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ALLEGATIONS OF BUDGET PADDING IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; A CAN OF WORMS REQUIRING A THOROUGH PROBE AND PROSECUTION OF THE CULPABLE – CACOL

Sequel to the ‘can of worms’ opened with the allegations being traded publiclybetween the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. YakubuDogara and the former Chairman, Committee on Appropriation, Mr. AbdulmuminJibrin, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has recommended a comprehensive probe into the saga. The Coalition also said that the probe should include the three other principal officers mentioned in the matter.

“The allegations are too grievous which makes the imperative need for thorough investigations inevitable; andanyone be found guilty of violating laid-down rules, procedures and the Constitution, should be prosecuted.” Mr.
DeboAdeniran, the Executive Chairman of CACOL, stated unequivocally while responding to the allegations and counter-allegations over budget padding in the House of Representatives, HOR.

“With what we are witnessing in theunfolding exposé, it is clear that the issue is of serious National importance given that the National Budget is at the very heart of the imbroglio. At this stage, where even the leadership of the HOR appears convinced that the exposé require investigation, the logical thing is to subject the matter to judicial process from investigation, prosecution if need be and application of punitive where culpability is established.”

“The conviction of the HOR has reportedly been demonstrated through thedecisionof the leadership under scrutiny to invite the ICPC that is saddled with the task of dealing with issues of official corruption and related offences; and if appropriate and necessary, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other relevant anti-graft agencies to look into the matterincluding allegations that Jibrin abused his office between 2011 and 2015 when he was the Chairman, Committee on Finance.”

”Our findings from Media reports also reveal that a group within the HOR named Transparency Group, which claim to have to collectedabout 113 signatures from lawmakers from the six geopolitical zones and across party lines is alsocalling for an external investigation into the matter.”

Adenirancontinued,saying “it is therefore clear from the division in the HOR over the padding saga that the matter cannot be reduced to one which the House can handle internally. We have always called for circumspection, thorough investigations, diligent prosecutions and regard for the rule of law when situations like this arise and that is where we stand on this matter too.”

“But the episode itself has also thrown up a major question which would raise other questions that probably only the investigations of the case will provide answers for. And the main question is – what really does ‘budget padding’ mean? Is ‘budget padding’ the bloating of the budget in terms of inflating the value of projects? Is ‘budget padding’ the addition, duplication, replication or repetition of projects to the budget into, within or outside the Appropriation Bill submitted by the Executive to the House?” The CACOL Leader asked.

“The situation remains foggy and only those involved can explain to Nigerians what actually transpired. The truth is that ‘budget padding’ recently crept into Nigerian lexicon with the first Budget of the current regime; previously it was simple enough to understand when the lingua was ‘budget inflation’ making the whole picture appear like a conscious effort to confuse Nigerians to achieve the perpetration of sharp practices.” 

“The bickering among the lawmakers should be seen in a positive light by all Nigeriansbecause it is a good omen when leaders of that sort begin to expose each otheras it usually reveals the truth in the end. It is only each of the two tortoises that know how to bite one another. All we know is that they have not been performing the functions that we sent them to perform.”

To avert occurrences like the present one in future, Adenirancalled for a review of the laws that govern the funding of the National Assembly to vest more power in the Accountant General and the Auditor General of the Federation to monitor financial flow to the lawmakers in order to make it even more difficult for the them to access money from public coffers.
“The Accountant General and Auditor General should begin to playsupervisory roles about how theythe NASS get funded. Even if they pad the budget, they won’t be able to escape the prying eyes of the Accountant General and the Auditor General of the Federation.” He said concluded.

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

08141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com, cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

July 29, 2016

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CECURR BEMOANS THE MURDEROUS ACTIVITIES OF HERDSMEN, RELIGIOUS FANATICS AND ETHNIC BIGOTS

We at the Centre for Cultural and Religious Rights, CECCUR, bemoan the murderous activities of certain groups and individuals acting collectively or as individuals across the country have remained permanently on increase without any hope of its recession anytime soon. We find the general atmosphere disheartening and very worrisome.

From the Boko Haram killings to the massacre of Ajatu people in the North-central by the continually rampaging Herdsmen, from the beheading of a 75 years old woman in Kano to the hacking to death of an Evangelist (a 42 years old mother 7) in Abuja, the tales of mindless blood-letting is the same.

The inhumanness and barbarism represented in the endless list of killings and the manner human lives have been wasted in all the tales of woe is beyond rational comprehension in a world that has supposedly passed through the ages of barbarism, savagery and have opted for civilization. At the background of these sad killings are hatred, intolerance, over-zealousness, and ego added with identity issues.

The killings are so condemnable that words are lacking to express their gruesomeness and dialectics seem to be failing in addressing the situations where loss of lives could have been avoided. This is why as a people and country, it is imperative to collectively confront the situations that portray us like animals, as we know even ‘dogs don’t eat dogs’.

At the Centre for Cultural and Religious Rights, CECURR, we are convinced that, at this stage, there is the dire need to interrogate and deconstruct the background to these tragic incidences which have remained incessant and apparently undying so as to be able to identify the immediate and remote causes. This is what will help in finding solutions to the trend of senseless killings in the name of religion and ethnicity.

It is this principle that should form the basis upon which the issue is addressed. Legislations and even military actions obviously have not been very effective because the issues involved are linked to deeply seated sentiments of the people which vary proportionally to their beliefs; ethnic or political divide.

As a result, we are convinced that it is only education, dialogue, promotion of tolerance and unity that can assuage this prevalent situation nationally and globally. Education, because it takes an ignorant mind to kill over tolerable situations, dialogue because all ‘war-wars’ achieve nothing without ‘jaw-jaw’ (reasoning), tolerance and peace because no matter what, there is only one humanity! Moreover, human life is supposed to be sacred.

We therefore call on the President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal government to be preemptive in identifying potentially crisis prone groupings and differentiations with a view to nip the fruits of hatred, ethnicity and religious bigotry in bud by deploying the foregoing strategy.

Our people must be educated on the concepts of ‘freedom’ and ‘tolerance’. Freedom does not translate to infringing on what constitute the freedom of the other person and tolerance understands our unavoidable differences. Situations where mosques, churches, traditional worships, party mongers etc go about their activities without consideration and for respect the rights of other persons will never foster harmonious co-existence.

Overzealousness on the part of some adherents of faiths, identities or affiliations contributes to inflaming these barbaric acts. One could ask, is it compulsory or correct for people to mount loudspeakers right next to the eardrums of someone else who is dying to catch some sleep? Introspection is really required with the spate of these senseless killings going on unabated.

The herdsmen and their rampages for instance are basically for economic reasons and probably twined with hatred grown from economic disharmony. But the truth is that there is nothing to justify their murderous acts and humanness should tell any humane human that he/she should not kill for economic reasons or that of hatred.

It is important to note that these incessant killings; the hatred and seeming national disunity are linkable to the undying National question which inspired and gave birth to the call for a Sovereign National Conference since the late 80s. A Sovereign National Conference organized by the people themselves is the one and only way to resolve the National question that continues to linger and rears its disturbing head almost at all facets of our National life. This was what the original Campaign for Democracy (CD) focused its attention on since early 90s but never achieved because of intrinsic but unwarranted fear by the successive government that they would lose power of governing to the Conference!

We believe that an SNC is the beginning of true nationhood because that is where the basis of our unity and co-existence religiously, economically, politically and culturally can be agreed or disagreed upon. The alternative is to keep an unstable geographical expression pretentiously described as country but lacks the socio-moral and political capacity to run under a common constitution since it was hitherto constituted under a defective, thus illegitimate arrangement.

To achieve an SNC requires a people in defiance and willing to overhaul the system politically and economically in the equation called ‘Nigeria’ which has persistently been described as a ‘lopsided’ arrangement and ‘marriage of convenience’ in some quarters.

 

The government must address these killings wholesomely; it must first put in everything it takes to protect lives and property, then it must address the varied grievances of the people from the perspective of understanding their strong sentiments rather than derogating them. The government must emphasize the secular status of Nigeria rather than tacit approval for a particular religion or other; governance must be de-tribalised, culture must stop being handled as a monolith.

Let us all shun and eschew ethnic, religious and politico-economic intolerance; promote unity, transparency and Nationalism.

 

Debo Adeniran

National Coordinator, CECURR

www.deboadeniran.com

dadnig@yahoo.com

July 25, 2016

 

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THE PRESIDENT’S WORDS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO PROVE THE INNOCENCE OF HIS CABINET MEMBERS’ INCULPABILITY IN CORRUPTION – CACOL

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity has told Nigerians bluntly, to put a halt on accusing and finger-pointing his Ministers and other top government officials of corruption without evidence, and that Nigerians should ignore orchestrated attempts to discredit them as recently reported widely by the media.

The Executive Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, in his reaction to the President’s statement found the position curious and contradictory to the anti-corruption principle of the present regime. He asked “how certain is the President that some of his appointed Ministers are not just incompetent but are also corrupt?”

According to the anti-corruption Crusader, “the President’s defence contradicts all the petitions sent by CACOL and other civil society organizations (CSO) to the anti-corruption agencies and the President regarding corruption issues which indicted some of the Cabinet members. It also contradicts the anti-corruption war his administration appears to be fighting so vigorously. The President’s take sounded more like ‘touch not my anointed’ as a matter of fact!”

Continuing he said “with the atmosphere the anti-corruption drive of the present regime is trying to create, it would be expected that common sense and knowledge should ordinarily make public officials, particularly politically appointed public officials to conform to basic standards and best practices; that is accountability and transparency in public administration rather than opt for the ‘prove it’ option whenever the searchlight of anti-corruption is beamed on them.”

“The President’s take rather than kill the suspicions of the majority has only exacerbated them. When the first line of defense an indicted, suspected or accused person or group tows, is the line of ‘provide proof/evidence’ without attempting to smash the allegations via transparency and accountability beyond reasonable doubts which is an easier and less labourious option, then ‘aspersions’ and ‘conspiracy theories’ will continue to fly.”  

The CACOL Leader added that the President’s position is throwing up the old question of whom the onus of proof should lie upon between an accused and an accuser. “But in spite of our recognizing that there may be frivolous accusations which could be the basis for the President’s opinion, we still feel every accusation should be treated as ‘possible truth’ until it’s 100% proved to be baseless. There can be no half-measures if we desire to kill corruption in our country, Nigerians can no longer take the words of public officials as credible given the past and present experiences they have been and still being made to sadly go through.”

“Consequently, we believe the onus of proof should lie on the accused particularly where it concerns public officials like Ministers. We advise that the President should not to vouch for any public official as he is not competent to do so. Even the President came to a realization that frustrated him to admit publicly that the Judiciary sector is a headache in the anti-corruption war and predicated his claim on corrupt tendencies in the sector! Added to this is that the President has had to relieve some public officials of their positions based on suspected or actual sharp practices.”

“It is therefore uncalled for and contradictory for the President to ‘blanketly’ award the badge of inculpability in corrupt practices on his Cabinet members. Accused public officials should lawfully clear themselves of allegations that are not true. And knowing that within the ambit of our laws, there are provisions for punitive for persons who make frivolous allegations should be enough to not wield extra-constitutional powers to gag Nigerians.” Adeniran averred

In concluding, the CACOL Leader said “to win the war against corruption will require us, as individuals and as a country not to spare the rod, so as not to spoil the child. Corruption cannot be killed with kid’s glove. It is a situation where conscious eternal vigilance must be kept all the time without letting down the guard regardless of who is involved. The law after all says every accused person is deemed to be innocent until proven judicially to be guilty, so suspects or accused persons need not to get jittery given that they are protected by the law as long as they are proven to be innocent. Let there be transparency and accountability in governance, which is what will enlist the trust and confidence of the people.”

 

 

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

08141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

July 22, 2016 

 

 

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FORMER I.G OF POLICE, SOLOMON ARASE AND THE 24 VEHICLES: CACOL CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION OF THE NEW ACTING I.G’S CLAIMS

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, through its Executive Chairman Mr. Debo Adeniran has called for the immediate investigations into the claims of the new Acting Inspector General of Police, I.G, of the Nigeria Police that his predecessor, Mr. Solomon Arase carted away with him as many as 24 vehicles belonging the Police when exited office as I.G.
Mr. Adeniran expressed shock over the reports in the media that the acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, claims that Mr. Solomon Arase, the immediate past I.G of Police carted away 24 police vehicles when he exited office as I.G, and that 7 Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, D.I.Gs who were also retired at the same time made away with between seven and eight cars each.
He said, “this revelation is once again manifesting how profoundly seated the virus of corruption have eaten into the fabrics of our polity as a country. How do we explain a situation where the ‘hunter’ chooses to get involved with the ‘hunted’? That the custodian of the apex echelon of the Nigeria Police in terms hierarchy is involved or suspected to be involved in the physical carting away of government properties is scary, disgusting, embarrassing, uninspiring and absolutely condemnable!”
The acting I.G, who revealed to the media in an interview with journalists, also informed that a special investigation team was already looking at the records of police vehicle purchases in the last three years.
“Although, we aware according to media report, that the former I.G has reportedly denied the claim of his successor describing the allegations as a malicious propaganda, we think the allegations should still be investigated all the same. The claims and counter-claims should not be handled with levity because if the allegations were found be true, then, it means the country must have to rethink, review and rework of its anti-corruption drive with a view of magnifying the activities of supposed upholders of the laws and enforcement. If the enforcers of the laws at the topmost level are involved in sharp practices, the hope of cleansing the polity of corruption becomes unrealistic as ‘coming to equity’ requires coming with clean hands, tackling crimes requires the ‘tacklers’ living and acting above board as far as combating crimes is concerned.” Adeniran insisted.
“Our insistence on a thorough probe of the episode is predicated on the imperativeness of ensuring that those entrusted with combating crimes are not also criminals and because the immediate past I.G appeared to have left office with a public image which majority of Nigerians perceived as ‘clean’ and without blemish.” The anti-corruption Crusader added
“The investigations must also include the D.I.Gs indicted by the acting I.G in his revelation; the special investigation panel said to have been set up must do a diligent job including revealing to the public the official privileges and entitlements of retiring police officers. That is how Nigerians can identify what is propaganda and what is real.” Adeniran averred.
In concluding, the CACOL leader said “we also support the move of the new acting I.G to through the Police Management Team probe the last promotion exercise in the Force following the complaints by many police personnel that their juniors were promoted over them. The Police of any country is usually conventionally considered as a reflection of the kind of country the country is, with the much touted anti-corruption stance of the present government, if Arase is found to complicit in a crime, it will be contradictory to the zero tolerance to corruption policy of the government. In fact, given that the President himself celebrated his tenure as evidenced in the valedictory dinner he held in Arase’s honour upon his exit as I.G leaves a disgusting and bitter taste on our tongues as Nigerians.”

Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
wale@thehumanitycentre.org
cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org
July 18, 2016

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THE BENCH AND THE BAR; CLOGGING THE WHEEL OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE

The Executive Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran has condemned the roles of some Judges, Lawyers and other practitioners in the Nigerian Judicial system, describing them as clogs in the wheel of progress of the anti-corruption war.
 
“It has become pertinent to highlight the negative roles of some abettors and aiders of corruption in the law profession are playing in frustrating the progress of the anti-corruption drive for pecuniary gains at the expense of the consequences of sharp practices to the country economically and morally.”Adeniran affirmed
 
According to the anti-corruption Crusader, there are many examples that have persistently shown that aiding and abetting roles are played by Lawyers and Judges in the anti-corruption drive. He said “an example is the Rickey Tarfa episode. According to news reports, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, in a counter-affidavit to a suit filed by Rickey Tarfa to challenge his alleged unlawful arrest and detention by the EFCC on February 5, 2016 for hiding two suspects of financial crimes in his Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and thereby willfully obstructing the arrest of the suspects. An operative of the EFCC stated in the affidavit that a check carried out into the Access Bank account of Tarfa’s Law firm revealed that a sum of N225, 000 was sent to Justice Mohammed Yunusa’s Bank account, a transaction the Judge acknowledged with appreciation through a text message which said ‘Thank you, my senior advocate’.”
“In this same country, we have witnessed a show that featured 90 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) queuing behind a colleague of theirs, the same Rickey Tarka with his very disgusting corruption baggage to appear in court. It speaks volumes about the level of immorality and rot in the system. Even, the presiding Judge in the case described the appearance of the SANs as ‘’tantamount to harassment and intimidation.’’ Mr. Adeniran added
The CACOL leader asserted that it is hypocritical to continue to hold on the position that the Judiciary is infallible and impervious to the monster called corruption as an arm of government. “The Judicial sector is arguably the most complicit in frustrating the anti-corruption drive. How do we situate the case of Joshua Dariye, a former governor of Plateau state within the ambit of logical reasoning?” Adeniran asked.
 
“The Dariye case represents a national shame given that the decision to resurrect and investigate Dariye was informed by a request by the London Metropolitan Police after 9 years. 9 years to start trial denote that the Nigerian Judicial system is laughable. If an accused could legally manipulate the system for 9 years before the trial even begins, it means there is no deterrent to corruption. This is somebody  who singlehandedly collected N1.126 billion naira on behalf of the state and diverted it to his private account and then directed the bank manager on how to distribute it” he added
 
Continuing, he said, “you see a situation where corruption criminals via their stupendous ill gotten wealth simply hire the services of SANs to help them wriggle through judicial trials to escape conviction for very glaring sharp practices. The suspected criminals simply enlist the services of crooked lawyers and officials to influence Judges presiding over their cases of corruption. That is why we see suspected corruption criminals running to court to take advantage of the gaps in our laws to escape justice. Given the loots in their possessions, they consciously plan with the aiders and abettors in the Justice sector to design escape routes for themselves at incredibly humongous costs that only those that have corruptly enriched themselves can afford. This is sad, very condemnable and must be stopped for the progress of the country.”
 
In concluding, Adeniran called on the Judiciary as whole to cleanse the system, using its internal mechanisms of corrupt practitioners in the sector. “The onus lies on the Nigeria Judicial Council, NJC, the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA and other gate-keepers in the sector to pick up the gauntlet to rid the law profession of the bad eggs who are brazenly bringing the hard earned reputation and the ‘above board’ character associated with the Judiciary to disrepute. Practitioners found to have erred must be made to face the wrath of the law to deter others. We commend the practitioners in the law profession who in spite of tempting inducements have refused to trade away their consciences and their country.”
 
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
July 15, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
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THE ANTI-CORRUPTION WAR AND PLEA BARGAIN: CACOL CALLS FOR STRIPPING CORRUPTION CRIMINALS OF THEIR LOOTS, PROPERTIES AND HONOURS

Following the option of plea bargain being offered to corruption criminals who are penitent by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Executive Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran has called for the details of what constitute the ‘plea bargain’ being offered to some suspects of corruption.
 
From news reports, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is said to have offered the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.); a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun; and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo, to forfeit the 33 properties they allegedly bought with stolen funds.
With the offer by EFCC, the stage appears to be set for an apparent plea bargain arrangement to be formalized should the corruption suspects meet the conditions set by the anti-graft Commission.
Mr. Adeniran, in responding to the unfolding scenario, reiterated the position of CACOL, he said, “our Coalition has always insisted on punishing culprits of corruption to serve as deterrent to other corruption criminals and the potentially corrupt persons in the country. The non-application of punitive measures against persons guilty of corruption would make the whole anti-corruption war a huge joke, a waste of time, energy and resources.”
From reports, part of the conditions for the plea bargain given to accused persons, who are penitent is forfeiting the properties and pleading guilty, after which the EFCC would appeal to the court to temper justice with mercy.
While acknowledging the difference between penitent corruption criminals and recalcitrant ones, Adeniran said “it is correct to treat those who admit their guilt voluntarily and those that make the state to expend resources energy and time before their conviction is achieved differently, we agree to that extent. But our position is that those that opt for plea bargain should nonetheless not be allowed to go scot-free; they should hence be stripped of all their properties and monies as well as honours that could have been bestowed on some of them – they should be made to start life anew. All of their material possessions should be deemed as proceeds of corruption and therefore confiscated by the state. Then they can be told to ‘go and sin no more’.”
Continuing, he said, “as for the recalcitrant ones of should of course be made to face the full constitutional and judicial consequences of their crimes. They should be put in jail according to size of their loots, even up to life imprisonment.”
CACOL is suggesting life imprisonment for convicts that stole any amount above 1 billion naira, and they should be made to work diligently for their own upkeep via whatever skills they possess previously or has been able to learn behind the bars.
 
‘’They should be used as objects to educate the young, the youth and all when they go on excursion to the prisons, seeing former corrupt leaders in such situation will certainly serve to deter the potentially corrupt. Furthermore, whatever assets traced to such convicts should be deemed to be proceeds of corruption and confiscated by the Nigerian state.’’ The Executive Chairman of the Coalition concluded.
 
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
July 15, 2016
 
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BURATAI-GATE: THE CODE OF CONDUCT OF BUREAU, CCB HAS QUESTIONS TO ANSWER; THE EFCC MUST ALSO SWING INTO THOROUGH INVESTIGATIVE ACTION – CACOL

The Executive Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran has brought to the fore a seemingly unacknowledged dimension to the story of the Chief Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai’s alleged corruption crimes related to his owning two palatial mansions in Dubai.

 
This is sequel to calls from eminent and respected groups and individuals for either the immediate resignation or sack of the embattled COAS. The COAS is currently in the eye of the storm following the revelation that he owns two properties in Dubai, even though both the COAS and the CCB has affirmed that Buratai declared the assets when he passed through the asset declaration processes on two occasions.
 
The COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has however failed to resign from his position even with the strident calls for his resignation or that he should he should be sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari over the Dubai assets valued at about $1.5m.
Mr. Debo Adeniran posited that the CCB has explanation to give over why the assets were purportedly declared, but the agency failed to ascertain the value of the properties vis-à-vis the legitimate and provable earnings of the COAS.
 
According to the anti-corruption Crusader, “the truth is that, we need to be circumspect in approaching the Buratai case, for it is the duty of the CCB to ascertain the value of all assets declared by public official before it, and bring to fore if discrepancies exist in the declarations. That is how other agencies like EFFC can swing into action to investigate if financial or economic crimes are being violated.”
 
“The reason why the verification of the value of the assets was not carried out by the CCB is suspicious and makes it crucial for the CCB to clear the air, unless, perhaps the agency was in cohorts with the COAS if the allegations against the him are proved to be valid.” He added
 
Furthermore, he said “this development is also bringing to the fore once again, the imperative of making assets declarations by all public officials with the CCB public for purpose of transparency and public scrutiny so as to engender public trust in governance. There is absolutely no reason for public officials to hide their assets if they got them through hard work or other legitimate means. One of the major reasons the CCB was created in the first place was for the verification of assets declared by public officials so as to nip the tendency to make false assets declaration in the bud.”
 
However, Adeniran called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC not to tarry any longer before swinging into action over the Buratai-Gate. “With benefit of the information on ground, the EFCC must commence investigations into all angles to the case as the Commission is empowered in Section 7 of its Act. How an army General managed to save $1.5m has to be explained to Nigerians. Thus the EFCC needs to thoroughly carry out its investigations, including the verification of the value of the assets declared by the COAS. Should any crime be found to have been committed by the COAS, then he should be tried and if found guilty, he must resign and face the sanctions of his crime. The same goes for the CCB or any of its officials found have connived in any way.” He concluded.
 
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
11 June 2016
 
 
 
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THE UNDYING NATIONAL QUESTION AND THE RENEWED CALL FOR RESTRUCTURING OF NIGERIA

The recent renewed call for the restructuring of Nigeria’s body polity requires to be profoundly interrogated, to understand the motivations and core purpose of the seemingly justified call. Circumspection on all the labyrinths of issues over the National question is very imperative, so as not to fall into the pitfalls of the past. 
 
Without any iota of doubt, Nigeria as a country remains a geographical expression like Chief Obafemi Awolowo posited and its faulty foundations remain shaky owing to the historical reality that Nigeria and Africa in general were indeed partitioned at the bayoneting ends of the guns of colonizers, for the convenience of their exploitation and subjugation of the people.
 
Again without any iota of doubt, the call to restructure Nigeria is neither the exclusive preserve of the ruling class in their intra-class factional struggles, nor is it a new call. It is a call, a demand, a bargaining weapon of choice, in their now covert, now overt intra-class skirmishes.
 
The truth is that no matter how Nigeria is restructured, the fundamental issue will remain about the social emancipation of the vast majority of the people. Any form of restructuring that is not achieved side by side with the social emancipation of the component units of Nigeria will amount to naught. Such achievement will make no significant difference in National life and the lives of majority of the people who would still remain oppressed and exploited in any arrangement that emerges from ‘restructuring’ designed and controlled by the present ruling class i.e. the representatives of the political and economic status quo.
 
It is important to learn from the history of Nigeria’s several attempts at addressing the National question, either initiated by the Government or by the people (Civil society). From the Obasanjo staged managed National Conference to the last National Confab organized by the Jonathan Goodluck-led government, it is explicit that the call for restructuring and addressing the National question is beyond what the status quo will organize for obvious reasons.
 
No genuine National Conference, if organized by the people like the attempt of the National Consultative Forum (NCF) under the leadership of Mr. Alao Aka-Bashorun in 1990, National Conference of Ethnic Nationalities organized under the leadership of Drs Beko Ransome-Kuti and Fredrick Fasehun at the Century Hotel Okota around 1995, and the Pro-National Conference Organization (PRONACO) led by Pa Anthony Enahoro will not turn the table around in favour of the vast majority of Nigerians and against the subsisting status quo.
 
Flowing from this background, unless and until when the oppressed people of the different component units of Nigeria unite against their oppressors in their various units in a popular process that will put the destinies of the vast majority in their hands regardless of the unit/s they come from, the National question may permanently become a permanent question.
 
The pre-independence constitutional conferences, as well as the post-independence constitutional reform processes have all been at heart about restructuring Nigeria, as has been the numerous state agitation/state creation processes and the many constitutional and political conferences.
 
The call to restructure Nigeria, it must be affirmed has also periodically found resonance among ordinary Nigerian citizens like NCF and PRONACO which gained traction particularly in times of deepening economic and political crisis. The more debilitating the economic crisis, the greater the instability in the polity, the more strident the calls for restructuring get.
 
It is therefore important to handle the recent strident calls shielded in ‘Nationalism’ from members of the ruling class with ‘a pinch of salt’. This is because the ruling class factions and fractions who lost out or are losing out in the jostle for control of and access to state power at central and sub national levels proceed to mobilize existing grievances along the lines of existing cleavages, as well as co-opt existing and incipient resistance struggles of impoverished and oppressed citizens against declining living conditions and intensifying economic hardships.
 
A Sovereign National Conference organized by the people themselves is the one and only way to resolve the National question that continues to linger and rears its disturbing head almost at all facets of our National life. This was what the original Campaign for Democracy (CD) focused its attention on since early 90s but never achieved because of intrinsic but unwarranted fear by the successive government that they would lose power of governing to the Conference!
 
We believe that an SNC is the beginning of true nationhood; the alternative is to keep an unstable geographical expression pretentiously described as country but lacks the socio-moral and political capacity to run under a common constitution since it was ab initio constituted under defective, thus illegitimate arrangement. To achieve an SNC requires a people in defiance and willing to overhaul the system politically and economically in the equation called ‘Nigeria’ which has persistently been described as a ‘lopsided’ arrangement and ‘marriage of convenience’ in some quarters.
 
It is true that a major contributory factor to why we are where we are today is the fact that states, which are supposed to be the federating units have become too small and too stripped of the powers and the capacity to generate and collect revenue to be fiscally autonomous of the federal government at the centre.
 
Of course compounding this basic structural defect have been the congenital greed, the inherent incompetence and ineptitude, and the crass opportunism of the ruling class.
These has helped to create an enabling environment unbridled treasury looting in the race for competitive primitive accumulation by the ruling elites, with the result that public wealth and public resources have been plundered and the state rendered incapable of provisioning the basic needs of citizens.
 
The point being made is that although a defective structure cripples the ability and capacity of the state to be utilized as the instrument of radical social transformation, of the type that enables equitable access to resources, opportunities and wealth of the society; thus enabling an all-round and more socially just human and societal development; nevertheless the structure of the polity alone without a corresponding socio-economic structure that is equitable and justice will not address the problem of deepening and intensifying inequality and widening gap between rich and poor.
 
 
Debo Adeniran
Executive Chairman
Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL
08037194969
July 8, 2016
 
 
 
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THE BAN ON STREET TRADING WITHOUT ALTERNATIVE IS INSENSITIVE TO THE PLIGHT OF POOR, WORKING AND TOILING LAGOSIANS – CACOL

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, unequivocally condemns the ban on street trading by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led Lagos State government. The ban represents the increasing the sufferings of the poor and toiling people who ordinarily are trying under the present extremely harsh economic conditions to fend for themselves.

Majority of Lagosians and Nigerians have had to resort to self-help almost on every facet of life consequent upon the gross failure of government to fulfill its constitutional role of provisioning for the welfare and social security of the citizens.

The ill-thought ban if violated will attract 6 months imprisonment or 90 thousand naira fine according to reports. Mr. Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman of CACOL questioned the logic behind the ban when those that are going to be affected are largely already impoverished consequent upon the failure of government in facilitating gainful employment opportunities on one hand and failure in service delivery by the government on the other. Adeniran observed that “the existing retail markets are too expensive for the average trader while they are too remote, rough or lacking in basic facilities that could make them attractive to those who would have patronized them.”

He said, ‘’one would expect a government that promised what was presumed to be positive ‘change’ during electioneering campaigns to alleviate the sufferings of the people to understand that the conditions of living of these categories of persons who engage in street trading cannot but get worsened should their source of earning the pittance they live on be blocked following the ban on street trading.”

CACOL is aware that street trading is a global phenomenon even in the other mega cities of the world which Lagos wants to emulate. What such societies did was to organize the poor income earners like street traders in such a way that they do not constitute nuisances as they carry out their activities.

Adeniran said “it is all about social inclusion; the governance and governance policies must be all inclusive. Those that will be affected by this ban are also Lagosians who pay taxes and most likely voted for the present government, it is therefore a betrayal of the hope and trust they reposed in the government.”

The Executive Chairman continued, saying “It is important to highlight that it is the women, most of whom are the ‘economic managers’ of the families that would largely be affected and this makes the effect of the ban very deep-seated on family livelihood, the livelihood of the cradle of every society.”

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, while commending the Ambode regime for some noticeable developmental projects being implemented across the state and encouraging the government not to relent, would not want the regime to snatch with left hand what it has offered the poor Lagosians with the right hand.

“It is imperative to note that, this ban if allowed to stay, is also going create avenue for the traditionally unruly Lagos state paraphernalia of security outfits like KAI, LASTMA and the Police to harass, extort, maim and even kill poor people who are only struggling to exist.” Adeniran warned

In concluding, he said, “we therefore call for the quashing or humane amendment of the insensitive law that outrightly put blanket ban on street trading without providing viable, accessible and affordable alternative means of livelihood for the victims of the ban. We also call on government to create employment opportunities that will automatically make street trading unattractive to the prctitioners. It is the constitutional responsibility of government to cater for the security and welfare of the people. It is the duty of government to protect the poor and downtrodden and their interests not just the interests of the rich few. Lagos is both for the poor and the rich; at this rate Governor Ambode is gradually towing the line of his wicked predecessor who ensured that the pains and sufferings of the ordinary poor Lagosians were escalated beyond incredible limits when he ruled.”

 

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

08141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,

cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

4 July, 2016

 

 

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

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