By Correspondent in Minna.
Former Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state,Mr Jonathan Tsado Vatsa, has expressed full support for the conduct of drug integrity test for all those aspiring for elective positions in Nigeria, particularly at the national level.
Vatsa, who is also a former Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism in the state, told Journalists in Minna that the suggestion by the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) retired Brig-Gen Buba Marwa, that drug integrity test be conducted on all aspirants for public offices was the right thing in the right direction.
He said that it was the best way to start, not only in choosing the right candidates but part of strategies to control drug addiction.
Such test, Vatsa,he further urged, should not be restricted to only those aspiring to be President, but National Assembly members, state Governors, State Houses of Assembly and as well, people to be appointed into public offices across the three tiers of governments.
Jonathan Vatsa said there were pieces of empirical evidence showing that many of those in positions of authority or aspiring to occupy certain sensitive positions were being implicated in hard drug related offence, adding that the development had been destroying Nigeria’s image.
According to him,drug integrity tests, if effectively and efficiently conducted on the in-coming leaders, would signal the true change from the usual practice, whereby even drug addicts aspire and elected into public positions, thereby casting aspersions on the integrity of our leaders.
“It would be a battle in futility trying to end hard drug and addiction, when those in positions of authority are the ones behind the couriers across continents. Allowing drug addicts to emerge as leaders is simply legalising hard drug sales and consumption,” Vatsa warned.
According to him, “If you elect a drug addict into public offices, the implications is not only that the public money will be used to buy hard drug 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, therefore, the electorate must not to be deceived again but rather support candidates they can trust to work for the collective wellbeing of Nigerians and avoid falling into the same mistake that has kept the country worst of it in the past seven years.
“The Suggestion by the Chairman of the NDLEA should not be treated with levity, he cautioned, advising President Mohammed Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to look into the suggestion which is expected to bring about sanity to Nigeria’s polity.
Jonathan Vatsa expressed optimism that if drug integrity test is given deserving attention, Nigerians would 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.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
