The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jonathan

  • State of nation address bill unconstitutional – Jonathan

    State of nation address bill unconstitutional – Jonathan

    …Proposes amendment

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday declared the State of the Nation Address bill passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to him for assent as unconstitutional.

    Jonathan said that some clauses of the bill contradict provisions of the Constitution especially Section 67.

    He also said the bill offends that principle of separation of powers as enshrined in the Constitution.

    He returned the bill and proposed some amendments to enable him sign the bill.

    The President in a letter read by the Senate President, David Mark, insisted that certain sections of the bill should be altered in line with Constitutional provisions.

    He said that the Constitution has made ample provision for the kind of address the National Assembly wanted in the bill.

    The President said, “I am of the considered opinion that the 1999 Constitution has made ample provision for the kind of address contemplated by this bill.

    ‘It would therefore amount to a duplication to enact legislation on the same subject matter.

    “This is more so as the proposed legislation seeks to circumscribe the President’s discretion regarding whether or not, he should attend the joint meeting of the National Assembly or of any meeting or either of the House of National Assembly; the time to present the address; his determination of which policy of government is of ‘national importance’ for the purpose of an address; in addition to the threat of the use of coercive powers in the event of non compliance.

    “This in my humble view is inconsistent with the doctrine of separation of powers and the letter and spirit of the Constitution.

    He insisted that bringing into force another law on the issue would amount to a duplication of legislation.

     

     

  • Jonathan, Amaechi in battle to host governors

    Jonathan, Amaechi in battle to host governors

    President’s planned dinner clashes with NGF meeting

    The battle for the control of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) resumed yesterday, with elected Chairman Rotimi Amaechi summoning a meeting of members for tomorrow in Abuja.

    In what was seen by observers as an apparent bid to frustrate the meeting, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday invited all governors for what a source termed as a “curious” dinner.

    The timing of the presidential dinner coincides with the NGF meeting’s time. The agenda remained unclear, as at press time last night. But there was the suspicion that it was meant to break the rank of the 19 governors who re-elected Amaechi.

    But the Amaechi group has vowed to go ahead with the NGF meeting instead of the “emergency” presidential dinner.

    This is the first meeting Amaechi is calling after last month’s disputed NGF election.

    Amaechi won 19 votes to beat Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, who got 16 votes. Yobe State Goveror Ibrahim Gaidam abstained from voting.

    But Jang has continued to lay claim to the chairmanship, claiming that he won because Northern governors chose him as their consensus candidate. He has the backing of the Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Jang, who has rented an office in Abuja for his faction of the NGF, last Monday called a meeting. Only 16 governors attended.

    A Press Officer of the NGF Secretariat, Chidimma Onyenalim, in a notice of the meeting yesterday, said: “There will be a meeting of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Wednesday 26th June, 2013. Time: 8.00pm prompt. Venue: Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, No. 5 Justice Mohammed Bello Street, Asokoro, Abuja.”

    The agenda of the meeting: Chairman’s brief on NGF in the news, fresh and subsisting litigations; visit to the NGF secretariat, update on Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), Excess Crude Account (ECA) and Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), update on State Peer Review Mechanism (SPRM) and other issues.

    The meeting will also deliberate on polio eradication initiative: Structuring a programme to address emerging challenges, Post election disagreements, NGF and its partners, NGF strategy plan 2013-2015 and AOB.

    A governor told our correspondent last night that the Governor’s Forum meetings are held once a month on the eve of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.

    He said there was no need to meet “until it is time, which is now”. Those calling meetings every week are those looking for legitimacy,” he said.

    The NGF meeting will precede the NEC meeting on Thursday.

    Following a likely boycott by some governors branding Jang as their leader, some pro-Amaechi governors, who went on official trip abroad, have been recalled.

    Another governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “This is our major meeting after the election of the NGF chairman, Governor Rotimi Amaechi and we will make sure that all of us are there to prove that we are standing by Amaechi.

    “As a matter of fact, some G-19 members scheduled to travel abroad have suspended it. And those currently overseas for investment drive have been recalled. For instance, Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido is expected to fly into the country tomorrow to be part of the meeting.

    “The sacrifice we are making underscores our agitation for untainted democracy, not only at the NGF level, but in all facets of our national life.”

    Another governor said: “When they heard that the authentic NGF meeting would hold, all the 36 governors have been invited to the Presidential Villa for a curious dinner. The dinner is fixed for the same time we are expected to start the NGF session. No governor can really say the motive of the dinner.

    “Well, we prefer the NGF meeting to a dinner. The Presidency is trying to use the dinner to divide the Forum. We know the other 16 governors following Jang may opt for the dinner but we will prefer to go hungry to protect the nation’s democracy than go for food.”

    To the governor, the Presidency is being jittery that the Amaechi group will have the majority of the NGF members at our meeting. The design is to deplete our ranks with dinner but it will not work,” he said.

    “Well, we see the NGF meeting convened by Amaechi as our normal session on a monthly basis before the meeting of the NEC. Until the Presidency meddled in the affairs of the NGF, we used to meet normally once in a month,” he said.

    Asked whether the NGF meeting could disrupted by forces opposed to Amaechi, the governor replied: “We do not envisage that; they won’t go to such a ridiculous level. But if they do so, Nigerians will now know their intention.

    “You know they have been sponsoring some suits against the authentic NGF but they cannot go far. All the 19 governors backing Amaechi will be in Abuja on Wednesday.”

     

  • 2015: Jonathan ’ll divide Nigeria, says Fani-Kayode

    2015: Jonathan ’ll divide Nigeria, says Fani-Kayode

    A  former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan would attempt to split the country, if he does not win the 2015 general elections.

    The former minister said the President has divided the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    He said the interference of the Presidency in the internal affairs and the subsequent division of the NGF were part of a game plan and a “clear indication that should President Goodluck Jonathan lose next election, he will plot for the division of the country”.

    Fani-Kayode, who addressed reporters yesterday in Minna, the Niger State capital, wondered why a loser of an election would declare himself the winner because he enjoyed the backing of the Presidency, thereby splitting the NGF.

    Fani-Kayide expressed optimism that opposition parties would terminate the continued reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the next general elections.

    The former minister, however, said the nation should prepare for a possible attempt to split the country when the PDP government fails at the poll.

    He said: “It is only in Nigeria that a loser with the backing of the Presidency can declare himself the winner, leading to the splitting of NGF. This is a prerequisite for 2015. When the President is defeated, he will declare himself winner, the same way it happened in the NGF. He will try to split the country the same way he did to the NGF.”

  • Why Nigeria didn’t appeal ICJ ruling on Bakassi, by Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan has given reasons why Nigeria did not appeal the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which awarded the oil-rich territory of Bakassi to Cameroon in 2002.

    Speaking during an interactive session with the Nigerian community in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Sunday night, he said Nigeria did not appeal to ensure the protection of its citizens living in Cameroon.

    According to him, when two countries are friendly, the citizens also tend to be friendly, but when two countries disagree, their citizens also tend to disagree.

    President Jonathan said Nigeria had no new evidence within the period given that would make a difference in the judgment.

    The President is in Cameroon for the Summit of Heads of States and Governments of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), which started yesterday and is focusing on maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.

    While the area has been guarded by Cameroonian soldiers since their country took control of the territory from Nigeria on August 14, 2008, there was a deadline for Nigerians there to decide to become Cameroonians latest by August 2012 or leave the territory.

    Jonathan said: “You all know what happened in Bakassi. There is no need to go back on why we couldn’t appeal. We had no new evidence within the period of time given that would make a difference in the judgment.

    “Our people should live a good and decent life in Cameroon. The forces of animosity are dying down and the relationship is improving.”

    He assured the citizens that his administration was committed to their welfare and that their concern on the high cost of residence permits, high cost of tuition fees for students, among others, would be tabled before his host, President Paul Biya, to find a solution to them.

    Hailing the good reports on Nigerians in Cameroon, President Jonathan assured that the concerns raised on security, power and infrastructural deficits in Nigeria are being tackled.

    He said progress has been made in key sectors during two years of his administration’s tenure.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Jonathan to confer with African leaders on piracy

    Jonathan to confer with African leaders on piracy

    President Goodluck Jonathan is due in Yaounde, Cameroun today to participate in the Summit of West and Central African Heads of State and Government on Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea.

    The summit begins tomorrow. It is coming against the background of rising incidents of piracy in the Gulf.

    President Jonathan will be joined by other Heads of State of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central Africa States (ECCAS) to deliberate on new proposals and a joint action plan to tackle piracy and maritime criminality in the region.

    Documents to be considered and ratified at the Summit include a Memorandum of Agreement among ECOWAS, ECCAS and the Gulf of Guinea Commission on maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa; the policy statements of the Heads of State and Government on maritime safety and security; as well as a Code of Conduct on the fight against piracy, armed robbery and illegal maritime activities.

    It is expected that at the conclusion of the summit, legal instruments for cooperation on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea will be adopted by participating heads of state and government.

    On President Jonathan’s entourage are : the Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke; Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro; Minister of Transport, Alhaji Idris Umar; Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Joseph Ezeoba; and Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi.

    The President will also hold bi-lateral talks with President Paul Biya on issues such as border security and the welfare of Nigerians living in Cameroun.

     

  • Aftermath of S’ West PDP endorsement of Jonathan

    Aftermath of S’ West PDP endorsement of Jonathan

    A few days ago, key leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West met in Lagos. At the end of the meeting, they reportedly endorsed President Goodluck Jonatham for a second term in office. Instructively, some prominent members loyal to ex-president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, like the party’s former National Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola ex-Governors Olusegun Oni, Adebayo Alao-Akala, to mention but a few, stayed away. This development, observers noted, is another clear indication that the party will be contesting the 2015 general elections as a fractured entity.

  • Jonathan distorting facts on Boko Haram victims- Northern CAN

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday accused President Goodluck Jonathan of distorting facts regarding victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Reacting to a statement credited to Jonathan that Muslims have been the major victims of the Boko Haram attacks in the north, northern CAN said the statement was misleading and unacceptable.

    Spokesman of northern CAN, Sunday Oibe, said in a statement yesterday in Kaduna that the body was disappointed with the President’s statement, considering the fact that Christian interests and businesses have been the major targets of the Boko Haram sect.

    The statement reads in part: “If it is true that Mr. President actually made this assertion, then we are highly disappointed and sad at this veil attempt to distort the facts as it concerns the activities of the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

    “We say this because there has never been any bomb that has been exploded in any mosque or targeted at any mosque in the entire activities of the Boko Haram Islamic sect in the north.

    “The Boko Haram members even said that even when a Muslim is killed, it is by mistake. They came out openly to say that their targets are Christians and government institutions.

    “So we are shocked, surprised and puzzled when a newspaper quoted Mr. President as saying that the Boko Haram terrorists have killed more Muslims than Christians in the north.”

    The body added: “Everybody, including the international community, knows that Christians and their churches have been the target of the terrorists. The statistics are there for everybody to see how Christians have been massacred by the terrorists.”

     

  • Jonathan: Why Boko Haram could not establish root in Kano

    Jonathan: Why Boko Haram could not establish root in Kano

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday attributed the inability of extremists, terrorists and insurgents to establish firm roots in Kano to the wise, competent and diligent leadership of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

    He spoke while receiving a delegation from Alhaji Ado Bayero led by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Dan Majen Kano, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, at the Presidential Villa.

    According to him, Nigeria owes the Emir a huge debt of gratitude for his efforts, which have greatly helped to prevent Kano’s large population of youth from falling under the influence of extremists.

    The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, restated his condemnation of the recent terrorist attack on Alhaji Ado Bayero, which he said was most reprehensible.

    He said: “We thank God Almighty for sparing his life. We will continue to pray that God should grant him many more years of fruitful service to the people of Kano and Nigeria,”

    Jonathan also told members of the delegation, who were at the Presidential Villa to convey the Emir’s appreciation for the President’s support and representation at recent celebrations to mark the Emir’s 50th year on the throne, that Alhaji Bayero’s successful rulership of Kano for over 50 years was quite significant and worthy of celebration.

    He declared that the Emir was one of the most decent and respectable Nigerians he has had the privilege of interacting with.

    The Governor of the Central Bank, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, which also included Prince Ahmed Ado Bayero, Mallam Abdulqadir Mustafa and Mallam Munir Sanusi, said that Alhaji Ado Bayero greatly appreciated President Jonathan’s interest, support, goodwill and representation at all the major events organised to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ascension to the throne of the Emirate of Kano.

    He delivered a personal letter of appreciation from Alhaji Ado Bayero to the President.

  • PDP mini-convention: Jonathan moves to hijack NWC from governors

    PDP mini-convention: Jonathan moves to hijack NWC from governors

    The battle for the PDP presidential ticket for the 2015 election is gathering pace with President Goodluck Jonathan and his strategists perfecting a plan to stuff the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) with his loyalists ahead of the July 20 mini-national convention of the party.

    The aim is to hijack the NWC from the PDP highly influential governors, ex-governors and stakeholders like ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo with a view to limiting the chances of aspirants that may be sponsored by them against the President in the PDP presidential primaries.

    The main targets of the planned reorganisation of the NWC members are loyalists of Chief Obasanjo, Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers State), Aliyu Babangida (Niger) and other “rebel” governors.

    Some of the affected candidates are among the eight members of the NWC and eight deputy national officers who resigned on Thursday.

    A chieftain of the PDP and member of the Adamawa State PDP stakeholders, Dr. Umar Ardo, said the resignation of NWC members was suspicious and the excuse of the INEC report might be a smokescreen.

    Party sources said the President’s camp strongly believes that the control of the NWC is key to winning the presidential primaries.

    The President’s men attributed the cracks in the NWC earlier in the year to members loyal to the anti-Jonathan camp.

    It was gathered that at a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, loyalists of the President agreed that the mini-national convention and the INEC report of April 8,2013 which nullified the election of some NWC members provide an opportunity to get rid of the anti-Jonathan elements.

    Consequently, Jonathan’s strategists decided to hijack the interim NWC members and the National Convention Committee constituted at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

    The composition of the interim NWC left out the candidates of key party leaders that are either opposed to or not keen on Jonathan’s second term.

    Those in control of the interim NWC are Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; ex-Governor Peter Odili; Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike; Chief Bode George; Senator Andy Uba and others.

    The interim NWC members are Bamanga Tukur(National Chairman) from the Jonathan camp; acting Deputy National Chairman, Chibudom Nwuche (Jonathan/Peter Odili/ Wike); acting National Secretary, Dr. Remi Akintoye (Chief Olabode George/ South-West PDP leaders); Deputy National Secretary, Senator Emman Agboti (Senator Anyim Pius Anyim); acting National Publicity Secretary, Tony Okeke(Olisah Metuh/Andy Uba connection); acting National Legal Adviser, Simon Jok(Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State); acting Woman Leader (Anyim/PDP stakeholders in Imo) and acting National Youth Leader, Tanko Beji(Governor Babangida Aliyu).

    Findings also revealed that the composition of the Special Convention Planning Committee, headed by ex-Minister Jerry Gana, was skewed in favour of Jonathan’s loyalists in the G-16 Forum being coordinated by Governor Jonah Jang.

    The convention committee comprises Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu (Secretary); Governor Godswill Akpabio (Deputy Chairman); Governors Theodore Orji (Abia); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Gabriel Suswam ( Benue); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); SGF Anyim Pius Anyim; Special Adviser (Political) to the President, Ahmed Gulak and 27 others.

    A top source said that the plot by the Jonathan camp is an indication that all the NWC members and deputy national officers from opposing stakeholders in the PDP might not be re-elected at the mini-national convention.

    The source said candidates with links to ex-President Obasanjo, Governors Amaechi, Babangida Aliyu, Aliyu Wammako, Sule Lamido and Rabiu Kwankwaso might not make it back to the NWC at the convention.

    These are: Sam Sam Jaja (ex-Deputy National Chairman); sacked National Secretary of the party, ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola; sacked National Auditor, Chief Bode Mustapha; former Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Kema Chikwe (ex-National Woman Leader); ex- National Youth Leader, Garba Chizea; ex-National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; Abubakar Mustapha (ex-National Organizing Secretary); and ex-Deputy Binta Goje.

    A top party source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The decision of the PDP to defer to the INEC to organize a mini-national convention has given Jonathan and his loyalists a leverage to weed out alleged disloyal members of the NWC.

    “In 2012 when Bamanga Tukur’s NWC came on board, the governors held Jonathan to ransom and virtually imposed these former NWC members on the President. This is why Jonathan is not taking things for granted this time around; he wants to put his loyalists in charge.

    “The ultimate target of having his men in the NWC is to make the 2015 presidential primaries of the PDP a fait accompli. Not only that, the new NWC will determine party structure in each of the 36 states and the FCT. More importantly, Jonathan will be able to assert his influence and ensure who gets what in 2015 through his anointed NWC.

    “The picture of the mini-national convention is bigger than the euphoria with which party members were seeking the removal of Tukur and the NWC members.

    “So, as far as the mini-convention is concerned, all candidates linked to Obasanjo and rebellious PDP governors and ex-governors are not likely to make it.

    “Already, the NWC members, who resigned on Thursday, have been moving round the presidency to pledge their loyalty to Jonathan, Tukur, BoT chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, zonal leaders and other PDP stalwarts.”

    On his part, Dr. Ardo said the resignation of NWC members was suspicious and the excuse of the INEC report might be a smokescreen.

    Ardo, who was a gubernatorial aspirant of the PDP in Adamawa State , said he does not “believe that the current so-called resignation of PDP members of the NWC is because of the INEC’s report on their mode of elections.”

    He added:“ When did INEC reports ever become a matter of serious concern to both the PDP and INEC itself?

    “If it is really because of the INEC report, then what about the PDP ward, LGAs and state chapters in nine states of the federation which the INEC report declared as unconstitutional?

    “In three separate letters dated March 5, 14 and April 2, 2012 signed by the commission’s Secretary and addressed to the PDP National Chairman, the INEC rejected the mode of election of the party’s wards and LGA organs as unconstitutional and advised the party’s national secretariat not to proceed with its staged-congresses until it re-conducted the wards and LGA congresses in the states affected.

    “However, the party flagrantly disobeyed this directive and continued its congresses at the states, zonal and even national convention with delegates composed by these ward and LGA chapters.

    “These states, included Adamawa, Taraba, Jigawa, Anambra, Nasarawa, Plateau, Lagos, Kogi and Sokoto. Dissatisfied with the non-compliance of the party with the directives of the INEC, particularly as regards to my state of Adamawa, I petitioned the NWC on the matter.

    “When my petition was scornfully ignored by the party leadership, I filed in a law suit against the party at the FCT High Court, asking the court to determine whether the INEC had the powers to write those letters, whether the letters had force of authority on the PDP and if so whether, PDP was bound to comply. And if the court answered my questions affirmatively, then I prayed the court to declare the excos in all the wards, LGAs and the state in Adamawa as null and void; and to order the NWC of the PDP to go back and re-conduct congresses in all the organs of the party in the state.

    “Unfortunately, the matter is still lying dormant and undecided before the court more than a year now since I instituted it. I even applied that the case be reassigned to another judge, but my application was equally ignored.

    “Thus, to the best of my knowledge, with the exception of Adamawa State, because of my tenacity and to get me withdraw my court case, none of these nine states re-conducted congresses as directed by the INEC to legitimize the excos of their organs to date.

    “It is also of note that this was exactly what happened between 2008 and 2011, during which the INEC wrote four letters to the PDP stating that excos of the party organs in eight states of the federation were illegally composed and advised that they be re-conducted in line with the party’s constitution and guidelines.

    “The PDP did not comply. Yet the INEC accepted and filled in all the nominees submitted to it by those illegitimate excos in the 2011 general elections. Many of these nominees are now in public offices as so-called legitimately elected officials.

    “Now that the INEC report has suddenly acquired some importance and authority to make members of the NWC resign, it is imperative that the commission insists, and the party complies, that its directives as contained in those letters be carried out in the remaining eight states of the federation with Adamawa having being so far the sole compliant.

    “This is what will convince me and Nigerians that the current wave of resignations in the membership of the PDP NWC is because of the INEC report, and that the rule of law as regards the INEC authority on political parties has returned to the affairs of our party.”

  • Letter to Jonathan

    Letter to Jonathan

    Super Eagles players are big clowns. Their coaches, I dare say, are jokers. With such a comity, it didn’t come as a surprise that they couldn’t ponder over the smear that they brought on Nigerians with their mercantile acts in Namibia.

    Having scraped through a nail-biting 1-1 draw against Namibia, our boys thought that such petty blackmailing of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was the best way to cover up their folly against the Namibians. Nigerians are wiser now.

    Nigerians are used to such indecent acts from the Eagles when they are doing well. It is not the first time. What these self-serving players and coaches didn’t reckon with is the fact that NFF chiefs have learnt how to dine with the devil with the proverbial long spoon.

    I’m convinced that this despicable action was concocted by them to explain away their anticipatory bad performance at the Confederations Cup.

    Given the pedigree of our players, especially with the home-grown rookies in the squad, Nigerians looked forward to the Eagles beating Tahiti resoundingly. Nigerians left the two games against Uruguay and Spain open, with many banking on the unpredictable nature of football for any upset.

    Many soccer fans braced themselves to accept any result against Uruguay and Spain. We also hinged our qualification for the semi-finals on luck. Why luck, you may want to ask? We are used to permutations when it comes to the Eagles. We reckon that Spain will beat Uruguay, Tahiti and Nigeria. We always pray for us to qualify. In this case, many prayed that Uruguay should not beat Tahiti. We want Tahiti to win. They reckon that with a last game against Spain, the world champions will parade a second-string side that we can handle. The purists, among us feel that Spain would want to sacrifice Uruguay by losing to Nigeria, knowing that on a good day, the Eagles are a softer meat to chew than the Uruguayans. Please, don’t laugh. This has been the Eagles’ lot when it comes to matches of this nature.

    The Eagles should have left the window of excuse in the event that they don’t do well at the Confederations Cup on the altar of fatigue, arising from a crowded fixture. Nigerians would have appreciated that excuse, not the disgraceful act in Namibia.

    Over time, our players and coaches have sustained this campaign of calumny against the NFF because their spurious claim of being shortchanged by the Football Federation has never been investigated. I will be surprised if things change with this incident.

    It has been the easiest lie against the NFF and it is time this trend is stopped. Indeed, President Goodluck Jonathan, in the euphoria of the Eagles lifting the Africa Cup of Nations’ diadem, after a 19-year break, graciously gave Stephen Keshi the leeway to see him if he had problems. I won’t blame Jonathan, given the setting. But most Nigerians abuse such privileges. What the President didn’t know is that Keshi likes power and knows how to use it forcefully; little wonder his alias Big Boss.

    The President needs to order a probe into this incident. Those found culpable should be punished.

    Let us look at the situation dispassionately. It could be that the players and coaches felt that the NFF was given money by the government and wanted to shortchange them, hence the outcry. But, the intervention by the Honourable Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi should have offered them the plank for a rethink. It was an act of insubordination by Keshi not to have been able to convince his wards to proceed to Brazil, on the strength of the minister’s promise to bring the cash to them there. It is simply preposterous for the players and the coaches to have directed that the minister should text an undertaking to one of their telephones as a commitment.

    The quick questions are: has the Minister reneged on any promise to the Eagles? Okay, if the players and coaches didn’t trust NFF, how about the Minister? Why must we drag the President into such despicable act? Why did the Senate President call up the President for a matter that the Minister could handle?

    Don’t try to paint the picture of how the leader of the delegation to Namibia, himself a senator, called the Senate President or the picture of the Senate President trying to convince the President to release more cash to avert a national shame? Don’t bother to figure out the expression on the Minister’s face when Keshi told him that he couldn’t convince the players to stop their shameful act. Don’t also try to figure out what you will do if you were the Minister being asked to send a text message of committal to pay cash by players and coaches?

    Such scenarios happen here because we sweep everything under the carpet, when the issue is the Super Eagles. But should we fold our arms? No way. This international disgrace must stop.

    The Minister must stand up to this challenge. The Minister must direct the NFF to fix the premium to be paid to our players. This decision should have the players’ and coaches’ inputs.

    A quick way towards solving this problem is to aggregate what other countries spend on such issues and find the middle position. The problem with us is that governance isn’t a continuum here. The minister may fix a figure that his successor, in an attempt to play to the gallery will reverse.

    This fresh brouhaha is one of the vestiges of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) hitherto meant to motivate the then “Super Chicken” at the 2010 World Cup, after a nerve-wrenching 2010 Africa Cup of Nations performance, but which has returned to haunt us, no thanks to the callous acts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hierarchy on the PTF chairman, Rotimi Chubuike Amaechi. No one knows if the PTF has been disbanded. No counter-instruction has come from the government on the bonus issue.

    I recall that the former NFF President, Sani Lulu, had issues with the PTF on this subject, when he insisted that the federation wouldn’t be able to sustain the payment of $10,000 as winning bonuses to the players and the double figure for the coaches.

    Lulu’s insistence on paying what the NFF could sustain accounted for one of the reasons why he was perceived as stubborn. Lulu was hounded out of the NFF, yet his fears stare us on the face like a sore thumb.

    The fight over bonuses got to a head, culminating in the decision where NFF brought US$5000 and the PTF provided the balance of US$5000. Even at that, Lulu still says it till date that the PTF never fulfilled their side of the agreement.

    Maybe the Mr. President can re-inaugurate another PTF and fund it like the late President Umaru Yar’Adua did with the Amaechi-led body.

    Like Drogba, like Mikel

    John Mikel Obi has a big cross to carry. He must decide his future now. He needs to look at the long term in his career. In doing so, he must understand that the life span of an athlete is short – on the pitch, that is.

    I really don’t envy Mikel. With returnee coach Jose Mourinho, I would rather Mikel takes the plunge and grab the Galatasaray FC of Turkey deal. He could bench Mikel for long periods which would inevitably affect his market value, if he wants to move.

    Like Dider Drogba, Mikel has won the UEFA Champions League, the Europa Cup, the Barclays English League diadem, Carling Cup and the English FA Cup. There isn’t any trophy in England and Europe that he doesn’t have the medal at home.

    Now is the time to plan for his retirement benefit, which many may argue is too early. It is better now than later.

    Come on Mikel, follow Drogba’s path. Leave Chelsea now that your market value is high. The Ivoiren is in Turkey, smiling to the bank with his mega bucks. Mikel could return to England late to end his career with smaller clubs. Who knows?