The Nation Newspaper

Tag: loyalty

  • Mr Loyalty is 50

    Mr Loyalty is 50

    The Imo community in Texas, United States, has hosted Deputy Governor Prince Ezeakonobi Madumere on his 50th birthday, writes NNEKA NWANERI.

    As Prince Eze Madumere entered the arena, the gathering started chanting  “Mr. Humility”, “Mr. Loyalty”, “the master strategist” and so on.

    It was a gathering of Imolites in God’s own country to celebrate the 50th birthday of the number two citizen of their state.

    The event took place at the home of Chief Obinna Abuachi. Members of the Great Owerri Congress and their friends were there in large number.

    After exchanging pleasantries with his kinsmen, Madumere took his seat.

    The Igbo tradition was on display. The ritual of welcoming a visitor with kolanut was observed. In Igboland, kolanut enjoys a pride of place and no ceremony is complete without it.

    Presentation of kolanut has remained one tradition that has withstood the heat and alterations that came with colonisation, westernisation and civilisation.

    He was declared the leader of Imolites in Diaspora,  his excellent representation of Imo Community in Diaspora in the Rochas Okorocha Administration.

    The event turned into a rally of sorts as people took turns to speak on the Okorocha administration.

    Madumere is a worthy son giving the way he has comported himself in office, first as Chief of Staff and now as deputy governor. He described Owelle Okorocha and Madumere as transformers.

    Ugochukwu Dike described the Okorocha administration as the greatest thing happened to Imo State, saying Imolites in Diaspora were happy with the development.

    “Today, we are witnessing change in all facets of our dear state. Security challenges that used to be our worries are almost a thing of the past. As a son of Ideato nation, I stand to say that our deputy governor is a brother to us all by his kind gestures and humility to the cause of our people in diaspora,” he said.

    Chief Ralph Obijiofor also known as Big Fish, from Anambra State, drummed support for Okorocha’s re-election. He louded the governor’s philanthropic gestures and free education to the indigent under his Rochas Foundation Colleges.

    A lawyer, Okey Dike, called for support for Okorocha’s administration. He thanked Madumere for his gesture to Ndi Imo in Diaspora. Imolites in Diaspora, he said, have got more recognition under Okorocha’s administration than any other government.

    Chief Marcon Nlemigbo, former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also called for support for Madumere for remaining himself even in power.

    Madumere enumerated the giant strides of the Okorocha administration. He called for support for an administration that has transformed Imo State in less than three years. According to him, this is a proof that the state is on its way to realise  the dreams of its founding fathers. Pounded yam with Onugbu, Egusi, Ofe akwukwu was served for dinner

    Prince Madumere is the third child of Eze Henry Anoruo Madumere of Ezi Achi Mbier.

  • 57 Reps pledge loyalty to Baraje’s group

    57 Reps pledge loyalty to Baraje’s group

    Fifty-seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the House of Representatives have pitched tent with the Abubakar Kawu Baraje faction.

    The lawmakers warned the ruling party against victimising them, threatening to use the law to check such moves.

    Security agencies were also advised not to allow themselves to be used to victimise them.

    In a statement yesterday, they expressed their support for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and congratulated him and seven governors on the faction’s emergence.

    It reads: “We, the members of the House of Representatives under the platform of the New PDP, hereby congratulate our leaders on the emergence of the new party.

    “Although a sizeable number of our members could not append their signatures because of their unavailability in the country, they will do so immediately on arrival. We the under signed salute and appreciate the courage, sacrifice and resilience and patriotism of our leaders namely: former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governors Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), AbdulFattah Ahmed (Kwara) and Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers) and other well-meaning and eminent Nigerians for leading the way for the emergence of the New PDP.

    “We are also using this opportunity to condemn in strong terms attempts by some agents of the Federal Government to use state apparatus to witch-hunt some of these patriots for taking this bold and courageous step.

    “As members of the House of Representatives, we call on the security agencies and other anti-graft bodies to be professional in their activities and not allow themselves to be used by anybody no matter how highly placed for their political ambitions. Remember how you want history to judge your tenure.

    “We won’t hesitate, however, to use all instruments of law within our powers as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to stop this and bring anybody found wanting to book.

    “We wish to state that by this statement, we pledge our loyalty and support to the New PDP under the able chairmanship of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, the Deputy Chairman, Dr Sam Sam Jaja, National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinola and other members of the National Executive Committee.

    “We congratulate them and wish them the very best as they steer the affairs of our party to provide a level-playing field for all Nigerians.”

    The lawmakers include: Abdulahi Balarabe (Sokoto), Abudulmumin Jibrin (Kano), Ali Ahmad (PDP, Kwara), Abdullahi Wamakko (Sokoto), Abdullahi Rico (Niger), Abdulmalik Cheche (Niger), Adamu Bashir (Jigawa), Aliyu Pategi (Kwara), Ahmed Zerewa, Aishatu Ahmed (Adamawa), Aiyedun Olayinka (Kwara), Alhassan Garba (Kano), Aliyu Madaki (Kano), Aliyu Shehu (Sokoto) and Aminu Shagari (Sokoto).

    Others are Aminu Suleiman (Kano), Aminu Tukur (Adamawa), Andrew Uchendu (Rivers), Asita Honourable (Rivers), Bashir Babale (Kano), Blessing Usiegbe (Rivers), Dakuku Peterside (Rivers), Dawari George (Rivers), Farouk Lawan (Kano), Gibson Nathaniel (Adamawa), Gogo Bright Tamuno (Rivers), Haliru Jikantoro (Niger), Hassan Adamu (Jigawa), Hussain Namadi (Kogi), Ibrahim Ebbo (Niger), Ibrahim Tijjani Kiyawa (Jigawa), Isa Bashir (Sokoto), Kabiru Achida (Sokoto), Khabeeb Mustapha (Jigawa) and Maurice Pronen (Rivers).

    Also in the group are: Sabo Mohammed (Jigawa), Mpigi Barinada (Rivers), Mohammed Mukhtar (Niger), Mohammed Ibrahim (Kogi), Mohammed Kutigi (Niger), Mukhtari Muhammad, Musa Ado (Kano), Musa Sarkin-Adar (Sokoto), Mustapha Dawaki (Kano), Mustapha Mashood (Kwara), Ogbonna Nwuke (Rivers), Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara), Sa’ad Nabunkari (Sokoto), Sani Aliyu (Kano), Shuaibu Gobir (Sokoto), Sokonte Davies (Rivers), Sufiyanu Ubale (Jigawa), Umar Bature (Sokoto), Usman Wada (Jigawa), Yusuph Dunari Sule (Jigawa), Yusuph Galambi (Jigawa) and Zakari Mohammed (Kwara).

     

  • Amaechi, Aliyu, loyalty pledge and Jonathan

    Amaechi, Aliyu, loyalty pledge and Jonathan

    Moments after he was re-elected as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) last Friday, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State gave a short and, for someone who cuts a fairly radical or activist image, unusual statement about democracy and President Goodluck Jonathan. The election was victory for democracy and proved the resolve of the governors to affirm the unity of the Forum, he said with a strong hint of exaggeration. But as for Dr. Jonathan, the governor felt a desperate urge to pacify him, thereby giving the impression he not only contested against the Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, but also against the president. It is not clear that everyone will agree the governor needed to pacify the president, but he did so nonetheless with extraordinary self-effacement. As he put it delicately, “We remain committed to supporting our leader, the president and commander in chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to realise the development dream of all Nigerians by reducing tension, uncertainty and insecurity in our beloved country. We want to pledge our steadfastness and resolve working alongside Mr. President to better the lives of our people as we render transparent and accountable stewardship.”

    But Mr. Amaechi is not the only one pledging loyalty to the president, even though it is all but obvious the pledge was cynical and perfunctory. Governor of Niger State, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, also felt compelled to offer the same peace offering when the president visited Niger State for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Zungeru Hydro-electric Power Project. Responding to widespread report he was warring against the president, Dr. Aliyu remarked effusively: “Those thinking that there is war between the Niger State government and governor and the president should swallow their spit. We are one; we recognise that the people of Nigeria elected him and we respect that. If we do not respect and follow you (Mr. President), God will ask us. So we are saying, Mr. President that we are for you…We are with you and I hereby pledge my government and people’s loyalty and support to you.” But shouldn’t everyone pledge his loyalty to the constitution?

    It is unlikely Dr. Jonathan would believe the two governors. By lashing out furiously against Mr. Amaechi through the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) immediately after the NGF poll, the president gave indication he was impervious to the governor’s blandishments. And while he may also not be able to lash out against the Niger State governor as he would like, he will at least take the governor’s protestations with a pinch of salt. On their own, it is unlikely the two governors think the president would be misled by their red herrings. Why, then, don’t we cut to the chase by showing one another our true colours and forswearing the cultural nuance of groveling before power? It is true that by the Nigerian constitution the president has nearly limitless power to do and undo, yet both the spirit and the letter of the constitution do not grant the president such powers as many imagine. But by groveling before the president/head of state and deferring to him sycophantically, as has been done by the political elite over the decades, the president can be forgiven for imagining he transcends the constitution and has the power of life and death over every citizen. After all, the police, secret service and the army believe everyone is a subject to be treated shabbily, not a citizen whose rights are non-derogable.

    Let Mr. Amaechi enjoy his NGF victory unabashedly, notwithstanding the compulsive bellyaching of his traducers and the aggressive intrigues of Dr Jonathan and the PDP. And beyond the routine exhibition of official courtesies, let Dr Aliyu also put his foot down whenever the need arises, for in truth, there is really no pleasing this president, at least not with the scheming gerontocrats around him disturbing the peace of the country. Blessed will be the day when the president climbs down from his high horse, and the people climb up from their genuflecting and groveling sewers, and we all meet at the table of reason and moderation where everyone knows his limits within the sacred confines of the constitution.