Press Release:

NIGERIA DEMOCRATIC LIBERTY FORUM.     (NDLF)


May 7th, New York, NY; The NDLF receives with shock the news of the death of President Umaru Yar'Adua after a prolonged illness. We express our condolences to his family and Nigerians for the untimely death of Yar'Adua (58).

This moment should also afford  the Nigerian government an opportunity to critically focus at the state of our health care. We all witnessed the embarrassement caused the people of Nigeria by the extended period of stay of the former President in foreign hospitals ostensibly because there are no hospitals that could adequately provide the health care services he required.

It is quite sad that inspite of the enormous resources at our disposal the country does not have a  hospital where early detection and care of serious ailments could be undertaken so that we could be spared avoidable deaths. This is indeed a shame!

While President Umaru Yar'Adua was struggling with his life, the reported roles of those who were around him should be condemned. Not only did they not allow him to continue his treatment when he was smuggled into the country in a selfish move to hold onto power, but they also attempted to destabilize the country by ensuring that he did not hand over to his vice president thus  heating up the polity and creating pervasive uncertainties.

We expect that those who have found themselves in public office would realize that they would also be confronted with the consequences of their failure in ensuring the development of the country if they continue to neglect the well being of the people.

The NDLF hereby calls on Nigerian government officials to rededicate themselves to the service of the people bearing in mind the inevitable transient nature of power and also the mortality of mankind.

The Nigerian national assembly should ensure that a total review of the Nigerian constitution is undertaken as a continuous exercise to address provisions that are palpably incongruous or simply do not promote good governance noting that the constitution in place was handed over by the military.

To the new President, we expect that he would appreciate the trajectory that took him to power and ensure that the country moves  towards a rebirth. However, we are not oblivious of the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan is a product of a corrupt political system and also beholden to forces that have kept the country in a state of economic stupor.

The NDLF hereby calls on all Nigerians not to let down their guards as the baton of power changes hands. We need to be vigilant, involved and  demand that we would not settle for anything less than a country that we all would be proud of in the community of nations.

Signed
Bukola Oreofe
Executive Director
NDLF