Posted by By JAMES OJO, ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Abuja and SOLA FANAWOPO on
Anger continued to rage among Nigerians and civil society groups over the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria's (MAN) tacit support for President Olusegun Obasanjo's suspected bid for a third term in office.
Anger continued to rage among Nigerians and civil society groups over the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria's (MAN) tacit support for President Olusegun Obasanjo's suspected bid for a third term in office.
Labour, and non-governmental organisations came hard on the manufacturers, saying their position conflicted with the reports they had hitherto given on the state of the economy and the industry.
The criticisms are coming on the heels of a resolution by the House of Representatives to probe one of its own, Professor Sola Adeyeye to substantiate his outburst that he was offered N70 million to back the purported third term project.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in a statement by its acting President and Secretary, Mr. Abdulwasheed Omah and John Odah, respectively described MAN's posture as "self-serving, parochial and unpatriotic."
The union noted that the argument being canvassed by MAN to lend credence to its latest stance was at variance with their reports about the comatose state of industries in the country, where most of them were said to be operating below capacity.
While calling on the National Assembly and all the states House of Assembly to rise up in defense of democracy and the constitution, labour added that in all known democracies the world over, it is the system and not individuals that sustain government policies and programmes.
A coalition of some NGOs and civil society groups acting under the auspices of Grassroots Initiative (GI) called on Nigerians to check the present government in order not to turn the country into a fascist state.
The coalition disclosed that the recent arrests, detention and continued prosecution of leaders of self determination groups and those opposed to the third term bid of the president is targeted at silencing dissenting voices across the country.
In a statement issued by the coalition and signed by Rasak Oladosu, the group enjoined Nigerians to be prepared for a difficult task ahead as the Obasanjo led government will continue to hound into detention several members of opposition.
The group bemoaned the failing state of the various infrastructure across the country and the seeming inability of the Obasanjo government to stem the tide.
They advise the Federal Government to concern itself primarily with due process, respect for rule of law, professionalism in the maintenance of law and order and the provision of basic infrastructure to make living more conducive for the generality of the masses, as that is the major expectation of the masses which is the dividend of democracy they all deserve rather than visit sorrow, tears and blood on them by the use of brutal force.
Finally, the group called on the Federal Government to either release the leaders of self determination groups or expedite action on their trial in a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) also stated that it will work with other progressive minded Nigerians and organisations to stop the third term bid of President Olusegun Obasanjo by whatever legal means necessary.
The group took a swipe at the recent endorsement of the third term bid by (MAN) describing the statement credited to the board of MAN as "shameful" and smacking of opportunism.
Following allegations that some faceless agents are going round the National Assembly wooing members with money to support the third term agenda, the House of Representatives at a closed-door session on Thursday directed its committee on Ethics and Privileges to probe Adeyeye to substantiate his allegation that he had been approached with the sum of N70 million to back the third term project.
Professor Adeyeye had raised dust when he told the press that he had been approached at a meeting in one of the halls of the NICON hotel, Abuja by proponents of the third term agenda and was promised N70 million.
Briefing reporters at the end of the executive session, Hon Abike Dabiri said that the Speaker was particularly worried about the allegations that had now been linked to the spate of attacks on members by armed robbers.
"Even though Professor had said that he was misquoted, the House decided not to sweep the allegations under the carpet, and has mandated the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to look into the matter and invite the Professor for clarifications," the spokesperson of the House said.
According to her, the Speaker wanted to know who offered the bribe, and has specifically told the chairman of the committee, Hon Mutawalle to make sure that the evidence the Professor would give should be in the open.
Dabiri's deputy, Hon Abdulahi Idris directly linked the recent attacks on members to the wrong impression among the public that members had collected the alleged N70 million bribe to support the so called third term project.