THE President, Christian Association Nigeria (CAN),
The cleric who made this call also asked both the religious and political leaders to join hands together with the civil society organisations and international agencies to stop untimely deaths in the country which according to him has given Nigeria a bad name worldwide as a barbaric nation where value is not attached to human life.
Speaking at the flag off of ‘Ecumenism for Development and Peace Initiative'(EDAPI), a non-governmental organisation with a slogan “#TOO YOUNG TO DIE” at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso recently, Ayokunle regrets that many Nigerians die untimely due to unchecked murderous activities of gunmen and Fulani herdsmen by the law enforcement agents. This according to him has put sorrow in many people and communities all over the nation, especially, the north.
Speaking further he submitted, “It is regrettable that many Nigerians are living in poverty and are not able to fulfil their dreams because of low income or lack of employment at all. Substantial welfare policy as well is not forthcoming from the government.
“A very sad case is that of Leah Sharibu and the Chibok girls that are still in captivity for months and years now either because of their faith or religious malady of some crazy Islamic fundamentalists. I call on the Federal Government and the security agencies to put their acts together and release all the captives before it is too late. These people are too young to die. It is the constitutional responsibility of government to protect the lives and property of the governed”.
Speaking further, Ayokunle said, EDAPI ( non-governmental organisation), observe the happenings in our society and it is out to speak for all those in captivity and communities that are under constant attacks, especially in the north of the country. whereby lives are being lost on daily basis, for decades with impunity. He urged all to, therefore, join EDAPI to promote this initiative tagged #too young to die# campaign so as to avert untimely, careless and avoidable deaths. Save a life today.
EDAPI says NO to careless driving, burn out, ethnic violence, rioting, suicide bombing, human trafficking, bloodshed, drug abuse, religious violence, political thuggery, cultism, domestic violence, abortion, alcoholism, ritual killings etc”.
The CAN President who is also the President, the Nigerian Baptist Convention appeals to private and public sectors to embrace EDAPI whose mission is “To improve the well-being and rights of the less privileged through holistic empowerment approach, inter-faith relationships, community mobilization, peace work, reconciliation, research and advocacy for effective and self-driven societal transformation without any form of discrimination.”
In his remark, the Director of the programme, Rev Dr Testimony Onifade who called on governments, embassies, school campuses, churches and other public and private institutions to join the CAN President in his bid to reduce the menace of untimely death listed in the objectives of EDAPI to Baptist Pastors who gathered for the 120th Anniversary Celebration and 2018 Ministers’ Conference.
This promise was fulfilled in December 2018 when the Director-General rewarded several officers of the Agency who demonstrated exemplary characters and dedication to duties.
The latest action by the Management was the peak of a series of internal disciplinary measures earlier taken in strict compliance with the provisions of the Civil Service Rules and other extant labour laws.
In a letter issued to the affected Officers, the Agency outlined the offences committed by them to include arranging professional sureties for suspects for a fee, providing information about the operations of the Agency to outsiders for a fee thereby endangering the lives of Officers of the Agency, collection of bribe and aiding the escape of suspects.
Others are making love advances to potential victims of trafficking as a condition for rendering service to them, absence without official leave (AWOL) from July 2017 to May 2018 and financial embarrassment among others.
Adekoye added that the offences were categorized under corruption, divided loyalty, sabotage and gross indiscipline contrary to the Civil Service Regulations.
Commenting on the situation, the Director-General, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, who expressed sadness over the development said though it was a difficult decision for management, the Agency had to take the step in the right direction to enhance the global trust entrusted in the Agency and to serve as a deterrence to others
“I am particularly sad over the situation, but the laid down procedures must be followed. The Agency is not only important to the Nigerian government but the entire global community and so we cannot afford to do anything less. I believe that other Officers of the Agency will take dressing from this development”, the NAPTIP boss said.
The breakdown of the disciplinary actions indicates that a total of six officers were sacked, two slammed with a one-year loss of seniority while one was retired compulsorily.
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