NIS recruitment tragedy: Litigation begins
The hearing of the suit filed by a group of Nigerians against Abba Moro, the minister of internal affairs, over the deaths of 16 applicants for jobs at Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on March 15, will commence before Abdul Kafarati, justice of a federal high court in Abuja, on Monday.
The NIS recruitment exercise involved 6.5 million Nigerians who converged on various stadia across the country. Sixteen people were confirmed dead in the stampede that followed the exercise, while scores of people sustained injuries.
A day after the incident, Moro (pictured) said the cause of death was due to impatience of the applicants and their unwillingness to follow instructions, absolving himself of blame in the tragedy.
His comments on the death of the applicants irked many Nigerians who demanded his resignation.
However, he did not resign nor was he sacked.
According to a statement released on Sunday by Ikeazor Akaraiwe, one of the plaintiffs’ counsels, the suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/694/2014 is between Patience Nonye Omezie, Kasim Yusuf Suleiman, Okojie Theophilus Arebamen, Godwin Morka and the government of Nigeria, in particular, the minister of internal affairs.
Lead counsel for the plaintiffs are Funke Adekoya (SAN), JS Okutepa (SAN), Ayo Obe, Ikeazor Akaraiwe, and Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?-Your input and feedback please.This can be fine tuned.
We are just emerging from the Ebola challenge. So we can do it.
One good news is that Nigeria is being commended for its ability to defeat Ebola.
This is One great bright spot in the middle of darkness.
In the midst of this bright spot are 90 dark ones: decadent infrastructure, education, refinery, corruption, impunity etc.
BE THE CHANGE CAMPAIGN
I am thinking we can use this platform to do a pre-launch of a “BE THE CHANGE CAMPAIGN”
The pre-launch is a sensitization drive as a prelude to the main Launch.
The launch will be a specific date where everyone will adopt a no going back,from this day forward attitude.
I am currently out of the Country.Each time I travel out,the contrast between what we have come to accept as “normal” in Nigeria and what obtains outside Nigeria is usually so glaring.
Somebody said when an ” ill becomes a norm,another ill rises up to take its place.Gradually the society keeps plunging deeper and deeper.That is sadly becoming the case in Nigeria.
The line between good and bad is becoming very grey and almost indistinguishable.
The good becomes the bad.If you are not stealing,there is “something wrong with you”
People lobby and contest for positions not to serve but to steal.
Family members and friends celebrate appointments for no other reason but because “its our turn to chop”.
Our shock level is getting so big that almost nothing shocks us anymore.We can absorb anything.
When a governor performs at 25% ,we hail him,because others are not performing at all or perform at abysmal levels.
WAKE UP CALL
I think its time for us to wake up and reignite our consciousness. The task of restoring our dignity and pride is squarely on our shoulders.
It takes just one person or a group of committed ones to stir any change.It will never happen on its own.
We need a massive and major campaign that will ginger the sensibilities of people .
I believe its an idea whose time has come.It is time something is done about the state of Nigeria by someone.
That can be you.We have a choice,fold our arms and look,expecting manner from heaven.
BE THE CHANGE CAMPAIGN
This campaign will take the form of a media awareness starting with a press conference.
It will encourage everyone to become a “change agent” by starting from where we are.
Encourage everyone to take responsibility and Stop the blame game and make a commitment to yourself to do what is right.
Have a “BE THE CHANGE LABEL” that owners clip on the front of their jackets/dresses.
Everyone recruit one.Create a bandwagon and challenge colleagues and associates to join in.
Create a Be the change website for sign ups and feedbacks.
Owners adopt a 4 way creed:
1.I will humble myself:Admit I am part of the problem.That we are all guilty and in need of God’s mercy.”No holier than thou attitude”.No matter what,we are not doing enough.I therefore commit to become part of the solution.For Nigeria to rise,I must rise first.
2.I will seek God’s face for Nigeria daily.I will pray and ask that God’s will be done in Nigeria.
3.I will commit to doing the right thing at all times.I will quit all known sin,wickedness and compromise in my life,my household,place of work and in the community.I will consciously become an influence for good.When I see a wrong,I will join others to correct it and speak up.
4.I will desist from a conscious attitude of impunity.(No more one way,No more cutting corners)
I will make my own share of sacrifice for the good of Nigeria.
SO HELP ME GOD
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