Thank God that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), one of the two general labour unions in Nigeria, has suspended its lone-ranging nation-wide strike after barely four days of what turned out to be protest marches in some states by a few of its members and jobless people. To be sure, the Ayuba Wabba’s faction of the troubled NLC had called the nation’s workers to rise against Muhammadu Buhari’s government, and bring down the already tottering economy because of the fuel price increase, which government was forced by economic realities to impose on the nation. In suspending the strike on Sunday, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC said that the protest action was informed by the twin issues of the unjustified and illegal hike in electricity tariff and increase in the pump price of petroleum products. It adjudged the protest action to be a success in spite of both internal and external challenges. “INEC reiterated the correctness of its position on the twin-issues of electricity tariff hike and astronomical increase in the pump price of PMS and the hardship they portend for Nigerian masses.” NLC said that before it embarked on strike action, it had anticipated a probable outcome and therefore was not surprised by government’s negative response even as he beat its chest it felt fulfilled by having the presence of mind and courage to identify its mission and fulfilling it. The labour union argued that the strike action was taken in the best interest of the poor and the weak and was able to draw government’s attention to the dangers of relying on importation of petroleum products as a sustainable strategy for making available petroleum products. “Congress will resume negotiations with government on the twin issues of the hike in electricity tariff and an increase in the pump price of petroleum products and any other issue that may arise thereof. “It similarly remains committed to genuine dialogue within the framework of internationally established and recognized principles of representation.” Ironically, in calling out the nation’s workers to down-tools the NLC obviously took the last point it raised – dialogue – for granted. It is on record that the leadership of the NLC stormed out of a meeting which the government officials was holding with stakeholders shortly b efore the strike began. Meaning that the NLC did not exhaust the principle of dialogue but preferred to show its muscle. Secondly, the NLC went ahead to call workers to go on strike at the time even more vital stakeholders such as PENGASSAN and NUPENG that are insiders as far as oil business is concerned, agreed with the government position on removal of fuel subsidy and subsequent increase in fuel price. Even its sister union – Trade Union Congress (TUC), like PENGASSA and NUPENG listened attentively and with open mind to the government, after which they also agreed with the government position. And by calling on workers to go on strike at the time the nation’s economy is in trouble, the Wabba led NLC had simply displayed what can be described as sadistic behavioural trait. How a long drawn strike would have led to the fulfilment of the NLC desire? And what is such desire, especially in a situation where the NLC did not offer its own advice on how to get out of the difficulty the nation was thrown into by many years of mismanagement? The issue of increasing minimum wage for the workers and other demands by the NLC were not new and had never in the past solved the financial challenges of ordinary workers in the country.
So also the issue of using intimidation and combative approach has never in the past bended any government to the wishes of labour unions.
It is on this basis that the NLC and other combative labour unions should learn to attune themselves to modern day negotiating technique, by listening more, contributing more to the ways of finding solution to any problem and being practical, other than resorting to old-school: strike that is likely to create more difficulty for the common man on the street than the people such strike is meant to hurt. [myad]
The Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has empowered hunters in the state with a mandate to stop Fulani herdsmen from grazing in the state. This followed his declared ban on Fulani herdsmen from the grazing of cattle in the state.
The governor said that a Bill will be sent to the State House of Assembly to officially ban grazing in the state.
The position of Fayose followed the killing of two persons in the state by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In the bid to further prevent the Fulani herdsmen from grazing, Fayose on Monday empowered local hunters in the state. He donated N2.5 million to them and a pick up van for patrol.
He told the hunters at Oke-Ako: “before leaving you today, I will raise for you (hunters) N2.5 million.
“Secondly, I will raise N2.5 million again for the affected families. I want to say it very clearly, everything you want me to do, I will do. Because the moment you are not secured, then I had better resign as a governor.
“If I cannot provide adequate security for you, it is better for me to leave this office.
“The only reason you voted for me is because you know I am competent to do the needful in circumstances like this. Nobody will take Ekiti away from us. This killing of our people must stop. It is deliberate and we must take all actions to stop it. They have killed two, they have killed all of us.
“A fight against one Ekiti man is a fight against everybody. The President must rise up to the challenge and stare this decaying security situation in the face. We cannot continue like this.
“When they defeat you, they will go to the next community. When they defeat that community, they will go to another one.
“This is Ekiti Parapo war and it must be fought in the totality of our spirit. I stand by you.
“I stand for you and that is why you elected me at a time like this. I will not disappoint you.
“Like I said earlier, you want a Pick Up van, today; today I will give you a Pick Up.
“Let it be said, those people behind this herdsmen, we’ll defeat you. We will defeat you.
“Enough of this political herdsmen operating as herdsmen, but are Boko Haram.
“They are coming into South West gradually. We are going to fight you. Anywhere you find a cow that is grazing unnecessarily on our ways, call my attention, we will take them out.
“I am going to the House of Assembly to criminalize grazing in wrong areas. You hide under grazing to kill people. You are operating in the night.
“Where would you tell me someone grazing found AK47? Some people are behind them.
“Using AK 47, you rape my wife, you rape my children. If they attempt it, bring them down!
“Terminate their lives!
“If they claim they want to sleep with your wives, they want to touch your children, bring them down! Bring them down!
“It is a war against Ekiti. It must be fought with the totality of our strength.
“God bless you. I want to reassure you.
“We’ll provide the necessary security to keep you in your community. Don’t run away. Don’t go to another community. It is your home and nobody will have drive you out of your home.” [myad]
“We have told them (militants) to stop the destruction of oil and gas facilities and other critical national assets as it negatively affects the economy with impact on livelihood of the people.
“If they (militants) have grievances, they should take it up with government rather than their current approach, which is not in the best interest of the nation.
“If they continue to choose the path of bombing pipelines (after engagement moves), then we will go after them and deal with the situation appropriately.”
These were the words of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Abayomi Olonishakin, when he spoke about the Niger Delta Avengers who have been bombing oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta. He at the inauguration of 12 refurbished gun boats and 40-bed space accommodation for troops in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said that the military is currently assessing the situation in the Niger Delta with a view to engaging stakeholders to maintain law and order in the region.
According to him, engagement with militants will involve governors of various states and political leaders in the Niger Delta.
“Government and military is using multi-faceted approach rather than force alone to ensure that resurgent attacks on oil and gas installations are stopped.”
Olonishakin said that efforts are being made to provide more gun boats and other military hardware for troops to maintain 24 hours patrol of about 5,000 creeks and waterways in the region.
The military chief said the provision of military hardware would boost the capacity of Operation Pulo Shield to confront oil theft and illegal bunkering of petroleum products in the region.
“Repair of these gun boats will no doubt improve the capacity of the brigade to meet its responsibility in curtailing criminal acts in our inland waterways,” he added.
Olonishakin commended the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Commander of Army 2 Brigade Port Harcourt, Brigadier General Stevenson Olabanji, for the repair of the boats.
Also, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, said the Armed Forces were currently faced with logistics challenges in its operations in the Niger Delta.
Buratai said, however, that the challenges would not deter troops from continuing to fight the menace of sea piracy, militancy, oil theft and general insecurity in the region.
According to him, the 40-bed space accommodation will serve as an operating base for troops to patrol and respond to crises situations in the area.
Other Service Chiefs at the event included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; and the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru. [myad]
Nigeria’s Attorney General and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has called on the international community to make their countries unsafe for stolen funds being brought for safekeeping. He also called on the countries in which stolen funds are currently lodged to return such funds and assets to their countries of origin. “This has to be international collaboration establishing clear absence of interest in stolen funds and asset by the safe havens jurisdiction for proceeds of corruption through ascertained support to countries of origin of the looted funds and asset by way of facilitating the return of the looted funds and asset with case and elimination of bureaucratic legal and judicial bottlenecks.
The Attorney General, who addressed the 25th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at Vienna, Austria on Monday, said that Nigeria is ready and willing to partner with international agencies and individual countries on a bilateral basis to confront crimes and corruption.
“In particular, I call upon the global community to urgently redouble efforts towards strengthening the mechanisms for dismantling safe havens for proceeds of corruption and ensuring the return of stolen funds and assets to their countries of origin.
“These has to be international collaboration establishing clear absence of interest in stolen funds and asset by the safe heavens jurisdiction for proceeds of corruption through ascertained support to countries of origin of the looted funds and asset by way of facilitating the return of the looted funds and asset with case and elimination of bureaucratic legal and judicial bottlenecks.”
The minister’s speech is reproduced here:
Mr. Chairman
On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, let me start by congratulating you on your election as the chairman of the 25th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. I have no doubt that under your able leadership the work of the Commission will progress to a successful conclusion. My congratulations also go to other members of the Bureau. I assure you and the Bureau of the support and cooperation of my delegation.
Furthermore, I must seize this opportunity to applaud the Secretariat for providing us with necessary documentation for this conference including the facilitation of the regional preparatory meetings.
Nigeria associates itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and the Africa Group respectively.
Mr Chairman
Nigeria strongly condemns terrorism in all its ramifications as nothing can justify the wanton destruction of innocent lives and properties that we have witnessed in Nigeria and across the globe. Nigeria re-affirms its determination to work in concert with the international community to fight terrorism.
The recent surge in successes recorded against the Boko Haram sect in the Lake Chad region is attributable, not only to a reinvigorated political leadership in Nigeria, but is also attributable to the fact that we have recognised that greater international collaboration is critical in addressing terrorist activities, including the flow of resources across border to aid their operations.
In this connection, the decision of the four countries of Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroun and Benin to constitute a Multinational Joint Task Force under a centralised command has been critical in forging a common response against Boko Haram and its allies. It is significant that the capacity of Boko Haram to hold territory has been totally decimated our focus now is on dealing with the remnants of their forces and re-focusing on the unfortunate humanitarian challenge caused by their activities.
We shall continue to review for adoption the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the National Security Strategy Document adopted in 2014 to deal with other related emerging crimes.
At domestic level, we have recognised the need for laws with sufficient deterrence capacity and concurrent respect for human rights to provide the appropriate legal framework to prevent and counter terrorism and its financing. The enactment of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and the Cyber Crime (Prohibition and Prevention) Act 2015 are all recent legislations designed to strengthen the legal framework to fight terrorism. Using these statutes, we have achieved modest success in investigating and prosecuting cases of terrorism within our jurisdiction and benefitted from international collaboration in realising the recorded success.
In our effort to completely tackle this insurgency, Government intends to tackle inequalities arising from massive unemployment. We intend to emphasize quality technological education for development and lay foundation for comprehensive care of the aged, the disadvantaged and the infirm. The necessary foundation for this initiative has already been laid with 2016 Appropriation Act which in the history of our country is the first to provide specifically for a social welfare regime with an allocation of over two billion dollars.
Mr. Chairman,
Terrorism is by no means the major or the only evil threatening and undermining the well-being of societies around the world. We equally recognize that Corruption, Cross border financial crimes, Cyber crimes Human trafficking and Proliferation of weaponsare all major challenges of the 21st century which the international community must tackle collectively. Let me reaffirm Nigerian government’s unwavering commitment to fight corruption and illicit financial flows. By any consideration, corruption and cross border financial crimes are impediments to development, economic growth, and the realization of the well-being of citizens across the globe.
Nigeria is ready and willing to partner with international agencies and individual countries on a bilateral basis to confront crimes and corruption. In particular, I call upon the global community to urgently redouble efforts towards strengthening the mechanisms for dismantling safe havens for proceeds of corruption and ensuring the return of stolen funds and assets to their countries of origin. These has to be international collaboration establishing clear absence of interest in stolen funds and asset by the safe heavens jurisdiction for proceeds of corruption through ascertained support to countries of origin of the looted funds and asset by way of facilitating the return of the looted funds and asset with case and elimination of bureaucratic legal and judicial bottlenecks.
Mr. Chairman
The world is now facing a big new challenge: human trafficking. This is an old evil taking an altogether new and dangerous dimension which is threatening to upset international relationships. We in Africa are grieved to see on international media networks how thousands of our able bodied men and women embark on the dangerous journey to Europe and in the process thousands end up dying in the desert or drowning in the Mediterranean.
We condemn in the strongest terms these people traffickers and will support any measures to apprehend and bring them to justice. At the same time, we are very appreciative of European governments notably Italy and Germany, for their understanding and humane treatment of these refugees
In dealing with human trafficking, Nigeria established the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) which is dedicated to combating human trafficking and related crimes. It has made commendable progress in the discharge of its mandate. NAPTIP continues to maintain close collaboration with other Law Enforcement Agencies and the UNODC in the implementation of programs aimed at strengthening our capacity to discharge our obligations under the Convention. Government is also taking measures to address the concerns and weaknesses identified in our Human Trafficking laws.
Mr. Chairman
Nigeria calls on Member States to consider, among other effective measures within the frame work of their national legislations, criminalizing activities related to all forms and aspects of trafficking in cultural property and related offences by using a broad definition that can be applied to all stolen, looted, unlawfully excavated and illicitly exported or imported cultural properties.
We also invite them to make trafficking in cultural property, including stealing and looting at archaeological and other cultural sites, a serious crime as defined in Article 2 of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, with a view to fully utilizing that convention for the purpose of extensive international cooperation in fighting all forms and aspects of trafficking in cultural property and related offences.
Mr. Chairman
We are witnessing a dreadful increase in conflicts fuelled by availability of small arms and light weapons. I call upon all member countries to demonstrate the political will needed to uphold the UN Charter. For a start, a robust implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty will guarantee that small arms and light weapons are only legally transferred. Arms traffickers and human traffickers are two evil species which the world community should eradicate.
Mr. Chairman
Nigeria like other countries is committed to a fair, effective and transparent Criminal Justice System. We are also committed to Independent and impartial Institutions that drive the Criminal Justice System. In line with our strong political will, our Criminal Justice System continues to be under constant review to meet the changing challenging trends in crime prevention and criminal justice and to improve the capacity of Criminal Justice Administrators to prevent, prosecute and punish criminal offenders.
Our Mutual Legal Assistance regime is currently being reviewed to provide a more secure framework for cooperation with other states in criminal matters, in addition to the implementation of the ECOWAS Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and ECOWAS Convention on Extradition. Nigeria is also exploring the possibility of using the Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) Convention as a basis for Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition pending the conclusion of the requisite bilateral agreements.
I wish to once more, convey the immense gratitude of the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to UNODC and all our development partners for their support and technical assistance which has contributed in no small measure to equipping and strengthening our national institutions in enhancing their capacity for crime prevention and improving the criminal justice sector.
Lastly, Mr. Chairman, Nigeria remains undeterred and unflinching in our resolve to support democracy and uphold democratic values, rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights and other fundamental freedoms. To this effect, present administration has reinforced the democratic traditions in Nigeria. These are necessary imperatives to achieve peace, stability and development. We trust that we shall continue to receive your support in achieving the above objectives.
Wife of late General Murtala Mohammed, Mrs. Ajoke has turned 75 years old, even as President Muhammadu Buhari said that her life is worth celebrating because of her exemplary life she lives.
President Buhari said that Ajoke has consistently shown that the entire society can be truly enriched through building strong and successful families. The commended Ajoke’s remarkable contributions to environmental preservation as a renowned horticulturist and leading conservationist even as he prayed to God to grant “the dear wife of late General Murtala Mohammed many more years of good health and joyful living with her children, grandchildren, relatives, friends and associates across the country.” [myad]
Ahmed Rasheed, the Chief Security Officer to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has been promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.
The FCT Police Commissioner, Wilson Inalegwu described Ahmed Rasheed as a very hard working officer, courageous, diligent in his assignment and has demonstrated love for the Nigeria Police Force. Inalegwu said that he was not surprised that Rasheed was considered suitable for promotion to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.
This was even as the minister asked the newly promoted officer to maintain high degree of discipline and loyalty to the nation. While decorating Rasheed with his new rank, Muhammad Bello said that promotion to higher rank calls for greater dedication and loyalty to ones organization and the nation at large. The minister said that the huge number of police men promoted in the FCT Police Command is an indication of the FCT Police Commissioner’s sterling leadership qualities. “Usually, when people get promoted, the attributes for the promotion are usually most of the time, aligned with the person who was promoted. The reality is you can never be a good officer and excel in your career if you don’t have a good boss. So, we feel very delighted that Ahmed Rasheed is among those in your Command that has been promoted. “We also in FCTA are proud that one of us has been elevated because he represents the crop of officers that to a large extent, are the face of the new Nigerian police; hardworking, dedicated and very smart. “From what I have seen, haven worked with him for the last six months, I have no doubt that God willing, the sky is going to be the limit for this young officer. “For you the Commissioner of Police, I urge you to continue with your good work of training officers because as you know, we need more and more policing within our communities. I’m sure that out of the 10,000 to be employed, based on what we have read in the newspapers, a number of them will be under your responsibility and I’m sure you will also guide and train them properly.” [myad]
Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has said that Nigerian governors must think out of the box to in order to survive the harsh economic situation in the country. Governor Amosun, who spoke to State House Correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, acknowledged that the prevailing economic situation in the county is affecting all stakeholders. Asked how he is managing to survive, Amosin said “Yes, I know things are tough and I am saying these with all sense of responsibility, all the states in Nigeria are affected. We are part of the larger context called Nigeria and because of that challenge, people must think out of the box and I am happy to report that in Nigeria today, maybe not in the quantum of what we generate l, but we are number one. If you check the indices that have been released, we doubled our revenue with about 97.8%, the next state to us I think was 41% we are working hard and we are doing well but they is still lot more to be done.” Commenting on the effect of Investment Summit he organized in his state, the governor said “It’s the fourth in our series of investors forum and this year we believe we had to zero in on three key areas that is agriculture, Environment and transportation and the reason is not farfetched. “Everybody believes that there is no alternative except for diversification and even before this crisis we realize that the only to go is to diversify into agriculture. “It will employ our people, it will create wealth for them. Those nations that have got it right if you see them, you will discover that they have their cottage industries; they are the enablers. That’s why we believe those ones we zero in on these three grey areas of course we will get it right. “I am happy that we got several investors, particularly those that are not even from Nigeria and so many people that are in Nigeria, that operate here and that’s why we showcased everybody. “I know within the next maybe two years you will see. Ogun state is the industrial hub of Nigeria, there is no state that has the kind of resources we have,in terms of numbers and value. “We are not limiting it at that; we want to take it forward. Not agriculture alone, we want to take full advantage of the full value chain that agriculture offers and what do I mean by that? That whatever we grow we must process, and whatever we have processed we must package and whatever we package we must market, we must transport it to the final consumer. You know everybody is working that is what we are trying to do. “ln the area of transportation, we need to see how many people we can get on the roads, we need to introduce rails, waterways. If you go to these other nations, you will see that all their agriculture produce they are being moved either by the rail or water system and in other areas they use air. “I went to a place in California, if you move for five hours maybe left and right, you will see plantation and in those plantation you will see air fields. If you have the need for it, of course you must have it. So we are looking at all of those areas and the environment. “Environment is living now, if you want to live well, we must be conscious of our environment, particularly the climate change, we must reduce carbon dioxide. “We can use our waste to generate wealth and in doing that we employ our people. Like I said we are the most industrialized state, we want green industrialization. The ara of emitting dangerous hazardous smoke is over. “There are new ways of doing things, new engineering solutions that are in place and that are what we are trying to do. We are even generating electricity with our waste that is what I call using waste to generate power and waste to wealth. Those are the areas we are focusing on.” [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has called off his much publicized two-day state visit to Lagos state but will be represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the same day, Monday.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to Osinbajo in the person of Laolu Akande said that the Vice-President will now represent the President in Lagos.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu also confirmed that President Buhari will no longer be in Lagos, though without offering any explanation.
The visit which would have seen the President inaugurating a number of projects would have started on Monday and ended on Tuesday.
This is even as members of the President’s advanced team consisting of protocol officials, security agents, medical officers and journalists have already arrived in Lagos ahead of President Buhari.
As the trip was cancelled, the team would have to return to Abuja soonest.
Akande said in the statement: “on behalf of the President, Prof. Osinbajo would commission a number of projects in the state as part of the visit. [myad]
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called off its less than one week nation-wide failed strike, attributing it to police brutality and intimidation.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Congress, which met at Bolton White Hotels, Abuja on Sunday, said that it had reviewed the protest action and its impact across the nation, noting the sacrifices of its members, response of the generality of Nigerians, government’s attitude and the brutality of the police in some states.
“NEC took special notice of the Ebonyi State Police Command where our members were intimidated, harassed, arrested and detained unjustly. After an exhaustive deliberation, NEC noted its protest action was informed by the twin issues of the unjustified and illegal hike in electricity tariff and increase in the pump price of petroleum products. NEC adjudged the protest action to be a success in spite of both internal and external challenges.
“NEC reiterated the correctness of its position on the twin-issues of electricity tariff hike and astronomical increase in the pump price of PMS and the hardship they portend for Nigerian masses. NEC also acknowledged that the temptation to compare the strike action with that of 2012 could be compelling but that the scenario had changed as both the actors and the terrain were different.
“NEC said before it had embarked on the action, it had anticipated a probable outcome and therefore was not surprised by government’s negative response. Nonetheless, it felt fulfilled by having the presence of mind and courage to identify its mission and fulfilling it, stressing that if a similar situation arises again, it will still rise and stand with the people.
“NEC therefore commended those who took part in the action in one way or the other and reaffirm its commitment to the struggle. The action, it reiterated was taken in the best interest of the poor and the weak and in drawing government’s attention to the dangers of relying on importation of petroleum products as a sustainable strategy for making available petroleum products. It expressed the belief that in the days ahead, time would prove its position right.
“Congress singled out for commendation, its state councils, affiliates and other patriotic Nigerians who at very short notice picked up the gauntlet for this struggle. Congress commends the leadership of the National Assembly and All Progressives Congress led by Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
“In consideration of the above, NEC after due consultation with its constituents resolved to suspend with immediate effect, the action it commenced on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. The action is thus hereby suspended.
“Congress will resume negotiations with government on the twin issues of the hike in electricity tariff and an increase in the pump price of petroleum products and any other issue that may arise thereof.
“It similarly remains committed to genuine dialogue within the framework of internationally established and recognized principles of representation.
“The Congress will continue to resist wrong legislations, policies and programmes and will always act in the best interest of Nigerians as it remains the only pan Nigerian organisation not affected by religion, region, creed, partisanship or primordial sentiments.
“The Congress urges the government to play by the rules in its engagement with its constituent parts, stakeholders and non-state actors as proof of its commitment to deepening our democracy and also in acknowledgment of the well-worn credo that what goes around, comes around.
“The Congress also urges the citizenry to be vigilant at all times as the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. The Congress commends all Nigerians for their understating and support.
“Being a statement by Comrade Ayuba Wabba and Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, the President General and Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress.” [myad]
President Muhammad Buhari has been advised to disregard calls on him to sack the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. The advice was given by the national coordinator of a group, Stand Up Nigeria (SUN), Philip Agbese, at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday.
“We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to disregard the calls for him to sack the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and Minister of Justice, Malami Abubakar (SAN)
“Contrary to the lies being told, falling for propaganda to fire Mr Abubakar will signifying a policy U-turn on the part of his government and it will lead to loss of international goodwill and local support for the anti-corruption drive.”
The group said that the agitation for the removal of Malami was indeed evidence that corruption has continued to fight back.
Though SUN refused to address the allegations raised against the AGF, Agbese however said “we will tell these groups for free is that it is not an ethical choice or a popular stand to be seen as the advocate in chief for corrupt entities. The strategies they adopted in trying to bring the AGF down clearly gives indications as to who they speak for.
“We are instead appealing to Mr. Malami Abubakar SAN to disregard all such calls as the distraction that they are. The calls for his sack is an indication that he is taking actions that are hitting the corruption industry really hard, hence the desperation to get him out of the way so that a pliable person that will not lift a finger against sleaze could be planted in his place.
According the National coordinator of SUN, “In the short time Abubakar has been at the helms as AGF and Minister of Justice, we have seen enough proof that he embodies President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision of justice.
“We have seen an anti-corruption crusade that is yielding results without resorting to jungle maneuvers. The conviction and jailing of the ex-NIMASA Director General, Raymond Omatseye is enough testament that the AGF is up to speed with his job description. Nigerians also did not lose sight of the pace at which trials of persons arraigned for corruption are going as opposed to the past when suspects are charged and the trials get stuck for months. We are also mindful of the several cases we once thought were lost but that have been revived today.
“These no doubt are among the reasons Mr Abubakar has become the subject of petitions and letters demanding for his sack. It takes someone that has proven himself as the engine house of President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade to make such powerful enemies. The knowledge that the AGF gives the fillip to the anti-graft agencies to go after looters is unacceptable to his detractors.
“As those calling for Mr. Malami Abubakar’s sack go about writing the next chapter in their failed project: We hereby caution all those behind the call for the AGF’s sack; whether as the main client, foot soldiers or minions, to desist forthwith as Nigerians have zero tolerance for corruption and they have even lesser tolerance for those encouraging graft.
“We urge the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Mr. Malami Abubakar SAN to increase the onslaught on persons indicted for corruption and to the fight against graft to the next level. The assets and funds to be recovered from this exercise is sorely needed at this point in time that the economy is struggling.”
The group also described the call for Malami’s sack as laughable and defended why it would not go into the allegations thus:”Let us state from the onset that we find these calls laughable.
“We will not try to counter the allegations raised against Mr Abubakar. That will be dignifying the groups that made those frivolous accusations and be helping them publicise their lies since their so called letter was never submitted in the first place. In the same vein we will not go into the identities of the groups making the calls since we are not an advertising agency to embark on image branding for them.” [myad]
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Thank God that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), one of the two general labour unions in Nigeria, has suspended its lone-ranging nation-wide strike after barely four days of what turned out to be protest marches in some states by a few of its members and jobless people.
