Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare, Lagos
Nigerian Tribune, Thursday, March 21, 2013
THE Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Wednesday, issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Goodluck Jonathan, asking him to address the nation on what he has done to address the terrorist activities being perpetrated by the Islamist Group, Boko Haram.
The group further stated that failure of the president to heed the call in seven days will see it liaising with its national body on what steps to take, should the president ignore the ultimatum.
Speaking on behalf of the group on issues bordering on the state of the nation at the Bar Centre in Ikeja, the branch Chairman, Mr Monday Ubani also directed that the federal government should explain why there is no apparent positive result towards stemming the menace of the dreaded islamist group.
“These killings cannot be allowed to continue on a daily basis in Nigeria. If he fails or refuses to do as demanded, Nigerians are being advised to prepare to hold the Peoples National Conference outside the government and decide their destinies independently.
“It is the minimum requirement if we must exist as a nation, else let it be known by all and sundry that if the country disintegrates on our faces, we all cannot escape the judgement of history and that of our children.”
“Are our leaders telling Nigerians that they do not have solution to this Boko Haram Saga? The NBA Ikeja Branch demands the president address the nation within seven days and tell us what he has done to address the Boko Haram saga and further explain why there is no apparent positive result stemming the tide, and explain what steps he is taking to end this menace and when it will end,” Ubani stated.
He stated further that there was no logic and explanation for the wanton destruction of lives and properties of Nigerians daily by the Boko Haram, adding that the lives and properties were in the president’s custody but he had failed to provide for the welfare of Nigerians.
According to Ubani, Nigeria is a country with billionaires who cannot give what he termed verifiable account of their source of income and who do not know what to do with their wealth because it is huge and obscene; whereas majority live and die in squalor and poverty.
He also condemned a situation whereby lawyers report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for fees received from clients which is as low as N150,000, 00, saying it is unacceptable.
Speaking on the level of extra judicial killing across the country, Ubani charged security agencies in the country to live up to their responsibilities in ensuring security of lives and properties.
“Therefore it is clearly barbaric and a breach of national interest and international laws, treaties and protocols for lives of citizens to be taken away on mere suspicion of having committed a crime,” Ubani added.
The chairman also called on the federal government to issue a directive to all security agencies to respect lives and follow due process in carrying out executions.
Nigerian Tribune, Thursday, March 21, 2013
THE Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Wednesday, issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Goodluck Jonathan, asking him to address the nation on what he has done to address the terrorist activities being perpetrated by the Islamist Group, Boko Haram.
The group further stated that failure of the president to heed the call in seven days will see it liaising with its national body on what steps to take, should the president ignore the ultimatum.
Speaking on behalf of the group on issues bordering on the state of the nation at the Bar Centre in Ikeja, the branch Chairman, Mr Monday Ubani also directed that the federal government should explain why there is no apparent positive result towards stemming the menace of the dreaded islamist group.
“These killings cannot be allowed to continue on a daily basis in Nigeria. If he fails or refuses to do as demanded, Nigerians are being advised to prepare to hold the Peoples National Conference outside the government and decide their destinies independently.
“It is the minimum requirement if we must exist as a nation, else let it be known by all and sundry that if the country disintegrates on our faces, we all cannot escape the judgement of history and that of our children.”
“Are our leaders telling Nigerians that they do not have solution to this Boko Haram Saga? The NBA Ikeja Branch demands the president address the nation within seven days and tell us what he has done to address the Boko Haram saga and further explain why there is no apparent positive result stemming the tide, and explain what steps he is taking to end this menace and when it will end,” Ubani stated.
He stated further that there was no logic and explanation for the wanton destruction of lives and properties of Nigerians daily by the Boko Haram, adding that the lives and properties were in the president’s custody but he had failed to provide for the welfare of Nigerians.
According to Ubani, Nigeria is a country with billionaires who cannot give what he termed verifiable account of their source of income and who do not know what to do with their wealth because it is huge and obscene; whereas majority live and die in squalor and poverty.
He also condemned a situation whereby lawyers report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for fees received from clients which is as low as N150,000, 00, saying it is unacceptable.
Speaking on the level of extra judicial killing across the country, Ubani charged security agencies in the country to live up to their responsibilities in ensuring security of lives and properties.
“Therefore it is clearly barbaric and a breach of national interest and international laws, treaties and protocols for lives of citizens to be taken away on mere suspicion of having committed a crime,” Ubani added.
The chairman also called on the federal government to issue a directive to all security agencies to respect lives and follow due process in carrying out executions.
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