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  • PDP chairman: Governors battle ex-governors, others

    PDP chairman: Governors battle ex-governors, others

    PDP chairman: Governors battle ex-governors, others

    Secondus gains more support

    The battle for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman continued at the weekend with governors insisting on their  right to back a candidate.

    They said they might unveil their candidate before the December 9 convention.

    The governors, who have been criticised by some former governors for plotting to impose a candidate on the party, however, said their backing for a candidate would be without prejudice to other aspirants.

    They would like the party to allow the delegates to vote and determine who should lead them.

    They faulted the position of some former governors, members of the Board of Trustees (BOT), members of the National Caucus and ex-ministers who wanted behind-the-scene deals for some candidates.

    But there were indications that a former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, may be the favourite candidate.

    The governors, sources said, joined issues with a former National Chairman of the party, Sen. Ahmadu Ali, a BOT leader, Prof. Jerry Gana, ex-Deputy President of the Senate Ibrahim Mantu and other leaders at the Caucus meeting of the party in Abuja.

    The foundation leaders warned the governors against impunity and taking sides in order to get the best for the party.

    But some of the governors challenged some of the BOT leaders, ex-governors and Caucus members that they brought impunity into the party which made it to lose the 2015 election.

    A source at the session said: “The governors were unhappy that the body language of the elders was tilting towards a consensus for Prof. Tunde Adeniran from the South-West.

    “They warned the leaders against ‘working to the answer’, as the case in the past. They also vowed to resist any plot to impose a candidate.”

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose was said to have been more forthcoming at the session.

    He was quoted as saying: “The governors have the right to support a candidate as party members/ leaders but all candidates should go for the election and the delegates will vote.”

    In a tactical reference to Adeniran’s candidacy, Fayose reportedly said the governors could not stick out their necks for a candidate whose ward did not even know he is contesting for national chairman.

    The source added: “A former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, also advised the session to allow the delegates to elect a new chairman for the party.”

    The governors later asked aggrieved ex-governors, BOT and caucus members to also choose their own candidates for the election at the National Convention.

    A BOT member, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “Our fears border on the fact that we may have a highly monetised national convention. These governors have London-Paris Club refund to throw at delegates to impose a candidate on PDP. We simply advise them to allow a free process instead of being parties to the contest.

    “We also have the choice either to remain in the party or quit if they have their way. The governors are not after a free and fair process, they want to hijack the party ahead of 2019 presidential race.”

    Another source said the PDP governors may back Secondus.

    A governor, who spoke with our correspondent last night, said Secondus enjoyed the support of most of his colleagues from the Southsouth, Southeast and some leaders from the Southwest.

    Secondus and other candidates may battle for the votes of Northern delegates.

    The governor said: “Most of the governors, especially those from the Southsouth and the Southeast, are trying to build consensus around Secondus who is experienced in party management.

    “We do not have time on our side as a party to put in place a national chairman who will learn on the job.

    “But we agreed that we will not impose Secondus, he has to vie for the office with other candidates. We want the delegates from all the 36 states and the FCT to elect our new chairman.

    “If at the end of the day our choice of Secondus is wrong, the delegates will decide.”

  • Governors are facing difficulties times, says Dickson

    Governors are facing difficulties times, says Dickson

    Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has said that Governors in the country are presently passing through difficult and trying times.

    Dickson who spoke in Benin City at the thanksgiving service to mark Governor Godwin Obaseki’s one year in office said God’s intervention has been helping governors in the country to remain focus.

    He said he was in the state to show solidarity with Governor Obaseki according to him has done well in office.

    Dickson said he declared a special holiday in Bayelsa State to thank God because it was not easy to win elections, go through several litigations to remain in office and then face the hurdles of governance.

    “These are difficult times for governors. No one knows it better than those who have been there. We just have to keep focus because distractions and detractors are bound to be there.

    “It is our business to rely on God to keep focus on delivering good governance. We have to pray for governors and those at the helm of affairs in this country,” Dickson said.

  • Paris Club refund: Three more governors indicted

    Paris Club refund: Three more governors indicted

    EFCC uncovers another slush account

    Release of third tranche threatened

    Three more governors are believed to have diverted the London-Paris Club refund,  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sources said yesterday.

    Besides, another slush account has been uncovered.

    The governors and their cronies are under investigation.

    Some of those implicated in the mismanagement and diversion of the refund will soon face trial, The Nation learnt.

    Governors have been pushing for the release of the third tranche of the refund. President Muhammadu Buhari is said to be weighing the request.

    Security reports allegedly indicted some governors of gross abuse of the cash.

    According to a source, who gave an update on the investigation of the refund, all suspects will be brought to book.

    The source said: “As part of the ongoing probe, we have traced diversion of funds to three more governors and their cronies. This is apart from two governors who have  been fingered in such deals.

    “Detectives have also uncovered another account opened by the Nigeria Governors Forum(NGF) where suspicious transactions related to the London-Paris Club refund have been found.

    ‘We have rated this new discovery as a slush account. This is aside the two accounts on which we placed Post No Debit(PNB).”

    According to the source, “more consultants have confessed  that they were paid for jobs not done.

    “So, we have cases of diversion of public funds into private accounts under the guise of consultancy fees. This explains why salaries have not been paid in some states”, the source added.

    He went on: “We will release the details to the public very soon. All the suspects will certainly face trial. Those who have immunity will face the consequences, no matter how long it takes.

    “Already, one of the governors has forfeited N500million and another crony of the second governor has refunded $500,000 out of $3million linked to his account.

    “We have also applied for the forfeiture of over N1.823billion by some consultants hired by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).”

    Following protests by states against over deductions for external debt service between 1995 and 2002, President Buhari had approved the release of N522.74 billion (first tranche) to states as refunds pending reconciliation of records.

    Each state was entitled to a cap of N14.5 billion being 25% of the amounts claimed.

    The second tranche of N243, 795,465,195.20 was also disbursed to states in July.

    Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said the payment of the claims would enable states to offset outstanding salaries and pension which had been “causing considerable hardship”.

    The governors had sought for the refund to states and local governments at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on May 24, 2016.

    The Finance ministry said it was reviewing the impact of these releases on the level of arrears owed by the various states.

    “The releases were conditional upon a minimum of 75 per cent being applied to the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions for states that owe salaries and pension,” Salisu Dambatta, a Finance ministry spokesperson said in the statement.

    The Senate plans to probe how the refund and bailout funds to states by Buhari were approved.

    The Senate’s decision followed a point of order raised by Sen. Samuel Anyanwu (PDP- Imo).

    Buhari is said to be weighing on whether or not to release the third tranche of the refund to states.

    A Presidency source said: “Although the governors agreed at the National Economic Council meeting to demand for the third tranche, the President has the final say.

    “From the security reports available to the President, some of the governors allegedly misused the refunds. A few of them devoted 20% -30% to payment of salaries. And some diverted the cash.”

    Advocates of true federalism have argued that the Presidency has no right to held on to the cash because it belong to the states.

    “The most feasible option is to impose stiffer conditions  on how to access and use the refunds. There might be stiffer monitoring of the utilisation of the London-Paris Club cash,” a source said.

    Read Also: EFCC raises panel to grill ex-SGF Lawal, seven others

  • Unpaid salary: Labour hails Buhari’s knocks for governors

    Unpaid salary: Labour hails Buhari’s knocks for governors

    Organised Labour has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for condemning governors who are still owing their workers despite several bailouts.

    At separate events, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and National Union of Textile Garments and Tailoring Workers of Nigerian (NUTGTWN) said the President had shown a rare value by telling governors the truth on how he felt about their failure to pay salaries and pensions, despite the Federal Government’s interventions.

    The TUC also floored some governors for asking for the release of 50 per cent of the Paris Club loan refund, even when they could not account for the tranches released to them.

    The union lamented the plight of workers in the states and the need for urgent attention as many could barely survive.

    “For us, President Muhammadu Buhari was right when he expressed surprise on how some governors manage to sleep soundly when workers have not been paid their salaries for months. The president even wondered how the workers feed their families; pay their rents and the school fees of their children,”the TUC said.

    TUC President Bobboi Bala Kaigama said the Congress believed that the President asked these vital questions because he still has his conscience intact, noting that most of the nation’s political leaders have sold their conscience.

    “They don’t feel our pains neither do their children and cronies. What is N18,000 (Eighteen thousand naira) when juxtaposed with the prevailing economic realities in the country? It is a pity our governors prefer statues of foreigners to our health, children’s education, job creation and other meaningful activities that help build a strong society.

    “We believe in the President, but he alone cannot do it. Efforts to fight corruption have become a mirage. Experts have argued that one way recession can be addressed is when the wage of workers is increased; unfortunately the last wage increase we had was in 2011. Though due for review, but some forces who take delight in using our children as political thugs have refused. They want the status-quo (master-servant relationship) to remain.  They tell us that the economy is in recession yet it does not affect them,” he said.

    Kaigama urged the Federal Government to hold on to the money until the workers and pensioners were fully paid.

    “The governors are stock-piling the released fund somewhere waiting for 2019 election campaign, but we are going to surprise them. It is not going to be business as usual,” he said.

    NUTGTWN General Secretary Issa Aremu said it was laughable that the governors could have the effrontery to approach the President for another bailout when all they have received in the past were not used for the purpose they were meant for.

    The labour leaders, speaking at the 29th Annual National Education Conference of NUTGTWN in Sokoto, said Nigeria’s case has become a one-day one-trouble-affair.

    “Only two weeks ago, some ministers made a case for “No Work No Pay” doctrine. Their argument was that they want to check the public service workers in the country. Just imagine, how do you tell a worker that has not been paid for six months to continue to borrow to fare himself or herself to job? How do you explain it that a country that is broke still pays twitter lawmakers over N29 million on a monthly basis. This is inhuman, wicked, derogatory and devilish,” he said.

    Aremu, who is also the vice president of the Industrial Global, said the government should endeavour to pay workers all they had worked for before trying to enforce the no work, no pay doctrine.

    He maintained that the governors should be seen supporting the Federal Government in reviving the economy and this could be done by paying workers their wages.

    “The workers are the consumers, if they are not paid where would they get the money to buy finished products from our industries. It is only when our factories thrive that the economy can rebound. The workers are the ones that support the artisans and other sectors of the economy. The importance of a living wage, paid as at when due, cannot be over emphasised,”he said.

  • When southern governors met

    Great expectations attached to the much-talked-about October 23 Lagos summit of the Southern Governors’ Forum have not been misplaced at all. All the expected states graced the occasion safe for the Imo delegate. Issues germane to Nigerian re-federation were fully brainstormed with no-hold barred.

    The social media, the newspapers, the radio, the TV were full of its reports the day after, totally upstaging the Nigerian Governors’ Forum meeting which held same day at Abuja. Perhaps it was because the Abuja summit has largely become routine; while the Lagos event has resurfaced phenomenally.

    The summit was a bold affirmation that the southern states, firmly united by their geographical contiguity may just now begin to gather the momentum to be united in purpose, aspiration and in pursuits.

    Their counterparts from the 19 northern states have apparently proved to be more united and more able to sustain a forum that hold regular meetings.

    While the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) meetings appear to be regular, borne out of apparent unity or compulsion, it is essentially ceremonial. It has over the years constituted itself into a bulwark for the preservation of the nation’s status quo. It hardly asks probing questions on the state of the nation or any questions concerning the constitution on which the realm stands.

    Antithetically, the Southern Governors’ Forum, hitherto very trite in unity, appears to be constituting itself into the avant-garde against provisions and statutory proclamations that it claims hinder national development. The SGF has increasing turned itself into a forum for advocating correction of the many wrong provisions in the Nigerian constitution.

    All Progressive Congress (APC) National Leader, Bola Tinubu, one of the founding fathers of the SGF had as early as 2002 led Lagos State to get the Supreme Court to abolish special funds illegally created by the federal government for funding its special projects – not from federal allocations – but from the common Federation Account.

    Over the years, Lagos State has also singly won the battle for the state to control the management of its environment; the control of the management of its urban and physical planning. It has won the control of the registration and running of its hotels and restaurants and that of its waterways that were all before then under the control of the federal government.

    All these are battles fought and won by Lagos State alone but which are now freely enjoyed by all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Lest we forget, Tinubu, the Jagaban Borgu also hosted an SGF summit in Lagos in 2005. The main plank of that meeting’s struggle was to get the federal government to concede a fraction of income accruing from a natural resource derived from any state back to that state. This has eventually led to the releasing of 13 per cent derivation fund to states throughout Nigeria where resources are tapped.

    The SGF today waves the 13 per cent derivation fund as fruit of struggle of southern governors of yesteryears, which all Nigerians now enjoy. And by that feat of the 2005 summit, the SGF has become more emboldened to confront some of the constitutional monstrosities and federal practices that have over the years’ imperilled national progress.

    Now, the SGF has asked for the big one: true federalism. By this demand they want the federal government to divest itself of all vestiges of authoritarianism imbibed from the military era of 1966–1999. The unitary military command system replete in our democratic constitution is being asked to be jettisoned.

    True federalism will reflect in every aspect of our life. States will control the resources in their land and pay taxes to the federal government and a Federation Account from which fellow-states can benefit.

    Federal government will control foreign affairs, armed forces and the para-military forces. But the governors want state police in order to participate in the process of securing their states, not leaving the control in the hand of a boss in Abuja who apparently has bitten more than he can swallow.

    True federalism synonymous with ‘restructuring’ and ‘devolution of power’ is truly the big one. The southern states believe it can end the fiscal strictures each of the states faces now. They believe it will strengthen the economy and enable states to develop at their own pace depending on their peculiarities.

    It is also believed that true federalism will foster equity, fairness and justice in our plural society. That it will call for a redesigning, reconfiguration, revitalizing and reinventing of the nation’s federal essence.

    Above all, that it can create a productive citizenry as opposed to a people raised to laze around waiting for hand-out. The federal government waits for the oil companies to bring in the petro-dollars, the governors wait on the President to release their states’ allocations and the people wait on the governors to hand-out the state’s shares for the citizen to receive their own portion instead of working for good income and prosper.

    But true federalism is not all that the southern governors demanded for Nigerians to have a better Nigeria. They also demanded for more infrastructures in the South.

    They want the states to be allowed to keep the Value Added Tax collected in their domains. They want devolution of power by which the six geopolitical zones of South-west, South-south, South-east, North-central, North-east and North-west will become power centres or regions.

    Each region will assert political authority and control the resources within its exclave, paying taxes to the federal government. It is believed this will curb the excesses of the federal government by the humongous resources stacked upon it which it only wastes, leaving its functionaries to pillage them as they choose.

    Now we know it doesn’t matter how frequently some governors meet if they don’t seek to find solutions to any of the myriad of problems assailing the nation.

    Yet our ears are on the tingle whenever some other group of governors meet. It is because we know they are constantly brainstorming on solutions to Nigeria’s many problems. Especially because they do not see any area of our national life as a no-go area.

    It is particularly commendable that every solution they midwife is for the benefit of the entire country even when they are called the Southern Governors’ Forum.

    Albeit, credit for the huge success of this latest conclave of the SGF must primarily go to Barrister Tunji Bello, the Lagos Secretary to the State Government (SSG), its organizer; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, its sponsor; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, its originator and     think-tank; and the governors that graced the occasion.

    It remains cumulatively incumbent on all of them to put more effort to ensure regularity of the summit and ensure deserved success of its agenda to re-federalize Nigeria.

     

    • Amupitan writes from Isolo – Lagos State.
  • Buhari, governors meet

    Buhari, governors meet

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met behind closed doors with some state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The governors, who met with the President after the  Jumaat prayer, were from the north.

    They included Nasarawa Governor, Tanko Almakura, Kaduna Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, Bauchi Governor, Mohammed Abubakar and Yobe Governor, Ibrahim Geidam.

    The governors left the Villa from the President’s official residence.

  • Southern governors and true federalism

    Governors of 17 states of the southern part of the country recently held an historic meeting in Lagos at the end of which they reiterated their commitment to true federalism and the indivisibility of Nigeria as well as devolution of power to the states. The meeting was historic because it marked the second time the governors would be meeting under aegis of the Southern Governors’ Forum in 12 years. It will be recalled that the first summit of the forum took place in 2001 while the very last prior to the latest one took place in 2005. While scheduling its next meeting to take place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the forum equally made governors Akinwunmi Ambode and Seriake Dickson its co-chairmen.

    The forum’s stance on true federalism is, no doubt, a welcome development to all advocates of fiscal federalism in the country. Giving a hint on the subject in his opening remarks, Governor Ambode said: “There is certainly a lot to be done about true federalism, an issue that requires urgent, meticulous and proactive attention from the forum. No less disturbing is the failure to undertake the periodic review of the revenue allocation formula as provided for by the 1999 Constitution to reflect evolving realities. This is another critical matter that ought to engage this forum in order to enhance the viability of the state and local governments as well as their capacity to fulfil their developmental roles in the polity”. Governor Ambode further noted that the current trend where states over rely on handouts from Abuja is a reflection of the constitution that burdens the federal government with activities and responsibilities that rightly fall within the jurisdiction of the states.

    Globally, the distinctive feature of a federation is the constitutional dissection of powers between the central government and the federating units. In a unitary system, total powers flow from the centre while in a federation, powers are detached between the centre and other federating units. Federalism is supposed to be a mutually evolved system where none of the federating units is inferior to another but each deriving its powers and exercising them within the framework of the constitution.

    Federalism is normally considered a better political option in view of certain factors. For instance, it is politically expedient for a country with a huge land mass, big and heterogeneous population, complex cultural and language diversities to operate a federal system of government as a way of accommodating the diverse ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic interests in the country.  Thus, federalism becomes the viable option for a nation, like Nigeria, with diverse interests in order to exist in a mutually binding framework. It is, however, not an avenue for any of the federating units to bully the other. It is not a system that makes states governors’ school children while the President acts as their headmasters. No! Rather, it is a system that calls for mutual respect and fairness among all federating units.

    Unfortunately, because we have been practicing a defective version of federalism over the years, individuals and institutions that advocate the practice of true federalism are often labelled as rascals, rebels or in some cases secessionists. It is, therefore, pleasing to note that eminent individuals and organisations in the country have, in the past and of late, been canvassing for the enthronement of true federalism in the country. While delivering a lecture at the Sixth Annual Oputa Lecture at the Osgoode Hall Law School, York University in Toronto, Canada, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, described what is being practiced in the country as ‘feeding bottle federalism’.

    Perhaps, the most eventful period in the country’s political history was when true federalism was practiced as reflected in the regional experience of the pre-independence and immediate post-independence era. This was the period when the defunct Western Region under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo made giant strides that are till date second to none in the region. In same era, the defunct Eastern Regional government was also able to record several landmark legacies depending solely on revenue from palm kernel among others while in the defunct Northern Region, the Ahmadu Bello administration equally laid the foundation for the socio-economic evolvement of the region.

    If we are to go back to this glorious era in our socio-political history, we need to evolve a new constitution that will truly reflect the principles and sprit of true federalism. The present constitution is lopsided in its power-sharing at the expense of other federating units. For instance, Part one of the Second Schedule of the Constitution listed 68 items in the Exclusive Legislative List on which only the central government has control, while in Part two, it listed 30 items in the Concurrent Legislative List on which both the central and states could exercise control. In a true federal arrangement, there should be no need for local government creation to require consequential provision of the National Assembly. Equally, the inclusion of Police, Mines and Minerals, Railways, Stamp Duties, Taxation of Incomes, and Value Added Tax (VAT) in the exclusive list is also uneven.

    Similarly, a situation that warrants states to wait endlessly for the federal government to fix so-called federal roads in their domains is not too tidy. Equally, it is imperative that a new revenue sharing formula that will be fair to all federating units be put in place. It is only in a unitary system that such an uneven arrangement in which the federal government takes 52 per cent of the total revenue while other federating units share the rest could take place. Similarly, some Ministries, Departments and Agencies that exist in Abuja shouldn’t be in place in the first instance because their duties are better performed by other federating units. In a proper federation, what the central government does is to focus on central federal matters like foreign affairs, economy, maritime shipping and security.

    Perhaps, most importantly, states and local governments in the country need to identify areas where their Internally Generated Revenue’s base could be boosted. It is only when all the federating units are financially buoyant that the prosperity that the country once enjoyed in the Awolowo, Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello’s era could be replicated. The present arrangement where states readily queue, cup in hand, at Abuja before they could sort out routine issue such as payment of salaries isn’t tidy enough. Lagos, under Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was partly able to stand its ground in the celebrated local government fund seizure matter between it and the then Obasanjo-led federal government because its leadership had creatively evolved a sound economic base for the state.

    On a final note, it needs to be emphasized that advocacy for the enthronement of true federalism in the country should not be misconstrued as promotion of secession. It is not and cannot be. If we are unable to aggregate and articulate concerted efforts to entrench true federalism, all our aspirations for a better a country where institutions work and where fairness and equality reign supreme might continue to be mere hallucination

     

    • Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.
  • Southern governors vote for devolution of power

    Southern governors vote for devolution of power

    States in the Southern part of the country through the governors on Monday reiterated their belief in true federalism within the context of a united Nigeria.

    In a communique after the first meeting of the 17 Southern states 12 years after the Forum was inaugurated, the governors also said the south required more infrastructure from the federal government.

    They also agreed to continue to collaborate as partners in progress.

    Host Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was appointed as chairman of the Forum with Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi as co-chairmen.

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha is the only governor who did not attend and failed to send a representative.

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Anambra State Governor Willy Obiano sent their deputies.

    Ambode said states would benefit from the envisaged restructuring.

    He said the goals of true federalism, which included the strengthening of autonomy and the enhancement of fiscal viability, would enable the states to develop at their own pace, based on their peculiarities.

    Ambode, who hosted the meeting of the 17 Southern governors last night, said the forum had achieved an increased awareness on the sustenance of the national question that is germane to peaceful co-existence in the country.

    However, he said a lot needed to be done and achieved, stressing that true federalism required urgent, meticulous and proactive attention by the forum.

    Ambode frowned at what he described as the non-periodic review of the revenue formula as provided by the constitution to reflect evolving realities.

    He said the review is crucial to enhance the viability of states and local governments and their capacity to fulfil their developmental roles in the polity.

    The governor added: “States are disparaged for always carrying begging bowls to Abuja in quest of hand-outs from the Federal Government. This is a function of our present national constitution that burdens the Federal Government with activities and responsibilities that rightly fall within the province of states.

    “The productivity and revenue-generating capacities of most states are thus stifled, thus turning them into no better than street beggar states incapable of even meeting routine obligations of paying workers’ salaries and pensions without federal support.”

    Ambode recalled that Lagos State had fought and won several legal battles since 1999 that systematically strengthened its autonomy and enhanced its fiscal viability.

    He noted that the state had won the legal control over the management of its environment, the control of urban and physical planning, the regulation of overhead masts, the registration and regulation of hotels and restaurants, and the control of inland waterways.

    Ambode said these victories belonged not only to Lagos but also to other states, adding that, if Lagos could achieve so much by fighting alone, the Southern Governors’ Forum would accomplish more through collective planning and strategy.

    The governor said the forum had been reactivated at the time the National Assembly is harmonising its differences over the 1999 Constitution amendment which will soon be transmitted to the Houses of Assembly for approval.

    He said: “It is important for this forum to comprehensively look at the proposed amendments with a view to working with our respective Houses of Assembly to ensure a coordinated response on our part that will strengthen the practice of democracy, federalism, constitutionalism and the rule of law.

    Ambode clarified that while pushing for greater devolution of power, responsibilities and resources from the centre to the states, the goal of the forum is neither to a weak centre and strong states and vice versa.

    The governor paid tribute to former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his initiave, recalling that he hosted the first meeting of the forum in Akodo Beach Resort, Ibeju-Lekki, when he was at the helm of affairs.

    He said while the initiative was received with mixed feelings at the time, Tinubu was vindicated later because of its achievements as the forum became a vocal voice on matters of critical importance, not only to the Southern Nigeria, but to the country as a whole.

     

     

     

     

    Ambode hailed the form for advocating for a special allocation to oil-producing states in the Federation Account, adding that its agitation led to the current 13 per cent revenue derivation and allocation from the Federation Account.

    He added: “Another major victory won towards strengthening the country’s practice of true federalism was the declaration by the Supreme Court in 2002 that the then prevalent practice of the Federal Government deducting monies from the Federation Account as a first charge for the funding of Joint Venture Contracts, the NNPC priority projects, servicing of Federal Government’s external debt, the judiciary and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other federal obligations were illegal and unconstitutional.

    “The Supreme Court in that case abolished the special funds created by the Federal Government to enable it draw funds from the Federation Account to pay for matters that fell within its exclusive responsibility before sharing whatever was left with states and local governments.”

  • Governors urged to revamp health sector

    A member of the House of Representatives representing Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Bamidele Baderinwa, at the weekend urged state governments across the country to empower their health sector.

    Speaking with reporters in Akure, the Ondo State capital, over the outbreak of monkey pox in some states, Baderinwa called on the remaining states to forestall the spread of the dreaded disease.

    His words: “We call on our state governments to give more attention to the health sector in the interest of the people, especially the masses who may not have the wherewithal to take care of themselves.”

    Baderinwa said the lawmakers would put in place legislation that will safeguard the health of the nation in the interest of national development.

    The lawmaker specifically called on the Ondo State government to set up machinery aimed at guiding the borders of the state with other neighbouring states to avoid the spread of monkey pox.

    Baderinwa declared that the National Assembly will not rest on its oars at ensuring that the health of Nigerians is given the adequate attention it deserves.

  • 17 governors plot APC chair Oyegun’s removal

    17 governors plot APC chair Oyegun’s removal

    Crisis has broken out in the All Progressives Congress (APC), with 17 governors plotting to dump National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun.

    The governors are said to be angry that Oyegun has been running the party with only seven of their colleagues.

    They may table their grievances at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on October 31 and pass a vote of no confidence in Oyegun.

    The governors are said to have reached out to President Muhammadu Buhari on their decision to reject Oyegun’s leadership.

    But Oyegun’s supporters have fingered former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s backers as part of the plot.

    They said Oshiomhole’s loyalists had been lobbying party leaders ahead of the NEC meeting to concede the slot to the ex-governor should Oyegun be forced to step aside.

    READ ALSO: Jonathan accuses APC of lies, propaganda

     APC seems set for a “make or break” meeting because of the sharp division among the governors on Oyegun.

    Some of the governors are alleged to have refused to assist the party because of the national chairman.

    A source, who pleaded not to be named, said: “Ahead of the NEC meeting of APC next week, there is tension in the party. About 17 of the 24 governors are unhappy with the national chairman. They are plotting to withdraw their support for him, unless he carries all of them along.”

    In Oyegun’s corner are Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi); Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Solomon Lalong (Plateau); Yahaya Bello (Kogi)  and Samuel Ortom (Benue).

    “The 17 governors believe that Oyegun is romancing their seven colleagues because the APC National Chairman believes they are close to the President.

    “They expressed fears that the party might split the way the National Chairman was leaving decisions on issues to the ‘anointed’ governors,” the source added.

    Another source said: “Initially, the 17 governors decided to write a letter to the APC leadership but they shelved the idea because it will appear as if they are reporting their colleagues.

    “They are, however, reaching out to President Buhari but through the back channels to avoid embarrassing the President during the October 31 NEC meeting.

    “They want the President to call the National Chairman to order. They said if care is not taken, they might be forced to come out openly on their concern.”

    But a member of NEC said: “What you are hearing is a game plan to pass a vote of no confidence on Oyegun at the NEC meeting.

    “The issues the 17 governors are raising are part of the conspiracy against the National Chairman. And what you are likely to see is the direction where things will go at the NEC session.

    “As regards Oyegun’s preference for some governors, I do not think it is true. If the chairman has personal relationship with some governors, I think it is by virtue of their position or performance.

    “For instance, the National Chairman does not hide his likeness for El-Rufai who he describes openly as ‘very energetic and full of ideas’. He is always proud of the governor of Kebbi and he relates well with Okorocha as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF). He is also used to the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Abdul-Aziz Yari, to get update on issues of governance.”

    Another NEC source said Oyegun’s camp was already aware of “the plot”.

    “In the last few days, strategists of Oshiomhole have been pushing his candidacy as successor to Oyegun ahead of the NEC meeting.

    “But the pro-Oshiomhole governors will fail because by the APC constitution, only the Deputy National Chairman from the South, Chief Segun Oni, can succeed Oyegun.”

    “The thinking is that Oni could resign at the NEC meeting to contest the Ekiti State governorship primaries. The APC constitution is silent on who takes over.

    “So, we will be running into a deeper crisis, the source added”

    National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi told our correspondent last night on telephone: “I don’t know the basis for the discontent because the party’s leaders always meet with the governors every month. And on some occasions, we had more than 70 to 80 per cent attendance.

    “In fact, we met with the governors on Wednesday in Abuja as part of our monthly session with them. If there is any discontent, such a forum would have provided an opportunity for them to raise it.”