The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

  • Group lauds Buhari, Tinubu on merger

    Group lauds Buhari, Tinubu on merger

    A group, the ‘Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Total Loyalty,’ has described the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the greatest step taken by the opposition in the last 53 years.

    The group lauded the ACN, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC),All progressive Grand Alliance(APGA) and All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) for forming the new party.

    The leader of the group, Alhaji Toyin Balogun, said the merger will dislodge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and instal a credible administration at the centre.

    He noted the public enthusiasm that greeted the birth of APC, adding that it underscored the peoples’ yearning for power shift to the progressives.

    Balogun wondered why Nigerians have continued to wallow in poverty, despite the abundant of human and natural resources in the country. He described 2015 as the year of mass liberation from the misery, urging Nigerians to support the new party.

    He added: “The coming together of our major political parties- ACN, CPC, ANPP and APGA- to form a single front to bring to an end the dishonorable reign of the anti-people party is laudable.

    “It is long overdue. We thank God. It is timely. With the merger, we can be assured of a brighter future for Nigeria. The merger will not just bring about good governanc, it will also deepen democracy.

    “Nigeria has many people living below poverty level. When democracy was restored in 1999, there were a lot of expectation.

    “But 14 years after, the PDP has aggravated the problem. The party has no programme for Nigeria. PDP has been a national burden to the country. This must not continue. 2015 is our year of liberation.

    “We commend the effort of our leaders, most especially our indefatigable leader, a true nationalist, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He has made sacrifice and put Nigeria first. He is on a rescue mission. His name is already in the book of history”.

    Balogun also praised Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) for his commitment, adding that the former military Head of State has lived up to expectation.

    He urged the APC leaders to forge ahead in unity in the national interest.

    Balogun said the leaders should put to shame the detractors plotting the collapse of the merger.

    He said: “ For those that are forever locked in yesterday, hoping to see the merger derail, the tears of thousands that died as result of bad road, millions that died of hunger, hundreds that died as a result of insecurity and those that fell to the bullet of trigger happy policemen are daily crying for vengeance and God has listened by making the merger work”.

  • Give us more commissioners, Akoko-Edo tells Oshiomhole

    Give us more commissioners, Akoko-Edo tells Oshiomhole

    A group, Akoko Edo Renaissance’ has appealed to Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole to appoint the indigenes of Akoko-Edo as com-

    missioners. The group said Akoko-Edo council is the oldest and largest local government in the state, adding that it deserves more that a slot in the ca binet.

    In a letter to the governor signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Jude Obasanmi, National Secretary Peter Ogunubi and Publicity Secretary Damisa Ojegbai, the association also reminded the governor about his promise to make the council a centre of development.

    The group noted that, since it was created in 1956, Akoko-Edo Council has remained one local government, adding that the indigenes have also been contributing to the growth and development of the state.

    It added: “We use this opportunity to make a special appeal to you to use your good office and discretion in favour of Akoko Edo by appointing two commissioners from the local government. We have suffered marginalisation for decades. Akoko Edo is too vast a local government area to be represented by a single commissioner.

    “Since the Midwestern Region was carved out of the Western Region of Nigeria by plebiscite in 1956, Akoko Edo area has remained a virtual desert outpost; a hilly landscape without the attention it deserves. In the 52 years of preaching federalism and three decade of minority rights activism, our local government area has remained stagnant while other councils have been divided into three or more councils.

    “In actualizing your second term vision, you need a team of committed and dynamic people to complement your mass appeal, popularity and doggedness. Akoko Edo is blessed with many intelligent men and women who can adequately represent our interest in your cabinet”.

  • ‘How to avert ethnic crisis inTaraba’

    ‘How to avert ethnic crisis inTaraba’

    A football pitch argument between two local players de-generated into violence in Wukari, Taraba State at the weekend, leaving no fewer than 300 people dead. Properties estimated at billions of naira were also destroyed.

    Wukari is now a ghost town, since the incident occurred. The football field is in Wapan Nghaku area of the state.

    The acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, said the unfortunate incident had taken Taraba State several steps backward.

    He said he has met with traditional and religious rulers, council chairmen, security chiefs and top government officers on how to track down those fomenting the trouble.

    It was revealed that the two players –a Jukun and a Hausa , who are Muslims, were said to have disagreed over a football issue during play. The Hausa felt too aggrieved. He dashed home and returned with a gun with which he shot the Jukun.

    Hell was let loose, following the death of the Junkun. Over 300 Hausa residents in Wukari were massacred and their properties destroyed. Some of the properties were looted by those who took advantage of the riot. People from other tribes who were not the target were also affected.

    The hostilities lasted for two hours. Police said they were tired of evacuating the corpses..

    A source said the riot a fallout of the plot to annihilate the Hausa community in Wukari. “It is not a Christian versus Muslim crisis. Did you see any church burnt?”.

    Among the properties destroyed were mosques, cars, food, drugs, and commercial and residential buildings. The famous Yam Market in the area was also destroyed.

    “I am saddened. Everybody is saddened with what has happened”, said the acting governor in a state broadcast in Jalingo.

    Umar noted that the level of violence in the state required, “not only the attention and action of government alone, but of all of us as patriotic citizens”.

    Umar said: “I have just returned from the area where I went to see things for myself. I must say I am shocked by the magnitude of destruction and the high death toll caused by the crisis.

    “The breach of peace last Saturday in Wukari, in which several lives were lost and property of colossal value destroyed, is another unfortunate incident that has taken us several steps backward in our quest for progress and development.

    “It is another sad reminder of what happens when citizens fail to show love and tolerance for one another; when they fail to embrace dialogue in reconciling differences.

    “In the last couple of months, we saw this happened in Ibi and now it is in Wukari. It must stop at this point. We cannot afford to lose any more life or property anywhere in the state.

    Umar blamed the crisis largely on unemployment.

    The acting governor added: “The lack of job opportunities witnessed all over the country is a contributory factor to the escalation of violent conflicts in our state. As a solution, the administration is creating thousands of job openings this year to engage our youths. I have directed local government chairmen to key into the initiative, to curb youth restiveness.”

  • ‘It’s Anioma’s turn to produce Delta governor’

    Former Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning Mr. Clement Ofuani spoke with OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE on the agitation of of the Anioma people for the zoning of the governorship to the ethnic group.

    An Anioma person has never governed Delta State since the creation of the state in 1991. Do you think power can shift to the ethnic group in 2015?

    The issue of whether an Anioma person can become the governor of Delta State or not is an issue of interest. I think, based on our constitution, there is nothing that prevents us from getting to that position. They have every right to aspire to it. What is more important is that they also have the human potentials to give sound leadership to the state in a way that the state will be the better for it. Where you come from is merely much of a symbol; the key is the substance of the person and his ability to get the job done. Incidentally, by the sheer nature of the demography of Delta State, judging from the tendency of election in Nigeria to go along primordial lines, we now find a situation where ethnic the distribution in the state does not allow any ethnic group or senatorial district to determine what happens. So, there has to be a meeting of minds; a kind of consensus must be reached to say this is the best way to go .That is what we are working towards. I don’t see any problem in that aspiration being realised in 2015.

    Last year you made a public declaration of your intent to contest the 2015 governorship election. Don’t you not think that the decision was hasty and may affect your chance?

    I did not make any public declaration at any time. I think it was a matter of interpretation of some statements. If I recall, it was an interview on the NTA where I was pointedly asked about running for the governorship position. I said I have served in the public office before and I said that, if our people want me to serve in another higher capacity, then, I will be more than happy to oblige theM. That was what I said.

    When you say “we”, who are you referring to in this circumstance?

    We in this circumstance refers to all Anioma people without exception and all progressive Deltans, irrespective of their ethnic origin because it is in the long term interest of the stability of the state and its even development. It is not just an aspiration for the people who happen to trace their origin to a geographical area known as Anioma, but indeed, every progressive Deltan who believes in equity and fair play, and the fact that for us to live together, there must be a sense that everyone is treated fairly.

    Will the Anioma nation be able to arrive at a consensus, given the sheer number of formidable contenders warming up for the position?

    A management expert has made a statement that unanimity of opinion is neither desirable nor an essential necessity for progress. What you have is that people will debate issues and see where the majority train is going. That is what will happen. Even, if we look at our own history, at those who have emerged from our senatorial district in the past, none emerged as a result of consensus. Remember that when primaries are held for each of the political parties, it will not be delegates from Anioma alone who will pick the candidates. During the general elections, Anioma votes alone will not determine who will become the governor. So, the issue of whether Anioma can come up with a consensus candidate does not really arise and it is not the most important issue.

    What will you consider the most important issue?

    What I will tell you, in terms of common sense, is that as people begin to throw around ideas and vision, the clarity of their vision and ideas they bring to the table, their quality as persons would begin to influence a general decision in a particular direction and before you know it, someone will emerge.

    What do you think can be done to deepen democracy in Nigeria?

    Winston Churchill once said that democracy is the worst form of government, except all the others that have been tried. It holds great promise and that promise is predicated on the freedom of choice. Therefore, to deepen democracy, the capacity to chose, the freedom to chose and your choice being respected are critical ingredients. Now, it also presupposes that when you chose, you make the right choice. But that may not necessarily be so because the right choice is subjective. In the context we are talking about, where our passion to see somebody from a senatorial district that has not yet produced the governor, it becomes more critical for some people than the quality of the person who are put in there or even, if you have the best person from another group, you will say let’s find the second best, at least, because this particular ideal thumps the other one. So, to deepen our democracy, we need to educate our people so that they can make informed choices. We need to empower people because the more they can survive outside of government and make a decent life in every legitimate pursuit they can engage in, the better will our democracy be.

  • ACN wins by-election in Lagos

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has won the bye-election conducted by the Lagos State dependent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) into the Ward A Council of Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area.

    The councillorship seat became vacant, following the death of the ACN councillor, Mr Abayomi Akintokun, on September 3, last year..

    LASIEC Returning Officer, Mr Akin Agbaje, announced that Mrs Buki Wilson of the ACN scored I,965 votes out of 2,365 total votes cast. Seven political parties contested in the election, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which scored 339 votes, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alliance for Democracy (AD), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). The election, which held in 39 polling units, kicked off at 9am and ended at 3pm.

    Reacting to the result of the election, the PDP Chief Collation Officer, Chief Sunday Kudehinbo, faulted the election, saying that the exercise violated the due process. He said: “The election process was faulty. Accreditation was done along with voting, which should not be so.

    “I will report to my party for their final decision on it”.

    LASIEC Secretary Mr Yinka Jeje told reporters at the collation center that the commissioon was impressed with the conduct and turn out for the election. On why the election took place on a working day, he said that “election can hold any day”.

    Jeje added: “Fixing this election on a working day has not affected the outcome in any way”

    LASIEC Electoral Commissioner Mr Olalekan Mabinuori described the election as violent-free. He said: “We had some complaints over identification, but we moved in swiftly and resolved it”.

    The Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Mr Akionla Obadia, commended LASIEC for conducting a successful poll. He said: ““This may be a ward election, but we hope LASIEC will maintain the good work it has done today in future elections”.

    Obadia however, explained that INEC’s deregistration of over 30 registered parties affected the number of parties that contested the ward election.

    The Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Mr Popoola Ajayi, said: “LASIEC has done well. The election was peaceful and the entire process was good.”

  • PDP BoT chair: Anenih’s second coming

    PDP BoT chair: Anenih’s second coming

    At 80, Chief Tony Anenih has returned as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he lost in controversial circumstances in 2007. AUGUSTINE AVWODE examines its implications for the ruling party.

    Can the man acclaimed in political circles as “Mr Fix It” fix the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), now that he has bounced back as the Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman?

    The need for continuous electoral success, desire to stem the spate of distractions coming the way of President Goodluck Jonathan, especially, those coming from within the ruling party and in particular, the need to create a conducive environment for the President deliver on his campaign promises are some of the reasons adduced for the dramatic return of Chief Tony Anenih as the BoT chair.

    A PDP chieftain from Edo State and member of the Southsouth Elders Forum, Chief Richard Lamai, told The Nation that the party needs to be focused and only an experienced and courageous individual like Chief Tony Anenih can bring his deft political experience to bear on it.

    “At certain times in the history of nations, especially now in Nigeria where all efforts must be focused on the betterment of the common man and how to ensure security, the government of the day requires no distraction, in particular, distractions that are coming from within the party.

    “Therefore, a tested, experienced and courageous person is needed to pilot the affairs of the party. And, because the BoT is the conscience of the party, we can’t settle for anything less. His emergence clearly shows that Mr President is desirous of putting the square pegs in square holes while he redoubles his effort in delivering on his transformation promises”, he said.

    Six years ago, Anenih was outwitted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in a fierce struggle for the coveted position. But the former President prevailed as he rode into the BoT chairman’s office, courtesy of a controversial provision in the constitution of the party. The law paved the way such that only him was qualified for the position. Instructively, because of popular outcry against the provision considered obnoxious by many members of the party has since been expunged form the party’s statutes. Obasanjo later stunned party members when he resigned from the position on April 3, 2012.

    The former President said the decision was to allow him more time to “give some attention to mentoring across the board nationally and internationally in those areas that I have acquired some experience, expertise and in which I have something to share.

    “By relieving myself of the responsibility for the chairmanship of BOT of PDP, I have a bit more time to devote to the international demand on me,” he added.

    Party discipline

    Apart from the desire to win elections, Lamai said Anenih’s second coming is to create a platform for better rapprochement between the legislative and executive arms of government.

    “Now that Chief Anenih is back as BoT chairman, the level of rancor between the executive and legislature will be a thing of the past. Going by his antecedents, I can assure you that all factions within the party, wherever they exist, will be fully looked into and resolved and our great party will become more formidable, go into elections as a united family and come out victorious”.

    Another chieftain of the party from Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill, also lauded Anenih’s return, saying it will benefit the party, given his experience in party management.

    “The coming of Chief Tony Anenih as the chairman of the BoT of the party is a good one and we welcome it because the party is sure to benefit immensely from it. If his experience in party management is anything to go by, then, you can be sure of what I am telling you. Being one of the founding fathers of the party, he is expected not only to bring back most of the founding fathers to the party, but also to bring back the vision of the founding fathers of the party and reposition it for the great battle ahead. The 2015 general election is already generating enormous heat; for the party to win it, great minds must be galvanized wherever they are in the party to play crucial roles and he fits the bill perfectly.”, Princewill said.

    Uphill task

    But there seems to be an uphill task for the old man. The popular view that the Uronmi, Edo State born politician, will unite and instill discipline in the party has been faulted by another PDP chieftain from Ogun State. Speaking to The Nation on condition of anonymity, he claimed that Anenih’s return poses more challenges for the party. He argued that, apart from the question of age, the idea of recycling the same set of people in a party that is brimming with young and highly creative minds is a minus.

    “These people have a way of doing their things. But it is too early for anybody to sing haleluyah. I agree that Papa Anenih is a man of strong character. I also agree that he is a founding member of the party and therefore, very familiar with the vision of the founding fathers for the party. But where there are young, highly creative and digital-driven people, it is a minus for us to recycle the same set of people.

    “It is wrong to always think that the older you are, the more results you can get for an organisation. At 45, 50 or 60 years today, people of my age bracket can lead this party effectively and get results.

    “But beyond the question of age is the fact that all the positions in the party seems to be going to only one region or zone in the country. The President is from the Southsouth, the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) is from the same zone, at least for now, even if his own people want him out. The chairman of the newly formed PDP Governors Forum is from the same zone. And a day later, the BoT chairman is coming form the same zone. The rest of the country is watching. The other zones, mark you, have the number and politics is a game of number”, he said.

    The politician said that the re-emergence of Anenih could spark a revolt in the party.

    “It could be unhealthy for the party because, come to think of it, the person in question was only few months ago appointed as chairman of a lucrative board. Are the other regions lacking gifted people for such positions? We are in it together; we wait and see how this pans out”, he added.

    Princewill, however, dismissed talks of implosion in the party as speculative. He said, with the party’s BoT now fully repositioned, all political opponents, including the proposed All Progressives Congress (APC), should get ready for the battle.

    “Those speculating about explosion or backlash in the party are just afraid of what Chief Anenih is capable of and stands for. With the repositioning of the PDP’s BoT under the chairmanship of Chief Anenih, all opposition parties, including the APC, should be ready now for the battle of their life, which is the 2015 general election”, he said.

    But the source form Ogun State expressed reservation about the electoral value of the new BoT chair, arguing that in time past, Anenih could be said to be a formidable political force that could be depended upon to win elections, but not in the last five and a half years.

    “We must not delude ourselves again. The gentleman was a formidable force in those days, but since the opposition led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole arrived Edo State, we all know his electoral value. The party has been defeated for the second time running in the state. The last one was even more disgraceful. So, on what ground do you want me to agree with you that some people think that with him we will continue to win elections. If he failed at home, how would he win abroad? Well, I don’t share their optimism that now we are back to winning ways. The party has been winning elections where they are in control. You saw what happened in Gombe council election last week. The party is on ground there. But for you to tell me that because somebody has been made the BoT chairman and so the party will fair better in places where there has been infighting and rancor is not true”, he said.

    In the last governorship election in Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s ACN defeated the PDP in a landslide. The result was said to be a final proof of the decline in electoral value of Anenih, as the candidate of the PDP was trounced in both the candidate’s ward and Anenih’s home town.

    2015 calculation

    When Anenih’s name surfaced among the aspirants jostling for the position last year, many people quickly dismissed him as a weak contender. For one, he had been the BoT chairman before. Besides, analysts felt the Southeast should be given the opportunity to fill the position or in the alternative, the Southwest which has considerably lost very important positions in the party, especially since the 2011 general election. When in December 2012, President Jonathan appointed Anenih as the chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Board, many aspirants heaved a sigh of relief thinking that the Uromi chief has been meaningfully engaged for good.

    But last week, the party, in dramatic fashion, settled for the usual consensus way of picking the BoT chairman. In January, the position was to have been decided by election, but for one reason or another not unconnected with the struggle to control the machinery of the party, the election could not hold.

    It was said then that the chairman of the BoT would play a very crucial role in the party’s resolution of the already contentious issue of presidential nomination for the 2015 general election.

    In a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the party said that Anenih’s unanimous election as the Chairman was a step towards ensuring peace and harmony within the party. Metuh that, with Anenih’s antecedents as a mobiliser and consensus builder over the years, he would contribute a great deal to ensure the stability of the party.

    “Chief Anenih’s tireless participation and critical role in the formation of the PDP places him in good stead to provide wise counsel and direct the influential Board of Trustees to follow the noble ideals of the founders of the Party.

    “His wealth of experience and acclaimed reputation as a democrat and consensus builder are assets that the Party needs at this critical point in our democratic evolution”, he stated. He went ahead to describe Anenih’s unaniomous election as the BOT Chairman as “another signal that the PDP is ever united and ready to overcome all perceived obstacles in our drive to provide focused leadership and service to the good people of Nigeria”.

    A committee headed by Professor Jerry Gana to restructure the membership of the Board of Trustees submitted its report on Monday and sources said one of the clauses given for membership of the BOT was that any member of the Board that had defected to another political party between 1999 and now, automatically loses the privilege to be a BOT member.

    Gana, while speaking to journalists in Minna last week, said of the new BoT: “The BoT is a body of learned, experienced and trained people. They act as the conscience of the party so that they can give advice without bias or fears.

    “We want to assure Nigeriansthat having men and women of integrity and honour and being led by a very experienced and courageous person like Anenih , the partywill enjoy a lot of focus, stability and mobilisation”.

    With Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the National Chairman, Anenih as the Chairman of the BOT and Governor Godswill Akpabio as the Chairman of the PDP Governor’s Forum, it is being alleged that it is all about the politics of 2015.

    Also, with Obasanjo’s men roundly trounced in the battle for the soul of the party, President Jonathan can be said to be in firm control of the party machinery. And a good lesson for those who think he could not bark, let alone bite.

  • PDP ‘rebels’ and endangered ministers

    PDP ‘rebels’ and endangered ministers

    With the determination of the Presidency to rein in recalcitrant members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who are believed to be opposed to the alleged second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan, the heat has now been turned on some ministers, who are known to be key allies of some ‘rebel’ PDP governors.

    Sources disclosed that the ministers, who were nominated by the alleged ‘rebel’ governors, have allegedly been told in clear terms to ditch their states’ helmsmen or be fired from the cabinet. For the ministers who are ready to play ball, sources disclosed they will be given all the logistic support to provide a counter power base in their respective states to challenge the awesome powers of the governors.

  • Ohanaeze’s fate hangs in the balance

    Ohanaeze’s fate hangs in the balance

    Following disagreements over alleged manipulations ahead 2015 presidential elections, the new leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is facing stiff opposition threatening the organisation’s very existence, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

    Three months after its election, the new leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been unable to take off effectively following dogged opposition from many of the seven member states.

    It’s election in Enugu, on January 12, 2013, was marred by allegations of manipulation followed by rejection and protests. While some critics of the election accused the Ambassador Ralph Uwechue-led former executive of manipulating the system to favour some associates who would allegedly work for President Goodluck Jonathan’s  2015 presidential ambition, others accused the former executive of tampering with the timetable approved by the organisation’s highest decision-making body, Ime Obi, in order to disenfranchise some stakeholders and enthrone their cronies from the backyard.

    In spite of the controversy, the Chief Gary Igaraiwe- led new executive was inaugurated, even as angered stakeholders swore to hold separate elections, dismissing the January 12 election as fraudulent and illegal.

    This sharp disagreement created fears that except something was done immediately, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, may soon split into factions.

    So, hopes were raised when several elders of Ndigbo, who responded to the confusion promised to step in to resolve the crisis immediately.

    The controversy

    The disagreement began shortly before the controversial January 12, 2013 election in Enugu. Dissatisfied members of the organisation, warning against the election, had dragged the matter to court, receiving a court injunction restraining the Uwechue-led out-going executive from conducting the election that day.

    So, on the election day, Emma Okocha, one of the contestants for the position of National Publicity Secretary, told The Nation in a telephone chat that the election was in bad faith and cannot stand. He confirmed allegation from other critics that the process was manipulated by the out-going leadership and the PDP top hierarchy as a way of ensuring that the new leadership that would emerge will work for the party in 2015 presidential election.

    According to him, that is why the PDP took over the election, flooding the venue “with policemen armed to the teeth.”

    Citing the court injunction restraining Ambassador Ralph Uwechue from holding such election, critics of the new executive are contending that the election was “illegal, ab initio,” and should therefore be discountenanced.

    Another issue under contention is the position of Ime Obi, the highest organ of Ohanaeze, vis-a-vis the action of the former executive. Ime Obi, according to reports, had scheduled the election for 17th January and this information had been communicated to all the state executives, elders and traditional councils.

    So, most of them felt hurt and betrayed when they learnt that the election held on 12th. But when The Nation called Uwechue’s number on January 12, as the election was ongoing, to confront him with that allegation, an aide, who refused to give his name, said the former Ohanaeze President General was still at the centre of the election. He, however, denied that Ime Obi slated the election for 17th, alleging that it was slated for between 12th and 17th.

    Many elders in Igbo land are still contesting this claim. Although the office of President-General, which was zoned to Ebonyi State actually went to the state, Ebonyi is one of the most aggrieved states over the outcome of the election.

    “The point,” according to Mazi Ukandu Ude, an elder from Ebonyi State, “is that Ime Obi had earlier put the election date for January 17. We, therefore, felt cheated when, without notice, Uwechue’s executive suddenly rescheduled it for the 12th. Some of the contestants were in the dark when the alleged election held. This is strange and unacceptable to us because Ime Obi’s decision, according to our constitution, cannot be altered at will by an obviously interested out-going executive. Election of a new executive for Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a very crucial matter and the entire Igbo race cannot be taken for a ride by few politicians,” he said.

    To formalise the grouse of Ebonyi State over the way the election was held, the Ebonyi State Government alleged that the secretary of the national election committee of Ohanaeze, Chief Richard Ozobu, sent a wrong date to the state as against January 12 when the election took place.

    An official of the state government, who craved anonymity, told The Nation that it was all the handiwork of top Ebonyi State federal government officials working for President Jonathan, both to cheat and to score a political point against the people and the state chief executive.

    He argued that the election committee deliberately sent the wrong date to make way for some contestants and deny others.

    The crisis peaked when a parallel election was fixed for Ebonyi State on January 19, 2013, leading to fears that the fate of the socio-cultural organisation was indeed under serious threat. It turned out, however, that the planned counter election by dissatisfied Ebonyi leaders and other stakeholders could not hold following a last minute action to save Ohanaeze. The Ohanaeze National Electoral Committee, encouraged by a few concerned elders, who were alarmed that the situation was getting out of hand, had hurried and obtained an interim court order to stop the planned second election.

    In search of peace

    Although the interim court order, which stopped the second election provided some form of temporary relief, it was, as a member of Ohanaeze Ime Obi said offhandedly in a private meeting, that the relief cannot last long enough.

    To save the situation, members of Ime Obi held several emergency meetings with leaders, including state governors, to find a lasting solution to the problem.

    By January 20, 2013, when the governors of the South-East states and respected representatives from Delta and Rivers States resolved to intervene to save Ohanaeze, an 11-man committee, headed by Senator Ben Ndi Obi, was set up.

    The committee was urged to look into the problems of the organisation and make recommendations. We gathered that at inauguration, the committee was given February 10, 2013, to conclude its findings.

    It was also said that the new executive was advised to stand down all executive activities until the issues are resolved. “This advise has not helped anybody as the organisation has remained grounded since then. We have neither heard from the committee nor the governors. We are only caged in this suffocating waiting game,” a member of the new executive said.

    Although Senator Obi, was last week quoted in the media as saying his committee has finished its investigation since, insiders told The Nation during the week that personal interests and 2015 political schemings have made it difficult for the South-East governors to agree on the fate of the Ohanaeze executive elected on January 12.

    “During the last meeting of the governors on this matter, Governor Obi was adamant that the new Ohanaeze executive must be left alone and allowed to lead Ndigbo. His position was, however, not quite popular and this led to a form of stalemate,” said a source.

    The source, a top aide of one of the South-East governors, explained that it is the need to avoid a repeat of this stalemate, the governors have deliberately postponed their meeting with the election committee. They have not forgotten the problem in Ohanaeze. My boss confided that they are meeting with and discussing with all stakeholders in an effort to resolve the matter once and for all,” the source said.

    Besides the governors, The Nation learnt that Ohanaeze elders council, led by Justice Eze Ozobo and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu have been meeting with stakeholders. An associate of one of them confide, however, that one of their recent meetings in Enugu ended in a stalemate.

    As the behind-the-scene discussions continue, concerned observers are expressing fear that Ohanaeze’s fate may indeed be in a mortal danger.

    This is so because, today, three months after the controversial election of the new executive, the gulf seems to have widened as the leadership still seems unable to garner enough support in order to take off more effectively.

    Elder Ude summed up the fears when he lamented thus during the week: “Instead of the much-needed consolidation to defend the interest of Ndigbo, all we hear today in Ohanaeze is continuous disagreements within the elders, stories of manipulation from the Presidency, distrust among South-East governors and such like. When are we going to wake up as a people?

  • Taraba Cracks in Suntai’s wall

    Taraba Cracks in Suntai’s wall

    As the call for full disclosure of Governor Danbaba Suntai’s state of health becomes more strident, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports that the issue has also caused a division among the governor’s associates

    Many are likely to say it was Senator Jummai Al-Hassan, the lawmaker representing Taraba North Senatorial District in the National Assembly that sparked off the fresh debate on the health status of ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai with her recent allegation that the state government was concealing the true state of health of the governor, who is undergoing medical treatment in Germany following an air crash.

    But the senator is not alone in the renewed call for Suntai’s state of health to be made public. If anything, it appears she is just one of the many stakeholders now insisting that a full disclosure of the governor’s state of health should be made so as to assist the state assembly to consider a call for his removal.

    Investigations also revealed that all may not be well within the political camp of the ailing governor as his aides and associates are now divided into two camps. This followed incessant disagreement over the need for full disclosure of his state of health.

    Sources claim some of Suntai’s men, led by the Acting Governor Garba Umar, are now convinced on the need to tell the people the true state of things with Suntai. But a commissioner in the state, who is also a very close ally of the ailing governor, is allegedly leading a group opposed to the idea.

    The disagreement within the political family, which became visible during the week, The Nation learnt, started shortly after the acting governor returned from a visit to Suntai in Germany.

    “It all started when the acting governor returned from his visit to Germany where he saw his ailing boss for the first time. While he would have love to tell the people what he saw in Germany, it appears he was prevailed upon not to.

    “You will recall that though he said he saw Suntai, he confirmed the people’s fear when he said the governor didn’t speak with him. He then promised that the commissioner of Information would be visiting Germany soon after that. He promised that the ailing governor would hold a tele-conference with a selected audience then.

    “Though he refrained from saying too much about what he saw in Germany, it was clear that the acting governor was not pleased that he was unable to answer the barrage of questions that followed his return from Germany and he told Suntai’s associates so.”

    Matters worsened when Bello returned from Germany and a meeting was held to decide what the people should be told following the inability of Suntai to speak with a selected audience on phone as promised by Umar.

    Our source revealed: “At that meeting, Umar and some other associates of the governor suggested strongly that it is better that the people are told about Suntai’s current condition. But some prominent members of the group opposed any form of full disclosure.

    “That marked the beginning of open hostility between Umar and some of Suntai’s close associates. In no time, they started accusing the acting governor of plotting the removal of his boss.”

    The acting governor’s insistence on celebrating his 100 days in office, in spite of alleged advice to the contrary by loyalists of his bedridden boss, according to inside sources, widened the crack within the political family.

    On February 18, with an advertorial titled, ‘Taraba: One Hundred Days to be Thankful About,’ Acting Governor Garba Umar marked his 100th day in charge as the chief executive in Taraba State. The advertorial was placed in numerous national newspapers.

    An associate of the governor said: “The advertisement is in bad taste. We see it as Umar’s way of saying Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai, who remains in a hospital in Germany, is too physically and mentally incapacitated to run the state.

    ‘He behaved as someone who will remain in charge to celebrate more days and years, not as a temporary occupier of that office. Such behavior is unbecoming of someone whose boss is sick and recuperating. It is pregnant with meaning and we know,’ an associate of the governor said.

    But Umar’s supporters say his critics are just out to create problems for him. According to them, there is no big deal in the newspaper advertorial.

    “The advertorial, if anything, is meant to remind the people that the machinery of government is moving on smoothly in spite of the absence of our governor. It is a well- thought out plan that received the blessing of the party leadership. There is nothing to it but that critics of this administration are out to create problems for the acting governor,’ a chieftain of the party said.

    There are also insinuations that the acting governor is quietly making plans for a cabinet reshuffle aimed at easing out commissioners and other aides perceived to be disloyal to him.

    “He wants to remove people he thinks are still loyal to his boss. He wants to take over fully and position himself ahead of the 2015 governorship election. That is the real crux of the matter,” a source claimed.

    Supporting the move for full disclosure, Jummai Al-Hassan, representing Taraba North Senatorial District in the Senate, had said the state government officials have failed to come out with the true position on the state of health of the governor but were contented with feeding the people of the state with tissues of lies.

    “The state is not going the way it should be. It is unfortunate that this accident happened but we are praying for him to be well and come back soon. We hear that he is getting better every day. They even fix dates that he is coming back today, he is coming back tomorrow but we are still praying for him to recover fully and come back to the state. But now we have an acting governor.

    “You see, people in my state are crying out, saying they should be told where the governor is, how the governor is. You see, if you say the governor is getting better and you speak with him on the phone, you should be able to take at least an audio message to the people so that they hear his voice.

    “Everybody in Taraba knows the governor’s voice. If they say they spoke with him every day, they should be able to take at least an audio message. They say he goes to parties, they send pictures to us. They should be able to record video or take an audio message from the governor to tell us he is alright. But they are politicking with somebody’s health,” she said.

    A former deputy governor of Taraba State in the administration of Rev. Jolly Nyame, Senator Saleh Usman Danboyi, has also lent his voice to the renewed controversy over Suntai’s state of health.

    But unlike those calling for full disclosure, Danboyi wants the state assembly to immediately swear-in Umar as substantive governor. He said the action would put an end to what he termed “administrative standstill in the state.”

    Danboyi’s argument is that since Governor Danbaba Sunati was involved in a plane crash three months ago, the state had been in a standstill. He added that the political situation was worrisome to many natives. The senator, who represented Taraba South Senatorial District between 2003 and 2007 in the Senate, said in any civilised society, the citizens ought to know the health condition of their leaders, adding that the situation of things in Taraba State showed the state was a shadow of itself compared to when the ailing governor was in charge.

    “We want the governor to address us. At least, he can do that from Germany. The position of the constitution in Sections 189 and 181 is well spelt out on how we should have an acting governor and how the acting governor will become substantive governor.

    “So, the acting governor is not addressing us about the condition of the health of the governor. The onus of the proof about the health condition of our governor lies entirely in the hands of his deputy,” he concluded.

    The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in the state, speaking through its chairman, Alhaji Hamidu Suleiman, also wants the government to make a full disclosure of Suntai’s current condition in the interest of the state.

    Suleiman said the acting governor, Garba Umar, and the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, should come out clearly on the position of the state of health of the governor.

    He then urged the Taraba State House of Assembly to remain alive to the expectation of the people of the state by ensuring that the right things are done.

    With critics of his administration and other stakeholders determined to get a full disclosure on his state of health in the following weeks, it is left to be seen how Suntai’s men will handle this renewed row over his continued absence from his duty post.

  • Controversy trails Soludo’s 2014 governorship ambition

    Controversy trails Soludo’s 2014 governorship ambition

    For former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the popular dictum that once beaten twice shy may not be politically expedient, if his alleged interest in the Anambra State 2014 governorship election is anything to go by, reports Remi Adelowo

    Until the Supreme Court validated his candidacy as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Anambra State in 2010, not a few stakeholders in the party, both at the state and national levels, were determined to frustrate Professor Soludo’s ambition.

    From the high court, to the appellate court, culminating in the decision of the highest court of the land that Soludo was the validly nominated candidate of the PDP, it was indeed a long drawn battle for Soludo, with some likening his experience to a baptism of fire of sorts in his debut in party politics.

    With the PDP in Anambra State sharply divided between those for and against Soludo, the former university don went into the election severely weakened. Not even the drafting of the famed ‘Mr. Fix It,’ Chief Tony Anenih, and some national officers of the party to add some impetus to Soludo’s campaign team, made any significant impact, as the PDP candidate came a distant third in the polls behind the eventual winner, APGA’s Mr. Peter Obi and ACN’s Dr. Chris Ngige, respectively.

    For Soludo and his supporters, his victory at the 2010 election, according to sources in the party, was thought to be a done deal. The confidence may have stemmed from the assurance of the then president, Umaru Yar’Adua, who was alleged to have convinced the initially skeptical Soludo that all envisaged obstacles would be cleared to ensure his emergence as governor.

    His defeat at the polls was not totally unexpected. According to a source close to Soludo, sabotage within the PDP was cited as the major reason for the loss. A dejected Soludo was alleged to have told a few close associates that he was done with contesting election in the state in the foreseeable future.

    Why the change of mind?

    The alleged turnaround of the professor of economics to contest the Anambra governorship seat next year is coming as a surprise to close watchers of the state politics.

    Not a few are asking what has changed in Anambra politics between 2010 and 2013 to warrant Soludo’s change of mind.

    This latest development, The Nation gathered, may not be unconnected to an alleged understanding between Soludo and Senator Andy Uba, who is alleged to have decided against contesting in the 2014 race.

    In the last few months, speculations have been rife that Uba, who represents Anambra South in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, was poised to contest for the PDP governorship ticket in 2014.

    Different interpretations have been adduced for the alleged tactical withdrawal of the former presidential aide from the governorship race.

    First, there are strong speculations that some powerful forces in the Presidency are allegedly not comfortable with Uba’s alleged ambition due to his reported closeness to former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, whose alleged frosty relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan has been widely reported, but severally denied by the parties involved.

    Uba, in the calculations of these forces, may be too difficult to stop once he joins the race, as he is too entrenched politically, with an almost inexhaustible financial war chest.    Another side to the controversy is that some presidency top shots are allegedly behind the move to draft Soludo into the race, not for any altruistic reasons, according to sources, but a calculated plot to put forward a weak candidate who would be easily defeated by the presidency’s anointed candidate at the PDP governorship primaries.

    A hazy political climate

    For governorship aspirants in the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and PDP, nothing is certain yet regarding where the pendulum will swing.

    What has made the political setting in Anambra State more unpredictable is the alleged plan by the incumbent governor, Mr. Peter Obi, to dump APGA under which platform he was elected for the PDP.

    While Obi has severally denied he has such plan, many APGA members, according to sources, are at a loss as to why under the governor’s watch, the party has been practically torn into shreds as a result of the incessant leadership crisis that has plagued it in the last three years.

    Not a few APGA members are also peeved that the governor has allegedly fulfilled in breach his promise to compensate party members who worked for his victory, first in 2003 and later in 2010.

    The Nation reliably gathered that governorship aspirants in APGA are still confused on whether to kick start their campaign now or wait till when the governor will formally announce where his political future lies. A source said, “No one is fooled that Obi has a plan to decamp to PDP, but he should come clean with his party members.”

    The source continued, “No one is sure if the governor intends to install a successor from his party and then move to PDP with his structures or move to PDP before the election next year. This uncertainty is partly responsible for the lull even in PDP, as its aspirants are well aware of the governor’s closeness with the presidency.”

    A new aspirant and the battle ahead

    A few days ago, controversial businessman, Ifeanyi Ubah, confirmed speculations of his governorship ambition, thus setting the stage for an epic battle on who succeeds Mr. Peter Obi.

    While it is not clear yet under which platform he intends to actualise his ambition, there are strong indications that the 42-year-old oil magnate may pitch his tent with the PDP, with fears being expressed in certain quarters that the battle for the party’s governorship ticket may likely leave casualties in its trail.

    Some months back, Obi was alleged to have anointed Ubah as his successor. As part of the process towards softening the ground for his entry into the governorship race and enlisting the support of critical stakeholders, Ubah allegedly held several secret meetings with some members of the Anambra State House of Assembly at his Ikeja, Lagos residence early last year.

    The Nation, however, gathered that the governor is still keeping his cards close to his chest, even as he is now said to be looking in the direction of one of his top aides as his preferred successor.