Monday, September 16, 2013

SOLDIERS ON TRIAL FOR COMPLICITY IN BOKO HARAM & JOS CRISIS


Some soldiers are to face death penalty while others will go to jail for their alleged links to Boko Haram. The soldiers affected are one lieutenant, one warrant officer and 16 others. The General Court Martial has been trying them since July 1 of this year.
Their offences range from communicating with Boko Haram members, cowardly behaviour, murder and manslaughter. They were being tried by the Three Armoured Division as the case fell within its Area of Responsibility (AOR).
A source from the military said that those soldiers who were sentenced to death actually deserved the sentence because "for serving soldiers who swore to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria and Nigerians therein to be found conniving with the enemies of Nigeria (Boko Haram) is a treasonable offence which attracts capital punishment.
"The Boko Haram members do not hide their sinister agenda. They want to destabilise the country. Everybody knows that. For soldiers to now secretly work with them at the expense of the country is treasonable. And it is so treated."

The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the Division, Col. Texas Chukwu, stated that he was preparing a formal speech in this regard, and that this might be made public. The 18 accused soldiers are drawn from the 3rd Armoured Division, Joint Task Force (JTF), otherwise known as Operation Restore Order from Maiduguri and Special Task Force (STF) known as Operation Safe Haven, from Plateau state.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN MAY CONVENE A SOVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERERENCE


Top of Form


THERE are indications that President Goodluck Jonathan may soon consider the option of a national sovereign national conference to douse political tension ahead 2015 presidential elections.
   A group of political leaders from the South East and South South geopolitical zones were said to have prevailed on the President to wield it as master stroke that would put a stop to the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the current political instability.
    The group, made up of hardcore supporters of the President, said immediate convocation of a Sovereign National Conference among the 389 ethnic nationalities, would douse the tension in the polity and cause combatants in the political arena to pause and think as all component groups in the country take advantage of the platform, where the basis of Nigeria’s existence will be “fully discussed and agreed.”
   They are also advising the President that, in case his convoying a SNC makes it difficult for him to run for second term in 2015, he should work to hand over to a President from either the Middle Belt (North Central) or the South East geopolitical zone.
   The memo, which is receiving “serious considerations” from President Jonathan, also said the SNC is needed to put a stop to the “blackmail and balkanisation” of the PDP, and give the President “the needed Plan B and C whereby he would shame his critics and stop the domination of Presidential politics by any group or region.”
    Presidency sources in the know of the “strong memo to the President” canvases that President Jonathan should “think seriously of convoking Sovereign National Conference in which he will be the one to midwife it. It will bring out a “We, the people...” constitution, which would be an answer to the agitations of Nigerians for a forum to decide on how they want to live. After the SNC, if he contests and wins, he will be a national hero.”
   The group, however, said the move would be the best way to strengthen and deepen Nigerianism. “This makes sense because the South East has not produced a Nigerian President. They have always been denied this opportunity. Only recently, they were allowed to get the office of the Chief of Army Staff and leadership of key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
   “For the minorities of the Middle Belt, they have always succeeded in keeping Nigeria one. If the office of the President is aimed at satisfying the North, it should be to the Middle Belt minorities and not go to those who have not only produced dictators and a civilian President.”
     Though President Jonathan is yet to give his reply to the contents of the memo “sent by some of his loyal supporters”, he is studying it and would soon give his decision to them.
    Jonathan has said that while he does not oppose a SNC, he feels that because of constitutional issues, it is better for the nation to have a national dialogue. But the new push, which is quickly gaining converts within his administration, is a direct move to permanently change the political history of the nation.
    On Thursday, August 30, 2013, President Jonathan affirmed the belief of his administration in the rights of the nation’s constituent parts to come together to discuss how they will continue to live in peace and unity.
    The President told a delegation of The Patriots, which submitted a memorandum, which, among others, demanded the convocation of a sovereign national conference to discuss Nigeria’s future, that the issue of Nigerians coming together to discuss their future should not be out of place.
    He admitted that there have been discussions within his government on how to create an acceptable and workable platform for a national dialogue that will reinforce the ties that bind the country’s many ethnic nationalities and ensure that Nigeria’s immense diversity continues to be a source of strength and greatness.
    According to Jonathan, “the limitation we have is that the Constitution appears to have given that responsibility to the National Assembly. I have also been discussing the matter with the leadership of the National Assembly. We want a situation where everyone will key into the process and agree on the way forward.”
    Leader of The Patriots, Prof Nwabueze stated that the sovereign national conference should be convened before 2015 elections because the 1999 Constitution was not prepared by the people but a schedule to Decree 24.
    Calling for a new constitution derived from the people, the renowned constitutional lawyer noted: “We have done our own research and we have in this country 389 ethnic nationalities. We need to bring these nationalities around a conference table to discuss how we are going to live together as one country – in peace, in stability, in security – as one country with the aim of achieving national unity. But as of today, we are not a nation yet. We are a state. This conference should be convened as a matter of priority as soon as possible, in any event before the 2015 general elections.”
    On the position of the National Assembly that there is no need for a sovereign conference since there is an elected National Assembly in place, Nwabueze said: “It is important that what the National Assembly is putting forward is their powers under sections 8&9, which is to alter the Constitution. Power to alter is not as important as the power to abolish what you are altering and to replace it completely. It must be directly from the people and that is the position of, at least, 85 per cent of the countries of the world.

   “If you read Section 1(1) of the Decree these are all preambles to that decree and the 1999 Constitution that you are talking about, it is a schedule to Decree 24. Repeal the decree and the constitution will disappear and you enact a brand new constitution, which would derive its authorities from the people. That was done in 1963 when we adopted the Republican Constitution to replace the Independence Constitution. That 1960 Constitution was also a schedule to British Order-In -Council just as the 1999 Constitution, is a schedule to the Decree 24.” 
THE GUARDIAN

Thursday, September 5, 2013

PROCEDURE FOR DRAFTING AN ENTIRELY NEW CONSTITUTION

The current Senate has, on its own, proposed an amendment to Section 9 of our Constitution which deals with the ‘Mode of altering provisions of the Constitution’. The Senators are proposing to add several sub-sections to this section which will effectively give the National Assembly the powers to draft and enact an entirely new constitution for Nigeria. This proposal has never been subjected to a debate in a plenary session of any of the two NASS chambers nor at a public hearing.
The 49-Member Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution introduced this proposal as the very first item on their list of proposed amendments for deliberation. On page 11 of their report to the Senate, the Committee wrote:
“The Committee feels there is the need to make an elaborate provision in Section 9 of the Constitution for a procedure to bring an entirely new Constitution into being. This is predicated on the belief that the incremental approach to constitutional amendment may not be sustainable in the long run. The need may arise in the future for a whole new document.”
The Committee therefore proposed the insertion of 14 new sub-sections to the current Constitution that provision as follows:
1.      That for the purpose of altering the provisions in the 1999 Constitution, the President’s assent shall not be required;
2.      That the NASS may propose a new Constitution for the Federation;
3.      That the new constitution shall come into effect in the manner stipulated in 4 to 14 below;
4.      That there shall be a Senate and House of Reps committee to be known as Joint Constitution Drafting Committee (JCDC);
5.      That the JCDC shall consist of 2 members from each State (one each from the Senate and House of Reps) and 2 members representing the FCT (one from the Senate and one from the House of Reps);
6.      That the Senate President and House of Reps Speaker shall appoint the JCDC chairman.
7.      That the JCDC shall produce a draft Constitution and submit same to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Reps.
8.      That the Draft Constitution shall be presented to both Houses of the NASS within 3 months as receipt of the JCDC Report.
9.      That if approved by 2/3 of the members of both Houses of the NASS, the Report shall be forwarded to all 36 State Houses of Assembly
10.   That State Assemblies shall vote on each section of the Draft Constitution, requiring just a simple majority to pass each section, while 2/3 of the State Assemblies shall be required to pass a section for it to make it into the proposed Constitution.
11.   When State Assemblies return the Draft Constitution, the Clerk of the NASS shall ensure that State Assemblies have complied with the provisions of this section.
12.   That the Clerk of the NASS shall then circulate the Draft Constitution to each member of the NASS and also forward copies to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
13.   That the INEC shall, within 6 months, conduct a referendum for the approval or otherwise of the Draft Constitution.
14.   That if the Draft Constitution receives a simple majority of votes cast in 2/3 of the States of the Federation, it shall come into force as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This proposed amendment to the current Constitution throws up many issues that would require very careful study. It also throws up many questions that would need answers before a decision is taken whether the amendment should be allowed or not.
Firstly, the Senate constitution review committee did not give a convincing reason for seeking empowerment for the NASS to draft and enact entirely new constitutions for the country. The portion of their report quoted said the need for the NASS to be so empowered is hinged on “the incremental approach to constitutional amendment which may not be sustainable in the long run.” I find this argument hollow, shallow and unconvincing.
Secondly, the NASS would like to grant itself powers to both draft and enact new Constitution. It may be in order for enact the document, but should they also draft it? Why should the drafting not be left for a separate committee that more broadly represents the people? The powers of drafting and enacting a new Constitution should not be vested in the same body. The legislators were elected to make laws primarily. The mandate given to them by the people cannot be construed to include the people’s sovereignty to make draft a fundamental governing document like a Constitution. Also, 2 legislators per State is far too small a representation for our huge population and diversity of opinion, culture, geography, religion and aspirations. 
Thirdly, the Senate proposed to dispense of a presidential assent to the new Constitution while they granted themselves the prerogative of drafting the document, debating on it and approving it. If they were sincere, they would have also removed the need for the NASS to tamper with the draft, provided such a draft emanated from the people. This point proves that they cannot be the drafters of any new Constitution. Even after State Assemblies have passed new provisions, the NASS wishes to arrogate to itself powers to still decide if what the State Assemblies have done is acceptable to them or not. Then the final document could not be said to be a Constitution which the people of Nigeria have decided to give themselves.
Fourthly, the popular practise the world over is for constitutional drafting to be done by representatives of the people elected purely for that purpose. However, in the proposed amendment, the NASS wishes to usurp the people’s powers to give themselves a Constitution.
Fifthly, the requirement of a simple majority as proposed for section by section State Assembly debates is unheard of in the process of Constitution drafting. The minimum requirement the world over tends to be 60% and above. The simple majority requirement as proposed is a ploy to ensure that State Assemblies very easily pass whatever the NASS has done. For example, a sizeable of opposition to a section of up to 59% will still not be able to quash the NASS proposals.
In conclusion, Nigerians are urged to oppose the proposed amendment that will empower the NASS to draft and enact new Constitutions for Nigeria. The acceptable amendment should be one that recommends the election of hundreds of representatives to constitute an independent constitutional drafting committee. The acceptable amendment should also specify that the NASS shall not tamper with the resulting draft Constitution but enact it.    
James Pam, 04 September, 2013
Jamespam2004@yahoo.com     

   

ABOLISHING REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS WAS A MISTAKE

“Scrapping of local government councils is not the issue, Nigeria should go back to the regional system of government where six regions should be the federating units.” Alhaji Balarabe Musa. 

In a nation-wide broadcast on 24 May, 1966, Gen. J. T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi, Chairman, Supreme Military Council, announced the abolishment of the then existing three Regional Governments of Southern Region, Eastern Region and Northern Region through the promulgation of Military Decree No. 5. By the same Decree, the prefix ‘Federal’ in the name of our country was dispensed of. Our country’s name became simply the “Republic of Nigeria”. In the words of the General, the old Provinces become the administrative units for governance. He concluded his speech by saying, “The provisions of the Decree are intended to remove the last vestiges of the intense regionalism of the recent past, and to produce the cohesion in the governmental structure which is so necessary in achieving and maintaining the paramount objective of the National Military Government, and indeed, every true Nigerian, namely, national unity.”

Gowon ended the reign of the Provinces when he created 12 States in May 1967. The country has since gone through several Military Decrees and Acts of different Parliaments which have given us our present structure of 36 State Governments, the Federal Capital Territory FCT and 774 Local Governments.
I was born a few years before our Independence and have grown knowing nothing else but intense rivalry between all Nigerians on three fronts, namely, ethnicity, regionalism and religion. My observation tells me that that rivalry continues to intensify by the day.

In the 1980s we did not object to our States of NYSC posting. We simply went there and made the best of the one year national service. Today, requests for redeployment are the order of the day for reasons of religious or ethnic or geographical dislike. Today, my children cannot pick up jobs in the companies I worked in the 80s for reasons of religious, ethnic and geographical incompatibility. Neighborhoods in which I had bosom friends and could enter and have a good meal are today ‘no-go’ areas for me because I am no more welcome there and because I am concerned for my personal security. Friends I could trust with my family before, I can no longer trust even to deliver a common letter to them. I, therefore, cannot find the justification in Gen. Ironsi’s optimism in “cohesion in governmental structure” or “national unity” and therefore I have remained an unrepentant regionalist.  

Today, Christians are migrating out of the north-eastern parts of the country due to direct and open physical attacks on them. Fulani herdsmen are having too many clashes with their host communities all over Nigeria. The settler/indigene syndrome has resulted in deadly clashes in many parts of Nigeria. The National Assembly is currently considering the removal of all references to ethnicity in our Constitution. One of the contentious political issues in the ruling Party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, is the rotation of the presidency between the regions of the country.

For any Government in Nigeria, whether Federal, State or Local, to pass a law that installs any religion as the official religion is a constitutional violation. Yet twelve State Governments in Nigeria have done just that in blatant violation of our Constitution with no one challenging them in Court. Government sponsorship of religious pilgrimages is as unconstitutional as the enthronement of State religion, yet all Nigerian States are engaged in this act. Part II, Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states categorically and without equivocation that, “The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State religion.” States that have passed Shariah Laws have violated this section and also Section 38 - Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, Sub-sections (1), (2), (3) & (4), and Section 42 - Right to freedom from discrimination, Sub-sections (1), (a) & (b).

My readers should not get me wrong. I am not about to advocate for the balkanisation of Nigeria into several sovereign States. To the contrary, I want us to avoid that by all means. Unfortunately, many of our actions and utterances suggest that we prefer disintegration while preaching unity with our lips. Breaking up into several countries like Yugoslavia did is not desirable. Nigeria should remain one country but with an internal governmental arrangement that recognizes our natural cleavages and capitalizes on them for foster peace and rapid development. Refusing to give these natural phenomena recognition and our pretense that we shall somehow surmount them someday baffles me.

A true federal structure for us is one with a few, say 6 or 8, fairly autonomous regional governments. Greater regional resource control, pursuit of developmental objectives as dictated by natural regional needs and the creation of opportunities for the exploitation of naturally endowed capacities should go along with this suggested structure. This is the panacea for optimum and sustainable economic growth as opposed to the current monthly sharing of revenue from one wasting asset - petroleum. This suggestion will guarantee self-determination, which is an instinctive desire of all human beings. Demands for the convocation of a ‘Sovereign National Conference’ by Prof. Wole Soyinka and many others, the demand for true federalism and the devolution of powers by Prof. Ben Magbueze, Chief Emeka Anyoku and many others give credence to my suggestions.

Recent write ups by many eloquent Nigerians have helped to re-enforce my belief in the concept of regionalism as the best governmental structure for Nigeria. I will make reference to some of them.

An article was recently written by Okey Ndibe and titled, “Lagos Deportations & the Crisis of Citizenship”. Okey Nidibe is a professor, novelist, essayist and political columnist who works at Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. While commenting on the recent deportations of some Igbo people by the Lagos State Government from Lagos to their State of origin, he said the episode “has underlined the shakiness of the idea of one Nigeria.” He added that “a policy that forcibly removes undesirable citizens from their State of residency to their State of origin does grave violence to the concept of national unity... More than fifty years into our game of pretending we have a nation; ethnic identity pretty much trumps every other consideration. For many Nigerians, ethnicity is not merely a virtue, it is the sole virtue.” He captures exactly what I am saying – that we are, first and foremost, ethnic bigots before being compulsory Nigerians.

Section 41(1) of our Constitution provides that, “Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof....” Therefore, regarding the recent Lagos State deportations and all other earlier internal deportations, my conviction is that they were unconstitutional and criminal acts against the victims.

Another recent write up by Ayo Teriba was titled, “Confronting Inter-regional Disparities in Nigeria”. Ayo Teriba is a one-time Chief Economist and member of the Editorial Board of Thisday who is now the Chief Executive of Economic Associates. In his article, Teriba used statistical data on the natural endowments of the six geo-political zones of the country, their revenue generating capacity, their consumption patterns, their federally allocated funds and their populations to prove the grave error in our developmental plans. My reading of his writing is that he is saying Nigeria would be better governed and developed along regional lines. 

The third article I will refer to is written by a blogger, Adeola Aderounmu. In 2011 he posted, “Nigeria right from the onset is a political error and an occurrence facilitated by the selfish (and probably stupid) thinking of the colonial masters. How can people and ethnic groups that have nothing in common be formed into one country? Intelligence was deducted when such economic and political decisions were formulated. The stupidity of the creation of Nigeria would have been neutralized by a purposeful leadership. But what Nigeria got since 1960 has been a series of governments dominated by tribalism, nepotism and massive corruption... Nigeria remains one country just to serve the corrupt cabal... We should support a return to regional governments similar to what we had in those days.... It is time for each region to determine how it wants to run itself using its own economic, human and natural resources. It is time to take the power away from the centre. Let us return it to the regions where it will be possible to manage and even uproot corruption. It is absolutely useless to remain like this.” I couldn't have put it more aptly.

My fourth and last reference will be to Dr. Yusufu Turaki, Professor of Theology and Social Ethics, Jos ECWA Theological Seminary. In a paper titled, “Historical Roots of Crises and Conflicts in Nigeria with Reference to Northern Nigeria and Kaduna State”, he opines that ethnic nationalities and militants are not driven by national, political and economic principles, but by their own core values, which are usually at variance with national values. He contends that we have relied too much on social scientists to proffer solutions to political, economics, educational and religious problems to no avail. The evidence is that Nigeria is getting worse and deeper into the quagmire. He surmises that great nations of this world made it by making deliberate effort to define and transform their ethnography, geography, religion and culture to make it viable and conducive for development and transformation. Therefore, for us to develop and be transformed, we must address and transform our primary and primordial social factors, harness their potentials, tame their excesses and develop harmony, balance and unity in and out of them.

The arguments for the restoration of regional governments are strong, numerous and overwhelming. Regional governments are the best platform for the avoidance of disintegration and the promotion of rapid economic and social development. To go on the way we are now would be foolhardiness. Certainly, the rapid development envisaged will not be equal in all the Regions. But we shall share across regional boundaries as each Region specializes in areas they have comparative advantage. Our legislators will oppose such an arrangement not because they have better ideas but simply because they will be its first major casualties.

Regionalism and a unicameral system didn't fail us. We failed in its implementation. It is cost-effective and easy to operate, making it most appropriate for our present state of development. The Presidential system we adopted from the USA, with its huge Presidency and a bi-cameral parliament is a very wasteful over-duplication of administrative structures. Given our 36 States and 774 Local Governments, the canker-worms of ethnicity and religious bigotry can only be ferociously fed into maturity and implosion.

Whenever I hear the cliché, ‘Unity in diversity’ being used, I wonder if the speaker has thought of the meaning of these words and if he has seen any evidence of this in Nigeria. Let us stop saying things just to be politically right. Brazil, Malaysia Indonesia and others are supposed to be our peers in terms of developmental and social achievements, but we are lagging far behind them. Now is the time to act decisively.

James Pam, 26 August, 2013
jamespam2004@yahoo.com





Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Plateau state signs N1.35b MoU on land management


  • Monday, 12 August 2013 22:01

Saturday, August 3, 2013

BOKO HARAM: THE MOST DEADLY POISON OF NIGERIA

by DAPAR SATMAK ALEXANDER
Nigeria is undoubtedly passing through one of its most debilitating and enervating moments. In fact, Nigerians has never known peace since the emergence of Boko Haram, a terrorist organization that literarily means “western education is sacrilege”. Nigerians have perpetually lived in deep fear and apprehension because of the deadly scourge of this dreaded group whose sole aim is to antagonize western education and democratic structures. This group of deadly insurgents have killed, maimed, and destroyed valuables in horrifying proportions. Apparently not satisfied with their utterly diabolical movement, they keep increasing in unquantifiable dimension and keep killing on a massive scale. I have watched their activities closely, and I have come to the logical conclusion that these insurgents are the greatest enemies of our dear country Nigeria and enemies of democratic progress. I condemn in the strongest possible terms, their heinous, barbaric, diabolical and sinister activities. They have truncated development, shattered peaceful co-existence, ruined the destinies of people, instilled incurable pain in many hearts, sabotaged concerted efforts towards growth and development, stoked the flames of division across religious line, and as well made life short, brutish, and fraught with numerous uncertainties. 
By and large, Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora have directly and indirectly tasted the bitter pills and did bear the brunt of Boko Haram insurgency. It is unhelpful at this time that we need peace as a matter of urgency to effectively and efficiently contribute to nation building and make our dear country stand tall in the comity of nations. 
At this juncture, I sincerely salute the courage of President Goodluck Jonathan for fearlessly confronting the evil and satanic menace of Boko Haram by declaring a state of emergency in three Northern states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa considered to be the strongest spiritual base of the insurgents. This giant stride and worthy development is a step in the right direction and capable of curbing the recklessness and menace. 
To a large extent, the military blitzkrieg and onslaught going on there is yielding fruits as we are seeing the gradual return of order and stability.
Ironically, despite the fact that Muslim faithful all over the globe are observing a 1 month fasting and prayer to commemorate the peaceful and holy month of Ramadan, some agents of destabilization are still bent on unleashing terror on innocent people. These insurgents have killed students, youth corpers, old men and women, children, pastors, Islamic clerics, and even foreign nationals. Nobody is left out of their wrath. They have bombed churches, government establishments, destroyed telecommunication installations, attacked journalists, burnt down schools, destroyed media outlets, looted money in banks, destroyed police stations and carted away with sophisticated weapons meant to be used to engender security. Certainly, these are not the best of times for Nigerians. Some have been rendered sick, homeless, hopeless, poverty-stricken, and slaves. These are not friends of Nigeria. These bloody murderers are more blinder than the bat, utterly visionless, grossly unpatriotic, blatant retrogressive and saboteurs. They are standing on the wrong side of history. I cry for my dearly beloved country Nigeria. I wholeheartedly sympathize with those affected from the unsavory activities of our enemies. I encourage our people to be more vigilant. I equally encourage the government not to rest on its oars in flushing these agents of darkness out of our land. 
(Culled from viewpointnnigeria.com)

CRISIS HITS FAKE GOVERNOR'S FORUM

Crisis is currently rocking the Governor Jonah Jang faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. Investigations showed that some governors in the faction are grumbling over happenings in the forum.

A governor, who belongs to this fake Governor's Forum faction, said that some of them are not happy with what he called the “over-bearing influence of one of us.”

The governor told Punch that with what is happening, it might be difficult for the forum to meet its target. He said, “As I speak, the strategic committee, which we named ‘Think Thank Committee,’ has not been able to meet. Members of the committee, headed by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, have not met even once.

“Apart from Akwa Ibom, other states in the committee are Delta, Katsina, Abia and Bauchi.”

Besides, the governors were said to have been divided over several letters written to different embassies by its Sole Administrator, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, informing them about the “change in the NGF leadership.”

In the letters, Onaiwu informed the embassies not to attend to letters written by Bayo Okauru, the Director General of Gov Rotimi Amaechi's authentic faction.

But at a hurriedly called meeting of the forum, which was held at the Benue Governor’s Lodge in Abuja last week, majority of the governors were said to have frowned at the attempt to make their disagreement with Governor Amaechi, who actually defeated Governor Jang, an international issue.

The aggrieved governors are of the opinion that the international community can never accept 16 as winner over 19. Thus, majority of the governors are said to be against the action of their DG, Osaro Onaiwu.

At a point, one of the governors was said to have asked who employed Onaiwu since he had not been given any employment letter.

A governor at the event said, “We resolved that it was wrong for him to have done all those things without our consent and moreover, we have not employed him as our DG.

“We know that we are making moves to resolve this matter and at the end of the day, we would all come together under one umbrella. That is why we scolded him.”

It was also gathered that President Goodluck Jonathan was under an intense pressure to recognise Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the chairman of the NGF. Jonathan is seriously considering the options.

(Culled from olufamous.com)

Thursday, July 25, 2013

THE NORTH, DECEITS & ILLUSIONS OF 2015

MBDMiddle Belt Dialogue
Suite 21, Silla Zeka Plaza, Adebayo Adedeji Crescent, Utako, Abuja

July 24, 2013
The “North”, deceit and Illusions of 2015
Our attention has been drawn to the activities and pronouncements of the Governors of Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger States who have been going round the country inciting tension and division with the obvious intention of destabilizing the government of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. The objective of these activities, as they themselves trumpeted is to get a “northerner” by which they mean Hausa Fulani, replace President Jonathan in 2015, or even by any means possible.

After meeting with Rivers State Governor Mr. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi in controversial circumstances aimed at inciting tension between the Niger Delta and other parts of Nigeria, the group proceeded to Abeokuta to see General Olusegun Obasanjo and therefter to Minna to meet with Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalam Abubakar to “report” President Goodluck Jonathan. They reportedly asked the two Generals to intervene in a way that will make “our dreams become a reality”. General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the man who annulled the June 12 elections and championed the northern consensus programme that excluded Dr. Sarah Jibril, thereafter declared them patriots for their actions.

It is obvious to see the direction these people are coming from. Like Ango Abdullahi and a few others crying themselves hoarse about “it is the turn of the North(arewa) in 2015” it is inconceivable and totally unacceptable to them to be out of power “for so long” . As far as they are concerned only them should rule Nigeria, notwithstanding the fact that the Hausa Fulani North have had as President and Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa , Alhaji Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari, and Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar Adua. They have had, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Alhaji Namadi Mohammed Sambo as Vice Presidents.

General Obasanjo of the South West was President for eight years, and Yar ‘Adua’s eight years would not have been debated if God had not ruled otherwise by allowing the cold hands of death on May 5, 2010 to snatch him away from us. Yar’ Adua’s erstwhile Deputy, from one of the many minority ethnic groups naturally contested and, thanks to the support from his native South South, South East, Middle Belt and South West, won the 2011 Presidential Election. This is the first time Nigeria’s Leader has emerged from the South South.

For Aliyu Muazu Babangida, the man who voted against President Goodluck Jonathan during the PDP Primaries and in the 2011 general elections, Jonathan should not have been elected in the first place and anything done to get him out as quickly as possible is patriotism, hence the desperation. It would have been funny were it not so rude, incorrect and based on a flawed understanding of the dynamics playing out in Nigeria today.

Secondly the patriotism which these gentlemen were adorned with by General Ibrahim Babangida must be based on the recent “disgrace” they meted out to Governor David Jonah Jang. Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the former Right Honourable Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, when Babangida was military president  gloated that they played politics on Jang and President Jonathan, when he, Kwankwaso at a meeting presided over by Aliyu Babangida, and attended by other northern Governors, nominated Jang as consensus candidate for the NGF chairmanship only to dump him a few hours after.

Hapless Jang, who had no intention of contesting for the chairmanship of the NGF, was left stranded? or so they wished.How will this not be patriotism to General Ibrahim Babangida? During Babangida’s transition to civil rule programme General Yakubu Gowon had the same Jang treatment meted to him when he was asked to start his option A4 presidential bid from Zaria.

What is more? Kwankwaso gleefully related what happened to the media and said they wanted to teach Jonathan politics. To nominate someone who was not interested in an office with the intention of disgracing him shows how honourable Kwankwaso really is. And Jang’s constituency, the Middle Belt, is supposed to be amused by such a shoddy treatment of our own? We are supposed to nod our heads enthusiastically when the establishment cries “there is only one indivisible north”! Besides, can these Honourable men whose words don’t mean anything to them be trusted when they speak of one north? How will you know when they want to teach politics and when they are telling the truth?

A section of the North overwhelmingly voted for Buhari in 2011. As a matter of fact Kwankwaso in Kano printed campaign posters with the pictures of Buhari superimposed on them. Aliyu Muazu and Murtala Nyako voted for Buhari in the 2011 elections. The President got about 18% of the votes in Kano.  Yet President Goodluck Jonathan has bent surprisingly backward to accommodate and make them the mainstay of his government. The fact that they nominated most ministers and senior political appointees has not satisfied them. They are working assiduosly hard to throw him out before the end of his tenure.

We reaffirm our position that post-Goodluck Ebele Jonathan presidency is for the Middle Belt. We in the Middle Belt do not agree with the agitation that power should leave the Niger Delta now. By the natural reconfiguration of the zoning formula as a result of the natural death of President Umaru Musa Yar Adua, the Niger Delta is still supported by the Middle Belt to conclude its eight year tour of duty. It is significant to note that the artificial security challenges created by those who said that they would make the country ungovernable are being addressed; the railway lines which stopped working during the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida have slowly but steadily started to work; massive power transmission lines are being installed across the country. In terms of performance therefore, those persecuting Jonathan cannot claim to have performed as much as he has let alone say better.

On Governor Amaechi and the orchestrated tension in Rivers State, we wish to align ourselves with the advice given to him by Yinka Odumakin, and echoed by the South South Peoples Assembly; We wish to remind him that those who ride on the tiger back end up in its belly. Those who are clapping for him now to weaken and or undermine President Jonathan love him only to the extent that he keeps undermining Jonathan. Not long from now they will give him the Gowon, Abiola and Jang treatment.

Amaechi and his cohorts should remember how the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) used Akintola to weaken Awolowo’s support base in the early 1960s; The people of South South are not  so unwise calculators that  will prefer the number two position of Governor Adams Oshiomhole or Rotimi Amaechi to the number one? Come on!

We wish to remind the South South citizens that the Northern agenda, as championed by these Governors, is to use a southerner to destroy a southerner and nothing more. These characters lauded as patriots are but cheap traitors running an unpopular script that is doomed to fail.A word is enough for the wise.Abi-O.

Honourable Aminu Zang
Member, House of Representatives -1993
For the Secretariat



Thursday, June 27, 2013

HIGHEST PAID 'LEGIS-LOOTERS' ON EARTH?

NIGERIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING

Nigerian Senators have been able to come out with a rebuttal of their purported remuneration as listed below which has gone viral among Nigerian social media enthusiasts:

(The Nigerian Naira exchanges at the rate of about N160 to US$1.)

A Senator's Salary And Allowances In Nigeria 
Basic Salary (BS) = N2,484,245.50 
Hardship Allowance: 50% of Basic Salary = N1,242,122.75. Constituency allowance: 200% of BS = N4,968,509.00.
Furniture Allowance: 300% of BS = N7,452,736.50.
Newspaper allowance: 50% = N1,242,122.70.
Wardrobe allowance: 25% = N621,061.37.
Recess Allowance: 10% = N248,424.55.
Accommodation: 200% = N4,968,509.00.
Utilities: 30% = N828,081.83.
Domestic Staff: 35% = N863,184.12.
Entertainment: 30% = N828,081.83.
Personal Assistance: 25% = N621,061.37.
Vehicle Maintenance Allowance: 75% = N1,863,184.12.
Leave Allowance : 10% = N248,424.55
One off payments (Severance gratuity): 300% = N7,452,736.50. Motor Vehicle Allowance: 400% of BS = N9,936,982.00.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

TERRORISM IN NIGERIA STARTED IN PLATEAU STATE

Jos Main Market Before 
After Terrorist Bombing in 1991
Opinion... 

Terrorism in Nigeria began in Plateau State. The alleged 'fire incidence' at the Jos Ultra Mordern Main Market was no fire- such edifice of reinforced concrete could never be affected by a simple fire albeit arson...
The collapse of point columns and load bearing beams could only be as a result of professional advise from a structural engineer or architect...Osama bin Laden's right hand man at one time was a medical doctor.
In summary - what befell the Plateau the day of the so called 'fire ', and events following, were attempts to cripple the ECONOMY of the Plateau... with or without the approval /ignorance of individuals / groups / officials of goverment in Northern Nigeria...
The reverse has been the case- the economy of the North is being destroyed by Northerners- individuals / groups / officials of government in Northern Nigeria...
Plateau is not through it all - but bruised and battered the state and the people are regrouping- despite and inspite intractable differences and petty differences...
THE SUN CANNOT BE STOPPED- FROM SHINING.

Culled from the FACEBOOK wall of Inji Stephen Lonewolf Makama.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

JUNE 12 - ABIOLA ON MY MIND

From my Facebook wall today:

Today is June 12 and I vividly remember queuing to vote in the Presidential elections of 1993 on Faseun Street, Okota, Lagos. It was a very sunny day and everybody was in high spirits. I casted my vote in favor of Chief M. K. O. Abiola, candidate of of the Social Democratic party. Unfortunately, the then military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, annulled the elections a few days later though Prof. Humphrey Nwosu's Option A4, adopted by the electoral Commission, proved to be the most transparent elections ever conducted in Nigeria till date. Abiola was to later claim his mandate by unilaterally declaring himself the President of Nigeria. He was subsequently arrested and detained. He died in detention on July 7, 1998. He was born on August 24, 1937.

Nigeria has known no political peace ever since. It's as if it is the greatest political injustice ever meted to us. 20 years on and Lagos and Ogun States are commemorating June 12 1993 by a observing a work-free day. Sadly, no one has deemed it fit to address the injustice.

My wish is that the 7th NASS addresses that injustice by amending our Constitution such that the office of the President is rotated evenly among he federating units in the country. Also, my vision of the federating units is not the current 36 States but sic regional governments along the administrative geo-political zones. This amendment should be crowned by a devolution of powers from the 'too-powerful' Federal Government to the new Regional Governments. In my opinion, the recently recommended constitutional amendments do not go far enough and mainly self-serving, giving the NASS even more powers.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LATE CHIEF M. K. O.ABIOLA


Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (August 24, 1937 – July 7, 1998), often referred to as M. K. O. Abiola, was a popular Nigerian Yoruba businessman, publisher, politician and aristocrat of the Yoruba Egba clan. He ran for the presidency in 1993, and is widely regarded as the presumed winner of the inconclusive election since no official final results were announced. He died in 1998, after being denied victory when the entire election results were dubiously annulled by the preceding military president Ibrahim Babangida because of alleged evidence that they were corrupt and unfair.

EARLY LIFE

Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola was born in AbeokutaOgun State. His name, Kashimawo, means "Let us wait and see". Moshood Abiola was his father's twenty-third child but the first of his father's children to survive infancy, hence the name 'Kashimawo'. It was not until he was 15 years old that he was properly named Moshood, by his parents. MKO showed entrepreneurial talents at a very young age, at the age of nine he started his first business selling firewood. He would wake up at dawn to go to the forest and gather firewood, which he would then cart back to town and sell before going to school, in order to support his old father and his siblings. He later founded a band at age fifteen where he would perform at various ceremonies in exchange for food. He eventually became famous enough to start demanding payment for his performances and used the money to support his family and his secondary education at the Baptist Boys High School Abeokuta, where he excelled. He was the editor of the school magazine The TrumpeterOlusegun Obasanjo was deputy editor. At the age of 19 he joined the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons ostensibly because of its stronger pan-Nigerian origin compared with the Obafemi Awolowo-led Action Group.

CAREER

In 1956 Moshood Abiola started his professional life as bank clerk with Barclays Bank plc in Ibadan, South-West Nigeria. After two years he joined the Western Region Finance Corporation as an executive accounts officer before leaving for Glasgow, Scotland to pursue his higher education. From Glasgow University he received a first class degree in accountancy. He also received a distinction from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. On his return to Nigeria, he worked as a senior accountant at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, then went on to Pfizer, before joining the ITT Corporation, where he later rose to the position of Vice President, Africa and Middle-East of the entire corporation, which was head-quartered in the United States. As a result, Moshood Abiola spent a lot of his time and made most of his money in the United States, whilst retaining the post of chairman of the corporation's Nigerian subsidiary. In addition to his duties throughout the Middle-East and Africa, Moshood Abiola invested heavily in Nigeria and West Africa. He set up Abiola Farms, Abiola bookshops, Radio Communications Nigeria, Wonder bakeries, Concord Press, Concord Airlines, Summit oil international ltd, Africa Ocean lines, Habib Bank, Decca W.A. ltd, and Abiola football club. In addition to these, he also managed to perform his duties as Chairman of the G15 business council, President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Patron of the Kwame Nkrumah Foundation, Patron of the WEB Du Bois foundation, trustee of the Martin Luther King foundation and director of the International Press Institute.

PHILANTHROPY

Moshood Abiola sprang to national and international prominence as a result of his philanthropic activities. The Congressional Black Caucus of the United States of America issued the following tribute to Moshood Abiola:

Because of this man, there is both cause for hope and certainty that the agony and protests of those who suffer injustice shall give way to peace and human dignity. The children of the world shall know the great work of this extraordinary leader and his fervent mission to right wrong, to do justice, and to serve mankind. The enemies which imperil the future of generations to come: poverty, ignorance, disease, hunger, and racism have each seen effects of the valiant work of Chief Abiola. Through him and others like him, never again will freedom rest in the domain of the few. We, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus salute him this day as a hero in the global pursuit to preserve the history and the legacy of the African diaspora.

From 1972 until his death Moshood Abiola had been conferred with 197 traditional titles by 68 different communities in Nigeria, in response to the fact that his financial assistance resulted in the construction of 63 secondary schools, 121 mosques and churches, 41 libraries, 21 water projects in 24 states of Nigeria, and was grand patron to 149 societies or associations in Nigeria. In this way Abiola reached out and won admiration across the multifarious ethnic and religious divides in Nigeria. In addition to his work in Nigeria, Moshood Abiola was a dedicated supporter of the Southern African Liberation movements from the 1970s and he sponsored the campaign to win reparations for slavery and colonialism in Africa and the diaspora. Chief Abiola, personally rallied every African head of state, and every head of state in the black diaspora to ensure that Africans would speak with one voice on the issues.

REMEMBRANCE OF CHIEF M K O ABIOLA

Chief MKO Abiola's memory is celebrated in Nigeria and internationally. June 12 remains a public holiday in Lagos and Ogun states. There are also remembrance events arranged across Nigeria. MKO Abiola was known for his charisma and for being a man of the people. As a prominent social activist, democratic freedom fighter, and successful business figure, the continuing support for MKO Abiola is part of his legacy. MKO Abiola Stadium was named in his honour. There were also calls for posthumous presidential recognition.

Despite his popularity or because of it, MKO Abiola occasionally attracted criticism from political activists and detractors. Controversy was caused by a song by Nigerian musician, Fela Kuti. Kuti was a charismatic multi-instrumentalist musician, composer and human rights activist - famed for being the pioneer of Afrobeat music as well as a controversial figure, due to his unusual lifestyle and apparent drug use. It is believed that Kuti had entered into an acrimonious dispute relating to a contract with MKO Abiola's record label. He used the abbreviation of International Telephone & Telegraph (IT&T) in a song criticising big multinational corporations. The song, ITT accuses such companies of draining Africa's resources and makes specific reference to MKO Abiola ("they start to steal money Like Obasanjo and Abiola").

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Moshood Abiola was twice voted international businessman of the year, and received numerous honorary doctorates from universities all over the world. In 1987 he was bestowed with the golden key to the city of Washington D.C., and he was bestowed with awards from the NAACP and the King center in the USA, as well as the International Committee on Education for Teaching in Paris, amongst many others. In Nigeria, the Oloye Abiola was made the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland. It is the highest chieftaincy title available to commoners amongst the Yoruba, and has only been conferred by the tribe 14 times in its history. This in effect rendered Abiola the ceremonial War Viceroy of all of his tribe’s people. According to the folklore of the tribe as recounted by the Yoruba elders, the Aare Ona Kakanfo is expected to die a warrior in the defence of his nation in order to prove himself in the eyes of both the divine and the mortal as having been worthy of his title.

INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS

Abiola's involvement in politics started early on in life when he joined the NCNC at age 19. In 1979, the military government kept its word and handed over power to the civilian. As Abiola was already involved in politics, he joined the ruling national party of Nigeria in 1980 and was elected the chairman of his party. Re-election was done in 1983 and everything looked promising since the re-elected president was from Abiola’s party and based on the true transition to power in 1979; Abiola was eligible to go for the post of presidential candidate after the tenure of the re-elected president. However, his hope to become the president was shortly dashed away for the first time in 1983 when a military coup d'état swept away the re-elected president of his party and ended civilian rule in the country. After a decade of military rule, General Ibrahim Babanginda came under pressure to return democratic rule to Nigeria. After an aborted initial primary, Abiola stood for the presidential nomination of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and beat Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to secure the presidential nomination of the SDP ahead of the June 12th 1993 presidential elections. Abiola had managed to work his way out of poverty through hard work and symbolised the aspirations of many downtrodden Nigerians. His commitment to the plight of ordinary Nigerians included establishing Abiola bookshops to provide affordable, locally produced textbooks in the 1980s when imported textbooks became out of the reach of ordinary Nigerians as the naira was devalued. He also made available daily necessities such as rice and soap at affordable prices in the market.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

For the 12 June 1993 presidential elections, Abiola's running mate was Baba Gana Kingibe. He overwhelmingly defeated his rival, Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention. The election was declared Nigeria's freest and fairest presidential election by national and international observers, with Abiola even winning in his Northern opponent's home state. Abiola won at the national capital, Abuja, the military polling stations, and over two-thirds of Nigerian states. The reason why the election was so historic was because men of Northern descent had largely dominated Nigeria's political landscape since independence. The fact that Moshood Abiola (a Southern Muslim) was able to secure a national mandate freely and fairly remains unprecedented in Nigeria's history. However, the election was annulled by Ibrahim Babangida, a political crisis that ensued which led to General Sani Abacha seizing power later that year.[18] During preparations for the 2011 Nigerian Presidential elections there were calls from several quarters to remember MKO Abiola.

The famed Nigerian Pastor Tunde Bakare is said to have predicted the annulment to Abiola and warned him against contesting.

IMPRISONMENT

In 1994 Moshood Abiola declared himself the lawful president of Nigeria in the Epetedo area of Lagos Island, an area mainly populated by impoverished Nigerians. He had recently returned from a trip to win the support of the international community for his mandate. After declaring himself president he was declared wanted and was accused of treason and arrested on the orders of military President General Sani Abacha, who sent 200 police vehicles to bring him into custody. MKO Abiola has been referred to as Nigeria's greatest statesman

Moshood Abiola was detained for four years, largely in solitary confinement with a Bible, Qur'an, and fourteen guards as companions. During that time, Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and human rights activists from all over the world lobbied the Nigerian government for his release. The sole condition attached to the release of Chief Abiola was that he renounces his mandate, something that he refused to do, although the military government offered to compensate him and refund his extensive election expenses. For this reason Chief Abiola became extremely troubled when Kofi Annan and Emeka Anyaoku reported to the world that he had agreed to renounce his mandate after they met with him to tell him that the world would not recognize a five year old election.

DEATH

Abiola died under suspicious circumstances shortly after the death of General Abacha. Moshood Abiola died on the day that he was due to be released, on July 7, 1998. While the official autopsy state that Abiola died of natural causes, Abacha's Chief Security Officer, al-Mustapha has alleged that Moshood Abiola was in fact beaten to death. al-Mustapha, who is still being detained by the Nigerian government, claims to have video and audiotapes showing how Abiola was beaten to death. The final autopsy report, which was produced by a group of international coroners, has never been publicly released. Irrespective of the exact circumstances of his death, it is clear that Chief Abiola received insufficient medical attention for his existing health conditions.

As recounted at the time in a BBC interview with special envoy Thomas R. Pickering, an American delegation, which included Susan Rice, visited Abiola and during their meeting with him, Abiola fell ill, with what was presumed to be a heart attack which caused his death.

(Culled from Wikipedia.com)