The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CLO

  • CLO to Bayelsa: Account for flood money

    CLO to Bayelsa: Account for flood money

    Environmental rights activist and Bayelsa State’s Chairman of Civil Liberties Organisation, Mr. Nengi James, on Tuesday called on the state government to render an account of flood money.

    James insisted that the government in the spirits of transparency should tell the people of the state the amount of money it had so far received from various sources including the Federal Government in the name of flood management.

    He said such accounts should include individual and corporate sources and cash it withdrew from the state’s Compulsory Savings Account after the approvals of the State House of Assembly.

    James, who spoke in Yenagoa, the state capital, asked the government to give details of how it expended the money, the projects it invested the money on and individuals it gave cash grants to.

    His reaction came shortly after The Nation published reports of how victims of the 2012 flood disaster were still counting their losses despite huge amount of money received from different sources by various states.

    The activist observed that corporate organisations, individuals and Federal Government donated cash and relief materials to the state.

    But he said transparency which the government preaches demands that details of the cash receipts and expenditures are made public.

    He noted that such action would make the people take the government serious in its flood management programmes.

    According to him, flood victims deserve to know what happened to their funds especially in the face of allegations that the government had done nothing to alleviate their suffering.

     

     

     

  • CLO to minister: Explain your role in private jet scandal

    CLO to minister: Explain your role in private jet scandal

    The Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Bayelsa State, on Thursday asked the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke to explain her involvement on the N2 billion allegedly squandered on hired private jet.

    Describing the allegation leveled against the minister as weighty, the CLO insisted that she owed Nigerians an explanation.

    The Chairman of the organisation, Chief Nengi James, who spoke in Yenagoa noted that keeping sealed lips on the matter would amount to “disgraceful admittance of guilt.”

    He said though the petition containing the allegation was before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the minister in the interest of public trust should within one week speak to Nigerians on the matter.

    “The CLO is concerned and demand an explanation within one week as silence may mean disgraceful admittance of guilt by a minister from the Niger Delta region,” he said.

    He said the group was concerned that her silence on the matter could destroy her advocacy for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the region’s chances in the bid to retain the presidency in 2015.

    He said: “We expected her to use her good office to ensure the passage of the PIB and not frivolous spendings.

    “We know that the move to ensure the passage of the PIB will attract attacks on her person but we were not expecting such level of fraudulent allegation.

    “To save the PIB bill, the CLO would insist that she explain her involvement within a week.

    “The minister should use her explanation to assure the people of the Niger Delta and the civil society groups of her innocence and confidence as the Petroleum Minister.

    “If she fails to open up and clear the air on the allegation, we are ready to mobilize the civil society groups in the region against her and call for her removal to save the home state of the President from disgrace.”

     

  • CLO hails Anambra budget

    The Anambra State Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) yesterday said the 2013 Appropriation Bill presented last week by Governor Peter Obi to the House of Assembly is a giant step to reclaim

    the state from what it called Nigeria’s consumerism pattern of governance.

    In a statement in Nnewi, by its Chairman, Comrade Aloysius Attah, and Secretary, Justus Ijeoma, CLO hailed Obi for ensuring that recurrent expenditure is far lower than the capital expenditure.

    The organisation urged other states to emulate Anambra by cutting down their extraneous expenditure.

    Examining the budgetary allocations of various states and the federal budget, the group noted that Nigerians need to work hard to engage the government in budget preparation and spending.

    This, it said, would ensure that funds are effectively used in critical sectors.

    The CLO condemned the bogus allocations, which most governments map out for refreshment, kitchen allowance, and state banquets.

     

     

     

     

     

  • CLO faults arrest of activists

    CLO faults arrest of activists

    The Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO) has decried the arrest and detention of leaders and members of a coalition organisation, the Joint Action Front (JAF), by the police in Lagos, for conducts likely to constitute breach of public peace.

    It would be recalled that the police on December 19, five activists as well as some leaders of the motorcyclist association, popularly called ‘okada riders’, who took to the street to register their displeasure over the new Lagos Traffic Laws that banned their operations in 475 roads of the state.

    Among those arrested were national Chairman, JAF, and lecturer, Obafemi Awolowo University, (O.A.U.), Ile-Ife, Dr. Dipo Fashina, Secretary, JAF, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, as well as Hassan Taiwo (Soweto), Usman Oloyede and Segun Oladunmi.

    In a statement by the Executive Director, CLO, Mr. Ibuchukwu Ezike, the group said it was shocked and worried by the rising tide of intolerance exhibited by some overzealous security operatives who would stop at nothing to criminalise human rights defenders.

    Ibuchukwu said the group was no longer happy with the ugly trend of human rights abuses in the country, as activists were marked out for destruction for performing their civic responsibilities to the society.

    He called on the federal government to disparage the demand for state police by governors, noting that it will serve as a tool for oppression against persons with contrary views.

    “CLO uses this present case to appeal to the National Assembly (NASS) to reason with honest Nigerians who have repeatedly asked the NASS not to allow some governors’ demand for state police.

    “If some of the governors could rely on the Federal Police Force to undermine human rights and repress the opposition including individuals they disagree with, we can then imagine the outcome of state police command, recruited, paid and maintained by state governments.

    “We condemn the actions of the DCP Tunde Sobulo-led police squad that arrested and incarcerated the human rights activists and pro-democrats and demand unbiased probe into the violation and sanction of those found to be culpable.

    “This is the second time in 2012 that the police would terrorise human rights activists and pro-democrats lawfully protesting the crimes of Nigerian government against humanity, the first being during the Popular January Uprising against senseless and fraudulent increment in the pump prices of petroleum products.

    “We urge the National Assembly, Ministry of Justice, Inspector General of Police (who claimed at resumption of office that his force would obey the rule law and respect for human rights), National Human Rights Commission and the Police Service Commission to rise up to the challenge and ensure that uncalled for clamp down on unsuspecting citizens by over-zealous, corrupt law enforcement agents and politicians are stopped,” he said.

  • CLO expresses worry over Chime’s absence from Enugu

    Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has expressed worry over the continued absence from office by Enugu State Governor, Mr Sullivan Chime, who has been away since September 19, 2012.

    The group, in a statement by its Executive Director, Ibuchukwu Ezike, said although the governor only asked for two weeks leave in his letter to the Speaker, State House of Assembly, Hon Eugene Odo, he has spent more than three months.

    CLO alleged that Chime had in the said letter, asked that his deputy, Mr Sunday Onyebuchi, act in his absence to enable state functions as enshrined in the 1999 constitution proceed but the State House of Assembly has refused to appoint Onyebuchi in that capacity.

    “Of the issues worrying the CLO, is the non-presentation of the 2013 budget proposals before the state assembly whereas other states have started doing so. This is not in the interest of the citizens of Enugu state. Last week, we learnt that the speaker had announced to the House that the budget would be presented to it (House) but till the time of this release, the budget has not been presented.

    “CLO strongly frowns at the lukewarm attitude and conspiracy of the state assembly which ought to have appointed the Deputy Governor to act as the governor as required by law so he could begin to do the functions of the governor of the state as has rightly been done by the Taraba State House of Assembly in the case of Gov Danbaba Suntai.

    “It is shocking that while the entire machinery of the state has been totally paralysed, the state assembly has remained indifferent. CLO totally condemns the action of Enugu state House of Assembly and urges it to rise above personal interests and cronyism and do the right thing without delay,” the group said.

    In another development, CLO has joined voices with its Anambra State chapter to condemn the State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, for his refusal to conduct local government elections in the state since his assumption of office in 2006.

    Demanding an immediate conduct of the states local government polls, Ibuchukwu said Obi’s action amounts to a disobedience of the law.

    The group also faulted the use of vigilante groups in the state, expressing fears such actions may snowball into small arms proliferation and violence especially as elections draw close.