A coalition of democracy and human rights groups has condemned what it described as “a clandestine plot to rubbish the tremendous efforts of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) in providing quality service to Nigerians through fictitious petitions and outright blackmail,” warning the culprits to desist or be ready to face their doomsday.
The group; Arewa Initiative (AI), Coalition of Youth Against Corruption (COYAC) and Good Governance Initiative (GGI) in a press statement issued, Monday, decried “agent provocateurs, disgruntled staff, unregistered NGOs, and mischief makers for peddling falsehood, circulating fake news and writing petitions against the management of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) in order to drag its hard-earned reputation into odium.”
The press statement signed by the secretary of Arewa Initiative, Mohammed Dantijo, convener of the Coalition of Youth Against Corruption, Mahmud Bello and national coordinator of GGI, Sani Ninjiba Sarki, condemned malicious petitions against the Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji-led FFS, alleging N70 million job racketeering and other infractions.
“This allegation is wicked and defamatory, aimed at resolving personal grievances and scores all in a bid to discredit the transparent management of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) and smear its name,” the coalition said.
The civil societies called on well-meaning Nigerians to discountenance the fake and mischievous petitions sent to anti-graft agencies as this is the handiwork of mischief makers, strategising to take over the job of a patriotic Nigerian making frantic efforts to fix the federal government agency, which is attracting commendation from well meaning citizens.
“We, therefore, pass a vote of confidence on the board and management of FFS for the current institutional capacity building and repositioning that can best be compared with international best practices and urge them to remain focused and undeterred in their efforts to rebrand the organisation,” the coalition stated.
