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Tag: decide

  • 2019: ‘Buhari yet to decide’

    2019: ‘Buhari yet to decide’

    President Muhammadu Buhari told All progressives Congress (APC) governors last night he had not decided on whether to recontest.

    He asked them to give him more time to decide, during a late meeting at the First Lady’s Conference Room at the Presidential Villa, according to Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, who spoke to reporters.

    He said: “We discussed so many issues that affect the nation, our party and Me. President’s ambition to run for 2019 elections.

    “It is the desire of the governors that Mr. President should run for this exalted office given his performance in the last two years.  We believe that if he continues, Nigeria will be better for it.

    “Anyhow, Mr. President in his usual manner has requested that we give him time and that he will address the national caucus of the party very soon. So we should be full of expectation that Mr. President will make officially known to Nigerians his intentions but we hope that his response will be in line with what the governors are thinking.”

  • 2019: Party delegates will decide

    In readiness for the 2019 general election, political and electioneering activities have increased in momentum. Aspirants for various positions have upped their game, garnering endorsements and adoptions from varied organizations and groups with a view to having the upper hand over their opponents and subsequently, pick the tickets of their various political parties. Some aspirants with deep pockets have gone the extra length of procuring endorsements and adoptions from many groups. These aspirants who engage in this buying of endorsements have the erroneous impression that with the endorsements from these groups, their candidacy for the general election is guaranteed.

    Some of these aspirants who have access to the commonwealth of the people dish it out recklessly for endorsements without caring a hoot or batting an eyelid because the fund dished out brazenly is not their hard-earned money which they can never do if they were not accessible to public till.

    However, endorsement is good if it is not procured.  But, endorsements from groups who are not party faithful are meaningless and useless to an aspirant. In a primary election of a political party, the elected and statutory delegates hold the key; they decide and determine who would be the party’s candidate in a particular position for the main election. Before the primaries, political parties conduct what is known as, delegate election of their party faithful which is usually supervised by the State Working Committee (SWC) and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. The NWC usually intervenes to ensure a level playing ground for all aspirants in the election of delegates, because SWCs are usually manipulated by incumbent governors.

    For instance, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted and introduced a new model to the conduct of party primaries which seems a departure from the past. The NWC of APC through the National Organizing Secretary of the party, Senator Osita Izunaso, is saddled with the responsibility of scrutinizing, vetting and approving the list of delegates before any primary election is conducted. What it means, is that, the office of Senator Osita Izunaso, goes through the lists of delegates submitted by the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, and ensures that statutory and accredited delegates are on the lists before they are returned to the states for the primaries. It implies that all the aspirants would have access to the list of delegates for the primaries in which they are participating and concur with it or raise an objection if necessary.

    During the Anambra State gubernatorial election conducted last November 18, the office of the National Organizing Secretary of APC, vetted the list of delegates to the APC primaries which copies were given to each of the aspirants to know those who were delegates that would decide their fate. By so doing, all the aspirants had the list and names of the delegates prior to the primaries and this resulted to rancor free primaries in Anambra State when Tony Nwoye emerged as the candidate of APC. Other defeated aspirants had no serious objections about the emergence of Nwoye because it was transparently done, and they all had prior knowledge of the delegates who chose their preferred candidate. In a nutshell, the new model adopted by APC as a political party means that all the delegates must be approved by the National Organizing Secretary of the party before the primaries as far as APC primaries in Nigeria is concerned. The era of conscripting a passerby, giving him or her tag of party delegate and using him or her to manipulate the primaries is gone for good.

    Before now, an orange seller in a party primary election venue could be conscripted as a delegate and made to vote. The new method means the aspirants would know the delegates, woo them, campaign before them, and convince them to accept their candidacy. This makes the delegates the real godfathers and kingmakers. The onus is on them to choose wisely and not to mortgage their conscience or mandate. It is incumbent on delegates to realize that making wrong choices will mortgage their states and the country for the next four years when their help would be needed again. We have learned of delegates being subjected to oath taking in previous elections to secure their trust. Delegate must realize that even elected and appointed political office holders have equally broken their oath of office administered to them during swearing or inauguration. Delegates should not be intimidated by the so-called ‘crossing over the casket’ before collecting inducement from aspirants; it is a psychological intimidation by some of these aspirants to instill fear in them. There is no power in that act.

    Meanwhile, some outgoing governors have openly vowed to ensure that certain individuals must never take over from them. That is playing God. The destiny of every man or aspirant is in the hands of God. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as an outgoing president in 2007 mounted the podium in Akure, Ondo State and vowed that then candidate of Labour party, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, who was contesting for the governorship of Ondo State, would never be elected as governor. Mimiko was a minister in Obasanjo’s cabinet. He showed interest to contest against then incumbent Governor Olusegun Agagu on the same platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Of course, the combined forces of incumbent President Obasanjo and late Governor Agagu muzzled and rigged him out. He went to election petition tribunal and reclaimed his mandate in 2009, two years after. Mimiko became Governor of Ondo State, served for two terms of eight years and left office in 2017. But, Obasanjo said he would never be governor of Ondo State. Obasanjo chased Governor Ayo Fayose away in 2006 after Fayose’s three years in office. Obasanjo vowed that Fayose would never return as governor of Ekiti State. Governor Fayose returned as governor of Ekiti State in 2014.

     

    • Maduako, writes from Owerri, Imo State.
  • Let electorate decide Buhari’s reelection fate, says Kashamu

    Let electorate decide Buhari’s reelection fate, says Kashamu

    Senator Kashamu Buruji has cautioned those advising President Muhamadu Buhari not to run for re-election to allow the   electorate to determine his fate.

    He said the only way for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to make a headway is for its leaders to ensure that aggrieved members get justice.

    Kashamu, in an interview, said: “Every Nigerian is entitled to his opinion.  Freedom of speech is one of the essentials of democracy. The President is constitutionally entitled to seek re-election and that is undeniable. The electorate should be the ones to decide whether they want him to continue in office or not since the issue of satisfactory performance is relative and might be subjective. For instance, it is common knowledge that the President promised to deliver on three things – to fight corruption, insecurity and fix our economy. Now, the jury is out as to whether he has delivered on the three programmes. But, no one can deny that he has blocked many leakages in our treasury through the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Government Financial Management and Information System and the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, among others.

    “The Federal Government has also decimated Boko Haram. Unlike before, the insurgents are no longer in control of any Nigerian territory. Again, although not all the Chibok girls are back, a good number of the girls have returned and back in the warm embrace of their families. While those in support of the President’s re-election could say that his anti-corruption war has helped to stabilise our economy and saved it from recession, those against it could argue that he is fighting corruption and insecurity at the expense of the economy.

    “Others could say that though the administration is fixing critical infrastructure, there is no stomach infrastructure and that it is those who are alive that can use the infrastructure. But, there are those who also believe that fixing the critical infrastructure will guarantee stomach infrastructure on a more sustainable basis.

    “In my candid opinion, integrity is of the essence in all human endeavours and I am yet to see one person who can question the integrity of Mr. President. This, to me, is a very important ingredient in leadership. This might have informed the recent choice of President Buhari by the African Union (AU) as its anti-corruption champion.”

    Kashamu praised the Seriake Dickson-led PDP reconciliation panel for starting well.

    “The committee is doing its very best in reaching out to all the aggrieved members of the party with a view to ironing out all the grey areas. And I think that is a very commendable initiative,” he said.

    “We are talking and I hope that at the end of the day, justice will be done in such a manner that none of the contending forces will be shortchanged,” the senator said.

    The senator criticised Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose for “running in and out of courts to enforce what he called his rights. Yet, the same person can gleefully deny others their rights to the constitutionally-guaranteed term of office.”

    “He is going nowhere. In fact, no reasonable Presidential candidate will pick a cantankerous and inordinately ambitious person as his running mate.

    “Any Presidential candidate who picks Fayose as his running mate endangers his life should he win.”

  • Buhari yet to decide on 2019, says Presidency

    Buhari yet to decide on 2019, says Presidency

    Despite pressure from some governors, ministers and others for him to run in next year’s election, President Muhammmadu Buhari has not made up his mind, the Presidency has said.

    Although the President told the Nigerian community in Cote d’Ivoire during his visit to that country in November last year that he might need their votes in future, presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said last night: “Nobody knows whether or not the President will seek reelection. About four groups have come to the President, asking if he will go for second term. The last of such groups was Good Governance Support Group, but the President has not said anything.”

    A source said at the weekend:  ”Many governors, ministers and groups have been coming to the Presidential Villa to feel Buhari’s pulse on the 2019 poll and to urge him to seek a second term ticket or ask for direction on the next poll.

    “Buhari has however kept everyone in suspense. He is yet to make a commitment.”

    But it was learnt that some former presidents and top Northern leaders will soon advise President Muhammadu Buhari on his political future.

    “The advice might come in form of a private meeting or through a letter to the President.

    These leaders (names withheld) have had up to three consultative sessions in the past few months to fine tune “their position on the way forward for Nigeria from 2019”.

    They, however, maintained that their position on the second term option will be “strongly advisory and not binding on Buhari in the light of the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution on two terms of eight years.

    A source privy to consultations among the ex-leaders and others said: “From the look of things, some former President and Northern leaders will soon make their advisory on 2019 poll available to Buhari. This will be a major package which will help define the next general elections.

    “Some of these leaders provided advisory and support which guided the emergence of Buhari in 2015. They have been consulting on the next poll and what in their view is best for Nigeria.

    “The advisory is not binding on Buhari, but they may be weighty enough to serve as guidance. They believe Buhari has the constitutional right to vie for second term in office.”

    Asked to be specific on these leaders, the source added: “The nation will soon hear from them.”

  • What ‘ll decide the votes, by Chidoka

    What ‘ll decide the votes, by Chidoka

    The candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP) in the November 18, 2017 Anambra governorship election, Chief Osita Chidoka, has said the peoples’ quest for a government that best represents their voice and interest, and not the so-called ‘incumbency factor’ or ‘federal might’, will determine the outcome of the election.

    Speaking in the wake of a high profile meeting of stakeholders from across the 21 local government areas and 326 electoral wards of the state, Chidoka said there is a consensus that he and the UPP best represent the interest and voice of ndi Anambra and the Southeast region in general in their quest for self-affirmation.

    He said: “INEC has given us assurances that they will use electronic transmission of votes; so the votes will count and because the votes will count, we know that what will happen in Anambra will be an issue of who has the best ground operation.

    “It doesn’t matter whether you are an incumbent or not, or whether you have the so-called federal might. What will matter in this election is who the voters best feel an affinity for; who they think best represents them.

    “There is a clear consensus among the people in Anambra that Osita Chidoka is the best candidate in this election. There is a consensus that Osita Chidoka will best represent the voice of ndi Anambra and the voice of ndi Igbo in Nigeria. Ndi Anambra knows the candidate that has the best plans and programmes to move their state forward. I believe these will be the deciding factors come November 18.”

    The UPP candidate however announced the commencement of a critical phase of his electioneering, the door-to-door and person-to-person mobilization, in a bid to directly reach all registered voters in the state.

    He said the next phase of his campaign’s ground operation, which will kick-off fully on Monday, will involve a massive deployment of volunteers and supporters for yet another round of intensive mobilization to reach all registered voters across all polling units, ahead of the polls.

  • ‘Chief Judge ‘ll decide fate of The Nation’s case against Senate’

    ‘Chief Judge ‘ll decide fate of The Nation’s case against Senate’

    Justice Jude Dagat of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday said the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, will determine if judgment in The Nation’s suit against the National Assembly will be delivered as scheduled.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa, who adjudicated on the case, adjourned for judgment before he was transferred to Enugu Division.

    The plaintiffs thereafter applied to the CJ for a fiat to enable Justice Yunusa return to Lagos to deliver the judgment rather than the case starting de novo (afresh).

    The judgment had been fixed before the respondents – National Assembly and the Senate – filed their responses to the suit.

    Vintage Press Limited (publishers of The Nation), the Editor Gbenga Omotoso and a correspondent, Imam Bello, are the applicants.

    Yesterday, their lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu, told Justice Dagat, who took over the case, that it was adjourned for judgment.

    He said: “This case has been reserved for judgment. We had applied to the CJ for a special fiat to enable his Lordship (Justice Yunusa) to come over and pronounce the judgment.

    “We have argued the processes. The respondents served us with some applications today (yesterday), but those have been overtaken by events,” he said.

    Respondents’ counsel J. A Ugese, who was holding the brief of Sebastine Hon (SAN), said the respondents filed a counter-affidavit and a preliminary objection. He said they deserved to be heard before judgment is delivered.

    Justice Dagat said since there was a pending application for a fiat, parties should await the outcome.

    He said if the CJ grants the fiat, parties would be served a fresh hearing notice.

    The applicants earlier urged the court to refuse the respondents’ bid to arrest the judgment.

    In an application filed on December 1, the Senate prayed the court not to deliver the judgment but to extend the time within which it “may” file and serve its counter-affidavit.

    The Senate also sought an order striking out the suit for want of jurisdiction. It prayed the court to set aside the proceedings, as well as its orders and decisions taken in the case.

    In a supporting affidavit, Clerk of the Senate’s Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee, Freedom Osolo, said the National Assembly’s inability to respond to the suit on time “is not deliberate but is due to the non-service of the aforesaid process of this court on the second respondent”.

    But, the plaintiffs said the Senate’s motion was an abuse of court process because it had ample opportunity to defend the suit but failed to do so.

    They noted that the court adjourned the case severally to enable the respondents file their responses, but they “deliberately failed and neglected to file their defence”.

    Besides, they said the respondents were duly served with the processes, which were received and duly acknowledged with an official stamp, according to affidavits deposed to by the court’s sheriff.

    Justice Yunusa had granted an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, their members, committees or agents from summoning or directing the appearance of the applicants or any of their agents before any Senate committee.

    According to the proofs of service exhibited before the court, the suit was received by the Office of the President of the Senate last September 1.

    The National Assembly was earlier served on August 27 through the Office of the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly.

    Among the plaintiffs’ processes were a motion for interlocutory injunction, and the main suit, which sought, among others, an order of perpetual injunction against the respondents.

    The Senate, in an August 4 letter, invited Omotoso and Bello to appear before it unfailingly over the story: Motion: 22 APC Northern senators ‘working against Buhari’, published last July 30.

    The Senate wrote again on August 11, threatening to invoke Section 89 (1) (D) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to compel the applicants to appear.

    But the court barred the lawmakers from requesting the applicants to produce any papers, notes or other documents in respect of the story.

    The judge also restrained the respondents from issuing a warrant to compel the applicants’ attendance before the Senate committee set up to investigate the publication.

    The applicants contended that the National Assembly was attempting to gag the press through intimidation and by demanding that they disclose the source of their story.

    In its counter-affidavit, the Senate said the invitation extended to the plaintiffs “was a mere invitation”, adding that the National Assembly “is not a law enforcement agency that can impede or prohibits the rights of the applicants”.

    In its preliminary objection, the National Assembly sought an order striking out the suit for being “premature, pre-emptive and speculative”.

    It argued that the applicants were attempting to prevent the lawmakers from carrying out their constitutional duties by filing the suit.

    Justice Dagat adjourned to April 7, noting that parties may get hearing notices for an earlier date once the CJ responds to the application for a fiat.

  • Momoh: military has no power to decide on polls

    Former Chairman of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Prince Tony Momoh said yesterday that the only security agents that can guarantee free elections are the police.

    The army, the former minister noted, “has no power or right to decide which day to vote or which day not to vote.”

    His words: “My reaction to this matter is independent. They told us that the election is February 14, and we all worked toward the date. “

    “The only person that can tell us that February 14 is not feasible is INEC. The only security agents that can equally tell us that it cannot guarantee free elections are the police. The army has no power or right to decide which day to vote or which day not to vote.

    “Their own area of operation is the external affairs. They are to protect the territorial integrity of the country against external aggression. If there is problem in 14 local government areas, in a country with 774 local governments and if you minus the councils with problem from those without problem, elections can still be held successfully.

    “They are telling us not to hold elections in all other areas because 14 councils have problem. So, we must find out why there are no guarantees for INEC to conduct elections in all the other areas. They must tell Nigerians.

    “With the commission of some other people, they are imposing their own wishes on the Nigerians people to derail our democracy. I begin to think of the June 12, 1993 scenario.

    “Nigerians will not accept the June 12 scenario now. It is only the police that will be present where INEC will carry out elections.

    “Everybody should know that this is an attempt to divert attention; and nobody attention should be diverted.

  • 2015: ‘People ‘ll decide their representatives’

    2015: ‘People ‘ll decide their representatives’

    Edo State Deputy Governor Dr. Pius Odubu has said only the people would decide their representatives in next year’s general elections.

    He said just like the All Progressives Congress (APC) had always done, the people would be given the opportunity to decide who would represent them in elective positions.

    Odubu spoke when he hosted the Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Mr. Samson Osagie, in Benin City at the weekend.

    The lawmaker said his visit was to inform the deputy governor of his aspiration for the Edo South ticket.

    Odubu said Osagie was one of the many aspirants for the position.

    He said the party would provide a level-playing field for the aspirants.

    The deputy governor added: “My message is clear. Many have come and many more will come for this same purpose, but the party will provide a level-playing field for all of them.

  • Akpala to decide future soon

    Akpala to decide future soon

    Nigeria and Werder Bremen striker Joseph Akpala has said his future will be decided in the coming days, after returning from his loan spell in Turkey.

    The 27-year-old has been training with the Green and Whites during pre-season ahead of the start of the 2014/2015 German Bundesliga season and has been registered with jersey number 35, but it remains unclear whether his future lies with the club.

    However, the player has told Brila FM that his future will be sorted in a matter of days. “That (future) will be sorted in the next few days, and I’ll know where I will be whether it is Bremen or not.”

    Akpala spent the last season out on loan at Turkish side Karabükspor, playing 11 times and scoring four goals in the process but admits he would love to remain at Bremen.

    “If I had my way, I’d love to stay at Bremen and help the club but if they feel it’s best that I moved on, then we will know.”

    Meanwhile, Akpala and his teammates have left their training base in Zillertal and returned to Bremen, where they will conclude their pre-season training ahead of the new Bundesliga season.

    The last tune-up game they played in Zillertal was against Spanish side Athletic Bilbao which ended in a 2-2 draw.

    And after the pre-season camp, manager Robin Dutt admitted that “we know where we still have work to do.” Dutt has also announced Clemens Fritz as captain for the new season, and will be assisted by Sebastian Prodl.

  • NFF to decide on Keshi – Minister

    NFF to decide on Keshi – Minister

    Nigeria’s sports minister Tammy Danagogo has said only the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) can decide whether or not to give coach Stephen Keshi a new deal.

    Keshi’s contract ended with the recent World Cup in Brazil, where Nigeria reached the last 16 this month.

    “My role (as regards Keshi’s contract) will be advisory. It will be the NFF and the technical committee which will decide on Keshi,” Danagogo said on a radio programme monitored in Abuja Thursday.

    The Super Eagles will resume action with the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers in September.

    AfricanFootball.com had previously reported that ‘Big Boss’ Keshi had demanded for double his five million Naira-a-month salary.

    He also wanted his salaries paid upfront to avoid delays and that he should be allowed to pick his staff.

    This was when he met with the country’s President Goodluck Jonathan on arrival from Brazil 2014.

    The 52-year-old Keshi has also been linked with the vacant coaching post of South Africa. of South Africa.