Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has responded a recent claim made against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, by Kwara South Senator, Oyelola Yisa Ashiru.
DAILY POST reported that Ashiru branded the NDLEA as the most corrupt and compromised government agency in Nigeria.
HURIWA said the politician’s stand could be politically motivated since he failed to back his claims with tangible and traceable evidence.
It said the claim could amount to a figment of his imagination, wondering why those elected to lead and represent the people could be speaking on serious and sensitive issues without control.
HURIWA, during a press conference, on Wednesday, called for urgent investigation into the senator’s claims, insisting that the issue should not be swept under the carpet.
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, who addressed the press, expressed dismay at the senator’s comments, questioning how a legislator could stand on the floor of the National Assembly and make sweeping allegations without presenting concrete evidence to support his claims.
“We find it alarming that a lawmaker would make such a ‘reckless’ and generalized allegation against one of Nigeria’s agencies (without any evidence),” HURIWA said.
“We at HURIWA suspect that the introduction of this bill is a game plan orchestrated by certain forces who are unhappy with the current NDLEA leadership’s determination to intensify the drug war.
“The NDLEA already has departments dedicated to drug awareness and rehabilitation.
“The proposal to create another agency with similar functions would only serve to weaken the NDLEA’s capacity and could be seen as a deliberate attempt to destabilize its operations.
“This bill is not just redundant; it is a direct attack on the NDLEA. The NDLEA’s public awareness programs and rehabilitation efforts are already effective, so there is no need for another agency. The only thing this bill will achieve is to divide resources and energy, ultimately weakening the fight against drug barons,” Onwubiko explained.
HURIWA called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to launch a thorough investigation into the motivations behind the proposed bill and those sponsoring it