The uproar over the regulation by the Financial Regulatory Council of Nigeria, FRCN stipulating time duration for leaders of religious organisations has elicited interest from far and near. Equally remarkable for some was the speed with which President Muhammadu Buhari responded to the development. Within 36 hours Pastor Enoch Adeboye made known his decision to step aside as National Overseer of the RCCG in compliance with the FRCN regulation, President Muhammadu Buhari stepped in with the dismissal of Mr. Jim Obazee from his position.
President Buhari’s prompt response in the face of other aching national issues which the president appeared not to respond to has drawn diverse reactions. Is Nigeria’s president choosy on issues he responds to?
A cross section of some prominent Nigerians responded to the development thus:
I am yet to come to terms why the government will get involved in the affairs of churches. This issue has made one conclude that Buhari does not comment on issues that do not affect him or his government directly and which is very unfortunate.
Anti-Corruption war is a ruse– Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN
My position is very simple. When one has discretionary powers especially a President or somebody that is in an executive position, discretionary powers are not mandatorily to be carried out on the expectations of the public. What guides the exercise of discretionary powers is whether such discretionary power has been exercised in justifiable means based on good conscience, equity, and natural justice. It is left for the officer once it is left at his discretion to consider the surrounding circumstances of each situation.
Suspension of law has political inclination—Fayose, Ekiti Governor
I am worried, and I begin to wonder why the government was so much in a hurry to take decisions as related to Pastor Adeboye. And I begin to wonder why they are in a hurry? Did they succumb to the threat coming from the church that they will also mobilise against them come 2019? Was it about that? And if they are talking about corruption, then I wonder why they are overlooking the issue of EFCC chairman. They play low on those issues that are very fundamental. One begins to wonder the kind of government we have that the fight against corruption has become so selective. I am worried, and I get panicked about it.
Magu’s case is different – Ogor Rep Leo Ogor, Minority Leader, House of Representatives compares the action of the president on the FRCN boss and on issues raised against Ibrahim Magu of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
I think these are two different issues, two different scenarios entirely. First, when you look at the Magu issue, it is a responsibility before the Senate to clear him. There is a clear process; there is a procedure, and the procedure is still on. The AGF also has set up an investigative team to look into those allegations. The FRCN turned itself into a law writing agency, and it didn’t even wait, all of a sudden started implementing the law. It usurped the powers of the National Assembly, and outside that, it started implementing without even getting clearance or getting back to the National Assembly.
The president was not late in his response to Kaduna killings -Lawrence Alobi, retired Commissioner of Police
By Emman Ovuakporie, Gbenga Oke, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Joseph Erunke and Johnbosco Agbakwuru
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