REPORT OF THE 11TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIONS OF BEKO RANSOME KUTI ORGANIZED BY THE BEKO RIGHTS KLUB, BRK AND THE CENTRE FOR ANTI-CORRUPTION AND OPEN LEADERSHIP, CACOL
The Beko Rights Klub, BRK in collaboration with the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL on Friday, 10th February, 2017 held the 11th anniversary commemorations of Dr. Bekololari Ransome Kuti to memorialize the revolutionary described as ‘Bravest of the Brave’ after his demise and introspect on the state of the nation.
The event started with an awareness rally session followed with a procession from the Obalende round-about to the Ikoyi Cemetery, Lagos Island for the annual practice of offering prayers, eulogies and libation to the spirit of Beko at the grave of the departed promoter of social justice.
The programme which had the theme – Nigeria; maladministration and corruption as major encumbrances to socio-economic and political development continued with a picnic at the Beko Memorial Gardens at Anthony Oke, Lagos where different speakers spoke to the theme.
It was highlighted that poor performance at the level of governance and the continued perpetration of corruption in the system by public and elected officials in spite of the celebrated anti-corruption drive constitute the major banes to the socio-economic and political development of the country and people.
Added to this, speakers identified government’s neo-liberal fixations as the only way of addressing the economic issues of the country as being fundamentally responsible for economic crisis in the country. The Convener of BRK, Comrade Debo Adeniran asserted that it’s no gainsaying that any economic direction that will not alleviate the sufferings of the vast majority of the people will be tantamount to elevating their pains and worsening their situation of existence.
He said “It is incontrovertible that neo-liberal policies put profits over the people in terms of interests and including when lives are at serious risks of being wasted because of the social conditions of living. For neo-liberalism; it always profits first and the policies have always impoverished people wherever they imposed!. The president while fighting corruption on the one hand should also work out means to fix the economy on the other. The Federal cabinet obviously needs to be reshuffled as majority of the Ministers have failed to deliver in terms of performance.”
Corruption is a major deterrent to good governance anywhere and anytime. The President must take the fight against corruption to doorsteps of every corrupt official including members of his party. The tenure has been resilient and dogged in the war against corruption; however corrupt people are still deeply embedded in the government including the Presidency itself. The Judiciary and the legislative arms are so soaked in corruption that the many judges cannot be banked upon to birth justice or legislators to rely on to enact laws that will positively impact on socio-economic and political relations.
Participants demanded that recovered loots and properties must channeled back into the economy to help boost the economy and cushion the pains of recession. The need for transparency on recovered loots and how they are utilized was emphasized as not being compromise-able while sanctions and punitive must also be applied against all convicted corruption criminals.
The Leaders should look from the prism of making life better for the people. The Populace wants to feed well, want their children to get educated; they want good roads, good health Care, good jobs and business, security of lives and properties. The people want to be free and Bekoism teaches that Freedom should be fought for it is not given free; freedom should not be what we would beg for with our lives, participants at the event averred.
Anniversary commemoration was attended by media personalities, activists, students and youth, and members of the civil society organizations.
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
COMMEMORATING QUINTESSENTIAL BEKO RANSOME-KUTI, 11 YEARS AFTER
Nigeria; Maladministration and Corruption remain major encumbrances to socio-economic and political development.
A Preamble
Compatriots, it’s another anniversary of the passage of Dr. Bekololari Ransome Kuti who passed to commune with the ancestors on Februray 10, 2006. As customary with us in the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, (formerly Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders) and the Beko Rights Klub, BRK in our commitment to the struggles that Beko stood and fought for, is commemorating the historical passage and historical essence of the indefatigable fighter for democracy and social emancipation.
Dr. Bekololari Ransome Kuti, the quintessential revolutionary, dogged fighter and crusader for democracy, social justice and human rights passed on 11 years ago after living and leading a life of commitment to the struggle for the prevalence of a socio-economic and political order that will ensure an egalitarian and harmonious societal co-existence.
His voyage on such terrains witnessed confrontations with both military and civilian regimes that deployed all means possible to make the lives of the poor working and toiling people miserable. Beko, working with other compatriots contributed monumentally to the ousting of the military from government; the struggle against civilian dictatorship, the resistance against IMF/World Bank imposed policies such as the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), deregulation and corruption. As a matter of fact it was during the heat of the battle against deregulation that the renowned Medical Doctor passed on barely 4 months after the activist community incurred a similar colossal loss in the passage of Comrade Chima Ubani.
STATE OF THE NATION
Prior to now and till now, no government since 1999 has attempted to implement or even bothered about what Chapter 2 of Nigerian Constitution says, the ground norm upon which government is instituted. This is why there is no social protection for the extremely poor.
Indexes of government performance in most sectors continue to fall rapidly from the ‘low’ to ‘extremely low’ as the years go by irrespective of the regimes that have superintended over since the inception of civilian rule.
The recent report released by the United Nations paints a scary present and future for Nigeria, the reports is so damning that any responsible government will think and act to avoid the tragedy being foretold. According to the report, the country’s economy, the development and social indices in the country were below acceptable standards.
The report read, “Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa and the seventh most populous in the world. Her population will be approximately 200 million by 2019 and over 400 million by 2050, becoming one of the top five populous countries in the world. Nigeria is one of the poorest and most unequal countries in the world, with over 80 million or 64 per cent of her population living below poverty line.”
The poor performance at the level of governance and the continued perpetration of corruption in the system by public and elected officials in spite of the celebrated anti-corruption drive constitute the major banes to the socio-economic and political development of the country and people.
Added to this, is the government’s neo-liberal fixations as the only way of addressing the economic issues of the country. It’s no gainsaying that any economic direction that will not alleviate the sufferings of the vast majority of the people will be tantamount to elevating their pains and worsening their situation of existence. It is inconvertible that neo-liberal policies put profits over the people in terms of interests and including when lives are at serious risks of being wasted because of the social conditions of living. For neo-liberalism; it always profits first and the policies have always impoverished people wherever they imposed!
The present APC led Federal government is not a radical departure from hitherto existing governments that favoured only the elite and the extremely wealthy ruling class. The government has hiked the prices of petroleum products in face of global fall in Crude oil prices; increased tariffs for electricity, imposed N50 tax on Bank transactions from 1000 naira and above, introduced tolls on our roads. Yet the government has refused to fund education adequately; shunned Health and infrastructural development, failed to guarantee security of lives and property.
Yes, there is the dire need for Nigerians collectively to understand the background to the present so-called recession and the attendant sacrifices required of Nigeria and Nigerians to wade through the storm, but the excuses of the government belie its so-called change agenda.
The poor majority continue to bear the brunt of government’s failure, and this in spite of their hitherto existing excruciating conditions of living. It is the poor majority that is being forced to sacrifice and to self-deny at these trying times even though the political class and public officials rollick in stupendous affluence and has not and apparently does not want to sacrifice anything in the bid to rebuild our country, Nigeria.
The continual failure of the government to fulfill the very reason it was instituted for is directly responsible for where we find ourselves as a country and people. Governance in Nigeria continues to be applied in the reverse manner (misgovernance) which facilitates the sustaining of a profoundly corrupt status quo that continues to impoverish, oppress, exploit and dehumanize the vast majority of the people.
The present government at best can only be described as one that rules on false pretences given the inadvertent inability to approach the question of moving the country of doldrums in an organized and radical manner beyond ‘good’ intensions and cosmeticism.
While the regime can be applauded for its efforts in the anti-corruption drive which certainly have broken records when compared with past regimes in terms of momentum and will, it has failed woefully on several other planks, particularly, the economic plank of the polity. Even the battle against corruption is apparently being lost given the fight-back corruption is giving in face of a regime that engages in policy somersaults particularly on the economy which impact on all other spheres of our national life.
‘Popular’ as the regime may be, with its mantra of ‘change’; most of its applications in socio-economic and political direction have adamantly stuck to the core practices of past regimes which Nigerians wanted and still want to abandon.
Moving the country of the present situation requires the government to take bold steps that will embrace the provisioning for; social security for the extremely poor, a situation that will ensure equitable distribution of resources and avoiding the concentration of wealth in the hands of a privileged few. It take the provisioning for; affordable housing, education system that will leave no child out of school and a health care system that will be accessible to all with infrastructures that will facilitate the enabling environment for business and enterprise to flourish. The President while fighting corruption on the one hand should also work out means to fix the economic crisis on the other.
The Federal cabinet obviously needs to be reshuffled as majority of the Ministers have failed to deliver in terms of performance. With regard to Ministries, topping the list in terms of abysmal performance that requires radical change is the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, all the actions and policies of the Ministry have compounded the sufferings of Nigerians in multi-folds; from lack of power supply to the illogical hike in electricity tariffs, from continually decaying infrastructure to death traps as roads with a Housing sector that is ‘non-existent’ or in absolute comatose. Babatunde Fashola, who superintends over the Ministry, keeps standing logic on its heads by asking the already impoverished Nigerians to bear the brunt of his failure by asking Nigerians to pay for darkness and for services not rendered even up to the effrontery of hiking the tariff of electricity against a background of a country in perpetual darkness.
Others ministers like Audu Ogeh of Agriculture Ministry; Kemi Adeosun of Finance, Solomon Dalung of Sports, Chris Ngige of Labour, Okechukwu Enelamah of Industry, Trade and Investment, Amina J. Mohammed of Environment, Rtd. Lt-Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau of Interior, etc have adequately proven their lack of creatively and cluelessness making unfit to continue to occupy their offices and therefore should be shown the exit.
Corruption is a major deterrent to good governance anywhere and anytime. The President must take the fight against corruption to the doorsteps of every corrupt official including members of his party. The tenure has been resilient and dogged in the war against corruption; however corrupt people are still deeply embedded in the government including the Presidency itself. The Judiciary and the legislative arms are so soaked in corruption that the many judges cannot be banked upon to birth justice or legislators to rely on to enact laws that will positively impact on socio-economic and political relations.
Recovered loots and properties must be channeled back into the economy to help boost the economy and cushion the pains of recession. Transparency on recovered loots and how they utilized is not compromise-able. Sanctions and adequate punitive measures must also be applied against all convicted corruption criminals.
That we are in a situation of uncertainty, of fogginess; shattered hopes and penury where the sacredness of lives, property and security has become almost totally unimportant in government’s prioritizations is self-evident.
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
*Being the text of the memorial speech presented on behalf of Beko Rights Klub by Debo Adeniran on the occasion of the 11th year of passage of Bekololari Ransome-Kuti to the world beyond on the 10th of February, 2017.
DISCOVERED STASHED LOOTS OF ELECTED AND APPOINTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS EVIDENCES THE DEPTH OF CORRUPTION IN THE SYSTEM – CACOL
The Centre for Anti-corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL avers that the existence of corruption and how deeply it has eaten into the fabric of society is evidenced in the recent raids carried out by men of the Department of State Security, DSS and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC where humongous sums of money in foreign currencies were discovered in residences of some judges, former ministers and a former Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
The recent developments/discoveries reinforce the absolute need to fight to corruption and its perpetrators to achieve the socio-political and economic advancement of Nigeria as against the reactionary tendencies that preach ‘inaction’ on the part of government in the face of bare-faced corrupt practices. The incidences also validate the imperative need for proactive anti-corruption agencies like EFCC, ICPC, DSS etc. and civil society organizations like CACOL for the sake of gaining a citizenry that sees the anti-corruption drive as their struggle.
The recent exposures achieved via the good work of the various anti- corruption agencies reveal the depth of wickedness, sadism and height of greediness of the incurably corrupt elements in our elected and appointed public offices. For how we explain sums worth the total of value of some other country’s annual Budget being found in the possession of an individual elected or appointed public officer? And to see that the sums are in foreign currencies and kept in cash is both astounding and scary for it suggests some sort of sociological/mental illness that we may yet need to research into. The discoveries are indeed sickening!
This is just no logic, dialects or justifications that can adduce any sense of sanity in individuals who hoard ‘raw cash’/loots of such large sums where millions of Nigerians wallow in poverty stemming from socio-economic under-development; a consequence of corruption. In CACOL, we believe that as humans, we must have capacity to empathize with fellow humans, but evidently these criminals have lost their humanism.
For instance, EFCC revealed that it discovered $9.3m and £74,000 belonging to a former GMD NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu. The money was allegedly kept in a bungalow situated in the slums of Kaduna trillion of dollars that is enough to better the lives of so many people living in that slum. The Commission also has discovered a $37.5m (N11.75bn) luxury high-rise building on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, allegedly belonging to the embattled former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The judiciary that had always been seen as a body that was ‘incorruptible’ has via these exposure been stripped bare of its ‘sacred’ reputation. The cases of Justice Adeniyi Ademola, and two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Olabowale and Dele Belgore have established the stance of CACOL that from the Bench to the bar, there are corrupt practices in The Nigerian Judicial System.
Justice Ademola, was reported to have been in possession of cash of different denominations, two Avar Magnum Pump Action guns which was labeled in his name and that of Justice Ahmed Mohammed amongst other items recovered by the operatives of the DSS alongside Olabowale a member of the Bar. Belgore on the other hand is being arraigned by the EFCC. The three are being tried on charges of receiving gratifications, influencing the course of Justice and money laundering.
These development are more than evidential and adequate to make the Nigerian Judicial Council, NJC and the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA wake up from their ‘sleepless’ slumber and agree with reality that the level of corruption in our Judiciary system is high necessitating a vociferous fight against the monster.
We call for the strengthening of the capacities of the anti-corruption agencies and the law enforcement agencies to keep the ‘heat’ on the corrupt elements in our public offices on and to make every corrupt official answer for their crimes in line with the rule of law. We call on Nigerians to continue to name, nail, shame and shun corrupt leaders and individuals anywhere and everywhere.
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
INEC OFFICIALS LINKED TO 111M BRIBERY MUST BE PROSECUTED IMMEDIATELY – CACOL
The Centre for Anti-Corruption Open Leadership, CACOL has called for the prosecution of the INEC staff and others linked to the 111 million naira reported to have been recovered by the Joint Investigation Panel, which probed the legislative elections in Rivers State.
The call was made known by CACOL through its Executive Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran, who stated that it is simply unacceptable for officials involved in handling the country’s electoral processes giving the reality that such incidences only throw up corrupt leaders who pummel resources and loot public treasury at will.
He said “the immediate investigation of the circumstances under which such heinous corruption crime took place must be done to identify all those that were involved beyond the officials reported to have been arrested already. The weight of the crime and its scary consequences vis-à-vis the possibility of putting corrupt elements in power makes it expedient for the prosecution of the suspects to commence immediately. Such corrupt acts need not be delayed before culprits are made to face the wrath of the law.”
“The 23 officials; their patronizers and abettors should not escape from the hands of the law should their culpability be established. They are supposed to be umpires, watchdogs for free and fair elections not the ones distorting electoral results.”
Adeniran asserted “having corrupt people like these ones in the INEC is very harmful to the country as this would hamper good governance. The right candidate may likely never get to the position of power because of these cankerworms that destroy the Country’s Political entity.”
He explained further that the effect of having corrupt persons in public offices especially a sensitive commission like INEC is very dangerous and can only result in consolidating the institutionalization of corruption in the system.
“When the right people do not get a fair fight during elections, the bad ones come into Power and thereafter, the people suffer. Abetting crimes should carry the same punishment as the real culprits. These officials should not just be dismissed from the commission but should get the right punitive; this would help curb such practice in the system and reduce that capacity of corrupt persons to occupying public or elected offices.” The CACOL leader, concluded.
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
www.corruptionwatchng.com, www.cwatch.thehumanitycentre.org
IBORI’S WELCOME CARNIVAL; A DEHUMANIZING SHOW OF SHAME – CACOL
The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL has described the ‘euphoria’ that greeted the return of the ex-convict, Mr. James Ibori, a former governor of Delta state as a show of shame that debases humanism.
It is sad and disheartening to see human beings so audaciously being ripped of their humanism; the very basis of their existence, out of the ‘inadvertent’ need to cope with the socio-economic and political reality of the society imposed by the incurably corrupt ruling class elements like Ibori. It is like the hunted protecting the hunter; victims celebrating their victimizers out of total dislocation with the empirical reality of their social existence and proper introspection.
We are talking about an ex-convict that has through his nefarious and corrupt activities dragged the image of the country as a whole in the mud of global shame. Ibori, we believe, is one those who inspired the infamous statement of the former Prime Minister of the UK, David Cameron that described Nigeria as a country that is ‘fantastically’ corrupt.
CACOL think those that are openly celebrating the ex-convict are trying to turn Ibori to a ‘hero’, so he could go back to playing his so-called ‘Robinhood’ role while walking free and shoulders-high in spite of committing corruption crimes of incredible proportions. ‘Beneficiaries’ as the celebrators may be; they do not represent the rule of law, the will or opinion of Nigerians about the obligation and absolute necessity to prosecute Ibori and others like him for their corruption crimes with deserving punitive applied where culpability is established.
We also point out that the ‘welcome carnival’ is a manifestation of a tendency that can never spell any good for socio-cultural, economic and political development because the trend is predicated on corruption and abysmal disregard for core values and morals.
So unlike of the spokespersons of that obnoxious tendency, who say ‘Ibori’s coming is a beginning of so many good things to come’, we say that his return can only mean good when he has answered to all the corruption cases against him judicially and gets penalized on all counts where his culpability is affirmed.
The welcome carnival definitely defies logic and must be condemned. We should help the oppressed of Delta state to reach that consciousness where it will be possible to apply logic and introspection when dealing with the corrupt oppressive ruling class elements and the choices to make, so as not to further aggravate their already excruciating conditions of living. Ibori may be ‘rich’ enough today to give 1 million naira to each Deltan, and that may help in temporarily coping with the challenges of these hard times but the consequence is that, on the long run, the brunt of the largesse will further deepen the hunger, pains and pangs of the larger majority.
Ibori, the ‘Robinhood’ is only giving rotten ‘fish’ which spells greater doom for the collective in the end, we condemn the tendency that takes advantage of the impoverishing social order it had imposed on the polity to dehumanize the poor further. The Federal government must act immediately by reopening the corruption cases against Ibori. That is the ‘carnival’ that the ex-convict deserves!
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
www.corruptionwatchng.com, www.cwatch.thehumanitycentre.org
ADIEU TO A LEGENDARY WARRIOR ALHAJI TIAMIYU ALABI KOLAWOLE, THE JAGUN AND BALOGUN OF MODAKEKE-LAND.
The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, family, friends and acquaintances commemorates with Ismail Debo (Comrade Debo Adeniran) and Alimot Bola Adeniran as the celebrations of life and times of Alhaji Tiamiyu Alabi Kolawole, the Jagun and Balogun of Modakeke-land, State of Osun continues. The ‘Jagun’, father of Alimot Bola Adeniran joined his ancestors in the World beyond on Sunday, January 29th 2017, after a century and a year of fulfilled living on planet earth.
Alhaji Kolawole was the Baba Adini of Modakeke till he passed into glory and also a gallant warrior of towering conquests and achievements in Modakeke land. Papa, we are indeed proud of the life you led and the legacy you left behind; and for the paths to which you guided us, we remain eternally grateful.
We thank the Almighty Allah for your life which was extraordinarily exemplary; we pray that he grants you Aljanat Fidau. Amin!Rest in peace, the authentic Alhaji-Agba, Rest Well! Goodnight.
CACOL EMPATHIZES WITH ITS CHAIRMAN & HIS FAMILY OVER ROBBERY ATTACK
We similarly use this medium to empathize with Adenirans concerning the robbery attack at their residence, the Aluta Cottage where some properties such as; cash, seven assorted phones including Samsung Galaxy A7, Infinix Hot 2, Infinix Hot 3, Injoo 300, Nokia Windows, LG and a Nokia, 2 Laptops, 1 Armani wristwatch of yours were carted away. We pray for the fortitude to bear the material loss and thank the Almighty for sparing your lives. Certainly, you shall be replenished.
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
IBORI’S RETURN: REOPEN CORRUPTION CASES AGAINST HIM IMMEDIATELLY, CACOL TELLS FG, EFCC, ICPC
The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has called on the Federal Government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC and other relevant agencies to immediately activate the processes that will urgently resume the trial of ex-convict James Ibori, former governor of Delta state for the corruptions allegations against him.
News broken today by the media, reported the return of the ex-convict James Ibori, a former governor of Delta state, upon the completion of his term over money laundering charges. Mr. Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman of the Centre said “CACOL’s immediate reaction which is what we had always maintained is that all the cases against Ibori in Nigeria should be re-opened.”
“This is very important considering the effrontery represented in Ibori’s dare to return to the country like some ‘hero’. The shame and consequence of the delay or failure to act now is better imagined than seen.”
“Any dilly-dallying would put a bigger question mark on the anti-corruption drive than hitherto known, given that as far back as July last year, the EFCC was already talking about reopening Ibori’s. So there is no reason why reopening Ibori’s cases should be delayed, because the FG, EFCC and other agencies also followed the UK trial and conviction of the former governor who cunningly wiggled through the judicial labyrinth in Nigeria.” He said
Last year July, the Federal Government according to media reports, in line with its anti-corruption drive decided to reopen corruption cases against former Delta state governor, James Ibori and 30 other former governors. The Federal government had said it had taken the step through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, in a letter written to the ICPC, instructing the Commission to forward the case files of all former governors that are standing trial for corruption.
Concluding, CACOL’s chairman said “In fact we believe all preparations should have been completed prior to the convict’s return to the country. Our demand therefore, is for the Federal government to reopen the corruptions cases against Chief James Ononefe Ibori, who just returned to the country after serving his jail term in the United Kingdom over money laundering. That is how to welcome the ex-convict back, to put him in his rightful place!”
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
TASK FORCE ON FOOD SECURITY IS SUPERFLUOUS, EXTRANEOUS; BETRAYS INSENSITIVITY OF GOVERNMENT – CACOL
The Executive Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran has described the setting up of a Task Force on food security as a superfluous and extraneous step that have boldly revealed the insensibility of government to pains of the vast majority occasioned by the economic recession that have practically engulfed the country.
“The setting up of the task force clearly indicates that the government believes the mass of the people are making fables out of their true situation of existence. This is sad because we can see through government’s attempt to deny its failure in handling the economic situation by insinuating that the rise in costs of food is artificial. It is extreme tomfoolery and indeed reprehensible based on the insensitivity the insinuation portrays! There are several questions we need to ask to ascertain that this yet another futile step designed to distract attention of poor from their pains by government through false pretenses.”
“Does the government not understand that the rise in costs is not just about food items but about the cost of living generally in the country which has risen astronomically and that this is directly linked to the neo-liberal, anti-poor and inhuman economic policies of the administration?”
“Or does the government not realize that the astronomical rises they have rammed down the throats of Nigerians in virtually all they require to barely exist have multiplier effects on one and other?
“Does the government need education to know that the ‘ordinary’ tomato sellers will pay astronomic rates for transporting his/her items in vehicles running on fuel that now cost about 200% of what it used to cost? Do the thinkers for this government know that those doing business in the food sector all also have needs to access services from other sectors which the government has gladly handled over to private hands that have priced their services out of their reach in the name of privatization and deregulation?”
“The Federal Government recently set up a task force on food security with the objective to look at the causes of increase in the prices of food items across the country with a view to addressing them.”
“The government must abandon its neo-liberal fixation as the only way to address the economic issues of the country. The government must play the role it was elected and instituted for which is the social well-being and security of the people. Erstwhile leaders of our country against all odds invested heavily in food production and that was why agriculture was the mainstay of the productive economy that prevailed in the past. The present government appears not ready to act in trying to achieve such remarkable feats but prefers to slogan on returning agriculture to its days of glory.”
“There is no task force in the world that can ‘force’ down the prices of food items without first fulfilling the obligatory social conditions to do that!” Mr. Adeniran affirmed
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
SEIZURE OF 661 PUMP ACTION RIFLES; THE MERCHANTS OF DEATH AND CULPABLE OFFICIALS MUST BE BROUGHT TO BOOK – CACOL
How porous our borders are to the perpetration of illegalities was once again made manifest in the recent seizure of the 661 rifles by men of the Nigeria Customs Service in Lagos, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL have said, through its Executive Chairman, Mr Debo Adeniran.
He was peaking against the background of the seizure of 661 pump action rifles imported into the country from China illegally by men of the Federal Operations Unit, Nigeria Custom Service at Mile 2, on Lagos. 49 boxes of munitions concealed with steel doors and other merchandize goods in a 40ft container were reported have been seized on January 22, 2017, with some of the importers and officers of the NCS arrested.
Adeniran said, “the incident explains widespread of illegal arms ammunitions in the country. So the incident itself cannot be too surprising for most discerning Nigerians who had understood prior to now known that the country has been sitting on ‘a keg of gun-powder’ for long”
“We see almost only daily basis, the reckless display of even more powerful and sophisticated weapons by militants, insurgents, kidnappers, armed robbers etc has their activities have continue to put the country in a state of catastrophic equilibrium. This particular incident happening at this particular time when violence is being preached and promoted in the country makes the whole scenario scary and dangerous. What just need to ask ourselves what those ammunitions were being brought in the country for the and the danger and wariness of the situation will us back in the face. ”
“However, the fundamental issue is what we as a people have to do to halt this kind of negative progression in our country for very obvious reasons. With the security and well-being of the people having been relegated in the prioritizations of government for a long time, and corruption still pervading the institutions and agencies, with the social condition that has thrown up this scenario remaining intact; a society like ours inadvertently would grapple with dangers of this sort.”
“Consequently, the country wholesomely, is kept under a perpetual siege by bloodletting groups (including amorphous groups), individuals, politicians and state actors basically to sustain a system that tenaciously intend to keep its’ grip of the socio-political and economic direction of the country for their selfish interests.”
“This is why we must not look at the recent incident in isolation in reacting and taking decisive action. Thus, if the government is going to draw profound lessons and make use of them in reacting to the 661 rifles importation, it must recognize that incidences like this happen where the State has failed in guaranteeing the protection of lives and property.” Adeniran averred
“The borders of country with security consciousness are very well monitored to control and nip in the bud incidences like this. The porosity of any country’s border determines what can get in or out of such country. It is time that the corrupt elements in the State agencies, establishments, Services etc are weeded out because they abet and even help contrive the illegalities that takes place at our borders to a very large extent.”
“The present case must be handled in manner that will on the long run discourage arms trafficking in the country. This requires ensuring that proper investigations are carried out and diligent prosecutions are done to achieve punitive which will serve as deterrent to others. This can only happen if corruption and lack of openness does not get involved in the processes. This will demonstrate the self-avowed readiness of government to combat corruption and provisioning of good governance which will be in the interest of the vast majority where society will be rid of the subsisting social conditions and relations.
“Nigerians from all walks of life must get involved in pressuring the government to ensure that the present case is not swept ‘under the carpets’ with its processes shrouded in secrecy. All the suspects, their sponsors and officials of NCS involved must be fished out for prosecution. The culpable ones must be ‘scape-goated’ to serve as examples to other potential criminal elements.”
“Also, the NCS and the other enforcement agencies and services must be adequately equipped to confront the challenges of checkmating the heartless criminals that specializes in so-called businesses that lead to affordable loss of lives and property. The borders must be equipped with necessary gadgets that will enhance easy revelation of the cunning ways of merchants of death bringing their merchandise of deaths into the country. The holes of corruption in the public services must be plugged to avoid future incidences of this nature.”
“This is how we can avoid or abate the negative progression represented in illegal arms trafficking, corruption and mis-governance to guarantee the security of lives and property on the long run in our country.” Adeniran concluded
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
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