 |
| Senator Musiliu Obanikoro |
16/04/2014
The
Chairman,
Senate
Committee on Defence,
National
Assembly Complex,
Abuja.
Dear Sir,
Public
Petition Against Threat To Public Peace Conduct Of Minister Of State For
Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro
With due
respect sir, the Centre for Rights and Grassroots Initiative (CRGI) which is a
civil society organization at the forefront for the enthronement of democratic
values and constitutionalism in our national life wish to bring to your notice
for urgent attention, a matter of national importance.
Lately,
the attention of the Centre for Rights and Grassroots Initiative (CRGI) has
been drawn to media reports about the threat to public peace and unbecoming
conduct of the minister of state for defense, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro which
has brought his office to public disrepute and is a threat to law, order,
national security and our democracy.
At a
recent stakeholders meeting called by the Independent National Electoral
Commission in Ondo State to brainstorm on the way forward with regards to the
inconclusive Ileja Ese Odo federal constituency bye, the Resident
Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Akin Orebiyi alledged that “ We are aware of how Obanikoro
even soiled his hands obstructing the electoral process…” It has also been
alledged that the minister of state for defense came and disrupted the
elections by bringing in thugs clothed as soldiers and thus impugning the
character and integrity of our revered military institution.
We are
also aware that only recently, the Governor of Lagos state, Mr. Babatunde
Fashola at his administrations 2500 days account of stewardship to the people
of the state alledged that the development of a housing project at Ilubirin,
Lagos Island in Lagos state was stopped when this same minister stormed the
site and used soldiers to disrupt work.
Based on
these allegations against the minister, we want to pose some pertinent
questions that we would like you to seek answers to;
·What
is the duty and responsibility of the Minister of state for defence in the face
of our security challenges?
·What
is the duty of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro on Election Day seeing that he is not
an electoral officer, nor a party agent, observer or security official?
·Are
we not right to assume that Senator Obanikoro is responsible for the
inconclusiveness of Ilaje Ese Odo federal constituency bye elections going by
Ondo INEC REC allegations and has thus committed electoral offence for which he
should be arraigned and prosecuted?
·Is
the minister of state for defence so idle and unserious in the face of pressing
national security challenges that all he can do for now is to terrorize people
on supposed federal government lands and properties in Lagos State?
·By misusing soldiers to commit acts of illegalities, is Senator Musiliu
Obanikoro not compromising the lives of men of the Nigerian army and as well
the integrity of the institution?
·Are
the atrocities of the minister of state for defense not an act of
irresponsibility and usurpation of the function of the minister of lands with
regards to the Ilubirin project?
·On whose orders, is the minister carrying out this infractions of the
laws of the land?
These and
many other questions are what has bothered our minds like other concerned
Nigerians, that with the way Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro has been using the army to
commit illegality, if not investigated and called to order now, is already
undermining the peace and tranquility of the country and portends grave danger
for our democracy.
We are
hereby calling for an investigation of the activities of Senator Musiliu
Obanikoro as a minister of the federal republic of Nigeria and appropriate
sanctions meted out if found guilty of abuse of office and endangering national
peace and security.
Thanks,
Yours
Sincerely,
Nelson Ekujumi,
Executive Director
Cc: 1. Dr.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,
President and Commander in Chief,
Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Presidential villa, Abuja.
2. The National Security Adviser,
Presidential villa, Abuja.
3. The Chairman,
Senate Committee on Public Petition,
National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
4. The Chairman,
House of Representatives Committee on Public Petition,
National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
5.
The Chairman,
Senate Committee on INEC
National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
6.
The Chairman,
House of Representatives Committee on Defense
National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
7. The Chairman,
House of Representatives Committee on INEC
National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
8. The Minister for Defence,
Federal Ministry of Defence,
Defence Headquarters,
Abuja.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please restrict your comment to the subject matter.