Nigeria must learn from the resignation of South Korean PM---APC
(Nigeria) The All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on
those in charge of the country's affairs, led by President Goodluck Jonathan,
to hold themselves to higher standards of conduct as a way of ensuring good governance
and winning global respect for the country.
APC in a statement in Lagos on Sunday by its Interim
National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that the resignation of
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, over his government's
much-criticized poor handling of the April 16th ferry disaster that left over
300 dead or missing, must jolt the conscience of Nigerian officials who have
been found wanting when they have found themselves in similar situations.
''Until our leaders hold themselves to higher standards, as
it is done in other democracies around the world, and take responsibility when necessary,
they will continue to perpetuate impunity, celebrate mediocrity and cling to
power at all cost, even when it is clear that there are not serving any other
interest but theirs,'' it said.
APC said the resignation of the South Korean Prime Minister
was the culmination of widespread public criticism of the government over the handling
of the ferry disaster, especially the slow pace of recovery of the bodies of
victims and the conflicting information given by the government over the
tragedy.
The Prime Minister also stepped down even though he had paid
a visit to the families of the victims, just like the President of South Korea.
''Compare this with the situation in our country, where
about 20 job seekers died in a stampede that was directly caused by poor
planning and execution by a government agency on March 15, 2014, and for which the
supervising minister blamed the victims instead of accepting responsibility.
''Compare this with the aftermath of the killing of 75
citizens and wounding of over 200 in a bombing at a bus station in Nyanya,
after which the President quickly embarked on an illegal campaign rally in Kano
during which he was dancing 'Skelewu' on the graves of the victims, or his trip
to Ibadan for a birthday party.
''Compare this with business-as-usual posture of the Federal
Government and the playing up of the controversy surrounding Tuesday's political
rally by the PDP in Adamawa State, even as over 200 school girls have continued
to languish in the den of the insurgents in the Sambisa Forest.
''Till date, President Jonathan has not visited the families
of the abducted school children to offer them support and succour, neither has
he visited the families of the students who were brutally murdered in Yobe
State in February. We cannot continue like this if we really want our country
to be seen as a worthy member of the comity of nations,'' the party said.
It called on President Jonathan, who has been disingenuously
portrayed as Nigeria's equivalent of Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama and other great
leaders of our time, to lead the way in showing that Nigeria is indeed a part
of the civilized world, where every human life is considered worthy and
sacrosanct.
''Politics must not stand in the way of decency and human sensibilities.
Re-election campaign must not take precedence over the welfare and security of
Nigerians. It is time for President Jonathan to show leadership,'' APC said.
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