Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy Group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rethink his administration’s plan to displace 200 households just so that the elaborate Presidential fleet is accommodated at a time that governments around the world are becoming compact and inexpensive.

Besides, HURIWA is asking the office of the President to think of downsizing the size of the presidential fleet and sell off some of the jets or put them into use for commercial purposes to generate incomes for the public treasury. The rights group bemoaned the extremely huge budgets committed towards maintaining such a massive presidential fleet at a time that most governments around the world are operating lean governments.

“The news that the Federal government is planning to displace 200 families by demolishing 200 houses of persons who may be staying in their ancestral homeland, just so the Nigerian Air force can further expand aviation facilities for the travelling comfort of just two families making up the presidency, truly sounds like a movie idea in Hollywood. There is almost nowhere in the world and in this 21^st century, have seen or heard that government put in place to serve the people will start behaving like a monarchy when in fact the system of government is democracy. Is the Nigerian Air Force set up solely to service the travelling comfort of Mr. President and his Vice President around?

“Why is the Air force trying to use underhand tactics to remove 200 families by simply knocking down their houses to make way for the President to have bigger air fleet. This is totally inexplicable. And to even read the casually written media statement in which a departmental head is unaware if the proper legal processes have been adhered to such as providing alternative settlements and compensation for those to be displaced, has demonstrated the predisposition of officials of government to just humiliate citizens in their attempt to do eye service to ingratiate themselves to the cosy admiration of the powers-that-be. This is so very pathetic and unkind to put it very mildly.”

HURIWA recalled that the Constitution in Section 14 of the 1999 constitution stated thus: 14. (1) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice.

(2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that:

(a) Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority;

(b) The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and

(c) the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution. Section 44 of the 1999 constitution stated thus: 44. (1) No moveable property or any interest in an immovable property shall be taken possession of compulsorily and no right over or interest in any such property shall be acquired compulsorily in any part of Nigeria except in the manner and for the purposes prescribed by a law that, among other things – (a) requires the prompt payment of compensation therefore and (b) gives to any person claiming such compensation a right of access for the determination of his interest in the property and the amount of compensation to a court of law or tribunal or body having jurisdiction in that part of Nigeria.”

HURIWA is strongly cautioning that those Nigerians about to be displaced must never be abandoned to a cruel fate.

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