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Tag: governors

  • Governors determined to check oil theft, says Uduaghan

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has said the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) is determined to check the challenge of oil theft in the country.

    Answering questions from reporters at the venue of the factional NGF meeting on Sunday, Uduaghan said the measures taken by the Forum to support the Federal Government were paying off.

    According to him, the Forum had to do something after the shutdown of two major pipelines (Trans-Niger and Nembe) led to the combined loss of about 300,000 barrels per day.

    “This resulted in the drop of our oil output from 2.5million bpd to 2.1million bpd. But as I speak today, the two pipelines vandalised and damaged have been repaired and re-opened,” he said.

    He said the cooperation and vigilance of all Nigerians were necessary to check illegal oil bunkering, which has reduced the socio-economic potential of the country.

    Speaking on the participation of Delta State-born Blessing Okagbare in the on-going International Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia, the governor expressed satisfaction at her performance so far.

    He praised Okagbare’s feat in clinching the silver medal in Long Jump and encouraged her to be focused in the determination to secure a gold medal.

    Uduaghan promised that his administration would continue to support the athlete and other youths, who are prepared to make a living out of sports.

    Briefing reporters after the Forum’s meeting, the vice chairman and Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, said the NGF has resolved to streamline its position on the on-going review of the constitution and come up with a common position for the governors.

    The governors also considered the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and appealed to lecturers to call it off in the interest of the nation’s educational development.

  • North’s governors: continue good work as tribute to your father

    Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) yesterday commiserated with Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola on the death of his father, Alhaji Ibrahim Ademola Fashola.

    The forum said the best tribute the governor could pay to his father was to touch the lives of Lagosians positively as he had been doing since he took the mantle of leadership six years ago.

    The Chairman of the forum and Niger State Governor Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu described the death of Alhaji Fashola as a big loss, especially as it occurred at a time his advice and guidance were needed to address the country’s problems.

    In a condolence message issued in Minna and signed by the NSGF’s spokesman, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, the forum urged Governor Fashola to be consoled that his late father lived a life of service to God and humanity.

    It advised him not to be discouraged by his father’s death, but should forge ahead with the task of repositioning Lagos State.

     

     

     

     

  • Jonathan, governors for Obadare’s funeral

    President Goodluck Jonathan, six governors, clerics, such as Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church Worldwide (aka Winners’ Chapel), Pastor Enoch Adeboye of The Redeemed Christian Church of God and others will attend the funeral of the late Pastor Timothy Oluwole Obadare.

    The renowned cleric, who founded the World Soul Wining Evangelistic Movement (WOSEM) died on March 12.

    Members of the funeral committee said they are planning to give the late cleric a befitting burial.

    The five-member committee are Prof. Oyebode Ayeni, Rev. Toluwani Paul, Elder Akindeko Felix, Pastor Edward Folorunsho, and Pastor T. Lawal

    According to the committee, Obadare’s journey to the great beyond would start on August 8 when the body would lie-in- state at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, at noon.

    It said on August 12, there would be commendation and service of songs at the All CAC Coordinating Council Headquarters at 4pm, and on August 15, his body would lie-in-state at Koseunti Prayer Ground, opposite Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, Ondo State.

    The body will be interred on August 17 at WOSEM International Conference Ground (WOSEM SHILO), Ilesa, Osun State.

    “We are building a mausoleum where he will be buried. We want the place to become a tourist centre, a place where people will go for holy pilgrimage,” a spokesman for the committee, Prof. Oyebode, said.

  • Five PDP governors step up anti-Jonathan, Tukur campaign

    Five PDP governors step up anti-Jonathan, Tukur campaign

    • Meet Ekwueme on PDP, Rivers crises, division in NGF

    Four of the G-5 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, yesterday, took their save democracy campaign to Second Republic Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.

    Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto) met Dr. Ekwueme for about 45 minutes in his suite at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

    The fifth member of the group, Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, was said to be away in Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj (Umrah).

    Yesterday’s deliberation took place behind closed door with the governors seeking the Second Republic Vice President’s intervention in resolving some of the crises confronting the nation and the ruling PDP.

    The issues include the political crisis in Rivers State, the division in the Nigeria Governors Forum, degeneration of internal democracy in PDP; the need to reorganise PDP if it does not want to lose future elections; and the alleged intolerance of dissenting views by the Presidency.

    A highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The 45-minute audience was part of the ongoing consultations with critical stakeholders by the five governors.

    “The choice of Ekwueme by the governors was strategic because he had presided over the only acceptable reconciliation committee in PDP. He is also respected for his quality advice.

    “By meeting with Ekwueme, the governors told the ex-VP that they were trying to demonstrate that their intervention was not sectional contrary to insinuations in some quarters.

    “They told the statesman that the crisis in Rivers State portends a great danger for the nation’s democracy. They pleaded with Ekwueme to meet with other statesmen of like minds to hold a meeting with the President and persuade him to accept some of the peace terms they had presented.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “They expressed concern that the vision of the founding fathers of PDP, including Ekwueme, to have a truly democratic and detribalised party was being derailed.

    “They insisted that the PDP must be reorganised if it does not want to lose power in 2015. They alleged that the party is losing touch with Nigerians.”

    Ekwueme was said to have assured his guests that he and other leaders already visited by the governors would look at the issues raised by them.

    “I have noted the issues you have raised, I can assure you that all the leaders you have consulted will address these matters,” he was quoted as saying.

    On the achievements of the shuttles by the governors so far, the source added: “They have succeeded in pointing out to elders that the nation’s democracy is under threat.

    “As stakeholders, the five governors have privileged information that most Nigerians are not aware of. I think a stitch in time saves nine.”

    It was also gathered yesterday that the five governors may meet former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, after the Eid-el Fitri festival.

    Another source, who is part of the ongoing consultations by the governors, said: “I think they will meet Gowon after Sallah next week.”

    The governors had first gone to Port Harcourt last month on a solidarity visit to the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on his travails with the PDP, the Presidency and the State Police Command before going to Abeokuta on Saturday, July 20 to seek the intervention of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Incidentally, President Goodluck Jonathan, with whom they are not on the best of terms was also in Abeokuta that day partly to see Chief Obasanjo but the governors deliberately avoided contact with him by diverting their convoy elsewhere in town until the President departed Obasanjo’s residence.

    Thereafter, the governors met with former Nigerian leaders-General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar in Minna; President Jonathan in Abuja penultimate Saturday and later with Second Republic President Shehu Shagari in Sokoto.

  • Jonathan to meet governors over crisis

    Jonathan to meet governors over crisis

    •Tukur attacks governors as Lamido, Nyako, Kwankwaso, Wamakko meet with Shagari

    President Goodluck Jonathan plans to meet with the 36 governors to resolve the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) crisis, it was gathered yesterday.

    This is one of the agreements the President reached with the G5 Northern governors he met last weekend, according to sources.

    The governors who have met with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and former military leaders Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, in their self appointed push to save democracy, also met yesterday in Sokoto with Second Republic President Shehu Shagari.

    The governors at the meeting with Shagari at his Sama Road home in Sokoto included host Aliyu Wamakko, Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano) and Sule Lamido (Jigawa).

    Details of their discussion were not made public, but Nyako told reporters at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, that what took them to other eminent Nigerians they visited “brought us to Sokoto to finetune ways and solutions to the country’s multiple problems”.

    He added: “You know Nigeria’s fundamental problem lies on the security challenge which we are working round the clock to tackle so that it can be overcomed.”

    It was gathered that the governors plan to meet former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon; ex-Vice-President Alex Ekwueme; a former Governor of the defunct Western Region, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo; and a cleric, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi.

    It was learnt that although the five governors asked the President to recognise Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the chairman of the NGF, he said he would rather summon a meeting of all governors to iron things out.

    A source said: “The President admitted that the NGF crisis and the situation in Rivers State were overheating the polity. He said: ‘Really, I need your assistance’.

    “He said he would prefer to meet with all the governors to resolve the NGF crisis as a body in a family manner and move forward.”

    But the President reportedly protested against alleged “unwarranted attacks” by Amaechi and some of the governors.

    “The governors were said to have denied attacking the President or his office in any manner. But they alleged that they could spot Jonathan’s hands in the crises rocking Adamawa and Rivers states.

    On other demands of the five governors, the source said: “Jonathan noted the issues raised and he promised to get back to the five governors and Amaechi.

    “So, we are expecting another round of meeting with the President on other issues like Adamawa and Rivers crises; the leadership challenge in PDP and lack of internal democracy; hijack of PDP structure at the state level by Abuja politicians; fears over 2015; clampdown on some governors to force them to do the bidding of the President; intolerance of the opposition and the need for reconciliation.

    “We do not know when we will meet with the President but it might be very soon.”

    The five Northern governors yesterday took their “save democracy” campaign to Alhaji Shagari in Sokoto.

    After the shuttle to Sokoto, the governors plan to visit Gen. Gowon; ex-Vice-President Alex Ekwueme; Gen. Adebayo; and cleric Rev. Gbonigi.

    Another source said: “The governors believe that these statesmen need to intervene by rallying round the President to address the political problems distracting his administration.

    “So, they have met Shagari but the dates slated for audience with Gowon, Ekwueme, Adebayo and Gbonigi have not been determined.

    “I think at the end of the day, the peace mission of the governors will yield positive results.”

    A governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “These continuous shuttles are meant to impress on the statesmen and the President the need for quick win solutions to the crises at hand.”

  • PDP governors, elders reject Dickson’s panel

    PDP governors, elders reject Dickson’s panel

    Tukur under fire for not consulting 

    ‘Bayelsa governor capable’

    Barely 24 hours after the announcement of a 30-man reconciliation committee, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, is facing bitter criticisms over its membership.

    Party leaders are angry that Tukur and the Interim National Working Committee members did not consult with key organs of the party on the reconciliation.

    It was also learnt that PDP governors and leaders are more at home with a recent reconciliation mission undertaken by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Tony Anenih, than a fresh panel.

    To the former PDP governorship aspirant in Adamawa State, Dr. Umar Ardo, the reconciliation committee is capable of destroying PDP’s electoral fortunes in 2015.

    Ardo said the committee was dead on arrival, unless Tukur reconsiders its membership.

    Members of the committee are Governor Seriake Dickson (Chairman); ex-Governor Asheikh Jarma(Deputy Chairman); Amb. Umar Damagun (Secretary); a former Deputy Senate President Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu; Senator Umar Gada; Dr. I. A. Obuzor; Salisu Suleiman; Senator Walid Jibrin; Senator Hope Uzodinma; Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle; Mr. Niyi Fadimula; Chief Jerome Eke; AVM Chris O. Marizu(rtd); and Hon. Tijani Ibrahim Kiyawa.

    Others are: Dr. Christy Silas; Mr. Jangwe Yusuf; Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme; Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Yakubu Shehu; Mohammed Kuchazi; Mrs. Adedeji Otiti Olanrewaju; Chief Dapo Sarumi; Prince Arthur Eze; Chief Emma Iwuagwu; Chief Dosu Fatokun; Mr. Harold Eze; Hajiya Fati Sabo; Hon. Wakili Mohammed; and Shittu Mohammed.

    PDP governors and leaders are said to be aggrieved that such organs, like the National Executive Committee(NEC), the National Caucus and the Board of Trustees, were not consulted before the constitution of the committee.

    Tukur did not table any reconciliation plan at the last NEC meeting of the party, it was learnt.

    A PDP governor, who pleaded not to be named because of what he described as the sensitivity of the matter, said: “With the magnitude of the crisis in the party, do you think Governor Seriake Dickson can address it? Is there any difference between Dickson and President Goodluck Jonathan? Is Dickson not a party to the PDP crisis, going by the face-off between Bayelsa and Rivers on oil wells.

    “Some of us are suspecting that the 30-man panel has a hidden mandate because some apostles of third term tenure are members of the committee.

    “Governors have been going to statesmen and elders to intervene and save our democracy from collapse but the PDP leadership is playing to the gallery.”

    Another governor said: “I think you should count some of us out of working with the reconciliation committee. Those of us who are members of G-19 are uncomfortable with the membership. They cannot broker peace at all in PDP.

    “There is no record to show that any of the organs of the party was consulted by Tukur, not even the PDP Governors Forum or the 50-member Advisory Committee (headed by ex-Vice-President Alex Ekwueme) but established by Tukur).

    “Those in charge of PDP now are managing the party as if there are no elders again.

    “We should ask Tukur: what is wrong with the reconciliation mission of the Chairman of the BOT, Chief Tony Anenih, which was accepted by PDP governors? What of Governor Ibrahim Shema’s reconciliation panel?

    “Outside Anenih’s committee, we will not work with Dickson’s committee at all. Some of us told Anenih that were he not involved, we would not have granted him audience.”

    A source in the PDP secretariat, however, defended the choice of Dickson as chair of the committee and the membership.

    He said: “The Dickson committee is to painstakingly harmonise all the previous peace committees. The PDP leadership believes in Governor Dickson’s persuasive and consensus building skills which could help unite the PDP family.

    “The warring parties should give the Dickson Committee a chance to do justice to all the previous peace committee reports.

    To a former member of the NWC, who also preferred anonymity, the list is “laughable” because the crisis is deeper than “the cosmetic approach” adopted by Tukur.

    “I am aware that the NWC can take decision on behalf of NEC but the party is in a mess and it cannot reconcile its members without the input of the BOT, the National Caucus and NEC,” he said, adding:

    “Maybe Tukur should stay action and have a broader consultations or else he will end up being reconciled himself.”

    But a party source said: Tukur consulted the President and some leaders of the party on his plan to reconcile those aggrieved to put the party in a better shape for the 2015 poll.

    “Most of those appointed are non-partisan, the source said, adding that they have not been linked to any form of crisis in the party.

    A former PDP governorship aspirant in Adamawa State, Dr. Umar Ardo, said the reconciliation committee could destroy PDP’s electoral fortunes in 2015.

    Ardo made his position known in a statement issued in Abuja.

    He urged Tukur: “to kindly reconsider the appointment of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State as Chairman of the Reconciliation Committee.”

    “Other than the fact that as a governor, Dickson would have little time to devote to such an onerous and time-consuming task. I also think that he is eminently unqualified to handle such an assignment,” Ardo said, adding: “In the first place, Dickson lacks the national exposure and experience that such a task requires. Secondly, Dickson himself is a subject of conflict within the party apparatus and membership. The way and manner in which he was brought in as governor, and the furore and controversy that it generated across the country, drain him of all moral standing to undertake a reconciliatory mission.”

    Dickson is of the same state as the President, which to Ardo, will make him not to be objective and fair in his judgment.

    “Given that one of the most central causes of the present disputes within the party is the inordinate ambition of the President for 2015, I cannot see how Governor Dickson can depart from this goal, should it be imperative for the Committee to do so in the course of its assignment.

    “In fact, Dickson’s appointment will only be seen as an act of nepotism aimed at satisfying the impulsive determination of the President to achieve his aspiration. This perception will automatically estrange most aggrieved members and stakeholders of the party. The committee will thus be dead on arrival.

    “I should have thought that such an important committee would be better handled by more experienced hands, such as members of the Board of Trustees of the party or by the eminent 50-member Advisory Committee constituted by Bamanga himself last year when he came into office.

    “If one may respectfully ask, of what significance is this Advisory Committee headed by no less a personality than Chief Alex Ekwueme, if it cannot handle issues of this nature?

    “For the party to bypass such eminent personalities within its fold and go and pick Dickson who is hardly known outside his governorship office is, to me, a clear indication of how far alienated the PDP is in the national support reckoning.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Our fears, by five governors

    Our fears, by five governors

    IBB, Abdulsalami meet Kwankwaso, Lamido, Aliyu, Wamakko 

    Five governors yesterday pleaded with two former Heads of State— Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar— to prevail on President Goodluck Jonathan to guarantee a free political space for democracy to thrive.

    They said their concern was not about which zone will produce the President in 2015, but how to get to 2015.

    They urged the two leaders to link up with other statesmen to save the nation’s democracy.

    The five governors – Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto); and Babangida Aliyu (Niger) – met the two leaders at the Presidential Lodge in Minna.

    Told of the governors’ arrival in Niger State, the two former leaders decided to save time by meeting with them at the Presidential Lodge.

    According to a source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, the governors told the two Heads of State about the “stifling of the political space”.

    It was learnt that they listed five grouses:

    •the lingering Rivers crisis and likely fatal consequence for Nigeria’s democracy;

    •destabilisation of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum;

    •clampdown on governors to force them to do the bidding of the President;

    •intolerance of the opposition and opposing views by the Presidency; and

    •lack of internal democracy in the ruling party.

    The source quoted one of the governors as saying: “If what the President wanted had played out in Rivers State, Nigeria would have by now been on fire. Why will five lawmakers seek to impeach a governor in the House of Assembly with 32 members?”

    The Presidency has always insisted that Dr. Goodlcuk Jonathan is not involved in the Rivers crisis.

    The governors reportedly said: “We cannot also understand why four governors were pelted with stones by thugs for visiting one of their colleagues on a reconciliatory mission. We were shocked that the police were used to unleash mayhem on Rivers State.

    “The plan of the Presidency is to be dealing with dissenting governors one by one.”

    Another source told of how one of the governors told Gen. Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami that 2015 is not the issue but how to get to 2015 for free and fair elections.

    “The political environment as it is now cannot guarantee freedom of movement, freedom of speech and freedom of electoral choice”, the source quoted the governor as saying, adding:

    “The governors pleaded with Gen. Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami to link up with other leaders to call the President to order and protect the nation’s democracy from autocratic tendency.”

    They said their observations do not amount to hatred for the President or any party, The Nation learnt

    Both ex-Heads of State promised to bring the observations of the governors to the notice of the “appropriate quarters.”

    It was learnt that Gen. Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami were cautious in their response to the governors.

    They chose to listen instead of talking, but it was apparent that they would consult with other statesmen,” another source said.

  • Five governors are patriots, says Babangida

    Five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors yesterday took their save-democracy crusade to Minna, the Niger State capital.

    They met with two former Heads of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

    Their self-appointed mission, started with a meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Their intention, according to them, is to avert a drift as a result of the crisis in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Rivers PDP.

    The governors are Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano).

    Nyako was not at yesterday’s meeting, which lasted two hours at the Presidential Lodge in Minna, the Niger State capital. He was said to have been held back in Yola by a meeting with a Cameroonian envoy.

    “I want to commend the governors and some of their colleagues. I was very impressed because they have seen the problem of the country as our problem and they have taken the right steps to consult widely in trying to find solution to some of these problems.

    “These governors are real patriots and I am very happy and I told them so,” Gen. Babangida said after the meeting.

    The meeting started about 12:30pm. Wamakko arrived first at 11:16 am. Lamido and Kwankonso arrived together about 12:01 pm. Aliyu arrived at 12:14 pm after a brief executive council meeting.

    Gen. Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami arrived together in a Mercedes Benz car marked BE 323 WSH at 12:25pm. The meeting started after all members of the Niger State Executive Council, except Deputy Governor Musa Ibeto, had been asked to leave.

    Speaking after the meeting, Aliyu said: “It is a platform we could use to actualise our political dreams. We are consulting with our elders and leaders and let’s look at some of the problems and find solutions to the problems some of us perceive we are facing.”

    The meeting, he added, worked at finding solutions to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) crisis and other political issues.

    Though Aliyu said no resolution had been reached, he added: “We are consulting to make sure that we all understand the issue and we all come out with a solution. We also have to carry our people together as we go along. “

    Asked if the Rivers State crisis was discussed, Aliyu said: “There is no gathering in Nigeria now where Rivers State issues will not come up, but our meeting is a larger issue than even the Governors’ Forum. We are discussing how to solve them.”

    Also yesterday, Nyako elaborated on the G-5 governors’ initiative.

    According to him, the governors are passionate about Nigeria’s development.

    Nyako’s Director of Press and Public Affairs Alhaji Ahmed Sajoh quoted the governors as saying: “We will continue to make efforts to save the party (PDP). But, if our efforts fail to work out, we have no alternative than to fold our arms and see PDP dead. We will help in burying it.”

    “We have held consultations with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Board of Trustee (BoT) chairman of PDP on the need for him and other major stakeholders to save the party from dying.

    “We are not stopping with Obasanjo as one of the most respected Nigerians of our time; we will proceed to the likes of Gen Babangida and Gen. Abubakar and other eminent Nigerians just to mention but a few.”

    He said unless these serious minded Nigerians intervened in time, the PDP, “which all of us built and nurtured to maturity will die of natural death.”

    Nyako described the current trend in the PDP as worrisome, adding that its internal crisis is a threat to democracy.

    According to him, governors of like minds will not fold their arms and see the party hijacked and thrown to the dustbin by a few individuals, hence their moves.

    Some of Nyako’s loyalists have defected to the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), which is part of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

  • What the governors said

    What the governors said

    We have come to visit with our colleague and brother the Governor of Rivers State Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, CON, Chairman Nigeria Governors Forum

    “The visit is to ascertain for ourselves some of the things we have read in the newspapers, seen on television and heard on radio which are threats to peace, security and democracy.

    “We are pleased to notice the peaceful atmosphere in town and that people in the state are going about their normal business and that the governor and government are in charge. This is especially reassuring as opposed to the organised protest by a handful of persons at the Port Harcourt Airport when we arrived.

    “Having interacted with our colleague and other persons, we are shocked at the role of the police in Rivers State and condemn its clear partisanship in the show of shame that took place at the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    “As Chief Executives of our states who have sworn to protect lives and property in our various states, we are particularly troubled by the development in Rivers State.

    “We commend the House of Representatives for its proactive leadership in the crisis and appreciate the Senate committee’s thoroughness in addressing the matter.”

    “We wish to call on the Inspector-General of police to hearken to the voice of reason and immediately redeploy and discipline Commissioner Mbu.

    “His actions smirk of unprofessionalism and political partisanship which is unbecoming of his office.

    “With the way the police are being used and abused and with officers like Mbu in the force, we do not see the need for state governments to fund an antagonistic police and may be forced to reconsider our position on the financial contribution of the states towards the funding of the Police.”

    “Arising from the actions of the police and Mr. Joseph Mbu in Rivers State, the call for state police as a constitutional provision has become a necessity.

    “We note that events in Rivers State have again brought to the fore the question of true federalism and the need for institutions derived from constitutions be allowed to function without undue interference. As federating units, we must be allowed the space to guarantee our people sustainable development as provided by the Constitution.

    “We acknowledge the great work Governor Amaechi and his team are doing in Rivers State and commend his maturity and calm even in the face of apparent persecution.

    “We join well meaning Nigerians to call on all political actors to diffuse tension and stop all actions capable of overheating the polity and derailing our nascent democracy.

    “We must all work together to build one united and indivisible nation and strengthen our democracy.”

  • Senators oppose six-year single term for President, governors

    Senators oppose six-year single term for President, governors

    •Senate begins consideration of constitution review

    THE Senate is set to kill the six-year single tenure recommendation for President and Governors.

    The proposal was made by its committee on Constitution review.

    Of the 20 Senators that spoke yesterday on the recommendations of the Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, none supported the six-year single tenure.

    The committee, headed by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, proposed the six-year single tenure.

    The Committee said: “Considering the financial expenses often associated with re-election and to ensure that executive heads are freed from the distractions to be able to concentrate on public policy issues, a provision for a single term of six (6)) years for President and Governors is made in sections 135 and 180 respectively.”

    But majority of Senators described the recommendation as an invitation to chaos and an attempt to institutionalise corruption.

    Senator Isah Galaudu (Kebbi North) said the committee failed to provide adequate justification for six-year single term.

    Galaudu described the recommendation as retrogressive, saying it would open a floodgate to loot the treasury by those who find themselves as President and governors.

    He also opposed decentralisation of prisons, saying the prison service should remain in the Exclusive List.

    Senator Clever Ikisikpo (Bayelsa East) opposed removal of the immunity clause.

    He said it will be a major source of distractions for the President and governors.

    He described the six-year single term proposal as undemocratic.

    Ikisikpo added that adoption of six-year single term will lead to corruption “because any occupier of the office would say this is my turn.”

    He supported Local Government autonomy “because this will enable them (local govts) to undertake projects that would impact on the people positively.”

    He supported mayoral status for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), but said the name should be changed.

    On 13 per cent derivation, he said that it should not be stagnant at 13 per cent.

    On assent, he said the President should be allowed to assent to the constitution.

    Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) backed the abolition of state and local government joint account and the first line charge for State Assembly.

    On six-year single tenure, he said: “This is an investment in disaster, invitation to chaos and anarchy.

    “In a democracy, the will of the people should be allowed to prevail. The people should have opportunity to elect or reject. This is what we call power to the people and not a slogan of a political party where power belongs to a few cabal.

    “Senate should throw away the baby and bath water as far as the six-year single tenure is concerned.”

    Senator Enyinnya Abaribe, noted that the problem is not with the law but its operators.

    H e said: “The state and local government joint account, the Constitution says once those funds come, the state government is to add its 10 per cent and distribute to the local government areas. Is that happening now?

    “The problem is not this law. The problem has been the operators of the Constitution who have refused to do the right thing.”

    On state creation, he asked why the committee continued to receive requests when it knew that the agitators were not doing the right thing.

    Abaribe opposed six-year single term and removal of the immunity clause and supported local government autonomy.

    Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume wanted financial autonomy for local governments and abolition of state and local government joint account.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Ndume opposed six year single term wondering “why we cherish democracy don’t like the content of democracy.

    He said, “I am thinking that we should have midterm election so that the people will be able pass a vote of confidence on us. We cherish democracy but we hate elections where the people will decide what should happen.”

    On immunity, he said that immunity should not be given in criminal acts.

    Senator Matthew Nwagwu: (Imo North) opposed six year single term.

    He said, “We supported it when we thought we will have zoning in the constitution.”

    He supported local government autonomy and abolition of state and local government joint account.

    He said that Aviation should move to the Concurrent List and said that the consent of the President on constitution should be retained.

    He said that state creation should have been considered and approved by the committee.

    He said, “We are disenfranchised at all levels. In the Senate we are short of three senators, Federal Executive Council, we are disenfranchised.

    Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East) wanted that issue of granting Lagos State a Special status revisited.

    He noted that is obvious that Lagos belongs to every Nigerian.