•President must constitute proper govt, says Ozekhome
By Ismail Omipidan and Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai has reviewed the 2018 budget and declared that there is nothing to clearly show that next year would be any different from what has happened in 2017.
He also declared that nothing will change in Buhari’s government in 2018.
Yakasai, however, said “two things will surprise me in 2018, if they ever happen. One, if the president prosecutes former secretary to the government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, for corruption. If that happens, it will be surprising to me. Two, if president Buhari says he is no going to contest for the presidency in 2019, it will be surprising to me. Other than that, I expect every other thing to be same. Nothing will change.”
On his part, rights activist and constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said Nigerians expect President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) to put a proper government in place “before we begin to talk of his administration giving Nigerians democracy dividends.”
On expectations in 2018, Ozekhome noted that the administration, as presently constituted, will not give Nigerians desired dividends of democracy.
“Expectations? That is a high word. Nigerians’ expectations, not mine, is that PMB should first form and put in place, a government properly so called, before we begin to talk of PMB giving Nigerians democracy dividends.
“For the first time in the sad history of Nigeria, Nigerians spent Christmas at patrol stations,queuing for fuel while government officials are shamelessly diverting and selling the available fuel to their cronies and highest bidders. A government that continuously “fights” corruption within itself, with sweet smelling sasarobia perfume whilst fighting so-called corruption of opposition and critics of government with insecticides,pesticides and herbicides.
“The government protects its corrupt officials involved in mind-boggling blatant larceny of $25 billion contracts, warehousing of N50 billion from the Treasury Single Account and shamelessly requesting for $1billion to fight Boko Haram it claimed to have defeated since December 2015.
“To discuss this government is to engage in share banality and Baba Sala’s Awada Kerikeri histrionics and buffoonery. I dey siddon look. I dey laugh!” said Ozekhome.