Kaduna based human rights group, Centrum Initiative for Development and Fundamental Rights Initiative (CEDRA), has given Governor Nasir El-Rufai 48 hours ultimatum within which to send his Special Adviser on Investments Promotion, Mr. Jimmy A. Lawal, packing or be prepared to face public court.
This is even as CEDRA which claimed that their members worked for the emergence of El-Rufai during the electioneering campaigns to ensure his victory as governor, said it regretted working for the governor’s victory.
The group's ultimatum coming few days to El-Rufai’s first 100 days in office is seen as a stimulating tune that may set the tone of things to take place in the state in the days ahead.
CEDRA insist that Lawal is a character enmeshed in multiple scandals in the private sector and also allegedly wanted in the USA for fraud related offences, saying; "Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are."
Chairman of the group, Dr. John Danfulani told journalists in Kaduna at a press conference that as long as Lawal remain in office as Special Adviser, the government of El-Rufai will suffer moral deficiency and lack of trust from the people of the state.
As soon as El-Rufai appointed Lawal, there were widespread criticism of the appointment by some stakeholders in the state owing to his non indigeneship background as well as his
alleged past corrupt dealings in the private sector.
Danfulani further said; "We believe that if El-Rufai's claim of running a transparent, sensitive, responsive and credible government is true, he should immediately sack Mr. Jimmy Lawal so that he can go and clear himself of multifaceted allegations hanging on his neck.
"If indeed Mr. Lawal is wanted in USA, what happens if the State has business with any American firm or organization and the Special Adviser on Investments Promotion is needed to do some paper work, how will he be there? .
"If El-Rufai insists on keeping a man that Google search of his name will give thousands of links carrying scandalous stories in his government, then there is more than meet the eye in the entire affairs.
"To this end, we are giving Governor El-Rufai 48 hours ultimatum to relief Mr. Lawal of the appointment, or we will continue to petition him until he rescinds the decision of appointing a questionable character into his cabinet," the group noted.
He also said; "It is unfortunate that the signs we are seeing are surely not too encouraging and the best way to stop mustard seeds of dictatorship on the fertile ground of our democracy is to spread on it the herbicide of freedom through speaking out and resistance.
"You never know a man's character until you give him power, we gave El-Rufai power and he has decided to show us his real character by implementing anti-people policies."
-Amos Dunia
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