A civil rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has criticised the General Overseer of the Deeper Life Christian Ministry, Pastor Williams Kumuyi, for asking Nigerians not to attack President Muhammadu Buhari just as the rights group accused the religious leader of misleading the President to believe that he (Buhari) is infallible, invincible, above the constitution and above corrections.

The rights group has also carpeted the President for illegally retaining his aides without renewal of appointments publicly just as it has challenged the administration to get committed about stopping deliberate leakages in revenues by immediately inaugurating the Elias Mbam Revenue Mobilisation Allocations and Fiscal Commission which has since been confirmed by the Senate.

HURIWA has also tasked the Buhari’s administration to provide effective oversight over the yet to be composed federal cabinet so that the nation “does not end up with the same corruption-infested federal cabinet like we had in the past 4 years in which trillions of Naira were purportedly claimed to have been invested in building infrastructure across Nigeria which does not exists in reality.”

Besides, the rights group also criticised Pastor Kumuyi for failing to call the President to order over the current his (President’s) incessant breaches of the federal character principles in the appointment of top national security team made up exclusively of persons of one religion (Hausa/Fulani Moslems) and predominantly from Muslim North.

“Kumuyi should be ashamed of his friend for failing to obey competent court orders to release on bail erstwhile National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki, and the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Elzazaky). The religious cleric should tell us why we should keep quiet when Mr. President orchestrated a kangaroo trial resulting in the removal of Justice Walter Onnoghen, the only Christian to have held the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) over some phantom and substantially fake charges, including the secret injunction which was used to force him out of office so a Moslem/Sharia judge, Tanko Muhammad, can assume the mantle of CJN.”

In a media statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA said it was shocking that Pastor Kumuyi, known to be a friend of President Buhari, has failed to ask his friend to deal decisively with armed Fulani herdsmen who have killed, maimed and destroyed farming communities, churches and economic means of livelihood of citizens in Benue, Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Taraba and Enugu states.

“Kumuyi, who is a mathematician, should tell the rest of us if is rational and justifiable to keep silent or clap for President Buhari whose inept administrative policies and poor economic measurements have foisted mass poverty to an extent that Nigeria has become the new global capital of poverty with well over 90 million absolutely impoverished Nigerians, including worshippers in the church headed by him. Or is it because Kumuyi is cut off from the harsh economic realities faced by the tithe-paying members of his congregations?

“Kumuyi the mathematician should tell us if it is right morally and otherwise to keep silent in the face of wanton killings by hoodlums and armed bandits which are happening because the President lacks the political will to effectively tackle the unprecedented break down of law and order.

“Is Kumuyi happy that over 6,000 Nigerians have been murdered by violent criminals who couldn’t be arrested, prosecuted and punished by the Federal Government? Or has he no conscience and human feelings anymore?

“Our humble advice to Pastor Kumuyi is that he needs to educate himself with the rudiments and basic requirements of constitutional democracy which survives only when the fundamental human rights of the citizenry are promoted, protected and nurtured.”

HURIWA also said: “Kumuyi should read the following from the Nigerian constitution: “14. (1) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice. (2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that: (a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority; (b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and (c) the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

“HURIWA wishes to remind Kumuyi that President Buhari’s administration for four years violated section 14 subsection (3) which says: “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.”

HURIWA restated that the President Buhari’s administration, which derailed for four years, needs constructive criticisms much more than praise singers because section 39. (1) provides that: “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.”

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