The Nation Newspaper

Tag: crisis

  • 24 hours curfew in Kafanchan

    A 24 hours curfew has been imposed on Kafanchan by the local government following skirmishes on Thursday night which allegedly led to the killing of an unidentified number of people.
    The state government and the leadership of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has however appealed for calm in the area, while the Police says that normalcy has returned to Kafanchan.
    As at the time of this report, two version of reports from Kafanchan regarding what transpired were available, with tension gradually building up within the metropolis.
    While one version says that there was violence leading to the death of some people, another version says that there was no violence, but that there was rumour late on Thursday about a planned attack which never took place.
    “There was rumour yesterday that there will be an attack. That generated serious tension in the town. As we speak right now, we are indoor because a curfew has been imposed on Kafanchan. Nobody can go out.
    “We have been trying to call the local government chairman since nobody can go out, but he has not been picking his calls. But I can tell you that there are security operatives everywhere. Yesterday, they went round on a show of force and that further heighten the tension in the town”, said the source.
    The state governor, Mukthar Ramalan Yero asked the people of the area to remain calm and law abiding as Government is doing all within its powers to contain the breach of security in the area and directed security agencies in the state to take necessary actions at returning peace and normalcy to the area following skirmishes over misunderstanding among the people.
    Spokesman to the governor, Ahmed Maiyaki said in a statement made available to The Nation on Saturday quoted the governor as asking the people of Kafanchan to always embrace dialogue as the only means of resolving conflicts rather than resort to taking the laws into their own hands.
    The governor warned those fomenting trouble in the state to desist from their devilish plots to plunge the state into confusion, adding that “as a responsible Government, we shall not shirk our constitutional duty of protecting the lives and property of the entire people of Kaduna State, no matter what it will take.”
    He assured that the government was already investigating the root cause of the conflict and will not hesitate to prosecute anyone found culpable, irrespective of their status in the society and asked the people of the state to go about their lawful businesses in disregard of rumours that may be intended to escalate the situation saying “government, with the support of security agencies has already brought the situation in Kafanchan under control.”
    Governor Yero however commiserated with victims of the crisis and thank all the people of Kaduna State for their continuous support to his administration in its unrelenting efforts at building lasting peace and unity among the diverse people of the state.
    President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Dr. Ephraim Goje appealed for calm in the area while asking the government and security agents to fish out those responsible for the killing of a young man on Monday night which prompted the present action.
    Goje told The Nation on phone that those responsible for the action were enemies of Kaduna state in particular and Nigeria in general and should be brought to book.
    He said “we condemned what is going on in Kafanchan and asked those who initiated the crisis as a result of the killing of a young man to lay down their arms and embrace peace and dialogue in the interest of the state.
    He said further that as a community, SOKAPU is not happy about the constant attack on communities in southern Kaduna and has been appealing to the people to exercise restraints while asking the government to do everything humanly possible to address the problem and put an end to such killings.
    Also in a statement, the Centre for Development and Rights Advocacy reinterated its earlier call on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the entire southern Kaduna with a view to putting a stop to the constant attack on communities in the area by unknown gunmen.
    In the alternative, they want to government to deploy special troupes to the area to contain the brewing insecurity in the whole Southern Kaduna region that shares borders with Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, and Bauchi States, and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
    Spokesman of the Centre, John Danfulani said “once more, we woke up today (Friday, 20th September, 2013) with the sad news of another ethno-religious skirmish on Thursday in Kafanchan, Kaduna State between indigenous people of Southern Kaduna and Hausa-Fulani settlers.
    “Report reaching us shows that lives have been lost. Before yesterday (Thursday) night’s anarchy, early signs of coming anarchy were clear but nothing was done to forestall it. Albeit yesterday’s killings and 24 hours curfew imposed in the town.
    “Yesterday’s Kafanchan mayhem along with others, are justifying our earlier call for a declaration of a state of emergency in Southern Kaduna area of the State. Because there are evidences of gross incompetence in administrative and physical management of security in the area.
    “It is now clear; no security arrangement other than total declaration of State of Emergency can nip in the bud this anomie. We have said it before and reiterating it now that there is a genocide scheme in Southern Kaduna going by the persistent killings with impunity. This was how Rwanda and Yugoslavia genocides started. We hope the world will not continue to look the other way in the face of this entire growing phenomenon.
    “Consequently, we beseech Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces to act by adding troubled Southern Kaduna region on the list of states under emergency rule. Mr. President should wear deaf ears on any counsel against a full declaration of a state of emergency in the area.
    “Like Federal Government acted in nearby Nasarawa State, we are demanding fast deployment of troops or at best special military squad to contain the brewing insecurity in the whole Southern Kaduna region that shares borders with Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, and Bauchi States, and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
     “We are also demanding hourly aerial patrol on thick forests in the area, said to be the globally known International Cattle and Grazing routes in view of its unpolice nature and possible safe haven for bandits and terrorists.“We will not hesitate to hold security agencies, Federal Government, and Kaduna State government responsible should the situation become worst far from the ugly trend we are in. A stitch in time saves nine”.

  • PDP‘ll resolve its crisis, says Orji

    Abia State Governor Theodore Orji yesterday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will sort out its problems to the disappointment of the opposition.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Ben Onyechere, Orji wondered why “opposition politicians are crying more than the bereaved.”

    Onyechere quoted Orji as saying that “they will be terribly disappointed because the PDP leader, President Goodluck Jonathan, is equipped with the instrumentality of interest aggregation and harmonisation” which he will use to resolve the internal matters of the party.

    He said in politics “what is permanent and paramount is interest which must be devoid of misplaced ambition arrowed to undermine the authority of the president because anybody who wants to be a king must first be subordinate to an existing kingship.

    “The fact that opposition parties are agitated and concerned about the challenges of the PDP is a pointer that they are hinging their future on the expectation that the party may break up.

    “There is random insinuation and instigation from known chronic opposition quarters over matters that are internal to the party.

    “It is laughable that their only manifesto is focusing on misunderstanding among party members which is an indication that they are building on a sandy soil.”

  • Open letter to Governor Ahmed on Erin-Ile/Offa crisis

    SIR: As an aftermath of the recent crisis between Offa and the Erin-Ile communities, we are aware of the following decisions by your government through radio broadcast, news paper publications and a letter from the white paper implementation committee, even when the government white paper is not out: the proscription of NURTW in both communities; the removal of garages from Idi-Igba in Erin-Ile and at the Ajegunle saw mill in Offa.

    Also that the garages be 5km apart from each-other; that both communities recognise the Unity Road as a buffer zone-even when there is copious evidence that Erin-Ile community at no time accepted the road as a boundary, and finally that government take steps to ensure that both communities co-exist in peace permanently, etc.

    This letter serves to express our community’s gratitude to your government for her relentless efforts to ensure peace in our communities. However, we wish to point out that no peace can be attained without justice. For the umpteenth time, we wish to state that our community has no problems with Offa nor do we have a boundary dispute with them. Prior to Adaramola Commission, we had a boundary with them. They disputed it, hence the commission. That commission, after exhaustive investigations involving visits to farm sites, family compounds and interviews of many witnesses, affirmed the boundary to be the PHCN sub-station at Idi-Ogun at the southern tip of Offa.

    Offa community challenged the verdict of the commission whole-sale and headed for the High Court of northern states. They filed a 10-point ground of appeal and argued nine, voluntarily withdrawing one. Offa lost all grounds of appeal at the High Court and even had costs awarded against them.

    Not satisfied, Offa appealed to the Supreme Court which also unanimously affirmed the commission’s findings. It was only after then, that the KWSG spent tax-payers’ money to fix boundary pillars along the delineated boundary.

    For peace sake, Erin-Ile is prepared to consider land requests for Offa’s development once they formally recognise the sanctity of the Supreme Court boundary.

    A few detractors of our principled stand argue that land is a natural endowment not worth fighting for. We see the argument as illogical and shallow. Land is not the only natural endowment; life itself, wealth, power and beauty are. Almighty God endows these to individuals or a people as He pleases. It is a sin against God for a people or an individual to wish to deprive those endowed of these forcibly. Humanity also makes such forcible deprivation a crime hence the offences of murder, criminal trespass, malice and malicious damage and treasonable felony are created.

    Finally, we seek clarification as to the location of motor parks. We are confused about the 5km distance between the garages. Where will the epicentre of the 5km be? We suspect that the Unity Road should be, based on your decision on that road. This means there should be no garage 2.5km north or south of that road. What arrangements shall be made for intra and inter community movement within the 5km corridor?

    • Gp. Capt. M.O. Salami & Barr. Kunle Alabi

    Erin-Ile, Kwara State

  • ‘Rivers crisis is shameful’

    ‘Rivers crisis is shameful’

    A social critic, Phrank Shaibu, spoke with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE on the crisis in Rivers State and other national issues.

    Rivers State used to be peaceful state. Why has it become a theatre of war?

    The past few months  have portrayed Rivers State as being in a season of societal lunacy and political deadlock with very embarrassing actions meted on the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Ameachi, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, political office holders and other officials of government. These actions are considered highly repressive and against the tenets of true democracy.

    I condemn the repressive actions and characters behind the Rivers State situation as I believe that the present political deadlock in the state is already having devastating effect on many things including business to social order and unless this deadlock is broken, Rivers State may witness serious breakdown of law and order, with a high probability of being another centre for violent crimes which may be worse than the present Boko Haram terrorist activities in some Northern states of Nigeria.

    I  feel constrained that all the men of good will should draw the attention of the international community to these despotic acts that are occurring in Rivers State which sadly have been largely associated with the leadership of President Jonathan and his wife. The magnitude of the repression on the people of Rivers State is by itself a message of sorts as they obviously present an accurate picture of militarised democracy. Therefore, constituting serious threats to national security especially in a country like Nigeria that ought to be a just society

    How do you reconcile the recent behaviour of the members of the House of Assembly with your description of the state?

    We are all  witnesses to the events preceding the shameful acts at the Rivers State House of Assembly on July 9, 2013 by the five pro- Dame ‘Jesus’ Patience Jonathan legislators led by ‘saint Evans  Bipi’. We are witnesses to the power struggle between the Governor of Rivers State, the wife of the President on the one hand and the Minister of State for Education as well as the unvoiced  support enjoyed by the duo of Dame Jonathan and Wike from the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan who abhor the Governor Rotimi Amaechi for his independence, principled posture and outspokenness, characteristics regarded as stumbling blocks to the desperate ambition to win another term of office in 2015 for a government generally regarded as clueless  and bankrupt.

    In the first instance, how on earth will the number five be greater than 27? How can five men seek to remove a Speaker, who has the backing of 26 of his colleagues? It is indeed appalling that none of the five pro-Dame Patience Jonathan legislators at the Rivers State House of Assembly is legally and culturally sophisticated to know that they acted outside their powers. In fact, they  think alike in their subversion of the rule of law and due democratic process, maybe because they are so aggrieved by the purported disrespect for their activities.

    Some analysts say  the governor shouldn’t have been at the Assembly complex on that day…

    So, they expect the state government to wait until those rambunctious group of five legislators wake up one morning to order the sequestration of the governor and his cabinet? They mean,the governor as the chief security officer should have allowed a break down of law and order when it was obvious that a federal agency that is meant to protects the citizens was busy supervising the rebellion against the constitution by the renegade five.

    Who in your opinion is behind this crises in Rivers State?

    The two Presidents of Nigeria.

    How do you mean? Nigeria has only one President.

    No! We have two Presidents. One is Dame Patience Jonathan of Okrika and the other is Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Though some of you journalists refer to her as the First Lady, but she is not! She is a Co-President of Nigeria.  You remember, when the late Umaru Yar’Adua of blessed  memory was President, the  wife, Turai, only used a  cabal to operate. Nobody heard or saw her. But, instead of Dame to channel her interests through her husband or her other elected ‘sons’, she calls the shots herself, like a Commander-in-Chief.

    Did you hear Dame Patience Jonathan when she openly told 16 Bishops from the Southsouth, who visited her in Abuja, that Amaechi defied her request that some structures should not be demolished in her hometown, Okrika? So, if a request from a First Lady should automatically become sacrosanct, isn’t she a ‘President’?

    Let me say that, when  the First Lady is more visible and vocal than the President, don’t you think she is in charge? Dame Patience Jonathan has thrown herself into the political fray, dominating the polity. In fact, Reuben Abati was right in 2010 when he said, “The Jonathans must be told that Nigeria does not have a co-Presidency. We have only one President and his name is Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan”.

    Of a truth, we voted for Goodluck Jonathan, we did not vote  for Dame Patience  Jonathan. INEC did not have her name on the ballot.

    But the Presidency has denied involvement in the Rivers crises.

    Reuben Abati and Doyin Okupe cannot be absolving the Presidency of complicity in the Rivers crisis while Dame Patience Jonathan, Nyesom Wike and Ahmed Gulak are spitting fire and brimstone against Governor Amaechi. What do they take Nigerians for? They think we are dumb? 

    Despite those repeated  denials from their lying tongues, it is difficult  to disentangle the President and his wife from the in Rivers State crisis. More worrisome is the heresy displayed in the explanation of the  leader of the Pro-Dame Patience Jonathan camp of lawmakers in River state, Evans Bipi, on the reasons he led an onslaught against the state’s House of Assembly members and Governor Amaechi recently, where he stated that, he could not stand Governor Amaechi.

    It is an affront on our collective sensibilities for anyone to say that the  President and his wife are not behind the Rivers crises. How come the police in Rivers State provided security for five members of the 32-member House of Assembly to sit and attempt removing  the Speaker illegally and you say the President is not involved? Why did the same police turn a blind eye when hired thugs  attacked four northern governors, who paid a solidarity visit to Amaechi in Port Harcourt? Why has Mr Mbu, the Rivers State Police commissioner been openly confrontational to Governor Amaechi without being called to order?  Why did President Jonathan, receive in audience, the Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyeson Wike, and the five minority members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who desecrated the constitution on July 9, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja? Should Nigerians not see that as  an inferred recognition by the President of those who are in search of earthly messiahs and saviours  led by one Evan Bapakaye Bipi, who has been ingloriously and shamefully parading himself as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly? Above all, why is  Mr. President still waiting to be briefed by the security chiefs  on the Rivers situation; even after both the Senate and the House of Representatives have  invoked Section 11 of the constitution and effectively took over the responsibilities of the Rivers State legislature? Moreover,is President Jonathan telling Nigerians he is not aware of other personal attacks on the governor, such as with the grounding of his plane; the refusal to allow two helicopters purchased for security operations to enter to country; and the withdrawal of Amaechi’s security detail?

  • Gov urged to wade into crisis at Kwara Utd

    Gov urged to wade into crisis at Kwara Utd

    The fans and supporters of Kwara United FC of Ilorin have called on Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara to urgently intervene in the looming crisis in the club.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the crisis in the club is in connection with the quest for control of the club’s finances.

    A cross-section of the fans noted that if the crisis was not nipped in the bud, it might negatively affect the performance of the club in the ongoing Globacom Premier League (GPL).

    “So far, the club is making waves in the league and it is among the top four,’’ one of the fans said.

    The management board of the club, led by Bamidele Aluko, was reportedly queried recently by a `Fact-Finding Committee’, set up by the state government to look into the finances of the club.

    The query, according to an insider, who pleaded anonymity, was as a result of wrangling among the board members, over some funds released to the team.

    The source also said that the committee, headed by Toyin Sanusi, the Chief of Staff, Government House, consequently stripped the board of the control of the finances of the team and assumed responsibility.

    Other members of the committee included the Commissioners for Works and Transport; Finance; Sports and Youth Development, as well as the club’s accountant.

    Meanwhile, another management team, headed by the Team Manager, Ibrahim Basambo, along with the Technical Adviser, Samson Unuanel, the accountant and the club’s secretary were said to be handling the day-to-day running of the club.

    However, yet another management team, headed by the Special Assistant on Sports to Gov. Ahmed, Toyin Olokooba, was said to have sprang up with some loyal members of the club, staff and the executive members of the Supporters’ Club, under his control.

    Meanwhile, there are fears that the League Management Company (LMC) might sanction the team if they are able to establish some undue interference by government officials in the day-to-day running of the team.

    Olayioye Ajide, the Media Officer of the club, told NAN on Thursday in Ilorin that the situation was, however, under control.

    He said that there was no club in the world that did not experience one form of challenge or the other at a time, saying that people should stop exaggerating the situation.

    Ajide acknowledged that the club was currently being overseen by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, in conjunction with the club’s management board. He added that the collaboration had been yielding good results.

     

  • Crisis takes toll on Rivers

    Crisis takes toll on Rivers

    The protracted political crisis in Rivers State is taking its toll on goverance in the state, reports Correspondent BISI OLANIYI.

    Rivers State is fondly called the “Treasure Base of the Nation”. Before October 26, 2007, when Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was inaugurated as the governor of the oil- rich state, investors were relocating from the state because of insecurity.

    Militants and soldiers were always at war, leading to loss of lives and property. In Port Harcourt, the state capital, residents were made to raise their hands, while walking the streets. Amaechi tackled the security challenge as a priority. Soon, peace returned and investors began to move into the state on a daily basis. But all that has since changed the crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has begun to take its toll on the state.

    The political crisis involves President Goodluck Jonathan; his wife, Dame Patience; Governor Amaechi; the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike; and the Rivers State factional Chairman of the PDP, Chief Felix Obuah; among others.

    Shortly after his 2007 inauguration, Amaechi, following the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), an declared emergency in the education sector. He took the over the primary education sector from the local government councils. This was followed by massive infrastructure development across the 23 local government areas.

    Governor Amaechi said he met over 1000 primary schools that were in disrepair. He embarked on the construction of 750 model primary schools. All the model primary schools are 14-classroom blocks, ICT enabled, each with a sickbay, library and adequate water and sanitation. The contracts for 500 schools were awarded. 264 have been completed and 100 commissioned.

    Model secondary schools are also being constructed and furnished. Many universities cannot match the facilities. Students have been admitted at the Ambassador Nne Kurubo Model Secondary School in Eleme. Five others are expected to start operations this year.

    The old secondary schools are being renovated. A new Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) is to be built at the Greater Port Harcourt City, Amaechi said more student will enjoy scholarship.

    However, the crisis generated by his re-election as the chairmen of the NGF and the political crisis, in Rivers PDP have made it impossible for him to concentrate on development projects.

    In his New Year message, Amaechi said: “When we took over the mantle of leadership on October 26, 2007, it was clear that we needed to immediately intervene to save our state from collapse.

    “We inherited a near comatose education sector, our health infrastructure had broken down, power remained a major challenge, despite our huge investments in that sector and our road infrastructure was in dire need of urgent intervention.

    “The challenges of militancy and its attendant insecurity had brought our economy to a standstill. Businesses had fled and our once-thriving economy was worse than a shadow of its old self.

    “We make bold to say that we have not relented. Our development approach this year will balance competing needs against the social and economic challenges that we face. We are going to employ better strategies for governance by laying the foundation for a future that we can be proud of.”

    In the health sector, Amaechi Administration took over the provision of the primary healthcare infrastructure from the local government councils. 120 new primary health care centres were built, equipped and 130 old ones renovated, while all the 250 primary health care centres are fully functional across the 23 councils. Each has a medical doctor.

    The governor admitted failure in the power sector. In his words: “We had promised to deliver on 24-hour power supply by the end of 2012. Unfortunately, we could not meet the deadline, as we still need the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to hook us up and grant us the requisite permission to distribute.”

    Over 250 roads and 34 bridges, are at various stages of completion. Amaechi said on January 1, this year, that all the roads in D-Line and the old Port Harcourt Township, popularly called Town, have been awarded for reconstruction. They will have with underground drains, walkways and streetlights.

    The Rivers State government is also dualising the Federal Government road, the Airport-Isiokpo-Omerelu Road, up to the boundary with Imo State, while a new road project, the Trans-Kalabari Road, has been awarded to Lubrik Construction Company.

    The administration has also focused on agriculture with the twin purposes of ensuring food security and creating employment for the people. The government has continued to maintain that its demonstration project, the Songhai Farm, has done well.

    The banana project is on course; with over 300 persons already employed. Life has returned to its Risonpalm, with about 3000 people also employed.

    However, the governor has been distracted from governance by the crises. It started on April 15, 2013 when Justice Ishaq Bello of the Abuja High Court, sacked the Chief Godspower Ake-led executive of the PDP.

    The Chief Felix Obuah-led executive, according to the court, was duly-elected at the Rivers State congress of the PDP, which took place on March 17, 2012 at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt.

    In the Rivers House of Assembly, five of the 32 lawmakers; Michael Okechukwu Chinda (Obio/Akpor II constituency), Kelechi Godspower Nwogu (Omuma), Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo), Martins Amewhule (Obio/Akpor I) and Victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt III) are loyal to Wike, a two-time chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

    On April 22, the 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers suspended the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Prince Timothy Nsirim; his deputy, Solomon Eke; and all the 17 councillors.

    A seven-member caretaker committee headed by Chikordi David Dike was screened the legislator on April 23 and inaugurated on the same day by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), George Feyii. But they could not function effectively. The police sealed off the council secretariat on “order from above.” The court order.

    Obuah asked Amaechi to recall the suspended Obio/Akpor officials, but the governor insisted that it was the responsibility of the lawmakers, who were investigating the allegations of misappropriation of funds and corruption against them.

    The 27 lawmakers were eventually suspended from the PDP on April 29. Also, Amaechi was suspended from the ruling party by the National Working Committee (NWC) for anti-party activities. Last week, Obuah’s group recommended his explusion.

    Amaechi, an Ikwerre from Ubima in Ikwerre Local Government Area, and Wike, also an Ikwerre from Rumuepirikom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, have been at loggerheads over 2015.

    Wike, an ex-Chief of Staff, was the Director-General of Amaechi Campaign Organisation in 2011. He is alleged to be eyeing the governorship in 2015. But Amaechi has said it would not be proper, since there are other ethnic groups in the state.

    Sixty three days after the lawmakers adjourned sine die, they reconvened on July 9. The five anti-Amaechi lawmakers attempted to impeach the Speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree. It led to fracas. Evans Bipi of Ogu/Bolo constituency was “elected as the factional Speaker.” But Governor Amaechi stormed the hallowed chambers of the Assembly and stopped the illegality.

    In the ensuing confusion, the leader of the Rivers House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, a lawyer, who represents Emohua Constituency, used a fake mace procured by the anti-Amaechi lawmakers to hit Chinda on the head. He is still receiving treatment in a London hospital.

    When Bipi and the other four lawmakers him attempted to sit on July 10, the House of Assembly complex was sealed off by the police. In the course of dispersing the protesting supporters of Amaechi and Wike, tear gas canisters were fired into the Government House.

    The members of the House of Representatives eventually took over the functions of the Rivers House of Assembly to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

    Rivers State Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu declared Lloyd wanted on July 17 for attempted murder, conspiracy, wounding and wilful damage. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, also invited Lloyd; the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Amaechi, Debeware Semeikumo and the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Tony Iwelu.

    The festering crisis is seriously taking a toll on development projects in the state. The militants cultists, kidnappers and armed robbers are staging a come-back, leading to an increase in the crime rate.

    Amaechi does not have enough time to supervise the ongoing projects, like before. In the past he would drive himself to the project sites to put contractors on their toes. The NGF chairman is really distracted and travels very often these days, either to consult on how to ensure peace in the state or for NGF matters.

    The mono-rail in Port Harcourt township is no longer getting any attention. The roads in the state capital are going bad, with craters in some areas. Work is also yet to start on the new Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) at the Greater Port Harcourt City.

    Contrary to Amaechi’s promise, the contractor, Lubrik Construction Company, is yet to mobilise to site for the strategic Trans-Kalabari Road.

    The Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said that Amaechi is committed to the transformation agenda.

    The Publicity Secretary of the Obuah-led faction of the PDP, Samuel Nwanosike, however, declared that the NGF chairman has lost focus, and must apologise to the people and resign.

    Bright Amewhule, has President-General of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), which has Wike as the grand patron, declared that Amaechi’s vice-presidential ambition and his hot temper, made him not to listen to advice, thereby confronting President Jonathan. He said the governor would regret it.

    Amewhule said that the people, will massively vote for President Jonathan in 2015.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers governor, David Iyofor, said his boss has remained focused and adequately monitoring numerous ongoing projects across the state, while frowning on destructive criticisms and insisted that Amaechi had not been confronting President Jonathan.

    The earlier the political crisis in Rivers State is resolved, the better for the people, who deserve good governance rather than regularly enduring tear gas from soldiers and policemen. The state must not return to the era of militancy. For the state, a stitch in time can save nine.

  • ‘Crisis ‘ll ruin PDP’

    ‘Crisis ‘ll ruin PDP’

    Hon. Bimbo Daramola is the Vice Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) has described Rivers State  Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as a man in a wrong bus.  Precious  Igbonwelundu reports.

    WHAT is your assessment of the Jonathan Administration?

    The economy is going bad. As a member of the opposition, I am not just in opposition party because it is inherent in the opposition to criticise. I remember that President Goodluck Jonathan believes in his two year score card that perhaps, he has done well and he asked Nigerians to judge him, that his period in office has been eventful and impactful. But, if you ask me, I see a man struggling to win the trust and confidence of the people again. He met issues on ground and he assured Nigerians that he would address and deal with the issues and now, he is returning back to Nigerians like saying ‘’go and judge the marking scheme to mark the exam that you set for me’’. The teacher cannot tell the students to come and mark the exams he set. That, to me is a role reversal. He made those promises that he would deliver, but an average Nigerian knows that his life has not been positively affected with what the government is professing or brandishing as its achievement. There is also the politics of the majority party. Take, for instance, party saying that, because a governor did not take a phone call from the national chairman of the party, so, he got suspended. Another governor ran into problem for holding different views with its leadership. So they had to employ the instrumentality of the state to frustrate him. They have alluded so much to growth in terms of figures; they will show you beautiful graphs, the nation’s GDP is growing above our population but you don’t find a corollary to buttress their claim when you look at the people and the majority is still living in abject poverty. Look, if your car does not have fuel and you say it is still a beautiful car, that beautiful car cannot take you to your destination.

    They will give themselves high mark, but the masses are still wallowing in poverty. I am surprised that an Okonjo Iweala, our Finance and Co-ordinating Minister who would have been the head of the world bank is saying that there is no relationship between the figures being bandied about and job creation. In the two years of Jonathan’s government, we should by now take a stock on how many companies or industries have come back to the system. The industries, sadly enough, are re-locating even to African countries that we should be far ahead of. We are cruising at a very high speed and I hope somebody calls them to caution. What we are having or getting is disappointing, given the our resources that abound.

    Can the opposition make the difference?

    2015 provides for us the opportunity to critically take stock and say enough is enough. It is a time to say we have played party loyalty for too long, we have played active politics for too long and it’s about time to now ask ourselves as individuals and as Nigerians whether we are better off than we were in 2011. Is the country better off as it was in 2011? Do we have better roads now than what we had in 2011? Do we have more infrastructures now? Is life better now than what we had in 2011? These are the questions that must bother us. When you vote a government and put that government in power, we expect real impact, real changes. It is amazing that, as individual we do stock taking but as a nation, we refuse to take stock. So, 2015 provides an opportunity for a turn around to be able to ask ourselves, if are better now. No matter how long you have gone on a wrong direction, you will never get to your destination until you make a turn around. The destination, we are talking about is improved society, improved security, improved social infrastructure, improved life etc, these are the indices that you must look at to begin to assess whether a government is working or not.

    Are you saying that the PDP is the problem?

    Well, I am not going to sound puritanical and say everybody in PDP is bad. There are pockets of them that are good. For instance Governor Rotimi Amaechi is good.

    But he is almost an opposition member

    If you say so. It’s a truism in life. Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are. You cannot be found in the company of armed robbers and you will be leading praise and worship in the church on Sunday. When you lie with dogs, you wake up with flies. If you get into a car going to another place, what do you do? You simply tell the driver you have entered the wrong bus and you come down. People who have chosen to identify with the politics of the opposition must have seen something diametrically different. Don’t forget that there is the politics of service and of the people and the politics of the stomach. Some politicians can masquerade politics of stomach and you may think that they are for the people. Even in the Bible, the holy book, Jesus said at the last day when the Son of Man shall come, he will condemn some people and those people will come to him and ask Him if He is making a mistake because they will tell him they cast out demons and healed in His name. But he will ask them to go away because they were workers of iniquity.

    There are some people in opposition that have no business there. Are there people in opposition who are doing the right thing, yes. Are there people in opposition who are doing the wrong thing, yes. But Nigerians will now come up to a point where we will identify the weed and the chaff. We must identify our destination. We have invested our fortune in the life of somebody for four years.

  • Crisis rocks Labour Party over Ubah

    These are not the best of times for a governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Ifeanyi Ubah, as his hope of contesting under the platform of the Labour Party hangs in the balance.

    The guber hopeful has been accused of factionalising the party, even as party stalwarts have disowned him as a member of the party.

    While addressing newsmen in Nnewi at the weekend, a chieftain of the party, Comrade Peter Nwosu said that Comrade Christopher Chukwudi Okonkwo remains the true state Chairman of Labour Party and not Sam Oraegbunam where Ubah purpotedly registered.

    Ubah’s brother from Uruagu , Nnewi , Comrade Peter Nwosu disclosed this while addressing newsmen weekend. He said he is the authentic Labour party candidate not even Aspirant as the party leadership at its last Executive council meeting solicited him to salvage the state as its governorship candidate.

    “All the 21 local government chairmen of Labour party rejected Ifeanyi Ubah and said it can’t happen in our party. There is an existing party executive and he created his own executive to create confusion in our party but we would resist it,” he said, adding, “Anambra does not need somebody who will be speaking to them from his jet or somebody who they would run into the bush for two hours for his convoy to pass but a humble governor not arrogant an governor.”

     

  • Tinubu: Rivers PDP crisis portends danger to democracy

    Tinubu: Rivers PDP crisis portends danger to democracy

    Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday reflected on the protracted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis in Rivers State, warning that it portends grave danger to constitutional democracy and individual liberty.

    The former Lagos State governor urged men and women of goodwill to ponder over the fate of constitutional democracy and federalism, adding that Governor Rotimi Amaechi should not be abandoned in this period of trial.

    Tinubu, who noted that gloomy and uncertain days lie ahead, pointed out that Amaechi was marked down for liquidation, following his resistance to the alleged injustice triggered by the fierce oil field battles between Rivers State to Bayelsa State.

    The ACN national leader condemned the biased involvement of the Presidency, the PDP leaders and the police in the lingering crises, stressing that the President’s posture contradicted his avowed commitment to the transformation agenda.

    Tinubu said in a statement in Lagos that the five legislators who plotted the anarchy in the Rivers State House of Assembly last week have mocked their callings as lawmakers.

    He said: “With the latest drama in the Rivers State House of Assembly, the PDP is at it again. The ruling party has inflicted yet another mortal injury on Nigeria’s democracy. As the House reconvened after a recent adjournment due to a police failure to provide adequate security to this legislative body, thugs hired by sinister forces allied to the powers in Abuja were unleashed on the unsuspecting majority in the State Assembly. “While the House was to consider a necessary budgetary matter, a cell of five legislators, making a mockery of their title as lawmakers, had plotted anarchy in their own chamber. They engineered this coup against the very body in which they serve.

    “This group of five and their sponsors attacked the other 27 members and the deputy governor who was making a presentation on a budgetary matter pending before the House. All this occurred under the watchful eye, but idle hand of the police officers deployed to guard the chamber.

    “We can say the police in Rivers became an accomplice to an illegal attack on the very government and constitution they pledged to uphold. This was a shameful moment but even worse, it is a likely foretaste of the partisan role the police will take in coming elections.”

    In Tinubu’s view, the PDP has added that shameful public brawling to its list of accomplishments by acting as a “fight club” that employs the police as ushers for its matches.

    He disagreed with the denial of involvement by the party and the Presidency, stressing that “there is no way the police and the small number of five lawmakers would act so brazenly unless they receive instructions from the high places”.

    The ACN national leader added: “Nigerians must ask: “Is this the way President Jonathan intends to transform Nigeria? By turning it from an imperfect democracy into a perfect mess? A total lack of respect for Constitutional democracy is what we are witnessing. Governor Rotimi Amaechi swore an oath to protect and serve the people of Rivers State. He is thus empowered by the Constitution to carry out this function. Not even the Police has the constitutional right to impede him from carrying out his functions as governor. Yet, we have a federal government under whose eager eyes an assault on our constitution is taking place in the open.”

    Tinubu cautioned against the danger of abandoning Amaechi to his fate, warning that more victims would suffer the impunity of the PDP in the future, if this trend is not curtailed.

    He said: “My advice is that we should not leave Governor Amaechi to suffer his fate alone. All true democrats must defend constitutional democracy and true federalism. In what stable and functioning democracy can you find a President or his agents bully a governor this way or violate the federal Constitution so openly with complete impunity?

    “ When the interest of the nation is subjugated so that the narrow, parochial interest of a clique in power is served, events like we see unfold in Rivers will soon become common place.

    “As a new breed of imperial rulers run amok and with impunity, violate Nigeria’s Constitution, the days ahead seem gloomy and uncertain. Discerning minds must locate the present crisis in the suspected injustice in the Bayelsa and Rivers State oil boundary legal battle. For standing up in defence of the interest of his people, Governor Amaechi became a marked person.

    “The irreconcilable political differences between main actors in Rivers State soon magnified the crisis with heavy lifting from the Presidency. Like a running thriller with nightmarish garnishing, Nigerians are watching an elected governor come under incessant illegal assault sanctioned by the powers that be. But we need not just watch. People with good conscience must speak up now.”

    Tinubu pointed out that the Rivers PDP crises were consistent with the party’s past attempts to scuttle fair elections and genuine democratic processes.

    He said: “Undermining democracy has become a central plank in the party’s manifesto. What happened in the Rivers House is one more reminder. PDP leaders hold democracy in contempt and will trample it, if given the slightest opportunity. If they invert the relatively small numbers involved in the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and the Rivers State House, what they might do to general elections involving such a large population as ours is a hard piece of wood to chew”.

    Tinubu warned the PDP leaders against lording it over the 150 million Nigerians in a manner reminiscent of the colonial masters, adding that it is impossible to seek to control the mind of the people through threat, intimidation and assault.

    He said that this style, which could lead to “elected dictatorship”, is unacceptable, even if the dictator initially got to office through the ballot.

    Describing the PDP as “poor steward of democracy”, Tinubu added: “It is hard to be a good democrat without knowing how to count properly and this crew cannot count. During the NGF debacle, they claimed that 16 was larger than 19. Now in Rivers, they claim 5 outnumbers 27.

    “If they can’t count, how can we count on them to improve the nation? If they can’t add, it is a mistake to rely on them to add anything good to our lives. For reasons best known to them, they have tried to pin the Rivers governor to the wall. In doing so, they have turned Rivers into an embattled state.

    “Those of us living in other states should not be indifferent. What is happening in Rivers today can come to your state tomorrow if the PDP holds sway. Events in that state are but a symbol and a forecast. As long as the current PDP leadership holds forth, we will have many rivers to cross before this land sees genuine democracy”.

  • Presidency behind crisis, say CPC, CNPP

    Presidency behind crisis, say CPC, CNPP

    President Goodluck Jonathan got some bashing yesterday for his alleged complicity in the Rivers State crisis, which the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) described as a sign of executive recklessness. The President is behind it all, CPC said.

    The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) said: “Dr. Jonathan cannot sit by and watch in glee while men who answer to him and his wife are igniting crises of such proportion.

    Niger State Governor Babangide Aliyu, who is also the chair of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), alleged that with the backing of the federal government, Rivers State Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu has virtually taken over the security functions from the democratically elected governor.

    Aliyu alleged that concentration of too much power at the centre is responsible for the untoward actions of the police chief.

    Speaking while receiving Ambassador Zubairu Dada, Federal Commissioner of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), yesterday in Minna, Aliyu maintained that as long as the centre is still powerful without the devolution of power to states and local governments, there will always be problems as being witnessed in Rivers State.

    “There can hardly be progress in a country if things continue this way,” Aliyu said.

    He also frowned at the revenue allocation formula that gives over half of the nation’s receipt to the Federal Government. “There is too much money for the federal government to swim in. That is why it can use the resource which should be used for the provision of social amenities for the people to fight” he said.

    CNPP Secretary General Chief Willy Ezugwu, in a statement yesterday, said: “For five lawmakers to attempt claiming numerical superiority over a larger group of 23 or 27 lawmakers is totally irresponsible and must not only be condemned but sanctions, including criminal prosecution, must also be applied to serve as a deterrent to other would-be trouble makers.

    “It is totally appalling that President Goodluck Jonathan can sit by and watch in glee while men who answer to him and his wife are igniting crises of such proportion at a time when the nation is battling armed insurrection in some areas and widespread armed kidnapping in others. The body language of the President is beginning to suggest that he is a willing actor in the western written script that Nigeria would disintegrate in 2015 or how else does one explain his failure to call his men to order.”

    The conference also asked the National Assembly to “investigate the role played by the police in aiding criminality in Rivers State, particularly when video evidence strongly suggests that the police provided cover for people whose sole aim is destabilising the state Assembly.

    “It is not enough for the House of Representative to ask for the redeployment of the Police Commissioner for Rivers State Command, Joseph Mbu. An investigation could yield valuable information as to who Mbu answers to even though the public might have correctly insinuated.

    To the CPC, the Presidency is at the centre of the crisis.

    The party said the crisis has the trappings of executive recklessness and impunity.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, the CPC demanded the impeachment of the President.

    It raised four posers for Jonathan and the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar.

    The statement said: “The infra-dig dramatised at the Rivers State House of Assembly, as captured by local and foreign media, has become a cause for concern among Nigerians.

    “The horrific spectacle, to us at the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), is a clear manifestation of the leadership deficit at the nation’s presidency.

    “The cause of the fracas was that on Tuesday, July 9, 2013, a group of five legislators- led by Mr. Evans Babakaya Bipialaka- sat (in an inquorate manner) ahead of the 27 other House of Assembly members, with the sole purpose of impeaching the incumbent Speaker, Mr. Otelemaba Amachree.

    “Apparently, as a way of executing this nefarious act, the group of five procured another mace that was different from what was in the custody of the incumbent speaker of the House of Assembly.

    The CPC said the Presidency cannot deny involvement in Rivers State crisis, including the First Lady’s backing for the self-imposed leader of the G-5 causing mayhem in the Rivers House of Assembly, Mr. Evans Babakaya Bipialaka.

    The statement added: “Despite the denials of the President’s media aides, who have perfected unscrupulous mendacious posturing, we believe very strongly that the Presidency is at the epicentre of the current security challenges in Rivers State.

    “We have noted the demeanour of Mr. Joseph Mbu, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, which, the House of Representatives agreed, is unbecoming of a patriotic Police officer.

    “We have also noted that the tumultuous entry of the First Lady, Patience Jonathan into Port-Harcourt in June was for the wedding of Mr. Evans Babakaya Bipialaka, the leader of this group of five.

    “We noted the suspicious acquiescence by the Rivers State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the infamy done by the group of five.

    “Unfortunately, the situation in Rivers State has degenerated since the formal takeover of the state Assembly functions by the House of Representatives.

    “The Police reportedly fired tear gas canisters into the Government House. We also learnt that the security detail for the governor have been withdrawn! These are pointers to anarchy in the state.

    “The relevant questions to be asked are:

    Did the group of five legislators have the legitimacy (under the nation’s extant law) to sit on Tuesday, July 9, 2013?

    If they acted outside the law, should legal proceedings not be commenced against them as a way of punishing this execrable villainy, thereby strengthening the Nation’s jurisprudence?

    Should the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, continue to allow Mr. Mbu function as the State commissioner of Police with the documented show of insubordination against the state governor?

    Is the President’s polarising content of the debacle in Rivers state not a manifestation of his undesirable leadership style?

    “As a party, we know that Nigeria is not a monarchy, where statehood is synonymous with the person of the holder of Executive Authority.

    “The President, through subterranean means, had unduly increased the entropy level of the political firmament in Rivers State for self-conceit. This, we believe, is unbecoming of a statesman. The National Assembly has the responsibility to investigate the President in the Rivers State saga. If found culpable, he should be impeached forthwith!”