What's in a name? It's always good to know who one is addressing. Through experience in various fora, I've always been wary of people who don't want to write under their own legal name. Some people adopt a pen-name for anonymity to avoid the social repercussions of what they say. Sometimes one person adopts multiple pseudonyms by which to both attack his opponents and to praise himself – in a given discussion ( "That was nice, Harry"). Have previously been bewildered by the question that I asked myself : "What sort of Nigerian adopts the pen-name Rafsanjani ?" Maybe a fanatical Shia Muslim. For years I've come across "Rafsanjani" and possibly even interacted with him in various Nigerian fora or social media and thought, since I know his Iranian counterpart so well through years (1987-1995) of very strong connections with the Islamic Republic of Iran (during which time I consumed pistachio nuts from his farm and wrote a supportive letter or two to Kayhan and the Tehran Times) and thought - on the positive side, that at least he ( the Nigerian Rafsanjani) must be reform-oriented. And that he certainly is:
Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) Executive Director Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Acting General Secretary West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF),Head of Transparency International (Nigeria), Amnesty International (Nigeria)Board Chairman and probably, with a string of academic degrees and professional accolades behind his name too.
So, of course it's three cheers to Rafsanjani for this and other inputs in this vein. He and what he
represents underscores the importance of Civil Society – it must be strengthened, empowered, more informed - the information must be disseminated to the masses - at all levels, and acted upon, in order to safeguard and enhance DEMOCRACY . Especially for smaller countries, I have always set great store by IDEA , Sweden
With regard to the matter at hand - truth is here plausible, can be explained, but the reality is so tragic - politics the fastest way from rags to riches and a senate that's partially a den of thieves, here too, "betrayed by a mad Senate which no longer sleeps with its wife", a judiciary that's being controlled by the political Mafia – ostensibly a corrupt senate that ( self-interest) refuses to confirm Magu for fear that Magu is going to investigate them for corruption and bring their ass to Justice - refuse to confirm Magu, thus obstructing President Buhari's pursuit of Justice for the corrupt ones. so tragic that when such a reality is presented to a democratic western audience as documented reality it passes as fantasy fiction or satire. (Yesterday I read a large chunk of Oga Okey Ndibe's "Never Look an American in the Eye", thus far, nice, domesticated, unctuous, punctilious, straightforward enough, at home in his social and cultural realities/ habitats, no painful science fiction or satire there ) Thinking of many events and this different breed of cat…
If only it could be a short era of military tribunals, line em all up - water-boarding to vomit the money , vomit or be hanged, upside down… at the public square. They would think twice before daring to loot the patrimony of long suffering Nigerians. Nigerians should no longer be Shuffering and Shmiling.
Reality : Muslims (real ones) pray seventeen times a day "ihdinas siraatal mustaqeem" - Guide us along the straight path ( "The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the path of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray."
Another reality : " A thief, while breaking into a home in order to steal, calls upon God to help him ( Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, Founder of the Chabad Movement)
Christians pray, " Give us this day our daily bread" - I guess the thieves receive their daily bread, escape justice, give thanks and praises….
Do the thieves also pray for Nigeria?
Pray for us.
Cornelius
On Friday, 16 December 2016 17:50:35 UTC+1, Rafsanjani wrote:
PRESS RELEASE
Magu's Non-Confirmation: Civil Society Raises Concerns
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Transparency International-Nigeria (TI) and Zero-corruption Coalition (ZCC) expresses concern at the circumstances surrounding the non-conformation by the Nigerian Senate of Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), upon his appointment by the President.
We find it worrisome that the confirmation of the head of such a strategic anti-corruption agency is taking so such a long time, having been first appointed in November 2015, and worse still at a time when the nation is reinvigorating the fight against corruption. CISLAC, TI- Nigeria and ZCC wonders if there is more to the unfolding events than meets the eyes.
We are further alarmed at the circumstances preceding the last session in which the Upper Chamber failed to confirm the appointee. The fact that the session was preceded by a rowdy sitting and the Senators resorted to a closed-door session further highlights the lack of transparency in the confirmation process.
We find the Senate's reliance of a Security Report from the Department of State Services (DSS) as a reason for the rejection of the President's appointee very curious. While we acknowledge that the Senators have the power of confirmation, as well as, the right of recourse to relevant institutions for vetting, this must be applied strictly for public good and in very transparent and accountable manner.
CISLAC, TI and ZCC therefore calls on the Senate to make public the security report it depended upon to reject the confirmation. Merely reading it out in a closed session and applying it to arrive at such far reaching decisions fall short of the expectations of the electorates that they represent in the exercise of their powers.
We call on the DSS to publicly confirm that they are the source of the report in question and authenticate the content for the Nigerian Public to know. Considering that the DSS is also an agency in the executive arm, it should indicate if the report was also shared with the President who appoints the EFCC chairman. This is to ensure that it is discharging its functions as expected by law and procedure.
We call on the Presidency to publicly state its position on the unfolding issues so that Nigerians can have a clear picture and draw their own conclusions as public support is crucial to a successful fight against corruption.
The position of the EFCC chair is a very sensitive one and its occupant must be held to the highest levels of integrity and credibility. A situation where individuals and groups hide under clandestine and unverified documents and reports to take decisions that could undermine the integrity of individuals and institutions at the forefront of the anti-corruption efforts will be a disservice to the nation and must not be allowed to stand.
We notify the Senate that their inability to come clean on these would only fuel the perception that their failure to confirm the appointment of the EFCC chairman who has acted for one year is linked to their personal and selfish desire to protect themselves and scuttle the fight against corruption of which several of their members have been beneficiaries.
We urge all well-meaning Nigerians and the media to kick against all manners of unjust decision or resolution by the Nigerian Senate to sabotage the on-going anti-corruption fight in the country.
Signed:
Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani)
Executive Director of CISLAC
Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani)
Executive Director
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)
Acting General Secretary West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)
Head of Transparency International (Nigeria)
Amnesty International (Nigeria)Board Chairman
No. 16, House 3, P.O.W. Mafemi Crescent, Off Solomon Lar way,
Behind Chida Hotel near Daily Trust News Paper,
Utako District, Abuja-Nigeria.
Website: www.cislacnigeria.net
Email: rafsa...@
cislacnigeria.net , rafsanjanikano@gmail.com ,rafsanj...@aol.com, cislac
@cislacnigeria.net ,GSM: +234-8033844646, +234-8052370333
CISLAC HAS UN ECOSOC CONSULTATIVE STATUS
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