Senators’ Visit To Kalu Is A Mockery Of Nigerians- CACOL

Zainab Sanni

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has blasted the Ahmed Lawan-led Senate for their solidarity visit to the residence of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu who was recently released from the Kuje Correctional Centre.

Lawan had on Thursday, led other Senators to the residence of the Chief Whip of the upper legislative chamber, Kalu, after the Abia lawmaker was released from prison during the week.

CACOL, in a statement on Friday by its Chairman, Debo Adeniran and signed by its Coordinator, Administration and Programmes, Tola Oresanwo, said the visit was a charade.

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CACOL said, “The visit by the senate delegation headed by the Senate President is a charade, travesty and a mockery on the intelligence of common Nigerians.”

The anti-corruption group said it was laughable that the Senators would leave their statutory duties and embark on a wild goose chase in the name of a “solidarity visit” to the former Governor who was accused of “stealing his state dry when he was a governor of the state.”

“What exactly do they want to achieve by that visit, what are they telling the common Nigerians on the street that are not corrupt?” CACOL asked

The group also wondered what lessons the lawmakers were trying to pass on “or indirectly inculcating in the minds of our younger generation or aspiring politicians.”

“Are they telling us that corruption pays? Are they telling us that they were and are still with him in his struggles to escape the law from catching up with him? Is the solidarity visit meant to assure him (i.e Kalu) that come what may, his seat at the Senate will not be declared vacant? Or are they indirectly telling Nigerians that birds of a feather will always flock together, come what may

“Moreover, members of the hallowed chamber ought to serve as role models and lead by showing good examples that the incoming generations can always learn from and not portray themselves as members of ‘big boys club’ that are always above the law,” CACOL said.

CACOL’s statement said that it was regrettable that while some Nigerians are worried about the Supreme Court judgment, the Senate leadership is not in any way concerned and is “more at home with felicitating and celebrating with the beneficiary of the Supreme Court judgment.”