Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWGN) has commended Governor of Edo state, Monday Okpebholo for his non-discriminatory appointment strategies.
Gatekeepers News reports that MMWGN commended the newly elected Governor who assumed official duty a few days ago through a statement jointly released by National Secretary Dr. Nasir Balogun and Oyo State Coordinator of Group Alh. Mas’ud Akintola on Monday.
According to the group, the Governor’s non-discriminatory appointment strategies aimed at carrying along deserving Muslims to topmost positions in the State.
The Group described the appointment of Hon. Musa Umar Ikhilor as Secretary to the Edo State Government and that of Gani Audu – Former Member of Edo State House of Assembly as his Chief of Staff as highly commendable pointing out that excelleñce, capacity, and ability to deliver should always determine political and public service appointments.
MMWGN commended the new Edo State Governor for choosing intelligent, qualified, and competent Muslim politicians for his Government.
It noted that even though Edo State is thickly populated by Christians, there is no gainsaying in the fact that Edo South and Edo North Senatorial Districts harbour a large percentage of Muslims who are also real indigenes of the State who should be carried along in the scheme of things.
The Group said it is the hope of Muslim Ummah in Nigeria that this trend of giving Muslims their fair share of dividends of democracy would continue in Edo State and spread to others, where they discriminate against the Muslims.
MMWG stated further that as the list of members of the Edo State incoming Cabinet is being compiled to be forwarded to the State Legislature by the Governor, more Muslims would be given deserving cabinet positions.
The Group maintained that Governor Okpebholo’s commendable stance should serve as a lesson for some States, especially in the South East, South-South, and some South West States as well as some States in North to ensure that discrimination against Muslims in political and public services appointments stops forthwith.
States discriminating against Muslims in their governance according to Muslim Media Watch Group include Taraba, Benue, Ondo, Plateau, and all the States in South-South and South East.
As a multi-religious State, the Group said Nigeria cannot afford to play sentimental, parochial, and religious politics ‘as we are interwoven and need to unite for the progress and development of our Country’.
Meanwhile, the Group commended Supreme Court of Nigeria for dismissing outrightly last week the suit calling for scrapping of Economic & Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC].
The statement says, “In its reaction to that judgement the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria – an NGO dedicated to good governance for the benefit of the Nigerian people, described the suit instituted by some State Governments as not only laughable but criminal as the Act of setting up the EFCC was promulgated by the National Assembly to curb economic and financial crimes in the Country so that the Nation could develop socially, economically and infrastructurally.”
The Group stated further that ‘for some State Governments to come out openly to challenge such a Commission in the Court of Law and call for its scrapping, shows that ‘corruption has been institutionalised and made a recognised culture’ in Nigeria!
MMWG therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently synagise with National Assembly in giving EFCC more powers to stem corruption in the Country especially bench-marking bailable economic crimes.
The Group added that “ it is ironic that by our current laws, all economic crimes are bailable; and that has been the reason for humongous corruption going on in the Nigerian Society as Plea Bargaining has helped criminals in stealing our commonwealth and return paltry sums of money to set themselves free!”
“Unless we criminalise corruption by bench-marking bailable offences and Plea Bargaining abolished, corruption cannot be reduced or stopped in Nigeria, the Group maintained!”
The Media Group condemned State Governments that challenged the existence of EFCC and called for listing them out for them to be identified and well-monitored by all patriotic Nigerians!
It condemned the last FG of President Muhamnlmadu Buhari for granting political pardons to some convicted Governors who have been serving jail terms; adding that such a decision was bad and would continue to encourage corruption and looting of the State Treasuries.
MMWG further called for immediate arrest of all Former Governors accused of corruption wherever they are including the immediate-past Governor of Kogi State Alh. Yahaya Bello and all others accused of financial crimes by EFCC for immediate trial to restore sanity in governance process in the country.
