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Tag: Jonathan

  • Jonathan denies allocating N2tr for re-election

    Jonathan denies allocating N2tr for re-election

    THE Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, has denied allegation that N2 trillion was allocated by President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the general elections.

    A Lagos-based newspaper, which reported the allegation yesterday, added that Jonathan had set up a five-member committee to recover unutilised funds diverted by some party chieftains.

    But reacting to the report, Abati said the report was mischievous, false and embarrassing.

    He said: “The front-page story alleging that the Presidency spent a whopping N2 trillion on the 2015 general elections, and that a committee of five has been set up by President Jonathan to conduct an audit of how the funds were disbursed by party members and state officials is mischievous, false and embarrassing.”

    “The President has not set up any committee as alleged in that story. It is also not true that the Presidency and the PDP used state funds, or spent N2 trillion during the campaigns. The innuendoes are wrong-headed; the motives behind the story are suspicious.

    “The story alleges, for example, that the Presidency spent N2trillion on elections and embarked on a money-sharing spree to party members, support groups and state officials. The authors of the story and their self-appointed megaphones further insinuate that public funds were deployed in this regard. Their allegation of a theft of public funds is extremely malicious.”

    He noted that the claim that N2 trillion, which is half of the Federal Government’s annual budget, was earmarked for the election was aimed at inciting the public.

  • Constitution review: Group urges National Assembly to override Jonathan

    Constitution review: Group urges National Assembly to override Jonathan

    A legislative advocacy group, Association for the Promotion of Parliamentary Relations (APPAR), yesterday asked the National Assembly to override President Gooluck Jonathan’s veto of the constitution amendment.

    APPAR, in a statement by its Lead Facilitator, Paukl Onwde, said it received with rude shock the news of the refusal of Jonathan to sign the Constitutional Amendment Bill.

    Onwude said it was a very rare privilege and courtesy extended to the President to ceremonially sign the bill which he does not have a role.

    He said the President cited several reasons ranging from: not satisfying the requirements of section 9(3) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, whittling down Executive Powers, giving Executive Powers to the Legislature and the Judiciary, including casting aspersions on the procedures of the National Assembly by querying the Voice Vote procedures used by the National Assembly.

    Onwude noted that though the President is entitled to his opinion, “however, he can keep his opinion to himself because he cannot be wiser than 109 Senators, 360 Members of the House of Representatives and the 36 State Houses of Assembly representing over 170 million Nigerians, who were duly consulted and have all agreed on the provisions of the amendments.”

    He insisted that the opinion of one man – The President- cannot invalidate the majority approval of the Constitution especially when his opinion is not even required by law.

    He said: “It is important to state here that by our Constitution and practices in the presidential system like the United States of American, the President does not have a role in the Constitutional Amendment process.

    “The President can only use what is called the “Bully Pulpit” to lobby for or against proposed amendments during national consultations like the House of Representatives’ Peoples Assembly or the Senate’s Zonal Public Hearings.

    “Some Presidents in the USA have signed Constitutional Amendment Bills before, however, it was just ceremonial. The US Congress and the State Legislatures are the ones that have the mandate to amend the Constitution in the USA as directed by Article V of the US Constitution. The only Executive Arm/Branch Public Official authorized in the USA to participate in the process, according to provisions of 1 U.S.C. 106B, is the Federal Archivist, who normally directs his/her staff, the Director of the Federal Register to publish and document the amendments.”

    He noted that according to Section 9(3), of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the approving authority of the Constitutional Amendment or alteration in Nigeria are the 36 State Houses of Assembly that must approval it by 2/3 majority vote and same for the two chambers of the National Assembly, notwithstanding the provisions of sections 58(1) and Sections 100(1) of the Constitution that empowers the President and the Governors to sign bills into law, respectively.

  • Jonathan under pressure to sack IGP

    Jonathan under pressure to sack IGP

    There were indications yesterday that the Presidency is unhappy with the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, for alleged security and protocol breaches.

    Some forces in government have started mounting pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan to drop the IGP, but the President was said not to be interested in taking any disciplinary action against Abba.

    It was learnt that Jonathan has made up his mind to leave the fate of the IGP to the incoming administration.

    Investigation revealed that there had been disquiet in the Presidency over certain steps Abba took during the recently concluded presidential election and since Jonathan conceded defeat to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Some forces in government were disturbed that with the exception of Rivers, Delta, Cross River, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom and the entire South-East region, the Nigeria Police did not act the election script written for the force in strategic states like Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Borno, Kaduna and Kwara.

    The IGP was said to have instructed the Divisional Police Officers in Lagos to comply with the directive of the Commissioner of Police in Lagos and not any Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

    It was gathered that upon the ‘failure’ of the police in the strategic states, the Presidency was angry that the IGP was at the presentation of certificate of return to the President-elect by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, contrary to the norm.

    The Presidency had also noted that Abba was at the airport at a time to receive the President-elect.

    But a source said that what really “pissed off” the Presidency was the alleged leakage of the presidential directive to redeploy Assistant Inspector-General Tunde Ogunsakin from Rivers State on the eve of April 11 governorship poll.

    The covert decision was said to have been taken in the Presidency by three officials, including the IGP.

    A reliable source said: “There is disquiet in the Presidency on whether or not to drop the IGP for certain missteps. Some forces are angry that the police failed to back the status quo in some states during the recently-concluded poll.

    “I think the IGP chose a neutral position and opted to live up to his oath of office during the general election.

    “The IGP’s presence during the presentation of certificate of return to Buhari left many presidency officials dazed because it was alleged not to be within his official “mandate.”

    “The presence of the IGP at the National Collation Centre with Buhari was rated as a partisan move and a provocative initiative.

    “Some forces in the Presidency believe that Abba should be asked to step aside. The leakage on the redeployment of AIG Tunde Ogunsakin from Rivers State on the eve of April 11 governorship poll has fueled the demand for IGP’s sack.”

    It was however learnt that the President is not disposed to the exit of the IGP.

    Instead, he was said to have left the fate of the IGP and service chiefs to the President-elect.

    Another source added: “The President might not bow to the demand by some forces to drop the IGP because he is not a vendetta person. He has decided to leave the fate of the IGP and other service chiefs to his successor.

    “The fact that a former President sacked some public officials few days to his exit does not mean that Jonathan would follow in his footsteps.”

    A police source said: “You see, the IGP made sure that the police force was non-partisan throughout the election period, and this was a departure from the practice in 1983, 1993, 2003, 2007 and 2011 polls.

    “Naturally, some government officials, governors and politicians will not be happy at all. This IGP is professionally inclined and he has been enforcing this.

    “If you look at his antecedents even when Rivers State was volatile, he made sure that he was non-partisan. Up till today, the people of Rivers State still celebrate Abba for his professionalism.

    “He remains loyal to the President irrespective of the outcome of the election. To the best of my knowledge, he has not eroded the confidence reposed in him by the President. He keeps official secrets and he has never leaked any. Since he came on board, signals or information flow had become more compact.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “How can any IGP ignore the President-elect at any airport? Is Gen. Buhari not a former Head of State? Does he not deserve respect as an elder statesman? All these issues they are raising are petty.”

  • Seven reasons Jonathan, Obasanjo fell apart

    Seven reasons Jonathan, Obasanjo fell apart

    • How ex-president’s men became victims

    A core issue, which accounted for the strain in the relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and his erstwhile political godfather, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo was the alleged maltreatment of some loyalists of the former President in government and in the hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this piece, YUSUF ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, examines the politics of the cold war and the ‘sacrificial lambs’. 

    The nation’s presidential election has been won and lost but those who survived its intrigues knew that it was not an easy battle. The peak of the battle was the cold war between ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan. While the two leaders engaged in make-believe that all was well, they were firing at each other under the table. At a point, they spoke in parables for only the wise to decode. There were allusions to ‘motor-park’ touts.

    But the war claimed its casualties too. All those associated with Obasanjo, who crossed the shooting range or strayed into the range, were fired.

    The beginning of the intrigues

    The crisis of confidence between Jonathan and Obasanjo started manifesting in 2011 but it reached a crescendo in 2013 with what a presidency source described as a “satanic” letter by the ex-President.  A reliable source said when the relationship was getting sour, Jonathan once summoned the courage to confront Obasanjo for allegedly undermining him. Jonathan had accused Obasanjo of allegedly being behind the rebellion of the G-7 governors in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But Obasanjo denied the allegation and assured Jonathan of support.

    The source gave seven reasons on how the two leaders got to an ‘irreconciliable’ stage in their relationship.  The seven issues are:

    • Rejection of some ministerial nominees and chief executives of departments and agencies from the South-West from Obasanjo

    • Alleged refusal of Jonathan to consult Obasanjo on key policies and decisions of the government to sack some heads of parastatals linked with the ex-President from the South-West

    • Disagreement on the leadership of PDP at the national level and in the South-West, especially the sack of Obasanjo’s loyalists like ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, ex-Governor Segun Oni, and Bode Mustapha

    • The rise of G-7 and ultimate defection

    • Obasanjo’s allegation of Jonathan’s administration of lack of direction, especially on anti-graft war.

    • Use of international fora to write off the administration of Jonathan

    • Second term aspiration of Jonathan.

    The source added: “Obasanjo’s disagreement with Jonathan started from the ministerial nomination. The ex-President sought input into nominations from the South-West but Jonathan restricted him to Ogun State. He said Obasanjo cannot single-handedly nominate ministers from the South-West when there is PDP structure in place.

    “The ex-President was also not happy that the Jonathan administration does not consult him on all policy issues, decisions of the government and strategic appointments. The ex-President felt the President had been hijacked by those he did not want in government.

    “One of those who allegedly offended Obasanjo in the past was the outgoing Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim. His appointment was done on merit and without consultation with Obasanjo. Even at that,  Anyim personally went to meet Obasanjo and sought forgiveness in whatever manner he had offended the ex-President. And he said he had forgiven Anyim.

    “But Anyim was said not to have changed as he allegedly bared his fangs on Obasanjo’s loyalists. For instance in removing Otunba Olusegun Runsewe as the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), the President was made to believe by the Office of the SGF that only an Executive Director was being replaced.

    Although Jonathan has respect for Runsewe, he had approved his removal in error before he got to know what went wrong.

    “The emergence of Bamanga Tukur as the National Chairman of PDP and the attendant crisis in the party deepened the crack in the relationship between the two leaders.

    And the hijack of the South-West PDP structure from Obasanjo pained the ex-President. But with anti-second term campaign for Jonathan, it was strategically important for the PDP to restrict Obasanjo to his only vote at the PDP National Convention for presidential primaries than to allow him control the party structure and wreak havoc.

    “Intelligence reports on Obasanjo’s remarks during public lectures or seminars at international fora, including some in the USA, upset the presidency.

    The victims

    When two elephants fight, the grass, they say,  suffers. Some of the victims of the cold war between Jonathan and Obasanjo were a former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former National Vice Chairman(South-West) of PDP,  ex-Governor Segun Oni;  the party’s former National Auditor, Sen. Bode Mustapha; the immediate past Chairman of the of the Board of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Lt. Gen. Martin Luther Agwai; ex- DG of NTDC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe; ex-DG of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa; and the immediate past Executive Secretary of PTDF, Dr. Oluwole Oluleye,  a son of Maj-Gen. J.J. Oluleye who was a former Federal Commissioner (Minister) of Finance.

    Some of these party leaders and government functionaries were removed from office based on pettiness, the fear of the unknown, grand plan for Jonathan’s second term in office, sheer ethnic politics,  sycophancy, dummy security alarms and anti-Obasanjo’s hatred by some forces in the Presidency. A reliable source said: “Like the President said he was caged for 16 years, he realised the truth in some instances after such public officials had been sacked. Take the case of ex-DG of NBC, Yomi Bolarinwa, he was on top of the game before he was sacked for allegedly being disloyal. Unknown to the President, Bolarinwa’s successor, respected Emeka Mba, had served two-term tenure as the DG of the National Films and Censors Board. Bringing him to NBC would amount to third term in the same capacity.

    “The hate advertisements and documentaries on the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, during the just-concluded campaign and the belated intervention of the NBC pointed to why the change in the commission was effected by the Office of the SGF.”

    How did Obasanjo’s loyalists get into trouble?

    Agwai

    Born on November 8, 1948 in Kaduna State , Agwai was appointed  Chief of Army Staff by Obasanjo in 2003, and elevated to the rank of full-star general and Chief of Defence Staff in 2006. After retirement in 2009, he was engaged in a number of international assignments until he was appointed the Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) by President Goodluck Jonathan in February 2012.  In November 2013, he became SURE-P Chairman following the “sudden” resignation of Chief Christopher Kolade. But Agwai ran into trouble when he delivered a “toxic” lecture at the 78th birthday of Obasanjo in Abeokuta.

    In the lecture titled, “Imperatives of a national security framework for the development and progress of Nigeria”, Agwai warned against military’s involvement in politics and added a clincher that Nigeria needed a “change” of government when he knew the 2015 poll was a few months away. The same slogan

    of “change” was the campaign gimmick of the then opposition party, the All Progressives Congress(APC). The presidency saw his lecture as the hand of Esau’s and the voice of Jacob. He was given the boot while abroad.

    Otunba Segun Runsewe

    Otunba Segun Runsewe was the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). He was removed by Jonathan under controversial circumstances while on official assignment in Dubai selling the tourism potential of Nigeria. A tourism ambassador par excellence, Runsewe carved a niche for the nation in the international community as he bestrode everywhere with a peculiar pan-Nigerian identity. The floating of the Nigerian Tourism Village during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa remains unequalled till today. Before the NTDC assignment, this Ijebu man was appointed a former Executive Director of the National Orientation Agency by Obasanjo. He was also saddled  with the responsibility of being the chairman of the Media Committee of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting(CHOGM) in 2003.

    But some forces in the presidency were uncomfortable with what was described as his “increasing profile”. Loved by the President but his replacement was technically done as the forces in the Office of the SGF made Jonathan to realise that there was a vacancy for an Executive Director (ED) in NTDC as if the ED will work under Runsewe. Jonathan wielded the big stick without knowing he was firing a friend.

    Dr. Oluwole Oluleye

    A son of a former Federal Commissioner of Finance, Gen. J.J. Oluleye, who was a colleague and friend of Obasanjo in the military administration of Murtala-Obasanjo between 1975 and 1979, Dr. Oluwole Oluleye was the pioneer Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) in 2003. He was humiliated out of office because he resisted the cabal seeking to perpetrate fuel subsidy fraud. Some influential marketers wanted to be paid for fuel not imported and Oluleye allegedly refused to cooperate in spite of the glaring offer of bribery cuts for him by the fuel subsidy cabal. Apart from serving as a member/secretary of the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee in 2010, luck smiled on Oluleye again when he was appointed as Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Development Technology Fund (PTDF) on May 15, 2013. A source said he ran into an ethical trouble again in 2014 for rejecting plans to use part of PTDF funds to finance the governorship project of PDP, which led to the election of Governor Ayodele Fayose. There was also a phantom report on his alleged “closeness” to the former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the APC. For standing aloof on Operation Conquer Ekiti by PDP, Oluleye was disengaged by the presidency.

    Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa

    Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa was appointed Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in March 2007 and held the position till May 2013. He was sacked by President Goodluck Jonathan in hazy circumstances, which no one has explained to him today. But sources said Bolarinwa’s exit, eight months to the expiration of his tenure, followed alleged issuance of TV licence to the opposition, which led to the birth of TVC.  Bolarinwa was also allegedly removed due to the conspiracy that the South-West has had enough of its days in NBC. But the presidency might have given him the boot to hijack the agency for the bitter campaign, which dotted the 2015 poll.

    Oyinlola

    Following consensus by PDP governors, ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola was elected as  the National Secretary of the party at its  National Convention in 2012 but because of his closeness to Obasanjo, some bigwigs in the party, especially ex-National chairman of PDP, Alh. Bamanga Tukur, were uncomfortable with him. As an Obasanjo man, some loyalists of the President felt Oyinlola might be an obstacle to the second term aspiration of Jonathan. These forces took undue advantage of the law and ensured that Oyinlola was sacked by the Federal High Court, Abuja in January 2013 for being improperly elected to the position.  Rather than take the laws into his hand, Oyinlola appealed the judgment  of the lower court and won. But all attempts to reinstate him into office were frustrated by Bamanga Tukur, who in turn was forced to step aside in 2014. He later followed the honourable path by defecting to the All Progressives Congress(APC).

    Imbued with courage, Oyinlola does not pretend as a die-hard loyalist of Obasanjo. In a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, he made it known that he has no other name than loyalty. He said: “I wish to respectfully state that I do not go back on my words, just like I don’t abandon my friends, associates and leaders, no matter how hard the situation might be. That explains why as a state governor, I remained very loyal to my boss, former President Ibrahim Babangida, GCFR, even when he had some issues with the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.  I wish to respectfully recall very respectfully, that Chief Obasanjo never made any attempt to move against me on account of these differences.

    The same spirit today drives me as I maintain my loyalty to former President Obasanjo, who may, or who may not have any relationship with your government. It was that same spirit that made me insist on your approval of my candidature, in your capacity as national leader of the party and president, before I agreed with my brother-governors request in 2012, to contest for the position of PDP National Secretary. I should like to state that I am not a fair-weather fellow. To my friends, the spirit is very similar to marital vow.”

    Segun Oni 

    An anointed political son of Obasanjo from the way he emerged as the elected Governor of Ekiti State in April 2007, after losing his mandate in October 2010, Oni remained a committed party man until  March 2012 when he was elected the National Vice Chairman South-West of the PDP. However in line with a grand plot to relegate Obasanjo to the background in the PDP in the South-West, Oni was removed from office by the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee of the PDP as a result of a court ruling that nullified the party congress that led to the emergence of Oni. Instead of allowing the judicial process to run its full course to the Supreme Court, the Bamanga Tukur team employed impunity to its fullest.  Oni had no choice than to leave  the PDP for APC where he was elected as the  Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC.

    Chief Bode Mustapha

    A former National Auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Bode Mustapha lost his seat in the National Working Committee of the party following a court ruling that his election was improper. The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisah Metuh, who tried to justify Mustapha’s removal, said:  “Report of the Decision of PDP NWC on Ogun State Exco & South West Zone Exco; Following protracted dispute on the Ogun State and South West Zonal Exco of the Party, a series of suits were filed on the matter, which include FHC/L/CS/1248/2011, FHC/L/CS/282/2012 and FHC/L/CS/347/2012.

    “The Peoples Democratic Party is to rectify its records by deleting the name of Chief Bode Mustapha as National Auditor and replacing the same with Alhaji Fatai Adewole Adeyanju.

    “The National working Committee of the party met on 14th February 2013 and gave careful consideration to the issues and decided that, in line with respect to the rule of law which is a cardinal principle of the present administration, the PDP as a law abiding party, will immediately comply with the said judgment. This is all the more so that same has not been set aside or reversed by any superior court.”

    Mustapha later defected to the APC alongside other Obasanjo’s loyalists.

    Reaping the benefits of anti-Obasanjo’s agenda

    Although some strategists of President Goodluck Jonathan might disagree, the gradual alienation of the South-West and the removal of public functionaries from the zone from public office created a political liability for the President during the general election. Out of about 50 choice appointments, the South-West had only two or three. At a stage, Jonathan took his destiny in his hands by embarking on shuttles to traditional rulers in Yorubaland, but it was too late as the Yoruba were not ready to condone his explanation for sidelining the principle of Federal Character in the 1999 Constitution. The APC latched on the costly mistake of Jonathan’s administration and the rest is history today.

     What becomes of these Obasanjo’s men?

    Now that a new government is in place, the question, is what becomes of these Obasanjo’s men. They were part of the sacrifices made to effect the sweeping change now in the country. Some of them were harassed out of office, displaced, and even subjected to deprivation for no fault of theirs.

    Conquering fixation

    letes. How do you engage the car in the reverse gear yet expect the vehicle to move forward. We have refused to change the administrators with their warp ideas.

    Coaches and players now hobnob with the Presidency; a distasteful development that has made impossible a smooth transition in the Eagles, with the NFF going against its wish for the team. I digress!

    Today, Taiwo Awoniyi is the hottest striker in the country. Awoniyi was a marvel to watch at the last U-17 World Cup, which Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets won. He has taken his prolific goal-scoring act to the flying Eagles, scoring goals with aplomb, in the absence of Kelechi Iheanacho.

    Rather than draft Awoniyi to the Dream Team VI after completing the Flying Eagles assignment, such mundane talk of him being over-used were proposed by our coaches and their ilk without asking Awoniyi if he could cope with both roles.

    Those who advanced that argument must cover their heads in shame because it has taken Awoniyi’s profound scoring skills to hand Nigeria the qualification ticket for the All Africa Games. Awoniyi reminds me of Henry Nwosu. His knack for scoring goals brings back memories of the late Rashidi Yekini.

    Iker Casilas was here in Lagos for the 1999 World U-20 Youth Championship, which Spain won by beating Japan, then handled by the White Witch Doctor, Phillipe Troussier 2-0, inside the mainbowl of the National Stadium in Lagos. Casilas is still Spain’s goalkeeper, 16 years after breaking into the team as a 20-year old.

    The advantage of playing outstanding players, such as Awoniyi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidera Eze, in the senior category is that they will remain there for a longer time. Besides, others at the grassroots would be buoyed to give their best, knowing that they too could be like them, if they improve on their game.

    The argument of former internationals, such as Victor Ikpeba, that Awoniyi would be ripe for the Eagles in two years time is bunkum. This is why Ikpeba didn’t leave the Eagles with a testimonial game, in spite of his remarkable contributions, including winning the Africa Footballer of the Year award in 1999.

    Players get the impetus to live their dreams in a football team through their skills, not age, especially the gifted ones. We must strive to reduce the average age of the Super Eagles from its unacceptable 32 to what others have – between 21 and 28. The game is now being played by young and enterprising players, who are hungry for glory. Little wonder the avalanche of new players that come into prominence after every big competition.

    Need I waste space to list boys who hit it big time as teens, not forgetting the king of soccer, Pele? Whenever I watch Manchester United play with De Gea in goal, I cry. Why? In 2007, a Nigerian ‘kid’ Dele Ajiboye, was adjudged the best goalkeeper at the U-17 World Cup which Nigeria beat Spain 2-0.

    It would be ludicrous for any bookmaker to draw a comparison between Ajiboye and De Gea today, more than eight years after. Do you see my pain?

    Who blinks first?

    By the time you are reading this column today (baring any last minute changes) , Stephen Okechukwu Keshi would have returned to his Super Eagles job at humbling terms. Keshi’s return has been controversial, with the NFF chiefs’ body language not favourably disposed towards working with him.

    This cat-and-rat setting may be the Eagles’ biggest problem, if Keshi plays the ostrich. Unfortunately, NFF men are not ready to tell us the terms of reference in Keshi’s deal, based on a certain clause which forbids either party to make such disclosure.

    But, I’m damn sure the wall of secrecy will eventually collapse and details of the contract, will be subject of beer parlour talks – when the coach fails to get his salaries and entitlements promptly. NFF men must tell us the dos and don’ts in Keshi’s contract now not when he infringes on any. Nigerians deserve to know what would happen to the coach if the Eagles fail to fly.

    I don’t see how an all-knowing Keshi will allow his list to be vetted, yet he refuses to carry the can when the team fails. I also don’t see how Keshi will work with any document given to him by the technical study group and the technical department and yet we expect him to take the credit for victories arising from such group initiatives. Keshi isn’t a team player.

    I also don’t see how Keshi will stop John Mikel Obi from playing for the Eagles even when he is a bench warmer at Chelsea? Will Keshi forgive Sunday Mba et al to give the Eagles the desired fillip to fly higher? Will Keshi swallow his pride and play the functional 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 or even 4-3-3 to bring out the best of our players who shine in their European teams which play these formations?

    Does the NFF have a plan B when Keshi’s tantrums begin, especially if, the federation fails to pay the coach promptly. Would the NFF be right to sanction a man whose fees they haven’t settled, irrespective of the reasons given for the delay?

    I pray that Keshi becomes a team player in this new dispensation. He must do away with those busybodies around him who run their mouths in the media. They are the ones who told us that seven countries were chasing the Big Boss to train their teams. Where are those teams today? These lickspittles shouldn’t tell us in the future how certain powerful men in the fading government begged the coach to stay.

    Keshi has been jobless. Countries touted to be chasing him picked others even though he denied applying for those jobs. Keshi signed a contract he tagged ‘slavish’. I hope he remains humble because he thrives in having power without control mechanism. This NFF board has provided such control mechanisms. I hope the Big Boss can submit himself to control.

  • ‘Jonathan failed because he didn’t keep to one-term agreement’

    ‘Jonathan failed because he didn’t keep to one-term agreement’

    The Chairman Northern States Governors’ Forum and Niger state governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu has said the defeat of the President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party at the just concluded general election was the price of the failure to honour the single term agreement entered with the north in 2011.

    Aliyu who spoke in Minna on Friday as a special guest of honour at 24th Convocation lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, said that the defeat of the PDP at the national and state elections did not come to many Nigerians, especially party members as a surprise because “we saw it coming”.

    According to Aliyu “many of us saw it coming, when I reminded us that we had an agreement for one term, they nearly crucified me, and when I led the G7 Governors, they did not do what we wanted them to do until five members left, and they later did what we asked them to do.

    “I recalled also that when APC came on board, I was the first person to say I was very happy that now we have a strong party to put PDP on its toes and many people were asking me if I am really a member of PDP. Up to the last election, the accusation against me has always been that I was a supporter of APC and now you have seen the result,” Aliyu stated.

    The governor also said the people are tired of the 16 year rule of the ruling party and that the people are strongly desirous for change.

    “Nigerians wanted a change and Nigerians got the change. PDP has been around for 16 years and there is no way you will be around for 16 years and you will not make mistakes so there are many reasons that will be put together and we will be able to understand and guide people as to next time, these are some of the things you need to do.”

    Commenting on the topic of the convocation lecture, “The role of Law in the Enhancement of Socio-Economic Growth of the Nation”, Aliyu said corruption is not limited to government officials, he argued that the cancer worm had its root from the family setting.

    He said a junior civil servant with two wives and over twenty children also breeds corruption “because there is no way his salary can take care of those children.”

    In his remarks, the chairman of the Governing Council Prof. Ahmed Alkali, who is the Presidential Adviser, Political said; “Nigeria is at a crossroad in his fight against corruption because every Nigerian is corrupt in one way or the other”.

    “If Nigeria must fight corruption, we must all check ourselves to ensure that at all levels we kill corruption. Anything we do in excess is corruption.”

    Earlier in his lecture the former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Legbo Kutigi said that it has been acknowledged that corruption impacts negatively on economic development and that corruption is one of the major factors militating against economic growth in many developing countries, including Nigeria.

    He expressed regret that despite the fact that there are criminal code provisions, statutory enactment and administrative institutions for combating corruption, the vice has continue to thrive in the country.

    He blamed the development on weak legal institutions and culture for dealing with corruption.

    He advised that, developing countries like Nigeria should create institutional structures and procedures that are designed to reduce the opportunities for corrupt practices and behaviour.

  • Senate urges Jonathan to return rejected Bill

    Senate urges Jonathan to return rejected Bill

    The Senate yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to return to it the rejected Constitution Amendment Bill complete with the signature page.

    The call followed the Senate’s resolution on the matter which mandated the Senate President to formally write a letter to Jonathan to demand the immediate return the rejected Bill.

    Dr. Jonathan wrote a letter to the Senate detailing reasons why he cannot accent to the amended Constitution. It   cost taxpayers about N4billion for National Assembly and the 36 states Houses of Assembly to carry out the amendment.

    The resolution followed a motion on personal explanation moved by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

    Ekweremadu who is also the Chairman of the Senate Adhoc Committee on the review of the Constitution, told the Senate that a two-day retreat called by the committee to appropriately study Mr. President’s rejection letter and report back to the Upper Chamber had to be suspended when it was discovered that the amendment Bill did not accompany the President’s letter.

    Ekweremadu said: “We slated a two-day retreat to consider the letter and advise the Senate appropriately.

    “In the course of our sitting yesterday, we noticed that in the second to the last paragraph of that letter, the President said he was returning the Bill with the letter.

    “Unfortunately, the Bill was not returned with the letter and we could not proceed because we would like to see the returned bill.”

    He added: “The committee has asked me to raise this point and to request the President of the Senate, to ask the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to send back the original copy of the bill as sent to him especially the signature page to enable us to proceed with our work.

    “Especially since he had indicated in his own letter that the letter was accompanied by the Bill, so we would like to have the bill in its original form, especially the signature page.”

    Senate President David Mark, said he would act on the resolution of the Senate and write formally to the President to return the Bill to the Senate “within the earliest possible time.”

    Mark said: “It is a personal explanation so there will be no need to put it to debate. I think the important thing is that if the floor accepts that I send that letter then I will write a letter to Mr. President to return the original copy of the Bill to us.

    “This was referred to your committee, so if that is the decision of the committee then we have little or no option on the floor here.

    “There is a bit of urgency on this so in writing that we should have it at the earliest possible time, we cannot put a time frame like `within two days or three days’ that would not be correct. The motion as it is a correct motion without the time frame.”

  • Jonathan, service chiefs meet

    Jonathan, service chiefs meet

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with the service chiefs at the Presidential Villa as part of plan for smooth handover of power to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

    The security chiefs were led to the closed-door National Security Council meeting by the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

    Those in attendance included the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu and Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba.

    They declined to speak with reporters at the end of the meeting that lasted about three hour.

    It was gathered that the meeting was called to provide the president with briefs and strategies on adequate security during the ceremonial inauguration of the new president on May 29.

  • Jonathan opposes deployment of foreign troops against Boko Haram

    Jonathan opposes deployment of foreign troops against Boko Haram

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday urged the United Nations to focus more on helping Nigeria with the rehabilitation and reconstruction of persons and communities affected by terrorism in the North rather than deploying an international force to the country.

    He made the remark during an audience with the Special Representatives of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and Central Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambas and Abdoulaye Bathily at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati,  President Jonathan also expressed the view that UN intervention in Nigeria should not be based on Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which relates to military enforcement  of peace, but on Chapter 8.

       The statement reads: “The President said that the provisions of Chapter 8 of the UN Charter, which recognizes the role of regional bodies such as the African Union in working with the United Nations for the promotion of peace and security, were robust enough to tackle insurgency in Nigeria and other African countries.”

    He told the UN envoys that with the cooperation of neighbouring countries, the Nigerian military had already regained most of the territories seized by Boko Haram in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states, and had now commenced a final push to take the last stronghold of the insurgents in Sambisa Forest.

  • Jonathan, service chiefs meet in Aso Rock

    Jonathan, service chiefs meet in Aso Rock

    Towards smooth handover of power to the President-elect. General Muhammadu Buhari, President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday met with the service chiefs at the Presidential Villa.

    The security chiefs were led to the closed-door National Security Council meeting by the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

    Those in attendance included the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu.

    They declined to speak with journalists at the end of the meeting that lasted about three hour.

    It was gathered that the meeting was to provide the president with adequate briefs and strategies on adequate security during the ceremonial inauguration of the new President on May 29.

  • Senate to Jonathan: Return rejected amended constitution

    Senate to Jonathan: Return rejected amended constitution

    The Senate on Thursday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to return to it the rejected Constitution Amendment Bill complete with the signature page.

    The call followed the Senate’s resolution on the matter which mandated the Senate President to formally write a letter to Jonathan to demand the immediate return the rejected Bill.

    It could be recalled that Jonathan had written a letter to the Senate detailing reasons why he cannot accent to the amended Constitution which had cost taxpayers about N4billion for both chambers and the 36 states House of Assembly to carry out the amendment exercise.

    The resolution followed a motion on personal explanation moved on the floor of the Senate by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

    Ekweremadu who is also the Chairman of the Senate Adhoc Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, told the Senate that a two day retreat called by the committee to appropriately study Mr. President’s rejection letter and report back to the Upper Chamber had to be suspended when it was discovered that the amendment Bill did not accompany the President’s letter.

    Ekweremadu said: “We slated to have a two-day retreat to consider the letter and advise the Senate appropriately.

    “In the course of our sitting, we noticed that in the second to the last paragraph of that letter, the President said he was returning the Bill with the letter.

    “Unfortunately, the Bill was not returned with the letter and we could not proceed because we would like to see the returned bill.”

    He added: “The committee has asked me to raise this point and to request the President of the Senate, to ask the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to send back the original copy of the bill sent to him especially the signature page to enable us to proceed with our work.

    “Especially since he had indicated in his own letter that the letter was accompanied by the Bill, so we would like to have the bill in its original form, especially the signature page.”

    Senate President, David Mark, in his remarks said he would act on the resolution of the Senate and write formally to the President to return the Bill to the Senate “within the earliest possible time.”

    Mark said: “It is a personal explanation so there will be no need to put it to debate. I think the important thing is that if the floor accepts that I send that letter then I will write a letter to Mr. President to return the original copy of the Bill to us.

    “This was referred to your committee, so if that is the decision of the committee then we have little or no option on the floor here.

    “There is a bit of urgency on this so in writing that we should have it at the earliest possible time, we cannot put a time frame like `within two days or three days’ that would not be correct. The motion as it is a correct motion without the time frame.”