The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

  • ‘Women are still lagging behind in politics’

    ‘Women are still lagging behind in politics’

    House of Representatives member Mrs. Adeola Ajaja is from the Ibadan Northeast/Southeast, Oyo State. In this interview with Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, the lawmaker speaks on her activities as a legislator.

     

    As part of the oppositionin the House, would you say the opposition is playing its roles in democracy?

    We are doing our best. In fact, people are accusing the House leadership of pandering to the whims of the minority. Don’t forget that the opposition played a crucial role in the emergence of the House leadership. He is our Speaker and leader. So, in anything he does, he always ensures that he doesn’t disappoint and let the opposition or what you will call the minority down.

    All he wants is to do the right and, if he does what is right, we can’t go against him. And if he finds that the members are doing what is not right, he tries to call them to order. He has been a listening Speaker. Besides, he has been fulfilling his promises. In other words, he has not gone against his promises as far as we’re concerned.

    How would you score the House in the last one year?

    I’ll give the House a pass mark because, whatever the House is, that’s what the leadership is. You’ve seen how the Speaker of the of the House, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, is standing up for the truth. What else can we say? Whatever others have been thinking is immaterial. So, I will give the House a pass mark.

    What are your plans for your constituency?

    There are so many plans meant to give them the dividends of democracy. I have started and I will still continue. I’m sponsoring some students in their education because, being an educationist, I cherish education so much. And my feeling is that when you have education, it gives you a broader mind. I have been able to give to students, who actually want to further their education but are poor, some assistance. I started by paying for the National Examination Council (NECO)’s examination for students, giving money to students in the higher institutions that can’t afford the payment, empowering women by giving them financial support so that they can have something doing. I have also empowered many youths by distributing materials like grinding machines, generators and so on for technicians and women that need them. I have also provided boreholes in areas where they need them.

    I have been able to repair and plaster some of our markets like the popular big market in Ibadan. I helped them to plaster where they sit so as to make it comfortable for them. I’ve been able to provide some transformers to areas where they need them. I must say that we ahve done pretty much but it is not possible to remember all right now.

    Before I forget, we have also started to train some women in bead making, tailoring, hair dressing, Adire (clothing) etc. And when they finish, I try to provide them with whatever they need to start up the business.

    What is your future ambition?

    After four years? Well, I tell people that the future belongs to the Lord but anyway, we all have desires. The Bible tells me that the desire of the righteous will actually be granted. My desire is to come back to this House after four years to continue the good work because I am sure my people want me to continue and to finish what I’ve started. So there’s no doubt about that.

    What would be your advice for women that are aspiring to come into politics?

    We should continue to strive hard. We should not rest on our oars. In fact, I contested with somebody that is so formidable, a PDP male contestant, who has been in politics for so many years. He has been the chairman of a local government twice, and he is very close to the former Head of State and President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. So, when people heard about my intention to contest they went to inform Senator Ladoja that I cannot face the man. But I told Ladoja that it’s got nothing to do with power or anything, that he should leave me. If its money that he has to spend, he’ll meet me there. If it’s thuggery, I don’t have. We’ll meet God. And whatever he believes in, I have a capable God. My Senator then supported me by telling my critics that, if you people agree to contest with this man, are you the one to face the man? But the people did not agree. But to the glory of God, I can say that they’re not disappointed that i was chosen as their representative.

    What is your view on the 35 per cent affirmative action for women in politics?

    Last year, I was opportuned to attend the UN conference in New York. Nigeria is yet to come up. When you see what is happening in other developed countries of the world, where they have like 78-80 women in governance, you will wonder what Nigeria is waiting for. By the time we are in the conference, I was just asking myself where Nigeria as a nation should start.

    The women in parliament are trying. There is the general impression that Nigerian men want to take everything, but I don’t think that is true.

    There was a Bill that came up recently on the floor of the House, that has to with gender equality. We had to tell the men that it has nothing to do with disrespect for men and all that. And though the Bill did not pass, I am optimistic that, with more lobbying and enlightenment, things will change.

    The 35 percent affirmative action project can survive in Nigeria. Nigeria is still in transition because certain cultures stifle the voice of women. But it will change, its a matter of time.

     

  • Ex-Kogi speaker heads Agric Committee

    Kogi State House of Assembly former Speaker Abdullahi Bello now heads the Agric Committee, as the Assembly announces the reconstitution of the 25 standing committees.

    The Speaker, Momohjimoh Lawal, last week announced the dissolution of the standing committees to pave the way for the injection of new people into the committees.

    The decision is one of the actions taken by the new leadership of the Assembly. The crisis in the House was resolved last year, which led to the resignation of the former Speaker.

    In the other reconstituted committees, the Majority Leader, Yakubu Yunusa, heads the Business and Rules Committee; Christopher Atule heads the Works and Housing Committee; Paul Gowon heads the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Committee; Gabriel Daudu heads the Finance and Appropriation Committee; while the only female lawmaker, Habiba Deen, heads the Committee on Women Affairs.

     

     

     

     

  • What has Tukur achieved in one year?

    What has Tukur achieved in one year?

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur assumed office a year ago. In this report, Assistant Editor AUGUSTINE AVWODE beams a seachlight on his score card.

     

    The glitz and glamour of being the national chairman of the largest party in Africa are quite alluring. The ruling party has had the fortune of producing the President, since the return to democratic governance about 14 years ago. Besides, not less than 20 of the 36 state governors are in office, courtesy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It is certainly an enviable feat.

    However, leading such a party, an amalgam of the good, the bad and the ugly, is akin to navigating a treacherous riverine course. The challenges are many. They are daunting in nature and can easily overwhelm the lily-livered. In the main, they are crises of factionalisation, indiscipline and lack of internal democracy.

    All the men who had travelled the course before had bruises and tales of woes to show for their efforts as national chairman of the PDP. Yet, on March 23, 2012, former governor of old Gongola State and consummate businessman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur emerged as the seventh national chairman of the party.

    It is one year now since he took over the reins of the party. How far has he been able to deal with the problems plaguing the party which symbol, the Umbrella, is too often depicted in tatters and at the mercy of chaotic wind by cartoonists across the country? Expectedly, the opinions of party loyalists and faithful have been as divided and varied as the general tenor that has dogged the party even before he took over its leadership.

    To the chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the party, Chief Adebayo Dayo, Tukur is on the right tract. He commended his efforts at rebuilding the party based on the principles of internal democracy and rule of law. For the record, the state chapter is one of the most factionalised in the country and it took the pronouncement of the courts of law and the efforts of the national body to recognize one as the legal PDP.

    According to him, the size of the party make quarrelling and disagreements inevitable. He emphasized that what Tukur leadership of the party has done is moving the party in the right direction in his bid to restore not just peace and unity but also discipline.

    “The first thing I want you to know is that the job is a very difficult one. It is so because of the size of the party. It is the largest in Africa and all people come into it to realize their political ambition. As a result there are bound to be misunderstandings and bickering.

    “So, his first job is to settle quarrels. He has been doing that very well. You see the recent reconciliatory moves across the country. And very importantly, he has ensured that achieving peace and unity in the party, which everybody wants, are not sacrificed on the table of indiscipline and lawlessness.

    “What he is doing is to at the same time entrench internal democracy and the rule of law. He wants to return the party to the good old days when the party is supreme. He is doing well and I want us to encourage him. If we encourage him, the party has nothing to fear from the opposition. In fact, very soon people will be defecting from other parties to the PDP. He has done well and he will do better”, Dayo said.

    In like manner the Southwest Zonal Youth Leader Mr Bolaji Jeje said Tukur has shown an untiring zeal to deal with the problems of factions and indiscipline in the party. He argued that his passion to reposition the party and make it a solid united family, instill discipline and loyalty among members are efforts that must be applauded.

    He said it is not true that the chairman is acting out a script written for him by anybody.

    “The national chairman comes across as a father figure to all of us. And no father will allow his house to be disorganized and be in disarray as a result of fighting among siblings. His efforts at resolving all the challenges posed by misunderstanding can be seen by everybody.

    “Since last week Saturday, he started the Town Hall meetings in the different zonal regions beginning with the Southwest and you could see that it is a good development. We are working to consolidate the efforts and results of the meeting, especially in the Southwest and I can tell you that things are going to be alright. It will be very dangerous for anybody to write off the party in the Southwest because the reconciliation process is on and we are all supporting it.

    “With him, we are on the right tract. And if all the party members are united as the national chairman is saying and urging all to forget the past, I see no reason why the party should not bounce back in a big way come 2015.

    “As my personal opinion, I don’t think the national chairman is acting any script to favour anybody. He is our father and no father favours one child at the detriment of the other. His passion for the continued success of the party is visible and all we need to do is to support him. In the last one year, therefore, I can say he is on course and he will take us to a higher realm”, Bolaji said

    Yet, the opinion from Tukur’s backyard is not as savoury as those from afar. Perhaps, it is a case of a prophet who lacks honour and respect at home. A PDP chieftain from Adamawa State, who spoke on condition of anonymity, has harsh words for the chairman. He actually described the past 12 months of Tukur as the chairman of the party as “wasted and bred more controversies”. He argued that the chairman may end up doing more harm to the party than he met it except he changes his style and side with the masses.

    “We all agree that he is our brother, but being our brother is not what is important in this matter. The party is big, the interests varied, and the ambition of individuals are very tall. He has not been able to show that he could be non-partisan. Ask anybody what led to the big problem that almost consumed the party and even him in Adamawa State not long ago? If not for the intervention of the governors of the party, the Adamawa chapter of the PDP could have been completely destroyed by now.

    “Then, look at the way the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has been polarized by the establishment of the PDP Governors Forum (PGF). If all other parties form their governors’ forum, what will become of the national body? And of course, you know what the insinuations have been, why the party formed the governors’ forum. Take a look at the way the issue of the national secretary of the party was handled. There seems to be more of personal vendetta in the whole issue than just mere desire to ensure that the rule of law is followed.

    “There is no problem that does not have a political solution. When you insist that the verdict from the court must be obeyed to the letter, it is good, but after obeying it, did you do anything else to close the gap and heal the wounds? What you are doing is creating more problems. Even when he came here few days ago, you can see the turnout; those that matter did not attend the so called Town Hall meeting for reconciliation.

    “We are watching and waiting, but the last one year has not been marked by excellent performance. The 12 months have been wasted months. We thought that here was an opportunity to really re-build the party, but unfortunately, there have been more controversies and it is not good for the PDP in the face of an emerging formidable opposition, “ the source said.

    From day one, when he muted the idea of leading the party, signs that he was in for a rough ride emerged. His famed business acumen, age and political accomplishment counted for nothing as he came face to face with stiff opposition from the home front. So vicious was the opposition that it took the uncompromising intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan for Tukur to eventually emerge as national chairman. Barely three days to the convention, Tukur was roundly rejected at the party’s North East zonal Congress in Bauchi. The party in the zone preferred Dr. Musa Babayo who secured 14 votes to defeat Tukur who got only two. It was a symbolic decision. But the party over ruled the zonal congress on the ground that it did not conform to “stipulations by the PDP constitution”.

    As the “anointed candidate” by the presidency, Tukur overcame all the intrigues to stop him. After series of meetings, the deal was sealed. At the convention ground, Alhaji Shettima Mustapha announced the withdrawal of all the other 10 aspirants contesting the party’s chairmanship position, leaving only Tukur in the race. And with only a voice vote by the delegates in the Eagles Square, they affirmed the choice of Tukur for the top job.

    Tukur started off with new, but controversial steps. On assumption of office as chairman, he appointed aides and in the process created some offices attached to the chairman of the party that were hitherto unknown to the party. He named the former pioneer National Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Alhaji Habu Fari, as his Chief of Staff while the former Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro was appointed the Special Adviser on Security Matters.

    He also appointed Senator Saidu Umar as Special Adviser on Independent National Electoral Commission and Electoral Matters, while Abduallhi Gumel was named Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters. Besides, his salary, alleged to be N2million monthly, became a talk of town. Insiders say no chairman before him earned salaries other than sitting allowances.

    Fari’s title later changed from Chief of Staff to the National Chairman to Principal Secretary when the National Working Committee (NWC) members protested that such an office was unknown to the party’s constitution.

    Tukur made reconciliation of all aggrieved old member of the party his campaign slogan and he had pursued that with much zest. As part of the plan to realize his vision, he selected some chieftains of the party and constituted them into what he called “advisory committee”. The committee, he claimed, would assist him in running the party.

    When he inaugurated the committee on Wednesday, May 30, it was obvious that the chairman never had the support of members of the NWC. They stayed away on the ground that it was an illegal body, unknown to the constitution of the party.

    The committee has former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme as chairman.

    Even two members of the NWC were listed on the committee, Deputy National Chairman Sam Jaja and former National Secretary Olagunsoye Oyinlola did not honour the inauguration too.

    Early June last year, it became obvious that all was not well with the party hierarchy. The former national secretary wrote a stinker to Tukur declaring the activities and actions of his aides illegal, particularly, Fari. The face-off between the two party administrators worsened with Fari challenging Oyinlola’s authority to query him and his actions. Perhaps to satisfy Oyinlola, Tukur fired Fari, few days later.

    Then there was the crisis of the Adamawa State chapter. But for the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan who was said to have launched several moves to douse the fire, it could have consumed the chairman.

    The manner in which the Southwest zonal crisis was resolved has also left some open sores yearning for attention. There is no doubt that the desire to be seen as allowing the rule of law to run its course has also come with a heavy cost of jettisoning political solutions. When the zonal Town Hall meeting held in Ibadan recently, the big names were expectedly absent. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the former National vice chairman Segun Oni and former scribe Olagunsoye Oyinlola were among the big names that failed to turn up at the meeting. The one that held in Bauchi last week also witnessed prominent party stakeholders from the Northeast geo-political zone shunning the reconciliation meeting.

    Today, though on the surface there is healing and reconciliation going on, but the fault lines are still visible within the party. And until Tukur establishes a system that can ensure a wholesale healing of the party within and without, the job is not yet done. He still has two years before 2015 to effect the total healing the party so badly craves. But for now, it would be a farce to say Tukur has realized his campaign manifesto of rallying the party together by reconciling warring factions and ensuring unity and oneness of all stakeholders.

     

  • Why I want to govern Anambra State, by Nwike

    Why I want to govern Anambra State, by Nwike

    A medical practitioner, Dr. Patrick Nwike, is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State. The 54 year-old younger brother of former Deputy Governor Chudi Nwike has declared his governorship ambition. He spoke with JEREMIAH OKE in Lagos on his plans for the state. aspiration to govern the state from next year.

     

    Why are you in the governorship race?

    The best way to turn a negative into a positive is to do something about it. There are many things that the people of Anambra State deserve that we are being deprived of. In order to place our demands and needs, we need to put Anambra State back to the map of progress through a proper welfare package that would propel every Anambrarian to an optimum quality level. Anambra State always seems to lack something; an altruistic individual that actually cares, rather than one that wishes to grab a little bit of power. Anambra State deserves someone that believes in the people and someone that is not scared to stand up and point out a wrong.

    So, the challenges facing Anambra State today require a new approach and drastic change process. The new Anambra State that we dream of has a vision for a change; a change for a good cause and a change that will bring about visible and enduring prosperity for our people. The government we shall put in place will stand up to these challenges with all honesty and deep sense of commitment. I guess, for the first time, I am presenting myselff as a candidate who strongly believes in the people and in myself and this belief in the people can only make me a very strong representative the people. Let us all join hands together to chart a new course to meet these challenges. Indeed, the time is now.

    What is your vision for Anambra State?

    My mission and vision for the state is to build a visible social, political and economic environment in which a middle class thrives. We also want to impact on the people, the true dividends of democratic governance through consultative and interactive forum for communal participation and thus leave a legacy that will remain the benchmark for assessing the performance of any future government.

    In addition to that, our hallmark would be honesty and purposefulness and we shall work in the fear of God without fear or favour. Our administration shall be highly people oriented such that the people of Anambra will have a collective say on how they want to be led and governed. We shall work to do things that the people of Anambra will like. Our stand point shall be people’s preferences and we shall work for it to happen.

    Could you shed light on the manifestos that will assist you in tranlating this vision into reality?

    I have just a five-point agenda for the state. They are, superb healthcare delivery, sound education policy, agricultural and road development, social and youth development and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME).

    The small and medium scale enterprises (SME) play very important roles in triggering and sustaining the economic growth and development of many economies. SMEs have also proved to be the most viable economic groups with tremendous potentials. Anambra State shall support the development of SMEs and make them the vehicle of development in the State.

    What are other priority areas requiring attention?

    The thrust of our state development objective would be to reduce the indices of poverty in the state and alleviate the sufferings of the people. Therefore, our administration shall not embark on any project that it shall not complete or venture into any project that will not impact on the lives of the people directly and alleviate their poverty. Our administration shall not impose any project on any local government.

    Since our administration will be primarily people oriented, we plan to develop the “Anambra State Accelerated Economic Development Strategy (ASAECCODES) document. This will serve as the State development Master Plan. The document will be packaged from the various discussions that will emanate through consultative and interactive fora to be held at agreed strategic locations across the three senatorial zones. The ASAECCODES will identify and define the core needs of the State Government as well as the strategies to meet the needs. It is expected to be ready within the first six months of the administration being in place. The document will also build on development core elements contained in the State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategies (SEEDS) documents already existing in the State.

    Anambra State is the most cosmopolitan in the Southeast region and boasts of having one of the most resourceful man power in the country. Yet, our state ranks as one with the lowest level of poverty indices in the Southeast. Indeed, given these endowments, Anambra State has absolutely no reason to be ranked as one with the lowest level of poverty indices. We can make the change and that will be possible if only we join hands together to make that change.

    What is your chance at the primaries?

    My chance is very bright. Mark my words: there would be a big surprise at the primary. I am confident I will pick the party’s ticket and become the next governor of Anambra State. I can also assure you that PDP will win the coming governorship election in the state. So, help us God.

     

  • Tinubu and the national question

    Tinubu and the national question

    As Asiwaju Bola Tinubu celebrates his 61st birthday this week, Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the views of the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on the contentious national issues germane to the unity and stability of the country.

    Since the Third Republic, when Senator Bola Tinubu entered politics, he has not relented in raising the fundamental questions.

    As a detribalised Nigerian, his belief in the unity, stability and progress of Nigeria has reflected in his passionate appeal for their resolution. To the former Lagos State governor, the resolution of these critical issues is germane to nation-building, unity and survival of the fledgling federal country. Although the position of many politicians has fueled the subsisting tension between theoretical federalism and regional selfishness, Tinubu has never compromised national interest on the alter of regional chauvinism.

    Central to the preservation of the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria are certain unresolved issues. These include the secularity of the state, restructuring of Nigerian Federation, return to true federalism as embodied in 1960 Independence Constitution, devolution of powers, local government system, marginalisation and rotation of the Presidency. Others are the role of the traditional rulers and stability of the nation, ethnicity and need for mutual existence, resource control and revenue allocation, electoral reforms, and inconsistencies in the 1999 Constitution.

    Others are the Land Use Act, repeal and abolition of Petroleum Act, inclusion of the powers of the National Judicial Council, adoption of six zone structure, reforms of the electoral laws and the civil service, fiscal federalism, definition of true democracy and its implications, the challenge of globalisation and technology, and national conference.

    True federalism

    In 1914, Nigeria became an amalgam of incompatible social formations lumped together by the British colonial sasters for easy administration. In his book, “Path to Nigeria’s Freedom”, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo identified federalism as the form of government suitable for the geographical expression. At independence in 1960, Nigeria was a truly federal state hoping to build on its delicate ethnic balance. The military intervention aborted the dream through the imposition of the unitary system, which subsequent constitutions have failed to properly address. To Tinubu and his co-federalists, unity in diversity is given an expression when there is a division or sharing of powers in a federation between the central and regional or state governments without creating a lopsided arrangement that permits the usurpation of state powers by the federal authorities. At a lecture in Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Tinubu said the country would remain a fragile federal country, “unless we re-adopt the federal attributes embedded in the 1960 and 1963 constitutions”. He added: “ A true federal state consolidates the rights and powers of the component units. It does not reduce them. It does not trample on them. It does not negate them.”

    Restructuring of the polity

    Despite the collapse of the regions into states, there is the retention of loyalty to the regional arrangements that formed the federal union at independence. The clamour for regional economic integration by contiguous states sharing common identities, cultural values and aspirations is a fall out of the internalisation of regionalism without compromising the federal health of the heterogeneous entity. Tinubu is one of the advocates of regional integrating. Two options, which are focal points of federalist persuassion in contemporary Nigeria, have been canvassed. It has been argued that, since the geo-political zones are different, they can seize the opportunity for growth, which in turn, enhances regional competition. Regional approach to development does not invalidate the commitment to national integration. To Tinubu, states in a federal arrangement have the prospects of developing at their respective pace without hinderance, and without stalling the development of any component unit because another unit is moving at a snail speed.

    Devolution of power

    Over time, the call for the devolution of more powers from the centre to the federating units has preoccupied the advocates of true federalism, including Tinubu. One of the questions begging for answer is whether the distant federal government, the sole distributor of national revenue, should continue to exercise direct powers over the local governments, including the power of creation and funding. Why should the Land Use Act, which violates the customs of many communities, still be in operation? Many Nigerians are of the opinion that the power-loaded federal government should shed its weight. The former Lagos State governor shares this view.

    Besides, Tinubu has advocated for the need for the federal government to conceed some powers to the constituents units, especially on matters of local concern. He also believes that certain functions, which are in the Exclusive List, especially electricity, railway, and police, can also be legislated upon by states to advance their progress.

    Revenue allocation and resource control

    Currently, there is no just procedure for sharing the national cake derivable from the coastal region. The founding fathers of Nigerian subscribed to a revenue allocation formula based on the principles of “derivation” (50 percent), “need” and “national interest”. It was turned upside down by successive regimes, which reduced it, right from the period of the civil war. The protracted crisis in the Niger Delta, which was triggered by the desecration, pollution and environmental hazards due to exploration and mining activities, is a direct consequence of this unfair, unjustifiable and unexplained reduction. Tinubu queried: “Considering the implication of the property right to the mobilisation of income for development, why would the federal organ take a preponderant of share of what it does not own legitimately, while giving the real owners 13 percent? Why should it collect so much Value Added Tax from Lagos State only to give us a pittance? Why would it collect education fund from most of the companies, which operate in Lagos State and give us miserly percentage?.”

    State Police

    There is no agreement on this vexed issue because of the abuse of the institution. But many Nigerians agree that the maintenance of public order and public safety in a federal country is a huge task that has made the decentralisation of security more compelling. In countries like Australia, Canada, United States of America, and India, policing is decentralised, with functions allocated to the tiers of government. Adducing reason for state police, ACN National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande said :”We ought to have even moved from the state police to community police by recruiting policemen from the ethnic groups to be served so that they live in the community, speak the language of the people and understand their culture and environment for effective policing”. Tinubu agreed with this view. He said: “Governors are chief security officers of their state in name. If there is a problem at the state level, the commissioner of police must take order from the Inspector-General of Police before rising to the occasion. Not only do we need state police, we need community police. It is the panacea to insecirity.”

    Local Government

    In Nigeria, the states are at liberty to create and dissolve the local government, but the National Assembly reserves the right to list the newly created councils in the constitution. In Tinubu’s opinion, this is another assault on democracy, maintaining that local governments are creations of the state Houses of Assembly. Many tongues wagged when President Obasan jo stopped the allocations due to the local councils in Lagos State for three years. The move crippled effective grassroots administration because local councils are the closest tier of government to the people. In Tinubu’s view, the power of financial control being exercised by the federal government over the councils is an affront on the states. This view clearly reveals that there are only two tiers in federalism-federal and states-and local government is a creation of the state.

    Electoral Reforms

    Perhaps, there is no other politician in Nigeria that has championed the protection of the sanctity of the ballot box more than Tinubu, whose activities prepared the ground for the setting up of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER). The tendency of some electoral officers to subvert the good intention of the electoral commission in post-Obasanjo era was worrisome. Many Nigerians have called for the complete overhauling of the electoral system, with a view to flushing out the bad eggs. Electoral reform is an unfinished business in Nigeria. In particular, Tinubu is worried that the good recommendations by the Uwais Panel were not adopted by the government.

    Status of Lagos

    Lagos has been playing a central role in the political and economic development of Nigeria since 1861. It was the political capital of the country between 1960 and 1990. Like former federal capitals in other countries, there is the agitation for a special status for Lagos so that the funding of developmental and projects and maintenance of the city state can be the joint responsibility of the federal and state governments. It is the view of Tinubu that the city state of Lagos should be accorded a special status because of its huge population, potentials and contributions as the former federal capital and economic nerve centre of the country.

    National Conference

    There is an intense clamour for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) by ethnic nationalities who want to discuss the basis for peaceful co-existence in the country. Tinubu, who has persistently supported this call, observed that a better, united and stable country would emerge after the conference, which would kick-start the resolution of the fundamental questions critical to peaceful existence among the ethnic nationalities.

  • ‘My achievement has rattled opposition’

    ‘My achievement has rattled opposition’

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi spoke with reporters in Port Harcourt on the challenges confronting his administration and his priorities for the next two years. AUGUSTINE AVWODE was there.

    How are you coping with the challenges of the office?

    It’s been challenging because I don’t like using the word difficult. I see governance as an engineering work. Engineers proffer solutions; you really have problems to tackle and so you need solutions. So, as a governor, I have met with a lot of challenges and I think we are trying as much as we can to proffer solutions. I have always said that I don’t want to be assessed or judged now. I want to be judged by the time I leave office. There are people who are dancing to the music for constructing three or four flyovers. We have done five and I have promised the state that we will construct fifteen by the time we are leaving office because that is one of the bases for which our government will be assessed.

    All these projects have financial implications. How much have you borrowed?

    In December 2011, we borrowed N120 billion and we have paid down to less than N32 billion. Don’t forget, it is a three-year loan because we are in a hurry. When I tell people we are going to pay before 2015, they don’t believe me. The agreement is for me to pay N2.3 billion per month, but in February, I paid N6.5 billion and in March, I paid 8.2 billion, but the actual agreement I am to pay per month is N2.3 billion.

    This year, we borrowed N120 billion, even though we have not spent all because of the fact that the rains are suddenly coming in early.I call it breach financing. This is to enable us complete some of those projects we actually started. Again, they are collecting the money according to agreement. Our plan is that by the time we clear the whole debts completely, then, we will start repaying the second loan too because we have promised not to leave any debt without repaying.

    You were particular about the mono rail project and some people are doubtful about its feasibility. How far have you gone with it?

    The way Nigerians taunt and pursue their leaders worries me a bit. It takes five years to design a mono rail. It takes five years to build, but what we are doing there is design and building. To make sure it is not an elephant project, we design and we build. And if you are designing and working, you make some mistakes, but what is actually delaying it is not designing and building. But the South Africans building it advised that a mono rail should be able attract employment. So, they converted our small bench, which we call stations, to full- fledged stations with shops, eateries and all that. That is what is delaying it. They have done the alignment; it is just to do the columns. If I want to be political, I will just hurriedly complete it and the commissioning will be the first in Africa. It is a huge station that we are building at Hospital Road. So, be rest assured that we will complete it. This year, we will commission the first part of the mono rail, but if we don’t, then, it will be in January 2014 because we delayed in payment. Everything you need to complete the first phase is on ground. The coaches are on ground, the parts are on top.

    You must do something that brings you satisfaction because, at times, I feel satisfied when I drive around, when I see what our administration has done. We are looking at the possibility of doing an impact assessment of all the projects we have done so that we can know the value of our expenditures.

    How have you been tackling insecurity?

    I am a bit religious. We need quite a lot when it comes to the issue of security. But the army, police, navy and the SSS have been quite wonderful. If we fund them, we may not need state police because the problem there is that the Federal Government is not funding the police. The little funds you put in security here yields the results you’re looking for. By the grace of God, we will not only stop at prayers as Christians because they say faith without work is dead. While we believe that God is working for us, we will also add our human capacity to assist in security.

    What about employment generation?

    That is one question we respond to when we go for town hall meetings. Nobody believes that we are creating employment; there is nothing called creating employment. And so, what creates employment is infrastructure and we have carried out massive infrastructural development. We are building 750 primary schools. But as at now, we are building 500. You can imagine the number of workers that would have been employed. Imagine the number of roads we have done both rural and township roads. I am just telling you now that we have completed five flyovers and our target is to do 15. You can imagine the number of workers that brought those things to reality.

    Our power plants have a total of 545 megawatts of power. When we needed the federal government to allow us distribute and they refused, we went ahead. The Commissioner for Power had a discussion with us at the cabinet meeting and promised us that very soon, we will be 80 per cent near 24 hours of power supply to Rivers State. The reason why we don’t make noise is because it is our responsibility; we are hired by the people to work.

    The only reason you see me commissioning projects is when the politicians become mischievous. Like the first time we commissioned, we wanted to rubbish the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, then, because they were saying there were too many projects that were not being completed. So, we said 60 health centres in 60 days in 60 communities.

    The indication was that these health centres were already in existence. We are about to start 250 primary schools in 250 days and in 250 communities and they are well furnished and equipped. The promise that I made when I came into office was that, I am paid to do all these things. So, why should I beat drums for people to praise me that I have done well? It is not something you make noise about. I will continue to say that as governors, we must watch what we say because it is beyond what we claim is in public. Let what you have on ground speak for you. It is difficult for a governor to be popular while in office. We are doing all these in honesty because we believe that our people in Rivers State deserve more.

    What are the major projects you are targeting as you approach the last lap?

    I’ve finished. I am coasting home. I have finished a university, which is N59 billion. I have to finish the mono rail at N52 billion, the Trans Amadi road is N49 billion and so, I am not looking for anything new to do again. The only thing I want to do is complete all the projects that I have started. So, we are pushing on and all these things we are doing, we will complete.

     

  • ACN flays Accord chieftain over attack on Ajimobi

    ACN flays Accord chieftain over attack on Ajimobi

    A Chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State, Alhaji Abass Oloko, has castigated an aide of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, Alhaji Lanre Lantinwo for criticising Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi. Latinwo had criticised Governor Ajimobi’s developmental programmes by alleging that he was causing hardship for the people by demolishing their houses. Oloko wondered why Senator Ladoja’s aide was chasing shadows, stressing that many structures were also pulled down during the administration of Senator Ladoja in the state.

    The ACN chieftain warned the opposition against inciting members of the public against the government. He urged the people of the state to ignore the pronouncement, which he described as “emanating for a jaundiced and biased mind”.

    He also condemned the purported return of money to the coffers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Oloko described the defence put up by the former governor’s aide as a fluke since he aslo confirmed that in an unspecified amount of money was returned to the EFCC by another aide of the former governor, Mr Adewale Atanda.

    According to Oloko, the return of the money to the anti-graft agency clearly demonstrated the high level of corruption prevalent during the administration of Ladoja.

    He said: “I am happy to note that the former governor’s aide also testified to the fact that another of his principal’s aide, Mr Adewale Atanda really returned the money to the coffers of the EFCC. It contradicts logic, if the said aide can engage in any government business on behalf of the state without the approval of his boss. The theory of collective responsibility should hold sway in this case.”

    Oloko argued that if in actual fact Senator Ladoja did not know of the transaction, it shows the level of aloofness and lack of attention to details the former governor exhibited in conduct of the business and affairs of the state during his tenure.

    He added: “Senator Ladoja was the governor of the state and the bucks stop on his table. So, if he is now claiming ignorant of the deals, he should tell that to the marines. How can an official of the state involve the state in such huge investment without the knowledge and approval of his boss? Anyway, there is no ignorance in law.”

    Oloko urged the ex-governor’s aide to wait for the judgement, adding that he should avoid any comment on a case that is before the court of law.

  • Fuel price hike again?

    Once more, the Jonathan administration is demonstrating utter insensitivity to the plight of the general public that presumably elected him to run the affairs of the country till 2015. Since he assumed office in May 2011, it has been a litany of woes; some due to clear incompetence, others due to sheer wickedness and recklessness. Despite confessing to starting life as a poor child in a typical Ijaw village, the president has not demonstrated empathy for the underprivileged. Many are wont to blame the ills being perpetrated by the regime on the legion of advisers. I choose to differ.

    A leader is free to choose those to work with. When he does, he makes a statement about the direction he has chosen to travel. The first indication that a leader intends to succeed is given by the quality of officials and advisers he picks. He is thus saying that he would take responsibility for their deeds and misdeeds. Why then turn around to blame them when things turn awry? In any case, he also has full powers to sack any official who fails to live up to expectations. But, when an Edwin Clark decides what government does and who is saddled with what responsibility, the outcome is obvious.

    Twice now within a week, President Goodluck Jonathan has informed us to brace up for another round of hardship as his government is set to further inflict pains on Nigerians already impoverished by his regime’s economic policies. He said the so-called fuel subsidy would soon be finally removed. He believes that his government has got over the spontaneous demonstrations in various parts of the country January last year. He is driven by the need to start amassing wealth to fight the 2015 electoral battles and thinks the best way to do it is make the people pay to enable him impose an unpopular government on them. Dr. Jonathan is no longer afraid of the likely consequences of the action.

    It is a shame that, despite the ugly revelations during the probe of the subsidy deals presided over by the Petroleum Resources Ministry, no official has been punished. It is business as usual. To buy time, the regime had moved swiftly to hoodwink the people by setting up committees and task forces that would ostensibly sanitise the sector. The two houses of the federal legislature also swung into action and treated Nigerians daily to theatrics.

    A SURE-P scheme was hurriedly initiated to lull the people into believing that infrastructure would be given facelift. And, to further indicate that it meant business, it sought to buy into the integrity of an over-recycled Dr. Christopher Kolade. A nonagenarian Kolade was made chairman of the scheme in the same way that General Muhammadu Buhari was brought by General Sani Abacha to preside over the Petroleum Trust Fund. In about one year, it is obvious now that the SURE-P has collapsed. Dragged before committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, Dr. Kolade failed to convince anyone that he is really in charge. He neither could defend activities of the programme in one year, nor could he explain the notorious duplications in the budget.

    Now, the regime wants to increase prices of petroleum products again using the same jaded and hackneyed arguments that the military first introduced. Why should anyone trust Jonathan and his clique when they have failed woefully to justify the confidence earlier reposed in them? What would they be doing with the trust they want reposed in them this time? Should more fund come into government coffers, how would that translate to better life for the people when we have a government that is at best at sea on most issues?

    Very soon, my brother, former comrade and friend, Labaran Maku would be all over the public space, making those points that he had joined us in debunking when Babangida first advanced them in the early nineties. He would tell us that hiking the prices would check activities of smugglers. He would tell us that only consumers in Lagos and Abuja are protected by the current pricing mechanism as the products sell for much more in other parts of the country. He would suggest that only the rich benefit from the subsidy. Labaran and his soul mates, Reuben Abati and Doyin Okupe, would argue that the pains arising from the removal would be soothed by a number of measures to be put in place and that SURE-P would be strengthened.

    It is obvious that the federal government is set to remove the subsidy. Whether it succeeds depends on the people. A massive point was made by the protests that rocked Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, among other cities last year. The civil society groups that organized that should begin to mobilize Nigerians across the strata again. If the government is not tired of anti-peoples’ moves, the public should not be tired of rising against such unpopular measures. It should be noted that the government and security forces would have learnt some lessons from their least performance, but so should we, the people of Nigeria. We cannot afford to allow one organisation take sole charge; neither should the movement be restricted to a few cities. This time, even the rural folks should be brought on board.

    This is certainly one oppression too many.

  • The second coming of Arthur Eze

    The second coming of Arthur Eze

    During the recent fund raising event in Lagos for President Goodluck Jonathan’s country home church, Prince Arthur Eze, the chief launcher, caused a stir across the country when he splashed a personal donation of N1.8billion. In this report, Associate Editor Sam Egburonu and Assistant Editor Remi Adelowo write on the enduring power of the moneybag and confidant of presidents.

    Save for the glittering Rolls Royce (Phantom) in which he was chauffeur-driven to the event and a retinue of mobile policemen who escorted him, Prince Arthur Eze ycould have been mistaken for just any other guest. His face is not one of the very popular ones that would be easily recognised by the people. But the stampede that trailed his arrival, rather than his person or the way he carried himself, confirmed his importance.

    Date was Saturday, March 16, 2013. Event was organised to raise funds for St. Stephen’s Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Centre in the Otueke country home of President Goodluck Jonathan. But the venue was the glamorous Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, almost a thousand Kilometres away from the village where the church is located.

    Eze, the chief launcher in that fund-raising bazaar, caused a stir, when he splashed a personal donation of N1.8 billion ($12 million), thus emerging the highest personal donor in the fund-raising bazaar that garnered over N6 billion.

    As would be expected, since the generous donation, many questions have been asked by bewildered Nigerians. Who is Arthur Eze? Where is this multi billionaire donor coming from? What is his source of income? Etcetera !

    His background

    Eze hails from Ukpo village in Dunukofia Local Government area of Anambra State. His elder brother is the traditional ruler of the town. A chemical engineer by training, Eze is the Ozoigbondu of Igboland.

    A grand power broker

    Though many may not immediately identify the billionaire oil magnet as a politician in the strict sense of the word, those who know Arthur Eze very well said he has, for over two decades, played an active, though behind- the-scene, role as a grand political power broker both in his native Anambra State and the entire South-East geo- political zone.

    Among some top political lords in Anambra State, Eze is simply referred to as ‘the godfather.’ This, according to one of his former aides, could be explained by the argument that most of the controversial political godfathers in today’s Anambra State, especially within PDP, actually learnt the trade under his feet. Such godfathers, who were his students, include Sir Emeka Offor and Chief Chris Uba, the same power brokers alleged to have masterminded the political coups that ironically chased Arthur Eze away from the politics of Anambra State during the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Then, Eze reportedly flew to London, thus making way for Offor and Uba to dominate the political chess game in Anambra during the governors Mbadinuju and Ngige’s tenures.

    In fact, students of Anambra State politics allege that the history of god fatherism in the state may actually have commenced with Eze’s sponsorship of Emordi during the late General Sani Abacha’s era. The game developed further when Eze lost out to his disciples, with Emeka Offor’s sponsorship of former governor Mbadinuju under Obasanjo and later, Chris Uba’s sponsorship of former governor Ngige also under Obasanjo.

    When the former CBN governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, joined the Anambra State gubernatorial race for the February 2010 Elections, Eze returned to the scene in his usual benevolent style.

    His presence could no longer be mistaken after the grand fund raising dinner for Soludo’s governorship campaign, when Peoples Democratic Party Finance Committee raised over N2 billion for Anambra PDP Chapter.

    In that event, Eze was the chief launcher. He also made the highest donation of N250 million, followed by the Chairman of the occasion, Sir Emeka Offor, who donated N100 million.

    It would be recalled that dignitaries present at that PDP dinner included the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, PDP governors, the then National Chairman of PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, ministers, PDP National Assembly members, Speakers of state houses of assembly, PDP chieftains, Anambra State PDP governorship candidate then, Prof. Soludo, and his running mate, Senator Emmanuel Anosike.

    Before that grand event, it was on record that the same Arthur Eze had earlier donated N30million to the Soludo campaign.

    Eze’s business interests

    Prince Arthur Eze is the owner of the defunct Triax Airline, which folded up early 2000.

    Currently, he is the major promoter of Orient Nigeria Limited, the first privately-owned refinery to be sited in Onitsha, Anambra State. Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, is the company’s chairman.

    Eze is also the Chairman and Chief Exectutive Officer, Atlas Oranto Petroleum International Limited (AOPL). Some sources said Eze founded and incorporated the company around 1991 and 1993 respectively.

    Official records describe AOPI as a wholly Nigerian oil exploration and production company and an active operator of 14 oil blocks in the West African sub-region, including OML 109 and OPL 320 in Nigeria.

    Insiders in the oil and gas sector describe Eze as a major international player, given that his company has secured significant upstream positions in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Ivory Coast, Chad, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

    Reports also said his “company has various technical partners, ranging from Roc Oil, Pioneer Natural Resources of the USA, Canoxy, Transworld of the USA, LukOil of Russia, Tetra, Noble, Kosmos Energy of the USA, Petronas of Malaysia, DNO of Norway, TransAtlantic Petroleum of the USA and Canada’s Nexen.”

    Besides his wide interests in oil and gas sector, Eze is also a well connected government contractor, a sector he has excelled in during the military and civilian era.

    During the late General Sani Abacha’s military regime, for example, Eze was at the very centre of power and his businesses enjoyed great boom.

    Also when Chief Jim Nwobodo was the civilian governor of the old Anambra State (now Enugu and Anambra States), Eze (then better known as Arthur 1,000) won mouth-watering contracts in the state, including the contract to build the Anambra State Broadcasting Service and Television studio (ABS Channel 50), as it then was, which was later to be a subject of criticism against Nwobodo’s government.

    Philanthropy

    Described as very generous, Eze floated Arthur Eze Foundation many years ago to assist indigent students to pursue their education in Nigeria and in many foreign countries.

    His flamboyant style

    A great lover of Safari suits, Eze is also very flamboyant, with his garage boasting about five different models of Rolls Royce.

    He also owns a private jet, the latest Bombadier worth about $25million.

    News about his acquisition of a luxurious jet first came as far back as February 2011, when it was reported that he bought one of the jets in the Presidential Air Fleet through auction. It was revealed that Eze was one of the successful bidders for the three aircrafts in the PAF in December 2010.

    That year, the federal government had, through the office of the National Security Adviser, put up three jets for sale through an invitation to tender, which was advertised in the Federal Government’s Tenders in Nigeria Journal.

    The jets were a Hawker 125-800, Falcon 900B and Gulfstream IV.

    That was shortly after the federal government acquired three new aircrafts for the PAF.

    Though an introvert, Eze is a fan of the late highlife musician, Oliver De Coque, who waxed an album solely to eulogise the wealthy businessman. Another Igbo artiste, Emeka Morocco, the creator of Ekpili brand of music, also sang Eze’s praises in several of his albums.

  • 2013: PDP’s dilemma in Anambra State

    2013: PDP’s dilemma in Anambra State

    About 13 years ago, there was no single person that could talk without making reference to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State; the party was like a cult group and if you were not inside, it was as if you had lost a valuable jewel.

    That era was lost when the former governor of the state, Dr. Chris Ngige, now senator representing Anambra-Central, lost the governorship battle at the appeal court in Enugu to incumbent Governor Peter Obi of the All Progressives Alliance (APGA).

    Since then, it was APGA all the way until Ngige emerged the flag bearer of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which almost snatched the state from the ruling party in the state.

    Though, the PDP’s leadership battle began in 2002, when the governorship ticket was taken from the then governor, Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju, and handed over to Ngige for the 2003 governorship election, it has remained so till date.

    The supremacy battle got to its height when the then Governor Chris Ngige was kidnapped by those who claimed they had the sole ownership of PDP, which, of course, failed. All that is now history.

    But, it has not been easy for the party with its political caterpillars and juggernauts in the state fighting to take control with their wealth. The major actors include:

    Over the years, Sir Emeka Offor, an oil magnate, former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Chris Uba and Chief Joseph Okonkwo had, one time or the other, called the shorts in the state but today, they are just mere stakeholders.

    Those who claim the leadership of the party in Anambra are many and for a long time, no one could claim the chairmanship of the party, and the party in the state has become like a sheep without a shepherd.

    Also, court cases had further sunk the party to the great beyond, while Prince Kenneth Emeakayi, who is currently serving as the new state chairman, also has enemies within.

    Feelers suggest that problem in the party may stop it from fielding any candidate in the forth-coming November 16, 2013 governorship election in the state as the top stakeholders have seemingly failed to resolve their differences

    But with the intervention of Senator Emma Anosike, who has declared his intention to run for the governorship under the platform of the party, it seems there is still light at the end of the tunnel.

    Last weekend, Anosike held a meeting with stakeholders of the party, which was chaired by Chief Okey Muo Aroh, who lost the national publicity secretary position of the party to Chief Olisa Metu on the way forward for the party.

    The meeting was held at Umueri in Anambra East Local Government Area with former state and national lawmakers, former state chairmen of the party in the state, including Chief Partrick Agu, who was former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s South-East coordinator in attendance.

    Though former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, was not in the meeting, they said as an elder stateman, they would pay him a visit in his country home to brief him on the latest in the party.

    The forum also said it would seek audience with other absentees like Chief Chris Uba, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, business mogul, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, among others.

    Again, they alleged that the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metu, had not done much in helping to resolve the crisis in the party in the state, adding that he would equally be reached.

    Anosike had told The Nation that his interest was not the contest of the election but to make sure that the party resolves its long lasting crisis which had denied them the governorship of the state since 2003.

    The Nation investigation also shows that what gives the party sleepless nights in Anambra State is the formation of All Progressives Congress (APC), with notable names in the state set to join the party, including those in power elsewhere.

    Apart from Anosike and Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, who had indicated interest to run for the election on the platform of PDP, ‘others like Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, Senator Andy Uba, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, had been playing hide and seek game on their ambitions.

    They believe that printing and pasting posters at strategic positions will buy them governorship position which will be vacated by Governor Peter Obi on March 17, 2013.

    For Professor Chukwuma Soludo, there is every indication that he may not run on the platform of PDP, following his alleged romance with few of the political parties in recent times.

    However, the battle for the ticket of the parties has been identified with Nwankpo, Uba, Ukachukwu, and Anosike as the arrow heads fighting it from Abuja.

    The only thing going for Anosike is that he is considered a grassroots politician, unlike Nwankpo, whose critics allege is not well known in Anambra State. They alleged that Nwankpo is using his position as Secretary of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (S.U.R.E- P) to muscle his way.

    Uba himself, who won the seat in 2007, but was removed after 17 days in office, is allegedly counting on his old goodwill during the period under review and his alliance with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to grab the ticket.

    The Nation gathered that the battle has become so fierce in Abuja that it may boil down to the party not having any candidate during the election.

    Prince Kenneth Emeakayi who is currently holding the chairmanship of PDP in Anambra State, with many members of the party loyal to him, is said to be in the good books of Ukachukwu.

    Another group that prides itself as Fresh Congress Group, led by Pastor Emma Obiora, is said to be clearing and watering the ground for Nwankpo, while Uba is still floating with the old structure of his younger brother, Chris Uba.

    There are few others who still claim they are in control of the party structures in the state from the three senatorial zones, who are already boasting to be PDP aspirants.

    Some of them have branded vehicles, tricycles, otherwise known as Keke Napep, while their posters adorn some of the minor and major streets in the state.

    Others, who claim they are in the race under the platform of PDP, are, according to insiders, just there for the sake of making themselves known, playing to the gallery to see if they could grab any appointment if eventually their party enters the government house.

    An insider and one of the alleged aspirants told The Nation that the issue today is not the candidate but the need to resolve issues tearing the party apart. But according to him, “before PDP gets to what it used to be in the past, all the pending court cases instituted by various groups and individuals must be vacated before the arrangement of congresses could begin.”

    Generally, it has been observed that the problem of the party in Anambra State include, primarily that of loyalty occasioned by too much money on the part of the so-called stakeholders, as these have been the dividing factor in the party, leading to a situation where nobody wants to be submissive to another.

    Observers in Anambra agree that if this issue is not solved, then the party may forget about the 2013 governorship election.