Columnist: Iyeomoan Emmanuel

At a time like this when it seems like “the center can no longer hold” as the glue that bonds us together as a people is loosing its grip and “things are falling apart”, many a political thinkers believe that a National Conference is never too late a time like this.  History is rich with meetings of this magnitude, not in the caliber of prominent public figures that acted on the stage, but in the errors and blunders of past conglomeration of ideas on the national table.

In this first edition of the series on the National Confab, Polity Police observe with clarity of purpose, some salient issues to be addressed; challenges to be faced and anticipated credits to be gained from a national conference of this nature. For content’s sake, let’s concentrate our energies on the salient issues that will draw the collective attention of Nigerians, in the course of the national conference.

SALIENT ISSUES ON THE NATIONAL TABLE

It’ll be nonchalance on our paths to shut our eyes to realities, and negate the wind of change that is about to blow the Nation to its near-eldorado. Before we envision reaping the fruits of a national get-together, conscience-searching questions geared towards placing us on the right direction of change must be asked. Progressively, answers to these questions must be offered with respect to: where we were before; where we are now; and where we intend to be after the conference? Having conducted an online poll on the social media, Facebook to be precise, the afore-stated “conscience-searching questions” are presented in no particular order here-under as follows:

• What were the results of past conferences of this nature?
• What were the demands of citizens of the country at those times and what are their demands now?
• Would a national conference procure curative measures to the maladies eating the nation’s health? Has it ever resolved issues in the past?
• What are the costs and benefits to society of this national conference?
• Why should it be a national conference, and not a sovereign national conference?
• What happens to Nigeria if a breakdown occurs in the process of national conferencing?

The Polity Police as well as other public affairs analysts anticipate probable success on this matter that has, and is still trailing the polity (National Confab). We expect partial success outcomes on the basis of a negation of salient issues of national interests. These issues must, and should be tackled headlong before the ship of a successful national conference is set to sail. They include, and yet are not limited to:

• Deteriorated state of the education sector
• Heated polity ahead of a pregnant 2015 general election
• Poverty in the midst of resource-surplus
• Unemployment in the presence of massive capital flight
• Population issues and its surrounding problems

Deteriorated state of the education sector: Aggrieved quarters (undergraduate and lecturers) sneer at the drama of a proposed national conference by the Jonathan-led administration, tagging it a “dance of shame”. If we are objective enough in our judgments, we can’t but agree that the education sector has reached its boiling point. Our institutions of higher learning which were initially set-up for research and development, have been reduced to a state akin to livestock-pens; laboratories are as empty as caskets, without basic facilities and chemicals necessary for experiments; lecture theaters are like town-halls, that you could count the few available seats; students hang on windows like bus-conductors, just to receive lectures that sometimes span for hours. Furthermore, our libraries are archaic and hive a crop of outdated intellectual properties; hostels are unavailable or insufficient, and where they are available, are worse than Nigerian prisons (you know how our prisons look). Ultimately and most painfully, the academic calendar is stylishly truncated by incessant and concurrent seizures in the form of labour strikes- courtesy of government insincerity in meeting up her obligations.

Heated polity ahead of a pregnant 2015 general election: Many wonder why the polity is unnecessarily heated by power-hungry and greedy politicians, when the 2015 general election is still pregnant; though, we can predict what the outcomes will be.  It is unsurprising to expect that most of our elder statesmen who are expected too act as glue to uniting the diverse interests of Nigerians, are at the forefront of this shameful act. Isn’t it needful to repair these broken edges of our walls before thinking of a national conference? Why don’t we organize a conference of elder statesmen to settle their differences before lowering this boat called “National Confab”?

Poverty in the midst of resource-surplus: How can we be talking of a national conference when the stomach of the common man is empty? Are they going to seat on the national table of resolution with hungry-looking eyes? Or, probably, they will be cut out of the scheme of things by inequitable representation. Their interests will be represented, or better still, misrepresented by the over-satisfied few, who do not know how it feels to be hungry. It’s an irony that the gap between the haves and have-nots widens with successive increase in the GDP- this is not funny at all!

Unemployment in the presence of massive capital flight: Many employers of labour argue that the problem of unemployment in the country isn’t unavailability of jobs, but unemployability of job seekers. I fail to accept that cheap claim owing to the fact that present day youths and prospective job-seekers are more intelligent than those of the 60s, 70s and 80s (the youthful times of our fathers) respectively. It amazes me that most of the big government employees, who preach “unemployability of this generation” are half baked intellectuals. The media can support my claim with many incidences of multiple errors in communication and lack-lustre presentation of ideas by the so-called government big-boys (the public servants). For instance, the “oga at the top saga” on Channels TV is still fresh on our minds; the grammatical blunders of the president’s wife, who was at one time the controversial head of service of Bayelsa State; the most recent is the Anambra governorship debates aired by African Independent Television (AIT) on 31^st October 2013, and the Abia national conference forum, where working-class citizens couldn’t communicate their ideas to the public without reading unending manuscripts, even when time was allotted to them on that regard. Or is it in Edo state, where a government employed head-teacher couldn’t spell her name in the presence of the Comrade-Governor? Let’s tell ourselves the truth and stop living in deceit. With this revelation, what are the reasons for high unemployment statistics, if not bad government policies as well as capital flight? Money that would have been invested here in the country are transported to foreign lands and imprisoned in their banks. Our leaders should tell themselves the truth- that they are the cause of our problems and not the harmless youths who are out there to better their lots. We complain of unemployment, yet public officials buy private jets, armored cars, and build sophisticated houses. Come to think of it, majority of the masses have no rooftops to hide their baldness, yet all governors have private lodges in Abuja; they are virtually 35 governors lodge in the FCT. What message are they sending to the youths? Why won’t they (the frustrated youths) take to crime to better their lot, when our fathers (the politicians) disappoint them with their reckless spending? Much is left for another day.

Population issues and other surrounding problems: Last month, the NPC’s boss resigned from service after some months of his appointment without any important reason. It was a true test of integrity and is rather un-nigerian to remove one’s tongue from a honey-pot, but he did and posterity must remember Francis Odimegwu for that. After analyzing the circumstances surrounding is resignation, I gathered that population issues are more political than I envisaged. The 2006 national census was marred by irregularities in the figures, which alone was enough to break the country. Many states had their figures over-stated, with expectation of higher shares from the national treasury. How can we grow in the midst of these insincerities?

The polity police have sufficiently touched some of the salient issues that must be put before the cart, for an effective national conference. We continue this series next time by treating challenges to be faced. Watch out for part 2!

© IYEOMOAN EMMANUEL,

UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, NIGERIA.

Read more...

Columnist: Iyeomoan Emmanuel

In this maiden edition of the “POLITY POLICE”, let us together address some contemporary political issues that affect the economy and bring to light the forces of darkness militating against sustainable development in third world countries; Nigeria in particular. “For every aspiring-to-thrive nation, marriage between the economy and the polity must be blissful; a divorce of opinions between these two would mean a disintegration of growth-interests”. Any “aspiring to grow economy” can do so only in a system of administration and distribution having appropriate checks and balances.
The economic “big wigs” in this epoch of information; the US, Great Britain, France, Switzerland, and a few others, are at the fore-front due to the watchful eyes and critical minds of the populace. Thus, our contribution to political cum economic discourse determines the pace with which the economy grows. The growth of every modern economy like Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, to mention but a few,  are evident from the contributions of individual Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); Corporate bodies (the private sector) and the government (in terms of creating the enabling environment). I observed that the contribution of the government is infinitesimal relative to the private sector. That notwithstanding, provision of basic amenities like electricity, water and housing by the government, are the motivators to economic vibrancy of the public sector; Nigeria should borrow a leaf from that. On that respect, “policing the polity is the surest-bet to securing economic harmony” in a country with divergent interest groups with diversified demands. Painstakingly, this article is tagged “irresponsive polity in a responsive economy”, as I bring to bare the nonchalant behaviour of actors in the polity that repel economic growth.
REDUNDANT HEALTH IN THE FACE OF ABUNDANT WEALTH
Third World countries will continue to grow retrogressively even in the face of “myriads of natural and human resources”, so long as there exist barricades to economic growth. I call problems- barricades, because I believe that they are propellants to growth. These “barricades to economic growth” are multifarious in nature and ubiquitous in our socio-political and economic terrain; vis-à-vis:
• Information secrecy: Many a public analysts will agree with me that the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill is a camouflage; and illusion from reality. How many political officials openly declare their financial worth, on assumption of office? Can an ordinary Nigerian walk into the Chief Statisticians office, or the Auditor-general’s, to gather information pertaining to the real state of the economy? All we see are media propaganda that gives a wrong impression on the health of the economy.
• Socio-political cum economic illiteracy: It is no news that Nigerians are becoming aware of happenings in the political sphere. Conversely, if you conduct a referendum, you’ll be shocked to know that majority of the youths (“would-be leaders” of tomorrow, which never comes) are ignorant of the devices of government mal-administrators and policy makers. During the “subsidy protest” in Lagos, I asked a handful of youths clustered around the Oshodi area of Lagos if they know the meaning of “subsidies or deregulation” and to my displeasure, I got a “no we don’t” answer for a reply. What a pity!
• Bureaucratic Insincerity: Due to the prevailing level of information secrecy, government officials pervert their political offices and get away with it; only those who refuse to play to the gallery of the “shadow godfathers” are probed and found wanting; James Ibori, the former Governor of Delta State is a case-study. For instance, we can remember the not too long cases of persons robbing the government and bailing themselves by settling an arm of the government; the judiciary to be precise. The bureaucratic nature of the civil service is another pain in the neck, as insincerity is brought to the fore on a daily basis. For example, a lump-sum meant to be distributed to some quarters, say, the local councils, pensioners and contractors, may loose the value of its zeros as it is transferred from one location to another. What can we say to all of these?
The Nigeria we are in today is just a mere delusion; a proper makeshift and a deviation from the master-plan of our founding fathers, who acted true federalism on the stage of economic abundance as we still have it today. Our resources are normally distributed, though there are some random disturbances to our growth model, which can be traced and treated with care.
Presently, the economy is caught in a web and the future looks bleak due to weak political and economic institutions and untreated issues of national concern; namely:
• Insecurity: Insecurity is a direct foe of investment and an indirect enemy of economic growth; it affects the GDP on a negative scale. The alarming state of insecurity in Nigeria is a topic on its own that this article is insufficient to expedite action on; that’s a topic for another day.
• Unstable supply of basic amenities:  The economy stagnates due to the insensitivity and insincerity of government to providing basic and essential amenities, which have a direct effect on economic growth. Thanks to the September 30 handover of ownership and distribution of electricity to the private sector; though, with unpaid remuneration of “to be laid-off staff” of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), which is an issue that may shake the foundations of the polity sooner than expected. Like every Oliver Twist and as the “oracle of the masses”, I say- ‘it is not enough to deregulate the power-sector without creating alternative jobs to laid-off workers”. Other sectors like the Petroleum sector still need then ever-ready helping hands of the private sector (deregulate at least, the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry). The reason why government would grin at deregulation of the petroleum sector boils down to greed. One the fastest means of lifting an economy from the dungeons of poverty is by government provision of essential amenities to the masses. The cost of doing business in Nigeria is fueling a generator, which is capital intensive. How can we grow in the face of these easy to be solved problems? Is the provision of basic amenities the citizens’ rights, or are they privileges enjoyed relative to their paid loyalty to the government of the day in terms of votes during elections? We all know the truth; let’s not shy away from it.
• Inconsistency of government policies: Since there is no friend in business and no permanent friend or enemy in Nigeria politics, policies are bound to change with each change in government. Uncompleted projects of previous governments will remain so with the inauguration of a new administration. We all know that the Yaradua’s 7-point agenda was replaced by the transformation agenda of the present administration. The next administration’s “agenda” is like a pregnant woman- we don’t know the name and form it will take; it may be a “national-restructuring agenda”. The government is dexterous when it comes to conning audibly-appealing acronyms and names for an agenda. How “sure” is “SURE-P” (Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme? The shocking thing is that policies are changed, even when the same political party still controls power. What an ambiguity!
THE WAY FORWARD
Since the problem of the country is multi-faceted and thus, can’t be treated with a single blow, I make this clarion call to all Nigerians to stock themselves with information necessary to improving their lots in particular, and the nation én-large. The only way out of this cobweb-trap is personal capacity development. We can’t be waiting for an irresponsive government to put food on our tables. The Bible and Qu'ran posit that, “whatsoever your find your hands to do, do it with all thy might…” lets stop waiting for the government to tar the roads, build the bridges or give us pipe borne water, when we are uncultured. A defunct governor of Edo-state, Samuel Ogbemudia puts it this way; ‘if the government tar the roads and fail to tamed the persons that will ply the roads, the roads will be destroyed in a short-time, but if the government train the minds of the masses, they may end up building the roads themselves’. What a powerful quote! You all will agree with him.

Polity Police is your economic-watchdog of the polity and unravels the hidden secrets of government which are anti-growth. Remember, Nigeria was not built in a day and cannott be destroyed effortlessly. Together, we shall collectively build a virile economy, a steady polity and a better Nigeria anchored on sincerity of purpose and truth. In this regard, your comments and suggestions are anticipated and will be treated with umpteen confidentiality, if you so desire.
Thanks for your shared time.

© IYEOMOAN EMMANUEL EHIZOGIE
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS,
UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, NIGERIA.

Read more...

Party faults FG over ASUU strike
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Nigerians youths to position themselves to be part of the affairs of the party and to possibly contest for its presidential ticket.

The move to woo the youths came as the party yesterday condemned what it described as the federal government's insincere and amateurish handling of the strike, which has paralysed academic work in public universities in the country for the third month running.

Addressing representatives of the party's youths wing at the secretariat in Abuja, the National Deputy Chairman  (South), Senator Annie Okonkwo, said the APC was a platform through which Nigerians youths could actualise the political ambition and to contribute to the transformation of the country.

"I believe that APC is the right place for the youths to actualise their ambition  and because the party believes strongly in internal democracy, I may not be surprised if the youths aspires for the presidential candidate of APC in 2015.”
Speaking in similar vein, the  interim National Secretary, Alhaji Tijani Tumnsa, challenged the youths to harmonise their views and come up with a proactive agenda for participation within the polity.

"I implore you to develop an  agenda that will be useful to the political and economic development of the country. The APC as a party is a platform that you can utilise to achieve your political ambitions and I am hoping that at the end of your meeting there will be a framework to engage the youths.”

Tumsa said where the youths fail to articulate their political agenda properly and pursue them, they would not be respected, stressidng that the first step towards  participation was for the youths in the party to organise themselves properly

The APC Youth leader, Abubakar Lado Suleija, said the party is already making waves across the country with about 4,000 youths from other parties in Kano, Maidugiri and Kaduna declaring interest to join APC.

Meanwhile, APC has condemned the federal government's handling of the strike that has paralysed academic work in public universities in the country for the third month running.

In a statement issued yesterday by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the tepid and half-hearted way the government has handled the strike has shown that it does not place much premium on education, which is the path to national development.

It said there was no better indication of the government's disdain for education than the fact that the Jonathan administration had continued in its profligate ways even as students caught in the web of the strike remained at home when they should be engaged in serious academic work.

APC said since the strike started, the Jonathan administration had thrown at least two mega, money-guzzling dinners in Abuja, perhaps the best example of the aphorism 'Nero fiddling while Rome burns'. In one of such frivolities, the President and his party folks feasted joyously at a post-PDP convention dinner even as hapless students were bemoaning their fate over the strike.

The party said it was also in the midst of the strike that the First Lady organised the so-called peace rally that brought hundreds of unsuspecting women to Abuja.


''Yet, some ministers had the temerity to insult the sensibilities of Nigerians by saying the government will shut down if it meets ASUU's demand. What an affront! They did not say Nigeria will shut down when the country paid out 3 trillion naira in non-existent fuel subsidies; they did not say Nigeria will shut down over the N1 trillion spent in the last eight years on less than 500 people; they did not say Nigeria will shut down due to federal government monumental profligacy, which includes spending billions of naira to pamper ex-militants, some of whom are now so overfed that they are threatening the country's very existence!

APC also said the fact that the strike had persisted despite the president’s directive, widely reported by the media, to the federal government’s negotiating team to do everything possible to end the strike, says a lot about the administration's credibility.
- Thisday

Read more...

Faces of some of the sacked Ministers

President Goodluck Jonathan sacked nine ministers yesterday – in a shocking move that sparked questions on the motive of the action.
Five factors accounted for the ministers’ sack, The Nation learnt.
According to highly-placed sources in government, some of the reasons are: non-performance; security reports on alleged corruption; political allegiance and doubtful loyalty to the President; poor management of turn-key projects; and the crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
A source, who pleaded not to be named because of the “sensitivity” of the matter, said: “You will recall that the President asked the ministers to sign a performance bond. About four of the nine ministers failed to live up to expectations in the assessment of the Presidency.
“In fact, three of the ministers were yet to understand their mandate after being in office for two and a half years. One of the ministers had more than 20 agencies under him but his performance was poor.
“We cannot also rule out alleged corruption acts by two to three of the ministers. For instance, there is a particular outgoing minister who forced the parastatals under the ministry to buy a N17million Sports Utility Vehicle SUV for personal use.
“The money-spinning parastatals were unhappy but they had to do it. It also got to a ridiculous extent that the minister was always asking for remittance of interest accruable from funds kept in some banks by parastatals under the ministry.
“Another minister had problems with award of contracts, some of which were rated as inferior. The agencies supervised by the minister made a joint demand for change.
“Ironically, the minister lost a plum cabinet position at a time a platform was created in a state to fight political adversaries of Jonathan. The minister was dazed when the President announced the sack.”
According to a source, there was also the alleged tardiness in the award of the $1.3billion (N212billion) Zungeru Hydro Project.
The Federal Government is expected to spend about N303million in generating one megawatt of electricity. The hydro project is said to be one of the most expensive in the world.
“Although no corruption infraction was found against Hajiya Zainab Kuchi, she was sacrificed for not being vigilant,” the source claimed.
It was also learnt that the alleged overstaying in the cabinet by the former Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, may have led to his exit.
Another source said: “I think Shamsudeen has been in the cabinet since 2007. Though he did well in designing the Performance Benchmark for the Federal Executive Council(FEC), the nation’s planning system has not improved.
“An egg-head, who is a former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), he may have lost his post because of difficulty in measuring his achievements which appeared to be long term. And you know, politicians have no patience for long term gains.”
As at press time, political motives were being read into the sack of some of the ministers but a source in the Presidency disputed these.
Some ministers were reportedly sent packing because of the rebellion of the G-7 governors in the PDP.
“People alluded to this factor because some of the Ministers were nominated by their governors. Such Ministers are Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai(nominated by Governor Sule Lamido); Zainab Kuchi(by Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State); Alhaji Bukar Tijjani(from Borno now being controlled by APC without being unable to mobilise PDP to launch counter-attack),” said the source, adding:
“For Shamsudeen, who was not nominated by Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, his alleged cold war with the Kano State Governor led to the factionalisation of PDP in his state. He became a political risk for Jonathan to retain him in the cabinet.
“But, contrary to political permutations, some ministers from the rebellious states, like Adamawa , Rivers and Kwara, are in the cabinet because of performance without anyone touching them.”
Ms Amal Pepple, who is from Rivers State, is believed to have lost her job for being unable to read the President’s mood on the crisis in the state.
“Concerned about her state, Pepple recently walked up to the President, knelt down and asked him to forgive Governor Rotimi Amaechi of whatever sin the governor had committed,” the source said, adding:
“Although Pepple was not nominated by Amaechi, her U-Turn made the Presidency suspicious of her loyalty.
“Her innocent intervention in Rivers crisis and fact that she was also just waking up to make impact at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development cost her the job.”
Ashiru’s removal was said to have shocked his colleagues. “In fact, one of the ministers almost shouted as the President was reeling out the names of those to be dropped,” the source said.
He said: “There is a strong suspicion that since the Presidency was uncomfortable with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, who brought Ashiru into the cabinet, the minister’s days were numbered. In spite of the mediatory role of Obasanjo in PDP crisis, the position of the Presidency was that he had only attempted to clear the mess he created. Ashiru might just be a scape-goat.
“As for the Minister of Environment, Hadiza Mailafia, the tempo of political situation in Kaduna requires a change of guard.”
President Jonathan shocked the sacked ministers as he did not betray any emotions at the FEC meeting.
A Presidency source said: “We all went in with the usual exchange of banters. The President and his deputy and a few others came late but we did not suspect anything.
“After honouring a star athlete, Blessing Okagbare, we went into the business of the day with most of the nine ministers making contributions, oblivious that they would go.
“As we were about to say the closing prayers, the President said: ‘I wish to inform you that some ministers will be attending this FEC meeting for the last time there will be some changes; some will be dropped.’
“A pin-drop silence overwhelmed the Executive Chambers as he was reading the names in a military fashion.
“After the list was read, the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, said the closing prayers.”
- The Nation

Read more...

Minister of Information, Mr.Labaran Maku

The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, has said all the 11 power plants being constructed by the Federal Government will be completed before the end of the first quarter of 2014.

Maku stated this on Monday while fielding questions from journalists after the Peoples Democratic Party stakeholders’ meeting in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

He said seven out of the power plants had so far been completed, while efforts were being intensified to complete others before the end of the first quarter of 2014.

The minister said the Federal Government had completed 150 out of the 220 injection sub-stations being constructed to stabilise and hold the power to be generated.

Maku further explained that the privatisation of the sector would enhance efficiency in power delivery as was witnessed in the telecoms sector.

The minister noted that the Federal Government deserved commendation for completing the plants in two years, adding that electricity generation would double in the next few years.

 “It is almost magical for the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to have achieved this feat in just two years; this is a clear indication of his commitment to deliver on power,” he said.

Maku pointed out that the present administration had done far more than any previous administration in the country.

He, therefore, appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the administration, pointing out that there would be a lot of improvement and stability in the power sector before the end of 2014.

Maku said the media was under reporting the achievements of the government.

He said, “It is unfortunate that the media is focusing more on personality rather than discussing development.

“The media should focus more on progress and on the achievements of the government irrespective of political party platform in the interest of the people.”

He added that the government needed support and the media had the responsibility to report progress “so that you don’t fixate yourself with politics.”

“Politicians will want to undermine tangible achievements because they will want to come in, but the reality of what the Jonathan administration is doing is very clear and deserves to be reported,” he said.

Meanwhile, the President has given an assurance to Nigerians that they will soon begin to enjoy the benefits of the privatisation of the power sector with the successful conclusion of the sale of the generation and distribution companies.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted the President as saying this while granting audience to a delegation of the Anioma Peoples’ Congress led by the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.

Jonathan confirmed that all the successful bidders for the power generation and distribution companies except one had completed the payments required to complete the process, which he said was conducted in conformity with globally acceptable standards and best practices.

He said, “We are fully conscious of the centrality and importance of adequate power supply for our developmental efforts. We have challenges in the sector but we are constantly working to overcome them.

“We are currently in a transition phase in which the sector is being positively transformed. The sale of our generation and distribution companies is almost concluded. Finally, everyone has paid and in the shortest possible time, our power sector will take on a much more positive life of its own for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

Jonathan said his administration remained fully committed to significantly improving national infrastructure and would continue to work on rapidly developing railway links, airports, seaports, roads and other transportation services in the country.

 “We are glad that you appreciate what we are doing. We will continue to work very hard so that Nigerians in all parts of the country will feel the positive impact of our efforts to accelerate national development and progress,” he said.

Responding to the delegation’s request for his support for the creation of Anioma State and for the next governor of Delta State to emerge from Delta North if Anioma State did not become a reality before 2015, Jonathan reportedly said such political matters did not depend on him alone.

Edozien, on behalf of the delegation, thanked the President for the commencement of work on the Second Niger Bridge and the approval of a cargo terminal at the Asaba Airport.

The group also praised the President’s handling of the country’s security challenges.

“We are glad that you have tenaciously carried on with your development strides in spite of distractions. We believe you should be given all necessary support to forge ahead and we assure you of our full support if you decide to seek a second term in office,” Edozien told the President.
- The Punch

Read more...

Mr. Inuwa Abdul-kadir, Former Minister of Youth Development

The Minister may have been fired for his role in the new political association floated by seven PDP governors.
President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday relieved Inuwa Abdul-kadir of his appointment as Minister of Youth Development.
According to a statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, the President’s directive takes immediate effect.
The statement, which was signed by the Special Assistant on Media to Mr. Anyim, Sam Nwaobasi, directed Mr. Abdul-kadir to hand over to the permanent secretary of the ministry.
The President expressed appreciation to Mr. Abdul-kadir for the time he put in the service of the nation and wished him success in his future endeavours.
“Mr. President expresses appreciation to the Former Minister for the time he put in the services of the nations and wishes him success in his future endeavor,” it said.
Although, the statement was silent on the reason for Mr. Abdul-Kadir’s sack, presidency sources said it might not be unconnected with his closeness to the governor of his home state, Sokoto, Aliyu Wamakko.
2015 politics
The Sokoto state governor recommended Mr. Abdul-Kadir for the appointment when his (Abdul-kadir) predecessor resigned to contest the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2011. Mr. Wamakko was also an aspirant in the primaries and eventually emerged the party’s candidate before winning re-election.
A presidency source claimed that Mr. Abdul-kadir is an interim official of a new political association, Voice of the People, VoP, floated by Mr. Wamakko and five other PDP governors; and now seeking the nod of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as a party.
It was gathered that the former minister may have been functioning as the protem secretary of the new group.
Media reports on Monday had linked seven PDP governors- Chubuike Amaechi (Rivers), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Mr. Wamakko, all of who belong to the faction of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, chaired by Mr. Amaechi- with the new association.
Apart from belonging to the parallel faction of the governors’ forum, the governors are also believed to be opposed to the undeclared second term aspiration of Mr. Jonathan.
Some of the governors had also visited some former leaders of the country in their acclaimed bid to save its democracy. In the course of the visit, they canvassed the removal of Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the PDP, an alleged move to get at the President.
- Premiumtimes

Read more...

The Governors allegedly involved with the new party

The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took a turn for the worse, weekend, with the decision of seven of the party’s 23 governors to float a new party, the Voice of the People, VOP.

The application for registration by the new party, it was learnt at the weekend, has been filed with the Independent National Electoral Commission, which is processing it. A source in INEC contacted on the development, yesterday, said he was unable to confirm the veracity or the stage of the application.

The party, it was learnt, is receiving the patronage of several chieftains of the PDP.



The seven governors alleged to be behind the new party include all five Northern governors that have engaged in a series of consultation with eminent statesmen, including former heads of state. The five governors are Murtala Nyako of Adamawa ; Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano; Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto; Sule Lamido of Jigawa and Babangida Aliyu of Niger State. The five governors are being joined in the rebellion against the PDP by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

Another governor is also sympathetic to the proposed VOP, but his identity could not be confirmed as at weekend. The inclinations of Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal towards the new party have also not been confirmed though it was learnt that he has been approached.

The decision of the governors to move out of the PDP came ahead of the special national convention of the PDP this weekend. Governor Amaechi who has been suspended has not been invited to the convention but the decision of the other six to pull out of the PDP could come as a blow to the PDP given the electoral weight of the states involved.

With Sokoto, Kano and Jigawa states out of control of the PDP and the Southwest totally out of control of the ruling party, the PDP would be reduced to playing second fiddle in the Northwest and Southwest regions whose total voters’ population is more than 40% of the national voting population.

There were indications that last Friday’s private meeting between Governor Kwankwaso and President Goodluck Jonathan was a last minute bid to stop the governor and his colleagues from the rebellion.

Though associates of Speaker Tambuwal in the House of Representatives claimed ignorance of his involvement or knowledge of the new party, there were nevertheless suspicions that the involvement of Governor Wamakko could inevitably lead the speaker into the emerging party.

Speaker Tambuwal has been severally flayed by some PDP associates for his close ties with opposition political parties.

The decision of the governors to float a party instead of teaming up with the All Progressives Congress, APC, it was gathered,  flowed from deep suspicions between the governors and some of the promoters of the APC.

One of the governors involved in the new party had told Vanguard that General Muhammadu Buhari and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai who are among the champions of the APC were missing when activists fought for democracy during military rule.

Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed (KWARA)

Governor Ahmed has been a silent crusader in the PDP. Even though he has not been visible in the campaign against the alleged injustice in the PDP, his voice, has however, not been totally quiet.

His political benefactor, Senator Abubakar Saraki, it is believed, may have greatly influenced his decision. Though he, Saraki has silently offered advice to the Jonathan administration at the highest level, Senator Saraki who was the immediate past governor of Kwara State is known to be a strong political ally of Amaechi. The administration’s on-again-off-again probes of the Saraki regime has also been taken with offence in Kwara.

With Governor Ahmed decamping to the VOP, it would inevitably crumble the PDP in Kwara State. The PDP would now have to play third fiddle after VOP and the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi (RIVERS)

Amaechi has been consistently labelled as the enemy of the people of the South-South on account of an alleged ambition. He has been accused of aspiring to the post of vice-president with the intent of substituting the office of the president now occupied by a Niger Delta man for the office of vice-president.

Governor Amaechi who is generally believed to have performed well in office, especially in the areas of education, health and agriculture, provoked controversy with his ascendancy to the chairmanship of the NGF. As the NGF chairman he had the responsibility of speaking the minds of the governors. Amaechi remarkably had enjoyed some level of personal rapport with the president, and had the closest relationship with the president of all South-South governors until about two years ago.

His refusal to heed the alleged directive of the PDP hierarchy not to re-contest the chairmanship of the NGF brought him into direct conflict with presidential minders and it was a testimony of his political tenacity that he braved the odds to win the contest against the PDP’s favoured candidate for the position, Governor Jonah Jang.

The PDP had left Amaechi’s few options in the last few months. The party structure was taken from him in controversial circumstances and handed over to his one time chief of staff, Mr. Nyesom Wike.

Not long after, the governor was suspended from the party. Only last week, the new leadership of the party under Mr. Felix Obuah commenced an appraisal of public officials elected on the platform of the PDP. The move it was claimed by associates of Governor Amaechi was aimed to effect the expulsion of the governor’s associates from the party on the fact that Amaechi’s associates would not appear before the panel.

Amaechi’s move to the VOP would create a challenge to the PDP in the sense that the party would be denied that leverage of harvesting its traditional two million votes in presidential elections.

Despite Governor Amaechi’s near excellent performance in office, his capacity to swing the whole state in the direction of the VOP would be undermined by the  forces of Mrs. Patience Jonathan and Mr. Wike.

Rabiu Kwankwaso (KANO)

Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso’s exit from the PDP came despite last minute apparent pleas from President Jonathan last Friday when the two men held a one on one session. Kwankwaso has had a running battle with the PDP since 2010 when he formally launched his campaign to reclaim the governorship he lost in 2003.

Party bureaucrats working in cahoot with some officials in the presidency allegedly sympathetic to Vice-President Namadi Sambo had tried to deny Kwankwaso the PDP gubernatorial ticket on the fear that Kwankwaso would at the end of the second term pose a serious challenge to the hushed ambitions of the vice-president.

It took strong security reports of a possible riot in Kano for the PDP to belatedly restore Kwankwaso’s ticket. Perhaps buoyed by that victory or the messianic spirit that now effuses through his Kwankwasiya movement in Kano, Kwankwaso has turned into a stronghold that no one can stop. He has been consistent in championing regional interests.

Many disaffected PDP stalwarts in Kano would be glad to see him leave as it would give them room to operate. His exit would also gladden many in the APC as it would soften the state for the opposition party.


Gov Sule Lamido
Arguably one of the best performing governors in the country today, Governor Sule Lamido’s politics is following the path of rebellion against feudal oppression he learnt from his late political master, Mallam Aminu Kano.

He has not had any direct political problems with Abuja except the notable suspicion that his sterling performance could galvanise a momentum from stakeholders for him to contest the 2015 presidential election as a way of replicating the Jigawa experience on a national level.

It is not surprising that posters of Governors Lamido and Amaechi are regularly advertised as an item for the 2015 presidential contest.

Given the revolution he has put in terms of infrastructure and the welfare programme, Governor Lamido’s exit from the PDP would be a major loss for the party and he would almost certainly deliver the state across board to the VOP.

Gov Wamakko
Governor Aliyu Wamakko is the political phenomenon whose tentacles attracted President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2007 to the extent that the former president caused his protégée, Alhaji Mukthar Shagari to surrender the PDP’s ticket to the then ANPP gubernatorial candidate.

It was one act of political engineering by Obasanjo without which the PDP could not have dreamt flying its flag in the Sokto Government House.

Governor Wamakko’s problems with the national party are in part an extension of his domestic challenges. Many of his foes who found habitation at the PDP national secretariat helped to stoke the crisis between Wamakko and the national party. It is, however, reflective of his prominence that when the national party announced his suspension on the fact that he did not answer the national chairman’s telephone call, zonal and state officials of the party and also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal publicly came out to denounce the national party.

One of the greatest dangers in Wamakko’s exit from the PDP is the effect it could have on Speaker Tambuwal. If Tambuwal as it is most likely joins him, the speaker could through his network in the House cause a free fall of the PDP in the House of Representatives.

Though Sokoto State has not been very lucrative for the PDP in presidential contests, the fact that the votes mobilized by Wamakko could go to another party of influence could put the ruling party in more jeopardy.

Gov. Nyako
The challenges in Adamawa arguably were the main factors that exacerbated the crisis in the PDP. When Alhaji Bamanga Tukur sought to displace the PDP structure under the control of Governor Murtala Nyako, PDP governors led by Governor Amaechi quickly came to his support and at one time forced the National Working Committee, NWC to disown Tukur.

But with steadfastness and the presidency backing him, Tukur has held his own against Nyako

But Nyako’ exit from the PDP would be too much of a good news to his traducers. His capacity to rally support for the VOP in the state against the determination of Tukur and the PDP is, however, open to debate.

Gov. Aliyu
For Governor Babangida Aliyu his path of rebellion was like a call to duty. As chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF it was his obligation to defend what was alleged as the understanding that President Jonathan would serve only one term in office. Governor Aliyu though without proof went on to say that the president signed an agreement on the issue.

Though some had in the past alleged that the governor could do a deal with Jonathan under the correct understanding, so far no deal has been marshalled.

His exit from the PDP would leave Niger State an open play for all three major parties, the VOP, PDP and APC.

Source: The Vanguard

Read more...

Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili

The House of Representatives has accepted the challenge by a former Minister  of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, to conduct a public hearing on its alleged scandalous N1 trillion wage bill since 2005.

A spokesperson for the House said in a statement on Thursday that the National Assembly “wholeheartedly” welcomed Mrs. Ezekwesili’s request because of its belief in transparency in governance.

A statement by Rep Victor Afam-Ogene, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Public Affairs, however said the former minister should prepare to explain her understanding of cost of governance and provide reasons for narrowing the concept to the National Assembly, leaving out the Executive.

The  statement reads, “Nigerians would remember that in the course of a similar misadventure  in January 2013, Mrs. Ezekwesili had made wild claims bordering on the alleged frittering of $45bn  of the country’s external reserves, and $22bn  in the excess crude account.

“While she has yet to fully justify those allegations, the former minister is this time seeking a fresh sparring partner in the Legislature.

“If it were not so, why would an address which centered on a “Cost of Governance in NIgeria” be curiously limited to an inquest into the operations of the National Assembly, leaving out the other two arms  of government (the Executive and Judiciary) and arriving at the rather simplistic suggestion of the introduction of a unicameral or part-time legislature as the panacea  for  all Nigeria’s problems?

“Since it is public knowledge that whosoever wishes to go to equity ought to do so with clean hands, we restate our earlier posers which Mrs. Ezekwesili conveniently glossed over in her latest statement on this issue, to wit: What is the percentage of the National Assembly’s N150bn  allocation in a budget of N4.9tr?

“Is it right to insinuate that the budgetary allocation for the National Assembly is for ‘members salaries and allowances’, while deliberately leaving out capital projects component, salaries of  legislative aides and the bureaucracy, as well as allied institutions such as  the Institute for Legislative Studies?

“What is the total disbursement to the Executive and the Judicial arms of government over the same eight-year period?

“For an ex-official of government, who between the 2006 and 2007 federal budgets, superintended over a total of N422.5bn as Education Minister, what percentage of the public fund was expended by her as recurrent cost?”

Mrs Ezekwesili, had on Wednesday challenged the federal lawmakers to a public hearing, where she indicated she would defend her call for the scrapping of an arm of the National Assembly which, as presently structured, has gulped over N1 trillion in federal budget since 2005.

Mrs. Ezekwesili’s earlier call on Monday had stirred a fresh debate about government spending on salaries.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre  that day, Mrs. Ezekwesili said Nigeria’s 469-member National Assembly, comprising a Senate and a House of Representatives, had gulped N1 trillion since 2005.

She criticized the lawmakers’ huge wage bill as well as Nigeria’s budgets that have given more money to recurrent expenditure, and called for a single arm of the legislature.

As expected, the comments sparked angry reactions from lawmakers on Tuesday, who asked the minister to also shed light on how much she spent or drew first as a minister of solid minerals, and later as minister of education.

Mrs. Ezekwesili was first appointed a minister of solid minerals in 2005, under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. She was later moved to the education ministry.

“She was part of several reform committees that ended up being reformed themselves. In view of this, the best way to go to equity is to go with clean hands,” a spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Victor Ogene, said.

“It would, however, suffice for Ezekwesili to tell us what recurrent expenditure was during her tenure and what it cost Nigerian taxpayers to maintain her and her aides for a year.”

Mrs. Ezekwesili, also a former World Bank executive, fired back in a statement on Wednesday, challenging the lawmakers to contest her figures, and set a day for a public hearing where the issues of their scandalous pay would be taken up.

“The NASS in its prestige as the most important symbol of our democracy has a duty to promote at all times the democratic culture of tolerance for dissension. Would it therefore not have been more dignifying of our democracy if the spokesmen had used the opportunity of their reaction to offer their own data to contradict or clarify anything conveyed in my speech after reading it?” she asked.

The minister then asked for date, and pledged to be available for the hearing that would discuss lawmakers’ remuneration.

“I wish to state with absolute respect for our lawmakers and our institution that it will be more valuable and enriching for our democracy if instead of the abusive language of their recent reaction, the NASS immediately offered me and the rest of the Nigerian public, the opportunity of a Public Hearing on their Budgetary Allocation and the very relevant issue of their remuneration,” she said.

“I shall make myself available to the NASS as soon as it decides to host a Public Hearing on this and other related issues of the lawmakers’ interest.”

Nigerian lawmakers are rated as the world’s highest paid, with approved salaries and allowances over N30 million annually. In addition, they also receive huge quarterly allowance, widely known by Nigerians as “jumbo pay” but tagged “running cost” by the lawmakers.

But while much of the legislators’ earnings are known to the public and often come under criticism, lawmakers accuse the executive, comprising the president and his cabinet of earning far ahead of them and spending public funds unchecked.

The ministers are also accused of pocketing billions of naira in internally generated revenues, and refusing to remit them to government coffers.

- Premiumtimes

Read more...

Former Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak

(Reuters) - Deposed Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak could leave prison on Thursday after a court ruling that further divided a country in turmoil since the army toppled Islamist President Mohamed Mursi seven weeks ago.

Convening at the Cairo jail where Mubarak is held, the court ordered the release of the military man who ruled Egypt for 30 years with an iron fist until he was overthrown during the uprisings that swept the Arab world in early 2011.

The prime minister's office said he would then be placed under house arrest, which could be an attempt to placate the many who will object to the release of the man they held mass protests to eject in 2011.

Citing a security source, the state news agency said Mubarak was "likely" to be transported to one of the state's vital installations or one of two military hospitals where he will be guarded under heavy security.

Mubarak, 85, was sentenced to life in prison last year for failing to prevent the killing of demonstrators. But a court accepted his appeal earlier this year and ordered a retrial.

The ailing former air force pilot probably has no political future, but the court ruling made some Egyptians uncomfortable.

"His regime was foul. He damaged the country a lot. Unemployment high, no services, no health, no education. This is not a good day for the country," said Hassan Mohamed, 66, an engineer.

Refilling juice cartons in a convenience store, Amr Fathi also expressed disappointment. "I'm not happy, of course. He oppressed us a lot back in the day," he said.

Political upheaval triggered by Mursi's overthrow on July 3 has kept many Egyptians anxious. The military announced a road map designed to bring democracy back to Egypt but this has not created a sense of stability in the Arab world's biggest nation.

At least 900 people, including 100 soldiers and police, have been killed in a crackdown on Mursi supporters since last week, making it the country's bloodiest internal episode in decades.

The clampdown, which has included the arrests of top leaders of Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood, appears to have weakened the Arab world's oldest and arguably most influential Islamist group.

It has been struggling to get people onto the streets to protest what it calls a military coup since security crushed pro-Mursi protest camps in Cairo. Security forces arrested a Muslim Brotherhood spokesman, Ahmed Aref, early on Thursday, the state news agency reported.

Brotherhood supporters have called on Egyptians to hold "Friday of Martyrs" marches against the military takeover.

A grouping calling itself The National Coalition to Support Legitimacy, which has been demanding Mursi's reinstatement, said in a statement: "We will remain steadfast on the road to defeating the military coup."

Mubarak's release from jail would reinforce the Brotherhood's view that the armed forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, are trying to rehabilitate the old government.

"A GREAT MAN"

Mubarak is still being retried on charges of complicity in the killing of protesters during the revolt against him, but he has already served the maximum pretrial detention in that case.

The court ruling removed the last legal ground for his imprisonment in connection with a corruption case, following a similar decision in another corruption case on Monday. Mubarak will not be allowed to leave Egypt and his assets remain frozen.

Some Egyptians were happy to hear Mubarak could soon leave Cairo's Tora prison, where many of his enemies were jailed during his ruthless crackdowns on Islamists.

"He was a great man; he shouldn't be in prison. He is an old man," said Ibtisaam, 19. "Under Mubarak, we lived in safety. Now anyone can come up to us, thugs and all."

Egypt has suffered a deterioration in law and order since Mubarak was toppled. Political violence that erupted after Mursi's fall has also made Egyptians uneasy.

It is likely to drag on, with the authorities vowing to wipe out "terrorism", and the Muslim Brotherhood refusing to give up the fight to bring Mursi back to power.

The United States and the European Union are both reviewing aid to Cairo in light of the bloodshed, but Saudi Arabia, an enemy of the Brotherhood, has promised to make up any shortfall.

The European Union stopped short of agreeing immediate cuts in financial or military assistance to Cairo on Wednesday, as the bloc's foreign ministers held emergency talks to find ways to help bring an end to violence in Egypt.

The decision acknowledges Europe's limited economic muscle in forcing Egypt's army-backed rulers and the Muslim Brotherhood supporters of Morsi into a peaceful compromise.

It also reflects a concern that abruptly cutting aid could shut off dialogue with Cairo's military rulers and damage Europe's ability to mediate in any future negotiations to end the worst internal strife in Egypt's modern history.

Egypt has said repeatedly it does not want foreign powers to interfere in the standoff with the Brotherhood.

"Egypt can never accept an interference in its sovereignty or the independence of its decisions or an interference in its internal affairs," said Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy in a statement after the EU talks.

"The only standard that rules Egypt's decisions is the supreme interest of the country and its national security."

Read more...

Interim National Chairman, All Progressive Congress, Chief Bisi Akande

The All Progressives Congress on Wednesday in Abuja  unfolded a seven-point  cardinal programme that would ensure that electricity generation hit 40,000 megawatts within four to eight years of its leadership.

The  party, in a 31-page manifesto, which was presented to Nigerians  listed the   other components of the cardinal programme as war against corruption, food security,   integrated transport network and free education.

Others are devolution of power, accelerated economic growth and affordable health care.

According to the party, the programme  will transform Nigeria into a progressive state anchored on social democracy.

“Our government shall vigorously pursue the expansion of electricity generation and distribution of up to 40,000 megawatts in four to eight years,”  the APC   said.

Last Tuesday, the Presidential Task Force on Power put the nation’s power generation at 3,311.40MW.

But the APC said it would also work at making power available from renewable energy sources such as coal, solar and wind.

The party   said, “The country can only succeed when all of us have equal rights, where no one is above the law;  where the culture of impunity is abolished and where there is a level playing field.”

It  stated  that as a change agent, it would “halt the dangerous drift of Nigeria into a failed state; with a conscious plan for a post-oil-economy.”

The party stated that it would restructure the country and devolve powers to the units with the best practices of federalism.

It said that its government would muster the political will to wage a stringent war against corruption. The party warned that without successfully waging war against corruption, Nigeria’s post-oil-economy would be disastrous.

Explaining its agenda on agriculture, the APC noted that Nigeria, which used to be a leading exporter of agricultural produce, had become import  dependent.

It stated, “APC will embark on a massive and progressive re-organisation and revolution of the agricultural industry.”

The  party  also  stated   it would embark on a national infrastructural development programme through a private-public sector partnership.

According to the party, through this, it would construct 4,000 kilometres of “super highways.”

It said that it would revatilse the railway system through  the modernisation  and rehabilitation of tracks.

The party added that it would build 200 kilometres  of standard railway lines annually an  carry out a thorough review of the  education sector.

It said that it would allocate up to 10 per cent of the country’s annual budget to the education sector.

The party promised to re-introduce technical and vocational education and review the 6-3-3-4 system.

In the health sector, the APC said that it would  work to reduce infant mortality rate by 2019 to three per cent and reduce maternal mortality by more than 70 per cent.

The APC said that it would make free ante-natal care for pregnant women and provide free health care for babies and children up to school going age.

According to the party, the aged and people living with HIV/AIDS would also enjoy free health care.

On industrialisation, the APC said that it would conduct a state by state census of ailing industries.

This, it explained, would enable it to establish an industrial resuscitation fund.

The party added that it would create new development banks that would make affordable credits available for industrial growth.

 On job creation, the APC said that it would maintain “a sound macro-economic policy environment, run an efficient government and preserve the independence of the Central Bank of  Nigeria.”

The party said that it would make  the  economy one of the fastest growing economies by achieving a real GDP growth of 10 per cent annually.

The APC also promised to amend the  1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act “to create freehold/leasehold interest in land matching grants.”

 The Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, had before the unveiling of the manifesto, said that    Nigeria and its citizens were   “in a state of near permanent trauma.”

 He  noted that Nigeria had  for many years  been confronted with multi-dimensional challenges, including socio-economic crises.

 “The result is that the nation and its citizenry continue to exist in a state of near permanent trauma,” he said.

 Akande stated that in over 50 years of its independence,Nigeria had suffered seven  coups, which resulted in 28 years of military rule.

 Akande said, “Trapped in a vicious cycle of political crises, social upheavals and economic under-development, Nigeria has become, not only one of the most unstable countries in the world, it is also, regrettably, one of the poorest despite its huge human and material resources.”

 He said  the APC would confront the challenges facing the country. The challenges, according to him, can be  grouped into seven.

They include  national unity and integration;  perennial threats to security, law and order; and   ensuring rapid economic growth with equity people-centered economic management. Others are consolidating Nigeria’s emerging democratic tradition;  human development; and instituting a sustainable management of the environment.

Akande stated, “The philosophy underpinning the coming into being of the APC therefore is the determination to bring the country back from the brink of collapse, despair, and possible disintegration; reposition it decisively on the route to emerging into a modern stable democratic nation, with a productive economy that is based on equity and justice for all citizens.”

He said  the party would harness the abundant energy, enterprise and intellect of all Nigerians to move the country forward.

 The interim chairman said, “We believe that at the core of the paralysing challenges confronting Nigeria today is the failure of governance which is manifested in the continuing inability of the Nigerian state.”

According to him, Nigeria should assume its proper place in world affairs commensurate with its size and status as the leading black nation in the world.

 Akande added, “To the APC therefore, the objective of governance is the single-minded and unrelenting efforts to confront these challenges and the eventual materialisation of a united, peaceful and democratic nation, with a productive and constantly growing economy; which provides significant opportunities for all its citizens.”

 “A large part of the APC’s agenda in particular will centre on the Nigerian youth.”

The Peoples Democratic Party however faulted a claim by Akande that Nigeria was in near trauma.

It said Nigeria’s economy was growing consistently, stressing that the Gross Domestic Product had also been rising at seven percent for the past three years.

“The Nigerian economy is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. In Asia, Europe and even America, the economy is either in recession or growing at one per cent, but our GDP has been growing at seven per cent for the past three years; anybody who does not know this is either not in this country or he is mischievous,” the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Tony Okeke said.
- The Punch

Read more...

Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal

The House of Representatives Tuesday rejected the proposal that members of the National Assembly should perform their legislative duties on a part-time basis.
It argued that while the cost of governance may be high in Nigeria, it would be wrong to portray the legislature as a burden to the economy.

Lawmakers who spoke to THISDAY on the issue were unanimous in their argument that Nigeria needed to adopt a holistic approach to tackling the challenge of huge cost of governance.

Erstwhile Minister of Education, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, on Monday had suggested that the legislators should serve on a part-time basis to reduce the cost of governance.

Ezekwesili had told a gathering of civil society organisations that the National Assembly had gulped over N1 trillion in about eight years to the detriment of the nation’s economic development.

But Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakary Mohammed, while reacting to the proposal yesterday, faulted the claims of Ezekwesili, describing them as misleading.

Mohammed said it was a “blanket statement” that did not take into account the fact that the National Assembly had maintained a budgetary allocation of N150 billion for both capital and recurrent expenditures over the last three fiscal years.

“I do not know where she got her figures but I believe she did not get it right. The National Assembly budget has remained N150 billion in the last three consecutive years. I have great respect for her (Ezekwesili) but somebody of her status should not have taken up this issue without putting all the cards on the table.

“In a democracy, we should not just concentrate on what we spend but we should also look at what we get in the process. We should do a cost benefit analysis of running the National Assembly as a vital institution of democracy,” he said.

Mohammed added that he would have no problem with the proposal if it were the wish of Nigerians, but stressed that Nigeria was not ripe for such a change.

According to him, the United States from where Nigeria copied its presidential democracy is still maintaining its Congress even when its democracy has remained stable for over 200 years.

“The American democracy could be said to be on autopilot yet, they have not experimented with a part-time legislature. We are just barely 14 years in this democracy and we need to strengthen all our democratic institutions, especially the National Assembly. We should rather look at other areas of leakages rather than making the National Assembly, the scapegoat,” Mohammed said.

Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Afamefuna Ogene, also rejected a part-time legislature for Nigeria, adding that this was not the first time, people would “erroneously” suggest that the National Assembly is the problem of the country.

Ogene explained that the idea was laughable because the N150 billion allocated to the National Assembly was only a small fraction of this year's N4.9 trillion national budget.

“Rather than blaming the National Assembly for the poor finances of the country, the questions that should be asked are: Why do we need up to 40 ministers? Why do we have up to 10 aircraft in the presidential fleet? These are the issues that should be taken into consideration instead of saying that one arm of government should be shut down,” Ogene stated.

Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, took a rather sarcastic approach to the matter, saying he would support the proposal if part-time legislation was the solution to Nigeria's economic problems.

“If part-time legislation is the panacea, antidote or solution to our myriad of problems in this country, I am all for it. But something tells me it is not. I am yet to see an advanced democracy or economy especially with a size and the multiplicity of regions and religions that operate such a system.

“Nigeria's problem needs a holistic approach and major surgery. But like I said, I am all for part-time legislation if it will move us forward even if by experiment though I think after 100 years of existence and 50 years of independence, we should have gone beyond experimentation,” Gbajabiamila said.

Similarly, Chairman, House Committee on Public Service Matters, Hon. Andrew Uchendu, explained that the huge cost of governance cannot be divorced from the presidential system of governance, which Nigeria first adopted at the exit of the military in 1979.

According to him, there has been a quantum leap in the cost of governance over the years and common sense demands that strategies be devised to reduce it.

“In order to reduce the cost of governance, a holistic approach must be adopted and therefore asking the National Assembly to be on a part-time basis cannot solve the entire problem, particularly when we are still nurturing our democracy after a long period of military rule.

“If an aggressive oversight programme is pursued by the National Assembly, the reduction in the cost of governance, particularly on the side of the executive, will be much more than whatever anybody thinks we will gain by running the National Assembly on a part-time basis,” he said.

Uchendu added that the National Assembly was not the problem, explaining that much of the challenge of high cost of governance has been created by the rising overhead cost in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the government
- Thisday

Read more...

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar

Baring any last minute hitch, a new political party will berth in the already charged Nigerian political turf this week.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed on Wednesday that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some Governors of the crisis-ridden ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have applied for the registration of a group, Peoples Progressive Movement (PPM), as a political party.

The commission said it is processing the application.

Kayodu Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, disclosed this to our correspondent on phone.

Daily Independent reliably gathered that among the Governors who are promoting the new political association are Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State.

The five Governors have been in the vanguard of dissent within the mainstream PDP.

They have been moving round the country to “consult” with past leaders to “save the country’s nascent democracy.”

Beside the five, there are also indications that Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Governor of Taraba may have decided to stake their political lot with the yet to be registered party.

Though it could not be confirmed at press time, the Speaker of the House of Representatives is also said to be sympathetic to the new group.

A former INEC National Commisioner, Mohammed Abubakar, a lawyer who is a close political ally of Atiku, filed the papers at INEC  on behalf of the group.

A source privy to the development told Daily Independent on Wednesday that INEC will meet this week to give the political  group the legal backing. “INEC will definitely meet this week. The party was supposed to be registered at the same time the All Progressives Congress (APC) was registered but for strategic reasons, it was withheld. But that should be done now since all hurdles have been cleared.”

It was also reliably gathered that Atiku may likely pursue his presidential ambition on the party’s platform when it comes on board.

The disagreement of the pro-Amaechi governors with the national leadership of the PDP came into the open on eve of the May 21, Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) election that led to the split in the Governors’ ranks.

One of the factions is led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State while the other is being championed by Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State.

The rumpus that followed the widely disputed election result has since escalated the crisis among the Governors, especially those belonging to the PDP.

It was learnt that the new political group petitioned INEC shortly after the registration of APC protesting their non-registration.

“INEC decided not to leak the petition to the media, preferring to sort things out behind the curtains,” our source revealed.

However, INEC chairman’s spokesman on Wednesday debunked insinuations that the commission refused to register the new group.

He also denied that INEC refused to respond to protest letters written by promoters of the political association.

According to Idowu, “There is an application from the group, and you know that there is a procedure for the registration of a political party; the commission is doing that in conformity with the Electoral Act.

“It is not true that the commission has not responded to their protest letter, we sent them a response that their application is being processed,” he added.

In a related development, recent registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by INEC has also been described as a “blessing and the most convenient way of removing PDP in 2015.”

This was the position of the 11 APC Governors that met in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital, on Wednesday.

After a three-hour closed-door meeting at the Presidential Lodge, Lafia, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who spoke on behalf of the others, commended INEC for registering the APC.

He stressed that it is the only way to dislodge the PDP and entrench a virile democracy in the country.

He added that key decisions were taken at the end of the meeting, essentially about the concerns of Nigerians and the way forward.

Reading the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, Fayemi said strategies to compliment efforts of the interim national executives of APC to strengthen the party were discussed.

The forum also congratulated and expressed confidence in the interim national executives of the APC in their on-going efforts to reposition the party as a credible alternative to Nigerians that are yearning for change.

Apart from Fayemi, the meeting was also attended by Governors Umaru Tanko al-Makura (Nasarawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Rafiu Aregbesola (Osun), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).

Others are Abdullazeez Yari (Zamfara), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rochas Okorocha (Imo, represented by his deputy, Eze Madumere) and with apology from Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State, who, they said, was in Mecca attending the lesser Hajj.

The APC governors also cautioned the National Assembly against legislating on any aspect of the local government administration in the country, saying that such an action will tilt the country towards a unitary state.
- Daily Independent

Read more...

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha

Lagos State Government has gone to the Supreme Court to appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which freed Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha and Lateef Shofolahan, who were accused of killing Mrs. Kudirat Abiola.

 Kudirat was the wife of the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola.

The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, at a briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, said there were “good grounds of appeal” in the case.

 Ipaye said his ministry filed two separate notices of appeal against the judgment on Monday.

Al-Mustapha, a former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, and Shofolahan, a Personal Assistant to Kudirat, were on January 30, 2012, sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos High Court.

The Justice Amina Augie-led appellate court on July 12, 2013, however, set aside the judgment of the lower court.

 Ipaye, who refused to give details of the appeal, said the apex court would provide the final resolution of the case.

 He said, “I can report that we have indeed appealed the judgments, one in respect of al-Mustapha and the other in respect of Lateef Shofolahan.

 “Both have been studied closely and we came to the conclusion that there were good grounds for appeal and we have since filed all the necessary papers.

 “We did that on Monday. Officially, we have put in our indication that we want to contest the judgment of the Court of Appeal at the Supreme Court.

“This step will also ensure that all issues are fully articulated and the victim’s family, the defendants and the society are not deprived of the last window of opportunity provided by the constitution for the resolution of the case.”

 Ipaye also denied that the state government forced residents of the Badia East out of their homes in breach of the persons’ rights and international standards.

The Attorney-General was reacting to a report on Monday by a rights group, Amnesty International, and a non-governmental organisation, Social and Economic Action Centre.

In the 66-page report entitled, ‘If you love your life, move out! Forced eviction in Badia East, Lagos State, Nigeria’ the groups called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to “publicly commit to stopping forced evictions in Lagos.”

The group also urged the state government to resettle the evicted residents and pay them adequate compensation for their destroyed properties.

Ipaye, who said the victims would be compensated “on humanitarian ground”, added that adequate notice was given to them to vacate the place, which he said they occupied “illegally.”

He said, “Despite contrary suggestions in the report, I want to reiterate the Lagos State Government’s commitment to the welfare of its residents and the protection of their rights. We have the largest rights protection programme of any government in Nigeria and are committed maintaining its effectiveness.”
The Punch

Read more...