The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN), and the office of the National Deputy Secretary General of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), have jointly condemned the recent verbal assault on Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi by Hon. Aderemi Oseni, and a physical assault on the young Bolt driver by Hon. Alex Ikwechegh.
In a statement signed by the National Deputy Secretary General of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Comrade Rikki Nwajiofor; and the Director of Programmes of the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria, Mazi Oscar Kalu, the group clearly stated that “It is totally unacceptable for any civil and progressive mind to tolerate such abuse of an accomplished Engineer that was generally rated as one of the most performing past Governors in Nigeria in terms of Infrastructural Development and Resource Management, which undoubtedly informed the wise decision of President Tinubu to assign him – Sen. Dave Umahi to oversee the Federal Ministry of Works”.
The group went further to call on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, to caution Hon. Aderemi Oseni, issue disciplinary measures to him and ensure that he apologizes to Sen. Dave Umahi and to Nigerians at large. According to their press text; “… call Hon. Aderemi Oseni to order and issue disciplinary measures accordingly; Hon. Aderemi Oseni should tender an unreserved apology to His Excellency, Sen. Dave Umahi, and to Nigerians at large for abuse of an office and usage of unruly words undeserving of a member of green chambers”.
The group assured Nigerians, especially the Youth, that they will ensure that no one is intimidated in their chosen careers in Nigeria. The complete press text reads;
“We all must have seen two viral videos of Honourable Members of the Federal House of Representative engaged in highly contemptuous and abusive exchanges that calls for intervention by the Civil Society Community and well-meaning Nigerians.
“In one of the videos, Hon. Alex Ikwechegh, representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency, was seen raining degrading words and serious threats to the life of a young Bolt Driver, Stephen Abuwatseya whose only sin was to request that Hon. Ikwechegh comes out of his house to receive a parcel sent via Courier.
“In the other more disturbing video, Aderemi A. Oseni, House Committee Chairman on FERMA, was seen in uncontrolled rage, tongue lashing and vituperatively addressing His Excellency, Dave Umahi, the Minister for Works, for what he assumed to be failure to deliver on mandate of Office. Instead of applying professional conduct and modesty, Hon. Oseni resorted to offensive assaults and defamatory assertions, such as stating that the Minister was incompetent, failure and unfit for the Office. He went on to question the criteria for the nomination of Engr. Dave Umahi as Honourble Minister for Works, thus casting aspersions at the Minister, and demeaning the sense of judgement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR in making sound decision and laudable choices.
“It is totally unacceptable for any civil and progressive mind to tolerate such abuse of an accomplished Engineer that was generally rated as one of the most performing past Governors in Nigeria in terms of Infrastructural Development and Resource Management, which undoubtedly informed the wise decision of President Tinubu to assign Engr. Dave Umahi to oversee the Ministry of Works.
“Ladies and gentlemen, more disturbing is the fact that Sen. Dave Umahi is barely One Year and a few months in Office. It is glaring to every reasonable person, even to the blind, that contracts of road construction are awarded with a specified time frame for delivery. For someone who is barely One Year in Office, what kind of magic does Hon. Adremi Oseni expect the Minister of Works to perform within one year and fix all the Nigerian roads? Awarding and constructions of Federal Roads cannot be seen as a piece of cake that can be baked overnight.
“Any conscious and reasonable mind will agree that the Government of President Tinubu is still battling to arrest terrible Infrastructural decays and review of some Contractual Terms and Conditions, previously made, while taking proper bearing on its own Course of National Development. Hence, one year is too early to pass the verdict of failure on the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, if ulterior motives and prejudice did not form the basis.
“It is worthy of mentioning once again that, by questioning the criteria for the appointment of the Minister of Works, Hon. Aderemi Oseni has directly affronted and discredited the sound judgment of President Tinubu in making sound decisions and laudable choices.
We therefore take position and make the following demands:
1. “That having realized his mistakes, Hon. Alex Ikwechegh has tendered an unreserved public apology to Mr. Stephen Abuwatseya and Nigerians at in general. Hence, much as we strongly condemn his actions against the young bolt driver, we commend Hon. Alex Ikwechegh for show of swift repentance and readiness to make restitution.
2. “That Hon. Alex Ikwechegh should ensure that his promise to engage in community service initiatives, as a way of restitution, should be executed and immediately reach out to the battered and derogated young bolt driver for compensation
3. “That the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas GCON, who is personally renowned for decorum, civility, and respect for all humanity irrespective of class or creed, to immediately step into this matter and call Hon. Aderemi Oseni to order and to issue disciplinary measures accordingly;
4. “That Hon. Aderemi Oseni should tender an unreserved apology to His Excellency, Sen. Dave Umahi, and to Nigerians at large for abuse of an office and usage of unruly words undeserving of a member of green chambers;
5. “That an ultimatum of 7 Working Days is hereby given for these remediations. After the expiration of the set ultimatum, we shall reel out our Action Plans and implement immediately, if no satisfactory steps have been taken in the aforementioned two matters.
“In conclusion, we wish to assure all Nigerians, especially the Youth of our beloved nation, who are making honest and concerted efforts to earn a living, that no one can intimidate us in our chosen careers. This nation belongs to us all. The Civil Society Council and the National Youth Council of Nigeria shall take up such matters, whenever they arise, and ensure that justice prevails.
“To the indefatigable and workaholic Hon. Minister of Works, we reassure him that Nigerians have not forgotten his good works as Governor of Ebonyi State, and that he should consider this affront as a challenge to proffer more patriotic services to the nation; a call to higher achievement for the good People of Nigeria.
“Thank you for your audience.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
May Nigeria Succeed!”