The Nation Newspaper

Tag: conditions

  • 2015: Governors give PDP, Jonathan three conditions

    2015: Governors give PDP, Jonathan three conditions

    Protest votes threat rocks ruling party over automatic tickets, others

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have given three conditions to back President Goodluck Jonathan’s yet-unannounced re-election bid.

    The conditions are:

    •allowing outgoing governors to choose their successors;

    •automatic second term tickets for those running first term in office; and

    •automatic senatorial seats for governors aspiring to be in the Senate.

    Although Jonathan is set to emerge the sole presidential candidate of the PDP, all is not well within the party on how to meet the demands of the governors, a source told The Nation.

    Some of the governors are threatening protest votes in their states if they are not allowed to have their way.

    PDP National Chairman Adamu Muazu is said to be battling to manage the situation.

    Muazu, who is opposed to automatic tickets, has to devise means of accommodating the agitation of the governors, a source said.

    Of the 36 states, PDP has 18 governors. APC has 16 governors. APGA and Labour Party have one apiece.

    Some of the governors believed to have senatorial ambition in 2015 or being prevailed upon to go to the upper chamber are Liyel Imoke of Cross River; Theodore Orji (Abia); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) ; Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Martins Elechi (Ebonyi); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Babangida Aliyu(Niger); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi); Jonah Jang(Plateau); and Isa Yuguda(Bauchi)

    Those seeking second term are Henry Seriake Dickson(Bayelsa); Ramalan Yero(Kaduna); Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe); Idris Wada( Kogi)- when due; Acting Governor Garba Umar ( Taraba);

    There has been disquiet in the party on the demands of the governors.

    A governor said: “All the governors are united in their demands to have a say on who will succeed them and second term tickets for their colleagues who still have the opportunity of another term in office.

    “They said if the President can enjoy automatic second term ticket, it should spread across the board.

    “The party is thinking that such a development will shut out other good hands in the party.

    “But most of us do not buy into that argument at all. We believe whatever is sauce for the goose ought to be sauce for the gander.”

    Responding to a question, the source said: “The likelihood of realignment of forces and protest votes cannot be ruled out.”

    Another governor said there was no way the party would not make concessions to allow the second term ticket of the President to sail through.

    “The PDP leadership may say there is no automatic ticket but there will certainly be negotiations to make certain things to work. Mark my words, the PDP governors cannot allow Jonathan to have his way without anything in return. This is politics,” said the governor, who requested not to be named.

    “We are back to the 2003 era when ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo wanted the second term ticket. Governors want to be politically relevant after leaving office and fairness demands some concessions.

    “We have been making our demands known to the party. We hope it will accommodate these agitations to keep the party intact for 2015 poll.”

    The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, was unavailable last night. His mobile lines were switched off.

    But the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu had on January 28 declared at the National Assembly that there would be no automatic tickets for members seeking offices in 2015.

    Muazu spoke at a session with PDP members in the National Assembly.

    At the meeting were Uduaghan, Imoke, Shema, Yero, Aliyu and Orji.

    Muazu said automatic tickets were only given by parties that were undemocratic.

    “We have a democratic process and we will go through that; those that deserve it will surely get it,” he said.

    Muazu stressed that he inherited no records of any promise made by the immediate past national chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur, of giving automatic ticket to any member.

    A member of the NWC, who spoke last night, said: “Neither Muazu nor PDP has changed its position; there will be no automatic ticket for any member in 2015.

    “I can tell you that our position against automatic ticket has not changed.”

  • Gusau gives conditions to accept minister’s job

    Gusau gives conditions to accept minister’s job

    President Goodluck Jonathan may have enlisted Senate President David Mark to prevail on a former National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Aliyu Gusau to join his cabinet.

    Gen. Gusau, who has thrice turned down the offer to join Jonathan’s cabinet, is said to have given some conditions for returning to the Federal Executive Council.

    A former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, may replace Senator Isaiah Balat whose nomination by Vice-President Namadi Sambo has generated a controversy.

    The battle for Niger State’s slot is intense, leading to a meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Babangida Aliyu at the Presidential Villa.

    Some stakeholders and Presidency officials are in favour of ex-Governor Abdulkadir Kure, but the governor is in support of another nominee .

    One of the dropped ministers, Hajiya Zainab Kuchi from Niger State, is trying to stage a comeback after her sack because of the rebellion of the G-7 governors.

    Her logic is that since Aliyu has reconciled with the President, she should be brought back to the cabinet.

    The Nation learnt that when attempts by the President to convince Gen. Gusau to return to the cabinet failed, he sought Mark’s assistance.

    Gen. Gusau is being offered the portfolio of the Minister of Defence.
    It was gathered that when Mark met with Gen. Gusau, he pleaded with him to put national interest above personal consideration.

    It was learnt that Gen. Gusau gave some conditions on which he could return to the cabinet.

    The conditions are:

    * a free hand to operate and reorganise the Armed Forces and security agencies;
    *all service chiefs, security agencies and their directors will report to the Defence Minister for better synergy;
    *adequate funding of the Armed Forces and security agencies to restore normalcy to all parts of the country; and
    *political will to back up recommendations on how to address security challenged as they occur.

    Jonathan wants Gen. Gusau back because of his rich experience, a source said.
    A source close to Gen. Gusau said he would accept the offer to help his country, but with some conditions. “He does not want to be messed up with dirty politics. He is coming to address the security challenges in the country,” the source said.
    There are indications that Gen. Agwai may replace Balat.
    Another source in the Presidency said: “Agwai may come on board as a replacement for Balat. I think some people were trying to raise issues on Balat about some comments which ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo made some years back during a cabinet reshuffle.
    “Yet, no allegation or proof of any misdemeanour has been found against Balat while in office as a minister. But you know in politics, mischievous people rake up one insinuation or the other once you have an edge.
    “Those against Agwai are also flaunting the credentials of a Senator. Whatever it is, the slot is for Southern Kaduna to fill the vacuum created by the death of ex-Governor Patrick Yakowa. The people of Southern Kaduna have been complaining of marginalisation since the demise of Yakowa.”

    As at press time, the battle for Niger State’s slot was still on.

    Some stakeholders are said to be in favour of former Governor Abdulkadir Kure, who they feel can deliver Niger State to PDP. Others are opposed to Kure’s choice because, according to sources, his wife is a senator.

    “Also both the governor and Kure have some political differences. With Kure as a Minister, the influence of the governor might be whittled down. Babangida Aliyu will have cause to eventually leave PDP,”

    A source said, adding: “Yet, the President is determined to retain the governor in PDP having listened to his plea not to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). At least, the governor deserves compensation for being ‘loyal’.”
    Hajiya Kuchi is seeking reinstatement, having been removed for identifying with the Niger governor during the G-7 crisis in PDP.

    “There may however be a moral dilemma for the President in reinstating Kuchi. Nigerians would have confirmed that the sack of nine ministers last year had political undertone,” said the source.

  • ‘Wike can’t give Amaechi conditions’

    A group, the Rivers Peoples Forum (RPF), has dismissed as laughable and ridiculous, reports that the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, has said for peace to return to Rivers State, the suspended Obio-Akpor Local Government chairman and councillors must be recalled.

    The group, in a statement by its president, Charles Bekwele, said Wike cannot give anyone conditions and insisted on its earlier call that he must be arrested and prosecuted for threatening the peace and people of the state.

    “It is sad, very sad and unfortunate that Wike, who has been certified to be a danger to democracy, who has threatened the peace and people of Rivers State, is still being allowed to roam the streets and make inciting statements.

    “Who does he (Wike) think he is to say the suspended Obio-Akpor Council executive must be recalled for peace to return to Rivers State?

    “For crying out loud, these people were suspended for a monumental fraud and a serving minister is saying they should be recalled just like that, without any investigation!

    “This clearly shows the world the kind of character Wike is. It shows that he loves and enjoys corruption, and even thrives in it,” the statement said.

    Continuing, RPF lambasted Wike for denying that he didn’t threaten the peace and people of the state and reiterated its call for the arrest and prosecution of the minister.

    The group said Wike is already campaigning to become the governor of Rivers State, adding that it is too late for him to deny this.

    “Wike threatened the peace and people of Rivers State. He said the state would be uncomfortable, ungovernable. It is on record, on tape, the video is on the Internet and many newspapers reported it. He cannot try to twist it now. Wike must be arrested and tried for threatening the peace and people of Rivers State. The Inspector-General of Police must act now. This man should not be allowed to roam the streets and make more inciting comments.”

  • Suswam lists conditions for return to NSGF

    Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam yesterday gave the conditions to be met before he can return to the Northern States’ Governors’ Forum (NSGF).

    In the wake of the crisis that engulfed the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) following last May election, Suswam had renounced his membership of the NSGF.

    He said the NSGF leadership sold out in the NGF election, which led to Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi retaining his chairmanship seat with 19 votes against Plateau Governor Jonah Jang’s 16 votes.

    Addressing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Suswam said he would only return to the NSGF if it would abide by the members’ collective decision.

    He said: “I won’t say that I vowed; I will better say that I have issues with the way things are going. I believe that as a northerner and as one of the present leaders, we should be able to have confidence and have integrity enough to take a decision and follow it through. Once that is absent, I have an issue with that.

    “If I establish that we can now jointly and collectively take a decision on behalf of the North and on behalf of this country and stand by that decision, then I will have no problem. But for now, I have an issue. That issue, to me, is germane. As far as I am not satisfied that the issue has been addressed, I maintain my position.”

    Suswan was at the Villa to brief President Goodluck Jonathan on the measures being taken to stop the killings among local farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Benue and Nasarawa states.

    He said some committees have been set up in the 14 local governments of both states.

    According to him, various forms of punishment have been prescribed for troublemakers caught in the two states.

    Suswam said: “I just came to consult and brief him (President Jonathan) on the security situation as regards the meeting between myself and Nasarawa State Governor Tanko al-Makura. The meeting was meant for us to address the incessant clashes between farmers and Fulani nomads. So, it’s just to update him on the resolutions and the actions that we have taken and solicited his support.

    “Well, we resolved to set up committees among the local governments that share borders with one another both in Nasarawa and Benue. We set up committees of seven, seven. That is, 14 in two local governments; seven in Nasarawa, seven in Benue. They are headed by the paramount rulers of the local governments. Also included in the committees are the Fulani herdsmen.

    “The decision was that, if there is a missing cow, the Fulani should report to that committee first, instead of taking the laws into their hands. And, if there is a destruction of crops, the farmers should report to the committee, instead of taking the laws into their hands.

    “If there is a missing cow and the Fulani, whether he is in Nasarawa or Benue, takes the law into his hands, we will hold members of that committee responsible. The Fulani and the farmers were excited about that.”

  • Senators, Reps give conditions to pass PIB

    Senators, Reps give conditions to pass PIB

    Although the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has scaled through second reading, North’s senators have not given up on their opposition to its passage.

    They have reduced their demands to two, which they said the National Assembly must address before passing the bill into law.

    The demands are the removal of the discretionary power given to the Minister of Petroleum Resources to determine royalty and the 10 per cent Host Community Fund, which will give oil producing states more revenue than the 19 states in the North.

    They are seeking, also, the reduction of the powers of the Minister of Petroleum Resources as contained in the bill.

    The senators have become positive about the bill, but their counterparts in the House are still uncomfortable with it.

    The two demands were the highlights of a session of the Northern Senators Forum held in Abuja last week.

    Although the meeting was stormy on why the Chairman of the Forum, Senator Umaru Dahiru, travelled abroad for a conference when the debate on the bill was before the Senate, wise counsel later prevailed

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We spent the session to review the debate on the PIB on the floor of the Senate and how an attempt was made to scandalise the North by falsely claiming that its leaders own 83 per cent of the nation’s oil blocks.

    “Members of the Forum expressed regrets that their chairman travelled out of the country, which led to a gap in reacting to Senator Enang’s wrong impressions created in Nigerians about the North.

    “To keep the Forum united, we decided to retain the leadership of the Forum but with a caveat that it should be up and doing.”

    On the PIB, another high-ranking senator said Northern Senators agreed on some merits in it but they listed two conditions which must be fulfilled before it is passed into law.

    The source added: “The conditions are the removal of the discretionary power given to Minister of Petroleum Resources to determine royalty and the review of the 10 per cent Host Community Fund, which will give Oil Producing States more revenue than the 19 states in the North.

    “We all agreed that the PIB will make a sitting Minister of Petroleum more powerful than the President.

    “Once these two issues are addressed, the PIB will receive the support of Northern Senators.”

    But while the Senators have soft-pedalled on their opposition to the bill, members of the House of Representatives from the North are opposed to it.

    A member of the House, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “We are standing by our position in the document prepared by the Northern Governors Forum and members of the National Assembly from the North.”

    He said our grievances are as follows:

    •Discretionary power given to Minister of Petroleum Resources to determine royalty;

    •The host community fund will give oil producing states more revenue than the 19 states in the North

    •Divestment of equity in National Oil Company and the National Gas Company will favour the South

    •Lack of consultations with states on PIB; and

    •No plan for gas supply to the North in the bill

    He quoted a part of the document as saying: “On top of the 13.5 per cent statutory derivation from the Federation Account, the mandatory Federal budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Niger Delta, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) levy of 3 per cent of oil operations and the massive amount of Federal funds being spent on the Niger Delta Amnesty programme, the new PIB is adding 10 per cent of the profit of all Oil and Gas companies to the Niger Delta States and Communities.

    “Currently, without this new addition, four states (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers) earn more that the 19 Northern States combined. One wonders what kind of federation we would end up with if this situation is escalated by the new PIB. In any case, what really is the constitutional standing of this particular provision in the Bill?

    “These and many more other issues in the Petroleum Industry Bill need very close scrutiny by the Northern Governors Forum. Without this exercise, it is very possible for the states in the region to be legally short-changed through the process of legislation despite having the majority membership in the two chambers of the National Assembly.”

     

  • Prisons service assures staff of better conditions of service

    The Ebonyi command of the Nigerian Prisons Service has promised its staff better conditions of service.

    The state Controller of Prisons, Mr Columbus Omenuko, said at a ceremony in honour of retirees that the service was committed to improved staff welfare.

    He said the ongoing prisons reform were aimed at repositioning the service to conform to international standards.

    Omenuko said the reform emphasised more on rehabilitation of the prisoner and reintegrating him back to the society.

    He said the retraining of officers and men of the service was to expose them to the modern techniques in prisons administration and the provision of adequate security to inmates.

    He described prisons as a ‘correctional institution’ where inmates were taught better values and trained to lead better and more useful lives.

    He commended the contributions of the retired officers which led to instilling of discipline, order and peace and security in the Abakaliki Prisons.

    “Today, your excellent contributions to the prisons are being celebrated. There is no doubt that your exit from the service will create some vacuum.

    “We will always remember your contributions to the Abakaliki Prisons, which has made it one of the most peaceful and secured prisons in the country.

    “As you officially disengage from the service, we wish you peaceful retirement,” Omenuko said.

    He extolled the achievements of the former chief warder of the Abakaliki Prisons and one of the retired personnel, Mr Kenneth Alo, adding that his administrative style brought a lot of innovations that boosted peace and security in the yard.

    He urged workers to emulate the virtues of the retired staff member by being diligent and patriotic in their duties.

    The Deputy Controller of Prisons, Abakaliki Prisons, Mr Malachi Ohakosim, said the contributions of the former officers would always be remembered.

    He said he had tapped from the wealth of experience of the retired officers to effectively run the prison.

    “It has been fun working with you and I must say that I benefited a lot from your wealth of experience in the day-to-day running of the Abakaliki Prisons.

    “I wish all of you success in your future endeavours,” Ohakosim said.

    Seven officers were disengaged at the ceremony.

     

  • Lawmakers give conditions to pass Budget 2013

    Lawmakers give conditions to pass Budget 2013

    Lawmakers may have agreed – with some conditions – to pass the 2013 Appropriation Bill into law before going on break on December 20.

    President Goodluck Jonathan presented a N4.9trillion proposal to the National Assembly on October 10, with a new fiscal calendar of January to December for effective implementation.

    But the wobbly implementation of the 2012 budget pitched the Executive against the National Assembly, with members not favourably disposed to passing the 2013 Appropriation Bill.

    Most of the members are insisting on the full implementation of the 2012 budget before passing next year’s appropriation into law.

    The grouses of the lawmakers on this year’s budget compelled the President to meet with Senate President David Mark and House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal on Wednesday night.

    It was learnt that at the meeting, the President resolved the grey areas with the leadership of the National Assembly.

    According to sources, the National Assembly leaders had opted to “cooperate with the President in order not to create an image of always being at loggerheads with the Executive”.

    But the “gentleman” agreement could only work if the President is comfortable with conditions set by the National Assembly, a source said.

    The conditions are to jack up benchmark to $80 per barrel; extend the 2012 budget fiscal year to January as insisted on by the House; limited exposure to foreign loans; and assurance of timely release of allocations to MDAs for capital projects

    A principal officer in one of the chambers of the National Assembly said: “We have agreed to pass the budget before going on break for Christmas, but with some conditions. So, all things being equal, the fiscal year will run from January to December in 2013. With this, we would have solved the problem of overlapping implementation of the nation’s budget.

    Asked of the conditions, the source said: “For instance, we are adamant on the $80 per barrel benchmark because we want Nigerians to derive maximum benefits from the 2013 budget. There is no point starving to save scarce resources when Nigerians wallow in abject poverty.

    “We believe that with $80 benchmark, the economy will be able to absorb some shocks and be reinvigorated.

    “If the President and his team have a rethink on their proposed $75 benchmark, it will assist our ongoing understanding on the 2013 budget.”

    A Senator said: “In agreeing to pass the 2013 Appropriation Bill, some of us sought for concrete assurance that there will be timely release of allocations for capital projects. This is the only way we can have a smooth implementation of the budget. We hope the Executive will not renege on the promise it gave to our leadership in this respect.”

    A top official of the House, however, said: “We are serious in our agitation for the extension of 2012 fiscal year to January 2013 to enable us monitor the use of the allocations for the Fourth Quarter.

    “We foresee a waste of fourth quarter allocations, and diversion of public funds. We want a commitment from the Executive on this.”

    Another senator said: “In agreeing to pass the budget, we asked our leadership to prevail on the Executive to stop incurring debts. Our debt profile at present is about $10billion without any concrete project to show for it.

    “If we go ahead at this rate, we will soon return to the debt era before ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo came to secure relief.

    “I can tell you that Senators and members of the House are on the same page on these conditions.”

  • Tough bail conditions for eight oil marketers

    Tough bail conditions for eight oil marketers

    Eight of the 13 oil marketers arraigned for the alleged N4.6 billion fuel subsidy fraud have been granted bail by a Lagos High Court, Ikeja.

    Justices Lateefa Okunnu and Habeeb Abiru yesterday granted bail to eight of the indicted marketers in the fuel subsidy scam probe, who were on Friday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    All the eight accused were given tough bail conditions by the court.

    Justice Abiru granted bail to six of them.

    The first three, Ifeanyi Anosike, Emeka Chukwu and Ngozi Ikeoma, were each granted bail for N75 million and two sureties.

    Abiru ordered that the sureties must have landed property in Lagos and they must be employed.

    He ordered that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment for the last three years and that all the documents must be verified by an EFCC operative while their international passports must be deposited with the court.

    The oil marketers were arraigned by the EFCC on charges bordering on conspiracy to obtain by false pretence; forgery and altering false documents to the tune of N1,537,278,880.82, being payments fraudulently received from the Petroleum Support Fund.

    The judge also granted bail to Adamu Aliyu Maula, George Ogbonna and Emmanuel Morah for N50 million with two sureties.

    He stated that the sureties must be resident in Lagos, show evidence for tax payment for the last three years and must have landed property not less than N50 million.

    These second set of oil marketers were arraigned by the EFCC on an eight count charge also bordering on conspiracy to obtain property by false pretence; conspiracy to forge documents, forgery and altering false documents to the tune of N789,648,329.25 from Petroleum subsidy fund.

    Justice Abiru adjourned hearing till November 26.

    On the other hand, Justice Okunnu granted Aro Samuel Bamidele and Abiodun Kayode Bankole bail for N100 million each with three sureties.

    This followed an application by the defence counsel, Anthony Idigbe (SAN).

    Justice Okunnu ordered that the sureties must swear an affidavit indicating their financial details and that they can pay the bail bond.

    The sureties, she said, must be resident in Lagos and that two of them must have landed property in Lagos while the third must be a director in a public or private registered company operating in Nigeria.

    The three sureties must show evidence of tax payment for three years preceding the year of trial.

    She further ordered that an official of the EFCC shall within 72 hours of submission verify all particulars and thereafter swear to an affidavit to this while the court registrar must also verify all particulars.