that the government needed to be more transparent and accountable about recovered loots and the looters’ identities as the refusal to name the looters would amount to covering up or providing protection for corruption criminals. And this will encourage corrupt persons to remain recalcitrant in the act.”
 
Adeniran explained that those who returned their loots did not do it out of their own freewill but because the authority was closing-in on them, so they must be penalized accordingly. He said “for those that have voluntarily returned looted funds, their punishments can only be discounted but not totally forgotten, as for the corruption criminals who make the state to expend so much more resources before their conviction is achieved, they must face the full wrath of the law.” 
 
Continuing, the CACOL leader said “like we have also said in our coalition, the best approach to dealing with corrupt leaders is by naming, nailing, shaming and shunning them anywhere and everywhere. This and the application of punitive is what will deter other corrupt leaders or individuals from corrupt practices.”
 
Concluding, Adeniran advised the government to use the recovered funds for the initial purposes they were meant for and where such projects have been completed with other government funds, the funds should be put in the Federation Account through Treasury Single Account, TSA or an escrow account specially dedicated for recovered funds.”
 
Signed
 
Wale Salami
 
Media Coordinator, CACOL
080141121208
June 2, 2016 
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
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AMENDMENT OF THE CCB ACT BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DESIGNED TO CLOG THE PROGRESS OF ANT-CORRUPTION – CACOL

The House of Representatives recently adopted a report to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau [CCB] Act which is meant to compel the Bureau to furnish accused persons with details of the charges against them for response before they are made to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL view the adoption by the legislators as one of the means corrupt persons use to maneuver and create unnecessary obstacles of the path of justice, in the war against corruption as war is getting fiercer.

The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran said that the Senate had tried to do the same thing prior now but had to jettison the idea following public outcry against the apparently pro-corruption and that it is glaringly to protect and also to buy time in favor of the corruption criminals.

He explained further that CACOL is convinced that the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki for corruption is directly linked to this development. It represents an attempt to provide security net or immunity for legislators whose corrupt tendencies are yet to be exposed and to prepare the way for the Senate to exhume the amendments it had already stood down.

Adeniran added that the public and civil society organizations should reject the diabolic amendments, because the move is a way of protecting the interest of political office holders who have embezzled the public funds and might soon suffer similar fate of the Senate President. It will encourage people to continue committing crimes and embezzling of public funds.

The CACOL leader said “after all it is a traditional practice in our judicial process to read charges to accused persons when they get to court where the accused will have the right to plead guilty or otherwise. And we should not forget that ‘accused persons’ are simply ‘accused persons’ until they are convicted and they can even claim damages where they have been accused wrongly”

In conclusion, Adeniran said “the House of Representatives should abandon the adoption of the amendment and concentrate on issues that are more important to the country’s National Development and to correct the impression already on the mind of the people that the legislature is deeply corrupt.”

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

080141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,

cacol@thehumanitycentre.org 

June 2, 2016 

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

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

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CACOL COMMENDS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE ADOPTION OF E-VOTING SYSTEM.

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has commended the House of Representatives for embracing the adoption of e-voting system as it discards highly manipulative “say aye” and the “say nay” method of voting.

Recently, as reported in the news, the House of Representatives reached a favorable deduction by ditching its hitherto voice-voting method of yelling “aye” and “nay” for the electronic means of voting.” This development is highly welcomed as it is an audacious step and a move in the right direction fitting into the change agenda of the present government” said the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran.

While reacting to the adoption of e-voting, the anti-corruption crusader said “the process of screaming ‘aye’ or ‘nay’ for supporting or opposing an issue on the floor is obsolete and such malfeasant measures are highly manipulative, creating avenues for the Presiding officer to sway the House to suit their own interest. The e-voting will also expose absentee legislators and those who vote against the interest of their constituents.”

Continuing, he said, “if for example the ‘ayes’ shouts the loudest and the Presiding officer for self-interest indicates that the ‘nays’ have shouted the loudest, then the vote goes in favor of the ‘nays’. And ironically, this is the same unjust and obsolete system of voting that has lead to myriad of vicious brawls in the National Assembly in the past and till date.”

In concluding, he said, “with all the vagaries and innate practices paraded by those in authority, I therefore call upon all the right thinking Nigerians to insist on transparency in the activities of the legislators to conform to the norms and ethics of democracy. We should prevent the abnormal from becoming the normal in our beloved country; we must deny the toga of shame foisted on us collectively as a people by those corrupt elements lurking in the corridors of power.”

 

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

080141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,

cacol@thehumanitycentre.org 

1/06/2016

 

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

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

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THE PRESIDENT SHOULD MAKE PUBLIC THE NAMES OF LOOTERS AND DETAILS OF THE LOOTS

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammad Buhari while speaking at an anti-corruption summit organized by the British Prime Minister, David Cameroon, recently, promised to disclose the figure of funds that have been recovered from looters in his address to the Nation on the occasion of the first anniversary of his ascension to office.
However, the President failed to name the looters or mention the figures of funds and assets recovered so far with the vigorous anti-corruption war his government embarked upon since its inception. “This development has not gone down well with a lot of Nigerians, as it leaves so many questions on the minds of the people. Why and when will be the appropriate time?” asked the Executive Chairman of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders [CACOL], Mr. Debo Adeniran in a reaction to the development.

Continued here…

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THE PRESIDENT SHOULD MAKE PUBLIC THE NAMES OF LOOTERS AND DETAILS OF THE LOOTS – CACOL

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammad Buhari while speaking at an anti-corruption summit organized by the British Prime Minister, David Cameroon, recently, promised to disclose the figure of funds that have been recovered from looters in his address to the Nation on the occasion of the first anniversary of his ascension to office.
However, the President failed to name the looters or mention the figures of funds and assets recovered so far with the vigorous anti-corruption war his government embarked upon since its inception. “This development has not gone down well with a lot of Nigerians, as it leaves so many questions on the minds of the people. Why and when will be the appropriate time?” asked the Executive Chairman of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders [CACOL], Mr. Debo Adeniran in a reaction to the development.
The CACOL Chairman charged the President to come out and give explanation on the recovered loots and also reveal the identities of the looters. “Why would the President refuse to fulfill the promise he made to the people? That attitude in itself is not acceptable, as Nigerians have the right to know about their resources that have been looted and criminals behind such corrupt practices. Also the attitude portend that criminals are being ‘protected’ by the President which hangs a big question mark on the whole anti-corruption war. The names of the looters should be mentioned and justice must be served accordingly in order to prevent such acts from recurring.” Mr. Adeniran averred
In concluding, he further explained that some of the looted funds were meant for projects that would have been beneficial to the nation as a whole.  He said “the logical thing one would have expected is for the recovered loots to be plunged back into the projects they were originally meant for.”
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
080141121208