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  • Will Buhari implement APC panel report on restructuring?

    Will Buhari implement APC panel report on restructuring?

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee on Restructuring has recommended restructuring in its report. Will the Federal Government implement it or throw it into the dustbin like the reports of the 2004 and 2014 National Conferences? Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU highlights the report and its implications for the resolution of the national question. 

    For pro-restructuring crusaders, there seems to be a ray of hope. Following the presentation of the report of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee on True Federalism to the party leadership, the clamour for the repositioning of the polity can now take a new dimension. Advocates of restructuring can now re-strategise and intensify their agitation for its implementation by the Federal Government. According to observers, the ruling party is also in a vantage position to lead the struggle from inside and persuade the government it midwifed to accede to the popular yearning for restoration of true federalism.

    Despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s lone and illogical position on the national question, the committee mustered the strength to produce a bold and brave document. Therefore, presidential influence on the committee members may have been virtually absent. In his new year broadcast, the president had narrowed down the perspective on national reconfiguration when he categorically told the anxious nation that, the process, and not the structure, was the main problem. The report underscored the desirability of a rethink, more so when it has affirmed the APC’s commitment to true federalism as specified in its manifestos.

    Specifically, the party promised a “more equitable distribution of national revenue to states and local governments.” It promised to devolve more powers to states and local governments, especially the control of policing, local prisons and the right to nominate state police commissioners by governors.

    The 27-mmber panel chaired by Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was mandated to examine the constitution of the party and its manifestos to “distil the true intent and definition of true federalism, promised by the party, review the various ideas being canvassed by stakeholders on restructuring, look at the reports of previous National Conferences to identify areas of congruence, recommend a party position and propose an appropriate mechanism for implementation.

    The panel organised public hearings in 13 locations across the six geo-political zones and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). But, there was no wide participation by Southeast stakeholders. The probable reason was that, since the efforts were spearheaded by the APC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-controlled states of the Southeast did not show enthusiasm. Rufai said in preparing the report, the recommendations of the previous 2004 and 2014 National Conferences were considered. Also, the secretary of the committee, Senator Bunmi Adetumbi, said a team of legal draftsmen have identified some recommendations that require legislative action and skillfully drafted “all the proposed bills” for the consideration of the National Assembly. “The work of this team made a distinct difference between our work and similar previous exercises to the extent that the implementation framework was factored into the report,” he added.

    Accordingly, 13 major issues germane to restructuring engaged the attention committee. They are the creation of states, merger of states, derivation principle, devolution of powers, federating units, fiscal federalism and revenue allocation, forms of government and independent candidacy. Others are land tenure system, local government autonomy, power sharing and rotation, resource control ant type of legislature.

    It has always been difficult for previous administrations to implement far-reaching recommendations on restructuring. The 2004 National Conference Report did not see the light of the day. It was sacrificed on the altar of the alleged third term agenda of the Obasanjo administration. The 2014 conference set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan was a decoy. He was only trying to thread the populist path to secure a second term, a target he later missed. The question is: will President Buhari have the courage to implement the report of a panel set up by his party?

     

    State creation:

    The agitation for state creation is now new. As found out by the committee, the strongest opposition to it came from the North, particularly from the Northwest, which has seven states. But, the Southwest and Southeast rekindled their hope. The Southeast called for an additional state to achieve parity with other geo-political zones. While 48 per cent of respodents opposed state creation, 36 per cent supported it. As pointed out by the panel, the demand for regionalism is not popular outside the Northwest and Southwest. Thus, it was not considered by the committee.

    To the panel, state creation is not expedient, adding that new states will “merely create new sub-national bureaucracies and their attendant costs while reducing the share of federal statutory allocation accruing to existing and proposed new states that are already grappling with the high cost of governance, payment of salaries of workers, and bringing development to the people.” Besides, it pointed out that state creation may weaken federalism by denying the federating units enough resources and ability to discharge additional responsibilities that would be thrust on them.

    However, the committee observed that the Southeast’s demand should be viewed as an isolated case to foster equity. Also, it suggested that, should the need arise, those pushing or new states can follow the requirements highlighted for the exercise in the constitution, if the demand enjoys widespread support.

     

    Merger of states:                     

    The consensus is clearly on opposition to merger of states. According to the committee, there is no widespread support for merger of states. Merger means the fusion of two or more states into one as the previous states cease to exist. “Hardly anyone would want their state abolished or be replaced with a higher or different political leadership and authority,” it added. However, in view of the push for regional economic cooperation among contiguous state, the committee recommended  that the constitution should provide for legal and administrative frameworks for states that may consider the option of mergers.

     

    Derivation principle:

    The committed noted the “widespread support and consensus in favour of state control of resources and payment of taxes to the Federal Government” across the six zones. The North and, so some extent, the Southwest favoured the application of the derivation principle to solid minerals and hydro-power generation. But, the three zones in the North canvassed the maintenance of the status quo.

    To foster unity and ensure that states are financially empowered to deliver services to their residents, the committee recommended that the Federal Government should expeditiously review the current derivation formula in favour of “state control of resources,” “pay tax to the Federal Government, and solid minerals and hydro-power.” This will necessitate the amendment of Section 162 (2) of the constitution.

    The panel raised an important issue. It noted that “there is no clear provision in any legislation assigning the specific responsibility for initiating the review of the derivation formula to any particular organ of government, although Item 32 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution stipulates that the formula shall remain for a period of not less than five years. This implies a periodic review after five years. But, as pointed out by the committee, “the current formula has been in place for over 17 years without review. This is probably because of the failure to assign responsibility for initiating the review process on any organ of government.

    “The Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission Act, 2004 should be amended to vest the commission with the power and responsibility to periodically review the derivation and make proposal to the President who shall then table same before the Nationl Assembly for necessary legislation.”

     

    Fiscal federalism and revenue allocation :

    Apart from state police and local government status, no issue has generated more tension than revenue allocation. It is at the core of the fiscal federalism struggle. There is a linkage among derivation principle, fiscal federalism and revenue allocation and their understanding by the stakeholders is basically the same. The panel acknowledged that they are technical issues. Therefore, it suggested that the Federal Government should urgently direct the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to fashion out a new revenue allocation formula in consonance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which envisages a periodic review. “Furthermore, since Section 162(2) of the constitution already provides for the principle of derivation of not less than 13 per cent, there is clearly room for its upward review,” it added.

    Also, the committee recommended an upward review of the current revenue sharing formula in favour of states, in view of the proposed control of resources by the states and the devolution of powers from the Federal Government to states. “The current formula for sharing revenue is 56 per cent to the Federal Government, 24 per cent to state governments and 20 per cent to local governments. To give effect to this recommendation, the Allocation of Revenue Act, 2002 will have to be amended in favour of states,” added the report.

     

    Devolution of powers:

    Seventy four per cent of respondents were in favour of devolution of powers while only seven per cent were opposed to it. Top on the list of items were police and community policing. Other items were education, prisons, health, road, security, agriculture, railway, mineral resources, trade, commerce and housing. According to the report, the ruling party should put its weight behind the overwhelming popular demand for devolution to states by the Federal Government. This would entail the transfer of items on the Exclusive Legislative List; some to Concurrent List and others to Residual List to enhance and localize the demand side of governance and make states more accountable to the electorate and thereby allowing the Federal Government to concentrate on regulatory functions and other national priorities.

    The committee observed that “a major issue with the Nigerian federation is the enormous exclusive legislative powers of the Federal Government with resultant over-centralisation of power and authority. It is generally believed that a further decentralization of some of these powers by devolving more [powers, authority and resources to the federating units will foster efficiency and sub-national responsiveness and local accountability.”

     

    Federating units:

    States were upheld by respondents as the federating units. The committee agreed with this view. But, it also articulated the view that the agitation for six geo-political zones or regions as federating units may gather more momentum in the future, if the cost of governance continues to rise.

     

    Form of governance:

    There were two opinions; preference for the continuity of the presidential system and return to the parliamentary system. Majority opinion favoured presidential system. The two points raised against presidential system are corruption and high cost of governance. There is no evidence to show that the parliamentary system is not assailed by these vices. In recommending the continuation of presidential system at the federal and state levels, the committee said the two issues of corruption and high cost of governance should be addressed.

     

    Independent candidacy:

    Although the majority of respondents were opposed to independent candidacy, the committee still recommended it for the purpose of widening the political space. Instructively, the National Assembly has approved it as part of the constitution amendment and its awaiting its adoption by the Houses of Assembly. However, according to the report, “it is necessary to introduce strong eligibility criteria and process checks to prevent abuse by attention-seeking candidates who will demand their inclusion on the ballot papers and thereafter use it to create crisis in the electoral process. It is necessary and important to ensure that INEC is not inundated and overwhelmed by a large number of independent candidates, some of whom may be unserious.”

    The committee said the constition should be amended to accommodate the novel proposition. Thus, Sections 65(2), 106(d), 131 (c), 142 (1) 176 ©, and 187 of the constitution will have to be amended to provide for independent candidacy. Also, Section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010 will have to be amended to provide strong eligibility criteria, which must be met by persons wishing to contest as independent candidates.

    Four criteria were suggested by the panel: the person should not belong to any registered political party at least six months before the elections he intends to contest; his nominators must not belong to any party; the candidate must deposit to INEC the same range as the non-refundable deposit fee payable by candidates sponsored by parties, which amount should be determined by an Act of the National Assembly, and the candidate must also meet other qualification requirements provided by the constitution and any other law.

     

    Land tenure system:

    There is a consensus of opinion on the removal of the Land Use Act from the constitution. The committee, nevertheless, recommended that “Land Use Act should be retained in the constitution in the greater interest of national security and the protection of Nigeria’s arable land from international land grabbers. The wisdom of their suggestion is debatable.

     

    Local government autonomy:

    More people were opposed to local government autonomy than those in support. Sixty seven per cent of respondents opposed it while 33 per cent was in support of it. The only exception is the Northcentral and the FCT where there is noticeable stronger support for it. The opposition is overwhelming in Northeast, Northwest and Southwest. The public understanding of the true meaning of true federalism is found to be inadequate, as underscored by their attitude to council autonomy.

    In its recommendation, the committee stated: “The demand for local government autonomy is as a result of the alleged interference in the management of the monies allocated to LGAs from the Federation Account. There are widespread allegations of diversion of these funds by state governments to the detriment of effective performance and service delivery by local councils. However, as brought out in some memoranda, local governments cannot be federating units under the principles of federalism, thereby making the whole notion of direct allocation to LGAs from the Federaion Account an aberration.

    “In conformity with conventional principles of federalism, LGAs should be no more than administrative units of states as otherwise would make them become third their federating units. In view of these and in line with empirical findings during consultations, the committee recommends that LGA should be removed from the federal constitution and states be allowed to develop a local administrative system that is relevant and peculiar to each respective state.”

     

    Power sharing and rotation:

    The committee recommended that “the complexity of power sharing and rotation be managed at the party level rather than it being provided for in the constitution or have a dedicated law. This suggestion, as noted by the panel, is consistent with the position of the APC.

     

    Resource control:

    The exercise of control by states over their natural resources and payment of taxes on them to the Federal Government was recommended. If the recommendation is accepted, then, there will be need to amend the Petroleum Act, LFN 2004; Nigerians Minerals and Minig Act, 2007; Section 12(1) of the Land Use Act and Petroleum Profit Tax Act, 2007.

     

    Type of legislature:

    The committee favoured a full-time bi-cameral legislature due to the reason of balanced representation and work load of parliamentarians.

    States realignment and boundary adjustment:

    This issue was considered very important to achieve better ethno-cultural homogeneity which the creation of states and local governments by military fiat failed to consider. For example, the Okun people in six local governments in Kogi-Ijumu (100 per cent Yoruba), Kabba/Bunu (100 per cent Yoruba), Yagba East (100 per cent Yoruba), Yagba West (100 per cent Yoruba), Mopa Amuro (100 per cent Yoruba) and Lokoja (75 per cent Yoruba) are strongly advocating a return to the Southwest geo-political zone. Also, the Association of Middle Belt Ethnic Nationalities (ASOMBEN) has advocated that a portion of Kaduna State (proposed as Guara State) should be moved from the Northwest to the Northcentral zone. The committee recommended that these requests for the choice of preferred states within the context of constitutional guarantees of freedom of association should be granted.

     

    Provision for referendum:

    The committee recommended that there should be constitutional provision for referendum to allow members of the public to decide major political decisions and as a tool for popular participation.

     

  • Ekiti panel report causes ripples

    Ekiti panel report causes ripples

    The Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose to probe the management of finances during the administration of his predecessor and Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has submitted its report. The report is already causing ripples among political gladiators in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the state marches towards the governorship election. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

    THE Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose to probe the management of finances under his immediate predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has submitted its report. The panel, which had the former Acting Chief Judge, Justice Silas Bamidele Oyewole (retd.), as Chairman recommended that the former governor should account for the N2.75 billion allocated from the N25 billion bond obtained by the government for the execution of the contract for the construction of an ultra-modern market in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

    The panel also recommended that the contractor who handled the furnishing of the Government House built by the Fayemi administration should refund N324.8 million, because the contract should not have been more than N280 million. The panel said that Kitwood Nigeria Limited to which the furnishing contract of over N600 million was awarded had no traceable address and that “the address on the Letter of Award is a virgin land opposite the new Central Bank on new Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti.

    On the purchase of vehicles, the panel said the claim by Coscharis Motors that it supplied 235 and/or 250 vehicles was fraudulent. The report added: “That Coscharis Motors supplied some vehicles outside Ekiti State, especially at Ibadan liaison office when Ekiti State Government does not have a liaison office in Ibadan. In respect of this, seven vehicles were supplied outside the state and signed for by unknown persons. Coscharis Motors only supplied 219 vehicles to the Ekiti State Government and that 1 7 Joylong Buses were supplied to the Ekiti State Government as gift, but later carted away.”

    On the controversial N852.9 State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) fund, the panel accused the Fayemi administration of hoodwinking the Federal Government into paying its own matching grant by obtaining N852, 936,783.12 loan from Access Bank on November 25, 2013 without perfecting documentation in respect of the loan, thereby flouting the provisions of Section 11(2) of the UBEC Act, 2004.

    But the All Progressives Congress (APC) rose in stout defence of Fayemi, alleging that the probe was premeditated and programmed to arrive at an answer to indict Fayemi for political reasons. The party said the report cannot pass integrity test when taken before a proper court of law. In a statement in Ado-Ekiti, the APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, scoffed at the report, dismissing it “as a product of a premeditated script by a panel of Fayemi’s haters who were acting the script of the governor bent on ruining the reputation of his predecessor.”

    Olatunbosun said the report was nothing but a direct opposite of what the former governor represented in government. He said: “Fayemi ran a transparent administration and his programmes were people-oriented and targeted at making Ekiti greater with strong economic base.

    “The panel of inquiry set up to implement a scripted blackmail cannot stand a judicial scrutiny. Fayose’s government is a failure and therefore, always looking for a distraction to deceive the public and particularly the people of Ekiti State. Fayose has impoverished Ekiti people by his refusal to pay Ekiti workers and pensioners several months of salaries and pensions.”

    The probe has raised some questions begging for answers: was it raised with the patriotic zeal to recover the state’s assets or to nail a political opponent? Why did it take Fayose three years to set up the probe? Would Fayose have taken the action, if Fayemi is a member of PDP like Fayose?

    If the White Paper on the report is eventually released, will it stop Fayemi from contesting for a political office in the future, if he so wishes?

    The panel was handed six terms of reference. These are: to ascertain how much was received as statutory allocations between October 2010 and October 2014; to look into the financial transactions of Ekiti State between the period under review; to ascertain the amount received on behalf of the state from Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC); to ascertain the amount Ekiti State took as loan during the period under review and how they were utilized. It also includes all other issues relating to the state finances and to make appropriate recommendations.

    Other members of the panel are: Mrs. Bola Wale-Awe, a lawyer; Mr. Idowu Ayenimo, a retired Chief Magistrate; Mr. Vincent Omodara, a senior civil servant; Mr. Oladele Blessing, a labour leader; Mrs. Oluremi Adesoba, a senior civil servant; Mr. Gbemiga Adaramola, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), who served as Secretary; and Mr. Sunday Bamise, who served as counsel to the commission.

    The panel was inaugurated on May 22, last year and it was constituted in compliance with Section 2(1) of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap. C10, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012. That would be the first time in the history of the state that an administration would probe its predecessor.

    The inauguration of the panel came under the haze of controversies and brickbats between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC. While the PDP administration alleged that the immediate past APC government looted the state, hence, the need to launch a probe to recover whatever that might have been stolen, the opposition maintained that the alleged looting only existed in the imagination of Fayose and his henchmen.

    Fayose had on his assumption of office on October 16, 2014 alleged that the Fayemi administration plunged the state into debts, which made it difficult for his administration to deliver on its promises to the people. The governor was believed to be taking after his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, who set up a similar panel to probe his predecessor, Chibuike Amaechi, who now serves as Minister of Transport.

    Fayemi is in a similar situation with Amaechi; their two home states (Ekiti and Rivers) are now ruled by the PDP, while they are in the APC where they are leaders of their respective states. Fayemi and Amaechi are expected to play pivotal roles in future elections coming up in their states.

    The report of the Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry, led by Justice George Omeregi, indicted Amaechi. He was accused of looting the state to the tune of N53 billion. The commission sat for 30 days and turned in its report on October 9, 2015.

    Earlier in the year, Fayose alleged that Fayemi, now Minister of Mines and Steel Development, and his party, were working with a section of the judiciary to remove him (Fayose) from office. Later Fayose paid a visit to Wike in Port Harcourt and he was believed to have bought into the idea of probing Fayemi on his return from Rivers.

    When he returned, Fayose tightened the screw on the move to whip his predecessor into line, which came at a time rumour was rife on a possible governorship ambition of Fayemi in 2018, even though he (Fayemi) had kept silent on the issue.

    Fayemi tried to stop the probe. Before the panel started work, he filed separate suits at Ekiti State High Court and the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti to challenge the composition of the panel and sought for the nullification of the warrant of arrest issued against him by the state lawmakers.

    Before the constitution of the panel, the former governor  also filed a libel suit at a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja against a member of the House of Assembly, Dr. Samuel Omotoso, and Fayose’s media aide, Mr. Lere Olayinka, on some issues before the panel.

    The former governor did not appear before the panel on account of the suits he filed to stop the probe. He also alleged that members of the panel are cronies, associates and sympathisers of Fayose, who will not do justice. Fayemi also claimed that they have been handed a hatchet job to pass a guilty verdict on him to please their paymasters who empanelled them.

    One of the cases filed by Fayemi at Ekiti State High Court 6, presided over by Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye, challenging the House of Assembly’s resolution to empower Fayose to raise the panel, was dismissed.

    Justice Ogunmoye held that Fayose has powers to set up the panel of inquiry without the prompting of the House of Assembly and that he acted properly. The judge held that Fayose acted pursuant to Section 2 (1) of the Commission of Inquiry Law Cap C10 Laws of Ekiti State.

    The trial judge said the governor does not need to consult the House of Assembly or anyone before setting up the Commission of Inquiry. Justice Ogunmoye, however, agreed with Fayemi that the House of Assembly had no rights to direct the governor to set up the inquiry.

    Fayose emphasised while receiving the panel’s report that the panel was instituted to give the people of Ekiti the opportunity to see how their commonwealth was being used. He said asking his predecessor to account for his stewardship does not amount to witch-hunting, as being insinuated by members of the opposition party.

    The governor has inaugurated a four-man administrative panel to study the report and come out with a White Paper. The panel is headed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kolapo Kolade.

     

  • Wike, police bicker over panel report

    Wike, police bicker over panel report

    The 15-man panel set up by Police Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris to investigate the violence and killings that marred last year’s parliamentary rerun in Rivers State has submitted its report. But, the report is another source of rift between the police and Governor Nyesom Wike, who believes the exercise is meant to tarnish his image. Correspondent FAITH YAHAYA reports

    There seems to be no end to the controversy generated by the handling of the violence and other infractions that characterised last year’s December 10 parliamentary rerun in Rivers State. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been trading blames and refused to accept responsibility for events that led to the death of two police officers. The officers were beheaded. So far, that was the casualty recorded as both parties are yet to come out to say they lost anyone, owing to the violence that led to the dismissal of six police officers who were said to have compromised, and the redeployment of the Chief Security Officer (CSO) attached to Governor Nyesome Wike, DSP Promise Nwosu. The governor described the removal of his CSO as an embarrassment and an attempt to expose his life to danger. Also, 23 electoral officers were said to have compromised. They are already facing trial.
    Before the election, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, had invited leaders of both parties to agree on a non-violence pact and work for a free and fair poll. On the July 26, last year, as part of efforts to guarantee a violence-free election, a meeting was held by the IGP, the Director General of Department of State Services, Musa Daura, Wike and the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. The Director General of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside, was also present at the meeting.
    According to a statement by the immediate past police spokesman, Don Awaunah, the meeting deliberated on the need to have a peaceful, free and fair election devoid of violence, which was the hallmark of the previous elections in the state.
    The police disclosed that Amaechi and Wike resolved to be irrevocably committed to lasting peace and vouched to play by the rules in the election. They also agreed to prevail on their supporters to adhere to their commitment to peace and security. They also agreed to convene a meeting in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, aimed at further solidifying the commitment to peace.
    Also, as part of preparations for the election, a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), in charge of Operations, Joshak Habila, was deployed alongside some Commissioners of Police to ensure that the process was free and fair.
    In addition to the senior officers, no fewer than 28,000 policemen from different units of the police, helicopters, and gun boats, were also deployed to ensure a smooth process.
    After the meeting, one would have expected a free and fair election as anticipated. but, the reverse was the case. The violence led to the death of two police officers. Many police officers in their thousands were deployed to the state, but that did not ensure a free process as envisaged.
    Two police officers were beheaded and electoral officers were accused of compromise. To forestall future occurrence, the IG, set up a 15-man panel, which comprised of officers from the Police and Department of State Security Service (DSS) to look into the matter. They were given 30 days to investigate and report back to the IGP. The panel, among other things, was to investigate; the role of security agents before, during and after the election; examine the role of any police officer or security agent whose actions or activities individually or collectively was detrimental to the good conduct of the elections; conduct a forensic analysis on the audio report released by Sahara Reporters as it concerns the election and examine any other matter that was relevant to the conduct of the elections. “I hereby use this opportunity to implore well meaning Nigerian, especially INEC, Rivers Sate Government, to give the panel maximum support and cooperate with this investigative panel”, the IG urged the stakeholders.
    When the panel was set up, Wike condemned it, saying the  panel will be biased.
    While the investigation was ongoing, six police officers were found culpable of total disrespect to orders and directives. They had compromised, and engaged in unprofessional.
    The officers are Inspr. Eyong Victor, Sgt. Peter Ekpo, Sgt. Oguni Goodluck, Sgt. Okpe Ezekiel, Sgt. Orji Nwoke and Sgt. Tanko Akor.
    After 30 days, the panel submitted its findings to the IGP. According to the report, over N111.3million was recovered from 23 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who were involved in the election. The officials have been indicted for their involvement in the violence.
    Also, six police officers who were indicted over the role they played had been dismissed. The findings were contained in the report of the Joint Investigation Panel. The panel attributed the violence to lawlessness and leadership failure.
    The Chairman of the 15-man panel, DCP Damian Okoro, during the presentation of the report, said: “the sum of N111,300,000 was recovered from 23 INEC Electoral Officers. Out of N360million, N15 million was given to each of them while three senior electoral officers were given N20million each.”
    The committee has established cases of misconduct on the part of some electoral officers and law enforcement agents, who allowed themselves to be compromised. The task given to the panel was quite challenging because of the tense political and security situation in the state, especially the prevalence of violent crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, and politically motivated killings, by militant groups that enjoy funding and protection of desperate politicians.
    Okoro said: “These lawless elements target, not only the political opponents of their sponsor, but also law enforcement agents, especially the Police, mostly within the Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema Local Government Area, which is the axis of evils of cultism.
    “The violence that occurred in Rivers State, before during and after the rerun election, was a reflection of lawlessness and leadership failure of narrow -minded politicians and their gullible supporters. Oftentimes, politicians make inflammatory statements that incite their supporters into avoidable violence that results in the destruction of lives and properties. Regrettably, these politicians often fail to realise that as very important personalities in their own right, they are the embodiment of some values cherished by their supporters.
    “Apart from their utterances, politicians in their desperation for political power also arm thugs and unleash terror on their opponents. When motivated by their sponsors, these criminal elements can do anything to further the political aspirations of their principals, including extra- judicial killings and rigging of elections with impunity. We discovered that failure of leadership and followership rather than law enforcement, was responsible for political upheaval in the state”.
    The IG, however, claimed that the panel wrote to the governor, but, he refused to cooperate. “The panel tackled what has been going on in this country where politicians have turned election into a do or die affair and we have been failing in this country because we have allowed things to derail to the level it is now.
    The Police chief, who decried the outcome of the election, said; “I see no reason why a rerun election will lead to the beheading of our officers who were there to do their lawful duties. I believe that the report will go a long way to put an end to individuals seeing election as a do or die affair. We will take appropriate actions in conjunction with the Attorney General of the Federation to put an end to most of the abuse and electoral violence in this country,” he said.
    On the doubt expressed by Wike, who claimed that the panel was setup to tarnish his image, Idris said: “It is a joint investigation and that means it is between the police and SSS and I think the whole of this country have confidence in both agencies to provide security for them and to deal with issues that are detrimental to peaceful coexistence of Nigerians in any part of this country. We are in a democracy and everybody have the right of free speech. Anybody can wake up any day and say anything, but what I am saying is that you have to go through the report to see the processes we took before arriving at where we are. The investigation was open and very transparent. We wrote to the governor. they went to meet him but in his own wisdom, he refused to cooperate. We believe that what determines outcome of this report is the transparency and the good will. Whoever that is involved has been arrested and isolating the governor will be a disservice to this country. The report should be seen as a corrective measure. Those indicted cuts across different classes of life.
    Idris added: “the situation in Rivers is an indication that leaders and politicians have a lot to contribute to the smoothness of an election and when you have people in leadership who do not take the responsibility of being a leader, this is what happens and they are issues that constitute threat to ordinary Nigerians.
    While affirming that the electoral violence witnessed in Rivers state will be the last that will be witnessed in any part of the country, Idris said: “All these are steps taken to ensure that we get to the bottom of violence and by the grace of God, Rivers will be the last state that we are going to have this kind of experience. it will never happen again.”

    As Nigerians await what the AGF’s recommendation would be on the report of the panel, more revelation came out on what the balance from the N360million alleged bribed was used for.
    The Nation found out that the money was used to buy choice vehicles,  houses and renovate some other ones. Findings revealed: “The panel recovered discovered that some of them bought houses, cars and even renovated their existing houses with the money.
    “The panel also discovered that some gave out money to their relatives while some others invested money. Several cars were recovered and they would be tendered during prosecution in court.
    The Source further gave more insight on what the panel unraveled during investigation, saying, “In the audio tape that went viral, the governor was mentioning 8,8,7; and what he was referring to was the officials of INEC. He gave the leaders of the INEC officials from the three states, N20million each. They brought outsiders for the election because they wanted neutral body to ensure transparency but they were bribed by the governor. They were 23 in number, eight came from Osun or Oyo, eight from Plateau and seven from Anambra state. If you listened to the tape that went viral, you will discover that there was a part where the governor was shouting, kill them because they didn’t do their work well. The three states where officials came from have a leader. The leaders were the ones that were given N20million and others were given N15qwmillion. So, it was the leaders that he was threatening to kill. As mentioned by the IG, the report will be sent to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) will now go through it and necessary action will be taken against those indicted. He is the Chief Law of the Federation”.
    On whether the report was doctored and if it was just a political move to tarnish the image of the governor who belongs to the opposition party, the source said: “where did the police get the huge amount of money from? Those cars and houses recovered, where did the panel get it from? Is it police money or something? 23 people have been arrested and they all confessed. It was through them that the money was recovered, it was through them that the cars were also recovered. The 23 people arrested, the panel have their video confessions and they all wrote their official statement with their hand. They are all educated people and they used their own handwriting to write their confession and they also talked on video. They videos will be provided during prosecution. All documents are available on how they were summoned to the government house, how they were given the money inside the government house and how vehicles were brought to them to move with the Ghana Must Go bags, and how they were moved to their hotels. Everything was confessed to on video. This is not a political issue. This is a case where money that was supposed to be used to build schools, hospitals, roads and others social amenities have been squandered. So, whoever does wrong will be made to carry his or her cross irrespective of political affiliation. So, that is the true position of everything. Everything is there and all the people that the money was recovered from are alive, they confessed both in written form and in videos.
    On why they were not presented to the press that time, the source simply said: “we could not present them that time because they are INEC staff and they are yet to be dismissed. Also, we want the Attorney General to take action first before they would be interviewed but all evidences are on ground. It is a very clear case”.
    Fingers are crossed, eyes are wide opened to see how the whole drama between the Police and Wike will end. Only time will tell who will be vindicated?

  • Panel report: Ekiti lawmakers allege plot to ‘assassinate’ Fayose

    Panel report: Ekiti lawmakers allege plot to ‘assassinate’ Fayose

    •Pass ‘double confidence vote’ in governor

    Ekiti State House of Assembly lawmakers have alleged a plot by the Federal Government to assassinate Governor Ayo Fayose, if moves to remove him from office fail.

    The lawmakers at yesterday’s plenary alleged that they had uncovered a plot to use the report of an Army Board of Inquiry that investigated the conduct of soldiers in the June 21, 2014 governorship poll to sack Fayose from office.

    Led by Speaker Kola Oluwawole, the 26 lawmakers, who are all members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accused President Muhammadu Buhari of being a dictator and attempting to muzzle the opposition.

    They claimed that the alleged plot to unseat Fayose was to silence the voice of “the leader of opposition” and cause chaos, confusion in the Fountain of Knowledge.

    The lawmakers said Ekiti people would resist any attempt to tamper with the mandate given to Fayose.

    Legislators passed what they called “a double vote of confidence” in Fayose and declared their loyalty to him.

    Members who took turns to condemn the alleged plot against Fayose included Deputy Speaker Segun Adewumi (Ekiti West 1); Ekundayo Akinleye (Ijero); Samuel Omotoso (Oye 1); Dele Fajemilehin (Gbonyin); Gboyega Aribisogan (Ikole 1); Sina Animasaun (Ekiti West 2); Mrs. Cecilia Dada (Ilejemeje); Sunday Akinniyi (Ikere 2) and Badejo Anifowose (Moba 2).

    Oluwawole and Aribisogan claimed that the APC government at the centre would use assassination as the last resort if other options to remove Fayose fail.

    Oluwawole said: “Nothing negative should happen to Fayose because they may resort to the use of other means, including assassination.

    “Our human rights activists have suddenly gone under the table; it’s a bad signal to our democratic process.

    Aribisogan said: “Fayose has become a thorn in their flesh and they want to use frivolous and unwarranted Military Panel report to muzzle him and any attempt to harass and embarrass him will be resisted.

    “We have heard from the grapevine that if all other efforts fail, they will attempt to assassinate the governor.”

    House Leader Tunji Akinyele (Oye 2) moved the motion for the adoption of an eight-point resolution condemning the report of the Military Panel chaired by Major General Adeniyi Oyebade.

    The motion was seconded by Abiola Jeje (Ido/Osi 2).