The Nation Newspaper

Tag: governors

  • Senators oppose single term for president, governors

    Senators oppose single term for president, governors

    The stage appears set for the Senate to kill the recommendation of a six- year single tenure for President and Governors made by its committee on Constitution review.

    Out of 20 Senators that spoke Tuesday on the recommendations of the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, none supported the recommendation for six year single tenure for the president and governors.

    The committee headed by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, recommended six year single tenure for President and governors.

    The Committee had 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 who contributed to the debate on the issue described the recommendation as an invitation to chaos and an attempt to institutionalize corruption.

    Senator Isah Galaudu (Kebbi North) in his contribution 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 the decentralization of prisons, arguing that the prison Service should remain in the Exclusive List.

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

    He said that removal of immunity clause will be a major source of distractions for the president and governors.

    On six year single term, he described it as undemocratic.

     

  • Governors draw battle line with NASS over immunity, LG autonomy

    Governors draw battle line with NASS over immunity, LG autonomy

    •Say lawmakers members are entertaining themselves on immunity, SIEC, Joint Account

     

    The 36 state governors are up for a battle with the National Assembly over the plot by the federal legislators to expunge the immunity clause for the President and the state chief executives from the constitution.

    It is one battle the governors are determined to fight together, their bitter acrimony over who heads the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) notwithstanding.

    They are also rolling out the tanks to resist the NASS plan to give financial autonomy to the local governments in the amendment to the 1999 Constitution.

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the Chairman of the NGF and Governor Jonah Jang- led faction of the forum are united on their offensive and have resolved to mobilise their Houses of Assembly against some of the proposals.

    A Southwest governor said, “There is no issue of faction on some of these proposals that we are rejecting. We have a common position against removal of immunity clause, autonomy for Local Government Areas, abrogation of State Independent National Electoral Commission and LG Joint Accounts,” he explained, adding: “Some of these proposed amendments do not take into account the fact that Nigeria is operating Federalism.

    “Even the two chambers have disagreed on these proposals; they have to go to a Joint Session to harmonize their positions.”

    The governor suggested that even if the National Assembly members force through the proposed amendments, they would be knocked out by the state assemblies.

    His words: “The National Assembly proposals are not final going by the provision of Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution.

    “After the debate at the National Assembly, the battle will shift to the states because there must be concurrence of at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly.

    “So, we are waiting for the National Assembly but they cannot have their way on some of these proposals.”

    Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution says: “An Act of the National Assembly for the alteration of this constitution, not being an Act to which Section 8 of this Constitution, applies, shall not be passed in either House of the National Assembly unless the proposal is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of that House and approved by resolution of the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the states.”

    A Northeast governor said: “Irrespective of our split over the NGF poll, we will not accept some of these amendments. What is the business of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with Local Government poll at the state level?

    “Some of us are already following debates at the National Assembly and we have opened up discussions with our state Houses of Assembly on why certain amendments cannot be accepted.

    “The amendments they have proposed are at variance with the memorandum of the Nigeria Governors Forum to the National Assembly Committee on Constitution Review.

    A governor in the North Central said: “I think the National Assembly should concentrate on how to ensure true Federalism in the country than focusing on how to whittle down the often-mouthed powers of the governors.

    “The centre is too powerful, too rich and over-bearing. We need to give more resources to the states to be able to accelerate the nation’s development.

    “I have been expecting that the National Assembly will put police on concurrent list so that states can have their own police system.”

    A North-West governor said: “The proposal on removal of immunity clause is dead on arrival. With immunity, governors are being suspended like school boys. You can imagine how some powerful government officials would deal with any ‘errant’ governor.

    “Assuming that there is no immunity for governors, Governor Rotimi Amaechi would have been arrested by now on flimsy excuses. We will move against all these proposals on immunity, SIEC, state/LG joint account, and so on.”

     

  • Yuguda: I’m back at North’s Governors’ Form

    Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda yesterday said he has returned the Northern States’Governors’ Forum (NSGF) in the interest of peace and development.

    Yuguda spoke through his confidant and Chief of Staff to the Government House, Alhaji Musa Yusuf Gumli, at a media briefing.

    He said his return to the forum was also because “some serious progressive northern elders prevailed on him”.

    The governor, two weeks ago, in the heat of the NSGF, boycotted the forum’s meetings, for what he called “a breach of agreement by some Northern Governors’’.

    The Chief of Staff said: ‘’Boycotting a meeting of an organisation is not the same as withdrawal or resignation from same organisation.’’

    He, however, noted that Yuguda did not make extensive consultations before boycotting the forum’s meetings, chaired by Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu.

     

  • Governors, private jets and states’ treasuries

    SIR: In Nigeria, the culture of impunity continues to assume frightening dimensions. We have enshrined mediocrity and selfishness as a nation. Those privileged to occupy one position of trust or the other have seized such opportunities to glorify absurdities. Some practices hitherto considered as alien to our system of governance and even to our lifestyles have become the fads nowadays. These practices have crept into our system of governance eroding values.

    Particularly, state governors have since constituted themselves as purveyors of financial recklessness and perhaps scandals. I have always argued that state governors remain one of the biggest challenges to development.

    Their Excellencies have unarguably become clogs in the wheel of progress. They have become so powerful and utterly influential that they decide whatever goes on in their domain. Governors control so much money that some of them now buy jets as toys. Clearly most of the governors are competing when it comes to the class of jets.

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State in October 7, 2012 acquired a Bombardier Global 5000 jet for the state government. The jet was said to have been bought at the sum of $45.7 million (N7.4 billion). In 2012, the state’s Embracer Legacy 600 jet was traded off to the Cross River state government. Recall that in 2005, former governor of the state, Sir Peter Odili bought two aircrafts, one an air ambulance and the other a private jet. The aircrafts were procured in the name of Rivers State government.

    In June 2011, the Akwa Ibom State government bought a $45 million jet. The state-of- the- art aircraft was manufactured in 2011.

    Former governor of Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori was also enmeshed in a private jet case. Elsewhere in Bauchi State, former Governor Alhaji Ahmed Muazu acquired aircraft for N3 billion. Taraba State governor Danbaba Suntai also crashed the state-owned Cessna 28 aircraft into a farm near the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot in Yola, the Adamawa State capital recently.

    Besides the purchase of these aircrafts, most state governments have embarked on the construction of airports and airstrips. Even some states that are battling with road challenges have gone on to construct private airstrips.

    What is the justification for such humongous expenditures on jets when the people battle with penury and poverty? In states where majority of the people are feeding from hand to mouth and where living daily has been an uphill task, wasting millions of dollars in private aircrafts is rather unwise, selfish and uncalled for.

    This kind of scenario tells what happens with our treasuries. How people who have access to our funds appropriate monies. It is clear that our treasuries are ‘loose’. The age-long question about the relevance and otherwise efficiency of the states’ Houses of Assembly comes into play here. What was the input of the states’ Houses of Assembly when these jets were purchased?

    This gross misplacement of priorities show how our governors spend monies perhaps to suit their jamborees, merry go round, et al. The purchase of jets by states at this time is unfathomable. We must curb the impunity before it becomes a natural order.

     

    • Stanley Ibeku,

    Africa Regional Centre for information Science,

    University of Ibadan.

  • Governors: Tukur must go

    Governors: Tukur must go

    I won’t resign, says PDP chair as Presidency plans rescue

     

    Governors are insisting that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Bamanga Tukur must go.

    Alhaji Tukur’s election has been upheld by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but some aggrieved governors are plotting to pass a vote-of-no confidence on him at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting tomorrow.

    Some of the governors are joined by members of the G-84, including 24 ex-officio, 37 state chairmen and some former leaders of the party.

    But some forces in the Presidency are out to protect Tukur at the NEC meeting – in line with their agenda to secure the 2015 presidential ticket of the party for President Goodluck Jonathan.

    A meeting of the National Caucus to save Tukur was on last night in Abuja.

    The forces in the Presidency have also launched a counter-plot to stop Deputy National Chairman Dr. Sam Jaja from being returned at the National Convention because he is a loyalist of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is not in sinc with the party leadership and President Jonathan.

    Some of the aggrieved governors and G-84 members met yesterday, insisting that a vote of no confidence be passed on Tukur at the NEC meeting on Thursday.

    Some aggrieved stakeholders also last night started circulating text messages to NEC members on why Tukur should be asked to step aside.

    A source said: “The aggrieved PDP governors want to take advantage of the NEC meeting to technically pass a vote of no confidence on Tukur. The PDP National Chairman knew of the plot all along and that was why he refused to call for NEC meeting since July 2012.

    “The aggrieved governors and G-84 members believe that the party is already divided and there is no way Tukur can lead it to victory in 2015.”

    But some power brokers in the Presidency, the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio and Governor Jonah Jang have decided to defend Tukur.

    Their argument, it was learnt, is that some governors are against Tukur because he is enforcing discipline.

    “They also feel that the vote-of-no—confidence is being targeted at President Goodluck Jonathan to show that he has lost out in the party,” said the source.

    Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko is among those who have called for Tukur’s ouster, saying he is running the party as his private estate.

    “The National Caucus of the party was called at the Presidential Villa to look at issues and how to salvage the cracks in the party.

    “Definitely, a battle line is drawn between pro and anti-Tukur forces at the NEC meeting. If Tukur survives, he would have crossed a major hurdle.”

    The text message, signed by the Coordinator of PDP Stakeholders Forum, Mr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, reads in part: “We wish to urge great PDP NEC members as they finally gather on Thursday to ensure that all the actions of Tukur’s NWC are reversed.

    “The crack in the wall of PDP has vindicated our struggle/ stand over the years…”

    There were indications last night that only nine members of the NWC might face fresh election at the forthcoming mini-National Convention, which is yet to have a date.

    Out of 16 NWC members, INEC in March, 2012 declared the election of four as valid.

    They are Tukur; the sacked National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; the removed National Auditor, Chief Bode Mustapha and the Financial Secretary, Mr Bolaji Anani.

    It was also learnt that three others have had legal issues over their election resolved.

    A party leader said: “By our records, only nine NWC members will face fresh election at the forthcoming mini-convention.

    “These affected members would have to resign to seek a fresh mandate. We agreed on this at our session with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Villa.”

    The source confirmed that the affected nine NWC members are seeking automatic return to office.

    “I think the only challenge is about the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Jaja, whom forces in the presidency will not want back because he was a nominee of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi,” the source said, adding:

    “With the party structure hijacked from Amaechi and given to a faction, Sam Jaja might not be fielded for the office again.

    “This can also attract litigation because INEC did not say go and change candidates, but it said the affected officers should face due process in their election.”

     

  • 19 governors boycott cash crisis talks with Jonathan

    19 governors boycott cash crisis talks with Jonathan

    President sets up panel to resolve FAAC row

    Amaechi won’t drop NGF mandate, says Kwankwaso

     

    A crisis meeting called last night by President Goodluck Jonathan over the stalling of last month’s revenue allocation was shunned by 19 governors.

    The meeting at House 7, State House, Abuja got underway at about 10pm, following the arrival of the President.

    Governors in the Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang’s faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), who had earlier met, were at the Villa meeting.

    All the 19 pro- Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi were not at the meeting.

    It was gathered that all the governors were in Abuja for the meeting and indeed wanted to attend until they reviewed their participation following some developments.

    Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said last night that at the end of the one-hour meeting, a committee of four governors was set up by the President to meet this morning with the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

    Members of the committee are: Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe).

    Jonathan, Abati said, felt there was no need to quarell because the money belongs to all.

    Only 16 governors attended yesterday’s meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) called by the Jonah Jang faction.

    Besides Jang, other governors at the meeting were: Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Theodore Orji (Abia); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); Idris Wada (Kogi); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom).

    Others were: Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Peter Obi (Anambra); Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe); Umar Garba (Taraba); Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Steve Lawani (Benue Dep. Governor).

    Speaking briefly with newsmen after the meeting, Jang said he would not disclose discussions at the meeting, as according to him, the governors were still going to brief President Goodluck Jonathan later in the night.

    On the accusation of impersonation leveled against him by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Jang said: “Am I claiming to be governor of Rivers State?”

    On why only 16 governors attended the meeting, the Plateau Governor said he needed only 12 governors to form a quorum and that 16 is far above the number.

  • Reps to retain four years of two terms for President, governors

    •Arewa opposes six-year single tenure

    The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information, Zakari Mohammed, has said the House will retain the four-year, two-term provision for the President, Vice President and governors in the constitution.

    The spokesman said this is the position of the House on the review of the constitution.

    Last week, the Senate submitted its report on the constitution review. It recommended a six-year single term for the President, the Vice President and the governors.

    Mohammed told reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, that the Senate’s recommendation did not come from all members of the National Assembly.

    He said: “We are bringing out our own report soon. In it, we have retained the structure of four years with two terms as it is in the constitution. When we present our report, of course, there will be a conference committee between Senate and House of Representatives.

    “If they (senators) don’t agree, there will be a conference, and it is about 360 members of the House of Representatives with 109 senators. At the end of the day, the position of the House will be in order. We went down to Nigerians – 360 federal constituencies – and everybody there wanted the retention of the four-year, two terms, as enshrined in the constitution. That is the judgment that we brought from the people. This is because our own constitution review was people-based and it was an opportunity to interface with our people.

    “Rather than mix it up, we need to be very clear. The Senate has submitted its report; ours is ready. By the time we come back from the break, we will present it at the floor of the House. It will come as a single bill. It will go through the process of first reading and second reading. Then a public hearing will follow. It will come back to the floor of the House and we will adopt the report. Then, it becomes a clean Act that Mr. President will assent to.”

    On the granting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2015 presidential ticket to President Goodluck Jonathan by the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, the House spokesperson said: “That is undemocratic. Let everybody go to the field and test his popularity. It means that party men have a say again. The party men must be given the opportunity to select the best of their choices, those who can go in and face the other people. May be the BoT chairman was quoted out of context, because I know he should know better.

    “What I know is that there must be time check after four years. People must be given the allowance to assess, if the administration is worth giving another chance.”

    Mohammed described the recent attack on Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal by the Osun State chapter of the PDP as act of small-mindedness.

    He said: “After elections, what we are facing is governance. What Tambuwal is doing is governance for the benefit of Nigerian people. I am speaking for him, but the Tambuwal I know is a bridge-builder. He is one Nigerian who has his friends and contacts everywhere.

    “This is the Number Four Citizen. Even though he belongs to the opposition parties, he cannot turn down a governor’s request to inaugurate a project. If he does that, it would be the height of pettiness. When you see a good thing, you appreciate it; when you see what is condemnable, you do it too.”

    The pan-North socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), said yesterday it is against a six-year single tenure for the President and governors, as proposed by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.

    The group said the plan has nothing positive to offer the nation.

    ACF’s National Publicity Secretary Anthony Sani told The Nation that there is no incentive in the proposed six-year single tenure that can motivate an excellent performance.

    He said motivation is necessary in managing human affairs, adding that the only incentive kin a single tenure would be the looting of the treasury.

    Sani said: “ACF is opposed to single tenure because it has no incentives that can motivate for excellent performance. This is because the good, the not-so-good and the feckless are put in the same bracket without any distinction.

    “We all know that in the management of human affairs, motivation is an instrument. In a single tenure, the only incentive would be the pillage of the state treasury. This is why most nations, including Russia and China, operate multiple tenure system.

    “As to the fear of abuse of incumbency, the National Assembly can consider the Chilean model, which allows multiple tenure that is not consecutive. That is to say, no President or governor would be allowed to conduct an election in which he or she is a candidate…”

  • Six-year single tenure may exclude president, governors from 2015 poll

    Six-year single tenure may exclude president, governors from 2015 poll

    If the recommendation of the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution (SCRC) for a six-year single tenure is adopted, the President and governors may be excluded from contesting the 2015 elections, it was learnt yesterday.

    The committee, headed by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, recommended the six-year single tenure for president and governors.

    Ekweremadu spoke on the details of the committee’s recommendation yesterday in Abuja.

    Asked when the six-year single term tenure will take off, Ekweremadu said since the recommendation did not provide any particular date, “it means as soon as the constitution is passed, it will start”.

    He said governors are expected to make the sacrifice of not seeking re-election, if the recommendation is adopted.

    He said: “We don’t want Nigerians to say that we colluded with the executive to elongate the tenure of some governors. But we decided that those who are currently serving should excuse themselves for the system to run.

    “But if our colleagues think otherwise and feel that those who are serving should benefit, we will put it there.”

    He insisted that the committee felt that governors should sacrifice in the interest of the country.

    “In the unlikely event that the president dies and the vice president takes over, what we trying to avoid will still come back to us, which is namely, to avoid the crisis and the scheming to get a second tenure.

    “We believe that the best thing to do in the circumstance is that if you have had the opportunity of serving as a chief executive, so be it, so that you concentrate and do your work and finish instead of going to worry yourself scheming how to succeed yourself.

    “Because what we are trying to avoid essentially is to make sure that people don’t go there with the scheme of succeeding themselves or those outside trying to remove you and then start heating up the system and applying some rough tactics.

    “So these are some of the reasons why we felt that it is better if you just have the opportunity of being the president then that should be it.

    “You just concentrate on your job and do it and history will record you that you were once a president.

    “We don’t believe that the number of years you spent there as President translates to performance.”

    On the issue of 30 days to sign a bill, he said: “We believe strongly that constitution amendment does not require presidential assent.

    “It is still in court, we are at the Supreme Court on that.

    “It does not require presidential assent.”

    Ekweremadu added that any assent on such amendment is surplusage.

    He said: “The reason is this; what you need to pass a bill normally is a simple majority but the Constitution provides that in an amendment to the Constitution you need two-thirds.

    “Don’t forget that you need two-thirds to override the veto of the president. So, it is deemed as if the process is completed with that two-thirds.

    “So, if you now say that you are taking it to the president to sign, then you need to also take it to the governors to sign because state Assemblies also voted.”

    On why the committee was silent on state police, the senator said his job as chairman of the committee was like the job of a presiding officer, to aggregate and articulate the views of members of the committee and Nigerians.

    Ekweremadu noted that he strongly believed that state police is the best way to go “but some of my colleagues said no”.

  • Northern governors, elders rally behind Niger governor

    Northern governors, elders rally behind Niger governor

    Following plot to remove Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, no fewer than 10 Northern governors and leaders have mobilised support against moves to destabilize the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF).

    They have vowed to prevent forces in the Presidency and some elements within the NSGF from unseating Babangida.

    A split has also occurred within the rank of the governors leading to the resurgence of Muslim-Christian or Hausa-Fulani/ Minority sentiments.

    The Northern governors are expected to meet on Thursday in Kaduna with plans by some forces in the Presidency to ask Aliyu to step aside.

    Investigation by our correspondent showed that Aliyu’s sins border on non-recognition of Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang as the chairman of the Nigeria governors Forum (NGF) by most Northern governors and why power should shift to the North in 2015.

    It was learnt that forces within the Presidency believe that Aliyu was allegedly behind Jang’s loss to Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    The same forces were also said to be unhappy with Babangida’s disclosure that President Goodluck Jonathan signed a pact with PDP governors to serve one term in office.

    A reliable source said: “Ahead of the NSGF meeting on Thursday, horse-trading has started with Northern governors and key leaders in the region questioning the recourse to muzzling down of governors by some forces in the Presidency.

    “Aliyu is being blamed for supporting Amaechi. The forces against the Niger State governor alleged that he came up with a wining formula for Amaechi by prevailing on governors Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) to step down for Jang seen as a weak candidate.

    “They are also seeking Aliyu’s removal for demanding power shift to the North in 2015. Some Northern governors are of the opinion that it will be in the interest of the North to stand by Aliyu.

    “In one of the strategic meetings last night in Abuja, no fewer than 10 out of 19 governors have rallied round Aliyu since the winner will emerge through simple majority.

    “Pro-Aliyu governors are trying to ensure that those loyal to the forces in the presidency do not have the figure to remove Aliyu.

    Another source said: “The NSGF politics is becoming a Muslim-Christian/Hausa-Fulani/Minority politics. This is why some elders have decided to prevail on Northern governors to back Aliyu and save the region from being turned into another theatre of war.”

     

  • Put your house in order, ex-lawmaker tells governors

    A former member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Omotayo Abidakun, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will wrest power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

    He said APC would enthrone true democracy and deliver good governance, if it takes over power at the centre.

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain urged the people to vote for the APC in the next presidential election to “end the PDP’s over 14 years of misrule”.

    Abidakun urged members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to put their house in order by following laid down democratic practices.

    He said: “As leaders, governors must show quality leadership and strengthen our democracy, not endanger it. I urge governors to beware of some elements in the NGF, who are bent on disrupting the forum for their personal gains.

    “Those are the kind of men that can be described as ‘hiding behind one finger to perpetrate evils while pretending to be saints’.”

    Abidakun urged Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko to focus on improving the standard of living in the state, rather than battling the progressive forces in the Southwest.