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Tag: discordant

  • Discordant tunes over CJN as Fed Govt cautions foreign envoys

    The Federal Government yesterday warned representatives of foreign counties and organisations operating in the country to stay clear of Nigeria’s internal matters.

    A statement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s spokesman, George Ehidiamen Edokpa, warned embassies to desist from actions and divisive utterances.

    Reacting to the recent comments by foreign partners on the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, the government urged for caution.

    The statement reads: “The Federal Government of Nigeria notes with deep concern statements made by representatives of foreign Governments and international organisations resident in Nigeria, notably the Embassy of the United States of America, the High Commission of the United Kingdom as well as the European Union Election Observer Mission, regarding the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), which demonstrate serious and unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Nigeria.

    “The various statements, especially of those referred to above, appear prejudicial and signify alignment with the opposition and endorsement of its position that the ruling party, and by extension the Federal Government of Nigeria, is working on rigging the forthcoming elections in Nigeria.

    “These statements also portend tolerance for corrupt acts and downplay the anticorruption crusade of the Buhari Administration, knowing fully that the suspended CJN had not denied the charges against him and that probity requires of him to step aside while the case is under scrutiny.

    “It is pertinent to underscore the unfortunate fact that statements, as referred above, are inimical to the wellbeing and development of Nigeria, given their nuisance value of promoting sectional and religious divide in the country, anarchy and retrogression. Now, more than any other time, Nigerians and true friends of Nigeria should be working towards repositioning Nigeria to realise her potential and sustainably provide the leadership expected of her.

    “His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari had consistently demonstrated respect for the rule of law as a presidential candidate and as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and would engage in nothing to the contrary.

    “He also remains a man of integrity, who has severally pledged free and fair elections. It is therefore absurd to presume that the suspension of the CJN is geared towards rigging the forthcoming elections in favour of the ruling party.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, be it known that on three occasions that Mr. President went to court, as a presidential candidate and lost his case, in 2013, 2011 and 2007, the presiding judges at the Supreme Court were all northerners and Muslims: Justice Muhammad Lawal Uwais, Idris Lebo Kutigi and Dahiru Mustapha respectively.

    “In fact, in one instance, the presiding judge at the Appeal Court was from Katsina State and the President’s former classmate, yet, he lost the case. The minority judgements in his favour were given by two judges, both of them southerners and Christians: Justices George Adesola Oguntade and Sylvanus Nsofor.

    “Resident embassies and international organisations invited to observe the forthcoming elections must therefore be wary of being drawn into the camp of the opposition, otherwise their neutrality, which is the hallmark of election observers becomes questionable.

    “It is indeed unfortunate that foreign missions would align with the opposition and seek to negatively interpret actions by the Federal Government, no matter their positive basis and intention. Had the Federal Government been high-handed, would the opposition have been able to express its views, even to the point of pouring invectives on Mr. President?

    “How best can the corruption in the judiciary, which has enormously undermined the rights of the common man and made justice available only to the highest bidder, be best tackled than by ensuring that known cases are fundamentally tackled? Where is the rule of law, if justice is applied selectively?”

    Why Atiku, PDP are crying, by APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the opposition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Onnoghen’s suspension is a clear testimony of the frustration they faced in their ploy to use the judiciary to rig their way into power.

    In a statement titled “Why Do PDP, Atiku Oppose Onnoghen’s Suspension as CJN?” by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, the APC said: “In recent weeks Nigerians have been inundated with reports regarding self-confessed discrepancies in the asset declaration made by erstwhile Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen. So acting on an order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday took the decisive action of suspending Onnoghen.

    “The strident opposition to Justice Onnoghen’s suspension coming from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by its presidential candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar again points to their penchant for anything corrupt and criminal.

    “We must ask ourselves these questions, why was Justice Onnoghen suspended? What are the charges against him? It is on the basis of this, we had expected the PDP, Atiku and their agents to assess the President’s action.

    “Justice Onnoghen was accused of non-declaration of assets — a requirement by law for every public officer. While under investigations, other transactions have been traced to Justice Onnoghen’s personal accounts, all undeclared as required by law. Justice Onnoghen has personally admitted to this in writing claiming that he made a “mistake” and “forgot” to declare his assets.

    “In the spirit of good conscience, integrity, character and general conduct expected of occupants of public office, we are of the strong position that Justice Onnoghen should have resigned immediately to face his trial after his confession and spare the Judiciary further disrepute. Justice Onnoghen did not. This in itself smells mischief.

    “For one, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s hold on Justice Onnoghen and a few others in the Judiciary is well-known. This was their trump card to hijack power post-election. It is clear that Justice Onnoghen’s suspension has devastated the PDP as their plans to get back to power through the “cash and carry” justice system they put in place during their unfortunate 16 years reign is in serious jeopardy.

    “In citing the election tribunals as reason for Justice Onnoghen’s suspension, has Atiku given himself away on his now busted plot to use the tribunals to steal the people’s mandate in the presidential election he knows he will lose?”

    Atiku: Nigerians must vote out Buhari

    PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has urged Nigerians to vote out President Muhammadu Buhari.

    This, according to him, is the surest way to ensure progress and prosperity for Nigerians.

    Atiku, who spoke at the Yar ‘Adua Centre, Abuja, said the country was passing through a difficult moment and that how Nigerians react to this challenge in the following days will determine the fate of the nation’s democracy.

    He described the crisis as needless, but which portends great peril to the system. Atiku blamed the government for unwilling to subject its conducts to the requirements of the constitution.

    Said he: “Meanwhile, I commend all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, who have expressed outrage over the unlawful removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, an action, which constitutes a flagrant breach of our constitution and a frontal assault on our democracy.

    “I want to note the universal condemnation of this unlawful act by all Nigerians, as well as the international community. I need to state that this latest action by General Muhammadu Buhari falls squarely within the pattern of executive lawlessness that has now been firmly turned into statecraft by the APC government.

    “The serial disregard of court orders, and consequent violation of constitutionally guaranteed human rights of our citizens confirms beyond all doubt that General Buhari and his government would rather obey their own whims and operate by separate rules outside the well-established constitutional order and the rule of law. It scarcely requires emphasis that this behaviour is alien to democratic rule and more in line with that of a military dictator.”

     ‘Ensure diligent prosecution, not persecution’

    The Chancellor of the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights (ISSJHR), Dr. Omenazu Jackson, has called for diligent prosecution and not persecution of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    He stated this yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, while addressing a news conference.

    Jackson said: “The judiciary is the only compass guiding our footsteps towards a peaceful and orderly society, disparaging it on the altar of politics is to our doom, but the officers in the temple of justice must stand on high moral pedestal to safeguard the sanctity of the exalted offices they occupy.

    “If the officers in the temple of justice fail, the society returns to stone age and the sanctity of the judiciary will be lost and nature exhibits its folly on us all.

    “Members of the political class, who are bent on truncating our democratic process through unwarranted and unguarded attacks on institutions of governance, we plead with them to be patriotic in their undertakings, as politics without morality is criminality amplified.”

    Chancellor of ISSJHR also called for urgent convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC), having seen the lacunas contained in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which he said had given rise to the current constitutional crises rocking the Nigerian state.

    Agbakoba urges NJC to immediately remove acting CJN

    A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to immediately remove Acting Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad.

    He made the demand in a January 28 letter to the NJC titled: Petition against Hon. Justice Tanko Mohammed JSC.

    Agbakoba recalled that on January 25, President Mohammadu Buhari, pursuant to an ex-parte order of the Code of the Conduct Tribunal (CCT), suspended the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghnen, and swore in Justice Mohammed as the Acting CJN.

    He wrote: “The Constitution is clear about the procedure for suspending or removing the Chief Justice of Nigeria. The Chief Justice of Nigeria can only be removed on the recommendation of the NJC.”

    He referred to Section 153 (1), Paragraph 21 (a) of the 3rd Schedule and Section 292 (1) (a) (i) of the 1999 Constitution and the Supreme Court decision in Elelu-Habeeb v AGF (2012) 40 WRN 1.

    Read also: Atiku promises to site refinery in Akwa Ibom

    Agbakoba said Justice Muhammad is fully aware of the state of law, yet presented himself to be sworn in by the President.

    “Incidentally, Justice Tanko Muhammad was a member of the NJC panel that removed Justice Obisike Orji of the Abia state High Court for accepting to be sworn in as Chief Judge by the Governor of Abia State without the recommendation of the NJC.

    “It is a matter of regret that Justice Tanko Muhammad who participated in this process will lend himself to this constitutional infraction,” the SAN said.

    He urged the NJC to remove Justice Muhammad based on the Abia precedent.

    “We pray the NJC determine this petition in line with the decision in Justice Obisike Orji by immediately removing Justice Tanko Muhammad as Justice of the Supreme Court on grounds of gross misconduct by allowing himself to be sworn in by the President of Nigeria, without the recommendation of the NJC,” Agbakoba said.

    Olawepo-Hashim Peace Committee, NJC to intervene

     People’s Trust (PT) Presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has called on the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee and the Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC) to amicably resolve the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, to avert political and constitutional crises.

    Olawepo-Hashim, in an interview yesterday in Abuja, lamented that the suspension of the CJN, barely three weeks to the election.

    According to him: “Such an appointment must be done on the recommendation of the Nigeria Judicial Commission (NJC), which was not the case in the appointment of Justice Tanko.”

    Olawepo-Hashim called on the Acting CJN to step aside and allow a process where the next CJN in line would be recommended by the NJC.

    He declared: “I am not particularly interested in individuals but how to preserve the integrity of institutions of state such as the Judiciary.

    “The weighty allegations against Justice Onnoghen should still be investigated by the NJC and it should be up to the NJC to know what to do with him in accordance with the constitution the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other judicial regulations.”

    Protest in Calabar over suspension

    A group known as the “Concerned Cross Riverians on The Unconstitutional Suspension of the CJN” took to the streets to protest the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari, describing as unconstitutional.

    They demanded the immediate reinstatement of the Chief Justice of Nigeria with all his rights and privilege as the CJN.

    They also vowed to vote out the All Progressives  Congress (APC), at all levels especially President Mohammadu Buhari, as according to them, there were are so many burning issues that needed attention more than the “illegal suspension” of the CJN but have not been attended to.

    Reading a communiqué on behalf of the group a constitutional lawyer, Leo Anyogo, said the people of Cross River were dismayed by the development.

    “It is with total shock and disbelief that President Buhari in clear violation of S.292 of the constitution and that of the court of Appeal purportedly suspended the CJN without due process. This is clearly an assault on the Sacred Temple of Justice,” the group said.

    Buhari’s campaign group knocks PDP over Onnoghen

    The Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) yesterday berated the PDP for suspending its presidential campaign in protest of Justice Walter Onnoghen suspension from office as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), saying the action is untenable.

    The BCO said the party should have quit the 2019 elections completely rather than “the hypocrisy of just suspending the electioneering process”.

    In a statement by its Director of Communication and Strategic Planning,  Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, the president’s support group noted that by suspending its campaign, the PDP has shown that it has nothing to campaign with in terms of viable manifesto and constructive programmes to sell to Nigerians.

    Ibrahim said: “The PDP ought not to have suspend its campaign; it would have quit the 2019 elections completely. Why are they not talking about the subject of discussion, which is corruption and deceit? Is the party trying to say if anybody in a civilised country like Nigeria is found guilty of corruption,  even the president, he should not be jailed?”

    Onaiyekan to Buhari: follow the rule of law

    The Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, last night advised the President to allow the rule of law prevail over the suspension of the  CJN.

    Speaking with reporters in Abuja on the eve of his 75th birthday anniversary, the clergy said it was wrong to undermine the Constitution of Nigeria.

    “What I am trying to say is that something has happened that should not happen at all. Let nobody tell me that the rule for removing a chief justice of the federation is not clear.

    “That is what I am hearing that President Muhammadu Buhari has his reasons for doing what he did and that as far as those people are concerned, he did the right thing and then the big number of lawyers said no, it is not right. If we cannot agree on this, then what can we agree on?

    “My hope is that with the amount of ingenuity Nigerians have, and all these great legal luminaries in no time within the next week or so, we will arrive at some conclusion which will permit the country to move forward on this matter.

    “But I think we should decide what our law says. And we should hold everybody accountable to follow the law. Even President Muhammadu Buhari must follow the law.”

    Presidential candidates back suspension

    The forum of Presidential Candidates and Political Parties for Good Governance (PCPPGG) yesterday backed the suspension of Justice Onnoghen as CJN.

    The candidates said it will not have any negative effect on the forthcoming general elections.

    The chairman of the body, Alhaji Shittu Muhammed Kabir, said: “The Forum of Presidential Candidates and Political Parties for Good Governance believes strongly that President Muhammadu Buhari’s suspension of Hon.Justice Onnoghen as CJN is proper and timely.

    “Majority of Nigerians have now realised that but for the pre-emptive move by the President, Onnoghen would have proceeded to constitute the Election Petition Panels.

    “No wonder some interested elements are shocked that their game plan has been punctured. Desperate disease needs a desperate treatment. President Buhari acted in the overall interest of the masses of Nigeria.

    “So much is required from the judiciary since they hold the power of life and death. Judges are therefore expected to live above board and be incorruptible. It would have been unfair to Nigerians to have someone who is carrying a clear baggage of corruption on his head to continue to preside over a sensitive arm of government like the judiciary, just because some elements would wish to use legal technicalities to cover up or moderate an obvious misdeed.” He, however, said as responsible actors in Nigeria’s political system, they have concluded: “That the offence allegedly committed by Justice Onnoghen is not judicial that could have warranted the intervention of NJC.

    “That the constitution recognises the holder of the office of CJN as the 1st public officer in Nigeria.

    “That the suspension of the CJN cannot be equated with removal as envisaged in the constitution. The suspension by the President does not, therefore, require the input of the NJC and the National Assembly.”

    67 parties: suspension must not stand

    Sixty Seven political parties yesterday faulted Onnoghen’s suspension, describing it as “illegal, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect.”

    The parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party and Social Democratic Party, pointed out that they were very disturbed by the illegal suspension of  the CJN and the swearing in of an acting CJN, saying “both actions are illegal and foreign to our constitution.”

    The parties, in a joint statement, called on President Buhari to reverse the suspension.

    The statement reads: “The CJN, as a judicial officer, can only be removed from office by the President acting on an address supported by two thirds majority of the Senate for his inability to discharge the functions of his office or appointment or for misconduct or contravention of the Code of Conduct.”

  • End the discordant tunes

    •Fiscal and monetary authorities should work together in the nation’s interest

    CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria, CBN, voted at the end of its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja on September 20 to retain benchmark interest rate at 14 per cent. The committee also kept the cash reserve ratio and liquidity ratio at 22.5 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively. This was against the expectation of the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, who earlier on September 19 urged the CBN to consider cutting interest rates, to make it easier for the Federal Government to take domestic loans and stimulate the economy. The minister was quoted as saying: “We need lower interest rates, because when we are borrowing and interest rates go up, it increases our cost of debt service and it reduces the amount of money that is available to spend on capital projects”.

    For an economy which only a few weeks back slipped into recession, the outcome of MPC meeting is certainly revealing in a number of ways. First, is the dissonance on the reading of the current crisis. Second, are the perceptible differences between the monetary authorities and their counterparts on the fiscal side on what should in fact constitute an appropriate strategy to get the economy out of the current recession. Finally, is the matter of what each side considers as its priorities at this difficult time.

    Be that as it may, the CBN governor believes that: “Both monetary and fiscal authorities have the same intention to achieve growth. But, the direction through which each wants to achieve it may differ, for as long as you still achieve the growth.”

    With due respect to the CBN governor, it is hard to see how moving in opposing directions will lead to the same destination.

    We certainly know what the current situation demands. The economy is in recession. Our infrastructure are in terrible shape. The macro-economic environment is hopelessly inclement to industrial activities. Our financial institutions are not lending; when they do, the interest rate is outrageously astronomical. As a result, activities in the real sector have sunk to unimaginably low levels.

    The expectation is that the Federal Government will not only embark on massive spending to renew the nation’s infrastructure, but also create the environment for private sector to flourish, of which access to cheap credit constitutes a major part. While the apex bank’s obsession to tame the spiralling inflation currently put at 17.1 per cent is partly understandable, it is hard to see how the measures which not only seek to constrict liquidity but also to raise the cost of borrowing will deliver on the objectives.

    Clearly, we recognise that the banks have not been quite helpful when it comes to channelling funds to sectors considered both by the government and the apex bank as priority sector. Indeed, the CBN can hardly be faulted when it argues that past decisions to reduce the MPC rate and CRR, actually benefitted traders, instead of developing the real sector. Or, that traders used bank loans to demand for foreign exchange allocations that were not properly deployed, thereby triggering further pressures on the FOREX market. Or even the more damning charge that the banks would rather refinance their liquidity than attend to proposals on agricultural and new manufacturing projects and others capable of spurring industrial capacity and manufacturing output. But then, so has the fiscal authorities not been faithful in the implementation of the budget.

    At this time, the luxury of a fiscal authority working at cross-purposes with the monetary authorities is such that the nation can ill-afford. In any case, what is the idea behind having the CBN governor on the Economic Management Team of the Federal Government if not to jointly proffer broad measures to deal with the problems? At this time, we can only urge parties to go back to the drawing board to come up with clear direction for the economy. Surely, both parties need to get to work on the unacceptably high lending rates. It’s high time they put an end to the discordant tunes.

     

  • Ex-military chiefs’ discordant tunes

    SIR: In his valedictory remarks made on the occasion of his ceremonial “pulling out” from the Armed Forces, retired Air Chief Marshal Alex Sobundo Badeh painted a depressing picture of the state of readiness and combat worthiness of the Armed forces of Nigeria. He stated rather matter-of-factly that the Armed Forces are ill-equipped and lacking in motivation to combat Boko Haram gun men! That shocked Nigerians and certainly non-Nigerians who have been monitoring the “war on terror” in the North East Nigeria. Not done, the Air Chief Marshall also alluded to the inadequacy of the strength of the Armed Forces with respect to the number of troops under arms. He has since been roundly condemned in the media, print and electronic as well as on the social media. Many have stated the view, that it was an act of cowardice for the former CDS to be gamboling around in smart military uniform complete with bogus epaulettes, whilst the troops under his command were in the terrible shape he admitted they were in.

    Less than a week later, former Chief of Army Staff General Minimah read his valedictory remarks at a similar parade held in his honour in Abuja. His remarks were not as acerbic as those of the CDS. However, some key issues were raised about the state of the Nigerian Army in his time as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the on-going war against Boko Haram insurgents. Starting with those he referred to as “the elite” he claimed that they used the Boko Haram to advance their ‘political, religious and sectional interests”. This is similar to the charge of the former CDS that there were fifth columnists in the military. General Minimah claimed that if the elite had supported the government in the war on Boko Haram, more successes would have been recorded. He alluded to the inadequate funding by the “authorities” which show-cased the scant regard for the health and vitality of the Nigerian Army personnel. He claimed that adequate welfare could have motivated the troops to perform better. He bemoaned the decay occasioned by long period of neglect. General Minimah stated that he left the Nigerian Army better than he met it.

    The views General Minimah expressed were in many ways in tandem with those of the former CDS, particularly with respect to funding and equipment of the troops. But in an interview with PRNigeria, a public relations firm, former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), claimed that “Jonathan facilitated the acquisition of weapons for the military in the last one year”.

    Can this be the same military that the former CDS described as “ill-equipped? It just does not add up. Or can it be that the former CDS was not aware of the weapons the Jonathan administration acquired for the military? This is very unlikely to be the case because it is impossible for such a quantum of armament to have escaped the attention of the CDS. Dasuki named some of the acquired weapons to include Alpha jets, APCs, MRAP vehicles, advanced artillery pieces, assorted arms and ammunitions, as well as highly sophisticated surveillance drones. The administration also deployed Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles that were bought and could withstand improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes”. Somebody is not telling the truth.

    In the light of the claims and counter claims, it has become an absolute necessity that the Federal Government carry out a full scale investigation into the matter, even as we await the valedictory speeches of the former Chief of Naval Staff and the former Chief of Air Staff. It should interest Nigerians where all the huge defence budgets went. If the funds announced in the budget were not released, then what has to be accounted for would be the funded actually released to the military out of the humongous budgets year in year out. Exactly what happened has to be unearthed. The troops in combat as well as Boko Haram elements are closely monitoring the claims and counter claims. When the truths are finally established, government must correct all the lapses and inadequacies and ensure that the Nigerian Armed Forces are fully kitted, highly motivated and given full logistics back as the combat Boko Haram insurgents and indeed kidnappers, violent criminals and saboteurs who vandalized our oil facilities and all the kingpins of illegal oil bunkering.

     

    • Col Ola Majoyeogbe (rtd)

    Lagos.

  • TSS: Discordant tones in Anambra

    TSS: Discordant tones in Anambra

    In 2009, Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, approved payment of the 27.5 per cent Teachers Salary Structure (TSS), but some persons in the state claim that what he pays is Teachers Enhancement Allowance (TEA)

    However, the chairman of Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Sir Nzemeka Olisa insists that Obi has been paying (TSS) since 2009

    Those, according to him, who do not receive the full complement of the 27.5 per cent are those that classified themselves as non tutorial workers.

    “You can not be a member of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) and you say you are a non tutorial staff; that one is non academic; such thing can not happen in accountancy profession, or advertising profession.

    “Our Governor, Mr. Peter Obi approved it in 2009 and he has paid but only that group of people have not been received theirs in full because they see themselves as non teachers because they do not carry chalk,” Olisa said.

    The state chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ifeanyi Offodile also said Obi has paid the (TSS) since December 2009. He however blamed over zealous civil servants in the office of the Head of Service for the seemingly partial implementation.

    Offodile said the office of Head of Service removed names of teachers who work in the ASUBEB without consultation.

    He said that the 27.5 per cent was classified as follows: 15 per cent for special allowance for professional teachers, five per cent for hazard allowance, another five was for teachers in classroom activities, while 2.5 per cent was purely professional.

    “We are showing good faith with Governor Obi because he is a good man. He has paid as he promised but along the line, teachers in the boards were denied, that is (ASUBEB) and post primary school service commission (PPSC),” he said.

    According to him, teachers in PPSSC receive 17.5 per cent as against 27.5 because they do not receive hazard and classroom activities’ allowances.

    “But in ASUBEB, their names were completely removed by the office of the HoS. (NUT) has made a case and we believe our Governor is making a head way with the office of the (HOS),” he said.

    When the Nation visited the office of the chairman of (PPSSC), Mrs. Joy Ulasi, she claimed to be too busy, though, she admitted that Obi has paid (TSS) in the state.

    On further investigations on the issue, The Nation gathered that a lot of intrigues were going on in the state concerning the payment of (TSS), while some claim that the government has paid, some others claim that what Obi has paid is what they refer is as (TEA)

    According to a source, “We are enduring the entire thing, if you tell them to pay TSS, honestly, many people will slump because they believe the state has no money for that “the source said.

     

  • 2015 Presidency: Igbo leaders sing discordant tunes

    2015 Presidency: Igbo leaders sing discordant tunes

    As the debate over the next zone to produce the president of Nigeria gathers momentum, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, takes a look at the position and preparedness of the South-East zone to produce the country’s president in 2015.

     

    When Dr. Dozie Ikedife, a former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, reportedly declared that Ndigbo will contest the 2015 presidential election only if President Goodluck Jonathan is not seeking reelection, little did he know he was fanning the ember of discord among the leaders and people of the South-East region.

    Formed in 1976 by a group of eminent Igbos led by frontline legal luminary, Professor Ben Nwabueze, Ohaneze Ndigbo is seen as the umbrella body of all pan-Igbo organisations. As such, when its leaders talk, their utterances are usually taken very seriously within and outside the region.

    As if not to leave anyone in doubt about its pro-Jonathan stance, Ohanaeze, speaking through its newly elected leadership confirmed Ikedife’s position recently, when it said it would go along with Jonathan’s decision to either run or not in 2015.

    Addressing a maiden news conference in Lagos, the newly elected National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Chief Tonnie Oganah, said the President was constitutionally empowered to seek re-election at the expiration of his tenure except he declined.

    “After Jonathan’s tenure is completed either in 2015 or 2019, it will be the turn of the Igbo for the Presidency. What we are saying is that the Igbo, being a major player in the country, are entitled to the Presidency and it is their turn. If President Jonathan declines to run in 2015, it then makes it quicker for the Igbo. The bottom line is that an Igbo man will succeed Jonathan whether in 2015 or 2019,” Oganah said.

    But just as politicians and other stakeholders across the country were beginning to see the pronouncement as the collective position of the South-East region on the forthcoming general election, dissenting voices started emerging from the region, suggesting that Ohaenaeze’s position may after-all be an unpopular one among Ndigbo.

    Socio-political groups like the Ikenga, Igbo Mandate Group (IMG) and Njiko Igbo, have all come out to refute the claim by Ohanaeze that Ndigbo are willing to forfeit their presidential pursuit if President Jonathan is desirous of another term in office come 2015.

    For Njiko Igbo, there is no going back on the quest to have a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2015. The group said majority of the people of the South-East are opposed to Ohanaeze’s support for Jonathan at the expense of what it called the collective dream of the Igbo people.

    The acting National Publicity Secretary of the group and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirant in Imo State, Mr. Brady Nwosu, said the organisation’s position was in line with its objective to promote the place of the Igbo nation in the Nigerian project.

    Nwosu said while the leaders of Njiko Igbo  believe in the corporate existence of Nigeria, they also believe there should be equity in the country, especially as it concerns the presidency of Nigeria.

    “Right now, our brothers from Ijaw have already attained the presidency and we have not and the Igbo nation is a major political bloc.

    “Our group believes that an Igbo man must become president in 2015. An Igbo has never been opportuned to be president of this country. It is our turn to produce the president in 2015,” Nwosu said.

    But the Ohanaeze Ndigbo feels different. The group said there is no reason Ndigbo should be against Jonathan’s ambition in 2015. The organisation declared that it is not ready to obstruct the President’s quest for another term irrespective of how other stakeholders in the region view the development.

    Acknowledging that the orgnisation shares the agitation for Igbo presidency, Oganah said they will expect political parties to have the Igbo Presidency in mind in selecting their flag bearers for the presidential election.

    He said “all Ohanaeze and indeed the Igbos want is to get their fair share of leadership of the country. But such expectation is subject to the decision of President Jonathan to run or not to run in 2015.

    “Either way, we are not against him. We will urge Nigerians to give him the necessary support needed to make life better for Nigerians until his tenure expires,” Oganah said.

    But the Njiko Igbo would want the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to take stock of political development since the inception of the present democratic dispensation. The group said given that the South-East contributed substantially to the emergence of presidents from other geopolitical zones, it is imperative for the other zones to reciprocate by supporting an Igbo man to be Nigeria’s president in 2015.

    Not to be left out of the raging controversy, the Oganiru Ndigbo Foundation recently distanced itself from calls on Jonathan to contest the 2015 election, warning those using the name of the Igbos for such pronouncements to desist or prepare to be ostracized.

    The group said while Ndigbo are not at war with Jonathan, there is absolutely no reason, at this time, to endorse him or any other politician for 2015 election, especially as Ndigbo has already expressed interest in producing the next President of Nigeria in 2015.

    “Whereas Ndigbo overwhelmingly supported the election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 elections, we remain of the view that the President should not be distracted by relevance-seeking political jobbers with such calls, even when he is yet to deliver on his major promises to Ndigbo,” they said in a statement.

    The statement was signed by Emeka Maduewesi (Leader), Uche Onuh Lucas (President-General), Maxi Okwu; Okey Igbokwe, Onyema Uche and Obichi Ikechi, on behalf of others.

    They drew attention to Jonathan’s failures so far to honour promises made to the Igbos, including construction of the second Niger Bridge within his first tenure; to convert Enugu Airport to an international hub; and to give roads in the South-East urgently needed attention within his current tenure.

    “As at today, none of these promises have been fulfilled,” the statement said.  “Second Niger Bridge is still in the “drawing board” and no international flight has yet landed or taken off from Enugu Airport. South-East roads remain the worst in the country.

    They also contended that in the sharing of national resources, Ndigbo are yet to get any favors from the Jonathan regime.

    “No single refinery out of the six promised by Jonathan is located in the South – East even though three South-East states, Abia, Imo and now Anambra are oil producing states,” they said. “Revenue allocation is heavily skewed against Igbo states with one state receiving more monthly allocation than all the five South-East states.

    Commenting on the debate, Presidential adviser on inter party relations, Senator Ben Obi, said it is proper for the Igbos to wait for President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision on whether to run or not before taking their own decision on the 2015 presidential race.

    The senator, who spoke in Awka during the week, observed that although some individuals and organisations had insisted that the Igbo were already working towards taking over from Jonathan in 2015, there is need for them to allow the president to make his intention known first.

    “Ohanaeze Ndigbo, of which I am a caucus member, has said it loud and clear that it is the turn of Ndigbo to produce the president in 2015. Indeed, we are highly interested in the 2015 presidency, but that is if President Jonathan decides not to run. If, eventually he decides to run, then Ndigbo will have to consider the situation and weigh the options. I do not have any right to question the decision of Ohanaeze to insist on presenting a candidate because the group has a leadership which we all follow.”

    Obi said it is the duty of the leadership of Ndigbo to champion the cause of the people, while other people he described as foot soldiers would join, adding that when the leaders do not make the much needed move, others would have nothing to do.

    But former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, is of the opinion that Ndigbo should be allowed to provide leadership for Nigeria and Nigerians in 2015. Kalu said anyone who would emerge president from the South-East would have dynamic leadership qualities that could turn around the economy.

    He said that Ndigbo, having excelled in various fields of endeavour, with qualified people who can bring their vast experiences in the private and public sectors into play if given the chance to rule the nation, should be given the nod to rule the country.

    Given the ongoing scenarios in the region and the expectation that more organisations and individuals will soon join the fray, Nigerians are waiting with keen interest to see what will become of this renewed aspiration for the presidency on the part of the South-East region.