The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

  • ‘Umar can’t be substantive governor in Taraba’

    ‘Umar can’t be substantive governor in Taraba’

    Former Secretary to the Taraba State Government Hon. Emmanuel Njiwah spoke with Senior Correspondent FANEN IHYONGO on his sack by Acting Governor Garba Umar, the political impasse in the state and other issues.

    You were removed as the Secretary to the Taraba State Government. What went wrong?

    My removal was purely an intrigue of politics. It was far from what I was accused of. There was no correlation between what they said I did and the actual facts on ground. The truth is that, after the plane crash involving Governor Danbaba Suntai on October 25 last year, I visited the injured governor in Germany in January. By that time, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, had been sworn in as the acting governor, according to the dictates of the constitution. Now, after my visit, he also went to Germany and saw the governor.

    When Umar returned, I noticed quite clearly that he was scheming to supplant our boss, the governor. He thought the governor was permanently incapacitated. But, I refused to give in to his demand that I should do a memo to the State Executive Council to kick start the process of booting out Governor Suntai. That is the constitutional provision: I would do an executive memo directing the EXCO to authorise the House of Assembly to set up a medical panel to ascertain the governor’s health. Thereafter, anything could happen, and in the case of Umar, he already had mischief up his sleeves. Pressures were mounting on me from Umar’s supporters, who wondered why I was not ready to assist their man to become the substantive governor. In fact, by April, the pressure heightened. I was promised the deputy governor’s slot, if I could make it happen for Umar. But, I didn’t dance to their tune. Somehow, I knew the governor was not permanently incapacitated, and Umar was just blindly ambitious. I have worked with the military where I learnt that loyalty to your principal must be 100 per cent, not even 99.9 per cent. So, I am 100 per cent loyal to Governor Suntai. Besides, the governor was not permanently incapacitated. What permanent incapacitation means is that the governor would not recover forever or till the end of his tenure. In this case, the governor was recovering very fast. Thus, I became an obstacle and the best thing for Umar to do was to give me a bad name and hang me.

    But, your name was mentioned in the flood scandal…

    That is the intrigue I told you about. I was not in the committees of purchase and distribution. I was in the main committee chaired by Alhaji Garba Umar himself. There were committees A and B which were given money to buy relief materials for the flood victims. Our main committee wasn’t given any money and the deputy governor is there to bear me witness. Go and ask him, if he gave me a kobo of that flood fund. But, I can point to some people he is having now in his fake cabinet, who lobbied for contracts from the flood fund for their wives and relatives. He is with them now in his government. I never lobbied for any contract from the committees.

    So, why have you been quiet over the accusations?

    I am not quiet. We are in court. Immediately we went to court, Umar sent two people to me not to go to court. But, we went ahead because we have to clear our names.

    Do you think that Governor Suntai can still come back to the office as the governor?

    Why not? Governor Suntai is getting better every day. He is already back and, if not for the machinations of Umar, he should fully resume now. We are aware of all the moves to remove Suntai, but we are resisting it, because he is well. This was why Garba used some members of the House of Assembly to say they don’t recognise the governor’s notification of return. This was why he removed the Suntai loyalists from the leadership of the House of Assembly and planted his men there. This is why we were called thieves and sacked. He orchestrated from the start. It is a master plan or road map that he is executing now. We knew his plans. Governor Suntai is fit to rule. An American President ruled from a wheel chair. So, what is the hullabaloo that the governor is not fit to rule? The governor can make full use of all his faculties. So, what is anyone saying?

    Is there a religious or ethnic dimension to the political crisis?

    Ethnic, a big no, but religion, a capital yes! It is a well known fact that Garba Umar, being a Muslim, wants to institute an Islamic state in Taraba state. There are inscriptions in various parts of Jalingo suggesting an Islamic agenda by Umar. Nigeria does not operate on the basis of a Christian or Muslim state. When Suntai held sway, he never dubbed Taraba a Christian state, because Taraba State consists of Muslims, Christians and animists. So, if Umar rules on the basis of being chosen by God to lead a plural state, fine. But there is great danger when you try to pin a religion on the state. And, if he is going about trying to gain the sympathy of other Muslims outside the state, he is going about it wrongly. Taraba is a secular state like other states in Nigeria. Governor Danbaba Suntai did not discriminate against the religions. He built the secretariats of the two great faiths –Christians and Muslims in Jalingo and invited the Sultan of Sokoto and the CAN President to co-commission the edifices. Suntai gave them equal treatment. I do not know where this has been done in Nigeria. Today, Umar is not being fair to his boss, who was totally fair to both faiths. He is going about calling himself the acting governor when the governor is around.

    If religion is such a factor, how can you explain the fact that some Christian members of the House of Assembly are supporting Umar and even want him to replace Suntai, who is a Christian? You see some things are better not said. The fact is that massive funds are at work in the House of Assembly. Garba Umar is manipulating some of the members.

    What is the implication of the crisis for the the 2015 poll?

    Let me start with some basic facts. Taraba is a heterogeneous state with many ethnic groups. A state with 2.5 million people, we have a unique experience of religious harmony. If you go to any homestead in Taraba, you will find members of all the faiths co-habiting. But, Graba Umar does not understand this.

     

    He is a stranger in the state. He was born in Makurdi and grew up largely outside Taraba. He then worked all of his life at the UTC where he was living outside the state. He finally settled in Jos. After the crisis there he relocated to Gombe State. So, he just came to our state brandishing religion. He doesn’t know that, in Taraba, we don’t mix politics with religion. It is a taboo. Suntai is a devote Christian but, his wife is a Muslim.

  • Taraba and culture of impunity

    Taraba and culture of impunity

    In this piece, human rights activist Comrade Lanre Suraju contends that the political impasse in Taraba State may continue to undermine governance, the constitution and democracy.

    Community-Based Organisations, (CBOs), professional organisations and the human rights community have expressed concern about developments in Taraba State.

    In recent times, governance has virtually collapsed in Taraba State and there seems to be the conspiracy of silence across the country. For one thing, Taraba is in the Northeast, distant from the mainstream media and isolated from the economic hubs in Nigeria.

    Events in this remote state continue to suffer excommunication and isolation from the rest of the country. This is to the excruciating pains of the people of Taraba State, whose economic and political lives are negatively being affected by the inactivity of an ailing governor, who nevertheless has become enslaved and trapped by a cabal that has no legitimacy, no constitutional status and no political structure. Yet, the cabal continues to rule the state by exploiting the ill disposition of the legitimately elected Governor of the state, His Excellency, Dambaba Suntai.

    Governor Danbaba Suntai had an accident during a crash involving a small plane, which he was flying. He was taken abroad. He was yet to fully recover when he was virtually dragged to the seat of power after he was away for 10 months, hence, the struggle for the political and economic control of the State began. In the course of this bizarre struggle, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, slumped at his residence and was rushed to Jalingo Federal Medical College where he later died and was he buried on November 28, 2013.

    This incidence is reminiscence of the case involving the late President Musa Yar Adua when efforts were made by an exploitative cabal to keep him in power against his prevailing health condition.

    In Taraba, a small clique fraudulently claiming to act on behalf of the ailing governor has unsuccessfully tried to hijack the leadership of the state, including the running of the finances of the state. The health challenges of the governor is being compounded by the antics of a self-serving group that wants to keep him in power, instead of allowing him to go for full medical treatment.

    It is appalling that the control of political power and the resources of the state are being lifted above the safety and well-being of the state governor. It is high time Nigerians spoke out and stood on the part of the people of Taraba state who deserve good governance and the right to know the state of health of the leader they had freely elected.

    This is the time to speak out against the criminal and inhuman act of a small, unfeeling group that is more concerned about making financial gains from the misfortune of the state Governor. As it is, Taraba, given the weak democratic institutions and the weak civil society tradition in this great state of cultured people, can no longer speak for itself. The Human Rights Community needs to take over this campaign for sanity in governance.

    One is alarmed that the state of Suntai’s health remains undisclosed to the people that elected him. This has continued to fuel distrust and apprehension. The electorate is therefore not aware if the person they have elected is the one running the state or his unelected, curious and shadowy kitchen cabinet.

    The desperation by the cabal to keep the state in its pocket reached a feverish peak recently when attempts were made to assassinate the current speaker of the House of Assembly. We should also not forget that the former speaker of the Taraba House of Assembly, Tsokwa died in mysterious circumstances.

    The failure of Inspector General of Police, to investigate the forged letter to the House of Assembly said to have been written and signed by Governor Suntai is equally worrisome. The Attorney General and Minister of Justice have refused to obey the court order of an Abuja Federal High Court to cause a letter to the acting Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar for Medical report on Governor Suntai. An obvious indication of Conspiracy involving government at the federal level.

    At present two, people are standing as governors of one state with conflicting orders. The instability in the state can lead to further break down of law and order, violence and at present constitutes another major threat to democratic renaissance in Nigeria.

    The situation in Taraba has further underlined the fear that politicians value political power, its associated pecks and privileges more than human lives. The House of Assembly in Taraba is to as a matter of urgency institute the process of ascertaining the state of health of the state governor.

    At the height of the controversy, the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, intervened, volunteering that it was better for Suntai to resume his treatment in New York where he came from. The association used the opportunity to appeal to governments in this country to vote more money to the health sector. This is to stem down the huge quantum of medical tourism Nigerians currently indulge in. Suntai has refused to either accept NMA’s counsel or allow the state government function with his deputy as his replacement inspite of overwhelming evidence that it would be better to subscribe to both. The National Assembly has been too busy to intervene on this even as the greatest beneficiary of the child of necessity theory in governance, President Jonathan, has also chosen to be indifferent.

    For now, Taraba is one of the few states that hardly make newspaper headlines on account of violent fights. As the fate of the governor hangs in the balance, especially with the sudden demise of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, violence may not be far from bursting open. How often shall it be repeated that those who make peaceful change impossible shall make violent change inevitable? As we speak, neither the concerned state governments nor the Federal Government has any workable solution to the Ombatse phenomenon in Nasarawa. Yet, the protracted Plateau State killings which has taken the lives of thousands including that of a senator remains far from over as it renews by the day.

    As the chief executive of his state, Governor Suntai swore to defend the constitution on assumption of office but the extent of his faithfulness to this today, after a long period of self-inflicted fate, leaves a lot to be desired. Not only has he denied the state the leadership he promised, the character of the leadership he was even able to offer will hardly qualify as a model for anyone. Governor Suntai allegedly acquired three aircrafts, following his assumption of office as the governor of a state that has no airport. The implication of this is clear: He is an absentee governor and got his absenteeism prolonged, even if unwillingly.

     

    Olanrewaju Suraju is the chairman, CSNAC

     

  • ‘DPP will produce next Delta Central senator’

    ‘DPP will produce next Delta Central senator’

    Delta Central Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) senatorial candidate Chief Ede Dafinone spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU on the proposed senatorial by-election and his plans for the district.

    Why are you in the senatorial race?

    The answer to that question is quality representation. I can represent my people at the highest level in the country. I want to bring development and prosperity to Delta Central.

    Some people still harbor doubts about your senatorial bid. How do you intend to build confidence in people about your ambition?

    Every individual brings a different set of skills and experience to the polity. My background, education, professional experience as an accountant and consultant, my experience in rubber export and plantation, my experience in the insurance industry and in the retail or shopping mall business are all success stories in their own right. I believe that the totality of these experiences will enable me to add value as the Senator representing Delta Central.

    How would you react to the view that you are daddy’s boy?

    I want to thank God for blessing me with youthful looks. I will be 52 on my next birthday and I think, in terms of years spent on this planet, together with my collective experiences, I am qualified to occupy this position. Those calling me daddy’s boy clearly do not know me or worse still, do not know my father, Chief David Dafinone.

    Considering that politics in Nigeria is on cash and carry basis, how do you intend to fund and actualise your ambition?

    Politics has become an expensive venture, especially in Delta State. Good enough, I have just mentioned an array of successful businesses, which will assist in financing the campaign. In addition, I will also call on friends to support in any way they are able. I will want to emphasise that the focal point of any election is having a greater number of voters to cast their votes in my support. However, despite the popular rhetoric, Nigerians have learnt to vote with their conscience and not for money. Indeed, this is the background to the success story of the DPP today.

    What are the challenges facing you on the field?

    Party primaries are always a tense time in every political party and DPP is not an exception. I have taken my message of Urhobo unity and the development of Delta Central to the villages, the towns, from the wards to the local government areas, to the youths, to the women and to the elders. I believe that they will recognise that I offer a quality representation in the senate. I also have a network of friends throughout the federation in both the public and private sectors that will assist me to provide the best quality representation.

    What has been the response?

    All the groups I have met want me to represent Delta Central at the Senate.

    Are you not intimidated by the senatorial ambition of some people in the race?

    I contested in the last primaries in the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) against the late Senator Pius Ewherido. I lost by a total of 17 votes, having joined the party two and a half weeks to those primaries. I was new to the party at that time. Since then, I have fully acquainted myself with my party at the local government, state and federal levels. I believe I am the candidate to beat.

    What is your reaction to the rumour that you are eyeing the Delta State governorship in 2015?

    This issue was first raised by a couple of young men who went to press early this year to endorse me for the governorship race in 2015. I must say that I have not shown any interest in that position and the endorsement given by this group has led to confusion as I prepare for the senatorial bye-election. Let me say that, in 2015, the natural progression will be for me to stand for re-election as a senator representing Delta Central. The period left before the next election will leave a lot of work for the office uncompleted. Equally, the position of the party’s gubernatorial candidate for 2015 will easily be filled by our leader, Chief Great Ogboru, by popular acclamation by the rank and file of the party.

    What is your message to the political leaders?

    I am a popular grassroots politician. I started my political career in 1998 where I campaigned for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from markets to community leaders across the whole of Delta State. I am experienced in both public and private sectors and will unite the party to ensure victory at the polls.

    What is your message to the people?

    The empowerment projects that I have undertaken under the Dafinone Foundation since 2006 have successfully empowered over 2,500 men and women in three local government areas. The empowerment has been through skill acquisition programmes covering hair dressing, tailoring, catering, aluminum bending and welding and computer education. The projects of the foundation demonstrate a commitment to serve, which can only be magnified as the senator representing Delta Central.

  • Group hails Oshiomhole over Edo North development

    Group hails Oshiomhole over Edo North development

    A group, Edo North Professionals’ Forum, has applauded the role of 3Governor Adams Oshiomhole in the development of the Edo Central

    District,

    The group also assessed the performance of Senator Domingo Obende, who represents the zone, urging him to live up to expectation.

    In a letter to the governor signed by its Coordinator, Muhammed Alaoye, and six local government coordinators, the group expressed the desire “to champion the socio-economic development of Edo North Senatorial District and reposition it for greater participation and political relevance”.

    Alaoye said: “It does not require a special skill or intelligence to recogniee the effort of Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, towards rebuilding Edo State, with particular reference to Edo North. But the senator representing the district must also rise to the challenge of assisting the governor in the administration’s bid to confront the political and socio-economic challenges confronting our people”.

    The coordinator said that there can be no progress, if the elected representatives fail to work harmoniously, share ideas and cooperate together, while finding solutions to pressing socio-economic and political challenges.

    He warned against self-centered and lack-lustre representation and leadership, saying that it could impair growth and development.

    Alaoye added: “The problem of the senatorial district is inextricably tied to the poor quality of leadership. The district’s fortune has continued to plummet.This dearth of quality leadership cannot be divorced from the poor recruitment process called party primaries. The consequence of poor choice at the polls is the election of wrong persons into public management offices. No country, state, senatorial district or local government can rise above the level of it’s workforce, especially at the decision-making or business of law-making or be it leadership at any level”

    “What Edo North deserves at this critical point, especially so, when Governor Adams Oshiomhole would be rounding off his tenure, is a crop of leaders that are endowed with the gift of steady application, imbued with the ability to control events, rather than drift with the tides and, who in the range of vision and depth of conception, tower above their contemporaries. Edo North needs a senator of iron resolve, indomitable courage and sharp intellect. Men of proven integrity should also come out to assume positions of responsibility.

    “Mr. Governor Sir, you owe it a duty, just as we collectively do, at this particular point in our political history, to fish out patriotic and right-thinking citizens to man positions of responsibilities in Afenmai, and by extension, Edo State.”

     

  • Darah urges voters to vote wisely

    Former Special Adviser on Public Communication to Delta State Governor, Prof G. G. Darah, has outlined the qualities the next senator must possess. In an interview with The Nation, he said anybody who wishes to represent the people of Delta Central District, must be honest and ready to serve the people.

    Darah said: “I expect that the most qualified and the most experienced persons should step forward and offer themselves for leadership. In the last 14 years of the experiment of democratic rule of elected government, the electorate has also come to identify some weaknesses and failures and they will want to change them for the purposes of a more effective representation. For Delta Central, the most experienced, the most courageous and the most honest politician, who already has his or her own means of livelihood and who has attained a fulfilled life and is ready only for service, who want to devote his time to the service of his people or her people, those are the only ones that should step forward”, Darah opined.”

    The politician warned that anybody who has material acquisition as his immediate motive should perish the thought because the people will reject such an individual.

    “If the person is going there because he wants to amass wealth or because he wants to build hotels in Abuja, or buy properties oversea, that person would be rejected or should be rejected by the electorate. I want to say that the drive or the motivation is very important. We want individuals who would say, yes, I was a general in the Army, I was a Professor, I was a businessman in Lagos, I have shown people that I can do it, I am going to offer the people my experience to improve the lives of the people of my senatorial district, yes there is altruism there; but if it is somebody who wants to become richer materially, and to extend his estates, Delta Central does not deserve that kind of punishment.

    “That senatorial district, which is populated solely by Urhobo nation, has always been known for the quality of patriotic leadership. A politician without patriotism is like a weapon given to a mad man to operate. It will become a weapon of mass destruction. But patriotism is the only oxygen that makes a politician to be a public spirited citizen. Here, patriotism means putting your nation above personal interest. The problem we have in Nigeria is that people go into politics and leave patriotism behind”, he said.

    The by-election to fill the vacant seat in the Senate, following the sudden death of Senator Pius Ewherido, is to take place on Saturday, October 5.

    The Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dame Gesila Khan, said this at a meeting with stakeholders in Ughelli. She said that the election would be held in 1,263 polling units, 85 registration areas and the eight local government areas in the senatorial district.

    Khan said: “The Senate has formally notified the commission of the vacancy in Delta Central senatorial district. Consequently, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC headquarters, has directed the Delta State office to commence the process of conducting a by- election into the senatorial district.

    She added: “The publication of personal particulars of candidates and last date for submission of names and addresses of party agents would be September 28, while publication of final list of candidates nominated for the election, will be September 30, 2013; last date of campaign, October 4, 2013 and possible run-off, October 9, 2013.

    “ In accordance with the proposed time table for the election, the last date of primaries by political parties for the nomination of their candidates and submission of the list of candidates for the election has been fixed for September 25 and 26, 2013 respectively”.

    While reiterating the preparedness of the electoral umpire to do the right thing and live up to expectation, Khan urged all participants to eschew violence and be peaceful. “INEC is not unmindful of the publics’ high expectations. I, therefore, assure the people of Delta Central senatorial district that the commission will leave no stone unturned to ensure a free, fair and credible election.

  • Is Nigeria still giant of Africa?

    Is Nigeria still giant of Africa?

    Nigeria celebrates her 53rd independence anniversary tomorrow.  Can  the self-styled giant of Africa really claim this title? AUGUSTINE AVWODE examines the challenges facing the country.

    It is an appellation Nigeria has worn with pride. Political leaders, diplomats and commentators have over the years described Nigeria as the “giant of Africa”. Its size is intimidating. Its population surpasses other sub-Saharan African countries combined. The people are talented, creative and immensely productive. Nigeria is also blessed with an abundance of natural resources.

    But that seems to be the end of the story. Over the years, the country has failed to convert these potentials to real advantage. Thus, local and foreign analysts have described the country as, either the ‘sleeping giant’ or “former giant” of Africa.

     

    Deceptive appellation

    Political scientists say, given the present realities, Nigeria cannot lay claim to being the giant of Africa. They argue that, notwithstanding the availability of opportunities, which could have been explored to establish the country firmly as the leader of the African continent, successive leaders have woefully failed to leverage on those opportunities.

    Former Information Minister Prof. Sam Oyovbaire said, based on some indices, Nigeria could claim to be the giant of Africa. But the reality of the 21st century, that claim can be disputed.

    “Certain indices, such as population, size and, in recent time, natural resources of the nation, if considered, we can talk about being a giant of Africa. But, if you use other indices, such as the level of poverty, the growth rate of the economy, the number of children that are in school or that are out of school, the quality of healthcare delivery, and other basic things of life, like the provision of water, stable power supply, accommodation and many other things, then, I can tell you that Nigeria is not a giant like as a country, say like South Africa.

    The political scientist said appellations could be deceptive, adding that “the reality in Nigeria is that we are yet to arrive at that stage where we can legitimately claim to be the giant of Africa.”

    Oyovbaire said that the genesis of the tag could be traced to Nigerians’ penchant for titles, which make them feel big or important. He however, hopes that in the future, if the right things are done, Nigeria can become the giant of Africa.

    “I really don’t think we are giants, in terms of contemporary realities. But in terms of futuristic potential, oh yes; but then, there is also the problem of commitment to ensuring that these things come to be. We have failed in the aspect of the critical value that leadershProf Sam Ibodje of the Department of Political Science, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, agreed with his colleague. He said the appellation was wrongly acquired.

    The poliltical scholar argued that certain criteria must be used to assess Nigeria before describing it as “the giant.”

    “To talk about an individual being a giant, for instance, in a comity of individuals, there must be certain criteria to be used. In the case of a country, those criteria could be in terms of the size of population, the strength of the economy, the level of political stability and the role that the country is playing in the international community.

    “The truth is that you can be a giant by population, by size and by natural resources. Yet, you can be a sleeping giant. If you consider the case of Nigeria, by size, it is a giant, by population it is a giant, by natural resources it is a giant. But, unfortunately, I have to agree with people who described the country as a sleeping giant as we are not wielding the necessary influence in the comity of nations”, he said.

    The Executive Secretary, ‘Never Again Group’, Mallam Moyo Jaji, said if Nigeria is the giant of Africa, then, it must be a giant with clay feet.

    “I dont think we can continue to arrogate to ourselves, the appellation of being the giant of Africa. What are we going to celebrate on Tuesday? Independence or dependence? An economy that is generator driven, a nation mired in insecurity, a country with waning influence, that cannot tame Boko Haram, and with high incidence of kidnapping for ransom, with high poverty rate and with high maternal mortality rate. A country with dilapidated infrastructure and afflicted with the scourge of corruption. No, were are not the giant of Africa. If we are, then it is with clay feet”.

    However, Prof Elochukwu Amucheazi of the Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) disagreed with the notion that Nigeria no longer merits appellation. He argued that, all things considered, Nigeria can rightly lay claim to it.

    “Who is a giant? Does Nigeria not have the features of a giant? The size is there. The population is there. The natural resources are there. We are blessed with abundant human resources that is very enterprising. We have played prominent roles in bringing stability to other countries in Africa, even helping some to gain independence. So, what exactly are we talkining about? From all indications, Nigeria is the giant of Africa. How many other countries have played the roles Nigeria has played across the continent? Is it easy to keep over 350 ethnic nationalities together? We must commend where it is necessary”, he said.

     

    Failure of leadership and followership

    Many have blamed poor leadership and followership for the country’s woes.

    Prof Ibodje said, everybody must take the blame. He said that, Nigeria is populated, not by those who see themselves as citizens, but those whom he called “people”. He argued that while citizens in any country will always strive for the good of the country and its development, ‘people’ will always go after what they can get out of the system by plundering the resources that ought to have been used to develop the country.

    “While citizens use the natural resources in the country to build and seek its growth and development, people actually predate on the available resources and deny the country the opportunity to grow as a result of their activities.

    “Once you act like a predator on the resources of your country, which are meant to develop the country, you are not a citizen but just a person. So, Nigeria has people but not citizens. Let me emphasis that citizens are committed to rendering selfless services to their country to ensure that there is growth and development in the country. And in fact, they do not care whether they are going to be beneficiaries of such contributions or not.

    “Their main purpose is to see their father land play prominent roles in the comity of nations as a result of the growth and development that has taken place in it. And that is what is lacking in Nigeria.

    Oyovbaire blamed poor leadership. But he did not restrict it to any particular individual. He called it a ‘generation of leadership’.

    “Without doubt, I think our leaders should be held responsible. But I will not say it is this particular person or that. It is a failure of a generation of leadership. Either before, during or after military interventions in the affairs of Nigeria, its leadership should be held responsible for not fully giving fillip to the opportunities that come the way of Nigeria to be indeed, the giant of Nigeria,” he said.

     

    Other challenges

    Besides the ‘home made woes’, there are also external challenges from neighbouring countries, who are frantically trying to challenge the claim to such a claim. Recent developments in neighboring African countries, indirectly but without doubt pose very big challenge to the status of Nigeria as a role model to other African countries, particularly, the West African region.

    As an example, it is a known fact that Nigeria has been struggling to conduct credible elections since the return to democratic rule in 1999. It is on record that there is no election in the country that has not been controversial or disputed. But when Ghana conducted presidential and parliamentary elections, it was immediately hailed by the international community as a model for Africa.

    Ghanaians went through three rigorous rounds of voting, which resulted in the opposition’s victory and the transfer of power from one government to another without a single loss of life. But, the 2011 presidential election in Nigeria, though considered fairly better than the previous ones, resulted in high scale violence in the North. Many people lost their lives, including ad-hoc staffs of the electoral umpire, who were youth corps member.

    What about the inability of Nigeria to properly manage its natural resources, especially crude? Investors in this critical sector are shifting attention to Angola and Ghana. People point to the comatose nature of the refineries in the country and the continued dependence on importation of refined product for domestic use as a minus.

    The failure of the authorities to fix the energy sector, which people say is jinxed, is another sore point. Though efforts are being made to address it. While South Africa, Egypt, Ghana and other Africa countries can boast of adequate and uninterrupted power supply, Nigeria can only generate between 2,500 to 3,000Mw of electricity as at today.

    As Nigeria celebrates her 53rd independence anniversary tomorrow, the question many will continue to ask is when will Nigeria truly live up to the appellation of being the ‘giant of Africa’?

  • My govt will be transparent, says Ngige

    My govt will be transparent, says Ngige

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige, has promised to ensure transparency and accountability, if voted into office on November 16.

    He also promised to fight the infrastructure battle in the state. The flag bearer said the local governments will become huge construction sites, astressing that more roads will be constyructed at the grassroots.

    Addresing supporters at his campaign office in Awka, the state capital, Ngige said that he will not disappoint the people, if given the mandate to rule.

    He said: “Our party has a rich antecedent. The works of our governors are visible. I have been the governor of the state before and I did not disappoint the people. This time again, I will not disappoint the good people of Amanbra State”.

    The politician is expected to formally flag-off his campaign on Saturday. The campaign director, George Moghalu, said that APC will run a scientific campaign and attract votes from the nooks and crannies of the state.

    Ngige stands tall among the various candidates competing for the State House. Apart from serving as the governor of the state for about two and half years, he is also a senator representing the Central District. The communities that savoured his developmental projects when he was the governor are rooting for him. The APC flagbearer has been endorsed by many groups, associations and societies on merit.

    APC has also put its house in order, ahead of the poll, more than other parties. It is not certain that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has settled the crisis generated by its choice of candidate. Also, the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is still battling with leadership crises.

    Moghalu said that Ngige is the best among a the candidates, pointing out that, having been tested, he can be trusted by the people.

    Exhuding confidence, the flagbearer told th crowd of suppporters that he will not betray them. he has not betrayed or failed them in the past.

    He, however, assured all that he will continue to spend his time, money and energy to provide the basic amenities that will make the change they desire come to fruition, even as he disclosed that he is regarded as the truly-trusted and tested choice of the Anambra people because he has not disappointed them at any point of his career, political or otherwise.

    On the double candidacy of the opposition, he said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) promised to stop one of the candidates, positing that his party, All Progressive Congress (APC) will take up the issue if INEC does not live up to its assurance.

  • Lagos APGA reiterates support for APC

    Lagos APGA reiterates support for APC

    The chieftains of the defunctAll Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Lagos State have rejected the leadership of Prince Adeshina Olayokun, saying they are now loyal to the interim All Progresives Congress (APC) leadership. In a statement by Mazi James Opara, and Chief James Alatishe and Alhaji Sheriff Ahmed, the members said that, while Olayokun belongs to the APGA led by Chief Victor Umeh, the APGA loyalists and supporters of Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha are now in the APC.

    Opara said: “APGA in APC political structure is not APGA Lagos, which you were the chairman. Be informed that, having left APGA Lagos as the chairman, you are no longer the chairman of any political party or structure”

  • Politicians to watch in 2014

    Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports on some of the top politicians to watch in 2014.

    Few hours away, a new year, 2014, will be born. For Nigeria, it promises to be a year of high political activities, the type some analysts say may never have been experienced before. Aside Ekiti and Osun states, where governorship elections will hold, other states will also experience high political intrigues as aspirants rub shoulders to secure party tickets for the general elections in 2015.

    The political theatre is further charged because of the crisis in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which recently led to an implosion, resulting in the birth of the new- PDP that later joined the opposition All Progressives Congress ( APC). With this intriguing development political permutations ahead 2015 have not only become more complicated, they have thrown up new politicians to watch both at the federal level, in both the presidential and National Assembly seats and in the states, both for the gubernatorial and House of Assembly seats.

    The game has just commenced. As politicians retire to their villages during this Yuletide, grassroots campaigns have started in ernest. Known and unknown aspirants are already trying their best to outdo each other in humanitarian services.

    Amongst the lot, it seems some of the most outstanding politicians that are likely to shape the country’s political landscape both at the federal level and in the states include:

    President Goodluck Jonathan:

    Following the crisis in the ruling PDP, alleged to have been fuelled primarily by Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s plans to vie for a second term, his decision to either succumb to the pressure not to vie or to go head and claim his party’s ticket will go a long way in determining the political texture in 2014 and 2015.

    Some of his opponents, who alleged that in the PDP arrangement, presidency should go back to the North, insist that Jonathan’s second term bid must be stopped.

    But the court has already declared that Jonathan has the right to contest. This, added to his body language and actions, according to his opponents, indicate a resolve to ignore criticism and contest. So, they are desperately waiting for him to make the long expected declaration. Some observers are of the view that until he declares his intentions, the political scene will remain hazy.

    For a long time, Jonathan has cleverly avoided making outright pronouncement on the sensitive issue, insisting he would wait until the right time. That right time must be this 2014 in preparation for the 2015 elections.

    So, the big questions that most observers of Nigerian politics want answered as we enter this new year, include: Will Jonathan give up the presidential ticket? If he does, will that decision save the PDP? If he picks the ticket, will his candidacy sell? Also, if he picks the PDP ticket, how will that choice impact on the party and the entire polity?

    Nigerians and other keen observers of Nigerian political development are anxious to hear the answers to these and other related questions. It is intriguing to note that most of these questions must be answered in 2014.

    Chief Olusegun Obasanjo:

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is another politician that is today being watched keenly both by his admirers and bitter critics. His recent face off with his political son, President Jonathan, occasioned by the open letter he wrote criticizing the president, had sparked off speculations that Obasanjo may be on his way out of the PDP.

    Although the former president has not said what he intends to do after the exchange of letters, observers agree that a lot depends on how the disagreement between him and Jonathan is resolved.

    So, as we enter 2014, all eyes are on Obasanjo. Will the former president dump the party in anger? If he does, what will be the implication on the party and the polity?

    Senator David Mark:

    Since the opposition suddenly gained majority vote in the House of Representatives, there has been fear within the Presidency and the leadership of the ruling People’s Democratic Party that the opposition may also rule over the senate. So, Senate President, David Mark, has been at the centre of the high wire politics as both camps seek the very soul of the National Assembly.

    The game will peak in 2014 ahead 2015 general elections. So, today, observers are focused on how Mark will lead the legislature in this critical time ahead the general elections.

    Hon. Aminu Tambuwal:

    The role the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, will play in the politics of 2014 and 2015 became more important recently as a result of the current make up of the lower house, where the opposition now controls majority vote.

    Sources say the ruling PDP is already panicky that the Speaker, known to enjoy reasonable support of the progressive elements, may soon defect to All Progressives Congress. The fear, amongst the PDP leadership, sources said, is that the Speaker, to retain his seat, may be persuaded to join the majority camp.

    Whatever happens, both the PDP and the opposition are understandably interested in the steps Tambuwal will take in 2014 as that will impact significantly on the politics of the National Assembly.

    Alhaji Bamanga Tukur

    In 2013, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, literally passed through fire as some top members of his party insisted he must be relieved of his plum job. Tukur, accused of being the cause of the crisis that has caused mortal damage on the party, fought desperately all through the year.

    As we enter 2014, informed observers are concerned over his fate. Whether the former governor of the old Gongola State will survive the political battle this year to lead the party during the 2015 general elections remains to be seen. The questions that may be resolved this year include his political weight and relevance. If PDP finally eases off Tukur barely a year to the elections, will that decision aid or serve as a minus to the party? The game is becoming more complex by the day.

    Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

    Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, is one of the top politicians whose dance steps are being watched both by the PDP and the opposition. Just recently, he was visited by the leaders of All Progressive Congress, who wooed him to join the party.

    Since then, the PDP leadership and the presidency, according to sources, have been monitoring the development with concern. The question they are asking today is, when will Atiku and his supporters make their decision public? When they leave PDP, what will be the effect at the national level and in Adamawa State in particular, where the governor, Murtala Nyako, has already dumped PDP and joined APC?

    Female politicians:

    Our investigation shows that most of the serving female senators may have to fight strong political battles to retain their jobs as there are alleged plans by their state governors or other powerful politicians to displace them.

    The female senators in the 7th Assembly include Nkechi Justina Nwaogu, Abia Central, Abia State. It is reported recently that Nwaogu’s seat may be taken away by Governor Theodore Orji

    So, the big questions are, can Nwaogu successfully fight for the seat if Orji is interested. If not, what are the options for this senator?

    Also Ayisha Jummai Alhassan, representing Taraba North Senatorial District of Taraba State, is another female politician to watch in 2014. The senator, who has been named as one of the foremost aspirants for the governorship seat of the state in 2015, is poised to play major role in the politics of the politically volatile state. How far she would go remains to be seen.

    The fortunes of other female senators are also of interest to the public. They include Helen Udoakaha Essuene, representing Eket zone in Akwa Ibom State,Chris Anyanwu, Imo East Senatorial Zone, and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) senator, who has been at the National Assembly, since the 6th National Assembly, (2007-2011).

    Others are Nenadi Esther Usman, Kaduna South, Oluremi Bola Tinubu, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District of Lagos State and Zainab Abdulkadir Kure, representing Niger South Senatorial District.

    As the lection year draws closer and powerful politicians and wealthy financiers are increasingly showing interest in the upper house, the fate of these female senators in particular and other serving senators in general are of special interest to keen observers.

    At the state levels, Ekiti and Osun will be centers of real political battle in 2014. Here, the governorship elections will serve as the test cases for the 2015 elections.

    Ekiti State:

    As the leading parties move to narrow down on acceptable candidates for this year’s governorship election, Governor Kayode Fayemi, who would most likely fly the APC flag, is the leading contestant for the seat. Reports said his solid performance may make it difficult to dislodge him easily.

    Opposition elements in PDP and other parties have however not given up. Amongst those strongly angling to contest the seat include former governor, Ayo Fayose, Chief Abiodun Aluko, former senator, Ayo Arise, Hon Wale Aribisala and Dr Obafemi Peter.

    But as the contest thickens in the early weeks of this year, the issue of zone may play a major role.

    For example, some notable aspirants from the South Senatorial District have been outspoken on the need to respect zoning in the party. Such aspirants include former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Abiodun Aluko; Prince Dayo Adeyeye and former Wema Bank Group Managing Director, Mr. Bisi Omoyeni.

    Osun State:

    The battle for the Oke-fia Government House in Osun State is equally intriguing. Here, the major candidate is Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who will most likely fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress.

    As in Ekiti, opposition political parties, have also not given up. Recently, many of the aspirants in the party lined behind Senator Iyiola Omisore, in a desperate bid to present a formidable challenge.

    But the political revolution that has taken place in the South-West state and the reports of solid transformation carried out by the Aregbesola administration are some of the major obstacles to plots against his re-election.

    Other states

    In the other states of the federation, apart from Anambra State, where election was held barely a month ago, preparations for governorship and House of Assembly elections would reach the peak. The picture of the big players will become clearer by the end of the first quarter of the year.

  • Jonathan vs Obasanjo: A tale of two letters

    Jonathan vs Obasanjo: A tale of two letters

    The recent exchange of open letters by President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo has redefined the tempo of Nigerian politics ahead 2015, reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

    With President Goodluck Jonathan and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under severe pressure as a result of the incessant defection of their members and political associates into the fast growing opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), the country appears set for what pundits say is evidently a tight race during the next general election in 2015.

    Perhaps as a fall-out of the current political scenario painted above, Nigerians appear to be getting some unusual personal attention from their leaders. Two leading political figures in the country have written open letters to express their opinions on the state of the country.

    The development is uncommon and pundits are saying the letters are a pointer to how the 2015 battle may play out, especially within the embattled ruling party. There are also insinuations that more of such open letters should be expected as the country continues on its political journey towards 2015.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo kicked off the letter-writing campaign with a missive accusing Nigeria’s number one citizen of performing below par and taking actions that are capable of destroying the country.

    Few days later, after what could best be described as a public outcry on the need for the presidency to clear the air on some of the issues raised by Obasanjo, President Goodluck Jonathan formally replied Obasanjo’s letter.

    The President said the former President’s letter is clearly a threat to national security, as it may deliberately or inadvertently set the stage for subversion. Jonathan added that it appeared to him that Obasanjo’s letter was designed to incite Nigerians from other geopolitical zones against him and also calculated to promote ethnic disharmony.

    Hours after the President’s response, Obasanjo, while declining further response to Jonathan’s reply to his December 2 letter, said he stands by the contents of his missive. Obasanjo who spoke to newsmen at his hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, through his media aide, Tunde Oladunjoye, said he would not reply the letter because he has chosen to maintain his serenity.

    If Obasanjo’s letter was unusual, pundits view Jonathan’s response as trail-blazing. According to Mazi Okwu Okwu, Secretary of the Board of Trustee (BoT) Ohaneze Youth Council, a development where Nigerian leaders deem it fit to inform the populace of going-ons in the government is a good one.

    “This is unusual and I am looking beyond two former allies fighting themselves. Rather, I am seeing a situation where our leaders are being forced by either circumstances or fate to expose the dirty underlining of how they have been shortchanging the people who elected them.

    “We must understand and appreciate the fact that this is unusual in the politics of this country and we must take the best possible advantage of the development. That is why we insisted that Jonathan must respond to the issues raised by Obasanjo.

    “Now that he has done that, we must, as a people, examine the two letters critically and peruse them thoroughly with a view to establishing the fact that our leaders have not been working in our interest. It is instructive to note that these letters are coming out now because these leaders are disagreeing among themselves.

    “What that means is that this is one time when they will come all out to say all the things they did together in secret. What we are reading in those letters are not all fabrications. What we are being told by these fighting elder statesmen are the things they have done against the people and we must take the letters serious,” Okwu said.

    Alhaji Balarabe Musa shares Okwu’s opinion on the controversial letters. According to the former Kaduna State governor, there is nothing wrong with the public exchanges between the two leaders.

    “Obasanjo has a moral responsibility to do what he did. And Jonathan is expected to respond to the allegations raised in the letter. I can only tell Obasanjo that he was as bad as Jonathan is when he too was the President but nobody should tell him he has no right to make the letter public.

    He may have done worse things while he was in office but that is no reason for him to keep quiet. He would have committed a worse crime by keeping quiet. The content of the letter is weighty and should be treated with more seriousness by the presidency,” Musa said.

    But there are also those who feel the exchange of letters might not be of good omen to the country, especially with the 2015 election fast approaching. One of such persons is frontline lawyer and coordinator of “Do it Right Nigeria”, Kanmi Aluko.

    The legal practitioner faulted the two leaders for “fighting on the pages of newspapers like kids.” He accused the duo of disagreeing over how to share the loot they amassed from milking Nigerians dry.

    “Sincerely, this is not a good omen in any way. I wonder how anybody can see anything good in two men, trusted with the sovereignty of this country at one time or the order, exposing themselves like kids. It shows the caliber of people we allowed to lead us.

    “If Obasanjo and Jonathan cannot disagree without spilling the bin in the manner they’ve being doing, it simply means that if these men have reasons to be dissatisfied with Nigeria as a nation, our national secrets are not safe with them. These are the dangers inherent in what they are doing. We must not rejoice over this shenanigan of a show,” he argued.

    Also, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chieff Richard Akinjide, is of the opinion that the exchange between the two leaders should have been confidential.

    “Obasanjo was wrong to have gone public with his letter. The content of such a correspondence should have been confidentially exchanged. However, we cannot blame Jonathan for going public with his own letter because Obasanjo who wrote the first one, went public. So, for balance, Jonathan had to make his own public too,” the second republic politician said.

    In his own 18-page letter, dated December 2nd, 2013, and titled, “Before it is too late,” Obasanjo said, “Nigeria is bleeding and the hemorrhage must be stopped.”

    In the letter, Obasanjo noted that Jonathan failed to deliver on his promises to the Nigerian people, to stem corruption, promote national unity and strengthen national security.

    According to the former head of state, Jonathan, who is a member of the PDP like Obasanjo himself, is working against the Nigerian people that brought him to power, rather than taking steps to advance Nigeria’s interest and lifting the standards of living of Nigerians.

    He added that Jonathan has been pursuing selfish personal and political interests based on advice he receives from “self-centred aides”.

    On the President’s rumoured 2nd term agenda, Obasanjo disclosed that Jonathan had told him before the 2011 election that he would not seek a second term but the president’s refusal to keep that promise cast him as a man without honour, Obasanjo said.

    Although the President is yet to declare his intentions to run in the 2015 elections, such a move would be “fatally morally flawed” for Jonathan, according to Obasanjo.

    Unlike Obasanjo’s letter, which was dated December 2 but leaked to the press on December 11, Jonathan’s letter was made available to journalists by his (Jonathan) Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati in Abuja.

    In the letter titled “Re: Before It is too Late,” Jonathan said the former President’s letter was also designed to instigate members of the PDP against him. He also revealed that he had already directed security agencies and the National Human Rights Commission to investigate Obasanjo’s allegations and make their findings public.

    While explaining the efforts so far made by his administration to address the issue of insecurity in parts of the country, the President recalled that the seeds of the present precarious situation were sown under previous administrations. He claimed that those who have continued to downplay his administration’s efforts at restoring peace, including Obasanjo, seemed to have forgotten the depth in which the nation had fallen into before now.

    While it is obvious that Nigerians are yet to see the last of the leaders’ naked dance, it remains unclear if the current exchange is about immediate political survival alone or whether there is more to it.