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Tag: Jonathan

  • Results in Jonathan’s unit delayed

    Results are yet to be announced in the Unit 39, Ward 13, where President Goodluck Jonathan voted.

    Voting was still ongoing as at 8pm.

    When the last person on the queue voted, the electoral officer announced that counting would begin.

    But a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agent, who gave her name as S. Otazi, complained that several people were yet to vote.

    She said some went home when there were hitches and could return to vote.

    The electoral officer then stopped the counting and returned the ballot papers to the boxes. Only about three more people voted afterwards.

    At about 9pm, the electoral officer said the unit, in front of President Jonathan’s country home, was becoming unsafe and that they were relocating to a “safer place”.

    An Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad-hoc staff told our correspondent that they were moving to the collation centre where the result would be announced.

    “It could be announced this night or tomorrow morning, but I’m not sure,” he said.

     

  • D-Day: Jonathan, Buhari in final showdown

    D-Day: Jonathan, Buhari in final showdown

    APC candidate tipped to win
    14 factors that will determine outcome of presidential, National Assembly polls

    After almost five months of intensive campaign, President Goodluck Jonathan and former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari will slug it out today in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) for the exalted position of President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

    Nigerians will also decide those to sit in the next legislative chambers of the National Assembly – 109 for the Senate and 560 for the House of Representatives.

    It is the first time since the beginning of the present political dispensation in 1999 and 22 years after 1993 that two major parties will appear evenly matched.

    In 1993, the defunct Social Democratic Party and the disbanded National Republican Congress, both creation of the General Ibrahim Babangida government, went into the election -with bookmakers predicting a close race. The SDP candidate, Chief MKO won the election but was annulled by the Babangida government.

    In today’s polls, many analysts have predicted a tight race. Both Jonathan and Buhari are however confident of victory, but many opinion polls give the race to Buhari.

    More than ever, the presidential race has drawn the attention of observers from the United Nations, the African Union,  the United  States, the United  Kingdom, eight other foreign countries and 96 local observer groups.

    According to the records of the Independent National Electoral Commission, 14 candidates were cleared to contest the Presidential election. They are Goodluck Jonathan (PDP), Mohammadu Buhari (APC); Sen. Tunde Anifowose-Kelani (AA); Rafiu Salau (AD); Alh. Ganiyu Galadima (ACPN); Dr. Mani Ibrahim Ahmad (ADC); Ayeni Musa Adebayo (APA); and Chief Sam Eke (CPP).

    Others are High Chief Ambrose Albert Owuru (HDP); Prof. Comfort Oluremi Sonaiya(KOWA); Chief Martin Onovo (NCP) Allagoa Kelvin Chinedu (PPN) Godson Okoye (UDP); and Chief Chekwas Okorie (UPP).

    The real contest is however between Jonathan and his arch-rival Buhari. The election has generated tension in and outside the country.  The fears over the keen race had led to shuttles to the country by ex-UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan; the US Secretary of State, John Kerry; the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Ibrahim Chambas;  ex-President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa; and the President of Ghana, John Mahama.

    To pave the way for peace during and after the poll, ex-UN Secretary-General Annan facilitated the signing of a peace accord by all the political parties on January 14, 2015 in Abuja. On Thursday, another accord was signed between Jonathan and Buhari. Both candidates pledged to accept the outcome of the election.

    Although the January 14 accord reduced the rate of political violence during the campaign, the management of post-election period is a major worry to the international community, including President Barack Obama of the US, who urged Nigerians, in a broadcast,  to accept the outcome of today’s election irrespective of who wins.

    Why the poll is unique

    Besides the competitive race between the PDP and APC, this is the first time in the history of Nigeria that Permanent Voters Card, card reader and colour code will be used for different states and local governments to prevent rigging.

    It was learnt that since the 2007 general election which was largely flawed, INEC had been looking for alternatives of eradicating electoral malpractice, especially impersonation, under-age voting, and declaration of jumbo results.

    The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahitu Jega, on Wednesday said: “This is indeed why they have been attacking me because they know that the card reader machines will help us to address all those irregularities, starting from the accreditation of voters at all the polling units. How can they manipulate the election when all the information with regards to the number of voters that turned out at every polling unit is automatically captured and transmitted by the card reader machines?

    “We have made rigging impossible for them as there is no way the total number of votes cast at a polling unit could exceed the number of accredited persons. Such discrepancy in figures will be immediately spotted. This technology will further make it impossible for any corrupt electoral officer to connive with any politician to pad-up results.”

    Factors that will determine the outcome of presidential and national assembly elections

    Factors that will determine the outcome of today’s polls are voting population/strength, ethnic allegiance,  Boko Haram insurgency,  holding the Presidential and National Assembly elections on the same day, logistics; the conduct of INEC and its permanent and over 600,000 ad hoc staff; the success of PVC, card readers and effective collation of results from polling units to ward and others; security situation/non-molestation of voters, non deployment of thugs, the impartiality of the military and other security agencies, and the readiness of parties, political leaders especially state governors and candidates to allow a free and fair poll.

    Jega said: “Let me use this opportunity to reassure Nigerians that we believe that we have done everything possible to ensure that the 2015 general election is successful. We are adequately prepared in terms of both logistics and manpower.

    “ Likewise, all the security agencies, especially the police which have a lead role to play in terms of providing security during elections, have assured us that they are ready.”

    In admonishing Nigerians, President Obama alluded to some of these factors when he said: “For elections to be credible, they must be free, fair and peaceful. All Nigerians must be able to cast their votes without intimidation or fear.

    “So I call on all leaders and candidates to make it clear to their supporters that violence has no place in democratic electionsand that they will not incite, support or engage in any kind of violence, before, during, or after the votes are counted.”

    What a presidential candidate needs to win

    Most surveys conducted indicate that Buhari has an edge, but for him to emerge winner he must have majority of the total votes cast and at least 25 per cent in two-thirds of the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, that is 24 states.

    Section 134 (2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution says: “A candidate for an election to the Office of President shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being more than two candidates for the election(a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and (b) he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the states in the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).

    “In default of a candidate duly elected in accordance with subsection(2) of this section, there shall be a second election in accordance with subsection(4) of this section at which the only candidate shall be (a) the candidate who scored the highest number of votes at any election held in accordance with the said subsection (2) of this section; and (b) one among the remaining  candidates who has the a majority of votes in the highest number of states. So however where there are more than one candidate with a majority of votes in the highest number of states, the candidate among them with the highest total votes cast at the election shall be the second candidate for the election.”

    The pre-election outlook yesterday by THE NATION indicated that Buhari was ahead of Jonathan nationwide. He has the momentum and is certainly the candidate to beat.

    Save for Taraba, Plateau and Benue states, he is well ahead of Jonathan in the north. In the 2011 election, he won most of the Northern states. He is expected to do better now that he is running on a better, well structured platform.

    The outlook also showed that he will win Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Oyo in the Southwest and run neck and neck with Jonathan in Ekiti and Ondo states, both of which are controlled by the PDP. In 2011, he performed badly in the Southwest zone.

    He is equally expected to win Edo state and do very well in Akwa Ibom state, both in the

    South South. In both states in 2011, he lost woefully. In Rivers state, he is tipped to do fairly well with the support of Governor Rotimi Amaechi and his formidable structure.

    His weakest zone is southeast where Jonathan is expected to do well.

    The scenarios

    As at last Thursday, the total number of Permanent Voters Cards collected was 56, 431, and 255 (81.98 %). Barring any other factor, these voters may end up determining the fate of Jonathan and Buhari.

    Further findings however revealed that if Jonathan has 100 per cent control of all the votes from the South-East (6,621,541) and the South (8,418, 474), he would end up with 15, 040, 015 votes. As for Buhari, if he has 100 per cent of the votes from the North-East (7,922,444) and the North-West (14,241,740), he would garner 22, 164,184.

    For the two candidates they have to compete for the 9, 238,718 votes from the South-West; 7,661,576 from North-Central and the available 569,109 votes in the FCT.

    States to watch

    In terms of voting strength and susceptibility to violence, the 15 states to watch are Kano (4,112, 039); Lagos (3, 799,274); Kaduna (3,174, 519); Katsina (2,620,096); Rivers (2, 127,837);  Bauchi (1,967,081); Imo (1,707,449); Niger (1,682,058); Oyo (1,639,967); Benue (1,607,800); Akwa Ibom (1,587,566); Sokoto (1,527,004); Borno (1,407, 777); Adamawa (1,381,571); and Edo (1,230,566).

    Setting the tone of the likely election outlook in the affected states, ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa on Wednesday at a grand rally of the PDP in Sokoto State, said: “They said we are planning to rig the elections in the state, I don’t know why they are afraid of rigging when they know too well that they are products of the same mechanism. Let me tell them that we will use force, rigging and our ballot papers to send them away.”

    In a statement through its Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the APC Presidential Campaign Council, alluded to the challenge in some of these 15 states.

    It said: “Credible information available to the campaign from deep inside the Federal Government have starkly put it to us that the PDP administration has hatched a plan by which the states of Lagos, Imo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Kano and Sokoto will be racked by trouble of a serious magnitude to sabotage the presidential election and democracy in the country, in a sinister, wicked and selfish objective.”

    Concerned by the war drumbeats, some eminent Nigerians, including ex-Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Abubakar Saad, the Catholic Arch-Bishop of Abuja Diocese, Bishop John Onaiyekan and others had another round of peace accord session with Jonathan and Buhari on Thursday morning.

    But President Goodluck Jonathan, who addressed international election observers at the Presidential Villa, assured Nigerians of a conclusive poll. He said: “I’ll feel diminished if at the end of the day that the international and local observers don’t accept the process and the result. I won’t feel comfortable.”

    As voters troop out today, the next 24 hours will determine where the nation is headed.

  • Jonathan, Buhari sign another peace deal

    Jonathan, Buhari sign another peace deal

    President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday signed another peace deal for violent-free elections.

    The two top presidential candidates in tomorrow’s elections had signed a similar agreement alongside other presidential candidates on January 14, 2015.

    The agreement then was popularly called the Abuja Accord.

    The meeting yesterday at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja was facilitated by  the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar -led  National Peace Committee on 2015 elections.

    Just like the first meeting, Jonathan and Buhari again shook hands and hug each other at the venue.

    The accord by the two candidates and read by Bishop Mathew Kukah was titled: “Renewal of our pledges to peaceful elections. Joint statement issued by His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan and Major General Muhammad Buhari on Thursday, March 26, 2015 ahead of the 2015 presidential elections.”

    It reads: “You may recall that on January 14, 2015, both of us, along with nine other party leaders signed what has now come to be known as the Abuja Accord. The substance of that Accord was our commitment to free, fair and credible elections in our dear country.

    “In the accord, we agreed to, among other things, run an issue-based campaign and pledged that our electoral campaigns will not involve any religious incitement, ethnic or tribal profiling, both by ourselves and all agents acting in our names.

    “Now that the campaigns have come to an end, we meet today to renew our pledge for peaceful elections. We, therefore, call on all fellow citizens of our dear country, and our party supporters, to refrain from violence or any acts that may in any way jeopardise our collective vision of a free, fair and credible election.

    “In addition, we call on INEC and all security agencies to ensure strict adherence to their constitutional roles. We also pledge to respect the outcome of free, fair and credible elections.

    “Today, we again renew our commitment to a united, democratic and prosperous Nigeria. We want to all Nigerians to stand together at this critical phase of our nation’s history. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. God bless you all.”

    In his remarks, Gen. Abubakar said: “This committee has been working round the clock to assist the parties and Nigerians  to ensure that there is peace and harmony before, during and after the elections this time around.

    “Mr. President was kind enough to see us yesterday  (Wednesday).  One, he is the President of the country, and secondly, he is a contestant. And this morning, Gen. Buhari, despite his late arrival last night or early arrival this morning, was kind enough to meet with this committee.

    “In essence, all the meetings were held to brief them the current situation of the country and what we expect of them as stakeholders and as presidential candidates.

    “I want to thank both the President and Gen. Buhari for finding time to meet with the committee. And I want to thank both party chairmen for the support received in trying to send this message of peace.

    “I’m happy both parties and the contestants are committed to free and fair elections; free of violence. And this morning, a document to reiterate their commitment for peaceful forthcoming elections.”

  • Jonathan, Itsekiri and $16b EPZ

    Jonathan, Itsekiri and $16b EPZ

    The proposed over $16bn Delta Gas City Project located in Ogidigben and the Gbaramatu Deep Sea Ports in the Escravos area of Delta State have been plagued by what many see as avoidable problems. Intrigues and controversies led to three delays of the groundbreaking ceremony. Now, a section of Deltans believe that the ceremony might have become more political than developmental and there are fears over its successful take-off, reports Southsouth Regional Editor SHOLA O’NEIL

    When the idea of the $16 billion Export Processing Zone for Delta State was first introduced nearly four years ago, it was greeted with glee, back-thumping and eulogies for the federal and Delta State governments by the benefitting communities. It was touted as a magic wand to tackle mass unemployment, youth restiveness. It was also expected to bring prosperity to not only the state, but the entire country. But four years on, the debate over ownership of the land and alleged victimisation of the smaller Itsekiri host communities by their more populous Ijaw neighbours and kinsmen of the President Goodluck Jonathan have brought several dimensions and polemics into the project.

    The original site of the key project was Koko, an Itsekiri town and headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area. The home town of the famous Chief Nana Olomu, the famous Niger Delta nationalist, who put the town on world map in the late 19th century, is in need of positive development following the infamous toxic waste saga of 1987 and wanton destruction by ethnic militias during the Warri crisis. The town has significantly lost its attraction as one of the major port cities of the state. Massive warehouses built by companies in its yore days have been converted into churches and other uses.

    It was against this background that the July 25, 2011 visit by a group of foreign investors led by Mr Matouq Janna, Senior Vice President of Xenel/Safra Group of Saudi Arabi and PP Singh of Nagarjuna Group from India was received by indigenes of the town, including Chief Victor Nana, scion of the famous Koko patriarch, with fanfare and expectation.

    Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was also ecstatic as he enthused: “The benefits are quite huge. The completion of the plants will lead to the employment of thousands of persons and many of them will be Deltans. So, we have a lot of benefits from it and there are several industries that will spring up from these plants. Industries that will utilise the bye-products and others that will make parts for these plants will also benefit… the future is very bright.”

    The hopes and expectation of the Koko people were cut short after the visit as they were told that the project would no longer be sited in their town. Information later emerged that the narrowness of the Benin River access to the Atlantic Ocean was the reason. Mr Paul Odili, Communications Manager to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, and a key member of the think tank, told our reporter that more than $1billion was needed to dredge and expand the river to accommodate bigger vessels.

    The unwillingness of the Federal Government, the Nigerian Ports Authority and other stakeholders in the project to commit the fund scupper the project. The search for a new site led to Escravos area, where Ogidigben, another Itsekiri community on the fringe of the ocean, was chosen.

    Nearly four years down the lane, at least three false starts on, people of the area are wondering if the project is jinxed. The latest bump on the long tortuous road was last Monday’s failure of President Goodluck Jonathan to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ogidigben Gas City Project and Gbaramatu Deep Sea Port in Warri South West Local Government Area of the state.

    The March 16 no-show was the third of such disappointment: in November 2014 over 200 foreign investors, local businessmen, community leaders and the state government were left red-faced when the Ministry of Petroleum Resource, in a terse statement, announced that the President would not be in Escravos for the ceremony.  ‘Security report’ was cited as the reason for the abortion.

     

  • Jonathan and tomorrow’s war against Nigerians

    Jonathan and tomorrow’s war against Nigerians

    The thought of tomorrow is as sweet as it is dreadful. Sweet because of people’s determination for CHANGE; and dreadful because of status quo ante’s devilish plot to have its way-by whatever means. So, tomorrow is presidential and federal legislative elections day when Nigerians with Permanent Voter Card (PVC), are expected to troop out enmasse and vote for the candidate of their choice, principally between incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and General Mohammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    For the first time in memorable history of this country, majority of the people are fiercely focused on the presidential contest, particularly on a certain opposition candidate against an incumbent, without blinking an eye over the other elections coming up tomorrow. From all indications, ab initio, the apex contest looks like the incumbent is already out of office. The jitters in official circles has led to the question: Will the president and his hatchet men allow tomorrow to be truly for elections, or will it be a war of persecution and intimidation disguised as necessary security provisions for an election? This column has seen the signal of fruitless militarization of Lagos since last week.

    The current Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sulaiman Abba, set the tone of intolerance, through his flippant statement on what to expect from the federal police when he publicly declared that Nigerians should not wait at polling centres after exercising their franchise. Meaning that the police is coercively planning to shield them from protecting their votes. What he forgot to realise is that an election, being a process, is not completed until the votes, under close surveillance by the people, are duly counted and properly recorded in the prescribed sheets by law through INEC personnel at polling centres. No wonder, Thomas Jefferson, the great apostle of human rights, once stated that ‘eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.’ And since liberty only makes true sense under democratic governance, it would not be totally out of place by the people to keep vigil over their ballot so as to ensure that the candidate that they truly voted for is declared as winner in polling centres across the country.

    But the IGP is now threatening that the people should leave their votes to the protection of mostly compromised security personnel that the experience of last year August’s Gubernatorial election in Osun state taught us were acting the scripts of Jonathan and the ruling party. But for the eternal vigilance of Osun people and their endurance, there is no doubt that the winner of that election would have been shortchanged of his hard earned victory. Also, the revelations that came out of a video on how the state’s instrument of coercion in tandem with the ruling party’s top notch, plotted and actually intimidated and harassed indigenes of Ekiti state last years election is still roiling in the polity.

    How can anybody in his right senses believe what the IGP had said? After all, Jefferson also said somewhere that “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.” The statement of the IGP smells of odious injustice and the citizenry have the right to rebel against such ranting, in a lawful manner because, Jonathan, through the IGP wants to use raw police/military power on voting day to steal majority of votes for the benefit of himself and few opportunity seeking cronies. The duty of the police at election centres, on Election Day, is to maintain peace and be neutral and not to take side as experience has shown in past elections. How can this IGP that unilaterally and illegally withdrew the security details of Rt.Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, simply because he defected from the ruling party because of its in-house crisis, just to please Jonathan-his benefactor. Such IGP cannot be entrusted with the votes of Nigerians that are ready to endure any form of official frustration at polling centres, come rain or sun shine, tomorrow.

    Again, the thought of tomorrow is as sweet as it is dreadful. Sweet because the people will have the opportunity of electing a more virile president to replace the inept Jonathan: And dreadful because of the barbarity that the Jonathan administration has put in place to circumvent and probably upturn the wishes of millions of Nigerians that would cast their votes against him tomorrow.

    From all over the country, this column is enjoining all to say no to electoral tyranny. Nigerians from all spheres of human endeavours witnessed the bad and ineptly corrupt governance under Jonathan and the beauty of democracy is that it offers opportunity for periodic elections. That opportunity comes up tomorrow and all must struggle to say No to intimidation and continuation of naira devaluation, insecurity, crude oil theft, insecurity of all shades, illegal arming and empowerment of ruthless militias for selfish reasons, degeneration of values in churches through wanton bribing of pastors and also corruption of traditional institution through pecuniary inducement, persistent fuel scarcity and price increment, land grabbing, astronomical unemployment and commercialization of employment that have all become the hallmark of the Jonathan presidency. Nigerians must stand up and be decisive in voting against these societal vices that Jonathan stands for in six years of his rulership over this country.

    After losing tomorrow, it is obvious that more devilish plots might still come from Jonathan/ruling PDP tables. Whatever post election evil plan might be in the offing, the reality is that the world is watching and despite the evil plots of reactionaries, Nigerians, who truly want this country to move forward, are working tirelessly to ensure that the decision of Nigerians at tomorrow’s poll prevails. Permit me to end this piece with the inimitable quote from Abraham Lincoln’s November 19, 1863 Gettysburg address to wit: “That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.” Whatever maneuverings Jonathan, his men and mostly compromised security leadership put up tomorrow, let them have it in their minds that, like the the prophetic Lincoln said, democracy will outlive their evil machinations in power. That in the end shows the vanity of the incumbent’s lust for power and lack of respect for democratic values. This Jonathan, like other power mongers before him has simply refused to learn from history. What a pity for a man that once had no shoes!

  • Sustaining our democracy

    Sustaining our democracy

    As Nigerians gear up for another round of electing their leaders into various offices in the country, including the most coveted position of the Executive President of the nation, the Good Governance Group (3G) hereby commends the resilience, maturity and equanimity of purpose so far displayed by the people.

    As we march towards the fifth attempt at choosing our leaders through the ballot in this dispensation, it behooves on us, irrespective of our preference for any of the political parties or their candidate/s to remain focused on those things that unite us more as a people co-existing under the same national umbrella rather than those divisive factors as ethnicity, religion/creed.

    Against this backdrop of not allowing the labour of our heroes past at fostering and nurturing true democratic ethos that provide life for our people and provide it abundantly to be in vain, and considering the pivotal role of a regional power and hope of the black race, providence has placed on our shoulders as a people.

    The Good Governance Group would remind compatriots of the critical role elections have played in the annals of this country right from the 1965-66 experience leading to the ‘wetie’ imbroglio in the Southwest which snowballed into military incursion into power and eventually degenerated into a civil war, the NPN Landslide electoral heist that led to the termination of that Republic by Buhari-Idiagbon regime, not to talk of the ill-fated 3rd Republic of June 12, 1993, that resulted in loss of many innocent lives and ultimate sacrifice of the symbol of that struggle, late Chief MKO Abiola.

    Consequently, we call on our political class to, like Caesar’s wife; be above board by eschewing all forms of violence and unnecessary beating of war drums, subsume their individual ambition within a larger context of what is good and expedient for the nation’s growth and survival.

    The group implores our law enforcement officers, be it the Police or the Army, never to condescend to what could desecrate their hallowed institutions or erode their respect at the international level in our global village and remain vigilant and patriotic by upholding the doctrine of impartiality in discharging their lawful duty of maintaining law and order during and after elections in an atmosphere that is devoid of intimidation and undue harassment of fellow countrymen/women.

    In a context of this nature, winners would certainly emerge while others are bound to lose the contest. For the overall good, we expect the winners to be magnanimous in victory by extending an olive branch to the loser/s while the losers should equally be gallant in accepting the result since we cannot always win in every contest but the people could be the ultimate win if truly we aspire to serve them in all honesty.

    Perhaps more than at any other time in our checkered history as a nation, we live in an uncertain and most trying times, but ironically, these times are used to make history by people of conscience and great mind as the onus falls on President Ebele Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that Nigeria comes out of these elections stronger, better and more united than ever even if the results do not go his way.

    As a main custodian of the people’s mandate, freely given in a free and fair contest in the last four years, history beckons on him to demonstrate his genuine love for this nation by matching words for action if the electorate, the real sovereign decides not to re-elect him as their President, come March 28, 2015.

    In similar fashion, most Nigerians expect whoever emerges as the next President to have learnt enough lessons in our collective quest at evolving responsive and responsible leadership direction to not only Nigerians but the one that rekindles hope and promise in all Africans.

    This is the only benchmark that can herald a new Africa from the rubrics of colonialism and neo-colonialism.

     

    Gambo is the covener Good Governance Group

  • Lawyers urge Jonathan to sign amended Constitution

    Lawyers urge Jonathan to sign amended Constitution

    President Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to sign all the amendments effected on the Constitution and the Electoral Act (EA) by the National Assembly before Saturday to avoid a possible constitutional and legal crises during and after the elections.

    Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Sebastine Hon and the Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo said in Abuja that it was imperative that the amendments were urgently assented to by the president to avert a possible chaos after the election and the transition period.

    Hon said it was necessary for the President to sign the amended Constitution into law, to avoid reverting to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) up to the 3rd Alteration Act.

    Nwankwo, who spoke during the unveiling of the Election Day Situation Room of Civil Societies Organisations (CSOs), and initiative of the Nigerian Civil Societies Situation Room, said the President’s signing of the amendment to the EA, will resolve the current issues surrounding the innovations introduced by INEC in the electoral process.

    Hon said: “With only about 72 hours or less left to the conduct of the Presidential election, grave constitutional implications lie in wait for all of us if these amendments are not signed into law.

    “In the first place, once elections are conducted, they would have been conducted pursuant to the current Constitution, hence the winners thereof can only take their oaths of office pursuant to and under the said current Constitution, the fact that Mr. President decides to sign it into law after the conduct of the elections notwithstanding.

    “Secondly, Election Tribunals and other courts trying election related matters must, by force of law, apply the existing Constitution as opposed to the amended one. This is because the Nigerian Constitution does not operate retroactively. The net will then be that all the efforts and resources expended in producing the constitutional document will be rubbished.

    “The further implication is that Nigerians will be deprived of enjoying the robust and dynamic alterations introduced by the legislature in the new constitutional document.

    “In legal jurisprudence, the law grows or is expected to grow at par with the society. So much has happened in the Nigerian society between 2011 and now, hence the imperative of the amendments introduced by the legislature in the amended constitutional document.

    “In other words, let Nigerians not be deprived of the enjoyment of the legal revolutions introduced by the legislature into the 4th Alteration Act.

    “I, therefore, again strongly urge Mr. President to sign the amended Constitution into law before Saturday the 28th of March, 2015,” Hon said.

    Nwankwo, who is also the coordinator of the Nigeria CSOs Situation Room, said “overall, the legal framework for the 2015 general elections provides satisfactory basis for the conduct of democratic elections in accordance with international principles and Nigeria’s international legal commitments.

    “However, a number of gaps still remain mainly due to the failure of the government to implement legal reforms proposed by INEC and other election stakeholders, suggesting, among other things, improvements in the process of appointment of INEC Commissioners, candidate nomination, campaign funding, regulation of voting procedure, women’s participation in politics and constituency delimitation,” Nwankwo said.

  • ‘Jonathan should consider himself out-going President’

    ‘Jonathan should consider himself out-going President’

    Former Acting Governor of Kogi State, Chief Clarence Olafemi Thursday declared that the almost 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the helms of affair is nearing its end.

    He called on Nigerians to do the needful by voting out President Goodluck Jonathan, saying the country has had enough of PDP misrule.

    Addressing journalists in the state capital, Lokoja, Olafemi, a member of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, said the party was at the threshold of setting the nation on the path of
    true greatness.

    He added: “PDP boasted it will rule Nigeria for the next 60 years but it is clear to Nigerians it cannot even put its own house in order for barely15 years. PDP has failed Nigerians and they will rightly be
    voted out of office begining Saturday.

    “Goodluck Jonathan is Nigeria’s outgoing President and by the grace of God, General Mohammadu Buhari is our next President. Nigerians expected so much but they were soundly disappointed.

    “It is clear to all that another four years of PDP will be disaster for the country and that is why the call for change has taken over everywhere”.

    The politician called on Nigerians to come out en-mass to cast their vote for the APC presidential candidate, and stay back to ensure that their votes are counted.

    “Nigerians should come out en-mass to vote General Buhari. They should conduct themselves in peaceful manner while they remain to see their votes counted.”

  • Jonathan, Buhari renew peace deal

    Jonathan, Buhari renew peace deal

    President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Gen. Muhammedu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday signed another peace deal for violent-free elections.

    The duo are the top candidates for the March 28 presidential elections.

    They had signed a similar agreement along side other presidential candidates on the 14th of January, 2015. The agreement then was popularly called the Abuja Accord.

    The meeting on Thursday at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja was facilitated by‎ the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar‎’s led ‎National Peace Committee on 2015 Elections.

    Just like the first meeting, they again shook hands and hug each other at the venue.

    They also renewed the accord in January by reassuring Nigerians and the world that the country is more important than their own aspirations.

    The accord signed on Thursday by the two candidates and read by Bishop Mathew Kukah was titled ‘Renewal of our pledges to peaceful elections. Joint statement issued by His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan and Major General Muhammad Buhari on Thursday, March 26, 2015 ahead of the 2015 presidential elections.’

    It reads: “You may recall that on 14th January 2015, both of us, long with nine other party leaders signed what has now come to be known as the Abuja Accord. The substance of that Accord was our commitment to free, fair and credible elections in our dear country.

    “In the Accord, we agreed to, among other things, run an issue-based campaign and pledged that our electoral campaigns will not involve any religious incitement, ethnic or tribal profiling, both by ourselves and all agents acting in our names.

    “Now that the campaigns have come to an end, we meet today to renew our pledge for peaceful elections. We therefore call on all fellow citizens of our dear country, and our part supporters, to refrain from violence or any acts that may in any way jeopardize our collective vision of a free, fair and credible election.

    “In addition, we call on INEC and all security agencies to ensure strict adherence to their constitutional roles. We also pledge to respect the outcome of free, fair and credible elections.

    “Today, we again renew our commitment to a united, democratic and prosperous Nigeria. We want to all Nigerians to stand together at this critical phase of our nation’s history. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. God bless you all.” It stated.

    In his remarks, Abdulsalami Abubakar said: “This committee has been working round the clock to assist the parties and Nigerians to ensure that there is peace and harmony before, during and after the elections this time around.

    “Mr. President was kind enough to see us yesterday (Wednesday), one he is the President of the country and secondly he is a contestant. And this morning Gen. Buhari despite his late arrival last night or early arrival this morning, was kind enough to meet with this committee.

    “In essence all the meetings were held to brief them the current situation of the country and what we expect of them as stakeholders and as presidential candidates.
    I want to thank both the President and Gen. Buhari for finding time to meet with the committee. And I want to thank both party chairmen for the support received in trying to send this message of peace.

    “I’m happy both parties, the contestants are committed to free and fair elections, free of violence. And this morning a document to reiterate their commitment for this peaceful and for the forthcoming elections,” he added.

  • ‘ Jonathan can‘t win in Southwest’

    ‘ Jonathan can‘t win in Southwest’

    Former Ondo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Prince ‘Diran Iyantan is the Leader of Yoruba Ronu. He spoke with Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN on the marginalisation of the Yoruba, the purported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, the future of Ondo politics and other issues. 

    Do you agree that the Jonathan Administration has marginalised the Yoruba people?

    Yes, it is obvious. The Yoruba contributed to the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011. The Yoruba people singled him out of the crowd to become president, it follows that he should be fair to the race in political patronage, but he failed to do that. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo almost singlehandedly picked Jonathan and ensured he became President of Nigeria. He is an ingrate. He has short changed the Yoruba race.

    The Yorubas are the most liberal people in Nigeria. When Obasanjo was in power, he incorporated every ethnic group into his government. There was no Yoruba man in his kitchen cabinet made up of people like Nuhu Ribadu, Nasir El-Rufai and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. It is opposite under Jonathan. This development made some Yoruba to indict Obasanjo that he sold off his tribe when he was in power.

    What is your reaction to the purported endorsement of Dr. Jonathan by Afenifere?

    The Afenifere leaders didn’t take the generality of the Yoruba interest into consideration before they took that decision. My father ( now 93 ) is the oldest Afenifere member. He was disappointed by the decision of his colleagues. There was no forum for discussion they just allowed the external forces to influence their parochial interest. It is unfortunate that most of these Afenifere leaders lack electoral value. They can’t win election in their wards. For instance, Olu Falae who was the leader of Peoples Democratic Alliance (PDA) lost in his ward in 2011. The Yorubas are not with them. We know our leaders. Jonathan will lose in Southwest, no amount of bribe he offers his promoters.

    In my discussion with some of them, one problem they have is the meteoric rise of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to political leadership in the Southwest and in Nigeria as a whole. Tinubu achieved this through political evolution. His contribution to the Yoruba race made him the undisputable leader. If not for his steadfastness, Nigeria would have been in disarray. When the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dislodged Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the Southwest in 2003, it was only Lagos State under Tinubu that survived the PDP onslaught. With only one state, he was able to build Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) into a formidable party in the Southwest and Edo State. In 2007, ACN reclaimed some of the states and swept out PDP from the Southwest in 2011.

    Will you say the Afenifere group are keeping to Awolowo’s political philosophy?

    They have gone in the direct opposite of Awo’s political thought, an embodiment of egalitarianism and welfarism. Awo detest corruption in his life time. But the Afenifere leaders have been induced to promote corrupt government and leaders. In Yoruba tradition, when you attain certain age or when you become an elder, you retire from active participation in certain things like business and politics. Most of these Afenifere leaders are in their 80’s or above, they should quit the stage for the younger elements.

    Are you surprised that former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba has returned to Afenifere fold?

    I don’t think he was the closest to Awo while on earth as he claimed. Awo never jumped ship throughout his political career. Time was not auspicious for him to opt out of the progressive family. I feel sad for him for doing that at the twilight of his political career. At a time when the progressives are struggling to liberate themselves from the shackles of conservative elements, it is disappointing that a leader like Osoba decided to join the oppressors.

    The Afenifere leaders hinged their endorsement of Jonathan on his commitment to implement the National Conference report. What is your comment?

    I considered the national conference as a deliberate ploy to buy time for Jonathan. The progressives first mooted the idea of national conference which was rebuffed by Jonathn. When he became very unpopular, he believed he can use the convocation of national conference as bait. He is now giving an absurd condition that re-elect me first before I can start implementing the report. The time the report was submitted before now was sufficient for the President to implement the report if he was truly committed to its implementation. Jonathan knew what some Yoruba like his polemic. He wanted to keep them busy and engaged the likes of Femi Okunrounmu. He has also induced the Afenifere leaders to collaborate with the South-south in order to win the presidential election. They want to use creation of new states to justify the national confab report. Jonathan has been promising people that he will create new states if he was re-elected. What is the rationale of creating new states when most of the existing ones are not viable?

    Are you surprised that the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) capitulated from his earlier decision not to endorse Jonathan?

    We are pained that the Yoruba Council of Elders is now hob-nobbing with the oppressors of their race. The YCE is supposed to be apolitical. For them now to join the fray of politics of inducement and commercialisation, we are not bothered. Yoruba are united; Yoruba have identified with the general change; we want Nigeria to be rescued from the pangs of desperados. I know their off-shoots are not supporting what they (YCE) leaders are doing. Look at Chief Niyi Adebayo, he is one of those advocating change in the country.

    The Afenifere leaders have described the merger of ACN with other parties from the North as a sell-out. Do you agree?

    It is a belated and jaundiced argument. The little time we have stability in this country was when there was co-operation between the Southwest and the north. We believe the interest of the Southwest will be better protected by working with the north. The Yoruba in the Federal Civil Service are being marginalised and victimised. We cannot endure this sad experience for another four years. God willing, with Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as Vice President, the interest of Yoruba will be properly taken care of. We don’t want Yoruba children to be given dirty jobs like those assigned Femi Fani-Kayode, Doyin Okupe and Reuben Abati anymore. It is not in our tradition and culture to talk carelessly about our elders. Can you imagine Fani-Kayode casting aspersion on Tinubu who resuscitated the integrity of already bruised Yoruba race. Fani-Kayode should temper his problems with common sense and stop making unguarded statements because he wanted to satisfy his pay masters.

    What is the political situation in Ondo State now?

    The emergence of Governor Olusegun Mimiko in 2007 was a result of revolution in Ondo State. What happened in the state is a miniature of what will happen in Nigeria this year. Mimiko was a political orphan. He only had affiliation with the people who provided the arsenal to prosecute that revolution.

    Mimiko started well but suddenly he deviated from the norms of good governance. He betrayed his benefactors including Asiwaju Tinubu and even engaged in unhealthy rivalry with Tinubu. The economy of Ondo State was not strong enough to cope with his inordinate ambition. The state has suffered because of it. There is poverty everywhere. Mimiko is now a political pariah. He is now the most unpopular government in the country. The wind of change is blowing across the state seriously. Mimiko is in a big problem. He has been rejected. His party-PDP will lose in the forthcoming elections.