… Says they’re Nigeria’s worst enemies
From Emmanuel Ogoigbe, Warri
Elder statesman and first republic minister of information, Chief Edwin Clark yesterday posted a damning verdict on federal legislators, saying “they are most corrupt and number one enemies of this country.”
He said they have not only plundered the economy of the nation, but have also brought untold hardship to Nigerians who are now struggling to survive.
The frontline Ijaw national leader, who spoke during a press briefing organised by the authorities of Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Delta State, expressed sadness that “poor Nigerians now sell their children to feed while greedy lawmakers buy posh cars worth millions of naira,” adding that “the most annoying is the shameful and unscrupulous way they fix their projects in the national budget.”
The House of Representatives members have been embroiled in turmoil over allegation of corrupt practices bordering on budget padding levelled against the leadership by Abdulmunin Jibrin, erstwhile chairman of House Committee on Appropriation.
Jibrin, who began fighting the leadership of the House on July 21, after he was removed from his post by Speaker Yakubu Dogara on accusation of betrayal of trust, lodged a formal petition against the leadership of the House at the Department of States Services, the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) among others, alleging “corrupt enrichment, abuse of office and public trust, living above means, massive movement of funds in the budget.”
Apart from Dogara, his deputy, Yusuf Lasun, Chief Whip, Alhassan Doguwa, Minority Leader, Leo Ogor were also accused. Jibrin also accused 10 heads of committees of inserting 2,000 projects worth N284 billion in the 2016 budget.
While urging Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his fight against corruption, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain pleaded with the media to help expose corrupt Nigerians adding, “Nigeria must be free from the scourge.”
Earlier, Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Timothy Olagbemiro, disclosed that the university’s law programme would take off in September.
“Besides, we have progressed rapidly because we have one of the best law schools in the country with modern facilities, just as we have a lot of students in other departments,” said Prof. Olagbemiro…”
According to him, the faculty of law is named after the late legal icon, Chief Rotimi Williams because of his immense contributions to the legal profession.
Prof. Olagbemiro therefore lauded the vision and foresight of the founder and chancellor, Chief Clark for establishing such a high profile university which has provided employment and education for all Nigerians, revealing that the university got approval from the National University Commission (NUC).