Mallam Nasir el-Rufai
Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday condemned the proposed amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect, saying it would not address the security problems in the country.
El-Rufai said in order to arrest the problem, there was need to address the fundamental issues like lack of opportunity, social injunctions, unemployment, poverty and lack of rule of law in the country.
The former minister and author of the book, the “Accidental Civil Servant,” disclosed this in Lagos at the seventh annual Alao Aka-Bashorun lecture titled: “Law, Corruption and the Future of Nigeria,” organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch.
The lecture, which was chaired by the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Bola Ajibola (SAN), had in attendance eminent Nigerians including a former AGF, Chief Godwin Kanu Agabi (SAN), Professor of International Law, Akin Oyebode, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN), Pa Tunji Gomez, Dr. Muiz Banire and son of the honouree, Segun Aka-Bashorun, who also proffered various solutions to the twin problem of insecurity and corruption confronting the country.
El-Rufai said the amnesty that was granted to former Niger Delta militants had not abated the fundamental issues, adding that the incidence of criminality in the region had increased tremendously.
He also faulted the recent declaration of state of emergency in three states; Borno, Yobe and Adamawa by the federal government, saying it did not follow the constitution that provided that for 30 days, the National Assembly should rectify the intention by the President before the declaration.
“We did not stand by the rules we have set for ourselves,” he said.
While calling for the abolition of the federal character and complete change of policy that will guarantee liberty and rule of law, he lamented that nothing is happening in the federal government apart from stealing.
He also challenged legal practitioners to fight against extra-judicial execution in Nigeria as recently witnessed in Nasarawa State, Aluu four in Part Harcourt, Rivers State and in Baga in Borno State.
According to him, insecurity can only be tackled by good governance, rule of law, competent leadership, level playing ground and accountability framewok.
He said: “We must create opportunity for all Nigerians and abolish the indigene and settlers dichotomy to move the country forward.”
On his part, Ajibola in his opening remark said the cankerworm has eaten deep into the nation’s fabrics and called for immediate attention to save the country from imminent collapse.
Also, Agabi said the war against corruption begins in the heart and then spoken and called on every Nigerian to 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 also lamented that although Nigeria has fine laws but the seemingly lack of the power to punish offenders has continue to breed corruption, adding that Nigerian leaders must be commended for still keeping us together irrespective of our difficult past. He called for the integration of all Nigerians in order to fight corruption.
“We must be patient with ourselves so that we are not going to make mistakes,” he said.
Also in his contribution, Prof. Oyebode said Nigeria is at a crossroads by being buffeted on all sides by innumerable crises, socio-economic, terrorism, kidnapping, ethnic conflicts, instability and incompetence bordering on leadership failure, fear and collective self-doubt.
“We might need to borrow a leaf from other jurisdictions like China and Singapore in order to put a cap on the high incidence of corruption in the country.
“There is a crying need to send the right signals to the rest of the population and the international community that we are indeed a self-respecting people, wedded to zero tolerance for corruption, opposed to impunity and dedicated promoters of equality before the law.
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