Daily Independent (Lagos)
By Francis Iwuchukwu
3 August 2009
Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Mohammed Ndume, no doubt is a voice in the lower chamber that, according to opinion, has remained a constant when burning issues are being raised in the House.
He has remained dogged in pointing out anomalies in the country, regardless of who is affected by his position on issues.
As the Islamic fundamentalists, (Boko Haram) crisis raged in Northern Nigeria, Ndume suggested that the Federal Government should be held responsible for waiting for the extremists to strike in several states in the North before deciding on what to do. He added that the government was adequately briefed on the threat of the sect to the security of life and property in the area and in the nation at large.
Ndume maintained that the government had been briefed well ahead of the possible threat to law and order posed by the sect, but regrettably the Presidency failed to take proactive measures to protect its citizens until the situation degenerated to serious mayhem.
,,I have said it time without number that this government is not concerned about its people. It was aware of the problem, especially when the leader of the sect threatened a clampdown, but it never acted. Again, this government has not delivered good governance which section 14, sub-section 2 B emphases. By that alone, the government has failed in protecting its people,,, he declared.
Ndume, who has been very critical of the government in recent times, maintained that poverty and despair occasioned by unemployment and poor governance were responsible for enlistment of restive youths in radical organizations such as that of the late Mohammed Yusuf.
He said the government had the responsibility to provide job opportunities for its people, stressing that the Pre sident,s order to the military to flush out the extremists was not only belated but underscored the government,s insincerity.
He lampooned the President for embarking on a state visit to Brazil when about six states in his country were on fire. ,,Which one is important, the invitation for a state visit by the Brazilian government or the lives of Nigerians? What kind of visit is that?,, the ANPP member representing Chibok, Gwoza and Damboa of Borno State, queried.
But President, Centre for the Rule of Law (CENTROLAW), Olasupo Ojo, disagrees with the law maker. He asked him to come up with a copy of the investigation he has carried and release it to the public to substantiate his claims.
,,I don,t know what investigation he has carried out as to know that the FG waited for the Islamic fundamentalists to strike before it decided on what to do,,, Ojo said. ,,I think there is need for him to come out with the report of the full investigation he has carried out in order to convince us, other wise he is just trying to play to the gallery.,,
Ndume holds a Master,s degree in Education from the University of Toledo, USA. The lawmaker who was elected to the House in 2007 has sponsored motions some of which include, adoption of Special Procedure for the consideration of the report of the Independent Ad-Hoc Committee on the Investigation of the Upgrading of the Official Residence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Urgent Need to Review the Power Reform Programme Performance from 2000 till Date, and Payment from the Federation Account of Excess Crude Oil Revenue to States in US Dollars, amongst others.
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