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Tag: Dr. Goodluck Jonathan

  • Matters arising from 2019 elections (2)

    After the 2011 elections, former President Goodluck Jonathan brought the attention of the country to what he considered one of the most important matters arising from the 2011 elections which he won against General Muhammadu Buhari. He asked the nation to opt for a maximum of one term in office for the president and the governors.  He argued that such constitutional amendment would save the country billions of naira that could be better spent on delivering the common good to the citizenry.

    Jonathan’s idea was loudly underplayed by many politicians, particularly those who had their eyes on the presidency and the governorship for second term. The matter was quickly crowded out by the voices of politicians hoping for at least two terms in office. From experiences garnered by public affairs observers in the 2015 and now 2019 elections, it is not just the cost of money spent on elections that calls for a constitutional amendment; it is the hardly noticed emotional and psychological cost of presidential and gubernatorial elections every four years in a country that is not sufficiently structured along clear ideological lines on the way to political and economic modernity.

    Even though President Buhari called for a low-budget for electioneering, there is no way of knowing how much was committed by the various political parties, especially the two major ones on preparations for and mobilisation of voters for the elections of the last three weeks. With media reports about over 40 deaths and several cases of maiming of supporters of opposing parties by hoodlums organised by forces of personality cults across the country, there is no exaggeration in saying that the casualties for 2011 elections that startled Jonathan are nothing compared to the figures of the 2019 elections. Not even the election of 2015 had the traumatic impact on citizens that families of the dead and wounded from the 2019 elections have experienced, not to talk about how much money—private and public—that must have come into play in an election that the ascetic Buhari had wished to be as low-profile as possible.

    Apart from politicians that may prefer to turn Nigeria into a plutocracy, there are many that also enjoy the festivals and rituals of personal attention that has characterised the politics of personality cults in the country. There are also many optimists who believe that with time, Nigeria will grow up politically to the extent of appreciating the culture of democracy, such as is evident in many democracies across the globe. But there are many patriots who believe that using the constitution to tame the excesses of politicians and their hero worshippers is a more effective way to streamline the country’s electoral process. Just as in 2011, this writer sees more wisdom in pushing for constitutional amendments that can limit or reduce the trauma of elections in the country. There is so much that can be achieved through restructuring in this respect, such as bringing more powers to the regions or states to reduce the attention on the central government. But with a president who has not campaigned on the manifesto of devolution of powers (unlike the platform on which General Buhari contested the election against Jonathan in 2015 in which re-federalising the country was manifest on the party’s manifesto), it may be more effective to use the constitutional approach to change many things that the 1999 Constitution had imposed on the country. Constituents who are for restoring federalism have the right to pressure their lawmakers to present such bills.

    It is conceivable that if Nigerians had been asked to participate in negotiating a post-military constitution, they could have asked for a system of one term of five or six years that obviates the problems of incumbency or a system in which the incumbent governor would feel that his reputation is on the line if he does not do everything to come back. More importantly, a one-term presidency would take a lot of attention away from incumbency factor and give presidents more opportunities to act like statesmen than partisan politicians. Those who are likely to benefit from sycophancy to the incumbent president or governor would not have the need to over exert themselves as we had witnessed in the recent elections at national and subnational levels.

    The argument by those who want two or more terms for president and governors is based on the reasoning the UK and the US, often cited as reference points by Nigerian politicians, have systems that allow their heads of state to stay on for eight or more years. The same set of politicians have no difficulty cutting tenure of vice chancellors to one term of five years on the ground that heads of tertiary institutions would have exhausted themselves at the end of a five-year term. Not allowing incumbents to run for a second term would prevent the situation where sitting governors get emotionally involved in winning to the extent of committing public funds directly or indirectly to such elections, as it often happens in the country. That many advanced democracies have multiple terms for their executives does not justify Nigeria to do so, as there are so many choices that such countries make which those who get to positions of leadership in our country do not strive to imitate.

    A related area that may benefit from constitutional reform is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Too much noise has been made about INEC this election season in respect of poor preparation, overloading caused by centralization of the powers and functions of the commission, and even charges of inadequate impartiality (independence). Without doubt, INEC can be more independent than it is, even in terms of process of appointment. In a system in which the powers of the president are extensive, just the appearance of sycophancy on the part of electoral officers is enough to give the impression of partisanship. Presidents can be saved from unnecessary charges of influence on the electoral process if they do not have a second term to contest. With a single-term tenure, presidents can be allowed to nominate INEC officers for an election he or she is not contesting. Confirmation for INEC officers can be subjected to two-thirds vote of approval. Leaving nomination and approval of commissioners in the hands of the legislature after a two-thirds vote of consent to such nomination will certainly make the INEC visibly independent and the search for independent individuals more rigorous than it has been since the exit of military rule.

    Since President Buhari has identified his four areas of concern during his second term: Boko Haram and other security threats to the stability of the country; improvement of the economy; ridding the country of political and bureaucratic corruption; and oiling the wheel of the country’s unity, bringing pressure to lawmakers on constitutional amendments to make the 1999 Constitution reflective of the wishes of the citizenry is a task that must be continued at the level of party policy discussions and through sponsored or private bills from legislators who believe Nigeria and Nigerians deserve a more democratic and federal constitution than the current constitution. It is never too late to demand for constitutional changes in any democracy. Fortunately for party leaders, further sensitising legislators about the danger of saddling the country with a constitutional document never approved by citizens is not antithetical to the stated agenda of President Buhari for the next four years.

  • Southsouth… Where art the huge votes?

    In 2015, the Southsouth was dominated by the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is an indigene of Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He had huge votes from the region. But in the February 23 presidential election, the Southsouth could not return huge figues for PDP candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. In this piece, BISI OLANIYI, OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE, NICHOLAS KALU, OSAGIE OTABOR, BASSEY ANTHONY, and MIKE ODIEGWU x-ray why the huge votes suddenly disappeared.

    Rivers:

    Rivers State politics was dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), until November 27, 2013, when the then incumbent governor, Rotimi Amaechi, now Transportation Minister, defected to help midwife the All Progressives Congress (APC). The aim was to defeat Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, of the PDP, who was president.

    The 2015 polls witnessed so much violence. Many APC members were either  killed or  injured before, during and after the elections, with the state becoming “Rivers of Blood” and many voters were disenfranchised through massive rigging, thuggery and violence.

    During the 2015 presidential election in Rivers, the total votes cast was 1,584,768, with APC getting 69,238, while PDP got 1,487,075. In 2019 in the state, the total votes cast was 666,585, with APC getting 150,710, even after 72,000 votes in Emohua LGA was unconstitutionally removed, and PDP getting 473,971.

    The Coordinator of APC’s Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers, Pastor Tonye Cole, declared that the era of bogus electoral figures was gone in Rivers state.

    Cole said: “Gone are the days when political thugs would hijack electoral materials and allocate hundreds of thousands of imaginary votes to their party. The results from the various units, wards and LGAs (in Rivers State) confirm these and further highlight the depth of rigging and manipulation of the 2015 elections that APC as a party had complained about.”

    Wike, through Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, who doubles as the Director of Information and Communications of Rivers PDP Campaign Council, however, claimed that Rivers people massively voted for PDP candidates in 2015, but security agents prevented them from repeating the feat during the 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections.

     

    Delta:

     

    The results of the presidential poll in Delta show that the PDP garnered  594,068 of the valid votes in the election, while the APC had 221,292 votes.

    Although Delta has 2,719,313 registered voters for the elections, only 891,647 persons were accredited to vote. The figure represents 50.61 per cent of the registered voters in the state.

    The overall election results showed that the APC had an impressive showing, scoring 221,292 compared with its performance of 48,910 during the 2015 presidential election. The APC’s showing during the 2019 presidential and National Assembly polls represented a 63.79 percentage increase.

    On the contrary, the results announced by INEC last week showed that the PDP in Delta  state performed poorly, judging by its performance in 2015, when it secured 1,211,405 votes at the presidential election. The PDP regressed with a 34.19 percentage decrease after it polled 594,068 in the 2019 presidential polls.

    The APC’s impressive showing in last weekend’s election in Delta has been attributed partly to the  unity driven campaign launched by the party’s 2015 governorship candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, as well as the political clout of the incumbent, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege in Delta Central Senatorial District.

    The performance of the APC, in spite of the factional crisis in the party makes the increase more remarkable.

    The presence in the APC of former two-time PDP governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was the Delta South senatorial candidate of the party in the election, might have contributed to the increased number of votes scored by the party.

    Unlike in 2015, when the PDP won all the federal constituency seats in Delta state, in 2019, the party won nine seats, with the APC’s Francis Waive securing the Ughelli/Udu federal constituency seat.

    Also in 2015, of the three senatorial seats, the ruling PDP won two seats: Delta South and Delta North, while Senator Omo-Agege of the Labour Party (LP) won Delta Central seat, before he defected to the APC.

    Senator Omo-Agege repeated the feat in 2019 by clinching the seat for a second time, defeating his closest rival, Ms. Evelyn Oboroh, PDP, in a keenly-contested race. The PDP won two senate seats: Delta North and Delta South.

    In 2015, the contest was a three-horse race, involving Great Ogboru (LP), Ifeanyi Okowa (PDP) and Olorogun O’tega Emerhor (APC), but in 2019, the race has been between the APC and PDP.

    A chieftain of the PDP, Mr. Frank Igwebeze, attributed the poor showing of the PDP in 2019 to the order by Buhari for ballot box snatchers to be dealt with ruthlessly, saying the common man in the rural communities in Delta state feared the worst and decided to stay away.

     

    Cross River:

     

    There was a time in the present democratic dispensation, when the ruling PDP in Cross River State always thrashed any opposition at the polls. The PDP always scored figures ridiculously higher than any closest rival in any electoral contest in the state. This was a scenario that even played out even in the elections in 2015.

    A look at the result of the presidential election in 2015, and looking at the situation as it is today, shows a lot of factors have played out. The results in 2019 showed a marked difference from how election results used to be in the state and this has raised questions: Were the results bogus in the past? Are we getting more realistic results today? Does this mean votes are actually counting today more than they used to be in the past?

    In 2015 in Cross River state, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP scored 414,868 votes, while Muhammadu Buhari of the APC got a paltry 28,368 votes. The APC had, however, gone ahead to be winners in the presidential elections in the country. In 2019, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP got  295,737 votes to beat Buhari, who came second with 117,302 votes. This is despite the fact that elections did not hold in some wards in areas like Bakassi and Boki. Also, the elections for the entire Etung was also cancelled.

    At this point, it would be pertinent to point out that a major factor to this development could be the political configuration in the state today, as against how it was in the last four years. Largely responsible for this was that there was no strong opposition in the state at any point before 2015.

    All political heavyweights in Cross River then were members of the PDP, who had political structures across the state.  So, it was always a smooth ride for the PDP in any election. In fact, then, politicians only fought to secure the tickets of the PDP.

    In the buildup to the 2015 elections, and even in the aftermath, so many spats arose within the PDP that led to the eventual exodus of political heavyweights across the 18 LGAs of the state. A good number of these heavyweights are in the APC. Some of such top politicians are: Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, Senator John Owan-Enoh, Prince Bassey Otu and Dr. Alex Egbona, among others.

    So, when the elections came around again in 2019, it was a different ball game. This time round, it was not exactly an underdog situation for the opposition APC in the state, as the contest was more like a clash of titans. So, results from the polls, especially in areas where the APC leaders came from, showed a marked difference. In fact, many of the APC stalwarts won elections in their areas. At best, there were hardly cases of landslide winnings by the PDP, as it was in the past.

    For APC politicians who had mobilised their people to come out and vote, the presidential candidate of the party (President Buhari) benefited from the goodwill they enjoyed with their people. For example, in the February 23 elections, a lot of voters went for the politicians they know and in the same vein voted for every candidate of their party on the ballot. This turned out kindly for the presidential figures. People who went out to vote their National Assembly members of the APC, who campaigned vigorously, ensured they voted for the APC on all the ballots to avoid mistakes. This scenario, it was observed, played out more in rural areas than urban centres. This could account for the sharp increase for the numbers of the main opposition, APC, in the last elections.

    In contrast to this is also the sharp drop of the figure for the PDP. From over 400,000 votes in 2015 to less than 300,000 votes in 2019 seems a long way. This has made people believe that given that the PDP was in charge of everything in the state at the time and given that rigging was more a menace then than it is now, that figures for the ruling party were always inflated beyond proportion. Now, this may prove a bit difficult as the opposition in the state has also developed muscles and can match the PDP squarely in pretty every department, as far as elections are concerned.

    The better fortune of the APC in Cross River state created more committed members and this has led to improved vigilance of the party’s agents and members on election day in the state. This is because irrespective of the fact that the party polled 117, 000 votes, it could still have been possible for the PDP to inflate their own figures and still leave a wide gap between the two figures, but the opposition’s vigilance from the polling units to the various collation points by agents of the party for the presidential election, it was difficult to try to inflate the figures.

    Also, it was realised that some of the developmental projects of the Federal Government might have boosted the APC’s chances in the last elections. For instance, the rehabilitation of the Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja federal highway, which is the main artery of the state, thereby reducing travel time and stressful trips, might not have gone unnoticed. These infrastructural developments are the things the ordinary people saw and many might not have been vocal enough to voice them out, but they registered in the minds of a lot of people. Such supporters might not have been vocal enough, because of the antagonism that goes with being a supporter of President Buhari in Cross River state, but only waited for the polls to make their statements.

    In fact, there are those who believe the APC could still have had a better outing than it did in the last elections, if not for a couple of factors. The first is leadership tussle in the party in the state, which is believed to a great extent, hampered the chances of the party’s candidates. Again making it worse was the abrupt announcement by INEC on the eve of the presidential and National Assembly elections that the APC would have no candidates in the elections in the state. This led APC’s candidates in the elections to frantically try to reach out to their people that they were still in the race, but again there were those who believed that if not for the strange announcement by INEC, that APC could even have recorded far above the number of votes the candidates of the party had.

    Going into the March 9 governorship election, with votes now counting, the Ben Ayade-led PDP government will have an uphill task to remain in Government House, Calabar.

     

    Edo:

     

    It was not a defeat the APC in Edo State had expected during the conduct of the 2019 presidential, and National Assembly elections. The results showed the PDP reinforcing its dominance of Edo politics, just as it did in 2015.

    In 2015, the PDP won the presidential election with a margin of defeat of 78,400 by scoring 286,869 votes. It won in 15 LGAs, while the APC won only in three LGAs. The APC had 208,469 votes. For the National Assembly election in 2015, the PDP won two senatorial and five House of Representatives’ seats, while the APC had one seat in the Senate and four seats in the House of Representatives.

    During the February 23, presidential election, the reverse appeared to be the case, even though the PDP won the election with a margin of 7,849 votes. The PDP won in eight LGAs and had a total 275,691 votes, while the APC won in ten LGAs and had a total of 267,842 votes.

     

    Akwa Ibom:

     

    In the 2015 presidential and National Assembly elections, the influence of the PDP, which was the government at the centre, indicated how each of the political parties fared in the elections of that year in Akwa Ibom State.

    The towering influence of the then governor of the state, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who was an ardent and strong pillar of the PDP and Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, also affected the results of 2015 elections.

    Fourteen political parties participated in the 2015 presidential and National Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom State.

    Of these political parties, only the APC, which emerged from an alliance of political parties, was the  contender against the PDP.

    The total number of accredited voters in Akwa Ibom in 2015 was 1,074,070, of 1,644,481 registered voters.

    The result of the presidential election showed that the PDP polled 953,304 votes, while APC came a distant second with 58,411 votes.

    The margin of victory for the PDP over the APC in the February 23, 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom  narrowed significantly, giving a clear indication that the APC is stronger now than it was in 2015.

    PDP’s candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, polled 397,831 votes, while President Muhammadu Buhari of APC got 175, 429 votes.

     

    Bayelsa:

     

    In 2015, Jonathan won Bayelsa, his home state by landslide. He had 361, 209 votes in the state. Buhari only scored 5,194 votes. Statistics from INEC showed that of 605, 637 registered voters in the state then, 384,789 persons voted in the election.

    But field monitoring gave an indication that the figures were merely allocated to the parties in favour of the PDP.  Without strict implementation of the card reader in the election, it was easy for PDP leaders to depend on the use of incidence forms to allocate votes in various polling units.

    Observation showed that the PDP leadership, enabled by its state government, circumvented all the electoral procedure to deliver bogus figures to their kinsman and President. The breakdown of the results in the eight local government areas gave no chance to APC to even score up to the 25 per cent of the constitutionally required votes.

    For instance, in Ekeremor Local Government Area, while Jonathan scored 61,507 votes; Buhari trailed from behind with 374 votes. In Yenagoa, Jonathan, 45, 429, Buhari, 462; Ogbia, Jonathan, 50,754, Buhari, 214; Sagbama, Jonathan, 41,221, Buhari, 361; Brass, Jonathan, 31,312, Buhari, 1,968 and Southern Ijaw, Jonathan, 78,898, Buhari, 856.

    In the National Assembly election conducted simultaneously with the Presidential poll, the APC candidates only contested for formality. While their PDP candidates posted bogus figures and were declared winners of their districts and constituencies, the APC contestants were left to lick their wounds.

    But the scenario changed dramatically in the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections. The strict electoral procedure adopted by INEC to conduct the polls made it a Herculean task for any party including the party at the centre to allocate results. Each vote was largely contested for and mostly persons who came out to cast their ballots were counted by the commission.

    Though there were controversies in some local government areas such as Nembe and Southern Ijaw following suspicion by the state government and the PDP that APC members manipulated the results in those areas, the general performance showed a drop in the number of voters when compared to 2015 elections.

    Despite an increase in the state voter population from 605,637 to 923,182, the total number of votes cast in the just-concluded presidential election was still less than the votes recorded in 2015. In 2015, 384,789 voted in the election. But in 2019, 335,859 cast their votes.

    Also the margin of difference between Buhari of the APC and the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was a remarkable departure from the 2015 election. According to INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Zana Akpagbo, Atiku polled 197, 933 votes to beat Buhari of APC who scored 118, 821 votes. It is a difference of 79,851 votes compared to 356,015 difference between votes between Jonathan and Buhari in 2015.

    A breakdown of local government performance also showed that unlike in 2015 when Buhari won no council, he was declared the winner of two councils in the state in 2019. For instance he won in Southern Ijaw scoring 47, 627 votes to beat Atiku, who got 41627. In Nembe, Buhari scored 31, 811 votes to win Atiku, who got 7,167.

    Other local government results did not show the kind of wide margins between the two parties in 2015. In Kolokuma-Opokuma, Atiku got 16,040 while Buhari scored 3,938. Others are Yenagoa, Atiku, 37,676, Buhari, 7,483; Brass, Atiku, 15,936, Buhari, 15,936; Sagbama, Atiku, 30,122, Buhari, 7,949; Ekeremor, Atiku, 21,856, Buhari, 21,857 and Ogbia, Atiku, 27,506, Buhari, 5003.

    There was also a close contest between the National Assembly candidates of the PDP and those of the APC. Beyond all expectations, INEC confirmed that candidates of the APC won two seats in the House of Representative and one in the Senate.

    But the Bayelsa State government and the PDP believed that the former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, INEC and security agencies manipulated the results to favour the APC especially in Nembe and Southern Ijaw.

    The governor rejected the votes saying they were allotted to Buhari, and other candidates of the APC in Nembe Bassambiri and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas òf the state.

    Dickson said what happened in Nembe and Southern Ijaw was a blatant violation of the rights of the people to elect their leaders and representatives.

    Dickson said further that a former Governor òf the State, Chief Timipre Sylva, an oil surveillance Contractor, David Lion, and officers and men of the Nigerian Army commandeered materials to non-designated locations and held electoral officers hostage to allocate fake figures at gunpoint.

    He said that it was the height of absurdity for INEC whose staff had admitted and spoken out against the abduction and violence in the area to brandish a purported result for the seven wards of Nembe Bassambiri and Constituency 4 of Southern Ijaw.

    According to the governor, Army Officers and men under their command compelled collation officers at gun point to concoct figures from non-existent votes that were never captured by card readers.

    But the APC in Bayelsa condemned efforts of Dickson to discredit results of elections in some wards in Southern Ijaw and Nembe local government areas of the state.

    The party dismissed as groundless Dickson’s statement against votes garnered in the state by President Muhammadu Buhari and APC candidates.

    The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secrtary, Doifie Buokoribo, also rejected an attempt by Dickson to equate himself with Bayelsa by claiming the state condemned votes polled by APC.

    Buokoribo stressed that Dickson was not Bayelsa, and that the state was neither Dickson nor a political party.

    He advised Dickson to explore the democratic option of seeking redress in the courts if he had any grievances about the poll results, instead of plunging into the realm of reckless and enflaming statements.

  • Presidency to Jonathan: Stop playing the ostrich

    The Presidency on Thursday rejected former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s claims that there is more corruption in the country compared to when he left office in 2015. 

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the claim was absolutely untrue.

    He said “The facts on the ground today run contrary to his outlandish claim.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari, in pursuit of the war against corruption, has set a number of local and international records, one of which is to call judicial officers in Nigeria to account. 

    “He is the first to set such a record. Not only that, this is the first time that top military commanders and Service Chiefs are brought to trial and convictions were achieved on account of corruption.

    “Also, this is the first time a ruling party is convicting high profile citizens including former governors, who are members of same party. 

    Read also: Alleged graft: I never sent Kukah to beg Buhari, says Jonathan

    “This is the first time the international community is acknowledging the efforts of a government of Nigeria in this regard as manifested by the selection of President Buhari by the African Union as the Anti-Corruption Champion of the continent.

    “For the records, this is the first time a ruling party is investigating ranking officers of the administration, including some at the very top.” he said 

    Apart from the many firsts recorded by President Buhari’s administration, he said that the government has introduced a lot of changes, considering that the laws relating to the fight against corruption cannot reasonably be static.

    In line with its aspiration to be ahead of the growing sophistication of corruption and financial crimes, he said that the administration has initiated new legislations and proposed amendments to different sections of laws.

    The laws, he said, included the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Bill 2017; Anti-Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Bill 2017; Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Bill 2017 (NFIU); Proceeds of Crime Bill 2017.

    Others are the Public Interest Disclosure and Witness Protection Bill, 2017 and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, 2017.

    He added “Owing to these efforts and support all of relevant stakeholders, NFIU Act has been passed and President Buhari gave his assent on July 18, 2018. The administration is currently working with the legislature for an expedited passage of the Proceeds of Crimes Bill to make the anti-corruption war more effective.

    “Nigerians should dismiss Dr. Jonathan’s hollow boast that he, not President Buhari, introduced schemes such the Biometric Verification Number (BVN), Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPS). 

    “Of what use is the announcement of good policies without the will to implement them?” he queried 

    Since President Buhari assumed office, he said that Nigerians are witnesses to the huge success recorded through the implementation of the TSA where some government agencies that had over the years remitted peanut amounts or nothing at all are now periodically pumping billions into government coffers. 

    “Prominent among these remittances include the ones made by Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customers Service (NCS) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    “While it is also true that the BVN was introduced in 2014 to ensure that all bank accounts have biometric identification of their owners, the lack of will and capacity under Dr Jonathan stalled implementation. 

    “Today, BVN covers nearly all bank accounts. There are still some individuals who have shielded their identity and are now afraid of enrolling on the BVN platform as this will expose them and their corrupt actions. The law is going after them.

    “President Buhari’s administration introduced the whistle-blower policy as a veritable tool against corruption as it gives individuals an opportunity to expose corruption, fraud, bribery, looted government funds, financial misconducts, government assets and any other form of corruption or theft. 

    “Within six months of introducing this policy, over 5,000 reports were made through various channels, 365 actionable tips were received out of the 5000 reports. So far more than N200bn has been recovered.

    “As the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation,  Abubakar Malami (SAN),  said on Thursday, the former President does not have the facts to claim that there was any serious effort on the part of his administration to fight corruption.

    “As at 29th May 2015, when this administration came into office, the EFCC recovery account had only N19.5 billion as revealed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General. After one year of the new anti-corruption drive by the Buhari administration, this figure had gone up to N279 billion, and since then a lot more has been recovered.

    “Finally, as evidenced from a fleeting look at the book, the former President had nothing to say about his own achievements. If there was a recession, and yes we had a moment in it, was it due to one year of President Buhari’s government?

    “In his efforts to blame everyone but himself for his failures, Dr Jonathan heaped the blame for the predictable economic recession on President Buhari, ignoring the seeds sown under him through mismanagement and the process set in firm roots for the decline of the economy. Evidently, he did nothing to avert the situation.

    “As we have explained over and over, the recession in 2016 was caused by years of mismanagement and corruption. In the 16 years of PDP and earlier than that, the country solely relied on oil, the price of which was as high as 140 USD per barrel under their watch. Government simply reticulated oil revenue through personal spending by corrupt leaders, wasteful expenses and salaries; rather than investing in what would grow the economy. There was no investment in infrastructure as President Buhari is now doing in seaports, airports, power plants, railways, roads and housing.

    “The oil windfall for the country was mismanaged, and Nigeria’s greatest opportunity for growth was turned into a tragedy. More worrisome, there were no savings. And to compound the problem and compromise growth of the economy, the previous government borrowed heavily, owed contractors and international oil companies. When President Buhari came into power in 2015, the country had accumulated debt, which took it back to the level it was before the Paris Club Debt forgiveness. Nigeria did not have fiscal buffers to withstand an oil shock when oil prices fell to as low as 28 USD.

    “The oil shock should and could have been foreseen. When visionary Nigerians and economists foresaw this and warned of the dangers ahead, Dr Jonathan hounded such men as the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi 11 and Professor Chukwuma Soludo. Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance under Dr Jonathan’s administration also warned and she was rebuffed.

    ‘The former President and his party have nothing to say about achievements. They ruled the country for 16 years and what is their record on jobs, power, rail, seaports, airports and internal security, including the crippling disaster of terrorism?” he queried 

  • Jonathan, a true democrat – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja hailed his predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, for voluntarily conceding defeat at the 2015 general elections, describing him as a true democrat.

    Buhari poured the encomium at the launching of a book titled “My Transition Hours” by Jonathan amidst hundreds of guests from outside and across the country.

    Read Also:‘Former President Jonathan is an icon of democracy’

    Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the president said Jonathan’s act of courage had made him a patriotic leader and earned popularity among Africans and other leaders.

    “You are a leader of the past, of now and of the future; you will rise again; I wish you the best you wish yourself,” Buhari said.

    He called on Nigerians to see elections as contests and should be done in free, fair and peaceful environment.

    He said Nigerians should eschew bitterness, bigotry, hate speech and “promote Nigeria for us and generation yet unborn.

    Jonathan, however, condemned any act of inducement of voters and vote buying during elections in the country, adding that the act was contrary to democratic norms and therefore, wrong.

    The event was graced by hundreds of prominent Nigerians, including former Heads of state Abdulsalam Abubakar, Yakubu Gowon, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and the PDP Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar.

    The APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, ex-PDP governors and many members of the political class, traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic corps also graced the event.

  • Buhari to Jonathan at 61: You are an inspiration to youths

    President Muhammadu Buhari has joined Nigerians in sending warm greetings to former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as he turns 61 on November 20th, 2018.

    The President believed the life journey of the former President remains an inspiration to every young Nigerian of the possibilities that await anyone willing to learn, work hard and participate in making the country great.

    Read Also:Buhari, governors meet over minimum wage

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, also congratulated Dr. Jonathan on the publishing of his memoir, My Transition Hours, which will be launched as part of ceremonies marking his birthday.

    He encouraged Nigerians to follow same example of sharing their experiences in writing.

    The President prayed that the almighty God will strengthen Dr. Jonathan, grant him longer life and bless his family.

  • Ghana angry with Jonathan over Nigeria mockery speech

    Says he should not sow seeds of discord’ between PMB, Akuffo-Addo

     

    The authorities in Ghana are angry with former President  Goodluck Jonathan for linking President Nana Akuffo-Addo with an alleged mockery of Nigeria.

    They have dismissed as untrue claims by Jonathan last weekend in Ado Ekiti that Akuffo-Addo  recently mocked the poor state of security in Nigeria and the weak status of the naira.

    The former president who spoke at the inauguration of the Ado Ekiti flyover said things have deteriorated so much in the country that it has lost its respect in Africa.

    But responding to the statement on Friday, Ghana’s High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. Rashid Bawa said Jonathan “took the words of President Akufo-Addo completely out of context.”

    He said: “Indeed , in the speech delivered by President Akufo-Addo at the Oxford African Conference, one of the instances used by former President Goodluck Jonathan, these are the exact words of President Akufo-Addo:

    ‘For most of you in the audience today, it is probably before your time, but in the late 1970s up to the mid- 1980s, as a result of the discovery of considerable petroleum deposits, Nigeria was booming. It was the place to be. We Ghanaians, who were going through very difficult times then, would arrive at Heathrow Airport, and be herded into a cage to be subjected to the full third degree by Immigration , and we would look on as our Nigerian cousins would be waved through, with a ‘welcome sir’ and a ‘welcome madam’ .

    ‘The newspaper headlines in this country were full of Nigerians leaving or forgetting bundles of money in taxis and telephone booths. Nigerians were the preferred tenants for those who had apartments to let. You could stop by any Thomas Cook shop on any High Street in this country and buy or sell Naira, the Nigerian currency, and you could do the same in New York, and I suspect in many other Western country cities.

    Read Also: Ghana denies reports of Ebola outbreak

    ‘I do not need to spell out today’s reality to anyone in this audience. I cite this just to make the point that the “the outside world” is well able to tell that there are separate sovereign nations on the African continent. But, when the news is not good, then Africa is treated as one entity.’

    Bawa also took exception to Jonathan’s reference to Akufo-Addo’s purported disposition towards cattle-rearing.

    His words: “the other alleged remark that ‘Ghana is not Nigeria where cattle can roam about anyhow’ has never been made by President Akufo-Addo; that is not his way of speaking.

    “President Akufo-Addo , in many of the speeches he has made in Nigeria and elsewhere , since becoming President of Ghana , has described Nigeria as ‘a country I describe as my second home in the world’ , and will never use Nigeria to make negative examples, as the former President Goodluck Jonathan sought to portray.

    “President Akufo-Addo enjoys a very good relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari , as he has with many other Nigerian leaders; Ghana and Nigeria are like siblings, and it would be most inappropriate, because of politics, for anyone, regardless of his or her status in society, to try to sow seeds of discord amongst the leadership and peoples of our two countries.”

  • PDP chair: I’ve no preferred candidate, says Jonathan

    PDP chair: I’ve no preferred candidate, says Jonathan

    Former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has also reiterated that he has no preferred candidate in the chairmanship election at the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party taking place in Abuja today.

    According to a goodwil message he sent to the participants in the convention and signed by the ex-President’s media adviser, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan said he was prepared to work with all the party members that would emerge as its new leaders in the interest of the party and the nation.

    The message said further: “As the father of the party, ex-President Jonathan has no preferred candidate for any of the positions, and is prepared to work with all those that will emerge as members of the new NWC, to ensure that the party regains its pride of place in the affairs of the nation.”

    The former President also expressed optimism that the convention would produce positive outcomes which would help “the party regains its pride of place in the affairs of the nation.”

    The statement reads in part: “The former President is pleased with the dedication and enthusiasm of all party members towards building a strong PDP and wishes all participants successful deliberations as they seek to freely elect members of the National Working Committee, that will lead the party for the next four years.

    “Dr. Jonathan is impressed with the level of preparations for the convention, especially with the number of the candidates and the spread and vibrancy of the campaigns, which has established a new paradigm for intra-party elections, in the country.

    “As the father of the party, ex-President Jonathan has no preferred candidate for any of the positions, and is prepared to work with all those that will emerge as members of the new NWC, to ensure that the party regains its pride of place in the affairs of the nation.

    “Contrary to speculations and permutations by some interest groups, Dr. Jonathan has never discussed or plotted with others against the ambition of any of the candidates as is being falsely reported by those who are adept at spreading negative stories against the immediate past President.

    “The former President is therefore optimistic that the convention will produce a positive outcome that will help the PDP consolidate its position as the party with the best democratic ideals in the country.”

  • Jonathan advises PDP not to elect wrong chairman

    Jonathan advises PDP not to elect wrong chairman

    Former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has advised Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members not to make the mistake of making wrong choice of National Working Committee (NWC) members at the December convention.

    Jonathan gave the advice when he received an aspirant for the party’s national chairmanship position, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, in his residence in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He cautioned that the party could not afford to make mistake in choosing its next national chairman and publicity secretary, describing them as “very delicate positions’’.

    “This time around we need a very courageous and vocal person to be the chairman.

    “There are two positions that we must not make mistake on – the positions of the national chairman and that of the national publicity secretary, because I have worn the shoes before and I know where it pinches.

    “If we make a mistake as a party and elect wrong chairman and publicity secretary, we are finished,” Jonathan said.

    He said that PDP at this moment, needed courageous chairman, who in the face of persecution, would remain courageous to protect the party’s interest and defend democracy.

    “We need very competent person and a team player, somebody who will not negotiate to get money from the aspirants to make them candidates.

    “If you do that, you have destroyed the party because a party must come up with programmes and policies that will elect the best of the best.

    “If you present the best material, the chances of your wining election are stronger than when you present a wrong material.

    “We need such kind of chairman that will galvanise the national committee and also link up with state committees and do the best for the party.

    “This is key so that by 2019 when we go for the general elections, PDP will have majority in the states and national assemblies and of course, PDP must win the presidency,” he said.

    Jonathan, who said that the December convention would be keenly contested, urged chairmanship aspirants to see the exercise as a family affair.

    “Whatever comes out, as faithful loyalists of the party, you should accept it. So, whoever is going to contest should have that in mind.

    “Recently, I read that you met with one of the aspirants; that is a good spirit; no victor no vanquished. The winner must be PDP and not an individual.”

    He also corroborated the view of the former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar (retd), on the need for the PDP to fully assume its role of opposition.

    According to the former president, PDP must migrate from the ruling party to opposition for the purpose of stabilising the country’s democracy.

    “I am not saying that as an opposition party you must been saying anything you like, no. PDP is a very mature party.

    “We will not go to the quarter and criticise anyhow but all over the world, the opposition party checkmates the ruling party so that things are done properly, so that there will not be impunity.

    “If the opposition party goes to sleep, the ruling party can do anything it likes,” he said

    He, however, commended the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the party, saying that they had done very well, especially during the period of crisis in the party.

    Jonathan prayed for Dokpesi in his aspiration to become PDP chairman and described him as “a member who has done well for the party’’.

    He said that Dokpesi had used his resources to support the party, and “has shown so much commitment to the affairs of the party.”

    Earlier, Dokpesi had urged Jonathan to ensure that the PDP came out of the December convention stronger and united.

    He commended for former president’s resilience and efforts in ensuring that the party’s leadership crisis was resolved.

    “I am very positive that this party must come out of December elective national convention stronger and united to be able to give the needed opposition to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “As our leader, you have to look for means to ensure that we come out of the forthcoming convention stronger and united,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • Will Patience Jonathan roll out the drums as she clocks 60?

    Will Patience Jonathan roll out the drums as she clocks 60?

    The 60th birthday of Mrs Patience Jonathan, wife of former Nigerian president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is barely four weeks away. In the days she held sway as the First Lady, the halls of the social and political elites would by now be astir with preparations like effervescent bees buzzing around a hive. Her numerous friends would have literally taken over the social and traditional media with posters and anticipatory messages, while some swanky spots in Abuja would have been booked for a huge birthday shindig.

    The reality now is that Patience is no more the First Lady, and the group that used to hang around her like faithful dogs eager to do their master’s bidding has been dispersed by the gale of change that also blew her husband out of  Aso Rock Villa. As her birthday approaches, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is hot on her heels over allegations of financial impropriety, thus provoking genuine curiosity as to what the colourful former first lady would do?

    Will she roll out the drums for a high octane birthday bash or will she borrow a leaf from her quiescent husband and make do with a low-key celebration? Only October 25 will tell.

  • Group caution Dickson over comments on Jonathan’s Presidency

    Group caution Dickson over comments on Jonathan’s Presidency

    The Save Ijaw Nation Group has described as unfair, a statement credited to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, where he described the Jonathan’s Presidency, as a waste to the Ijaw Nation.

    The group in a statement issued in Bayelsa and signed by its Bayelsa State coordinator, Comrade Otobo Osborn described Governor Dickson’s statement as shocking, most unfair and uncharitable, especially as it is coming from a Governor, who had all access to demand for a fair deal for Bayelsa State, while Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was the President.

    “We are of the opinion, that Governor Dickson is not telling us the real issues he has with former President Jonathan. We also need to remind him, that Dr. Jonathan’s qualities and the good, that his administration attracted to the Ijaw Nation, are more than whatever Governor Dickson may consider as unfair, to the Ijaw Nation”.

    The group said it is sad, that Governor Dickson could fling caution out of the window to join those who take pleasure in criticizing and calling former President Jonathan all sorts of names, just because he is no longer the President.

    It said further: “This is a classical case of an ingrate biting the fingers that fed him. When it was convenient he ran to the former President for his blessing and support during the fierce battle for his second term bid against former governor Timipre Sylva. It is a known fact that Dickson turned against the former President soon after winning the election and has continued to wage a silent war against him for no just cause.

    “His speaking out is just a public expression of the mischief he has been masquerading all these years. But since he has decided to pay good with evil providence will definitely reward him with what he deserves.

    “One would have expected that Dickson as a Bayelsa indigene and political son of the former President would cut him some slack at a time when enemies are striving to rubbish his legacies. It is unfortunate that he is joining others to fight Jonathan. He just needs to look over the fence to see how Rivers State Governor is treating Jonathan in the true spirit of loyalty.”

    The group said all well-meaning Nigerians, appreciates the achievements of the Jonathan’s administration, while also reminding Governor Dickson, that Jonathan was elected the President of Nigeria, and not President of Ijaw Nation. This, the group says, was the basis of the administration; to spread its developmental efforts across the length and breadth of the country, a legacy which it says, still speak, after two years of his leaving office as the President of Nigeria.