FG urged to withdraw Bode George, Ibru awards – Daily Trust
November 9, 2009 by Bunmi Awolusi
The Rights Monitoring Group (RMG), a coalition of Civil Societies (CSOs) and Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) has urged the Federal Government to withdraw the national honours conferred on Chief Bode George, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru and Pastor Erastus Akingbola because one is convicted and the others are facing criminal trial.
National Coordinator of the group Olufemi Aduwo told Daily Trust yesterday on telephone that it is wrong for those people to hold on to their national honours.
“We want President Umaru Yar’adua to withdraw the national honour of the following people, the former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun (CFR), Bode George (CON), Senator Adolphus Wabara (GCON), Mrs Cecilia Ibru (OFR) and Pastor Erastus Akingbola (OFR) among others for bringing disrepute to this nation. Two years jail term is not enough for Bode Goerge and his cohort, when the same Lagos High Court jailed a LASMA official who collected N10, 000 grafts for 10 years. Corruption is the bane of democracy and development in the country. Appropriate punishments should be awarded on violators as deterrence to others,” Aduwo said.
He also said that politicians who have cases against them by the anti graft agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the courts should first clear themselves of the accusations before vying for elective positions in the country.
