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Tag: Opadokun

  • Aregbesola, Opadokun call for good governance

    Aregbesola, Opadokun call for good governance

    he venue was the historic Freedom Park, Lagos. Statesmen and activists converged for a candle light procession as part of activities marking the ‘Black History Month’ celebrations. Organised by the Lagos Theatre Association, the ceremony, the first of its kind in Nigeria, reminded the people about the heroic contributions of freedom fighters in United States who paid the supreme price.

    The celebration was initiated by the American historian, Carter Woodson, in 1926.

    At the ceremony, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola revisited the United Nations Charter on the Rights of Man and Freedom. Represented by the Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism Commissioner Sikiru Adetona, the governor charged Nigerians to defend their rights at all times.

    Aregbesola also called for good governance, urging the government to provide the basic amenities for the people.

    He said: “Every man has the inalienable rights to freedom, the right to the good things of life, the right to associate, and the rights be protected”.

    A Former Lagos State Military Governor Nduibisi Kanu, who witnessed the event, lamented that the legacies of the black man are not honoured.

    He said: “We are here at the Freedom Park to celebrate because the people are still moving on in the face of the numerous challenges. It is very significant because it is taking place at the Freedom Park, the venue which had served as the detention camp for those on death rolls.But with the new name, Freedom Park, Nigeria must be free in all ramifications. “

    Former National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) National Secretary Ayo Opadokun urged the government to provide basic needs for the people. He said: “Nigeria has the capacity to become one of the world’s best, but because the laws are lopsided and are not stridently applied, funds are misappropriated. Those behind it have not been adequately sanctioned, hence, corruption is prevalent in the land”.

    Opadokun said Nigeria has not been a good example for the black man because it has not managed its affairs properly, 53 years after independence.

    He added:“This is a country that has collected over $400 billion in petroleum fund and yet its people are the most wretched in the world. This is a contradiction that cannot be explained and government needs to totally re-order its priority.

    “We must appreciate that a lot of damage had been done. When we talk about the youth that they are the leaders of tomorrow, a large portion of them had sold their birthright for anything”.

    Chiding the corrupt and inept leadership, he said: “Successive rulers of our country, particularly the military, their surrogates and their fellow confederates, have worsened the plight of the ordinary man in Nigeria.”

    The chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, led the people in the solidarity songs at the ceremony. He spoke on the imperative of the Sovereign National Conference (SNC) where the problems facing the country would be discussed.

    He said the 199 Constitution was put in place to serve the narrow interest of the few, adding it cannot adequately guarantee the freedom and rights of the people. He said: “The constitution has never been that of the people; therefore, it will not do what we want; it is meant to serve some peoples’ interest”.

    Adewale explained that the Pro-National Conference Organisation ( PRONACO)’s position on the national conference has been justified by the development in the country.

    He stressed: “I must say that slavery will never leave us alone, until we decide to break the chain of slavery. We would soon be going into another political voyage, which will start with the voter’s register. Many of you will sell your birthright very soon, either for N1000 or a box of matches, rice or salt, as the case may be. To break the chain, you must be determined to follow your conscience and, of course, do what is right”.

    A leader of the Ohaneze Cultural Group, Mrs. Kate Onyechere,` expressed sadness that those who were part of the plot to sell their fellow human beings for economic reasons have retarded the growth of the black continent. But she said that no force can stop the black race from emerging in the modern world.

    Onyechere added: “We are not happy that we sold our brothers to slavery. That is why we are here today to join in this commemorative celebration of Black History Month in Nigeria. I pray that those who passed on during the slave trade will find a place with God because the white people were harsh in the manner they transported them across the seas”.

    Former PRONACO Director of Strategy Comrade Linus Okoroji said this is the time government should come up with plans for the people and purge itself of corrupt tendencies.

    He doubted, if the country can make progress, unless leaders do away with corruption.

    Okoroji said: “A situation where government officials pocket money meant for the development of the country cannot help the country and if corruption persists, it is not in the interest of the country.”

     

     

     

     

  • Fashola, Kanu, Opadokun, others seek better deal for citizens

    Rights activists and members of civil society groups have inaugurated the 2013 Black History Month in Nigeria, at the Freedom Park, Lagos.

    The Chairman of the occasion, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, extolled the virtues of those who sacrificed their lives to give the black man a sense of belonging.

    He said the major reason for celebrating the Black History Month was to dedicate February each year to the remembrance of the roles played by blacks at home and in the diaspora in the abolition of slave trade.

    Kanu noted that despite the challenges prevalent in the country, people are still moving on, contributing their quota in whatever capacity they could.

    He urged the authority to use the inauguration to reflect and serve the people better.

    Said he: “We are here at the Freedom Park to celebrate because people are still moving on in the face of the numerous challenges. It is significant because it’s taking place at the Freedom Park, an important venue.”

    Kanu thanked the Lagos State Government for supporting the inauguration by providing the basic needs to make it a success.

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Mr. Ashamu Fadipe, hailed the inauguration. He described it as a step in the right direction.

    He said: “We are here to celebrate activists who have made an impact in the black history worldwide. I also want to point out that Nigeria, which should have led the celebration of this historical development, has taken the backstage, leaving America to lead.”

    He said 3.5 million Nigerians were taken “from these shores to the new world during the inglorious days of slave trade.” This, according to him, made Nigeria one of the most affected countries in the world when slave trade lasted.

    Added he: “If we are here today to participate in the inauguration of the World Black Month, it is because of our contribution to it.”

    Former Secretary-General of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Chief Ayo Opadokun, urged the government to emulate the United States where a true born of Africa, of Kenya origin, Barack Obama, is the president.

    He noted that Nigeria has the capacity to become one of the world’s best, but because the laws are lopsided and are not applied, those who have misappropriated the funds meant for development have not been sanctioned. Hence corruption is prevalent in the land.

    “Nigerian government needs a total reformation. The fact that after 52 years of independence it has failed to provide basic necessities of life to the citizens is an unfortunate testament that the black man cannot provide the good things he ought to provide.

    “This is a country that has collected over $400 billion in petroleum fund, yet its people are one of the most wretched in the world. This is a contradiction that cannot be explained and government needs to re-order its priority,” Opadokun said.

    Others at the event included Chief Fred Agbeyegbe, Baba Omojola and representatives of the musical group, the law profession and students.

  • Fashola, Kanu, Opadokun, others seek better deal for citizens

    Rights activists and members of civil society groups have inaugurated the 2013 Black History Month in Nigeria, at the Freedom Park, Lagos.

    The Chairman of the occasion, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, extolled the virtues of those who sacrificed their lives to give the black man a sense of belonging.

    He said the major reason for celebrating the Black History Month was to dedicate February each year to the remembrance of the roles played by blacks at home and in the diaspora in the abolition of slave trade.

    Kanu noted that despite the challenges prevalent in the country, people are still moving on, contributing their quota in whatever capacity they could.

    He urged the authority to use the inauguration to reflect and serve the people better.

    Said he: “We are here at the Freedom Park to celebrate because people are still moving on in the face of the numerous challenges. It is significant because it’s taking place at the Freedom Park, an important venue.”

    Kanu thanked the Lagos State Government for supporting the inauguration by providing the basic needs to make it a success.

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Mr. Ashamu Fadipe, hailed the inauguration. He described it as a step in the right direction.

    He said: “We are here to celebrate activists who have made an impact in the black history worldwide. I also want to point out that Nigeria, which should have led the celebration of this historical development, has taken the backstage, leaving America to lead.”

    He said 3.5 million Nigerians were taken “from these shores to the new world during the inglorious days of slave trade.” This, according to him, made Nigeria one of the most affected countries in the world when slave trade lasted.

    Added he: “If we are here today to participate in the inauguration of the World Black Month, it is because of our contribution to it.”

    Former Secretary-General of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Chief Ayo Opadokun, urged the government to emulate the United States where a true born of Africa, of Kenya origin, Barack Obama, is the president.

    He noted that Nigeria has the capacity to become one of the world’s best, but because the laws are lopsided and are not applied, those who have misappropriated the funds meant for development have not been sanctioned. Hence corruption is prevalent in the land.

    “Nigerian government needs a total reformation. The fact that after 52 years of independence it has failed to provide basic necessities of life to the citizens is an unfortunate testament that the black man cannot provide the good things he ought to provide.

    “This is a country that has collected over $400 billion in petroleum fund, yet its people are one of the most wretched in the world. This is a contradiction that cannot be explained and government needs to re-order its priority,” Opadokun said.

    Others at the event included Chief Fred Agbeyegbe, Baba Omojola and representatives of the musical group, the law profession and students.

  • How INEC can conduct fair polls in 2015, by Opadokun

    How INEC can conduct fair polls in 2015, by Opadokun

    •CODER chief urges implementation of Uwais Report

     

    For Nigeria to avoid future electoral disaster, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be repositioned, pro-democracy activist, Mr. Ayo Opadokun, has said.

    Opadokun who is the Coordinator of Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), said INEC under the leadership of Prof. Attahiru Jega may be an obstacle to free and fair elections in the country, unless urgent steps are taken to prevent the looming disaster.

    He told reporters in Lagos that the electoral process has not been sanitised in the country.

    Recalling that the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who acknowledged that the 2007 poll was flawed, set up the Uwais Committee to make suggestions on electoral reforms, he lamented that the report was thrown into the dustbin.

    Opadokun said: “I have my doubt about the bonafide of Prof. Attahuru Jega to preside over a credible electoral umpire. When he was nominated, despite the hailing by the leadership and their collaborators, I told Nigerians that Attahiru Jega could not be trusted and that he should not be hailed as the messiah that would conduct free and fair election in the country. This has been confirmed by what is happening in that body.

    “I was disappointed that President Goodluck Jonathan nominated him. He was a member of the Electoral Reforms Committee led by Justice Mohammed Uwais, which recommended that no sitting executive, President or governor should appoint the electoral umpire that will supervise election in which he, his party or candidate will participate. If I was part of a committee that made that such recommendation, I will not be willing to accept, even if I was offered, the appointment through the wrong procedure and that is what Attahiru Jega has done”.

    Opadokun said Jega was offered the appointment through the back door, adding that his acceptance of the offer contradicted his gentlemanliness and his claim to any principled stand. He alleged that, since he took over as the INEC boss, he had taken some suspicious steps.

    He added: “Because of the international focus on Nigeria’s electoral misfortune, European Union, United States of America and a number of development partners did a lot of capacity building for INEC. But what was the result? N80 billion for computerised voters’ register. Do we have such a register now that is foolproof? He cannot deceive us”.

    The pro-democracy crusader said INEC’s capacity to hold credible elections has been in doubt, recalling that, if non-governmental organisations and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the governor of Edo State, had not openly castigated Jega, the result of governorship election in the state would have been a  different ball game.

    Opadokun said electoral materials were not available in some places where information confirmed that majority of people were ready to vote for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He said it would have been catastrophic, if the scenario occurred in a general election.

    The CODER chief also accused INEC of nepotism, saying that major and critical departments were being headed by people from the far North. He doubted if an agency with that baggage would be able to conduct free and fair polls.

    Opadokun added: “It has now been revealed that Jega wrote a letter to the Attorney-General of the Federation, requesting him to explain state if he was the accounting officer of INEC. The Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke replied that, given the state of extant rules and laws governing INEC, Jega as the chief executive officer is not the accounting officer of INEC.

    “Jega is lobbying the National Assembly so that he can be the one that will be appointing the resident electoral commissioners, not the President. I don’t know what that means to you. But I see it from his perspective of lust for power; power to be in charge of resources and the likes. Majority of Nigerians complained against Maurice Iwu. What is now being witnessed in that place is not different”.

    Opadokun called for the full implementation of the Uwais Report, which he described as a significant milestone, assuring that it would lead to free and fair elections inn the country.