A civil society group, Coalition of Civil Society for Change and Good Governance has rubbished the recent call by a group known as Northern Professionals For Good Governance, NPGG, for the resignation of Prof Lucy Ogbadu as Director-General, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA).
The NPGG had given Ogbadu one week ultimatum to resign her leadership of the agency.
Reacting however, CCSGG described the call as absolute nonsensical, defamatory, irrational and baseless orchestrated by some persons just to rubbish the hard-earned name and reputation of the NABDA DG.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Comrade Guona Gamji,
Secretary-General of the CCSGG said the statement was the handiwork of some idlers under the canopy of a Civil Society Organization.
He said, “But we are compelled to react to it first; on account of the love of our dear country Nigeria and the urgency in the patriotic duty to protect and defend it against forces of darkness. And second, we wish to make the point, which is familiar to every Nigerian that we have collectively walked the tumultuous path since our independence as a nation and we cannot allow self-serving groups to rudely and pompously discourage and destroy any leader, at any level, who is determined to assist President Muhammadu Buhari propel the positive “change” Nigerians desire.
“Let’s state it abundantly clear from the outset that we are not an organization against accountability and transparency in public governance, as these are essential ingredients for the full economic recovery and regeneration of Nigeria.
“But much as we resent acts of corruption and not against a probe, concomitantly, we have a responsibility to rise in defence of Nigerians baselessly vilified and demonized by some groups,” he said.
The group’s leader said the action of NPGG was a distraction designed to halt Mrs. Ogbadu from advancing to fruition the numerous projects on her hands in genetic engineering and biotechnology breakthroughs for Nigeria.
Records of her public service at NABDA have revealed that Mrs. Ogbadu’s steps in these areas have recorded far-reaching success, to the displeasure of those after tainting the image of the Buhari presidency as a failure.
He added, “That NPGG claimed it wrote to the agency for clarification but there was no response, by no means signify that the agency’s boss is guilty of the allegations and so, justification could be found in the brash, unlawful, distasteful and malicious position of calls for resignation or occupation of the agency’s office. In civilized climes, not everything whether good or bad is achieved by brute force as canvassed by NPGG.
“But based on the dictates of the Freedom of Information Act, in Nigeria, NPGG would have sued the agency, praying the court to compel them to release the requested information. And until they had verified and found Professor Ogbadu guilty, at least, within the context of their debased judgment, one could have pardoned them for making an effort.”
He urged the General public to disregard the calls and support Ogbadu as she takes NABDA to greater heights.
Group Wants IGP To Investigate Death Of Late Kano INEC REC
The Inspector General Police, Ibrahim Idris has been urged to order investigation into the death of late Kano Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Alhaji Munkaila Abdullahi who died with his wife and two daughters in a fire outbreak widely considered ‘strange’, ‘suspicious’ and ‘mysterious’ in 3rd April 2015.
A civil rights group under the auspices Justice and Fairness Coalition in a statement made available on Sunday in Abuja, jointly signed by Comrade Adamu Musa Auta coordinator general and Prince Adeleke Adeojo gave its final status report on the death of the INEC REC.
The group in its letter said: “Sir you will recall that on 3rd April 2015 , Alhaji Munkaila Abdullahi , the resident commissioner of the INEC for Kano State died, together with his wife and two daughters in a fire outbreak, barely six days after he oversaw and supervised the conduct of the Presidential Election in Kano State which was won by General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC , now Nigeria’s elected President.”
“The reason why the fire incident was and is still troubling are legion, thus necessitating making public final status report of the Police investigation; a comprehensive technical and narrative report that should contain full pictorials of the incident, result of autopsy and other forensic examinations of the bodies, forensic account of the scene of occurrence, interview with first responders, neighbors, media, staff of INEC office in Kano State, subordinate and superior colleagues, family members, indeed of the full range of investigative work that did not rule out any motive about why such tragic event occurred.”
The group said it has been working on the report for months, carrying out own investigation and gathering all necessary evidence. It said: “No amount of pressure, intimidation or threat to our lives will deter us . We are prepared to lay down our lives for such a worthy cause and do so as long as it furthers the cause of human liberty, rule of law and the defence of human rights and dignity,” it said.
It also said failure by the IGP to look into the final status report of the case, of which he was Commissioner Of Police, Kano State then, it will be compelled to write to President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives, drag the IGP before International Criminal Court and also mobilize a coalition of civil society, labour, media and human rights activists against the him.
