- Issue 72-hour ultimatum to occupy NASS
BY COBHAM NSA – In the face of mounting public pressure, the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) has challenged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Nigerian Law School (NLS) to come clean on the controversy surrounding the academic and national service records of Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu.
They have also issued a 72-hour ultimatum with threat to occupy the National Assembly (NASS) if Kalu fails to step down as Deputy Speaker or successfully clear up allegations around his NYSC service year and the Law School programme.
Consequently, the CSGGG is demanding thorough investigations into alleged breaches of NYSC and Law School regulations by Kalu, while specifically alleging that receiving double salaries from government agencies constitute a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution.
Addressing a World Press conference in Abuja on “THE MATTER OF RT. HON. BENJAMIN OKEZIE KALU, DEPUTY SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND ISSUES SURROUNDING HIS SUITABILITY TO CONTINUE IN THAT OFFICE IN THE LIGHT OF ALLEGED PERJURY, FALSE REPRESENTATION AND ALLIED MATTERS”, President of CSGGG, Chief Dominic Ogakwu said it is unfortunate that despite the matter taking centre centre in the public space for sometimes now, due attention has not been given to it by the relevant authorities.
Chief Ogakwu said the deafening silence coming from Nigerian Law School, the NYSC, and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), as well as the principal actor in the debacle, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, should no doubt be a source of great worry to all patriotic Nigerians.
Pointedly he said: “Let the NYSC come clean on Mr. Kalu’s Service Year record. Did he actually participate in the compulsory national service? If yes, how? If not, how did he come about the discharge certificate he possesses?”
Similarly, the CSGGG, which is an alliance of over 180 organisations promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance, also demanded that: “The Nigerian Law School and Council of Legal Education should avail the public of their records showing the full participation of Mr Kalu in over 70% of activities as required by its rules.
“And if in breach of the oath, his Call to Bar Certificate should be withdrawn forthwith as it falls short of the high demands of probity, truthfulness and fidelity to the law as expected of law practitioners. At present, a senior lawyer of the Tali Shani fame is facing his day in court as it ought, so, this is no exception.”
Insisting that these concerned organizations must break their silence on the case, Chief Ogakwu said, CSGGG “demands the truth, and to test the constitutional provision that all authorities and persons in our country are indeed held to the same scrutiny and accountability without prejudice to Chapter 1:1 of the supreme law of the land – the 1999 Constitution as Amended.”
Further priding CSGGG as non-aligned and non-partisan, the President said their interest in this matter is solely patriotism for Nigeria, adding; “We do not impute any crime, yet, rather we demand clarity as to the possibility of Rt. Hon. Kalu, after swearing two oaths, one with the NYSC and the other with the Nigerian Law School that he will abide faithfully and wholly with the demands of the Service Year and the rigours of the Law School still carry out two functions which are mutually exclusive and not be held for perjury and for violating the rules and regulations of NYSC and the Nigerian Law School.”
While urging the Deputy Speaker to demonstrate moral high ground by showing proof that he actually didn’t combine both programs simultaneously, CSGGG stated thus: “We are duty bound to demand of those we call our leaders the highest probity.
“To expect less is to set a dangerous example for the youths of this country. It is common for us to tell the younger ones not to cheat, to obey the law and work hard, but it is easy to condone those who by alleged crockery ascend the perch of power? No! We should be intolerant towards such characters.”
Expressing the organization’s resolve not to back down on its pursuit of honesty and transparency in governance, Chief Ogakwu said: “Finally, we are committed to following this to the latter and will occupy the NASS if after 72 hours the various authorities do not act” in the overall interest of the country.
