The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

‘Hypertension can be prevented’

When our forefathers ate roasted corn with its husk; drank pap with its chaff or cooked plantain with its skin, they knew what they were doing. It was not because they were crude. They were actually preventing hypertension.

They were actually eating more of potassium than sodium (salt).

According to the Health Coach/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Seaduck Nigeria Limited, Sam Ayeni, hypertension is rare in populations with low sodium intake, but sodium alone is not the problem, it is the combination of much sodium and too little potassium.

“When potassium is depleted, the body’s cells look for sodium to make up for the loss. We should be eating about five times more potassium than sodium (5:1). To prevent and treat hypertension, the Institute of Medical recommends a daily intake of 50 to 50 mmol of sodium, and a minimum of 120 mmol of potassium rich foods including potatoes with skin, banana, milk, orange, milk, orange juice, tomato juice, cooked spinach, avocados, raisins and red beans.”

Ayeni said: “Magnesium works with potassium to activate the sodium/potassium pump, which pumps potassium into, and sodium out of the cells. Magnesium also widens the blood vessels and high intakes lower blood pressure readings from research. Magnesium rich foods include seafood, legumes, kelp, wheat bran, wheat germ, almonds, cashew, and peanuts. Fruits and fruit juice, leafy green vegetables and sunflower seeds are also good dietary sources of magnesium.

“Researchers have observed that calcium supplementation appears to reverse the blood pressure raising impact of salt, especially in salt sensitive individuals. Blood pressure is the force of the bloodstream against the walls of the arteries as they send blood from the heart to the rest of the body.”

Explaining how hypertension is developed, Ayeni said: “At the end of each artery, tiny blood vessels called arterioles deliver blood to all the tissues. When the wall of the arterioles tighten, blood pressure goes up. When those walls relax, blood pressure goes down. And the higher number refers to systolic blood pressure, which refers to the pressure exerted when the heart contracts. The lower number, the diastolic pressure, measures the rests between heartbeats. “Gestational hypertension” may occur during pregnancy, and is implicated in low birth weight and early delivery.

“People with a lot of calcium in their coronary arteries are more likely to have heart attacks and strokes and these outcomes might be avoidable by keeping blood pressure low when one is young. We can not do anything about our age, race or gender. But we can control many of the other risk factors for hypertension, such as obesity, poor diet and lifestyle choices and lack of proper medical care. Being overweight can cause or worsen kidney disease and the kidneys help regulate blood pressure.

“High blood pressure can damage the kidneys. Kidney damage further raises the blood pressure, and the vicious cycle continues. Our fat tissue and kidneys generate a complicated system of hormones. These hormones determine the width of the arteries and, therefore, the pressure of the blood in the arteries, in addition, abdominal fat leads to a heightened production of the hormone insulin. If salt must be taken, it is advisable to go for unrefined salt, sea salt in its naturalness is the best.”

What you should know about hypertension

• Have your blood pressure checked and monitored regularly.

• Maintain a healthy body weight. Carrying too much weight increases your chances of developing high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association.

• Exercise regularly. Aim for two hours and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every week. Lack of physical activity can contribute to high blood pressure.

• Eat more fruits and vegetables. Include potassium and whole grains and less saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. Read nutrition labels. Reduce sodium intake — most of the sodium we eat comes from processed and restaurant foods.

• Don’t smoke. According to the American Heart Association, smoking temporarily raises blood pressure and increases risk of damaged arteries.

• Watch how much alcohol you consume. Alcohol contributes to high blood pressure. Generally, men should keep it down to less than two drinks a day, and women should have no more than one drink per day.

• If you have high blood pressure, take your medication as directed. Tell your doctor if you are experiencing side effects.

•Source: www.care2.com

May 23, 2013
Why my govt is popular, by Oshiomhole

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole was a guest of Gbenga Aruleba on the Africa Independent Television (AIT) last week. He spoke on the activities of his administration and other partisan issues.

What is your reaction to the condem- nation of the recent local government elections by the PDP?

If the election was popular with the opposition, it means it conformed with the standard of the opposition. And who is the opposition in this case, it is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Their record concerning the conduct of election is an open secret. They do not believe in one-man, one-vote. They believe in thuggery, they believe in falsification of results, they believe in declaring winners and losers. It is the culture they have entrenched since 1999. So, if the oppositions were to celebrate what we have done, then something must be wrong. I think what matters are the views of the independent observers on ground because election is not a mystery that people cannot see through. But to start from the point you made, I assumed office on November 12, 2008. As of that time, all the local governments were under the control of the PDP. On December 16, 2007, everybody in Edo State including distant and close observers will confirm this, there was no election whatsoever that year.

As they say, two wrongs don’t make a right. It is precisely because of this culture of rigging, this culture of imposition that formed the basis of my campaign for one-man, one-vote, and my campaign against rigging, against imposition.

Given our track record, we have always won election since I assumed office. In the National Assembly elections, we won; in the House of Assembly election, we won and in the Governorship election, we won. So, for the PDP, it is clear that they are out of this state. So I believe that everything considered, an observer will tell you that this is the best election ever conducted in any local government anywhere in Nigeria and I am proud of that.

How do we strengthen local governments to make them deliver on their mandate?

When I won in 2007, it was under the PDP government and I worked with them for about two years before the end of their tenure. So, it is about conviction. We need to entrench power in the hands of the people, because the problem we are having today, when people say that this democracy is not delivering, look at where it is not delivering, you will find out that it is mostly in those states where elections are massively rigged. In Edo State, people agree that we are delivering, but it is also not a coincidence because we don’t have godfathers, if we don’t work we can’t get the people’s votes. We derive our popularity and strenght from the people.

What will be the mandate of the local government now that they are in place?

The challenges in local government are not the same. In Oredo local government for instance, the Chairman said he discovered that cemetery is completely over grown with weeds and people have problem using public cemetery and this is something he is going to pay attention to, and I think it makes a lot of sense.

There are also issues of environmental sanitation. There are certain things, under the constitution that are within the purview of the local government, for example, markets. It is for local governments to build markets, clean up the market and make sure that they function. They have basic responsibility in the area of sanitation. They have basic challenges in terms of managing the parks. There are specific responsibilities that local governments are supposed to perform, but as a party, this was clear in my address. I said to them, our own secret of survival is simple: work for the people. Now, the needs of our people are still at the basic level.

They want to have their children in schools. Schools that are beautiful, teachers that are qualified, motivated and ready to teach. They want to have clean water to drink. They want to switch on power in their houses, they need electricity; they want to be able to sleep with that sense of security.

These are just basic needs which other people call Millennium Development Goals. As a Governor, we still have a role to play in that. Local governments also have their roles to play and we need to complement each other. There are some rural roads that you need to grade, communities that are completely inaccessible, I believe it is the birth-right of every Nigerian to be able to travel in some comfort to his location and travel from his location to the city, and if we are going to deal with rural poverty, and eliminate it, then the starting point is infrastructure. We must build more rural roads, so that our farmers who work so hard, and have good harvest, they should not watch their farm produce rot away because they can’t take them to the market. So, all these are the issues. Of course, we have to take over substantially because a lot of local governments don’t have enough resources to deal with these challenges.

What is your take on the agitation for full autonomy for local governments?

Well, it is about definition. In Edo State, we do not control the local governments and, but I agree from the records that under PDP, the local governments were being controlled to some extent in the sense that there is evidence of state government procuring vehicles, procuring tractors for local governments on behalf of local governments at a price that is arguably not competitive. I think a local government should have the right to make a decision whether to procure tractor and whether to get it at a price that is competitive. I don’t think I should be a procurement officer on behalf of local governments. But the evidence exist. However, there is an area in which I believe we are all interfering which is the issues of payment of teachers’ salaries. In Edo State, we insist that the first charge on the allocation to local government should be in favour of the payment of teachers’ salaries. And the reason is that over the years, we have had situation in which sometimes teachers were not paid for months and once the teachers are not paid for a month or two, they will stop teaching and so you find a situation in which only children of the rich who are in private schools are in schools. Those of the poor who are in government schools are at home, because teachers are not paid, therefore, they are on strike. In order to stop this, I think it is a national, more or less a national policy, that when the allocation comes from Abuja, the local governments are compelled to pay their teachers first before any other thing. But when people talk about joint account, I really don’t know what they mean. In Edo State, we don’t have joint account with local governments; what accrues to Edo State government is defined directly by Abuja and is paid directly to State Government Account; that of the local governments is entirely separated. Local government money comes separately, that of the State Government is separated all the way from Abuja. What accrues to each of the local government is also analyzed all the way from Abuja. It is not Edo State that distributes it. We don’t have a different formula. For example, Oredo local government knows from the Federation Account what money is accruing to it. It is clearly stated at the Federation Account. It is not something Edo State Government has discretion over. However, when the Federation Account has allocated what accrues to each of the local governments we now decide to deduct in favour of the Primary School Education Board that sum that is required for the payment of teachers salary. Now, in a truly autonomous local government situation, the Governor has no right to direct the local governments on whether to pay salaries or not.

What efforts is Edo State making to ensure that Edo citizens are not at the receiving end of the ravaging flood?

This is one area one can’t be too sure what will happen but I think we know what we are doing and the outcome we expect as a result of what we are doing. In Benin City, even in normal times, it is a city that has been proned to flooding. I remember in 2007, some families lost their babies to flood, right from their bedroom. In parts of Benin City, because the drainages were either blocked or they did not exist at all. At Five Junction, if it rains for five minutes, you can’t pass there. A security man told me how he was almost drowned at Tomline area, after few minutes of rainfall. My current Commissioner for Information, he will share his experience with you, when he was coming from Lagos passing through Ugbowo, on approaching Tomline, it was raining and before he knew it water had entered his car and he could not locate the lever of his gear box; so things were that bad, but we dealt with the issue of flooding in Benin, rather decisively. We carried out what we call Benin City Water Storm master plan under which we are able to identify precisely where we have flooding problem, how to solve it, where to channel the flood water to; and right now, we are prosecuting a N30 billion comprehensive Benin City storm water project. Under this scheme, we are dredging almost fourteen kilometers of a canal, I mean part of it is almost seven meters high by about eight meters wide just enough to convey all the flood water to the river and we have done about fifty percent of that. That has been very helpful, so even last year when the rest of some places experienced flooding that did not occur in Benin because of the impact of the storm water and also the impact of the dredging we have done in the moat clean up to allow the water to flow.

May 23, 2013
Presidency, National Assembly’s quest for peace

In the last five years, there has been a relative improvement in the executive-legislature relationship. Assistant Editor Onyedi Ojiabor writes on the factors that account for the situation.

There is the popular belief that the business of government usually sufffers whenever the relationship between the executive and the legislature is strained.

To observers, the constant feud between the two critical organs of government usually affects the effectiveness of the government in its bid to deliver the dividends of democracy to the electorate. Besides, the constant conflict between the executive and legislature could put the nation’s democracy in danger, if not properly tackled.

During the days of former Prsident Olusegun Obasanjo, there were several attempts to muzzle the legislature. But the attempt to assert the independence of the legislature, considering its constitutional role in the political arrangement, invariably brought it on collision with the executive. This led to frequent frictions between the two arms of government.

The protracted face-off took a life of notoriety under the past adminisration, with the removal of three Senate Presidents in three years.

In the circumstances that led to the removal of Senators Evan(s) Enwerem, Chuba Okadigbo or Adolphus Wabara, as senate presidents, the connivance, collusion or involvement of the executive arm of government was always alleged.

Most National Assembly watchers at the time saw the Presidency as the unseen hand behind the crisis of confidence that almost wrecked the Senate.

But President Olusegun Obasanjo was resisted by the House of Representatives where attempts to unseat former Speaker Ghali Umar Na’Abba was aborted.

The executive arm, with its awesome powers, was more inclined to overturning the leadership of any Senate President or House Speaker that refused to bend to its dictates.

Such was the situation that pervaded the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly in the eight years when Obasanjo held sway.

However, the situation has since improved substantially, with the departure of Obasanjo from the seat of power and the inauguration of President Umaru Yar’Adua and the Goodluck Jonathan presidency.

The Office of the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, apparently, had this in mind when it decided to host a two-day conference in Abuja on the executive-legislature relations.

However, the conference started on a controversial note. It was reported that the House of Representatives adopted a motion to stay away from the talk-shop. It turned out that there was no such motion.

Instead, the House, in what was described as an unprecedented show of solidarity to the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, adjourned plenary and literally shifted base to the international conference centre, Abuja, to attend the conference.

House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal later explained that the House took the unanimous decision to adjourn plenary for one day to attend the conference to demonstrate that the report of boycott by the House was not only unfounded, but absolutely hollow.

Tambuwal also said the huge attendance of members was an indication that the House could go for anything that would guarantee political stability.

To underscore his interest in the talk-shop, Tambuwal lauded the conference, describing it as a forum for the executive and the legislature to learn new ways of relating with each other to stimulate harmony in governance.

The Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, who set the tone for the conference, said the interaction became necessary, given the complementary role the two arms of government were expected to play in governance.

The conference, with the theme: ‘Strengthening Executive-Legislature collaboration in governance,’ Mrs Emodi said, was part of the efforts of her office to consolidate the gains of the past and to explore new and more meaningful ways of strengthening executive-legislature relations in the country.

Participants believed that building a better understanding between the executive and the legislature is a dynamic process, and underscoreds the essence of the conference.

Many internationally-acclaimed resource persons, drawn from experienced democracies, including United States, South Africa, Jamaica and from within the country, did justice to the conference.

Former Senate President Joseph Wayas declared that a legislature that exists to rubber-stamp all the pronouncements of the executive cannot be said to be democratic.

He said that absolute separation of powers does not exist any where.

“If there was absolute separation of powers, there will not be govern-ment”, Wayas added.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who inaugurated the talk shop, declared that the executive and legislature were neither competing nor in battle for supremacy.

Represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Jonathan said the members of the two arms of government were only messengers elected to bring democratic goods.

“Our roles, duties and responsibilities are well defined and there is no reason, whatsoever, for us not to work together for the greatness of our country” he added.

For Jonathan, there was no need for any rivalry between the two arms as both arms were not competitors but part of the same government elected by the people to deliver the dividends of democracy.

He added that, while the presidential system of government had separation of powers as one of its cardinal principles, it did not mean that the arms of government should work at cross purposes.

“The executive and legislature are not in competition; we are not in a battle for supremacy. We are all messengers sent on an errand to bring democratic goods to the people.

“I have maintained a policy of non-interference in the activities of the National Assembly.

“But let me correct the impression that any disagreement between the executive and legislature amounts to a fight.

“Parties may differ on issues but national interest must be collective and overriding,” Jonathan submitted.

The President did not end his address without adding that “today, we have a stable National Assembly and a cordial atmosphere suitable for the conduct of parliamentary business.

“What Nigerians want and deserve is good governance to the highest standards. The relationship between the executive and the legislature is not about the two arms but it is about the governed.

“It is about harnessing our constitutional powers and God-given talents, and deploying our positions as public servants to drive our progress as a nation,” the President said.

Senate President David Mark said the executive and legislature operates on the same wave-length except that sometimes each arm sees things from different perspectives.

Mark was however, quick to add that the occasional friction between both arms was necessary to put each other in check and prevent tyranny in the system. He underscored the fact that what the system needed was not competition but the collaboration of the two arms of government.

The Chairman of the African National Congress (ANC), Ms Baleka Mbete, agreed that a collaborative executive-legislature relations could be achieved in a country like Nigeria. Mbete spoke on the topic: “Parliamentary majority, the party and the executive: A tripartite for mandate delivery.”

The ANC chair harped on the principle of social contract as fundamental, irrespective of the electoral system applicable (Presidential or Parliamentary). as the mandate vested on the basis of proposals tabled before the electorate.

Rigorous interaction between members of the executive and the parliament, he said, must occur in the parliamentary caucus in order to ensure that there is consensus while members of the majority party define strategies of how to tackle policy issues.

She did not forget to add that it is important that the engagement takes place in an environment based on the notion of collective responsibility by members of the majority party from both sides of the spectrum.

She said if conducted in an open manner between the members of the executive and the Legislature, it could result in approaches that would be beneficial to the State, the party and the country.

She noted that the nexus was to ensure the achievement of the desired societal outcome based on a common policy platform.

Mbete said the interaction by members of the majority party in the executive and legislature, respecting their respective state responsibilities, is embedded in the deep notion of democracy, promoting the separation of powers, the rule of law and the achievement of the growth and development objectives.

“It is inherent in the design of the modern democratic state that there are sufficient checks and balances that will moderate any excesses, thereby completing the cycle of having a balanced, well oiled and well functioning democratic state.”

Also, she said that parliament must ensure that it provides an enabling environment for all parliamentarians to do their work and for the executive to implement parliament policy decisions.

A parliamentarian from Jamaica,Mr. Derrick Smith, spoke on “The opposition in parliament: Reconciling party and national interest for democratic consolidation, good governance and national development.”

Others who presented papers were Ruth Wedgwood, a Professor of Law from the Johns Hopkins University; Professor Okechukwu Oko, who spoke on “Building cordial legislature-executive relations in Nigeria” and Senator Jonathan Silas Zwingina, a former Deputy Senate Leader.

May 22, 2013
‘Katsina Assembly can’t be rubber stamp’

Katsina State House of Assembly Speaker Yau Gwajo-Gwajo spoke with reporters in Lagos on the Shema Administration and the pattern of executive/legislature relationship in the state. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE reports the excerpts:

How has it been in the last six years you have been the Speaker of theKatsina State House of Assembly?

It has been challenging but God has made it easy for me. This is my second term as the speaker. For me, the credit goes to the Almighty Allah and my wonderful colleagues. I must say that I have enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with my colleagues. They made my job easy.

I have been in politics since 1991 during the two-party system of the Ibrahim Babangida military regime when I was elected as councillor. Then, I was a teacher. So, I can say, with all humility, that I have gotten some experience, too.

What is the relationship between the executive and the legislature in the state?

It has been very cordial. It has been excellent. The reason for this peaceful relationship is simple. Our governor has only one vision, and that is how he can contribute his own quota to the development of the state. Of course, he has been doing this even before he became the governor. And since we are also here for the development of the state, it makes our job easier. You see, there is need to have a focused and prudent leadership. Whether at or at the federal level. Once the leadership is focused, it makes transformation of the state an easy job.

How would you rate administration?

It is focussed. And so, the state is not doing badly. We have a leader who knows what governance is all about; that it is not a tea-party. He knows that it is about the destiny of the people; about the common wealth of the people. If you are not prudent and focused, you cannot have the kind of development we are witnessing in the state presently.

Do you know that education from primary to tertiary education is free in the state? Do you know that health care, too, is free, particularly, for infants and people above 60? Do you know that accident victims are treated free, even to the point of surgery? There are over 200 new schools built and more are still being built. Do you know that more than 400 students are outside the shores of this country on scholarship reading all kinds of courses? It is only in this state that we don’t differentiate which tribe you belong to. As far as we are concerned, we are all Nigerians. Also, we are one of the few states whose legislative arm enjoys full financial autonomy just like the judiciary. And when you have financial autonomy, it makes you more independent. And that is why we don’t need to inform the executive when we are going on any over sight functions.

Critics say your oversight functions are mere rubber-stamp functions. How would you react to this?

Let me say this. Our own oversight functions are real. We make resolutions, which are sent to the executive. I want to thank the governor at this point because there is really no resolutions that we have sent to him that he hasn’t acted on. When it comes to the budget, most of our resolutions are designed within the budget, and 75 per cent of the budget goes to capital projects and this is within the resolutions of the House. So, when he is preparing the next budget, we are always represented. Also, we go for our oversight functions every quarter, item by item, subhead by subhead, according to their releases so that we can cross check what is in the paper with what is on the ground. Beyond that, each and every one of us in the house also return to the house to give account of what the executive has executed in our constituencies, these are various ways by which we carry out our oversight functions.

There are two major parties in the House. How have you been able to lead your colleagues, such that there has been no tension in the House and with the executive?

I said earlier, if your mission is about the good of the people, then, it won’t be that difficult to lead your colleagues. The moment we all enter the chambers, we forget partisanship because we are all representing our people. Our goal is to serve our people, not parties. We don’t play politics in the House. Of course, outside the chambers, you can have majority leader or minority leader discussing with their members, but once we are inside, there is no difference.

So, you insist the House is not rubber stamp of the executive?

Having explained all that I have said so far, will it be fair, even to you, to now challenge the executive for no just cause? This is not a popularity contest, mind you. What would be the essence of confrontation with the executive? I just told you that most of our resolutions in the House are carried out by the executive. The budget is also a manifestation of our resolutions. Now tell me, on what ground are we going to confront them? I know that some states legislature are not in good terms with their executive but that does not mean every other state legislature should be in disagreement with the executive, not when the executive is performing. We have our full financial autonomy. As we speak now, some of my members are not in the country and the executive is not aware of it. The governor is not aware of this now. Is that not part of the independence we are talking about? So, how can we now be a rubber stamp? Is it only when we are confrontational and heat up the polity that we are not rubber stamp? I beg to disagree.

Do you support the creation of more states?

For me, it has more of advantages than its negative. Unfortunately, we don’t have leaders who are accommodating. If we do, there won’t be need looking for or agitating for more states. Everybody needs to be represented, however, small the group may be. Some of our leaders, who are privileged to lead us, when they get the opportunity to do so, they only concentrate development within a particular tribe or section. Of course, such a thing can only divide the people, and that is why this state is different. Be rest assured that if the governor gets three cars for example, it is given that it is the three senatorial districts that would get it. One for Funtua, one for Daura and one for Katsina. There is no preferential treatment here. I think states creation agitation is essentially because of injustice of unequal development or no development at all. If the leaders are justifying the resources available to them, I am sure there wont be this kind of agitation for states creation. Even if there would be, it won’t be this high.

May 22, 2013
Okwu: APGA will sue Okorocha, if he joins APC

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Maxi Okwu, spoke on the crisis rocking the party and the preparations for the next governorship election in Anambra State. EMMANUEL OLADESU was there.

Why are you still laying claim to the chairmanship of APGA, despite the subsisting court order on the leadership tussle?

Chief Victor Umeh did not win any appeal as people were wrongly made to believe. What he got was a stay of one of the four orders by the Court of Appeal. I wish I came with the document, I would have make a copy for you to read through. Out of the four orders that the Enugu State High Court made, only one was stayed. They stayed that aspect that restrained him from parading himself as the chairman of our party. The Court of Appeal agreed that all issues have been overtaken by events; that there was no convention. Second; that there should be a convention and that the NEC of the party should have met and ordered a convention. I think there are about four issues raised and we have done all that.

The court never said there was non-existent convention. Every lawyer knows that you don’t stay what has been done. The deed had been done already, judgement have been executed by the NEC of the party, convened a convention in Awka and elected its national officers. Umeh’s activities against the party is an exercise in futility. One of such Umeh’s activities is the Federal High Court in Awka that granted a midnight exparte-order restraining me and my executive officers from parading ourselves as such. 14 days after, on April 15, 2013, the motion was filed, argued and granted. Days after that exercise, we file a motion to vacate the order. It has lapsed.

Don’t you regret losing Governor Rochas Okorocha to the APC?

It is worrisome. we advise him to rethink. The position of governor of a state is not a small thing. We would not be talking of sanction or discipline for him. We’ll wait and see whether sanity will prevail through diplomacy and behind the scene discussion. But, at the end of the day, he would decide. His issue will become a legal thing, if APC is finally registered and Okorocha collects the card. For now, by the position of the law, he is still a card-carrying member of the APGA. Politically, APGA was there before Okorocha become a governor and the party will continue to exist after him. Rochas has been with other parties in the country before he used the APGA platform. He owed this party a lot. There is a moral burden for him to carry at this juncture.

Don’t you think that APGA should resolve its crisis before the next elections, starting from Anambra State?

I have been trying my best to bring every aggrieved member back to the fold. A political party cannot isolate itself from crisis. As we sit here today, there are internal crises in the PDP, which are even worse than what we have in the APGA. What we suddenly realise in our party is that Chief Umeh is now like a bull in China’s shop. From his approach and activities, he wants to destroy APGA, rather than allowing the House to stand. We will not allow that to happen. We are going to ease him out. If the 26 NEC members that he leads have left him, except two or three of his cronies, he should have seen the handwriting on the wall and resigned. In a much more civilised society, Chief Umeh should have edhonourably without being ask to quit. Be that as it may, I have extended a hand of fellowship to him thrice. I have said it times without number that I will give him a landing, but he has refused to accept my hands of fellowship. Instead, he has been fighting harder. There is a limit which you can push a horse to drink. Umeh and his followers have one leg in the APC arrangment. As I am speaking to you, Chief Umeh is the Director of Publicity of ‘C 21’ group founded by Rochas Okorocha. All of them are in the APC. For instance, have you ever heard that Umeh condemned Okorocha’s romance with the yet to be registered APC? Again, when Umeh got the court order against the party, Okorocha embraced him. They are working hand in glove.

In your own view. What do you think is energising him?

I am aware that Umeh has tasted power for long being a chairman of APGA. He was empowered by the party’s constitution. I am also aware that a fat pocket is giving him a full backing. So, there’s a lot at stake when you are the chairman of a strong party like the APGA.

Why is APGA kicking Umeh out when his tenure as the chairman has not expired?

People have forgotten that Umeh started as the Acting National Chairman of the party since December 2004. Now, we are in 2013. He has been parading himself as the APGA Chairman for almost nine years. There was a time he took Chekwas to court when Chekwas said he won’t stay beyond eight years. The basic fact is that Umeh has been APGA’s Chairman for nine years uninterrupted and he still want to continue in that position. If his tenure is four years, that was renewable. By January 2007, when the convention that the court nullified was held, Umeh’s tenure has expired. He has stayed beyond his tenure. Normally, before your tenure expires as chairman, you need to conduct fresh election, but he did not do so because he cares to remain as APGA Chairman forever. Even the PDP that people have condemned on so many occasion have changed its national chairman more than once since 2004. Yet, the likes of Umeh have been throwing bricks to PDP on many issues. Whereas, here at APGA, he want to be the chairman forever. Leadership is not what you say but what you do that matter.

INEC has written to Chief Umeh and recognised him as the authentic APGA National Chairman. What’s your reaction to this development?

Is that so? Okay, I have not seen copy of the letter. As soon as I see it, I will react.

Can you clarify what you said in Awka about the late Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu?

Late Zik was known for his Febian tactics in tackling political challenges. He was always for compromise as a consumate politician. However, I said Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu was a man who was firm in his views and he usually knew where he stood at a particular time. Once a matter came up, Ikemba was known for taking position and remaining with such a position.

There is a controversy about your origin. Where do you come from?

How can anybody stand up and say that to me? I am from Orji River in Enugu State. It’s so clear, it is not arguable. My father is not a hidden person. He was a Senator, Minister and everything. I am from Achi in Enugu State. I found the insinuation laughable.

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has not conducted local government elections.Now, as the party chairman, would you assure that he would conduct the elections before he leaves office?

I can assure you that the local government election will take place in Anambra State this year. The electoral commission has assured me that they will do that. The arrangement had been on ground, even before my election. The legal constraints have been removed to ensure that the council elections take place this year. Once I am involved, Governor Obi is going to give his own assurance.

May 22, 2013
Amaechi, Shema: Who is next NGF chair?

Tension is rising in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) as the body prepares for its chairmanship election. AUGUSTINE EHIKOYA writes on the contenders, the outside forces shaping the contest and the future of the association.

The 36 governors may converge on Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), this month to elect the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). Obviously, there is a crack on the wall. Unlike what it used to be, this time, the forum is not united. There are crises and tension. The chairmanship election of the forum, the intrigues, power-play and last minute calculation by the two contenders and their camps have reached the peak.

The race between the incumbent NGF Chairman and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema has not only divided the forum, but it is also heating up the polity.

Since its inception in 1999, what is playing out now is viewed by many as the intrigue of the highest order. Expectedly, the contest has generated a bad blood among the governors.

Lamenting the present rowdy and dangerous scenario, a serving governor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “What is happening now is really worrisome. This is the first time the Nigeria Governors’ Forum is experiencing this type of crisis.

“Change of leadership has always been done in a matured and smooth manner. Since 1999, the baton has changed smoothly from the first NGF Chairman, former Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Adamu to former Akwa Ibom State Governor Victor Attah to former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion to former Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki and to Rotimi Amaechi, the incumbent.” he recalled.

Amaechi, who was declared winner of the Rivers State governorship election in 2007, was re-elected governor in April 2011, and now wants a second tenure to lead the 36 state governors.

But his party, the People Democratic Party (PDP) and the power-that-be, seem not to be favourably disposed towards his ambition, and particularly, the plan of the opposition governors in the Forum. The governors in the opposition parties, partiuclarly those of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), are allegedly supporting Amaechi because he is believed to have operated an open-door policy in his first tenure, where he allowed the interests and decisions of the majority of governors to prevail on any particular issue.

Amaechi has the support of the majority of the governors. He is loved by the opposition governor and they are mobilising their PDP colleagues to back him. Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, who belongs to the ACN had declared that: “Forget the noise you are hearing out there. When election for Governors’ Forum Chairman comes, you will see.”

While Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema is aspiring to unseat Amaechi and occupy the NGF Governorship seat this what he has going for him is the blessing and support of the PDP leadership.

Though Shema is believed to have what it takes to lead the forum, some Northern leaders believed that, should Shema win the NGF chairmanship it would be a gambit to prevent the North from getting the ticket to run for the 2015 presidential election under the PDP platform.

The PDP leadership is believed by stakeholders to be willing and ready to mobilize the PDP machine toward the success of Shema.

The creation of the PDP Governors Forum, chaired by Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, is seen as a plot by the PDP leadership to break the ranks of the governors in order to ensure smooth ride by Shema.

It is also believed that the recent troubles coming the way of Amaechi were pre-arranged and meant to destabilise and prevent him from retaining the NGF chairmanship.

Kicking against the politics of imposition, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) had called on the PDP and the power-that-be to allow the governors a free hand to elect the person they desire to lead them.

The body also believes that the PDP leadership was behind crisis in the Forum. Spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum Prof Ango Abdullahi said: “The problem we now have is that the President wants to exercise excessive control over the governors and all other party members and organs.

“He wants to take everything and that is what is responsible for the conflict between the President and the governors, individually or as a group. As far as we are concerned, this conflict needs not be there.

“What is wrong with the governors getting together under a forum to discuss common problems and issues that can help them to serve their people and Nigerians better? What is wrong with that?”

But the elder statesman and former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark said that the governors were constituting and acting as an opposition party to the Federal Government, with some of their activities driving the country to chaos.

He accused the PDP governors in the NGF of exerting over-bearing influence on the party and damaging the party’s supremacy.

In the next 48 hours, it is hoped that democracy will, at the end of the day, be allowed to dictate the proceedings at NGF chairmanship election. This is the only way that the true will of the governors can be expressed.

May 21, 2013
Can Southsouth-Southeast integration work?

Southsouth and Southeast governors have met in Asaba, Delta State capital, to fashion out an agenda for economic integration and development of the two zones, MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE reports.

Regional economic integration has become a model for political cohesion in most countries. In Nigeria, it is now the norm. It was adopted in the First Republic and it provided the regions with the opportunity for healthy competition for the socio-economic advancement of their people.

Last week, governors of the Southsouth and the Southeast geo-political zones gathered in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, for the same purpose. Besides, they also reviewed the political situation in the country. At the end of the day, they agreed to cooperate on economic matters for the development of the two regions.

The meeting held behind close doors. However, Cross River State Governor Senator Liyel Imoke and his Anambra State counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi later addressed the media on their deliberations.

Others at the meeting were Abia State Governor Theodore Orji; Akwa Ibom-State Governor Godwill Akpabio; Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson; Ebonyi State Governor Martins Elechi; Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime; Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and Rivers State Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru.

The host, Governor Uduaghan, told newsmen that the meeting was called to deliberate on the national issues and how they affect the two regions. Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole was however, absent.

Although the meeting reviewed issues which and major challenges confronting the country, it was particularly concerned with how to restore the country’s past glory where regions affected the lives of their people through regional economic development with a spiral effect on the overall growth of the country.

Setting the tone for the discussion Imoke remarked that it has become very important to call the meeting to to enable the governors reflect on developments in the country and see how they could assist to get it back on course. He said that it was only when there was stability that meaningful development could take place.

Governor Obi, who had the mandate of the governors to provide further clarifications, said: “The Southsouth and Southeast governors commend President Goodluck Jonathan for his focussed leadership, which deserves the unwavering support of all Nigerians.”

According to him, the Southsouth and Southeast regions could not fold their hands, if they must meet the yearning and aspirations of the people in jobs creation infrastruc-tural development and enhanced social welfare for the people.

He said, in view of the impressive record of the defunct Midwest and Eastern regions in the areas of political stability and economic advancement, it was worth borrowing a cue from the past to salvage the regions.

The governors, while acknowledging the enormity of the task and challenges before them, called on the Federal Government to fulfil its statutory obligations to make their dream come true.

They also called on the Federal Government to intensify its efforts on the on-going rehabilitation and modernisation of airports across the country, particularly, those in the regions, to open the country to wide investments.

The governors stressed the importance of the railway and the need for government to rehabilitate all lines linking the states in the regions.

Obi said: “We have pledged to come together to ensure the development of all the ports in the regions including building the Abia Dry Port and call on the Nigeria Port Authority to facilitate the achievement of this objectives.”

He also spoke on the importance of agro allied economy. Agriculture, which has been the mainstay of the economy, he said, has suffered much neglect as successive administrations have been paying less attention to the sector.

“The governors would deploy their full potential to this sector to make the regions, not only self- sufficient for their economic needs, but secure foreign exchange for the country.

“We have agreed to work to revive agro-allied industries, particularly in palm and rubber plantations for the full benefit of comparative advantage in agriculture in both regions.”

To ensure that agricultural products are sold with relative ease and with good returns, the governors called on the federal government to facilitate the full implementation of the Free Trade Zones status within the states of the regions.

With the regions now pursuing economic development, it is believed that the people would now enjoy the dividends of democracy, which have eluded them in the past.

The governors frowned at the revenue allocation formula, saying it has lost its relevance. They argued that, instead of going cap in hands, begging for government handout, it was better to take the advantage of the economic potential of the regions.

The issue of regional cooperation is already on the fast lane in the Southwest, where the states are controlled by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The new initiative in the Southsouth and Southeast regions may encourage other regions to tow a similar line for the benefit of the electorate.

Governor Uduaghan expressed optimision that the regions would be the better for it. He urged the National Assembly to look dispassionately at the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in the overall interest of the country.

He said: “The fact that the oil-producing communities are ready to accept 10 per cent showed that the people have been very magnanimous and it should be considered in the overall interests. My position on the matter has never been hidden and that is where I still remain.”

The governor that the strategic position held by Delta State in the unfolding transformation agenda would make it re-double its efforts to make the state better. He said as the gateway between the Southsouth and Southeast, it was imperative to improve on the security situation to guarantee stability for those who have businesses to do in the regions.

Uduaghan added: “We are located in a vantage position in the regions. That is why we are going to do everything possible to ensure that any act that will jeopardise the economic interest will be tackled and ensure that business life flows.”

He stressed the need to give support to the noble ideas initiated by the governors. According to him, the regions had been the hob of kidnapping a development which, he said, being curtailed by the government.

The governors urged Nigerians to adopt dialogue as means of resolving crisis. They condemned the attitude of some individuals who collaborate with terrorists in carrying out their rebellious activities against the country.

According to them, the country would not benefit from Direct Foreign Investment, if the wanton destruction of lives and property is allowed to continue.

Notwithstanding the new deal, stakeholders in the regions believe that what had been agreed upon should go beyond mere wish. They believe that only concrete action would lead to its realisation.

Prominent Itsekiri leader Ritalori Ogbebor called for the full implementation of the agreement reached by the governors. She said such cooperation would help in the development of the regions.

“I am a business woman and knows what is involved in doing business. I have attended some meetings in the Niger Delta development plan. I was supposed to be part of this one held in Asaba but my schedule was tight.

“There have been similar moves in the past on how to develop the regions. What I want the governors to do at this point is to implement the agreement they had reach. It is not just to sit down and talk; but if they truly allow the economic cooperation to take place, it will bring good things for the regions,” she said.

The governors have spoken and have expressed their determination to improve the lives of their people, particularly, those at the grassroots, using the vehicle of integration. But how far can these governors would go to match their words with action.

May 20, 2013
Okwu: APGA will sue Okorocha, if he joins APC

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Maxi Okwu, spoke on the crisis rocking the party and the preparations for the next governorship election in Anambra State. EMMANUEL OLADESU was there.

Why are you still laying claim to the chairmanship of APGA, despite the subsisting court order on the leadership tussle?

Chief Victor Umeh did not win any appeal as people were wrongly made to believe. What he got was a stay of one of the four orders by the Court of Appeal. I wish I came with the document, I would have make a copy for you to read through. Out of the four orders that the Enugu State High Court made, only one was stayed. They stayed that aspect that restrained him from parading himself as the chairman of our party. The Court of Appeal agreed that all issues have been overtaken by events; that there was no convention. Second; that there should be a convention and that the NEC of the party should have met and ordered a convention. I think there are about four issues raised and we have done all that.

The court never said there was non-existent convention. Every lawyer knows that you don’t stay what has been done. The deed had been done already, judgement have been executed by the NEC of the party, convened a convention in Awka and elected its national officers. Umeh’s activities against the party is an exercise in futility. One of such Umeh’s activities is the Federal High Court in Awka that granted a midnight exparte-order restraining me and my executive officers from parading ourselves as such. 14 days after, on April 15, 2013, the motion was filed, argued and granted. Days after that exercise, we file a motion to vacate the order. It has lapsed.

Don’t you regret losing Governor Rochas Okorocha to the APC?

It is worrisome. we advise him to rethink. The position of governor of a state is not a small thing. We would not be talking of sanction or discipline for him. We’ll wait and see whether sanity will prevail through diplomacy and behind the scene discussion. But, at the end of the day, he would decide. His issue will become a legal thing, if APC is finally registered and Okorocha collects the card. For now, by the position of the law, he is still a card-carrying member of the APGA. Politically, APGA was there before Okorocha become a governor and the party will continue to exist after him. Rochas has been with other parties in the country before he used the APGA platform. He owed this party a lot. There is a moral burden for him to carry at this juncture.

Don’t you think that APGA should resolve its crisis before the next elections, starting from Anambra State?

I have been trying my best to bring every aggrieved member back to the fold. A political party cannot isolate itself from crisis. As we sit here today, there are internal crises in the PDP, which are even worse than what we have in the APGA. What we suddenly realise in our party is that Chief Umeh is now like a bull in China’s shop. From his approach and activities, he wants to destroy APGA, rather than allowing the House to stand. We will not allow that to happen. We are going to ease him out. If the 26 NEC members that he leads have left him, except two or three of his cronies, he should have seen the handwriting on the wall and resigned. In a much more civilised society, Chief Umeh should have edhonourably without being ask to quit. Be that as it may, I have extended a hand of fellowship to him thrice. I have said it times without number that I will give him a landing, but he has refused to accept my hands of fellowship. Instead, he has been fighting harder. There is a limit which you can push a horse to drink. Umeh and his followers have one leg in the APC arrangment. As I am speaking to you, Chief Umeh is the Director of Publicity of ‘C 21’ group founded by Rochas Okorocha. All of them are in the APC. For instance, have you ever heard that Umeh condemned Okorocha’s romance with the yet to be registered APC? Again, when Umeh got the court order against the party, Okorocha embraced him. They are working hand in glove.

In your own view. What do you think is energising him?

I am aware that Umeh has tasted power for long being a chairman of APGA. He was empowered by the party’s constitution. I am also aware that a fat pocket is giving him a full backing. So, there’s a lot at stake when you are the chairman of a strong party like the APGA.

Why is APGA kicking Umeh out when his tenure as the chairman has not expired?

People have forgotten that Umeh started as the Acting National Chairman of the party since December 2004. Now, we are in 2013. He has been parading himself as the APGA Chairman for almost nine years. There was a time he took Chekwas to court when Chekwas said he won’t stay beyond eight years. The basic fact is that Umeh has been APGA’s Chairman for nine years uninterrupted and he still want to continue in that position. If his tenure is four years, that was renewable. By January 2007, when the convention that the court nullified was held, Umeh’s tenure has expired. He has stayed beyond his tenure. Normally, before your tenure expires as chairman, you need to conduct fresh election, but he did not do so because he cares to remain as APGA Chairman forever. Even the PDP that people have condemned on so many occasion have changed its national chairman more than once since 2004. Yet, the likes of Umeh have been throwing bricks to PDP on many issues. Whereas, here at APGA, he want to be the chairman forever. Leadership is not what you say but what you do that matter.

INEC has written to Chief Umeh and recognised him as the authentic APGA National Chairman. What’s your reaction to this development?

Is that so? Okay, I have not seen copy of the letter. As soon as I see it, I will react.

Can you clarify what you said in Awka about the late Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu?

Late Zik was known for his Febian tactics in tackling political challenges. He was always for compromise as a consumate politician. However, I said Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu was a man who was firm in his views and he usually knew where he stood at a particular time. Once a matter came up, Ikemba was known for taking position and remaining with such a position.

There is a controversy about your origin. Where do you come from?

How can anybody stand up and say that to me? I am from Orji River in Enugu State. It’s so clear, it is not arguable. My father is not a hidden person. He was a Senator, Minister and everything. I am from Achi in Enugu State. I found the insinuation laughable.

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has not conducted local government elections.Now, as the party chairman, would you assure that he would conduct the elections before he leaves office?

I can assure you that the local government election will take place in Anambra State this year. The electoral commission has assured me that they will do that. The arrangement had been on ground, even before my election. The legal constraints have been removed to ensure that the council elections take place this year. Once I am involved, Governor Obi is going to give his own assurance.

May 20, 2013
‘Katsina Assembly can’t be rubber stamp’

Katsina State House of Assembly Speaker Yau Gwajo-Gwajo spoke with reporters in Lagos on the Shema Administration and the pattern of executive/legislature relationship in the state. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE reports the excerpts:

How has it been in the last six years you have been the Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly?

It has been challenging but God has made it easy for me. This is my second term as the speaker. For me, the credit goes to the Almighty Allah and my wonderful colleagues. I must say that I have enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with my colleagues. They made my job easy.

I have been in politics since 1991 during the two-party system of the Ibrahim Babangida military regime when I was elected as councillor. Then, I was a teacher. So, I can say, with all humility, that I have gotten some experience, too.

What is the relationship between the executive and the legislature in the state?

It has been very cordial. It has been excellent. The reason for this peaceful relationship is simple. Our governor has only one vision, and that is how he can contribute his own quota to the development of the state. Of course, he has been doing this even before he became the governor. And since we are also here for the development of the state, it makes our job easier. You see, there is need to have a focused and prudent leadership. Whether at or at the federal level. Once the leadership is focused, it makes transformation of the state an easy job.

How would you rate administration?

It is focussed. And so, the state is not doing badly. We have a leader who knows what governance is all about; that it is not a tea-party. He knows that it is about the destiny of the people; about the common wealth of the people. If you are not prudent and focused, you cannot have the kind of development we are witnessing in the state presently.

Do you know that education from primary to tertiary education is free in the state? Do you know that health care, too, is free, particularly, for infants and people above 60? Do you know that accident victims are treated free, even to the point of surgery? There are over 200 new schools built and more are still being built. Do you know that more than 400 students are outside the shores of this country on scholarship reading all kinds of courses? It is only in this state that we don’t differentiate which tribe you belong to. As far as we are concerned, we are all Nigerians. Also, we are one of the few states whose legislative arm enjoys full financial autonomy just like the judiciary. And when you have financial autonomy, it makes you more independent. And that is why we don’t need to inform the executive when we are going on any over sight functions.

Critics say your oversight functions are mere rubber-stamp functions. How would you react to this?

Let me say this. Our own oversight functions are real. We make resolutions, which are sent to the executive. I want to thank the governor at this point because there is really no resolutions that we have sent to him that he hasn’t acted on. When it comes to the budget, most of our resolutions are designed within the budget, and 75 per cent of the budget goes to capital projects and this is within the resolutions of the House. So, when he is preparing the next budget, we are always represented. Also, we go for our oversight functions every quarter, item by item, subhead by subhead, according to their releases so that we can cross check what is in the paper with what is on the ground. Beyond that, each and every one of us in the house also return to the house to give account of what the executive has executed in our constituencies, these are various ways by which we carry out our oversight functions.

There are two major parties in the House. How have you been able to lead your colleagues, such that there has been no tension in the House and with the executive?

I said earlier, if your mission is about the good of the people, then, it won’t be that difficult to lead your colleagues. The moment we all enter the chambers, we forget partisanship because we are all representing our people. Our goal is to serve our people, not parties. We don’t play politics in the House. Of course, outside the chambers, you can have majority leader or minority leader discussing with their members, but once we are inside, there is no difference.

So, you insist the House is not rubber stamp of the executive?

Having explained all that I have said so far, will it be fair, even to you, to now challenge the executive for no just cause? This is not a popularity contest, mind you. What would be the essence of confrontation with the executive? I just told you that most of our resolutions in the House are carried out by the executive. The budget is also a manifestation of our resolutions. Now tell me, on what ground are we going to confront them? I know that some states legislature are not in good terms with their executive but that does not mean every other state legislature should be in disagreement with the executive, not when the executive is performing. We have our full financial autonomy. As we speak now, some of my members are not in the country and the executive is not aware of it. The governor is not aware of this now. Is that not part of the independence we are talking about? So, how can we now be a rubber stamp? Is it only when we are confrontational and heat up the polity that we are not rubber stamp? I beg to disagree.

Do you support the creation of more states?

For me, it has more of advantages than its negative. Unfortunately, we don’t have leaders who are accommodating. If we do, there won’t be need looking for or agitating for more states. Everybody needs to be represented, however, small the group may be. Some of our leaders, who are privileged to lead us, when they get the opportunity to do so, they only concentrate development within a particular tribe or section. Of course, such a thing can only divide the people, and that is why this state is different. Be rest assured that if the governor gets three cars for example, it is given that it is the three senatorial districts that would get it. One for Funtua, one for Daura and one for Katsina. There is no preferential treatment here. I think states creation agitation is essentially because of injustice of unequal development or no development at all. If the leaders are justifying the resources available to them, I am sure there wont be this kind of agitation for states creation. Even if there would be, it won’t be this high.

May 20, 2013
Opposition re-strategises as Gombe PDP backs Dankwambo for 2015

Ahead of the 2015 governorship elections, the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) has endorsed Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo for another term in Gombe State, but the opposition in the state appears set to stop his re-election. DARE ODUFOWOKAN, Assistant Editor reports

By the time the dust raised by the council elections held in Gombe State last February settled, close observers of the politics of the state were quick to say the outcome of the highly disputed poll is a sign of things to come in the politics of the state.

Coming at a time when discussions about the 2015 general elections were already in top gear, the election of officials into the eleven local government areas of the state was seen as a test case for what the politics of the state is likely to look like in 2015.

Reflective of the state of the political parties in the state as at that time, only two political parties participated in the polls. They are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). The two parties fought over 114 councillorship seats and 11 chairmanship seats.

And after reports of killing, lynching and threats to life rent the air throughout the day, the PDP was announced to have won all available council chairmanship seats. The ruling party and Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo thus used the council polls to announce to the world that it has nothing to worry about as 2015 approaches.

Of course the opposition parties, especially the CPC, kicked. They alleged that the election was far from free and fair and that the PDP was not the choice of the people of the council areas. But the PDP had its way as the elected council executives were sworn in soon after.

State chairman of the CPC, Barrister Audu Baba Kwami, recently revisited the disputed election when speaking on the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state. The party boss who said the opposition in the state is now more virile and ready to confront the PDP, recalled that the council election were nothing but fraudulent.

“I was personally threatened. Our people were openly attacked. The campaign coordinator to the CPC chairmanship candidate in Gombe local government was arrested and sent to prison the same day. All these were parts of efforts used to weaken our candidate’s chances of winning the election,” he said.

Pundits say the last local government elections were approached by Governor Dankwambo as a litmus test of his popularity among the people of the state following allegations by his critics that he introduced several inhuman policies that brought about untold hardship.

With victory in all the council areas secured, Dankwambo gave indication of his readiness to re-contest in 2015 with a fundraising programme organised for him by his friends and political associates.

At the event organised a week after the said local government elections, his associates in Malala, Dukku local government area, reportedly raised over N76 million for his 2015 governorship campaign organisation expected to be launched later this month.

Although it is yet to officially announce the governor as its candidate for the 2015 governorship contest, the body language of the leadership of the PDP in the state indicates that it will surrender its ticket to Dankwambo without hassles to seek another term in office.

But leaders of the opposition in the state, especially the emerging All Peoples Congress (APC), said the PDP will meet a stiff resistance in 2015 if its plan is to rig itself back into office.

National Organising Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (A CN), Abubakar Inua Kari, who is from the state assures the people of Gombe of the readiness of the APC to defeat the ruling party in 2015. The APC leader said Governor Dankwanbo and his people should start preparing to leave the government house.

The merger of three leading opposition parties in the state, namely CPC, AC N and the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), according to some observers of the politics of the state, is likely to alter political calculations ahead of the 2015 general elections.

“Although the PDP is currently the party to beat in the state, the coming together of these three parties can alter the power structure in 2015. This is because the ANPP used to be a formidable force in the politics of the state before it allowed internal wrangling to reduce it to a shadow of itself.

“Currently, the CPC is well loved by the people. Allegations of rigging always trail any election the party loses in Gombe State. The people looked forward to a CPC victory in 2011. The AC N too is not new to the people. So if these three are now fusing into one to confront PDP, I think the impact will definitely be felt,” a source said.

But the governor’s men and supporters say he will have it easy returning to government house in 2015 in spite of the threat posed by a rejuvenated opposition being led by the emerging APC.

Recently, the Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, expressed support for the re-election of Dankwambo of in 2015. This endorsement comes across as a big one for the governor as the minister has earlier being rumoured to be eying the governor’s job.

Umar, an indigene of Hinna in Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, made the call during his courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Tha’anda Rubainu, in Gombe.

The minister said his support for Dankwambo’s re-election was informed by the ‘giant strides’ recorded by the governor in all sectors of the economy in the state.

“Let me take this opportunity to thank the executive governor of Gombe State for the various giant strides that are being carried out in this state. In less than two years, the governor has demonstrated to everybody that he is here to serve the people of this state and that he is indeed serving the people.

“Very cost-effective projects are being executed in the state. I have always attested to this; I am attesting to this and I will continue to attest to the fact that these giant strides are unequalled in the history of this state,” he said.

The minister said the governor’s performance is enough to earn the PDP another four years in charge of the affairs of the state and as such should be supported to vie for office again.

“We are committed that come 2015, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo should return to Government House as governor. I have said this several times and I will continue to say that I will ever support him; I will stand by him. Your team is a pride to this state; we must support you. I call on every citizen to have no hesitation whatsoever in supporting him to come back as governor in 2015,” he said.

Also speaking on the chances of the PDP in 2015, the Woman Leader of the state chapter of the party, Hajiya Sa’adatu Mustapha, said in spite of the planned merger of some opposition political parties with a view to take over power from the PDP, Dankwambo will keep the party in power beyond 2015

“As far as I am concerned, with the magnitude of work going on in Gombe State now and what Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo and his wife are putting on ground, there is no room for any other party. It is all under the umbrella of the PDP. As you enter Gombe, even the blind can feel that there are changes. I am 100 per cent sure that there will be no other party except the PDP in Gombe come 2015,” she said.

Speaking further, Mustapha said the youth empowerment programme introduced by the governor has won the hearts of the people of the state for the ruling party.

“It is one of the best things to happen in the state owing to the visionary leadership of our governor not to abandon any genuine project that touches on the lives of the people, particularly the youths. It is really good because it is a continuous programme,” she added.

But this is just as critics of the governor say he is not as popular as his handlers are propping him up to be. They argued that his coming to power in 2011 was largely made possible by the then outgoing Senator Danjuma Goje-led administration.

And now, with Dankwambo and Goje rumoured to be at loggerheads as the 2015 election approaches, it is left to be seen if the former Accountant General of the Federation will surmount the hurdles on his way to a second term.

May 19, 2013