One of the foremost civil society organisations in Nigeria, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), has called on President Bola Tinubu to explore the possibility of reaching out to more professionals within and outside his cabinet so that his policies and programmes can have a more beneficial effects on the populace.
The call was made by CDHR President, Debo Adeniran, while speaking to journalists at a forum on the state of the nation, held at Rights House in Ikeja, Lagos.
He noted that as part of the responsibility of the government, there was an urgent need to stem the tide of corruption in the country.
He stated, “The causes of all socioeconomic and political problems plaguing Nigeria today have been traced to endemic corruption by and among the leadership of various socio-political institutions in Nigeria and their collaborators elsewhere.”
This has, however, made an average Nigerian poorer while an average leader unjustifiably wealthier than the capacity of their legitimate earnings.
While lauding President Tinubu’s order that all civil servants drawing salaries from the government after relocating abroad without formally resigning should be made to refund the money, he, however, urged the President to call FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to order and desist from interfering with the affairs of Rivers State governed by a democratically elected governor.
He said, “A show of true statesmanship as shown on the part of the former president who has not interfered in the governance of the present administration of Nigeria.
“But we are amazed by the way and manner Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State, is dealing with his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The civil rights activist highlighted that insecurity has contributed greatly to the high cost of food in the country, which has decimated the low wages of the people.
He said, “For some time now, Nigerians have been tormented by the astronomical rise in the prices of basic foods in the marketplace as the high cost of these foodstuffs is alarming as it would contribute seriously to hunger and malnutrition in the country.”
He advised that the government should make it a priority to secure the lives and properties of the entire citizens of the country and not only the farmers, as this would contribute immensely to greater output and more investment opportunities in the economy of the country.
While lauding the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its remarkable feat in waging war on arms proliferation, and remaining steadfast, more diligent, and vigilant as they carry out their duties.
Adeniran said, “If the refinery is finding it difficult to access domestic crude oil and has to rely on importation from foreign countries then what exactly is happening in our oil and gas sector?
“We would also like to align with other groups like the Independent Petroleum Producers Group which has called on President Bola Tinubu to consider declaring a state of emergency on crude oil production in Nigeria following the lingering crisis associated with this.”
Similarly, on the Senior Staff Union of Universities (SSANU), and the Non-teaching Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions (NASU), he called on the federal government to do everything within the ambit of the law to avert the strike by considering the negative effects on academic activities, and their concerns being looked into, to avoid another industrial unrest.
“The state of roads in most parts of the country is appalling. The roads have become death traps, this also leads to farm losses and constitutes encumbrance to the movement of food and raw materials in the country.
“The state governments should stop making excuses for this; they should prioritize the development of roads to ease the movement of people and goods in Ogun state,” he stated.
