An elder statesman and traditional ruler in Rivers State, Eze Jobson Utchay, has expressed deep concern on the state of things in the country.
Eze Utchay, the monarch of Esara Kingdom of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, spoke at a news conference in his palace.
He called for the reintroduction of the Option A4 (open ballot) system of voting into the electoral system.
He also called for the scrapping of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what he called the promotion of corrupt practices in the country’s polity.
“Let me use this opportunity to call on the National Assembly and Federal Government being led by President Buhari to set a process in motion for the abolition of INEC from the country’s electoral sphere. INEC was established to be the umpire in the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections for the country, but it has failed the country woofly, INEC is the bedrock of corruption in the country.
“Option A4 system of voting to be reintroduced into the electoral process.”
On President Mohammadu Buhari’s corruption fight, Eze Utchay said: “During President Mohamadu Buhari’s electioneering campaign in 2015, he promised to fight corruption and looting of Nigeria resources by some public office holders, it was overwhelming to all Nigerians including me, that was why when he won the election and finally became president, the expectations on him especially on the area of stamping out corruption was high, but it is sad to say that we Nigerians are disappointed by what is going on in the country today.
“Apart from the fact that the said corruption fight is clearly lopsided, key officials of the present government are openly promoting the same corruption they are said to be fighting, this is a clear case of hypocrisy.”
He queried the rationale behind the empowerment exercise of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Senator Godwill Akpabio few months to the general elections.
“President Buhari is fighting corruption, yet Vice President Osinbajo was openingly seen on air empowering people with cash when election is around the corner. What kind of empowerment did a Vice President of a country suddenly remember to carry out at a time like this?
“As a Professor in Law, a Senior Advocate, it is expected that he upholds what is right and not promote wrong things, but instead he threw caution in the wind. It was also the same thing with the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godwill Akpabio, and my question is, are they trying to bribe the people ahead of the elections or what?
“If their intentions were right why carry out the empowerment now? What happened to last year or even the other year?”
Also, the elder statesman criticised the spate of defections by politicians from one political party to the other, describing them as suspects looking for places to hide from their crimes.
He added: “The increasing rate of insecurity, crises in the country is so alarming; there is no part of the country that does not have one security challenge or another.
“Boko Haram activities became more pronounced under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Buhari main election promises were to fight corruption, end Boko Haram activities, strengthen the economy and create massive employments for the populace, but none of things have been achieve four year after.
“Nigerians has high hopes that if not any other thing, Buhari will defeat Biko Haram since it is a Northern people’s creation, but we are mistaken the fight to stop Boko Haram has become a jamboree, with Nigerian youths, that make the population of the military being killed in their alarming numbers in daily bases by Boko Haram insurgents and nobody is doing or saying any serious thing about it.
“My question to Nigeria leaders are, have you identified the origins of this war, which country are we fighting with, what is the cause of the war, or is Nigeria fighting against itself, if so, then why not look inwards?
“I want to use this medium to call on the Federal Government and all people of authority in this country, past and present -all retired and present Army generals, Commanders, National Security Advisers (NSAs), all former Presidents and their vice, all former governors, all traditional rulers across the country to also round table to truthfully discuss security challenge in the country, with the view of finding lasting solution to it.
“I have noticed that this has become war without end. Biafran war was stopped in three years, World War lasted not more than five years, but Nigerian war with Boko Haram has become war without end, and our children are dying, Nigerian children are dying in their number every day, I am not happy about what is going on in this country, this red cloth I am wearing is a sign of blood flowing in Nigeria, why is Nigerian leaders taking this matter so lightly, they should look within themselves and smoke out those that are sponsoring this bloodshed in this country, it is too much.”
The traditional ruler went on:“ God deposited a lot of wealth into this country for the comfort of the citizens, but it has become the cause of sorrows, people are dying of hunger, poverty everywhere, our hospitals have nothing to write home about, politicians are running to overseas every day to cure their sicknesses, how about the poor Nigerians who cannot afford a meal a day, even in weeks, our leaders are not taking our plights to heart otherwise they would have built befitting and affordable hospitals all over the country but they prefer to spend more than what can build us good hospital at home in hospitals overseas to treat themselves and children.
“My advice is that the Federal Government should initiate comprehensive compilation of all unemployed youths in the country and begin to give them allowances as it is done in Europe, America, Asia and other countries of the world, with the view of funding solution to this unending war raging in the country, because this war must be put to an end.”
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