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  • N21b donation raises legal issues for PDP, Jonathan

    N21b donation raises legal issues for PDP, Jonathan

    Ex-NBA chief: Nigerians should monitor spending

    Name donors, says Falana

    Legal issues were raised yesterday over the cash flood unleashed last Saturday by President Goodluck Jonathan’s fans.

    By raising  N21billion campaign fund, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate may have violated the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

    The PDP seems to have also breached Section 38 (2) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

    The party’s presidential candidate is limited to only N1billion campaign cash; it has raised more than N21billion.

    The PDP may forfeit N20billion to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) — going by  Section 92(6) of the Electoral Act.

    According to a copy of INEC’s Political Finance Monitoring Manual obtained yesterday, the PDP is in breach of Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution, Sections 91, 92 and 93 of the Electoral Act and Section 38(2) of CAMA.

    But a lawyer stressed that the party will be breaching the law only if it is discovered that its spending is against the law.

    INEC officials declined comments on the matter. One simply said: “It (the manual) is explicit enough for you to know if there was violation or not.”

    The source said: “We do not want to be distracted at all over campaign funds because all parties are in receipt of the Political Finance Monitoring Manual. If we join issues with any party or group, we will be accused of bias.

    “But, ideally, a presidential candidate is limited to N1billion campaign fund and if it is more than the ceiling, you can make your deductions on the legality or otherwise of such a venture.

    “If they have breached it, they know. Any concerned Nigerian or group can challenge such violation legally. It is not within our purview to do so.

    “There are even provisions for sanctions if any party or individual breaches the relevant provisions in the Electoral Act.”

    Responding to a question, the source said: “If you go through the manual, it has quoted Section 92(6) of the Electoral Act as saying that any party that incurs election expenses beyond the limit stipulated is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N1m and forfeiture to INEC the amount by which the expenses exceed the limit set by the commission.”

    The manual made references to Section 90(1) and Section 91(1-10) on campaign funds and accruable sanctions if there is any violation.

    The sections states: “The Commission shall have power to place limitation on the amount of money or other assets, which an individual or group of persons can contribute to a political party.

    “Election expenses shall not exceed the sum stipulated in subsection (2-7) of this section.

    “The maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a Presidential election shall be N1billion.

    “The maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a Governorship election shall be N200, 000.000.

    “The maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred of senatorial seat by a candidate at an election to the National Assembly shall be N40, 000.000 while the seat for House of Representative shall be N20, 000.000.

    “In the case of State Assembly election, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred shall be N10, 000.000.

    “In the case of chairmanship election to an Area Council, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred shall be N10, 000.000

    “In the case of councillorship election to an Area Council, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred shall be N1, 000.000.”

    The INEC manual has also stipulated sanctions for candidates who breach the Electoral Act.

    Going by to the Act, President Jonathan risks a 12-month imprisonment for exceeding the campaign fund limit.

    Section 91 of the Electoral Act says: “A candidate who knowingly acts in contravention of this section commits an offence and on conviction is liable:

    “In the case of presidential election to a maximum fine of N1, 000,000.00 or imprisonment of 12 months or both.

    “In the case of a governorship election to a fine of N800, 000.00 or imprisonment for nine months or both.

    “In the case of Senatorial seat in the National assembly election to the fine of N600, 000.00 or imprisonment for 6 months or both.

    “In the case of House of Representative seat in the National Assembly election to a fine of N500, 000.00 or imprisonment for 5 months or both.

    “In the case of State House of Assembly election to a fine of N300,000.00 or 3 months imprisonment or both.

    “In the case of chairmanship election to a fine of N300, 000.00 or three months imprisonment or both.

    “In the case of the councillorship election to a fine of N100, 000.00 or one month imprisonment or both.”

    On donations by companies, the INEC manual also indicated that such firms will be violating Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 38 (2) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) which has prohibited corporate bodies from making contributions to political parties.

    Section 221 reads: “No association, other than a political party, shall canvass for votes for any candidate at any election or contribute to the funds of any political party or to the election expenses of any candidate at an election.

    Section 38(2) of CAMA says: “A company shall not have or exercise power either directly or indirectly to make a donation or gift of any of its property or funds to a political party or political association or for any political purpose; and if any company, in breach of this subsection makes any donation or gift of its property to a political party or political association, or for any political purpose, the officers in default and any member who voted for the breach shall be jointly and severally liable to refund to the company the sum or value of the donation or gift and in addition, the company and every such officer or member shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine equal to the amount or value of the donation or gift.”

    The manual said even if a company is not prohibited by the Constitution or CAMA from making donations, it will be subject to the limits in the Electoral Act or regulations made.

    The manual reads in part: “Section 38(1) of CAMA vests every company with the powers of a natural person of full capacity, except if it is restrained by limitations imposed by the company’s memorandum or any other enactment.

    “On the basis of this subsection, even if a company is not prohibited by the Constitution or CAMA from making donations to political parties, it will still be subject to the limits of individual donations in the Electoral Act or regulations made by INEC.”

    Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday asked INEC to be courageous enough to prosecute all those who breached the Electoral Act on election expenses.

    The lawyer decried the monetisation of the political process anf urged INEC to rise up to the occasion by compelling political parties to name all faceless donors and prosecute all those that have breached the Electoral Act on election expenses.

    Also yesterday, a former Minister of Petroleum, Prof. Tam David-West, described the N21 billion described President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign as the “mother of all corruption”.

    David-West said the development was another evidence that Jonathan cannot  fight corruption.

    Expressing shock at the fund raising, the former minister urged the President to either return the money to the donors or to the Federation Account to help millions of unemployed Nigerians.

    He said: “The donation and President Jonathan’s failure to distance himself from his comparison to Jesus Christ disqualify him from running as president.

    “His media aide, Dr Doyin Okupe, compared him with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour and Jonathan, who claims to be a Christian, did not dissociate himself from that blasphemy. In fact, he failed in the election the day Okupe compared him with Christ.

    “President Jonathan should be reminded that when the Beatles at the height of their fame compared themselves to Jesus Christ, the band completely collapsed. The same will happen to Jonathan.

    “Corruption is the greatest problem that sets Nigeria backward. So a president that can accept N21 billion disqualifies himself from being president of Nigeria.

    “For avoidance of confusion, Prof. Clapham defined corruption as the use of public office for private goals.”

  • Jonathan votes N400m for plane in Budget 2015

    Jonathan votes N400m for plane in Budget 2015

    A new aircraft is to join the presidential fleet next year.

    But it won’t be an outright purchase; it will be a trade-in of an old aircraft. Government has proposed N400 million as deposit to be paid to the manufacturer.

    This is contained in the details of the 2015 budget presented last week to the National Assembly in Abuja.

    The Presidency has budgeted N215,635,713 for food stuff and catering materials. It plans to spend N26,663,050,469; N12,917,727,634 on personnel, N11,165,322,836 on overhead, N24,083,050,470 on recurrent and N2,579,999,999 on capital projects.

    For the National Assembly, N150 billion is voted; N73 billion is budgeted for the judiciary.

    The ministry of Defence, comprising the main ministry, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force voted N358,466,078,698. The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), comprising National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Department of State Security (DSS/SSS), Presidential Air Fleet (which manages all the presidential aircraft) has a budgetary envelope of N84,128,320,723.

    Specifically to combat insurgency, N1,308,400,600 is proposed to be spent on NICEP II security elements phase II by the NSA, N2,093,861,553 for maritime border security solutions (Falcon Eye), N2,093,861,553 for North-East border security solutions  and N850 million for the DSS to buy more firearms and ammunition for all service formations.

    The Ministry of Finance is voted N1,727,288,461,558 with a large portion of it dedicated to the Service Wide Vote.

    The Service Wide Vote is a vote created to serve all Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for emergency purposes not captured in MDAs yearly budgets, but for which funding has been provided for.

    No money is disbursed from the Service Wide Vote without due process from two authorities – the National Assembly through appropriation, but to benefit from it, the Minister of Finance must approve the request from demanding MDAs to access such fund belonging to the MDAs from the Service Wide Vote.

    Education has a budgetary proposal of N492,034,986,591 and health N257,543,773,757.

  • Jonathan urges monarchs to enlighten subjects on peaceful polls

    Jonathan urges monarchs to enlighten subjects on peaceful polls

    THE Federal Government has appealed to traditional rulers to enlighten their subjects on peaceful conduct during and after next year’s general election.

    President Goodluck Jonathan made the appeal at the 7th General Assembly of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), with the theme: “Sustaining the natural mandate of the traditional institutions in contemporary Nigeria.”

    Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, acknowledged the unifying force and the contributions of the traditional institutions in maintaining the country’s peace and stability.

    A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President, Umar Sani, quoted him as saying: “As royal fathers and traditional rulers, such a time calls for your wise counsel and the enlightenment of your subjects as well as prayers to ensure hitch-free and successful elections across the federation.

    “The role of the traditional institutions as the custodian of our rich cultural heritage has contributed to ensuring high moral standard among the citizenry and must be greatly appreciated.”

    He urged the royal fathers to join hands with governments at all levels to ensure the end of the nation’s security challenges.

    Jonathan informed the royal fathers that government was doing everything necessary to uplift the socio-economic status of Nigerians, through job and wealth creation mechanisms.

    The Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum and the Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, while lauding the traditional rulers, urged them to come up with holistic mechanisms to address the nation’s security and socio-economic challenges.

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, reaffirmed the commitment of the royal fathers to the peace, unity, justice and stability of the nation, while also urging government to positively look into their recommendations.

    He said the assembly was going to deliberate on issues affecting the country, particularly the preparations leading to the 2015 general election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the insecurity ravaging the Northeast, among others.

    In his keynote address, INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega assured the traditional rulers of the commission’s readiness and determination to deliver a free, fair and credible election next year, which would surpass that of 2011.

    He appealed to the traditional rulers to partner with the commission to ensure attitudinal change by the electorate and the political class to ensure success of the polls.

  • Jonathan flags off workers’ houses

    Jonathan flags off workers’ houses

    As part of efforts to reduce housing deficits, President Goodluck Jonathan has flagged off about 10,000 units of apartments in Apo Tapyi District, Abuja. The plan is under the Nationwide Workers’ Housing Scheme.

    Jonathan, who inaugurated the scheme, said his administration’s target is to deliver about 100,000 housing units in the Federal Capital Territory and the 36 states of the federation.

    The President said the initiative was part of the Transformation Agenda to provide adequate and affordable houses to Nigerians particularly workers.

    He said, “The Federal Government will continue to partner with the private developers to provide affordable houses to bring down the cost houses in the country”.

    Jonathan lauded the efforts and the seriousness to the scheme by the developer, Good Homes Development Company Limited and urged other developers to emulate the entrepreneurial skills of Good Homes.

    While appreciating the kind gesture of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to partner with the Federal Government on this very important project of providing shelter to the workers, he urged all Nigerian workers to key into the scheme to enable the government make this houses available at the scheduled time.

    According to a statement issued by the Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, the president also used the occasion to call on the Labour Unions in the country to always exploit avenues of discussion and negotiations first before embarking on any strike; stressing that strikes cause hardship to the ordinary people.

    Welcoming guests to the occasion, the FCT Minister Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed remarked that the right to shelter is an economic, social and cultural right as recognized in many national constitutions and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; noting that it is in recognition of this right that President Goodluck Jonathan Administration placed high premium on provision of housing for all in the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

    Senator Mohammed stated that over the period of time, FCT has been dynamic in providing initiatives such as Accelerated Development, Affordable Housing and District Development to address prevailing housing deficit.

    According to him, “the Land Swap initiative represents our strategy for leveraging private capital in the provision of infrastructure and housing with the expectation of development of 15 districts to provide houses for more than one million residents and creating 500,000 new jobs with capital inflow of about one trillion naira in the next five years”.

    On the Nationwide Workers’ Housing Scheme, the Minister revealed that the FCT Administration gave a waiver of about N28 billion on the land premium and about N550 million waiver on building plan approval.

    He emphasised that his Administration gave these waivers to make the houses even more affordable to the workers who are the end beneficiaries.

    Speaking at the occasion, the NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar thanked the Federal Government for this wonderful partnership, which he restated, would go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the workers.

    He appreciated the waivers by the FCT Minister and urged the developers to reflect the waivers in the prices of the houses to be delivered to the workers.

    The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi at the occasion expressed the loyalty of the Civil Servants to the Federal Government.

    The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and Supervising Minister of Labour and productivity, Mrs. Akon Etim Eyakenyi and Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN, respectively also spoke at the occasion.

     

  • 2015: How Buhari ’ll defeat Jonathan, by ex-Speaker

    2015: How Buhari ’ll defeat Jonathan, by ex-Speaker

    APC candidate ‘to run issue-based campaign’

    The push to win next February’s presidential race will get a fillip this week as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) get set to open their campaigns.

    At the weekend, the PDP raked in about N21 billion for its campaign. The APC is getting set for action, with a meeting today of its Chibuke Amaechi-led campaign committee.

    There is optimism in the APC that its candidate, Gen. Muhammadu buhari, will defeat PDP’s President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Bello Masari, who is Katsina State APC governorship candidate, spoke about how, in his view, Gen. Buhari will win the election.

    Masari said should the people’s votes count, Gen. Buhari would beat President Jonathan hands down.

    He spoke in Kaduna during a meeting with Katsina State indigenes resident in Kaduna.

    According to him, bad leadership, corruption and lack of foresight are the problems of the Jonathan administration.

    He said: “Take the number of votes from Northwest, take the number of votes from Southwest; 90 per cent of Northeast is APC, 90 per cent of Northwest is APC, 80 per cent of South-west is APC. Edo is APC. The worst scenario is Rivers. There we have the state government, so it cannot be easy for anybody to try and rig election there.

    “We all know that the entire population of Southsouth is not up to Lagos or Kano. We know the total number of voters in the Southeast. The only stronghold of PDP now is the Southsouth and the Southeast. As at today, the collection of PVC in the PDP stronghold is not more than 30 %, so let us see how 100 per cent will come.”

    President Jonathan’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs Dr. Doyin Okupe last week said election is not mathematics.

    Okupe, speaking during his visit to a media house in Lagos, said the calculation that APC would win the presidential election is “an error.”

    Gen. Buhari has mandated the party to ensure that his campaign team reflects all tendencies in the party.

    He also urged the party to seek input from all presidential aspirants, APC governors and party leaders at all levels.

    In deference to Gen. Buhari’s request, APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun will today meet in Abuja with the Presidential Campaign Organisation Director-General Governor Amaechi and the Chairman of the Campaign  Advisory Committee, Mr. Audu Ogbeh on how to constitute an all-inclusive campaign team.

    A source told our correspondent that Buhari unfolded his plans to key associates at a meeting in Kaduna.

    He said he would not want his campaign personalised as it happened when he contested on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC).

    The source quoted Gen. Buhari as saying: “This time around, I want party ownership of the campaign. The campaign team will reflect all the tendencies in the party.

    “Some of you who have been with me over the years may not be included but I want everyone involved because this is a collective mandate. The overall target of defeating PDP is more important than personalising the campaign.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Buhari said all presidential aspirants, governors and leaders at all levels will be involved in his campaign.

    “So, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, ex- VP Atiku Abubakar, Governor Rochas Okorocha, Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah and all the governors will play key roles in the APC campaign. They have rich experience in politics and campaign that cannot be wished away.

    “The colour of APC campaign will be based on grassroots mobilisation. We want to take PDP to the cleaners. The ruling party may rely on money; we will campaign for change and explain why it is necessary to effect this change.”

    Another source added: “The APC will be decorous and lay the facts on the table for Nigerians to appreciate that a change is desirable for the nation in 2015.”

    The APC plans to make what a member of the NWC described as “substantial” inroads into the SouthSouth and the Southeast.

    The NWC member said: “APC is targeting huge votes from these two zones where it has been stigmatised.

    “ By the time the people of the two zones realise the misrule of the PDP, the story will be different at the poll in February 2015.

    Speaking on his chances in the Katsina governorship race, Masari told his supporters:”We are in democracy. We must deepen democracy. And we believed in 2011 we won the governorship election in Katsina. Even those who were responsible for the collation of election results told me personally that we won the election.

    “So this 2015, we are not afraid. All what we want is give the people what will make them vote; simple.”

    On his plans for the people, if elected as governor in 2015, Masari said Katsinans are farmers adding that he would revamp agriculture.

     

     

  • Onaiyekan to Jonathan: no excuses on Boko Haram

    Onaiyekan to Jonathan: no excuses on Boko Haram

    Archbishop of Abuja (Catholic Diocese) John Cardinal Onaiyekan has alleged fears of impending crises during the general elections in February.

    The cleric said there was no need for such fear.

    He, however, urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to fail Nigerians with his handling of the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Nigerians, he said, will not accept excusses for failure to curtail the sect, whose activities have resulted in the death of hundreds of people.

    He urged the Christian to “pray and work for peace”.

    Cardinal Onaiyekan spoke at the Akwa Ibom State-organised annual 9,999 Carol Night at the Akwa Ibom Stadium, Uyo on Saturday night. He said Nigerian politicians must not forget that though God expects human beings to organise their lives, which is why there are governors and president, but God is the owner of all things.

    He urged politicians to seek power for the good of the majority of the people. People, according to him, is the reason for governance.

    “It is not enough to fear God. We must rule according to His will and for the good of the people. People are the reason for governance.  Politicians are supposed to do whatever they do for the good of the majority. We are looking forward to the chance of making the choice of who will rule us,” the cleric said, adding:

    “As we sit here, my heart goes out to the babies who are being born in distressful situations, especially in northeast states where Boko Haram has driven people away. Also, we should remember babies in the terrible theatres of wars such as Pakistan and Syria. Every child is precious. The lesson of Chrtistmas is that the will of God will always be done.”

    Governor Godswill Akpabio described the carol night as a celebration of love.

    “Whether you are a Muslim or Christian, we need a peaceful world for mankind to develop,” he said, adding: “God is love, and out of love, God gave his only son for man to redeem of his sins. This is the seventh edition but holding for the first time in the new stadium. Our journey has not been easy. We have fought ethnicity. God gave us the string to string them down. As the walls of Jericho came down, every barrier to our success will come down. As we join our voices together, the insurgence shall cease to be. Through our voices, the Ebola shall cease to be, scourges of poverty in Africa will be erased in the continent through our voices,” Akpabio said.

    Continuing, he said: “I declare peace and goodwill to all men. I am aware this is my valedictory carol night because next year, I will not have the honour to do so, but I shall be a special guest as senator of Nigeria.

  • Jonathan begs aggrieved PDP members not to defect

    Jonathan begs aggrieved PDP members not to defect

    •PDP fund raising collects N21.27b

    President Goodluck Jonathan has pleaded with the aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the primary elections not to decamp to other parties.

    According to him, the aggrieved members should stay in the party, if they believed in true democracy.

    He spoke at the PDP Fund-Raising Dinner at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

    He said any flaw in the party’s primaries would be overcome before the next dispensation in 2019.

    Jonathan said: “We all appreciate that throughout the congresses, where primary elections were conducted; there have been some outstanding issues.

    “The party is working to resolve these issues. Definitely, in such situations, all may not be resolved to the satisfaction of everybody. But my plea to party members is to remain committed to the party; stay with the party.

    “I know other parties are wooing some of you to contest elections on their platforms, but if you believe in democracy, then you will contribute to strengthen it. The only way you can strengthen democracy is for you to stay in your party.

    “If there are some issues you feel are not too correct, it behooves on us to stay together and correct them. That is the only way we can grow democracy.

    “If out of anger or frustration, you leave the party because you didn’t get what you wanted, then you are not contributing to the growth of democracy,” he stated.

    Recalling the donations of the business community to support victims of the 2012 flood and to the Victim Support Fund in September, he said the money would be used judiciously.

    He assured the business community of more policies and programmes that would promote enterprise and industry and expansion of the economy.

    Referring to a beneficiary of YouWin programme, who donated N1 million at the dinner, he said the party has made a number of millionaires and billionaires.

    According to him, his administration is working harder to make more young millionaires through YouWin and Youth Employment through Agriculture Programme (YEAP).

    He assured that the PDP would do everything possible to keep the country united.

    The total donations announced by the master of ceremony was N21.27 billion.

    Those, who donated included Oil and Gas sector (N5 billion), Jerry Gana’s friends (N5 billion), Real Estate (N4 billion), Tunde Ayeni (N1 billion), Tunde Ayeni’s friends (N2 billion), Transport and Aviation (N1 billion).

    Also, the 21 PDP governor donated N50 million each totalling N1.5 billion, food and agriculture (N500 million), construction (N310 million) and road sector (N250 million).

    The power sector donated N500 million, shelter development (N250 million), Labaran Maku (N 1 million), Volkswagen and others (N450 million).

    Vice President Namadi Sambo thanked those who donated to the party.

    Chairman of the fund-raising committee, Prof. Jerry Gana, warned party members not to be complacent in next year’s general elections.

    According to him, the elections would be very competitive.

    He pointed out that even though the party had done well under President Goodluck Jonathan, members must campaign and communicate the achievements well to the electorate.

    He said: “The 2015 elections will be very competitive. Do not take it for granted. We must never underestimate the opponent. PDP has advantage because it has done very well in its 15 years in power at the centre.

    “Besides, our presidential candidate is very good and is one of the best in the world in terms of delivery of democracy dividends. But doing well or having good candidates is not enough, we need to tell the electorate what we’ve done as a party.

    “We must endeavour to effectively communicate our achievements and candidates to the people; the elections must be issue-based, of course PDP is noted for that,” he said.

    He also warned leaders of the PDP at all levels against imposition of candidates on Nigerians.

    The PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu, congratulated the candidates that won primaries for the general election.

    He urged them not to let the party down, just as he urged those that did not win not to lose hope, as there would be another time.

    The chairman also noted that the PDP is faced with many challenges for which the fund will be utilised.

  • APC: How Jonathan betrayed Niger Delta on amnesty

    APC: How Jonathan betrayed Niger Delta on amnesty

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said President Goodluck Jonathan betrayed the Niger Delta people by refusing to fully implement the agreement signed by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, as part of the amnesty deal to end the Niger Delta crisis.

    It said the choice of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as the vice presidential candidate was a choice made by God to scuttle the plans of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use the Muslim/Muslim ticket as a campaign weapon against the APC.

    The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Timi Frank, told reporters that the people of the Niger Delta were disappointed that their son failed to fully implement an agreement signed by the Yar’adua government to transform the Niger Delta, but only chose to implement one aspect of the agreement.

    He said the people of the Niger Delta, especially the Ijaw, were impoverished under the Jonathan government than under any northern President.

    His words: “Under the Jonathan government, the Ijaw have become impoverished and undermined than under a northern President. I can tell you how we got the amnesty programme. Some of the things that were agreed upon as part of that programme have not been implemented.

    “It is not just sending people abroad for training that is the amnesty agreement. If you don’t know, I can tell you this because I was involved and I know everything. If you have the time and wants me to say it, I will say it because some of these things are what they are hiding and don’t want the public to know. I’m not scared of anything. I must speak the truth.

    “If they had gone to tell the ex-militants and our people to come out and drop their guns so that they will be trained, none of them would have done that. There were some other bigger agreements that Umaru signed.

    “There is a signed document on that. There were promises that were made by Umaru because he did not just make it as a promise. He made those promises because he wanted to do them for the people of the Niger Delta, as he felt this was his right and was determined to resolve the crisis.

    “But today, as I speak, all of those, under their son from Bayelsa, from the Niger Delta, have been buried. I understand that when they discussed some of these things that Umaru signed with the President, he kicked them away, telling them he wouldn’t do it.

    “Tell me, how can any credible Niger Delta man vote for him?

    “There was an agreement between Umaru and the people of the Southsouth to build mass housing units in the states of the Niger Delta, to compensate them. Today, where is the mass housing units?

    “Today, where is the coastal road Umaru promised our people, assuring that he would award the contract as soon as the militants came out of the creeks? As we speak, the coastal road is not there because the government said they don’t have money to do that.

    “So, if somebody from the North could give us these kind of promises we have never seen before and he was determined and ready to do it and died in the process and an Ijaw took over that office, the first thing the people of the region expect him to do is to hide under those promises and do those things with the excuse that he was not the one that made the promise, but the man before him and that he is only following his footsteps, but not to come and do worse.

    “There is a time bomb in our region because if the local people do not get what belongs to them, there is a problem. I have confidence that if today, Jonathan wins Bayelsa State, it will be by rigging and not by votes.”

  • ‘Buhari ‘ll defeat Jonathan in next year’s poll’

    ‘Buhari ‘ll defeat Jonathan in next year’s poll’

    Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso reflects on the All Progresives Congress (APC) presidential primaries, which produced Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the flag bearer for next year’s election, and highlights the issues that will shape the poll.  KOLADE ADEYEMI met him in Kano, the state capital. 

    After the APC presidential primaries, you unfolded your senatorial ambition. Why do you want to represent Kano Central District in the Senate?

    Let me take this opportunity to thank all of you who are my friends,  including those who were not very positive. Many thought it was Buhari, Atiku and others. In any way, you have seen others now—and you have seen their capacity. We thank the Almighty God for giving us that opportunity to participate in the primary election.  It was very historic. We have done our best. I believe that our best was good enough and well articulated. Let me also at this point congratulate our leader, General Muhammadu Buhari, for such a wonderful performance. I also congratulate other aspirants, Atiku Abubakar (Turaki of Adamawa), Rochas Okorocha, and of course, my friend, your friend, Sam Nda-Asaiah.  Just as we predicted, the primary election was a family affair. It was done in sa uch way that all of us are winners and all of us pledged to support the winner before the primaries and even after the primaries. I thank the Almighty God and I also thank all the delegates and those who supported us through various means to achieve such a wonderful result. I started very late and I know up till this moment, it wasn’t up to two months that I started.

    Many people claimed that I wasn’t known in the South, and other parts of this country. Despite all that, I became number two, after our candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari. And I am happy that, at least, now I am known across the country; and that is a good story for me and a good story for all our supporters in this state and across the country. The result didn’t show delegates from Kano alone, it was delegates from across the country; because I have seen, even from the counting, from here Buhari. Buhari, Kwankwaso…and so on, which means that the support I got cut across the whole country, and I want to thank all the delegates. We will continue to build the party so that at the end of the day, the APC can win election not only in Kano but across the nation.

    On the issue of the senatorial seat, I was just coming back and we had to go and settle the Kano North Senatorial primaries. We had to move straight because we had to do it before 12 midnight and that is done. Now, the next thing is to return and consult my friends and my colleagues here find political future for my humble self and, of course, other people who working together with us here in Kano, for the next dispensation.

    But, Your Excellency…?

    Yes. You are looking at me, as if I didn’t answer your question…

    How do you compare the internal democracy between the PDP and the APC, looking at the emergence of the presidential candidates of both parties?

    You see, the difference is very, very clear. The APC is now the PDP in those days especially in 1999 and 2003. That is how we built the PDP. We allowed aspirants to show their interest, the party will support and even encourage those who are interested to go out and campaign; and it has a lot of advantages, especially if you look at it from my own contest. When I declared, I had to go round the country and convince many of my friends, many of them in the APC, many of them were in other parties. As a result of that, we have so many people who have now joined the APC as a party not because they were the APC or they wanted the APC ordinarily, but because they knew that my leadership will be good for them and will be good for the country; and that was why they came and I can assure you none of them will go back to any other party. They will stay in APC and support it from bottom to the top; and so all so, other aspirants who have gone round, especially, Sam Nda-Isaiah—many people didn’t understand the importance of those 10 votes that he got. You know you can lose or win with 10 votes, not only in the election like the one we had, even in general elections, you can lose or win election with 10 votes in this country. So, 10 votes are very critical and those 10 votes will certainly bring in so many people into our party. So, we are not even talking of the votes that were being recorded for Rochas, even Atiku himself and the ones that were scored by the winner, General Muhammadu Buhari. So, if you put the efforts of these five aspirants together, I am sure that will go a long way. We have seen a lot of changes in the last few months, especially, as it relates to even General Buhari himself.

    Ordinarily, General Buhari wouldn’t have taken so much time, so many efforts to go round the country to convince people. Now, he is a full-fledged politician who has gone round to ask for support, to ask for understanding. He has worked like any other politician in this country, and that is what we want him to do. We don’t want to sit down in a room and look at him and say ‘let us dash him this ticket.’ Now, he has earned the ticket for himself and that has gone a long way in strengthening the party. It has gone a long way in strengthening and deepening democracy in this country. Looking at what he was saying.  He was like any other polished and experienced politician; and that is how it should be, and I am sure even if by the grace of God, when he gets to the Villa, he will be a wiser politician, a more experienced politician, who will value every delegate, who will value every religion, who will value every other tribe, ethnicity and differences across the country. So, I am very happy and proud that our party decided to give us a level playing ground for everybody to contest.

    Considering your efforts before the primaries, do you feel betrayed by the result?

    No. You see, when I was going into it, I thought I was going to win, but I became number two. If you look at the quality of people, their experiences, their wealth—I think everybody should congratulate me. And many people, especially, my friends, I am sure they have seen it on papers. What I believe is that anybody who voted for Buhari is my friend; and if they had known the relationship between me and him; even those who really didn’t like me, if they had known, they wouldn’t have voted for him because I am sure you must have known that he was telling the whole world when they ask him, if you are not getting, it who else would you support and he said, ‘Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso,’ and this was just few days to the primary election. Then, what else do we want and what else do I want? This is somebody who said that voluntarily at his age and he is outstanding in the society. He voluntarily passed out this information not to me but to the whole world. He said, ‘if it is not me, I will support Kwankwaso,’ so, to me, it is as good as I won the primary election.

    Will you still contest for the Presidency in the future?

    Well, you see, I think there is a lot of difference between me and many other people. For me I have decided to go into politics as a politician. I didn’t go into politics just to get a position and enjoy myself. No. I am in politics to better the lives of our people. When I left service in 1991 to join politics, I wasn’t dismissed, or I didn’t go out as a result of frustration; in fact they have to give me two weeks to go and think—that was after I gave them my resignation letter. They wanted me to stay behind because they knew my worth—Ii was a professional by any standard, but I felt I would be more useful to myself and my country if I go into politics. So, I am a politician first and foremost—if anything comes in terms of elected position or appointed, I welcome it and I will keep on moving; and that is why for over 20 years, I have been in and out, in and out and I think I am one of the very few, if there is any politician today, who has been enjoying these experiences of going into various offices, both elective and appointed positions. And it is always good to have such experiences—now, I am in government, I know how sitting governors feel, and at the same time, I know the feelings of those who were in government and they are now outside the government, because before now, I was in government and outside the government. I know the feelings at the state level; I also know the feelings at the national level. So, first and foremost, I am a politician, I am still there.

    So, along the line, if I had won the primary election, it would have been a big challenge. Now, what we have is another challenge because I am now back to the ground to ensure that the PDP is defeated in this state and across the country. In other words, I want to deliver Kano 100 per cent to the APC. Then, some of the people I met yesterday, after declaration, they were saying look, you have to be on that ticket, you have to be in the Senate for Kano Central. With Buhari as the President, and with me as a contestant, it will be very difficult for anybody to mention any party order than the APC on the election day here in Kano. So, now is an opportunity. In the last two months, I have been on and off, now I am fully on ground to complete all these ongoing projects in the state. So, even if there is a disadvantage there, on the other side, you have so many advantages. And even on the side of the disadvantage—if you take it like that, I am happy, somebody I respect a lot and somebody who believes that in this country if not him, it will be Kwankwaso, I don’t think anybody will doubt our relationship with Buhari because this is the information that he gave voluntarily.

    While the APC presidential primary election was going on in Lagos, there was a bomb-blast in Kano, coming few days after the vicious attack on Kano Central Mosque. There have been a series of such attacks in parts of northern states. What is the lasting solution to these incessant terror attacks?

    I want seize this opportunity once again to commiserate with the families of those who were involved in the last and even previous killings in this state and across the country. It is very sad, it is very unfortunate that Nigeria as a country is facing these challenges at this crucial time and we are looking for the answer—I believe that the answer is to have a committed, an honest, determined President and Commander-In-Chief; somebody who has the political will to stop the killings not only in Kano, but across the country. Every day, if it is not in Borno, it is in Yobe, it is in Yobe, if it is not in Yobe, it is in Adamawa, it is Bauchi, Gombe, Kano; just yesterday, we learnt they struck again in Plateau and so on. So, it is a national issue which must be addressed by the Commander-In-Chief.

    And I want to say that Buhari has a military background and that will go a long way in helping him and guiding him on what to do; and by the grace of God, whether from my own house in Kwankwaso town, or from Kano in Gandu Albasa or from anywhere, we will continue to support him, and by the grace of God, when he becomes President, we will succeed; because that is very important, he has his own version of experience, I have my own version of experience, especially, experience in the area of security. And I will rally around him to help him to succeed because his success is not only his own, not only my success, it is not only your success, but the success of this country because even our friends elsewhere are very worried, especially those who have invested their money in this country, especially those who wants to invest; especially those who like or respect this country. People are wondering what is happening in Nigeria.  So to answer that question is that we need a good Commander-In-Chief and if Buhari goes there, I see no reason why all these rubbish will not stop in this country.

    You have said that with his military background, General Buhari can fix the problem of insurgency in this country. Are you saying that military Generals in politics are better than civilians in politics?

    I didn’t say so. But you see, in this political era, a General who has gone through the system over the years, under normal circumstances, is in a better position to handle the issue of security—this is very important. But that is not to say that he can…let me not go into that…next question…

    Your Excellency, we want to roll you back. If after due consultation, eventually at the end, they say you should run for the Senate Seat. Will you accept?

    I think you are just repeating what we have already discussed…I thought you would ask a different question! Well, I am consulting and this consultation will soon end because it is not an open-ended thing. We have to take decisions, but I don’t want anything that will appear tomorrow on papers or even on radio today or television without consulting with my friends here or elsewhere; because in politics, it is very important that before you make up your mind on something, at least, you have to meet your friends and ask them what they think should be done.

  • Naira rain as PDP raises billions for Jonathan

    Naira rain as PDP raises billions for Jonathan

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last night flexed its financial muscle ahead of next year’s polls as stakeholders poured in money for the prosecution of the elections.

    Donors at the fund raising ceremony held in Abuja included the various sectors of the economy, PDP governors, businessmen/women and organizations.

    A prominent business woman Bola Shagaya and her friends donated N5billion. An equal amount of N5billion came from friends of Professor Jerry Gana, chairman of the funds raising committee while the 21 PDP governors gave N1.05billion, while those who called themselves friends donated N3 billion.

    Other high profile donors were construction sector with N310m, transport N1 billion, real estate N4b, the energy sector-N500million, PDP Rivers State stakeholders-N50million.

    Others were food and agriculture N5b, Cifex N10m, power sector N500m , Shelter Development Limited N250m, Emzor N50m, the NDDC governing board N15m, auto sector N450m and PDP youth group N50m.

    Present at the event were President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, PDP governors, Ministers, PDP National Chairman Adamu Muazu    and the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Antony Anenih.

    The ceremony was still in progress at press time.

    The huge donation according to the Electoral Act runs foul of the law. Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution prohibits a State Government from contributing to the election expenses of any candidate or aspirant.

    The Electoral Act Section 91 (90 of the Code of conduct for Political Parties and Elections limits individual donations and contributions to a maximum of N1m.Electoral Act, Section 91 of the Act criminalizes contravention of limitation on election expenses. A Presidential Candidate who knowingly contravenes it is liable to a maximum fine of N1, 000,000.00 or imprisonment for a period of12 months or both.