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#ENDBADGOVERNANCE PROTEST: CACOL BEMOANS TRIAL OF PROTESTERS

September 3, 2024

 

Press Release

 

#ENDBADGOVERNANCE PROTEST: CACOL BEMOANS TRIAL OF PROTESTERS

 

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL has bemoaned the trial of #EndBadGovernance protesters by the federal government.

 

In a release issued by its Director, Administration and Programmes, Tola Oresanwo on behalf of the organization’s Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran he stated, “It would be recalled that Nigerians staged a nationwide protest against bad governance and economic hardship from August 1–10, 2024. The protest turned violent in some parts of the country, with looting and vandalism recorded in some parts of the country. Subsequently, the police announced the arrest of perpetrators in some states and yesterday, the office of the Inspector General (IG) of Police arraigned 10 protesters, who participated in the recent #endbadgovernance and hunger protest, before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

 

The charges, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, include felony and treason, contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code. The protesters are accused of conspiring to destabilize Nigeria, inciting mutiny, and levying war against the state.

 

The charge sheet marked FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, reads: “That you, the above-named defendants, along with others including Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich), a British citizen, male, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, male, Comrade Musa Abdullahi, male, and others now at large, are accused of conspiring between July 1, 2024, and August 4, 2024, at Karshi, Abuja FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, with the intent to destabilize Nigeria by committing felony, to wit: treason. This offense is contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.”

 

From all indications, we at CACOL believe that the arraignment is unnecessary. Those who committed murder, arson or vandalism by destroying properties could be isolated and tried according to the law of the land.

 

 

 

If government policies did not elicit mass hunger which later translated to mass anger it is not likely that anybody will look the government in the face and call a sitting government a bad government. Even those in government cannot say that the policies that caused hunger in town are in sync with what the people would approve, so if they express their disapproval of such policies, they should not be blamed for it.

 

Moreover, it is the responsibility of the government to protect the lives and properties of the people. Since the organizers of the protest gave enough notice before the commencement of the protest, that arson and vandalism were recorded during the protest can be attributed to negligence on the part of the government who ought to have put the necessary security apparati in place to prevent wanton destruction of properties.

 

“This is why CACOL, as a civil society organization, is lending its voice to the call on the President to grant the protesters immediate prerogative of mercy knowing that they have genuine reasons to stage the protest. The federal government must immediately and unconditionally release all those arrested during the protest for exercising their right to peaceful assembly, instead of resorting to putting them through trumped-up charges just to justify unlawfully detaining them and thereby subjecting them to unnecessary psychological torture. To the best of our knowledge, peaceful protest is not and should not be linked with any crime against the state, especially “Treason”.

 

 

Tola Oresanwo

Director, Administration and Programmes, CACOL

cacolc@yahoo.com

08141121208

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noimage 6 Sep

POLICE INVITATION OF NLC PRESIDENT FOR QUESTIONING OVER TERRORISM FINANCING, TREASON, OTHERS: CACOL CALLS FOR SPEEDY TRIAL

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

 

Press Release

POLICE INVITATION OF NLC PRESIDENT FOR QUESTIONING OVER TERRORISM FINANCING, TREASON, OTHERS: CACOL CALLS FOR SPEEDY TRIAL

 

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has called on the Federal Government not to delay the trial of the President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, who was recently invited for questioning by the Police over alleged criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime in which he was mentioned.

 

In a release by the Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran and signed by its Director of Administration and Programmes, Tola Oresanwo, he stated, “The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, received the news of the invitation of the President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero for questioning by the Nigeria Police with mixed feelings. It would be recalled that the police had on July 7, conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja, a move that triggered media war between the organised labour and the police.”

 

We would like to call  on the government to immediately charge the NLC President to court if truly they have evidence to back up the claim that he is involved in any crime whatsoever against the state. We would also like to call on the government to be ready to compensate him for the embarrassment if the claim were later find out to be trumped-up charges.

 

We have observed that some agencies of the state are carrying out clandestine operations to arrest and persecute those that participated in the #Endbadgovernance protest. For the umpteenth time, we are reiterating our position of disappointment over the arrest of protesters just on the basis of publicly associating with a protest aimed at decrying the socio-economic situation in the country and for calling for far reaching reforms that could give necessary reliefs to majority of Nigerians.

 

Since citizens of this great country have the rights to support any peaceful protest that is in tandem with their personal opinion or conviction, it is wrong for any agency of government to launch a campaign of calumny or attempt to witch-hunt or arrest them based on their affiliation or association with a particular protest. It is therefore tantamount to gross abuse of power and authority for any agency of government to condescend so low to the extent of harassing citizens as a result of their involvement in any peaceful protest.

 

The CACOL Boss added, “While we are using this medium to advise the Nigeria Police and other Nigerian security apparati to be rightly and correctly guided of their operations, nuances and limitations under a democracy, so as not to resort to any arm-twisting or repressive attitudes over legitimate and peaceful agitations under any guise. The Police as an agent of the Executive, judiciary and other arms of government must at all times, be seen to operate within the ambit of the rule of law and Separation of power, without which the state and the general public descend into an Hobbesian state of Nature. As a veritable stakeholder in the Nigerian project, we would like to reiterate that we are not in any way in support of anyone or group of persons engaging in terrorism financing, arson, treasonable felony, or any other crime against the state.”

 

Tola Oresanwo

Director, Administration and Programmes, CACOL

cacolc@yahoo.com

08141121208

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16 Jul

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL AUTONOMY: THE BEST WAY TO CELEBRATE AFRICA ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY.

11th July, 2024

 

Press Release

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL AUTONOMY: THE BEST WAY TO CELEBRATE AFRICA ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY.

The Centre for Anti-corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for securing The Supreme Court judgment affirming the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 local governments noting that it is a right step in his attempt at delivering his party’s promise of restructuring the country.

In a release issued by CACOL and signed by Tola Oresanwo, the anti-corruption organization’s Director, Administration and Programmes on behalf of its Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran, he stated, “It would be recalled that the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Federal Government, seeking to grant full autonomy and direct funding to all 774 local government councils in the country. We are delighted by the news that the Supreme Court has finally declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold funds allocated for local government administrations.”

We viewed the landmark judgment as the best gift given to Nigeria and Nigerians even as the whole of Africa marks the Africa Anti-Corruption Day with the theme: Effective Whistleblowers Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight Against Corruption.

It is a known fact the local government constitutes the most critical level of government in the move for sustainable national development. Over the years, national development has been canvassed to take off from the grassroots as the local government is widely known as a vital instrument for rural transformation and machinery for effective delivery of socio-economic services to the grassroots people.

It is our belief that local government fiscal autonomy would promote peace and security in the country, because the people at rural communities understand their terrain better and know how to deploy resources towards tackling security challenges. It would also allow steady development that had been stifled at the local government level to be revitalized thereby delivering optimal dividends of democracy to the grassroots people.

Moreover, it is generally believed that local authorities play key roles towards nation building, but unfortunately the third tier of government had over time been neglected and undervalued. This Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local government is a step in the right direction and we hope it would play a significant role in strengthening grassroots administration in the country.

Granting financial autonomy is a path to toe going by its ability to curb corruption and opaqueness in government. Since local government are the closest link to members of the grassroots who are supposed to elect their representatives that would govern them, it is expected that the people would now beam their searchlights on the activities of the local government administrations, when they “see something, they would say something” thereby serving as whistleblowers. The local authorities also would not have any excuse for non-performance of their statutory roles since they are now the direct recipients of their funds from the federation account.

Mr. Debo Adeniran further said “We at CACOL would therefore like to commend the Supreme Court for this landmark judgment. We have posited on several occasions that state governments should be scrapped. This is because they are meddlesome interlopers in the governing arrangement in the country. The state governments have been using the instrumentality of the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) to steal from the local government funds. The Federal and Local Government Authorities are more than enough to manage the country effectively. We would also like to use this medium to make known our support for any move that is backed by law to strengthen the local government and give it the needed autonomy for it to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

 

Tola Oresanwo

Director, Administration and Programmes, CACOL

cacolc@yahoo.com

08141121208

 

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3 Nov

LAGOS OPEN PARLIAMENT, 7

 

About  LOP7

Lagos Open Parliament Seven (LOP 7) is an evaluation of the performances of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, which span the period between November, 2019 and September 2020.

The Lagos Open Parliament is a project of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) which periodically assesses the programmes and projects of the Lagos State Government. The compilation of this compendium involved media research, interviews, news analysis and visits to project sites in order to adequately assess the policies and agenda of the Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

LOP was designed to champion accountability and transparency in governance. The outcome of the research indicated that Sanwo-Olu remained steadfast in his commitment to good governance in the state. The Sanwo-Olu administration beamed a special focus on infrastructure, traffic management and transportation, with a view to reduce traffic gridlocks on Lagos roads. The administration sustained its aggressive response to rehabilitating bad roads across the metropolis to ease vehicular movement, by engaging the services of some construction firms and the Public Works Corporation.

LOP has been published since 2011 when its first edition generated a lot of reactions among residents of the state who demanded that it should be sustained. The second to sixth editions were published in response to demands from the people of the state. LOP Seven is a replica of the other editions as it is based on exhaustive media survey and use of other research tools to assemble the information contained in the publication.

The process involved gathering of information about developmental projects from members of CACOL’s Good Governance Accountability and Transparency Education (GATE) units across the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas of the State. There were also inputs from representatives of various tiers of government, civil society and community based organisations and other members of the public.

Click the link to read  LAGOS OPEN PARLIAMENT, 7

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5 Oct

“DIVERSION OF FAAC ALLOCATION OF OGUN COUNCILS CANNOT BE SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET WITH POLICE INTIMIDATION” -CACOL

The seemingly unending drama in Ogun State over ‘impeached’ Chairman of Ijebu East Local  Government, Hon. Wale Adedayo’s allegation of diversion of statutory Federal allocations to Local Government Areas by Governor Dapo Abiodun calls for diligent intervention of the Anti-Corruption Agencies ( ACAs) in the country especially in order to rail in executive, financial recklessness, and stop the state from degenerating into state of lawlessness, impunity and anarchy that may encourage citizens to have confidence in resorting to self-help.

 

We are alarmed by the use of State Security Institutions to harass the Chairman, Wale Adedayo, whom we gathered has again been arrested by the Police on the strength of petition by Governor Dapo Abiodun. It is our expectations that the Police are aware that Adedayo is a Whistle Blower in this case, who should be protected by security agencies. Also, his inalienable rights under constitutional democracy which include that he cannot be lawfully detained by the Police for more than Twenty Four hours, should be fully respected.

 

It would be recalled that the Executive Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area Council, Hon. Wale Adedayo on 28, August 2023 wrote a petition to Chief Olusegun Osoba and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), wherein he accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of diverting Local Government Council funds in Ogun State. The funds allegedly diverted from the Federation Account Allocation (FAAC) by the State Government covers all statutory allocations from 2021, running into multi billion Naira.

 

Subsequently, the whistle blowing Chairman, Adedayo was unceremoniously impeached in suspicious circumstances. The State Government deployed state machinery of coercion to arrest and detain the Council Chairman, Adedayo and as well intimidate the Councillors to carry out the impeachment processes.

 

On September 2, 2023, Wale Adedayo was arrested by the Department of State Security Services operatives on the account of a spurious petition by the State Government, but he was later released after four days in detention, paving the way for the purported impeachment.

As this may still be subject of litigation processes, we refrain from further comments on the impeachment.

 

On Monday September 25, 2023, the Governor orchestrated another arrest of Hon. Wale Adedayo by Officers of the Ogun State Police Command. It is widely reported that Adedayo was  detained on account of a petition by Prince Dapo Abiodun. In the said petition, the Governor accused Adedayo of defamation of his person, denigration of the Office of the Governor and,  public incitement to destabilise peace and order in the State.

 

As an anti-corruption watchdog, we call on all well-meaning leaders and citizens of the  Gateway State to take critical interest in this case. The State is in dire strait, with huge social  infrastructural stagnancy and collapse. The scarce allocations to the grassroots tiers of  government must therefore percolates to the local communities for the dividends of  democracy to be felt by common citizens. The issues contained in the Allegations of Hon. Wale Adedayo, are not treasonable, felonious and should not create security apprehension.

They are purely issues of dire necessity to tackle corruption as a hindrance on our social, human development index.

 

We strongly call on the Ogun State Government to stop chasing after shadows but should squarely explain to the public and anti-corruption agencies, how the statutory allocations to the Local Councils were disbursed. We do not need to remind anyone that immunity does not protect the Governor from being investigated.

 

We, unequivocally call on the Anti-Corruption Agencies, ACAs – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), to swing into action, track the FAAC allocations and determine where the funds went to. Even if the Governor is immune, this does not cover investigations, and his Commissioners, Aides, Managers of JAAC can be invited, apprehended, and prosecuted, if found culpable of diverting PUBLIC FUNDS!

 

We are prepared to assemble conscientious citizens, legal activists, civil society communities to invoke the “Freedom of Information Act” to demand accounts of the disbursement of FAAC  Local Government Council Funds for the period in question in Ogun State. As the Governor claimed that he has disbursed the Funds to the Local Government Councils and the Chairman claimed the Funds are diverted, never got to the Councils, the Anti-Corruption Agencies can effectively track these funds.

 

The relative peace of the Gateway State should not be disrupted on the account of this simple issue of corruption and diversion of public funds. If our institutions are not cosmetics parades, we are confident that these funds can be tracked and coughed out if cornered into private hands.

 

 

Debo Adeniran

Chairman, CACOL

08037194969

deboadeniran@gmail.com

cacolc@yahoo.com

 

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5 Oct

‘CLEARING THE AUGEAN STABLE OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA – AN IMPERATIVE FOR OUR SOCIO-ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT’

Since the removal of the erstwhile Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, most Nigerians and critical players in the nation’s financial industry have renewed hope that the Government under his watch is determined to see through economic reform policies to heal the country’s ailing economy and bring us out the present economic duodenum. It is trite to emphasize that the CBN is strategic to actualising virtually all the set, reforms objectives of the government and the aspirations of the citizens for social reliefs from prevalent agonising economic pains, anguish, sufferings, and hardships the country is currently experiencing.

 

This task of cleansing the Central Bank’s Augean Stable is, however, extremely onerous especially when we consider revelations of illicit transactions, compromising sleaze, financial recklessness, and rudderless management in close to a decade reign of ex – Governor, Emefiele. This is why President Tinubu set up a Special Investigation Panel led by Jim Obazee to conduct a forensic audit of the account of the apex bank during the tenure of the former helmsman of the apex bank.

There are reports of clandestine as well as overt schemes by CBN cabals to frustrate the investigations of the Obazee led Investigation Panel. Preliminary reports filtering into the public domain, however, seem to show that there are lots of worms, maggots and poisonous vermis in the decadent cans of the CBN. Many top management officers of the Bank have been fingered in the various financial malpractices during this period. The detention of the former Director of Finance of the Central Bank, Benjamin Fakunle by the Department of State Security Services, DSS is pursuant to a crafty attempt by Emefiele led management to cover its tracks with a suspicious Audit Report. Obazee Panel has fingered improprieties in the seven-year financial account audit of the Bank which is alleged to have deviated from globally recognised, International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS. While Fakunle is also alleged to have paid a whooping N401 Million for the spurious audit document in violation of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria regulations.

 

This is just perhaps a tip of the iceberg of financial crimes committed by Emefiele led management team of the Central Bank. Most of which, with diligent investigations and prosecution constitute grave economic sabotage crimes against the nation and her citizens.

 

For us to comprehend the magnitude of the crimes committed by the CBN against the nation, we call into record the advisory of respected legal activist, Femi Falana, SAN to President Tinubu on empty federal treasury. Falana’s Low Hanging Fruits treaty offered a Twenty-Two (22) list of areas where the nation’s funds are cornered, awaiting the Federal Government’s summoning of requisite to access same. A former Editor of the PUNCH Newspapers, Bola Bolawole picked just Twelve (12) from Falana’s low hanging Fruits of the Federal Government’s Funds which an indolent, compromised Central Bank leadership left to fallow outside our national treasury. The sum total of these Twelve Items is N78 Trillion. Yet, President Buhari was busy borrowing to finance our annual National Budget of less than N22 Trillion!

 

 

If we just use the statistics of Mr. Femi Falana alone, it is clear that the resources of our great country in the hands of individuals, corporate cabals and even some compromised global institutions is sufficient enough for the government to address the infrastructural deficits afflicting the country. An Apex Bank that is up and doing in discharging its statutory responsibilities and patriotic duties would not have presided over a national economy that is prostrate, broke and insolvent. Funds that could have provided for social needs like sound transportation system – smooth road network, basic healthcare service, qualitative education for citizens, portable water, affordable housing, employment and security of lives and properties.

 

 

We unequivocally call on all anti-corruption agencies to beam their searchlights on the operations of the Central Bank and its principal management officials during this period to fully account for dereliction of their financial, fiduciary responsibilities to the country and citizens. We are confident that the funds outside our national coffers are sufficient to provide the necessary financial sinew to kick start Nigeria socio economic transformation and much vaunted technological-industrial advancement.

 

 

Debo Adeniran

Chairman, CACOL

08037194969

deboadeniran@gmail.com

cacolc@yahoo.com

 

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21 Aug

OPEN LETTER: N180BN PALLIATIVES: CACOL CALLS FOR JUDICIOUS DISBURSEMENT

Friday, August 18, 2023

 

 

His Excellency,

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces

Aso Rock Villa, 3 Arms Zone

Garki – Abuja

Federal Republic of Nigeria

 

 

Your Excellency,

 

N180BN PALLIATIVES: CACOL CALLS FOR JUDICIOUS DISBURSEMENT

 

For some days now, Nigerians have been facing the reality of the fuel subsidy removal. The removal of the subsidy on fuel in Nigeria has led to rising inflation and reduced economic welfare, hurt economic growth and reduces household income, and makes firms less competitive. There is confusion everywhere, and people are coming to terms with this reality.

 

However, the pressure this exerts on Nigeria’s fragile socio-political and economic conditions is enormous and gradually heading to a tipping point. Social media are awash with harrowing videos of people’s reactions in various parts of Nigeria, and they all point to the pervading rage, frustration, and hardship people are going through.

 

To this end, we at The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, would like to commend your administration for approving the sum of one hundred and eighty billion naira (N180bn) as palliatives for the 36 states of the federation.

 

While announcing the release of the palliative at the end of the 135th National Economic Council meeting in Abuja, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, disclosed that the N5bn was to enable the state governments to procure 100,000 bags of rice, 40,000 bags of maize and fertilizers to cushion the effect of food shortage across the country.

 

He added that considering the urgency in meeting the need to mitigate the skyrocketing food prices across the country, the Federal Government had last week released five trucks of rice to each state of the federation.

 

The governor further stated that “This funding has to be shared with a formula as follows: 52 percent of this money is given to states as grants, while 48 per cent of the N5bn is to be paid back on an installment basis within a period of 20 months to the CBN by the states and the local government areas in Nigeria.

 

We would like to commend the federal government for at least heeding to numerous outcries from various quarters calling for palliatives to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal on the people. This administration has shown that it is feeling the pulse of the people by approving 180bn as palliatives to be shared among the states in the country”.

 

In addition, we feel the pains and agony being encountered by cash strapped members of the public who have had to endure both the physical, emotional and psychological trauma caused by no fault of their own having been forced to buy petroleum products freely given to us by nature at exorbitant rates just because some unscrupulous Nigerians have made it a point of duty to incapacitate our refineries.

 

Mr. President, we are however skeptical about the capabilities of some governors to deliver or disburse these palliatives to those they were intended, going by the happenings in the past. We are all living witnesses to the way and manner some foodstuffs that were meant to serve as palliatives for Nigerians were locked up in warehouses across the country by some greedy and selfish people in power at the detriment of pauperized, traumatized and famished Nigerians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

We would also want you to direct the state governors to ensure judicious disbursement of the palliatives both in cash and kind. They should ensure that these palliatives do not end in the pockets of the few powerful individuals in their various states.

 

The people of the state should feel the impacts of these palliatives no matter how small.

 

We also want to use this medium to call on our people to monitor the disbursement of these palliatives in their various states so as to ensure that foodstuffs and other commodities meant for the people are not cornered by politicians.

 

Your Excellency, the pains and agony members of the public are enduring as a result of the subsidy removal on a daily basis are enormous and can only be mitigated by the commitment of the federal and state governments to make these palliatives available to the people in various parts of the country so as to prevent the impending pandemonium which will negatively affect the already battered economy of the country.

 

Yours in the service of Humanity,

 

 

 

Debo Adeniran

Chairman, CACOL

08037194969

dadnig@yahoo.com

cacolc@yahoo.com

www.deboadeniran.com

 

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21 Aug

N180BN PALLIATIVES: CACOL CALLS FOR JUDICIOUS DISBURSEMENT

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has commended the federal government for approving the sum of one hundred and eighty billion naira (N180bn) as palliatives for the 36 states of the federation.

 

In a release issued by the organization’s Director of Administration and Programmes, Tola Oresanwo on behalf of Mr. Debo Adeniran, CACOL’s Chairman, he noted, “It would be recalled that Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State shortly after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting disclosed that the sum of N5bn which will be given to each state was to enable the state governments to procure 100,000 bags of rice, 40,000 bags of maize and fertilizers to cushion the effect of food shortage across the country. In addition to the fund, Zulum said the Federal Government also released five trucks of rice each to the 36 state governors.

 

This development comes in the wake of the hike in the cost of food items and petrol owing to the removal of subsidy on the commodity.

 

According to the CACOL’s boss, “We would like to commend the federal government for at least heeding to numerous outcries from various quarters calling for palliatives to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal on the people. This administration has shown that it is feeling the pulse of the people by approving 180bn as palliatives to be shared among the states in the country”.

 

We are however skeptical about the capabilities of some governors to deliver or disburse these palliatives to those they were intended, going by the happenings in the past. We are all living witnesses to the way and manner some foodstuffs that were meant to serve as palliatives for Nigerians were locked up in warehouses across the country by some greedy and selfish people in power at the detriment of pauperized, traumatized and famished Nigerians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

We would also want to call on the state governors to ensure judicious disbursement of the palliatives both in cash and kind. They should ensure that these palliatives do not end in the pockets of the few powerful individuals in their various states. The people of the state should feel the impacts of these palliatives no matter how small.

 

We also want to use this medium to call on our people to monitor the disbursement of these palliatives in their various states so as to ensure that foodstuffs and other commodities meant for the people are not cornered by politicians.

 

 

Tola Oresanwo,

Director, Administration and Programmes, CACOL

cacolc@yahoo.com

08141121208

 

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14 Aug

GODWIN EMEFIELE SHOULD BE ACCORDED STATUS OF A COMMON ECONOMIC SABOTEUR WHO PAUPERISED MAJORITY OF NIGERIAN CITIZENS AS GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

Nigerians from all walks of lives are apprehensive that the Federal Government, through the Department of State Security Services, DSS, may fritter away a great opportunity to deal fatal blows on entrenched economic vampires and saboteurs in the country with the seemingly lack of diligent investigation and prosecution of the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele. This concerned is further accentuated with the spirited attempts by the legal team of the ex-henchman of the apex bank to tie the hands of the Judiciary in ensure the enforcement of the bail out of the former Governor and prevent the State from subjecting him to prosecutions.
The National Observatory as a civic engagement body with mandate to prick the conscience  of humanity on sensitive issues as they often affect the survival citizens  view the various illegal, social, and political transgressions of Mr. Godwin Emefiele  during the pendency of his tenure as Governor of the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria as  not only Crimes against the State, but indeed, Crimes against the Citizens, if not against humanity.
 Under Emefiele watch, lives and means of survival of millions of Nigerians were destroyed, his harsh policies – particularly the Naira  Re – Design provoked monumental social convulsions leading destruction of properties, businesses, and legacies. Yet, enforcement agencies saddled with responsibilities for bringing Emefiele to justice for his malfeances  are obviously handling his prosecution with golden, kid’s glove ! Months after Godwin Emefiele suspension from office in June 10, his Lawyers are taking advantage of the inexcusable dithering of prosecutors to seek his reliefs from the Federal High Court, Abuja for Security Agencies to respect the bail granted him and stop the Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation  from prosecuting him on any charge.
Needless to delve on the seemingly deliberate trivialization of the essence of its prosecution. It may be apposite at this juncture to highlight the main accusations levied against the Governor before his suspension, which include–
#. Terrorism funding unknown gunmen, ESN, IPOB; .
#. Mismanagement of Nigeria’s social investment program (NISRAL and the Anchor Borrowers Scheme);
#. Money Laundering; Round Tripping; Illegal economic crimes and threat to national security; unwholesome activities through proxies; and, Criminal conspiracy, diversion of Government resources.
 To the chagrin of all conscientious Nigerians however, he was merely brought to court with charges of illegal possession of arms and ammunition !
No matter the parameters that is employed to evaluate the locust years of Godwin Emefiele in helms of affairs of the apex Bank, the verdict remains that he terribly compromised the nation’s economy and shortchanged its revenue base, He remains the  worst Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria since inception in 1957. The global standard and principle for Central Bank operations spelt out its key functions to revolve round “ regulation of money supply, management of the  foreign exchange and gold reserve of the country, managing the cost of credits and its availability, and it exercises these functions quietly without publicity hypes or partisanship”. All these indices, Mr. Godwin Emefiele failed in way never before recorded in our apex banking history – from Roy Pentelow Fenton, 1958 -63 at inception to Alhajji Mai Bornu, 63 -67;  Dr. Clement Nyong Isong, 72 -75; Malam Adamu Ciroma, 75 -77; Mr. Ola Vincent, 77 -82; Alhajji Abubakir Ahmed, 82 -93; Dr. Paul Agbai Ogwuma, 93 -99; Chief, Dr. Oladele Sanusi, 99 -2004; Prof. Charles Soludo, 2004 -2009; Malam Sanusi Lamido-Sanusi, 009 -2014 – all respectable, trustworthy gentlemen Captain of the country’s financial industry. None as individual, was as garrulous or reckless as the reign of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, or, even combined !
The crimes of Mr. Godwin Emefiele against Citizens and State are legions, these include :-
#. Alleged infractions in the Management of Stamp Duties, which the DSS initiated machinery to investigate his undermining of President Muhammad Buhari, terrorism sponsorship, money laundering, amongst others but stopped the investigations with court orders and was subsequently allowed to be guarded by military personnel.
#. Emefiele’s subterranean purchase of All Progressive Congress, APC Presidential Nomination Form in May 2022 for whooping N100 Million. Whilst he later ignominiously denied the Presidential ambition after intense public outcry, he had earlier gone to court to seek a restraining order against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and, the Attorney General of the Federation claiming that “ he is not a political appointee but a Public Servant”. Perhaps, he was unaware that he was in gross violation of the Public Service Rule which stipulates Neutrality and Non-Partisanship of all public servants. More  importantly, his ambition was also in contravention of Global Ethical Standard Principles for the management of Apex Financial Institutions !
#. Cruel, Illegal execution of Naira Re-Design policy on N200, N500 and, N1000 denominations which the then Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, Nigeria Bar Association President, Yakuba Maikyau kicked against, the National Assembly for the extension of January 2023 deadline declaration of old Naira notes as default legal tender. Three State Governors of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara had to approach the Supreme Court to stop the Federal government, Attorney General and Central Bank on the implementation of the new Naira notes policy alleging that the “ CBN is conducting a currency confiscation program that has wrought immeasurable sufferings on NIGERIANS”, yet Emefiele instigated Federal Government disobedience of Supreme Court Order to halt the program !
Thus, on June 10, 2023 when the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the suspension of Mr. Godwin Emefiele as the Governor of the Central Bank, as well as his prompt arrest and detention by the DSS, all expectations were that the security and enforcement agencies should have been adequately prepared for full blast prosecution of Emefiele on numerous crimes bordering on “ National Economic Sabotage” , not a melodramatic charge of unlawful possession of arms and ammunition.
Now that facts are emerging that investigation are still going on Mr. Godwin Emefiele infractions during the period he held sway as the points man of the apex bank in the country, the entire Nigerian citizens must be vigilant to swing into affirmative civic actions if there is any ploy for miscarriage of justice. We are not faced by the reports that many high temperature, We are confident that the ongoing audit of the accounts of the Central Bank which has not been done in the last Seven years would expose mind boggling, dirty, shady deals. Politically Exposed Persons are complicit in the crimes of Emefiele. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be audacious enough to garner requisite political sinew to confront this monster. There is no gain emphasizing that the gory, injurious financial mis adventures of Mr. Godwin Emefiele and unpatriotic gangs are responsible for the precarious, sordid conditions of our national economy. A lot of public funds are in the pockets of these criminals in our corridors of power. They must be fished out, if the nation is to survive.
There is no rule that a sacred cow must be slaughtered with golden knife ! In saner, democratic climes like the United States of North America, USA, former President Donald Trump was duly investigated, prosecuted and indicted, in South Africa, another former President Jacob Zuma was investigated, prosecuted and jailed..
The Nigerian poor must not only remain alert but mount vigilant guard by rising in mammoth rallies whenever Emefiele appears in court. It should be turned into a tribune of the people for his heinous crimes against citizens. President should  demonstrate absolute commitment to bring Mr. Godwin Emefiele and his felons Economic Saboteurs to Justice without minding whose Ox is gored !
Signed :-
Comrade Debo Adeniran
Convener
Omotaje Olawale Saint
Administrative Secretary
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14 Aug

NIGER COUP – MULTILATERAL DIPLOMATIC, GLOBAL SHUTTLES, IMPERATIVE FOR CONTINENTAL AFRICA SURVIVAL 

“No Permanent Friends or, Foes in International Relations. Only Permanent Interest”
On June 6th , 2023, the Commander of Presidential Guard of Niger Republic, General Abdourahamane Omar Tchiani led a military take over of the reins of government from the hands of democratically elected President Mohamad Bazouim. This would be the sixth coup d’état in the West Africa sub region; coming on the heels of miliary regimes in Mali since August 2020, Chad – April 2021, Guinea – September 2021, Sudan – October 2021, and Bukina Fasso – January 2022. The sub continental body, Economic Community of West African States led by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued an ultimatum which lapse on 6th August 2023 for the usurper military junta to restore democratically President Bazouim back in power.
The Nigerien military putsch has put the coup – vulnerable West Africa sub region under spotlight, sparking off rows of salient heated issues on democracy, good governance, regional security, and influence of foreign powers not only in the sub region but continental Africa. The Nigerian Government sent a diplomatic envoy led by former military Head of State, Rtd. Gen. Abubarkar Abdulsallam and the Sultan of Sokoto Caliphate, Abubarkar Saadu to consult with the Head of Niger coupist on restoration of the overthrown Bazouim democratic government. This mission was, however, dead on arrival. As many persons clamour for military intervention, neighbouring West African States like Mali, Senegal, and other States in the continent vowed to align with the new Niger junta to defend its territories against any aggression.
 The contending concerns revolve round the questions of Sovereignty, Democracy, Control of Natural Resources and Power – Play by Foreign Interests.
The tragedy of the emerging scenarios is that the interests of Africa and its peoples are not given true and thorough interrogations in finding panacea to the dooming sceptre of military interregnums in the continent. What is necessary is, multilateral relations, diplomatic solution that will address fundamental interests of Nigeriens, the Sub Region and Africa, survival, and freedom from the manacles of Foreign Powers’ exploitation of our natural resources and domination of African people.
 A critical overview of the African landscape will reveal a continent blessed with abundant natural resources which the entire globe is scrambling to exploit and control at the detrimental expense of Africa and its people. The Map of Africa Natural Resources reveal huge deposits of Gold in South Africa, Mali, and Ghana; Diamonds in Botswana and Congo D.R; Crude Oil in Nigeria, Libya; and Uranium in NIGER REPUBLIC. The scramble for exclusive exploitation of Uranium by its former colonial power, France and Transnational Corporations is the main causative factor for the escalation of instabilities in Niger Republic.
The Western Power bloc, queuing behind France is routing for Tchiani and his comrades in arms to go back to the barracks and restore democratic government of Bazouim, without ruling out the option enforcement of their position by military options. Another global power bloc keenly interested in positioning itself in the running of affairs are raising the platitudes of ‘Territorial sovereignty’. This block is largely supported by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa ( BRICS ) group and their Transnational Corporations’ fronts.
The ” National Observatory”, a civic engagement platform to interrogate policy options as they affect citizens’ welfare and wellbeing holds audacious views that the global community is either too compromisingly docile or, not adequately sensitise to perceive the grimy portraits of the emerging scenarios in the Niger Republic’s Military Coup d’état versus Democracy crisis rupturing the sub – region, if not entire African continent. Guided by Frantz Fanon admonitions that ; ‘ Every Onlooker is Either a Coward or, A Traitor’…… or both, we critically observe and proffer heuristic panaceas as follows :-
ECOWAS and Nigeria should be extremely cautious in considering options for amicable resolutions so as not inadvertently be drawn into a proxy war situation of Foreign Powers. One of these power mongers in the African continent, a Russian head of a Corporation Mercenary Armed Enforcer, “Wagner Group,” Yevgeny Prigozhin, succinctly captured the essence of the crisis in Niger when he analyzed how Niger’ Uranium is being buccaneer :-
“ French company that extracted uranium sold it on the market for $218, while paying Niger only $11 for it. You can work with investors on a 50-50 or 30-70 (%) basis, but it’s impossible to give back to the indigenous people of the country, who were born in this country, who live in this country, and who expect that the natural resources of this country belong to them, and according to the Constitution, they belong to them, only 5% of the wealth you receive. ”
If the situation in Niger is not properly macro -managed, global economic vultures and vampires will inevitably stop hovering but permanently perch to feast on carcasses in Niger and the sub region. As things are, the region is presently precariously bedevilled by incursions of multiple layers of armed, terrorist groups and battling with economies in acute, compounded recession, it is on the brink of collapse in real terms and cannot risk any social upheavals.
The National Observatory urged the Nigerian Government, ECOWAS to reflect deeply on the permanent interests of their citizens, survival of the African people, the sub region and continent in finding solutions to the threats of anti -democratic, marauding forces in the continent.
 Genuine Peoples’ Democracy remains a better path to development over any Military Regime – be it Benevolence or Autocratic. However, democracy must necessarily deliver on good governance and assure prosperity for the citizens if it must be defended.
 Global Peace institutions like the United Nations, the African Union should convene a multilateral platform to address the renew surge of undemocratic take over of government in the sub region. In handling the Niger coup debacle, it should be treated as a Bull in a China wares shop!
#. Say NO to foreign powers despoliation of African continent.
#. Join the people’s movement to entrench Democracy, Constitutionalism, Rule of -Law and Good Governance in Africa today.
#. Democratic Governance is for minimal condition for sustainable development of African continent.
#. People’s Democracy is the path to Recovery of our Collective Humanity.
#. There is nothing like ‘’ Benevolence Despotism ’’. It ends up traumatising citizens.
Signed For NATIONAL OBSERVATORY ;-
DEBO ADENIRAN – President
OMOTAJE OLAWALE SAINT – Admin Secretary
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