Lawmaker Backs Senate Call For Hamid Ali’s Resignation
A Lagos lawmaker, Hon. Abiodun Tobun has supported the call by the Nigerian Senate that the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs, Hamid Ali should resign his appointment from customs.
The lawmaker representing Epe Constituency 1 in Lagos State House who spoke in Lagos, said he didn’t see anything bad in Hamid Ali appearing in uniform before the Senate.
He emphasised that as the CG of Customs, Ali should be able to wear the uniform and set a precedent for those behind him, adding that it should even be a thing of joy for him to do as the CG of Customs.
“I watched on the CNN how the Director of the United States of America’s National Security Agency appeared before the senate with his uniform.
“What is bad in wearing his uniform, the issue of the car of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki is a different ball game.
“He is not a Special Adviser to the President on Customs, he is CG of Customs. He ought to be wearing his uniform with his rank. Not wearing uniform is an aberration. If he has no respect for the uniform, he is not qualified for the office,” he said.
The lawmaker, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, said that if Ali feels he is too big to wear the uniform of customs, he is not fit to hold the office.
On the import duties on cars being demanded by customs, Tobun said that customs are to protect our borders, and that their job has not been extended to streets.
He said: “The vehicles came in through land borders and ports manned by customs. So, inspecting people’s cars for import duties is wrong. He should wear the uniform or else he is not qualified to be in that office.
“He is a military man in civilian clothes. If you are the head of the police and you are invited to the parliament, you ought to appear in your full uniform. The President of the country, a civilian do wear army, police or navy uniforms.
“Ali didn’t retire as a general, he retired as a colonel, so the uniform of the CG of Customs is like that of a general in the army. If he cannot wear the uniform, then he should not be in that office. If he cannot wear the uniform, he should resign from the office.”
