•The uproar in the House of Representatives over leadership ought to be resolved now in the interest of democracy The House of Representatives is always in the news, with crises always defining its character since the resumption of civil rule in 1999. Lately, the delicate political equation in the House has thrown up new possibilities and threatened peace in its operations. While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that has a firm grip on the executive arm of government, and has controlled the leadership of the Lower House, is unwilling to accept that the All Progressives Congress (APC) to which scores of erstwhile members of the ruling party have defected should now take control, the APC is insisting that legislative norm frowns at the minority controlling the majority. The House nearly exploded last week, as the leader of the APC, Femi Gbajabiamila, who is designated Minority Leader, referred to Leo Ogor, known as the Deputy Majority Leader, as Deputy Minority Leader. Members of the PDP, led by Ogor, frowned at what they regarded as a surreptitious move to effect a change of leadership. They argued that a court of competent jurisdiction had bound the parties to maintain the status quo in the House, pending the determination of a motion before it. But, the APC found the court’s ruling a violation of a democratic norm that forbids any arm of government from interfering in the affairs of another. The party told a press conference that the rule all over the world is that the majority should take charge of affairs. The matter is still before the court. It is gratifying that the tension was doused when the APC opted to await a motion to vacate the order, despite its reservation on its propriety. The role played by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, is also deserving of commendation. He expertly and maturely made the combatants sheathe their swords and urged all to defer to the court in the interim. He managed to bring the situation under control and ensured that the House sat to consider the business of the day. We call on all parties to the crisis to put the interest of the nation above personal and partisan interests. True, the scenario is unprecedented in the country. Since the introduction of the presidential system in 1979, the same parties have always controlled the executive and the legislature. In the Second Republic when the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN), despite being the single largest party in the Senate, lacked the clear majority it needed to ensure smooth passage of executive bills, as it held only 36 of the 95 seats to the Unity Party of Nigeria’s (UPN) 28, the Nigerian People’s Party’s (NPP) 16 and the 15 shared between the Great Nigeria People’s Party (GNPP) and People’s Redemption Party (PRP), the ruling party had to enter into an accord with the NPP that morally allowed it function as majority party. In that wise, the NPN provided the Senate President, and the NPP the Deputy Senate President. The same sharing formula applied in the Lower House. But the PDP’s attempt to block takeover of leadership by the new majority party cannot stand and it should realise this. It stands logic on its head and is a recipe for intractable crisis. This is a democracy and, while the minority could have its say, the majority should have its way. At any rate, why is the PDP now crying wolf when it had benefited from similar defection in the past, when notable members of other parties defected to it and still retained their seats? The parties and the House leadership should realise that national interest is paramount. The needful should be done as soon as possible to reflect the true status of the parties in conformity with democratic norm. It could be argued that the APC has not demonstrated its numerical strength and neither did Gbajabiamila follow established procedure. He said he made the remark in good humour since the matter was in court. But the joke seemed on the PDP counterparts who read gloomy portents in the words of the minority leader. If such a mere mention could threaten to blow the roof, what would have happened if Gbajabiamila had moved a proper motion , or seized the opportunity offered by Motion of Urgent Importance to table the matter?
Tag: APC
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What is Obanikoro up to?
In a series of media stunts, Musiliu Obanikoro, erstwhile Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, former senator, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Lagos State and presently, a ministerial nominee had expressed concern regarding governance and popular expectations in Lagos State under the leadership of Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and All Progressive Congress (APC). I consider his thoughts driven by politics, and it behoves anyone with a conscience to write in defence of a working government. I must state that I don’t belong to any political party.
I must give kudos to Obanikoro’s for dissecting the Lagos 2014 budget in a recent interview. It is a fact that no government, be it federal or state, has all it needs to execute its projects. The most ingenious way available to every government is to shore-up its internally generated revenue (IGR), and most importantly, go borrowing. Borrowing is neither a curse nor a bad idea; however in our clime the problem we have with borrowing is misuse of borrowed funds, because for any borrowed funds, the project(s) of its application must be attached. The criticism for borrowing is stemmed from the corrupt attitudes of our government officials and the needless open display of ostentations in the midst of a debilitating poverty.
On the issue of Lagos budget 2014, Obanikoro told us the zero deficit claim of the government is a hoax. He is economical with the truth. Again, while it is debatable, we must look at some parameters to get an answer. Firstly is the issue of recurrent expenditures, this is an issue that virtually all states of the federation and particularly the PDP-led federal government are guilty of. In fact, the federal government budget estimates for 2014 is over 70% recurrent on personnel and overhead. The onus is on governments to reduce the costs on personnel.
My understanding of zero deficit budgeting is that all expenses captured are justified and provided for, that is, budgets are built around what is needed for the upcoming period, regardless of whether is higher or lower than the previous one. Zero based budgeting allows for top-level strategic goals to be implemented into the budget process by tying them to specific functional areas of the government where costs can be first grouped, then measured against previous results and current expectations. The proposed borrowing of N99.74 billion in the budget is to refinance existing debt. Obanikoro should know that refinancing a debt is different from interest payment for internal loans. At any point in time, more avenues may be open to government to borrow; servicing a loan is different from refinancing a loan. That the state government will access US$200m World Bank loan in 2014 does not translate to the budget being financed from this loan.
More importantly, that Lagos State will borrow to finance some its projects does not preclude it from having a zero deficit budget. We must know that risk assessment by professionals played an important role before loans are given to any government. More so, credit-worthiness of a state determines if such a state will even be given loan or not. The debt profile of Lagos State is manageable; if not, it is unlikely the World Bank will have made available to it the recent loan. Borrowing and debt management are risks that cannot be avoided but managed.
In the area of healthcare, I have been to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), but for purpose this writing I will say what I saw in LASUTH can compare favourably with any teaching hospital in Nigeria. Governor Fashola should not be made to bear the brunt of choices of individuals who prefer overseas hospital as a status symbol. We need to build our capacity in the health sector, and this will require the collaboration of both federal and state governments.
On the electoral issue involving his son, there is always the aftermath of an election, and the loser with a genuine case will approach the tribunal for a redress. Obanikoro’s son won at the tribunal, but since there is a window for an appeal, it is expected that the other person will appeal. To now accuse a sitting governor because of his legal credentials and/status as Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN) of impounding the legal victory of his son is cheap politics.
One area I least expected Obanikoro’s condemnation is the Lagos residency registration campaign. To me this a laudable effort hinged on planning for the development of the state. Headcounts inform government’s template for planning, and that the present Lagos government chose to do so is commendable. Population determination is an important ingredient in governance and infrastructure development.
In Lagos, exemplary leadership has resulted in ambitious projects that have direct bearing on the populace, notably the BRT expansion from Mile 12 to Ikorodu; the gigantic Badagry-Marina blue light railways, Adiyan water works expansion project, Ozumba Mbadiwe-Awolowo road link bridge, Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge, construction of 16 roads in Mushin local government, construction of major roads (Simbiat Abiola road, Kodesho etc) in Ikeja local government, a new modern market in Oshodi, the on-going Tejuosho modern market, new modern stalls in Agege, re-construction of major roads (Adeniran Ogunsanya, Akerele, Bode Thomas etc) in Surulere, the re-construction of 2.6km Alaba/Cemetary road in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, the remodelled Obalende and its environs. More importantly, Lagos State government must be given kudos for the environmental management of canals; the continued dredging and de-silting of these numerous canals within the state have gone a long way to save the populace from flooding issues.
Obanikoro chose to denigrate his benefactor, APC leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the interview. I don’t think politics should be carried that far. For what it is worth, Tinubu made him a commissioner and facilitated his election into the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In an interview on NTA programme One-On-One sometime in 2004, Obanikoro himself said after God, the next person who had played an important role in his political career is Tinubu. As humans, we should always look beyond the present. Whatever might be Tinubu’s political school, a former political son addressing a political father with such odium hardly speaks well of our age-long known attributes of honour and respect.
On the whole, the signature of development as embedded through responsible governance from the inception of democratic government in Lagos State is encouraging. We must guard against making negative political judgment on verifiable performance. Much of Obanikoro’s thoughts is political than sound economic management, and we will continue to do ourselves grave injustice if we give political colouration to every issues. While more work needs to be done, Fashola and his team deserve commendation.
• Nurudeen writes from Surulere, Lagos State.
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Okorocha: Ignore zoning
Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has urged leaders in the state to ignore zoning in electing the next governor.
He advised them to consider the quality of the candidates.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House, Owerri, the governor, who is from Orlu zone, said: “Let he, who can deliver the dividends of democracy, rule, irrespective of his zone. It is only a man with great vision, who can bring about change, who should be voted for,” he added.
Okorocha also admonished the leaders to place the state on the path of positive change, by allowing the will of the masses to prevail during elections.
He said emphasis should be on public interest, instead of personal gain, in the choice of a governor, adding that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not the best choice for the Southeast, as it had turned Ndigbo into the minority.
The governor said it was regrettable that the Southeast had never had its share in terms of federal projects and appointments and enjoined leaders to re-align with the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he said would give Ndigbo the opportunity of producing the president.
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‘We are blocking executive bills to save democracy’
The Interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has explained what prompted the party’s directive to its members at the National Assembly to block executive bills and proposals. He spoke with the Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu and Musa Odoshimokhe.
Can you shed light on this curious directive to the All Progressives Congress (APC) members, at the National Assembly to block executive bills?
I’m surprised that you call it a curious directive. Let me give you a background to the position we took. Since February 2012, Rivers State has been a theatre of crisis. The origin of the crisis is that there is no love lost between the first lady and Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the President and the governor on the other hand. Since then, the governor has been undermined in many ways, from being deterred in performing his functions as the governor of the state or the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF). Following this crisis, the rule of law has been suspended in the state.
The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State has become the de facto governor of the state. The situation got worst to the extent that the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu stop taking directives from the governor. And very recently, when about 13,000 teachers who were supposed to receive their certificates and letters of employment at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt but they were dispersed by the police with tear gas. Other occasions were when ex-militants backed by the Commissioner of Police disrupted peaceful rallies in the state. The Ogba Local Government in Rivers State which was lawfully dissolved has become a subject of disputation with the power that be. The Police Commissioner prevented the governor from accessing his house, insisting that he must pass through a particular road.
Things became worst when Amaechi crossed over from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. Since then, every rally organised by the state government is either disrupted or dispersed with rubber bullets or tear gas. At every point, we have not been quiet in drawing the Federal Government attention to the ugly developments, even when Governor Amaechi was with the PDP, we drew government attention to it. We have maintained that this situation will not ensure the rule of law. After Amaechi became a member of APC, the persecution escalated.
We have done everything possible to let the ruling government know that what is happening was not in the interest of democracy and we have noted all the anomalies which they have carried out against the people and our members. We made it clear to the President that the CP Mbu could not have been behaving the way he behaves if he does not have the support of the President. Let me say that out of the 36 governors and their CP in the country, it is only Mr. Mbu that behaves in this manner. We have warned that this impunity has repercussion for stability in the country. It will get to a point when the people will say they can’t take this anymore.
The situation in Rivers State today is that everyday things are getting more difficult, people are being molested. We have drawn government attention to the situation and since government appears not to be paying the desired attention to the lives of the people, who are being molested in Rivers State, we would ask our members to stop cooperating with Mr. President until he ensures that normalcy gets back to Rivers State. Now, what we call filibustering is a normal and accepted norm in democracy.
But critics say that with the directive, the APC is planning to cripple government. What’s your view?
People accused us that we want to shut down government, oh yes. Because we don’t want this government to shut down the country, people have argued whether the steps we have taken is not going to hurt Nigerians more, but we say no. Government is about people, if there is no peace and stability, what is happening in Rivers State might escalate to other states. And if that is the case, what will be the importance of any budget? So, why are we putting the budget over and above the life of the average citizen in Rivers State? People called to tell us that our position is ante-people but we say no. Any government that does not believe in fairness, justice and equity is anti-people. Any government that cannot protect its entire people is anti-people. Any government that does not respect the rule of law is anti-people. So, what we are doing is a patriotic service to Nigeria.
Apart from this measure to shut down the country, which other measures have you thought of?
No, we are not shutting the country but the government. We have said if you don’t do this, we will do this. And people now think that the President is right, to continue the reign of impunity in Rivers State, with a total anarchy over the land? We are not just saying there will not be cooperation; it is premised on what happens in Rivers State. If Mr. President today has the political will to stop what is happening in Rivers State there will be no reason to filibuster.
Apart from the non-cooperation with government, the APC has also adopted measure that would have achieved the same purpose…
Governor Amaechi wrote letters to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on what happens in Rivers State. Several meetings have been held between concerned groups with Mr. President on this purpose. What else could Amaechi have done? Everyday people are being harassed, everyday our rallies are being prevented, do they want to kill our party and expect us to fold our arms? Today, if the average person in Rivers State realises that he cannot be in APC without being molested, he will go and join another party. And you want us to fold our arms? If anybody has a better alternative, he should tell us and we are going to try it. So, why has it become so difficult for Mr. President to stop what is going on in Rivers State? Why has it become difficult to stop the reign of impunity in the state?
In view of what is happening between the APC and PDP, does the likelihood exist that there will be governance this year?
If the President continues with the reign of impunity in Rivers State, we are afraid we will not cooperate with him. We have never asked our members not to cooperate with him because we just wanted it. What we are saying is that Rivers State is part of Nigeria and our constitution allows the people to belong to the political parties of their choice. You don’t use tax payers money to destroy others and protect your own interest. Nigerians should please open their eyes and see what is going on.
Some had thought that APC should go to court?
You know how many cases are in court already over this matter? One of the claims used by the Police Service Commission, for not redeploying CP Mbu is that the governor has already taken the matter to court. The governor has even gone beyond that. He has written about 23 letters to the NHRC explaining what is happening in the state. So, if anybody has a better option, we will take it.
What is the response of the APC caucus to this directive?
The statement I received from Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila which I can read to you, he reiterated the position of the party through his response. He said filibustering and non cooperation with government is normal in democracy. He said: “APC represents good governance, with respect to the directives given by the party’s NEC, urging the APC National Assembly members to block all legislative proposals from the executive. I wish to assure you that the progressive lawmakers stand for good governance in Nigeria. The progressive lawmakers will not truncate the hard earned democracy; we will ensure good governance in Nigeria. Government shut down or filibustering is not new in the world.”
People have been talking about the passage of the budget. The one that was passed last year, what has happened to it? There has not been any good solution and development. The reason is simply because of this corruption, inequity and injustice. That is why the country is where it is today.
So, what condition is APC now giving?
What we are saying is that the government should abrogate the reign of impunity in Rivers State. The Commissioner of Police has constituted itself as the law and instead of protecting the people he uses force and tear gas to make life difficult for them.
You have heard from Gbajabiamila, what about George Akume?
He was at the party meeting where the decision was taken.
People are saying you are heating the polity. Do you agree?
That is on the contrary, when they started using tear gas to disperse over 13,000 people who came to receive their letters of appointment at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, what happened? When the Commissioner of Police undermines the constitution and confronts the governor of Rivers State, we are heating the polity. When the police decided to go and stop a peaceful rally with tear gas, we are overheating the polity.
However, some political parties like APC now say ‘please let observe the rule of law’. However, we don’t have the police, the army but we will rely on the constitution to do so, from the power the constitution has given us. That is, if government does not stop what it is doing then we will not cooperate with it. So, filibustering can be used anytime in democracy.
It always amuses us that anytime you go to the constitution, to invoke or to challenge what is not right, then you are over heating the polity. When we said the President should be impeached, they say we are over heating the polity. But we did not invent the impeachment clause? Any clause in the constitution which APC invokes, they would say we are overheating the polity.
This is not the first time that the National Assembly will refuse to cooperate with the President, even on other issues that are not as grievous as this one. Why is it that the President normally has National Assembly liaison officers? Is it not to make sure that there is cooperation between the President and the National Assembly? This is not because there could be lack of cooperation. I don’t know whether we are the only one seeing this? All these people, who are attacking us, Labour Party, Afenifere, what has any of them done? What have they said to this reign of impunity in Rivers State? What did they say or how did they feel when some 13,000 teachers were tear-gassed in the process of receiving their letters of appointment. You can imagine what 13,000 jobs would mean in a state like Rivers. There is no state that would create 13,000 jobs that would not make impact on the economy of the state. What was Labour Party’s position? When Senator Magnus Abe was shut, what did they say? When Commissioner of Police prevented the governor from accessing his residence, what did they say? When five lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly tried to impeach the governor, what did they say? When five people try to overpower 22 people and impeached the Speaker, where were they? I can say it with all sense of humility that this rabble rousing drama, with the plan to sway emotion will not help this country. That is why we are where we are today. Our party will continue to have the courage to speak out.
Following all these developments what are now your fear for 2015?
Precisely, what we are saying is that if this reign of impunity is allowed to go on in Rivers State, all you need to do to truncate democracy, is to post police men like CP Mbu to other states. And that will be the end of democracy. Don’t forget that if what is happening in Rivers State today happens simultaneously across the country, it will not be easy to curtail. The luck we have is that this thing is confined to Rivers State. So, we don’t want it to spread to other states. The way we are going, will they even allow people to come and vote freely in 2015? We must not forget one thing; this is democracy, that as long as the method we are using is constitutional and legal no amount of shouting or abuse will deter us. All that we have done is to use constitutional means to get what we want. What do we want? Why are we trying to shut down government? To protect the people of Rivers State, to make sure that the rule of law is returned. What is government all about? Is it not about the rule of law and democracy? They are the one using ex-militants backed by the police, to stop peaceful rallies. So, look at it from the balance, who is overheating the polity?
Adamu Mu’azu’s reconciliation is likely going to return the defectors to the PDP fold, do you share this fear?
I think all the governors have responded. They are not going back to PDP. I know Senator Bukola Saraki is not going back. I know Aliu Wamakko said it, I know Amaechi said it. There is no proof that these people are going back. We have an exhaustive exco meeting of our party, there were 11 governors who attended. All the governors or their deputies were either present except for Osun State and the discussion was re-assuring.
How is the reconciliation of APC in Sokoto and Kano?
We believe that it is going on very well. We can see positive development on the part of the gladiators. We are leaving no stone unturned. They are all responding favourably to the reconciliation talk and we are making progress.
How is the party resolving the one in Ogun State?
At a meeting yesterday, former Governor Osoba and the governor were there. The governor stood up to inform the whole House the situation was under control. If there was political problem, it has to be resolved in the interest of the party. Governor Ibikunle Amosun was acknowledged as the leader of the party but he has to be in good stead with his leader, Chief Segun Osoba.
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APC squares up to PDP
The All Progressive Congress (APC) appears set to test the potency of her new political influence, with its call on her members in the National Assembly to frustrate all executive bills, including the 2014 federal budget, and even the confirmation of presidential nominees for military service chiefs and ministers. The step, according to the party, is to be maintained, until the rule of law is restored across the country, particularly in Rivers state. Prior to the recent political realignments, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had a near-absolute political power in the country, with the control of the executive and legislature; but presently, the APC claims majority in the lower national assembly; with a strong showing in the Senate.
As the cliché goes, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. No doubt, in the last fourteen years, the PDP has rode roughshod on Nigeria’s political landscape, because it controlled the federal executive and legislature; and also majority of states in the country. Now that scenario has been altered, with the birth of a contending behemoth – the APC. For this column and I guess most Nigerians, this scenario is a welcome development. While I am deeply concerned about the amalgamation of disparate forces in the formation of APC, any lone ranger in any political forest, like the PDP, will recklessly abuse the rules of gaming.
That is why the emergence of APC satiates the appetite for fairer rules of the political game. But it appears the APC with its new strength in the national assembly, has chosen a wrong fight. While no doubt the presidency has thoroughly abused its privileges in the management of the political crisis in Rivers state, I doubt whether the answer from a potential alternative national platform as the APC, should be to also plunge itself into a counter abuse of its newly acquired privilege. The APC’s strategists may not have thought through the far reaching import of their wholesale instruction to block all executive bills and efforts; including the national livewire – the federal budget, and containing national security challenge – approval of new service chiefs.
While the crisis in Rivers state deserves national attention, it is wrong to elevate that interest over and above our common national interest, or even equate them. Interestingly, even with the crisis in Rivers state, that state’s budget has been ‘expeditiously passed’ by the state assembly. So if the state is functioning, albeit under severe stress; how can APC justify its demand for a total shut down of the country’s economy and security? What the APC may have done which its mandate to her members is to provide the PDP an excuse should the economy continue to plummet and the security situation deteriorate in 2014, which incidentally is an election year.
Again, the APC in choosing to block the passage of the national budget appears not to have taken into cognizance, that unlike in other countries practicing federal system of government, the tenability of most state budgets, depend on the federal budget. The implication is that if this battle over the national budget draws on for a few months, many states, including several APC’s states would be hamstrung to pay even the salaries of civil servants not to talk of executing capital projects. Unfortunately also, the states most hard hit by the security challenges in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria, are APC states; and where the situation to deteriorate, will the PDP not likely link the challenges to the blockade of the confirmation of service chiefs by the opposition party, the APC?
Even more ominous is those to be affected most by the APC’s head butt. No doubt, it is the ordinary Nigerians that suffer most the impact of failing security and economy, more than the political elites. For me, it would have been exciting, had the APC isolated certain issues in the federal budget, like the bloated costs of eating and travelling for the presidency, among several others, and choose to shoot them down from the budget. Even more ennobling would be an audacious insistence by the APC, that henceforth, it will block budgetary provisions for members of the national assembly, approving remunerations for themselves not approved by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Committee, as clearly provided by the 1999 constitution; or even demand the abrogation of the so called security votes by the executives across the country.
Nevertheless, the political future of Nigeria is most likely in for exciting times. With APC hurriedly barring its newly acquired fangs, the PDP will realize the death of its absolute powers. Also with this development, the PDP will no longer take political steps without consulting the opposition party, unless of course such matter will not require parliamentary approvals. Indeed, the days ahead will be interesting, as the PDP walks the APC’s mined fields, even as the party plants more mines. Also as events unfold, Nigerians will anxiously be watching to see the efficacy of the APC’s mines.
As I have severally canvassed, it is not too late to distill a progressive agenda for APC or even the PDP, despite the present challenges. One surest way would be, for either of the parties, to agree and pursue an amendment of the constitutional landmines that provide the federal executive with excessive powers and resources. First, is to diffuse the national economy. The APC or PDP can summon courage to put forward a campaign promise to amend the constitution to guarantee fiscal federalism. If successful, such amendment will release the economic potentials of all the states, and save the nation from the daredevilry quest for federal executive power. Next, such constitutional amendment will diffuse control of security apparatuses, with states entitled to have state police. Indeed, progressive politics beckons.
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Six APC Senators defy party’s leadership, screen Service Chiefs
Six Senators on Monday defied the directive of the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to block all Executive Bills or confirmation of nominations from the President in the Senate pending the resolution of the Rivers State crisis.
The six APC Senators partook in the screening of the Service Chiefs appointed recently by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The APC Senators that took part in the exercise are – Senators Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central), Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central), Akin Odunsi (Ogun West), Mohammed Sani Saleh (Kaduna Central), Atai Ali Aidoko (Kogi East) and Ajayi Robert Borofice (Ondo North). -
APC directs Amaechi, Ikimi to resolve Bayelsa crisis
The national leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has directed the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and the former Minister of External Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, to resolve the crisis in the Bayelsa State chapter of the party.
It was learnt that Amaechi and Ikimi were asked to meet with the warring factions and put an end to disturbances emanating from the state.
Loyalists of the former Governor of the state, Mr. Timipre Sylva, who joined the party from the dissolved new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), have been dragging the state structure with the founding members of APC.
Following the crisis, the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, had appealed to the national leadership of the party to quickly intervene in the matter.
It was learnt that the interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, asked Ikimi and Amaechi who are the leaders of the party in the South-south geopolitical zone to look into the issues.
Sylva’s former Security Adviser, Chief Richard Kpodo, who has been laying claims to the chairmanship of the party in the state, confirmed the development.
He said: “The Governor of Rivers State and Chief Tom Ikimi are the leaders of the party in this zone and they have been mandated by our national leadership to intervene in the crisis.”
He, however, asked Amaechi and Ikimi to do justice to the matter to avoid escalation of the crisis.
Also the former youth leader of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Miriki Ebikibina, confirmed the development and said APC was committed to internal democracy.
“What the party is doing is to ensure that the internal democracy reign supreme in the party at the states and national level,” he said. -
APC directive to lawmakers ‘fruitful’
The All Progressives Congress (APC) defended yesterday its much criticised directive to its lawmakers on the Presidency’s bills and proposals.
The directive to block all proposals from the Executive in already yielding results, the party said in a statement issued in Lagos by its spokesman Lai Mohamed.
According to the APC, the directive has started yielding results, with the Save Rivers Movement (SRM) holding a peaceful rally – for the first time – on Saturday.
In the party’s view, the critics are either ignorant of the working of democracy or just playing to the gallery for pecuniary gains.
“Either way, these critics have rushed to judgement without even taking time to study the directive, without understanding that governance is about people, and without caring about the principles of fairness, justice and equity, and they should cover their faces in shame,’’ the Interim National Publicity Secretary said.
‘’We hereby reiterate the directive, which is a product of deep thinking and robust debate within our party’s NEC to save our democracy, and we commend our members in the National Assembly for their unequivocal support for our stand, and for understanding that filibustering or legislative non-cooperation are veritable tools of democracy,’’ it said.
When the SRM organised a rally in Ogoni on January 19, ex-militants stormed the place, shooting. They injured people and vandalised vehicles. The police did not stop them. Saturday’s was peaceful, because the Inspector-General of Police directed the police to provide protection for the rally, the APC said.
‘’This is exactly what we are saying, that Nigerians, irrespective of their party leaning, who wish to stage a peaceful protest anywhere in the country must be able to do so without the police looking away while hired goons attack them. It is all about justice, fairness and equity, without which democracy will not thrive. We will be watching to see if what happened on Saturday represents a paradigm shift in Rivers or it is just a flash in the pan,’’ the party said
To the APC, there is nothing anti-democratic, anti-people or inciting about the directive, which is aimed at ending the reign of impunity in Rivers State before its spreads to other parts of the country and truncates the nation’s democracy, wondering why it is so difficult for the President to act, for almost a year, as a part of the country he was elected to govern goes up in flames.
The party said already, copy cat attacks and intimidation of APC members had been launched by the government and the police in Gombe, because they have been watching the impunity being committed in Rivers.
‘’All over Gombe, our party flags, billboards and posters are being vandalised by hoodlums aided and abetted by the police. Our youth supporters are being arrested while our members are being threatened by the police and the state government officials.
‘’From Rivers, this reign of impunity has spread to Gombe. Who knows where the train of impunity is heading to next? Yet, some so-called fickle analysts, some chameleonic activists who willingly pit their tents with the highest bidder, some increasingly irrelevant organisations and some political parties who are content with the crumbs that fall off the table of the ruling party have the temerity to condemn a directive they do not understand.
‘’They say the non-approval of the 2014 budget will pauperise Nigerians, as if the yearly ritual of budget passing since 1999 has benefitted anyone but the fat cats. In any case, of what use is a budget when the lives of citizens are at stake? Are budgets not made for the people? Do they understand that even the budgets are based largely on earnings from oil, which we cannot even produce if the violence in Rivers escalates and spreads to other oil-producing states?
‘’They say our directive is anti-people without understanding that those who are being daily intimidated, beaten and shot in Rivers are also Nigerians. They say we are anti-democratic without understanding that democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of impunity, the like of which we have in Rivers.
‘’Where were these same critics when the impudent police commissioner in Rivers, egged on by a conniving Presidency, thumbed his nose at the Constitution by turning himself to the de facto governor, of the state and refusing to subordinate himself to the elected Governor who is the chief security officer of his state? Where were these critics when a serving Senator was shot perhaps by the police? Where were these critics when women and children were teargassed and innocent civilians beaten black and blue? Did they raise any voice against the attack on journalists whose offence was that they went to cover a rally?
‘’The APC, as a party, cannot be intimidated by the antics of those who will have no qualms elevating self interest above public interest, by those who believe their cheap criticism will help insert their snouts into the nectar of filthy lucre.
‘’Therefore, while we acknowledge the so-called critics’ right to express their opinions on our directive, we disagree with them, in the exercise of our own rights, and here reiterate the directive, which goes thus: ‘In view of the joint resolutions of the National Assembly on Rivers State, and other constitutional breaches by the Presidency, the APC hereby directs its members in the National Assembly to block all legislative proposals, including the 2014 budget and confirmation of all nominees to military and civilian positions to public office, until the rule of law and constitutionalism is restored in Rivers State in particular, and Nigeria in general’,’’ the party said.
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Tinubu tongue-lashes Yoruba detractors
•Says they are rabble rousers
National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday lashed out at those he said had been claiming that the Yoruba are leaderless.
Such critics, according to him, are “hypocrites, mischief makers and rabble rousers who know nothing about Yoruba land and Yoruba people.”
He spoke at the fund-raising for the new ultra modern palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan.
He was the Chief launcher at the ceremony.
Tinubu, who was represented by a former minister, Demola Seriki, declared that the critics’ knowledge of history was shallow, stating that “it will be better for them to take their eyes off our decent home and spend time cleaning out the rot in their own homes.”
The former governor of Lagos State hailed the Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, for the initiative to build the palace.
He said the Olubadan, though not a politician has always stood against the marauding forces of destruction and confusion, while remaining committed to democratic principles.
He said this is in line with the pedigree of his predecessors from 1820.
He paid similar tributes to past royal fathers of Yoruba land for not disappointing their people.
Asiwaju Tinubu hailed Oyo state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, an indigene of Ibadan, describing him as a pride to the Yoruba and Nigeria as well as an achiever who marches on against all odds.
He said that Oyo State under Ajimobi is at “the cusp and point of monumental change.”
He said the APC has embarked on a historic journey to bring change to the people and give life to their finest aspirations.
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Why we want lawmakers to block bills, by APC
The Interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lai Mohammed, has said the party’s directive to its member at the National Assembly to block government proposals was to save the country and democracy.
He told The Nation that government must abrogate the reign of impunity in Rivers State to allow justice, fairness and equity.
He noted that a situation where the lives of the people were taken for granted is the highest form of disservice to the country.
Mohammed stated that the party could not fold its arms and watch its members being harassed and intimidated because they hold a different view contrary to that of government.
According to him: “We have made it clear to President Goodluck Jonathan that the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu, could not have behaved this way if he does not have the support of the President.
“We have warned that this also has repercussion for stability in the country. It will get to a point when the people will say they can’t take this anymore.
“The situation in Rivers State today is that everyday things are getting more difficult, people are being molested. We have drawn government attention to this ugly situation and since government appears not to be paying attention to the lives of the people who are being molested in Rivers State, we would ask our members to stop cooperating with Mr. President until he ensures that normalcy is back to Rivers State.”
The APC chieftain wondered why the Labour Party and Afenifere were accusing the party of trying to heat up the polity, instead of calling on government to order and ensure that the people of Rivers State were protected.
”Government is about people, if there is no peace, stability and what is happening in Rivers escalates to other states, what will be the importance of any budget?
“So, why are we putting the budget over and above the lives of the citizens in Rivers State? Government must protect them as a matter of responsibility,” he explained.
He added that if the situation persists, democracy will not only suffer but the teeming supporters of the APC would be forced to go underground because of fear of being persecuted for their political belief.
He further explained: ”Do not forget that if what is happening in Rivers State today happens simultaneously across the country it will not be easy to curtail. The luck we is that this thing is confined to Rivers State. So, we don’t want it to spread to other states. The way we are going now, the fear is that will they even allow people to come and vote freely in 2015.
”What do we want? Why are we trying to shut down government? I must say it’s all about the rule of law in Rivers State, what we are fighting for now is to make sure that the people are protected. What is government all about? Is it not about the rule of law and democracy?
”They are the one using ex-militants backed by the police to stop a peaceful rally. So, if you look at the whole situation from the balance they are the one overheating the polity,” he said.
He added that APC members at the National Assembly would ensure there is good governance in the country because it is no longer going to be business as usual.
”If Mr. President today has the political will to stop what is happening in Rivers State there will be no reason for filibustering,” he assured.