Bishop Francis Wale Ok
A cleric, Bishop Francis Wale-Oke, has urged the Senate to drop the ongoing process of amending the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Act.
He made the call at a news conference in Ibadan on “The State of the Nation” on Monday.
Oke, who is the President, Sword of the Spirit Ministries, described the proposed amendments as “self-serving and ill-timed and not in the interest of the nation”.
“Amending the Act will amount to further tying down the nation’s progress and effeminate the fight against corruption as being championed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“As a representative of the church, I am calling on the Senate to drop the move to amend the Act; the move is suspicious, ill-timed and self-serving,” he stated.
The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, is currently undergoing trial at the CCT over alleged failure to declare his assets when he was governor of Kwara between 2003 and 2011.
Oke stated that ongoing efforts by the senate to amend the Act put a mark on its integrity and dignity.
“Our expectation with this new administration was that the three arms of government would work hand-in-hand for the progress of this nation.
“However, this latest move by the Senate makes it to look like the legislative arm is trying to institutionalise and shield corruption.
“It is as if the Legislature is working against the change mantra of the Executive as seen in the scriptures that righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach.
“Thus, so long as we continue to shield corruption, we will be working against our future,” he stated.
As stated by him, the legislature must be seen to be fighting against corruption instead of encouraging it the way the CCT Act is about to be rendered a toothless bull dog if successfully amended.
He urged the senate to allow law to take its course and leave any amendment till an opportune time.
Oke stated that the church was fervently praying against perpetuation of corruption in the country, quoting verses from scriptures.
“Should the senate fail to heed the advice, it will not succeed because God is not delighted in unrighteousness.
“The church is saying no; Nigerians are saying no.
“God will step in and He will overturn their plan because He will not allow anybody to keep Nigeria down,” he stated.
The cleric, who stated that his call was not personal against Saraki, stated that the senate as an entity which superseded an individual or a group should save its credibility.
“Instead of dissipating energy on the amendment, the Senate should attend to critical issues in the nation, such as the budget, Chibok girls, infrastructure and human trafficking.
“We have pressing issues like epileptic power problem, deplorable infrastructure, the abducted Chibok girls, insecurity and fuel problem to be addressed by the senate,” he stated.
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