The National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria ( PCN ), Amb. Dickson Akoh has said only the court of law has the power to seal any organization and not the police force.
Akoh described the sealing of the national headquarters of the PCN by the police as injustice.
He spoke in Abuja while delivering a lecture on creating the new Nigeria through strategic empowerment, at the first anniversary of Shagmus Nigeria Integrated Service limited.
Akoh lamented that the police sealed the PCN office out of mere allegations adding that the organization is waiting for the court to give judgment soon.
He said since Nigeria got independence in 1960, the quality of leadership appears to be deteriorating in virtually all spheres of our national life.
The PCN boss said corruption remains the major problem of Nigeria.
His words: “As law abiding citizens you know we do not have weapon to fight and we cannot act like thugs and go to the street for protest. We will always seek justice from the judiciary. We have approached the court argument has been made and I do know that adoption has also been made.
“We are waiting the court to give us a date for judgment to be delivered. We believe that justice will be done and it is our own office we never stole that property. We rented it with our hard earn resources. And I never imagine that on a mere allegation an organization office could be sealed up. The same people that sealed our office are today are making efforts to defend themselves over allegations.
“It amount to injustice to just seal an office of an organization, it is the court that has the power to seal an office and not an individual initiative. We believe that one day sooner than later justice will be done and we will have the power to return to our office.
“In creating a New Nigeria through strategic empowerment, we must spare a thought for leadership challenge. If Nigeria of our collective dream is to be realized, then leadership has crucial role to play. Leadership, it must be stressed, is the capacity of someone to lead a group, organization etc. It also means responsibility- having passion for the purpose and the mission of the organization or society one leads.
Since Nigerian got independence in 1960, the quality of leadership appears to be deteriorating in virtually all spheres of our national life. Several reform programs had been undertaken before the introduction of NEEDS, but the sad aspect of the saga is that society lacks political leadership committed to implementing them.
It has been established beyond all reasonable doubt that before the advent of the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari administration, virtually all other Nigerian leaders have been long on preachments, but miserably short in implementation. They are all good in prescribing solutions to the nation’s numerous economic problems, but deficient in providing institutional framework to make it grow.
“The point must be stressed and even orchestrated that no matter the potency of our desire to achieve this common goal, without the concerted efforts by all stakeholders, especially the Government in the provision of basic infrastructure, including water, electricity, education, transportation and health facilities, our collective dreams cannot be achieved. You will all agree with me that, in spite of the increased economic fortune as a result of crude oil prices in the international market before the sudden drop in oil price, Nigeria is still grouped among the poorest countries in Sub-Sahara Africa, with a very high poverty level with collapsed infrastructures (UNDP, 2009).
“Though, the neo-liberal oriented reforms represent the government’s robust and bold attempt to reposition the Nigerian economy. The reforms can only be functional when the State fulfills its stakeholder role within the premise of a free market economy. The major obstacles to improving opportunities and capabilities of the poor and reducing their vulnerabilities contained in the reforms remain at the level of Nigeria’s leadership where the political will and ethical considerations seem to be lacking. Going by the reform critique, the reforms substantially benefited only the political class, big business enterprises, rent seekers and a few local small and medium scale entrepreneurs.
“Nigeria must have focused leadership and stronger State institutions for reforms to significantly reduce poverty and stimulate economic progress. Corruption, poor state of basic infrastructure and weak institutions remains the major deterrents to investment, sustainable growth and improved social welfare.”
