Falana faults critics of bailout funds to states

Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana has berated critics of President Muhammed Buhari over the bail-out given to states saying those opposing the action are callous.

Besides, the legal luminary tasked university teachers to ask questions over the N1.3trillion promised intervention by the past government out of which only 200billion was released since 2013.

On the opposition to the bail out funds, Falana specifically described opponents of such moves as going against the dictates of the Bible where it is said the labourer deserves his wage.

The legal luminary said those opposing a good life for the poor masses must have their heads examined.

Falana who spoke while serving as Moderator at the interactive forum organized by the university of Ibadan (UI) campus unions for 13 Vice-chancellorship aspirants held at the Trenchard Hall of the institution said about N7trillion has been used by the federal government as bail-out for the parasitic ruling class in the last seven years.

He also challenged the University to continue to engage government on issues and educate the public on key public issues in order to make the Institution maintain its relevance.

The programme which was organized by the staff unions on campus under the chairmanship of Professor Nelson Fashina said that the forum was to allow a dialogue with the university community and be able to hold any of the candidates accountable for the promises they made while campaigning.

Those who presented their agenda among the aspirants include Professors O.O. Layiwola (Institute of African Studies), O.O. Akinyinka (Pediatrics), F.O. Egbokhare (Linguistics and African Languages), B.O. Fagbemi (Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology). Others are Professors L. Popoola (Forest Resources Management), A.I. Olayinka (Geology), A.I. Oluleye (Industrial and Production Engineering), O.D. Olaleye (Virology), A.E. Falaye (Aquaculture and Fisheries Management) and A.A. Agbaje (Political Science).

Falana said, “The labourer deserves his wages and anybody who is challenging the decision of the President as to the bailout must have his head examined. Rather we should be challenging the bailout that has been given to the comprador-burgiosie in the last five years, which amounted to over N7trillion. AMCON was set to take care of the debt of the rich who took billions from our banks and could not pay back. In one fell sweep N5.6trillion debt was taken over by that institution.”

In the last five years, N780billion was given to Bank of Industry to revitalize our ailing industry. Where are the industries? N200billion for Aviation Intervention Fund. N200b Agriculture Intervention Fund, N100 billion Textile Intervention fund, N213billion to those who bought NEPA, and are currently giving us darkness. Over N7trillion has been given to our parasitic ruling class in the last seven years; the federal government promised an intervention fund of N1.3trillion for the revatilisation of the Universities but only released 200billion in 2013 just to call off the strike and since then, nothing has been released.”

He also called on the university authority to allow student unionism saying, “If you do not allow our children to practice democracy in tertiary institutions, they will end up going to the national assembly to fight themselves as the current national assembly members are doing.”