The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

‘North should struggle for economic power’

Senator Smart Adeyemi represents Kogi West District in the Senate. He spoke with Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on the Jonathan Administration, the agitation of the North for power shift and other partisan issues.

Why are you always defending the activities of the Jonathan Administration, despite the spate of criticisms against the government?

Apart from the civil war, tell me the government that has ever ruled this country that has had the challenges of administration more than Goodluck Jonathan. Tell me the government in Nigeria that has faced the worse social disorder in any nation than Goodluck Jonathan. There is no government in Nigeria that has had the burden and the pains of carrying the challenge of terrorism than Jonathan. The problem of terrorism is enough to collapse the economy. If we didn’t have the government of Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria would have broken up.

Why are you so optimistic about the Jonathan Administration?

I see the President as a man who is absolutely committed to the welfare of Nigerians. He is a man who really thinks of how we can make Nigeria a better place. These I can say between me and my God. I’m close to him. I have had times to discuss with him. He only came at a wrong time; when there is security challenge. There is no past President in Nigeria that dedicated one third of his budget; almost a trillion, to security.

Again, let me say that, by the end of 2014, Nigerians will believe that he is a committed president.

In fact, I’m learning from some of his approaches. He is a new philosopher in the political history of Nigeria by his response to issues, and he is getting result. Some few years from now, the people will begin to see the outcome of his resilience and committment. Once a man is focused, we should pray for him to actualise his vision and mission. He would take us out of the wood.

But, people say his responses are weak?

Last year, we voted N935 billion for security, as at that time we have archaic, outdated security equipment. The securtiy services, go and ask them. The equipment they had and what they have today is far better and that is why they are able to curtail the challenges emanating from terrorism. When you say the President is weak, you have forgotten that government is not by drastic action. Good governance is not through drastic action, but putting in place the requirements that are needed to confront challenges of good governance. The people you perceived in time past as very dynamic, ask them what they voted for security? America is still improving its security vote annually. In Nigeria, go and check the barracks, the intelligence services and ask, if they had the kind of equipment they have now some five years ago. My point is that Goodluck Jonathan had a problem that was capable of derailing him and defocusing him. Do you know what it means for a leader to wake up in the morning and you hear that three bombs explode in your country? Is that not enough to give that President a mental disorder? But today, things are getting better. I am not saying that we have gotten there already, but I know we are getting somewhere. I am not saying this because I am a PDP senator, but because I have information. Do you know why many of those who are ganging up today are ganging up? Everyone of them have personal reason, not collective reason. There are some that believe that Goodluck Administration has affected their source of economic power. There are those who are nursing ambition to be President. There are those who feel that some people that are nursing ambition won’t get it, let them hang somewhere. Maybe, they would be considered. Let me tell you, we politicians know ourselves. I pity Nigerian people because they don’t know those who are committed to their wellbeing.

Are you not perturbed that your party is gradually losing grip, following the defection of five governors and 37 member of the National Assembly?

It depends on how you perceive it. Those governors, are you sure they have gone finally? Secondly, does the movement of those governors translate to not winning the presidential or governorship election? The answer is no. When you talk about winning election, make no mistake about it that one governor will determine who wins election in the state. Do you know that Nigeria of today is not the Nigeria of five years ago. There are many sentiments that will come to play when the time comes. The advantage I have is that I know Nigeria more than many of these so-called leaders. You see, many of them never had the privilege I had as a journalist and moreso, as the NUJ President. I moved across the length and breath of Nigeria. I know more than two-third of Nigeria’s local goverment areas. I know how diverse we are and the sentiments that will come when election comes. Goodluck Jonathan doesn’t need 28 governors to become President of Nigeria.

What is the reason for this gang-up against President Jonathan by some elements in the North?

It is wrong to say that there is a gang-up by the North because there are many Northerners who are in support of this government. My brothers in the North should not concentrate fighting for power because we have had power for 30 years. What should be the priority is how to liberate the North from poverty and oppression. And, when they were not forthcoming, I sponsored the Frontier Oil Exploration Bill to help the North out of poverty so that Southerners will not be carrying us as slaves. If you have power, but you don’t have economic power, it makes no sense. The person that has economic power will only take that power from you anytime he wants. So, go and tell the Northern governors that, if you have political power without economic power, the person that has economic power will ground you and collect it from you. The Yoruba in the Southwest didn’t fight with oil during June 12. They used Lagos port to paralyse Nigeria. Tell me what the North can use to paralyse Nigeria, if we have cause to disagree with other parts of the country. If the Southsouth people decide that they want to paralyse this country today, 30 minutes is enough. You will have N50,000 in your pocket and won’t be able to buy petrol.

Recently, you distributed some empowerment equipment for your people. What is your motive?

I am passionate about my people. That informed my decision to come into politics.Let me say that on monthly basis, I give out millions of Naira to meet the challenges facing my people.

How should Nigerians assess legislators?

When you want to do an assessment of a legislator, you don’t assess him based on what Nigerians call the delivery of dividends of democracy. That is not right. If you want to assess a legislator, the best way to do that is the level of his participation in his legislative duties, especially his attendance. In the sixth Senate, from 2007 to 2011, I was absent for only six sittings, and in the seventh Senate, three sittings. There were several senators who were absent for over 100 days. Every legislator can have any good reason not to sit at parliamentary functions, but attendance is my primary assignment. Secondly, a legislator must be on the side of the people all the time. For me, when I rise, I usually say ‘I speak on behalf of the masses’. This is aimed at creating the right consciousness in the minds of my colleagues that there are people who have voted for us, the down trodden people.

What is the content of the empowerment materials that you have given out?

I came from the United States with about seven container loads of medical equipment. There are twenty-two ambulances that I paid for, not donation. Each of them cost me over N450,000,000 to clear it from the port. I never allowed them to be driven here, I hired trucks to carry them and I paid one hundred and eighty thousand Naira to get each of them here, each of them cost me fifteen thousand dollar, excluding the cost of freight. I have all other kinds of medical equipment that I brought from overseas. I have spent over seven hundred Dollars on empowerment interventions. Presently, I am constructing four cottage hospitals in place like Odo Iri where I am doing a thirty bed hospital. In Igbaruku, I demolished the cottage hospital there, which the Sardauna built in 1962. I got there and I shed tears because that is still the only building that they call their hospital. I just demolish it. I am roofing the new building now as I am speaking to you. That is twenty five-bed hospital, in Igbagu, I am constructing a 15 bed hospital there. In Ogale, I am doing, a ten bed hospital there. All these equipment are meant to be shared not only to these hospitals but also to other hospitals in the state. I have about four hundred hospital beds and mattresses. I have stretchers, wheel chairs, surgical equipment. It might interest you to note that I’m donating two of the ambulances to Central and East senatorial districts. I am equally donating to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital because this district used to be part of Old Kwara State. As I speak to you, we still have hundreds of thousands indigenes of Kogi West living in Kwara State. More importantly, my wife is from Kwara State, I also have substantial amount of business interests in Kwara State. So, we have to let them know that Kwara is home to us.

Could this be the reason why some of your people are urging you to go back to the senate for the third time?

You see, as a Christian, I always believe in the saying that what happens tomorrow is in the hands of God. There is no amount of planning that anybody can do could guarantee victory. Victory in any contest is in the hands of God. If human efforts can stop somebody from becoming a senator, I should not have been where I am now. If human or government power or machinery is what is required to win an election and is capable of stopping somebody, I should not have been a senator today but when I was fighting the former administration. People asked if I could return to the senate and I said my second term was in the hands of God. My take is to tell the people to allow me do this job well so that my conscience will be clear that I have served like Baba Awolowo served, like Ahmadu Belloe served. Those are the people I see as role models. Those who dont serve the people well don’t end up well. You need people’s prayer to succeed. My desire for good governance brought me into politics and not money.

January 22, 2014
‘What politicians should learn from Akande’

At 75, the Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, is a rare example of leadership. With a rich antecedent in the corporate world and politics, he remains a mentor and role model to those who strive for value. In his old age, his life preaches modesty and disdain for avarice. Akande has earned respect, not because he is wealthy, but because he has a good name.

Eminent Nigerians, who showered encomiums on him during his birthday ceremony in Lagos, highlighted those virtues of statesmanship peculiar to the former Osun State governor. At the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, the venue of the event, statesmen, government officials, traditional rulers and politicians were unanimous that Akande is a man of honour and integrity.

The major highlight of the ceremony was the lecture titled: ‘Developing a new leadership: An imperative for national development in Nigeria.’ The two speakers were Prof. Olu Obafemi of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, and Prof Akin Oyebode of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Akoka. The two scholars urged the political class to emulate the celebrator’s style of leadership.

A former Member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mrs Tejuoso, described him as an incorruptible politician. “I was closed to him. Because of that, my colleagues asked me to go to him to request for money for legislators. He said that he had heard what I said, but, he asked me to ask from them under which sub-heading will the money come. That was the end”, he recalled.

As the governor of Osun State, the Asiwaju of Ila-Orangun and Igbonna politely put his house in order. He politely told his wife, Omowumi, who clocked 70 recently, that she will not be permitted to parade herself as the First Lady. Akande’s explanation was that that nomenclature does not exist in the constitution. Throughout that four years, the governor’s wife was in the background. Her duty an an unofficial first lady was restricted to entertaining her husband’s guests with foods and drinks in the State House or private residence at Ila.

Akande shunned corruption while in office. He was obedient to the advice of his mentor, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, that a public officer should not lead a life of opulence he cannot sustain outside power. Thus, when the Oyinlola Administration, which displaced his government instituted a probe against him, it paled into a wasted effort. Nothing incriminating was found against his administration.

His legacies as the governor are evergreen. In four years, Akande, like former Governor Lateef Jakande of Lagos, completed the State House and secretariat projects. The State House is named after his former boss, the late Chief Bola Ige. The former governor did not succumb to the temptation to inflate contracts. He adopted ‘value engineering’ approach, which is a creativity model geared towards cost reduction. He insisted on standard. Since the contractor knew that the governor could not be bribed, they resolved to do a neat job.

The same method he applied to the construction of classroom blocks. “He was able to execute over 500 projects”, said Aderemi Idowu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who added: “While the Federal Government under Gen. Obasanjo was awarding a one-room classroom project for an average of N1.5 million, Akande was doing the same standard of classroom for half-a-million naira”.

Akande also took some cardinal decisions which were perceived as unpopular steps by the people, especially the teachers. In later years, the university don, Prof. Akin Oyebode, confronted him over that policy of sacking a huge number of teachers. He defended his actions, saying that the teachers were not adding value to the teaching service at that time. This, in Oyebode’s view, was a mark of seriousness and determination to govern well.

Ige, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice was murdered in 2001. His killers are still at large. In 2003, former President Obasanjo was said to have requested Akande to serve in the regime as a minister. He declined because he was not covetous, despite his political misfortune of missing a second term. To wade off the presidential pressure, he travelled abroad. He did not return until the composition of a new Federal Executive Council. He returned to rebuild the progressive platform, a mission Ige could not fulfill, following his gruesome murder.

Obafemi, who lamented what he described as the “leadership deficit” in the country, said that hope is not lost. He paid tribute to Akande, saying that, if many politicians had behaved like him while in power, the polity would have been saved from decadence.

The don gave reasons for the leadership decay. “A structure for good leadership does not exist in Nigeria”, he said, urging the people to ponder on its effects. “A leader must know the way, toe the way and take the people through the way. Great leaders are far ahead of their time. Such leaders are in short supply. A leader must have a vision and mental picture of his destination. We need new leaders for a new vision for Nigeria; courageous, patriotic leaders to build democratic institutions,” Obafemi added.

His colleague, Oyebode, shared the same thoughts. He observed that Nigerian is in misery and making progress in reverse direction. The legal scholar also pointed out that many Asian countries who were on the same pedestal with Nigeria at independence have left it behind. Oyebode lamented that political and economic transformation have not been accomplished because it is business as usual in the corridor of power. He chided the leadership for poverty of ideas, stressing that when a country is saddled with clueless leaders, there will be retrogression.

Oyebode urged Nigerians to reject hypocritical leaders and replace them with trusted, tested and incorruptible leaders. “Where leadership is in the hands of venal, opportunistic, corrupt and self-serving elements, all the people would get is a lot of motion without movement, just like the potter’s wheel,” he added.

January 22, 2014
Challenges before Mu’azu

Former Bauchi State Governor Adamu Mu’azu has replaced Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the challenges that will confront the new helmsman.

Many challenges will confront the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.

The politician was the governor of Bauchi State from 1999 to 2007. At that time, President Goodluck Jonathan was the deputy governor, and later, governor of Bayelsa State.

Mu’azu was popular among his people because of his laudable achievements. But, his popularity rating dropped towards the end of his second term. During the senatorial election, he was defeated by Senator Bala Mohammed, the candidate of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), who is now the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Some PDP big wigs jostled for the chairmanship. But, Mu’azu was lucky enough to clinch the office. Analysts opined that Mu’azu is reaping the fruits of his good relations with President Jonathan. He is a dependable ally of the Commander-in-Chief.

During the political turmoil in Bayelsa State that led to the impeachment of former Governor Dieprieye Alamesheigha, Mu’azu had endeared himself to Dr. Jonathan. While the members of the House of Assembly stood their ground against President Obasanjo’s directive that they should initiate impeachment proceedings against Alamesheigha, there was confusion in the state. Dr. Jonathan, the deputy governor, was in a dilemma. He wanted to maintain his loyalty to his boss. He did not want the public to perceive him as an ambitious person. Jonathan was under pressures from the lawmakers and the Presidency. So, he had to play safe.

When Bayelsa State became too hot for Dr. Jonathan, he temporarily relocated to Bauchi. Mu’azu was his host. He did not leave the state, until normalcy returned to Bayelsa State. That followed the impeachment of Alameyeseigha. Thus, it was pay time for Mu’azu. Sources said that the President recalled that difficult time when he sought refuge under Mu’azu. They also point out that the former Bauchi State governor is a key supporter of his second term ambition. Therefore, the President believes that he will be loyal like his predecessor, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

President Jonathan had encouraged Mu’azu to return home from exile in 2010. In July, 2008, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had accused him of mismanaging N19.8 billion when he was the governor. He was asked to report to the commission’s headquarters for questioning. Before the expiration of the EFCC’s deadline, Mu’azu fled the country. He relocated to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. It was widely speculated that top government functionaries facilitated his return to the country.

The safe landing offered to him by the government encouraged him to challenge the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor Isa Yuguda to investigate the management of funds in ministries and parastatals during his administration in court. In its report, the commission indicted Mu’azu for embezzling N2 billion. Consequently, Bauchi State government, in its white paper, banned Mu’azu from holding public office for 10 years.

After protracted adjournments, the Bauchi State High Court presided over by Chief Justice Mohammed Ibrahim Zango cleared Mu’azu ofthe allegation. The court ruled that the white paper cannot stand. The judge further declared that all forms of indictment in the panel’s recommendations and government’s position were null and void.

The judgment was a big relief to Mu’azu. Sources said that he later reconciled with the governor, Isa Yuguda. Both became allies of the President.

Analysts beleive that the defeat suffered by Muazu at the senatorial poll in 2007 could be attributed to the feud between him and Yuguda. The friction came into open when the PDP denied Yuguda the governorship. The duo parted ways and Yuguda decided to contest the governorship election on the platform of the ANPP. He defeated the PDP candidate and the former Secretary to the Government, Umar Nadada, who was sponsored by Muazu.

Now that Mu’azu has assumed the leadership of the PDP, would he take over the party structure in his home state as his predecessor, Bamanga Tukur, did in Adamawa State? Will he concentrate on his job in Abuja without interfering in the state chapters?

Public Affairs analyst Bernard Briggs is of the view that Muazu would fight back and use his new position to take over the party machinery in Bauchi State. He said that, unless the differences between the duo are resolved amicably, Bauchi may become the new battle ground between the chairman and the governor.

Briggs said that Yuguda, who is serving his last term in office, will be interested in who succeeds him. “He will do all that is possible to ensure that someone he can trust occupies the seat in 2015 because he would try to avoid the experience of his predecessor. For Mu’azu, he will want to prove to be a leader with a home base. As the national leader of the party, he’s in a position to influence the choice of the PDP governorship candidates in many states, including his home state”, he explained.

The crisis rocking the party, which culminated in the defection of PDP of five governors to the All Progressive Congress (APC), has not abated, in spite of Tukur’s. There are puzzles: how will the new chairman restore confidence in the party? Can he do away with arbitrariness, disrespect for the party’s constitution and the rule of law that have become the hallmark of the PDP?

Will Mu’azu be able to tame powerful forces that would encourage the ‘business as usual’ mentality? Can Mu’azu withstand the evil plots of those who are bent on hijacking the party structure, ahead of the 2015 general elections? Would he be able to assert himself as the chairman, and not as an appendage of the Presidency, in view of the close ties between him and Dr Jonathan?

Muazu has come as a leader at a time his region is pushing for power shift. Will he go against the wish of the North or support the President for a second term?

The new chairman is expected to reach out to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is still perceived as a factor in the Southwest. How he will also manage the crisis triggered by the suspension of the National Secretary, Gen. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, is another challenge. The court has ruled that the former Osun State governor is the authentic National Secretary.

A chieftain of the PDP, Chief Ishola Filani, described Muazu as the best replacement for Tukur. The former PDP leader in the Southwest zone told our correspondent that Muazu would be an asset to the party.

Filani said: “I know him as a very brilliant person. Under him as two-term governor, Bauchi State witnessed rapid development. With his background and antecedent, the new chairman would move the party forward. With his experience, he’s going to be an asset to the party. As an elite from the North, he should be able to understand the politics of the North and use his experience to the advantage of the PDP.

“He would mend fences. He has promised to do a lot to improve the fortunes of the party. Everything is working for him. He will reposition the party and come up with solutions to the problems facing the party.

“The party leadership knew his worth before he was picked for the job. If he has not been so adjudged, he would not have been appointed. We will keep praying for him so that he would accomplish his set objectives.”

Ogun State PDP Chairman Chief Bayo Dayo was optimistic that Mu’azu would restore peace and take the party to a higher level. He described Mu’azu as a gentle man, tested leader and a silent achiever, adding that the new chairman would make a difference. “With the support of the President and members of the National Working Committee (NWC), stability would be restored in the PDP very soon”, he added.

But, a political scientist, Malam Yusuf Zayyad, urged the PDP chieftains not to delude themselves into believing that the problems of the PDP will end with the exit of Tukur. cautioned the PDP against believing that with the removal of Tukur the problems of the party are over. He emphasised that the problem of the party is beyond the former chairman. “He is not responsible for the culture of impunity that the party is known for,” he added.

Zayyard said that the ruling party should to purge itself of disrespect for the rule of law and allow internal democracy to reign. He reminded Mu’azu that the exalted office is full of banana peel, adding that none of his predecessors had come out of the office without stain. The political scientist advised him to tread softly because, according to him, the mischief makers are still around.

Zayyard submitted that the protrated crisis in the PDP cannot be resolved in a twinkle of an eye. He said the crisis may assume a new dimension when the stage is set for the nomination of candidates for the 2015 general elections.

However, Zayyard said that the leadership qualities of Mu’azu will soon be put to test. The first challenge, he pointed out, is that of reconciling the aggrieved party chieftains, who are spoiling for war.

Besides, he is expected to carry along his rivals during the recent chairmanship contest. Will he extend the olive branch to them or adopt the attitude of winners-take-all?

“If he relates with them positively, those who lost out would put the contest behind them and they would be willing to join hands to make his tenure a success. But, if he treats them as inconsequential elements, that will mark the beginning of his problem”, he added.

January 22, 2014
Presidency, House rift over budget deepens

The House of Representatives will begin the scrutiny of the 2014 Appropriation Bill this week. VICTOR OLUWASEGUN and DELE ANOFI examine the aspects of the budget that may deepen the existing conflict between the Presidency and the House.

The budget controversy is not over yet. The document was submitted to the National Assembly was late. The budget, according to many legislators, has not reflected any serious attempt by the Federal Government to alleviate the suffering of the masses. They also frowned at the delay, stressing that timing is critical to its passage and implementation.

The N4.6 trillion budget, which was laid before the two chambers by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on December 19, last year is likely to be a bone of contention between the executive and legislature as the National Assembly resumes sitting this week.

The House has already complained about the breach of the Fiscal Responsibility Act by the Federal Government. The legislators pointed out that the government failed to submit the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), six months before the budget was laid before the National Assembly. The Spokesman of the House, Zakari Mohammed, said that the breach has implications for the due process.

This year’s budget is premised on 2.3883 million barrel per day. Many lawmakers are of the opinion that a budget in which the recurrent expenditure is over 72 percent and the capital expenditure is 27 percent may be counter-productive.

Last year, the differences in the crude oil benchmark between the National Assembly and the Executive on the one hand, and the two chambers on the other, were resolved. While President Goodluck Jonathan proposed $74, the Senate approved $76.5. But, the House raised it to $79, contrary to the position of the joint Committee of the two chambers on the MTEF.

The Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who spearheaded the opposition to the $76.5 benchmark, said that, since the MTEF was a rolling plan, it was better to stick to the 2013 benchmark. He was supported by the members of the House.

A five-member conference Committee on the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework set up by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, met its Senate counterpart and agreed on the $ 77 per barrel as the oil benchmark for the budget. The members of the committee are the Chairman, Finance Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, the Chairman Aids, Loans and Debt Management, Adeyinka Ajayi, Daniel Reyenieju, Abdulrahman Terab and Fort Dike.

Recent analysis of the budget has shown some projected expenditure in the budget, which may generate a fresh row between the Presidency and the House during the budget debate. For instance, in the budget, the Federal Government plans to spend N7 billion on the proposed ‘National Dialogue’. The All Progressives Congress (APC), which is now in majority in the House of Representatives, thinks that the ‘National Dialogue’ is a waste of time.

The fact that President Goodluck Jonathan did not give a breakdown of how the funds would be utilized may not help his case.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said: “The Capital budget is N1.1 trillion; its about 27 percent of the budget and the recurrent is about 72 percent”. She explained that the budget, which excludes the SURE-P of about N268 billion for the Federal Government, “is the budget that continues Mr. president’s drive to really diversify the economy and create jobs.”

The public perception is that the House of Representatives is more thorough when it comes to budget scrutiny. There was a rift between the House of Representatives Committee on Finance and the Minister of Finance over “the 50 questions on the economy” last year.

The Finance Committee had generated the questions after reviewing key aspects of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Fiscal Strategy Paper ( FSP) submitted to the National Assembly by the Presidency. The committee focused on crude Oil production, Crude Oil benchmark price, revenue management and diversification, debt profile and debt service payment, high non- debt recurrent expenditures, capital projects implementation and financing terms amongst others.The committee said that the House would not consider the budget, until the questions are answered. The committee gave the Minister two weeks to answer the questions in writing. Last week, the minster forwarded his reply.The Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business has said that the budget consideration was one of the important issues on the agenda of the House this week. Hon. Zakari Mohammed said that the minister’s response to the 50 questions will aid the House during the debate.”The Finance Committee was given a responsibility by the mandate of the House and the Committee must report back to the House what it was asked to do,” he said.

The Minister of Finance seems to have eventually understood the import of the position of the lawmakers on the 50 questions by responding with a document of over one hundred pages. Areas that may further cause friction between the Presidency and the House are not difficult to envisage. One of these is the alleged fraudulent utilisation of the ‘Service Wide Vote’ in previous budgets, which may cause the House to put this component in the 2014 budget under the microscope.

The House Committee on Public Accounts headed by Solomon Olamilekan-Adeola has vowed to probe the misappropriation of the Service wide vote. He alleged that trillions of naira were wrongfully applied.

For this year, the capital expenditure figures captured under the Service Wide Vote of the Federal Ministry of Finance is in excess of N433.5 billion. Although the lawmakers may welcome the N100 billion meant to finance constituency projects for federal legislators, they may likely scrutinise the remaining expenditure on the service wide vote, which include N62.8 billion for special intervention, N8 billion for national job creation scheme; N30 billion for the sinking fund for infrastructural development; N14 billion for Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) and N16 billion for the bulk trader.

Uunder the miscellaneous heading of the service wide vote, N27.5 billion is proposed for the unexplained contingency funding, while N5,149,600,000 will be set aside for adjustments to the recurrent budget. There are other nebulous expenses. They include N5 billion for capital cost adjustments, N21 billion earmarked for election logistics support and the N7 billion proposed for payment of outsourced services for the Federal Government and another N10 billion for a special account not specified.

With the service wide vote, the Ministry of Finance gets the largest chunk with N1.6 trillion allocation from the budget proposal. This total allocation of N1,653,424,146,940 is 35.6 per cent of the budget for 2014.

The position of the Public Account Committee was that the Service Wide Vote should not be more than five percent of the budget or it should be eliminated from the budget. The Committee believed it is a drain pipe on the economy because it is often manipulated and subjected to abuse, to the detriment of the economy.

Also, there is the issue of the non-compliance of MDAs with Section 22 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which mandates government-owned corporations listed in the schedule to the Act to pay 80 percent of their operating surplus into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Government. In a document by the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to the House Committee on Finance, the Commission said many of the MDAs are saying they could not comply with the section because of “Presidential Directives.”

Consequently, the House Committee on Finance held an investigative hearing to ensure that the internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of listed corporations are captured in the revenue framework viz the 2013 budget. It is also expected that the lawmakers would demand that all of over 800 MDAs of government would be listed in this year’s budget. How the hitherto unlisted MDAs would react to the new development remains to be seen, as the remittance of government share of the IGR was shrouded in secrecy.

The reduction in the expected income to the nation due to oil theft is one area that will generate controversy. Okonjo-Iweala, while giving reasons for the lower budget estimates for 2014, as against that of 2013, said: “ You can understand that we have some revenue challenges, which we had been very clear on all along because of the losses we suffered in terms of oil revenue. Also, there are losses from non- oil revenue due to the lower customs duties. But the House is not likely to accept this excuse.

During the inauguration of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft on December 11, last year, Tambuwal accused the Presidency of collusion in crude oil theft. He said: “We must realise that, without the protection of highly placed people, without the connivance of officials and experts in the sector, the activity of illegal bunkering would have been curtailed long ago.

“No country can endure such blatant rape of its resources by a few criminals, who seem to grow bolder by the day. And no self respecting parliament can watch this kind of gross sabotage and not intervene.”

Mitchell Rivasi The Acting Co- President ACP- EU, Michael Rivasi, said at the 10th regional meeting (West Africa) of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Abuja in July last year, that the loss of 400, 000 barrels of oil per day is huge. She said that there must be collusion by government officials and the major oil companies.” We need to get traceability on oil to avoid theft. We need to apply the Kimberly process. Every oil has its DNA, Major criminality is involved. How can you have 400,000 barrels stolen in a day?”

She suggested that the international community should not “take oil that has no certificate of origin” but further wondered “how will this be effective if the government officials are colluding and are issuing the certificate of origin for stolen oil?

The House may therefore, not accept the assertion that the oil theft is the major reason for the reduction in the 2014 budget because of its belief that the Federal Government is aiding it. Besides, the legislators are cynical about the claim of a reduced income in the face of the accusation by the Central Bank Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) failed to remit $49.8bn to the Federation Account from January, 2012 to July 2013. Although the missing $49.8 is said to have been creatively scaled down to $10 billion, the Presidency is seeking the resignation of the CBN Governor over the misinformation. Gbajabiamila said that the House would not assist the President in sacking Sanusi, adding that, when the National Assembly asked Jonathan to sack Oteh, the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, he refused.

Obviously, the missing fund may be another source of contention during the budget consideration.

Another issue is the flagrant contravention of the appropriation law the Executive. In this case, the issue of the N255 Armoured cars purchased by the Aviation Minister, Ms. Stellah Oduah, readily comes to mind.

The report by the Nkiruka Onyejeocha-led House Committee on Aviation had urged President Jonathan to review the continued engagement of Stella Oduah as the Minister of Aviation due to the roles she played in the procurement of the vehicles for her use by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)

The report, which indicted the Minister of having contravened the Appropriation Act, 2013 and the approved revised thresholds by exceeding the ministerial approval limit of N100 million, was considered and adopted by the House. The Minister approved N643m for the purchase of 54 vehicles.

The debt sustainability will be another point of focus in the 2014 budget. The debt stock, as at June 2013, stood at US$6.9 billion. The unbridled borrowing has always been a sore point between the Executive and Legislature. Recently, the Adeyinka Ajayi-led House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management, began to probe the debt profile. But the Federal Government has always claimed that it borrowed based on the national need, adding that over 40 percent of the country’s debt stock was incurred by the states.

A letter from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation ( SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, in response to a query from the House of Representatives on the non-compliance with the Fiscal responsibility, in terms of overt borrowing, said: “The Federal Government is quite clear and definite with its policies and strategies for borrowing and public debt management. Hence, it recognizes that it would borrow only when it is absolutely necessary and as much as possible on concessionary terms.”

Anyim argued that the Federal Government is “ guided by the 3 per cent fiscal deficit/GDP ratio prescribed by the FRA, 2007.”

In spite of this, the House Committee on Finance has lamented the non-existence of a debt exit strategy by the Executive

The poor implementation of the previous budgets will also likely come up for debate. Speaking of the 2013 budget releases and implementation, the Finance Minister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala told reporters on December 19 last year that: “of the previous budget implementation, I believe we released 64 percent of that budget.”

But members are likely to question her assertion as the House believes that implementation of 2013 budget did not even reach the 40 percent threshold. Recall that the House had once threatened President Goodluck Jonathan with impeachment over low budget implementation.

Subsidy funding might be another sore point between the House and the Executive. The Dakuku Peterside-led House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) has been mandated to probe the NNPC over the subsidy for Dual Purpose Kerosine (DPK) to ascertain the actual amount spent on kerosine subsidy from 2010 to 2013. Dakuku said that the country had spent over N63bon subsidizing kerosine in the last three year, i.e 2010,n2011 and 2012 at N110b, N320b and N320b respectively for those years.

But conflicting claims by the Minister of Finance and the NNPC on the source of money through which kerosine is subsidized and the amount involved therein would set the House scanning subsidy components in the 2014 budget thoroughly. Of the N4. 6 trillion proposed as the 2014 budget, subsidy estimates and debt payments would cost over N2 trillion.

The plan for the Presidency to deposit N1.5bn for an 11th aircraft in the presidential fleet may meet with reservation. Already, the aircrafts of the PAF include two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, a Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and a Gulfstream IVSP, one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawker Sidney 125-800 jet.

A lawmaker joking said: “the House may not approve this item unless, of course, the Presidency is able to convince members that it is starting a viable commercial airline operation.”

The fact that the President and Vice President Namandi Sambo are to spend N2.4 billion for both foreign and local trips may not go down well with the lawmakers, neither would they rush to approve N34.5 million for the purchase of two animals for the Villa Zoo.

Nigerians also expect the lawmakers to be interested in knowing why over N2 billion was allegedly budgeted by an establishment like the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Sheda, for the fueling and maintenance of aircraft, sea boats and railway equipment which it does not have.

The Centre reportedly appropriated “N509,216, N429,056 and N465,522 on the maintenance of aircraft, sea boats and railway equipment” with an extra N293,974 and N421,224 earmarked for same.

Sequel to the consideration of the 8-clause recommendation in the report by the House Committees on Finance, Appropriation, Legislative Budget and Research, and Aids, Loans and Debt Management, the accepted parameters for 2014-2016 MTEF were: (i) “Crude Oil production of 2, 3883 mbpd, 2,5007mbpd and 2,5497 mbpd for 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively; (ii) “average exchange rate of N160/USD for the next three years; The third clause, “ adoption of US$76.50 per barrel as the benchmark price of crude oil,” was rejected after a stormy debate.(it was eventually agreed at $77 by both chambers (iv) “Corporate Tax and VAT rate of 30 percent and 5 percent respectively; (v) “ that the Government should strengthen and consolidate its fiscal strategy to narrow the gap between projected and actual revenue for the period 2014-2016 curtailing oil theft and diversifying the economy to increase tax bases so as to increase tax revenue; (vi) “ that the details of the SURE-P projects to be executed be attached as an addendum to the annual budget estimates for approval by the a National Assembly.

As the House resumes plenary from the Christmas and New year break, and begins consideration in the 2014 budget, it is apparent that it will definitely not be business as usual.

Though the issue in which the House advised President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the Director General of the Security and Exchange Commission, Arumah Oteh because she is not qualified and the refusal of the do such, and the same treatment the President gave the House Committee on Aviation’s report on the N255 million armoured car scandal involving the Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, has cast the National Assembly as a toothless bulldog, members say a more assertive NASS is in the offing.

Speaking on if or not the House would be thorough in considering the 2014 budget, Dakuku Peterside, Chairman House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) said:

“The members of National Assembly are duty bound to defend the interest of Nigerians. They have a responsibility to ensure that funds are judiciously applied for the good of all Nigerians not for the good of individuals. They are under a moral duty, they are under oath to defend the interest of the generality of Nigerians especially the common man on the street,

“ It is not the elite that voted them into power, the elites in all communities are infinitesimal, not more than 2 percent of Nigerians. And so, 98 percent of the common people put them in power. And I don’t believe that under the leadership of Tambuwal, the House will renege on that duty- it will not. So, I’m confident that the House of Representatives which is the custodian of the budget will do justice to this budget and the final outcome will impress Nigerians.”

Mohammed was emphatic last week that the House will not be a rubber stamp for the 2014 budget. “We must consider the budget because its a money bill, but we will not be blackmailed or bamboozled to just assume its a case of garbage in, garbage out. Anybody who thinks it is going to be like that is just joking because we are going to ensure a sense of fairness in its consideration to the benefit of Nigerians who are our employers,” he said.

January 21, 2014
Aspirant promises to fight corruption

Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant Mr. Tony Prest has vowed to fight corruption, if elected as the governor. He said he would liberate the state and return it to the path of progress in 2015.

The politician lamented that Delta State has not realised its potentials as a promising atate. He complained that its resources have not be deployed to its development.

Prest described corruption as a major bane of development, adding that the main focus of his government is anti-graft war.

He said: “Every Delta indigene knows that corruption has destroyed the state. I know that we are not a helpless people and we cannot be slaves in our own land to a mafia-like, bloodthirsty and corrupt cabal.

“We cannot give up on our future and that of our children yet unborn. We cannot just sit down and be gossiping about corruption, banditry and brigandry nightmare of our state without doing anything about freeing ourselves from this enslavement that we are in.”

January 21, 2014
‘APC ‘ll provide good governance’

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Alhaji Rasheed Shitta-Bey has said that he joined the party in furtheranace of his service to the grassroots.

Speaking at a rally organised by the APC in Surulere Constituency, Lagos, the politician promised to mobilise for its victory at the polls.

Shitta-Bey, a former member of the House of Representatives, said: “Now, I am coming to the APC. This is a home coming. My people have been calling for my return to the party. I have to listen to them in order to contribute my quota to the development of the party.

“The MPPP will have its convention on February 1, where I will officially resign as its chairman and fully integrate with the APC.”

“I have always been a progressive. I have been a follower of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. I have passed through the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and went to establish the MPPP and now, I am moving to the APC.”

The politician said that the time is ripe for the progressive bloc to provide a credible leadership for the country.

He said the Yoruba and the Southwest, in particular, will be part of the central government, which theAPC will produce in 2015.

Urging Nigerians to embrace the progressive party, he assured that the party will not fail Nigerians.

He added: “I want to move closer to my people at the grassroots, to put all my effort to ensure the success of the APC within my immediate constituency and the country at large. I am leaving my national position in the MPPP, for my local government in the APC.”

He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led government in the country has not justified its continuation at the centre and all hands must be at the deck to get the party off the way, to enable the progressives provide leadership.

January 21, 2014
‘PDP must field credible candidate’

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State,Ambassador Dare Bejide, has said that the party is capable of winning back its lost members, if credible candidates emerge through transparent process.

Speaking with reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the capital, he said that members, who have left the party did so out of the fear that their principals might be schemed out.

The former Nigeria High Commissioner to Canada urged the party to take the advantage of the next elections to win lost members back to its fold by fielding credible candidates for elective positions.

He described himself as the most qaulified governorship aspirant in the Ekiti PDP.

Bejide said: “I am a home boy. I have been living with my people all the while. Even, when I was in government, I did not stay in Government House. I stayed with my people here. So, the people too know who care for them and I know they would not abandon me.

“Our party must be very careful in the way it chooses its candidate. It must look for a non-controversial figure, who will enjoy the support of the followers, even outside PDP. “

Bejide said what appears to be intractable crisis in PDP would fizzle out as soon as the party surmounted the challenge to choose its flag-bearer.

He said the state officials have not taken seriously the issue of the party flagbearer. He added that task lies with the National Executive Commitee (NEC).

He charged the leaders of the party both at the state and national not to toy with the zoning formular, describing it as crucial in whatever decision they might want to take ahead of the 2014 governorship election.

January 21, 2014
No division in Lagos PDP, says chairman

The Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not fractionalised, its Chairman, Captain Tunji Shelle (rtd), has said. He also said that the chapter has passed a vote of confidence on Chief Olabode George as its leader, adding that the retired soldier will lead the chapter to victory in 2015.

In a statement signed on the behalf of the chairman by the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taofeek Gani, he chided some people, who he described as strange forces, for peddling the rumour of division at a time the chapter has resolved its internal problems.

Shelle said: “Ordinarily, we ought to ignore the statement credited to the faceless group, but for record purpose, we are inclined to state categorically that there is no faction in the Lagos PDP. We have never heard such a name in the Lagos PDP. We are one united family in Lagos PDP and it is laughable that a person or few persons can cowardly claim factionalisation of the party. Indeed, they are agent provocateurs.”

The chairman urged party members to unite for the next general elections and put to shame the agents of destabilisation.

He advised them to be weary of disgrunted elements impersonating loyal members.

Shelle added: “As a matter of necessity, the Lagos State PDP has reiterated its vote of confidence on its leaders. They have their individual merits and roles to play in the party. This chapter has reaffirmed its unflinching support and loyalty to Chief Olabode george as our prime leader”.

January 21, 2014
Can divided Southwest PDP bounce back?

The Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is enmeshed in a protracted leadership crisis. There is no Zonal Executive Committee in place. Its caretaker committee headed by an acting chairman is weak. Following the feud between President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the former leader has not been able to command the loyalty of the dispirited party chieftains in the zone. But, the leadership of the President’s pointsman, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has also been disputed by some aggrieved stalwarts. With Ekiti and Osun State governorship elections around the corner, the question is, who will lead PDP’s battle against the formidable All Progressives Congress (APC)? What impact can the party make in the Southwest? Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the fate of the crisis-ridden party struggling to bounce back in the APC stronghold.

For the Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), history is about to repeat itself. In 2011, the party, which once dominated the region, was dislodged by the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Unresolved post-primary crises became the party’s albatross during the election. Ahead of the proposed governorship polls in Ekiti and Osun states, the party is held down by a debilitating leadership crisis.

The PDP army is scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Its leading lights are in disarray and working at cross-purposes.

Following its defeat in the last general elections, the party was heading for the doldrums in the zone. Many party leaders retreated to their shells. Their supporters were left in the cold. Many of them consequently defected to other parties. Those who stayed back were disillusioned. Others were simply indifferent.

Worried by the decline in fortune, a chieftain from Ogun State, Prince Buruji Kashamu, picked up the gaunglet. The billionaire businessman started the process of rebuilding the collapsed edifice. His platform was the Omo Ilu Foundation, which gave succour to the people. The empowerment programme was unprecedented in the Gateway State.Thousands received vehicles, motorcycles for commercial purposes and money to set up petty businesses.

But, today, the embattled Southwest PDP leader is swimming in a pool of controversies. As the Chairman of the PDP Mobilisation Committee in the zone, he does not enjoy the support of some influential anti-Jonathan forces. Obasanjo, who has described him as a drug baron, is annoyed that the President has recognised him as the zonal leader. Some party chieftains in other states are also grumbling that his leadership lacks credibility. But, the politician from Ijebu Division is undeterred. Apart from denying being a drug trafficker, he said that he had worked closely with the former President in the past.

Kashamu, according to his followers, came with a message of hope. When their morale was down, he urged the party members not to jump ship. He also wooed members of other parties to defect to the PDP. In August 11, last year, thousands of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) and Labour Party (LP) members defected to the PDP. Among them were Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, former Secretary of the PPN and Commissioner for Education under the Gbenga Daniel Administration, and Otunba Adeleke Adekoya, former PPN chairmanship candidate in Ijebu North Local Government Area.

At the PDP secretariat in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, thousands also defected to the party. They were led by the former deputy governor and Ogun State ACN chairman, Chief Rafiu Ogunleye. “This great journey started on that fateful day when Prince Buruji Kashamu came to my home in Itele-Ijebu, in company of the PDP chairman, Bayo Dayo, Otunba Ola Kukoyi, Prince Fakoya and Chief Dele Odulaja ,to ask me and my group, Imole, for partnership in PDP,” said Ogunleye, who praised Kashamu for his mobilisation prowess.

At the event, prominent PDP leaders, including former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, PDP National Secretary Prof. Wale Oladipo and Otunba Rotimi George-Taylor also applauded Kashamu for rebuilding the party.

Party chieftains also acknowledged Kashamu’s financial support for other chapters in the region. He has lent support to the state executives and encouraged them to embark on massive membership drive. At a party meeting in Ijebu-Igbo, the former Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani, told the stakeholders that the businessman-turned politician has revived the party in the zone.

When the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, visited the Southwest in March, last year, Kashamu mobilised members from the six states for the event.

Also, when President Goodluck Jonathan came to flag off the reconstruction of the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, he mobilised party members who came in lorry loads to cheer the President.

Kashamu boasted that the PDP will bounce back in the six states. “I’m ready to commit myself to ensuring the success of the PDP governorship candidate in Ekiti State during the forthcoming election. It would be a shame on my part, if I fail to do that. I’m ready to do the same thing in Osun, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Oyo states,” he added.

Kashamu, it is believed, has risen on the back of the proracted feud between Dr. Jonathan and Obasanjo to the zonal leadership. Vocal and blunt, he has stood shoulder to shoulder with former Governor Daniel. he has also challenged Gen. Obasanjo to a duel. Even, when the Lagos PDP leader, Chief Bode George, frowned at his soaring image in the PDP, he called his bluff.

In the West, the billionnaire politician is a leading advocate of ‘Jonathan for second term’. “Those fighting Jonathan don’t love Nigeria. Once someone has been elected into office, we must support such a person, until his tenure is over,” he said. He has also been chiding the defectors from the PDP for jumping ship.

Kashamu has also adorned the cap of a propagandist. He has objected to the carrot and stick approach of Obasanjo, saying that President Jonathan cannot afford to wipe out the troubled spots in the North like Odi. He has also advised the North to negotiate for power shift, instead of making it a ‘do-or-die affair’. he urged the President to declare his bid for continuity, stressing that heaven will not fall.

Kashamu, who acknowledged that the Southwest has been marginalised, appealed to the President to give the region its dues. “Yoruba men and women should be appointed to key positions by this administration,” he said.

Many agree that Kashamu is on the prowl in the Southwest at a time the APC is not prepared to yield any ground in the region.

“PDP has produced many leaders in this zone-Chief Sunday Afolabi, Chief Yekini Adeojo, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, Senator Yinka Omilani, and Alhaji Oladipo. None of them could mobilise the party for victory, until the PDP rigged out the AD under Obasanjo Administration in 2003. But, rigging failed in 2007. The stolen mandates in Ekiti and Osun were retrieved at the Court of Appeal. How can the PDP bounce back now that the Southwest progressives governors are performing?,” asked an APC chieftain.

A Lagos PDP chieftain, who craved for annonimity, said that Kashamu is a disputed party leader in the zone. “We don’t know him in Lagos. Our chairman, Captain Tunji Shelle, has never attended any meeting called by him. But, I know that he is really trying his best in Ogun State”, he said.

For now, there is no proper zonal leadership in place. The Southwest PDP congress has not been held. Can Kashamu instal a new zonal executive, if a legal congress holds today? A party chieftain from Ekiti State said that this feat is possible, although he pointed out that no zonal congres can be held now because of the atmosphere of disharmony in the party.

Across the six chapters, there is tension. Although party leaders were pushing for consensus candidacy at a time, the option has been dropped. There were allegations that the Presidency had settled for annointed candidates. This did not go down well with other governorship aspirants.

In Lagos, there is the peace of the graveyard. The combatants have deliberately withdrew from the battle front. But, they will soon return during the governorship primaries. In the last eight years, Lagos PDP has been battling with crises triggered by personality clashes and ego war among its leaders. The grouse of the leaders is that George is fond of politics of exclusion.

In Ekiti, there are caucuses revolving around key leaders, including the deposed governor, Mr. Segun Oni, Minister of Police Affairs Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd) and Fayose. There is an agitation for zoning to the South District. But, the clamour is being resisted by other zones. Some people even believe that zoning is not an issue in Ekiti. They believe that the state is one zone.

There are over 14 governorship aspirants in Ekiti. Thus, it is feared that the crowded race may be a prelude to post-primary crisis.

In Osun, crisis is brewing, ahead of the governorship nomination. There is a gang-up against Senator Iyiola Omisore by other governorship contenders. A source said that, if he emerges as the candidate, others may work against him at the poll.

In Ondo, there is no difference between the ruling Labour Party (LP) and the PDP. The infiltration of LP elements into the PDP has unsettled some leaders. The chapter lacks a dynamic leadership. Pro-Mimiko chieftains of the PDP are not at peace with other party faithful.

Oyo is also a divided chapter. The leaders -Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, Senator Teslim Folarin, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Afez Gbolarunmi, and Taofeek Arapaja, are nurturing their antagonistic structures, instead of the party.

Last week, some Southwest PDP chieftains converged on the residence of Chief Richard Akinjide at Ibadan and resolved never to accept Kashamu’s leadership. The former Attorney-General and Justice Minister echoed Obasanjo’s objection, saying that the leaders cannot work with a drug baron. Kashamu fired back, saying that he has been cleared by the court.

Can the PDP bounce back in the Southwest? Can Kashamu lead the party to victory? Time will tell.

January 20, 2014
‘No crisis in Bayelsa APC’

A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Mr. Wilfred Ogbotobo, yesterday flayed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Seriake Dickson over their remarks that the opposition party is battling with leadership crisis.

In separate statements, the PDP and governor had asked the APC national leadership to resolve its crisis in the state to prevent it from degenerating into violence.

But, Ogbotobo said that Dickson and his party should mind their business.

The politician. who spoke in Yenagoa, the state capital, said the alarm by Dickson and the PDP showed that they were jittery because of the APC’s rising profile.

He said: “I am not aware of any crisis in the Bayelsa APC. Meetings and consultations have been on-going smoothly in different places and on different levels, ahead of the proposed inauguration of the state interim executive.

“There are clear guidelines to manage every stage of the process. At this stage, much enthusiasm and excitement, in diverse ways, are playing out and it is wrong and malicious to refer to this frenzy as crisis.

“I think it is instructive to urge the public to disregard the statements credited to Governor Dickson and the Bayelsa PDP as the wild vituperation of a haunted government and an equally bankrupt, big-for-nothing political party. The APC is at peace in Bayelsa State”.

Ogbotobo however, said that it was normal for people to struggle for leadership positions in a great party like the APC.

He stressed: “It is normal and healthy for democracy, particularly in the context of Bayelsa politics. It is also expected that external antagonistic forces would also want to attempt to destabilise ‘the Bayelsa Ark’ at this stage to keep the state perpetually on slow motion.

“These are some aspects of the struggle for the leadership of the party in the state. But there is no cause for alarm”.

January 20, 2014