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Tag: Aminu Tambuwal

  • Tambuwal remains Speaker, says NBA

    Tambuwal remains Speaker, says NBA

    •Blames slow judicial process for his fate

    The Nigeria Bar Association has said that the delay in giving judgments on matters concerning constitutional interpretation was responsible for the imbroglio rocking the country over the defection of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

    It said the defection of Tambuwal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) would have been a non-issue if the courts had ruled on the suit between the Peoples Democratic Party and the New PDP.

    The NBA notes that any Judge charged with constitutional interpretation must be able do so within one week.

    It insisted that Tambuwal remained the Speaker of the House of Representatives unless a decision is reached on section 68 of the Nigerian constitution.

    National President of the NBA, Chief Augustine Alegeh, who spoke in a chat with the newsmen in Benin City described as a total disgrace the continued delay by the court to determine whether it was the NJC or the state government that should name the Chief Judge in River State.

    He said, “The court must be acting to ensure there is democracy. If a decision has been taken, the matter on Tambuwal should not have arisen. We use this opportunity to call on our courts and judges that their duty to uphold the constitution is sacred.””When there is a delay, then there is denial of justice. If the judiciary has given a pronouncement on the issue of defection, this Tambuwal issue should have been avoided. The present situation is a direct fallout of the inability of our courts to determine issues timely.”

    Alegeh said the incessant kidnappings witnessed across the country was as a result of understaffing of the security agencies.

    On Tambuwal, he said, “As long Tambuwal remains the Speaker, we call on the police to restore his security detail. The police cannot determine who breached the constitution. The action of the police is totally alien to our constitution. It is only the House that can determine whether there was a faction in the defector’s party. The office is entitled to protection.”

    Also, NBA Ikeja Branch has asked the Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba to resign.

    The Bar called for the resignation of the IGP following his directive withdrawing the security details of the Speaker.

    In a statement in Lagos yesterday signed by its chairman, Yinka Farounbi, the Bar viewed, with  concern, “the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Suleiman Abba withdrawing the security detail of the Speaker of the House of Representative, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal on the allegation of defection to an opposition party citing section 68 (1) (g) of the constitution.

    “To say the least, the action of the IGP, apart from being an usurpation of the functions of the third tier of government, the Judiciary, is the most disservice and the greatest threat of our democracy, particularly the 2015 general elections”. The NBA took a swipe at the IGP who it accused of “arrogating to himself the power of 240 members of the House of Representative and remove the Speaker and went ahead to constitutes himself to a court of law and declared the seat of the Speaker vacant.”

    The NBA further took the IGP to task and challenged to tell the nation who the substantive Speaker is and when he intends to conduct a bye-election into ‘the declared vacant seat’ of Tambuwal?

  • Tambuwal’s ‘coup’

    The self-styled ‘largest political party in Africa’ turns to usual lawlessness as Speaker dumps the Humpty Dumpty

    Until the defection, last Tuesday, of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), many people had regarded the defection, in August, of the former presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the 2011 presidential election, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as the defection to beat. And that was quite understandable. ACN and other political parties that are unhappy with the state of affairs in the country have now teamed up to form the APC which is now trying to take over power from the ruling PDP.

    So, those who regard Ribadu’s defection to the PDP as the biggest such carpet-crossing have every right to hold that opinion. What on earth could have made a party’s presidential candidate abandon the ship only to want to run for governor on another party’s ticket? Well, much as Ribadu is now recuperating from his failure to get what he thought he was going to get in the PDP that probably necessitated his defection, the APC too, hopefully, must have learnt its lessons. What was Ribadu’s antecedent that qualified him to hoist such an exalted flag?

    However, now that Speaker Tambuwal has dumped the PDP, that has become the talk of the town and made Ribadu’s defection pale into insignificance. Tambuwal’s defection is the ‘mother of all defections’, at least so far. I said so far because no one can tell, the president himself might decide to jump ship before Noah’s Ark is full! ”

    My dear colleagues, pursuant to the extant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and having regards to the developments in my home state of Sokoto, I wish to hereby formally notify you of my membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Let me register my profound appreciation to all of you, my colleagues, for the unflinching support you have continued to extend to me and the great sacrifice you are making in the pursuit of the overall national interest and the development of constitutional democracy …”. Tambuwal crowned it with a prayer that God should continue to guide his colleagues as they exercise the people’s mandate entrusted to them.

    With these words he adjourned sitting in the House to December 3. Although Tambuwal’s defection had been in the air for so long, why it still took some of the PDP representatives by surprise, to the extent that some of them reportedly wept after the Speaker’s announcement, is difficult to comprehend.

    Of course, everyone who is conversant with our political developments could have predicted how the Goodluck Jonathan administration would react to the issue that should be a battle of wits and guts. But trust the PDP and its government; they have already turned it to roforofo fight. Even as the Speaker was yet to return the gavel with which he hit the table to declare proceedings of the House of Representatives closed on Tuesday after dropping the bombshell, some of the PDP members had started calling for Tambuwal’s resignation from the party.

    Indeed, the ‘punishment’ has started. National Vice-Chairman of the party in the South-South, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, vowed to do everything within his powers to regain the speakership of the House from Tambuwal. “PDP is a very disciplined (disciplined?) party. If you come and steal in the PDP and use the PDP to elevate yourself and get into office, when the time comes, God will get you out like the issue of Tambuwal. You can see how God has exposed him”, he said. As if it is not common knowledge that the countless persons that God had truly exposed in the ruling party are the ones enjoying the fruits of the land!

    Expectedly, even if gratuitously, the Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, has joined the fray by withdrawing Tambuwal’s security men. By so doing, the acting IGP assumed the role of the judiciary which he has absolutely no power to assume. Moreover, there are many cases pending in courts concerning the Section 68(1) (g) that he cited as the basis for his action. At any rate, at whose behest did the IGP take the action? And how does that become a pressing matter for his attention and action? If the police boss could promptly react to the crimes plaguing the country the way he reacted to Tambuwal’s defection, a purely political affair, the country would be a better place to live in. Again, not only did the courts say that there was not only division in the party but faction, which later merged with the APC. So, on what legal plank did the IGP stand to carry out his clearly partisan action?

    It is obvious the PDP would even take more misguided and desperate actions in the coming days and weeks. For now, it appears the police force is enough. At the appropriate time, other security forces – army, navy and air force – may be involved. When the ruling party fights, it does so with all its fury and might, forgetting that the era of brute force is gone forever. Ideas rule today’s world. The PDP should however be well guided by Nigeria’s political history, and particularly by what  happened in Burkina Faso, where soldiers joined demonstrators in protesting the plan by that country’s parliament to extend (now former) President Blaise Compaore’s nearly three-decade rule. It comes to a point when even security forces become embarrassed by the unholy use to which lawless governments put them, particularly when the parliament that should do the needful fail in that responsibility.

    Another thing that should be expected is that, rather than the ruling party lament that it had lost a big fish (that is obvious because the country’s Number Four Citizen cannot be anything but a big fish), the party would, in its arrogance and ignorance (or both) suddenly realise that the Speaker is nothing but a political Lilliputian; someone whose kernel was cracked for him by the party only for him to turn round to bite the finger that made him politically relevant. The PDP said that when it lost Bukola Saraki, the former governor of Kwara State. When Saraki was in the ruling party, he was an issue, but the moment he defected, he became an inconsequential politician; the same was said of Rotimi Amaechi, the Rivers State governor. So, no one should be surprised if the ruling party now says Tambuwal’s exit from the party is good riddance to bad rubbish. Indeed, Ojougboh suggested that much in his reaction to the issue.

    Another likely fallout of Tambuwal’s defection is that he would suddenly become a corrupt person; (sorry, the PDP would now suddenly realise he is corrupt). So, he is likely to be ferociously hounded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as if even if the allegation is true, he is the only corrupt person in the land; or, as if we do not see very corrupt persons around the corridors of power on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, the party would have forgotten while accusing Tambuwal of being corrupt that the president had said there is nothing like corruption in Nigeria and that what many of us call corruption is mere stealing! Tambuwal’s sins (if any) that would have been overlooked if he had not left the ruling party would suddenly be remembered and visited. The ruling party would now desperately start fishing for excuses to rubbish him. To them, it used to be unthinkable that anyone of substance could ever dump the PDP. No matter what we might say of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, he is one of the first big fishes to dump the Humpty Dumpty, even if he returned, only to quit again. But he made the point that there is nothing sacrosanct in or about the PDP. Tambuwal has revalidated that point, even if with bolder relief.

    From these reactions it is obvious the PDP and its government do not seem to appreciate the enormity of the damage they have done to this country in the last 15 years. Only people without conscience would still see the party as having something good to offer Nigerians. The party can only go more brutal and commit serial illegalities in its bid to rid Tambuwal of the speakership, further alienating itself in the process. The ideal thing to do, if indeed the ruling party is disciplined as Ojougboh wants us to believe, is to go to court to challenge Tambuwal’s defection rather than embark on self-help. If the PDP and its government are not comfortable seeking redress in the law court because of the slow pace at which justice travels in the country, they are partly to blame for that tragedy. They have had all the time in the world to reform the judiciary to make it more functional. Now that they see themselves as likely candidates or victims of that slow pace of justice, they resorted to self-help, thereby worsening their case. One may not know the party that would succeed the PDP; it is at least getting clear by the day that the ruling party has since lost whatever its allure was.

    Again, one thing no one can take away from the Speaker is that he has managed the affairs of the house well in his time. Even if the PDP now ‘exhumes’ some phantom sins against him, Nigerians would see through the shenanigans: why now? What the ruling party does not seem to realise is that more surprises could be in the offing. Given the government’s and PDP’s frenetic reactions to the incident so far, one may deduce that they both do not seem to appreciate the unfolding political drama in the country.  Suppose it turns out that Tambuwal’s defection was only the ‘champion’? Suppose ‘knockout’ is on the way?

  • Cheers as Tambuwal tells House: I’m now in APC

    Cheers as Tambuwal tells House: I’m now in APC

    House adjourns till December 3

    PDP furious

    It was a day of mixed feelings yesterday at the House of Representatives as Speaker Aminu Tambuwal defected to the All Progressives Party (APC).

    At exactly 12:24pm, Tambuwal in a short speech at the end of plenary, said he was defecting to the APC for political reasons, adding that the yearning of his people in Sokoto State necessitated the decision.

    The ovation was loud, but some members of the PDP were in tears.

    Tambuwal said: “My dear colleagues, pursuant to the extant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and having regards to development in my home State of Sokoto, I wish to hereby formally notify you of my membership of the All Progressives Congress APC.

    “Let me register my profound appreciation to all of you my colleagues for the unflinching support you have continued to extend to me and the great sacrifice you are making in the pursuit of the overall National interest and the development of constitutional democracy.

    “May the Almighty God continue to guide us all in the exercise of the people’s mandate entrusted in us.”

    His defection was greeted with applause, especially from the APC lawmakers.

    This is the second time a Speaker has emerged from the minority after Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, who was Speaker on the platform of the NPP in a House dominated by the NPN in the Second Republic.

    The APC Caucus in the House, led by Femi Gbajabiamila, said they would be stimulated into doing more by Tambuwal’s defection, adding that nothing had changed in the House as all members would work together for the advancement of the Parliament and greater good of the Nigerian people.

    Gbajabiamila said: “We welcome and applaud the Speaker’s decision . Ever since the crises started in the PDP, which led to the formation of the ‘New PDP’ and the defection of five PDP governors, 37 PDP members of the House of Representatives to the APC, and the formal merger of the ‘ New PDP’ with the APC. We had all along known that this day will come.

    “We are proud to acknowledge that the Speaker remains not only a member of the House of Representatives, but also its Speaker. This position is consistent  with the law and practice in a presidential system of government.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Constitution requires only that the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be elected by members of that House from among themselves.’

    “Rt Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has been a Speaker for all the members, all the political parties and for all Nigerians and will so continue.”

    Though there had been weeks of speculations in the media about the speaker’s impending defection, the PDP members in the House were nonetheless shocked into prolonged silence after Tambuwal’s defection speech.

    The Majority leader of the House, Mulikat Akande-Adeola, said Tambuwal came into the House and became Speaker on the platform of the PDP and that the party will decide what happens next. “ I think this is an issue that the party will decide at the appropriate time,” she said.

    Mrs. Akande-Adeola refuted the claim that she knew that the Speaker was going to make a defection speech and hurriedly asked for the House to adjourn till December 3.

    But the Deputy Leader, Leo Ogor was more forthcoming.

    “We will watch further, and definitely will see what happens. Let’s look and see how he manages the House. We will watch him with eagle eyes and interpret every action that he takes,” he said.

    He explained reasons for the adjournment.

    “The adjournment was moved by the Leader of the House. That has nothing to do with his defection.  He stated clearly that the essence is to go for the oversight function and for the House to adequately prepare for the presentation of the budget. You are also mindful of the fact that there are primaries before us.  It behoves on all of us to do the needful to make sure that those who want to come back can have the opportunity to work towards that.

    “Let me emphasise here that the Speaker has left. Because he has gone does not mean that the PDP does not control the House. He sits down there as the presiding officer, we run the affairs of the House and as people who control the House, we must go the extra mile to protect the interest of our party.  We are not going to lose our sleep because Tambuwal defected to the APC. He has gone to APC; he has a political interest in his constituency. His constituency has told him that this is the party under which he can win election. Based on that, we will wish him good luck.”

    Ogor, however, admitted that even if the PDP wished, it would be a near impossible feat to remove Tambuwal.

    “I think we need to be mindful of the constitution. According to the constitution, you would need a two-third majority to remove a sitting Speaker. Do we have two-third? That is another matter we need to ponder over. Well will face the party and give our explanations, but I can assure you that the party’s interest will be fully protected.”

  • ‘Tambuwal ‘s defection a constitutional right’

    ‘Tambuwal ‘s defection a constitutional right’

    Lawyers and politicians have said there is no provision in the Constitution and the House Rule that makes it mandatory for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal,  to quit or resign  his office after defection.

    Commenting on Tambuwal’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a lawyer, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) said the Speaker has the constitutional right to join any party of his choice.

    Uche said:  “Tambuwal doesn’t have to resign or quit the office of the Speaker because of defection. Nothing stops him from joining any party of his choice. He cannot lose that seat as a Speaker. It is not automatic.

    “There are certain conditions that must exist before the office could be taken from him but not on the basis of defection. It is within his right to defect in this circumstance.  The decision he has taken is very crucial to his political future based on the reports that he is planning to contest the governorship election in Sokoto State next year.”

    Another SAN,  Emeka Ngige agrees with Uche. He said Tambuwal has not breached any law. He said the law made it clear that a member of the House can be elected Speaker by members of the House irrespective of party affiliation.

    Ngige recalled that in the second republic,  EdwinUme- Ezeoke, a member of the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives while a member of the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was deputy.

    “There is no requirement of party affiliation to be elected as Speaker. In fact, the election of Tambuwal as Speaker cut across the parties.

    “The House should let him go afterwards the lifespan of the House is gradually getting to an end. By next year May .”

    Former Senate Minority leader, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora said Tambuwal h has exercised his constitutional right which has to do with freedom of association.

    Mamora said: “It is a welcome development. It portrays him as a man of conviction taking such decision without caring what the consequence might be. It is a plus for us in the APC. He is most welcome.”

    Ogun State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Adebayo Dayo said Tambuwal has the right to defect to any party he likes because Nigeria is a democratic country.

    Dayo said: “Personally, I have no objection, no ill-feeling against his defection.”

     

  • PDP BoT members warn Jonathan on fifth columnists

    PDP BoT members warn Jonathan on fifth columnists

    Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State reacted yesterday to a report alleging that loyalists of the House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, including the party’s consensus governorship candidate, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, are under watch by the Presidency.

    They warned President Goodluck Jonathan to be wary of the antics of fifth columnists, who want to make him lose his support base through rumour mongering.

    The former national chairman of the party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, who is a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Amb. Justina Eze, also a BoT member and another chieftain of the party reacted to the report.

    They said it was an “insult on the leaders of the party in the state to reduce their hard-earned popular decision for 2015 to the whims of the personal decision of Tambuwal.”

    Speaking in interviews, Eze, Nwodo and another PDP chieftain, who preferred anonymity, agreed that whatever happened in the National Assembly had nothing to do with the decision of the indigenes to support the emergence of Ugwuanyi as the “very popular consensus candidate of the party.”

    The PDP chief said it was clear that those behind the campaign against Ugwuanyi “are those who feel they have failed to convince our people that they are the better materials for governorship and they have shown that they have failed.”

    Nwodo said: “What does Tambuwal stand for and how does that affect the plausible decision of all times that the people of the state have just taken that this young man (Ugwuanyi) is our party’s consensus candidate?

    “We as leaders in Enugu State with our people have spoken and anybody casting aspersions on that decision should be ready to face the music.

    “Such people should know that the days of imposition and secret anointing of aspirants, who are unpopular, are over and anyone who wants to test his popularity should get ready to do that on November 29 when we hold our primaries. It has been shown that our decision on Ugwuanyi remains the most popular since the creation of our state and they know it.”

    Eze said: “The action of the faceless people, who wrote the report of Tambuwal’s men on the watch, is stupid. They are dangerous to the aspiration of President Jonathan.

    “These are people, who have failed to visit their constituencies for years and nobody knows what they are doing at the National Assembly. They have remained very unpopular among our people and they now want to deceive the President to become the enemies of popular leaders, who will help him to earn votes.

    “I advise President Jonathan to be wary of these desperate politicians, who have no capacity to attract votes for him during the coming elections.”

    The PDP chieftains said Ugwuanyi earned his position as a long-standing chairman of the Committee on Marine Transport in the House of Representatives, having held it even during the tenure of former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, adding that the International Maritime Organisation found the lawmaker worthy of the position he was holding.

     

  • We’ll do justice to confab report – Tambuwal

    We’ll do justice to confab report – Tambuwal

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said the National Assembly is waiting earnestly to receive the report of the National Conference.

    Tambuwal stated this during the burial of Elder Moses Edeh Akuru, the father of Enugu Methodist Archbishop, Rev, Christopher Nweke Edeh, in Agba community in Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi State.

    He said the lawmakers will do justice to the report whenever it is presented to it by the executive.

    His words, “We are waiting for the National Conference reports, when we get it we will do justice to it.”

    The speaker eulogized the deceased for his selfless service to his people.

    “I commend the people of this community and for coming out enmasse to show appreciation for the life of our leader and father. He lived well as a community leader and served the people very well. There is no better way of appreciating him than to thank God for his life.

    “We console the family and we urge them to know that it is only God that gives and takes life. Our happiness is that he left behind worthy children who can do better,” he added.

     

  • Tambuwal kicks against militarisation of polls

    Tambuwal kicks against militarisation of polls

    •‘I’m still consulting on 2015’

    SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday condemned militarisation of recent elections in the country.

    He described the development as grossly undemocratic.

    Tambuwal also stated that he is still consulting on his next political moves amid rumour of his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the 2015 presidential race.

    He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair elections next year.

    The Speaker spoke at the residence of Edo Deputy Governor, State, Pius Odubu, before attending the wedding ceremony of the son of the Oba of Benin, Prince Ehioze Erediauwa, and wife Chioma.

    He was accompanied by the Minority Whip of the House and member representing Uhumwonde/Orhiomnwon constituency, Samson Osagie; Rasaq Bello-Osagie (Oredo Federal Constituency); Jim Adun (Egor/Ikpoba Okhai); Isaac Osahon (Ovia constituency) and members of the Edo State Executive Council.

    The Speaker said militarisation of polls will discourage voters and lead to apathy.

    According to him: “I have made my position known at the NBA conference about a week ago.

    “Yes, in as much as we need security during elections, we don’t need an over dose of it.

    “And I said that it is not the best of fashions in a democracy that you militarise a process to the extent that voters get intimidated and scared and they rather withdraw and remain indoors.

    Security, he stated, should be concentrated at the battle lines, not in voting centres.

    “Where we need heavy presence of military men is in the front line states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

    “So we should focus more on that than states where we are conducting civic responsibilities like elections,” the Speaker stressed.

    Reacting to speculations of his imminent defection to the APC, he said: “When I went to collect my voter’s card, I said I was consulting and I am still consulting.

    “Nigeria is not a small country; we have very, very senior leaders that one need to meet with before taking such decisions.

    “As I said, I am consulting and at the appropriate time, I will come out to say what I will be doing in 2015.

    On efforts to curb insurgency in the North East, he urged Nigerians to give security forces the support to succeed.

     

  • Elections should not be militarised- Tambuwal

    Elections should not be militarised- Tambuwal

    AHEAD the 2015 general elections, Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has said it is undemocratic to over militarize the country.
    He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the conduct of a free and fair election in 2015.
    The Speaker spoke at the residence of the Deputy Governor of Edo state, Dr Pius Odubu on Saturday before attending the wedding of the son of the Oba of Benin, Prince Ehioze Erediauwa and wife Chioma.
    Tambuwal was flanked by the Minority Whip of the House and member representing Uhumwonde/Orhiomnwon Federal constituency, Samson Osagie, Rasaq Bello-Osagie (Oredo Federal Constituency), Jim Adun (Egor/Ikpoba Okhai), Isaac Osahon (Ovia Federal Constituency) and members of the Edo state Executive.
    Pointing out that states must not be over militarized during elections in order not to discourage people from voting, the Speaker stated that “I have made my position known at the NBA conference about a week ago.”
    “And I said that it is not the best of fashions in a democracy that you militarize a process to the extent that voters get intimidated and scared and they rather withdraws and remain indoors.”

  • Jonathan, Tambuwal disagree on polls’ credibility

    Jonathan, Tambuwal disagree on polls’ credibility

    President Goodluck Jonathan and House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal yesterday disagreed on the credibility of recent governorship elections.

    To Tambuwal, the polls were more like those conducted by the military regimes and were not free, fair and credible.

    The Speaker said the elections had been characterised by intimidation, which is undemocratic, causing apprehension among voters.

    But President Jonathan insisted that the elections in Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun were not only credible, but demonstrated that electoral reforms were working.

    They spoke at the opening ceremony of the 54th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Owerri, the Imo State capital, with the theme: “Nigeria, a hundred years after”.

    Jonathan, represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), said the government focused on the reform of the country’s electoral processes to make them better and more responsive to the people’s yearnings.

    “The free, fair and credible elections conducted in Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states is a demonstration of the efficacy of the reforms this administration has instituted in our electoral processes.

    “While there is room for improvement, the fact that politicians can now congratulate each other at the end of keenly contested elections is glowing testimony to the progress made and the evolving political culture that credible elections have engendered in the polity,” Adoke said.

    But Tambuwal said politics, which is supposed to be a pleasant routine for the common good, had become a source of “sickening stress” for the citizenry.

    According to him, instead of looking forward to 2015 election with joy and pleasant expectations, the average citizen is apprehensive.

    “When the complexion of election conducted by a civilian regime assumes the semblance of that conducted by a military junta, it is obvious that the nation needs help,” the Speaker said, adding:

    “The nation craves for credible elections, which means elections that are free, fair, transparent and peaceful.

    “Elections which are merely peaceful through the instrumentality of force and intimidation are neither democratic nor credible.”

    On the fight against graft, Adoke said the anti-graft agencies had reviewed their operational modalities to make them more effective.

    He disclosed that a national anti-corruption strategy had been articulated, in line with Nigeria’s obligations under United Nations Convention against Corruption – and would be presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval.

    Adoke said every aspect of the tracing and recovery of stolen assets around the world, as well as settlement with the Abacha family by the Federal Government, was done transparently.

    He urged anyone who has doubts to obtain information from his office under the Freedom of Information Act.

    “We must discourage the pervading culture of baseless criticism for self-glorification and cheap popularity,” he said.

    A former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, who will be 80 in October, said Nigeria at 100 years had not achieved its full potential.

    According to him, there exists a conflict of ideologies between liberal democracy and Sharia, which must be reconciled.

    Gen. Gowon, who chaired the event, condemned same-sex marriage, saying Nigerians must reject it.

    “I find it difficult to accept the notion of same-sex relationship for the simple reason that it negates the law of nature, which created us male and female,” he said.

    One of the major highlights of the opening ceremony was the showcasing of the achievements of the outgoing NBA President, Okey Wali (SAN), in a short documentary, with the new NBA House in Lagos topping the list.

    The seven-storey edifice was built by lawyer and businessman Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN) through one of his companies, Stabilini Visinoni.

    Babalakin, who was also featured in the documentary, praised Wali for his commitment to the realisation of the new NBA House.

    Wali blamed insecurity and insurgency what he called the failure of the justice system.

    “Creating more divisions of the army, air force, navy, police, DSS etc is not and cannot be the solution for today and tomorrow. It might be for today, but definitely not for tomorrow…

    “The fact is that they (patriotic security agents) may very well have been kept off harm’s way if the needful had been done in the past.

    “The core problem is the rot in our criminal justice system. Anybody can commit a crime and get away with ease.

    “It, therefore, becomes difficult, if not impossible, to nip issues like Boko Haram in the bud. There are no security cameras; no finger prints banks, no criminal records.

    “Unless and until we ensure the independence of the judiciary and fix our criminal justice system and justice delivery system, we would not have started the journey to making this country safe and secured,” he said.

    The keynote speaker, Dr George Kwanashie, a historian, said development would continue to elude Nigeria until there is devolution of power.

    In his view, power is too concentrated at the centre. He called for a returning of authority and responsibility to the “lowest level possible”.

    At the event were Governors Rochas Okorocha and Emmanuel Uduaghan (who both partook in the showcase session), and Justice of the Supreme Court John Fabiyi, who represented Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Mariam Aloma Mukhtar.

  • Tambuwal’s comment unsettles Presidency

    Tambuwal’s comment unsettles Presidency

    House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal’s political hazy future has unsettled the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    There were fears yesterday in the PDP that Tambuwal is likely to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    It was also learnt that the ruling party has not foreclosed “plans” to sack Tambuwal if he switches over to APC, after making a “code statement”.

    The PDP has used the ongoing vacation of the National Assembly to woo Senators and members of the House of Representatives to secure a comfortable majority in the two chambers.

    But it was learnt last night that Tambuwal has kept his game plan to his chest. His decision on 2015 may come be in the last minute.

    There are rumours that he may either vie for a presidential ticket or return to Sokoto State for the governorship poll.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the Speaker created unease in the Presidency and PDP when he declared that “Nigeria deserves good leadership in 2015”.

    Also, when responding to a question on whether he would defect to APC or not, he simply said: “Kowa ni tsuntsu kukan gidan su yake yi”, which means “birds of a feather flock together”.

    Some Presidency and PDP chiefs, it was said yesterday, regard Tambuwal’s comments as “disloyal, lack of faith in the ruling party and a tacit opposition to the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan”.

    A highly-placed source said: “The comments of the Speaker have caused some disquiet in the government and at the party level.

    “Some forces in the Presidency and PDP considered Tambuwal’s comments as “anti-party” and lack of support for Jonathan’s re-election bid.

    “They are also claiming that the Speaker has confirmed the suspicion that he has always had sympathy for the opposition.

    “These forces believe it would be a slight on the ruling party for the number four to defect to APC.”

    Asked of the next line of action, the source said: “I think the PDP may not allow Tambuwal to beat it to the game. Once he moves to APC, he may need to vacate the office. This is why the party is already consolidating its hold on the National Assembly.”

    The PDP is wooing more lawmakers in the National Assembly, especially members of the House of Representatives.

    The party is determined to have “a comfortable majority” in the House of Representatives to take charge.

    “PDP has realised that it is a bit legally difficult to sack some of its members who defected to APC from the National Assembly. The process will have to go from the lower court to the Supreme Court.

    “The alternative is to ‘hijack’ the National Assembly, especially the House, and dictate its pace.”

    A source in Tambuwal’s camp said: “We know the Presidency and the PDP have been uncomfortable since the Speaker delivered his coded message.

    “Their attack dogs have been abusing us in some online media since Sunday. But they have forgotten that democracy is about people and what they want at any particular time.

    “At the appropriate time, the Speaker will make his plans for 2015 known to his constituents and associates.”

    Pressed to know the office the Speaker might seek in 2015, the source added: “Tambuwal has kept his joker to himself. Not even his confidants can say his mindset.

    “He has some options which I think he won’t disclose until the last minutes to the primaries for 2015 poll. At best, you can say he is consulting.”