Why Nigerians Are Not Feeling 'Change' Promised by APC - Senator Melaye Explains

Posted by Thandiubani on Fri 17th Feb, 2017 - tori.ng

A serving senator and outspoken member of the ruling party has criticized some government officials as being responsible for not effecting the change mantra.

Senator Dino Melaye

An outspoken member of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Dino Melaye has revealed the real reason why Nigerians are not feeling the promises made by the APC.

Melaye said the reason is because some corrupt civil servants who are responsible for major corruption in the country have refused to repent and internalize the change mantra within their hearts.

The senator while speaking during a chat with the media in Abuja, that the problem was not from APC but from those in government who have failed to conduct themselves in a manner to move the country ahead.

Melaye said as an example, people like the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, ought to have resigned had Nigerians come out of their cocoons to question his indictment in the N250 million grass-cutting scandal in the North-East.

He said: “The change mantra is not about the All Progressives Congress (APC). The civil servants who are responsible for major corruption in the system are still the same people.

“The message of change is not only to members of the APC. It is to Nigeria and Nigerians on how we conduct ourselves; and, how we operate government agencies and activities.

“Nigerians, we must have attitudinal change, we must decide that the country is in recession now and we are approaching depression so we must begin to take the right steps inwardly.

“Civil servants in this country, politicians, those who find themselves in positions of authority must become born-again, and begin to act positively towards ameliorating our past.

“I have insisted that on his honour the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, ought to have resigned by now like I said the last time, he should be reciting the psalms and asking for mercy.

“But unfortunately, it is when we start punishing criminals in power, when we start punishing thieves in power, when Nigerians stop celebrating mediocrity and corruption that we will begin to have headway.

“These days, a man steals money from government and what you do is to celebrate him; then we cannot get out of the woods. Let me say that in an unjust society, silence is a crime.

“People who abuse processes and the laws of the land must be questioned. We must all get out of cocoons and begin to ask questions. It is laughable that Babachir Lawal is still seating in council as SGF. I mean, it does not portray any sense of responsibility at any level.

“I want to say that not only him but every other thief in power must be questioned. Nigerians must demonstrate the capacity to ask questions. If I. Dino Melaye, is found wanting, Nigerians should come out and ask me questions. They should be bold to tell me that I have abused my oath of office.”