World Jonathan paying lip service to anti-graft war – Obe, Melaye, Ubani, others by Joseph Anthony June 5, 2014 written by Joseph Anthony June 5, 2014 369 views 369 SEVEN days after Nigeria attained 15 years of unbroken democratic rule, some legal practitioners and rights activists, yesterday, said there was nothing to celebrate and fingered pervasive corruption for the country’s retarded growth and development, lamenting that President Goodluck Jonathan was not prosecuting the anti-graft war seriously. Those who shared this view are Professor Akin Ibidapo-Obe, Head, Department of Public Law, UNILAG; Mr. Dino Melaye; Mr. Monday Ubani, former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ikeja Branch; Mr. Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders; and Mr. Emeka Ugwuonye of Harvard Law School. They spoke at an anti-corruption symposium organised by the Gani Fawehinmi Students’ Chambers at UNILAG, Lagos. They said President Jonathan’s lack of political will to fight corruption and his failure to prosecute some of his aides indicted of corruption would spell doom for the development of the country, adding that it behooves on the citizenry to vote out corrupt leaders in the next general elections. Speaking on the theme Corruption, Mis-gover-nance and Official Impunity: The Bane of Nigeria’s Socio-economic Development and Prospects, Melaye said: “I make bold to say that the government of Goodluck Jonathan is the most corrupt in Nigerian history. “Impunity is operating at its highest level in the history of this country. This government is not fighting corruption, rather it’s romancing, massaging and housing corruption.” On his part, Ubani said: “Fifteen years after return to civil rule, it is unfortunate we have not even got to the point of practicing true democracy because if we are practicing real democracy, most of the things our present crop of leaders do or say against the people will not be in place. “Our electoral system must be one that allows for the triumph of the people’s will to ascertain who their leaders are. Here, there are a lot of electoral malpractices, violence and blood-letting.” To Ugwuonye, “there is no doubt that the Nigerian citizenry have the onerous responsibility to hold government accountable. “Though we claim to be in a democratic dispensation, we hear all the time of government making efforts to stop people from protesting. “Therefore, there is an urgent need for people to come out and protest, seek and demand changes.” 0 comments 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Joseph Anthony previous post FG will explore all options to secure release of Chibok girls next post North’s position on Igbo is insulting — Ezike, Executive Director, CLO You may also like Russia Takes Control of Vuhledar After Two Years... October 2, 2024 Iranian Missile Strike on Israel Demonstrates Increased Capability... October 2, 2024 Israel Strengthens Military Presence Along Lebanon Border October 2, 2024 Israel Denies Entry to UN Secretary-General October 2, 2024 Ukrainian F-16 Crash Claims Pilot’s Life Amid Russian... August 29, 2024 Spain Pledges 500,000 Mpox Vaccines for Africa August 27, 2024 Strike on Kramatorsk Hotel in Ukraine Leaves Reuters... August 25, 2024 Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Arrested in France, Sparking... August 25, 2024 Ferry Carrying Fuel Sinks at Russian Port Following... August 22, 2024 New Alzheimer’s Drug Approved by UK Regulator August 22, 2024 Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Type in the text displayed above
