- Says: FG Should Avert Any Nationwide Protest…
By Abiola Olawale
The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) wrote to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to immediately intervene in the situation in Nigeria, warning that if left unchecked, it ‘may result in an implosion shortly.’
The Christian elders in the letter also addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Goodwill Akpabio, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), stressed that there is an urgent need for a new constitution for the country and a credible fight against corruption.
According to the elders, the 1999 constitution currently in use no longer represents the current realities of the country, hence the urgent need for a new constitution which will reflect the will of the people.
The NCEF also expressed concern about the poor living condition of Nigerians and the country in general and urged all well-meaning citizens to support the government in providing solutions to the problems confronting Nigeria.
The Christian elders said as part of their contribution to supporting the government, they have resolved to provide quality advice to the president, the Senate president, the House of Representatives Speaker, and the Chief Justice of the Federation, respectively.
They said they have identified four critical areas, amongst many others, that the government should focus attention on to halt the country‘s downward spiral.
According to the letter, the four critical areas are: “The imperative of a new Constitution for Nigeria; Credible fight against corruption; Independence of the Judiciary and restoration of the integrity of the judiciary , and Averting the proposed national protest planned for August 2024.
“Almost every government in the past few years has made the fight against corruption a significant manifesto. Unfortunately, none of them have been able to make any meaningful impact in the fight against corruption.
“The establishment of the EFCC was a good idea until it became a tool for the party in power to fight political opponents. We regret that the current administration is towing this line.
“If the government is sincere in its fight against corruption, it must develop a structure that would guarantee the independence of the EFCC. This can easily be done if there is the political will to eradicate corruption in Nigeria.
“Government must call politicians to desist from infiltrating the judiciary with inordinate political ambitions. In addition to that, the independence of the judiciary must be guaranteed. The recommendations of the 2014 National Conference on steps to reform the judiciary should be implemented. Any country that cannot guarantee justice in its courts is one step away from anarchy.”
