Re:CCSG and its storm in a tea kettle

Truth is universal and would stand the test of time no matter how long it takes. Truth cannot be suppressed and would always come out untainted irrespective of the depth of scrutiny or scientific analysis or test it is subjected to. Rather than fact being sacred, it is truth that is in fact sacred because […]

Truth is universal and would stand the test of time no matter how long it takes. Truth cannot be suppressed and would always come out untainted irrespective of the depth of scrutiny or scientific analysis or test it is subjected to. Rather than fact being sacred, it is truth that is in fact sacred because fact could be subjective but truth is immune to emotions or subjectivity.
Only truth can vindicate as lies of many years no matter how long will one day eventually be caught up with the truth. It is on this basis that we have decided to explore the opportunity of our right of reply to clear the air on so many allegations raised by Mohammed Haruna against the Coalition of Civil Society Groups in his Wednesday Column of March 23, 2016 titled “CCSG and its storm in a tea Kettle” in the Daily Trust newspapers, which generated a lot of reactions both locally and internationally in order to correct and put in perspective a piece that was crafted out of vendetta in pursuit of personal interest at the detriment of collective and national interest.
This is not to dignify anybody with an answer for a write up that was bereft of facts as rightly later acknowledged by Mohammed Haruna himself in his back page column of Wednesday, March 30, 2016 titled “Still on CCGS and its storm in a tea kettle” where he said “Whichever one the President is referring to, I owe my readers an unreserved apology for getting some of my facts wrong” or join issues on a piece that is beclouded by glaring sentiments as acknowledged again in the same column where he said “It got me worried that he would decline an opportunity to become one, especially since the nomination came from our mutual friend, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu” but rather an attempt to let Nigerians know the truth, which has been distorted by Mohammed Haruna who has carved for himself a reputation of mediocrity borne out of mental laziness to carryout simple research before hastily going to the pages of reputable newspapers to publish what can best be termed as fallacy.
The fact that so many respected stakeholders such as Prof. Yakubu Mohammed, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), Prof. Michael Faborode and Ray Ekpu and other notable newspapers’ editorials, Civil Society colleagues as well as the ever-conscious Nigerian Students’ led by its President Tijani Usman and others  to mention but a few all lend their voices in support of the stance of the Coalition on the dissolution of the governing councils of Universities and the 13 sacked Vice Chancellors, which was ultimately climaxed by the open apology of President Muhammadu Buhari after rescinding his decision is a testament to the strength of our credibility in analyzing issues dispassionately before taking  positions on the side of truth and rule of law rather than allowing pecuniary gain and destructive sentiments becloud our sense of judgment as already obviously displayed by Mohammed Haruna.
To describe as dubious our action to speak out against impunity is not only disheartening but says so much about how charlatans have turned the noble profession of journalism into a theatre of mockery all in a quest to do the bidding of their paymasters. It is a known fact even to those of little intelligence that the best way to discredit a message is to first of all discredit the messenger and this Mohammed Haruna did craftily by the erroneous chronicle of some of our past events and positions on salient national issues in order to discredit our position on the dissolution of the governing councils of Universities and the sacking of 13 Vice Chancellors orchestrated by his friend Mallam Adamu Adamu.
The rally that was organized by the Coalition was not in defense of top military brass sacked for allegedly diverting huge funds meant for arms purchase and
welfare of troops in the fight against Boko Haram as falsely represented by Mohammed Haruna but was in response to the flawed report of Amnesty International deliberately targeted to discredit the Nigerian military and demoralize the soldiers who were already recording remarkable gains as evident in their successful six weeks’ campaign to reclaim all lost territories from the insurgents before the 2015 general elections.
Our position on the Amnesty report was not farfetched from the fact that rather than vilifying the Nigerian military as an institution in the heat of an insurgency battle, those who have been found culpable in violating the rules of engagement should be investigated and prosecuted. In any case, how come Amnesty International before the report never for once condemned the killings of thousands of innocent Nigerians by the dreaded sect or ever released a report against the United States military that have been accused of committing far worse crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. While we do not support human rights abuses in any guise, the war against terrorism especially in Nigeria should transcend international conspiracy and politics out of respect to the thousands of souls that have been claimed as a result of the senseless killings of a devilish group.
Our stand and position on Abdulrasheed Maina was crystal clear that all pension thieves should be prosecuted while due process of the law be adhered to in the face of Justice.
For the records it is quite unfortunate that the same Mohammed Haruna lacked insight and memory to recall events that the Coalition of Civil Society Groups boldly stood for. The corruption episode in Pension office, NDDC, NNPC was revealed by the Coalition via our 245-page Independent Evaluation and Assessment Report of 2013/2014. For our other notable achievements, we task a derailed Mohammed Haruna on research and proper documentation.
We wish to rest this subject matter by assuring Nigerians and our colleagues in the Civil Society world that our fight for a 100% good governance, Non-Human right violation, Economic/Political development as well as security for all will remain our priority as always until Nigeria is rated among the 20 most developed nations in the world.
The naked truth is always better than the best dressed lie. Truth is the secret of eloquence and of virtue, the basis of moral authority; it is the highest summit of art and life. Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.
In addition, owing to Mohammed Haruna’s insatiable appetite in spreading false information, he made Nigerians to believe that a Pro-rally was organized in support of the former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, which never happened as we challenge him to provide evidence of the said rally that was staged sometime in March of 2014, failure of which a legal action will be taken appropriately. The Coalition in her characteristic manner only made her position known on a national tragedy that claimed the lives of innocent young Nigerians and our stance was clear and unequivocal that those found culpable should be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Having been vindicated by the humble disposition of President Muhammadu Buhari for his apology to Nigerians and also rescinding his decision on the dissolution of the governing councils of Universities and sacked Vice Chancellors, sycophants like Mohammed Haruna should go beyond apologizing to Nigerians for his unprofessional conduct by making this embarrassing action of misleading millions of Nigerians a final call to retirement as a columnist in any print media.
 Williams is the President, Coalition of Civil Society Groups.