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Category: Politics

Idoma, Tiv politicians jostle to succeed Suswam

Today, the issue in political discussions in Benue State is where power should shift to in 2015. The choice of successor to Governor Gabriel Suswam is already threatening to heat up the polity. UJA EMMANUEL reports the issues, actors and intrigues.

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has 30 months more to pilot the affairs of the state. Turbulent most of the time, but the ship of his administration is expected to stay on course till May 29, 2015.

Ordinarily, this period is supposed to be devoted to governance and not politicking; but this is not so in the state. Fierce battle to succeed Suswam has begun in earnest, even with interesting dimensions. The people of Benue South senatorial zone, otherwise known as Zone C, are already working on all cylinders in the hope of securing the opportunity to steer the ship of governance in the state after. They are not comfortable that they have not governed the state since its creation from the old Benue – Plateau State more than 35 years back.

The senatorial zone has nine local government councils seven are predominantly of Idoma ethnic group while the other group, the Igede is spread across the two local government areas that constitute Zone C.

However, while the Idoma are tucked in one senatorial zone with seven councils, their Tiv brothers are spread in two senatorial zones (A and B) with 14 local government councils with an overwhelming population.

The closest opportunity that came the way of Benue South to become governor of the state was in 2007 when Mike Onoja came second in the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) governorship primaries against Suswam. Since that opportunity eluded them, they have been struggling to no avail.

Now, as 2015 approaches for another round of elections, apostles of power shift to Benue South have stepped up their campaigns. Recently, the deputy governor of the state, Chief Steven Lawani, played host to a group led by former three-time member of the House of Representatives representing Ado\Okpokwu\Ogbadigbo, Hon Dave Idoko at the Government House, Makurdi.

The group, known as Apa 9, comprises past political appointees from the nine local government areas of Benue South. Their main agenda is for the zone to produce the next governor.

Apart from Idoko, other members include Hon George Ali, Hon Sunday Orinya, Hon. Joseph Odaudu and some other prominent sons of the zone.

Speaking with The Nation shortly after the group held a closed-door meeting with the deputy governor, Idoko maintained that Apa 9 is primarily concerned with ensuring power shift to Benue South in 2015 and/or the creation of Apa State.

“There are two things that are at the front burner in Benue politics today. The people of Zone C want to produce the next governor of the state or in the alternative, the creation of Apa State, and we came here to dialogue with the deputy governor and have his blessing,” said Idoko.

He said further that the group was working with every man and woman for the realisation of the ambition of the Benue South people.

He spoke further: “We want our Tiv brothers also to see reason and allow power shift to Zone C because President Goodluck Jonathan and Kaduna State governor are from minority groups, yet they are leaders today. So, there is nothing wrong with an Idoma man from Benue South becoming the governor of the state in 2015.”The big question now is: Will Tiv ethnic group with two senatorial zones allow the people of Benue South produce the next governor for the first time since the creation of Benue from Plateau?

Already, apart from agitating for power to shift to the MINDA axis (a group among the Tivs), there is another group, Tiv Federation Quota (TFQ) led by Chief Jeo Har and Kelvin Acka, which have accused Idomas of manipulating federal appointment and recruitment of people into military and para-military organisations in their own favour.

At a recent press parley held in Makurdi, the spokesman of the group, Chief Har called on the federal government to halt the trend just as he asked the government to investigate the lopsided recruitment exercise into the military, where Tiv people’s names were substituted for Idomas’.

The group expressed concern that their Idoma brothers were crying of marginalization, but in the real sense, according to it, they are the ones marginalizing other ethnic groups in the state as seen by the recent recruitments into the Police, Navy, Army and Civil Defence, which were skewed in favour of the Idomas against Tiv and Igede people.

The group further wondered: “If they were not yet in power and were able to manipulate federal appointments and recruitment exercises, what would become of the rest tribes if they produce the governor of the state?”

There is fear among the major ethnic groups about power shift. While Benue South cries foul that since the creation of the state, they have not occupied the Government House in Makurdi, the Tivs are worried that only Idomas are being recruited into the military and federal positions from the state.

Already, the Tiv group called MINDA, which is spread across Makurdi, Gwer, Gwer West and Guma local government areas, has maintained it is Tiv’s turn to produce the next governor of Benue state.

The group said all the Tiv ruling houses of Kwande, Jechira, Jemgba and Sankera had occupied the Government House, lamenting that the only group remaining is MINDA, which should be allowed to have its turn in 2015.

From MINDA axis so far, some people have indicated their intention to run for the post. They are: Hon John Tondu, Commissioner for Lands and Survey and Dr. Tivlumun Nyitse, Permanent Secretary, Government House Administration.

Also, prominent persons from MINDA who are under intense pressure to contest the 2015 governorship race are Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Chief Samuel Ortom and Prince Simon Aondona.

The people of Benue South may not achieve the much-sought power shift on a platter of gold as their Tiv brothers appear not done yet. But as Idoko, the leader of Apa 9 said: “If we can’t shift power to Zone C, we can at least have Apa State created. But how things would turn out in 2015, depends on circumstances and development within the period.

November 22, 2012
We encourage robust arguments in Edo ACN, says Ize-Iyamu

Osagie Ize-Iyamu is the National Vice Chairman, of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for the Southsouth. He was the Director-General, Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation, in the July 14, 2012 governorship election in Edo State. The former Edo State Secretary to the State Government also organised the November 12 inauguration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, for a second term in office. In this interview, he speaks on the governorship election and the state of his party in the zone. OSEMWENGIE OGBEMUDIA reports.

You were the campaign director of Governor Oshiomhole.

What, in your view, was responsible for the success of the election?

It was a combination of factors. First, we prayed to God for peaceful election and God heard our prayers. And to the best of my recollection, I don’t think that there was violence any where. I have not been told that any one died. The weather of the day was good and the election went quite well. Again our people behaved properly. Apart from the security arrangement put in place, the usual incident of ballot box snatching, trying to stuff the ballot boxes or the use of force to rig the elections did not occur. The Edo people too must be appreciated for behaving themselves in an exemplary manner and showing to other Nigerians how an election should run. It should not be a do or die matter, it should not be a desperate thing. Also we must thank Mr. President. I recall when he came to Edo State to campaign, he made it very clear that the era of writing results or using security agencies to intimidate people were gone. That the election would be free and fair; that it would be one man one vote and that even the security agencies had been told to behave themselves properly. Honestly speaking, that was what happened; it was one man one vote and the security agents behaved properly.

You mean there was no ballot snatching?

Well, you know during the campaign, many of those issues were brought to the fore by our candidate in particular, and to a lesser extent, other party officials kept saying they would not tolerate ballot snatching. We were all determined that even if the security agents were to be found wanting, we were ready to take the law into our hands to ensure that such a thing did not occur. But I also think that the president’s own assurances and the way the police and military behaved helped to ensure that every body played by the rule. There was no preferred political party or candidate; that made it easier for people to behave themselves. The level of enlightenment and mobilization was quite high and ACN as a party made it very clear that we were not interested in rigging elections. All we wanted was that the outcome must be transparent and credible and at the end of the day, that was what we got.

Didn’t you entertain any fear before the election on account of the major opposition’s capability?

We never had any fears at all. Perhaps what came as a surprise was the overwhelming victory. That we would win was not in doubt. Somebody might be a General in the Nigerian Army, but in terms of partisan politics, we felt that he was relatively new and when you look at the whole election, the things he said and of course the final outcome, you will agree with me that he was quite a novice. Even the unit where he voted, he lost to the ACN. We are not talking about the ward or local government. We are talking about his unit, and he lost the place. We were never carried away by his military title. There is no doubt that he had a lot of resources but money is not everything. If you know the history of our people, you will know that money is not really what makes people to win election. Yes, it’s paramount but it is not the major factor. We were not worried about his rank and military influence; we were very confident that based on the performance of the Comrade Governor across the state, it would have been a big shock if he had not won the election. The pleasant surprise is that we won particularly everywhere and even the PDP bigwigs that we thought would be able to win their unit lost them. If there is any surprise at all, it is the fact that even PDP bigwigs did not win their own units. We were very confident we would win.

So far, ACN has been successful in the state, but people are concerned that some of you who came from the PDP due to crisis could cause similar crisis in the party.

The problem with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was that its leadership was too autocratic and too personalized and because of that, many of us could no longer stay. At the height of the arrogance, we came out with the slogan “no man is God” because we were trying to say that there was need for humility even in leadership. For ACN, I believe we have learnt from the mistakes of the PDP. During the campaigns, there were talks about a pending implosion in ACN, but at the end of the day, we came together and worked together.

The beautiful thing about ACN is that we encourage robust argument. We are not afraid to disagree with ourselves and we also have a mechanism for settling problems before they get out of hand. When such a mechanism is there, it only makes the party healthier. A party where everybody says one thing is not a healthy party. In a political party, there are different people and if they are vibrant, they must have different views. The ability to collate them and say this is our view is what makes the party strong.

You can see the unity that played out in our election; it takes unity to win 18 over 18. We had one purpose, we had a clear agenda, if you listened to our message throughout the campaign. There is no harm or crime in disagreeing. Disagreeing is healthy in politics but what is important is the ability to annex these views; the ability to accommodate one another even if we disagree. It has played out in this election and we also believe it will play out in other elections.

It is alleged that because the state is broke, most of the projects that have been initiated by the governor will be abandoned…

I don’t know where you got the information that the state is broke; the state is not broke. I am even aware right now that contractors are being paid. I also know that public servants are being paid when due; if the state is broke that won’t happen. The only time there was a lull in construction was because of the rains; now, the rains have stopped, contractors have fully returned to site. So, the state is not broke. If you look at the way the Comrade Governor has handled the revenue of the state, you will actually give him kudos.

Apart from the fact that there is transparency, he has also made steps to make Edo State viable. Today, people are paying their taxes; institutions that no man would have talked to are being talked to – PHCN, UBTH, the Banks – they are now paying their taxes. In the past, these organizations would collect ‘pay as you earn’ tax from their workers running into millions of naira and theyy were not remitted to the state government.

What can you say about the IGR profile of the state?

The revenue profile of the state has increased. Today, the state is not totally dependent on flack as it used to be in the past. From the internal generated revenue alone, Edo State government can pay its recurrent expenditure. And if you look at the pattern of administration, his priority is capital project and in his current budget, he made it clear that deliberately, recurrent will not exceed 40 per cent of the budget, and capital, 60 per cent.

We must not continue to consume our resources. So, Oshiomhole is determined to take Edo State to the next level. In this second term, I see a lot of commissioning; I see a lot of projects across the state being commissioned.

I see more development being started and completed at the same time. I see areas where people thought had been neglected being tackled. You could see Aliko Dangote at his inauguration. Dangote spoke to the Edo people at the launcheon and said because of the persuasion and commitment of the Edo State government, before the end of the year, he would do a ground-breaking ceremony of what will be called the biggest fertilizer plant in the whole of Africa in Edo north – Agenebode. That will bring thousands of jobs that will bring serious economic activities and increase the revenue of Edo State.

For those that think he has not done much in job creation, he has always said that he wanted to first make the state attractive. “I want to put infrastructure in place that will make people come to Edo State. I also want to make the state viable. I want Edo State to be able to pay salaries and pensions,” the governor once told Edo people. He has achieved that. The next level has commenced and the key is economic transformation, making Edo State economically strong.

November 22, 2012
Governance: Ogun sets new standards

By the time the 26 world-class model schools under construction across the three senatorial districts in Ogun State are completed, I wonder if the proprietors of the mission schools will still want to take possession of their schools or ask the state government to retain its current ownership of some of those institutions and turn them also into model schools.

By the time these top-notch model schools with state-of-the-art facilities commence admission processes, the oft-quoted remarks of Senator Ibikunle Amosun would have turned out to be prophetic.

“We are not interested in taking over any school; all we have said is to ask them to give us a couple of years to sort out ourselves. A policy that would have seen over 20,000 children roam the streets in one fell swoop is certainly not in public interest. In fact, our plan is to give the private schools a run for their money by the kind of facilities we intend to put in our public schools.”

The mission schools, which constitute over ninety percent of the academies in Ogun State, will now need to ask themselves a lot of questions. Here are Amosun’s model schools that stand out; he is providing free and qualitative education for our children. Can we attract children to our schools by providing the same structures and facilities that Amosun has provided in these model schools? Can we also provide free education to our children?

And here lies the concept of The Ogun Standard.

The Ogun Standard is a philosophy enunciated by Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the governor of Ogun State. It means any project or activity embarked on by the state government should set benchmarks for others. Such a project should comply with international best practices; it should be a reference point; a model for others to copy.

I have illustrated this with our efforts in the education sector, particularly the model schools’ initiative of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration. It does not end there…

I have interacted with members of some of the communities where the model schools are sited and they are upbeat about the modern educational edifices, the very first of such in the state. They can hardly wait to see this dream come to reality.

They know that beside the knowledge and vocational training to be provided by these schools, they will open up the host communities and hasten their pace of socio-economic advancement. More hands will be employed. Commerce will increase. Other development projects will be attracted.

This is also part of The Ogun Standard. Every project should also factor in economic linkages, backward integration or beneficial value chair for the citizens of the state.

The Ogun Standard is also illustrated in the security architecture of Ogun State. The state-of-the-art Armoured Personnel Carriers purchased by the current administration to contain the security challenge it inherited are the very first of such in Nigeria. They are of the latest technology in the world. They are indeed of The Ogun Standard. As Governor Amosun posited, “we also value the lives of our security personnel; they must be provided with equipment that as much as possible guarantee their own security as well.” I understand a couple of other states are trying to purchase these latest APCs.

Said the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, on April 20th, 2012, during the launch of the APCs and other security equipment provided by the state government: “I have served in all the six geographical zones of this country, I have never seen the kind of equipment you are donating to security agents today. This is the first of such maximum donation I have ever seen since I have been serving as Police officer.”

In the same vein, if the then Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, had made it to Abeokuta on that fateful day when the administration of Governor Amosun commissioned 500 transformers for distribution to communities across the state, he would probably have spoken along the same line as IGP Abubakar.

I am not sure of any state government in the country that had made such quantum of purchase at one fell swoop. As these transformers are energised across the length and breadth of the state, the battery chargers, barbers, hair-dressers, video-club owners, business centres, auto-mechanics, auto-electricians, welders, tailors and others hitherto paralysed by lack of power, will have their businesses energised and be able to contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state; unproductive hands are engaged and many idle hands are taken off the streets. Such a gargantuan intervention in the critical sector of the economy is also of The Ogun Standard. It’s one single project that creates massive beneficial ripple effects.

The Ogun Standard as well takes cognisance of present realities and the future, hence the Bus Mass Transit Scheme (BMT) launched by the Amosun administration. As at the time Ogun was created, the population of the state would probably not be more than a million, but today we are about 5 million. How can we continue to rely on taxi cabs and narrow roads for transportation? And so, for the first time in the history of the state, we have modern luxury buses introduced, even as the governor continues the offensive against poor road network…

And look at that very first ultra-modern secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ogun State chapter that sits splendidly along the Abiola Way in Abeokuta! It was built with the support of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun administration. Look at that taste and touch of excellence! That’s The Ogun Standard, which sets benchmarks for others.

I saw the expression on the face of Senator Amosun at Ota during the Local Government Assessment Tour early in the year. He was to commission a road. He said frankly that “the road is good as it will end the distress of those communities, open up the area and increase commercial activities. But this is not of The Ogun Standard!”

A road of The Ogun Standard, according to the Commissioner for Works, Arc Lekan Adegbite, “will have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years barring wilful damage. It will have 4 or 6 lanes with drains, sidewalk, median, lighting and greens.”

The Ibara-Totoro Road, constructed by the current government, is of The Ogun Standard, indeed the very first of such road in the history of Ogun State. It has become a reference point even as a couple of the above features are in the process of being added to that highway.

Talking about durability of Ogun roads, someone from the opposition once remarked that apart from the small Oke-Ilewo road in Abeokuta, there was no single road constructed by the immediate past administration that outlived it, in contrast to the Chief Olusegun Osoba roads. I thought that was hyperbolic but as we toured the entire state from Ipokia to Ijebu-Waterside, from Ago-Iwoye to Sango Ota, ijebu-Ode to Ilaro, etc., I could not see a single road constructed by the last government that had not been plastered and replastered. The sight of an accident victim with multiple injuries emerging from a hospital (with plasters all over) better illustrates the point here.

If Ibara-Totoro Road is the first of its kind by any state government in Ogun State, the Ibara Flyover Bridge under construction is also the first by any state government in the annals of the state.

All these have set benchmarks below which no future governments in Ogun must fall. You can perform better but you are not permitted to fall below this standard that has been set by Amosun. That is the concept of The Ogun Standard.

It’s about having a vision that transcends the present, the immediate. And wherever Papa Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bisi Onabanjo are, they will be happy that there has arisen once more in Ogun, a man of vision, resolutely committed to the Mission to Rebuild Ogun State.

•Opeyemi is Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Ogun State.

November 22, 2012
Ibadan State viable, says Olubadan

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oyo State, Oba Samuel Odulana, has justified the demand for the creation of Ibadan State, stressing that the metropolis is qualified for the status by population and historical evidences.

Also, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), which had submitted a memoranda to the national Assembly on the agitation, pointed out that the people of Ibadan have more claims than the promoters of Oduduwa and Ijebu states.

CCII leader, Chief Adebayo Oyero, said the proposed Ibdan State would be viable because of the untapped potentials that would ultimately boost its internally-generated revenue. He said the population of Ibadan and Ibarapa districts, which are larger than many states in the country, have made the basis for the Ibdan State more compelling and convincing.

Oba Odulana, who was a member of House of Representatives and Parliamentary Secretary to former Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa in the First Republic, said Ibadan is the lone pre-independence administrative capital that is not enjoying the status of a state.

The monarch, who had personally written to the Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker, to demand for Ibadan State sin 2008, pointed out that the two senators representing Oyo Central and Oyo South Districts are from Ibadan, adding that, out of 14 House of Representatives members, seven are also from Ibadan city.

Oba Odulana added: “Ibadan has 16 House of Assembly members out of 32 and 155 elected chairmen. chairmen and councillors. We earnestly hope that the National Assembly will set in motion the necessary legislative machinery that will make the creation of Inadan State a reality”.

CCII leader Chief Oyero said the total population of the proposed state is 45.61 percent of the present Oyo State. He added: “The population of the proposed Ibadan State is more that eight states in Nigeria-Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Kwara, Nasarawa, Taraba and Yobe. He said Ibadan and Ibarapa have jointly submitted memoranda in 1989, 1991, 1996, 2003, and 2006 for the creation of the proposed state.

“I can tell you thet Ibadan State will be more viable. We will eliminate waste. In Oyo State, Ibadan is the livewire. 80 percent of the internally generated revenue comes from Ibadan and Ibarapa. Our plan is that in Ibadan State, we will not have a bloated staff. ICT will reduce personnel cost. Currently, in Ibadan, there are untapped potentials. I moved into my house in Ibadan 31 years ago and up to now, I have not paid tenement rate. Ibadan is a gold mine untapped.

“Physical development in Ibadan is haphazard today. No policy on planning. No political will to implement planning regulations. Up to now, Ibadan has no master plan. The current administration is trying with the establishment of the Ministry of Planning and urban Development. Ibadan State will lay greater emphasis on this. Ibadan can be a mega city”.

November 22, 2012
Tributes as Oyo Assembly holds special sitting for ‘Great Lam’

Last Friday, top politicians in Oyo State joined the House of Assembly at a special sitting in honour of the late Alhaji Lam Adesina where they paid tributes to the political icon. BISI OLADELE and TAYO JOHNSON were there.

The Oyo State House of Assembly has been described as one of the most unique assemblies in the country. Those who claim this hinge their argument on the fact that notable nationalists and great leaders such as the late Chief Rotimi William (SAN) and Chief Anthony Enahoro once stood there to make laws. It is also said to be unique because the first motion for Nigerian independence was moved on the floor of the assembly by Enahoro in 1956.

Last Friday, the hallowed chamber of the House, once again, attracted eminent politicians who came to celebrate a former governor of the state, Alhaji Lam Adesina, who died penultimate Sunday, December 11, in a private hospital in Lagos.

“Great Lam,” as he was fondly called, was until his death the leader of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state. According to the Speaker, Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu, the House of Assembly organised the special sitting to honour Lam in view of his contributions to the development of the state. The Assembly had suspended its normal sittings on Tuesday and Thursday to prepare for the special sitting, which turned out to be a day of tributes and encomiums for the popular politician.

For a man of many parts who was a critic, pro-democracy campaigner, teacher and politician, the session attracted lots of people from different classes, groups and opinions who extolled his virtues.

At the session were former governor Rashidi Ladoja, the incumbent, Abiola Ajimobi and his Jigawa State counterpart, Sule Lamido who said that he came to pay tribute to a good friend.

Also in attendance were the National Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande, state party cheiftains and other dignitaries.

In her welcome address, Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu said the late governor was a man who made his marks at various levels and particularly, at the state level, educationally, socio-politically, stressing that the late politician also became a reference point as one of the fathers of the state.

Having served the state meritoriously, the speaker said the state owes him a duty to immortalize him, stressing: “By so doing, we are also making a loud statement that diligence and commitment to the cause of the people pays. Patriotism should be encouraged particularly, among the up-and-coming generation”.

She expressed the hope that the Nigeria and Oyo State of Lam’s dream were achievable.

Akande, in his address, described the late Lam as his younger brother when he was still alive, pointing out that it was not a thing of joy to be at a valedictory service for him.

He, nevertheless, noted that Lam was a visionary leader of the party in the state adding that his memory would continue to live forever.

Former Governor of Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, said it was pitiful that Lam Adesina passed away at a crucial time when Nigeria and Oyo State needs him most.

His words: “I am happy to see Senator Rasheed Ladoja here. It means, we are now playing a more civilized politics in the state. Before, if any politician dies we will play politics with his death and avoid a condolence visit”

Olunloyo described the late Lam Adesina as a very respectful brother, powerful columnist and a very conscious historian, adding that he is proud of him and his contribution to Nigerian politics and Oyo State.

Ladoja, in his tribute, expressed sadness at Lam’s death in spite of their party differences and misunderstanding in the past. He said that he was very proud of him and his achievements.

Ladoja explained that in 1992, it was Lam Adesina that encouraged him to join active politics, disclosing that he became a senator through his effort. He described Lam as a reliable and a forthright politician unlike some others.

He said the late Lam was a humble teacher who got to the pinnacle of his career. As a columnist, Ladoja said that the deceased was read all over the world. As a politician, he said Lam achieved his dream while he was still alive.

The former governor urged the upcoming generations to emulate his great works.

In his own tribute to Lam, Senator Lekan Balogun said they worked together for years, pointing out that he was a great, principled and trustworthy fellow.

“He was a gentle man to the core. I think we have lost an illustrious son of Ibadanland and a great grassroots politician” Balogun said.

This was followed by a break at which a peep into the life and times of Lam Adesina was shown to all through the projector, where his early days as an Ibadan boy and how he went into politics were revealed to the audience.

An activist, Comrade Moshood Erubami said the lesson from the gathering was that death is real, and that everybody will pay the debt.

Erubami said: “All that we would be saying here today will be testimonies to Lam’s politics and ideological orientation as reflected in his leadership style for the number of years he lived on earth before he breathed his last. He was an unequalled democrat who is committed to serving the people, a colossus that contributed immensely to the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria”

Erubami recalled the NADECO days when Lam Adesina was arrested as a ‘prisoner of war’. He said: “He was guilty for what he was arrested for because he was a rebel who wanted to overthrow the military regime for democracy to serve his people.”

On how to sustain his legacies, the activist said that sustaining the legacy of a hero with noble achievements is beyond wishful thinking, stressing that no ordinary politician can sustain the legacy of Great Lam except those who are humble, people who care and share, respect other people’s opinion, imbued with courage, compassion and character of integrity like him.

“When Lam was arrested as ‘prisoner of war’, I was the commander of the war. But he was guilty of the war because he was a rebel against military dictatorship,” he said.

Also, the Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olatunde Olaniyan described Lam as a democrat, a patriotic Nigerian who never felt bad at fighting for the cause of humanity.

In his own tribute, Senator Abiola Ajimobi explained that when he visted the late ex-governor two days before his death at the hospital, Lam told him that he had lived a fulfilled and an accomplished life.

Ajimobi said that Lam was his teacher at Lagelu grammar school, his mentor, a social crusader and a man with the fear of God, adding that in his last days, he was always praying and fasting.

“ He was bright and eloquent, his rich vocabulary has helped me in life. He has grown up to be an advocate of justice and a parliamentarians’ delight when he was in the House of Representatives. His contribution and quota in the area of education in this state cannot be over emphasized. He was a governor of the masses and the less privileged,” Ajimobi said.

He promised to sustain Great Lam’s outstanding legacies of sincerity, consistency and forthrightness in an attempt to take the state to greater height.

The Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, who arrived at the occasion unannounced, expressed his shock at the death of his friend whom he described as “an astute politician.”

He said he was at the House of Representatives with Lam between 1979 and 1983, recalling that in those days in the hallowed chamber, the late governor was an orator and his speeches laced with patriotic fervor.

He said that the Yoruba race and Nigeria have lost a honourable Nigerian that is irreplaceable.

Other dignitaries present at the event include Senator Ayo Adeseun, all the commissioners in the state, and chairmen of local governments in the state.

November 21, 2012
Tambuwal’s new approach to leadership

Over the course of the year, many within and beyond the National Assembly have been astonished at the new ideas being introduced in the running of the House of Representatives by the Speaker, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

It is not as if many were not expecting new ways of doing things when the Honourable members among them gave him their mandate to lead the House in June last year. Rather, what is surprising to them, and to large swathe of Nigerians, is the frequency with which new and effective methods are becoming the order of the day in the legislative scheme of things in the country.

The crux of the new approach to leadership is encapsulated in the House Legislative Agenda, which was introduced by Tambuwal to initiate a new order that fosters transparency, leading to institutional integrity in the legislature in particular and the country in general.

As enunciated by the Speaker himself, the legislative agenda primarily seeks to restructure the management and functions of the legislature towards adequacy in capacity and improved productivity.

In addition, the Agenda seeks to design and implement the electronic parliament (e-parliament) blueprint that elevates the National Assembly operations to international best practices and ensures public access to parliamentary information and process.

Importantly, the Agenda seeks to review the legislative branch budget in line with the requirements of openness, effectiveness and accountability; review the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in all relevant areas in line with the aspirations of Nigerians; engage actively with other arms of government to restore public order and national security and finally to institutionalize mechanisms that facilitate effective engagement with various stakeholders including constituents and civil society organizations (CSOs).

What are those things done differently by the House leadership to warrant this intervention? Let us begin with the composition of the committees of the House in September 2011. For all those familiar with how such endeavors were undertaken in the past, they will readily attest to the fact that seeds of discord among members get planted on the day the committees are announced largely because many always felt shortchanged by the outcome. Not so when Tambuwal announced the committees in the first test of his leadership acumen as Speaker. Not only did it go well, members openly praised the House leadership for taking their view points into consideration, but for placing square pegs in square holes in order to maximize potentials for the benefit of the polity.

Take another example. The rot in the oil sector manifested in the shameful subsidy scam has been considerably unravelled to the extent that government has commenced prosecution of those indicted in the law courts. This did not just happen. It took the intervention of the House of Representatives, beginning with its historic January 8, 2012 extra-ordinary plenary session, to arrive at this junction. In spite of the controversy that engulfed the ad-hoc committee, the report of that panel laid the foundation for the rash of committees set up by the executive with the aim of cleansing the Augean stables.

Holding that extra-ordinary session on a Sunday, the first of its kind in the country, set in motion various activites which have today led to stringent calls for more transparency and accountability to be institutionalised in a sector characterised by many underhand dealings. But for the bold move taken by the Speaker, we would still have been in the dark as to the true nature of the corruption that pervades the sector.

Also of note here is the issue of the amendment of the 1999 constitution currently going on in the country. When the Speaker announced last September that all the 360 members of the House of Representatives will return to their constituencies to hear directly from their people on what they want in the new constitution, many did not envisage the kind of interest the move would generate.

When the Peoples Public Session eventually held penultimate Saturday across the country, Nigerians did not only hail the transparency of the novel process, but identified with its overall objective which is to give the country a document (constitution) that was written with the input of the people.

It is worth recalling here that each of the sessions in the 360 Federal Constituencies was organized by an independent Steering Committee of Stakeholders that included the member of the House representing the Constituency who served as the facilitator, members of the State House of Assembly in the particular Federal Constituency, the Local Government Chairmen within the Constituency and one representative of the following organisations in each Federal Constituency, namely the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Others were the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and other Student Groups, the National Youth Council (NYC) and other Youth Organizations, the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) and other Women Organisations, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). Stakeholders, such as Ethnic Nationalities, Women, Youths, Students, Town Unions, Professional Organisations, Civil Society Organizations, Religious Organizations, Traditional Institutions, Political Parties, Artisans, Labour etc, and indeed all Nigerians.

No doubt, Tambuwal’s strong stance on discipline, accountability, and truth, and his penchant desire to do things differently, is now setting the bar and becoming an example for elected office holders in the federation.

As we’ve seen times without number, his apparent willingness not to be encumbered by the political exigencies that had stunted our progress, is quite inspiring. For him, what matters is the nation’s interest. Call that an unyielding idealism and you won’t be wrong.

• Imam is the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Speaker Tambuwal.

November 21, 2012
Suswam, Mark on warpath? Forget it

The Nation in its edition of Sunday, November 18, 2012 published a highly sensational article in which it desperately tried, unsuccessfully though, to paint a picture of a non-existent political rift between Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State and the Senate President Senator David Alechenu Mark.

In an article titled “Benue 2015: It’s Mark versus Suswam”, one Dare Odufowokan issues that he has nothing to support or prove in the guise of analysis of the political current.

In one instance, he wrote of factions in the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State; struggle for the control of the House of Assembly leading to the “removal of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly by a group of legislators loyal to Senator Mark.” In yet another instance, the writer alleged he is in battle with Suswam over the 2015 governorship election in the state.

Governor Suswam finds these allegations and insinuations as most unfortunate as they are baseless, patently untrue and deliberately cooked up by certain political interests in the state who would like to have a situation of political misunderstanding between the two leaders of the state.

For the avoidance of doubt, it has to be placed on record that Governor Suswam has never had reason for a major disagreement on any political matter with the Senate President since both of them have forged a nearly perfect understanding in their working relationship which often ends with consensus on most issues.

Secondly, the PDP state executive committee is not factionalized, neither was it rendered illegal by the National Executive Committee of the party as grossly misrepresented by the article under reference. Contrary to the false claims, the state Congress of the party actually took place and the

candidates for the various positions were returned in accordance with the provisions of the party’s constitution. It is therefore the height of ignorance or mischief to insinuate that the executive committee was imposed on the party by Governor Suswam.

The most bizarre of the erroneous claims contained in the said article is the recent change of leadership in the Benue State House of Assembly which the writer blamed on the struggle for the soul of the House by the two political leaders.

In actual fact, this claim is far from the truth as the crisis in the House had nothing to do with political differences between Senator Mark and Governor Suswam. In fact, contrary to the distorted facts put out in pursuit of selfish political interests, the Speaker, Hon David Iorhemba, was not removed but resigned from office due to a prolong face-off with his colleagues over alleged misconduct.

The 2015 governorship election is at the moment not a contentious issue in Benue political circles, since neither Governor Suswam nor Senator Mark has made a statement on his preferred candidate or where the position should be zoned to. It, therefore, amounts to a chase of shadow to write about an imaginary political rift on the basis of a governorship race that has not been flagged off..

It is pertinent to inform the good people of Benue state that Governor Suswam’s concern now is to deliver on his promises to the people of the state by working on policies that will bring out reduction of poverty while creating wealth for the teeming population of the state and would not be distracted by a non-existent political conflict with any of the leaders of the state. For the records, the governor has always held the position that the issue of who succeeds him is a decision to be taken by the people of the state and their leaders at the appropriate time and not by himself alone. His position on this very important political topic has not changed.

Governor Suswam and Senator Mark have maintained an excellent public and private relationship over the years, built on mutual respect for the offices they occupy and out of the shared concern for the progress and development of the state. The two leaders are resolved to continue to work together in the interest of the people they represent. Therefore, no amount of machinations by enemies of the state will change their commitment to the development of the state.

• Akwaya is media aide to Governor Suswam

November 21, 2012
Agenda for second term: ‘No more shall our people travel to our capital city to see civilisation’

The banner at the capacity-filled Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium fluttered with buoyancy and optimism. It bore such assuring declaration as “Edo is in safe hands: Welcome to the future”.

As early as 8.am, students from different primary and secondary schools, crowd of party faithful, military and Para-military personnel and cultural ensembles, in their thousands, surged and fought their way to be part of the future that was being ushered in with the swearing-in for the second term of the new light of Edo politics, Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.

At exactly 9.30 am, the stadium was already filled to the brim in kaleidoscope of colours don by an ecstatic and jubilant throng of citizens ready to hold the future in their own hands.

Security personnel had a challenging time controlling the hordes of guests who wanted to be part of history that was being celebrated. History not because it was the first time a governor was being sworn in for a second term, but history that records the victory of one man one vote crusade that began sometime last year. History that celebrates the interment of the politics of godfatherism. History about a kingdom regained. History about a return from the wasteland.

Despite the water-tight security, the crowd was ready to break barriers to see their governor, who has come to be known as ‘Oshio Baba’ coroneted for yet another voyage that would put Edo State firmly in the pantheon of democratic and developed state.

The Edo people were not alone in their felicitation with the Comrade Governor. Friends and associates, cutting across political divides braced the early morning showers to register their camaraderie. As at 10.30am, the roll call of political gladiators included the former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Peter Obi of Anambra State, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, ACN National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed. Also on hand to honour Oshiomhole were former governors of Ekiti, Ogun and Anambra States, Chiefs Niyi Adebayo, Segun Osoba and Chris Ngige respectively, among others.

A phenomenon that he has become in the state, even those in opposition could not but admit that this was an epochal as they turned out to witness the coronation of the diminutive gadfly whom God has given to the state. A gadfly who, even before his assumption of office, has fastened himself upon the citizenry, persuading and jolting them out of their political docility and obsequiousness. And a reproach for a few who for long reduced the state to a fiefdom.

Much more than the convergence to witness the inauguration of Oshiomhole’s second term, was a demonstration by the people that once they find a leader who is not only selfless but one who has a demonstrable skills to lead, they are ready to follow. And with shouts of “Osho Baba”, “Osho Baba”, there was no denying the fact that this was a leader they had long been in crying need of. This was why they turned out in their thousands to celebrate what they regard as the extermination of the forces of darkness. A state whose people were for a long time reduced to miserable spectators, persuaded to believe that Edo was no longer viable as a state by a godfather and a coterie of his followers, the showpiece could not be embraced any more than as a political emancipation of some sort.

In a veiled reference to the brusque manner with which the ghost of the godfather of Edo politics was exorcised, echoes of “Hurricane Adams”, “Adamant Adams” wafted all round the stadium.

For four dizzying years, the people believed and anchored their hope in the Comrade Governor and in the end, it turned out to be a voyage of promises kept, hope kept alive and an unprecedented transformation across the state.

Speaking to The Nation in Benin, a former PDP member, Mr. Osahon Obazele, who said he defected to the ACN said: “For once, Edo people can trust their governor.”

After nine years of growth stasis, the people can look back and heave a sigh of relief that the pains and deprivations of the past have been righted within so short a time by the Comrade Governor in the saddle. So far, there has been what Obazele described as “evidence of democracy for development, democracy for good schools, democracy for new roads, water supply, for women, children and youths.” Without fail, the slogan of ‘no youth, no election, no children, no tomorrow, no women, no nation became the plank on which the governor has anchored his developmental agenda for the state.

KINGDOM LOST

Regretting how the ancient Kingdom of Benin suddenly became a ‘Paradise Lost’, Governor Oshiomhole traced the cause of the rot to lack of planning and neglect:

“Regrettably, in the recent past, the State became riddled with mismanagement, oppression, corruption, poverty, marginalisation of the people, suffocation of civil society, and the general neglect of the basic needs of the masses. There was hardly a difference between the rural and urban centres in terms of planlessness, unemployment, infrastructural deficit and decay, unaccountable leadership, political manipulation, waste and criminal diversion of state resources, and general insecurity. Investors refused to come to Edo State, security forces were overwhelmed, schools and hospitals were dilapidated, workers were not paid as and when due, many retired without benefits, pensioners died without pension and our people just continued to hope against hope. This situation, in a general sense, continued until November 12, 2008 when a new dawn began in Edo State.”

This explains why in the first four years of his reign, he was focused on a blistering campaign of urban and rural renewal to regain the lost kingdom of Benin. For Oshiomhole, development remains the greatest weapon against the godfathers who, he accused of being opposed to development.

EDO IS WORKING

As part of strategy to engender hope in the people and address the rural/urban drift, there was urgent need to take development to the people, if anything, to instil a sense of belonging in them. After reminding the people that everything that was considered impossible has been made possible, the governor belched with contentment and added that Edo is working, but not without firing a potshot at those he labeled godfathers. “We have proved the godfathers wrong and today, Edo is working,” assuring that in his second term, he would attract private investments, revisit water supply in Benin City and pursue the sinking of boreholes in the rural areas. Apart from developing the new Benin Layout and an effective land use act, he vowed to make the rural areas centres of development so that people “will no longer travel to the capital city to see civilization.”

Lending voice to the governor’s rural/urban renewal effort, Chief Ihemien Omorodion told The Nation that until Oshiomhole became governor, access to electricity and potable water was a mere wishful thinking. The people were far removed from modernity. According to him, “For long, we were far away from civilisation. We did not know what electricity was, neither did we know how pipe-borne water tasted like. Yet we had people who carried on like our leaders, but failed provide leadership. But they are now in their senility. We cannot thank the Comrade Governor enough. The reason we are here today (the day of inauguration) is to show that we are solidly behind him.”

The next four years

Unveiling his administration’s agenda for the next four years, Governor Oshiomhole said there will be conscious effort at rebuilding faith in the citizenry and mobilize the people to rededicate themselves to the collective growth and development of the state.

“In the next four years, we shall continue to rebuild faith in government and governance at all levels; mobilise our people to commit to collective growth and development, and strengthen institutions for efficient and effective service delivery. It is our hope that traditional leaders and institutions as well as religious bodies and civil society groups continue to mobilise their members to complement our efforts. We shall not fail to deliver on all our promises and to complete all on-going projects.

“Allow me to say that while we will continue to work on infrastructure, we plan, in the next four years, to place emphasis on promoting sustainable economic growth and development. Our Government will emphasize human capital development, training and retraining of teachers and public servants; promotion of agriculture for food production, employment and increased income to our farmers and rural dwellers; small and medium scale industrial development. We shall continue to attract local and foreign investors to Edo State so as to create more jobs for our people.”

Humbled by the overwhelming endorsement of his administration’s collective mission and support for the struggle to refocus, reposition and redefine Edo State for peace, progress and prosperity, Governor Oshiomhole was seemingly lost for words to qualify his gratitude to the Edo people whose unparalleled and unflinching support and encouragement saw his administration overcome all obstacles, booby traps placed in his administration’s path.

Symbolically, Oshiomhole’s return for a second term, the turnout as evident in the mammoth crowd for his inauguration, was by all means an open endorsement of his governance approach as well as the people’s collective rejection of domination, bad governance, bad leadership, and undemocratic conduct in the management of the state’s commonwealth in the nine years preceding his assumption of office in 2008.

He summed up his scorecard tersely: “Collectively, we set an example and political milestone for Nigeria and Africa as we showed that it was possible to defeat negative political forces, run elections without violence, and campaign on performance and the support of all strata of society.”

November 20, 2012
Nigeria needs strong centre, says Akume

Senator George Akume is the Minority Leader of the Senate and Chairman, North-Central Zonal Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution. In this interview with Sanni Onogu, he speaks on the two-day public hearing in Makurdi, the Benue State capital; the need to maintain a strong centre to keep the component parts of the country together and why state electoral commissions should be retained.

What is your impression about the turnout of the North-Central people at the two-day public hearing on the review of the Constitution?

There is no document or book that is perfect except the Bible and the Quran. Therefore, even the Constitution, which is a very sacred document, must, from time to time, come under a review in view of the dynamism of society. Human society is dynamic, new challenges arise, which may warrant a rethink. The Constitution, being a wise document, also recognises this fact and it says, if you want to amend me to meet exigencies, this is the procedure. It is against this background that we have gathered Nigerians in all the geopolitical zones of this country to take a second look at the Constitution to see if we could effect further alterations to the provisions of the Constitution. The 6th National Assembly along with legislatures in the states were able to do something. The 7th National Assembly in conjunction with state legislatures are also about doing that. The turnout was massive and very impressive. We want to congratulate Nigerians, especially people from this geopolitical zone for finding time to participate in a very purposeful way in this sacred national exercise. We took over 52 presentations yesterday and they bordered on a number of critical areas, which in their wisdom, require further alterations and these are devolution of powers. They believe that the Federal Government is too powerful, therefore, there is need to visit the Exclusive Legislative List to devolve powers to the states and the local governments in order to spread development to all parts of the country.

Don’t you think these people have a point?

In a way, we will reduce bitterness as people struggle to control the very strategic position of the President of this country. But we are also mindful of the fact that if you want to devolve power, you do it in such a way that the federal government still remains strong because it remains the only unifying factor in the country. So, among the three tiers of government, federal government must be sufficiently strong to hold the entire country together. Of course, this depends on the way we allocate responsibilities to each tier of government without diluting the powers of the federal government.

What are the other areas that people focused on?

They mentioned creation of state; people are still passionate about it. There are divergent views even though autonomy of state legislatures came under very serious scrutiny. While government may say no, the Conference of Speakers’ is very firmly committed to financial autonomy of the legislatures. This will ensure balance and fairness as far as Nigerians are concerned. If you will recall, the presentation of most of the people outside the government framework, they were of the opinion that we have to grant financial autonomy to state legislatures. If the National Assembly, which is also a lawmaking body should enjoy that, why do you deny state legislatures of it? Every tier of government is important, whether federal, state or local. Again, every arm, whether Executive, Legislature or Judiciary is also independent to a large measure in order to ensure that each arm is able to do its duty well. Therefore, there is need to grant financial independence to state legislatures.

What is the position of the people on controversial issues like indigeneship etc?

Yes, they talked about indigeneship and citizenship. The people’s belief is that wherever you reside, that should become your state of residence and by implication, your state of origin. But some suggested the time frame within which such a person would be conversant with the culture of the people. I think this is not a bad idea, we are all Nigerians. The situation in the United States is a little bit different in the sense that there is commonality of language and shared values as it were. You move from one part to the other, you are still an American citizen because you are a citizen.

The essence of democracy is to talk and where the situations are so tough, build up a consensus with a view to finding a lasting, workable and acceptable solution. So, we are at the verge of making history again and we must commend the leadership of the Senate for this initiative.

How prepared is the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for the forthcoming local government elections in Benue State?

ACN is a very strong party in this state. You recall the performance of ACN in the last general elections. We believe strongly and rightly that we won that election but the Nigerian factor robbed the ACN of major victories. But don’t forget that in the State House of Assembly, if some of the cases had gone through the court, we would have been controlling but again, the Nigerian factor. So, we have 10 lawmakers in the state. That is a strong showing and the party has a senator at the National Assembly and three members in the House of Representatives. This is not something you take for granted. For the forthcoming elections, our worry is that some of the people who are sponsored are carrying guns, threatening to destroy the polls. That is dangerous to democracy. Remember my comment; the threat to democracy is not even the military but the action of the electoral bodies. If they play by the game, democracy will grow. We in Benue State on the platform of ACN believe totally in democracy. We are fully prepared and will continue to campaign in spite of massive provocation from the other party. We have been beaten and charged by some of these gun-trotting youths; our vehicles have been vandalised and people have also been arrested in a most unserious manner for doing nothing. We were attacked a few days ago in Makurdi. We reported the case to the Police but they ended up arresting our own people. It is reminiscent of what used to happen in the apartheid South Africa. A white man would slap a black man, he would go and report to the Police but the Police would turn back and arrest the black man, but it was just a matter of time. What happened? ANC took over. So, God is always on the side of the just. My appeal to ACN members is to continue to work very hard. Whosoever comes to Benue knows that we are very strong on ground; the people of Benue know that we are very strong. I am sure, given the massive support from the people, we are going to win. My appeal is that security forces should rise to their responsibilities. Their job is to protect people and not to work for a particular political party. All of us are Nigerians and are entitled to protection by the security agencies irrespective of party or religious affiliation. We want peace; we want free and fair elections. That is the true taste of a democracy. It is not a question of ballot box snatching, it is not a question of thumb-printing massively or diverting electoral materials. Democracy is a matter of everybody’s vote counting. Otherwise, are we expected to resort to self-help in the 21st century? The whole world is watching us. I also want to appeal to other political parties to show lots of responsibility and maturity as we approach local government elections. Where the party is strong, let it win election, where you lose gallantly, you know you have tried and you prepare better outing in the next election, but to continue to say ‘we are going to announce results in Makurdi, we are going to write names’ is not democracy and democracy that is built on fraud will fall.

Many groups called for the scrapping of SIEC during the public hearing; what is your view on this?

First, we are talking of devolution of powers and if we are to be judged by those very strict cannon of democracy, we should understand that having State INEC is not antithetical to democracy. It is expected to enrich democracy. In other parts of the world, states conduct even presidential elections. The problem in this country is not getting the right people in the right position. There are some of people who are working for the electoral body in this Benue. How can they be impartial in the conduct of election? Sometimes, people say that if you hang a bone on dog’s neck, it will not eat it. There are some of them who have a date with history and therefore, in spite of persuasions, will stand by the truth in the best interest of democracy and the country.

Are you saying you are not comfortable with the electoral body in the state?

We want to see what will happen on the 24th. There are people who are worried that given the composition, we might not get the correct result. The challenge is in the court of INEC. Most of them have tentacles in the PDP and those of us in other political parties are shouting foul because we think they might not do a good job. Everybody is entitled to his conscience. So, let me believe that they will do the correct thing and I am appealing to them to do the correct thing in the interest of the people. We believe in the sanctity of human life, we believe in the sanctity of the ballot box. If we want to grow democracy, let the SIEC show that we can depend on them to deliver, otherwise, the clamour for scraping of SIECs will continue. I want SIEC to conduct a different election, it is headed by a Professor. Let us see what he will deliver. I pray God to touch their hearts and let them see the plight of Benue people and behave in line with the yearnings and aspirations of our people.

November 20, 2012
Zoning tears Ekiti PDP apart

Zoning of the governorship is tearing apart the Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2014 elections, reports Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU.

Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is addicted to crisis.

The latest one creating tension in the fold is the zoning of governorship. The three zones, Ekiti North, Ekiti Central and Ekiti South, which were thrown up by political expediency, had filled the slot at various times, both during military and civilian regimes. But rival politicians in the opposition party are now invoking zoning to score political advantage.

No fewer than 12 governorship aspirants are on the prowl. More names are still expected on the list when the coast is clearer. A dark horse is never ruled out, judging by past experience. It is not certain whether PDP will hold transparent primaries for the contestants. It is also uncertain that the winner of the shadow poll will lift the flag. In 2007, when the party held its primaries, Yinka Akerele scored the highest number of votes cast by delegates. He was trailed by Prof. Ojo and Oni. But the PDP national leadership selected Oni as the candidate. The national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has promised to restore internal democracy and allow the wishes of the party members to prevail. But time will tell.

Currently, those interested in the slot cut across Ekiti North, Ekiti Central and Ekiti South Senatorial Districts. Among the PDP governorship contenders are Mr. Bimbo Owolabi, a pharmacist from Ise-Ekiti, his kinsman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, journalist and lawyer, Ayodele Fayose, businessman and former governor, Senator Ayo Arise, another businessman, Senator Gbenga Aluko, former Deputy Governor Sikiru Lawal, Mr. Bisi Omoyeni, a banker, Chief Abiodun Aluko, an engineer, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, Femi Bamisile, former Speaker of House of Assembly. So far, in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is the lone contender.

Ibadan-based Owolabi is a successful professional, although he is not popular in political circles in Ekitiland. Sources said that he has worked hard and made money within the ambit of the law and professional ethics. But he is like a dwarf before Adeyeye, a prince of Ise and former Afenifere Publicity Secretary, who defected from the Action Congress to PDP during the 2007 primaries. Adeyeye is a man of immense political experience. But he had suffered many political loses in the past. In 1999, he was the only Alliance for Democracy (AD) senatorial candidate who lost the election in the whole of the Southwest.

When Adeyeye dumped the progressive fold for the conservative platform, observers said that the move was a mockery of his antecedents. Many felt that the consummate politician left his natural political habitat for the camp he had waged political war against since his foray into politics. When he was nominated for a ministerial appointment, fellow defectors from AD to PDP mounted pressure on former President Olusegun Obasanjo to drop him. He was later compensated with the chairmanship of Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) by former Governor Oni.

Fayose has not declared his ambition for the post he vacated in 2006 in controversial circumstances. But his foot soldiers are already doing underground work. The former governor’s men have been traversing Ekiti for consultations. Sources say the defunct ‘Ayo Fayose Movement’ which was scattered, following his abdication of the office, is being revived. There is also a media war against the former governor in the social media. Recently, there were reports that his supporters clashed with ACN supporters during party meetings at Ilawe and Afao-Ekiti.

Fayose’s ambition is worrisome to Oni, the controversial Southwest PDP leader. His group has not accepted the Ogundipe-led executive committee, which emerged in a congress that followed laid down procedures. Oni’s grouse is that Fayose contributed to the misfortune of the PDP in the state because he backed Governor Fayemi during the rerun. But Fayose’s men have also turned the heat on Oni, alleging that he was not duly elected as the National Vice Chairman of the party during the selection process that took place at Osogbo, the Osun State capital earlier in the year.

In AC, Arise and Adeyeye, who have been long-standing friends from secondary school days and in-laws to the late Elekole of Ikole-Ekiti, Oba Adetula Adeleye, competed for the slot, but in vain. They are repeating the same in PDP. Arise is a rich businessman who started learning the ropes after venturing into politics around 2005. He is popular in his home town, Oye. Townspeople believe that he played a major role in the siting of the federal university in the rural town. When he hurriedly left AC for PDP, political tragedy befell the former Education Minister, Prof. Tunde Adeniran. On the advice of Obasanjo, the senatorial ticket was transferred from the renowned political scientist and former governorship candidate to Arise, who served as senator for four years. Arise has earned the reputation of a big party financier in his district. However, media campaigns against him by political foes, especially during the rerun, wreaked havoc on his image as a politician.

Aluko from Ode-Ekiti is the son of the late Action Group (AG and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) chieftain, Prof. Aluko. Contrary to his family tradition, he had pitched tent with the PDP in Ekiti in 1999 at a time his father’s compatriot, Dr. Nathaniel Aina, was the AD leader. Against predictions, he won election into the senate, defeating Adeyeye. In the Senate, he was not a bench warmer. In 2007, the former senator left PDP to hibernate in the Labour Party (LP). But the party could not fly in Ekiti State.

Party sources said Aluko is fully prepared for a hot race. “Giant oil companies are ready to support his bid and he will not lack resources to oil his campaign machinery. I can confirm that he is in the race and he is determined”, said one of his associates who added: “He has what it takes to be governor in terms of experience and network. He also has a good plan for Ekiti”.

Former Deputy Governor Omoyeni is from Ikere-Ekiti. The former Managing Director of Wema Bank was appointed, following the sack of Abiodun Aluko, who also hails from Ikere. A thorough-bred administrator, Omoyeni contributed immensely to the growth of the bank. Many expressed shock when he accepted to serve as deputy governor because he lacked political experience. After a month in that office as a “spare tyre”, he realised that Wema Bank was richer than Ekiti State. The task of a deputy governor was less challenging than that of a bank’s Managing Director and key player in the national economy. He retraced his steps into the familiar terrain. But he is now fully back in the ring as a rival of his former boss, Fayose.

Olujimi was a special assistant to the governor and later, member of the House of Representatives before she was appointed as deputy governor, following the sudden exit of Omoyeni. She later parted ways with Fayose, her former boss and was appointed Works Commissioner by former Governor Oni. She is a consistent member of the conservative party.

Owolabi, Aluko, Omoyeni and Adeyeye are from the South Senatorial District, which produced Bamidele Olumilua as governor in the Third Republic. Arise, Bamisile and Olujimi are from the North which produced the sacked governor, Segun Oni, an engineer, and incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi. Fayose and Lawal are from the Central District, which had produced the late Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi and Major Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo as military governors and Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Fayose as civilian governors.

PDP chieftains pressing for zoning are from the South Senatorial District. Their argument is that, since 1999, the zone has not produced the governor. In their view, justice and equity demand that the zone should produce the next PDP candidate, just as the Central Zone produced Fayose and North District produced Oni. Politicians from the Central and Northern parts of the state have fired back, saying that zoning was not a major contributor to the emergence of both Fayose and Oni as flag bearers.

But, some prominent Ekiti contend that zoning has never been a major issue in the Fountain of Knowledge. From Efon, the gateway town, to Otun in Mobaland, and from Ikere to Omuo-Ekiti, the perception of the people, who are united by similarity of culture, tradition and language, is that Ekiti Confederation has been a single, indivisible zone from time immemorial.

November 20, 2012