Enahoro got it all wrong on Peace Corps
Before getting down to the nitty-gritty of the issue at hand, I wish to openly confess here that Mr. Eugene Enahoro’s column in Daily Trust Newspaper appeals to me greatly on account of the way and manner he marshals out his facts. As a professional journalist, lays his facts upon facts with the dexterity of […]
Before getting down to the nitty-gritty of the issue at hand, I wish to openly confess here that Mr. Eugene Enahoro’s column in Daily Trust Newspaper appeals to me greatly on account of the way and manner he marshals out his facts. As a professional journalist, lays his facts upon facts with the dexterity of a professional bricklayer. But I was terribly disappointed with his article titled ‘’Peace Corps: Buhari is Right’’, which appeared in Daily Trust of Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Reading through the entire piece, I discovered that it was quite unlike Eugene Enahoro that I know of as the article was a mere concoction and, fabricated to distort the reality of the situation on ground concerning the Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill.
The aforementioned article, apart from containing some misrepresentation of facts, it is equally a mish-mash of fundamental inexactitudes, which if not promptly corrected, stands the risk of been swallowed hook, line and sinker by unsuspecting members of the public. One of such misrepresentation of fact is that the NPC is domiciled with the Federal Ministry of Interior. On the contrary, NPC is domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.
For those who could read between the lines, it is easily verifiable that the writer allowed his open disdain for the National Assembly to becloud his sense of objectivity, so much so that he could not see anything good about the Peace Corps. The writer described the constitutional action of National Assembly in passing the NPC Bill as reeking of ‘’insincerity bordering on fraud’’. I simply find it incredible that an experienced writer like Enahoro could whimsically attack the nation’s parliament in such a reckless and unguarded manner. Members of the NASS acted in consonance with their constitutional mandate and in the larger interest of the Nigerian society by passing the Peace Corps Bill. On this, I stand to be corrected.
Equally bewildering is Mr. Enahoro’s decision to a blistering launch attack on the person of the National Commandant of the Corps, Dr Dickson Akoh, whom he accused of extorting money from applicants, further alleging that ‘’Many of them parted with sums as high as fifty-thousand Naira to purchase uniforms and other paraphernalia.’’
In order to educate Enahoro and his ilk the truth is that the Corps has never collected N50,000 from any applicant. Dr Akoh of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, who has earned worldwide applause on account of his integrity, openness, transparency and above all, fidelity to Rule of Law. How does money the Enahoro acknowledged as payment for uniform translate to extortion?
Similarly, the writer’s conclusion that the ‘’only logical reason why they are now fighting to be taken over by the government is to justify the sums the obtained from applicants who were guaranteed secure employment’’ is rather premeditated and subjective. At this juncture, it is necessary to state that the Corps has been collecting N40,000 from successful candidates after enlistment and that sum covers the following items: Service Uniform/Sewing; Beret and Plum; Line Yard and Belt; Customized T-shirt and Fez-Cap; Nigeria and Peace Corps Service Badges; Training Manual; Brochure, Camp Identity Card; Certificate of training; Service ID Card and Medical Care throughout the duration of the Camp.
Rogers Edor Ochela is the Media Consultant to Peace Corps of Nigeria, PCN.