WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA OF BRINGING NIGERIAN PRISONERS FROM EUROPE AND OTHER COUNTRIES TO THE COUNTRY TO COMPLETE THEIR JAIL TERMS? DON’T YOU THINK THIS CAN HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR? OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM?
Actually there is no implication. The man being returned or exchanged is already a prisoner which means his trials had been concluded based on the law of the place where the offences were committed. He has already been convicted and when he is coming to Nigeria he is not undergoing fresh trials or review of his trial. It is just on humanitarian ground that the prisoner is asked to return to his home to serve his sentence so that he will continue to enjoy the dignity of his human person.
?Where the prisoner is convicted in a foreign country and is exchanged for a convict serving in Nigeria, he will serve in his place. Whether what the man did there is an offence under Nigerian law or not is immaterial. The material thing is that, as at the time the person is being returned, he is being returned as a convict or a prisoner. You know that many Nigerians die in prisons overseas and they are thrown away and nothing is being done about it.
It is our duty to protect the right of the citizens of our country.
?
DON’T YOU THINK THAT THE NUMBER OF PRISONERS THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO NIGERIA IS GOING TO CREATE MORE SOCIAL PROBLEMS??
The people are Nigerians and even if they are not prisoners they are ordinarily entitled to return to Nigeria and their population will also be added to the population of Nigeria. They are even suffering because they are not in their father land and that is why we are saying fine, you have convicted them, let them remain under punishment but continue to serve their jail terms? in their home where they’ll be sure that their country will protect them. I don’t see it as increasing the social challenges, we are having here. What we are trying to do is ensuring the dignity of Nigeria citizens anywhere in the world.
?
WHAT IS YOUR COMMENT ON THE PLANNED REMOVAL OF FUEL SUBSIDY?
The issues of fuel subsidy and electricity tariff are not going to raise new controversy because the controversies are already there. It is a normal thing because ordinarily government will want to get as much taxes, levies and charges off the people and the people will naturally want to evade such payments, but the truth is government does not mint money the way the man on the street understands it. Governments, like individuals, make money through transactions and business. In the case of petroleum, the major attraction of government is upward review of the tariffs on the fuel prices because of the abuses in the system.? The price in the country is higher but the difference is subsidised. What this means is that you are abusing the subsidy, the subsidies which the tax payers are paying for. But? a situation where government itself continue to defraud the people, you find out that irrespective of the amount of money we realise through the new price regime of fuel and electricity, a few individuals may also feel that they can cart it away. That will become an issue of concern.?
?
WHAT IF THE REMOVAL OF FUEL SUBSIDY LED TO INCREASES IN PRICES OF GOODS AND SERVICES WHICH WILL INVARIABLY AFFECT THE COMMON MAN IN THE SOCIETY? DO YOU THINK GOVERNMENT WILL BE ABLE TO CUSHION THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL?
I think that government could remove fuel subsidy and probably ensure food security like in most of the developed countries. If you go to US or
UK, you will find out that the cost of feeding is very low because there is food security and you don’t pay any tax in food items. Also, if it is educational materials, you don’t pay any tax but taxes could now be imposed on some other items used by privileged people.?
?So if fuel subsidy is removed I will say that government should subsidise the education sector. If the fuel subsidy is removed, money coming into the central purse will increase.
?
SENATOR CHUKWUMERIJE SAID THE IGBOS WILL NOT GET THE PRESIDENCY ON A PLATTER OF GOLD. HE ARGUED THAT THE MASSOB MAY HAVE TO COME IN, AS OTHER MILITANT GROUPS LIKE THE OPC DID FOR OBASANJO AND NIGER DELTA MILITANTS FOR JONATHAN. WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS?
It is very bad that rascality has been so much rewarded in Nigeria such that if you don’t exhibit such rascality nobody will turn his eyes to your own side. I think that is the point he is trying to make. I don’t see him really justifying rascality. The point that he is trying to make is that the Igbo should not be taken for granted. If others can fight to get what they want, we also have what it takes to fight. But we don’t need to wait until we fight. Let us be given a chance that is the message he is passing across.
?