Group slams Okupe over call for Lagos Speaker’s resignation

Posted by admin Lagos, Latest Politics, South-West, State News Friday, August 17th, 2012

A group, Congress of South-West Youths (COWSY), has criticised the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, over his recent call for resignation of the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

Okupe had recently called for Ikuforiji’s resignation based on his pending trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the charge of money laundering.

The group, at a press conference on Thursday, described the call by Okupe as misguided and uncouth, adding that it was yet to fathom why Okupe, “an old man in his mid 60s, could descend so low as to take the offer to be an attack dog to President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

“We wonder why he would be an attack dog to Jonathan’s administration to the extent that every well-meaning individual or group having opposing views to that of the Federal Government has become a potential target for mudslinging and malignant attack in the media,” the group said.

“What penchant for public relevance or monetary gain could have prompted Okupe to make unfounded and prejudicial vituperations about a case that is already undergoing trial in court?” the group queried.

The group noted that it was contemptuous for anybody to suggest that the Speaker of the Lagos assemby should resign when the law is explicit on the fact that a person standing trial in court should be presumed innocent until when proven guilty by a competent and independent law court.

COWSY stated that contrary to Okupe’s blackmail against Ikuforiji, “it is sacrosanct that the rule of law should reign supreme in matters of this nature, while the court remains the final arbiter in any matter of dispute.”

“The truth of the matter is even that Mr. Speaker was never accused of misappropriation of funds, neither is he being tried in the court for corruption. It is on record that the EFCC officials in their investigation could not trace any stolen money to Ikuforiji in relation to fraud or misappropriation.

“The body language of President Jonathan and his hired hatchet men like Okupe has clearly shown that the PDP is all out to destabilise Lagos and the entire South west by hiding behind one finger to divert the attention of the people from the failings and shortcomings of the Federal Government in addressing lingering issues of national importance,” the group stated.

Via Tribunewp_posts