*Says time group’s ‘ridiculous’ claims addressed
By KEMI KASUMU
“Let them (SERAP) challenge the government publicly, legally and transparently. And while they do so, let them reveal in full view of the nation who they are, and who is funding them.”
The Presidency of Nigeria has finally created a little of its time to do what it describes as addressing “the repeated ridiculous claims from the so-called Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)”.
In a statement Wednesday in Abuja, the seat of power, otherwise known as Aso Rock Presidential Villa or State House, noted that SERAP was fond of bringing legal action against the Government or President of Nigeria over accountability, whereas, it said, the civil society group should rather go and render its own accountability and stop its publicity stunt.
According to the statement signed by Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, little is known about the group especially its sponsors or funding personalities or entities.
“Very little is known about SERAP, or who funds them – despite their claims of being an organization that champions transparency and accountability.
“To date, SERAP has announced on repeated occasions – each time via a well-funded media campaign – that it is suing the government or President over a range of issues from alleged human rights abuses to alleged corruption.
“To date, SERAP has not taken their retinue of legal actions to a logical conclusion. They don’t follow through,” the president spokesman said.
“Yet these headline-grabbing publicity stunts, however baseless, succeed in painting an inaccurate picture of life and governance in Nigeria and – more seriously – in sowing division amongst the Nigerian people during a time of heightened global economic volatility and hardship.
“Nigeria is comfortable that its record as Africa’s leading democracy and largest economy speaks for itself. Nigeria is amongst the top five countries in Africa for quality of life, and our ranking in the Human Development Index has steadily risen for a decade.
“This success is testament to the rights, rule of law and strong, independent institutions enjoyed by all Nigerian citizens and others who live there. Indeed, it is a fact that independent, non-governmental organizations can thrive there – especially those that seek accountability from government,” Shehu, a firebrand of the Presidential Media Office wondered where the group was getting what it screams over all the times from.
A former President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Garba Shehu cited some of the allegations that SERAP has laid against either the Federal Government or President Muhammadu Buhari and found it difficult to see why the group thought it could have existed and practiced freely unhindered, if Nigeria, under this government or President, is truly as it has been claiming.
“Put simply, here lies SERAP’s paradox: in a country without human rights, no rule of law, limited freedom of expression, and weak democratic institutions the cases and cacophony that SERAP causes – even the organization itself – simply would not be permitted.
“It is unfortunately the case that our progressive, modern, and liberal legal system is open to manipulation by cynical actors who seek nothing but to sow division amongst Nigerians and secure publicity for themselves.
“With the global pandemic exacerbating poverty across the continent, those who have always sought to divide Nigerians along cultural, racial and political lines for political or financial gain are more dangerous than before,” he said, tasking the group on a better thing to do.
“We call on SERAP to cease its divisive, irresponsible, and bare-faced publicity stunts and instead to follow through on its latest spurious legal claim in a Nigerian court of law.
“Let them (SERAP) challenge the government publicly, legally and transparently. And while they do so, let them reveal in full view of the nation who they are, and who is funding them.”
