The Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF), the “G15” urges President Goodluck  Jonathan to enthrone a regime of tolerance of political opposition and to desist  from use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intimidate  and harass Governors and political leaders who are opposed to his ill-advised  attempt to subvert the agreed zoning formula by seizing the Peoples Democratic  Party (PDP) ticket in next year’s general elections. The NPLF wishes to draw the attention of all Nigerians to the inherent dangers  of turning the EFCC into a Political Gestapo of a particular candidate.

The NPLF recalls that this is the same tactics former President Olusegun Obasanjo employed in the pursuit of his failed Third Term agenda.It is becoming clear to all that Jonathan’s candidacy for 2011 despite the PDP’s

affirmation of the principle of zoning and rotation is a return of tenure elongation of President Obasanjo, which Nigerians unanimously rejected.

The NPLF wants to make it clear that this development raises serious questions on President Jonathan’s repeatedly stated commitment to free and fair elections,  and by extension the survival of the nation’s democracy. Sadly, it is giving  President Jonathan away as a desperado who is prepared to whip everyone in line in order to confiscate a mandate that is clearly not his.

In as much as the NPLF is not opposed to the fight against graft, it is, however, manifest that the current onslaught against state governors and political leaders is part of the measures at checking those not well disposed to the bid of President Jonathan.It is regrettable that we are witnessing today is a throwback to the Obasanjo days and portends great danger to the credibility of the political process, nay the polity.

While we stand shoulder to shoulder with all our elected courageous governors in the current struggle, we call on the Presidency to retrace its steps by tolerating opposition without which there can be no enduring democracy and rule of law.We call on Governors and all genuine lovers of democracy to close ranks and stand up against this strain of dictatorship.

 Signed:Dr. Iyorchia Ayu  ,Northern Political Leaders Forum

.....2011: We Wont Succumb To BlackMail – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has described as cheap blackmail attempts by some politicians to link its on-going investigation of multi-billion naira fraud allegations in some states of the federation to the 2011 elections.

The Commission in a statement on Friday September 3, 2010 said insinuations in media reports that it is targeting pro-zoning governors ahead of the 2011 elections, are calculated to freeze its hands. It however vowed that no amount of propaganda or campaign of calumny will stop it from carrying out its statutory responsibilities of investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crimes in any part of the country.

According to the statement, “We have a legitimate duty to investigate and prosecute all forms of economic and financial crimes in all parts of the federation. This, we have been doing since the inception of the Commission in 2003 and will continue to do within the ambit of the law.

“It is on record that the Commission has continued to investigate various fraud allegations in several states of  the federation, local government councils, federal agencies and private establishments.

“As such, our on-going investigations of multi-billion naira fraud allegations in Kebbi, Kwara, Imo, Jigawa and Rivers States are not different from what we have done in other states before now

“Rather than making desperate moves to blackmail the Commission by imputing illogical meanings to its legitimate duties in a bid to freeze its hands, the questions the brains behind this propaganda should answer are:

“Are there allegations of fraud against their officials?

Is the EFCC empowered to investigate such fraud allegations?

Is there any law barring EFCC from investigating fraud allegations before, during or after elections?

Should election time be taken as a holiday period when law enforcement agents would have to close their eyes to the looting of public treasury?

“These are some of the pertinent questions whose answers will expose the hidden agenda of those behind the plot to frustrate the nation’s anti-graft war.

“We will like to re-assure the public as has often been been stated long before now by the leadership of the Commission, that the EFCC is not under any pressure from the Presidency or any other quarters to do anyone’s bidding on any issue.

“Attempts to link our operations to political considerations remain a blackmail which will not stop us from doing the needful within the ambit of our statutory responsibilities.”

Femi Babafemi,Head, Media & Publicity