I know many will doubt my intentions here but i want you to know I’m
all for equity, fairness, and protecting the sanctity of the supremacy
of our constitution.I keep telling people that for as long as we shred the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(as amended), we should be ready to kiss our democracy goodbye.
I will make this as brief as it should be.
Many Nigerians can’t wait to see the back of the President of the Senate, Senator Abubakar Olubukola Saraki and also quick to cite the breach of constitutional provisions due to his alleged preemptive declaration of assets.
What I find worrisome is the deafening silence by the “change agents” and self acclaimed custodian of good values who are yet to see a thing wrong in the action(s) of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sport.
It’s no news that he(Solomon Dalung) created a foundation which existence was made known to someone like me because of its Facebook page.
The second and most recent instance was a snapshot of the Honourable minister in far away France at the National Stadium in Paris to watch a the game between France and Iceland with DSTV footing the bills.
I’m wondering why the Code of Conduct Tribunal which seems to have resurrected with the Saraki’s case and the Attorney General of the Federation till date are yet to do the needful.
I’m not just crying wolf when there is none, and I will back my claim with relevant sections of the Constitution.
Relying on the provisions of the Part 1 of the FIFTH SCHEDULE (CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PUBLIC OFFICER) of the Constitution, Paragraph 6 states and I quote;
” 6. -(1) A public officer shall not ask for or accept property or benefits of any kind for himself or any other person on account of anything done omitted to be done by him in the discharge of his duties.
(2) For he purpose of sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph, the receipt by a public officer of any gifts or benefits from commercial firms, business enterprises or persons who have contracts with the government shall be presumed to have received in contravention of the said sub-paragraph unless the contrary is proven.
(3) A public officer shall only accept personal gifts or benefits from relatives or personal friends to such extent and on such occasions as are recognized by custom;
Provided that any gift or donation to a public officer on any public or ceremonial occasion shall be treated as a gift to the appropriate institution represented by the public officer, and accordingly, the mere acceptance or receipt of any such gift shall not be treated as a contravention of this provision”.
Again, Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of the FIFTH SCHEDULE states and I quote;
” 7. The President or Vice-President, Governor, Deputy Governor, Minister of the Government of the Federation or Commissioner of the Government of a State, or any other public office holder who holds the office of a Permanent Secretary or head of any public corporation, university, or other parastatal organization shall not accept-
(a) a loan, except from government or its agencies, a bank, building society, mortgage institution or other financial institution recognized by law, and
(b) any benefit of whatever nature from any company, contractor, or businessman, or the nominee or agent of such person;
Provided that the head of a public corporation or of a university or other parastatal organization may, subject to the rules and regulations of the body, accept a loan from such body”
I won’t be surprised if some people are quick to dismiss this as “corruption fighting back”, but it shall amount to the height of hypocrisy, selective war on corruption, compromised dispensation of justice and a breach of public trust and confidence if the Buhari- led administration won’t take this up.
If the Saraki’s case could be on at the CCT, and many who were directly or indirectly involved on the last administration can be on trial or subject to intense investigation by the Economic Financial Crime Commission, the present administration don’t have an excuse not to deal with an obvious act of corruption under its watch.
If no action is taken or seem to be taken, the Senate can as well summon the Honourable Minister to come defend himself.
Well I won’t be surprised if the Presidency comes out to exonerate him( Solomon Dalung) and give him a clean bill of health just as it was in the case of the Chief of Army Staff over his property acquisition in United Arab Emirates.
I’m watching…
Nigerians are watching…
We want to know if it’s “status quo” or there’s truly a change; the change we fought for.
God Bless Nigeria
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