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Nigeria’s union non-negotiable, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday insisted that the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable.

Many Nigerians had kicked against the no-go area that precludes discussion on the unity of Nigeria during the National Conference.

In a 20-minute broadcast on the Centenary celebration last night, Jonathan said the national dialogue should strengthen Nigeria’s union.

He also promised that all will be done by his administration to eradicate terrorism in the country.

Jonathan said: “Even as we remain resolute in our conviction that our union is non-negotiable, we must never be afraid to embrace dialogue and strengthen the basis of this most cherished union. A strong nation is not that which shies away from those difficult questions of its existence, but that which confronts such questions, and together provides answers to them in a way that guarantees fairness, justice and equity for all stakeholders.

“My call for the National Conference in this first year of our second century is to provide the platform to confront our challenges. I am confident that we shall rise from this conference with renewed courage and confidence to march through the next century and beyond, to overcome all obstacles on the path to the fulfillment of our globally acknowledged potential for greatness.

Stressing that nation-building is not only for great leaders and the elite: “All Nigerians must be involved in this national endeavour. From the threads of our regional, ethnic and religious diversities we must continuously weave a vibrant collage of values that strengthen the Nigerian spirit.

“The coming National Conference should not be about a few, privileged persons dictating the terms of debate but an opportunity for all Nigerians to take part in a comprehensive dialogue to further strengthen our union.

He hoped that the conference will not result in parochial bargaining between competing regions, ethnic, religious and other interest groups but an objective dialogue for the way forward of Nigeria boost harmonious balance among the three tiers of government.

Hailing the nations’s past leaders, he said: “Today, we salute once again the great heroes of our nation – Herbert Macaulay, Ernest Ikoli, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alvan Ikoku, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, Dr. Michael Okpara, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Mallam Aminu Kano, Mokwugo Okoye and Chief Michael Imoudu among others.

On terrorism he said: “ the security situation in some of our Northeastern states, sadly remains a major concern for us. Just yesterday, young students, full of hopes and dreams for a great future, were callously murdered as they slept in their college dormitories in Yobe State. I am deeply saddened by their deaths and that of other Nigerians at the hands of terrorists. Our hearts go out to their parents and relatives, colleagues and school authorities.

“We will continue to do everything possible to permanently eradicate the scourge of terrorism and insurgency from our country. We recognise that the root cause of militancy, terrorism and insurgency is not the strength of extremist ideas but corrupted values and ignorance.

“That is why our counter-terrorism strategy is not just about enforcing law and order as we have equipped our security forces to do. It also involves expanding economic opportunities, social inclusion, education and other measures that will help restore normalcy not just in the short term, but permanently.

“I want to reassure Nigerians that terrorism, strife and insecurity in any part of Nigeria are abhorrent and unacceptable to us. I urge leaders throughout Nigeria to ensure that ethnicity and religion are not allowed to become political issues.

“I am proud and privileged to have been elected leader of Nigeria and I consider it my solemn responsibility to act in the best interest of the nation at all times.

“Dear compatriots, in line with the thoughts of that great son of our continent, Nelson Mandela, let us not judge ourselves, and let not the world judge us by how many times we have stumbled, but by how strongly we have risen, every single time that we have faltered.” He stated.

February 27, 2014
Jonathan gives March date for Second Niger Bridge

The construction of the Second Niger Bridge has been on the cards for years. To politicians, it is more of a campaign tool than a development project. Successive administrations promised to build the bridge but never did. Last Saturday, President Goodluck Jonathan, who visited the Obi of Onitsha, Prof. Alfred Achebe, promised that construction of the bridge will be flagged off on March 17. EMEKA ODOGWU EMEKA reports

Although, his visit was not announced, by the time President Goodluck Jonathan arrived at the Palace of the Obi of Onitsha, Prof. Alfred Obi Achebe, a crowd had gathered to welcome him.

On learning that he would visit the Obi Achebe on his way back to Abuja from Imo State where he attended a rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the people hurriedly prepared to be part of the reception.

For the security agents, it was extra work controlling the crowd and heavy traffic, which is characteristic of Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State.

With the aid of other security agents, Divisional Police Officers in Onitsha and its environs rose to battle the traffic gridlock. Mr Emeka Ugwu in charge of Okpoko Police Division, Benjamin Wordu the Onitsha Area Commander and Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Mr Hyginus Omeje and his men were everywhere to ensure ease of traffic. The Chairman of Onitsha North, Osita Egbuna and other agencies of the government were on ground to guarantee a hitch-free presidential visit.

It turned out to be a rally of sorts as many prominent citizens of Anambra State came to receive the President.

The state government officials, state and federal legislators, traditional rulers, the elders’ council, religious leaders, Presidents-General of community development organisations, local government chiefs and members of traders’ associations, among others gathered for the spontaneous reception.

The President’s visit was rewarding to Anambra State, the Southeast geo-political zone and country. He announced government’s commitment to flag off of the construction of the Second Niger Bridge before March 17.

He said he would be present at the groundbreaking ceremony before Governor Peter Obi leaves office, adding “Governor Obi has disturbed me much concerning the Second Niger Bridge.”

Obi said the visit was unexpected but highly appreciated. He said: “I want to thank you for the encouraging and extremely helpful suggestions you gave me on our self-help palace project during your visit in November last year. You can see that the first phase of the project is nearing completion. I want to use this opportunity to invite you to Onitsha to perform the formal opening of the “new” palace during our next annual Ofala festival in October.

“The new Ime-Obi Onitsha presents a 21st Century concept of a palace for the people, not for the monarch alone. Thus, the palace already has an IT Centre and will also incorporate a library/archival/resource centre, a museum/art gallery, conference and meeting facilities and offices for our constituent groups, without diminishing or distorting the traditional roles and functions of the palace.

“There are many more things to be grateful to your government for, but let me single out the construction of Zik’s Mausoleum, which is now nearing completion after some 16 years of delays, dilly-dallying and cat-and-mouse games between successive governments at both state and federal levels. It will go down in history that it was your administration that had the determination and zeal to finally give our beloved Right Hon Chief Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Owelle-Osowa of Onitsha a befitting resting place. Mr. President, we cannot thank you enough for this gesture.

“Your Excellency, the country is experiencing some social turmoil like armed insurgency by the Boko Haram in the Northeast, social imbalance among various segments of our society, general insecurity and corruption in public life. “In this regard, we urge you to remain focused on your transformation agenda, paying particular attention to national security, the 2015 general elections which must be peaceful, free and fair, and the issue of fuel subsidy which has become so contentious.”

Continuing, the monarch said: “It takes courage and foresight to convene the National Conference in the manner you did. No right thinking Nigerian would want a dismemberment of our dear country. There is urgent need to re-arrange the country to give sense of belonging to all the constituent groups, including the minorities. We pray that your government and the National Assembly will create the enabling environment for the success of the Dialogue.”

On the Second Niger Bridge, the monarch said it will be of great economic value to the Southeast geo-political zone in particular and the country in general, even as he added that the project will be a legacy for the administration of President Jonathan in the history of this country. We pray that you will give this very essential national project the attention it deserves.

Jonathan was overwhelmed by the turn up of dignitaries. He restated his promise to build the Second Niger Bridge, saying since the first Nigerian President Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe built the first Niger Bridge it will be a delight if the second Azikiwe builds the Second Niger Bridge.

He assured work on the Second Niger Bridge would commence on the March 17 before Governor Obi leaves office.

The President said the people of Anambra State are lucky to have Peter Obi as their Governor. He added that in an era some governors owe banks and are raising bonds, Governor Obi is not indebted to any financial institution despite his immense achievements in the state.

Governor Obi expressed gratitude to President Jonathan for his tremendous support for the state.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government had announced it is mobilising about N300 billion from private investors under public-private-partnership for the construction and rehabilitation of three major roads in Nigeria.

The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen reeled off the projects to include the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Second Niger Bridge and rehabilitation of the approach route of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road.

Onolememen spoke when members of management and board of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission visited him in his office.

He said: “Today we have successfully launched one of our projects and two others will be launched very shortly, perhaps in the first quarter of 2014. I’m talking about the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on which construction has commenced the Second Niger Bridge and the approach route of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

“Among these three projects, we are bringing vast resources from the private sector to the tune of about N300 billion for these infrastructure development projects.”

February 27, 2014
ACF to Jonathan: No harm must come to Shettima

The new leadership of the Pan northern socio-political organization, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), on Wednesday warned that no harm should befall the Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, over his comment on the strength of soldiers fighting the Boko Haram insurgency in the north eastern part of the country.

In a statement made available to The Nation in Kaduna and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Ibrahim, the Forum expressed displeasure over President Goodluck Jonathan’s attack on the governor over his comments that Boko Haram members were better armed than the Nigerian Army in the fight against the sect in the state.

The ACF said that though the government has disowned alleged plan to replace the governor with a Military Administrator, they are compelled to stand by the governor and asked the government to step up campaigns aimed at address insurgency in different parts of the country.

It noted that the governor was in a better position to tell the world the happenings in the state and scored the Federal Government low on the various security tactics adopted so far to quell the insurgent activities in Borno, Yobe and Adamwa States.

It said the government should ensure that funds budgeted for equipment and welfare get to the troop engage in the operations.

The ACF said, “After a careful assessment, the leadership of ACF came to the conclusion that the various security measures taken by the Federal and State Governments, have achieved only limited success so far.

“What appears more visible to the victims and the suffering public are the plethora of security checkpoints, roadblocks, security cordons and others being mounted by the troops. Sadly, these measures appear to be more effective as avenues for corruption, extortion and maltreatment of civilians than in deterring the activities of the insurgents.

“Given this grave situation, the sharp reaction of the federal government to the remarks made by Alhaji Kashim Shettima is difficult to understand. The governor was reported to have admonished the country to stop playing ostrich and rise up to the challenges of the day. He had added that we should marshal all resources towards neutralizing and defeating Boko Haram.

“The governor also praised the efforts of the military given the circumstances in which they find themselves, since according to him, the Boko Haram insurgents are better armed and better motivated than our troops.”

February 26, 2014
Group faults Jonathan’s suspension of Sanusi

The Broom Initiative, a think tank group of professionals, has condemned the suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. It described the suspension as a misuse of executive power.

In a statement in Abuja, the group leaders, Michael Ighoma and Ibrahim Mohammed, faulted President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of Sanusi’s allegations that $20 billion oil revenue was unremitted to the Federation Account.

The group said rather than address alleged corruption at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the government resorted to portraying the accuser as the accused.

“We have watched with keen interest the various missteps and outright assaults targeted at our collective intelligence as a people, especially the handling of the Police Commissioner Joseph Mbu saga in Rivers State, the unremitted $20 billion oil revenue, owing to government’s ineptitude,” the statement said.

The group described Sanusi’s suspension as an act of recklessness.

It said: “Never mind the fact that this action is unconstitutional, never mind that it calls into question the so-called fight against corruption, never mind that it reeks of the most petty of machinations, the removal of a patriotic officer for bringing to the nation’s attention, a matter of such significance as missing oil money, is just plain immoral.

“Again, we ask: how sincere is a government that allocates N2 billion to the existential fight against the Boko Haram insurgency, whereas N70 billion was allocated to the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme. Jonathan’s financial commitment to security challenges in the Northeast pales into insignificance considering what is being spent on the Niger Delta militants.

“But the Jonathan administration has once again demonstrated to us where its priorities lie, pouring N70 billion down the amnesty drainpipe, while ignoring the immediacy of the problem in the Northeast by sending ill-equipped undermoti-vated service men to their death and abandoning helpless civilians to a life of uncertainty and fear.”

The group described Nigerians as proud and defiant, saying: “As Nigerians, we must never make the mistake of attributing to malice that which can be easily explained by incompetence. We must remain resolutely vigilant in the face of impunity and underhand tactics.”

February 26, 2014
Can Jonathan suspend cbn Governor Sanusi?

President Goodluck Jonathan’s suspension of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has raised what lawyers perceive as “knotty legal issues.” Some argue that the president can suspend Sanusi, others say he does not have such power. Precious IgbonwelundU reports.

One way or the other, something was bound to give. And it happened last week. President Goodluck Jonathan suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido, who had last month ignored his advice to resign. Since he suspended Sanusi, questions have been raised on the legality of his action since the CBN Act is silent on “suspension”. It only speaks of “removal”, which must be with the senate’s approval.

Although the president hinged Sanusi’s suspension on a 13-page report from the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), which many, including Sanusi believe was politically motivated. Reason: the suspension came in the midst of Sanusi’s allegations of ‘‘monumental corruption in the oil sector’.

Last year, Sanusi raised the alarm over an alleged unremitted $49.8 billion to the Federation Account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which the corporation denied. He later put the figure at $12 billion while NNPC said it was $10.8 billion. The matter did not end there. Sanusi went public again, putting the figure at $20 billion.

Since then, the relationship between Jonathan and Sanusi, seemed to have gone sour, with both men barely tolerating each other.

Allegations against Sanusi

The Presidency argues that Sanusi’s suspension was not connected with his revelations on the monumental fraud in the petroleum sector. It claimed that following a query raised by Jonathan on the CBN’s financial statement for 2012, and Sanusi’s response, documents were forwarded to FRC around May 2013.

Listing some of the alleged ‘sins’ of Sanusi, the Presidency noted the persistent refusal and negligence to comply with Public Procurement Act (PPA) in the procurement practices of the CBN; unlawful expenditure by the CBN on intervention projects across the country; deployment of huge sums of money as the CBN did under Sanusi’s watch without appropriation and outside the CBN’s statutory mandate, among others.

The FRC alleged that Sanusi incurred unbudgeted purchases running into billions of Naira and failed to comply with Section 15(1)(a) of the PPA, which says that all procurement of goods, works and services carried out by the Federal Government of Nigeria and all procurement entities must do so in consonance with the provision.

The council accused the CBN of unlawful expenditure on intervention projects across the country with over N163 billion committed on 63 projects; inability to prepare financial statement using applicable International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which sends wrong signals to investors; non-establishment of Board of Trustees (BOT) to manage Banking Resolution Sinking Funds provided for in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CBN and Deposit Money Banks (DMB) in 2010.

He was also alleged to have, contrary to Section 34(b) of the CBN Act, 2007, acquired seven percent (7%) shares of International Islamic Management Corporation of Malaysia to the tune of N0.743 billion in 2010, without the approval of the President nor board; aided CBN staff to evade tax by not implementing the provisions of the Personal Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2007;

3.“Had an additional expenses brought forward to General Reserve Fund of N16.031 billion in 2012, but proceeded on a voyage of indefensible expenses with inexplicable increases in some heads of expenditure during the year such as N3.086 billion on promotional activities in 2012 against N1.084 billion in 2011; claimed to have expended N20.202 billion on ‘legal and professional fees’ in 2011 beyond all reasonable standards of prudence and accountability; as well as N1.257 billion in 2012 on expenses on private guards and lunch for policemen . “

4. “While Section 6(3)(c) of the CBN Act 2007 provides that the board of the CBN is to make recommendations to Mr. President on the rate of renumeration to auditors, the bank has consistently observed this provision in breach and even went to the extent of changing one of the Joint External Auditors without notifying the office of the President.

5. “In the explanations offered by the CBN pursuant to presidential directives, it offered a breakdown of ‘Currency Issue Expenses’ for 2011 and 2012. Interestingly, it claimed to have paid N38.233 billion to the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Limited (NSPMC) in 2011 for ‘Printing of Banknotes.’ Paradoxically however, in the same 2011, NSPMC reported a total turnover of N29.370 billion for all its transactions with all clients (including the CBN);

6. “It is significant to note that the external audit revealed balances of sundry foreign currencies without physical stock of foreign currencies in the CBN Head Office; questionable write-off of N40 billion loans of a bank.”

Issues for determination

Who has the power to remove a serving CBN Governor and what are the procedures for such removal? What is a suspension and does the President have such powers going by the allegations against the suspended official? Are the allegations of financial recklessness enough to occasion a suspension when he has not been pronounced guilty by a court of law? Do you think this is a worrisome precedent, giving that a President who has a grouse with a CBN governor can simply suspend him on the basis of an accusation of financial recklessness? Should there be a further review of the CBN Act to take care of any such lapse?

What does the law say?

Perhaps, the CBN Act, 2007 did not envisage a situation whereby a President will move to suspend the bank’s governor. Accordingly, the Act only made provisions that the president has powers to remove a CBN Governor, which is subject to the approval of two-third majority of the Senate. But the Constitution in Part D, under the Public Service of the Federation (Sections 169 to 172), gives power to the President to appoint or remove any public servant as well as the conformity and observance of the Code of Conduct by all public officers.

However, the CBN Act under cessation of office, states thus: ‘‘(1) A person shall not remain a Governor, Deputy Governor or Director of the Bank if he is- (a) a member of any Federal or State legislative house; or (b) a Director, officer or employee of any bank licensed under the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act.

“(2) The Governor, Deputy Governor or Director shall cease to hold office in the Bank if he-(a) becomes of unsound mind or, owing to ill-health, is incapable of carrying out his duties; (b) is convicted of any criminal offence by a court of competent jurisdiction except for traffic offences or contempt proceedings arising in connection with the execution or intended execution of any power or duty conferred under this Act or the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act; (c) is guilty of a serious misconduct in relation to his duties under this Act; (d) is disqualified or suspended from practising his profession in Nigeria by order of a competent authority made in respect of him personally; (e) becomes bankrupt; (f) is removed by the President: Provided that the removal of the Governor shall be supported by two-third majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed… “

This requirement, in the words of the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja, Monday Ubani, speaks volume and ‘‘a serious matter that cannot be handled in a lackadaisical manner as President had purported to act. It is patently illegal, not well thought out and one pregnant with severe political and economic backlash that will certainly hurt this government for a very long time.

The focal applicable law is Section 11(1) and (2) of the CBN Act which according to a lawyer, Modupe Odele, have varying interpretations- from Public Policy and Relations to moral and legal codes.

Odele argued that the situation gets a bit dicey at the term suspension. He noted that the removal and suspension both envisage a cessation of office, ‘‘albeit in the latter this cessation is expected to be temporary; for example: until a final disciplinary decision is reached. I will concede to the fact that it is a very arguable point that Sanusi’s suspension is tantamount to a removal as he is no longer in office either way; however I will like to state two general principles of interpretation of statutes and Section 11 of the Interpretation Act of the FRN:

‘‘1. A statute is to be interpreted according to the ordinary meaning of the language except where this interpretation will lead to some absurdity (Literal rule); 2. A statute should be construed in line with what the spirit (intention) of the statute is; 3. Section 11 of the Interpretation Act –

”Where an enactment confers a power to appoint a person either to an office or to exercise any functions,… the power includes- (a) power to appoint a person by name or to appoint the holder from time to time of a particular office; (b) power to remove or suspend him”…

From the interpretation Act, Odele conceded that the words ‘remove’ and ‘suspend’ mean different things as a result of the disjunctive particle ‘or’ used between them. ‘‘Technically, it seems like the President has acted within his powers as defined by statute’’. However, looking at the ‘appointers’ of a CBN governor as enshrined in the CBN Act, Odele said Jonathan has no such unilateral powers to suspend Sanusi. ‘‘Since the CBN Act does not provide for ‘suspension’ it is essential to look at the Interpretation Act; essentially he who has power to appoint also has the power to remove and suspend. According to Section 8 of the CBN Act, the President does not have a one-sided power to appoint a Governor of the CBN as whatever selection he makes is subject to an approval by the Senate.

Constitutional lawyer, Norrison Quakers, (SAN) said the President by the provisions of Section 11(2)(f) of the CBN Act, can remove the CBN Governor only with the approval of two-third majority of the Senate.

Lawyers react

Since the suspension was announced, lawyers have had differing opinions on the legality of Jonathan’s action. While some have maintained that the president was right and did not bridge any law since he did not ‘remove’ but suspended ‘his employee’, others argued that the suspension is a nullity because Jonathan has no such powers.

A professor of International Law, Akin Oyebode, Chairman, NBA, Ikeja Branch, Monday Ubani, former Chairman, NBA, Ikorodu Branch, Prince Kazeem Adebanjo, Lagos Lawyer, Iwilade Akintayo and Activist Lawyer, Debo Adeniran differed with the President over the suspension of the CBN Governor, Sanusi.

But the likes of Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Rotimi Ladi-Williams (SAN), argued that Jonathan acted within his purview, going by the fact that Sanusi was suspended and not removed. Conceding that the CBN Act does not provide for suspension by the president, they noted that it also did not say the president, being Sanusi’s boss cannot ask him to step aside for an investigation to be conducted.

Oyebode posited that the President, by his action, has only shot himself in the foot since there would certainly be political costs arising therefrom, aside from other unintended consequences…

But Quakers argued that a governor is expected to furnish the president with information as regards the affairs of the bank and the budget of the government pursuant to Section 8(5)(a), just as he noted that Sanusi’s suspension or sack was not unconnected with the act of whistle blowing on his part and by extension embarrassed the government and the office of the President.

To Ozekhome and Williams, the suspension was long overdue following Sanusi’s errant behaviours and gross insurbodination. Ozekhome said the exchange rate of naira to dollar hit its poorest between N165 to N175 per dollar under Sanusi’s tenure.

“Constitutionally and legally, what the president did is correct and he does not require the consent of the National Assembly to do so. Anyone who is an employee has to know that he is answerable to his employer. You cannot bite the finger that feeds you.

“People should look at this from all sides, it is easy for people to say Sanusi’s suspension was because he revealed some issues, but no, this is not it,” argued Ozekhome.

Constitutional lawyer, Fred Agbaje, wondered whether the allegations against Sanusi were weightier than the issue of gross corruption in the NNPC particularly, the issue of non accounted 20 billion dollars.

“The CBN and its staff including its Governor are governed by the CBN Act. Has the President complied with the CBN laws in taking his decision? No. Therefore, what the president has done amounts to a constitutional nullity and a gratuitous violation of the CBN Act, as well as a threat to the rule of law around which our democracy revolves. Two third majority as demanded by the CBN Act is to guarantee separation of powers and avoid abuse of powers,” he said.

Ubani remarked that the immediate nomination of another candidate for screening by the Senate when the president was purported to have suspended Sanusi, gave the president and his advisers away as having acted illegally.

‘‘If it is suspension as they want us to believe pending conclusion of investigation, why the hurry to screen a successor? If it is true that Sanusi has committed financial recklessness as alleged, then the security agencies ought to have been invited to investigate, and if they found any shred of evidence against him, then his prosecution should have commenced immediately. That EFCC, ICPC or the Police is not invited to investigate these monumental allegations of financial impropriety as alleged beats my imagination or is the presidency saying it has no confidence in the security agencies by its action?

‘‘If this is allowed to stand, it sets a dangerous precedent as any governor of Central Bank can be so accused and chased out of the seat at any time. The President has tried it with the former president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami (rtd) and got away with it and he has tried it now with the governor of CBN and he should not be allowed to get away with this. It is a dangerous precedent,’’ he said.

Former chairman, NBA, Ikorodu Branch, Prince Kazeem Adebanjo said the suspension of Lamido as the CBN Governor was not only unprocedural, but illegal in view of the clear provision of the CBN Act. The President was simply being clever by half by announcing ‘suspension’ rather than ‘removal’. The relevant law gives no room for suspension. He argued that the draftsmen of the law clearly foresaw the plausibility of the current situation wherein the President becomes political in his dealings with the CBN (which symbolises the Nation’s commonwealth). Assuming but not conceding that the erstwhile Governor actually committed the ‘crimes’ (weighty ones for that matter) as alleged by the President, one expects him to have proceded by way of instituting a probe panel, which would have afforded Nigerians the opportunity of deciding whether or not to trust Lamido with any public office in the future more so in view of the latter’s recent revelation on the NNPC. This, he said, the President has failed to do, leaving us to wonder if the CBN can be dealt with as a personal estate of any President. As bad as this appears precedence-wise, it is not the first of its kind in the lifetime of this administration as he recalled with regrets, the circumstances that led to the ouster of the immediate past President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Issah Ayo Salami.

Lagos lawyer, Iwilade Akintayo argued that the provisions of Section 11 (2) of the extant CBN Act clearly contemplates tenure certainty for a CBN Governor- subject of course to the proviso that he may only be removed by the President, upon the concurrence of ‘two-thirds’ majority of the Senate. It thus stands to reason that whatever will tamper with a CBN Governor’s tenure of office, whatever semantic coinage anybody chooses to adopt, should first be tabled before the Senate for approval on a ‘two-thirds’ majority basis. In the present case, it is mischievous to argue that ‘suspension’ does not amount to ‘removal’ within the contemplation of the said Section 11(2) of the CBN Act. They are one and the same.

Iwilade pointed out that it was obvious, from a cumulative reading of the CBN Act, the Legislature contemplated an independent CBN and a Governor, directly answerable, not to the President of Nigeria per se, but to the Bank’s Board in the day to day discharge of his duties.

“While the Act did not aim to create an autocratic or sovereign CBN Governor within a sovereign nation, it provided for a stringent and open process of bringing any erring CBN Governor to account by mandating that his removal shall be with the approval of two-thirds majority of the Senate. Clearly, the manner Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was removed (though disingenuously termed ‘suspension’ which in effect also means removal, even if temporary), clearly runs foul of this legislative intention”, he said.

He said the proper approach that accords with the rule of Law would have been for the President to submit the report, of the allegations of “various acts of financial recklessness and misconduct” leveled against the governor, to the Senate and with a formal request that the Senate should consider the report and approve Mr. Sanusi’s suspension as being proposed by the President. That way, the intention of openness, institution building and non-interference intended by Section 11(2) of the CBN Act would have been complied with. Even at that, if the Senate considers the allegations unfounded or that the CBN Governor was wrongly indicted, then the request for his suspension will be rejected while he will remain validly in office and vice-versa.

Activist lawyer, Debo Adeniran said Jonathan has proven he is above the law by not approaching the Senate first or waiting for its confirmation before taking actions against Sanusi for his alleged offences.

‘‘One is tempted to ask if the president has some other things he would not want Sanusi to reveal should he stay in office a day longer. President Jonathan was so quick to suspend the CBN Governor, levelled grievous allegations against him and immediately sought a replacement.

‘‘Sanusi’s suspension indicates the plight of an average whistleblower in the country. The regime takes joy in dealing roughly with the few upright ones still associated with it. Even if there are allegations of financial recklessness against the man, why not wait until he is found guilty by the court of law?

‘‘It is worrisome that the president who could not monster enough courage to suspend erring officials in his cabinet could just develop strength overnight…It is absurd that the country glorifies its worst and disgraces its best.

The way out

From the diverse legal interpretations opinions that have followed the President’s action, it has become clear that there is a lacuna in the extant laws, which either sides apply to suit their desire. Hence, the need for either an amendment of the CBN Act or a Supreme Court judgment on the issue to forestall future controversies has been recommended.

Ubani called for the review of the Central Bank Act, adding that annual expenditure of the CBN should be appropriated by the National Assembly at all times.

‘‘The issue of disciplining the CBN governor should be well spelt out to avoid situation like what just happened. The Central Bank Governor’s job is a secured one for obvious reasons. No matter what is the situation, the procedures prescribed by law should be followed religiously in taking action against whosoever is occupying that position, including a mad man, even if the system is stupid enough to have allowed a mad man into that position in the first place,” said Ubani.

Agbaje said there is need for the National Assembly to further amend the CBN Act to make the CBN Governor subjected only to the control of two third majority of the Senate so as to insulate the governor from undue executive interference.

To Odele, it was unexpected of the president in a democracy to explore the ‘‘little lacunas in laws. It is the duty of the courts to interpret the scope of that section, however in a democratic society exploiting lacunas in laws is unexpected of a legitimate leader’’.

Prince Adebanjo hoped that the National Assembly would rise to the occasion by refusing to approve in advance the appointment of a new Governor.

“They cannot afford to fail in this patriotic duty once again. Discerning Nigerians are left in no doubt that Lamido was more of an activist while in office but are more convinced that the President’s action was less than altruistic”.

Iwilade pointed out that the issues here go beyond anybody’s love or hatred for the ‘suspended’ Governor’s guts or the usual political harvest hunting by politicians who are hardly better than incumbents they purport to criticise or replace. To him, “if there are genuine allegations of Statutory infractions against the Governor, same should be fairly and very impartially investigated.

“But the misinterpretation of Section 11(2) of the CBN Act must be definitively decided and the rule of law made to triumph since it goes to the heart of Nigeria’s imperative of building its institution.

“ Nigeria lost an opportunity to assert the full independence of the Judiciary with the embarrassingly sad inconclusiveness of Justice Salami’s case till he reached his statutory retirement age. One hopes some useful lessons were learnt from that. But now that the opportunity to assert the independence of the apex financial institution is again here, we hope the institution will eventually be saved for today, and the next generation”.

Adeniran said the Act should be reviewed to address the lapses.

February 25, 2014
From the Villa: Jonathan’s decent houses for Nigerians

There is no doubt that rats, cockroaches and other household insects are very destructive and carriers of some deadly diseases.

These must have informed the support of President Goodluck Jonathan in wiping them out from all human habitation in Nigeria through committed efforts to give Nigerians decent homes to live in.

It is, however, not too clear if the dislodging rats from houses in Nigeria will really go down well with the ethnic groups in Nigeria that enjoy rats as delicacy. If they are gotten rid of from homes, they may face total extinction or continue to flourish in the bushes.

While inaugurating 270 flats built by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria at the Aviation Village and the National Housing Fund electronic card in Abuja this month, the President declared that all Nigerians deserve to live in decent houses as he vowed to do everything to improve the living standard of Nigerians.

To adequately tackle the housing deficits in the country, he said his government is facilitating access to affordable houses through long-term financing and creating enabling environment through appropriate policies.

He stressed the need for estate developers in the country to concentrate more on delivering high quality houses rather than flooding everywhere with sub-standard, rats and cockroaches-infested mass housing estates.

President Jonathan said: “I will always advise real estate developers not to begin to think about money for 10,000 or 20,000 units, but small estates that you can manage so that when people go there, they will know that they are in a place where human beings will live and not where human beings will compete for space with rats and cockroaches.”

Reacting to the remark by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Adulwaheed Omar concerning his friends’ fears that the 270 flats were too small for a President to inaugurate, President Jonathan said: “When my comrade President mentioned that his friend was worried that Mr. President was coming to inaugurate an estate of only 270 housing units, in fact, as he was saying it, I laughed because a number of people don’t know that what makes changes is not the big things we do but the little things we do and do very well.

“What will transform this country are policies that are workable and sustainable. So, it is not going to be one mega city and the inauguration of a housing estate of thousands of units that will transform a country, but your ability to recreate and replicate these small units across the country.”

While it is not bad to make sure that rats and cockroaches have no place in new houses being built for Nigerians, it is worth mentioning here that another killer insect in many Nigerian homes which requires the urgent attention of Mr. President, are mosquitoes.

Even though so much money has been spent on malaria drugs and on insecticide-treated mosquito nets under different programmes, many Nigerian children are still dying from the disease while many production hours are still lost when workers are down with malaria.

Many countries, including Malaysia, have been able to eliminate malaria from their societies. One hopes that real attention will also be paid towards eliminating the disease in Nigeria.

February 25, 2014
Gunmen abduct Jonathan’s cousin in Otuoke
- They hit him on the head, collected N400,000 from wife before whisking him away – inlaw
Without fear of President Goodluck Jonathan, ten gunmen sneaked into Otuoke, his hometown in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, and whisked away his first cousin, Chief Inengite Nitabai.

In a daring move, the heavily armed men stormed the expansive compound of Nitabai located before Otuoke bridge, off Otu-Okpoti-Ogbia Road and isolated their target without a gunshot.

Nitabai said to be about 70 years old is a compound chief in Jonathan’s Ebele family.

He has been acting like a father to the President since Jonathan’s real biological father died, sources from the family said.

Commotion and panic reigned supreme in the compound of Nitabai when the bandits gained access to the area between 8 and 9pm on Sunday.

The victim, his wife, his wife’s sister and three of his children were in the house when the assailants stormed the compound.

His wife’s sister, 37-year-old Akinobebh Jin, said Silas, one of the sons of the victim first sighted the criminals and raised the alarm.

“We came back from somewhere around 8pm. Silas was at the verandah doing his assignment while my inlaw, my sister and two other siblings were in the living room together.

“After sometimes, Silas came shouting and saying that some people had jus entered into the compound. As we sprang on our feet, we were confused because we didn’t know where to run to.

“Shortly After that five heavily armed men entered into the house, barking. We ran into the kitchen and some of them followed us to the kitchen. They asked us to lie down. They hit my sister on the head and asked her to give them money.

“They also hit my inlaw with the butt of their guns and demanded money. They threatened to shoot us. My sister told them she had small money and they followed her to the bedroom where she gave them money”,she said.

Jin said after collecting about N400,000, the gunmen still took their victim forcefully into a car parked at the compound.

She said the car a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) belonged to the victim and was parked in the compound.

“Five of the gunmen entered the compound while five others were hanging around the premises. They locked us inside the house before leaving”, she said.

Jin who sustained injury at her finger said she had yet to recover from the shock.

When our correspondent went to the compound, there was uneasy calm around the area.

A detachment of Joint Task Force(JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, and operatives of the police had been deployed to the place.

Sympathisers were seen trooping into the compound while the wife of the victim was said to have gone to the clinic for treatment.

People were seen in groups discussing the incident just as a road leading to Otuoke had been cordoned off by soldiers.

It was learnt that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, and the Deputy Commander, JTF, Commodore Ime Ekpa, had earlier visited the crime scene.

Opara said he and his men had murdered sleep since the incident happened.

He said the police alerted other sister security agencies and prompted them to swing into action.

He added that two gunboats had been stationed at the Onuebum waterside disclosing that the police had so far patrolled Edebiri, Kiambiri, Anyama and Ogobiri creeks.

Opara revealed that two suspects had been arrested so far.

“The other two suspects saw my men and ran away. We know them and we will get them”, he said.

The Media Coordinator, JTF, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the incident and said the assailants abandoned the victim’s car at the Onuebum community water front.

The confirmation showed that the assailants must have escaped with their victim into the creeks through Onuebum waterways.

Nwachukwu said: “Information available to me is that a certain Chief Nengite Nitabai was abducted by about 10 gunmen yesterday at about 9pm at Otuoke community in Ogbia LGA using his private vehicle.

“The vehicle was later recovered at Onuebum community water front. The Deputy Commander, JTF, Commodore Ime Ekpa and a team of security agents have visited the crime scene and investigation is in progress to unmask the kidnappers and rescue the victim”.

Further investigations in Otuoke revealed that there were two Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) of the Nigerian Army stationed in the community.

While one and detachment of soldiers have been guarding the mansion of President Jonathan, the other was stationed at the former hotel belonging to the wife of the President.
February 24, 2014
Jonathan prays

By his church pilgrimages and sermons of surrender, the president is distracting attention from a corrupt and lazy administration

Watch and pray’ is a biblical injunction that most Christians and those familiar with the Bible know. Some will say it is ‘work and pray’. In either case, the admonition is not only to pray but to either watch and pray, or work and pray. But, President Goodluck Jonathan appears comfortable with only the aspect having to do with prayers alone and has been recommending this as solution to the country’s multifarious problems. He did it at a church service last year. He repeated the charge again at a service held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Olive Parish,

Lagos, when he said that the country would have been on the road to perdition but for prayers.

According to him, it is the prayers that have mitigated the crises that would have been the country’s lot, especially concerning the ceaseless Boko Haram attacks. Indeed, he said, with an air of fatalism, that “God knows it all”, meaning that God allows all these things to happen. The implication of this is that what would happen would happen, and that there is nothing anybody, including himself as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, can do about it. God, he said, has a reason for our problems which he forgot to say were mostly man-made. Hence, he thinks that without prayers, the situation in Nigeria would probably have been worse than it is. In order to cool our tempers, he admonished us to wait for God to turn our situation around with prayers and fasting.

What our President should know is that no nation can live in sin and expect God’s blessings to abound. This is probably why the Bible says “righteousness exalts a nation,” and so must be its leaders. Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural and human resources that are being wasted daily. Is this the will or work of God? Is it God or Nigerian leadership that caused our oil wealth to be regularly stolen by politicians and government officials? In practical terms, what has the president done to alleviate the plight of the poor, like the workers, pensioners that we watch die of hunger daily? What has the president done to alleviate the general suffering of those he is supposed to care and cater for if indeed God was responsible for his election as President of the country? If Prayers alone would do, why is it that the situation in the country is getting worse by the day despite the prayers being said in many of our churches and mosques? How do you explain the reason why our prayers for peace in the North are usually followed the next day and the day after by horrendous killings by the Boko Haram sect? Unfortunately, most of our revered clergymen have not been bold enough to tell the President the home truth; instead, they encourage him by telling him what he wants to hear, that the future of Nigeria is bright whether or not he rules in accordance to the rule of God.

Apparently, the reason for the President’s nonchalance and impunity is the unparallel docility of Nigerians in the face of tribulation caused by successive governments. Stealing and other acts of impunity flourish in this country because ours is an incurably docile community, unlike other places where government impunity and failures are greeted with instant mass reactions. Docility in Nigeria has led to what the Late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti aptly described as ‘suffering and smiling’. This precisely is what the country’s leadership has been taking advantage of to wreck the nation by allowing a few people to corner for themselves our God-given wealth while others suffer in silence.

You cannot preach for prosperity and at the same time steal what belongs to the people. Neither can you preach or pray for peace and be beating the drums of war as President Jonathan has been doing through some of his actions and policies. To even say that the situation would have been worse without prayers is to ask us to beat our chests that Nigeria has not disintegrated or has not been treated like Sodom and Gomorrah as a result of sins for which the cities were completely destroyed through the wrath of God.

Mr. President, prayers are not what Nigeria needs to solve its many problems. What we need are righteous and correct actions, adherence to due process, transparency, accountability and good governance. It is only when all these are in place that prayers become meaningful. The bottom line is – work, watch and pray,

In the final analysis, President Jonathan’s call for prayers when action is needed is an admission of failure; it is also an abdication of responsibility. Nigerians voted him to lead and lead aright; and not to sermonise. It would even have been a different ballgame if he practices what he preaches. His conduct does not portray him as one who believes in prayers because prayers will hardly get answered in the kind of corrupt environment that the country is today.

February 23, 2014
Hurray! Jonathan snares his quarry

Given his talent for amassing enemies you didn’t need a prophet to tell you that former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s tenure was likely to end in tears.

In the end he has been nudged out of the door courtesy of some dodgy contrivance of officialdom called a “suspension.” Given the roadblock set up in Section 11 (f) of the CBN Act 2007 which requires the President to seek the approval of two-thirds of the Senate in order to remove the CBN Governor, this “suspension” was the quickest way of getting rid of him.

The official line is that Sanusi’s removal was down to acts of ‘financial recklessness, violation of due process and the mandate of the CBN.’ Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, then listed a litany of sins such as “persistent refusal and negligence to comply with public procurement act in the procurement practices of the CBN; unlawful expenditure by the CBN on intervention projects across the country, deploying huge sums of money without appropriation and outside the CBN’s statutory mandate.”

From where I stand it is hard to determine Sanusi’s guilty or innocence. Still, it is rich hearing this administration which stands accused of similar malfeasance levelling these allegations.

This is a government that is straining to explain the whereabouts of $10.8 billion from crude oil sales proceeds which the erstwhile CBN boss insists the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is yet to pay into the Federation Account.

This is an administration which is unable to explain what happened to billions expended on funding kerosene subsidy by the same NNPC. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has said the monies were spent without authorisation.

This is the same administration which the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has accused of presiding over the emptying of the Excess Crude Account (ECA). The allegation that $5 billion is missing from the account remains unresolved. According to CBN figures, the ECA had $11.5 billion in December 2014 but by January 17, 2014 that amount had dwindled to $2.5 billion. Many would attribute this evaporation of cash to “financial recklessness.”

In its attempt to justify the dramatic “suspension” the presidency claims that the ex-governor’s infractions and reign of recklessness lasted for most his tenure. This raises natural questions as to why wait until three months to the end of the man’s tenure to bring him to book – given that government was so concerned about the health of the CBN.

What was wrong in 2009 is wrong in 2014. Why did President Goodluck Jonathan tolerate Sanusi’s excesses for virtually all of his tenure?

Apparently, public officials engaging in malpractices is fine so long as they remain good boys who don’t paint the government in bad light. When Sanusi was feverishly defending the removal of petroleum subsidy on national television in January 2012 his ‘sins’ were overlooked.

But they suddenly became unforgiveable and deserving of a suspension because he allegedly leaked an embarrassing letter about the mismanagement of the nation’s finances to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He exacerbated matters by his further revelations about missing monies at the National Assembly public hearings.

Government spokesmen say the sacking was not about Sanusi’s utterances at the Senate. They can tell it to a platoon of marines. It is clear this drama isn’t about transparency. On that score the government is in no position to point fingers at anyone. This is clearly a vengeful political act designed to spite a man who dared the president.

In any country the office of president is a powerful one – but it is more so in developing nations like Nigeria with baby democratic institutions, and where constitutional rule is still evolving. Often, presidents get away with murder unchallenged. Examples abound from Cameroon to Zimbabwe to Gambia where the leaders’ very words have become law, the police and military his personal enforcers to deploy as he deems fit.

But while we must respect and honour leaders as symbols of our sovereignty, let’s not lose sight of the fact that the office of president is a creation of the constitution. He’s not a monarch whose word is law. Even modern day monarchies are regulated. He’s not some infallible deity who must be worshipped and revered. He is a fallible human prone to the same foibles and frailties that are common to men.

So, to President Goodluck Jonathan we say congratulations. You finally got rid of Sanusi. What an achievement sacking a man who was just a couple of months away from retirement! It must feel good letting another of your ‘enemies’ know how awesome your powers are as president.

For the former CBN boss suspension may turn out to be the least of his worries. There may be something or nothing to the negative claims about his tenure. In heat of his purge of CEOs who had turned their financial institutions into personal piggy banks, he used to boast about sending offending Managing Directors to jail. I doubt whether he would want Jonathan and his men to give him a taste of his own medicine. Perhaps they may just stop at destroying his reputation.

Some have pointed out that Sanusi’s ouster bears an uncanny resemblance to that of the former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Salami. Whereas the judge still had two years to go and was clearly not in a hurry to depart, the CBN Governor had repeated again and again that he didn’t want a second term.

Until the very end the powers of the president to suspend Salami was a matter of intense debate. Another issue was whether the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the judiciary were correct in surrendering the powers to regulate their branch and hand same to the president. Till date many insist it was a blunder on the part of the NJC.

But once the suspension was activated it was sustained until Salami’s voluntary retirement. There are those who would say that the presidential move against Sanusi was just a cynical ploy to get a troublemaker out of the way knowing that his only option would be a recourse to the snail-speed courts. In the end even if it is decided that Sanusi’s removal was illegal, it would be an academic exercise that would only inform any future actions by other presidents.

A court ruling on whether Jonathan was right or wrong may be immaterial to Sanusi’s career progression, still it is important to test whether the constitution has made Nigerian presidents as powerful as they think they are, or whether a conniving public has allowed egotistical men to launch unending and unchecked power grabs.

It would be interesting to watch what the National Assembly would say or do. Would it take a clear position on this presidential maneuver? The Presidency is throwing everything at Sanusi in a bid to destroy him. He is being investigated by every agency that has a name. That is fine.

But who will examine a powerful president’s actions? The courts for one: the legislature also if they would rise to the occasion. Can we trust this National Assembly to do their duty?

The courts may take the rest of the decade to decide if the President has violated the laws in this instance. Ordinary Nigerians don’t have those same constraints. They can reward him if they feel he has done well or make him pay a political price if he has overreached. Time will tell.

February 23, 2014
Emperor Jonathan

Yes, he is the President. I do not think anyone has ever doubted this fact, after all he was sworn into that office with fanfare in 2011 following victory at the polls. The awesomeness of his powers, derived from the military-imposed 1999 Constitution, is equally clear to all. However, students of constitutionalism and Political Science know that there are limits to the powers of a President. When Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was in power, Nigerians cried out over the blatant abuse of office. They complained that the Nigerian President had reinterpreted his position under the law. Obasanjo lived and loomed very large. He was in every home and said as much. He saw himself as having the power to overrule the leadership of his party. He was involved in the nomination of even local government chairmen. Anyone who stood in his way in the demonstration of absolute power and authority was scorched to the earth.

The first President under the extant law is limited by the existent of a legislature. He is bound to obey court orders. He is also expected to promote public morality and act always in the best interest of the country and the people. But, Obasanjo was an emperor. He behaved like Emperors of yore and would brook no opposition. The former President chose what court order to obey and had utter contempt for the National Assembly. He posted chairmen of the ruling party as he did his ministers. Governors were regarded more like prefects and spoke only when permitted. Anyone who sought to occupy any position of high profile had to grovel at Aso Rock. When his deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, queried the absolutism that was creeping on the land, he was marked for political extinction. It took resilience and doggedness for Abubakar to survive.

The emergence of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan in 2007 was regarded as the dawn of a new era by many. Both men were real civilians and this was thought a positive development for the polity and democracy. Yar’Adua appeared to have a mind of his own and served notice that he would allow the reign of the Rule of Law. He set out to institute wide-range electoral and political reforms; he unquestioningly obeyed court rulings. When a national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had to hold to elect national officials, Yar’Adua refused entreaties to intervene in the ensuing logjam. Yar’Adua could do so perhaps because he was born into a political family, understood and could fluently speak the language of power. Could the same be said of the man who succeeded him when the cold hands of death took the President away?

Jonathan came into office to learn. He was not prepared for the demands of the office. He was not yet adept at understanding the letters, let alone imbibe the spirit of the law. He was not schooled in the fine art of democratic leadership. And, in office, he began studying the letters of the law. This has affected the country as he became dependent on the much his teachers (aides) allowed him know. He grew to believe that the President could do all things, adopted the Obasanjo model and patterned his leadership after the former President. He sought to impose his will on the polity and made a simple distinction only by adopting subtle use of power to Obasanjo’s brutal display. He moved into the Governors’ Forum and seized its soul. He intervened cruelly in the Bayelsa governorship poll by imposing Seriake Dickson on the state.

When it was time to pick a national chairman for the ruling party, Jonathan dumped the Yar’Adua model for Obasanjo’s. He settled for a 76-year old Bamanga Tukur who had been out of political calculation for about three decades. The ensuing crisis only enabled the President seize more power.

The sign that we might have returned to the age of absolutism came as soon as the man assumed power. Riding the waves, he showed the unpopular Professor Maurice Iwu the way out of office. He evaded the Senate to which he ought to have submitted his wish to remove the Independent National Electoral Commission’s chairman by sending the man on compulsory leave. It pleased the public. The Senate concurred. And Jonathan was pleased. Next, he went for the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami. He illegally suspended the man, ostensibly at the instance of the National Judicial Council. But, when the same body asked him to reinstate Justice Salami, he disregarded the verdict. Many Nigerians cried out, but the majority fell victim of the President’s politicization of a simple case.

Now, he has exercised the same non-existent power in suspending Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Does this President think he is a Leviathan? Does he believe he lives in a Hobbesian jungle where the mighty could simply gobble the weak? He obviously fancies himself as a monarch in the pre-enlightenment age. He perhaps wants to revive life under the French Louis IV who declared: “I am the state.”

President Jonathan must be told he is not the Nigerian state. He has a duty to operate within the dictates of the law. The Senate should stop him. All Nigerians should see the danger ahead if this Leviathan is allowed to get away with this impunity. It does not matter what we think of Sanusi-voluble, impetuous, insensitive to his environment. The law is about a process. We all owe Nigeria the duty of calling this President to order. Otherwise, he would, next time, move to remove the President of the Senate or the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

ERROR: Last week, we referred to the ministerial nominee accused of the murder of the late Chief Bola Ige as Awosiyan. He is Jelili Adesiyan.

February 23, 2014