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Tag: Goodluck Jonathan

  • Don’t mob gays

    Don’t mob gays

    •Gays should be punished, but not outside the court of law

    The issue of giving legal sanction to same sex marriages has in recent times shown the divergent cultural values and orientations between African and western societies. Several western countries, including the United States, Britain and France, among others, have legitimised same sex marriage. However, most African countries have refused to sanction the practice. The latter have stoutly rebuffed pressure from some western countries to grant so-called gay rights, which they see as a feature of a truly democratic society. For most African societies, same sex marriage is unnatural, abnormal, perverse and immoral. It is an abuse of freedom that is harmful to the health of society.

    Nigeria is one country that has taken decisive action to curtail gay rights and promulgated a law that makes same sex marriage criminal and illegal. The Same Sex Marriage (prohibition) Act was in January signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan. The law imposes a 14 -year jail sentence for engaging in gay marriage. It makes it a crime for anyone, straight or homosexual, to hold a meeting of gays or to advocate human rights for gays. Those who are convicted for engaging in these acts can be jailed for up to 10 years.

    The anti-same sex marriage law reflects the will of the vast majority of the Nigerian people and their communal values. Law cannot be divorced from the cultural mores of a people. No country has a right to impose its own values on others. The freedom guaranteed by democracy must not be allowed to degenerate to license just anything so that society does not descend to anarchy. The west has the right to believe that gay rights are an expression of democratic values and human rights. But it must also respect the right of other societies to hold a different view.

    However, the Same Sex (prohibition) Act must not be allowed to become an excuse for the perpetration of impunity and lawlessness. This was what, regrettably, happened when a mob of about 40 people reportedly invaded a shanty town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, penultimate Thursday, with the purported aim of ‘cleansing’ the neighbourhood of gay people. Armed with wooden clubs and iron bars, the mob was said to have dragged 14 young men from their beds and brutally assaulted them. The purported gays were threatened with death if they came back to the community. Houses were said to have been painted with graffiti declaring “homosexuals pack and leave”.

    Even more shockingly, four of the victims who were marched to a police station received no protection from those who were supposed to uphold the law. According to Ifeanyi Orazulike of the International Centre on Advocacy for the Right to Health, they were kicked and punched by police officers who hurled abuses at them. Luckily, the men were ordered to be released by a senior police officer because there was no evidence that they were gay since they were not caught having sex. Even then, the injured men had to be treated at the organisation’s clinic.

    It is thus not surprising that the United States Embassy, reacting to the incident, reiterated its concern that the anti-same sex law “might be used by some to justify violence against Nigerians based on their sexual orientation”. This kind of impunity and mob action is indefensible. Any law must be enforced in accordance with due process. Those suspected of violating the anti-same sex law must be prosecuted in court, not persecuted by a mindless mob. They remain innocent until proven guilty.

  • Sanusi’s suspension: Jonathan breached Constitution, CBN Act- Governors

    The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) led by Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi has accused President Good luck Jonathan of breaching the 1999 Constitution by suspending the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
    According to the governors, the suspension was aimed at diverting attention from the missing $20bn from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation account, which Sanusi claimed was not remitted to the Federation Account.
    The governors spoke in Abuja at the end of their meeting in the early hours of Tuesday. The meeting started around 8pm on Monday night.
    They also threw their weight behind calls for a forensic audit of the NNPC Account to unravel the truth about the issues.
    Reading a four-paragraph communique at the end of the meeting, Amaechi said: “The suspension of Sanusi by Mr. President is in clear breach of the Nigerian Constitution and the CBN Act, 2007.”

    “The suspension is aimed at diverting attention from the current national discourse on the allegations of corruption and questionable accountability.”

    “We support the call of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Senate Committee on Finance for a forensic audit of the NNPC Account.”
    The governors also accused the Presidency of plotting to impeach the Governor of Nasarawa State, Mallam Tanko Almakura.

     

    The alleged plot, they say, is an assault on the 1999 Constitution.
    The communique reads: “It has come to our notice that the Presidency is plotting to illegally impeach the Governor of Nasarawa State, Mr. Tanko Al-Makura.”

    “We condemn this renewed assault on constitutional democracy.”
    They also faulted the Presidency for what they called deliberate refusal of the Presidency to convene the National Economic Council meeting for seven months.

    The refusal to call the meeting, the governors said, is preventing them from their constitutional opportunity to discuss the “perilous state of the Nigerian economy thus plunging the nation into an economic and political crisis.”

    The governors therefore appealed to the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, to accelerate the hearing on all constitutional cases especially the suit on the Excess Crude Account and other illegal deductions.

    They condemned the killings in the North-East, but the commended the Nigerian military and other security agencies for their efforts against the insurgents.

    The Forum called on the Federal Government to wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and property in the country, especially in the North-East.
    Among the governors that attended the meeting included Rivers, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Kano, Lagos, Imo, Sokoto, while deputy governors from Osun, Borno and Edo were also in attendance.

  • Sanusi: Jonathan orders audit of CBN’s accounts

    Sanusi: Jonathan orders audit of CBN’s accounts

    Financial Regulatory Council to submit report in six weeks

    President: I’ve absolute powers to suspend CBN governor

    SECRETARY to the Government to the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim has asked the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) to audit the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Acting on President Goodluck Jonathan’s directive, Anyim gave the FRCN six weeks to do job.

    The audit is to examine the books showing how suspended CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has run the apex bank.

    Sanusi was suspended last Thursday for alleged “misconduct” and “financial recklessness”. He denied any wrongdoing, challenging his accusers to open the books.

    The presidential directive – to the FRCN – is believed to be a response to Sanusi’s stand on the row between him and the authorities.

    The fresh audit is a follow-up to an earlier on by auditing giants Coopers and Lybrand.

    Sanusi has accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of being unable to account for $20 billion oil revenue. The argument was still raging when he was suddenly suspended – an action the President defended last night.

    Dr Jonathan said he has “absolute power” to suspend Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi from office.

    According to him, it would have been inappropriate to have allowed Sanusi to remain in office while the report of the FRCN, which indicted the CBN 2012 audit report, was being considered. He said because Sanusi is the chairman of the CBN board of directors, it was mandatory for him to be out of office during investigation.

    Dr. Jonathan spoke during the “Presidential Media chat” aired on national television.

    “Yes, I have absolute power. The CBN is not well defined in the Nigerian Constitution,’’ he said, in response to a question by one of the panelists on the propriety of his action to suspend Sanusi.

    Dr Sarah Alade, the most senior deputy governor was appointed to act for Sanusi. Zenith Bank Managing Director Godwin Emefiele has been nominated as CBN governor, to take office on June 2 when Sanusi’s tenure is due to end. The Senate is yet to confirm the appointment.

    The President said Sanusi remained the CBN governor and would be allowed back to the office “today or tomorrow”, if he was cleared at the end of investigation.

    According to him, the president has oversight functions over the bank. The action against Sanusi, he said, was delayed because of the need to consult widely and not to send a wrong signal.

    “When dealing with the treasury of a nation, you have to be careful and consult widely,” Jonathan told the panel.

    The President also spoke on the national conference, which he said would start on March 10, his plan to investigate alleged loss of $20b at the NNPC and the Boko Haram insurgency, among others.

    Jonathan also faulted the argument that indicted deputy governors should have been suspended along with Sanusi, saying that the head was suspended in order not to interfere with ongoing investigation.

    He said the CBN Act will be amended, if need be, to tally with international best practices.

    But Jonathan stressed that he cannot direct Sanusi’s prosecution as the CBN Board and the FRCN have the responsibility.

    On Sanusi’s prosecution, he said: “People must know how government functions. The government doesn’t just prosecute anybody. No; it is not done that way. Anybody could be accused of everything. Even in normal civil service operation, when you are suspected for fraud, the best …is to place you on suspension and the matter is investigated. At the end of investigation, why they place you on suspension is so that you don’t stay in that office and frustrate the process of investigation. So, government normally places such person on suspension without salary. And if it is a grievous offence, they place you on suspension without salary, but not sacked. Until when they conclude investigations; he may go back if he has no case to answer. If he has a case to answer, that is when they prosecute. “

    “These are issues raised by a third party; the Financial Reporting Council is not a member of CBN. So, there could be some issues….probably there could be explanations. I am not saying everything raised there is incriminating on the CBN or Sanusi. No; nobody has said that. So, it will depend on when …It is the board of the CBN and the Financial Reporting Council that will look into those grey areas. And if Sanusi has no case to answer, how will you prosecute somebody that has no case to answer.

    “But if he has a case to answer; it depends on the nature of the case. In the public service, there are some cases that if it is not criminal in nature, it is either act of negligence or probably miskick a process he was supposed to follow, he may not necessarily be prosecuted. There may be other sanctions or indictment. So, everything does not end up with prosecution.

    “Prosecution can only come if a clear fraud is established. But if a fraud is not established, maybe somebody does not follow due process, or some other issues that are not clearly fraudulent, we may not necessarily prosecute him, even though the person is guilty. So, Nigerians should wait; they should not just talk about prosecution.

    He added: “Forget whether it is Goodluck Jonathan, whether the President of Nigeria by virtue of the constitution of Nigeria has power to suspend the governor of CBN, I will tell you yes, the President has absolute powers to suspend the CBN Governor.

    “The CBN is not even well defined in the Nigerian constitution. If you look at the Nigerian Constitution, Section 153 talks about executive bodies, like Federal Character Commission, Civil Service Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, the Judicial Service Commission, about 14 of them and the Code of Conduct. These are clearly defined. The President appoints but the Senate must clear. For the president to remove anybody, he must go through the Senate. The President has oversight over the CBN; so if anybody tells you that the CBN is a different country, it is not true because for the CBN to change the colour of the Naira, the President must approve.”

    “And what happens, for the CBN account, because normally when you audit the CBN, you publish it. So, for you to even publish the CBN audited account, the President must approve it. That means the President must accept the CBN’s audited account.”

    According to Jonathan, suspension came in because the CBN Act is somehow anomalous. “We have similar issues with other organizations, not just the CBN, where the CBN Governor is also the Chairman of the CBN Board, the CBN governor is the Chief Executive of CBN and, at the same time, the chairman of the CBN Board. So, if there are allegations about the CBN governor, it becomes a problem for you to look into it,” the President said.

    He went on: “So, no President will just wake up and a decision, especially when the CBN is involved, whether suspension or removal … you need to consult, you have to do all what it takes and make sure. Probably, I would have even stayed longer than now but when I just realised that in fact February 2013 that the CBN governor sent me the report of the 2012 audit, because the audit report is supposed to be published in the first quarter of the year. So from that time through April there has been correspondence to and fro.

    He said he suspended Sanusi when he did because the 2013 audit report is supposed to be published this quarter, “but we have not even finished with 2012”. In fact, I had to give provisional approval to audit 2013 report because we have not finished with 2012″.

    Jonathan said he sent the name of Sanusi’s successor immediately, because it is “one of the things we have to do to stablise the system” and to tell the international community that the succession is already there.

    The suspension coincides with Sanusi’s alarm that $20b oil money was missing. The President said: “In terms of if the time is appropriate, there is no time that is even appropriate to suspend anybody. But if you need to be suspended, definitely you really have to be suspended.” The issue of $20 billion, well if you look at the issues, it started from February till now, so it is not as if something just came up now because Sanusi spoke about $20 billion. First of all, he spoke about $49.8 billion; everybody was alarmed. Finally, Sanusi said it was $12 billion; later on he said $20 billion.

    “Whether it is $49.8 or $12 billion, but whatever, even if is one kobo or one dollar that has disappeared from NNPC, we will find out. That I guarantee you, but while doing that, we must follow the due process.”

    On the National Conference, Jonathan said key officials of the conference would be announced on March 3. The conference will start on March 10.

    “By our thinking, March 3, we will announce the names of the chairman, the deputy chairman and the secretary and, of course, we will also engage the administrative staff that will work with them and they will start work for at least a week before we invite others to join. And then, I will formally inaugurate it,” Jonathan said.

    He also spoke about the country’s centenary celebration, which he said is solely funded by the private sector, except that he would host visiting heads of state.

    “The purpose is definitely not to prevent disintegration. Nigeria will not disintegrate. Nigeria will not disintegrate,” he said.

    On the Boko Haram insurgency and insecurity in the country, Jonathan said security agents should get kudos, rather than knocks.

    On Borno Governor Shettima’s statement – that the Boko Haram fighters are better equipped and motivated – he said: “The statement is a little bit unfortunate because you don’t expect a governor to make that kind of statement and if the governor of Borno State feels that the Nigerian Armed Forces are not useful, he should tell Nigerians. I will pull them out for one month; whether he will stay in that his Government House; just one month, but I will fly back to take over the state.

    “But if what he said is correct, I will pull out the military from Borno State for one month and I will go back and take over the state. A governor should be mindful of what he says.

    “Yes, there are issues. No matter how frustrated you are, you don’t make this kind of statement.

    He said he is not aware that a military administrator was to be sent to Borno State.

    On kerosene subsidy, Jonathan said: “I don’t need to be briefed because I was involved. I was the Vice President to the late President (Umaru) Yar’Adua. At about 2008/2009, the international crude oil price dropped significantly; it was 48 dollars and we realised that at that time, the pump price of PMS was 70 to the litre. Of course, kerosine had been 50. And we realised that if we pulled out, Nigerians at that time would have bought PMS at 50 to 60 per litre. And we agreed that we were going to pull out, completely deregulate because if we had pulled out then, the pump price would have dropped. And if the pump price drop, no body will protest. And that is the best time. So those approvals were given. But along the line, the labour leaders were even the people who said, ‘look, this may be short-lived; let’s wait for another six months and if it is stable, then government can pull out’.

    Yar’Adua made those approvals; so, we decided to just leave it that way. The petroleum law does not recognise the President but only the minister.

    “So, what happened is that instead of keeping the pump price at N70, the President now brought the pump price from 70 to 65. If you look at the whole history, that was the first time the pump price of petrol was brought down. Nigerians would have probably been buying at 60 or 62. But the President brought it at 65 and it was announced and gazzetted.

    “When people talk of kerosene that President approved, they would have also talked of PMS. Those are memos from the principal secretary to the President to commence authorising the minister to act. The president has no powers based on the law. But we know that before the minister will effect it, the President must give clearance. So, since the labour people came, every body left it at that stage. The law guiding the price of petroleum products, very clear, for you to increase or decrease the price of any petroleum product, the law says that you must advertise and inform Nigerians in some daily newspapers, state the date and time. If you listen very well, if we want to change the price of petrol, we may say Sunday night so that by Sunday 12 midnight, every station will change. So, somebody going to fill and getting photocopy of documents that were forgotten and starts circulating, I don’t know those issues. To answer your question, kerosene subsidy still remains. I don’t need to be briefed; there was a time that we announced that government had completely deregulated. It was not removed.”

     

  • APC governors: Why we are different from PDP

    APC governors: Why we are different from PDP

    •Accuse Jonathan of embarking on ‘church tourism’ over 2015 elections

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governors yesterday said the party is different from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because it is people-centred.

    The party also described President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to churches ahead of the 2015 elections as “church tourism,”.

    The governors spoke at the first Progressive Governance Lecture in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The lecture has “Unemployment and the Crisis of Governance in Nigeria: the Way Forward” as the theme.

    It was organised by the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi said of the difference between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): “Some people now say that both PDP and APC are the same. They say there is no difference. Governor Kwankwanso was in PDP, he is now in APC. Governor Rotimi Amaechi was in PDP, he now is in APC. I urge you to also check what those governors were doing when they were in the PDP.

    “We have never said that all the people in PDP are bad leaders. That has never been our argument. Our argument has been that the influence of the-end-justifies-the-means politicians in the PDP is overwhelming. And that is why they are not making any progress beyond this jobless growth that we are witnessing. When you go there, you can see it. Governor Kwankwanso runs a free education programme now in Kano. Governor Amaechi runs free education in Rivers. Governor Nyako does the same in Adamawa. So, there are many ties that bind us together and we believe that ideologically, we are Siamese twins. And that is why they are here. We also want to enrich what we are doing with the examples they have shown in their states and other states. Of course, you can see the difference in Ibadan. I am not saying this just to humour my brother, the governor of Oyo State. I was born, grew up here and know this city like the back of my hand and I know the progress that it has witnessed in the short period of time that Governor Ajmobi has taken on the reins of power. You know what is going on in Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Osun and Ekiti states.”

    Fayemi and other party leaders, who spoke at the lecture, said the 2015 election would be a contest of ideas, not of physical strength, sentiment or violence.

    On the determination of the party to revitalise Nigerian economy through job creation and other initiatives, Fayemi said: “The reason why we are progressive is that we believe that we owe a duty to our people, that it is not a favour to our people to empower them to become people who have self worth in their own right. And job is not about earning a wage. It is about the dignity that it gives our people. That is why we are making this the first in the series if the PGF lectures. And there is a direct nexus between governance and employment. The disconnections that the lecturer have pointed out, the issues that have been raised are also borne by the evidence before us. The strategic committee of this group headed by Governor Fashola has been receiving results from the polls that we commissioned in the 36 states of the federation. The polls we have been doing make it clear to us that the number one issue for Nigerians across the length and breadth of the country is joblessness. Next is insecurity. But as Governor Kwankwanso has highlighted, there is a connection between joblessness and insecurity. When you look at what we are witnessing in the Northeastern part of the country today, there are those who say it is religious, there also those who want to make us believe it is ethnic. But as a student of security, the most critical factor responsible for crisis in the North is economy. That is what has made it possible for some Nigerians to believe that they have no future than to throw themselves in arms way in the name of creating an alternative republic. That, for us, is what we need to tackle. When we cut off the oxygen that is fueling the crisis in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and other parts, we clearly must understand the connection between insecurity and poverty.”

    Earlier, welcoming the guests to the state, Oyo State Go ernor, Abiola Ajimobi, reeled out his achievements in the last 1000 days, stressing that his administration has redefined governance. He pointed out that it has also brought back an enabling environment for businesses to thrive

    “The revolution is unprecedented. From the ashes of the second dirtiest city, we have raised the level of cleanliness to make Ibadan one of the neatest. We are attracting investors due to conducive atmosphere.

    Your presence here today adds to our huge intellectual account.”

    Highlighting the danger of unemployment, Ajimobi said it has become urgent for any responsible government to act fast.

    “By taking on this challenge, we are telling the world that when we eventually take over federal governance, we will tackle this and other challenges confronting the country.” He said.

    The Chairman of the occasion and former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said irrespective of the position various Nigerians hold about the country or the party, the APC governors and its leaders came together for the progress of Nigerians.

    He said they embraced progressive politics in order to lift citizens out of their frustration, adding that party leaders and members laid down their differences and political idiosyncrasies in the larger interest of the country.

    The guest lecturer, Dr Ayo Teriba, dissected the current state of the economy, particularly unemployment. He disclosed that though Nigeria is among the five fastest growing economies in the world, the country has double digit unemployment rate, which he put at 23 per cent.

    As a way out of the current parlous state, Teriba recommended that government must take data reading more seriously, revamp rail transportation, support economic intelligence and reform policy processes, among others.

    He said: “To make democratic governance a tool for delivering economic tangible and enduring economic benefits in the future, Nigeria needs to make monthly employment data available before the end of each month, fix rail transportation, rethink fiscal policy, refocus monetary policy, and ensure that elected officials accept responsibility for policy formulation and coordination. Appointees can implement but elected officials must adopt modalities for ensuring transparency and accountability in policy mplementation. Examples of successes in using democracies as a tool for economic advancement abound.”

    The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, said agreements at the lecture would be implemented in APC-controlled states .

    The governors and party leaders visited the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasngba where they addressed crowd of party supporters who came to welcome them to Oyo State.

    They were led by the National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and National Leader Gen. Mohammadu Buhari. The governors include Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano), Borno State Deputy Governor Alhaji Umaru Mustapha, his Osun State counterpart, Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and the Edo State Secretary to the State Government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere.

    Former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba and former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adebayo were also there.

  • 10 gunmen abduct Jonathan’s cousin in Otuoke

    10 gunmen abduct Jonathan’s cousin in Otuoke

    RESIDENTS of Otuoke, President Goodluck Jonathan’s Bayelsa State hometown, were still in shock yesterday over the kidnap of his first cousin, Chief Inengite Nitabai.

    In a daring move, 10 heavily armed men stormed Nitabai’s expansive compound located before Otuoke bridge, off Otu-Okpoti-Ogbia Road, grabbles their target and fled. No shot was fired.

    Nitabai, said to be about 70, is a compound chief in Jonathan’s Ebele family.

    He has been acting like a father to the President since Jonathan’s real biological father died, family sources said.

    There was panic in the compound when the bandits stormed the area between 8 and 9pm on Sunday.

    The victim, his wife, his wife’s sister and three of his children were in the house when the assailants came.

    His wife’s sister, Akinobebh Jin, 37, said Silas, one of Nitabai’s sons, was the first to see the criminals. He raised the alarm.

    Jin said: “We came back from somewhere around 8pm. Silas was at the verandah, doing his assignment while my in-law, my sister and two other siblings were in the living room together.

    “After some time, Silas came shouting and saying that some people had just entered into the compound. As we sprang onto our feet, we were confused because we didn’t know where to run to.

    “Shortly after that, five heavily armed men entered into the house, barking. We ran into the kitchen and some of them followed us to the kitchen. They asked us to lie down. They hit my sister on the head and asked her to give them money.

    “They also hit my in-law with the butt of their guns and demanded money. They threatened to shoot us. My sister told them she had small money and they followed her to the bedroom where she gave them money”, she said.

    Jin said after collecting about N400,000, the gunmen forced Nitabai into a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) belonging to the victim and sped off.

    “Five of the gunmen entered the compound while five others were hanging around the premises. They locked us inside the house before leaving”, she said.

    Jin, who was injured on her finger, was yet to recover from the shock yesterday.

    At the compound yesterday, all was calm.

    A detachment of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, and policemen were guarding the place.

    Sympathisers were trooping into the compound. The victim’s wife said to have gone to the clinic for treatment.

    People were seen in groups discussing the incident. A road leading to Otuoke has been cordoned off by soldiers.

    Commissioner of Police Mr. Hilary Opara and JTF Deputy Commander Commodore Ime Ekpa, have visited the crime scene.

    Opara said the police alerted other security agencies about the incident.

    Two gunboats have been stationed at Onuebum Waterside. The police are patrolling Edebiri, Kiambiri, Anyama and Ogobiri creeks.

    Opara said two suspects had been arrested.

    “The other two suspects saw my men and ran away. We know them and we will get them,” he said.

    JTF Media Coordinator Col. Onyema Nwachukwu said the assailants abandoned the victim’s car at the Onuebum community water front.

     

    Nwachukwu said: “Information available to me is that a certain Chief Nengite Nitabai was abducted by about 10 gunmen yesterday at about 9pm at Otuoke community in Ogbia Local Government Area using his private vehicle.

    “The vehicle was later recovered at Onuebum community water front. The Deputy Commander, JTF, Commodore Ime Ekpa, and a team of security agents have visited the crime scene and investigation is in progress to unmask the kidnappers and rescue the victim.”

    Two Army Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) have been stationed in the community.

    Soldiers have been guarding President Jonathan’s home and the former hotel belonging to First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

     

  • Jonathan is incompetent, says Kwankwaso

    Jonathan is incompetent, says Kwankwaso

    Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso yesterday described President Goodluck Jonathan as an incompetent leader.

    He spoke at the Progressive Governors Forum lecture in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The governor was responding to comments by suspended Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi at the weekend that Jonathan is a simple man that means well but who is surrounded by incompetent aides.

    Kwankwanso said his response to that comment is an English adage: “Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.”

    He said the APC would dethrone the PDP next year.

     

  • PDP: Impunity is all you know, and all you need to know …

    Concluding his famous “Ode on a Grecian Urn”, Romantic English poet, John Keats (1795-1821), wrote: “Beauty is truth, truth beauty, — that is all/Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know”.

    Keats wrote at a period of intense anguish, almost ennui; when the greens of Britain made way for the grey of industry, and the romantics, ever, ever wary of change, rued the sure and steady disappearance of the green they had known; and all but predicted doom for a future green-less-ness.

    Keats himself was battling intense personal and family tragedies, before succumbing to consumption (tuberculosis) at mere 26. So, in the Grecian Urn’s eternal beauty and happiness, he located, in startling contrast, his own eternal woes, though his life was but a fleeting wind!

    Well, this is no excursion into Keats’s poetry; or even the English romantic genre. It is rather noting some parallels between Keats’ England and contemporary Nigeria.

    Keats’s England was all anxiety over the future, even if its government’s industrial revolution was charting a course that would secure the future, even if the curse of green-less-ness (as feared by the poetic Romantics) would come back to plague the globe.

    Today’s Nigeria is all anxiety over its future. Though spinners of President Goodluck Jonathan insist the President is doing the necessary envisioning to secure a better Nigeria, the ennui of not quite a few is that the president is at sea.

    So, as the hearts of Keats’s romantics skipped a bit, there was evidence that the loss they mourn would breed a future good. In Nigeria’s case, it would appear a double jeopardy: everything is topsy-turvy yet there is hardly any guarantee it would end in any future good. But then, the public are a great one for pessimism, let them! That, as the Pentecostals would mouth, is not the portion of the President and his men.

    Talking about the president, he was in especially boisterous mood the other day in Owerri, when addressing the PDP tribe gathered there. An upbeat president, flush from his impunity of Sanusi-slaying, told the “mammoth” crowd gathered, and warned PDP defectors to retrace their steps, or forfeit their pecking order in the party.

    Not for the president the genesis of their grievances, not for him the emotional dislocation, not for him even the collateral damage for the democratic polity, of a ruling party, unravelling because of its penchant for systemic injustice. All the president knew, and all he and his party needed to know, was the language of threat, the language of impunity. Conform, or else …

    Ah, the other day, Jonathan Rivers Man-Friday, the wike-wike-talking Nyesom Wike, was threatening that should his Oga-at-the-top, Jonathan, win in 2015, Governor Rotimi Amaechi would be arrested and post-haste thrown into the slammer! But what if he does not win? That, to him, is no option. So, Amaechi, start shivering and trembling!

    And even old man, Bamanga Tukur, now in a rehabilitative railway camp, was also all threat until the party nearly collapsed on his head!

    But then, impunity is what they know, and need to know …

     

     

     

     

  • 2015: PDP’s new calculation in Imo

    2015: PDP’s new calculation in Imo

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has held a rally to welcome defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owerri, capital of Imo State. Correspondent KINGSLEY NDIDI examines the implications of the defection for the ruling party in the Southeast state.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is on the prowl in Imo State. At a rally in Owerri, the state capital, party leaders vowed to reclaim power from the All progressives Congress (APC) governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. But, the governor is not sleeping on guard. He said that the PDP chieftains were day dreaming. The rally took place at the Dan Anyiam Stadium. It was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, PDP National Chairman Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) Chief Tony Anenih, Senate President David Mark, and some governors. .

    The rally was organised to welcome defectors from the APC. The defectors include former Governor Achike Udenwa, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume Imo East), Senator Chris Anyanwu, and Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN).

    President Jonathan urged party members to gird their loins, ahead of the 2015 polls. He said they should learn from the wrangling and discord, which permitted a crack on the wall in 2011.

    The governor of Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio, said that, with the return of the old members, the PDP will reclaim the state.

    He charged the party leaders to to promote unity in the fold. “We are not just here to receive the returnees, but their thousands of supporters and, with what we have seen so far. the PDP has recaptured Imo State. The will of God is that, in 2015, the PDP flag will fly again in Imo government House,” he said.

    The Senate President advised the PDP family to forget the past and forge ahead in the spirit of new understanding. He described Imo as a PDP state.“In fact ,Imo has returned to the PDP; we are getting back our own that mistakenly strayed away. We have made a strong statement by the turn out of people today,” Mark added.

    His deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, assured that the party will bounce back next year after the polls.

    Anenih was more optimistic that the PDP will regain power in the state in 2015. He said: “With the return of our great members, the job is already done; all we need now is to play the politics of inclusion. Nobody should be left behind. We should avoid the mistake of the past and work together to deliver our common goal. Our coming here today to receive the returnees has shown that the importance of the project to reclaim Imo by the leadership of our great party”.

    Mu’azu, who was impressed by the huge crowd, said: “The

    he journey to recapture Imo has just started and the new leadership of the PDP is committed to reclaiming all the states we have lost as a result of internal problems”.

    He added: “From the beginning of this democratic dispensation, the PDP has swept all elections in Imo, but due to internal wrangling, we were not able to hold on to power. Even, the incumbent governor, Rochas Okorocha ,was a PDP member.

    “Now, that we have found the answers to our problems and, with the returnees, I want to assure you that Imo State has fallen”.

    The national chairman however, appealed to the aspirants to thread softly. He said: “This is a brand new PDP and only our very best will be fielded during the 2015 election”.

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, said: “Imo is a PDP state and today we have earnestly began the journey to take back the state. We made mistakes in the past, but we are back. We misunderstood ourselves and power slipped off our hands, but today, our brothers who strayed away are back and that is one of the things we need to return to Douglass House”.

    President Jonathan described the rally as a reunion that will strengthen the party. He said: “We are here for unity rally because of our brothers that stepped out, but have stepped back. We are making a reunion of the PDP and the party will be stronger than ever before. The PDP is the only stable party in Nigeria and we will continue to play a major role in the country”.

    However, observers contend that the PDP has some some hurdles to cross. Certain elements in the party are not comfortable with the return of the founding fathers. a tall barrier to scale to return to Douglas House in 2015. Firstly is the challenge of internal scuffle which is already building up with the return of founding members of the party.

    The governorship race is already crowded. No fewer than 10 strong members of the party are struggling for the ticket. They belong to the various caucuses. They cannot be ignored because they are party financiers. They Ihedioha, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Acting Minister of Aviation Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim and Ararume.

    A political analyst, Chief Stanley Egwudia, expressed doubt about the ability of the different factions in the PDP to agree on a consensus ccandidate. He said: “The storm is brewing in the state chapter of the PDP. The celebrated return of these heavy weights to the PDP will do more harm than good for the party. It will further break the rank of the party. All of them returning to the party have one ambition or the other they could not realize outside the party and they returned with the hope of getting retribution”.

    A clear pointer to this fact was the move by a faction of the party to concede the governorship slot to Ararume as a compensation for the injustice done him in 2007, which made him dump the party after the governorship election.

    Another challenge is that Okorocha has performed creditably to earn the people’s loyalty.

    In Imo State today, the feeling is that the PDP has ruled the state for 12 years without anything to show for it and the electorate are known to be resolute and cannot be easily swayed by political statements or monetary inducement.

     

     

    Governor Okorocha who was obviously unshaken by the threat by the PDP to sack him in 2015, vowed that the PDP will never govern the state again after.

    He described the 12 years of PDP administration in the state as a total waste, “these expired politicians have nothing to offer the state. Udenwa’s eight years as governor was a total waste, Ohakim’s four years was a disaster so where is there justification to return to power. They can no longer deceive our people the PDP has marginalized Ndigbo and we cannot continue to allow them.

     

    “What they are doing is mere ranting none of them can proudly stand before the people and asked to be voted for. They should show the people what they have done with the state resources for 12 years that should warrant their return to power”.

     

  • Southern leaders to seek devolution of powers

    Southern leaders to seek devolution of powers

    Leaders from the South under the aegis of the Southern Leaders’ Summit yesterday called for the re-establishment of a truly federal Nigeria, with the devolution of powers and co-ordinate and equal powers between the central and federating units.

    The summit also affirmed its unflinching support for the Jonathan administration.

    It applauded the government on the planned National Conference.

    In a 13-point communique read by the Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, at the end of its one-day summit at the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, Calabar, Cross River State, the group praised President Goodluck Jonathan for what it described as his commitment and dogged efforts in combating insecurity in the country.

    According to them, in spite of the security challenges, the President has made remarkable progress in the development of critical sectors of the economy, particularly in power, transport, aviation and agriculture, in addition to attracting direct foreign investment.

    The Summit, which considered issues such as the indissolubility of Nigeria, the practice of true federalism, the security challenges, the economy and the National Conference, had delegates from the Southwest, Southeast and Southsouth, drawn from the traditional institution, the academia, the public sector, politics, the judiciary, labour and the religious bodies.

    The communiqué, signed by Falae, Chief Tony Anenih, Mr Rasak Oladosu and Governors Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Peter Obi (Anambra), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) said:

    “At the end of deliberations, we the leaders and people of Southern Nigeria resolved as follows that Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR), be commended for his commitment and dogged effort in fighting the menace of insecurity; and noted that in spite of these security challenges, Mr. President has made remarkable progress in the development of critical sectors of the Nigerian economy, particularly in the areas of power, transport, aviation, agriculture and direct foreign investment.

    “That we commit ourselves to a united and indivisible Nigeria based on the principles of justice, equity and rule of law with ample respect and understanding for cultural, linguistic and religious differences.”

    The Federal Government “must revisit the issue of the loss of territory, particularly as it relates to the loss of the Bakassi Peninnsula”.

    “The excision of solid minerals from the Exclusive Legislative List, just as it asked for an increase in the percentage of revenue derivation from oil and gas.”

    It also demanded for the quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) before the National Assembly.

    “That we endorse an increase in revenue allocation to the federating units in a way that takes cognisance of the new responsibilities and residual powers of the federating units; that in line with the principle democratic governance, decisions at the forthcoming National Conference should be by simple majority,” the communiqué added.

     

  • Niger Delta activist backs Jonathan on Sanusi

    Niger Delta activist backs Jonathan on Sanusi

    A Niger Delta youth activist, businessman and politician, Chief Ayiri Emami, has backed President Goodluck Jonathan on the suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

    Emami, who is the Akulaga of Warri kingdom in a statement yesterday, said Sanusi ought to have been sacked long ago.

    He described the cashless policy as anti-Niger Delta, adding that he had carried out his responsibilities with arrogance.

    Sanusi said: “The huge fund running into hundreds of billions of naira that were frittered away as donations, grants to religious bodies, payments to moribund airlines, illegal loans write-off and other sundry expenditures made without recourse to the CBN Act and the board were gotten from oil revenue from the Niger Delta region.

    “Mr. Sanusi never deemed it fit to fly one of the numerous private jets to these oil bearing but underdeveloped areas of the Niger Delta region to do an on-the-spot assessment of how the cashless policy would impact negatively on their businesses and lives as it affect payment of salaries to workers and transaction of business in a largely bank-less environment with hundreds of thousands of workers.

    “So, to us in the business hub of the riverine oil bearing area, Sanusi’s cashless policy is definitely cruel and anti-Niger Delta.”