Save Nigeria Group(SNG) flays Jonathan’s silence on ‘absentee’ govs

CONVENER, Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare
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CONVENER, Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has criticised President Goodluck Jonathan over his silence on “absentee” governors.

The Serving Overseer of The Latter Rain Assembly said this in Lagos on Monday during a roundtable dialogue to mark the first anniversary of Occupy Nigeria, with the theme, ‘Nigeria’s Fiscal and Monetary Crisis: The Way Out’.

Bakare said the SNG came into existence in January 2010 when some politicians, in the name of representing the ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua, held the country hostage.

Others who spoke on the occasion were the Chairman, Editorial Board, Punch Newspapers, Mr. Segun Adediran; and President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin.

Bakare said, “It is sad that three years later, the sad history of that era is repeating itself in some states of the federation, namely Taraba, Cross River and Enugu. It was a terrible déjà vu when the ghost-like picture of Taraba governor, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, recently appeared on the front pages of many national newspapers.

“The governor had an unfortunate accident last year and there have been rumours of brain damage, which has allegedly incapacitated him and rendered him unable to carry out the functions of his office. And, rather than giving a medical report detailing the true current state of his health as provided for in the constitution, amateurish photo deceptions are being staged instead.

“In Cross River, Mr. Liyel Imoke proceeded on a two-month accumulated leave without informing his state that he was sick. It is now being reported that he is lying ill in an unknown hospital abroad.

“The worst case is in Enugu where Mr. Sullivan Chime has disappeared for four months without any official word on his whereabouts. It is only from rumour mills that the people of Enugu are gleaning information that their governor is not well.

“The most pathetic reality is the sinful silence of Mr. President, the direct beneficiary of SNG’s protests three years ago. As there is no moral authority in the land to enforce the rule of law, we are hearing of Save Enugu Group and should perhaps expect Save Taraba Group and Save Cross River Group to crop up in the near future.”

He, therefore, demanded a strict and immediate adherence to the rule of law in Enugu State in particular, and other states in general.

Adediran regretted that over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s income end up in the hands of one per cent of the population.

He said the way forward for the country was for people to continue to change their vocabularies, saying for instance, that Nigerians had no leaders but rulers.

He also said corruption must be checked, while oil thieves must be severely punished.

Okei-Odumakin, who praised the courage of Nigerians to sustain the fuel subsidy removal,  said any attempt by the government to increase fuel price would be resisted by the group and other civil society organisations.

She said, “One year after, there is a need for Nigerians to reassess the situation. People have been able to realise now that the government was not subsidising fuel but corruption. Nigerians need to diagnose and dissect the problems of this country for us to move forward.”