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Category: Politics

2015: Can Yero weather the storm?

Many groups and associations have endorsed Kaduna Governor Mukthar Yero for the 2015 election. TONY AKOWE writes on the scramble for power in the Northwest state.

The first group to endorse Kaduna State Governor Mukthar Yero for the 2015 election was the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON). At a news conference in Kaduna, the state capital, its chairman, Mr Danjuma Akuso,said that the members were impressed by the performance of the governor.

Hailing Yero for endowing his office with honour and integrity, he said his leadership style is worthy of emulation. Akuro said that, since the governor succeeded the late Governor Patrick Dakowa in December last year, he has not starved the local government of funds, adding that the council allocations are not deducted.

Akuso explained the significance of the endorsement. He said that, as grassroots politicians, the chairmen, councillors and administrators of the 46 Development Areas are the gateway to the nooks and crannies, adding that no indigene can become the governor without their support. Akuso also dismissed the division in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a ruse, saying that there is no crack.

Following the endorsement by the council chairmen, individuals, groups and associations have contributed to the gale of endorsement.

Yero became governor, following the death of Yakowa in a helicopter crash. Before he passed on, he was warming up for a second term. There was a struggle between Christians and Muslims over political control in the state. Thus, for religious balancing, Muslim governors always pair with Christian deputies and vice versa. Yakowa’s sudden death was painful to the Christians. When Yero succeeded him, he appointed a Christian as his deputy, reminiscent of his appointment by the deceased as deputy, following the elevation of former Governor Namidi Sambo to the Vice Presidency.

In the PDP, the main issue in Kaduna State is the governorship. It is the first battle of note that Yero will fight. His supporters have kicked off a subtle campaign for continuity. However, the question on the lips of many people is whether Yero, a strong loyalist of Vice President Mohammed Sambo, has what it takes to win the election. Alhough the governor is trying to build political structures at the moment, many believe that he cannot separate himself from his boss, the Vice President, who brought him to political lime light. The ability of Yero to manage the political camps within the PDP will, no doubt, be a litmus test for him. The greatest challenge is whether he can secure the ticket, despite his power of incumbency.

Yero, according to sources, is interested in keeping his job, although he has kept sealed lip on his ambition.

The power equation in the state tends to favour power shift to the Kaduna North Senatorial District. But the leadership of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union believes that a politician from the area should succeed Yero because, in its view, Yakowa did not complete his term.

But sources said that, at the moment, the Southern Kaduna people have not groomed anybody to take over that responsibility. This has energised Yero, who is working underground to garner support. Although there is no love lost between the Vice President, who is Yero’s mentor and political godfather, and the former governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, political watchers believe that Makarfi still has a great role to play in who emerges as the governor, especially on the platform of the PDP. However, since assuming office, Yero has been hobnobbing with Makarfi. He has attended virtually all functions organised by the former governor or his associates. Yero was present at the senator’s country home in Makarfi town, when he gave out poverty alleviation materials to the people. He was also at his 57th birthday dinner in Kaduna. It is believed that such moves are aimed at courting the friendship of the former governor. But whether Makarfi will give him his support is yet to be seen.

Makarfi and his supporters are believed to be preparing a member of the House of Representatives from Makarfi/Kudan Constituency, Hon. Isa Ashiru, for the job. The former governor has a strong followership within the PDP across the state. He is respected in the Southern Kaduna, where the party often draw majority of its votes during the general elections. The recent birthday dinner organised for the former governor by his political associates is believed to be one of the ways to announce that they are prepared to unseat Yero in 2015. If Yero fails to make it to the Government House in 2015, he may have been a victim of power play between the senator and the Vice President. Although the two men have always said that their relationship is cordial, it is an open secret that they are not the best of friends and they have always worked against one another. Some people have argued that, if Yero wants to continue in the office, he should build a solid structure. Some groups have started to campaign for the governor’s election. One of them is the Kaduna PDP Youth Solidarity Forum. Another one is Yero/Bajoga Advancement Vanguard. Both are led by Southern Kaduna youths.

The Coordinator of Yero/Bajoga Advancement Vanguard, Mr Mordecai Ibrahim, urged the people to rally round the governor to move the state forward. He said: “We know that power actually belongs to God Almighty and He gives it to whosoever He pleases. He has given it to Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero. We should rally behind him to move our dear state forward. We wish to make the point very clear that, in all the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, there is no crisis whatsoever within the ranks of our great party, the PDP.

“We are a strong, united and indivisible political party, enjoying a harmonious relationship. The Peoples’ Democratic Party remains the party to beat in Kaduna State and, come 2015, members in all the three senatorial zones will work hard to deliver in all the elections.”

The Chairman of the Kaduna PDP Youth Solidarity Forum, Mr Danjuma Seriki, said the youths will support Yero because he represents a generational shift in governance.

He said: “We are giving Yero total support for the 2015 election and we are calling on all the youths in the state to do same. As a young man, Yero represents a generational shift in governance in the state. He came into office at a time when so many projects were initiated by the Yakowa government and he decided that he must continue with these projects and did not abandon any of them.

“He has been implementing the budget he inherited religiously; he is accessible to the youths, humble and attends all events organised by the youths. He is focused and determined to meet the yearning of the people of Kaduna State. We will do everything possible to ensure that he emerge as the governor of the state”.

There are indications that other interest groups may raise more candidates to challenge the governor. Although not much is known about those willing to contest the governorship, speculations are rife that former Secretary to Government Mr Samaila Abdullahi Yakawada is warming up for the contest. Yakawada is a grassroots operator from Giwa local government, Kaduna Central Senatorial District, where the Vice President comes from. But this cannot be immediately confirmed as he has not made any move. His closeness to the Southern Kaduna people could be a plus for him, if he eventually decides to run for the seat. Yakawada contested the seat with the Vice President in 2007, but lost at the first round of ballot. He has not been in the good books of the Kaduna State Government. As the Secretary to Government under Yakowa, he was perceived as the defacto governor, a situation that did not go down well with Yero, who was the deputy governor. He was among the first sets of people to be fired by Yero when he became the governor

Many issues will shape the 2015 poll. The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has always been a strong opposition to the PDP in the state. The merger of the main opposition parties and the eventual emergence of the All Progressive Congress (APC)will pose serious threat to Yero’s ambition. There are fears in the political circle that those who may be denied the opportunity to contest the governorship election in the PDP may team up with the APC to unseat Yero and the PDP. The CPC, which is part of the APC, has a strong influence in the state, especially in the northern part. Political watchers are of the view that the governorship ticket may be zoned to the southern part of the state. But others argue that doing that will be counter-productive for them as the sentiments that existed during the Yakowa election does not exist any longer.

A strong southern Kaduna politician said that politicians from the northern part of the state are saying that, if the APC gives a southern Kaduna man its ticket, the northern part will use the same sentiment with which Yakowa came into office to get the required one third from the area to produce the governor.

Apart from the opposition and the Makarfi group, which Yero may have to contend with, there are other contending forces, whose ambition may not be too clear for now.

Many believe that Suleiman Hukunyi is still a force to reckon with. His group has a strong link with the Makarfi group. There is also the Idris Mikati group, which has worked in many rural communities in the past. Although Mikati has contested the governorship on two occasions without success, it is not yet known whether he still has the ambition. Mikati had a close working relationship with the late Yakowa.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the politics of who becomes governor in Kaduna in 2015 will be very interesting. Many are looking forward to the battle to take over Kaduna by the APC. The APC is yet to make its presence felt in the state. But, if it is not resolved on time, the division in the PDP may weaken the platform, ahead of 2015 and create the opportunity for the APC to rule the state.

November 19, 2013
Anambra poll: Bungled by INEC

Political leaders, candidates and voters in the Anambra State governorship elections have tales of woe to tell about the conduct of the exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The admission of failure by its Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has also fuelled the fear that the umpire may repeat the mistakes in future elections, reports Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU and JOSEPH JIBUEZE.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had one year to prepare for the Anambra State governorship election. Following the Ondo State governorship poll, its Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said that the agency would focus on the next electoral challenge and ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. However, not only were the mistakes repeated, the INEC emerged last weekend as the greatest obstacle to free and fair elections in the country.

The failure of the commission to hold a hitch-free poll has heightened the fear that future elections may also be jeopardised by the unpatriotic elements in the agency.

In many polling units, the ballot box was assaulted. The late arrival of polling materials, shortage of electoral manpower, absence of polling officers and disputed voters’ registers marred the poll. Where there were voting sheets, the result sheets were absent.

On Saturday, the election was inconclusive. Many polling areas had been excluded by the electoral officers without explanation In Obosi, Idemili Council, Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka, the state capital.. Many people returned home without exercising their franchise. Those who waited behind to protest the absence of their names on the register still forfeited their right to vote.

Alarmed at the glaring incompetence of the electoral officers, Jega admitted that a failed election was conducted by his men. He immediately handed over the Polling Officer in charge of Idemili Council to the police for interrogation.

The candidates and leaders of the political parties were embarrassed. Little did they think that the decision of the umpire to “clean up” the voter’s register will result into the massive disenfranchisement of voters.

“INEC has moved a step forward and several steps backward”, complained the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Chris Ngige. “We have reasons to believe that polling materials were not supplied deliberately to places considered as my areas of strength. In Alor, Nnewi and Obosi, the preparation was poor. Voting did not take place in many places”, added the senator, who accused INEC of partiality and incompetence.

His Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) counterpart, Chief Godwin Ezeemo, frowned at the late arrival of materials in some parts of the state. He said the materials did not get to Umuchu, Aguta Council, in time, although many people had been accredited around 11 am. Also, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah of Labour Party (LP) warned that the people may lose faith in the commission, judging by the flawed exercise.

To for Tony Nwoye, the PDP candidate, it was a different ball game. He had complained to reporters in the morning about the late arrival of materials, but when the register was opened, he got the shock of his life. His name was not found. Nwoye alleged that the delay was a ploy by the opposition to disenfranchise voters in his area.

“My finding is that it is a desperate move by my opposition to win the election. I gathered that materials arrived other polling booths as early as 6.30 a.m., but as you can see, no material has arrived my polling booth for inexplicable reasons. I have called the federal commissioner in charge of the Southeast to make my complaints known to him and he expressed shock. For materials that moved since last night to local government areas not to have reached polling booths by this time, is an attempt to provoke the youth and disenfranchise them,” he said.

However, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Chief Willie Obiano, was not perturbed. He gave INEC a pass mark, saying :”So far, INEC is doing well.”

Midway into the exercise, the APC leadershipit would not accept the results of the election, unless there is voting in all local governments areas, especially in Idemili North, Idemili South and Akwa South. Its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Layiwola Mohammed, chided INEC for “apparently-contrived logistics nightmare”. The party called for the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukogu.

In Idemili Local Government, there are 180,000 voters. But the materials meant for the area was allegedly hijacked by unidentified persons. Mohammed complained that the materials meant for the strongholds of APGA and PDP were protected. The APC also expressed dismay at the fact that the voter registers for Idemili South, where Ngige comes from, did not contain the names of voters in the local government, despite the assurances of the INEC Chairman.

‘’Before the election, political parties were given voter’s registers that largely contained the names of most voters. However, about four days to the election, Jega said at an interactive stakeholder’s forum that there were problems with the registers, which would be rectified before the election. However, when the supposedly-corrected registers were brought back, most of the authentic names in them have disappeared without explanation,’’ Mohammed fumed.

In the opinion of the APC lead-

ers, Onukogu was very partial

and incompetent. The commission under him also exhibited unprofessional conduct in the 2011 elections, the party said.

‘’In 2011, when Prof. Onukogu conducted the general elections in the state, he was very partial. During the House of Assembly polls in Onitsha South 11 and Idemili South 11, he declared the results of both inconclusive, only for him to announce the results at 12 midnight.

“After we challenged the results in court and a rerun was ordered, we won both constituencies. We subsequently petitioned INEC and the Commission assured us that the same person will not be allowed to conduct subsequent election. Alas, he was left in place to do another damage to INEC as an institution through his glaring incompetence and partiality, which have seriously affected the credibility of this governorship election,’’ Mohammed added.

Former Minister of Information Prof. Dora Akunyili said in Agulu, where she was accredited that there were few INEC officials. She called for the review of the electoral timeframe. “I have been accredited and I am waiting for the 12.30pm time to be counted and vote. But I must say that the timeframe is not very helpful as many voters may not be able to make it back by then. We must not disenfranchise anybody. If you look at this place now, this is past 12 noon and only one INEC official is here. Look at the long queue. When will they all be accredited and when will they vote?” she queried.

At about 4.30 p.m, there were signs that the poll had failed. The INEC Office, Awka, which was the final collation centre, was devoid of activities. No result had come from any local government. Instead, stakeholders inundated the office with various complaints. Some people stormed the office, complaining that election had not started in three polling centres in Ogidi – Ilo Ngwodo Ward 1, Central School Akpakaogwe, and Eke Ngweje Ward 1. Also, prospective voters allegedly attacked INEC Electoral Officers for failing to present the result sheet to them before beginning accreditation. At Afor Agulu Square, Awka South, reputed to be the largest ward in Anambra, the exercise became rowdy during the counting of votes. Voters were anxious and eager to know the result.

At Central School 1, Akpakaogwe, in Ogidi, Idemili North, an election officer said she was beaten up by the youths at the polling station. “They requested for the result sheet and I told them we don’t have it yet. They insisted they must see it and began to hit me. They were dragging me, took the ballot paper, and squeezed the register,” said the NYSC member.

In some areas, policemen pre-

tended as if nothing was happen-

ing when some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains stormed polling units to give money to prospective voters in Akaboukwu Ward 2, Uruagu Nnewi, and Edoji, Uruagu Nnewi.

In the afternoon, there was uproar in Awka among the election observers. Many of them had been rounded up by the poloce and detained. But four hours later, INEC’s Director of Monitoring, Bala Ibrahim Shittu, said that they had been released.

A voter, Chigbundu Ositadinma, complained that INEC did not prepare for the challenge beyond the rhetoric on the pages of news papers. “We registered to vote and now, we cannot vote. Why is our name not on the register? This is not an election,” he said.

According to observers, less than 50 per cent of the registered voters voted. Asked if they tried to confirm their names when the register was published before the election, some of the affected would-be voters said they did not know when the list was published. Others said that the list was not pasted.

It was rowdy across the state. Voices were raised. “They won’t tell us anything. We are stranded here,” said another would-be voter Felix Udoji. “I have been here since 9 a.m,” he said. The time was about 2 p.m.

“We were told that INEC officials were are bringing another list containing more names, and that our names would be there, but up till now nothing has happened.

“People have even started going home due to tiredness,” Udigi added.

As at 1.30pm when this reporter left the polling unit, voting was yet to begin.

There were similar tales in several other poling units. A voter, Uchenna Nwaneri, told our reporter: “In my unit, only names from ‘A’ to ‘N’ were found in the list. But ‘O’ to ‘Z’ didn’t come in the register. We made enquiries and complained, and there was no response.

“It’s really quite worrisome because they have disenfranchised many people actually. It looks like something that is intentional, because we used the same register to vote in the 2011 presidential election in the same polling booth.

“The names were placed before the election, but have all been torn ou,” Nwaneri said.

There were early signs that there would be hitches. Accreditation did not begin at various polling units on time because voting materials arrived late. The exercise, which ought to begin by 8am, did not begin in several places as at 11am.

At a voting unit in Ogbankwa, Awka South Local Government Area, accreditation began at about 10.am. There was confusion over a voting centre in Nziko in Oyi Local Government Area as two major polling units were urgently relocated for security reasons.

Voters were said to have come out for accreditation but did not meet any official in the units said to be located in a forest. It was learnt that the centre was eventually moved near a school.

Presiding Officers were forced to extend the time allotted for accreditation of voters.

In most voting units in Aguata Local Government, voters complained of similar challenges. In a voting centre at the Civic Centre in Umuchu Ward 1, accreditation was said to have started a few minutes to 11am. Ezeemo said the presiding officer in Civic Centre Unit 001 asked him to return by 2.30pm when voting will start.

“INEC officials told me voting will start by 2.30pm because materials arrived late. The Presiding Officer said there were delays. Reports I have received from other places also show that materials arrived late in various centres,” he said.

In Ihiala Local Government Area, electoral officers encountered logistics problems caused by the reposting of some ad-hoc staff, caused by the withdrawal of some of the staff over allowance issues.

The candidate of the PDP, Mr. Tony Nwoye, could not vote at the Offia Nta Nsugbe Ward 1 unit 008 because his name was not on the voter register.

“We couldn’t even find the names of my father, my mother, my uncle and wife on the register. When I first came at 10am this morning, the INEC officials told me they would trace the anomaly and rectify it,” he said.

Nwoye returned to the polling unit at 3:30pm, yet his name was found. Out of the 500 people who registered in the unit, only 50 found theirs.

Electoral materials were not enough in most of the polling units in the stronghold of the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Ngige.

Where there were materials, they were incomplete. In some places, result sheets were not included among materials distributed.

Ngige lamented that the attempt was aimed at reducing the votes in his stronghold, and said he felt betrayed by INEC, which had promised during the stakeholders meeting to deliver a credible election.

There were no result sheets

in most of the polling units

visited in Alor and Uke in Idemili South.

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were used as presiding officers in Idemili North LGA, which is Ngige’s strong base, were said to have embarked on strike in the early hours of the day because they allegedly were not paid their allowances.

At Igbo-Ukwu in Aguata Local Government Area, a former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwumeka Ezeife, prayed that future elections in the state would be better.

“With the proposed national dialogue, I am very confident that things would work for the better and the next election in Anambra State would be devoid of these irregularities,’ he said.

Following the hiccups, INEC rescheduled election in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government area. But few people turned out to vote yesterday. It was unlike Saturday when polling units were filled with people. Several units had few people voting.

Ngige was at the INEC headquarters yesterday to submit a protest letter, in which the APC demanded fresh elections in four local government areas and rejected the rescheduled election.

He told reporters, who kept vigil at the INEC office for early collated results to come in, that there was a calculated attempt to alter the people’s will.

“As a political party and as a candidate, the idea of conducting election on a Sunday is against the principles and beliefs of members of our party. Sunday is a holy day, a day of rest for Christians, and we don’t want to impinge on the sensibilities of our supporters.

“A lot of them called us since that announcement was made on radio, so we came to intimate the commission that even members of the clergy who would have even assisted us with announcing the rescheduling have stoutly refused to do so, and told us that that their masses and church services start from 6-7 a.m and that the last ones end about 2-2.30 p.m. That’s about the time you do accreditation and do the voting,” Ngige said.

INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega, speaking on AIT, said the Electoral Act did not say that election cannot hold on a Sunday.

“The law did not stop the holding of an election on any particular day. Where the exigencies require, and when you get the consent of the community, then it can be done,” Jega said.

The INEC Chairman attributed the challenges encountered in Idemili to an act of sabotage by its official, who he said had been handed over to the police. He said further investigation would be conducted.

On the missing names in the registers, Jega said they were those who did not update their data during the last verification exercise.

The missing names were those on ‘addendum lists’ which the commission is trying to do away with, Jega said.

November 18, 2013
‘It’s a failed exercise’

In this interim report, the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), which monitored the Anambra State governorship election, highlights the irregularities in the poll and what the electoral commission can do to avert the mistakes in the future.

Anambra State governorship election was greeted with much anticipation and hope because both INEC and citizens see it as a litmus test for 2015 general elections. While we must commend the people of Anambra for having conducted themselves in a peaceful manner so far, reports from our observers deployed across the state shows critical areas the election has fallen short of people’s expectations. Some of the irregularities observed in some local governments include ballot snatching, massive thump printing, lateness of materials to polling units, absence of INEC officials and materials at some polling units, inadequate logistic provision for security officers deployed from other states, hostile polling officers to observers, complicity of the security agents in electoral fraud, display of campaign posters and a host of other irregularities were observed in some (sensitive) local governments in the state.

CODER observed that election materials did not arrive on time in many polling units specifically in Idemili North, South and Ihiala local government. In Nnokwa Ward, Idemili South LGA, names starting with O-Z were missing from voters register. As at 1pm, no INEC officials or materials were seen in Nkpor 4, Idemili North LGA. As a result of late arrivals of voting materials, accreditation could not start on time in Idemili South, Idemili North and Ogbaru LGAs. Although accreditation and voting periods were extended in some of these polling units, INEC needs to do more to enhance people’s confidence in the polls.

Furthermore, CODER observers report that many polling officers in Awka south were hostile and seem not to possess the knowledge of the role of observers in an election. Information that would help observers fill their checklists were denied them and security officials were used to intimidate and harass duly accredited observers. We therefore seize this opportunity to call on INEC to provide adequate training for its polling officers on the complimentary role observers plays in an election before deploying them to the field.

From the foregoing, to increase the credibility of the polls in this election in fairness to all candidates, it is important that INEC conducts a rerun election in four local governments where massive irregularities and electoral fraud were recorded as against the three wards in Idemili North comprising only 65 polling units. The rationale for this call is to address the palpable notion that there was a deliberate attempt to subvert people’s choice and ensure a particular candidate whose supporters and strong base are in these LGAs does not win in these areas. The second reason is that with the combined voting population of these LGAs at over 300,000, it becomes imperative for INEC to show the election itself as an unbiased umpire by adhering to the wishes of the people to have rerun in these three LGAs.

Some of the specific electoral malpractices and fraud observed in these local governments are:

· Most fraud committed in the election happened in Idemili North and South local government which happens to be the support base of one of the candidates. There appears to be a deliberate attempt to subvert people’s mandate in these areas

· Some wards did not see any INEC officials nor voting materials two hours after voting ought to have commenced

· At Ogidi Ward 2, polling unit 007/008, Idemili North, people refused to vote due to absence of result booklet. At PU 007, one Obiora Okonkwo came in company of policemen with vehicle number PF 2317 SPY. He asked one Bassey Effiong (Force No. 375774) to force people to vote but they were resisted

· It was alleged that APGA and PDP were offering 10,000 naira to each polling officers and non credible observers to allow them operate freely in Nteje ward, PU 004, Ama Okpo and Orikabi

· No election materials and no result sheets at Nbakwu

· Election materials diverted at Ethel Obiakor Estate, Awka South

· Insufficient polling officers noticed in Nnewi LGA, Assistant Polling officers were introduced to fill the shortfall without prior training.

· No result booklet brought to Ogidi ward 2, polling units 007/008, Idemili North LGA.

· Police made vulnerable to electoral fraud due to lack of logistics for their accommodation and feeding.

We therefore join our voices with other Nigerians to call on INEC not to declare any results relating to the election until a rerun election is conducted in the local governments where many citizens were disenfranchised from exercising their constitutional rights rather than the few polling units it plans to repeat the exercise. CODER also appeals to INEC and security agencies not to only document but put to use lessons gleaned from this election to improve the conduct of future ones’.

November 18, 2013
Metuh: Poll was peaceful

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday expressed satisfaction with the Anambra State governorship poll, saying that it was peaceful. The party also President Goodluck Jonathan for providing adequate security and an enabling environment for credible, free and fair election, in spite of the perceived hitches.

The National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said in a statement that the party is also satisfied with the performance of its candidate, Comrade Tony Nwoye, at the poll.

He said: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hereby commends President Goodluck Jonathan for providing adequate security and the enabling environment for the conduct of credible, free and fair governorship election in Anambra State last Saturday in spite of any perceived hitch(es)

“In the same vein we commend the entire people of Anambra State and all stakeholders, who played key roles in ensuring peaceful and orderly conduct of the process.

“While we now await the official result, we wish to express our satisfaction that the election was conducted without disturbances, despite the massive importation of political thugs to introduce violence, disrupt and rig the poll.

“We also commend the candidate of our great party, Comrade Tony Nwoye for his resilience, grass root appeal and credible outing which brought him to the forefront in the race despite having only two weeks to campaign.

“While we charge all our members to continue to remain calm and focused, we wish to state that our final position on the election will be made known when the overall result is declared by the INEC.”

November 18, 2013
Kaduna and the quest for peace

The 4th Conference of the Forum of Cities in Transition holds recently in Kaduna, with the aim of finding solution to the conflicts that have threatened the state and the country at large, reports Tony Akowe in Kaduna

Dialogue remains the most potent tranquiliser that heals human heart from anger and hate. When two conflicting groups agree to sit on a round table, the anger on their mind becomes absolutely solemn and gradually fizzles out with every round of meetings”. With the above statement, Governor Mukthar Ramalan Yero sets the agenda for the 4th conference of the Forum of Cities in Transition. The idea of hosting the conference in Kaduna was to afford the state and indeed Nigerians the opportunity of sharing experiences with other countries and cities that have undergone conflict.

For several years, Kaduna metropolis and indeed the entire Kaduna State has had to grapple with ethnic and religious conflict that threatened to ground the state to a halt. These conflicts have no doubt divided Kaduna metropolis into two with the Muslims dominating the northern part of the metropolis while Christians dominate the southern part. Even though there are still areas within the metropolis where you have a mixture of the two religions, there is no doubt that the people of such communities are living in what could be regarded as peace of the grave yard.

The state governor, Mukthar Ramalan Yero, has on several occasions voiced out his frustration at such development, saying that it does not augur well for development of the state for the metropolis to be allowed to be so divided. The governor harped on this at one of the syndicate sessions which he personally attended to press home the efforts of the state government to ensure that the people live in peace and put behind them, those things that create such conflicts.

The Director of the Forum of Cities in Transition, Prof. Padraig O’Malley, said the Forum was formed to bring together cities across the world that has gone through series of conflict which has negatively affected their development. He said that 92 international delegates from other continents and 12 African countries are expected to attend the conference which will take place at the Musa Yar’adua Indoor Sport hall, in Kaduna.

Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who was the guest speaker at the opening ceremony of the conference, was not happy that despite government efforts, ethno-religious and sectarian crisis has continued to polarise Kaduna and other major cities across the country thereby undermining socio-economic and political development of the nation. The former Nigerian leader argued that the social strand which binds the diverse people of the country together has been put under severe stress by series of ethno-religious and sectarian crisis, but was convinced that the overwhelming attendance at the conference was not only a testimony of government initiative for a durable peace, but an affirmation of our collective resolve to install unity in diversity for which we are known.

In his words, “It is my fervent hope that this conference will ensure comprehensive sharing of ideas and experiences such that those cities in transition will find their way to a better future where reconciliation will further be enrooted for succeeding generations. Kaduna is no doubt one of the most complex and diverse places in the country with different ethnic and linguistic groups, sharing a broad spectrum of religious affiliations and tendencies.

The management of these complexities and their diversities has for the greater part of history provided a dynamic framework for the peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians. In the last few years, the social strand which bind the diverse people together has been put under severe stress by series of ethno-religious and sectarian crisis. These crises has polarised Kaduna city as well as other cities in the country and has undermined economic development in the country. I have no doubt that this conference will mark a turning point in the efforts of government to ensure that these cities are united from its polarity along sectional, cultural, ethnic and religious lines”.

He noted that “it is therefore heart-warming to realise that the Kaduna conference is aimed at establishing Kaduna as the hub for peace and reconciliation not only for Kaduna and northern cities in conflict, but for the nation at large. In order to actualise this noble objective, I want to impress on the organisers of the conference to set up a follow-up committee at the end of the conference to ensure sustainability of the commitment to be made by participants geared towards sustainable reconciliation where people of vast ethnic and religious affiliations in this country can live together in harmony. This, will among other benefits inculcate us with the international community with investment opportunities. We must get back to those times when out tribe and religion were instrument of unity and peaceful coexistence. Therefore, this conference should be seen as a clarion call for us to rise up and shoulder the task of ensuring the much desired peace in Kaduna and the country in general. I therefore appeal to our communities to continue to live in peace with one another as there can be no meaningful development without peace”

Governor Yero, on his part, said the state government was determined to address causative factors responsible for conflicts in the state, pledging his personal commitment to fairness, equity in the administration of the state, adding that his government was committed to fairness and equity and regards all residents of the state as partners in the Kaduna project. He said “as you are already aware, Kaduna State is a potpourri of Nigeria’s huge diverse ethnic, religious and cultural groups. The state is a mini Nigeria with representation from virtually all the over 250 ethnic groups and the two main faiths in the country. Due to its strategic location at the central part of the country, Kaduna has become home to citizens with diverse backgrounds. For decades, the various groups- Muslims, Christians and millions of people speaking various dialects, lived side by side peacefully and in harmony. That was the sweet memory of Kaduna city, until recent struggle for both political and economic space compounded by mundane ethnic jingoism, lead to series of wanton destruction of lives and property. Aggression during crises in the city was based on dangerous ethno-religious profiling trends, where minority groups are targeted for attacks simply by reason of their faiths or mother tongue. This unfortunate situation has visibly divided the city as citizens now reside in selected locations according to the deity they worship or the language they speak. This is an unacceptable descend to an abyss of human retrogression, which our administration is committed to reverse. I believe that while plurality of ethnic and religious groups could lead to conflict, such misunderstandings must be managed through sustained dialogue and acceptable civil mechanism. Diversity and pluralism are known to be the basis of cosmopolitan and complex societies such as ours. It is only where ethnicity and religion are made means of narrowing people’s participation in politics, economic, and social spheres that crisis of monumental proportions become manifest”.

A worried Yero, who said that the government was determined to ensure that everyone in the state live in peace with one another, added, “to address the numerous causative factors of conflict in multi-ethnic, multi-religious society such as ours, this administration has remained firm in ensuring that the people of Kaduna State are availed with equal opportunities in all spheres of human endeavors. I am personally committed to leading the diverse people of the state with absolute fairness and equity. To us, all sections of the state are equal partners and none shall be given more or less of its fair share. This administration has prudently managed the resources accruable to the state. We have strived to cut down on wastage and to seal all loopholes that may lead to corrupt diversion of public funds. This has since gained us a positive rating from the notable Fitch Rating Agency, which rated the economic outlook of Kaduna State as B+ with bright prospects. Already, we have started benefitting from the impact of this rating, with influx of foreign investors into the state, expressing their willingness to invest in various sectors of our economy. We have remained focused in implementing deliberate policies aimed at reducing poverty and high rate of unemployment among youths and women in the entire state. To curb youth restiveness in our communities, the state government has commenced training in various skills for over 6000 youths selected from all the 23 Local Government Areas.

” Furthermore, in our bid to reunite the people of the state, this administration has already provided platforms for the diverse people to regularly engage in dialogue. We have initiated Peace and Security forums where people from diverse backgrounds meet to ventilate all shades of opinion on matters affecting the state and in the end their resolutions are collated and documented for government use. Presently, the peace and security meetings are being held in virtually all communities in Kaduna State. Some communities have held successful sessions that culminate in signing of peace agreements, where people of diverse backgrounds that are living together, agreed to unite against future breakdown of law and order in their area. These are heartwarming developments and we are working hard to ensure that we reintegrate our people, so as to reenact the past, when we all lived together as one, irrespective of tribe or creed”.

Interestingly, the conference drew participants from 16 countries across the globe which include four African countries and some cities in Nigeria. Although there was no official communuique at the end of the conference, The Nation can reveal that the delegates made specific commitment to ensuring the maintenance of peace in the countries and cities while a Nigeria Forum for Cities in Transition was formed.

Yahaya Aminu, the governor’s Chief of Staff who was chairman of the Local Organising Committee said that in the recent past, there had been disagreement and conflict which often degenerate violence, which has left some scars and negative impact on Kaduna State, pointing out that this scar has left the communities in the state divided, especially within Kaduna metropolis with certain areas being inhabited by followers of particular religion and tribes.”

Aminu said that what is needed in the state at this point in time is reintegration, trust, confidence and harmony of the various communities for the state to develop. He said further that Kaduna “is not the only city in the world that has this kind of experience. There are other cities that have similar experience, probably worse”. He said however that the state decided to host the conference because it was in line with the fundamental objective of the present administration. Aminu also said that the essence of the conference however is to make commitment by the participating cities and identify important values and activities that are of benefit to the people that ensure peace and to carry out activities that will promote peace in the cities.

November 17, 2013
‘Sylva’s political structure still intact, potent’

In this interview, Comrade Wilfred Frank Ogbotobo, a grassroots APC chieftain and one of the mobilising forces of opposition elements in Bayelsa State and some other South-South states, spoke on Sylva’s political structure and its survivalist strategies. Sam Egburonu reports

You have been an ardent proponent of a national dialogue to fashion a new Nigeria. Do you therefore support the national conference proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan?

Yes, I am of the conviction that we need to dialogue to refashion Nigeria. We need a rebirth to a new Nigeria. Life is about decision, fashioning new ways. Dialogue is urgently necessary for the component nationalities of this country to decide whether, or, how we can live together and where necessary work out rules to guard the final outcome. I believe that a genuine conference will definitely chart a way forward for our great country. Having said that, I must also add that I personally do not think the Jonathan presidency can organise and supervise any meaningful conference in Nigeria, certainly not the type that we need in order to fashion a new Nigeria of the 21st century. I do not want to go too deep because my leader, the Crown Eagle of Nigerian politics, Bola Tinubu, has spoken all.

The Jonathan presidency is a monumental failure and disappointment to Nigeria.

Surely, we cannot afford to entrust such a sensitive and fundamental task, arguably the last card on the threshold of our survival or failure as a nation, to the hands of a presidency so confused and psychologically battered as to recognize 16 as greater than 19 and, welcome 5 as majority to 27 in an assembly of 32. My humble opinion is that such a dialogue should be preceded by a dialogue of ethnic nationalities, for instance, the Itsekiris, Urhobos and Ijaws need separate dialogues with each other; the Nembe and Kalabari need a dialogue; the Okrika, Ikwere, and Ogoni need dialogue, same goes for the Ilajes and Arogbo Ijaws before proceeding to the national dialogue.

Considering the romance between your party, the APC and the New PDP at the national level, are you also having a good rapport at the state level and can you give us an insight into the strength of the New PDP in Bayelsa State?

Presently, the former governor, Timipre Sylva’s political structure is the most intact and potent political force that could overrun Bayelsa’s politics at the least prompting and mobilisation. In terms of loyalty, conviction, perseverance and strength, Sylva’s force towers head and shoulder above the combined pockets of other political power centres scattered in the state.

Remember that something akin to a state of emergency was declared in the state just to prevent Sylva from the PDP primaries. Sylva is a very smart and intelligent politician. Aside the president who is pulling his federal might around, Alamieyeseigha, politically, is a ghost. More so, when juxtaposed with the current sad experiences of civil servants whose salaries are deducted haphazardly to pay for the blossoms of the former sins of people like Alams. Secondly, Alaibe’s perennial, clownish political antics have become public knowledge. No serious-minded person takes him seriously anymore. Of course, Seriake is only the restoration of the hand of Esau which could not freely penetrate Bayelsa during the Sylva tenure.

Their problem is that Sylva’s rivals did not make any attempt to neutralize his political structure. They were blinded by desperation to just deny him the party ticket and their modus operandi was detested by even ordinary Bayelsans. This endeared Timipre Sylva to the people. His political clout has grown stronger and his structure impregnable despite his travails.

The lead promoter of the new PDP, Chief Perekeme Kpodoh, one of the finest Bayelsan I have noticed, is a non-apologetic Sylva loyalist and a formidable grassroots politician who knows the terrain. Remember, also, that majority of the present state and national assembly members are Sylva’s products. Majority of the former LGA chairmen still have active, loyal structures.

So, if the hand of Esau is panicky, it is no exaggeration. It surely feels the latent energy from the Sylva force.

So, presently activities are largely focused at the federal level but the state chapters of the legacy parties will be happy to welcome a fusion at the state level at the earliest. Meetings are ongoing here in Bayelsa and outside. Soon, the results will manifest. That is certain.

Do you think the protracted feud between Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the presidency is for the common interest of the South-South?

It is healthy, very healthy. It would be healthier if Amaechi could declare to vie for the presidency in 2015. In 1999, we had two Yorubas from the same South-West emerging as the foremost contenders for the presidency and heavens did not fall. Amaechi is not fighting the person of President Goodluck Jonathan as some self acclaimed Ijaw ‘elders’ and ‘leaders’ would want people to believe.

One, Amaechi is against impunity and lawlessness. Two, another purported area of collision is the issue of revenue sharing between the states and the federal government about which Amaechi, as Chairman of Governors’ Forum, is demanding for an increased or larger share for the states. I believe, even on this score, rather than crucify him, we should laud him. On the contentious issue of relocation of oil wells from Rivers (Kalabari) to Bayelsa (Nembe), the question to ask is how was the issue managed by the two states when Sylva was governor of Bayelsa, more so, as he, Sylva should have been a more interested party, being a Nembe man himself? I ask because, as much as I could recollect, this issue did not come up to assume such a proportion or dimension.

On the purported vice presidential ambition of Amaechi, I am totally in support. In fact, he should aim at the presidency proper.

All the issues Amaechi stands for are in the interest of the South-South, especially the Ijaws. Amaechi is our leader, anytime, anywhere. He deserves it. He has worked hard to earn it. He is the face of the downtrodden of Bayelsa and Rivers states.

You are a Bayelsian. Why are you not giving President Jonathan a chance? Or put more directly, would you not, at least, support Jonathan’s second term?

No way. Just take a boat ride into the creeks of Bayelsa and you will definitely shed tears. Poverty is everywhere, in the air, in the waters and on the land. The Ijaw political elite is one of the most wicked, vicious and satanic. We have failed.

I cannot support the second term ambition of someone that seems to be happily presiding over the very corruption which is the single most virulent factor behind the lethargy in the development of my environment.

November 17, 2013
Rivers PDP without Amaechi

It was a party of political associates and age-long allies. As far back as 1999, most of them have been together under the same umbrella; the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But today, that fraternity is no more as the Rivers State chapter of the PDP is fractured and dying while stakeholders seem not to know what to do to correct or stop the now imminent collapse of the big family umbrella that has provided political shelter for the now warring members for over a dozen years.

As we speak, the party is most likely to see the exit of its most illustrious member in the state, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, from its fold. Already, the governor has been formally approached by the fast moving All Progressive Congress (APC) to dump the PDP and come aboard its train.

Aside that, the “New PDP”, the faction of the party to which the governor belongs, has come under heavy bashing from the mainstream PDP in recent times. During the week, leaders of the Kawu Baraje-led faction were suspended from the party in spite of a court order that Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola should be re-instated by the party as its National Secretary.

Reprieve came for the former Osun State governor last Wednesday as the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, set aside the verdict of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division that ousted him from office as the National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

In a unanimous decision, a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal dismissed the case filed at the High Court and upon which the trial judge, Justice Abdul Kafarati, removed Oyinlola from office.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice T. J. Tur held that Oyinlola’s right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution was breached by Justice Kafarati. The appellate court also held that three separate cases, seeking the same reliefs, were filed against Oyinlola and such multiplicity of action amounted to an abuse of court process.

The appellate court said all the prevailing circumstances of the case at the High Court were enough reason for the case to have been dismissed ab initio. It invoked its power under Section 16 of the Court of Appeal Act and heard the case as if it were the trial court.

But five days after he was reinstated, the national leadership of PDP suspended him from the party. He was suspended alongside three others – the National Chairman of the splinter PDP, Kawu Baraje, his deputy, Sam Sam Jaja and a former senator from Jigawa State, Ibrahim Kazaure.

In a related development, not too long ago, a bid by members of the governor’s group to reclaim control of the crisis-ridden River State chapter of the PDP was truncated. This was as the sacked chairman of the state chapter and a loyalist of Amaechi’s, Chief Godspower Ake, lost an appeal to reclaim his office.

An Abuja High Court, had on April 15, 2013 declared Chief Obuah Amechi Felix and Walter Ibibia Opuene supported by Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, as validly nominated and elected chairman and secretary respectively and sacked the Ake-led committee from office.

Ake approached the appellate court seeking to stay the execution of the judgment which sacked him and other members of his committee from office. But the court declined to grant Ake’s prayers.

Political observers say Ake’s loss and the recent suspension of Oyinlola and others, which is believed to be a move to stop the former governor from resuming as National Secretary as ordered by the Court of Appeal, has put paid to all reconciliation moves within the PDP and as such, left the door open for Ameachi and others to dump the party.

Should Amaechi eventually leave the party and team up with another political organisation, the effect of his exit, analysts say, will leave the ruling party without most of its leading figures in the state.

It is now a certainty that should he move out of the PDP, Amaechi will be leaving the party with his entire team in the executive arm of government. His deputy, Tele Ikuru, in spite of juicy overtures from the opposing camp, had refused to be swayed against his boss.

George Feyii, Secretary to the State Government, Tony Okocha, Chief of Staff to the governor and all the commissioners, according to insiders’ report, are set to move along with the governor whenever he decides he has had enough of the bullying in his current party.

“It is something everybody agrees to. It is something we are all willing to be part of. For us, Amaechi is the party. If he remains in PDP, we will remain here with him. If he moves out, we are all going with him,” a member of the State Executive Council (SEC) told The Nation during the week.

Already some of his cabinet members like Ibim Semenitari (Information), Wogu Boms (Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice), Emmanuel Chinda, Okey Amadi Samuel Eyibe, Patricia Simon-Hart, Ezemonye Amadi and Charles Okoye, have all publicly declared their intention to follow Amaechi anywhere he goes.

Leading PDP chieftains, including Sam Sam Jaja, immediate past National Vice Chairman of the PDP and Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, Administrator of the new Greater Port Harcourt City Authority (GPHCA), are among numerous party leaders rearing to follow the governor out of the party.

Majority of the members of the state’s delegation to the National Assembly, led by Senators Magnus Abe, (Rivers South-East) and Wilson Ake (Rivers West) are also said to be with the governor in the plot to dump the ruling party.

Hon. Asita O. Asita, leader of the Rivers State caucus in the lower House, Hon. Sokonte Davies, representing Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency; Hon Betty Apiafi representing Abua/Ahoada-East Federal Constituency; Chief Andrew Uchendu, representing Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency, and Hon. Dakuku Peterside, representing Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency are all sure bets to follow Amaechi on his way out of the PDP.

Others were Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency; Hon. Pronem Morris, representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency; Hon. Blessing Nsiegbe, representing Port Harcourt City Federal Constituency II; Hon. Ken Chikere, representing Port Harcourt City Federal Constituency I; Hon. Gogo Bright, representing Okrika/Ogu-Bolo Federal Constituency; Hon. Dawari George, representing Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency and Hon Barry Mpigi, representing Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency.

It will be recalled that majority of the above federal lawmakers were commissioners in the administration of Amaechi, particularly in his first tenure. They got to their political height through the influence of the governor. This therefore presupposes that their show of solidarity on Monday was to demonstrate their loyalty.

The PDP in Rivers State will also lose its leadership of the House of Assembly as twenty seven, out of the thirty two lawmakers in the state legislature are with the governor. Only five of the lawmakers are likely to resist the journey out of the ruling party should Amaechi decide to leave.

Chairmen of all 23 local governments in the state and all the party’s former chairmen in the local government areas, instituted by the deposed Wilson Ake-led state executive of the party, are also likely to follow Amaechi and his men out of the party.

Others, who have expressed their willingness to remain with their embattled leader all the way, include Gogo Charles, Nabbs Imegwu, Austin Wokocha and Fred Igwe. George Ukwuoma-Nwogba, a former publicity secretary of the party.

“It will indeed be an exodus of nearly the entire leadership of our party in the state. The people who are today the faces of the party by virtue of the positions they occupy will be seen leaving the party in droves,” a chieftain of the party lamented.

But that is not to say there will be no known name staying back in the PDP should Amaechi leave. For one, the Minister of State for Education, Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike will remain in the party to emerge the new leader of PDP in the state unchallenged.

Wike, who was council chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area for two tenures from 1999 to 2007, is now leading the opposition against his erstwhile political ally, Amaechi.

He was also Chief of Staff to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. After the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan, Wike was appointed Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Education.

Senator George Thompson Sekibo, representing Rivers East is another person who will not follow Amaechi out of PDP. The former Organising Secretary of the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) is not an ally of the governor, politically.

There are also PDP chieftains like the self-acclaimed bulldozer of Rivers State politics, Chief Sergeant Awuse, and former Ikwerre council chairman, Boniface Emerengwa, who are expected to stay put in the party irrespective of the choice made by the governor.

Also, the group of five House of Assembly members opposed to Governor Amaechi, namely Hon. Micheal Amaewhule, representing Obio/Akpo Constituency 1, Hon. Michael Chinda, representing Obio/Akpo Constituency 11, Hon. Evans Bipi of Ogu/Bolo Constituency, Hon. Kelechi Wogu of Omuma Constituency and Hon. Victor Ihunwo of Port Harcourt Constituency 111, will not leave the PDP.

If the governor finally dumps PDP with the known and yet- to- be revealed loyalists, it remains to be seen how the ruling party will fare in the state.

November 17, 2013
Nigeria Dialogue berths

Ahead of the proposed national conference by President Goodluck Jonathan, a similar forum called Nigeria Dialogue has been floated by a Nigerian youth. Speaking on the mission of the forum, the initiator, Mr. Bankole Eniola, said:” the Nigeria Dialogue is a hub for progressive intellectuals who intend to challenge systemic and institutional realities in Nigeria.

“The coming of the forum is in sync with my passion to empower Nigerian youths to become effective leaders. Our vision is to build a community of 40 million people who will usher in a civil and developed Nigeria. We plan to achieve this by having conversations within and outside Nigeria that will shape the future of our nation; we hope to bring change to Nigeria – one person at a time.”

Eniola said the Nigeria Dialogue will serve as the conduit to aid the effective transformation of Nigeria into a civil and developed nation with enviable human and capital development.

He disclosed that the major goal of setting up Nigeria Dialogue is to use it as a platform to serve as the conduit to aid the effective transformation of Nigeria into a civil and developed nation.

“National Dialogue is a platform where forward thinking Nigerians proffer inputs into sustainable economic infrastructural and social development through meaningful dialogues and measurable actions.

“This is a forum where we are not scared to tackle the difficulties facing us as a nation. We encourage conversations about our future. The Nigeria Dialogue platform is an avenue where Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora can get involved in the engineering of a thinking framework that translates into the building of strong institutions, virile systems and the sustenance of their continuous existence.

“What we do in Nigeria Dialogue is that we have town hall meetings where we invite prominent people in Nigeria to come and talk to Nigerians in Diaspora and show them opportunities at home so that they can develop Nigeria. He disclosed that the organisation will soon embark on several events, which includes; Road Tour, Fundraising Ball for Youth Development in Nigeria and town hall meetings.

While admonishing youths to eschew violence, he said: “The youths should not allow politicians to use them as political thugs, especially during elections. There is need for Nigerian youths to be relevant in decision making in Nigeria, hence, they should be hardworking and dedicated toward building their talent and skills.”

November 17, 2013
Excellencies or heads of killer squads

So, Professor Festus Iyayi is dead. It is painful enough that such a man committed to the struggle for a better society had to bid the world bye at 66. Some of us had expected that he would be around for much longer to tend the flowers he had planted in the more than 30 years he had worked in the academia. By reputation, I had known him since the early 80s when young comrades in University of Nigeria saw the young radical lecturers at the University of Benin as models. Iyayi’s name was everywhere. He worked; he lectured, he taught about what to do to rid the society of parasites.

Till he died in the cause of the struggle, the Professor of Business Administration and celebrated writer remained focused. At the time he was killed, he was on his way to Kano to join others in finding a lasting solution to the crisis in the education sector. If I knew Iyayi, he was not just concerned about this phase of the struggle. He could not have seen the fight for earned allowances as an end in itself. He was one of those who saw the bigger question in the devalued and denatured system of education in the country. He must have seen the ASUU strike as a weapon to beat the government to line- to appreciate that the Nigerian students deserve much more than they were being offered.

And then, the man did not just die. He was killed. The murderous leaders are happy driving the people off the road and ramming into them. True, all the truth may not yet be in the public domain. We need to know all about the circumstances that snuffed life out of Iyayi. We need to have the autopsy report. The report of eye witnesses could be crucial. The court would probably have a role to play in resolving the matter for or against the Kogi State government.

But, the much that we know and the general experience in the country is enough to call for decisive action against those men brought to power but would rather use the teeth we gave them to bite and inflict pain on us. What sort of people are these leaders? How do they lead? Each time I am on the road and the arrival of a governor is announced by siren blaring outriders and vehicles, I feel bitter. I know it is not the experience even in neighbouring countries. So, from where did we pick up the tradition?

The Kogi State governor’s convoy is reputed for crashing into objects and men. The other time, the governor himself nearly lost his life. It was a reminder that he is human, too. It was a lesson he was expected to pick up that recklessness kills. He failed to imbibe the lesson. But, this time, his me killed Iyayi.

All lovers of democracy must rise up to demand that the driver of the vehicle that knocked off Iyayi must be prosecuted for at least manslaughter. Anyone who engaged speed as an agent of death should be brought to book. The Federal Road Safety Commission, too, must pick up part of the blame. Agreed, the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors enjoy immunity from prosecution, but do they also enjoy immunity from investigation? Shouldn’t the FRSC periodically come up with reports on how the executive office holders are faring on the road? What sort of mindset drive governors who aside dishing out poor governance, fail to adhere to common traffic rules?

We also owe it to ourselves to start campaigns against governors who have transformed their convoys to killer squads. Why do they need convoys of ten vehicles and more? What are they afraid of? Why blare the siren to drive others off the road? The other day, when Ikedi Ohakim was still governor of Imo State, he was in Lagos and left his convoy to harass a poor woman and her little children for having the effrontery to keep driving when His Excellency was passing through the same Ikoyi roads. As the poor woman was dragged out of her car, the small kids ran out of the car and across the road. They could have been crushed.

When Her Excellency the Dame came to Lagos, it did not occur to her that the city is at the heart of the nation’s economy. She got the former capital city shut down. No one must move when a Dame has business to transact through the roads. For the hours it took her to move from the airport to the city centre and back, her security details kept everyone else off.

For her husband, whenever he had to move, the airport is shut down; no aircraft could take or land. Those already airborne must stay in the air until His Excellency is done with his own transaction. Anyone who dare disobey is flogged and kicked about. He is brutalized and dumped somewhere until the agents of the emperor are satisfied he has learnt his lesson. It is impunity; oppression and repression.

Working through the lawmakers, we need to call attention to these murderous actors and call them to order. The murder of Iyayi should be the last. Nothing we do can bring the Professor back, but we can, and must, ensure that no one else is sacrificed to the gods of gubernatorial power.

Sleep on, dear Brother Festus; a genuine comrade.

November 17, 2013
Theodore Orji at 62: Delivering good governance with humility

CHIEF [Sir] Theodore Ahamefule Orji, the governor of Abia State is by all standards a man born with silver spoon in his mouth. His late father, Chief Tom Orji Ikoro, a man of value, was a Warrant Chief, an equivalent of modern day first class traditional ruler. Chief Theodore Orji is therefore of royal blood. Born on November 11, 1950, into the Tom Ikoro Orji royal family, however, Theodore never allowed the royalty to enter his head. Rather, he trudged on along with his peers from less privileged family to struggle for success in life. Governor T.A. Orji can conveniently be described as a leader, family man, humanitarian, courageous, peaceful, accommodating and above all, God fearing. These attributes he has perfected exhibited in the course of his governance of Abia state in the past six years plus.

As an accommodating leader, Chief Orji has effectively mobilized and carried along all Abians with their varied sheds of opinions and beliefs and harnessed them into instruments for the positive development of the state and this, from available records has greatly paid off and impacting positively on the people and the state’s development.

Governor Theodore Orji’s leadership quality best manifested when on assumption of officer as the governor of Abia state undertook to reconcile the political leaders in the state who until then were at war with each other, deep-rooted acrimony which greatly affected the development of the state negatively. He deployed his wisdom and humility, stooped to the lowest level and reached out to all aggrieved politicians in the state and brought them together. Today, that singular action is working wonders for the state and his administration as virtually all the major political stakeholders in the state are working on the same page.

This leadership attribute of Chief Orji worked wonder for him, when in 2010; he confronted head-on the ugly security problem in the state.

Before then, the state, particularly Aba the commercial capital of the state was virtually in the hands of criminals, especially kidnappers who besieged and almost took over the city. In conjunction with the Federal Government, he courageously combated the criminals and chased them out of the state. Today, Abia is one of the safest states in Nigeria.

The safety has created good environment for development with the result that legacy projects such as state-of-the-art workers secretariat, 5000 capacity international conference centre, new judiciary blocks in Umuahia and Aba, new Government House, modern Dialysis Centre and Specialist Hospital, several kilometers of roads across the state have sprung up and are springing up in all parts of the state, a pointer that a solid foundation has been laid for sustainable development of Abia state.

As a family man, Governor Orji, in spite of his daily tight schedule, still makes out time for his family of his wife of over three decades, Lady Mercy Odochi Orji and four children of four men and a woman.

Interestingly, at any little spare time, Chief Orji gathers his grand children and play with them, making sure that his official job never denies the kids of the grand fatherly love. Besides his immediate family, he gets fully involved all the activities of the larger Ikoro Orji extended family, ensuring that peace and harmony reign in the family.

The governor summed up his family life in a book on him entitled, “On the Wings of Fate”. “Just like every other family’s life, ours has been challenging and quite wonderful and interesting; and I add that the promising nature of my family is rooted in their love, tolerance and encouragement so much so that I can very strongly say that my nucleus family was created for me”.

And for all his staff, Chief Orji sees them as his family members, extending the same affection to them with all the positive encouragement and advice.

For all these attributes, one can only but pray God to grant Chief T.A. Orji more years of good health to continue his good deeds to mankind. Happy birth day, Your Excellency!

November 17, 2013