The Nation Newspaper

Tag: governors

  • Governors, senators clash over 2019 polls

    Governors, senators clash over 2019 polls

    Senators and governors are locked in a bitter row over the 2019 elections. The development sparked an uproar on the floor of the Senate yesterday.

    Zamfara Central Senator Kabiru Marafa accused Governor Abdulaziz Yari of plotting to eliminate him. Both are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  .

    Marafa asked his colleagues to hold the governor and his deputy responsible should anything happen to him and members of his family.

    He said he had information that his life and his family members’ were no longer safe.

    The senators/governors crises in some of the states were brought up by Bauchi Central Senator Isa Misau who said the crisis between Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and his predecessor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, could threaten the peace in that state.

    Misau criticised alleged display of weapons by youths and women in Kano State on Tuesday.

    Kwankwaso (Kano Central) was on Tuesday advised to shelve his planned visit to Kano State to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

    Kwankwaso has been having a running battle with Kano State Governor Ganduje over unresolved political differences.

    The Bauchi State lawmaker urged the Senate to condemn a situation where a senator would be prevented from visiting his constituency.

    He insisted that if the development was allowed to fester, it would become a norm too dangerous to handle.

    Misau said: “I want to talk about what is happening in Kano. About 70 per cent of the people in my place share boundaries with Kano. The level of thuggery we have seen in Kano State is troubling. We need to talk of how Boko Haram started in the Northeast. It started as “ECOMOG.”

    ”This issue happened when one of our colleagues said he was going to visit Kano State. Instead of him to be allowed to visit and talk to his people, the police stopped him. If a senator is not allowed to visit his constituency, one day, it will be anybody’s turn.

    “The kind of weapons people paraded yesterday in Kano was troubling. We are watching. I see no reason why a person who wants to travel to his own town will not be allowed. For the first time in the history of this country, women were given arms in Kano on Tuesday.

    “If we do not do anything about this, we will be in trouble. How do we give our own people arms? We need to investigate what is happening in Kano State to avoid a national crises.

    “We need to condemn what happened in Kano. We need to investigate arms that were given to people in Kano.”

    Hardly had Misau concluded his submission when Kano South Senator Kabiru Gaya challenged his right to bring an issue that was being addressed in the state to the floor of the Senate.

    Gaya, also a former governor of the state, noted that contrary to the bad picture painted by Misau, there was no breakdown of law and order in Kano State.

    He told his colleagues that Kano politics is peculiar and should be handled with care.

    Gaya, who described the face-off between Ganduje and Kwankwaso as a “family affair”, asked the Senate to tread softly due the volatility of Kano politics.

    He said: “Let me clearly say that we are peace loving people in Kano State. Kano politics has always been different. Kano has always been a volatile state during politics. The rally we had in Kano, there was no case of fighting.

    “Nobody was killed. Let us understand. The issue of the two governors must be understood. They are both governors. This is a family matter and we are working to reconcile both of them.”

    Backing Gaya, Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North) questioned why Misau should bring the issue to the Senate.

    Barau said senators should restrict themselves to issues in their states, instead of delving into areas that do not directly affect them.

    He wondered why Misau was not bothered about the face-off between him and Governor (Bauchi State) Mohammaed Abubakar)

    The Kano North Senator accused Misau of misleading the Senate, by claiming that Kano State could be thrown into chaos.

    .Barau said: “I am worried here. A trend is now emerging and we tend to create troubles among ourselves. What Misau has started will not go well with this Senate. The Senate President must stop it.

    “We are all politicians. There are bound to be disagreements. Misau is being used by some people to blackmail us in Kano State.”

    Senate President Bukola Saraki frustrated attempts by Misau to respond to the barrage of attacks on him.

    Saraki gave Kwankwaso the floor, but he declined, saying: “I believe as a leader, I do not want to say anything.”

    Saraki asked his colleagues to avoid bringing personal problems with state actors to the floor.

    He noted that senators needed to agree at what point certain issues will be entertained in the chamber.

    Saraki said,”This is a matter that can be addressed at the state level. There is still a room for reconciliation. There is going to be a trend when politics will creep in here. We need to try and manage this issue. Many states have these challenges.

    “We need to agree at what point this issue should come to the floor of the Senate. Let us rise above these issues before we bring them here. We need to set up a committee to begin to look at these issues.”

    Saraki told Committee on Police Affairs Chairman Abu Ibrahim to invite the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, and ensure that adequate security is provided whenever Kwankwaso decides to visit his constituency.

    “They must provide security at anytime Senator Kwankwaso wants to visit Kano State,” Saraki added.

  • Amosun to young graduates: aspire to be governors, others

    Amosun to young graduates: aspire to be governors, others

    •OOU produces 18 First-Class graduates, others

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has urged Nigerian youths to aspire for various elective offices.

    But he said being a governor comes with a lot of responsibilities.

    The governor said youths should align with the current thinking in Nigeria that “it is not too young to run”.

    He urged them to seek leadership positions to fulfil their destinies.

    Amosun spoke yesterday at the 27th convocation of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ago-Iwoye, where the Alake of Egba, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; the Chairman of First Bank PLC, Mrs Ibukun Awosika; foremost Nigerian banker, entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and a historian and Professor of African Studies at the University of Texas at Houston in the United States of America (U.S.A), Toyin Falola, were awarded the institution’s Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa).

    The governor advised youths to prepare for qualitative education at the tertiary level.

    He said undergraduate education is highly subsidised in Ogun through the state government, adding that the best would not come out the university system if people continued to insist that it must be free.

    Amosun said: “Education can’t be free. Otherwise, there will not be qualitative education. But to cushion the effects of the various payments, which you think are too high, we are at the same time subsidising this university and other tertiary institutions across the state.

    “If you are insisting or yearning for free education, then the quality of graduates the university and other tertiary institutions in the state will be churning out will be on a ‘garbage in, garbage out’ scale, a situation we don’t cherish.

    “You will need to programme yourselves. You are to think out of the box. Be ingenious while we create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. You are to see your graduation today as a turning point in your life. Also, be ready to give back to the school, your families, the society and humanity.

    “You have not only been a pride to yourselves and your parents but you have also carved a niche for yourselves and the centre of excellence you have graduated from. The world is waiting for your manifestation. So, let the world see that you are eagles.

    “Olabisi Onabanjo University has raised the bar of excellence and we will do all humanly possible to improve from the 23rd position ranking.”

    The governor hailed the Overall Best Graduating Student, Mr Semiu Olalekan Taiwo, of the Department of Economics for obtaining a First Class and winning the institution’s and vice chancellor’s awards.

    Vice Chancellor Prof Ganiyu Olatunde said 4,386 graduands were awarded first degrees and diplomas in the 2016/2017 academic session with 18 graduands making the First-Class list, 605 in Second Class Upper Division and 1,938 in the Second Class Lower cadre.

    Also, Prof Olatunde said 654 received their higher degrees and postgraduate diplomas, comprising 105 postgraduate diplomas, 474 Master’s degrees, one MPhil and 74 PhD degrees.

  • Governors hail soldiers for nation’s unity

    Governors hail soldiers for nation’s unity

    •Military keeping Nigeria together, says Amosun
    •Ajimobi advises Nigerians on sacrifice, humanity
    •Aregbesola warns against war
    •Ambode urges dialogue for conflict resolution
    •Akeredolu offers cash gift to widows of fallen heroes

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday urged Nigerians to show appreciation for the selfless efforts of the nation’s armed forces at keeping the country as one indivisible entity.

    The governor said many of them had even laid down their lives for the continued existence of Nigeria.

    He said they and their families should not be forgotten.

    Amosun, who addressed reporters after the celebration of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the Arcade Ground in Abeokuta, the state capital, noted that the war against terrorism and insurgents may not be won soon.

    The governor said caring for or remembering members of the armed forces who served the nation should not be a once-in-a-while thing but something that should be part of the nation’s daily life.

    He expressed the confidence that Nigeria would overcome its security challenges and remain united.

    According to him, this will be achieved when everybody is given equal opportunity.

    Amosun said: “My message is that we should, as a people and as a nation, appreciate the selfless efforts and service of all our military and paramilitary services; all men who have laid their lives for what we have today. We exist as a nation because of their efforts.

    “They fought within and outside the country. Remember the First and Second World wars. Even our own Civil War and, of course lately, all of these challenges we are having: Boko Haram, Niger Delta militants; and our Armed Forces are being called upon.

    “What we do before, maybe after the Civil War, was to go for different international peace-keeping efforts. But somehow, we are getting involved within the territory of Nigeria. We pray that all of these will be a thing of the past. They are working and doing well.

    “Terrorism and all of those are not issues that can be subdued immediately. Even as great as America is as a nation, they are still battling with ISIS and Al Qaeda. It is just like something you cannot keep your eyes away from. So, we commend their effort.

    “For me, the lesson to take away from here is selfless service some people have rendered. It is a challenge to those of us who are here. Not just even being a military; wherever we find ourselves, we should work for our nation.

    “It is not just when we come like this that we give them some money and they go. They should be integrated in all that we are doing. They are not lazy. That is why they have served in the military…”

    Also, Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi urged Nigerians to sacrifice more for the unity and progress of the country.

    He said this should be in the spirit of the nation’s fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for the nation to be together.

    Ajimobi spoke yesterday at the Remembrance Arcade, opposite Agodi Government House in Ibadan, venue of the grand finale and laying of wreaths in commemoration of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations.

    The event was attended by Deputy Governor Moses Alake Adeyemo, members of the State Executive Council (Exco), security commanders, members of Nigerian Legionnaires and families of fallen heroes.

    Addressing reporters after the ceremonial laying of wreaths and release of pigeons and peace balloons, Ajimobi said it was important for Nigerians to remember and honour denmised military officers who made the supreme sacrifice for the continued co-existence of the nation.

    He said: “My message is that we must always give honour to those whom honour is due. It is due to our heroes, who have paid the ultimate price, that we have remained alive so that we can remain united. The lesson there is that in all we do, we will all die one day. What do you want to leave behind? How do you want to be remembered?

    “We are remembering the fallen heroes in the Nigerian Army today because they paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of humanity and in godliness. My message to our people is that we should all endeavour to serve. The greatest form of godliness is service to humanity. We must serve humanity with all our might. Despite all that God has endowed us with, in the end, we will all die.”

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola said the selfishness and greed among the elite through rent-seeking outside of work and productivity may provoke rage and anger which may threaten communal peace in Nigeria.

    The governor delivered a speech, titled: The Imperative of Peace for Productivity and Prosperity, at the wreath-laying ceremony for this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations at the New Military Cenotaph in front of Osun House of Assembly in Osogbo, the state capital.

    He said: “War is a very bad business. It is costly, deadly and ruinous, even for a supposedly winner. It is worse for the loser. Indeed, all are losers in a war. The resources – human and material – used to prosecute wars could have been used for the development of the people. The lesson of history is that nations and people emerged from wars weakened, devastated, poor and vulnerable.

    “The worst part is that though a nation’s decision to go to war or not might be easy before the outbreak of hostilities, but it is more difficult and sometimes impossible to decide to stop a war. Thus, we have prolonged and sometimes an indeterminate war. This is the hard part.

    “We see the devastations of wars in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon (and closer home) in Liberia and Sierra Leone. While some, like Liberia and Sierra Leone, are fortunate to put the war behind them, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen and Iraq have found it difficult to stop their own wars.

    “Lebanon lost its Paradise and Pearl of the Middle East status to United Arab Emirates (UAE). The mutual antagonism and distrust that the Nigerian Civil War bred are still with us.”

    The governor noted that the country was fortunate the first time it went to war, saying Nigeria may not be that lucky again, if another war should break out.

    He said: “In the interest of the Black race, Nigeria must not just exist but it must be strong to be able to lead the continent to achieve its manifest destiny.

    “The greatest riches of the continent are domiciled in the Great Lakes region comprising Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

    “Nigeria should be strong and provide leadership with South Africa and the leaders of the region to be able to develop these riches for the development of the people of the continent and for Africa to be able to take her place in the world.

    “Essential to achieving this is peace. If there is no peace, we cannot make any progress…”

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode urged Nigerians to always give peace a chance and embrace dialogue as the mechanism for conflict resolution.

    The governor noted that one of the best ways to appreciate the supreme price gallant members of the nation’s Armed Forces paid is to always ensure that conflicts are resolved amicably while peace is constantly guaranteed.

    Represented by his deputy, Dr Oluranti Adebule, the governor said January 15 remained sacrosanct in Nigeria’s political history because in 1970, it was the day the “Treaty of Surrender,” which ended the three–year bloody Civil War in the country, was signed.

    Ambode, who hailed officers and men of the Armed Forces for always demonstrating courage and gallantry to protect the sovereignty of the country, urged Nigerians to always eschew violence and bitterness while resolving their differences.

    According to him, the nation and its people stand to gain a lot when there is peace and political stability in the land.

    He said: “While commending officers and men of our Armed Forces for demonstrating courage and gallantry in the face of threat to national unity, I call on fellow citizens to give peace a chance. Let us eschew violence and embrace dialogue as the preferred mechanism for conflict resolutions.”

    Ambode added: “As we conclude this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance celebrations, let me use this opportunity to reiterate my call to all Lagosians and indeed Nigerians to show love and care to the families and the loved ones of our deceased patriots. One of the ways we can support the survivals of these people is to engage the services of ex–service men and women, some of whom have suffered physical disabilities while defending the territorial integrity and unity of the nation.”

    Also, Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) yesterday called for special attention for the widows and dependants of demised members of the Armed Forces.

    The governor presented cash gifts to some widows of the fallen soldiers at this year’s parade and laying of wreaths for the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at the state government cenotaph in Akure, the state capital.

    He said: “One aspect and perhaps the most significant of the celebration is the need to pay special attention to the welfare of the widows and dependant relatives of the departed ones.”

    Akeredolu praised the fallen heroes for paying the supreme price for the nation’s unity.

    He said: “The need for a vehicle for the Legion and the general welfare of the widows and dependant relatives of fallen heroes as well as those of retired and serving officers and men in this state have also been brought to our state.

    “Some of these requests will receive immediate attention while the others will be attended to as the resources of the state improve.

    “Nothing can be too much to be done for these courageous officers and men of the Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives to preserve, protect and defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our father land.”

    The governor decried the security challenge posed by Fulani herdsmen in some parts of the country.

    He said: “While the challenge of Boko Haram is yet to subside, the new challenge of herdsmen, which has assumed a national dimension, has reared its ugly head.

    “This has constituted nagging pains in necks of all those in authority in this country. Like I have had occasions to say in the last couples of days, we will not allow any miscreant to elude with our joy in Ondo State.

    “We are resolved to take the challenge head-on. Ondo State residents must have the unhindered space for their daily economic activities.

    “The farmers, especially, will be protected and imbued with the required confidence to engage in their legitimate farming activities.”

     

  • Governors asking Buhari to recontest are insensitive

    A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has said the seven governors who visited President Muhammadu Buhari asking him to seek reelection for a second term at a time when the nation was supposed to be mourning the mass killing of Nigerians across the country were insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.

    Frank said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that the action of the governors who were supposed to be visiting Benue and Taraba states on a condolence visit was condemnable, adding that a period of mourning was not the appropriate time to play politics.

    Seven APC governors made up of Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Abubakar Bello of Niger, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe and Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa states on Friday visited the President, asking him to contest a second term in office.

    Frank said instead of the governors to pay a condolence visit on their colleague in Benue and tell the President to institute a programme that will take care of the families of the victims, “they chose to visit the Aso Rock Villa and made such demand for their selfish reasons, adding that some of the governors visited the President because their political future depend solely on his continuity.

     

     

    While urging politicians to play politics with human face, Frank said that “instead of these governors to advise Mr. President on how to put an end to wanton killings going on across the country, fuel queues, economic hardship and the rest, they chose to be selfish.

    “Is Benue governor not an APC member? Is Benue state where 72 people were killed not part of Nigeria? Our politicians should learn to the plights of citizens when needed and not only when their votes are needed.”

     

  • 2019: Governors of consequence

    2019: Governors of consequence

    At the last count, no fewer than four national dailies have named them “Governor of the Year” for both 2016 and 2017, either jointly or individually.

    The casual observer will likely put this down to the infrastructural spectacle they evoked in their respective states at a time the rest of the nation stewed in the worst recession in recent memory; which should not surprise considering their comparative fiscal edge.

    Such perspective can hardly be faulted. But a more nuanced reading will not just be an acknowledgment of the significant factor Governors Akin Ambode of Lagos and Nyesom Wike of Rivers embody in Nigeria’s political economy in the immediate past, but the intimation of the decisive roles they are historically fated to play in the emerging 2019 permutations.

    Already, Buhari’s restored buoyancy after a grave ailment and PDP’s recovery from a self-inflicted coma appear to set the stage for a titanic rematch after the 2015 electoral upset.

    Nothing hints of this mounting adrenaline on both sides than the new seeming balance of barbs and insults. For the first time in recent years, spokesmen of both ruling party and the main opposition are trained journalists and former colleagues at THISDAY who could not be said to be strangers to open brinkmanship as former top-flight political appointees, with perhaps equal knowledge of the use of both traditional and new media. No one can lay claim to the monopoly of abuse and heckling language anymore.

    With Buhari candidature in 2019 almost certain, strategists of a rejuvenated PDP are undoubtedly left with few maximalist options and cold calculations. The first step is to affirm a northerner as their flag-bearer in the coming slugfest.

    Next, emphasis will be where the most votes are. With estimated 19m registered voters, the North-West surely holds the ace and therefore becomes the ultimate battleground. With the North-East boasting less than 10m, there is another cogent reason to deny Atiku Abubakar the ticket and anoint someone from Buhari’s North-West.

    Those already being touted in this direction include Ahmed Markafi (Kaduna) and Aminu Tambuwal, the incumbent Sokoto governor wildly speculated as now merely marking time in APC, but already back in PDP in heart and soul.

    APC ideologues may consider it unflattering, but the argument remains that the 2015 electoral outcome might have been different had PDP fielded a Muslim northerner instead of Christian Goodluck Jonathan in response to north’s then un-satiated sense of entitlement over Umar Yar’Adua’s truncated presidency in 2010. This, it is contended, provided enough incentives to northern PDP governors to therefore sell out in their respective jurisdictions to the enemy purely out of base ethno-religious considerations.

    To this school of thought, fielding a much younger Turk in whose presence the conservative North will feel more at ease and, more crucially, be spared the sneaky fear of suspect health of a Buhari with all the ominous implications, might just be the perfect recipe needed to finally break the general’s fabled captive crowd in Arewaland, particularly the North-West.

    To further rally the North, part of what PDP strategists might also sell is assurance of an extra term bonus. In a recent interview, the immediate past chair, Ahmed Markafi, hinted that the North is entitled to two terms under PDP; suggesting that the North under PDP will relinquish power in 2027 whereas APC is 2023.

    With the North likely to be divided between Buhari and whoever PDP presents, attention will naturally shift to Lagos and Rivers as the centres of gravity in the South.

    With colossal 6m registered voters, Lagos alone boasts almost half of the South-west vote and more than half of the electoral strength of the entire North-east. Being the bastion of Bola Tinubu’s awesome political machine and accounting for more than half the size of the nation’s economy, there is no contesting the countervailing weight the former federal capital provided the opposition against PDP throughout its 16-year reign, triggering the momentum that eventuated in the vanquishing of a ruling party in 2015 for the first time in the nation’s history.

    In the months ahead, APC will certainly depend on Ambode’s stellar testimonial from the reengineering efforts of the last three years to woo voters not only in Lagos, but the entire South-West. The cosmopolitan character of Lagos also means that its electorate is perhaps the most enlightened and sophisticated in the country, liberated as it were from the narrow ethno-religious considerations that often inform political choices elsewhere. But then, those  who despise Igbo in South-East or think they can contemn the Ijaw in South-South will soon also find they have to contend  with their kith and kin who constitute significant voting blocs in Lagos.

    Lately, at the national level, there is no doubt that Buhari worship has become the new obsession among APC partisans looking to profit bountifully from the coming electoral season.

    Among the growing choristers would be found failed first-term governors opportunistically seeking Buhari’s anointing to survive the approaching electoral judgment day and some second-term governors who, after a mediocre occupation of their respective provinces, now simply covet the opportunity to name their successors in a last-ditch orgy of self-aggrandizement.

    However, Lagos is different due in part to its undiminished capacity to continually generate fresh ideas to solve socio-economic challenges even when Abuja seems incapable of clarity of thought and direction.

    For instance, we saw that in its foresight to partner with Kebbi State early in the day to deliver rice on fairly large scale. The success story of Lake rice within two planting seasons has since inspired many other states to join the bandwagon of big-time rice-farming, with resultant increase in the nation’s self-sufficiency in the production of the popular food staple.

    By and large, with innovative solutions, Ambode is sustaining the tradition of excellence for which Lagos is reputed, offering accommodation and opportunities for all, irrespective of ethnicity and religion. What makes it even more striking is the quiet manner Ambode does it.

    The scale of the ongoing physical transformation is perhaps best measured in the hitherto forsaken rural Lagos where massive investment in social infrastructure has significantly altered the landscape.

    At the other end of the political spectrum, the dynamics shaping Rivers’ own exceptionalism are however dissimilar. With a record 1,487,075 votes out of accredited 1,643,409 of a total of 2,324,300 registered, the oil-rich state delivered the highest number to PDP nationwide in 2015, to emerge the new bastion of opposition to the ruling party in Abuja.

    In a classic role reversal, Rivers is now to PDP what Lagos was to APC on the road to 2015.

    Conscripted by circumstances into leading the opposition, gutsy Wike has undoubtedly risen to the challenge by deftly working the optics and amplifying the sonics. First the optics: against perceived inability of APC to list a single project completed in Rivers, Wike’s own bragging rights today are fueled by an array of significant infrastructural footprints across the state.

    So impressed during an official visit, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo could not resist the temptation to join the public chorus in Port Harcourt by addressing Wike as “Mr. Project”.

    The sonics: whereas most of his contemporaries across the two zones have conveniently resorted to political silence out of sheer survivalist instincts, Wike is the new voice of Niger Delta agitating for fairer deal for the proverbial goose laying the golden eggs feeding the nation.

    In the wider national politics, the feelings of marginalization are real in South-South and the South-East. In Igboland, the river of bitterness arising from feeling of political estrangement surely still runs deep, even if the APC’s spin doctors still choose to live in denial.

    After two harrowing years of cold shoulders during which a concatenation of terrible misspeaks and mishandling of the IPOB issue drew him farther from the Igbo, Buhari suddenly began to reach out to the South-East lately. A rare two-day presidential visit to the zone was rounded off with Buhari’s appearance at APC’s grand rally in Awka ahead of Anambra’s November 2017 governorship elections.

    But concerted as the charm offensive was and massive as the deployment of the fabled “Federal might” was, APGA still managed to reassert its supremacy within that territory with an emphatic margin. And if the outcome of that polls is any guide, then a lot surely still needed to be done to market APC to Igbo voters generally.

    Of course, for APC obviously desirous of wangling even a toehold – if not foothold – in Igboland, there are multiple lessons to be learnt from that misadventure. Chief among them is the peril of building your battle plan around political charlatans or yesterday’s men brandishing expired talisman. They failed woefully on the appointed day.

    Real men are known in the hour of crisis. At PDP’s own moment of tribulation, Wike showed faith. To foreclose the chance of escape from the battlefield and make defeat or surrender the only option left, the general elected to destroy the ready source of temptation – he bombed the bridge after his troops crossed. Raymond Dopkesi and other folks of little faith chose to float a new party as “Plan B”. A few others waited for nightfall to sneak into Judas Modu-Sheriff’s lair to cut a deal of convenience.

    But resolute Wike openly declared he would rather swim or sink with PDP. So, when the legal lifeline came from the Supreme Court, he easily claimed the moral victory as well.

    The emergence of his nominee, Uche Secondus, as the new chair at the party’s recent national convention would seem to have further confirmed Wike’s preeminence as key player in a revamped PDP and a major influencer of things to emerge.

    If nothing at all, Secondus’ rise certainly barricades Rivers as a PDP fortress. Surely, the times ahead will be interesting indeed.

  • FG, Governors in order over $1b Boko Haram fund – Dansadua

    FG, Governors in order over $1b Boko Haram fund – Dansadua

    WILL your new party be fielding candidates for the 2019 elections?

    I want you to write it in your dairy today that NRM is set to be sworn in on May 29, 2019 to occupy the Presidential villa. We are determined and serious. I don’t  blame Nigerians if they make mockery of the registration of 21 political parties because from our experience, most of these small political parties don’t make any impact. For us in the NRM, we decided to form this party because we are not satisfied with the performance of the APC.

    We have discovered from a survey we did through some consultants that Nigerians are disenchanted and are losing hope. That is why we hope to rekindle the hope of Nigerians and carve out a political party with an ideology. In Rwanda, after the genocide of 1990, people wondered how they were able to fix their country in just 20 years. Today, Rwanda is the pride of Africa. If you go to Kigali, it is like you are in Europe.

    And here we are in Nigeria, telling ourselves that Nigeria can not be fixed. I don’t believe in that. We are out, determined, resolute and committed to making the difference. All we want is  cooperation of the Nigerian people. We are going to present credible, patriotic Nigerians who are honest, God fearing to contest elections at all levels because we believe that they are there all over the country.

    The only thing is that these people have been runing away from politics because they don’t have the kind of money it takes to contest election or get the PDP or APC ticket. We re going to fish out those people and provide the platform for them. They will not need to get the ticket. Their asset will be their credibility and acceptability by the people. So, we are set to make the difference in the next election.

    What do you consider as the main problem facing this country?

    If you observe, part of the problem of governance in this country is that you have professionals and credible people, selfless and patriotic people who are willing and ready to serve this country selflessly, but our political leaders don’t want to see the faces of such people. They prefer sycophants and hypocrites who will be singing the songs of sycophancy. Sadly, this is a serious problem.

    That is why we want to make a difference not only while in governance, but also in leadership recruitment. All Nigerians are entitled to be members of this party if they so wish. But to get a ticket to contest elections at all level of governance, a person must prove himself to be credible God fearing, selfless and accepted by his people. NRM leadership will not seat here in Abuja like other parties and impose candidates on the people.

    We feel that until and unless there is justice in all that we do as a political party and as leaders, there can’t be peace and prosperity and good governance. Unless the people are allowed to make their choice, democracy cannot grow. That is why anybody who wants to contest election in this party should know that there are strict and rigorous process of screening before he can be allowed  to contest any election.

    The task of rescuing Nigeria from where it is today is a task that all patriotic Nigerians must be part of in other to have a better Nigeria and be able to catch up with its peers across the globe.

    What is the view of the party on the ongoing fight against corruption?

    For us in NRM we see no difference between the APC and the PDP in terms of the issue of corruption, implementation of the budget and prudent management of the nation’s resources for the common good of the Nigeria people.

    The recent decision by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to support of $1 billion for the federal government to fight Boko Haram is generating mixed reaction from across the country. What is the position of the party on this?

    Well, that money belongs to the 36 states and the federal, government. The Governors are the chief  executive of their respective states and are the custodians of the resources of their respective states. While the Boko Haram issue is a security challenge that affects the entire nation. Yes, the insurgents are being fought in the northeast, but its economic and social consequences are all over the country.

    So, for me, I think it is worth while as long as the money will be prudently used for the purpose it is allocated for. So, I don’t think there is nothing wrong with it. The federal government and the National Council of States should put in place a special mechanism for monitoring how that colossal amount of money is going to be used. The Nigerian government has a very good opportunity which they don’t want to use.

    We have professionals who have retired who are credible and willing to offer services free, but they are not being utilized because people in government wants to do everything. The government is setting up a technical committee to handle something and appoints governors and ministers as members when they have not been able to discharge their primary responsibility satisfactory.

    And you are giving them additional responsibility when we have professionals with the technical expertise  to do that job. I want to appeal to the government to put a special team in place outside government bureaucracy to monitor how every cent of this money will be spent in fighting Boko Haram because that is where the problem is. It is not allocating money that is important, but how the money is spent and how effective it is. That is what is lacking in the APC administration.

    There is the clamour for restructuring of the country. What will be your party position on that?

    All the social economic problems we are having in this country should not arise if we have good governance. My believe is that the clamour for restructuring, agitation for Biafra, Boko Haram, cattle rustling and many others are all manifestations of bad governance. For me personally, I don’t believe in restructuring, but I believe that at the appropriate time, the party will come up with its position on that.

    I believe in good governance because the moment you provide good governance, there will be no agitation. You are hearing about agitation for restructuring because few people who are not more than seven have cornered the resources of the entire nation and they do whatever what they want with it. They take the money outside the country and that is why people are saying let us restructure.

    So, when you restructure the nation, you will also have to restructure the resources and allow every region manages its own resources. It is actually the gale of corruption in governance that brought about all these agitations for so many things across the country. So, for me, providing good governance is the answer to all these agitations and our socio-economic challenges in this country.

    You said that not more than seven persons have cornered the resources of this country, how did you arrive at this position?

    I am just using that as an example and not talking about the exact figure. You are the one who came up with the terminology of cabal. We have had cabals in this country on several occasions and the Nigerian people have alleged that the cabal are cornering the resources of this country. It may even be better at both level. In the state, it is one person cornering the resources. Even  deputy governor have no access to the money.

    Considering the fact that this country is divided along ethic and religious lines, how do you intend to achieve the national integration you speak about?

    The solution we have is to ensure justice and fairness. But more critical is the issue of leadership recruitment. We are definitely going to change approach to leadership recruitment. From 1999 to date, whatever happened, Nigerian politicians must take responsibility for that. We must take responsibility for the state of the nation today. If that is the case, what do we do? It is to answer that question and agree that we need to change approach.

    For us in the NRM, among the present conventional politicians in the country today, only a negligible few will be able to secure NRM ticket. Before you are able to get NRM ticket as somebody who has been in politics for a long time in Nigeria, you must be someone who has been acknowledged as somebody who is credible, patriotic and selfless. It is then only then you can secure ticket under NRM.

    Our first point of call for recruitment is religious leaders. We are not saying that Cardinal Onaiyekan should come and contest election, but what we are saying is that they should bring out their disciples that they know are credible, patriotic and God fearing to come and contest election because they will not need to bribe anybody to have the ticket. They must make that sacrifice because the time is gone when politicians will just come to religious leaders and say pray for us to win election.

    Religious leaders should take this message to their followers. Our second point of call is traditional rulers. We are saying the Sultan should come and contest election. They know within their domain, the people they can trust that will not betray the reputation and credibility of the royal houses. Our third point of call are professionals who have either retired or still serving. We have already drafted letters to all professional and trade union groups, women and youth groups, religious leaders and traditional rulers.

    We will give them our manifesto and ask them to make input into it because what we have today is an interim manifesto. For example, we will tell the Nigeria Economic Summit Group to make input to our economic policy and other professional groups. Then we will aggregate these views. We will have interaction with them because the state of the nation today calls for sacrifice and so, all hands must be on deck.

  • Governors and LG autonomy

    Sir, President Buhari said: “Constitutionally there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the federal government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments. Not least the operations of the Local Government Joint Account. While the federal government cannot interfere in the details of its operations it will ensure that the gross corruption at the local level is checked. As far as the constitution allows me I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country. For I will not have kept my own trust with the Nigerian people if I allow others abuse theirs under my watch”.

    That was part of President Buhari’s inaugural speech after he was sworn in as the President on 29 may, 2015. Has this promise been fulfilled?

    As far as I’m concerned, for local governments to effectively function and operate based on the principles that they were established, both financial and political autonomies must be granted to them. Financial autonomy means that the so-called joint account must be stopped because it is of no use. Most of the governors today enrich themselves through the local government joint accounts. They release only the money for the payment of local government staffs and that is why there’s no local government projects at the local levels across the country, which is against the main objectives of their existence.

    Of course, there’s is pervasive corruption in local governments across the country where a cashier will build a house that even a permanent secretary who spent 30 years in service cannot build or maintain a life style which is beyond his/her legitimate income. Indeed, financial autonomy cannot be granted to local governments without providing the appropriate means that can tame the endemic corruption at that level.

    Political autonomy must be also granted to local governments if we really want them to discharge their duties without the unnecessary interference by governors. Local government chairmen are not dully elected today in Nigeria but selected by governors. Elections are rigged and caretaker committees are selected. Governors send some of their friends, relatives or die-hard political supporters to local governments as caretakers or sole administrators which is not allowed by the constitution.

    Most of the governors ought to have been impeached for this gross breach of constitution. Since the emergence of democratic system of government in 1999, it is noteworthy to observe that each ruling party wins the local government elections of its state. For this to be stopped, INEC should conduct local government elections; this is because most of the governors rig local government elections, prolong the conduct of elections under the pretence of not having sufficient funds for the exercise.

    In my state – Kaduna, the last local government elections we had was in 2012 during the era of late Ibrahim Yakowa. Sole administrators must be discouraged, elected local government chairmen must be given four years to serve.

    If both financial and political autonomies cannot be granted to them, we should scrap them and operate only two levels of government. This is because the kind of local governments we have today are like toothless dogs, it is the governors that dictate to them, appoint or select local government chairmen and give them salaries for their staff in the name of joint account. To the President and all other authorities concerned, Nigerians are looking forward to see what you can do to stop this breach of constitution.

     

    • Hasheem B. Ahmad.

    <hashimbahmad@gmail.com>

  • Why we backed Secondus, by PDP governors

    Why we backed Secondus, by PDP governors

    Governors elected under the platform  of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have explained their support for Prince Uche Secondus as  their party’s National Chairman. They said it was because  of his strength character and honesty.

    The governors said Secondus as National Deputy Chairman stood for the truth and ensured that  rules were adhered to during  party primaries.

    They spoke at the Thanksgiving Service in honour of Secondus at the Rivers State Ecumenical Centre in Port Harcourt yesterday.

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike said Secondus insisted on his emergence as PDP governorship candidate because he felt it was in the best interest of the party, even though  other groups preferred an ethnic candidate.

    He said: “This position is an opportunity to give Nigerians  what they want.  I can’t understand why people are suffering untold hardship.  Imagine the fuel scarcity with people buying a litre of fuel between N300 and N400.”

    He said Secondus emerged through a credible process where all candidates tested their popularity. He said the governors and other stakeholders preferred Secondus because of his experience and track record.

    “For the first time in the history of our party, we had an election to elect a national chairman.  It was not like the case before where the President and Governors  decided on a consensus candidate “, Governor Wike said.

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade said he encountered  Secondus when they had a major challenge in the delegates list of the party, but the former Deputy National Chairman insisted on correcting the illegality without inducement.

    He said all the governors who worked for the emergence of the National Chairman did so because  of the unflinching support Secondus gave them in the past.

    Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi said: “Secondus  stood with me when the promise of man failed. “

    He said  all the governors resolved to work with Wike in canvassing for Secondus because  of his character and content. He said that the governors turned their backs on those who took money in the past.

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu commended the presence of mind of Secondus, which he said would be beneficial to the party.

    He said: “We are prepared to go the whole route with Prince Uche Secondus.  He will be an exemplary party leader in Africa “.

    Secondus said the PDP is poised to take over the leadership of the country.

    He said: “We are going according to the plans and purpose of God. This country will be returned to the PDP, whether you like it or not, it approved in heaven. You cannot do otherwise “.

    Secondus said God used Wike and his colleagues to bring the post to fruition.

  • Prioritise workers’ welfare, Waba tells governors

    Prioritise workers’ welfare, Waba tells governors

    •NLC chief begs Amosun to reinstate sacked union chair

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) National President Ayuba Waba has urged governors to make workers’ welfare their priority.

    Waba said some states had enough resources to adequately cater for the welfare of workers but failed to attend to their needs because they did not make the issue of workers welfare a priority.

    The NLC president spoke yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at the opening of the meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC).

    He said workers are partners at ensuring good governance and political stability, adding that governors should encourage them by paying their salaries and allowances promptly.

    Waba said: “It is not that some states cannot pay their workers’ salaries as and when due, but it depends on their priority. Some governors see workers’ welfare as a priority, while some others do not.

    “However, it must be stressed that workers are partners in the Nigerian project. We believe in good governance and stability of the polity. We will support the Federal Government on good governance and political stability.”

    The NLC president lauded the Ogun State government for prioritising workers’ welfare through prompt payment of salaries.

    But he urged him to clear the backlogs of deductions from the workers’ pay.

    Waba urged Amosun to reinstate the sacked labour leader in the state (the state NLC chairman), Akeem Ambali, saying the governor should “forgive and forget”.

    Ambali praised Amosun for making Ogun State an investors’ destination of choice through infrastructural development.

    Amosun pledged to continue to make workers’ welfare his priority, adding that his administration would ensure regular payment of their salaries.

     

  • Governors, Speakers agree on constitution amendment

    Governors, Speakers agree on constitution amendment

    Governors and Speakers of the Houses of Assembly yesterday agreed on the way forward in the review of the 1999 Constitution.

    In a communique at the end of a meeting in Abuja, yesterday, they said: “We, all the governors of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on  the platform of the Nigeria Governors Forum and the Speakers of the Houses of Assembly, under the auspices of the Conference of Speakers at the end of a consultative meeting regarding the ongoing efforts to amend certain sections of the 1999 Constitution resolved as follows:

    “The meeting agreed to approach this amendment with maturity and the future of our democracy at the back of our minds.

    “The meeting agreed that the state Houses of Assembly should consult all stakeholders and hold public hearing on all the items transmitted to them by the National Assembly in a bid to promote our democracy and strengthen its institutions.

    “Finally, the meeting agreed to constitute a committee to look at all the issues pertaining to the constitutional amendment and revert to members within a reasonable time.”

    The communique was signed by Hon. Ismaila A. Kamba, Speaker, Sokoto  State House of Assembly, Chairman, Conference of Speakers and Zamfara State Governor  and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF)Abdul-Aziz Yari.