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Tag: former Speaker of the House of Representatives

  • Na’abba dumps APC, says party preparing Nigeria for disaster

    Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’abba has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) saying he cannot belong to an organization that is clearly preparing the country for disaster.

    The former Speaker who did not state his next destination said in a letter to Chairman of Sharada ward in the Kano Municipal local government area of Kano state accused governors of the party and other leaders of hijacking the party, while also accusing the leadership of the party of lack of consultation, crass incompetence, lack of vision, arrogance, and dangerous fixation.

    Read Also:APC raises alarm over destruction of Buhari, Ogah’s campaign posters

    He said the incompetence of the government led it to it losing the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and many others for reasons that border on meanness, lack of simple management skills and capacities and a great measure of arrogance.

    The letter obtained by The Nation reads: “This is to notify you of my resolve to resign from the All Progressives Congress (APC), effective today 5th December 2018. My decision to resign from the party follows the cavalier manner in which both the Federal Government, States controlled by the APC and the APC itself are being run, as a result of which anybody who has eyes to see only sees doom and not prosperity for our dear country.

    “Events in the last few months, particularly the way and manner the congresses and primary elections were conducted bear witness to the opprobrium that led me to this conclusive determination.

    “There is clearly no doubt in my mind, and the minds of visionary Nigerians that the APC administration is characterized by lack of consultation, crass incompetence, lack of vision, arrogance, and dangerous fixation.

    “It is a measure of the incompetence of the APC government that after all is said and done, it has lost a Senate President and a Speaker of the House Of Representatives and many others for reasons that border on meanness, lack of simple management skills and capacities and a great measure of arrogance.

    “It is also a measure of the incompetence of the party that there is almost no State in the Federation where there is no conflict. While it is generally accepted that no human organisation can be rancor free, it is disheartening that these conflicts in the party are inflicted by its leaders, some of whom can be said to be poorer in human qualities than the poorest of men.

    “Governors and some Party leaders have hijacked the party, doing with it as they wish; from the imposition of party leaders to subversion of internal democracy and inclusive governance. In their endeavor to perpetuate themselves on the system, they not only snatched away the political rights of the people, but also blocked all avenues with which and within which they would be held to account.

    “Because under these conditions no person can be politically mobile except he becomes a sycophant, it becomes necessary for me to speak up. This, I did many times, unfortunately only to be met with complicit silence.

    “The malcontent within the party portends a grave danger to the stability and even existence of our dear nation. The situation is not helped by a President under whose watch all these negative traits are recurring. He instead prefers to give the country a lethargic and insular leadership informed by grudges, hatred and a general lack of understanding of what democracy and compassion are all about.

    “All these masqueraded as war on corruption. Meanness, malevolence, narcissism and self-conceitedness are never virtues, and cannot and should not therefore be the guiding philosophy of any leader. Whenever these adjectives are applied to statecraft, they not only undermine faith and confidence, but also multiply suffering. Leaders must be kind, listening, generous and caring. Above all, they must demonstrate empathy and compassion.

    “This country has dangerously been suffering from a deficit of democratic norms and culture. Successive leaders since 1999 have neglected to create the necessary conditions under which democracy may thrive and become long lasting.

    “Today, we are in a situation where leaders, instead of practicing democracy, are instead running round it. Democracy has not, historically, been determined in Nigeria. It is therefore not only incumbent on leaders to ensure that the citizenry learn how to operate and use it, but it is also their responsibility to facilitate the enabling environment for its practice and growth. Instead, they choose the easiest way out. This current administration is no different.

    “For the above reasons and more, I have come to the conclusion that I cannot continue to belong to an organization that is clearly preparing the country for disaster. When I left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC, this was not what I bargained for. This comes with the assurances of my highest consideration and personal respect.”

     

  • Kukah, N’Abba, want end to killings

    ….Imansuangbon blames politicians for killings

    The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali N’Abba, at the weekend called for an end to the killings and violence in some parts of the country.

    They both agreed that the country was not in a good place right now.

    The former speaker and clergy man spoke at the graduation ceremony of students of Pacesetter Group of Schools, on Saturday, in Abuja.

    Kukah said there was need for the Federal Government to take concrete action to end the killings going on in some parts of the country.

    He said: “I don’t think where Nigeria is now does good to anybody. Prayers are important but they are not enough. We need to also see some really practical actions.

    “We are hemorrhaging badly. Everybody who lives in this country knows and whatever needs to be done- and I think those in power understands what needs to be done and we need to be properly communicated with.

    “We cannot have a country where illiterate people, people who have no contribution to really make to this country, wherever they are coming from, men and women of darkness to take over the country. It is not acceptable and the reason why government exists is to secure the territorial space of Nigeria. Where we are we are not working.”

    On his part, the former speaker sought for collaborations to end the killings in the country.

    Read Also:How to end killings, by ex-IG Abbah, Senator Ibrahim, others

    According to him, the federal government alone cannot handle the current situation the country has found itself.

    Mr. N’Abba said: “I think a long time ago communities must have been engaged properly by this administration. I don’t think communities are being engaged. These conflicts have been raging on even before this administration and I thought the administration must have been prepared enough to meet with most communities where these conflicts have been taking place with a view to engaging them not on one off basis but on a continuous basis. I don’t see this happening.

    “I don’t think it has been handled in the most appropriate manner. I don’t think he (Buhari) can handle this problem alone and the impression he has given most people is that he is working alone.

    “If he wants to solve problems in this country he has to engage many people as possible- elders, the party and everybody that can assist. Problems cannot be solved just governmentally and that is what I think they are doing and not everybody in the government possess the right kind of wisdom for them to be able to solve these intricate problems.”

    Chairman of Pacesetters Group of Schools, Barr. Kenneth Imansuangbon described the present situation in the country as disturbing.

    He blamed the violence and killings in the country on the struggle for power by politicians.

    Barr. Imansuangbon said: “What is happening in our country today is very laughable and disturbing. This is not the Nigeria that we know. This was not the Nigeria Tafawa Balewa, Saudana, Okotie-Eboh, Prof. Ambros Ali, Nnamdi Azikiwe and the late Okpara gave to us. They left a good and united country for us. In their time there was no killings.

    “I will hold the past 17 years of politicians responsible for this evil and shameful killings. As far as I am concerned I have no respect for any politician because they are selfish and greedy.

    “I don’t think this is a Christian – Muslim war but the drums of war are beating. We can see it.

    “We need to support the president now for us to have peace, good elections, create jobs, for roads to work and for water to run. Every Nigerian has the constitutional responsibility to make sure the country works.

    “It’s a shame to our generation that we are now human killers and eaters. What is happening in Nigeria if you don’t know the consequence, it will take the next 100 years for somebody to believe in our country. Do you think a serious human being will want to invest in Nigeria with the killings? Very soon if we don’t stop this nonsense everybody will pay the price- both the rich and the poor.”

  • Na’abba blames Obasanjo for frosty executive/legislature relationship

    Na’abba blames Obasanjo for frosty executive/legislature relationship

    Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of being behind the frosty relationship that has existed between the executive and legislature since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

    The former speaker said former President Obasanjo wanted what he described as a subjugated legislature, but met a stiff opposition in the House of Representatives.

    They spoke just as former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu said the political clash in the country has sinned against God and thee Nigerian people and must be on their knees to seek forgiveness ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Speaking at a national conference on “political party supremacy and the dynamics of parliamentary autonomy”, organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), the former speaker said the decision of former President Obasanjo to impose a leadership on the National Assembly and the resolve to fight back by the lawmakers is responsible for the relationship that has existed between the two arms of government since 1999.

    Tracing the origin of the crisis, Na’Abba said Obasanjo1’s first step was to change the date of the inauguration of the National Assembly from June 3, 1999 to June 6the to allow him ample opportunity to manipulate the election of the Senate President, thus paving the way for the emergence of Evan Ewerem as Senate President instead of Chiba Okadigbo that was preferred by most senators.

    According to him, “the action of 3rd June 1999 by Obasanjo, the election of Ghali Na’Abba as speaker of the House of Representatives on 22nd July, 1999 and the election of Senator Chiba Okadigbo as Senate President convoluted to define the relationship between the legislature and the executive.

    “The relationship between the National Assembly and the executive arm became characterized by antagonism. It was clearly more than the necessary kind of friction which was desirous for the proper functioning of the legislature.

    “In doing what he did in the senate, the President did not carry the PDP along. The intention of the President in all of those was to ensure that he governed with a subjugated legislature. In the House of Representatives, he met with stiff resistance. That was the reason he insisted that the Speaker be impeached. Up to the time the House came to an end, he did not succeed. In the senate, Senator Chiba Okadigbo was impeached eight months after he was elected.”

    Also speaking, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim also blame the former President for the lack of party supremacy in the current political dispensation, pointing out that by declaring himself as the leader of the party, he succeeded in eroding the powers of the party to control their members.

    He said1: “The original sin was committed in 1999 when the then newly elected President, Olusegun Obasanjo declared himself the leader of the party thereby usurping the power of the party chairman.

    “Once he did that, sitting governors in the state declared themselves party leaders at the levels. Party executives then became simple figureheads without real power or influence.

    “One of the most serious consequences of this development is that the party becomes completely incapable of insisting that their elected executives and legislature implement the programmes on which they have been elected. The notion of party supremacy has completely disappeared in Nigeria’s political culture since 1999.”

    In his paper entitled political party supremacy and the challenges of executive and legislative relationship in Nigeria, former deputy senate president, Ibrahim Mantu said said the Nigeria nation has seen the worst of all sorts of bad governance, pointing out that while there is corruption all over the world, the type of corruption in Nigeria “is uniquely different. There is element of greed in our brand of corruption. In other words, we are greedily corrupt.”

    He said “As we approach 2019, we must put our house in order. We, the politicians have sinned against Almighty God, the giver of power and have sinned against the very people God used to endorse His anointment by voting us into power.

    “Our sins have reached saturating point and the natural law of gravity would bring everything down to ground zero. We must therefore purge ourselves and be on our knees to ask Almighty God and the good people of Nigeria for forgiveness.

    “In doing so. We must honestly and sincerely pledge to embrace the path of righteousness from now on and to do only that which would meet the expectations and aspirations of Nigerians henceforth.”

     

  • ‎Budget padding not possible without executive-Na’Abba

    ‎Budget padding not possible without executive-Na’Abba

    A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Ghali Na’Abba, has called for proper investigation of the role played by officials in the executive arm in the current budget padding controversy.

    Na’Abba made the call while answering questions from Energy Correspondents, at a workshop organised by Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) in Kano.

    He said it was impossible for the budget to be padded without the connivance of government officials.

    “This stealing of funds cannot be possible without active connivance with some members of the executive arm,” he said.

    On calls for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to resign, Na’Abba said that the call was “unwarranted” as there was no formal indictment of the speaker.

    “According to my understanding, where the issue being referred to as padding comes into play, is a situation where some members go behind and add items of expenditure to what has already been agreed upon.

    “For either stealing the funds or doing whatever they feel like doing with it.

    “So far, accusations are being traded amongst members of the house, but no investigation has been conducted.

    “On the call for the resignation of the Speaker, the question is, what has the Speaker done to warrant his resignation?”

    He called for full investigation to ascertain the level of involvement of members of the House mentioned in the allegation before calling on anyone to resign.

    “I expect that for 16 years of return to democracy, Nigerians would have understood the responsibilities of the National Assembly.

    “For some weeks now, there has been controversy over what is called padding.

    ‘As far as I am concerned, the National Assembly has the responsibility to pass the budget, approve it and allow the executive arm to execute it.”

    On whether padding constituted an offence, Na’Abba said, “It all depends on what angle you look at it, I just told you that the responsibility of appropriation belongs to the national assembly.

    “If padding is seen as an offence, then it is when some members of the national assembly decide to add items of expenditure through the back door after the bill has been passed by the two legislative arms.

    “It therefore behooves on Nigerians to decide who represent them in the national assembly.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 30 selected Journalists from the Kaduna Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) attended the three-day workshop, designed sharpen their skills in reporting the Oil and Gas sector.

  • Buhari, Mark, former NASS leaders meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, Mark, former NASS leaders meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with some ex- leaders of the National Assembly.

    Two separate meetings were said to have been held at the President’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Those spotted at the Villa included former Senate Presidents, David Mark and Ken Nnamani, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang.

    While Nnamani and Masari arrived the same time, Mark, who is still a current Senator approached the President’s office together with Enang about one hour later.

    But it was not clear whether Mark and Enang actually met Nnamani and Masari at the President’s office as Nnamani and Masari were said to have been taken out from the President’s office’s entrance in a vehicle.

    Nnamani and Masari, who had earlier trekked by the Council Chamber in the clear view of journalists when going to the President’s office, have not been spotted to go out through the same way they came in at the time of filing this report.

    The agenda of the meetings was unknown but may not be unconnected with the soured relationship between the Presidency and the current Senate.

    Mark, who came out after about thirty minutes in the President’s office, did not speak to journalists as he walked through the corridor with one protocol officer.

    His visit to the Villa was the first since he stepped down as the Senate President in the last dispensation.

    No official statement, at the time of this report, has been issued concerning the meetings.

    The current Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who is facing Senate Standing rules forgery trial along with is deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, had recently declared that there was cabal in the Presidency.