News Release: Campaign For Democracy Abia State Chapter Condemns Award To Governor

T.A Orji; Abia State Governor

Campaign for Democracy (CD) Good governance, Human rights and civil society organizations in Abia State, committed to the promotion of genuine democracy in South East and Nigeria Condemns the Award of Icon of Democracy to the governor of Abia State.

CD is worried that a media outfit which ought to be the champion of true democracy and in the vanguard of holding governments to account, is not in touch with reality. It is unfortunate that the Champions newspaper throw moral to the winds.  This is an irony, the real promotion of mediocrity and sycophancy which impend the realization of democratic values among the ruling class.

The group resolves therefore as follows:

1. That the government of Nigeria should put adequate measures in place to reduce poverty as it is evident that there is a strong relationship between poverty and praise singing.

2. That NUJ, Association Newspaper proprietors of Nigeria, and other regulatory institution should always review and ensure high ethical benchmarks to guarantee professionalism among the Media Houses.

3. That Abia State Government Should without delay commences construction and rehabilitation of roads in Aba and other roads in the state.

4.  That the governor should demonstrate  genuine commitment to the enthronement of democracy and good governance by :

a. Appointment of Substantive Chief Judge of the State.

b. Domesticating and signing of freedom of information (FOI) Law.

c. Public Procurement law

d. Fiscal Responsibility law among others to checkmate all mitigated corruption and abuse of state funds.

5.  That the governor should without further delay conduct Local Government Elections in the state to strengthen grassroots democratic institutions through participation and  fight against graft.

6.  That the governor should recall all sacked indigenes and non-indigenes from the public service, as well pay back log of salaries to hungry Abian civil servants.

Until all these are done, any honor or award given to the Governor will be a slap on democracy and abuse of ethics in the journalism profession.

Emenike Ogba

Chairman

Abia State Chapter

Campaign For Democracy    

                           

U-Report: Campaign For Democracy Lauds Inspector-General Of Police

IGP MD Abubakar

Report By: Campaign For Democracy South-East Publicity Arm

The Campaign for Democracy (CD), South-East Region has commended the inspector-general of Police, Mr Mohammad Abubakar, for ordering the overhauling of Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Anambra.

It would be recalled that last week Monday, the IGP sent a signal to the DPOs in Anambra to report to their new duty post immediate.

This was contained in a two-page statement issued by CD to newsmen on Monday in Onitsha , Anambra, which was signed by its regional chairman, Dede Uzor A. Uzor.

``Going by the fact that most of the DPOs in Anambra are not apt in the discharge of their duties, while most of them have spent a very long time within their divisions and area.

``And some of them leave their main duties and started doing extra-official duties, which included arrest of Okada and extorting money from them in the name of enforcing Anambra government ban on Okada riders plying the road beyond 7 p.m.

``Especially the former DPO in Fegge Divisional Police Headquarter within Onitsha .

``Also DPOs granting their sub-ordinates powers to engage in private family and land matters, which is against the recent directives of the IGP.

``And some mount illegal roadblocks along Niger Street, Creek Road and Niger Street near Main Market, Onitsha through this means traders in Onitsha are terrorized and extorted’’ it said.

The statement also urged the IGP to order the immediate dismantling of illegal road block at Awka-Amawbia road; which is the only access road linking Amawbia and Agulu communities.

The statement said that the Mr Ballah Nasarawa, Commissioner of Police, order the mounting of the roadblock near his office.

``The road block at that road had caused chaos, hardship and traffic jam within the road and other small link roads adjoining to it.

``It had also blocked ease access to the governor’s lodge in Amawbia,’’ it said.

The statement, however, affirmed that the inspector-general of Police, Mr Mohammad Abubakar is one of the brightest officers in the Nigeria Police.

``The recent directives against indiscipline in the police, indiscriminate use of fire arms as well as dismantling of road shows that he knows the job and all that is going wrong with the police as an organization.

``Abakabar fall in line with likes of Mike Okiro, Hafiz Ringim, who had performed excellently well during their headship of the police force.

``Also Mr Tafida Sale, the past DPO of Fegge now Area Commander in Sokoto State as one the finest officer, who had served in Anambra and the South-East,’’ it said.