Mr. Femi Falana
Braithwaite, Falana, others call for national conference
September 14, 2013 by Sodiq Oyeleke
Human
right activists, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite and Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) have
called for a Sovereign National Conference to address the country’s
problem.
They spoke at the inaugural annual Tunji Braithwaite Birthday Symposium on Friday in Lagos.
The symposium was organised by the Tunji
Braithwaite Foundation to celebrate Braithwaite’s 80th birthday
anniversary and to proffer solution to some of the challenges facing the
country.
The theme of the event was “The rising threat of instability in Nigeria: Domestic and international response.”
Among other discussants, who moved for a
Sovereign National Conference and a platform that would guarantee
revolution in the country were political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi;
Professor of International Relations and Jurisprudence, University of
Lagos, Akin Oyebode; political analyst, Alhaji Galtima Liman; and Mrs.
Omoruyi Fatayi-Williams.
According to them, an SNC is the only way forward for Nigeria’s unity and development.
Braithwate described the SNC as a
sensible and peaceful resolution for tackling bad governance and
corruption, which, he said, was “grave and key” issue affecting the
country.
He said, “I implore everybody to join
whatever strength you have to ensure the success of the revolution. We
will not allow impostors to misrule this country before we institute SNC
and revolution. “It is advisable for government to join the national
salvation effort because people will no longer be held down.
“What they call constitutional amendment
is pretence. It is dominated by the selfish interest of the National
Assembly members. Before any election will take place again in this
country, we must address the challenge of corruption, unless there will
be no country in 2015. The sacking of ministers and lecturers strike did
not come as a surprise. It is the beginning of the bad policies which
the people are made to consume for many years.
Falana said, “The statement that we have
not collapsed or failing is totally false. Our leaders are selfish to
the extent that they cannot protect their own interest. What UNESCO said
that we are developing is a lie. If you have 10.5 million illiterates
children, it shows that we are not developing.
Utomi explained that Nigeria has failed in all index of development.
“Nigeria biggest challenge is ignorance.
It does not matter if someone has Ph.D. There are lot of people who
have Ph.D and are still ignorant. Growth index shows that Nigeria is one
of the worst place to live on earth,” he added.
Prof. Humphrey Asobie of the Department
of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who was the keynote
speaker at the event, lamented that Nigeria’s poor leadership would be
tackled by a new liberation for a national independence.
“The purpose will be to begin the
process of planning and strategising for a second struggle for national
independence and economic democracy. January 2014, is an appropriate
time for the conference.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/braithwaite-falana-others-call-for-national-conference/
Ex-militant, Asari-Dokubo arrested in Cotonou
A Former Niger Delta militant, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, was on Tuesday arrested in Cotonou, capital of Benin Republic.
It was learnt that the ex-militant was arrested at about 1.00pm by the Benin Republic’s police.
A statement by his lawyer, Festus Keyamo confirmed the arrest, saying Asari-Dokubo was picked up around the Lubeleyi roundabout and taken to “an unknown destination.”
Keyamo, in the statement on Tuesday, argued that Asari-Dokubo was not arrested for running any illegitimate business in the country.
The lawyer noted that the ex-militant had been residing partly in Benin Republic for many years, adding that Asari-Dokubo owns property in Cotonou.
It was gathered that the ex-militant reportedly opened a private university – King Amachree African University, in Benin Republic.
The university is preparing to start degree-awarding programmes in 2014.
The statement reads in part, “Today, Tuesday, November 26, 2013, my friend and client, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, was arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, around the hours of 1pm and 2pm by the country’s gendarmes (police).
“He was picked up around the Lubeleyi roundabout and taken to an unknown destination. In fact, he owns houses, schools and an academy in that country. All these places have been searched as of this evening and nothing incriminating was found.”
Keyamo expressed the conviction that “Dokubo’s arrest and detention are a ploy by certain forces in Nigeria in an unholy alliance with the Beninoise government to keep him away as 2015 approaches.
“We call on the Nigerian government to immediately intervene and ensure that no harm befalls Alhaji Dokubo-Asari and to use all diplomatic means to secure his immediate release and safe return to Nigeria.”
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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