The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), while reacting to the arraignment of the senate president, Senator Bukola Saraki, on Friday, 18th September, 2015, believed that a vital point has been proved by this singular action by the EFCC and called on the Nigerian public to acknowledge this fact.
It’s worth recalling that CACOL, like some other well-meaning individuals and organizations, has consistently been advocating the strengthening of our institutions, especially those serving as avenues for law and justice, if our clamour for entrenching the culture of respect for the rule of law, recognition of its supremacy, equality before the law, enforcement of the law and of course, unbiased but upright judicial system, as a veritable means of stemming the alarming tide of corruption in our country, is to be taken seriously.
The Executive Chairman of the Coalition, Debo Adeniran has reminded Nigerians that, Buhari’s administration was voted in mainly to effect a positive change into the system and having collectively agreed that corruption has remained our No. 1 enemy of progress as a nation, we owe it a duty to collectively give every support possible to this government in its fight against the monster that has ravaged our nation for this long.
Adeniran has bluntly refused to buy into all the sentiments of witch-hunting, vendetta and the likes, as being expressed by some subversive elements in the society, as basis for what we are recently witnessing. He queried, “What is all this noise about witch-hunting, selectiveness or vendetta or whatever they want to call it? To me, it’s all bal-da-dash. Let’s even agree that the CCB’s action is selective, the reasonable question here should be; does it have a case at all against the accused?
“If the answer is yes, then why all the fuss? Assuming only 5 out of 20 thieves are been selected for prosecution, does that remove the fact that those five are thieves? The point I believe these critics should rather address here is; if thieves are selected, there is no way you could be among those selected if you are not a thief; and if you believe you have been selected in error, appear before the court and prove your innocence. I believe that settles it.”
CACOL posits that Senator Saraki is a Nigerian, a law-maker representing the people of Nigeria; he’s been arraigned before a competent court to answer to charges made against him; guilty or not, he has to appear.
We also warn those mischief-makers to desist from politicizing every step taken by the government or any constituted and competent arm of the government, towards achieving a given end. Whatever intra-party or inter-party crisis that may exist within the polity should be of less interest to the Nigerian public; rather, what should be of paramount interest should be that of our collective wish as a nation. The fight against corruption should be seen as a collective one; therefore this administration needs the support of all in order to succeed.
We must all realize that, it is Saraki today; it certainly would be somebody else tomorrow. The CCB must not only be effective but must be seen to be AND it just has to start from somewhere.
Temitope Macjob
Acting Media Officer, CACOL
temitope@thehumanitycentre.org
19th September, 2015.
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