The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

  • ‘Ondo has embraced APC’

    Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Dr. Akerele Adu has said that the people of the state have embraced the party as a credible alternative platform.

    He congratulated the members for their commitment and loyalty to the progressive bloc, urging them not to waiver in their support.

    Adu, an associate of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, advised the party members to disregard any publications or invitation from anybody or group of persons, except the directive from the national secretariat of the APC comes through him.

    The 84 years old politician told party members in Ijare, Ondo State, that the progressives have made history, with the registration of the APC.

    He added: “We should expect unprecedented challenges, crisis, problems, and “buckle – up” to resolve all these with sincerity as they come.”

     

  • ‘Why power should not shift to North’

    ‘Why power should not shift to North’

    In the First Republic, he was a member of the House of Representatives and Federal Minister of Education. In the Second Republic, he was the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elder, spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU and MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE on the Rivers State crisis, constitution amendment, agitation for Ibadan State and the clamour for power shift by the North.

     

     

    How can the Rivers State crisis be resolved?

    The Rivers State crisis is an internal matter. About two weeks ago, I was at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, and when I finished and was about to go, the court advised me not to go because the outside was tensed. I thanked them, but I did not accept the advice. I was to go to the airport to take a flight because I had to be at the Supreme Court the following day. Twice, I tried to leave, but the police sent me back. Twice again, I tried to take another route to the airport it was not possible. I had to go back to the court, I was to come to Lagos and take a flight to Abuja. So, I had to change my ticket. I then took the 8 o’clock flight to Abuja that day because I was having a very important matter at the Supreme Court. I must confess that I don’t know the internal reasons for the problem in Port Harcourt, but I suspect they are political reasons. Well, from all information at my disposal, I understand they are trying to settle the matter now. And I hope they will settle it amicably because the President is a very good person and the governor too. So, there is no reason for them to fight. Both of them are in the same political party. It is a family quarrel and sometimes, family quarrel becomes too acrimonious. It could be dangerous, if not properly controlled.

    19 governors voted for Governor Rotimi Ameachi, but the PDP said that Governor Jonah Jang, who scored 16 votes, is the NGF chairman. Again, five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly tried to impeach the Speaker. As a former parliamentarian, how do you view these scenes?

    The whole matter is political and such matters, at that level and of that nature, you don’t settle by votes because sometimes, what votes settle may not meet political expedience. You might win your vote politically and you might also lose politically. The good news is that I heard that the matter is now being settled. And very soon, we are going to hear very good news so that there will be peace and friendship in the Rivers State.

    What are the PDP elders doing about the national crisis that has engulfed your party?

    I don’t accept that a national crisis has engulfed the party. Politics consist of conflict and politics without conflict is not politics. What is going on happens in all political parties. So, I will not relate what is going on at that level of conflict as much of a conflict. So, let us accept it because similar things happen in the USA, France, England and many African countries. It is part of political evolution.

    How can the party avoid a rancorous mini convention this month?

    Rancor will not be part of it. That will not happen; the convention is going to be peaceful. It is going to go on very well and those who are wanted would be elected. I am not worried about that at all.

    Your party wants to bounce back in the Southwest. What is the prospect of the PDP in 2015 election in the region?

    The prospect is excellent. I have reasons to believe that the party will do very well in the elections. In the last election, which the PDP lost, it was politically manipulated. The power of the judiciary and other manipulations were at play, but I will not comment further on that. Those who should not lose election lost election. In the next election, you will hear good news in the Southwest on the political scene.

    Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) warned recently that, if the crisis going on in PDP is not resolved, what happened in Egypt would take place in Nigeria. What is your reaction to this?

    I did not read about that but I want to say such a thing will not happen here at all. What happened in Egypt was promoted from abroad. And I don’t want to say more about that. I have traveled extensively in the Middle East, and what they called the Green Revolution that is going on in the Middle East, families rule countries there, there is monopoly of power by limited groups. The situation in the Middle East is quite different from the situation in black Africa or in Europe. I will not compare Middle East with Nigeria. I have respect for General Abubakar (rtd) but what he predicted will not happen. We are going to have good news, good government, good politics and good political succession.

    Certain northern leaders are clamouring for the return of power to the north and the Southsouth is saying that Jonathan should remain in office beyond 2015. Now, how do we manage the situation?

    I think we should stop talking about regional politics. Before independence and after independence, through election and through military rules, the north ruled Nigeria for almost 40 years. And I expect many of their leaders, who complained of lack of power not to do so. People who can complain of lack of power are the Delta people, the Igbos or the Yorubas and some other people. At the right time, power should go to certain people in the north, but it is important not to equate politics with sections. We should not be talking about Yoruba or Igbo President. We should talk of Nigerian President. We should forget sectionalism.

    How do you assess the Jonathan Administration?

    It is excellent. Jonathan came from a very difficult situation and you will remember that nobody from his area has ever held that office. He is the first person to hold that office and it is not an easy thing to do. It is very difficult and challenging and I believe that he has done extremely well.

    Mrs Jonathan responded to Soyinka’s criticism of her involvement in Rivers crisis with derogatory remarks on the literary icon. What did you make of this?

    I did not read them, but I will not equate the politics going on in the Rivers with the First Lady. I have been involved in Rivers affairs politically and professional for almost 50 years. The politics there is more complex; you cannot simplify it or equate it with the First Lady. I believe that the problems of the Rivers State would be solved amicably and there is going to be peace there.

    Why are we having volatile situation in Nigeria, as exemplified by the Boko Haram?

    There is nowhere in the world that you don’t have security problems. We have it in Europe, the US, all over Africa. So, politics is conflict resolution and politics without conflict is no politics. That does not worry me at all, it is just part of the political equation. In spite of what we are saying, do you know that Nigeria is now one of the fastest developing countries in the world? If you look at the World Bank reports and you look at the IMF reports, Nigeria is doing extremely well. What we need is to develop our roads, airlines and other sectors of the economy.

    How do we reconcile this promising economy with the rising unemployment and lack of food for the ordinary man on the street?

    The unemployment in Nigeria was inherited; it was not created by the present government. And the steps are being taken to put all these things behind us. What we should avoid is to tie our economy with Europe and America. We should be global in our outlook. Look at China; it is doing extremely well. Look at Singapore, Malaysia and India they are making progress. If you take the Middle East right from Syria to Japan, their economy is doing very well. If you go on the Nigeria streets, you will see India cars and lorries being sold. That is what Nigeria should do. We should produce our own bicycles, our own telephones. We should forget the colonial past and embrace modern development.

    Would Nigeria have been better, if there was no military incursion?

    Much better, one of the things that destroyed this country was military intervention. I am not aware of any country in the world, which had the intervention of the military and has done well. Nigeria is not an exception and I hope the military will not intervene in our politics again.

    What is your position on the creation of Ibadan state?

    I support it. When we presented positions at the National Assembly. I was there. The Ibadan State is overdue and should be created as soon as possible. It is not only Ibadan, Ogun State too should be broken into two, Ijebu Ode has always been a provincial capital. Abeokuta has always been a provincial capital. these are the two that are denied their own states. I believe Ijebu Ode should be given a state and Abeokuta should be given a state too.

    Does the ongoing constitution amendment meet your expectation?

    What aspect are you talking about? There are so many things being discussed.

    The underage marriage and immunity clause…

    Under age marriage, I think that is a big joke. We have more serious things to discuss. I don’t think we should waste our time on that. Immunity yes, I don’t see why anybody should be immuned from prosecution, no matter what political office you hold. In America, President Richard Nixon was to be tried, Bill Clinton was to be tried as Presidents. And if you look at the political history of other countries, political office holders, are either tried criminally or you resign from office. So, why should Nigeria be an exception? That immunity was absurd and should be removed.

    The state police…

    That is rubbish. When we had state police, it was causing trouble. It was being used for politics. We don’t, need state police. There should be one police in the country. But the commissioner of police; should be working hand in hand with the governor of the state, no matter the political situation. We should not politicise police, they are the first port of call in crisis moment. Therefore, they are very important for our stability and for our peace.

    True federalism and local government autonomy…

    True federalism depends on the people. What is critical is not the structure of your constitution. What is important is the attitude of your constitution; doing the right thing is the most important thing and the sky will not be the limit for us. Local government autonomy is important but the biggest problem is the governance. When money is voted for local government, the governor will collect it and spend it on their behalf. I think that should be abolished. So, local government should have their own autonomy as far as possible. Again, at the same time, the governors should not interfere in the affairs of the local government.

    APC has vowed to dislodge your party in 2015 election, what is your reaction?

    That is a big joke and it will not happen, in the next election. PDP is going to win overwhelmingly, I have no doubt about that. We are working hard on that and it is going to happen.

    With the ongoing crisis in the party?

    Conflict resolution is synonymous with politics. It wakes people up. PDP’s progress is not in limit. We are going to overcome the challenges. And we are going to win the next election.

    What is your perception of the sanitation exercise going on in the judiciary?

    It is excellent, the Chief Justice of Nigeria has been excellent, I have my greater respect for her. We need very clean judiciary, that will deliver true justice not political justice, I believe things will continue to work very well.

    You are part of the team that defended Nigeria at the World Court over Bakassi. Can the matter could be revisited in the interest of the indigenes who are now scattered and homeless. What is your stand?

    Well, that judgment of the World Court was unfortunate because that particular land belonged to Nigeria. The people who caused the problem for us were the British. The British signed a treaty with France, the Anglo -French Treaty, in which they transferred the land to France. But the truth is that the land does not belong to Britain. In international law, the protectorate land belongs to the people of that place. And that place was a protectorate. So, Britain had no legal basis to sign a treaty with France and transfer it to them. The people of that land are the owners of the land and there are aspects of international laws, which support Nigeria. Having said that, that is the judgment of the International Court of Justice, but what I think we can do is to negotiate with the Cameroun.

    Nigeria is celebrating her 100 years of amalgamation…

    That is not independence; many commentators don’t clearly understand what that event means. That event was done by the British for its political and economic interests. That is very important. Lugard was involved. Also, the Royal Niger Company and the Colonial Secretary. Those were the three critical characters who did the amalgamation for the British economic and political interests and not Nigeria’s interest. They discovered that there is a lot of minerals in Jos, a lot cocoa emerging in the South, palm kernel coming up and also in other part of the country, we have other minerals. Colonialism is synonymous with economic exploitation; Britain did it for its economic interest and not for Nigeria’s economic interest. And that is it. It was an unwelcomed marriage. But we have done the marriage and now divorce is out of the question. We have to work together as a nation and make the best out of it.

    It is being held that a return to parliamentary system will make Nigeria better. What is your view?

    I don’t accept that. Parliamentary system means that a member of parliament, being Prime Minister, would preside over the country. I prefer where we have the President, who is voted for by the whole country, not by one constituency. I prefer the French and American system whereby a person emerges by the vote of the people of the country. Those who are talking about parliamentary system want to pull the hands of the clock backward. we should not accept that.

    Do you regret not being governor of Oyo State?

    Well, I don’t. I would have been happy, if I did. but why should I regret? I was in parliament before independence. I was in parliament at the time of independence, and I was in parliament after independence. And after independence, I was a Federal Minister of Education under Balewa. I enjoyed it and like it very much. I later became Attorney General. So, the sky is not the limit and I am quite happy with what I got. I think Nigeria has been very kind to me and I have been kind to Nigeria as well.

    You were appointed commissioner in the defunct Western State. Why did you not accept the offer?

    Well, three times, the governor of the state in the military era invited me to come and join and three times I declined. I said I do not want to be misrepresented, it was a very good gesture but it was not acceptable to me. And at that time I was the President of the Nigeria Bar Association and also I was handling a very big brief for a Swiss Bank, which involved a lot of money. You know that the military government is easily overthrown by the military and, considering what I was doing then, I didn’t want my name to be linked to anything that had to do with lack of accountability. That was one of the several reasons why I declined. But having travelled to Geneva to collect my fees from the Swiss Bank, the governor announced my name. And further more, I had just bought a property in London and when I start declaring all these in my asset, people will be saying it is government money; that I have taken. Whereas it is not government money, it was money from my professional earning, it was better for me at that time to remain in the profession.

    You were behind the 12 2/3 judgment by the Supreme Court. If a similar situation arises, will you take such, a brief?

    I will do exactly what I did, but what you must know is that I argued the case. I propounded the principle but I did not write the judgment. There were seven justices; six accepted to the doctrine that I propounded, one did not accept. It was the judgment of the court. So, why should anybody blame me for anything when I did not write the judgment. It is part of the law of the country now. And it will remain part of the law of the country for ever.

    Your daughter is now a Minister. People are saying that the polity is designed for the projection of the children of the legends…

    You get what you deserve and you deserve what you get. The question is, does my daughter deserve it? In London, she read Law and had first class. After finishing in London, she went to Harvard to do post graduate in Law and was one of the best. So, do you blame her for that? That my daughter, Jumoke’s daughter, Olayinka, went to theUniversity of Oxford to study and she had double first class. Three of my children read Law in Cambridge and three of my children also read in Harvard and one read in Oxford. So, why should you blame me for that?

    How do you access your governor in Oyo State, Senator Ajimobi?

    I regard Senator Ajimobi as a governor and Jumoke as federal minister. The two of them are my children, though myself and the governor are not in the same political party, but I hope one day he will come and join my political party.

    What is your position on the clamour for Sovereign National Conference (SNC) ?

    I believe in the National Conference not the SNC. The Sovereign National Conference will be the government of the country, but if we have a conference, which is not a government of the country, I accept that. Many people don’t understand a national conference and SNC. The word sovereign should be taken away from it. conference yes, SNC no.

     

     

  • ‘APC has bright future in Ondo’

    ‘APC has bright future in Ondo’

    Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain Hon. Femi Adekanmbi spoke with LEKE AKEREDOLU on the prospects of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the next general elections.

     

    How is life outside politics?

    Well, I have not really been out of politics because, if you remember I was the Director of Security for ACN during the last governorship election in the State.I Just decided to face my business, my family and have enough time for myself. Politics has come to be part of me, having mastered the “ABC Alphabet” in politics of how to love the people, loyal to your party and never fail in your promises to the masses. With these, it shows that I am active in politics. Mind you, I contested during the last 2011 general election for Owo/Ose Federal constituency, but lost. I am not stopping there in my political career, I will definitely contest the House of Representatives seat in my constituency in 2015, if my party picks me.

    How prepared is the opposition for the challenge of merger in Ondo State?

    I want to assure you that we are fully prepared for the merger. All Progressives Congress (APC) is a new party entirely and we have welcome everybody and I can assure you that the political terrain of this country will never remain the same again, once APC is registered.

    So, we in Ondo State are fully prepared. Our leader, Asiwaju BolaTinubu has directed all the state leaders to go back to their state and preach the gospel of APC to the masses and also ensure that all our members embrace the merger. No division must take place and we all must follow the agreement reached by our leaders with other merger groups. Let me tell you this. By 2015, the PDP will be shocked by the massive vote APC will garner during the election.

    We are aware about their plans to destabilise us, frustrate the registration of the party, use their usual illegal ways to win election. But, don’t worry, it is now clear that Nigerians are tired of the PDP government; they are all clamouring for a change of power. 14 years in power, Nigeria as a nation has been retrogressing but only witnessed development in poverty, hunger, unemployment, poor infrastructures, poor power supply, corruption, insecurity and others. I believe, by 2015 general elections, Nigerians will rise up to vote against PDP’s administration.

    Why is politics a do-or-die affair in the country?

    To me, I have seen desperate moves of the Nigerian politicians to occupy positions of power and where those who are in power are making all frantic efforts to remain in power. This has already started again, we are in 2013, when the President and all governors are supposed to be busy on how to fulfill their promises to the electorate who voted them in, they are now focusing on an election which will be held on 2015 neglecting their primary role why they were voted for.

    The President is already warming up for 2015 re-election, making a clearing way for himself to remain in power, wielding his big stick on those members of his party who refused to support him. The atmosphere is now tensed. Governors are divided; some of them have political ambitions to contest higher posts. Political godfathers still want to remain relevant in the politics at all cost. Imagine, if 35 governors could not conduct a free and fair election, that is an indication that Nigerian politics is retrogressing on daily basis. What a shame among just 35 governors! They could not agreed on who won the poll. Like I have earlier said that is the implication of what we should be expecting by 2015. But we in the APC are ready for the game and will fight the battle for the poor masses.

    In 2011 and 2012 elections, your party failed to win any seat. What is your assurance that the party will win in 2015?

    I disagree with you on this. The PDP occupied the same percentage of what you mentioned now before Labour Party took over from them. So, that is not a basis for winning an election. The most important thing is work with the grassroots people, show them your love and sincerity of serving them. Presently, in the state, the ACN has come to stay. Presently, we have two federal lawmakers, Senator Ajayi Boroffice and Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde who defected from LP to our party before the election and I can assure you that, with the ongoing merging, the Party will win more seats.

     

  • ‘Rivers crisis is a threat to democracy’

    ‘Rivers crisis is a threat to democracy’

    The Speaker of Gombe State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers, Hon. Inuwa Garba, spoke with Vincent Ohonbamu on the position of the group on the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

     

     

    WHAT is your reaction to the Rivers State crisis?

    The Conference of Speakers is condemning the action of the five members of Rivers Houses of Assembly because we are men of integrity and we are representatives of the people of Nigeria. This kind of ugly action is not acceptable to the entire member of the Conference and it is very, very unfortunate that they are members of the Conference. But we don’t support that kind of injustice and we do not support disrespect to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the integrity of the legislators in the state. We cannot allow this kind of disrespect to the constitution to continue. We are surely going to take appropriate action on that. Right now we are planning to convey an emergency meeting so that we can move on with the appropriate action we want to take on the matter.

    Why has the conference not spoken before now?

    First of all, the action of the Conference is not late because the Conference of Speakers of State Legislature must have to first make our findings before taking any action as regards to what happens in any State House of Assembly. So, we went to get information and collate the information and before we began action. This is because we do not want a situation where two wrongs could happen at the same time; and of course you know two wrongs can never make a right. That is why we had to wait to see what actually happened, hear how it happened, and make some internal investigation on what transpired.

    The Mace as a symbol of authority in the House of Assembly seems to have lost its respect among the members. What is the Conference doing to restore the dignity of the Mace?

    About the dignity of the Mace, it is not the individuals or the various Houses that gave the Mace its dignity; it is the constitution. The only thing you would say is that we are not taking enough measures to see how we can protect the dignity and integrity of that symbol of authority, which is the Mace in the Houses of Assembly. As I earlier said, we are planning to take an action, which will serve as a measure to protect the integrity of the legislature and the Mace itself will not be an exception; we will include all other areas to see how possible we concretise the activities of the state legislators in Nigeria.

    If the House enjoys autonomy, will it prevent crisis?

    The issue of the autonomy of the state legislators has definitely contributed negatively to the activities of state legislators in Nigeria and it has reduced the impact of that institution in the democratic setting. But I am assuring you that we are going to partner with all and sundry to see that this time around, we are able to achieve the noble objective; not just for our Houses of Assembly, but for Nigerians. The National Assembly has collated the views of Nigerians on what and what people wish to be part of the amendment and the issue of autonomy of state legislature overwhelmingly enjoyed a lot of support by Nigerians. And in seeking our autonomy, we are doing it to have better state legislature for the sake of Nigerians. So, we are going to partner with all the stakeholders in the amendment process to see that we achieve that goal of autonomous state assembly in this coming proposed constitutional amendment.

  • APC Europe mobilises for 2015

    APC Europe mobilises for 2015

    Nigerians resident in Europe have expressed their ntension

    to support the push for change in 2015. The Coordinator, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Europe, Mr. Tunde Oyeleke, said that the All Progressive Congress (APC) is the answer.

    He explained that the APC would provide quality leadership for the country.

    Oyeleke said: “Basically, all Nigerians abroad are part of the political development in the country. No matter how long they live abroad, home is still the best place and, whether we like it or not, government’s policy plays prominent role in our activities.”

    Speaking to The Nation, Oyeleke noted that, whatever affect people at home have a cumulative effect on Nigerians outside the shores. “If there is peace at home and things are conducive, we would be able to return home and contribute our quota to the development of the country.

    “Most of our people are eager to be home, to contribute to its development. So, when there is no conducive atmosphere at home, people will not want to come back home. That is why politics cannot be left alone to people at home. We must be part of the process,” he said.

    He added that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has always orgnised Nigerians abroad, using the country’s embassies as the fora.

    Oleleke stressed that the progressives, who live in Europe, and are not satisfied with what the government is doing, have decided to organise a forum where their aspirations would be met.

    “Though we started with our support for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and have mobilised the people in Europe effectively. The merger of the four political parties prompted our support for the new platform which fold is populated by the progressives. We have decided to go further to ensure that we excel in our political campaigns.”

    “We chose the APC because it is a progressive party; this is the only alternative party to what is happening in the country. In ensuring success for the APC, we will continue to use our old methods. When we had the ACN; we used to liaise with the ACN governors, particularly, the state of Osun Governor, Rauf Aregbesola. We have been contributing by campaigning for our people from our base in Europe. We told them what to do; these are taken from the fact that we are exposed and know what happen from the foreign perspectives. We tell them to vote the right people and the right party.”

    He maintained that the PDP and ACN have been tested in the Southwest and the people knew which one is better. “And now, with the APC coming into existence, we have been telling them that this party can be replicated at the federal level, all that they achieved at the state level would be the national level.”

    He said the APC in Europe has a large support base and could not be ignored. “In Europe, we are talking about 25 countries and I can tell you that there are lots of Nigerians, numbering up to five millions in Europe.”

    Oyeleke further said that plans were underway to ensure that those who would be part of the electoral process were not shot out from exercising their franchise.

    “Some of our people will come to Nigeria to be part of the campaign, and again some of our people who are registered will fully participate.

    “We will come down to Nigeria to be part of all elections that are very vital but the only problem we have now is that we want to organise ourselves through this forum. We equally want to get more people registered and by the time we register them our impact would be much felt.”

    “For now, a lot of people are not happy because of the type of government we have in the country, so we want to encourage these people to come down to make their impact in the electoral process. And, if you remember that these people are the ones sending money to their people all the times, they cannot ignore the calls. Once the situation at home is not okay, it will affect their purses as well.

    “If the environment is quite okay, they would be relieved of too much burden. In short, we are sort of a pressure group both within and outside, we want the best for our country and that is our mandate. In European countries, you cannot fight individually for your rights unless you come up as a group. This one will fight and defend our interests overseas and ensure that we have good government in the country,” Oyeleke said.

  • DAWN: Southwest’s journey to self-rediscovery

    DAWN: Southwest’s journey to self-rediscovery

    The Southwest governors have inaugurated the office for the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission at Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Assistant Editor AUGUSTINE AVWODE writes on the vehicle designed to fast track the integrated development of the region.

    The Southwest is thinking tomorrow today. The region is in a hurry to re-enact the ‘good old days’ when the Western Region was ahead in both infrastructure and socio-economic development in the country. Those were the golden era of Nigeria’s development in the early 1950s to 1966, otherwise known as the pre-independence and immediate post independence era.

    The geo-political zone is working assiduously to achieve this dream through a module aptly christened Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission. DAWN is to serve as the purveyor of the integration drive. Though, now made up of six states, the region still enjoys the privilege of linguistic homogeneity and geographical contiguity.

    All over the world, regional integration has been described as the key to rapid development. Therefore, many countries are collaborating and cooperating in their bid to form a stronger united front. In the same vein, states within federations are coming together to derive maximum benefits from the idea of cooperating. DAWN is a project packed with lofty dreams.

    The governors took another bold step towards the realisation of the project last week. They inaugurated the office of the DAWN Commission at Cocoa House, Ibadan. Present at the commissioning were Governors Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun, Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Dr Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State. Also present were Hon. Olawale Oshun, the Chairman of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), the organisation that produced the DAWN document and helped midwife the commission.

    Governor Ajimobi said the inauguration of the DAWN Commission office was a way of showing their “commitment to regional integration.” He further said that: “We have set up regional integration offices in our respective states. We are committed to exploring our strengths for common good in terms of commerce and infrastructural development. In the end, our objective is to turn our region into a place of enviable development and a competitive destination for credible investors,” he said.

    The DAWN commission, according to its Director General, Dipo Famakinwa, deserves the support of all Yoruba indigenes because it seeks to restore the Southwest region to global competitiveness witnessed when the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the region’s Premier.

    “This project is not political; it is strictly developmental. It will remain committed to the development of Yorubaland. DAWN will restore the dignity of the past and connect it with present realities and future opportunities.

    “We will embark on projects, not because we want to be seen, but, because it has been well thought out in line with best practices and best interest of the region. This building (Cocoa House) for example is a testimony to the resilience of Yoruba people. Elsewhere, it would have been sold or even converted into residence,” he said.

    To drive the point home more forcefully, ARG’s Secretary General Ayo Afolabi said: “We have strayed from our developmental trajectory, for which we were known and it looked like we would never get it again. It looked like the good old days of Chief Awolowo would forever be history but I am happy that today we started on that developmental roadmap. I no longer look into the future with despair but with optimistic assurance,” he said.

    Skewed federalism

    A political scientist and public affairs analyst, Mallam Moyo Jaji, praised the initiative, saying the skewed nature of Nigeria’s federalism has made it imperative for any region that desires growth and development to go the way of the Southwest.

    “The DAWN Commission is a very welcomed development. Why did I say so? The momentum of development started by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was truncated by the emergence of military adventurers in 1966. He made the Western region a reference point in the First Republic. Going by the kind of skewed federalism we are practicing in Nigeria now, if such a programme is not put in place, you will discover that your development will be stagnated. In a situation where other zones don’t want to develop, if you want to develop, then you just have to chart your own programme and that is why the DAWN project is attractive to me”.

    He said, even though one out of the six states is being controlled by a different party, the region’s integration will not suffer because it should not be determined by party consideration or affiliation.

    “Government is all about development; therefore, party differences should not hinder what is good for your people. I am sure the states in the region are determined to make this a shining example for others to follow. Without sounding immodest, I can tell you that the Southwestern part of the country is still the most developed in the country and it behoves us to maintain that momentum for others to copy.”

    Mallam Jaji said his criticism of the federal arrangement in the country is premised on the fact that the super-structure remains largely faulty. This, he said, makes the component parts look as if they are unable to optimize their potential and everyone is forced to depend on the centre for handouts. Such a situation, he said, will not augur well for the regions. To stay afloat, he argued, “there must be a programme of this nature, which seeks to fast track the development of regions, that is why we should encourage it.

    Comparative advantage

    The Southwest region is not in the mood to concede its economic leadership in the country to any other zone. If anything, it is to make the region as self sufficient as possible.

    Speaking to The Nation, Lagos State Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chief Henry Ajomale said DAWN as conceived, is much more than just going back to the good old days. He explained that it is to also ensure that the zone enjoys the comparative economic advantage that it has to the very maximum.

    “The DAWN Commission is not just desgined for a return, if you like, to the good old days of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. It is more than that. It is to ensure that we maximize the comparative advantage economically, that we have in the Southwest. What do I mean? If you are producing something, others will come and support you to develop it to the maximum. If for example you are good at Cocoa production for instance, that is a cash crop, we will support you. If it is animal husbandry like you have in places like Shaki and Isoyin in Oyo State, we will help you to the point that it will expand in scope so that all the others states that are not producing this type of product will have to depend on you for supply of life stock.

    “Economically, therefore, that state will become strengthened and develop because there is a lot that will be going for it as other state will be demanding from them. Whether it is rice, tomato or cassava, there wouldn’t be need to go to another region or depend on another state when one of you can produce such a product. All you need is just go there for the supply.

    “If you look at what Osun State has done now with the Nigeria Railway Corporation by signing an understating to transport the produce from the state to Lagos, it is a good idea. Once the products get to Iddo, there is a ready market for them, therefore, nothing will be wasted. The advantage of Lagos to their farmers is so much. Lagos doesn’t produce much of these things because of its geographical location. It is waterlogged. If you talk of fishery, yes, but for the others, they have to depend on the others. We have the population to consume most of these things from the other states in the region. So we encourage them that whatever they are able to produce will be consumed here. And the financial benefit will go to them and they can use it to develop their state. “, he said.

    He said the DAWN Commission is also looking at infrastructure development by linking all the states in the region by developing roads both in the urban areas and the hinterland.

    “Very sure, of course, the DAWN Commission is looking at that aspect. The plan is to link all the states in the region and even the hinterland. The objective is to enable the farmers to evacuate their produce from the hinterland to the cities. If this is not done, it will affect the farmers. They are planning to interlink all the states in terms of health delivery, education and other infrastructure in the region.”

    The 2020 focus

    The purpose of the DAWN, it was learnt, is to foster regional co-operation and integration apart from being a catalyst for decentralization. It all began at a retreat held on between July 22 – 24, 2011, at the University of Ibadan Conference Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State, and attended by a constellation of the best intellectuals, technocrats and professionals in Yorubaland, at which the DAWN framework for action was developed. The development agenda, principally, seeks to encourage the Southwest states to develop a common set of integrated development strategies that enable the region and its citizens to experience a well-managed process of development, across all spheres of existence.

    Chief Ajomale said the initial focus of the DAWN is 2020 and that after that period, it will be reviewed to see how it has performed. “Our initial target is 2020, between now and then, we want to see what we can make or able to do. After that, then we would evaluate it and then we can now say let us move on to 2030 and go further and talk of another Master Plan for the next 10 years,” he said.

    From now till 2020, having inaugurated the office, the governments of the states in the Southwest now owe their people the duty to breathe life into an enviable dream. The nation, nay the people of the Southwest are waiting.

  • ‘Rivers crisis is shameful’

    ‘Rivers crisis is shameful’

    A social critic, Phrank Shaibu, spoke with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE on the crisis in Rivers State and other national issues.

    Rivers State used to be peaceful state. Why has it become a theatre of war?

    The past few months  have portrayed Rivers State as being in a season of societal lunacy and political deadlock with very embarrassing actions meted on the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Ameachi, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, political office holders and other officials of government. These actions are considered highly repressive and against the tenets of true democracy.

    I condemn the repressive actions and characters behind the Rivers State situation as I believe that the present political deadlock in the state is already having devastating effect on many things including business to social order and unless this deadlock is broken, Rivers State may witness serious breakdown of law and order, with a high probability of being another centre for violent crimes which may be worse than the present Boko Haram terrorist activities in some Northern states of Nigeria.

    I  feel constrained that all the men of good will should draw the attention of the international community to these despotic acts that are occurring in Rivers State which sadly have been largely associated with the leadership of President Jonathan and his wife. The magnitude of the repression on the people of Rivers State is by itself a message of sorts as they obviously present an accurate picture of militarised democracy. Therefore, constituting serious threats to national security especially in a country like Nigeria that ought to be a just society

    How do you reconcile the recent behaviour of the members of the House of Assembly with your description of the state?

    We are all  witnesses to the events preceding the shameful acts at the Rivers State House of Assembly on July 9, 2013 by the five pro- Dame ‘Jesus’ Patience Jonathan legislators led by ‘saint Evans  Bipi’. We are witnesses to the power struggle between the Governor of Rivers State, the wife of the President on the one hand and the Minister of State for Education as well as the unvoiced  support enjoyed by the duo of Dame Jonathan and Wike from the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan who abhor the Governor Rotimi Amaechi for his independence, principled posture and outspokenness, characteristics regarded as stumbling blocks to the desperate ambition to win another term of office in 2015 for a government generally regarded as clueless  and bankrupt.

    In the first instance, how on earth will the number five be greater than 27? How can five men seek to remove a Speaker, who has the backing of 26 of his colleagues? It is indeed appalling that none of the five pro-Dame Patience Jonathan legislators at the Rivers State House of Assembly is legally and culturally sophisticated to know that they acted outside their powers. In fact, they  think alike in their subversion of the rule of law and due democratic process, maybe because they are so aggrieved by the purported disrespect for their activities.

    Some analysts say  the governor shouldn’t have been at the Assembly complex on that day…

    So, they expect the state government to wait until those rambunctious group of five legislators wake up one morning to order the sequestration of the governor and his cabinet? They mean,the governor as the chief security officer should have allowed a break down of law and order when it was obvious that a federal agency that is meant to protects the citizens was busy supervising the rebellion against the constitution by the renegade five.

    Who in your opinion is behind this crises in Rivers State?

    The two Presidents of Nigeria.

    How do you mean? Nigeria has only one President.

    No! We have two Presidents. One is Dame Patience Jonathan of Okrika and the other is Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Though some of you journalists refer to her as the First Lady, but she is not! She is a Co-President of Nigeria.  You remember, when the late Umaru Yar’Adua of blessed  memory was President, the  wife, Turai, only used a  cabal to operate. Nobody heard or saw her. But, instead of Dame to channel her interests through her husband or her other elected ‘sons’, she calls the shots herself, like a Commander-in-Chief.

    Did you hear Dame Patience Jonathan when she openly told 16 Bishops from the Southsouth, who visited her in Abuja, that Amaechi defied her request that some structures should not be demolished in her hometown, Okrika? So, if a request from a First Lady should automatically become sacrosanct, isn’t she a ‘President’?

    Let me say that, when  the First Lady is more visible and vocal than the President, don’t you think she is in charge? Dame Patience Jonathan has thrown herself into the political fray, dominating the polity. In fact, Reuben Abati was right in 2010 when he said, “The Jonathans must be told that Nigeria does not have a co-Presidency. We have only one President and his name is Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan”.

    Of a truth, we voted for Goodluck Jonathan, we did not vote  for Dame Patience  Jonathan. INEC did not have her name on the ballot.

    But the Presidency has denied involvement in the Rivers crises.

    Reuben Abati and Doyin Okupe cannot be absolving the Presidency of complicity in the Rivers crisis while Dame Patience Jonathan, Nyesom Wike and Ahmed Gulak are spitting fire and brimstone against Governor Amaechi. What do they take Nigerians for? They think we are dumb? 

    Despite those repeated  denials from their lying tongues, it is difficult  to disentangle the President and his wife from the in Rivers State crisis. More worrisome is the heresy displayed in the explanation of the  leader of the Pro-Dame Patience Jonathan camp of lawmakers in River state, Evans Bipi, on the reasons he led an onslaught against the state’s House of Assembly members and Governor Amaechi recently, where he stated that, he could not stand Governor Amaechi.

    It is an affront on our collective sensibilities for anyone to say that the  President and his wife are not behind the Rivers crises. How come the police in Rivers State provided security for five members of the 32-member House of Assembly to sit and attempt removing  the Speaker illegally and you say the President is not involved? Why did the same police turn a blind eye when hired thugs  attacked four northern governors, who paid a solidarity visit to Amaechi in Port Harcourt? Why has Mr Mbu, the Rivers State Police commissioner been openly confrontational to Governor Amaechi without being called to order?  Why did President Jonathan, receive in audience, the Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyeson Wike, and the five minority members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who desecrated the constitution on July 9, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja? Should Nigerians not see that as  an inferred recognition by the President of those who are in search of earthly messiahs and saviours  led by one Evan Bapakaye Bipi, who has been ingloriously and shamefully parading himself as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly? Above all, why is  Mr. President still waiting to be briefed by the security chiefs  on the Rivers situation; even after both the Senate and the House of Representatives have  invoked Section 11 of the constitution and effectively took over the responsibilities of the Rivers State legislature? Moreover,is President Jonathan telling Nigerians he is not aware of other personal attacks on the governor, such as with the grounding of his plane; the refusal to allow two helicopters purchased for security operations to enter to country; and the withdrawal of Amaechi’s security detail?

  • PDP: The trouble ahead (1)

    Now that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the registration battle, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been offered the opportunity for a new beginning. The party has been in power for 14 years and appears to have perfected the art of retaining the hold on power at all costs. It seems to have men who understand what it takes to “win” election, even when unpopular. But, that was when the other parties were so weak that they could only offer feeble challenge. Each of the parties tried to hold on to the power structure in its sphere of influence and, as such, they also had to clash with each other, thus giving PDP the room for manouvre.

    The music has changed, the ring has been altered and the game and its ground rules will follow suit. The arrival of APC has brought a new dimension to politicking in the country. Never before has a real two-party system evolved in the country. In the First Republic, there were at least three strong political parties- the Northern Peoples Congress; National Council of Nigerian Citizens and Action Group. There were other much smaller, but powerful parties including the Northern Elements Progressive Union and the United Middle belt Congress. The move to have two parties just before the 1964 federal elections could only produce two grand alliances. An alliance or coalition is not quite the same as a merger.

    In the Second Republic, another move to have two political parties failed. After the 1979 elections, the NPP, GNPP, UPN and PRP tried to come together to fight the NPN. Before anything could come of the effort, the NPP had opted out of the PPA arrangement, rather teaming up with the ruling party. Again, after the NPN/NPP accord had failed, the attempt to have a united opposition ahead of the 1983 general elections failed. The component parties could not agree on the fine details that would have made the parties approach the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) for registration and, consequently, the proposed Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) could not take effect.

    While there were two parties in the so-called Third Republic, they were created by the military government. They were more of parastatals than political parties freely formed by associating politicians and united by interests. The environment, too, was very strange as some politicians had to be banned to create a “newbreed” class to whom the parties were handed. The Republic itself hardly qualified as one as the military held sway at the centre while allowing civilians, supposedly elected to run affairs in the states. The Maradona was really at work. He stung like a bee and flew like a butterfly. He only knew the game he was playing and merely used some of his colleagues to “legitimize” his actions.

    At the inception of this Republic, three political parties were registered and, just before the presidential election, after the military had already succeeded in creating the PDP monster, the All Peoples Party and the Alliance for Democracy, decided to forge a common front to wrest power. But, as in previous attempts, it fell short of a merger and there was little time to sell the resultant coalition. It failed at the poll and, since there was a fallback position, the parties returned to their natural constituencies.

    The situation now is quite different. The merging parties have burnt up the bridge, given up their identities and are sworn to wrest power from the ruling party. It is already generating excitement on the scene. Prior to the merger, it was obvious to all that none of the parties could confront the PDP. The electorate understands the setting and would therefore vote only the PDP or withhold their assent. In the Southwest where the progressive tendency is well entrenched, the people knew in 2003 that the AD was in no position to win the battle and that gave rise to the AD’s ruinous strategy of working with the PDP. The chances were brighter in 2007 following the defection of Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the Action Congress. But, the Northern votes were split between the AC, General Muhammadu Buhari’s All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the PDP’s Umaru Yar’Adua.

    Contrary to the bold face by President Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesman During Okupe, the odds do not favour the PDP now. If the APC can put its acts together, settle for a winner as presidential candidate and get its leaders to campaign vigorously all over the country, it will be an uphill task to win in 2015. The APC got it right in going for a merger and doing it early enough. It has enough time to sell its programme if it is able to come up with one and should have no problem getting voters acquainted with its logo.

    The PDP is now confronted with a different scenario. It may actually be starting the campaigns as an underdog in power. Whatever the situation, Nigerians should look forward to an exciting game.

  • Babangida, Abacha era, my most difficult service years – Former US envoy

    Babangida, Abacha era, my most difficult service years – Former US envoy

    Ambassador Tibor Nagy (Jr) was the Deputy U. S. Ambassador to Nigeria during the reigns of the late Gen. Sanni Abacha, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB). His boss was Amb. Walter Carrington. Ambassador Nagy, who is currently the Vice Provost for International Affairs at Texas Technical University (TTU), is, however, anxious to return to a new Nigeria even as he is facilitating a partnership between TTU and the Oyo State Technical University. In this interview with BISI OLADELE, Nagy reflects on his sojourn in Nigeria and describes the period as “the most difficult aspect of his foreign service career.” Excerpts:

    How would you describe your experience as the Deputy U. S. Ambassador in Nigeria?

    It was the most difficult aspect of my service career. I had three heads of state during my service in Nigeria. Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Gen. Sanni Abacha. Every Nigerian knew Gen. Abacha did not like the U. S. He especially did not like our ambassador, Walter Carrington. So, working under that circumstances was extremely difficult.

    Can you recall one or two of those difficult experiences?

    First, very few government officials would be willing to talk to us because Gen. Abacha was not kind to those people who disagreed with him or did things against him. Two, we would be called to Abuja at the last minute on the instruction that Gen. Abacha wanted to see us. But we would sit down, waiting and waiting, sometimes till 2 am. The Nigerian security people would be following us. It was not what I call a pleasant experience. But at the same time, those of us who were there enjoyed Nigeria and Nigerians. We had many friends, even in the media. It was very courageous of them to come to the American Embassy or the ambassador’s residence or to my residence because those residences were under close watch of security. So, it was really courageous for them to come to us. You will recall that many journalists were arrested, some were jailed, some were beaten up. We thank God the country has moved on.

    Now that TTU is in a partnership with a Nigerian university, would you ever love to return to Nigeria for any official assignment?

    I am looking forward to that. I am excited to return to Nigeria because I know Nigeria will be a totally different country now. Same people but living in a totally different country. I am looking forward to seeing Murtala Mohammed International Airport and other places in a free society.

    Why are you eager to go back there in spite of your bad experience when you served there?

    Even during the bad experience, I knew that every true Nigerian is good. Now I am going back to see a true Nigeria and Nigerians.

    From your experience, how would you describe a typical Nigerian?

    A typical Nigerian is dynamic, ambitious, energetic, open to the world, moving forward and that applies to the 160 million citizens immaterial of ethnic group or religion.

    If you have another opportunity to go and serve again in Nigeria, would you accept it?

    I will. I was in the Governor Romney’s Presidential race team. If he had won the presidential election, I would have asked him to send me back to Nigeria.

  • APC: PDP’s control of some northern states under threat

    APC: PDP’s control of some northern states under threat

    With the registration of All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party’s control of some states will be put under severe test in the 2015 general elections if the present political realities in the country are anything to go by. Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo, reports on the realities in some northern states

    The formal registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has heightened expectations of unexpected surprises in the likely outcome of the 2015 general elections.

    In states like Benue, Gombe, Katsina, Kano and a few others, where PDP governors are at the helm of affairs, the 2015 elections at all levels promises to be keenly contested between the PDP and APC, which with its registration a few days ago, has assumed the status of a mega party that can challenge the dominance of the ruling party.

    With the exception of Benue and Katsina, which have been controlled by the PDP since the inception of democratic rule in 1999, Kano and Gombe have been ruled by the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and PDP, with the latter having a slight advantage.

    Why Kano is a toss up

    The present political configuration in the state against the backdrop of the successful merger of some major political parties to form APC, clearly points to a likely photo finish between the ruling party and the new party in the 2015 elections.

    Though PDP is currently in control of the state, there is no gainsaying the fact that ANPP and CPC also boast of substantial followership in the North West state. In fact, not a few political stakeholders in the state are of the opinion that PDP and the defunct ANPP and by extension APC now boasts equal strength in the state.

    A brief rundown of the political control of the state since 1999 will suffice.

    In 1999, the PDP with the incumbent governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as its candidate won the election. Kwankwaso, however, lost his election bid in 2003 to Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, the governorship candidate of the now defunct ANPP.

    And for the first time in the political history of the state where a sitting governor failed to win reelection, Shekarau proved bookmakers’ wrong when he won a second term in office.

    But his attempt to instal a successor, Salihu Sagir Takai, who served in his administration as the Commissioner for Local Government, in the 2011 general election, failed, as Kwankwaso staged a dramatic comeback to the exalted seat he vacated in 2003.

    Takai’s loss at the polls, according to sources, may not be unconnected to the internal crisis that rocked ANPP, with many of its key stakeholders alleging that he was undemocratic. This, party members said, allegedly worked against Takai at the election.

    But with the merging of ANPP and CPC (whose formation and launch in Kano before the 2011 polls generated excitement among the people due to the cult-like status of its former national leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari), coupled with the alleged disenchantment of the incumbent governor with his party, there are strong feelers that the ruling party may lose the next governorship polls in the state.

    The number of political offices held by members of the PDP and the defunct ANPP is also quite instructive in how the 2015 election pans out.

    Out of the three senatorial seats in the National Assembly, PDP controls two, while ANPP has one. And in the state House of Assembly, the PDP is said to control about 65 percent of the seats, with the rest held by ANPP.

    The Benue scenerio

    Another state that will be under focus in the battle for the governorship and other elective positions in 2015 is the North-Central state of Benue.

    From 1999 till date, there has been a stiff electoral contest between the PDP and the defunct ANPP and ACN.

    The incumbent senator representing Benue North West, George Akume, was elected as governor of the state in 1999 and won a second term in 2003.

    Against all odds, his anointed candidate as successor, Gabriel Suswam, then a member of the House of Representatives, won the 2007 governorship election.

    As a result of unresolved political differences between Akume and Suswam, the former left the PDP for ACN about two years before the 2011 elections.

    In furtherance of his resolve to cut Suswam to size politically and frustrate his second term ambition, Akume backed United States-based Professor Steve Torkuma Ugba as the ACN governorship candidate in an election which outcome was controversial and acrimonious.

    The case dragged on for almost two years, with the Supreme Court sometime last year finally affirming the victory of Suswam in the 2011 election.

    Suswam also made attempts to pay back Akume in his own coins. The governor had also supported Terngu Tsegbe as the PDP candidate to challenge Akume for the Benue North West seat. Tsegbe lost.

    Beside Akume, who is a member of the opposition in the National Assembly, his former party, ACN also boasts about one third of members in the House of Representatives and the state House of Assembly.

    For Akume and Suswam, the next general election will be another opportunity to determine who is in control of the politics of the state, with not a few observers listing Benue State among other states as one of the flashpoints at the next polls.

    However, sources in the state say the PDP is in for a tough fight at the next polls if the relative strength of the defunct ACN and ANPP (now APC) in the state is maximally leveraged on by its leading lights.

    Gombe also dicey

    The Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, who is reportedly interested in seeking for a second term in office, also has his work cut out.

    According to The Nation findings, leaders of APC have, in the last couple of months, been busy harmonising the structures of all the political parties that merged into the new party with the aim of checking the dominance of the PDP in the North East state.

    The APC leaders believe the party stands a good chance to alter the prevailing political dynamics of the state.

    According to sources, the popularity of the defunct ANPP, which produced the governor of the state from 1999 to 2003 in the person of Alhaji Abubakar Hashidu, and the CPC, which currently has a sizeable number of members in the state and House of Representatives, has raised hopes of giving PDP a run for its money at the 2015 general elections.

    Same in Bauchi

    The situation is the same in Bauchi State where the governor, Isa Yuguda, will be completing his second term in 2015.

    While Yuguda has not yet given any hint on his likely successor, the APC, with notable political figures like Yuguda’s former deputy, Alhaji Garba Gadi and youthful Senator Nasif Nasif, who unconfirmed sources say may be picked as the party’s governorship candidate in 2015, is poised to change the political status quo post-2015 era.