EDO State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has charged President Goodluck Jonathan to order a probe into the N10 billion controversy rocking the House of Representatives.
Speaking as guest lecturer on the topic “Agenda for deepening democracy, good governance in the next four years and beyond” at the 20th anniversary of TELL magazine, Oshiomhole said “the latest report of an apparent dubious overdraft facility amounting to N10 billion cannot be swept under the carpet by the EFCC and the ICPC. The public is anxious to unravel the truth about this and other previous reports of apparent misuse and sharing of public funds.”
At the lecture were several media chiefs, including Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers, Sam Amuka Pemu; Publisher, Thisday Newspapers, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, veteran journalist, Alhaji Alade Odunewu; former Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola (rtd), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), representatives of the governors of Niger and Abia states, among others.
Oshiomhole, who also condemned the post-election violence in parts of the country, said identified masterminds of the ignoble act should be brought to book.
However, he said the Federal Government has to create jobs as a panacea to stemming the tension, unnecessary provocations and attacks in parts of the country.
He submitted: “The greatest threat to democracy are the tensions and explosions usually provoked by mass unemployment, poverty, illiteracy and other consequences of economic and social dislocation.
“For me, the real challenge of economic management is the creation of jobs, jobs and jobs. The current level of unemployment, which is officially estimated at 21 per cent, is alarming indeed.
“It is commendable that the President already recognises the job creation imperative, as underscored by his convening of a Jobs Summit. This is certainly not enough.
“In the next four years, the Federal Government needs to embark on fresh and more creative initiatives to boost domestic production through stable and proactive macro-economic policies, especially in the areas of interest rate and exchange rate management.”
Condemning the post-election violence, Oshiomhole said: “The pre-meditated killings, arson and destruction of property that occurred in some states after the presidential election are unfortunate. But even more unfortunate is the attempt to describe them as protests, when in fact they were merely acts of inhumanity and criminality. To describe murder and arson as protests is to devalue the very essence of that word.
“Coming from my background, and as a democrat, I remain convinced in the legitimacy and constitutional sanctity of protests, including street protests, over any matter. Indeed, one of the key features that distinguish democracy from dictatorship is the right of citizens to collective representation and ventilation of grievances through protests. But this must be peaceful and should not occasion any danger to the lives of fellow citizens.”
The governor added: “Above all, protests should be anchored by people who are willing and able to accept leadership and responsibility. In any event, in Edo State in April 2007, we protested the rigging of the gubernatorial election, but without any destruction of life or property.
“We should encourage politicians and political parties which have grievances arising from the conduct of any election to own up and publicly articulate them, as we have seen in Egypt, Iran, Tunisia etc.
“I join in condemning the perpetrators of the last round of killings and urge that the law be allowed to take its full course.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydaySpeaking as guest lecturer on the topic “Agenda for deepening democracy, good governance in the next four years and beyond” at the 20th anniversary of TELL magazine, Oshiomhole said “the latest report of an apparent dubious overdraft facility amounting to N10 billion cannot be swept under the carpet by the EFCC and the ICPC. The public is anxious to unravel the truth about this and other previous reports of apparent misuse and sharing of public funds.”
At the lecture were several media chiefs, including Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers, Sam Amuka Pemu; Publisher, Thisday Newspapers, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, veteran journalist, Alhaji Alade Odunewu; former Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola (rtd), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), representatives of the governors of Niger and Abia states, among others.
Oshiomhole, who also condemned the post-election violence in parts of the country, said identified masterminds of the ignoble act should be brought to book.
However, he said the Federal Government has to create jobs as a panacea to stemming the tension, unnecessary provocations and attacks in parts of the country.
He submitted: “The greatest threat to democracy are the tensions and explosions usually provoked by mass unemployment, poverty, illiteracy and other consequences of economic and social dislocation.
“For me, the real challenge of economic management is the creation of jobs, jobs and jobs. The current level of unemployment, which is officially estimated at 21 per cent, is alarming indeed.
“It is commendable that the President already recognises the job creation imperative, as underscored by his convening of a Jobs Summit. This is certainly not enough.
“In the next four years, the Federal Government needs to embark on fresh and more creative initiatives to boost domestic production through stable and proactive macro-economic policies, especially in the areas of interest rate and exchange rate management.”
Condemning the post-election violence, Oshiomhole said: “The pre-meditated killings, arson and destruction of property that occurred in some states after the presidential election are unfortunate. But even more unfortunate is the attempt to describe them as protests, when in fact they were merely acts of inhumanity and criminality. To describe murder and arson as protests is to devalue the very essence of that word.
“Coming from my background, and as a democrat, I remain convinced in the legitimacy and constitutional sanctity of protests, including street protests, over any matter. Indeed, one of the key features that distinguish democracy from dictatorship is the right of citizens to collective representation and ventilation of grievances through protests. But this must be peaceful and should not occasion any danger to the lives of fellow citizens.”
The governor added: “Above all, protests should be anchored by people who are willing and able to accept leadership and responsibility. In any event, in Edo State in April 2007, we protested the rigging of the gubernatorial election, but without any destruction of life or property.
“We should encourage politicians and political parties which have grievances arising from the conduct of any election to own up and publicly articulate them, as we have seen in Egypt, Iran, Tunisia etc.
“I join in condemning the perpetrators of the last round of killings and urge that the law be allowed to take its full course.”
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