Coalition of Non Governmental Organisations in Ekiti State, the Ekiti Movement for Peace and Good Governance (MOPEGO) has cautioned elders from the South western part of Nigeria over moves by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader and former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lure them into fighting his battle for the reinstatement of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Isa Ayo Salami for him.
The group said Yoruba elders should not allow Tinubu to lure them into his “save Salami” venture, a venture it said was capable of destroying their hard-earned name and reputation, adding that; “It is now clear that Tinubu and his ACN are hell-bent in making sure that Justice Salami is reinstated because of their unholy relationship and the judicial favours they received from him (Salami) in the past, and our elders must be cautious.”
During the 84th birthday ceremony of former military governor of old Western Region, Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo in Lagos last week, Tinubu had urged him (Adebayo) and other Yoruba elders to intervene in the Justice Salami’s issue, and save the suspended PCA. Tinubu said urgent intervention of General Adebayo, with other Nigerians of goodwill on the Salami’s issue, was imperative if Nigeria was not to slide into chaos, and that the elders should bombard President Goodluck Jonathan with calls.”
However, MOPEGO said in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Dr. Tunji Oluwasanmi, Secretary, Comrade Ebenezer Olaleye and Director of Communications and Strategy, Gbenga that Yoruba elders must distance themselves from Tinubu and his friend, Justice Salami, saying; “If any elder in Yorubaland should call President Jonathan on the issue of Justice Salami as requested by Tinubu, what are they going to tell the president?
“Are they going to tell the president to reinstate Justice Salami, a judge, who by the evidence of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher before the National Judicial Council (NJC) Probe Panel lied on oath?
“Will the elders, including General Adebayo tell President Jonathan that the suspension of Justice Salami, a perjurer, who himself is exploring legal means to challenge his suspension is capable of causing chaos in Nigeria?
“Yoruba people detest lies and unethical practices, and our elders know that. Then, what moral lesson will they be teaching the younger ones if they choose to be enlisted in the immoral venture of putting pressure on President Jonathan to reinstate a judge who lied and engaged in unethical practices?
“Shouldn’t the elders Tinubu is trying to recruit into his save-Salami-at-all-cost battle also ask him what his interest is in a matter that is purely between Justice Salami and his employers, and how he intends to cause chaos in the country should President Jonathan refuse to reinstate Justice Salami?
“Why are Tinubu and his ACN the ones defending Justice Salami, who the CJN testified against and by that singular evidence is a confirmed perjurer?
“It is therefore our advice that General Adebayo and other notable Yoruba elders that Tinubu is trying to recruit into his dirty political battle should watch it; else, they risk destruction of their hard earned reputation.”