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sfinxone (m)
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The new slogan now is democracy is striving in Nigeria. The Judiciary have tried to some extent in their own part, I have only one grouse with them and the general Nigerian mentality of "in the interest of the Nation".
We have had elections nullified on the grounds of exclusion (Kogi, Adamawa), thats all good and fine. What about the people responsible for the exclusion?. The supreme court ruled INEC had no powers to exclude a candidate before the elections but they went ahead and did that (in defiance of a court ruling), shouldn't that be a criminal offense?. If the people responsible for bungling our elections time and again are not prosecuted, what would serve as a deterrent to the next person put in charge of elections?.
Same goes for Public officials who steal Government funds. In the past years many cases of corrupt enrichment have been brought to the limelight and in "the interest of the Nation" the people involved are asked to return the money (or only some of it) and the issue swept under the carpet. In my opinion, stealing is stealing no matter who you are or what your status is in the society, returning the money is not enough. The individuals have to be prosecuted and jail time considered to serve as a deterrent. If I find myself in public office, what would stop me or you from stealing if I know that the highest that can happen if I get caught is to return part of the money?
The Judiciary have done well but I think it's time they step it up and start prosecuting the people responsible for our sorry situation as a Nation.
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Sky Blue
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Democracy? In Nigeria? Since when? We can't even conduct something resembling credible elections. I will reserve my verdict till the supreme court rules on the matter. I have said i will try not to discuss this anymore because it is simply frustrating, especially with such overwhelming eveidence. Unfortunately it seems it is business as usual. Out of the few ex-governors EFCC arrested how many of them are in jail today? And yet we have prisons full of people who stole 50naira to feed themselves. What has happened to Ibori's case? Peter Odili's restraining order on the EFCC to not publish their finds on him and to stop them from arresting him has about expired so why is he still a free man? Freedom of Information Bill has not been passed for how long now? Allegations were made about 419ers in the house, it was reffered to ethics commitee, so has it all of a sudden been swept under the carpet? I could go on and on, but these things show that it is business as usula, that means nothing much has changed. Let us wait and see what happens in the supreme court (although that in itself is quite a wait)
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sfinxone (m)
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@ Sky Blue Democracy? In Nigeria? Since when? We can't even conduct something resembling credible elections. I will reserve my verdict till the supreme court rules on the matter. I have said i will try not to discuss this anymore because it is simply frustrating, especially with such overwhelming eveidence. Unfortunately it seems it is business as usual. Out of the few ex-governors EFCC arrested how many of them are in jail today? And yet we have prisons full of people who stole 50naira to feed themselves. What has happened to Ibori's case? Peter Odili's restraining order on the EFCC to not publish their finds on him and to stop them from arresting him has about expired so why is he still a free man? Freedom of Information Bill has not been passed for how long now? Allegations were made about 419ers in the house, it was reffered to ethics commitee, so has it all of a sudden been swept under the carpet? I could go on and on, but these things show that it is business as usula, that means nothing much has changed. Let us wait and see what happens in the supreme court (although that in itself is quite a wait)
My point exactly. That's why I say the judiciary has to start prosecuting the people reponsible. U seem to have lost faith in Nigeria. I'm optimistic because after the 2003 elections, only the Anambra State Governorship elections where nullified (and that was politically doctored to remove Chris Ngige + it took the tribunal 3 years to rule). So in view of that, at least some things have started changing  |
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Sky Blue
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I haven't lost faith in Nigeria, i am an eternal optimist. However, i refuse to celebrate a non-existent democracy and chicken steps, i am going to reserve my comentary for after the supreme court ruling on the election matter. I do agree with you about prosecution of criminals, but do you know the problem right now? The nigerian courts are swamped, and this just goes to show how bad things are. Matters that should be settled and taken up by other non-functioning agencies like the police, EFCC, ICPC and all the other failed organisations are all on the steps of the courts. Hence this means there is a long queue of pending cases.
Is it only NAFDAC that is working in Nigeria?
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sfinxone (m)
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I agree in totality with you. The Nigerian Police needs serious overhauling, it's like the police force don't know their duty and have relegated themselves to being the lapdogs of the executive. The other agencies are just barking dogs (no bite).
On the Supreme Court judgment, I honestly don't expect the ruling to be contrary to the Appeal court's (they'll probably sight: "In the interest of the Nation"; God, I hate that statement), but Miracles do happen and I hope for Nigeria's sake the right judgment is made.
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