Obviously expecting President Muhammadu Buhari to use tomorrow morning’s presidential broadcast to spell out a ‘New Deal’ for the nation, Abuja based NGO, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) says prompt actions are called for on what it calls contentious socio-economic and political issues awaiting such actions for secure, productive, peaceful and progressive nation. CISLAC expressed worry in a statement by Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, its Executive Director Sunday afternoon in Abuja over what it described as recurring but unhealthy and divisive agitations for separation by different groups from respective geo-political zones in the country through threats, verbal hostility and hateful speeches which if not holistically addressed could pose grievous challenges to peaceful-coexistence, unity and diversity of Nigeria. CISLAC’s list of worries extended over to social vices such as kidnapping, violent attacks and resurgent insurgency in the country over which it is demanding proactive strategies and actions by the President to secure lives and property of Nigerians.
While joining the rest of the country to share in the jubilation over the President’s safe return, the NGO, however, drew attention to emerging threats and physical attacks on the anti-graft facilities and operatives. Alleging that the attacks were by sponsored bandits, it claims the motive was to subdue existing achievements and progress in the anti-corruption fight, demanding enabling environment for various anti-corruption and anti-graft institutions and their operatives for sustainable and progressive anti-corruption fight in the country. Describing tertiary institutions as underdeveloped and poorly funded, it invites the president to intervene by respecting and honouring Federal Government-ASUU agreements for well-funded, productive and uninterrupted educational activities in the country, the same argument it makes for youth unemployment.
