10th December, 2015
Henry Ojelu
Lawyers under the aegis of Lawyers 4Change have called on the Federal Government to proffer quick solutions to the challenges of economic downturn, insecurity and unemployment in Nigeria.
The group made the call in Lagos at a press briefing on the state of the nation.
Lawyers4Change, which pride itself as one of the notable organisations that drove the change campaigns during the last general elections said six months down the line of the Buhari’s administration, it seems as if nothing has changed.
The group condemned the persistent shortage of fuel, the dwindling economy, the level of insecurity, and the approach to the fight against corruption.
Mr. Adesina Ogunlana, the National Coordinator of the group in his address said the petrol scarcity that has persisted for over a month was unfortunate and hoped that this will be the last of such situation.
Ogunlana said President Buhari’s administration after six months in office has not achieved any tangible success in the war against corruption.
“We acknowledge and appreciate that the words and body language of the government show serious concern and preparedness to work to deliver Nigeria from the menace of corruption. But Nigerians are tired of the tragedy of their lives, where they are scorching thirsty and hungry in the midst of plenty.
“Nigerians voted for President Muhammadu Buhari on the platform of change that he and his party presented then. Nigerians were and still tired of corruption and all its terrible effect on their nation and themselves that they rejected, yet we fear that nothing much has been achieved so far and nothing much will happen except corruption is treated as worse that Treason in Nigeria and government provides a suitable template which dynamics can really tame the monster”, he noted.
The group also condemned the leadership of the 8th Senate and her shenanigans approach to doing things.
“The most recent of these is the growing threat to gag the media and muzzle the rights of Nigerians to free speech and expression. The nigerian Social Media law, as proposed, without any doubt, has as its ultimate goal the erosion of voices of dissent, or how else does one explain a law which seeks, among others, to punish citizens who, according to the bill ‘falsely criticise’ public officials or institutions, knowing very well that criticisms, especially when they are genuine and constructive, form the bedrock of democratic ethos and values.
“Besides, as lawyers, we know there are already enough laws to safeguard everybody’s character and integrity against assassination, such that anyone who feels impugned by another’s words may see redress by deploying provisions of the law on defamation”, Ogunlana explained.
The group said the Senate is insensitive to the general mood of the country especially over matters such insecurity, unemployment and hunger rather it is on the wild goose chase of self-protection.
While calling on Nigerians to join in condemning the Bill and the sponsors, they advised the Senate to desist from its path of perditions.