National Recovery Sacrifices; President Tinubu, Lawmakers Must Lead By Example- CDHR

Ben Dunno, Warri

The national President, Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade (Dr) Kehinde Prince Taiga, has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his commitment to economic recovery as contained in his new year day speech but stressed the need for him and other elected political office holders to lead by example in making sacrifices.

Making the call for political leaders in the country to show the way in sacrificing for national recovery in his new year message made available to newsmen in Warri, yesterday, Comrade Taiga, urged them to stop demanding sacrifices from the masses while they continue to live in affluence with their families.

He explained that having listened to the President’s address to the nation he was more than ever convinced that he meant well, however he sees no commitment in the area of sacrifices that ought to be made rather it was the masses that he tasked on making sacrifices.

According to him; “Any sensitive government would understand that the nation is in a critical situation where a lot of sacrifices on the part of the public office holders both at federal, state and local government levels must be made in the process of economy recovery”.

“To continue to live in affluence , buying exotic cars, earmarking N15B on building of Vice President quarters, N5B in Yachts, going to Dubai on jambore and overseas medical trips when 70percent of the population are living below poverty line and could not afford basic things of life, shows government insensitivity“.

On Insecurity, CDHR President lamented the incident that took place on Christmas Day in Plateau state, where over 145 persons were killed by terrorists who invaded eight (8) of the communities in broad day light and massacre the indigenes, describing such gruesome attacks as gross ineptitude of security agencies in intelligence gathering.

At this stage, I’ll strongly advise President Tinubu to adopt the ‘Carrot and Stick’ approach in combating terrorism in the country. The government should be able to identify ways of reaching out to these terrorists and bargain with them. That does not also mean they cannot be dealt with aggressively when the need arises”.

On unemployment; Comrade Taiga, expressed concern

over the alarming increase in the rate of youth unemployment and job loss in the country and noted that something drastic must be done by the government to tackle the issue head on, stating that the consequences has led to youths involvement in all sorts of crimes.

“Going forward, government need to start looking at ways of making the manufacturing sector self sustaining by creating the enabling environment for its survival. Make Interest rates affordable and improve on electricity supplies, that way the sector can bounce back and start creating employment”.

In the same vein, he urged the masses to begin to hold their public office holders accountable and not just be looking up to federal government alone, adding that the nation operates a three tier of government; federal, state and local government and they are all saddled with roles to play in nation building.

Take roads for instance, we have federal, state and local roads. Let federal government declared state of emergency on its roads across the country and commence repair works immediately and let States do same and the governors presently controlling local government areas should allow Council Chairmen fix their own portion of failed roads, so that we begin to see good road networks everywhere”.

On Police reforms, he maintained the need for the law enforcement agency to adhere strictly to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) while discharging its duties, adding that by upholding the Act to the latter, the police can be able to function efficiently and professionally in dealings with the civil populace.

Comrade Taiga, also expressed the need for judicial reform in the dispensation of justice, describing the present situation where suspects were being detained for months without trial as a gross abuse and violation of human rights even as he appealed to the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Attorney General of the federation, to seek ways of dispensing justice in good time.