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Tag: governors

  • Governors can’t prevent council autonomy, says Abatemi-Usman

    Governors can’t prevent council autonomy, says Abatemi-Usman

    The Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, has said that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) cannot prevent constitutional autonomy to the local governments in the country.

    He lamented that the forum’s position may create a setback to the constitution review.

    Abatemi-Usman is sponsoring a bill seeking for financial autonomy for local governments. The bill, which had passed through the second reading, is now with the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.

    He said councils can only discharge their duties effectively when they are not hindered by constraints imposed by the states.

    The senator was reacting to the remarks of the NGF’s chairman, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who reportedly said that the governors would lobby the National Assembly to reject council autonomy. The governors have explained that local government are not coordinate units of the federation, stressing that autonomy for them is not contemplated under federalism.

    The governors have also said that, since councils are created by the House of Assembly, states should exercise financial control over them.

    Abatemi-Usman, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial Distric, declared that local government autonomy is the most important item for consideration, adding that it is desirable.

    He explained that autonomy would pave way for rapid development at the grassroots.

    The senator objected to the operation of the state/local government joint account, saying that it is an aberration that must be corrected, despite the governors’ stiff opposition.

    Abatemi-Usman said: “I have always been an advocate of autonomy for local governments. This was what prompted me to put up a bill for their financial autonomy when I became a senator in 2011 to free them from the governors.

    “I am happy that the entire Nigerian people have seen the need for local governments to be granted autonomy, as reflected by their position during the public hearings held by the House of Representatives members across the 360 constituencies and the ones organised by the senators in the six geo-political zones of the country. Therefore, the people’s desire will definitely prevail over that of the governors. How can the governors stand against the wish of the generality of Nigerians, who elected them into office?”

     

  • Inside the governors’ mafia

    Inside the governors’ mafia

    The ongoing political battle between the Presidency and Nigerian Governors’ Forum seems poised to redefine the country’s power balance ahead 2015. Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, opens a window to the operations of the new political mafia called Nigerian Governors’ Forum

     

     

    When Nigerian Governors Forum was established in 1999, it was seen by most Nigerians as a harmless non-partisan association that would help promote unity and better understanding among the governors and governments of the 36 states.

    So, not many, including its bitterest critics then, reasoned that such understanding may ultimately evolve to become a powerful political mafia that has literally hijacked the country’s power base.

    Today, barely 14 years after, NGF has, according to The Nation investigation, become the most powerful power broker in the country, as it has been pulling the most vital strings since 2007, when it succeeded in influencing the then outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo to install two of its members, the late Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua and Dr Goodluck Jonathan as President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, respectively.

    Since then, according to sources close to the seat of power in Abuja, whenever the need arises, the forum has been playing the Joker in almost all critical political and economic games in Abuja, and have been having its way to the chagrin of older political lords, who have been sidelined and major players in the Presidency.

    Dr. Okechukwu Nkemdirim, a political scientist and social commentator, told The Nation that Nigerian Governors Forum has become a recognisable political mafia in Nigeria. ‘Some people think NGF is noisy, I think otherwise. I can see that the forum is the only functioning political mafia in the country. It is the only faceless group that has the wherewithal and the political might to influence major decisions and appointments in Nigeria. So, to me, it is only reasonable that president’s men, who want him to recontest in 2015, recognise the forum as a possible obstacle and are, therefore, raising the alarm.’

    Nkemdirim compared the forum to an Octopus “whose tentacles have already spread across the length and breathe of the country’s political theatres. As governors, the members of the forum have state resources and political leadership of their areas. So, once they decide and agree on an issue, it will demand a lot to deny them of it,” he said.

    It took one of President Goodluck Jonathan’s closest associates, Chief Edwin Clark’s recent call to outlaw the forum for Nigerians to renew their interest on the operations and functions of the forum. Already, there is a raging debate on the relevance or otherwise of the forum?

     

    How it operates

    The official records of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) said it is ‘a coalition of the elected governors of the country’s 36 states.

    It added that it was ‘established in 1999, following a multi-party conference of all the 36 democratically elected state governors. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum is registered under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA), 1990, and also draws its legality from Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’ the reord said.

    Given this kind of task, said one of the aides of one of the former chairmen of the forum, ‘It should not be strange to anybody if the governors, as the leaders of the people decide to play leading roles in ensuring that their people’s interest and the interest of the federating states are protected. If that is what you call being a mafia, I think there is nothing wrong in it,’ said the aide, who declined to be quoted, pointing out that he was not the spokesperson of the forum.

    The aide, who has worked closely with a former leader of the group, however, opened a window of how the organisation operates and why it has become so powerful.

    As he puts it, “As state governors, the members do not wait until there is a problem before deciding how to solve it. Using the practical problems in their states, they usually come to their meeting with reports of major political and economic problems that must be tackled.

    “For example, many Nigerians are not aware of the role The Nigeria Governors Forum played in facilitating the release of excess crude funds (from Paris Club debts) to the states in 2008. This has, I believe, played an important role in the development of states.”

    The source argued that Nigeria actually needs a powerful group like NGF to checkmate the all powerful federal government.

    One of the governors, speaking off-handedly in a private meeting, also gave an insight into the operations of the forum. He explains that their meetings are both formal an impromptu, depending on the issue at stake. According to him, the forum’s meetings and ability to carry out decisions ‘one, because finance, which has remained a major hindrance in many political organisations, is not a problem. Also because the members are close to the problems as leaders in their states, they know where it is paining. They understand the problems better than the Abuja big men.’

    But many Nigerian intellectuals and activists insist that the governors are over doing it and have displayed desperation to hijack power at all cost.

    Dr. Sonny Ajala, a legal practitioner in Abuja told The Nation in a telephone chat that what is happening ‘is part of the distortion of federalism in Nigeria.’ According to him, the forum was set up to encourage unity and spirit of healthy competition among the states. ‘Today, the forum is primarily a means of wresting power from the common people who truly owns it. It is not merely a battle between NGF and the presidency, it is a means of power appropriation for the selfish interest of a few privileged.

    ‘I agree with the allegation that NGF has become the greatest threat to Nigerian democracy. Don’t forget that the group contributed to the depletion of Nigeria’s foreign reserve and ask me what they have done with the money?

     

    The current face-off

    As a major beneficiary of the growing power of the forum, many are wondering why the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government is engaged in the current power game.

    A source, an insider, who would not want to be named, told The Nation that it all began, soon after the emergence of Jonathan. He said the president had rode on the back of the forum to emerge vice president. But the power brokers in the forum then, never contemplated he would become president the way he did. So, when the late Yar’Adua’s sickness worsened, the power show began. The same forces that made him, became desperate to remove him. The dividing line had to be ruled.

    He explained that when Fortune smiled on Jonathan and he became President, he failed to take control of the NGF and that is the major problem he is facing today. ‘This is so because since then, it is the state governors that have been funding political parties in their states, it is the governors that have therefore been making the most important nominations for federal appointments and for emergence of federal and state lawmakers. Under this scenario, it would be expected if the forum actually decides the future elections, including the presidency

    Worried by this possibility, close associates of President Goodluck Jonathan, fearing that the forum is being nurtured by sworn political enemies of Jonathan as a potent arsenal for the 2015 political battle, have reportedly agreed that the forum’s wings must be cut to size as quickly as possible.

    Our checks indicate however that it took long to convince Jonathan that such a threat exists. It is alleged that after a prolonged debate recently in his home in Aso Rock and several briefings on the matter, Jonathan, whose selections as Vice Presidential Candidate and later President were largely influenced by the forum, reluctantly agreed with his advisers that he must have to tackle the forum in order to be in charge ahead 2015.

    The ongoing political battle between Dr. Goodluck Jonathan-led Presidency and the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has witnessed disturbing twists in recent times, raising fears that the battle may soon be narrowed to become that of the Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the current chairman of the forum and the President. A source said the feeling at the Presidency is that some people in NGF are poised to use the forum to fight personal battles. But the aide of the former leader told The Nation that NGF has always remained a serious group and cannot be so used.

    So, while reacting to Clark’s recent call on the federal government to outlaw the Nigerian Governors Forum, alleging that it has become not only an opposition to the government but also a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, observers said he only re-opened an old debate as to whether Jonathan is doing well and if the governors are performing and delivering dividends of democracy.

    Also, although Clark’s critics has dismissed him as merely voicing the sentiments of the presidency, it seems many Nigerians share the fear that NGF has unlawfully hijacked Nigeria’s power base from the electorate and have been using same to dictate political trends since 2007 or thereabout.

    An elder political player, very close to Aso Rock, however told The Nation during the week that ‘In a democracy, you cannot decree an Organisation like NGF out of power. ‘This is democracy. We do not believe the solution is to decree out any group as long as its members are not flouting the laws of the country.’

    Dr. Ajala disagreed. He said, ‘NGF has become Nigeria’s invisible government and though such mafia- like groups exist in advanced democracies of the west, like America, it is not ideal and should not be tolerated. Power belongs to the people and not to the President or governors. Such mafia organisations are just corporate moguls interested in entrenching their interests and not that of the common man. The problem is that Nigerians are still awaiting the emergence of a strong and performing president who will enjoy the support of the people and so can call bluff of the governors,’ he said.

    The intrigues continue.

  • The old man and the governors

    The old man and the governors

    Prominent Ijaw leader and former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, revels in his unofficial role as President Goodluck Jonathan’s godfather. On several occasions when critics had his godson on the ropes, his pugnacious intervention served to stiffen the backbone of the man who, not too long ago, described himself as the world’s most criticised president.

    Well into his 80s, the old man is not your average meddlesome interloper. Indeed, anyone who tracked his role in the emergence of the current occupant of Aso Villa will find much evidence suggesting that he and Jonathan sing from the same hymn book.

    Back in 2011 when the zoning palaver threatened to tear the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) apart, Clark led a delegation of South-South leaders to reason with Northern power brokers led by former Finance Minister and one-time presidential aspirant, Adamu Ciroma. His trouble-shooting expedition received short shrift from the embittered leaders, but his cause will ultimately prevail after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s challenge collapsed on convention night.

    Clark is still at the wars – taking on everyone from former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF). His latest no-holds barred attack on those he blames for making life difficult for Jonathan, is a reminiscence of the recent attack on Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe.

    These days nobody has a nice thing to say about Obasanjo so there’s nothing novel about another volley of invectives spat in the direction of Baba. I would suggest though that Clark was not so ferocious in denouncing the former president’s so-called crimes against party democracy when he was in the vanguard of those fighting for Jonathan’s enthronement back in 2011.

    I am more interested in the Ijaw leader’s vituperations against the NGF, because in the past I had been quite critical of the forum – likening it to some sort of secret society. Clark, rightly, has accused the governors of demanding at the centre what they would not tolerate at state level.

    He said: “The governors’ forum is now acting as an opposition party to the Federal Government. It deliberately breaches with impunity, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Constitution of the PDP, without any challenges. The Forum has now become a threat to the peace and stability of Nigeria. Most of the governors today are more dictatorial than the then military governors.”

    Ignoring the hyperbole, any fair observer will admit that while most governors would like a say in who becomes national chairman of the ruling party, they would not tolerate such impertinence were some local government chairmen to band together and insist on making input into who becomes state chairman of the party.

    So, a lot of the observations of Clark are spot on. However, the only reason the chief is moaning so loudly is because his godson is on the receiving end. Try as he might he has not been able to impose his will on the PDP as Obasanjo did. Much of that is down to the make up the two men. Whereas one was willing to ride roughshod over the party – deploying the apparatus of state to achieve his goals, the incumbent would rather tiptoe around obstacles. He would rather deploy homilies where an Obasanjo would have set off Scud missiles.

    But that is not the whole story. If the governors have become more formidable and better organised as a pressure group, it is down to the lessons they learnt from the Obasanjo years. Back them they also tended to band together. People forget that at the 2003 nominating convention, a good number of them were actually backing Atiku. Obasanjo and his late wife, Stella, virtually had to go on bended knees to secure their support. Of course, he never forgave them for the humiliation of making him beg.

    Today, Clark would like us to believe that the NGF is this new-fangled monstrosity that is a clear and present danger to our democracy. Closer examination will, however, show that the behemoth has a soft underbelly.

    They can be a powerful bloc when they agree, but they are as powerless as a congregation of strange bedfellows when their interests diverge along regional, ethnic or monetary lines.

    To confirm this you only need to look at their disarray over issues like revenue sharing and state police. On the former, suddenly you had a sub-bloc – the Northern Governors Forum – taking the position that the Niger-Delta states were cornering an unfair share of our commonwealth. That divergence of opinion is also evident over the contentious Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

    Not surprisingly, the governors of the South-South states find the aforementioned positions of their northern colleagues, to put it mildly, insulting.

    But where it comes to more parochial matters like who controls party positions and certain political offices, a certain amity descends upon what, in reality, is a fairly fractious organisation.

    My main area of disagreement with Clark, though, is that I no longer believe that the NGF – no matter how powerful it is made out to be – is such a bad thing after all. The Ijaw leader says the governors have turned themselves into the real opposition to the government at the centre. What he does not want to accept is that in every big political party there will be all manner of tendencies each fighting for control of the soul of the organisation.

    More importantly, democracy is about checks and balances. Obasanjo was often accused of running an imperial presidency where the legislative and judicial branches became appendages of the executive. Under him we saw that the awesome powers of an executive president could be deployed towards the most unsavoury of ends.

    Such is the way things are stacked the even the weakest of men could be transformed into a Machiavellian monster by the powers of the office. In our practice of American-style democracy the legislative branch, and to some extent the judiciary, have failed woefully in providing the brakes upon a rampaging president.

    It helps that in an environment such as ours that there are several power centers and no office holder – no matter how eminent –begins to delude himself into thinking that the sun rises and sets on his desk.

    The power and influence of the NGF is a reasonable check and balance against any potentially overbearing occupant of Aso Rock. Better still, it forces all the leading players in our political space to reappraise the virtues of compromise in addressing all political issues – no matter how contentious.

    Rather than foaming at the mouth with rage and calling the governors names, what Clark and others who are discomfited by the influence of the NGF should do is seek ways of working with the National Assembly during constitution review process to cut the governors down to size at state level.

  • Governors meet on Constitution amendment

    Governors meet on Constitution amendment

    •PDP governors to meet Jonathan on Adamawa crisis

    Governors will meet today in Abuja to begin the consideration of knotty issues in the report of their 10-man panel on constitution amendment.

    The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) will also hold talks on other national matters, including the controversy trailing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which is assuming a North-South problem, and the new Revenue Allocation Formula.

    Besides, the governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will hold a crucial session on the crisis rocking the Adamawa State Chapter of the party.

    The PDP governors are angry with the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on his handling of the crisis in Adamawa.

    It was gathered that the PDP governors had protested to President Goodluck Jonathan on how Tukur was allegedly contemptuous of them by going ahead to allow the conduct of congresses at the ward, local government and state levels.

    According to sources, the 36 governors will start discussion on knotty issues in the Amaechi Committee’s report and matters arising in the ongoing constitution amendment.

    The panel, headed by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, submitted the report last year but the forum was unable to discuss the recommendations.

    Some of the issues in the template are single tenure of five, six or seven years; state police; true federalism; rotation of the presidency between the North and the South; creation of one new state from each of the nation’s six geopolitical zones; inclusion of the six geopolitical zones in the constitution, tenure for local government chairmen, 50 per cent control of resources by states; and abolition of State Joint Local Government Account and State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “If we form quorum, we hope to use the session to start considering the report and draw conclusion on knotty issues. We had set aside this document to avoid anything that could cause a crack in the Forum.

    “It is not a day exercise, but we want to start early in the year so that at the appropriate time, we will submit a memorandum to the Constitution Review Committee of the National Assembly.

    “While we are considering our own report, we will also pay attention to the ongoing review by the National Assembly to fine-tune our position paper or memorandum to the Constitution Review Committee.”

    Asked if the governors have any timeframe to complete the consideration of the Amaechi Committee’s report, the source said: “We have not fixed any deadline but we will work in such a way that we will make our own input at the right or strategic time.”

    PDP governors are said to be angry with Tukur and the National Working Committee (NWC) for allegedly ignoring their advice not to conduct congresses in Adamawa State .

    President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted to meet with the governors, Tukur and a few party officials tomorrow.

    A member of the PDP Governors Forum said: “When we noticed that there was crisis in Adamawa, we raised a committee, headed by Governor Sule Lamido, to look into the problems.

    “The committee recommended that the status quo should be maintained, pending the time the President and other leaders of the PDP would find an amicable solution to the crisis.

    “We passed this resolution to the party leadership but the National Chairman of the party went ahead to approve the conduct of congresses.

    “All the governors are members of the National Executive Committee (NEC). By ignoring our advice, Tukur believes we are unimportant.

    “The challenge at stake is not about Governor Murtala Nyako but it borders on the deliberate slight of the PDP Governors Forum.

    “Were it not for the intervention of the President, we also know what to do because governors are certainly in charge of party structure. The PDP Chairman and his team have been violating PDP Constitution. They have not called NEC meeting regularly as enshrined in the party’s constitution.

    “We are certainly taking our anger against the PDP National chairman to Mr. President. We want the kangaroo congress nullified.”

    Asked what was really at stake in Adamawa, the source added: “It is about power struggle to hijack the PDP structure in the state ahead of 2015 poll.

    “This is the type of the problem which led to the sudden exit of a former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo.”

    A party leader in Adamawa said: “We are happy that the President is intervening because he would be able to have a first hand knowledge of how Governor Nyako has hijacked the PDP structure.

    “The main issue is that the governor does not believe in a transparent and democratic process. The National Secretariat of the PDP stood by the truth and due process. The conduct of the congresses was not a personal agenda of the National Chairman.

    The acting Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Nathan Musa, had on January 2, stopped the conduct of the state congresses.

    Justice Musa restrained the PDP Caretaker Committee, following complaints against the conduct of the ward congresses of December 27, last year.

    But the Caretaker Committee went ahead with the ward and local government congresses.

    It was learnt that PDP stakeholders defied the court order because it was alleged that the governor hurriedly appointed the acting CJ to stop the congresses.

    A leader of the party in Adamawa State, Dr. Umar Ardo, said the appointment of Justice Musa as an acting Chief Judge was a violation of Section 271 Subsection 1 of the Nigerian constitution

    He said “such an appointment is not only unconstitutional but a direct disregard to the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Federation Maryam Alooma Mukthar.

    “The Chief Justice of the Federation, wrote a letter to the state governor which specifically requested the governor to forward the name of Justice Bathimawus Popo Lawi being the most senior justice of Adamawa State for appointment as substantive Chief Justice of the state and to forward to her office the date of his confirmation and swearing in. But the governor refused to do so.”

     

  • Can governors perform better in 2013?

    Can governors perform better in 2013?

    President Goodluck Jonathan, governors and other leaders have been admonished to do everything within their powers to urgently rescue the living condition of Nigerians from the brink of further devastation.

    “The life of an average Nigerian today is utterly devastating; this our leaders at all levels and arms of government must arrest,” Lagos-based activist lawyer and social commentator, Bamidele Aturu told The Nation yesterday as he reflected on “Nigerians in the coming year.”

    His voice bore exasperation as he lamented the dwindling fortune of ordinary Nigerians, especially in the past one year, in the face of growing corruption that, according to him, had defied every solution.

    The legal practitioner lamented: “Take a honest look at the living conditions of an average Nigerian today; it is a sordid story of devastation, especially economically and infrastructurally. People’s purchasing power has plummeted to zero. Our roads and other infrastructural facilities are decrepit. This is in the same stupendously endowed country where sadly, looting of public treasury has become a norm.

    “Unemployment is enjoying a field day unchallenged. Kidnappers have found Nigeria a goldmine and insecurity of lives and property has grown monstrous. Where is that family that can conveniently feed and educate its members today? Why are armed robbers turning into kings before the very eyes of our so-called leaders? Who is on the side of the helpless amidst us today? Look at this Christmas celebration; virtually every one has turned beggars under the pretence of demanding Christmas gifts from the privileged few. I think this should be a food for thought for those in positions of authorities in the coming year.”

    However, Aturu would not agree that the much-lamented failure of leadership in the country is solely tied to the neck of President Jonathan. To him, all the state governors including local government chairmen across the land are culpable.

    “We won’t be fair and honest in our assessment of situations if we single out the President for blame over our worsening woes. What have the state governors and lesser leaders been doing in their various domains? Like the President, they should be equally responsible to their people statutorily.”

    On the President’s pledge to do better in 2013, he said: “Of course, he cannot do worse than we can see now; he can only do better. The suffering of Nigerians has exceeded its elastic limit; so, the only opportunity open to him and the state governors is to strive to do better in the coming year.”

     

  • Governors seek transparency as Navy names probe board

    Governors seek transparency as Navy names probe board

    THE Navy recovered yesterday from the hangover of last Saturday’s crash to begin the seemingly complex task of finding out why the helicopter went down.

    It set up a board to probe the crash, which occurred in Bayelsa.

    Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa, ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Owoye Azazi and four others, including the pilot and co-pilot, died in the crash.

    The House of Representatives announced its plan to probe the crash.

    Governors also backed the planned probe, saying it must be thorough and transparent.

    The governors at an emergency meeting yesterday at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, called for transparency of the investigation.

    They also resolved to engage consultants to be part of the investigation team and serve as an observers.

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who read the communiqué said: “Members support the directive of the President for a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the helicopter crash and call for transparency and openness in the process.”

    “Forum further resolved to engage a consultant to participate in the investigation process or serve as an observer.”

    Rear Adm. Emmanuel Ogbor, the Chief of Training and Operations of the Navy announced the constitution of the board in Abuja.

    He said members, who are aircraft investigation specialists, are drawn from Agusta Westland, the manufacturer of the ill-fated aircraft and other aviation regulatory agencies, as provided by extant regulations.

    Adm. Ogbor said some components of the helicopter that could assist the board to carry out its investigation had been recovered.

    “It is expected that the board will come out with the remote and immediate causes of the accident with far reaching recommendations that will forestall future occurrence,’’ he said.

    Adm. Ogbor explained that the Navy’s helicopters, including the NN07 which crashed, were properly maintained and serviced regularly, in accordance with the manufacturer’s specification.

    He said the ill-fated helicopter’s routine maintenance was concluded on Nov. 10. It was cleared for operations on Nov. 20 by certified technical support engineers.

    “At the time of the incident, the helicopter had flown 1,704 flight hours and had more than 80 flight hours before the next scheduled routine maintenance.

    “Nigerian Navy pilots are very experienced. In fact, the captain in command has flown over 800 hours. The co-pilot had flown over 300 hours.

    “All our pilots are trained in the best aviation institutions all over the world.

    “Additionally, spare parts for the helicopters are obtained directly from the manufacturers (Agusta Westland) and or its approved maintenance centre worldwide,’’ he said.

    On the age of the ill-fated aircraft, Adm. Ogbor said that it was inducted into the Navy in 2004 directly from the manufacturer.

    The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, in a statement by its Chairman, Committee on Aviation, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (PDP Abia), said the committee would conduct a holistic investigation into the remote and immediate causes of the crash.

    Ms Onyejeocha said the committee would liaise with the military authorities to ensure that proper and due diligent checks are conducted regularly on all military aircraft in Nigeria.

    The probe will focus mainly on the technical fitness of the chopper, it was learnt.

    Some experts from Italy where the helicopter was bought are to join the probe.

    Also, there were indications yesterday that the Federal Government might embark on technical audit of all military and police aircraft and helicopters.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the ongoing probe of the crash is focusing on the “technical fitness” of the ill-fated chopper.

    It was learnt that the Navy had three aircraft before last Saturday’s crash.

    The aircraft are Augusta A109 helicopter (a light utility helicopter bought from Italy); which crashed; Aeronautics Aerostar (Reconnaissance UAV from Israel) and Westland Lynx (Medium Utility helicopter from the United Kingdom).

    It was gathered that the three aircraft (including the ill-fated Augusta) were considered to be in “good shape” before the crash.

    A source said: “We are focusing on the technical health of Augusta A109 before it crashed in the swamp near Okoroba axis of Bayelsa State .

    “The investigation has started with the recall of the flight records of the helicopter in the last one month, its servicing rate, and how it was designated for that assignment on Saturday. We are also going to look at insinuations that it underwent some minor technical challenges while on ground in Okoroba

    “Some experts from Italy where the helicopter was manufactured are also likely to assist in the investigation of how things went wrong. It is normal to consult them in this type of situation.

    “The wreckage of the helicopter was yet to be cleared as at Sunday because of the need to take some samples for laboratory analysis which may cover forensic and intelligence aspects.”

    Concerning alleged sabotage, the highly-placed source said: “We will look at all clues but, at present, we are considering the technical aspect.

    “Other intelligence organisations are also collaborating with the Nigerian Navy to get to the roots of the incident. We are leaving all factors open.”

    It was reliably gathered that the Federal Government plan a comprehensive technical audit of all military and police aircraft and helicopters.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The government has decided to conduct a thorough audit of all military and police aircraft and helicopters to determine their actual age, state of fitness and capacity.

    “The Office of the NSA will collaborate with the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs and aviation experts to prevent a reoccurrence of this type of disaster.

    “At the end of the exercise, we will be able to determine which of the aircraft should no longer be in use (to be grounded) or those that require urgent maintenance.”

    The National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki, yesterday denied that he was among the victims of the Naval helicopter crash in Okoroba axis of Bayelsa State.

    A statement from the Office of the NSA said: “The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Sambo Dasuki, has expressed his deep condolences to the family of his immediate predecessor, Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi and that of the former governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa, who lost their lives along with their aides in an helicopter crash in Bayelsa State last weekend.

    “Mr. Dasuki had already called and spoken with Mrs. Alero Azazi over the death of her husband and his friend/Regular 12 course mate.

    “We wish to state that the NSA, Mr. Sambo Dasuki, was not part of that flight that crashed because he has been out of the country on national assignment.”

    NGF Chairman Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) led 10 governors on a condolence visit to Governor Mukhtar Yero in Kaduna.

    Amaechi said the visit was to condole with the family and the people of the state over the “tragic death” of the former governor.

    “ The first thing is to support the President in his call for investigation and we also agreed to come here to pay our condolences to you, the people of Kaduna State, wife and the immediate family of Yakowa.’’

    He expressed the forum’s support to the new governor, urging him to strive hard towards accomplishing the set goals of his predecessor.

    “We pray that the same wisdom God gave him to carry out programmes for Kaduna people, that same wisdom be bestowed on you to be able to continue and complete his programmes and those things that will impact on the lives of people.’’

    Yero assured the governors that he would carry on with the late Yakowa’s projects.

    “ Whatever he has put in place as a foundation for the development of the state, beind part of the system, being part of the government, I assure you, we will continue with the good work he started.

    “We would try to consolidate on it and improve on all the things he started.’’

    He expressed appreciation to the forum for commiserating with the family and the people, adding that “ nobody envisaged” the death of the late governor.

    “Our governor has left a big vacuum and we are trying to see how we can accommodate it. And by the grace of God, we will do our best to improve the lives of the people in Kaduna State.’’

    The governor also reiterated his commitment towards ensuring peace, unity and development of the state.

    Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Kashim Shetima (Borno), Idris Wada (Kogi), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Peter Obi (Anambra) were on the delegation.

    There were also Theodore Orji (Abia), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Garba Umar (Taraba).

     

  • Yakowa, Azazi’s death painful, say northern governors

    Yakowa, Azazi’s death painful, say northern governors

    The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has expressed shock and sadness at the news of the passing away of the Kaduna State Governor Ibrahim Yakowa and former National Security Adviser Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi.

    Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu described the death of the duo as a great loss not only to the people of Kaduna and Bayelsa States but to the entire nation.

    In a condolence message signed by Governor Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, the forum said “their passage constitutes a big blow to the people of Nigeria whose lives they touched in their eventful lives that were devoted to public service”.The forum said it is particularly pained by the death of Governor Yakowa who consistently hosted the meetings of the NSGF but has “taken solace in the fact that he lived exemplary and purposeful life with remarkable achievements as a public servant, administrator, community leader and a dedicated family man.”

    The statement said the late Yakowa and Gen Azazi were rare gems who would be missed for their immeasurable contributions towards the development of the country.

    “They were uncommon statesmen, dependable team players, highly disciplined gentlemen and respected mentors of their sub-ordinate officers”, the statement added.

  • Governors sue President for subsidy cash

    Governors sue President for subsidy cash

    Governors have sued President Goodluck Jonathan to Supreme Court for alleged fuel subsidy fraud.

    The governors are aggrieved that part of the monies meant for the Federation Account are diverted by the Federal Government to fund the fuel subsidy – illegally.

    Besides, they are worried that the fuel subsidy record is wrapped in secrecy, even as the subsidy claim is deducted without the budget line.

    In the writ of summons filed by former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Joseph Daudu (SAN) and Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the governors accused the Federal Government of over invoicing and under remittance of crude sales between 2007 and this year.

    Other lawyers in the suit are H.O Afolabi, Atilola Popoola, P.B Daudu and Adedayo Adedeji.

    The Defendants are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) and the National Assembly.

    In their statement or claims, the Plaintiffs averred that when they collect revenues, they make such remittance without making any form of deductions from the revenue so collected, despite the fact that they also incurred expenses in the course of collecting and remitting the revenue to the Federal Government.

    The plaintiffs averred that between 2006 and last year, total government expenditure on fuel subsidy amounted to N3.7 trillion.

    The governors said they shall at the trial prove the accuracy of the figures quoted.

    The Plaintiffs averred that the Federal Government, as a matter of practice does not provide a budget line for petroleum subsidy payments, but rather sets a nominal amount as appropriation for the Petroleum Support Fund, which is the vehicle for paying the subsidy claims.

    Querying the method of payment, the governors stated that “the Federal Government between 2006 and 2011 showed a tendency to make extra budgetary appropriations not approved by the (National Assembly).

    “Therefore over the last few years there has been a disparity in relation to the amounts appropriated for fuel subsidy payments in the national budget and the actual payments made in those calendar years.”

    The governors averred that “there are inaccuracies in the crude oil and gas revenues remitted to the Federation Account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), caused by wrongful deductions at source by the NNPC to fund her operations.

    Besides, they posited that subsidy claims ought to be remitted to the NNPC from the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) by the Federal Ministry of Finance, based on claims from oil marketers approved by the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

    Referring to a November 22, 2010 report of the Federal Ministry of Finance, entitled “the Interim Report on the Process of Forensic Review of NNPC”, the governors contended that the actual remittance of proceeds for domestic crude sales to the Federation Account is far less than the amount expected.

    They want the court to direct the Federal Government to pay their 24% share of the total amount of money wrongly deducted by the Federal Government from the Federation Account from 2007 till date.

    They also want Federal Government to pay back into the Federation Account all illegal deductions made from the Federation Account all in the name of fuel subsidy.

    They also demanding that the (AGF) be directed to give account of all subsidy claim deducted from the Federation Account from 2007 till date.

    The Plaintiffs averred that the practice of paying the fuel subsidy from the crude oil account by the NNPC with the authority and approval of the AGF is “unconstitutional” and a “ flagrant contravention of Section 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution because crude oil money ought to be remitted with zero deductions into the Federation Account.

    They averred that as a result of deliberate delays of receipts of subsidy advice from PPPRA, which normally results in under-remittance of domestic crude sales proceeds into the Federation Account, there was over deduction in 2007, 2008 and 2009 which was estimated at N2 billion, N10,3 billion and N16.2 billion.

    The governors accused the Federal Government of using the NNPC to deduct from the crude sales without approval, to fund the fuel subsidy claim, as if same is a first line charge.

    This action, the governors said, is illegal and contrary to the provisions of Section 80 and 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    The Plaintiffs accused the NNPC of usurping the functions of the PPPRA as the latter is made to honour unverified vouchers from Importers of petroleum products.