There seems to be no-love lost between Hon. Chidi Offodile, a former member of the House of Representatives and Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi. A few days before the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Anambra State about three weeks ago, Offodile had called on the president not to inaugurate SABmiller, a brewery giant located in Onitsha. The company was one of the projects that the president commissioned during his state visit. Offodile’s grouse, according to findings, was that the governor allegedly used state funds to construct the multi-billion project, of which he is alleged to own substantial stake. Though Obi had his way by getting the project opened, sources disclosed that Offodile is not giving up about dragging the governor to the court of public opinion.
Category: Politics
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Letter to my President (2)
Last week, I promised to continue with my passionate plea that you review the journey so far and make necessary amends in the interest of our dear country. I have just taken another look at the results of the last presidential election and I came to the conclusion that, indeed, no leader has been as lucky as you are in the chequered history of this troubled country.
The last person to have obtained the endorsement from nearly all parts of the country was the late Chief MKO Abiola. But, he was denied access to the throne by the powers and principalities that have held the nation hostage since independence. But, in your case, Mr. President, majority of Nigerians in the West, East, Southsouth, Northcentral and Northeast expressed their preference for you. Only in the Northwest did the opposition gain a foothold. Even then, your closest rival, General Muhammadu Buhari, failed to convert his general appeal to full electoral endorsement.
With that, many of us who were even opposed to handing this country to your care wished, and some hoped, that you would rise up to the occasion and shame the cynics. Some thought that the fact that God allowed you to move up the ladder meant that He wanted you in office to wipe tears from the faces of the poor. They reviewed the history of your political participation and suggested that having emerged the deputy governor of Bayelsa State when, truly speaking, you were one of the least politically prepared, then moved on to serve as governor as your boss, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was providentially shoved aside and, then, handed the vice presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at a time that even you could not have expected it, you deserved to be given a chance.
The unexpected then happened when another former boss of yours, the late Mallam Umaru Yar’Adua lost the battle for life and, despite the stiff resistance by those who had wanted to block you from assuming the most exalted office of the land; you were installed Nigeria’s fourth elected Executive President. How else would one expect God to speak? It has been argued by some critics that many of your compatriots allowed sentiments to becloud their senses of reasoning; that some voted for you based on such banal considerations as being a fellow minority man or as a Christian. Some argued that the North had been in charge of national affairs for much longer, and felt a Southern minority should be allowed to try his famed luck.
Whatever may be the reason, here we are now. You are the President, Commander-in-Chief, Chief Executive and national leader. But, what matters to me is what you have done with the enormous powers inherent in the title you bear and what you may yet do in the next 35 months.
Mr. President, I was tempted to agree with you in taking your predecessors to the cleaners the other day. It is indisputable that they all failed and, in any decent society, they ought to keep away from the public square. As you observed, they had failed to build the roads, failed to grow the economy and failed in raising a new generation of Nigerians that could compete with the best in the world. But, the question to ask is, what have you done differently since you happened on the office?
I know that you do not need me to remind you that you have been Nigeria’s Chief Executive since February 2010, that is, 26 months now. Had it been a straight course, you would have moved clear of the mid-term mark. So, it is a convenient juncture to ask what has changed in the educational, social and economic sectors. Our athletes just returned from the Olympics with nothing. Truly, they deserved nothing. Our football is in shambles. There is yet no clue to how to revamp the education system. More Nigerians now move to India and South Africa for treatment of common ailments than at any other point in our history. Your party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), keeps fumbling and is clearly unable to shoulder the responsibility of mobilising our people for the task of building a new Nigeria. It is also obvious that the structural defects in the economy have not, and are not, being addressed.
When the list of recipients of national honours was released last Monday, I could not help shaking my head. I knew we had missed it again. We had left undone that which we ought to do and moved on to do what was most unnecessary. How is the list this year qualitatively better than previous years? When the wrong persons are honoured for destroying the country, how would the honest be encouraged to soldier on?
As Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has pointed out, why tie national honours to assumption of certain offices? If the expressed objective is to fish out those who have distinguished themselves in public service, what has a fresher done to be so classified? We saw Tafa Balogun awarded the CFR just as Mohammed Abubakar has. We saw Madam Patricia Etteh celebrated at the point of entry in the same way that Speaker Aminu Tambuwal has been invested with the emblem of honour. Is this the way forward? Is this the path to transformation? Besides, the former Presidents who were tagged failures by you were all awarded the highest national honour.
My dear President, I have written this from my heart. Please, if you do not want your name entered in the wrong chapter of Nigerian history, either as the man who seared the soul of the nation or as a do-nothing leader, you have to come up with a new formula for lifting the country from morass.
I sincerely thank you for taking time to read this and, rather than concern yourself with politicking for another term, concentrate on rendering quality service. I wish you well, indeed.
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State police: the timing is wrong – Bagudu
What is your mission in Benin City?
We visited Oko Prison in order to review what has been happening in particular with regards to the prison facilities, security of the prisons, the training facilities that are there for inmates because the Senate is concerned about a number of issues. The Senate is concerned about the number of people who are awaiting trials; many people are in prison who ought not to be there, in fact yesterday, one of the most glaring and distressing report we had from the Comptroller of Prison was the case of four detainees who had been kept there since 1997 and they are said to be kept there on the order of the military administrator and we found it strange that there is this class of people who are detained in prison and that is an area of concern for the Senate. Secondly, we are concerned about the security situation of our prisons; we had a number of prison breaks and we wanted to ensure that staff and inmate who are complying with the rules and regulations are not harmed by people who have mischievous design; so we are interested in what we can do to strengthen the security in the prisons and additionally we want to see that training facilities are available for the inmates such that when they leave prisons, they will be better citizens, well trained and we are very happy at what we saw. We saw a number of tailors and the women confirmed to us that they have been taught skills, and we have people who have been trained as electricians, plumbers and we think that this should be the case and we want to have more of that. The authorities also complained to us about shortage of manpower even though it’s increasing since the recent jail breaks and we believe we will support any measure that will improve the manpower and security level in Nigerian Prisons.
You have spoken about prison reforms, but if you look critically at the number of inmates there, you observed that there were perhaps more inmates in the 608 Medium capacity facilities, what is the Senate doing about decongesting the prisons.
If you listen to what I said about the awaiting trial detainees, like you rightly said, the prison capacity ought to be 608 Beds but they have 1005 detainees as at yesterday when we visited and 932 of these are awaiting trial and so if the Judicial process is improved, yesterday one of the areas the Controller mentioned was that the Directors of Public Prosecution (DPP) in different states, it takes a long time before the investigations are finished and these people are taking to court, the trial takes place and concluded. So in most Urban Prisons, you find that the numbers of awaiting trial detainees are more than the numbers convicted. In fact Nigerian prisons population is about 49,000 and out of these, about 36,000 are awaiting trial detainees. The Senate in the last four months has considered prisons reform; we have considered many motions to deal with expediting the processes such that the trials period will be enhanced; we have spoken about the need for the police to finish their investigations quickly, the Directors of Public Prosecution and Ministry of Justices to review their files and advice one way or the other promptly; the Chief Justices of the state should undertake periodic visit to the prisons so that they can review some cases on the spot because there are people who ordinarily ought not to be in prison.
Is the Senate Committee on Internal Affairs worried about the rising security problem in the country; Boko Harram, kidnappings, etc?
The Senate has been in the forefront of increased funding to the security agencies because we recognised that our security agencies have been doing a great job but the challenges is multi-faceted and the most obvious one which the Senate has paid attention to is to increase funding and increase interactions with the security agencies so that from time to time, we are appreciative of those areas that need to be enhanced. Last year, we passed the Anti-terrorism Act, which we also believe will strengthen it and with other Acts that we believe will enhance the state of readiness so that the security services are not limited by legalism so that they move faster and arrest crime wherever it is happening, whether it is Kidnappings in the East, Boko Haram in the North or it is people threatening to break away or whatever.
What is your take on the proposed introduction of N5, 000 note by the CBN?
I am not speaking on behalf of the committee; I am speaking as a Senator and a Nigerian. I am one of those who are critical of the reasoning behind the introduction of the N5, 000 notes by the CBN. Because in about 8 years ago, the Central Bank introduced new currency denominations and we thought that was a well thought out policy, so to quickly come in a very short period and say we are replacing these with coins, we think it reflects hasty reasoning on behalf of the Central Bank. Because if they had thought it out, they would have convinced us then whether we needed new coins or new currency because these things are expensive to print, and therefore the nation is bearing a huge burden and cost. Second issue is that over a decade there has been little use of coins in Nigeria and I am sure that none of you here today has seen coins in the last five years or has any in your pocket. Therefore if we don’t have the culture and it has not been explained to us why the nation should revert to currency for a significant number of denominations knowing that in our places where currencies are used heavily, we don’t see coins being used. The N5, 000 naira note is equally strange because the Central Bank has come out with policies that all Nigerians are commending them for; that is cashless society and we know that more Nigerians are using debit cards and points of sale are increasing everywhere, so I can’t see the rationale for a higher denomination currency which might affect the value of the currency.
How would you react to the agitation for the creation of state police?
As a member of the Constitution Review Committee, my view is simply personal because I am not supposed to be partisan on these issues. There have been pros and cons on these arguments and people are saying even if it is desirable, it doesn’t look it is time because of the various security challenges we are facing. Even though some of the arguments are cogent, the time is wrong.
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2015 presidential race: The field takes shape
Swift moves for 2015 presidential election began soon after 2011 elections as various political families and interest groups retreated to restrategise. But the moves, though obvious and desperate, have been carefully disguised and shielded through public denials by the principal actors, most of who try to cover their tracks by giving misleading designations to their 2015 presidential campaign activities across the country.
These tricks notwithstanding, informed observers agree that the guarded plans of the various groups have reached advanced stages, though the actual election is still three years away.
While other interest groups have attracted less attention of critics and are therefore perfecting their strategies away from media attention, the position of President Goodluck Jonathan on 2015 race has continued to be of major interest, mainly because of the argument within the Peoples Democratic Party, as to whether he would contest again or allow the major claimants; the South-East and the North, to produce the party’s candidate in 2015.
Either to ward off attention or reduce tension in the polity, the Presidency laboured desperately to deny Jonathan’s interest in 2015, claiming that he is still paying attention to governance and that 2015 is still too far away. This position succeeded, to some extent in putting a knife on the debate on Jonathan and 2015 presidency.
Early this year however, Elder Godsday Orubebe, a top member of Jonathan’s kitchen cabinet and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, tactically opened the debate though in an off-handed way when he made what his critics called a reckless statement about Jonathan’s 2015 political future.
It was the first time a top federal government functionary of his standing would finally inform Nigerians publicly that Jonathan will seek for a second term in office.
Understandably, Orubebe’s declaration has been taken by many as a true reflection of Jonathan’s inner thoughts on his political future in 2015, though some of his aides are still dishing out denials.
After the statement, the first question was whether the minister was sent to test political waters and gauge the disposition of Nigerians to the president’s alleged desire to contest for another term?
Next, was Chief E. K. Clark, a former Minister for Information during the First Republic, who has since assumed an informal role of Jonathan’s top spokesman. The prominent Ijaw leader and acclaimed godfather of the president at several fora and newspaper interviews, never misses the opportunity to inform his audience that his ‘godson’ would throw his hat into the ring when the whistle signaling the commencement of the race is blown.
More endorsements for the president came just some days ago, when prominent leaders in the South-South geo-political zone under the auspices of the South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA), at the end of a meeting held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, issued a communiqué restating their support for their ‘son’, while calling on the president to seek re-election in 2015.
For many Nigerians, the SSPA’s position could be the final confirmation that it is only matter of when, and not if Jonathan will contest.
So, instead of wondering if Jonathan will contest, the big poser today seems to be if he will have an easy ride retaining his seat come 2015?
The North gears up for battle
The president’s alleged second term ambition will, most expectedly, face the strongest challenge from the North, which has repeatedly stated that it is its turn to produce the president in 2015.
It is no longer a secret that not a few prominent northern leaders believe rightly or wrongly that the president shortchanged the region by contesting the 2011 presidential elections after completing the tenure of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who died in May 2010.
Based on the controversial principle of rotational presidency between the North and the South enshrined in the constitution of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jonathan, they argued, should have allowed a northerner to complete the region’s eight-year tenure in 2015 after a southerner, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, had taken the zone’s slot from 1999 to 2007.
A pointer to the north’s seriousness was the unambiguous resolution by the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) a few months ago at a meeting held in Kaduna that the region will pull all the stops to ensure the emergence of a president of northern extraction come 2015.
Sources disclosed to The Nation that the Presidency was ruffled by the northern governors’ stand after it had been assured by its North-Central governors’ allies that the issue of the 2015 presidency would not be tabled at the parley.
North’s presidential hopefuls
From the North-Central, North-East and North-West, the region is, undoubtedly, not lacking in presidential materials.
Unconfirmed speculations has it that at least three northern governors serving their second term-Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) have told their close associates they will give the 2015 race a shot. The Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso is also alleged to be eyeing the race.
Apart from these governors, other names being bandied within the political circles as possible presidential candidates of the PDP include current Vice-President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, who probably because of his position have been very careful not to be seen by the president as plotting to contest against him. But sources claimed that once Jonathan confirmed he would not contest, Sambo’s political machinery will come in the open full force.
Other major contenders from the zone include former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar; Senate President, David Mark and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
Northern aspirant’s chances and drawback
Sambo:
On the surface, the relationship between Jonathan and his vice, Sambo appears smooth, even though critics have tried to paint a contrary picture.
Given the president’s alleged interest in the 2015 presidential race, it is unlikely that Sambo will contest against his boss when the chips are down. If he does, the ripple effect of such decision is rather unimaginable to contemplate, said analysts.
But insiders said political platform is already available so that if the president declines interest in the race, the coast would be clear for the vice-president, who is currently the highest ranking government official from the north.
So, presidency sources said Sambo’s chances to win the PDP’s nomination and the election proper would only be boosted if the president, as the leader of the government and the party, throws his weight behind his candidature.
But he has drawbacks. Until he was appointed as vice-president in 2010, Sambo was the governor of Kaduna State, a position he held for three years. He succeeded Ahmed Makarfi, now a senator representing Kaduna- Central.
A successful architect and businessman, Sambo was not known to be a politician until he was elected as governor in 2007 with the active support of Makarfi.
Not a few PDP top shots therefore still question Sambo’s political weight to rally the support of northern elites behind his candidacy. This perceived lack of political strength, The Nation gathered, may embolden governors and other politicians in the north to contest the PDP presidential ticket with Sambo.
David Mark:
Considered to be a very strategic aspirant, who may come in as a compromise candidate to balance conflict of interests, there is a major question today if the Senate President, David Mark can truly upset the apple cart?
However, it must be admitted that neither his public utterances nor body language today suggest any inkling that he is as interested in the 2015 presidential race as analysts have claimed.
This notwithstanding The Nation investigation shows that this shrewd political strategist, who has paid his dues in politics over the last 12 years and more, and a four-term senator from Benue State, is being fronted by top politicians in his geo-political zone to vie for the 2015 presidential elections.
If he does contest, Mark will garner substantial support from his PDP colleagues in the National Assembly where he has assumed a larger-than-life status.
His candidacy may also draw the support of governors, influential politicians from the North-Central and the Christian community both in the north and the entire country.
The Senate President’s chances may, however, be dependent on the disposition of politicians from the core north to his aspiration, a factor that is difficult to determine accurately today.
Sule Lamido
Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has been in the news lately, albeit for the right reasons.
Unconfirmed reports have it that Lamido, who is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, is being prodded by powerful figures within and outside the PDP to contest the 2015 presidency, with Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
The first indication that there could be truth in the report was the alleged endorsement by former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, for a Sule Lamido/Rotimi Amaechi PDP ticket. Though the former president has since denied this report, the speculation has refused to die down.
Also at the 21st anniversary of the creation of Jigawa State, which held at the capital city, Dutse, last month, former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, publicly urged Lamido to ‘hearken to the voice of his people’ and contest the next presidential election.
Though the governor kept mum on this issue at the occasion, The Nation learnt that his political associates are feverishly working behind the scene to ensure the success of the governor when he finally makes up his mind to give the race a shot.
As an individual politician, Lamido has admirers from the south and the strategy to pair with Amaechi could have worked if not the South-East factor which is likely to pose as a major stumbling block.
Isa Yuguda
A two-term governor of the North East state of Bauchi, Isa Yuguda, is also alleged to have a secret ambition to become Nigeria’s president in 2015.
Urbane and cosmopolitan, the former banker-turned-politician, according to sources, will announce his interest in the race late next year.
The former MD/CEO of the defunct Inland Bank is believed to be banking on the support of core loyalists of his father-in-law, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
How this factor will boost Yuguda’s likely candidature remains to be seen.
Aliyu Babangida
As the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF), Aliyu Babangida’s influence in the polity is not in doubt. And this privilege, sources disclosed, would stand the Niger State governor in good stead when the race for the 2015 presidency finally kicks off.
The outspoken former federal permanent secretary, while playing host to some associates recently, tacitly confirmed his interest in the presidency, but added, ‘only God can determine whom he gives power or takes power from’.
On his chances, analysts say the governor could put up a good fight for the PDP ticket if he fully leverages on his position as NGF chairman, whereby all governors in the north decide to queue behind him in the race.
Atiku Abubakar
The former vice-president, who contested for the PDP ticket with President Jonathan in 2011, is still not giving up on his ambition of ruling the country.
A prelude to his entry into the race was the recent resurrection of the once powerful Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), which comprises of associates of the late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, the former VP’s political godfather.
The move, The Nation gathered, is to position the group as a counterfoil to whatever machinations the top apparatchik of the PDP may have in stock for the PDP primaries.
Sources alleged that having realised that wrestling the PDP ticket from Jonathan may prove almost an impossible task, Atiku is starting work ahead of time to reorganise PDM and if need be, float a new party under which platform he will contest for the 2015 presidency.
But Atiku told The Nation that the move is only meant to protect the interest of the group. What that interest would be remains to be seen.
From the South-East
The South-East, which is insisting that it is their turn to produce the country’s president also have some hopefuls, though their chances are largely contestable because of divisions amongst political leaders from the zone.
The Nation has recently reported exclusively that Jonathan’s 2015 ambition has divided the opinion of Igbo leaders. While some of the leaders, led by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, are allegedly working for Jonathan’s re-election, others have said it clearly that Ndigbo will no longer accept the situation where they are always denied the opportunity of producing the president.
So, the picture from this zone is more complex.
However, some political groupings, currently led by Governor Rochas Okorocha-motivated G-21 are working behind-the scene to mobilise the zone to speak as one on the issue of 2015 presidency. This group, which feature politicians like Senator Annie Okonkwo, its leader and Chief Victor Umeh, the national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), is currently focused on presenting a presidential aspirant from South-East zone.
They are however planning achieve this feat through political alliances. The form this alliance will take is yet to be seen, but as Okorocha admitted recently, “you never can tell. In politics, your worst enemy today can be your bess friend tomorrow.”
The disagreement not withstanding, some hopefuls from this zone include:
Rochas Okorocha:
This APGA governor of Imo State, who is not a newcomer to presidential primaries in Nigeria, has become something of a rallying point in the politics of 2015 in the South-East, the crisis in his party notwithstanding. Although he is yet to declare his interest, insiders said he is working towards contesting as president in 2015.
It is also not yet known the platform he intends to use to realise the ambition, even as some of his close associates said he will prefer to seek re-election as governor of Imo in 2015 before renewing his well-known presidential ambition.
Orji Uzor Kalu:
The former governor of Abia State, sources said, has been working behind-the-scene to resuscitate what is left of his political mechinary towards 2015 election.
Given the state of his political party, PPA, and his tricky relationship with PDP, it not certain which platform he may be aspiring to contest with.
Conclusion:
Though the presidential election is still three years away and the presidency is busy denying its involvement, the politics of 2015 is hot and the various geo-political groups, especially the three zones in the north, the South-east and the South-south are deep in it.
The only zone left out of the game today, the South-west, has indeed become the beautiful bride, which is being lobbied to offer the much needed support.
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PDP: Tottering to dead end?
OBASANJO The fear expressed on Monday by the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on the state of the party, seems to point to the daunting task before it in planning to consolidate its hold on the national political structure. Assistant Editors AUGUSTINE AVWODE and DADA ALADELOKUN examine the state of the polity just one year after the last general elections.
Monday’s lamentation by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) Alhaji Bamanga Tukur may not be life-threatening for the party, but is sufficiently ominous for members to ponder its significance. The PDP, since its inception in 1998, has commanded a large following across the country. Its string of electoral successes, by whatever means, positioned it as the party of destination for many politicians in the different parts of the country.
In the 13 years since the return to democratic governance in 1999, the PDP has controlled the Federal Government, majority of the states and local governments.
In the 1999 general elections, the party won in a landslide fashion. It not only won the presidential election, it won the governorship election in 21 states, 59 Senatorial and 206 House of Representativesseats.
In 2003 the party was credited with more votes as it produced the president and 28 governors, leaving the remaining political parties with control of eight states. The PDP swept through the Southwest in one of the most vicious electoral heists recorded in the country. At the end of the day, only former governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was left standing.
The PDP also defeated the All Nigeria People Party(ANPP) in Kogi and Kwara States. It however, lost to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State when Dr. Chris Ngige’s election was overturned by the Appeal Court sitting in Enugu on March 15, 2006.
Buoyed up by the ‘fantastic performance’ of the party, the PDP national chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, declared in 2009, that the party would rule for 60 years. The statement instantly elicited sharp criticisms from the opposition which alleged that the PDP was trying to rob salt into injury since it was generally perceived that it had perfected a rigging formula which the opposition could not unravel.
But, undaunted by the criticisms and condemnation, one-time interim chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, declared that the party would, in fact, rule Nigeria forever. Baraje reportedly made the statement while inaugurating a committee to review the party’s constitution in Abuja in 2011. He said it would be near impossible to wrest the nation’s governance from the grip of the PDP because of the “satisfactory performance” of the party’s elected officials.
Following the seemingly “electoral invincibility” of the party, it started calling itself the largest and biggest party in Africa.
At the height of it, governors found it convenient to dump their parties without as much as blinking an eye to join the ‘ruling party’. And the PDP in turn received such defecting governors with much fanfare, saying it was politically sagacious for states not to be in the “opposition”.
A twist in the tale
As the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) notched up one legal victory after the other, it became apparent that the claim of near invincibility was only temporary. In the 2011 general election, the opposition cut the PDP’s dominance to size in a considerable manner that sent jitters down the spine of the ruling party.
For the first time, the opposition’s impact was felt in the polity in a way it never happened since 1999. The election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwah was made possible largely because of the resolve of the opposition not to dance to the dictates of the Presidency and the party over the choice of who becomes the number Four Citizen.
Whereas the Presidency and the PDP preferred Hon Mulikat Akande, the House went for Tambuwah and had its way even with top chieftains of the PDP watching proceedings from the gallery.
Apart from losing the six Southwest states to both the ACN and the Labour Party; in the Southeast, it lost Imo to APGA; lost Edo to the ACN in the Southsouth but won Kano from the ANPP.
Today, defection, for the once-acclaimed “big happy family” seemingly protected from the elements by an equally “big umbrella”, is a source of major concern for the leadership of the party. The party’s Achilles heel is internal wrangling which has spurned much discontent and subsequent defection from it to even less-appealing parties.
To Tukur, the effects of factional crisis within the party is gradually taking a big toll on it as it is losing members. And as a measure to halt the drift and end the trend Tukur has been preaching total reconciliation and reintegration of disgruntled members.
As he attempted to save the party from itself in Kano, Tukur set up an eight-man committee led by the former Minister of Culture, Alabo Graham Douglas, to reconcile the factional group in the state.
It was while inaugurating the Graham Douglas committee, that he voiced the “truth of the matter”. Tukur conceded, for whatever reason, that: “Our party is losing membership due to this crisis. It was not like this when we started this party. People left the party due to several misunderstanding. There are many factions within the PDP. It is the duty of this committee to reconcile them and bring them under one big umbrella.”
The implication of living with continuous crisis is patently clear and the grand old man admitted it. To him, the party cannot win elections as long as internal crises persist in the party.
His words: “I don’t want crisis in PDP. We lost elections because of factions, misunderstanding. We cannot continue like this. It is one of the cardinal principles of campaign to ensure reconciliations within the party. When we reconcile, we build the party, peace, unity and justice.”
Tukur explained that though there are bound to be crises in PDP because of its large followership, but where such crisis are left unaddressed, there would be problem during election period, hence the need to commence the reconciliation now.
Crises-ridden chapters
Many state chapters of the PDP are badly fractured by internal crises. The case of Ogun State in the Southwest is so pronounced that it has been blamed as the cause of the party’s miserable performance in the 2011 general election. So far, all efforts to end it and forge a common front in the party within the state have failed to yield positive result. While some claim that there are as many as four factions of the party in the state, others say they are only three or two.
The prominent factions are those loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former governor Gbenga Daniel and Chief Kashamu Buruji. Recently, there have been accusation and counter accusation over allegation that the factional leader of the party, Kashamu is the one fuelling the crisis, just as the Kashamu camp equally alleged that Obasanjo was the one “killing” the party in the state.
The crisis which predates the 2011 election led to the emergence of a new party, the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). Since then, it has been a case of the falcon failing to hear the falconer for the party’s chapter in the state. And as if to confirm the fears of Tukur, three lawmakers in the Ogun State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the PDP on Tuesday defected to the ACN. The defectors are Adeyemi Harrison (ogun-Waterside), Olusola Sonuga (Ikenne) and Babatunde Edunjobi (Egbado South). As to be expected, they claimed that the crisis in the PDP is one of the reasons why they left the party.
As the crisis in Ogun PDP persists, it may be a tall order to reclaim the state from ACN if it fails to put its house in order before the next election.
In Edo State, the crisis that engulfed the state for almost four years led to the trouncing of the party in the recent governorship election in the state by the ACN. Though the triumph of the ruling ACN was predictable, owing to the sterling performance of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the defeat of the PDP was made all the more pronounced by the fact that the chapter had been paralysed by internal crises. Nobody knew that the ACN would defeat the PDP with such a large margin so much so that the national and state leadership of the party deemed it unnecessary to challenge the result in court.
In Anambra State, almost all the people who emergee flag bearers for other parties were former members of the PDP. The Senator representing Anambra Central today, Senator Chris Ngige, was a former governor of the state on the platform of the PDP. Less than two months ago, another Senator who served on the platform of the PDP in the state, Annie Okonkwo, dumped the party for APGA.
In Oyo State, prominent members of the PDP have dumped the party for Accord. It was regarded as unprecedented that, after election, members of a bigger party would defect to a smaller political party.
The crisis of confidence rocking the Bayelsa chapter is yet to subside as former Governor Timipre Sylva and his supporters remain implacably opposed to the new administration. In Plateau State, Governor Jonah Jang is in charge. He demonstrated his political sagacity at the polls last year despite the broad division that saw a horde of members defect to the Labour Party with former Deputy Governor Pauline Tallen. After the election, many of those who took sides with Tallen are making efforts to return but have been told to stay away by the governor who is leader of the party. This is contrary to the position of the Tukur leadership preaching reconciliation.
In Ekiti State, the return of former Governor Ayo fayose to the party is causing ripples, as the zonal leader of the party, Mr. Oni would not brood the development. This is reportedly keeping away many of those who would have loved to return to the party in the state
These are just some of the many states where internal crisis has remained the major bane of the party and therefore threatening its good fortune, particularly, the 2015 general election.
No cause for alarm
Any apprehension over the future of PDP, especially as regards the 2015 polls, to the party’s chairman in Ekiti State, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, “is the imagination of the party’s opposition.”
Ogundipe, who spoke with The Nation yesterday, said that contrary to such negative insinuations, the party was waxing stronger. ‘In fact, it is not all about 2015; it is about the fact that the party remains the one in the eyes of the people. It is as solid as ever.
‘If two or three persons defected in Ogun State, it is, numerically speaking, insignificant; it has nothing negative to do with the stature of the party. Besides, these are politicians. So, it is nothing to cry about. We are on ground and will win any election any day.’
The Director of Media for PDP in Osun State, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, dismissed fears being nursed in certain quarters over the future of the party. Making particular reference to the defection on Tuesday, of three Ogun State PDP lawmakers to the ACN as well as other such defections, he said: ‘There is nothing to worry about over that; it is normal in politics. What about thousands that have in the past defected to PDP from other parties? And it must be noted that many do defect to the party of the moment at any level possibly to get contracts and curry other such favours from the government of the day. Besides, as we speak, thousand are defecting to PDP today somewhere on Osun State where I stay. It is nothing to feel worried about. Our party remains strong and the one to beat.’
Then, The Nation asked: “But sincerely, do you think your party, the PDP stands any chance in 2015, going by the fears expressed by its national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, earlier in the week?” Odeyemi’s response: “I often laugh off such fears whenever anybody expresses them over PDP and 2015. It is laughable because the party remains rock-solid and will come tops in any election, either in 2015, before or beyond. It is all about the pedigree of the emerging candidates in such elections. It is about what he or she can offer the people. So, PDP is not undergoing any peculiar problem that could threaten its chance in 2015; we are fully on ground.”
But with the determination by opposition parties to sink their differences and form a formidable alliance to confront the PDP in 2015, will the party’s fortune blossom or suffer reversal? Only time can tell.
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Advice for Jonathan on nation’s unity
Jonathan President Goodluck Jonathan was yesterday urged to focus hisenergy on halting the lingering insecurity of lives and property caused by the onslaught by the Boko Haram sect in order to ensure the sustained unity of the country.
He was also advised to summon the courage to tell Nigerians the truth about the state of the nation’s economy and stop deceiving Nigerians by trying to fix it wrongly through the back door with an unworkable policy.
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) members of the House of Representatives – Hon. Bamidele Faparusi, representing Gbonyin, Ekiti East and Emure Federal Constituency and Chief Rotimi Makinde of Ife Federal Constituency – who gave the advice, also threw their weights behind the Senate in its efforts to stop the government on the controversial N5000 notes.
“Day in, day out, things are getting worse for Nigerians, even than how they were before Jonathan came in. It appears the economy is in a bad shape and the government must let us know the truth rather than complicating things with the N5000 note issue. There are daunting challenges that daily threaten the health of the country and that of helpless Nigerians. These are what should occupy the mind of Mr. President for now,” Faparusi said.
In a statement entitled: ‘State of the nation,’ Makinde, who is the Deputy Chairman, Human Rights Committee in the House, also said: “As a lawmaker and accountant with meritorious pedigree, no economic policy, measure or innovation such as the proposed introduction of new N5000 notes can triumph in an unsecured environment like ours. Besides, this, among others should not be our priority at this trying and turbulent period. We should be concerned with only those things that will promote the unity of this entity called Nigeria.
“On daily basis, we face the challenges of series of attacks on innocent lives and government properties/utilities across the land. A few days ago, three NNPC staff were gruesomely murdered in Arepo Village while trying to fix a damaged pipeline. There are series of other attacks ranging from armed robbery to unrest orchestrated by the Boko Haram sect.”
He spoke further: “Uniformed men are killed on daily basis. The NYSC scheme, with its good intention, is facing probable scrapping as no one would want his folks to serve in troubled states. These are issues that must bother any responsible and responsive administration.”
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‘No going back on Igbo presidency’
• Okonkwo The President of Committee21 (C21), Southeast’s non-political organisation, which was established to push the Igbo agenda, Senator Annie Okonkwo, has said the Igbo would settle for nothing less than the presidency in 2015.
The Senator who spoke with The Nation in Lagos noted that the purported moves by some prominent Igbo politicians to adopt President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 poll was against the overall interest of the Igbo people.
He said: “The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has already made it clear that it will present a candidate for the 2015 election. The chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, expressed this in strong terms. If the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decides to adopt Jonathan, let it be; that is a party affair, but as for the people of the Southeast, we are determined to push for Igbo presidency.”
The Senator said that despite moves by some divisive element in the actualisation of the Igbo agenda, it will come up stronger because the people are behind the dream. “The C21, market women, Okada riders, elders, all religious groups and every Igbo man are involved in this struggle and they are all connected to C21. And the membership of C21 cuts across political lines and our objectives are very clear.”
Reacting to Governor Peter Obi’s alleged support for Dr. Jonathan, Okonkwo said Obi was merely playing his role as governor and did not express the stance of the Southeast: “With due respect, he is a governor and he, as an individual, has his own views. The way it is today, everything is decided by the party; he is not in control of the party, he is not in the party machinery and of course he is not in control of any organisation that he will speak for the Igbo. He is just there in that capacity as the governor. And of course, if he decides to go and support Jonathan, that his is own wish.”
Explaining further, he said as governor of a state with his function and responsibilities, he was playing his role. “That he is the governor does not mean that he will forge the path for the Igbo people. He is not the chairman of a political party which should put him in the position of speaking for the party. The chairman of APGA has made it very clear that the Igbo would field a candidate for the 2015 election. APGA has been adopted as a political party for all the Igbo.”
The former senator who was until recently a member of PDP maintained that APGA was capable of coming up with credible candidates who can conveniently run the affairs of the country in presidential capacity. “We have credible candidates and people with high integrity who are interested in occupying the number-one position. And as far as we are concerned in respect of the presidency, the Igbo people are still consulting in respect of the kind of candidate we are going to present. The candidate we will present will be acceptable by Nigerians,” he said.
Though APGA has its stronghold in the east, this, according to the senator, is not a major threat; rather, it would throw up new friendship through alliances with those who share Igbo agenda. He said: “As far as I am concerned there are going to be some alliances, and of course the Igbo are everywhere. They are spread all over the country; it is the only tribe that is fully spread everywhere. They are well numbered in Kano, Kaduna and other parts of the country. But still, I believe there are going to be alliances with people who share the same vision with us.”
Given previous alliances which have always offered the Southeast the position of Vice President or other lesser position, the senator stressed that it was not going to be business as usual because 2015 is a project that all the kith and kin of Igbo stock are committed to.
Okonkwo said further: “As far as I am concerned today, the Igbo have made it clearl they will not play second fiddle. The truth of the matter is that today, we are nowhere; we are not even the second or third. The truth of the matter is that whatever anybody is telling you, we want to make our position very clearly to demonstrate that we have the capacity and we are united for this purpose.”
Drawing from the spread advantage of the Igbo who are resident in every community in Nigeria, he said that would give it a lead to make the Presidency aspiration realistic. “Despite this advantage, the position we have found ourselves is not right, but we are going to correct this.”
President Jonathan who recently commissioned some projects in the Southeast and promised to complete the Second Niger Bridge was applauded for paying attention to the infrastructural development of the zone.
Though it was said this would ensure support for the president’s bid, according to the senator, this will not make them change their position: “That is democracy; do for the east what is due for them. The east has been neglected for quite long. Even if the president goes beyond what government is supposed to do, that does not change our mind. We are set to achieve what we want to achieve, even if he puts all the gold and how are we sure this will not go like one of those promises others had made in the past?
“Many presidents have come to make promises. They had come with promises of sea port and other projects, but the moment they realise their ambition, the Igbo are neglected. This time around, we are not going to fall for those white elephant projects and empty promises. I do remember the talk about sea port which has been on right from the Shehu Shagari regime. The roads are in terrible condition, so we want to see a practical development.”
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Bakassi case not closed, says Oyebode
Former University of Ado-Ekiti Vice Chancellor Prof. Akin Oyebode has declared that Nigeria can still reclaim the area of Bakassi Peninsula ceded to the Cameroun, based on the judgment of the International Court of Justice.
The Professor of International Law disputed the Green Treaty under which Nigeria and Cameroun agreed to give the land to the former French Colony, pointing out that it is not binding.
Oyebode, who suggested that military action could be invoked as a last resort said no African country can underrate the military might and potentials of Nigeria.
He alluded to the violation of the process of ceding part of Nigeria’s territory to another country, which he said was cleverly ignored by the Presidency, following the negotiation brokered in France by the French President between Cameroonian and Nigerian leaders.
Oyebode said: “The so-called treaty or agreement was never approved by the National Assembly”, maintaining that its implementation was done in error.
The University of Lagos teacher noted that, in the case of military confrontation, French’s military pact with Cameroun may predispose it to supporting its former colony. However, the legal scholar said France would hesitate to adopt that approach because of its enormous investment and other interests in Nigeria.
Oyebode, who spoke at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) One-On-One Programme, recalled that the military administration managed the Bakassi issue better.
The former Vice Chancellor urged Nigeria to press for the ownership of the disputed Peninsula, based on the fact that the National Assembly never ratified the controversial treaty. He said there is no way Cameroun can gain ownership of the disputed area and begin the exploitation of its oil resources without impinging on the rights of displaced Nigerians in Cross River State.
Oyebode also spoke on the state of the nation, especially the contentious national question, state police and lopsided federalism. He said state police will stem insecurity in the land because members of the community would be recruited into the police, thereby reducing unemployment.
He said Nigeria should also halt the practice of quasi federalism by adhering strictly to the spirit of true federalism.
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‘PDP must give presidential ticket to the North in 2015’ – Senator Abdullahi Adamu
How would you explain the general perception that the legislature in Nigeria tends to tow the line of government to the detriment of the collective interest of the people?Well, it is an unfortunate phenomenon; part of it induced by public opinion in their understanding of what is happening; some induced by the act of the parliamentarians themselves.
You may have an issue which is on the front burner of public opinion, but maybe, the reality and the crux of debate is such that does not seem to be in tune with what the public wants.
Sometimes it may happen and I say it is for the legislators to try and get an understanding of the public in that kind of situation.
But every Parliament worth its name is supposed to be the voice of the people.
You cannot claim to represent people and then your opinion is different from that of the people you represent.
But the executive arm holds the official instrument of state, and there are moments when there are disagreements over issues where the Parliament says they were not consulted; may be their views were not sought by the executive, and maybe it is an executive bill and they decide to go their separate ways on the debate, and the executive might not be happy.
The only thing is where there is a misfortune that the executive is not working in tandem with the interest of the public.
Take the oil subsidy as an example, the President got the voice very clearly and had to review the position that they said he took.
So it is sometimes a counterpart kind of thing, it must be driven by goodwill, sincerity and good faith; nobody is seeking to undo the other.
We are supposed to complement one another along the line.
What has been your experience as a Senator since you were elected last year?
One has been through some level of apprenticeship because no matter your background, no matter past experiences, once you get into new callings, you must learn the ropes to understand how things are done.
But the most fundamental thing is the parliamentary tradition and practice; if you don’t get to be in tune with them, you will be surprised that you may not be able to make the kind of mark you ordinarily will desire to make.
So, for us, those of us who are first timers, it’s been a period of learning and we are learning, but notwithstanding that, we have been able to make contributions where the situation permitted and I feel that one could have done more but in a house with about 108 equals, under the supervision of one person, each time there is a debate, you count your stars if you want to make a contribution and the eyes of the president are able to see your desire and your hand before you are given the permission to make contributions.
Sometimes, you get identified, sometimes you may not, because not every person will get to talk on one issue.
It’s been a very worthy experience for me.
I have made new friends and I have seen that this 7th Senate is the richest that the country has had in this dispensation, in terms of experience and party background.
There are (former) military and civilian governors; Senior Advocates, captains of industry.
So there is quite a good mix of persons, and for me today, I thank God that I am there; we are learning.
Would you say that your inability to contribute at one time or another may have hampered your effective performance?
It is a normal thing in every Parliament. There is a person in the House of Representatives they call the Speaker; I am a Senator, the Senate President is the chair, he presides over every session.
Once there is an issue or a motion that is being debated or an issue of public interest comes before the hallowed chamber that you want to talk about, there are others who also want to talk about them.
But there are situations when you do want to make a contribution on a particular issue and you are not lucky to be identified by the presiding officer and what happened to you today may as well happen to another Senator tomorrow.
Well, it is the culture of parliamentary practice but it is very exciting.
What is your view on the creation of states?
To be honest with you, I was part of the agitation for the creation of Nasarawa state.
I thank God we got it and I thank God that we were able to realise an ambition which we believe held the promise for actualising our dream as a people in the context of the Nigerian family.
But governors in some states are unable to pay salaries.
So the question now is, will we do the right thing?
I am a Senator, I don’t want to pre-empt the National Assembly because we have an ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review, they are coming out and I don’t want to pre-empt what we should do or should not do.
But, I believe very strongly that we need to take a more serious look into the growing agitation.
I headed Nasarawa State when we were at the rock bottom of the ladder of revenue allocation in this country.
When I became governor, Nasarawa was mobilising under half a million naira internally generated revenue, the records are there.
Under one million naira and I had a work force of over 10, 000 civil servants.
We inherited foreign loan of between N20 to N22 billion Naira; from our days in Benue/Plateau State to the days in Plateau State to Nasarawa.
We were able to do what we did to stay afloat. But with what is going on today, with the threat (of total dependence on oil); we have some level of peace in the Niger Delta but everybody now is virtually being held hostage because they have oil and Nigeria is limping on that one foot called oil and gas; everybody is being held hostage and if tomorrow the militants strike and production goes down, we are in trouble.
I don’t see the country being held hostage more than that and that again is reason for me supporting any serious look at agriculture. So it is not for me to say yes there should be or there should be no states, but I can only give an analogy of the situation at hand.
On state police, some people have argued for and others against. On which side of the divide do you stand and why?
Well, I don’t know, but I think the issue is now becoming an issue for blackmail, so I don’t want to discuss it.
We have now tilted off reason, it is now blackmail. If you say you want state police, you are labelled whatever; if you say you don’t want state police, you are labelled. It has been reduced to that and I don’t belong to that school of thought.
Internal party wrangling within the PDP has the potential of dimming the fortunes of the party in the nearest future and some upcoming parties are seen to be cashing on the situation.How do you react to this?
I will work for PDP to the tail end. I will not forget, at the formative stage of the National Party of Nigeria, I had the opportunity of serving at the Constituent Assembly that produced the 1979 constitution and when the parties were being formed we were the young set and, to the elder statesmen then, we were the errand boys, but we were involved, effectively.
And I remember writing a letter to Mallam Aminu Kano because I was more inclined; it was my first calling and I was more inclined to going for PRP (Peoples Redemption Party).
That was my natural inclination.
My parents were NPN to the root, my parents, grandparents were traditional rulers and I had difficulty shaking off what’s in me, but at the same time as a politician in the making, my attraction was towards Aminu Kano, his brand of politics.
I was at the meeting and I personally felt he was insulted when he was asked to become the Publicity Secretary of NPN.
I later went to Kano to see him; he was campaigning in some villages; you know Belgore, when you pass through Saminaka from Jos, near the tributary of Kogin Kano, a large fishing community, he said my prayer for you is that you should go and continue to be with them (NPN) and stay there like the rock of Gibraltar. I will never forget that.
So, I will tell you that with PDP I am there until either death do us part or Nigerian political development do us part. But as long as I am in PDP, I am PDP inside out, I will continue to work for PDP irrespective of the problems that we encounter.
Even if the party veers off the course you were committed to…
The problems yes, the noise you hear yes, it is part of it; I call it the sound of democracy.
But my only appeal is that the leadership of the party should not self-destruct, we must not destroy the party from our own doings or misdeeds; we must not contribute to its failure.
Before we talk of discipline, we must see discipline from the highest level of the party, down because there is no point you talk of discipline, and you are not disciplined yourself, it does not make sense.
The leadership of the party must help in the inculcation of the spirit of leadership, they must be people of their words, they must set examples.
I believe that the present set of national officers (of PDP) intends good and we will make it possible for them to do good for the party.
We will wait there is a lot of noise in Nasarawa State, a lot of noise in Akwa-Ibom, Maiduguri, Borno, in Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara states everywhere you go.
So, but for me it is a natural phenomenon for political parties but sometimes we take all these things too far.
When we see parties doing wrong, we tolerate them to do wrong but when some other party does wrong somewhere else you punish, it doesn’t make for good followership.
So my hope and prayer is that the leadership will help by doing good to ensure that there is discipline in the party and that we do not self-destruct.
But me, you can count on me, I have just done a programme today I am doing so to promote PDP and because before we stood election; those of us who did stand elections we had manifesto and did what we said during the campaigns.
We “work our talk” that’s the key.
Recently, the state executive of the PDP held a reconciliation meeting…
As far as I am concerned, there is no state executive in PDP. I went to the national headquarters and told them.
I stand with the concerned group because they saw me as an elder; they came to share their thoughts about the party with me and I did share their thoughts, and I do understand where they are coming from and where they want to take the party to.
I share in their emotion and sentiments; I share in the sacrifices they make for promoting PDP and I share with them about their concern for the failure of PDP in the state.
I will work with them until somebody tells me or shows me why I shouldn’t.
If I hear a superior argument, I will bow, but until then, I am working with them and we will hoist the PDP flag.
Some former governors are agitating for Governor Kwankwaso to be the next President. If PDP gives the ticket to the North in 2015, will you support him?
That is not a fair question; has Kwankwaso said he wants to be President?
But PDP has no choice than to give the North (in 2015); I want to believe in that. Kwankwaso is more than a friend to me, Kwankwaso is my brother, we started with PDP together, we were governors together, he had some misfortune midway in his governorship, he didn’t win his second election he became a minister of defense, he has been elected again in Kano after eight years he is back in the saddle, and he is doing a good job.
But if he comes out to say he want to be president, let’s wait and see, if he say so; I don’t cross bridges until I reach them.
I believe that everybody is saying the same thing (North president for 2015); I believe that the north should have a crack at it again.
I believe that, it is no sin. We have a right to it like everybody has. Of course, the real thing is, we deserve to have it again.
You take it or leave it; for political fortunes or misfortunes; the country is divided; it is North and South, because these are the bare facts; it’s either North or South.
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Lagos ACN slams debasement of national honours
The Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has slammed the federal government for awarding national honours to Nigerians with questionable integrity.The party said that the latest list of awardees shows that the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration is not listening to Nigerians on how to redeem a process that has been allegedly abused.
In a statement in Lagos, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, said that the names released for national honours shows that it is a pot pouri of businessmen who have no scruples, friends and associates of those in government, discredited contractors and acolytes of those in power, especially at the federal level and mainly Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members who have done absolutely nothing than live off the state.
It regrets that what was instituted as a badge of honour has been bastardized such that Nigerians see it as badge of dishonour.
The statement reads: “Going through the names of the newest awardees of various categories of national honours, one notices that those that compiled the names see the honour as reward for their friends, associates, business fronts, party men and nothing more.
We see the awards still as a whimsical ritual that further erodes the entire concept when Nigerians desire an enrichment of the nation’s moral codes.
It is regrettable that the government did not take into consideration recent expressions of disappointment of Nigerians with the award and make necessary amends in the current list.
“Rather, what we see is a mix of names of people whom Nigerians cannot place in the events that have shaped this country for good.
We are shocked that the same tardy way and manner this regime has been known to handle critical issues was on display in this latest list as there is no binding code of honour that unites these latest lists of awardees, as it should be.
We only see a combination of people, most of whom have played negative roles in the evolution of Nigeria till the present where we have a wrecked country in our hands.
“We would have expected that the massive public outcry against the list of awardees last year would have forced this regime to ensure the adoption of strict guidelines in arriving at subsequent lists of awardees, but our hope for improvement has been dashed again by the current list.
We do not feel that we should continue this way as such honours stand to be consigned to the dustbin in the very nearest future if nothing is done to sanitize them.
“We feel that this nation is making itself a laughing stock in the comity of nations when we continue to reward thousands of people every year with national honours when the country is regressing badly.
We feel there is nothing wrong in suspending the awards for some years while the country grapples with the enormous problems starring it in the face.”
