The National Peace Committee, led by former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, with the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah as its main engine room, played a very commendable role in helping to ensure we had a peaceful and successful transitional elections in 2015.
Made up of respected individuals, former national leaders, traditional rulers and religious chieftains, the Peace Committee was instrumental to the two peace accords which the two major presidential candidates in the election: Dr Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and retired General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) signed at the heat of the campaigns and elections.
The Peace Committee, buoyed by several eminent international statesmen, including Chief Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria, former UN Secretary General, Dr Kofi Anan and others, was very busy behind the scenes and helped to make it possible for the loser of the election to congratulate the winner, and thus spare the country of the imminent bloody consequences of a disputed poll.
Nigerians deeply appreciate that effort and treasure the Peace Committee’s role in ensuring Nigeria survived a major stress test of not just her democracy but national survival as well.
We will, therefore, not subscribe to the smear campaign which some members of that Committee have been subjected to after their recent visit to President Buhari, based on the speculation that they might have gone to intercede for some individuals as the much anticipated anti-graft campaign revs to a start.
We however, want to register our strong support for the war on corruption. We support the present administration’s intention to go after those who might have run afoul of the laws of the land through criminal abuse of office and stealing or misappropriation of public funds and property in the past. We believe that all occupants of public office must render accounts of their stewardship.
However, we reiterate the need for the war on corruption to follow the due process of the law. We hope the anti-graft and law enforcement agencies would be fully empowered to carry out thorough investigation of suspects and confront them in court with cast-iron evidence to ensure conviction and recovery of stolen funds and property.
We do not subscribe to the notion of pinning the war on corruption to a definite date. Whenever credible evidence exists let it be pursued. The war on corruption must not be politicised in any way, and no one should be victimised or spared due to their station in society or relationship with anyone.
And no one or group should interfere, in any way, with the campaign to recover looted funds and restore the culture of probity in our public life.
No comments:
Post a Comment