Participants at NBA’s forum task govt on economic policies

Niger Delta Avengers not ready for negotiation, says military

Speakers at the one-day state of the nation conference organised by Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday tasked government on sound policies that will save the country from its present economic situation.

The event, which aimed at reviewing President Muhammadu Buhari’s one year in office, focused on the rule of law, economic growth, security and the war against corruption.

In his welcome address, President of NBA, Augustine Alegeh (SAN), admonished the Federal Government to take urgent steps towards arresting issues of security and the economy.

He, however, emphasised that the conference was not aimed at criticising the government or singing its praises but rather to steer discussions on the 365 days of the new administration with a view to proffering solutions where necessary.

Chairman of the forum and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, represented by Lynda Ikpeazu, stated the imperative of social security and welfare packages for citizens as a sure way of tackling corruption.

According to him, the House of Representatives has passed several bills and was committed towards ensuring that bills that will make provisions for social security for citizens are passed.

He added that both the police and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Acts are also in the process of amendment.

Chairman, Committee on Administration of Justice, NBA, Olawale Faponhunda, who spoke on “Rule of Law, Security and Judicial Sector”, was of the opinion that achieving sustainable result in these areas required fundamental reforms in the judicial system.

While canvassing speedy trial and conviction of corrupt persons to serve as deterrent, he also cautioned against public perception of criminal trial, stressing that an accused person remains innocent until proven guilty.

Faponhunda equally tasked government on sustainable economic growth, noting that an impoverished person does not know the gains of democracy.

In his presentation, Secretary, Presidential Committee on Anti-corruption, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, noted that while government has made appreciable progress in the fight against corruption, there was however room for improvement.
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Owasanoye also faulted claims that President Muhammadu Buhari was interfering with the investigation being carried out by EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies.

He said: “If the big fishes don’t go to jail, impunity will continue to rise. We must send big fishes to jail. It is important to make this point because it encourages impunity when some people present themselves as if they are above the law.”

In his presentation, civil society activist, Eze Onyekpere, berated government in its handling of the agitators in the South-East and South-South, which has left many dead. He suggested carrot and stick approach rather than government’s directive to crush them.

He also took the government on key economic indicators, stressing that the government appeared to be losing directions on how to revive the nation’s economy.

But reacting to Onyekpere’s submission, the Nigerian Army stated that the Niger Delta Avengers were not yet ready for dialogue.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, represented by Brig.-Gen. J. Hamakim, however said that the Army had not ruled out dialogue with the group.

Hamakim, who said that there was no sign that the Niger Delta Avengers were ready for dialogue, said: “The rule of engagement is that if you feel threatened, you have the mandate to respond. What we can say is, that was not at all a demonstration that you can say was peaceful.”

He regretted that other security agencies in the country had been “overwhelmed”‎, a situation, he said, had necessitated the Army to move “from the last line of defence to the first line of defence.”