*Vows to mobilise students, CSOs, others to push for action
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has called for the immediate arrest of the former Minister of Aviation and for him to be thoroughly investigated on the role he played in the Nigeria Air scandal.
A statement issued by the National President of AYCF, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, said that Nigeria is not a banana republic where anything goes, stressing that the likes of Senator Hadi Sirika and his cohorts should not be let go of the embarrassment caused Nigeria as a nation.
Shettima recalled that the recent revelation by the interim Managing Director of the so called “Nigerian Airline” Captain Dapo Olumide, when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Aviation, where he disclosed that the Nigeria Aircraft used for unveiling of the Nigeria Air was rented from Ethiopian Airline was a slap on Nigerian faces, hence perpetrators should not be allowed to go Scott free.
He observed that rather than the former aviation minister going round media houses giving unsatisfactory explanations, the EFCC should wade into the matter urgently by arrestimg him for proper questioning and prosecution.
” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has already started demonstrating that it is no longer going to be business as usual in Nigeria, he should also go a step further by given an immediate order to the anti graft agency to bring Former minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika to book to serve as deterrent to others going forward.
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“The action of Hadi Sirika amounts to deception and breach of trust that should not go un-punished, He must be made to face the law, particularly in the face of absolute disregard to the rule of law and entire justice system by proceeding on the unveiling against the order of a competent court of law.
“This national embarrassment and waste of resources incurred on the country would have been averted if he had listened to advices, yet Hadi Sirika went ahead knowing it was a charade, to deceive Nigerians and allegedly pocket billions to himself”. AYCF said.
AYCF President said, in the event that the EFCC fails to yield to this national call and do the needful with immediate effect, the forum would be left with no option but to take legal action against the former Minister untill he is made to pay for the embarrassment he has caused the country.
” We will also mobilize CSOs, activists, NGOs, students and others to take to the streets across the country until he is brought to book. But we hope we will not be pushed to the wall to take such action, enough of this embarrassment, we must get it right in Nigeria “.
