The Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) Enugu State chapter,
on Sunday slammed the Nigerian Senate over what it descried as its attempt to
cripple the country’s democratic process.
The group, therefore, warned
that if Nigerians failed to shutdown the Senate, “the Senate
as currently constituted will not only shut down the strident anti-graft war
being waged by President Muhammadu Buhari, but also our fledgling democracy.”
The BSO’s declaration came as a reaction to the speech made
by Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy Senate President at the opening ceremony
of the 28th Enugu State International Trade Fair at the weekend.
In the speech, Ekweremadu, who represented the Senate at
the event had lamented that: “Sadly, our SME’s potentials
are grossly
underutilized and underdeveloped. They are stifled by a wide
range of
challenges, such as access to finance, poor infrastructure,
lack of
access to market, multiple taxation, inconsistencies in
government
policies and official corruption, which have slowed down
their very
roles in our economic resuscitation.”
Reacting in a statement on Sunday, BSO through Mr. Eze
Chibueze, its
Publicity Secretary, described the statement made by Ekweremadu
as
contradictory to the position taken by the same Senate he
represented
at the Trade Fair, especially on the confirmation of Ibrahim
Magu, the
Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).
Chibueze further stated that: “We are, therefore, outraged
that the same Senate in one breadth admitted that official corruption is the
bane of our
economic prosperity and indeed is the bane of our collective
development, whilst on the other breadth is viciously waging
unpatriotic offensive against President Buhari’s war against
pervasive
corruption in our land. Who kills his war commander?
“Otherwise, how come the Senate couldn’t trust the sound
judgment of
the C-in-C, who after perusing the Department of State
Security
(DSS)’s report refereed to him in December 2016, dismissed
it and sent
back Ibrahim Magu’s name for the second time for
confirmation? To us,
it is corruption fighting back.
“We are in league with majority of patriotic Nigerians and
foreign
friends of our dear country who believe that Ibrahim Magu is
doing a
fantastic job, which in the first place made Mr President to
nominate
him. Accordingly, we call on Mr President not to succumb to
arrant
blackmail and propaganda being mounted by looters.”
“It’s our considered view that Magu’s recent exposure of the
Paris
Fund scam, in which the Senate President and some governors
were
allegedly fingered, the petition against the Deputy Senate
President
on his table and sundry corruption charges against high
number of
senators which incensed the rogue senators. Hence Crucify
Magu!
Crucify Magu! Crucify Magu!
“Is it not the height of cruelty for any sane person to
tamper with
the Paris Club refund funds, which was recovered since 2005
and no
president thought it wise to return the funds to the people
since
2006, 20007, 2008 and up till 2017 when our dear President
Muhammadu
Buhari directed that the funds be returned to the States for
salary
and pension arrears?
“We are, therefore, appalled that the name of Senator Bukola
Saraki and
cohorts have featured again in their custom to circumvent
the funds
meant for masses”, Chibueze said.
He added that “In the sordid cross-road where Nigerians are
precariously placed on cliffhanger – the BSO had no valid option but to
mobilise patriotic
Nigerians for a two million march to the National Assembly
to SHUT
DOWN THE SENATE and drum support for the anti-corruption of
war of Mr. President.
“To this end, we challenge our dear compatriots to wake up
and
accordingly call on compatriots to join us in this crusade.
For when again shall we have an anti-graft president like Buhari?
“In sum, BSO members resolve to resist any attempt to
truncate
President Buhari’s anti-corruption war which bar has been
raised and
which has received commendation from international
transparency
agencies, the United States of America, United Kingdom and
prominent Africans, including revered former Ghanaian President, Flt. Lt. Jerry
Rawlings.”
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