By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Former Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state, Mr Jonathan Tsado Vatsa, has expressed his total support to conduct drug integrity test on all those aspiring for elective positions in Nigeria, particularly at the national level.
Vatsa who was a former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in the state, told journalists in Minna at the weekend that the suggestion by the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Brig-Gen Buba Marwa that drug integrity tests should be conducted on all aspirants for public offices is the best way to start in not only choosing the right candidate but part of strategies to control drug addiction.
Such tests, Vatsa further hinted, should not be restricted to only those aspiring to be President, but also to National Assembly aspirants, state Governors, State Houses of Assembly as well as people to be appointed into public offices across the three tiers of governments.
The APC Chieftain had earlier said he was ready to quit politics should former President Goodluck Jonathan decide to join the APC simply because of 2023 Presidency. The advocate of good governance said there are empirical evidence that many of those in positions of authority or aspiring to occupy certain sensitive positions are being implicated in hard drugs related offence which is destroying Nigeria’s image.
Vatsa argued that Drug integrity tests if effectively and efficiently conducted on the in-coming leaders, will signal the true change from the usual practices whereby even drug addicts aspire and are elected into public positions thereby casting aspersions on the integrity of our leaders.
“It would be a battle in futility trying to end hard drugs and addiction when those in positions of authority are the ones behind the couriers across continents. Allowing drug addicts to emerge leaders is simply legalising hard drugs sales and consumption", Vatsa pointed out.
According to him, “If you elect a drug addict into public offices, the implications is not only that public money will be used to buy drugs for him, but that the fellow is capable of taking drug-induced decisions because a drug addicted mind cannot be stable.
"There are a number of competent hands aspiring to become President of this great nation. I call on the electorates not to be deceived again but rather to support candidates they can trust to work for the collective wellbeing of Nigerians. The electorates should avoid falling into the same mistake that has kept the country worse off in the past seven years.
Suggestions by the Chairman of the NDLEA should not be treated with levity, he cautioned, advising that President Mohammed Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should look into the suggestions which is expected to bring about sanity to Nigeria’s polity.
Jonathan Vatsa is however optimistic that if drug integrity tests is given deserving attention, Nigerians will be shocked by the results or findings on the mental/psychological stability of those aspiring into the various position of authorities across the three tiers of government.
“We have lamented over and over on the need to give Nigerians good governance, yet we do not want to take the necessary practical steps towards actualising such things like the mandatory drug integrity test to enable us decipher the situation and get to the roots of our problems. Doing so is the only sure way to get the best for the country to move forward".
Jonathan Vatsa while commending the NDLEA chairman for taking the bold steps in coming up with the suggestion against the odds, nevertheless pleaded with Nigerians to support General Marwa by insisting that drug integrity tests be conducted on all the aspirants ahead of next year’s general election. NNL.
