Some lawyers have advised the
president-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, not to lose focus on his
promise to fight corruption despite his assurance to President Goodluck Jonathan not to be afraid of the incoming administration.
Also, the African Bar Association, which
identified eight key issues that Buhari must address upon taking the
reins of power on May 29, promised to collaborate with the coming
administration to deepen democratic values in the country.
Buhari in his acceptance speech, after he
and his Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), received their
certificates of return on Wednesday, promised to tackle corruption and
terrorism, while also assuring Jonathan that he had nothing to fear from
his (Buhari’s) presidency.
The lawyers who spoke separately with our
correspondent on the telephone were Mahmud Magaji (SAN), Malachy
Ugwummadu, Monday Ubani and Fred Agbaje.
The lawyers said though Buhari’s comment,
which he made after he was presented with his certificate of return on
Wednesday, was meant to douse political tension but warned that the
President-elect should not take action against any act of sleaze in the
current administration.
Magaji said Buhari as President would be
pre-occupied with fighting insecurity and corruption and would have no
time to victimise Jonathan unduly.
He said, “The President-elect won’t have
time to victimise anybody, if President Jonathan has not done anything
adverse. The President-elect would not go after him (Jonathan).
“I think Gen. Buhari will only occupy himself with finding solution to insecurity and terrorism and other problems in the land.”
Agbaje said Buhari needed to make himself
clearer on his comment, as he could not afford to overlook
disappearance of public funds and resources between now and his
inauguration on May 29.
He said, “The President needs to make
himself clearer, because between now and the time of inauguration of the
new government, there will a lot of disappearance of public funds and
government’s assets such as vehicles.
“The incoming President must state it
clearly that inasmuch as he has promised that he will not probe the
Jonathan administration, he will not overlook whatever happens between
when he received his certificate of return and his inauguration on May
29.”
Ugwummadu described Buhari’s statement as
one meant to douse political tension in the country, but warned that
the President must fulfill his promise to fight corruption.
Ugwummadu said, “As it is now, Gen.
Buhari represents the collective will of the people as expressed on
March 28 and 29 when the election held.
“It is a political statement meant to
douse the political tension at the moment. However, the sovereignty of
this nation resides in the Nigerian people and it is the Nigerian
people, through him, who have fought and won this battle.
“President Jonathan has demonstrated uncommon statesmanship by conceding defeat.
“That should not detract him from his
duty and responsibility that the government owes the people of this
country to reverse the trend in the country where transgression and
malfeasance are swept under the carpet.
“Gen. Buhari rose to fame and power on
the strength of his promise to fight corruption, in other words, he has a
bargain with Nigerian people. He is located within the context of his
determination to fight corruption, insecurity and people driven policies
of government.”
Ubani described Buhari’s comment as reciprocating the early concession to defeat by Jonathan.
The former chairman of Ikeja Branch of
the Nigerian Bar Association said Buhari was, by his action, assuring
Jonathan that there was nothing to fear if a bad thing had not been
done.
He said, “By congratulating Gen. Buhari,
President Jonathan has doused some tension in the land. When it was
obvious that President Jonathan was going to lose the election, there
was so much tension in the land and people didn’t know what would be the
reaction of the PDP and its supporters.
“When Buhari was saying ‘if you have not
done anything bad he (Jonathan) has nothing to fear,’ he gave the
assurance to a man who has congratulated him (Buhari) when it was not
convenient for him to do that.”
Meanwhile, the African Bar Association
has identified eight critical issues that Buhari must address when he
takes the reins of power come May 29.
The AFBA, in a statement by its
President, Hannibal Uwaifo on Sunday, also pledged to collaborate with
the incoming government in the bid to deepen democratic values and
ensure improved economic fortune for the citizenry.
Top on the list of the eight issues it
identified is official corruption, which the association advised Buhari
to decisively deal with by “setting up a code of conduct of government
affairs and handling of public funds for public officials.”
The AFBA also urged Buhari to review
salaries of public officials “to reflect the poor purse of Nigeria and
to make more finances available for social services.”
The statement read partly, “Deliberate
welfare policy must be put in place as a priority to cater for the
vulnerable and less endowed in Nigeria. Unemployment of our youths must
be tackled decisively.
“The rule of law must be strictly adhered
to and extrajudicial activities of the security agencies must be
checked and severely punished.
“True independence of the judiciary must be ensured and wrongdoings promptly and satisfactorily investigated and punished.
“Government and social services must be
improved to deliberately bridge the gap between the zeal and determined
quest to conduct a credible election as exhibited by INEC Chairman,
Prof. Attahiru Jega, and his team which is very commendable and
exemplary.
“Free enterprise must be encouraged
though deliberate government policies and programmes, especially
agricultural technology and small and medium scale business.”
AFBA also advocated robust foreign policies and greater move towards African integration.
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