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Tag: Bukola Saraki

  • Osun 2018: Saraki, Fayose accuse INEC, police of compromise 

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian police of colluding with the Federal Government to rig elections in states.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains made the accusation while addressing reporters in Ede, Osun State after the party’s mega rally for its governorship candidate, Sen. Ademola Adeleke.

    Read Also:Oyetola: why Osun deserves govt of continuity

    Saraki said he has observed a trend in recent elections where results declared by INEC shows a huge invalidated number of votes with a narrow margin with which candidates win.

    He said the trend showed in the Bauchi National Assembly bye-election and Ekiti State governorship election.

    Saraki warned INEC and the Federal Government to desist from the trend, saying it is the latest style of rigging the elections in favour of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.

    He said the trend must not repeat itself in tomorrow’s governorship election in Osun State.

    He faulted the declaration of Sen. Adeleke wanted by the police two days before the election.

    His words: “There is a pattern that we have seen and we hope that in this election of Osun we will not see that. When you look at the margin of victory between the party that wins and that party that loses, and you look at the amount of cancellation, you tend to see that the difference is almost the same. We are seeing that trend here, we saw it in Bauchi bye- election and to me, there’s something fishy going on.

    “And so it’s important in a credible election, there should not be that amount of cancellation. And I think INEC needs to step up. In the 2015 election, we never saw this level of cancellation. This is a new trend that is very disturbing and I hope that in this election INEC will show how credible it is and ensure invalid votes should not be like that. When cancellation is more than the margin of victory, then that election carries a big question mark.

    When asked about the level of confidence with which PDP was going into the Osun election, Fayose said the process was already compromised.

    He said: “It is not about level of confidence. We are talking about the process, the process leading to an election. INEC has been compromised, police have been compromised. When they want to arrest they will arrest PDP. When they are doing vote buying it is PDP that will be arrested, not APC. It is whoever police call a criminal that is a criminal. When already police are taking sides, what do we say to that? When you are telling us what level of confidence?  It is about the system, the process. If I come here and arrest you with gun what will you do? If they have the effrontery to say they are declaring the candidate of PDP in an election that is 48 hours away as the criminal to create a perception, you can imagine.”

    He added: “They are taking this state one after the other and they forget that nothing will last forever. We must all condemn this unnecessary, unwarranted assault on democracy…

    “For APC to come here and start talking about corruption, we have had enough of that. I wrote to EFCC that I will be coming on the 16th. I am still a sitting governor, you are declaring me wanted. You said they should be looking for me. I am here today. When I was passing the airport I had to look for Customs officers to tell them ‘I am here if you need someone to arrest.’

    “This is not the country of our dream; this is not the democracy of our dream. For anybody to say PDP wants to rig this election it’s exactly what they want to do that they are now laying on others. You saw what happened in Ekiti. Have you ever seen a governorship election won by under 20,000 votes? They won with 19,000 votes and voided votes were 18,000. The one the Senate President was talking about, their strategy is to invalidate most of the votes when they know that it is not adding up for them. This is not the spirit at all.

    “And I want to say to them if they like they should set Nigeria ablaze. They must remember the children yet unborn. Those who are benefiting from this wickedness should remember that if the last administration were to be like this they would never have got there.”

  • Group sues Saraki, others for defecting to PDP

    A rights group, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), has sued Senate President Bukola Saraki and other lawmakers who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    It is praying the Federal High Court in Abuja to declare that they are no longer members of the National Assembly by virtue of their defections from the political parties that sponsored their election.

    LEDAP is urging the court to determine whether any lawmaker who defects from the party that sponsored him before the expiration of his term does not automatically lose his seat unless there is a division within the party.

    In a supporting affidavit, the plaintiff said there was “no division in any of the political parties the said defendants defected from”.

    LEDAP further argued there was “no mergers involving any of the parties the defendants defected from”.

    There are 55 defendants in the suit, including Senators Dino Melaye, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Barnabas Gemade, as well as House of Representatives members.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is also named as a defendant in the suit filed by LEDAP National Coordinator Mr Chino Obiagwu.

    The plaintiff’s reliefs are based on section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    Read Also: Saraki: Nigeria is at crossroads

    The section provides: “A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if, being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected, provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.”

    LEDAP, in the suit filed on September 14, is praying the court for an order of mandamus compelling the Deputy Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to declare the defectors’ seats vacant.

    According to the plaintiff, pursuant to Section 8(2)(d) of the Legislative Houses (Powers And Privileges) Act, it is a criminal offence for any of the defectors to continue sitting in the National Assembly. 

    LEDAP, a non-profit organisation, said the suit is in furtherance of its core mandate of promoting the rule of law, good governance and accountability in Nigeria.

    No date has been fixed for hearing.

  • Only vibrant President can take Nigeria out of the woods – Saraki

    The Senate President and presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bukola Saraki, has warned that Nigeria can not develop except with a vibrant, youthful and full-time President.

    According to him, even developed democracies are now rushing for energetic, vibrant, focused and capable youthful leaders in order to have edge over other countries.

    Saraki spoke on Monday night during his visit to the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum at the residence of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum leader, Chief Edwin Clark, in Asokoro, Abuja.

    He expressed worries that Nigeria is presently dangerously disunited, lacks leadership capacity, with insensitivity and impunity as the order of the day.

    He said “Where we are as a country today is too serious for us to take lightly. The Nigeria that we have today have never been so disunited. When you go to many parts of the country, people will tell you ‘Do I truly belong? Are we part of this country called Nigeria?

    “On top of that, over a number of years, we have seen series of impunity. People are not held accountable. There is no inclusiveness in government. There is insensitivity and lack of empathy. These are big issues and unless we can unite a country, everything is…., development, creation of jobs.

    “So the first thing that is key to us is how do we unite this country. What kind of President can unite this country? …..

    “Lack of insensitivity, these are the issues that are driving suspicion, pulling us apart. Anything else we talk, development e.t.c can’t happen unless we bring everybody back.

    “As such, he must somebody that can represent …, somebody in any part of the country can say ‘ I think he represents Nigeria’, ‘I think he will be fair to me whether I’m a Christian or Muslim’, ‘I think he will be fair to me whether I’m a northerner or southerner’. That gives us an opportunity of a platform to move forward.” he said

    He added “Secondly, more importantly, I think what has been one of our major problem is capacity. I think over the years we have voted on sentiments. We have left capacity and ability, and used sentiments to decide who leads us. That is why we are where we are today.

    “But we need Mr. President that has the capacity, that has the vision that can drive and perform.” he said

    Without capacity on the part of the leadership, he said, that Nigeria cannot progress even though God has continued to be blessed the nation.

    “There is no country that can provide for its people, take them out of poverty the way we are going about it.” he said

    The Senate President also pointed out that the countries that are getting it right did not happen by chance or trial and error.

    He said “The Asian tiger we talk about didn’t happen by chance, it didn’t happen by trial and error, it happened because they have visionary leaders, leaders that know where they want to take their countries to.

    “As such, when looking for a president, he must be somebody that knows what it takes to do it. I say this all the time, you cannot give what you don’t have. I said it three years ago, I was harassed for it, when I said there are governments within government. There was no mistake about it. Governments are existing with no direction. And at such you must have a leader that understands.

    “There is a new order in the world today. All over the world, they are now looking for vibrant leadership, youthful leadership. Even developed democracies are going there because it is not a part-time job, it is not an easy job. Today, the President of a country is a 24-hour job if you want to do it properly, especially in an environment where you want to reform a country. So you need youthfulness, you need energy, you need vibrancy.

    “And most importantly, you need to be bold and courageous in order to take those decisions that need to be taken. And also to be focused. These are the qualities that are required.” he said

    On the economy, he said that the government cannot do it alone without creating the environment for the private sector to flourish.

    He said “Seventy percent of our population are young people. Government alone cannot take us there. Unless we have a private sector that is ten times bigger than what it is today, forget it young people will still be roaming around carrying their CV looking for jobs in government that will never come. It will never come because those jobs will never be there.

    “The only way they will get jobs is when we have private sector that have ability to create jobs, and to create the investments that will make it happen. Two million barrels a day, with population growing at 3%, is not enough.
    What you need to do is ensure other sectors, minerals, agriculture, are growing.

    “As a governor, I came up and said you must have commercial farming. What I said over seven years ago is what is the blueprint today that the government is trying to adopt. When I said it then, I was attacked.
    Today, the country is still spending N2 to N3 billion and it will continue to do so.” he said

    He told the leaders that he has what it takes turn around the fortunes of the country.

    Saraki said “If it is about the work, my leaders, I know I am very competent and I know what needs to be done to put this country on the right path.

    “I have shown my experience, apart from my eight years and Chairman Nigeria Governors Forum, I have shown that ….make people work together. I have also shown that in the Senate in the last three years, which have 18 former governors, despite all the efforts of the government.

    “I believe I have been able to show leadership and capacity. it’s okay for us to say we want to get rid of Mr. President. By getting rid of Mr President, we might not fix Nigeria. I don’t think we want to get rid of Mr. President without fixing Nigeria.

    “So, we must find a candidate that must fix this country. I have the capacity that is required to turn this country around. This time around I believe we must go for capacity.” he stated

    He also thanked the elders for the sacrifices they are making towards ensuring good leadership for the nation.

    He said “Let me appreciate the sacrifices you are all making at this time because you would have thought that with the many years you have given to this country, that what you should be doing now is relaxing and thanking God for where the country is going.

    Read Also: Court orders arrest of Sen Uzodinma

    “But you are concerned, patriotic and desired to leave a better Nigeria for your children and grand children.” he said

    Speaking earlier, the President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nwodo, gave reasons why the ground has extended invitations to all presidential aspirants in the forthcoming election.

    He said “Our desire is to deepen democracy in the course of our exchange by presenting the aspirants a number of national issues we feel important and critical to enable our country survive.

    “We have spoken to about four presidential aspirants.
    We are anxious to know more about the candidates so that in our interactions with our people who are in the political parties we can better inform them of our dialogue with the various candidates, our judgement as to how they represent the aspirations of Nigerians.

    “This elections is very important to Nigerians. For many Nigerians, if we get it wrong this time, we will be singing …. of our country.” he said.

  • Dogara’s defection not House matter, says Spokesman

    …We will deal with it when we resume, lawmakers

    …as Majority Leader Gbajabiamila keeps mum

    The decision of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara to pick People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is a personal decision that it has nothing to do with the House of Representatives, the Spokesman Abdulrazak Namdas has said.

    Dogara, a member of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) was reported to have picked PDP’s Nomination and Expression of Interest forms on Wednesday.

    It would be recalled that prior to Dogara’s purchase of the forms, he had denied having endorsed the decision of two of his aides that defected to PDP.

    However, when asked what the decision of the Speaker to seek re-election on the platform of another party portends for the position of the Presiding officer of the House, Namdas said it was a personal decision that has no connection with the House.

    He said:  “This is a personal decision, the Speaker can pick forms from wherever he wants, but as a House, we cannot stop anyone from wanting to pursue his aspirations as he deems fit.

    “However, let me say it here, that I am still in APC and we are still in the majority. We will have to wait till the House resumes before we can officially make a comment on this.

    “You know, formal notice is usually given and read on the floor on a situation like this, so we have to wait to get an official communications from the Speaker”.

    As for the consideration of the budget for 2019 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Spokesman said lawmakers would be available as soon as the leadership of the National Assembly communicates to that effect.

    “We are waiting for the report of the joint Committee on Electoral Matters, as soon as they are through with their job and the leadership gives the go ahead, we will reconvene to consider it”.

    The Majority leader of the House has refused to comment on the defection of Speaker Dogara.

    Several calls and text messages to his phone were not returned.

    However, a National Assembly source, who pleaded not to be named, said the media report of the purchase of the forms was a huge disappointment to the Speaker’s group.

    Read Also: Dogara’s aide joins PDP for State Assembly race

    According to him, the purchase of the form was meant to be a top secret, “It was not supposed to be a public knowledge for now. According to their plans, the defection was supposed to carry the same weight like the earlier defections of the over 36 members in the House and that of the Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    ‘I can authoritatively tell you that that was why the forms were obtained secretly, someone else was sent to procure them.

    “As it is now, the cat is out of the bag, the formal defection, on resumption from the annual recess would no longer carry the same effect, it would be like, we already know. His body language has indicated that much anyway.

    “As a matter of fact, Dogara and Governor Tambuwal are working in concert about the defection but I assure you, when we resume and we confront them with a list of defections from PDP, they’ll be shocked”.

    On his part, Bashir Babale (APC, Kano) expressed disappointment at the Speaker, who kept his decision to his chest while discussions were ongoing about his status in APC.

    “Even though it was a personal decision, which I must respect, I am still disappointed because he didn’t show any sign of having made up his mind about leaving all the time we were discussing his stay in APC.

    “All politics is local and the issue of cross-carpeting is a personal decision, but the sad thing is that he should have informed us earlier. We have been having meetings with him, thinking he is part of us.

    “Notwithstanding, APC is still in the majority in the House, so on the issue of his Speakership, we will decide that when we resume”.

    When contacted on the phone, Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano) said he has been indisposed and not aware of the Speaker’s picking of PDP Nomination form.

    Jibrin was reported to be working to remove Gbajabiamila as House Leader for allegedly working to unseat Dogara.

    He later denied it on his Twitter account stating that the issue had been resolved and that Gbajabiamila remained the House Leader.

    Similarly, calls to the Deputy Minority Leader, Chukwuka Onyema as  well as Tajudeen Yusuf for their comments on the development were not returned.

  • Omo-Agege accuses Saraki of withholding his entitlements

    …Initiate contempt proceedings against Saraki, Senate

     

    Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) has accused the Senate President, Bukola Saraki of withholding his entitlements and thereby disobeying the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which voided his suspension earlier this year.

    Omo-Agege, in a form 49 (contempt of court charge) he filed before the court, alleged that Saraki had since refused to comply with the judgment that nullified his suspension from the Senate.

    Read Also:Saraki, others, never supported Buhari in Senate, says Omo-Agege

    His lawyer, Alex Iziyon (SAN) told the court that after the court’s May 10 judgment, his client was allowed entry into the Senate chambers, but that Saraki has refused to approve the payment of his entitlements.

    “My client has since resumed, but he has not been paid his entitlements. That is why we want this court to summon the Respondents to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for refusing to comply with judgment of this court”, Iziyon, SAN, submitted.

    He also sought the court’s leave to serve a copy of the contempt charge on both the Senate and Saraki, through substituted means, because it has been very difficult to serve the respondents.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, who is the court’s a vacation judge, said the court would communicate a hearing date to Omo-Agege.

    The court on May 16 refused a joint application that Senate and Saraki, who were sued as 1st and 2nd Defendants, for a stay of execution of the May 10judgment, with which the court voided Omo-Agege’s suspension from attending plenary for 90 legislative days.

    The Senate and Saraki had, through their lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), prayed the court to suspend Omo-Agege’s resumption, pending hearing and determination of the appeal against his recall.

    The court had, in the judgment, held that the reason the Senate gave for suspending Omo-Agege from plenary, was unconstitutional.

    It noted that the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the Senate recommended that Omo-Agege should be suspended to punish him for instituting legal action against the legislative house.

    The court further held that while the Senate has the powers to sanction its erring members to protect its integrity, he said no institution or authority has the powers to deny any citizen his right of access to the court.

  • No conflict between Amaechi and me, says Senator Abbe

    Senator representing Rivers East and governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Magnus Abbe has said that his disagreement with the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has nothing to do with the leadership of the party in the state.

    Abbe told newsmen at the APC Secretariat that said even though he had disagreement with the Minister, they were not in any form of conflict, pointing out that the Minister only felt that he should not contest the the governorship election in the state, while he felt that he has something to offer.

    He said “Amaechi is my leader. He is not contesting the elections. If he were contesting, I won’t contest against him. The battle for the party ticket is between me and anyone who felt he has something better to offer than me and not with the Minister.

    “I want direct primary, but he prefer indirect. If the primaries are conducted today in in a free, fair and transparent manner and members of the party felt that I should not represent them, I Will accept it in good faith and support the party”.

    Abbe said the APC in Rivers State has what it takes to unseat the incumbent PDP government in the state led by Nyesom Wike.

    The Senator said with his wealth of experience, he was better placed to fly the party flag in the state, pointing out that as a founding member of the APC in the state, he believe that he has done alot for the party.

    Read Also: 31 suspects nabbed for kidnapping, killing, others

    He said what the party in the state need at this point in time is someone with the required experience and political credentials to take over the state from the PDP.

    He however played down on the crisis in the state chapter of the APC, expressing confidence that the party will go into the elections as a United part.

    Speaking on the party position on the leadership of the Senate as led by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Abbe said the party position has been and still remain that a member of a minority party should not lead the majority, adding that it was a common thing in politics which should not surprise anyone.

  • I ‘ll clinch PDP presidential ticket—Saraki

    Senate President Bukola Saraki   has said he is sure of emerging  the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the party’s October 6 primary.

    He stated that his desire to become  Nigeria’s President is not just an ambition but a reality.

    He, therefore, enjoined  Nigerians to stop President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to continue in office beyond 2019.

    Saraki stated that “voting out Buhari is the only way to ensure national unity and security”.

    The Senate President was in Owerri, the Imo State capital, to meet with PDP stakeholders ahead of the primary.

    According to him, “Nigeria needs a president who would unite all parts of the country, respect national character, grow local businesses and support entrepreneurial skills”.

    He said “poverty, loss of job opportunities and hardship are currently on the increase”.

    Saraki  further said: “Nigeria has never been this  divided. People are afraid to be called Nigerians. Ethnicity and religion have taken over. There is no inclusion anymore,no fairness, no federal character.

    “Businesses are dying; survival of businesses is survival of the country. Poverty is everywhere.”

    He said if not for God and the masses, Buhari would have removed him as the president of the Senate three years ago.

    He said: ”I will continue to fight for the masses. We have to change the leadership. We need a leadership that would ensure justice and fair distribution of national appointments.  I will restore global reputation. Countries are built by hardwork and vision.

    “South East people are hardworking;  their entrepreneurial spirit is wonderful. As a president, I will partner South East to emerge the next tiger of Africa in business.  You don’t build what you don’t have. I, therefore, appeal to the delegates to vote wisely.

    “We must change Buhari with a man that has capacity, integrity and vision in order to realise our potential. I believe in restructuring that would give states the opportunity to realise their potential. I promoted made-in-Aba products. As a president, I will support local businesses.

    “ We need to have a president that will ensure prosperity.  I am committed to the development of South East  because it is in the best interest of Nigeria. You need the president that has the youthfulness and  energy to deliver.”

    The Chairman of the PDP in Imo State, Charles Ezekwem, said  Igbo were interested in a presidential candidate that would restructure the country and create an additional state in the South East.

    Ezekwem said: “ I have seen everything positive in Saraki. His defection will ensure victory for the PDP.

    “Igbo want restructuring and fairness. Saraki has the capacity, strength, pedigree, academic background to move Nigeria. “

  • I will clinch PDP Presidential ticket- Saraki

    …urges Nigerians to stop Buhari

     

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Friday, disclosed that he is sure of emerging as the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) ahead of the party’s October 6 primaries.

    He stated that his desire to become Nigeria’s President is not just an ambition but a reality.

    He therefore enjoined Nigerians to stop President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to continue in office beyond 2019.

    Saraki stated that voting out Buhari is the “only way to ensure national unity and security”.

    The Senate President who was in Owerri, the Imo state capital to meet with PDP stakeholders ahead of the October 6, Presidential primary, noted that “Nigeria has never been so divided in ethnicity, politics and religion”.

    According to him, “Nigeria needs a President who would unite all parts of the country, respect national character, grow local businesses and support entrepreneurial skills”.

    He observed that “poverty,lost of job opportunities, hardship were currently on the increase”.

    Saraki noted further that, “Nigeria has never been this divided. People are afraid to be called Nigerians. Ethnicity and religion have taken over. There is no inclusion anymore, no fairness, no Federal Character”.

    He continued that, “no job, businesses are dying. Survival of businesses is survival of the country. Poverty is everywhere.”

    He said that if not for God and the masses, Buhari would have removed him as the president of the senate three years ago

    According to him,”I will continue to fight for the masses. We have to change the leadership. We need a leadership that would ensure justice and fair distribution of national appointments. As a president, I will ensure everybody has a seat on his table. I will restore global reputation. Countries are built by handwork and vision.

    “South East people are hardworking, their entrepreneurial spirit is wonderful .As a president, I will partner south East to emerge the next tiger of Africa in business .You don’t build what you don’t have. I therefore appeal to the delegates to vote wisely.

    Read Also: Saraki’s presidential aspiration a joke, says APC

    “We must change Buhari with a man that has capacity ,integrity and vision in order to realise our potentials. I believe in restructuring that would give States opportunities to realise their potentials. I promoted made in Aba products.As a president i will support local businesses and ensure property.

    ” We need to have a President that will ensure prosperity, nobody wants a hand out. I am committed to the development of Southeast because it is in the best interest of Nigeria. You need the President that has the youthfulness, the energy to deliver.”

    Chairman of PDP in Imo state, Charles Ezekwem ,said that Igbo were interested in a presidential candidate that would restructure the country and create an additional state in the south East.

    Ezekwem said ” I have seen everything positive in Saraki.His defection made PDP chances of clinching the president easy.
    Igbo want restructuring and fairness. Saraki has the capacity, strength, pedigree, academic background to move Nigeria. “

  • Court to hear suits against change of Senate leadership Sept 19

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 19 for the hearing of about six suits seeking to stop the planned removal of Bukola Saraki as Senate President.

    In the main, all the suits want the court to declare as unlawful Saraki’s removal from office via means other than that provided in Section 50(2)(c) of the Constitution.

    Section 50(2) provides: “The President or Deputy President of the Senate or the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall vacate his office…. (c) if he is removed from office by a resolution of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of the members of that House.”

    Read Also:Ojukwu’s children reject Bianca’s bid for Senate

    The September 19 hearing date was chosen Thursday by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba to enable parties file all necessary papers and prepare adequately.

    The suits include: United People’s Congress (UPC) vs. Attorney General of the Federation & four others (FHC/ABJ/CS/944/2018); Okpako Grant vs. All Progressives Congress & others (FHC/ABJ/CS/948/2018) and Senator Rafiu Adebayo & one other vs. The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & others (FHC/ABJ/CS/872/2018).

    Others are: Hon. Benjamin Tivfa vs. IGP & others (FHC/ABJ/CS/822/2018); The Incorporated Trustees of C.S.O.C.L.O. vs. Senator Bukola Saraki and others (FHC/ABJ/CS/936/2018); and Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere & another vs. The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & others (FHC/ABJ/CS/890/2018).

    UPC, in the suit filed by its lawyer, Chief M. A. Igwe, stated that there was need for a formal court’s pronouncement on the proper interpretation of the provision of the Constitution on the proper mode of changing the leadership of a federal legislative house.

    In a supporting affidavit deposed to by its National Chairman, Kenneth Ibe-Kalu, the plaintiff claimed that the determination of the suit would guide persons seeking election on its platform into the National Assembly as to their rights when elected as legislators as well as the rights of their party.

    The UPC said it is already planning a retreat, which will be regular, for all its candidates for the 2019 elections, to let the candidates understand their rights and powers, including their rights and powers as sought to be declared by the court.

    It added that: “As a registered political party, the plaintiff has a right to know the true position of the law as provided by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), as the provisions of the Constitution are not self-executory.

    “That it is only a court set up under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as this Honourable Court that has the power to interpret the Constitution”.

    The plaintiff wants the court to declare:  “That the President of the Senate, the Deputy President of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives can only be removed from office by the provisions of section 50(1) (a) and (b) and section 50 (2) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and in particular, can only be removed by a resolution of that House by votes of members not less than two-thirds majority of ALL the members of that House.”

    It also seeks a declaration “that the two-thirds majority for removal of President of the Senate, the Deputy President of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives as provided in section 50(1) (a) and (b) and section 50 (2) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended refers to two-thirds of All members of that House and not two-thirds of members present at the sitting.”

    Defendants in the suit are: the Attorney General of the Federation, National Assembly, President of the Senate, Speaker, House of Representatives and Clerk of the National Assembly.

  • Customs seize N50m worth of rice, vegetable oil, sugar

    The Kano/Jigawa Area Customs Command has intercepted over 2000 bags of foreign rice, 500 contraband kegs of vegetable oil and 1000 bags of sugar worth over N50 million.

    Briefing newsmen at the Command’s headquarters on Thursday, the Customs Comptroller of the Command, Nasiru Ahmed said the operation was jointly carried out by Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Katsina state Command, Comptroller General of Customs Strike Force and Kano/Jigawa Command.

    According to him, the seizure was made within one week of intensive operation and raid by the joint team of the customs service.

    “What we are witnessing today is the seizures of 2000 rice, 500 kegs of vegetable and 1000 bags of sugar, valued at over N50 million, concealed in 17 J5 Peugeot buses. The big seizures were made along Katsina state axis.

    “You and I know what goes into a J5. We have rice, we have sugar, and we have vegetable oil. Like I said, it is a joint assignment, including the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Katsina state Command, Comptroller General of Customs Strike Force, Kano/Jigawa Command is what brought this success.

    “So, you can understand that if there is a team work, there is a better success. So far, no arrest has been made; we are still investigating the movement of the smugglers.”

    Ahmed, however, condemned the rising spate of smuggling through porous borders in the North, describing it as a recurring incident which has continued to sabotage the economy.

    He added that, “the sad part of it is that this is where government is spending money. The Federal Government has been spending huge amount of money on production of rice; and these are the same people again that are smuggling rice.

    “And apart from this, what we are seeing are bags of rice—do you know whether there other things inside the bags of rice, because arms and ammunitions can be concealed inside the bags of rice, tramadol can be hidden inside the bags of rice and sugar. We all know the dangers of tramadol to the youths and other hapless Nigerians today.

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    “So, I advise these smugglers to desist from these unpatriotic and criminal activities because right now, we are very much ahead of them. We are going to start targeting the kingpins.

    “Our problem is no longer the people carrying the rice on transit, we will go after the kingpins, we will locate their warehouses where they are keeping these consignments and raid them.

    “We will surely go after them because this is disservice to the nation. This is a disservice to the northern region; they are killing business in the North.

    “Government cannot come and do all this simple things for us, government can only give us incentives. Government can only encourage us with loans which is available at five per cent.

    “All these things are in place and somebody is smuggling rice, somebody is smuggling sugar. They don’t want to patronize BUA and Dangote sugar; and these are people employing our youths in this country. Now, the question is this, must you take our hard-earned foreign currency to other countries, the answer is no!

    “This is the only country we have and we must make it work. And the only way we can make it work is that everybody must contribute his or her own quota to make the country great, and to support the current government.”