By Kayode Ketefe
It is no longer news that the chairman of the National Population
Commission Festus Odimegwu, has resigned. But the manner of his resignation,
when put in context, casts ominous clouds over Nigerian democracy. It would be
recalled that Odimegwu recently ran into trouble for daring to discredit all
the past censuses.
In the now famous utterance which some people consider to be “too
volatile” the NPC boss boldly stated that the 2006 census figures were mostly
cooked up and that ”Nigeria has not had a credible census since 1866”. Many
vested interests were so enraged by this perceived “faux pas” that they started
mounting pressure on the Federal Government to sack Odimegwu.
He
was promptly queried by the presidency for ‘reckless’ utterances! But Odimegwu
was vindicated sooner than later when the National Census Tribunal sitting in
Abuja nullified the results of the 2006 National Census in 14 local governments
in Lagos State on the grounds that the counting was illegal and not accurate.
The Tribunal ordered fresh counts in all the affected 14 LGAs. On October 17,
2013, he resigned.
The
office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation promptly announced
that Odimegwu resignation had been accepted.
Insinuations
are strong that Odimegwu was pressurised to resign to appease some vested
interests that were outraged by the truth he disclosed. If that is so, then
there is a big question mark on the commitment of our rulers to respect the
constitutional rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression. This is certainly
a big minus to our much-vaunted entrenchment of the culture of liberal
democracy.
Now,
to the second incident on my thesis. Sequel to the much publicised scandalous
acquisition of two armoured cars valued at N225 million for the Minister of
Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, by the cash-strapped Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority (NCA, it was reported that the FG was planning to hit back at the
squealers. The news was the lead story in the last Tuesday edition of National
Mirror.
According
to the story, some suspected workers in the NCAA faced imminent sack or
redeployment to the remote parts of the country for their perceived role in the
leaking of the car acquisition story. The contemplated measure was apparently
to serve as deterrent to others who might be inclined to divulge unsavourry
information on important government officer!
The
Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, was also said to have earlier
threatened that the management would unravel those behind the leakage of the
information on the grounds that the documents containing the information were
obtained illegally from the agency. Akinkuotu was quoted as saying “I am not
saying that this particular information should not be put in the public domain.
But
how it was obtained is the concern. If somebody breaks into an office and makes
copies of official documents, then the break-in has become criminal. “So we are
in the process of trying to find the source of this leakage and I am very
concerned about it. I am not saying that they broke into our office, but they
obtained the information illegally.”
The
information, which the NCAA’s boss was saying was obtained illegally here, is
of utmost public interest. If a self-confessed cash-strapped organisation like
this agency is making extravagant expenditure of the magnitude being spoken of
here on a vain, outlandish acquisition meant for private use of a public
figure, the public ought to know.
The
question of whether or not the vital information-containing documents were
procured illegally should be left for the interpretation of the court of law. But
I sincerely believe that the imperative of social weal and national survival
preponderates over the right to privacy of any organisation or individual.
This
writer also knows that many so-called illegally obtained documents/objects are
invariably admitted as exhibits in court.
Objection
to their admissibility has always been turned down by the court on the grounds
that it is the relevance of documents/objects to the proceedings before the
court that determines their admissibility and not the method of their
procurement.
Both
the Odimegwu and Oduah episodes only go to show that Nigeria does not only need
to show more respect for the constitutional rights of freedom of expression of
the people, the country is also in urgent need to enact Whistle blower Protection
Law. There are many people in possession of vital information on acts of
omissions or commissions of public or private citizens that are detrimental to
public interest.
This
kind of law would help to uncover many ills as many potential whistle blowers
would be emboldened to talk if they are guaranteed statutory protection. I call
on the FG to drop any idea of witch hunting on the Oduahgate scandal as this
would only considerably discredit the present government in the eyes of local
and international community on its much-vaunted war against corruption.
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