Dino Melaye, former member of the House of Representatives, has
described the present administration under the leadership of Goodluck
Jonathan as the worst the country has ever had.
Melaye stated this on Wednesday at an anti-corruption symposium
organised by Gani Fawehinmi Students' Chambers held at Julius Berger
hall, University of Lagos.
He cited cases whereby President Jonathan has condoned the conduct of
corrupt leaders, making particular reference to the delay in the probe
of Diezani Madueke, Petroleum minister, who he said has continued to
brag that no one can prosecute her without Jonathan's approval.
Corroborating Melaye's claim, Monday Ubani, immediate past Chairman
of the Nigeria Bar Association,NBA, Ikeja, Lagos branch said Jonathan's
administration had been handling cases of corruption on the part of
leaders with levity.
With the theme, "Corruption, Misgovernance and Impunity: the Bane of
Nigeria's Socio-economic Development and Prospects," the symposium also
has Debo Adeniran, Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt leaders;
Barrister Taiwo Taiwo, former Chairman of NBA, Lagos; Barrister Emeka
Ugwuonye, Chairman, ECULAW Group; Professor Ayo Atsenuwa and Barrister
Oladapo Ojo, Principal Solicitor, Olasupo Ojo & co as guest
speakers.
In his own speech, Ugwuonye said corruption is promoted as most of
the people who earn their living through corrupt means are honored with
different chieftaincy titles while honest citizens remain unrecognised.
Each of the guest speakers then urged the youths not to keep silent on campaigns against corruption.
Melaye also used the medium to charge the students to make moves to
ensure that the Students' Union Government, SUG, is restored in the
institution. He noted that student unionism serves as leadership
training centre for youths.
"Banning student unionism goes against freedom of association
stipulated in Section 38, 39 and 40 of the African Charter," Melaye said
"and just as Mbu has no authority to ban the Bring Back Our Girls
protest, no one has the right to forbid lawful student unionism," he
said.