A human right activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, has lambasted both presidents and governors in Nigeria for the lost of thousands of lives to Boko Haram sect.
He spoke at the 7th edition of Emeritus Prof. David Ijalaiye (SAN) and celebration of his 50th year anniversary at bar and academics.
The programme was organised by ?Equity Chambers of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile -Ife?? under the chairmanship of Justice Amina Augie in Osun State.
When asked why he refused to work on a committee set up by the Federal Government on abducted Chibok ?girls, Falana said, ?The government wanted some advise, I suppose. When I was invited for the committee I was told that the government wants the committee to convince it if it is true that the girls were abducted. I feel that was callous and the security forces not us should do that. It is because of that that I wrote a polite letter to the government declining my acceptance to be a member of the committee.?
?Falana cited the building of mosque and church in Aso Rock, including sponsoring of pilgrims to holy lands by government at all levels as the root of religious division in the country.
?He said, ?Boko Haram is fighting and Nigeria is not responding. If we were still under military rule, I would have suspected a sabotage.??The problem of Boko Haram is the cause of both Muslims and Christians. We have allowed religion to outshine our reasoning and now base our fairness on religious ground. There is no law that states that government shall sponsor anybody for religious purposes.
?Nigeria is a secular state, which allows the right to religion. You are allowed to worship the way you like and go to heaven the way you want without force. But in our case, while Babaginda built mosque, Obasanjo built church in the Aso Rock Villa and they are sponsoring them with government fund, appointed Imams and chaplains respectively.
?Every region in Nigeria is currently faced with its own insurgent groups most of which are allegedly sponsored by government officials; and the challenge is usually that when you sponsor thugs, it will get to a stage when you lose control and that was what happened with the Boko Haram sect.???
According to Falana, it is embarrassing that Jonathan has constantly been ill advised and falsefully co?mmended for his failure to tackle Boko Haram.
The legal luminary wondered what message President Goodluck Jonathan was trying to pass by holding a mass rally few hours after the killings of about 47 students.
While expressing optimism that Nigeria won?t break up in 2015 as predicted, Falana expressed fear that general election may not hold.
He added, ?Very sadly, about 47 students were killed by this same Boko Haram and our president and his fellow party men gathered for declaration and was dancing on the grave of the students. Government is playing on our intelligence on security.
?It is not surprising to hear the Federal Executive Council give a pass mark for Jonathan on the fight against Boko Haram insurgency since some members of the executive council are there illegally because it is against the law to have military dictators in the council. They are not supposed to be there.?
?When you see politicians dancing, warn them that with the way things are going, there may be no election in 2015. We can?t just rely on our I?ll equipped military for general election. With all the happenings, Section three of the constitution has been violated with 15 Local Governments belonging to Boko Haram.??
To Falana, Lagos maybe confronted with developmental challenges if its citizens base their judgment on religion and not merit?.
?The idea of having Muslim/Christian ticket is a plot to divide ourselves. It is a backward level of not addressing challenges; good leadership that will give us employment and needed social amenities is ?not a function of the religion you come from. The idea that the next governor of Lagos State means backwardness. People should be clamoring for growth but not on religious basis,? he said.
