From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint person Southerner as the next substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
President Tinubu had, on June 14, 2023, suspended the former helmsman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, for gross misconduct.
National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, while briefing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, contended that it was not nationalistic for the northern part to continue to produce chairman of the commission since its establishment 20 years ago.
He said a shift in trend would send a powerful message of unity, inclusivity, harmonious and a balanced Nigeria.
“We firmly believe that a candidate from the southern region should be appointed as the next EFCC Chairman to ensure a fair distribution of power and showcase the competence of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
“It is essential to rectify the existing regional imbalance within the EFCC by appointing a candidate from the South as the next Chairman.
“This would address the perception of bias and create a more balanced representation within the institution. More so, it is high time that the South is given a fair chance to contribute its expertise and perspectives to the fight against corruption,” he said.
Meanwhile, Onwubiko, has condemned alleged assassination attempt of the Akwa Ibom State governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Senator Albert Bassey.
Senator Bassey was allegedly chased out of the governorship election Tribunal in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during the last hearing of his petition calling for the voiding of the governorship election result in the 2023 election.
To this end, he called on the Inspection General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to redeploy the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi, over the incident.
He backed Bassey’s petition to the President of the Court of Appeal, for the relocation of the Governorship Election Tribunal to a safer location in Abuja as a result of perceived threats to his safety and witnesses.
Also, he commended the intervention of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who called the attention of the acting Police chief to rescue the embattled Senator.