By JOHN ONAH, Abuja- A group under the aegis of North East Youth Vanguard (NEYV), has warned against the unwarranted attacks on the chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, over an alleged assault on a security guard at Banex Plaza, Abuja.
The group in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its secretary, Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed, frowned at the manner in which many Nigerians are celebrating frivolity rather than channelling their energy to proffer solutions that would address the numerous challenges facing the country.
The secretary noted that though the incident was regrettable, but stressed that many commentators failed to realize the unprofessional conducts and extortionist tendencies of private security guards in both public and private premises in Abuja, stressing that such unprofessional conducts could push any sane person to action.
The statement reads in parts:
“Our attention has been drawn to a news item trending in both traditional and social media platforms of an alleged assault on a security guard by the Honourable Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Y. Umar, at Banex Plaza, Abuja.
“Ordinarily, the North East Youth Vanguard (NEYV) could have ignored the entire report and remained taciturn, but we thought it wise that it is safer to correct some erroneous impressions embedded in the viral video and public comments orchestrated by some disgruntled characters who parade themselves as social media warlords.
“In the said poorly edited video, some disgruntled characters claimed that the Honourable Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Y. Umar, assaulted a private security guard at Banex Plaza, Abuja.
“To state the obvious, Justice Danladi Y. Umar in his humble character was at Banex plaza to repair his phone, but we are amazed at the immeasurable phew of some Nigerians in conjuring events and hallucinating conversations that are not related to the subject matter.
“We state categorically here that, those condemning the Honourable Chairman of CCT for his action have done worst things to private security guards for their unprofessional conducts and extortionist tendencies in Abuja. We advise them to please carry their individual background checks on past conducts. Why then the sudden unwanted on Justice Danladi Umar’s reaction to a rude security guard whose only aim was to extort him?
“We have heard cases of high profile personalities from the south geo-political zones assaulting a religious leader and such unwholesome behaviour did not occupy media space the way Justice Danladi Umar’s altercation with the security guard did.
“We are therefore worried at the way the media politicize issues bordering on some sections of the country. On this note, we are tempted and compelled to ask if there is any “hidden agenda” to the hullabaloo that has trailed this very unfortunate incident. And we are making conscious efforts to unmask the bigger masquerade behind the scene.
“For those who do not know or pretend not to know Justice Danladi T. Umar is a man with proven integrity and sound character. He is humility personified and carries out his private and public functions without emotions or primordial sentiments. He has left footprints of professional probity wherever he found himself. Members of the public are free to do integrity checks on him.
“Therefore, we will not be cowed by the so-called ethnic warlords or their sponsors. However, we take solace in the fact that it is far more honourable to be lied against than to be guilty as alleged.
“If any critics have a personal issue with Justice Danladi Umar, he/she should go and settle with him privately and not use a mere altercation to get the buy-in of the public. We should be rational on issues and not be laced with emotions or ignorance on matters that often times we know nothing about.
“There are numerous challenges confronting us as a nation and it is the responsibility of Nigeria and Nigerians to proffer solutions to these problems and not thriving on frivolities. However, “truth can walk naked, but a lie needs to be dressed at all times”, and that is the burden before Justice Umar’s critics.