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  • Challenges that Fayemi will face, by Daramola

    Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and former House of Representatives member Bimbo Daramola spoke with Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU in Lagos on the lessons of the recent governorship election and the challenges the incoming Kayode Fayemi administration will face in the Fountain of Knowledge.

    What are the lessons which the political class should learn from the recent Ekiti State governorship election?

    First and foremost, you don’t take people for granted. At the end of the day, we must hold on to the principles and tenets of democracy. In the definition if democracy, you find the word ‘people’ three times; government of the people, by the people and for the people. The emphasis is on the people. That is the final authority. Democracy hangs on the people. It is pivotal. When people make up their mind on something, no force under heaven can stop them. In the Babylonian days, God said if these people are united and they propose in their mind to achieve something, they will achieve it. You may say it is a marginal victory. But, it still reflected the collective desire of the people that Dr. Kayode Fayemi should be the governor.

    What are your expectations about the new government that will come on board in October?

    My expectation is that having seen that his victory drew from the strength of various people, Dr. Fayemi should respect that. His administration should reflect the elementary principles that it was a collective project. My expectation is that the party should be united behind him. It must be one party, one Ekiti State, in our desire to reclaim the identity of our state. The 33 APC governorship aspirants had the same goal as it reflected in their slogan; Irapada Ekiti, reclaiming our identity and all that. Central to all of us what the need to correct what was wrong with our state. We wanted to get our state back. My expectation is that we should join hands with the new governor to reclaim our state back.

    There was an allegation of vote buying against the two major parties. What is your reaction?

    It is a surprise to be that people are touting that. In an environment where people are poor and deliberately impoverished, what do you expect? You go to an island where people have been thirsty for long, what will appeal to them? It flies in the face of logic. People have been impoverished in the last three and half years. It may be the downward trend in the evolutionary history of our politics. But, the fact is that you want to win an election. I have not said yes. I have not said no. but, the truth of the matter is that the two parties wanted to win the election. They used every weapon. You  will strengthen what is available to you. You want to sharpen your skill. If that election has been about widows; if the entire electorate were widows, what will they be looking for? Husbands, men. That is the truth. People have not been paid for seven months. People have hospital bills to pay. People are beginning to steal amala on fire there. It is logical. Why did government deny them their salaries for seven months and made them very vulnerable? The vulnerability of these was at its lowest status. Let nobody deny it. It may not have been to induce. It may have been to cushion. If APC gave money, it must have been some forms of relief so that people do not follow the PDP that has impoverished them for three and half years. The people were so impoverished that they could not queue behind their conviction anymore. It was a fight for the soul of Ekiti State. What we did was to good message and support it with tangibke items. Jesus himself had a ministration at a particular forum. People were hungry. He quickly called Peter. Peter said that they people were hungry. Peter said what was available was a young boy who has two pieces of fish and five loaves of bread. Jesus said Father I thank you, bless this food. Then, food came.

    Would that not set a dangerous precedent in Ekiti State? Would they not ask for money next time?

    I will expect that Dr. Fayemi will not impoverish the people. He will not make them vulnerable. An hungry man cannot listen to any preaching. By the time their salaries are paid, people will begin to address their identities. Once we conquer hunger, all will be well. Teachers will not suffer again. You wil not be able to abuse them with three or four thousand naira credited to their accounts by the government. He did not pay their salaries. He credited their accounts with three or four or five thousand naira. Dr. Fayemi will not do that. When you conquer the elementary desire for food, people will not behave like that again. You will convince them on the basis of the work you have done.

    What are the challenges that will face the in-coming administration?

    I honestly don’t envy Dr.Kayode Fayemi at this time. He is back in the state to repair it, to clear the rot. It is an economically war-torn environment. It is a psychologically war0torn environment. It is an educationally war-torn environment. It is a physically war-torn environment. And that is where he is going to clean up the mess. It may not be easy. He has the job well cut out for him. But, the people will support him. He cannot do it with his blood. He will need good people. He will need great advice from people. He is a studious person anyway. Fayemi will not be prolifegate. He will a modestly calm fellow. The difference between him and Ayo Fayose will help him greatly.

    Do you see the House of Assembly cooperating with him?

    This election is an extinction of the dinosaur. The dinosaur is extinct now. The size of the dinosaur could not save himself from extinction. Ayo Fayose saw himself as the dinosaur. It is bye. It is over. Never again will this happen in Ekiti. By the grace of God, Fayemi will set the state on the path of economic growth and development. The lawmakers will leave on May 29, next year. The wise choice is for them to start defecting now. Any attempt to follow Osoko will be an attempt by the flies to follow the dead body to the grave. Things have changed. When the drum has changed, the dance step will change as well. They should understand that this is a new administration, a serious administration. Fayemi will anot assume the role of the Speaker. He will allow the House of Assembly to function as an organ of government, as a legislature that is key and integral. He will make Ekiti work for everybody.

    Do you see the APC recording the same victory in next year’s parliamentary elections in Ekiti State, in view of the close margin in the governorship results?

    Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter. Now that Ayo Fayose has less than three months in office, he will be confronted with the sad reality of what he has done. He will now have a choice to make between his past hunting him and him having to hug his past. By the verdict, Fayose will have to confront his past as governor. I will leave him to the judgment of history. I can tell you that we will win the parliamentary elections. We should field the right candidates. We should not assume that the fact that we are in government will give us that victory. There will be bandwagon effect. It will help. I got kicked out of the National Assembly, not because I did not perform. I did wekl for my constituency. Even, Ayo Fayose knew that I did well. Among other factors that will make us to win with a wide margin is how thorough the process is, the kind of candidates we present and the capacity and reputation of the candidates we are fielding.

    Now that your constituents are requesting you to return to the National Assembly, what will be your response?

    I believe very strongly that it is too early. What I am doing now is celebrating the victory of the APC in Ekiti State. I want to enjoy this moment with our dear governor. My constituents want me to serve their cause. Of course, if my constituents want me to run again for the House of Representatives, or in any position, I will be too willing to serve them. Their decision and their request to me to run is not uninformed. I thank them for the opportunity. In the days ahead, we will consult. We will talk to the governor, the people. We will complement his vision and government and ensure thsat Ekiti will be better for it.

    How can we prevent further defection from the APC as we approach 2019?

    At the national level, federal politics is complex. The truth of the matter is that there should be fairness, adequate recognition of everybody that is an integral component of the APC. I thank God we have a national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who has experience as a mobiliser, a two-time governor of Edo State. He has been a labour leader. What leaders do is to recognise dissenting voices and reconcile people. In the days ahead, the party will consolidate on democracy. APC has just spent four years in power. I believe the party should be given the chance to run the country so that it can build on its achievements.

     

  • Challenges before Oshiomhole as APC chairman

    Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has succeeded Chief John Odigie-Oyegun as national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the challenges that will confront the new leadership.

    ADAMS Oshiomhole, veteran unionist and two-time governor of Edo State is basking in the euphoria of his victory as the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He is assuming the reins at a time of great expectations. As he inherits the burden of leadership, many challenges will confront him and the new National Working Committee (NWC) in the next four years.

    Since he had the backing of President Muhammadu Buhari and other influential party stalwarts for his new assignment, the former Edo helmsman became a candidate to beat. Thus, his challengers, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor and Clement Ebri, a former Cross River State, withdrew from the race to back Oshiomhole.

    Oshiomhole’s emergence has finally erased the agenda of tenure elongation, which deepened the division in the fold in the last four months. The successful convention, which was the climax of ward, local government and state congresses, may have reinforced the party’s commitment to periodic intra-party elections, rule of law and due process.

    A key element of the convention is zoning. The 2014 zoning formula was sustained, thereby giving the six zones a sense of belonging in the distribution of party offices. Party chieftains have deliberated on the positions zoned to their regions and selected their national officers through micro-zoning. But, where dispute arose, they resolved to allow the aspirants to compete at the election in Abuja.

    Following consultations, Kashim Imam from Borno opted out of the race for national secretary. His withdrawal paved the way for the emergence of Mai Mala Buni as consensus candidate. Senator Tony Adeniyi from Ikere-Ekiti also stepped down for former Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo to emerge as Deputy National Chairman (South). Also, former National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Chief Pius Akinyelure, stepped down for his successor, Bankola Oluwajana from Ondo State.

    Ahead of the exercise, the party has inaugurated the Convention Appeal Committee, which is expected to commence sitting tomorrow. Aggrieved aspirants and delegates are expected to file 30 copies of petitions as they ventilate their grievances before the panel. But, as the consensus candidate, the new chairman is insulated from that “intra-party litigation”. In fact, the Convention Planning Committee Chairman, Governor Abubakar Badaru, ruled out post-convention crisis because many principal officers, including the chairman, deputy chairmen, vice chairmen, national secretary and legal adviser, were returned unopposed.

    Yet, it was evident at the Eagle Square, venue of the exercise, that the party was not in one accord. The multiple crises triggered by rancorous congresses were carried to the convention. The political family is battling with predictable constraints and self-inflicted wounds, which have initially made the preparations for the convention very hectic.

    Reflecting on the anxiety and tension that enveloped the party as it prepared for the national congress, Odigie-Oyegun, who alleged that they were fueled by the media, said the prophets of doom have been disappointed. In his farewell speech, he did not dwell on his achievements. But, he maintained that he will be handing over a cohesive party to his successor. It is debatable. Odigie-Oyegun said he was vacating the hot seat as a fulfilled man and he wished the party well in its future activities.

    In those states where the congresses were successful, there was a feeling of comradeship. But, in states where results of the congresses were disputed, fresh crisis erupted. The chapters ultimately became more polarised. For example, rival factions from Imo and Delta states clashed at the venue for almost 45 minutes before security agents restored order into a state of pandemonium.

    Trouble started when delegates loyal to Chief Great Ogboru and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege were asked to vacate their seats for those loyal to Chief O’tega Emerhor. Ogboru, who was ushered into the venue around 1 pm, was taken aback when Emerhor’s supporters invaded the space, demanding that delegates loyal to him should leave their seats.

    Initially, Emerhor, who had assembled his supporters at a stand very close to the Eagle Square gate, tutored them on how to storm the space provided for Delta delegates. He brought food and drinks for them as he consistently reminded them that they should be prepared to invade the space, thereby sacking Ogboru’s supporters. With Emerhor was former Delta House of Assembly Speaker Victor Ochei, who had stormed out of the state pavilion, following Ogboru arrival. Also, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, from Delta, initially sat among Kebbi delegates.

    As President Muhammadu Buhari was on the podium delivering his goodwill address, there was commotion. The two factions started to flex muscles. A free-for-all fight broke out as chairs were flying in the air. Many of the rival delegates were locked in physical combat. Scores were injured. Delegates from Edo and Akwa Ibom, who sat next to their Delta counterparts, took to their heels.

    Also, fight broke out among Imo delegates when supporters of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume resisted an attempt by delegates loyal to Governor Rochas Okorocha and his in-law and Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, to sit with them. Supporters of the governor were dispersed. It took security agents 45 minutes to restore order. However, delegates loyal to Ogboru regained their seats, to the consternation of Emerhor’s supporters who were seen loitering around and trading abusive words with their kinsmen.

    Also, an APC stalwart from Ondo State, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, and his supporters avoided the space allocated to delegates from the Sunshine State, citing likely hostility from the state leadership of the party. Instead, Boroffice, a retired professor and former Director of the Nigeria Airspace Agency, sat among delegates from Jigawa State.

    On why he opted to sit among Jigawa delegates, he said: “I could not even enter with any delegate tag, because I don’t have one. I was allowed into this venue because I showed my identity card to them at the gate. I decided to sit here among Jigawa delegates to avoid likely embarrassment if I go to space provided for Ondo State delegates.” However, the party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, said: “The senator is afraid of his shadows. He committed serious anti-party offences during the last governorship election. He worked for the opposition. How can the generality of the party trust him? That is the explanation I can give. But, there is room for reconciliation.”

    There was also anxiety in Kwara camp, following the refusal of an aspirant to the position of publicity secretary, Lanre Isa Onilu, to step down for the incumbent Bolaji Abdullahi. Before voting started, another aspirant and former House of Representatives member, Duro Meseko, withdrew from the race.

    In Lagos arena, supporters of former National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire, shunned the convention. A chieftain from Lagos, Babatunde Ogala, a lawyer and former House of Assembly member, succeeded the senior advocate.

    In Kogi State, ebullient Senator Dino Melaye was conspicuously absent. Also, there was no trace of Senator Shehu Sani from Kaduna State at the convention. Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso, a senator, was also absent.

    However, the historic convention was a welcome relief to many stalwarts. It provided a rare opportunity for self-assessment, subtle reconciliation and renewal of loyalty to the core values that motivated its birth by four defunct platforms — the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) – before the so-called new-Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) elements teamed up with the party in 2015.

    In the last four years, the ruling party has been beset with leadership failure. This may have been due to inaction, aloofness, lip service to the cause of unity and personalisation of power by party officers. Many founding fathers had cried out over the style of the former chairman, who they perceived as a divisive factor. There were protests over the obvious exclusion of founding fathers from party affairs. Many members and followers were taken aback when the party could not hold its mid-term convention two years ago. To analysts, APC’s ratings nosedived among Nigerians, because the party was in disarray. In lamentation, they started yearning for a credible and formidable alternative.

    After winning presidential power, no concrete attempts were made to really embark on party reforms. The gulf among members of the defunct legacy parties was not closed. The chairman was not perceived as a symbol of unity. Not only did the APC fail the two critical tests of party supremacy and party discipline, after becoming a ruling party, it also failed to lay example for smaller parties in crisis resolution. The legislative/executive feud, the governor/senators face-off in some states and governor/ministers tango in others, further reinforced the protracted division. Although the APC has the majority in the National Assembly, passage of budgets has always been herculean task.

    Many party officers also worked at cross purpose at the national level. The NEC and NWC meetings were not held regularly. So weak were the party organs that it could not resolve the conflict between the presidency and the parliament, although the president and majority of legislators belong to the ruling party. The APC Board of Trustees (BoT) was not constituted. The party caucus was helpless.

    Alarmed at the drift, one of the founding fathers, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, cried out that the Odigie-Oyegun was not ready for the task of reconciling warring chieftains across the troubled chapters. When President Buhari later asked the former Lagos governor to take up the assignment, Tinubu also said that Oyegun was trying to frustrate the process.

    However, many believe that the APC still has a brighter future, once its house is put in order. During his consultations with party stakeholders, Oshiomhole has shown the promise of great leadership. He built on his strong political base as the candidate of the president by taking his case to the governors, ministers and legislators. The goal was to avoid a legitimacy crisis which his sole candidature may foist and to prevent any likely perception or feeling of imposition. He succeeded by selling his candidature and gaining national acceptance among party leaders and followers.

    Reconciliation is inconclusive in the APC. The onus is now on Oshiomhole to genuinely work for peace in the troubled ruling party. He is expected to beam the searchlight on the simmering crises in many chapters, including Delta, Imo, Oyo, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Kwara, Enugu and Kogi.

    A party stalwart from Enugu State, Osita Okechukwu, the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), who described Oshiomhole as a dynamic leader who will endow his seat with credibility, agreed the onus is on him to strengthen the reconciliation process.

    He said the task of reconciliation will be easier for Oshimhole, because Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is involved in the peace process. Okechukwu added: “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Reconciliation Committee is at work. Asiwaju has gone far in the process. Nobody can take it from Asiwaju. You cannot bribe him during the reconciliation process. He is a veteran. He is a man of means. He has the capacity to talk to any of the factions anywhere. We will move on to progress.

    “We also have a consensus presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari. If we have two contenders for president, it will be difficult. Ninety per cent of the membership and leadership of the APC say he should continue. So, there will be no division. The president has authority. Immediately he said he preferred Oshiomhole as chairman, everybody agreed; those who wanted to contest stepped down.”

    In 2015, the immediate past chairman, through the backing of other founding fathers, led the party to victory. Oshiomhole has two critical governorship elections before him. Ekiti will go to poll on July 14. He has gone there to campaign for the candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. He is expected to return to the state early next month for another round of campaigns. In Osun, politics of nomination appears to be tearing the fold apart. Party elders are working assiduously to ensure a credible primary. After the Ekiti poll, the people of Osun will also go to the poll. Will the APC win the polls?

    Preparations for next year’s general elections have also begun. How will Oshiomhole manage the predictable crises that may engulf the chapters during the governorship and parliamentary primaries?

    There were also allegations that the national secretariat was under-funded. How should the APC be funded? Should the party continue to rely on the governors for finance or opt for funding by the generality of party members through membership dues?

    On general party administration, Okechukwu said: “Oshiomhole is going to be dynamic and purposeful. He will be successful. He has passed through the mills as a union leader. As a union leader, he is pro-people. He is the darling of the working people. He has been governor for eight years. He is witty. He communicates. He is an organiser.”

    Other prominent chieftains, who highlighted the challenges that will confront his leadership, expressed confidence in the ability of new chairman to deliver. They urged him to learn from the pitfalls of the past, maintain an open door policy, reconcile warring chieftains across the zones and resolve the post-congress crises at the state level.

    Badaru, who conducted the affirmation process leading to the unanimous election of Oshiomhole in his capacity as the Convention Planning Committee chairman, said the new chairman will turn the party around. He noted that Oshiomhole emerged as chairman without acrimony and division, recalling that other contestants had earlier stepped down for him before the convention.

    His Lagos State counterpart, Akinwunmi Ambode, who applauded the planning committee for conducting a successful congress, said Oshiomhole will take the party to a bright future. He said the chairman has the exposure, experience and strong will to achieve success as a goal-oriented person.

    Transport Minister and leader of Rivers State APC Rotimi Amaechi congratulated Oshiomhole, who he described as a workaholic and dynamic leader, adding that he is focused and dedicated to principles. He said: “He was governor for eight years. He didn’t do badly. He did well. He will be a good leader as the chairman of the party and we will give him all our support. He has over 6,000 delegates behind him. It was a huge crowd. He has to be dexterous in managing a huge crowd and manage their differences.

    “He should build on the achievements of his predecessor. We need that, going forward. I don’t think he has bad temperament as some people think. There are principles and Oshiomhole is a man of solid principles.

    A former member of the National Assembly, Senator Smart Adeyemi, hailed the process that threw up Oshiomhole as leader, urging the party to always work for cohesion and unity. He described Oshiomhole as “an action leader” and a threat to the opposition, predicting that next year’s presidential election campaign will be hot, because the new party chief will be involved.

    Adeyemi, who represented Kogi West District in the Senate between 2007 and 2015, said: “APC has made a wise choice. Oshiomhole will be tough for the opposition. In fact, he will dwarf the opposition in 2019. I knew him as a member of the NLC when he was the president and I was the NUJ chairman. The opposition is in problem. He will fight them.”

    Ogboru said the Southsouth will support Oshiomhole unconditionally as a native of the Niger Delta, stressing that more people will embrace the party because he is in the saddle.

    He added: “He is an action man, an action comrade, activist and an action governor. He will be an action chairman. We are going to see leadership in action. With him, we will see a new APC; stronger, more united, cohesive. He will move the party forward. It will be an APC that will be more inclined to the rule of law, good governance and democracy. These are the hallmarks of his life.

    “Yesterday, when he was told to drop the toga of comrade, he said no. He said he will not leave anything behind, but add something to what he already had. He will add the chairmanship to his comradeship, his governorship, his advocacy, his disposition and egalitarian principles. I think it is a full package for the APC. We are happy.”

     

  • Govt to tackle ecological challenges

    The Federal Government  said it is committed to tackling the myriads of ecological challenges facing many states in the country.

    The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who made the pledge in Umuahia, Abia State, at the inauguration of a completed Erosion and Flood Control project at Ukwudara-Amachara in Umuahia South Local Government Area, said that the federal government is determined to reposition the country to ensure equity, justice and fair play.

    “The present administration is committed to reposition and steer the ship of the nation back to the path of prosperity and sustainable development.”

    He said the conception and timely completion of the Ukwudara-Amachara erosion and flood control project was in line with the administration’s promise to meet the people’s needs.

    The minister expressed the hope that the project would enhance the standard of living of the people of the area.

    Lokpobiri noted that the intervention would help to check the risk to life and property posed by erosion and persistent flooding in the community.

    He urged the people of the community to take up the responsibility of maintaining the project in order to ensure its sustainability.

    He charged them to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the drains built to channel rain water out of the road.

    In his speech, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu thanked the federal government for its intervention, saying that the measure would help to preserve the environment from further degradation.

    Ikpeazu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Eme Okoro, said the state was ravaged by erosion and flooding.

    According to him, the phenomenon poses serious threat to farming and agriculture.

    “With this control measure, our soil nutrients would be preserved and agriculture would thrive,” the governor said.

    In his remarks, Chief Sam Onuigbo (PDP), representing Umuahia/Ikwuano Federal Constituency, expressed joy over the successful completion of the project.

    Onuigbo thanked the Federal Government for its intervention and hoped that the Okwe-Obuohia erosion control project, which was ongoing, would be completed in record time.

    He said that there were over 40 massive erosion sites within his constituency and appealed to the Federal Government to come to the aid of the state.

    The traditional ruler of the community, Eze Akpunku Ihuwa, and the President-General of the area, Mr Sunday Andrew, expressed delight over the successful completion of the project.

    They appealed to the government to ensure the completion of the community road which, according to them, was awarded to the Niger Delta Development Commission.

  • Challenges before Lagos APC chairman

    Former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs Tunde Balogun was elected chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the challenges that will confront the new leadership.

    A new chapter has opened in the life of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC), following the election of Alhaji Tunde Balogun, as chairman. Much is expected of the new helmsman, who succeeded  Otunba Oladele Ajomale.

    Ajomale succeeded Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, a former deputy governor, as chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2007.

    Under Ajomale, the political family won the governorship elections of 2007, 2011 and 2015. Party chieftains described the former chairman as a diplomat, a listening leader and a father figure who managed intra-party conflicts and remained loyal to the party leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    Many challenges will confront the new chairman. He is elected to lead the chapter to victory in next year’s poll. Four years ago, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made an in-road into the APC stronghold, winning state and federal legislative seats in five constituencies. The onus is on the new leadership to recover the ‘captured’ constituencies by mobilising people to endorse the APC flag bearers at the polls.

    During the electioneering, Balogun will have to contend with the challenge and crisis of participation. Many party chieftains are warming up as aspirants for legislative polls. The management of conflicts triggered by the stiff competition for power may tax Balogun’s energy to the brim. The crisis resolution mechanism in the party should be strengthened to permit the ventilation of grievances by aggrieved members.

    The chairman should not close the door of reconciliation to aggrieved chieftains who are firing salvos at the party from outside. However, disciplined should also be maintained to prevent erosion of party values and ethos.

    Balogun, a former Commissioner for Home Affairs, is perceived as a dynamic chieftain who will serve as a bridge between the old and younger party members. He has no history of political controversy. His deputy is Prince Sunny Ajose, one-time Head of Service and former special adviser. A tested party officer, Chief Funso Ologunde, was retained as Vice Chairman (Lagos West). He is a former Asssistant Publicity Secretary. Former polytechnic teacher and Agriculture Commissioner Ashipa Kaoli Olusanya was elected as Vice Chairman (Lagos East) while the former Acting Secretary, Akeem Bamgbola, succeeds his friend, Fuad Oki, as Vice Chairman (Lagos Central).

    The new party secretary is Dr. Wale Ahmed, an active and dynamic chieftain who has served as a member of the House of Assembly and Commissioner for Special Duties. His predecessors were Bamgbola, Eshinlokun Sanni, Charles Odugbesi, the late Lateef Raji, and Lanre Ogunyemi, a House of Assembly member who is eyeing the House of Representatives seat in Ojo Constituency. Ahmed’s deputy is Femi Saheed.

    The Woman leader, Chief Kemi Nelson, bowed out of office. She was succeeded by former House of Representatives member Jumoke Okoya-Thomas. Her assistant is Kehinde Babalola, daughter of the late Senator Richard Babalola, former Organising Secretary of the defunct Action Group (AG), led by the late Obafemoi Awolowo. The senatorial women leaders are Kofoworola Ajayi (West), YeyeFausat Gbadebo (East) and Fadekemi Otitolaye (Central). The state youth leader is Tayo Sanyaolu while Busola Akeredolu is his assistant. Alhaji Abdullahi Enilolobo, the leader of the Mandate Group returned as Organising Secretary, with Muftau Kadiku serving as his assistant.

    Pro-democracy activist Comrade Joe Igbokwe, leader of the Ndigbo in the APC, returned as publicity secretary like his deputy, Abiodun Salami. Also, The Legal Adviser, Ademola Sadiq and his deputy, Toke Benson, were returned. The election of Israel Akiode as the representative of the physically challenged in the executive committee was applauded by members.

    Historically, only former commissioners have always emerged as chairman of the dominant progressives parties in Lagos. The pioneer AD chairman, the late Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu, was commissioner in Johnson and Jakande administrations. His successor, Ogunleye, was Commissioner for Finance in the Oyinlola administration. Ajomale was Commissioner for Special Duties in the Tinubu administration. Balogun served in the Fashola administration.

    All the officers ran as consensus candidates, following the agreement by party leaders and members to choose the best and affirm their candidature by voice vote. The move reduced the tension foisted by the inordinate struggle for ‘party power’ and its accompanying acrimony. The exercise, which was conducted by a congress committee from the APC national secretariat, led by a former federal legislator, Uche Ekwunife, was witnessed by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials. Delegates who thronged the party secretariat along Acme Road, Ogba, were in one accord. There was no case of unruly behaviour.

    The congress was witnessed by the number one statutory delegate, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his deputy, Drt. Idiat Adebule, Secretary to Government Tunji Bello, House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, his deputy, Sanni, former House of Assembly Speaker Yemi Ikuforiji, Third Republic House of Representatives Chief Whip Olawale Oshun, Presidential Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Abike Dabiri, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Mrs. Kemi Nelson, Alhaji Mutiu Aare, Prof. Tunde Samuel, Dr, Abayomi Finnih, James faleke, Jide Jimoh, Bayo Oshinowo, Toba Oke, Sesan Daini, Valentine Braimoh, and the party’s administrative secretary, Sola Abayomi.

    As delegates gathered at the state party secretariat for the authentic congress, a group, led by Oki, also stormed the Airport Hotel, Ikeja for a parallel exercise. Oki was selected as factional chairman. Social media reports fingered the National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), as the brain behind the rebellion. But, the eminent lawyer promptly denied his involvement, saying that he was not physically present at Ikeja. He said he was attending an Islamic lecture at Ilasamaja. Works, Power and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola (SAN) did not attend any of the congresses.

    Oki’s false move was reminiscent of the 2000 experience when Dawodu, the god of Lagos politics, organised a parallel congress that made him a factional chairman of the AD, although Ogunleye had been elected as the authentic chairman. Dawodu’s men took over the Yaba secretariat of the party, but his leadership was not recognised by the national leadership. Oki, according to party sources, was allegedly instigated by some anti-imposition curators who have an axe to grind with the controlling leadership. Few years ago, he was briefly suspended from the party, following a rift with Ajomale, only to bounce back as vice chairman. Many chieftains described him as a long standing party man, a good mixer, a political trouble maker and yet, a vital asset whose energy can still be channeled to productive work, if properly guided. A source said he will retrace his steps once his masters back out of their futile efforts.

    Ekwunife chided Oki and his group, saying that the attempt to polarise the Lagos APC has failed. She said the factional chairman will not be recognised by the national leadership. “We are the ones sent by the national leadership to conduct the congress. If some people gather elsewhere, as it is being alleged, it is illegal, null and void,” said Ekwunife.

    Ajomale also frowned at the attempt to create an impression of crisis in the chapter, saying that the APC family is intact. “The party leaders, our senators, all our House of Representatives members, House of Assembly members, chairmen and councillors, the who is who are all here. If some people are somewhere else, outside this place, they are joking,” he added.

    A chieftain, Toba Oke, condemned the ‘rebels,’ who he described as thoughtless protesters. Those meeting at Ikeja are meeting in vain,” he said.

    A member of the Primary Panel, Alhaji Kabir Ibrahim, congratulated the chapter for a successful congress and wished it a successful outing in next year’s polls. He lauded Ajomale for his capability and Ambode, who he described as a young man painting Lagos red with his impressive performance.

    Balogun was conscious of the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. After receiving the baton from Ajomale, he and members of his team paid homage to the party stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and sought for his advice and backing.

    The chairman thanked God for making the day a reality. He paid tribute to Tinubu, describing him as the greatest political strategist, who has the ability to raise leaders from his followers. “The Jagaban Borgu has become a brand, an African phenomenon, with diligence, focus; a pragmatic visionary,” he added.

    Balogun also thanked Ambode, saying that God has blessed him with physical energy, a clear vision and ability to implement his campaign promises with great zeal and competence. He applauded his predecessor for taking the chapter to its “present successful level.”

    Thanking party members for reposing confidence in him, he said: “I have an irrevocable commitment to take the Lagos APC the highest level.”

     

  • NECO thriving despite challenges

    After three years in the saddle, the Registrar, National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof Charles Uwakwe, has been credited with setting the examining body well on the path of international reckoning.

    Since assumption of office in April 2015, Uwakwe has introduced measures that have touched on all areas of operations of the Council needing improvement – from expansion of facilities and review of registration processes to prioritizing staff welfare and prompt payment of allowances to examiners and supervisors.

    The Professor of Counseling and Educational Psychology will forever be remembered as the one who successfully connected the Minna headquarters of the Council to the national grid thereby saving NECO millions of money spent on alternative power supply in the past seven years.

    Uwakwe also constructed an administrative building and provided solar street lights at the Council’s headquarters to improve security at night. NECO’s development has not only been felt in Minna but also extended to some of NECO’s state offices spread across the nation.  While the Council secured accommodation for some states others were renovated and got perimeter fences.

    Regarding staff welfare, Uwakwe has not been lagging behind.  Having set a high expectation for workers of the council to meet through the 10 Ethos (professionalism, service delivery, Punctuality/timeliness, Client Satisfaction, Precise and Accurate information, Good Attitude, Integrity, Commitment, Zero Tolerance for impunity and Excellence) he introduced, Uwakwe has also ensured their needs are taken care of.

    For instance, the Registrar has ensured payment of salaries and allowances are prompt; conducted two promotion exercises praised for their transparency, and entrenched fairness and equity into posting of workers for out of state assignments.

    Under his watch, the Council has also made provision for staff accommodation for workers in many states across the country.  NECO staff accommodation exist in Lagos, Delta, Rivers, Cross Rivers Enugu, Bauchi, and Kano.

    Uwakwe said making workers comfortable was a way to maintain their integrity.  Ad-hoc workers engaged for special assignments are also given their dues on time, resulting in the Council having well motivated people ready to carry out its assignments professionally.

    Regarding NECO’s core mandate, which is to conduct public examinations like the National Common Entrance Examination; Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), Uwakwe has ensured that results are released on time.

    Apart from introducing a new syllabus for BECE syllabus and a new grading format in the 20l7 edition of the examination, the Council was able to accredit and re-accredit schools for BECE and SSCE last year.

    Other achievements include: Printing and distribution of outstanding SSCE and BECE Certificates up to year 2014; combating and reducing examination malpractice in all NECO examinations; successful conduct of sensitization workshops on offline-online examination registration procedure for relevant stakeholders; seamless migration from strictly online registration procedure to offline-online procedure in January 2017; successful conduct of 2016, 2017, and 2018 Trial Testing of test items using Senior Secondary School Students selected from the six geo-political zones.

    NECO under Uwakwe has also ensured the prompt payment of Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) to officers on out of station assignments; Prompt payment of honorarium to examiners. supervisors, external monitors and other ad-hoc staff; Successful conduct of in-house training workshop on the use of some ltem Response Theory (lRT) Software in partnership with Institute of Education. University of lbadan in August 20l 7; sponsorship of staff to National and lntemational Conferences on Educational Assessment; gradual but steady Improvement in remittances to Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) since 2016 to date.

    Uwakwe also successfully established three additional Departments and a Directorate in the office of the Registrar/Chief Executive in October 2016 namely the Psychometrics Department, Information and communication Technology (1CT) Department and General Services Department, as well as the Office of the Director Special Duties, Office of the Registrar Chief Executive.

    These feats have been achieved despite challenges facing the council including insufficient capital allocation; delay in release of appropriated funds; non-settlement of debts by some State Governments; inadequate/obsolete ICT facilities; inadequate teachers in some subject areas; inadequate warehouses nationwide for examination materials; among other which Uwakwe is still hoping the Council would overcome.

     

  • Edo community challenges land acquisition for mining

    The High Court of Edo State has been urged to, among others, set aside the purported sale of land belonging to members of the Imiefo Kindred of Kalabar Community, Ukhomunyio, Afokpella-Okpella, Okpella Clan, Etsako East Local Government to Dangote Cement Plc by some alleged impostors.

    The request formed part of the reliefs being sought by aggrieved members of the Imiefo Kindred of Kalabar Community, Ukhomunyio, Okpella in a suit they filed before the Auchi Division of the High Court of Edo State.

    They queried the validity of the sale and the authority of those Dangote Cement dealt with in relation to the lands described as “Ogbagu and Afeyemi lands.”

    The suit, marked: HAU/47/2018, was filed on April 24, this year, by the Incorporated Trustees of Imiefo Kindred Union (on behalf of themselves and the Imiefo Kindred of Kalabar Community of Ukhomunyio, Afokpella_Okpella, Okpella Clan, Etsako East Local Government), through the firm of Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN) and Partners.

    Named as defendants in the suit are: Dangote Cement Plc, Xath Resources Limited, its Managing Director, James Abache; Alhaji Moshood O. Aliu (sued for himself and on behalf of the Ukhomunyio Council of Chiefs, Okpella, Edo State) and the Incorporated Trustees of Ukhomunyio Community Development Union.

    Beside the writ of summons issued against the defendants, the claimants also filed two additional processes: a motion ex-parte for interim injunctions, including an order restraining Dangote and other defendants from taking any further steps on the lands, pending the determination of the substantive suit; and a motion on notice for interlocutory injunctions.

    The claimant stated, in their statement of claim, that by traditional history and native law and custom of Okpella Clan, the Imiefo Kindred “is the rightful owner of all the lands situate at and referred to as Ogbagu and Afeyemi lands.”

    They cited a number of incidents that further confirmed their ownership of the lands in question, the most recent, they said, being in 2017 when “the Afokpella Village Heads prevailed on Imiefo Kindred to appease the gods over the encroachment into the Olitsa-Ogbagu deity’s territory, which include the lands in question.

    They also recalled when in the 1990s the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella prevailed on the Imiefo Kindred, as the rightful owners of the lands, to appease the gods, through the Ogbagu Shrine (Olitsa-Ogbagu), which it did before normalcy could be restored when West African Fertiliser Company of Nigeria (WAFERT) recorded some unusual natural disasters while operating on the lands.

    The claimants stated, despite their established ownership of the lands, that the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants (Xath Resources, James Abache; Alhaji Aliu), in alleged collusion with Ukhomunyio Council of Chiefs, Okpella, without their (claimants’) consent, “wrongfully and unlawfully allocated the entire Ogbagu and Afeyemi lands, belonging to the claimants, to the 1st defendant (Dangote Cement) for mining activities.”

    One of the claimants, Ezekiel Eshiogiemhe said in a witness statement that they got the information, in August 2016 about the 2nd to 5th defendants’ alleged plot to unlawfully grant consent to the owners of the 1st defendant to commence mining activities on the lands.

    Eshiogiemhe said the claimants wrote the parties involved in the alleged illegal act and warned them to desist. He referred to a particular letter of February 2017, written to 1st defendant by the claimants’ lawyers to warn the 1st defendant to desist from dealing with the 2nd to 5th defendants on the grounds that they were not the lawful owners of the lands in question.

    He said despite the claimants’ letters and a pending suit they filed challenging the traditional head of Okpella, the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, Alhaji A. Y. F. Idrisu, over the consent he purportedly granted to another mining firm on the same lands, the defendants proceeded with their transaction, allegedly leading to the 1st defendants paying the other defendants N459million.

    The claimants said they were not opposed to the 1st defendant acquiring their lands, but that the right thing must first be done, which include obtaining the claimants’ consent (being the rightful owners of the land) and paying necessary compensations to the owners, who use the lands for farming and other purposes from which they earn their living.

    They said their prayer for a restraining order was of urgent importance because, unless restrained by the court, the 1st defendant, who has allegedly moved its machines and other equipment to the disputed lands, has concluded plans to commence operations forthwith.

    The claimants prayed court for a declaration that the 2nd to 5th defendants, not being members of the claimants’ family, have no power or right to allocate or grant mining consent to the 1st defendant or any other person/agency to carry out mining activities on the lands in question.

    They also want the court to declare that, being the owners of the Ogbagu and Afeyemi lands in Okpella under the Okpella native law and custom, the claimants are the only persons entitled to negotiate with the 1st defendant in respect of the proposed mining operations and other activities it seeks to conduct on the lands.

    The claimants are seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st defendant or its agents from carrying out any mining or other activities on the Ogbagu and Afeyemi lands “until it has negotiated with and sought the consent of the claimants for the use of the said lands”.

    They equally want the court to perpetually restrain the defendants or their agents from erecting any structure, trespassing or carrying out any activity on the lands.

  • 2019: Challenges before PDP

    What must the PDP do for it to actualise its desire of returning to the presidency after the 2019 General Election? Given the vastly divided opinions of its leading chieftains and members over how to procure the party’s next presidential candidate, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, writes on the options before the opposition party ahead of the forthcoming elections.

    PROMINENT chieftains of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some other notable politicians, who are currently members of other political parties, were locked in a marathon meeting penultimate Wednesday night in Lagos. This is even as the party announced its plan to put in place a process that could see youths taking over the leadership of the party and the country in 2019.

    National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, had said the party was coming up with “Generation Next” programme for repositioning youths to take over leadership in 2019. He said that the programme was designed to prepare the youths to take over political leadership in the country. According to him, with the programme, age barrier will be removed and a 25-year old that is popular and intelligent can be voted into power as governor.

    The Lagos meeting, sources told The Nation, was convened by concerned party chieftains from the various zones of the country to deliberate on the lingering uncertainty over how the party will choose its 2019 presidential flag-bearer. Worried that less than a year to the much anticipated election, there is so much confusion and anxiety over the process, chieftains at the marathon meeting, held in the private residence of a prominent member of the party, in the highbrow Ikoyi area of the state, looked at the options before the party with a view to advising its leadership accordingly.

    It was gathered that at the meeting, the group resolved to meet and consult with more party chieftains and stakeholders within and outside the PDP. Issues the parley discussed at the meeting included how to ensure that the process that will produce the party’s presidential candidate is crisis-free as well as how to douse the growing discontent among PDP members in the Southwest which has been resulting in unending defections.

    “We are still discussing. I can tell you this is just the first of such meetings. There is need to look at the many options before our great party and decide on how best to approach 2019 as a political party, especially one in the opposition. Many people have said PDP has what it takes to return to power immediately. We feel so too but there is great need to ensure that we get it right before and during the election.

    “What we are gathered here to do is largely to intervene in good time to ward off some things that are militating against a peaceful primary process as we approach the 2019 presidential election. We know that there are already varying opinions and interests within the ranks of our party leaders and chieftains. This is expected. Even beyond the party, people are interested in how we will choose our flag-bearer. This is because Nigerians know we are the one with the best alternative plans for Nigeria,” a source at the meeting told our correspondent.

    The Nation was reliably informed that the group has decided to expand its membership and meet again in Abuja next month. It was also gathered that committees were formed to discuss with other stakeholders, including aspirants, party leaders, governors as well as other opposition political parties as part of consultations aimed at helping the PDP make the best decision concerning its 2019 presidential ticket.

    Beyond the Lagos meeting, there are several other indications that the PDP will have to promptly choose from a number of options as it struggles to reposition itself in time for the next general election. Party sources say there are already pockets of underground scheming and rivalries among party leaders over many of the issues that have to do with 2019 and the elections.

    “Things are not alright within the party. There seems to be no agreement among our leaders on a number of things and this is affecting the party’s preparation for the next presidential election. While it is the desire of many of us to see PDP win the presidency again, the inability of many chieftains to submit to the desire of others is making decision making difficult. In PDP today, there are not less than five camps as far as the presidential ticket is concerned,” our source claimed.

    PDP governors, will they bow?

    To start with, many stakeholders within the party today are unhappy with alleged plans by governors elected on the platform of the party to foist a presidential candidate on PDP just as they allegedly did last December when against all odds, their preferred candidate, Uche Secondus, emerged as the National Chairman of the opposition party from a highly disputed convention.

    “Today, some of our governors carry on as if they own the party. It was not only the governors who fought to rescue PDP from the impostors that almost crippled it. We all did. So, it is unacceptable for the governors to be insisting on determining who will be the candidate of the party. Other stakeholders must be allowed to participate in a free and fair selection process.

    “A situation where some governors, who see themselves as the alpha and the omega of the party, are openly telling some aspirants to forget the race as they will not support them is undemocratic. Unless the governors allow for a level playing ground, PDP may not make the best use of the opportunity provided by the next presidential election for it to redeem itself as a political party,” a PDP federal legislator from Ogun State said.

    But the governors on the other hand, are said to believe that for PDP to get it right this time around, they must ensure that control of the party lies with them as the main financiers of its activities. The Nation gathered that the issue of how to choose the presidential candidate of the party is already tearing the Governor’s Forum apart following the alleged opposition of the majority of the governors to the presidential aspiration of one of them, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State.

    Aside Dankwambo, other PDP presidential aspirants include a former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, the immediate past Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, who is kicking against the party’s decision to zone the ticket to the north.

    The alleged overbearing attitude of the governors, according to reports, has angered some prominent chieftains of the party from the north who argued that since the party has zoned the slot to them, they should be allowed to drive the process that will eventually produce the candidate in 2019. Determined to ensure they are not sidelined in the process, northern PDP leaders instituted a number of committees to fashion out modalities on how the party should produce its candidate, but it appears the move is generating ripples within the party.

    But in a statement that underscored the determination of party leaders from the north to ensure a process beyond the dictate of the governors, Sen. Walid Jibrin, the Chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT), recently urged the party to support the north to give PDP a credible candidate from the zone. He said the party’s leadership in the North had already put in place machinery to ensure the emergence of the best presidential candidate from the area in 2019.

    “All of us as a party have agreed that the President of Nigeria should come from the North in 2019. I enjoin you to support the North to bring and give us capable presidential candidate. We are all doing what we can in the North with all the leaders to identify who is the best candidate to rule this country. The best person that will take power from the ruling party in 2019 is our own, 2019 is for the PDP,” he said.

    For the PDP to do well in the 2019 presidential election, it is important that the choice of who flies the party’s banner does not pitch prominent chieftains of the party from the north against the governors. Both divides need one another to do well in the election. It is now left to be seen whether PDP governors, who, according to reports, are unwilling to leave anything to chance this time around, will allow for a process beyond their influence.

    Merger, alliance as options

    Also being seriously discussed within the PDP are the issues of either merging with other parties to prosecute the 2019 general election or forming loose alliances in the quest to defeat the ruling APC. Still, for many, including some governors and other prominent chieftains and camps, the option of going it alone in 2019 is still preferable. And as the debate rages, some developments ahead of the election are daily forcing the hands of PDP to promptly take a decision.

    While nearly all party leaders are conscious of the fact that the PDP may not be able to confront the APC without the help of some other political parties and groups, they have been unable to agree on the best way to enlist such support as the election draws closer. While some are calling for merger as being demanded by some political parties under the auspice of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), some are advising loose alliances that can be dismantled after the election, while many are insisting the PDP stay on its own.

    Last Wednesday, Secondus said the PDP is now ready to work with other political parties and is consulting with a number of groups. Recent consultations, he said, were useful, and that in the coming days, a broader platform would be raised to wrestle power from the APC. He said that PDP had taken it upon itself as the leading opposition party to broaden its scope, open its doors and allow ideas to flow in for a more robust democratic process.

    “Our consultations have taken us to meet with various interest groups, who are willing to do business with us. I can report to you that it has been very fruitful. We expect in the coming days to have a broader political family, working hard to rescue this democracy and our beloved country from the hands of APC.” He hinted that all former presidents and former leaders of Nigeria were in unison to make sure that in 2019 a fresh and new government was formed in the interest of the nation.

    The PDP boss called on members of the party and other political parties to join forces to rescue power from the APC. “We, therefore, invite our brothers, sisters, youths and women from other political parties in this platform to join us to rescue our country that is in distress, socially, politically, economically and security-wise,” the party chairman appealed.

    Rather than douse the uncertainty over the party’s political journey to 2019, Secondus’ statement, according to party sources, may have ignited fresh anxiety as many party leaders, especially those opposed to merger, are making frantic efforts to find out what the party chairman meant by being ready to ‘work with other political parties’. “Many of them have been meeting to discuss the statement with a view to opposing any merger plan.

    “But the truth of the matter is that the PDP, if we are serious of defeating the APC next year, must seriously consider working in tandem with many like-minds. APC saw this need and did the needful in 2014. They are better off for it today. Why shouldn’t PDP do same? The party has a decision to make about this and it is a decision that must be made as soon as possible,” a party chieftain said.

    Vice Presidency

    While zoning its 2019 presidential ticket to the north, the opposition party also decided that the vice presidential ticket will be given to the southern part of the country. But the zoning arrangement was silent on which of the three zones in the south will get the ticket. This has been interpreted correctly to mean that any of the three zones can aspire and produce the running mate to PDP’s presidential candidate in 2019.

    The Nation however learnt that leaders of the party in the south, sometimes last year, prior to the national convention in December, micro-zoned the position to the Southeast, just as the national chairmanship of the party was ceded to the Southwest. But with the inability of the Southwest to produce the national chairman, which eventually went to the South-south, contrary to the agreement, a fresh tussle for the vice presidential ticket has ensued between the Southeast and the Southwest.

    ‘The ticket is zoned to the south by the party. It was not agreed which part of the south it should go but I think the southerners met and reached some agreements. Perhaps developments have altered that agreement and now the party must carefully decide on the matter. It is something that calls for serious consideration. It can make or mar the PDP during the presidential election,’ a party leader from the Northcentral said.

    The Nation learnt that the issue is one of the things currently being considered by a committee put in place by the BoT of the party to advise the leadership on the 2019 presidential election. “Both the Southwest and the Southeast are crucial to our winning the election. Of a fact, the PDP must strive to win the Southwest if it is to defeat APC. What with the huge population of Lagos State alone? Should we allow that to fall into the hand of our opponents? I don’t think so.

    “But the Southeast is our stronghold. We must not lose that to the opposition too. But they also desire to be on the ballot for them to have a sense of belonging. Since 1999, the Southeast is yet to produce a President or Vice President in this country. So, the Southeast is looking forward to having the chance this time and it will not be easy to convince them to forget the idea and still vote for PDP,” our source said.

    To further complicate the matter, leaders of the PDP in the Southwest are insisting that the only way to appease the zone for being denied the national chairmanship position last December is to cede the vice presidency to it. It was learnt that a leading presidential candidate from the zone (Southwest) is strongly supporting this agitation from which he is currently seen as the most likely beneficiary.

    It is now left to be seen how the PDP will resolve this tussle between the two zones without losing support in either ahead of the 2019 presidential election. Already, there are talks about the need for the party to give Governor Fayose the vice presidential ticket once the presidential ticket is given to a candidate from the north as a way of pacifying him and keeping him in the party beyond 2019.

    “Governor Fayose is a smart politician. He declared presidential ambition, knowing fully well that his party has zoned the ticket to the north. It is nothing but a gimmick meant to announce his interest in the vice presidential slot. Now that he has done that and he is always winning his state for the PDP, will it be easy for the PDP to ignore him and give the presidential ticket to the Southeast? I don’t think so,” a source added.

  • ‘Technology key to Nigeria’s security challenges’

    The Chief Executive Officer, Hamgad Security Services, Hammed Ibrahim has said the deployment of technology would help address the country’s security challenges.

    He said in modern warfare, technology does the ground work which human beings complete.

    Speaking on the sideline of inaugurating the firm’s new outlet in The Palms, Lekki, Lagos, he said technology has helped to prevent the commission of crimes and  helped to identify and unknot serious security challenge.

    “If we look at the advanced countries right now, they don’t use manpower to fight security challenges, rather they invest a lot in electronic security. So that is what we are now introducing to Nigeria because a lot of people go and get a recruit security guards and things like that to secure their homes and businesses when we have electronic devices that can do the job better. We have security equipment with battery power, because of our peculiar electricity challenges. These are battery-powered equipment that when you are not at home you know what is going on in your house. If you even want to open the door of your house, you can do that from your phone. There are other different gadgets which are battery-powered that can be used to secure yourself, your home and your business,” he said.

    He said the public sector has realised the place of technology in fighting crimes and putting in place, a secured environment for businesses to thrive.

    “To be honest, the government is increasingly realising the place of technology. We have a lot of partners in different agencies and they are adopting the culture because they have realised that if anything happens, they don’t necessarily have to go there before they can get the information they need because there are equipment that they can put in strategic places and will get collate all the information they need that will facilitate the delivery of their jobs,” he said.

    According to him, contrary to the believe that funding is the major challenge of businesses in the country, the major problem is identifying the customers. He said identifying the customers is the most important thing because going to a place where they don’t need what is sold could be frustrating.

    He commended the Federal Government for taking steps that have led to relative stability in the foreign exchange (forex) space. He said: “Like every other business that operates at the international space, forex affected us two years ago but the thing about Nigerians is we always adapt. We started bringing in product that customers actually need, that they request for so that means we don’t go and buy things that they don’t need and just keep them in the shop for display. So that’s why with the exchange rate we let them know what the challenges are and when they are willing to get it, we get it for them.’’

    He said the vision of Hamgad is to be the destination for security, safety equipment in the country. “With Hamgad, we are diversifying security to make sure that we capture the entire market space in Nigeria. We all understand that security is a huge challenge in Nigeria and that created a vacuum for us to come in and basically focus on the sale aspect which is an immediate solution to people whereby they can use the likes of security safety cameras and others,” he added.

  • ‘Nigeria ‘ll overcome challenges’

    NIGERIA will overcome its security and political challenges, Senior Pastor of the City of Refuge Ministries International Bishop Oscar Ossai has said.

    In his Easter message at the church’s headquarters in Lagos, he said whatever problems Nigerians presently face was temporary.

    Bishop Ossai regretted that it was not God’s plan for citizens to be agitated, suffer, be killed or be poor, adding that they must believe that God who raised Jesus from the dead can also lift them from poverty, pain and misery to a new height of victory.

    The cleric urged political leaders to exercise their powers with the fear of God, saying: “It is an abomination for leaders to do evil, because righteousness establishes a throne; therefore, political leaders must pursue righteousness.”

    The cleric called for patience and perseverance, saying the Easter season was an opportunity to renew faith in God’s promises.

  • State police, challenges and security reality

    With less than two years to the diamond anniversary independence, Nigeria is still grappling with some challenges which put some question marks on the integrity of her independence. As a nation, the country is in search of some realities borne not out of a strong desire for nation-building, but rather out of the will to play to the gallery, especially when it comes to some burning national issues. Nigeria has, for long, deliberately got so many things wrong from independence. One of such crucial things is the floundering nature of unitary police bequeathed to the country which has hindered the nation’s federalism.

    Prior to April 1931, there were two police forces in pre-independence Nigeria (Hausa Constabulary and Lagos Police). This was what the country practiced till a period in the first republic when the idea of native police was mooted. This was also short-lived due to interferences of the political class. In recent times, the clamour for the creation of state police has not only come to the burner, but it has also enjoyed the attention of the presidency and the Senate, among other stakeholders.

    Beyond this clamour, and as promoted by the political class, the need for the desirability or otherwise of the state police should be guided basically on some fundamental principles guiding modern policing as promoted by Robert Peel, the founder of modern policing. Among other principles, Peel’s assertion on modern police, enthuses the need to bring policing practice to the doorsteps of the citizens. This policing mission overrides any other missions as may be advanced in the security of lives and property. Arguably, the mission of Peel is to ensure security for all, in a seamless manner; the presence of which the police would facilitate societal affairs without necessarily through the use of force. I align myself with this position because in civilized climes, this is practically obtained through neighbourhood policing which the creation of state police would engender.

    For a long time, the national police as presently practiced in Nigeria fractured in many ways primary security and also render same ineffective given visibility limitations and culture of incompetence, among other things. The federal police, as presently constituted, is also limited in many ways and not in tandem with the present security challenges and realities of the country. One of the failures of the federal police in Nigeria is its inability to contend with the gale of terrorism, insurgency and kidnapping in the country. This has resulted in the infiltration of other security agencies into what ordinarily should be the primary responsibility of the police. And if for any reason other agencies would be invited, they should merely complement the effort of the police who are primarily in charge of the protection of lives and properties in the country. The military for example has, in the last eight years, been routinely involved in police functions in some states of the federation. In countries where security architecture is properly articulated and segmented, especially in police agency, such security anomaly would not be experienced.

    For a long time, Nigeria ought to have embraced the civility which goes with the creation of state police in countries that practice federalism. It is of a misnomer of great magnitude and primary security compromise for the country to have jettisoned territorial or subnational policing from independence till date. The major consequence of this dastardly act is, among other things, undermining the quality of living due to lack of security coordination which the practice of state policing would have brought about. The country’s recent experiences on security compromises as occasioned by herders’ mayhems in some parts of the country and the most recent embarrassing abduction of 110 Dapchi schoolgirls coming about four years after a similar occurrence in Chibok tell a lot on the need to interrogate the primary security architecture which is the duty of the federal police.

    As a matter of emphasis, the present primary security as provided by the current police structure is woeful and unrealistic, given the international standard of one police officer to 400 citizens. The contention here is that the present police structure and population are greatly ineffective. The test for police inefficiency as presently obtained is the continuous perpetration of crimes and disorderliness in many parts of the country. The establishment of state police would not only stem the increasing tide of insecurity; it would also bring policing to the neighbourhood. Examples of countries with state police abound in the United States of America, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Belgium, France, Algeria, and South Africa. The expediency of the establishment of state police is also hinged on the fact that our country is grossly under policed, given about 190 million people in a country of less than 400,000 police personnel. This number translates to ratio one policeman to about 494 Nigerians. And when we approximate this to the nearest hundred, it is ratio 1:500. In the real sense of it, it is even more than this figure, given the fact that one-third of the Nigerian police personnel are providing security, and or carrying the briefcases or bags of top Nigerians, including their legitimate spouses or concubines. This grossly falls short of the United Nations recommendation of ratio one police to 400 citizens.

    In every country that practices state policing, the philosophy of community policing comes in handy. And the truth is that community/neighbourhood policing is seamless with state policing and not with unitary policing as practiced in Nigeria. Whatever is said to be community policing in Nigeria is merely theoretical and another way of foisting policing philosophy on the nation when the police architecture doesn’t support it. Police personnel, where the philosophy of state policing is entrenched, are not the sole guardians of laws and orders. Members of the public naturally and freely support policing work and make same easy for the police personnel.

    As found in different submissions, some stakeholders have always argued that the country cannot practice sub-national policing. Their arguments have always been premised on lack of funds, given the poor handling of workers’ welfare in many states and its hijack by the politicians for deliberate selfish political oppression and perpetuation. While these positions are valid and of course, seriously in order, they cannot invalidate the appropriateness, propriety and efficacy of establishing state police given the reality of the present insecurity in the country. Many countries (especially those in Asia) practicing sub-national policing system have faced similar challenges which are normal and developmental; and overcome same or better put, still coping with same. What should rather be of interest and concern to stakeholders and those saddled with the polity is the primary security which the establishment of state police would bring about. More fundamentally, state policing would promote community policing as earlier indicated. Where community policing is practiced, it becomes a sine qua non of state policing, given the unhealthy gap between the police and the policed. It goes without saying therefore, that arguments against the establishment of state police would not naturally hold, given the security realities on ground in Nigeria. More importantly, if the current restructuring debate in the country would affirm the true spirit of federalism, the creation of state police should also suffice. Whether the country is ripe for it or not should not be the question. Rather, our concerns should, among others, be: how do we make it operational at the state level; and perhaps, at other levels like local governments and institutions in the spirit of multi-level policing? Of a truth, there will be emerging structural and operational challenges which are themselves expected and normal. These, rather than weaken the entire policing system, should rather strengthen it. No development is absolute without fundamental challenges.

    The country should begin to address critical policy issues that would culminate in the establishment of state police. This would start at the National Assembly in form of constitutional amendment that would also receive the blessing of the two-third of the state assemblies. While this is going on, state governments should also begin to address some fundamentals and principles of state police practice that would be truly ‘indigenous’ and peculiar to each state. At the federal level, the current police structure would also be devolving by addressing what goes to the state and what remains at the Kam Salem House in Abuja. In sum, there is a lot on the policy table if Nigeria wants to have state police and practice same as obtains elsewhere.

     

    • Professor Aremu writes from University of Ibadan.