NIGERIANS REACTS TO RAID OF PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS, ARREST OF COMMANDANT,OTHER OFFICIALS
Omooba Risawe
Scores of Nigerians have reacted to the Tuesday raid of National Headquarters of Peace Corps of Nigeria,PCN, and arrest of its Commandant General alongside some number officials of the corps. About two persons were alleged to suatained injuries during the raid
The reactions which was for and against the raid by a joint operations involving police, military and Directorate of Security Services came from participants on a renowned social network, penpushing platform.
The platform comprises of bodies of professionals in all fields, with some condemning the raid, and others arguing in support of joint patrol action by the security agencies.
It would,however,be recalled that, a bill approving the establishment of the Peace Corps of Nigeria(PCN) had been passed by the National Assembly, awaiting assent of the President, but the joint patrol team posited that, the corps remain illegal,as far as Presidency has not given a final approval.
In his own reaction on the raid and arrest, Dapo Adeyemi said, ‘I think it is wrong for the Police to raid the headquarters of the peace corps after the bill establishing them had been passed into law by the NASS. If the Police says they are acquiring weapons, what were they looking since their existence? It is sheer irresponsibility for law enforcement agents to behave as if they are above the law’.
Adeyemi, a former lawmaker with Ogun State House of Assemby writes further, ‘ And the earlier sanity prevails, the better. The Police had no right to raid the place after the bill had been passed into law. Why didn’t they wait for the President to refuse assent before taking the action. I think the Police are not happy with the passage of the bill because of their opposition which was rejected by the NASS’.
He posied that, ” A bill becomes a law as soon as it is passed by NASS after harmonising by both the Senate and House of Reps. If the President refuses assent, he would inform the NASS of his reason and this has to be done within 30days failing which the NASS might veto. That is the procedure having served as a member of OGHA.
In his own view, a broadcast journalist, Victor Mark said ‘This is politics… an unfortunate one at that. Arrest of a leader of an ‘NGO’ that just got a bill of its establishment passed into law as a paramilitary agency’
He said if the Corps is illegal as claimed by police in a statement,the leadership would not have been invited by the Federal Government to participate in the October 1 National Day Celebration, where the Corps Commandant conspicuous present.
‘Criminals should not be giving IV Well me i am not a member of Peace Corp and may not know much but i have followed how events unfold and this action is simply funny. Very funny i must say’
But Muyiwa Adejobi, a former Zonal Police Public Relations Officer in his own remark argued thus, ‘Well when I was in Ogun State I never invited them for any of our security engagement.. those who invited them might not know the protocol or procedure’
Adejobi added ‘It’s those in charge of the protocol in the government house that send out Invite. So in most cases they are bound to commit errors.. now that the police is acting,please let’s allow the police to do the right thing without any sentiment or prejudice’..
He decaled that the bill has not been passed to law . It’s not a law until it has the presidential assent. The president may keep it aside and that’s why the comandant was appealing for the assent at the official commissioning of the complex yesterday’
Another commentator on the issue, Kazeem Olowe said, ‘Because this is security matter and I am not authorised to release some documents in my possession regarding peace corps, for now but I can tell you that peace corps is not what Police is claiming’.
I am a member of Peace Corps and I know what we ‘carry’ it is different from what you people are thinking, that is why we won we went to court the last time.
Also a journalist,Femi Oyeweso in his own submission said,
“Like Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo did, the President may refuse assent to the Bill notwithstanding that the NASS has passed it, not to even think of a Bill not passed yet!!!!!!
A clergyman, Olusesi Obateye while reacting wrote,’Envy is the game police is playing. Similar game was played against NSCDC and FRSC. Police didn’t want these organizations to operate independent of police. The leaders who want these elements know the weakness of police, Nigerians too know but unfortunately police think s otherwise’.
Sulaiman Fasasi, an Ogun State based media practitioner in his own argument said, ‘For me, there might be a kind of politics playing out, however, the Corps doesn’t exist in the face of the law until the assent of the President’.
He further posited,’ no matter the recognition by any local or foreign agency. The invitation extended to the Corps or standing side by side with the IGP and other security Lords were also done in error, In my own opinion, as those developments doesn’t validate the Corps. I however have a serious reservation on the manner of arrest’.
Similarly, Yusuph Olaniyonu wrote,’The Peace Corps Bill is not yet law. It remains a bill untill the Presidential assent is given or there is a veto by both chambers of the NASS, following which it will be gazetted as a law of the federation. The simple test of what is a law is whether it can be used in a court of law? Of course, at this stage, it cannot’.
Olaniyonu who is a lawyer and journalists added,’I am not even sure if the passed bill has been forwarded to the President. I need to check that out’.
However, statement signed by police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said intelligence reports indicated that the Peace Corps and other similar groups “were acquiring weapons and conducting covert military training in different locations across the country.”
The statement said such actions violated a 2013 gazette of the federal government that banned the groups and ordered them to cease operations.
