He also expressed worry over the scandalous
revelations in relation to allegations against Abdulrasheed Maina, former
Chairman, Presidential Pensions Reforms Task Team and the so-called syndicate.
Ugwummadu, a lawyer, who spoke this morning on Sunrise,
a Channels
Television brake fast show in Lagos, called on the federal government
and its agencies to apply themselves more seriously and responsibly to the job
of governing Nigeria. According to him, anything to the contrary is a recipe
for chaos and anarchy and Nigeria cannot afford any form of breakdown of law
and order.
“Nigerians are no longer amused by the absurdity and
high drama around Mr. Maina and the shocking revelations from his board. These
floundering, I must say, cast serious doubts on the ability of the Buhari-led
government to tackle serious issues affecting our country and properly
coordinate the affairs of the state.
“A lot goes on more than we know in this country and
Nigerians are no longer ready to let it pass. What we question is this gross
incompetence and rancour among the leaders. If I may ask, who really is in
change in this country with all these cacophony of voices?
“I am afraid the failure of leadership in Nigeria has
been taken to entirely new height and this is unacceptable. Last week, we were
told that the office of the Attorney-General of the federation has no documents
of records of treaties, conventions and protocols to which Nigeria is signatory
to; this is not a cheering news.
“So if we are not talking about ineptitude among
drivers of government businesses, we are talking about inter-agency rivalry and
attempts by one agency to frustrate the efforts of the other in its
investigative work, a major plank of the Buhari-administration.
“In law, investigation can also involve arrest,
particularly where the enforcement agency takes the trouble to obtain a valid
warrant of arrest as in this case. The suspect is obligated to comply with any
arrest, the obstruction of which is criminalised under Section 39 of the Police
Act as well as Section 7(i)(a)(b) of the EFCC Act.
The argument of certain persons being beyond arrest is
unfounded because no person is above the law if Nigeria were to be practising
the rule of law.
“My problem is: what is the fate of a country where
arrests are brazenly obstructed because the wanted persons are considered as
“big men” in the society. What then is the fate of the common Nigerian who is
daily arrested?
“I am particularly disappointed and wonder what the President
discusses with the security chiefs at their regular meetings. I am also worried
that this President is frittering away all the goodwill and support he received
in 2015 by these discomforting developments among the agencies of the same
executive arm of the Nigerian government. Even principal state actors and
ministers act and re-act at cross-purposes.
“Unfortunately, it appears there is no end in sight in
all these except the President rises to the occasion. The buck stops at his
table. I know this embarrassment will persist if he refuses to act. Everybody
now knows this nagging inability to effectively coordinate the affairs of
government. People are already talking and he needs their buy-in once again or
risk losing the support of the masses”.
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