National President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, Mr. Malachy Ugwummadu has decried the lack of synergy among government agencies.
National President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, Malachy Ugwummadu has decried the lack of synergy among government agencies.
He also expressed worry over the scandalous revelations in relation to allegations against Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman, Presidential Pensions Reforms Task Team and the so-called syndicate.
Ugwummadu, a lawyer, who spoke this morning on Sunrise, a Channels Television brake fast show in Lagos, called on the federal government and its agencies to apply themselves more seriously and responsibly to the job of governing Nigeria. According to him, anything to the contrary is a recipe for chaos and anarchy and Nigeria cannot afford any form of breakdown of law and order.
“Nigerians are no longer amused by the absurdity and high drama around Mr. Maina and the shocking revelations from his board. These floundering, I must say, cast serious doubts on the ability of the Buhari-led government to tackle serious issues affecting our country and properly coordinate the affairs of the state."
“A lot goes on more than we know in this country and Nigerians are no longer ready to let it pass. What we question is this gross incompetence and rancour among the leaders. If I may ask, who really is in charge in this country with all these cacophonies of voices? "
“I am afraid the failure of leadership in Nigeria has been taken to entirely new height and this is unacceptable. Last week, we were told that the office of the Attorney-General of the federation has no documents or records of treaties, conventions and protocols to which Nigeria is signatory to; this is not a cheering news."
“So if we are not talking about ineptitude among drivers of government businesses, we are talking about inter-agency rivalry and attempts by one agency to frustrate the efforts of the other in its investigative work, a major plank of the Buhari-administration."
“In law, an investigation can also involve arrest, particularly where the enforcement agency takes the trouble to obtain a valid warrant for arrest as in this case. The suspect is obligated to comply with any arrest, the obstruction of which is criminalised under Section 39 of the Police Act as well as Section 7(i)(a)(b) of the EFCC Act."
The argument of certain persons being beyond arrest is unfounded because no person is above the law if Nigeria were to be practising the rule of law.
"My problem is: What is the fate of a country where arrests are brazenly obstructed because the wanted persons are considered “big men” in the society? What then is the fate of the common Nigerian who is daily arrested?"
“I am particularly disappointed and wonder what the President discusses with the security chiefs at their regular meetings. I am also worried that this President is frittering away all the goodwill and support he received in 2015 by these discomforting developments among the agencies of the same executive arm of the Nigerian government. Even principal state actors and ministers act and re-act at cross-purposes."
“Unfortunately, it appears there is no end in sight in all these except the president rises to the occasion. The buck stops at his table. I know this embarrassment will persist if he refuses to act. Everybody now knows this nagging inability to effectively coordinate the affairs of government. People are already talking and he needs their buy-in once again or risk losing the support of the masses."
