NCP Asks EFCC to Probe Kalu's Allegations On Obasanjo
Vanguard (Lagos)
September 12, 2005
Posted to the web September 12, 2005
Tony Edike
Enugu
The National Conscience Party (NCP) at the weekend asked the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to probe without any delay the allegations of corruption leveled against President Olusegun Obasanjo by Gov. Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State, using the machinery of state and stop asking the accuser/petitioner to come and prove his case.
National General Secretary of the party, Mr. Yinusa Salisu Tanko, who made this known at a fund raising ceremony of the party in Enugu, said contrary to the view that EFCC was incompetent to probe the presidency, it was in a position to do so if it had the courage.
His words: "What were the evidence made available to the presidency when Major Hamza Al-Mustapha and others were arrested? The presidency did not ask Nigerians to provide evidence, it used the machinery of government to investigate and gather its evidence against these people who are still languishing in jail today.
So also Nuhu Ribadu does not need anybody to give him proof of any allegation,
"Our problem in the country is lack of the will to do the right thing. I challenge Ribadu to put his name on the map of Nigeria just like Prof. Nwosu did, or honourably resign if he knows he would be forced to act against his conscience. We urge him to go ahead, investigate and confirm or disprove the allegations".
Tanko, who also spoke on the Child Rights Act, gave indication that his party may sue the Federal Government on an alleged non implementation of the provisions of the act.
"Under the act which has been signed into law, every Nigerian child is supposed to enjoy free education from primary to JSS 3 level.
But has the FG made any provision to cover this particular act?If it has not done so,it should do so because we in the NCP are ready to take the government up on the implementation of the act", he said.
He added that the NCP was concered about its implementation because it is a way of reducing the hardship suffered by the masses, some of who, he said, could hardly afford text books for their children.
On the plans of his party for the 2007 election, Tanko said Nigerians were from any part of the country was free to contest the presidency on its platform, as long as such persons possessed requisite cridentials.
He condemned the practice of zoning the presidency, saying it was a creation of misrule and abject poverty.
The NCP Chieftain scored the Federal Government low on the performance of the economy and urged Nigerians to embrace his party, which promises to eradicate poverty in the land.
