PRESS RELEASE
The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has censured the some delegates at the ongoing National Conference for complaining about the feeding arrangement by the leadership of the conference.
This came on the heels of the heated argument that ensued over the lunch being served by the conference secretariat. While some of the delegates expressed disappointment about the poor quality of food, others said they wanted the food to be monetised to enable them to source for food outside the conference venue.
Reacting to the incident, the Executive Chairman of the Coalition, Mr. Debo Adeniran, who condemned the gluttonous disposition of the delegates, stated that many of them have forgotten the reason for the conference.
He said, “It’s high time some of the delegates realized that the Conference is meant to discuss critical issues about Nigeria and chart a new course for the country and not just to deliberate on inconsequential things. The rejection of food by some of them is a pointer to the selfishness of our so-called leaders. That is another way to show clearly that many are at the conference for the material gains. Just some weeks into the conference, many of them have forgotten why they are there only to cry wolves for selfish reasons. The other time, it was some of them demanding allowances for their aides.
The vacant seats we see on television and the pattern of debate show many absentee participants and people who are just there to sleep away their time. Only a few appear on television interviews, many don’t even make contributions, but became active when the debate is on personal gains.
If they felt that the food they were given was not good enough, they should have offered to procure food for themselves from their conference allowances rather than demanding they monetise it. They should have it at the back of their mind that part of what they are to do at the confab is to reduce the cost of governance and profligacy in government, hence, they shouldn’t be seen to be partaking in such profligacy.
They should also realize that they will give account of whatever they are given at the conference to the community that sent them. They should therefore endeavor to come back with a neat balance sheet of their receipts and expenditures of the conference allowances.”
Abimbola Adegoke
Media Officer, CACOL
4th April, 2014