The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Goodluck Jonathan

  • Jonathan mourns Dikko

    Jonathan mourns Dikko

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday expressed sadness over the death of Alhaji Umaru Dikko.

    The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, commiserated with the family, friends and political associates of the former Minister of Transport during the Second Republic.

    He noted that Dikko also played a leading role in the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) which controlled the Federal Government in that dispensation.

    In spite of his advanced age, Jonathan said that he continued to actively contribute to the nurturing and strengthening of democracy in Nigeria until the end of his life.

    It reads: “President Jonathan firmly believes that Alhaji Umaru Dikko’s significant contributions, especially his life-long advocacy for stronger political parties, greater discipline within political parties and the supremacy of political parties have assured him of a place in the annals of Nigeria’s political development.”

    “He prayed that God Almighty will receive Alhaji Umaru Dikko’s soul and grant him eternal rest.”

     

  • Nigeria won’t succumb to terror, says Jonathan

    Nigeria won’t succumb to terror, says Jonathan

    Nigeria will leave no stone unturned to reinforce its defence against terrorism, President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday.

    He spoke during the opening ceremony of the Honourary International Investor Council (HIIC) meeting at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

    Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said his administration was committed to securing the lives and property of Nigerians and others resident in the country.

    He said: “This administration remains committed to ensuring security of the lives and property of Nigerians and all those that reside in this country. Our security forces are confronting terrorism and insurgency that seeks to undermine the security of the nation.

    “We will remain unyielding and will continue to reinforce our defences so as to rid the country of terrorism and the forces of evil that threatens our peace and development.”

    Stressing that the economy is growing  stronger, Jonathan said Nigeria was determined to become one of the world’s 20 most industrialised nations.

    His words: “This administration has significantly improved our investment climate and I will continue to take all necessary steps to enhance the competitiveness of Nigeria’s enterprises. We have always believed and are indeed very encouraged that these measures are steadily contributing to the attainment of the broad objective of our administration’s transformation agenda.”

    “But the challenges remain. We must not relent in our efforts to sustain a predictable and stable policy environment. We would continue to eliminate as much as possible, distortions and privileges to create a sustainable level playing ground for all investors,” he said.

    He went on: “Let me reaffirm that our efforts under the transformation agenda are yielding impressive results. Today, Nigeria is one of the strongest economic performers in Africa. For the second year, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development has declared Nigeria as the number one recipient of foreign direct investment, FDI, in Africa.”

    “In May this year, Nigeria hosted global leaders at the  World Economic Forum on Africa.  Besides the record attendance, prospective and size able additional investment into Nigerian economy were pledged,” he said.

    According to him, the recently launched Nigerian industrial revolution plan is expected to boost manufacturing from 4% of the GDP to 10% by the year 2017.

    The industrial plan, he said, focused on four main areas including light manufacturing, agro businesses, petro-chemicals and solid minerals and metals, which the President said would help to develop the non-oil sector, fast track our industrial development and create millions of jobs for Nigerians.

    On agriculture, Jonathan said: “In the agricultural sector, our reform efforts are producing substantial outcomes in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). Through the growth enhancement scheme, we have provided subsidised farming inputs to over 4 million farmers. Last year alone, over 250,000 farmers were engaged in producing 1.1 million metric tonnes of rice during the dry season.

    “Many young women across our country were also trained and provided with farming starter kits for fishery, snail keeping, livestock etc. The recent GDP rebasing results revealed that the services industry constitutes about 51 % of our GDP and employs many more Nigerians than we previously thought. We are therefore investing in the sector such as ICT and the creative industry to generate more of such jobs which will be key to making our recent economic record more inclusive.”

    Despite the challenges in the education sector, he said, Nigeria is improving the standard and carrying out teaching and infrastructure upgrade in institutions.

    “Within the last two months, we have played hosts to several  business delegations from all over the world, including a Chinese delegation of 100 businessmen, 75 Kenyan businessmen, 18 Swiss investors and second largest business enterprise in China, a Fortune 500 company, which pledged to invest in our transmission and power generating sector.”

    “The visit by the U. S. Commerce Secretary, accompanied by a powerful delegation, the delegation from Pakistan and the team from Netherlands are also worthy of note.”

    The Coordinator of HIIC, Baroness Lynda Chalker, noted that dropout of pupils in primary schools show the magnitude of educational problem in the country.

    She said: “Children who go to primary schools do not complete their education, that tells us a lot about the problems of the country. That is why we want to focus on education.”

    “We do not have a separate session on power supply, but we do know that Nigeria’s progress again depends on the gas reforms, the management of the transmission company of Nigeria, fuel supply to power plants, speedy implementation of renewable energy and progress plan for developing domestic gas utilization. Power and education are at the heart of what must be achieved,” she said.

     

  • President deplores attacks on churches near Chibok

    President deplores attacks on churches near Chibok

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday condemned Sunday’s attacks by Boko Haram insurgents on some churches in villages near Chibok, Borno State.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President deplored the renewed targeting by the sect’s members of a particular religion.

    He urged lovers of peace and unity to condemn the resurgence of terrorism, which threatens to disunite and destabilise Nigeria by instigating violence among religious groups in the country.

    The statement reads: “President Jonathan shares the view of the most learned Islamic leaders and scholars that no true Muslim will resort to the mindless killing of innocent people at any time, especially not during the holy month of Ramadan, to redress any perceived grievance.

    “The President believes, therefore, that Sunday’s attacks on churches and other similar atrocities by Boko Haram are conclusive proof, if any is still needed, that its leaders and members are thoroughly misguided persons who are only using religion as a cover for their reprehensible crimes against their countrymen and women.”

    Jonathan urged Nigerians, irrespective of their religious beliefs, to resist the new attempt to undermine the nation’s firm and collective resolve to unite in full support of its Armed Forces and security agencies against the perpetrators of brutal attacks on innocent citizens.

    The President again assured that the Federal Government and national security agencies would continue to intensify efforts to end Boko Haram’s attacks until the terrorists are defeated.

     

     

     

  • Ekiti 2014: A post mortem

    Ekiti 2014: A post mortem

    Eleven days on, it seems we haven’t done nearly enough of the post mortem on Ekiti gubernatorial polls, and certainly not least, the President Goodluck Jonathan’s ‘guided’, garrison democracy which formed a major part. Long after the incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi of the APC conceded defeat to his opponent, Ayodele Fayose of the PDP, pundits of different shades and hue, would appear far from done with theorising on how the battle was won and lost. Just like a good friend from the Land of Honour tried, over the weekend, to ‘sell’ the so-called ‘Zimbabwe model’ now spreading like wild-fire, I confess that some of the emerging theories have opened vistas in political sociology that yours truly cannot claim to be schooled in, and hence thoroughly ill-equipped to even comment upon!

    The much that I can aver at this time is that the election appears to have validated the rather disturbing thesis that a passable electoral outcome should suffice to render the means – fair or foul – legitimate. I refer here to the build-up right up till the election day, particularly the widely reported cases of intimidation of APC’s Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, and the grounding of the aircraft which would have ferried Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to join his colleagues in the Ekiti State capital – all on the eve of the election.

    Taken together with the estimated 30,000 boots unleashed on the people in an election in which barely half a million actually voted, the nation is at once let into the into the inner sanctum of the Jonathan’s guided process. That is why I couldn’t agree more with The Nation’s columnist Gbogun Gboro when he described the exercise as ‘tainted’. I would in fact wager that it was worse given what I consider as the needless show of muscle by the security agencies. In this, the good people of Ekiti at least have a lot to be thankful for that no heads were broken by the invading army.

    All said and done, the people of Ekiti can reasonably claim to have made their choice. What remains ‘live’ is the debate as to how our compatriots from the Land of Honour could have fallen to the seduction of a supposedly morally-challenged individual over an incumbent generally credited with sterling performance.

    And if it counts for anything at all, the dominant thread appears to be that the people have resolved their preference for the democracy of the stomach as against development.

    To begin with, I do not want to be uncharitable as to join in the stomach infrastructure-trumps-good-governance chant. First, I consider the explanation not only reductionist, but one capable of undermining any real prospects of understanding of the other factors behind poor electoral showing of APC in the poll. Here, my main concern is whether the APC as a party is prepared to understand the message underlying the loss outside of that one-liner explanation of ‘stomach infrastructure’.

    This is where last week’s intervention by Governor Babatunde Fashola has become relevant particularly his rather interesting attempt to frame the dillemma in terms of stark choice between development and the seduction of populism.

    This was how the governor framed the dillemma: “Developmental work is difficult to initiate and to execute. And developmental work that brings on change which is what every election ask for, will also from time to time occasion debates and policy thrust. And which legitimately must be criticised… But it must be a very dangerous message to simply suggest that once you give people money then this is the way it will happen. It is frightening for me in a democracy”.

    He then asked: “Should we just be giving money and when people ask about security, we say that we have given you money, go and rent your own security? When people ask for healthcare, we say that you have collected money. Is that the model for development?”

    And finally: “But to simply suggest that All Progressives Congress (APC) states where a lot of development is taking place; the road to winning power and we want to keep power and I am not pretentious about that. We want to remain in power but to suggest to us that in the aftermath of this, that the way to do that is to give money, for me it is a very worrisome lesson to learn”.

    Let me start by saying that I find nothing fundamentally disagreeable with the premise of Governor Fashola’s dilemma. However, as attractive as it seems, it certainly would amount to a grave misunderstanding to frame the Ekiti issue within the narrow alley of development versus stomach infrastructure – even if one concedes that the latter indeed, played a good part in the election. This is where I find the spirited attempt to rub the matter of “wrong” choice on the voters as not only unhelpful but capable of breeding resentment for the party among the people.

    Perhaps, the fault lies as much with the media as it is with the Ekiti political elite which appear to have promoted the choice as one between the two. As one governor that has blazed the trail in matters of development – and who has since supplied a worthy template for other APC governors to follow – Fashola is probably entitled to be disappointed as many Nigerians, including yours truly, who believe that Governor Fayemi deserves a reward – and not a censure – for exemplary performance. But then, that is what democracy is all about – the right to be wrong!

    In the situation, what should be more paramount at this time is the understanding of what went wrong! Surely, by every account, the governor did well. Indeed, the general opinion is that his administration delivered real value for every kobo spent. Was it a case of governance leaving the electors behind? Was it one of alienation of the organs of the party? Or communication, as some appears to suggest? There is great merit in finding out.

    Hard as development is to define, it is even harder to achieve. Ask Lee Kuan Yew, the man credited with Singaporean miracle. If his country is pejoratively described as nanny state, it owes mostly part on the tough choices forced on them by Yew and co. Today, Ekiti, Edo or Lagos, the APC has demonstrated that it is both capable and willing to make the difficult choices needed to make a difference to the lives of Nigerians. That is what makes them different. And that is what gives hope.

    Rather than occasion despair, the Ekiti experience might actually be a blessing of sorts – an opportunity to take stock. If only for its sake and the sake of the nation in dire need of rescue, we can only hope that APC finds the language to communicate the message without compromising its mission.

  • Ex-militants to Jonathan: run in 2015 or be ‘banished’

    Ex-militants to Jonathan: run in 2015 or be ‘banished’

    Hundreds of ex- militants,most of them Ijaw,yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to  declare his intention to contest next year’s  presidential election or risk  banishment forever from Ijawland.

    Ex-militant Phase 3 Leaders (of  the  amnesty programme) as they styled themselves,  said they could no longer tolerate the ‘provocative and unwarranted comments’ by politicians who are out to muzzle him out of the election.

    In a resolution at  a meeting held in Benin City, yesterday, the agitators  said their call was inevitable  “at a time like this when some individuals and selfish politicians are over heating the polity,  making provocative comments, saying Mr President promised them that he will run for just one term as if they are now the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    They warned that “any attempt to stop Mr President from exercising his fundamental human right  will put the unity of Nigeria at  great risk,” and declared that  should the President fail to contest in 2015   “you should not come back home but remain in Abuja forever.”

    Godstime Ogidigba, Chairman of the group,  and  Peter Edah, Speaker, asked  Nigerians to join hands with the Federal Government in stopping the Boko Haram menace.

    They were confident that  Nigeria will soon overcome the security challenges facing it and the school girls abducted in April by the sect released.

     

     

  • Abuja blasts: Nigeria in darkest phase of history, says Jonathan at bomb site

    Abuja blasts: Nigeria in darkest phase of history, says Jonathan at bomb site

    •Victim begs Jonathan for job

    As he visited the scene of Wednesday’s bomb blasts, which killed 23 people in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday declared that Nigeria has entered one of the darkest phases of its history.

    But he was confident that the nation would overcome  the Boko Haram  insurgency which has claimed thousands of lives in the last five years.

    “This is one of the darkest phases in the history of our nation. But surely, we will get over it,” Jonathan said in the midst of rubble and charred cars at Emab Plaza, Abuja.

    Wednesday’s bomb attack was the third on the capital since April. But the other two, which took place at Nyanya part of the nation’s capital and killed about 90 people between them, did not strike at the heart of the city.

    President Jonathan was away  in Equatorial Guinea for African Union summit at the time of the blast.

    On Sunday, Jonathan told a delegation of African bishops that Boko Haram was “even worse than the civil war” that calaimed about a million lives in the 1960s.

    “In a civil war, you know the battle line … you know where to run to. But this one, the enemies are in your pocket,” he said at the time.

    The President was briefed  yesterday by the  Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Suleiman Abba.

    He also visited Maitama District Hospital where he was briefed by the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr.  Adetoun Adetimehin.

    Speaking at the hospital, Jonathan said: “It is quite regrettable and extremely painful that when some Nigerians are struggling, thinking about how to contribute to the nation’s development, working very hard to take care of their families and train their children, others are busy planning to kill people, intimidate people, destroy people’s property. It is regrettable.

    “It is one of the darkest phases in the history of our nation. But surely, we will get over it. Some other countries have passed through such cloud before and they were able to overcome it.”

    He said he shared  “the pains of the people who have been directly affected, the pains of their families but we will surely pass through this ugly phase of our history.”

    He vowed that  the perpetrators of the attack and their sponsors would  be brought to book.

    He  also pleaded with the generality of Nigerians affected by security measures in the aftermath of such blasts to  “bear with them.”

    He said: “We all bear some pains from the highest to the least, because as  President,  I may not go to everywhere I would have loved to go. These are some of the challenges I have to face.

    “Even for our citizens, under such condition, we have reached some level of restrictions and some pains. Instead of shouting and insulting security operatives, let’s give them maximum cooperation, give them relevant information.

    “All countries that face terror suffer the same thing, citizens give maximum cooperation to the security operatives and help to contain and control. Surely, we will get over this.

    “We are all mourning. I remember that that very day we had a football match to play and all Nigerians were celebrating the Eagles, hoping they were going to win, then this act came up. I was airborne then, it was when I got down in Malabo that I got the information. Surely, we will get through this.”

    One of the victims at the hospital, who was selling telephone recharge cards at EMAB plaza, begged the President for a job.

    The victim, who spoke in pidgin English, said: “It was recharge cards I was selling at Banex Plaza. I don’t have a job. See what I have gone through.

    “Since yesterday, I have not slept. I have finished school but I have no Job. I can’t go and steal.”

    He  called on Nigerians to  “help me to start a better business and start my life again.”

    Replying, the President said: “We are happy you are alive. Thank God you are alive.”

     

     

  • A president’s most embarrassing moment

    A president’s most embarrassing moment

    Last week, I promised that as soon as I am able to solve the problem of downloading texts from my phone into my laptop, I’ll reproduce some of the texts I’d received in reaction to my columns of the last several weeks, specifically those on the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State and my tribute to Dan Agbese, veteran journalist and co-founder of Newswatch, at 70.

    Today I am reproducing those texts, plus some on my obituary about the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, last week, even though I am unable to resolve my digital wahala. Instead I’ve had to type them from my phone. I felt compelled to produce the texts to quickly correct several rather egregious mistakes I made in the obituary.

    Before reproducing the texts, however, I thought I should devote at least half the column this morning to this not-so-small matter of a gentleman’s word being his honour.

    The reader will, I am sure, recall that two years ago, President Goodluck Jonathan gave us his word in a lengthy interview that made the cover of Tell newsmagazine (February 27, 2012) that by June, last year, no Nigerian would need the use of stand-by generators anymore. “I promise Nigerians,” he said in the interview, “we will stabilise power but if you ask me how many megawatts, I will not tell you.”

    However, even though he said he would not be drawn on specific targets, he assured Nigerians that electricity supply will be so stable those with generators will “dash” them to him.  “By the middle of next year,” he said, “you will ‘dash’ me your generator. I’ll send it out of this country because we won’t need it here anymore.”

    About a year and a half before the Tell interview, on August 26, 2010 to be exact, the president unfurled the roadmap of his power reform agenda. It targeted 14,000 megawatts by 2013 and 40,000 by 2020. At that time the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was generating about 3,500, a far cry from the country’s demand in excess of 25,000 which itself fell far short of South Africa’s 40,000 with a population of 50 million, compared to ours which is more than triple.

    This month, it is one year since the president is supposed to have taken delivery of our supposedly superfluous standby generators and sent them out of the country. Yet it looks like, far from “dashing” him our generators, those who can afford them are indeed in need of more. And for those who can’t, there’s no light at the end of the dark tunnel they’ve been groping around in since the president unfurled his roadmap.

    Nothing could be more embarrassing to the president over his failure to deliver on his promise than what happened on this year’s Democracy Day on May 29 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. The president had just climbed the podium to present a compendium of his achievements in the last one year to a select audience of youths at the night event when the lights went off. He stood waiting for nearly twenty minutes before the lights returned.

    Given the importance of adequate power supply for the growth of our economy, the president clearly has a lot of work to do to convince Nigerians that the recent rebasing of our GDP, which his administration would want Nigerians to celebrate, is nothing more than economic hallucination, to use the words reproduced below of one of my respondents.

    And now to the texts.

     

    As we crucify Nyako

     

    Sir, You will always defend anything NORTH, be it North Africa. It is now clear that you and your elites know these uncommon criminals. Be bold and courageous enough to present them for DIALOGUE. Note that I don’t like you but I love your grammar that’s why I read your article. Detach yourself from NORTHERN agenda and be nationalistic.

    +2348022740309.

     

    Sir, Why did you not ask your criminal brothers to accept the amnesty offered by the President? I am not surprised you supported  Nyako.

    +2348037168007.

     

    Sir, Please let’s join hands together and push this country ahead. Complains will never help us.

    +2347066583610.

     

    Sir, Why are you always rationalising things when it affects the  North? Stop being divisive and educate your brothers on how to live with others.

    +2348034059462.

     

    Sir, A dull president with crooks manning our security. What do you expect? We need new thinking, new blood.

    Zakka Mangut

    +2347018324878.

     

    Sir, Anytime I need an increase in my system of adrenalin or better still bile, I read your piece. Please go and negotiate with your brothers Boko Haram and leave our president alone. President Yar’adua never went to the creeks to negotiate with the criminal militants. It was the good people of Niger Delta who supported the president and called the boys to order. Call Nyako, go to Sambisa forest, talk to your murderous Shekau to end the killing. If not, he will finish all of you.

    +2348188515867.

     

    Sir, What Governor Nyako said about GEJ was true. The First Family is a circus. The security chiefs are jesters. The government is a comedy of idiotic errors. That’s what they are.

    Bashir I Wada.

    +2348080620712.

     

    Sir, Do help us tell Boko Haram that they are cowards. We the Niger Delta militants are, through this medium, challenging them to battle. We will not only kill them all, we will cook their flesh and eat every one of them like chicken.

    +2347054795500.

     

    Sir, The truth of the matter is that Muslims have been frightened into silence in this country. We all know that Nyako said the truth. See how Patience Jonathan was threatening Borno State governor.

    Alabi Tajudeen.

    +234 8055952747

     

    Rebasing our economy

    Sir, Excellent critique in your column of yesterday in The Nation on the maddening hallucination of our President and his so-called economic experts, first on the old debt relief of 2005 and now the laughable statistical “rebased GDP” which is part of the self-imposed image of a balloon nation.

    Professor Sam Oyovbaire.

     

    Dan Agbese at 70.

     

    Sir, I want to thank you for your beautiful piece on our Dan Agbese. I’ll always remember him for his article on the late Chief Awolowo prior to his last birthday in 1987. In that article Agbese eulogised the qualities and contributions of Chief Awolowo and wrote that he will be remembered as the best president Nigeria never had. The sage died a few weeks after the publication and the late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu made the same statement thereafter. While Nigerians were crediting the statement to Chief Ojukwu, Dan Agbese was the author and originator of the statement.

    Adefemi Aribatise, Lagos.

    +2348028597775.

     

    Several of the respondents to my piece on Dan at 70 wanted to know where they could buy his books which I referred to. They should contact him on 08033218058 or through his email address, ochima44@yahoo.com.

     

    Ekiti governorship election

     

    Sir, You have just won the highest bid price for Project Kayode as contractor columnist. Please keep off paid job like this and do the real Haruna stuff you’re made of.

    +2348057716603

     

    Sir, What you describe as a formidable rigging machine is as much an APC thing. In case you don’t know, the growing perception in the Southwest today is that the APC is not exactly averse to the electoral infractions they are wont to charge the PDP with. This explains why the sympathy for Fayemi is not overwhelming.

    Kuteyi R. R. Ondo.

    +2348062549133.

     

    Sir, I am not from Ekiti but I am a strong advocate of the social policies imparting on lives of the people. Fayemi has just done that. May Almighty God never allow the likes of Fayose to ruin the good works. Ekiti should be ready to defend their votes bearing in mind that Fayose’s antics at rigging remains notorious.

    +2348036216991.

     

    The death of Ado Bayero

    Sir, Your Wednesday column of June 11 refers. 1. Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano is outside the city wall not inside as you stated. 2. Azare town is in Katagum Emirate not Bauchi and 3. You forgot to add that the emir was also Chancellor of UNIMAID at one time. Thank you.

    Prof. Yahaya Shehu.

     

    I stand corrected on all three counts. On the second count, Azare is indeed the capital of Katagum Emirate. In addition, Emir Muhammadu Inuwa, as many readers pointed out, was an uncle of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi and not his cousin, as I said.

    All the errors are regretted.

     

    Sir, In your Wednesday June 11, 2014, column you forgot to mention the Maitatsine saga in 1984.

    +2348058559098.

     

    Sir, With due respect, I wish to make this correction. Malam Ibrahim Shekarau’s father was a Chadian. He is Gwado-gwado not Babur as you mentioned in your piece.

    Habibu Hamisu Ibrahim

    +2348033262011.

     

     

  • Jonathan’s pettiness

    Jonathan’s pettiness

    • It was not presidential that Jonathan did not congratulate the new Emir of Kano

    Whoever advised President Goodluck Jonathan not to congratulate Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the newly installed Emir of Kano, did not do him or his office any good. And the president should have known better and ignored the counsel. Such an act is too puerile and blinkered to be associated with the presidency. The new emir is the immediate past governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who in the twilight of his tenure was controversially suspended from office by the president on February 20.

    Sanusi had accused the government of not accounting for over $20 billion oil money in the Federation Account.

    The legal and public hullabaloo generated by his contentious removal from the apex bank’s post were yet to subside before the position of the Emir of Kano, hitherto occupied by late Alhaji Ado Bayero, became vacant. Being a Fulani prince, his name was among three others forwarded by the ancient town’s kingmakers to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso for approval. The governor, in line with prevailing chieftaincy laws across the federation, picked Sanusi. We are not surprised by the noticeable degree of disenchantment from some elements in Kano. Traditional rulers’ selection anywhere has not been controversy-free. But once done, we expect all to work for the good of the community. Alternatively, the aggrieved may go to court.

    Therefore, whatever dissonance might have existed between the new Emir and anybody in government should not be taken to a ridiculous extent. This is the juncture at which we disagree with the refusal of President Jonathan to congratulate Sanusi. More inexcusable is the fact that the President cancelled his scheduled homage to the new Emir in Kano (as is often the practice) prior to the announcement of the kingmakers’ choice. To us, this is simply because Sanusi was the favoured candidate. That aborted presidential journey to Kano would have equally afforded the president an opportunity to commiserate with the family of the departed Emir.

    The Emir of Kano is one of the foremost revered traditional rulers in the entire north. And Sanusi, being the present occupant of the throne is just the symbol of that throne and the custodian of the culture and tradition of his people. Whoever has respect for Kano people must show deserved regard for the person occupying the post – for the people of that state, through their governor and kingmakers, have deemed him fit to sit over such revered throne and for him to lead them traditionally.

    All said, the new emir must realise that his new role is a different ballgame from that of the CBN.  As CBN governor, Sanusi discharged his functions with controversial activism that was quite alien to the tranquil dignity and aplomb becoming of an apex bank’s top man. We therefore call on him to learn from his past mistakes. He should also realise that his new status does not give room for undue playing to the gallery. The position of Emir, is a reserved one that demands more restraint.

    So, Sanusi needs to display a new temperament that reflects his new, royal aloofness. He should not discriminate on the basis of religion or area of origin of inhabitants in the state. He should always endeavour to heal the wounds created by the rancour that followed his selection by genuinely working for unity among the aggrieved within and outside the state.

    The late Emir, a cosmopolitan traditional ruler by any standard, set the template for him to follow. We expect Sanusi to emulate him. He was chosen because the kingmakers and the governor realised he could fit into the turban left behind by the late Emir. He cannot afford to disappoint. We congratulate and wish him success.

  • Repatriated prisoners: Appeal Court reserves judgment

    Repatriated prisoners: Appeal Court reserves judgment

    The Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos, has reserved judgment in the case involving 22 prisoners repatriated from Thailand to conclude their sentences in Nigeria.

    Following a purported treaty signed by President Goodluck Jonathan, some Nigerians serving life sentences in the Asian country for drug trafficking offences were repatriated last year and held at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons.

    Arguing that the said treaty has not been domesticated in Nigeria and as such was not binding on them, the defendants, through their lawyer Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), sued the Federal Government at a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Mohammed Idris and lost.

    On March 18, last year, the lower court dismissed the inmates’ suit on the grounds that they failed to provide the purported treaty and that the action was speculative.

    The defendants approached the appellate court with two issues for determination, seeking a reversal of the lower court’s decision.

    In the appeal, filed on May 6, last year, the appellants said they were being illegally detained since they were not convicted by any law in Nigeria, adding that the responsibility of producing the treaty falls on the Nigerian government.

    They prayed for a declaration that their continued detention constituted an infringement of their rights and an order for their unconditional release.

    Other respondents are the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Deputy Controller of Kirikiri Prisons.

    The respondents, through their counsel, Taiwo Abidogun and Unyime Ebuk, urged the court to dismiss the appeal.

    They said the appellants’ argument that the treaty had to be enabled by the National Assembly before it can be effective does not hold water, adding that not all treaties are laws.

    The respondents said the treaty falls under social obligation of Section 3(1) (b) of Treaties (Making Procedure, etc) Act LFN, 2004, and need not be locally enabled to be binding.

    The appellants are Napolian Marvelous; Okafor Ifeanyi; Azubuike Uzoma; Azukame Ejikeme; Okpala Chibuike; Ibezimako Titus; Innocent Ahionye; Oraekie Obinna; Yakubu Mohammed; Clement Omogbai and Tanya Kennedy.

    Others are Uboh Christopher; Christopher Uboh; Chika Emezube; Titus Emedosi; Gozie Okoye; Chike Agbodike; Donald Edoma; Kayode Olatunde; Amusan Oladipupo; Eleazer Ikoro; Ajomuma Desmond and Ogbona Gloria Nee Jigbale Ijeoma.

     

  • Girls rescue talks stuck as govt, elders disagree

    Girls rescue talks stuck as govt, elders disagree

    Negotiators not at ease with unconditional release demand

    The  Federal Government’s back-door talks to rescue the 217 abducted Chibok girls still in Boko Haram’s custody, may have suffered a setback.

    The government is demanding an unconditional release of the girls, promising to fulfill the demands of Boko Haram leaders after.

    But the facilitators of the talks are seeking a truce which will result in the simultaneous swapping of the girls with some insurgents in detention.

    The facilitators/mediators, some of whom are clerics and Northern leaders, are afraid of the consequences of the government reneging on any “deal”.

    They think that they may be exposed to danger.

    Also yesterday, it was gathered that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is yet to get a Presidential go-ahead for talks with Boko Haram contacts.

    President Goodluck Jonathan only gave a verbal approval to him.

    Obasanjo wanted a situation where he would sit down with the President and get a firm commitment on offers from the government to the insurgents.

    The ex-President may, however, wait for a while because the government was uncomfortable with his comments that the President did not believe the girls were abducted in the first place.

    The rescue bid for the girls has been slowed down by some unresolved issues.

    It was gathered that there was a major challenge on: •agreeing on terms for the release of the girls; and •establishing trust that each party will keep to the bargain.

    To sources, who spoke in confidence on the negotiation, the resolution of the two issues is crucial to freedom for the girls.

    One of the sources said: “We seem to have a little setback. I think the fear of people who are negotiating is whether the government will honour its own part of the talks.

    “The government is demanding unconditional release of the girls whereas the negotiators are seeking simultaneous swapping of some insurgents with the girls.

    “The government is saying the insurgents should release the girls and it will unfold its package. There is also a suspicion in government that the insurgents may not live up to their pledge.

    “Some of these clerics and Northern leaders are scared that they might be endangered if the government does not make concrete offers to the insurgents.

    “The facilitators want to collect the girls and hand over the insurgents at the same time.”

    Asked of the attitude of the insurgents, the source, who is believed to be respected by Boko Haram leadership, said: “They have been listening to some of their contacts out of sheer mutual respect but if the government does not act, they do not mind keeping the girls for five years.

    “They are prepared to keep the girls. If there are terms acceptable to both parties and firm commitment, anybody can secure the release of the girls.”

    Another source said the Federal Government does not have much confidence in Obasanjo’s initiative.

    The source said the government would prefer a collective intervention by past Heads of State, as floated last Thursday by President Goodluck Jonathan, than Obasanjo’s singular plan.

    It was gathered that Obasanjo’s comments, which alleged that the President did not believe that the girls were abducted made the Presidency to be “cautious” on his initiative.

    The source added: “I think there is a problem between Obasanjo and the President. When the two leaders met at the burial of ex-Governor Michael Otedola, Obasanjo told Jonathan what he intended doing and the President said it was a good idea.

    “They both agreed to discuss the details later, if Obasanjo is really going into it. The President gave some security insights into the abduction, including the alleged involvement of some people opposed to his administration and some foreign elements.

    “But it was shocking to the government when Obasanjo came out and said Jonathan doubted the abduction of the girls. The comments angered the President and some forces in government.

    “This is why the President and Obasanjo have not sat down to discuss the modalities of the latter’s initiative. Sensing this, Obasanjo was also absent at last Thursday’s parley on the Chibok girls with past leaders.

    “By declaring that not all the girls can return home safely, Obasanjo is not only divulging security matter, he is also doubting his own mission. Do you expect the government to have faith in his initiative?”

    It was gathered that Obasanjo refused to resume talks with Boko Haram contacts because he was yet to secure a firm commitment from the President that whatever terms agreed upon would be accepted by the Federal Government.

    A third source added: “Obasanjo said he won’t move an inch forward on the talks with Boko Haram again until he gets the consent and commitment on whatever is arrived at from the Federal Government.

    “Baba said he cannot act on newspapers reports on the government’s commitment. He does not want to discuss with the insurgents and fail to meet their terms.”