Boko Haram: el-Rufai kicks against amnesty A •s Ajibola, Kanu, Agabi propose solution to corruption, insecurity

Posted by admin Boko Haram, Headlines Friday, May 24th, 2013

THE former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and author of controversial book, The Accidental Civil Servant, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, on Thursday kicked against the proposed amnesty to the Boko Haram sect members, saying it will not address the security problems in the country.

He explained that the problems will persist if the fundamental issues that include lack of opportunity, social injunctions, unemployment, poverty and lack of rule of law are allowed to persist.

El-Rufai was speaking on “Corruption and Insecurity in the Society” at the 7th annual lecture organised by the Ikeja Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in honour of the late Chairman of the branch, Alao Aka-Bashorun

Other eminent personalities like former Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN), former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Godwin Kanu Agabi and Prof Akin Oyebode, professor of International law took time to proffer solutions to the nagging problems of insecurity and corruption in Nigeria.

The former minister stated that the amnesty that was granted the former Niger Delta militants had not abated the fundamental issues, faulting the claims that the amnesty programme in the region improved oil exportation in Nigeria

According to him, the incidence of criminality in the region has rather increased tremendously and the declaration of the state of emergency in three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa did not follow the constitution that provide for 30 days for the National Assembly to rectify the intention by the president before the declaration.
“We did not stand by the rules we have set for ourselves,” he said.

Alleging that nothing is happening in the federal government apart from stealing, el-Rufai called for a change of policy that will guarantee liberty and rule of law in order to tackle insecurity in the country.

He also called for the abolition of the federal character and the rule of law and challenged legal practitioners to fight against extra-judicial execution in Nigeria as recently witnessed at Nasarawa, Rivers (Aluu 4) and in Baga in Borno state.

“We must create opportunity for all Nigerians and abolish the indigenes and settlers dichotomy to move the country forward,” he said.

Prince Ajibola, who chaired the occasion and opened the lecture with the theme: “Law, Corruption and the Future of Nigeria” regretted the high incidence of corruption and insecurity in Nigeria.

Ajibola said the cankerworm has eaten deep into the nation’s fabrics and called for immediate attention to save the country from imminent collapse.

Godwin Kanu Agabi also in his lecture said the war against corruption begins in the heart and then spoken, adding that every Nigerian should repent and stop blaming others for the enthronement of corruption in the country.

“We have in various ways and various times contributed to corruption and to fight corruption, we have to repent and change our attitude and should not be despair,” he stated.

He also lamented that although Nigeria has fine laws but the seemingly lack of the power to punish offenders has continued to breed corruption, adding that Nigerian leaders must be commended for keeping us together irrespective of our difficult past. He also called for the integration of all Nigerians in order to fight corruption.
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