tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730596987387960387.post6451526479796167498..comments2023-10-03T10:06:43.840-07:00Comments on ICHEOKU: PRESIDENT UMARU YAR'ADUA, EVICTED FROM SAUDI HOSPITAL?EBEKUOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12634012877434160861noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730596987387960387.post-39686073703476833922010-02-27T01:40:31.569-08:002010-02-27T01:40:31.569-08:00Falana calls for trial of Army chiefs
27 February,...Falana calls for trial of Army chiefs<br />27 February, 2010 03:29:00 REPORTS <br />Font size: <br />HUMAN rights lawyer and President, West African Bar Association (WABA), Mr. Femi Falana has deplored the recent activities of the military authorities that deployed troops in the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for the purported nocturnal arrival of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua from Saudi Arabia. He described the development as a treasonable felony.<br />Falana who was furious about “this ugly incident” declared that the action of those in command of the military was punishable contempt for the Acting President and Commander of the Armed Forces, Dr. Jonathan Goodluck, who he said was neither aware of the deployment of the troops nor ordered them as provided for by the Constitution.<br />He said that the military command had committed a flagrant violation of the constitution and its oath of allegiance to the President and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. <br />His words: “With what happened at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport three nights ago, if a gang of un-elected people could move out two columns of soldiers to take over the airport, switch off light illegally against all norms, endanger people’s lives, chase away journalists and airport workers and they have got away with it so far, aren’t they coup plotters? Who gave the order when the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, Jonathan Goodluck, never knew about this unfortunate development? That is a high disrespect to the Acting President and a flagrant violation of the Constitution; it is an invitation to anarchy; it is treasonable felony.” <br />The WABA president also called for immediate investigation into the incident and trial of those who gave the command and those soldiers that took part in the exercise.<br />The human rights lawyer, however, commended the generality of the military for their sense of patriotism, especially during the days that preceded the swearing-in of Jonathan as Acting President. <br />According to him, during the period, power was literally on the street, but the military showed un-common patriotism resisting all temptations to pick it.<br />“So far, we must continue to commend the patriotism of the Nigerian military even; when power was lying on the street for 80 days, they resisted the temptation to pick it in the interest of political stability and the growth of democracy,” he said.<br />The human rights activist, however, said that now was the time for the military to demonstrate greater patriotism and commitment to support the growth of democracy, by totally submitting to the authority of the Acting President as well as subordinating to the provisions of the constitution.<br />He lashed out at the Nigerian media for engaging in what he called “professional misconduct” by reporting that Yar’Adua had returned to the country, when in actual fact the media never saw him arriving at the airport nor was it made to see him at the Aso Rock Villa, if he was truly back.<br />He challenged those he referred to as the cabal who fed the lies to let the media meet with Yar’Adua or see him if truly he was back.<br />In the alternative, he challenged Yar’Adua to do a live broadcast to Nigerians to confirm he is in the country. According to him, until that is done, Nigerians must continue to disbelieve the claim that Yar’Adua is back, and that the media should apologise to Nigerians.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com