Coalition hails Buhari over apology on sacked VCs, governing councils

Withdraws suit against President, minister
Less than five days after his public apology over the dissolution of the governing council of universities, a human rights organisation, Coalition of Civil Society Groups (CCSG), has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his decision.

The Coalition also said it has withdrawn its case against the President and the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu.
It said: “As a mark of respect and show of solidarity to your administration, the Executive Council members of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups after an emergency meeting have decided to withdraw our suit at the National Industrial Court (NIC/ABJ/64/2016) filed against (the President) and the Federal Ministry of Education in respect to this matter.

“This is our own way of saying thank you for yielding to the voices of several stakeholders who appealed to you to revisit your decision, which though taken in good faith but known to all Nigerians to be predicated on the wrong counsel of an overvaulting public officer in the person of Mr. Adamu Adamu.

As we journey through to 2019 under your leadership, we expect more democratic practices as well as sound political and economic reforms at all times.”

According to the organisation, while Buhari’s decision to reverse an action taken in error was highly commendable, the constant embarrassment brought to his government by those who believe that it was still business as usual “should be ruthlessly addressed to serve as deterrent to others.”

The CCSG, in a letter to Buhari signed by its President, Mr. Etuk Bassey Williams and Secretary-General, Malam Abubakar Ibrahim and obtained by journalists yesterday in Abuja, described the President’s apology as a noble and timely action, which has put him on the right side of history.

While calling on the President to march his words with action as a way to tell a democratic story of a change government under President Buhari, the coalition said: “Nigerians are watching and anxiously waiting to see this open apology made by you come into fruition because much is expected of this government.”

According to the group, the President’s remorse “will forever remain a point of exemplary reference for the present crop of African leaders that offering apologies or reversing mistakes is not a sign of weakness but a show of courage to thread on a path meant only for the brave.”

The CCSG said: “May we humbly remind you Sir that our coalition was the first to call your attention to this error through the office of the Minister of Education when this decision was first taken as we observed that your action was predicated upon an ill-conceived advice that emanated from Mr. Adamu Adamu.”

“It was after the failure of several appeals that this decision be reversed by the Minister of Education that we embarked on several peaceful protests to call the attention of all relevant stakeholders, including the National Assembly, to this fundamental flaw, which if allowed to stand, will set a very bad precedent capable of tainting your administration as one that has no regard for the rule of law.

“This is one embarrassment too many by charlatans who are yet to understand that this change which is sweeping through all facets of the Nigerian society has truly come to stay.”