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Tag: Enang

  • Electoral Bill: Obasanjo signed ECOWAS Protocol, says Enang

    With the revelation by the Presidency that former President Olusegun Obasanjo signed the ECOWAS Protocol, which bans any West African country from making substantial amendments to its electoral laws less than six months to its general elections, the row over the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 is set to grow.

    The Presidency insisted yesterday that besides the reasons given by President Muhammadu Buhari for not signing the Bill, it will  also stick to the ECOWAS Protocol in not signing the document.

    There were indications last night that the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were reaching out to the party’s caucuses in the National Assembly to resist any plot to override the President’s veto.

    The position of the Presidency was made known in an exclusive chat with The Nation in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Ita Enang.

    Enang said contrary to the claims of those opposed to Buhari’s veto, “the President has no hidden agenda in refusing to assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018”.

    He said: “Besides the patriotic reasons given by the President in withholding his assent in the letter sent to the National Assembly, the ECOWAS Protocol prevents Nigeria from amending its Electoral Act less than six months to its general election.

    “The ECOWS Protocol was signed by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on December 21, 2001 with about 14  other presidents and Heads of government in ECOWAS nations. Under the PDP administration led by ex-President Obasanjo, the Protocol was signed by 15 countries.

    “The law says no substantial amendment should be made to the electoral laws of member countries less than six months to the date of the election, unless all the political parties/ actors agreed to it.

    “Already, some parties have gone to court, seeking a declaration to stop the President from signing the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 into law. There is no unanimity of opinion by the parties and actors.

    “Therefore, we  are bound by that Protocol. And President Buhari, as the current chairman of ECOWAS, will not take any action to violate the Protocol. He should show example.”

    Responding to a question, Enang said: “As far as the Presidency is concerned, there is no hidden agenda; it is about putting national interest  above any other consideration.

    “If you follow the events in Guinea Bissau, or one other country, the President brought in electoral laws two months to the election and there has been tension.”

    Asked to be specific on the next step by the Presidency, Enang said: “The President has declined his assent, but he will sign if the National Assembly indicates that the effective date for the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 will be after the 2019 polls. The President does not want to cause a crisis.”

    He dismissed the allegations  by the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) that the Buhari administration was out to rig the 2019 poll by withholding assent to the bill.

    Read also: Tenant ‘consumes N1.5m electricity illegally’’

    Enang said the PDP administration put 2010 Electoral Act, which was amended in 2014, in place and he could not understand why the main opposition party was complaining about its own laws.

    He said: “The allegation of rigging was just invented by PDP. Is it not the same law that was used for 2015 poll? Was the poll rigged?

    “”And even the amendment they are talking about, it only says ‘the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shall deploy electronic voting and card and such other means’.

    “They should go and prepare for elections under the 2010 Electoral Act as amended in 2014. This was the same law the PDP used in conducting elections which the APC won in 2015.

    “They should also examine that since Buhari came into office, the same Electoral Act was used to conduct governorship elections in Bayelsa, Anambra, Edo, Ondo and Osun states. They all used card readers. These elections were won by APGA, PDP and APC respectively. Why are they complaining about the Electoral Act?”

  • Akwa Ibom governor is a merchant, says Enang

    Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, has said Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel came to make money from the state treasury.

    Enang, during an interactive session with reporters, said the government was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged N1.7 billion transfer from state account.

    He noted that the transfer was a private issue of Udom.

    He said: “The issue was election petition cases, which proceeded Udom becoming the governor, it is a matter which he ought to have paid for personally. The fact that you are elected governor does not mean that every of your private transactions must be paid from the government’s coffers.

    “It was his election that was challenged, so it cannot be paid for from government’s account, it can only be paid for by Udom as a private citizen.”

    The senator accused Udom of bringing in his “personal aides” from the banking sector to help him spearhead his motives.

  • FG on top of security situation – Enang

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Mr. Ita Enang, said on Friday the Federal Government is doing everything within its powers to tackle insecurity in the country.

    Enang told students of the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, who visited him in his office that government was on top of the situation.

    Citing the recent mayhem in Plateau State, Enang said “what is happening now is not just ethnic or inter-ethnic conflicts, it is pure terrorism.

    “This terrorism is not caused within but without.”

    He decried the actions of the terrorists which he blamed on the policy of the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol.

    He noted that the policy allows every person in every country in Africa to have free movement within the continent.

    Enang said: “They come in with arms. Whenever there is war or the collapse of any nation state, you will have a collateral effect.

    “We are suffering not from ethnic problems, internal to Nigeria, but from the effects of the collapse of neighbouring countries like Libya and Mali.

    “Under that protocol, you are to allow them so long as they are Africans.

    “Our survival, unity and security of citizens are threatened as a country by this free movement and those who come in with evil intention.”

     

     

  • Executive not muzzling legislature – Enang

    The Muhammadu Buhari-led executive arm of government is not interested in muzzling the legislature, his Senior Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, said yesterday.

    All the executive wants is for the   lawmakers to act according to the constitution, he told lawyers from Akwa Ibom State who visited him in Abuja.

    “The executive is not muzzling the legislature. It is only asking the legislature to act within its constitutional powers and not get into executive realm, otherwise the executive will continue to resist,” Enang informed the Akwa Ibom Lawyers Forum.

    He said: “We have seen and read about three or four judgments in the last few weeks, saying the legislature does not have the powers to exercise most of the powers it has been exercising.

    “For instance, indicting someone or asking someone to answer to criminal charges before them, are the things the executive keeps resisting because they are contrary to the law.

    “These are the actions that some people misinterpret to mean that the executive is either not cooperating or it is muzzling the legislature.

    “The executive is only asking the legislature to act within its powers and allow the judiciary to be the judge between them.”

    Enang said Buhari remains very transparent, and urged Nigerians to feel free to approach government functionaries on activities of government they are not clear about, rather than forming wrong opinions about government’s intentions.

    The president’s aide said that as an important part of the society with ability to shape public opinion, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) should avoid the temptation of acting on unfounded information.

    He advised NBA, lawyers and other Nigerians to always seek clarifications about government activities, saying the present administration was open to giving clarifications on its policies and activities.

    “President Buhari’s government is the most transparent in Nigeria and he has put in all he can to serve the nation,” he said.

    “The president and all of us working with him are the servants of the people and we are always ready to attend to concerns by Nigerians about the running of government.

    “Nigerians should feel free to ask questions on what they do not understand rather than assuming and forming wrong opinions about workings of government,” he said.

    On Buhari’s ambition to run for a second term in office, Enang said his good records are speaking for him.

    According to him, the president’s record of achievement, integrity and love for country are bare for Nigerians to assess and do the needful in 2019.

    Earlier, a leader of the group, Mr Paul Usoro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had said that efforts were being made to reposition the NBA to enable it regain its lost glory.

    Usoro, who disclosed that he was running for the position of the president in the forthcoming NBA election, said the Bar was currently facing challenges.

    “There is a need for strategic plans to strengthen the Bar as an institution. The accounting system for instance, is weak and needs to be fixed.

    “When we are able to fix the problems bedevilling the association, we will win the confidence of lawyers and when we speak on governance, we will be listened to.

    “As a body with over 40 lawyers, we should be able to make an impact.”

    He noted that unless the NBA was repositioned, it would not be able to ensure the protection of rule of law, which was one of its primary roles.

  • Buhari turning Nigeria’s economic fortunes around, says Enang

    Buhari turning Nigeria’s economic fortunes around, says Enang

    The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Legislatives Matters, Senator Ita Enang, has assured Nigerians that the administration is sincere with its plan to turn the nation’s economy around.

    Enang, who spoke at the inauguration of the Delta State office of the Council for New Nigeria, a project of the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups (NCBSG), said the administration had been tackling the hydra-headed problem of corruption as well as turning the economy around through various policies.

    The Presidential Adviser, who was in company of the Chairman of NCBSG’s Board of Trustee (BoT), Senator Abu Ibrahim, noted that the Federal Government meant well with the introduction of ranching in states.

    But he said opposition politicians kicked against the policy to derail the plan and paint the government in bad light.

    Ibrahim hailed the Council of New Nigeria for opening the office in support of the re-election of President Buhari in 2019.

    He said the Council of New Nigeria was the first among over 200 Buhari support groups under NCBSG to open an office for President Buhari’s re-election bid.

    The chairman praised NCBSG’s leadership, led by Chief Emma Aworoh, for the initiative.

    Delta State Coordinator of Council of New Nigeria Chief Emma Aworoh said the group was established to support President Buhari because of its belief in the fight against corruption, entrenching good governance and empowering the people.

    He expressed appreciation to the leadership of NCBSG and Enang.

    According to him, their presence at the event was a manifestation of their support for the group.

  • Lawmakers can’t inflate budget estimate, say Fashola, Enang

    Lawmakers can’t inflate budget estimate, say Fashola, Enang

    •Malami:Buhari’s anti-corruption war not selective

    Lawmakers have not powers to inflate the budget estimates presented to them by the executive, Power, Housing and Works Minister Babatunde Fashola said yesterday.

    He said: “I will like to say that it is not appropriate for parliament to unilaterally seek to increase the budget because they do not collect taxes.”

    Fashola spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt in a paper he presented at a session of the ongoing 56th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

    Speaking on ‘the role of the legislature and the executive in the budgeting process,’ Fashola said: “I think collaboration between the executive and the legislature in the budgeting process. In this process, clear lines should be drawn because compromise is better achieved where all parties know their rights.”

    He said it was not proper or appropriate for the legislative arm of the government to unilaterally seek to increase the annual national budget.

    Though he did not call for an amendment to the constitution, he declared that the primary duty of a parliamentarian was representation, adding that the legislature should not be in any position to influence constituency projects.

    Fashola said the executive arm would be in a better stead to interpret all the process of budget development, adding that those who work within the executive arm were better placed to cost projects to be executed.

    “Let me also say that we must understand what the primary duty of the parliamentarian is. In my view, his duty is representation and not to make laws. His duty is to represent you and me.

    “I honestly cannot say that parliamentarians should not be able to influence what some call constituency projects. The point I wish to make is that the parliament cannot make appropriation over a matter for which it has no responsibility.

    “If we have constituency projects, we must make sure they are not the projects of lawmakers. Even if they (the projects) were nominated by the senator or the state lawmaker, they must be the project that the constituency owns.

    “In cases where the lawmaker who started the project is not re-elected, the new person who takes over should continue the project. But this is not the case; what we see are new legislators coming in and starting their own projects. In my ministry, we have over 200 projects that have no parentage.

    “The meaning of this is there is no senator to push for the completion of such projects, because there are new senators in place. I have said we must finish these existing projects, but people are nominating new ones”, he said.

    “Government never reaches everybody. So what government does is to reach the greatest possible number, doing the greatest projects that will bring satisfaction to the greatest number.  That is what a normal person will do.

    “These are the real life issues we need to deal with. If we treat budgets the way we budget in our homes, we will make these kinds of choices; Why build more hospitals when there are no drugs in existing hospitals. Why buying more tricycles when the roads have not been fixed.

    “I like to stress that our political leanings are no longer relevant to the people. What is relevant now is how we can work together for the good of the people.

    “The truth is that a government has been formed; there is a government in place and we are not campaigning anymore. The government has three arms, the parliament, the executive and the judiciary. Planning development of the country is not parliamentary work, it is an executive work”, he said.

     

  • Buhari’s appointments not lopsided, says Enang

    Buhari’s appointments not lopsided, says Enang

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Eta Enang, has debunked claims by some Nigerians that federal appointments are lopsided.

    Enang spoke yesterday in Abuja at a reception organised by Akwa-Cross Association in the Public Service.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari followed strictly the principles of Federal Character in all appointments.

    His words: “He (Buhari) has given us the chief of Naval Staff, a high ranking officer in the Federal Security Council.

    “He has given us the minister of Budget and then, my humble self as the senior special assistant on National Assembly Matters. He has also given us the minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

    “In the Southsouth region, he gave us minister of Transportation in charge of about three ministries merged together. He also gave us the minister of Petroleum.

    “When I see people trying to incite others against the President over matters of appointment, I conclude that they are being unfair.

    “That is why we gathered here today to appraise the appointments and to appreciate the President,’’ he said.

    Enang said despite the President’s tight schedule, he had visited some states in the Southsouth to inaugurate projects.

    He said President Buhari visited Cross River State to inaugurate the international superhighway from Cross River to Cameroon and other countries in West and Central Africa.

    “President Buhari also provided N6 billion to dualise the road from Calabar to Itu, en-route Ikot Ekpene, to Aba in Abia State.

    “Also, contracts for Calabar-Lagos rail project, which will take off from Calabar enroute Aba, has been signed,’’ he said.

    On the alleged lopsidedness in the ambassadorial list submitted to the Senate for confirmation, Enang said the issue was being addressed.

    The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, said insinuations that the President unduly favoured a section of the country in appointments were wrong.

    She said the appointments so far made by the President were based on merit and competence.

    “President Buhari allows competence and merit to be brought to the fore in his appointments and we are happy about that.

    “A doorway has been opened for appointments based on merit. If it could happen to me, it could equally happen to anyone else.

    “As civil servants, go ahead, do the best you can. When you continue to put in your best; you excel on your jobs and duties. You may not know who is taking note of you.

    “At a point in time in the future, somebody would single you out and you would wonder who recommended you.

    “So, let us continue to excel and practise the fear of God,’’ she said.

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Usani Uguru, said appointments were not made on the basis of region as believed by some Nigerians but based on number of states in the country.

    “The North has 19 states and federal character has provisions for states and not regions.

    “Therefore, until we carry out that analysis, there would be no authentication to claims that the North is being favoured in terms of appointments than the South.

    “Nigeria is not configured on the basis of North and South; it is configured on the basis of states as entrenched in the constitution.’’

    Uguru debunked claims that attacks on oil facilities carried out by the Niger Delta Avengers were as a result of lopsided appointments.

    “We are continually engaging youths in various ways and participating in other activities to assuage the situation.

    “We are persistent in persuasion, advising government and following up on the programmes that should be of productive engagement to youths,’’ he said

    The Chairman of Akwa-Cross Association in the Public Service, Mr. Edem Bassey, said the essence of the gathering was to honour Nigerians from the Southsouth, who were recently appointed by President Buhari.

    He said: “The gathering was to push further the need to drive the cardinal focus of the head of Service, which was to produce efficient, effective, productive and incorruptible as well as citizen-centered civil servants.”

  • President didn’t reject budget, says Enang

    President didn’t reject budget, says Enang

    Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang,  said contrary to reports, President Muhammadu Buhari has not rejected the budget.

    He insisted in Abuja that media reports claiming that the budget had been rejected by the Presidency were untrue.

    Enang noted that before travelling to China, President Buhari sent the budget to ministries to get feedbacks that would inform his assent.

    He said: “The President received the budget and convened an emergency Federal Executive Council meeting.

    “He gave each of the ministers, departments and agencies the opportunity to look at the details as submitted by the National Assembly.

    “This is to enable him get opinion on the state of the budget to enable him take a decision.

    “The exercise was conducted on Friday and it is ongoing by the different ministers and ministries”

    The presidential aide noted that Buhari had not exceeded the constitutional time frame to assent to the budget.

    He said that it should not be assumed that the budget had been rejected.

    Enang added: “The constitutional time frame for Mr President’s receiving and considering the budget began on Friday last week.

    “The question has not arisen as to returning or otherwise.

    “But I want to say the best way we as liaison officers are handling this matter is to speak less and work more, creating interactions.

    “So, we will raise more interactions, consultations, engagements.

    “There is nothing for the country to worry about, because we do not want to have a crisis between the Executive and the Legislature, and it would not arise; this is one government,” Enang said.

  • Enang’s ‘queer loyalty’

    Enang’s ‘queer loyalty’

    IT’S no longer news that Senator Ita Enang representing Akwa Ibom North East has left the PDP for APC a few months ago.

    While not a few believe his defection was self serving sequel to his failure to win a return ticket in PDP, what is even more confounding is the lawmaker’s divided loyalty to his new party, as he was reported to have pledged his support for its governorship candidate, Umana Okon Umana, while curiously working for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, the PDP presidential candidate against his APC counterpart, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Sources disclosed that within the Akwa Ibom State chapter of APC, Enang is viewed more with suspicion rather than being a truly loyal and committed party man.

  • Enang writes NBC over ‘discrimination’

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang, has urged the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) to sanction the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (Radio and Television) Services for alleged discrimination against opposition parties.

    In a letter to NBC’s Director-General in Abuja, Enang regretted that the state radio and television services concentrated on news and programmes of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and excluded other parties.

    The senator noted that the development was not only unhealthy but a negation of the political broadcast code, which mandates broadcasting stations to give equal airtime to all parties.

    He urged the NBC to halt the practice or withdraw the licences of the stations and reassign their broadcast frequency.

    Enang said the situation could throw the state into a crisis, if it was not redressed.

    The letter, dated February 3 with the title: Re: Discriminatory attention and unfair denial of airtime some political parties by Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation Radio and Television Service, reads:

    “I write as the senator representing Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) Senatorial District and the political class in the state. The Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation Radio and Television Services is owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government.

    “In the allotment of airtime for political broadcast and other activities, the services concentrate only on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the absolute exclusion of all other political parties’ programmes and news. The state is controlled by the PDP; other parties are completely shut out from being heard at all. This is the reason your organisation was set up.”