The Nation Newspaper

Tag: parliamentary

  • Nigeria, South Korea seek improved economic, parliamentary ties

    Nigeria, South Korea seek improved economic, parliamentary ties

    Nigeria and the Republic of South Korea have pledged to improve the economic, parliamentary and socio-political relationship between the two countries.

    The parliaments of both nations would facilitate the bilateral cooperation according to an accord reached by Presidential Special Envoy from South Korea led by Senator Lee Ju-Young to the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria’s Senate President, David Mark, in Abuja.

    Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh in a statement, said Mark specifically  appreciated  the international community for the solidarity and support on the smooth transfer of power from former President Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration to  Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He reiterated that Nigeria and Nigerians have embraced democracy as the best form of government and are prepared to defend it.

    It is on account of this development, he stated, that the nation resolved to strengthen all the democratic institutions, including but not limited to the National Assembly and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Mark added that Nigeria would continue to play her big brother role and leader in Africa.

    He said: “Nigeria is ready and willing to partner with any nation that has the expertise and capacity to improve our commerce and industry.”

     

    The issues facing Nigeria at the moment, he added, include insecurity aggravated by Boko Haram insurgents, youth unemployment and epileptic power supply.

    He called on the international community to assist the new government to address some of these challenges.

    In his earlier remarks, leader of the South Korea Presidential delegation, Lee Ju Young, noted the strategic role of Nigeria in Africa and promised his country’s willingness to invest in Nigeria.

    He expressed happiness on the improved bilateral relationship between the two countries, adding that the success of the 2015 general elections and the smooth handover of power have boosted the confidence of investors in the Nigerian economy.

     

  • Switzerland flexes parliamentary muscle as scrutiny of HSBC intensifies

    Swiss lawmakers plan to question the country’s financial watchdog about HSBC’s Swiss bank to determine whether parliament needs to take a more active role in investigation of a trove of details on alleged tax evasion by some of the bank’s wealthy clients.

    The Alpine nation’s banking sector is back in the spotlight after media reports said that customers of HSBC’s Swiss subsidiary had been helped to conceal millions of dollars of assets, sparking regulatory inquiries and an admission by Europe’s largest lender of failings in compliance and controls

    “The committee wishes to inform itself of the situation directly in order to be able to judge whether any parliamentary action is needed in terms of oversight,” a control committee of Switzerland’s upper house of parliament said in a statement.

    The move is an unusual show of parliamentary influence over Swiss financial regulator FINMA, which said that it had taken note of the committee’s decision and would make itself available for inquiries.

    In addition to the tax evasion allegations sparked by whistleblower HerveFalciani, a former IT employee at HSBC, the bank is also the subject of a separate criminal inquiry into alleged money laundering, instigated by Geneva’s public prosecutor on Wednesday.

    FINMA had first investigated HSBC as long as four years ago, when it criticised the bank’s internal controls, and it said that two previously unpublicised investigations had found that HSBC violated money laundering guidelines.

    The regulator said it had ordered remedial measures, which HSBC implemented, though FINMA gave no further detail.

    “These are cases from the past,” the watchdog said on Thursday. “FINMA has since investigated the bank’s anti-money laundering procedures thoroughly.”

    The previous investigations have come to light at a time when FINMA is adopting a far more public approach to sanctioning errant bankers under new head Mark Branson.

    Ursula Cassani, a Professor of Law for the University of Geneva, said HSBC could face a fine of up to five-million Swiss francs ($5.28 million U.S.) if it is proved to have been complicit in money laundering, adding that the reputational fallout would be far more damaging.

  • Parliamentary race hots up in Osun

    Parliamentary race hots up in Osun

    The political temperature in Osun State is changing. The All progressives Congress (APC) and the People Democratic Party (PDP) have kicked off campaigns for parliamentary elections. ADESOJI ADENIYI examines the contest for the Senate and the House of Representatives in the two major parties.  

    As next month’s general elections draw near, the two dominant political parties in Osun State – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – have put the crises trigged by their primaries behind them. They are gearing up for the general elections.

    Even the ruling APC is not taking things for granted because of the changing political equation in the country. It is believed that the election will be different from that of  2011, when the defunct Action Congress (AC) swept all the three slots for the Senate, the nine seats in the House of Representatives and the 26 House of Assembly slots, leaving the PDP in the cold to manage its disgrace.

    According to close observers, it was possible for the AC to achieve the feat because of the euphoria of the restoration of Rauf Aregbesola’s mandate at the Appeal Court, Ibadan, Oyo State. The 2010 victory at the Appeal Court was still fresh in the minds of the people.

    Against this background, the people of Osun did not want to hear about the PDP. In voting for all the AC candidates for the 2011 general elections, the people said, “we voted for Aregbesola.” It is instructive that Osun was the only state in the Southwest that voted for the presidential candidate of the AC  Mr. Nuhu Ribadu.

    Today, the equation has altered slightly.  Aregbesola found himself in a dilemma during the recent APC primaries. He was caught between two options: supporting the serving lawmakers’ bid to return to office or throwing the race open to new aspirants. Some of those aspiring to the positions were not happy when the governor eventually handed the tickets to the  incumbents. Some termed it imposition, while some accepted their fate.

    Aregbesola was compelled to support the serving lawmakers, both in the state and the National Assembly, as part of his re-election strategy last year. The governor had worked  with the lawmakers to deliver on his promises to the people. The lawmakers supported the governor in their various constituencies by utilising their constituency allowances to provide democracy dividends to the peiople. It is believed that some of the water, road and other projects in all parts of the state were made possible through the support of the lawmakers. Part of the conditions given by the lawmakers to assist the governor was that they should be given the ticket to return to their seats through next month’s general elections.

    Today, in spite of the landmark achievements of Aregbesola, the feeling towards the APC is not what it used to be in 2010. The implication is that  those contesting on the platform of the APC in some parts of the state may not have a smooth sail. Indeed, there is a glimmer of hope for the PDP candidates in the areas that may likely be affected.

    The situation has been compounded by the fact that the same set of candidates received a similar treatment in the 2011 elections. For example, all the defunct ACN candidates who contested in their various constituencies alongside Aregbesola in 2007 general elections were allowed by ACN leaders  to recontest the 2011 polls. Curiously, the same set of lawmakers were still favoured at the recent primaries. Those not favoured by the development are threatening to rock the boat at the general elections.

    They have vowed to ensure that the APC did not repeat the 2011 feat. While very few  aspirants have submitted themselves to party supremacy and wisdom of party leaders, a  majority of them are yet to come to terms with their inability to get the ticket. For instance, in Osun East Senatorial District, an APC aspirant, Sola Lawal, is dissatisfied with the victory of Senator Babajide Omoworare. This is in spite of the fact that the primary was in favour of Omoworare. The PDP candidate in this district, Chief Francis Fadahunsi, a retired Assistant Comptroller -General of the Nigeria Customs Service, may capitalise on this loophole to get the upper hand against his APC opponent. Interestingly, while Omoworare is from the Ife zone, which has  four council areas, Fadahunsi is from the Ijesha zone, which has six local governments within the district.

    But Fadahunsi, from Obokun Local Government, could only sufficiently boast of support from Oriade and Obokun. Being an incumbent Senator, Omoworare has largely touched the lives of people in all the 10 council areas in the senatorial district.

    Apart from this, Omoworare is favoured becuase the incumbent governor is from Ijesa zone of the Osun East and the people believe that the senatorial slot should not be given to the zone.

    For Osun West, the former Minister of Youth Development, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, was unanimously adopted as the PDP  candidate. It was used to compensate the former minister because he failed to clinch the governorship ticket, which he contested with Senator Iyiola Omisore, who emerged the  candidate, but was defeated by Aregbesola in the August 9, 2014 election. Olasunkanmi would have to slug it out with the first civilian governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke of the APC.

    Adeleke was defeated in 2011 by Senator Mudasiru Hussein. But, following his defection from the PDP to the APC, after a fight between him and Omisore a day to the PDP governorship primary, Adeleke has become formidable. He supported Aregbesola’s re-election. He delivered his constituency and beyond for the APC. This is in spite of the fact that his kinsman, the former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon, Adejare Bello, was the running mate to Omisore. He delivered Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo for the APC in the governorship.

    This was perhaps, the reason why he was favoured for the ticket, instead of Hussein and the former Chief of Staff to Oyinlola, as well as the chairman, Osun State Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Peter Babalola, who had defected long before him from the PDP to the APC. Babalola, who was popularly known as Peter Power, later changed his nickname to Peter Action when he defected to the defunct ACN.

    But, he cannot stand up to Adeleke, who refers to himself as a giant. Adeleke’s chances are bright, despite the protest from Hussein, who believed he should not be sacrificed for the party. Adeleke has a large following from his former party, the PDP. He is counting on his generosity and popularity in local governments in the Osun West district.

    In the Central District, cerebral Senator Sola Adeyeye, no doubt has paid his dues from the days of the Alliance for Democracy. He is a consistent progressive. As the Chairman of the Aregbesola Re-election Campaign Committee, he played a prominent role in working for the success of the party.

    He facilitated the defection of Oyinlola, who was sacked as the PDP National secretary to the APC. Notable politicians in the APC are from his senatorial district, including former interim national chairman of the APC and former governor of the state, Chief Bisi Akande, Oyinlola and Chief Tunji Abolade. He has their support in the contest against a lesser known PDP  candidate, Dr. Daisi Aina. Aina is the Chairman of Regent Group of Companies.

    For the House of Representatives, all incumbent APC lawmakers were returned, except for Atakumosa East/Atakumosa West that has its case pending.  Hon. Lasun Yussuf was returned for Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu federal constituency and Hon. Yinka Ajayi for Ila/Ifedayo/Boluwaduro federal constituency. Hon. Femi Fakeye made Egbedore/Ejigbo/Ede North/Ede South Federal Constituency.

    Hon. Gafar Amere was also returned for Iwo/Ola-Oluwa/Ayedire Constituency. For Irewole/Ayedire/Isokan Federal Constituency, Hon. Mrs. Ayo Omidiran got the ticket. Rotimi Makinde got the ticket for Ife Central/Ife East/Ife North/Ife South and Area Office.

    For IlesaEast/Ilesa West, it is Hon. Ajibola Famurewa and Obokun/Oriade for Nathaniel Agunbiade.

    For the PDP, the issue of consensus was popularised during its primaries, except in some areas like Iwo Ola-Ouwa/Ayediire Federal Constituency where two aspirants contested the position. For instance, in Osogbo/Olorunda/Orolu/Irepodun Federal Constituency and Ede North/EdeSouth/Ejigbo/Egbedore Federal Constituency, delegates unanimously chose their candidates on a consensus platform. The situation was the same in Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin Federal Constituency, where a consensus candidate also emerged. Wole Oke was endorsed as the flag-bearer of the PDP at the House of Representatives primaries in Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency. For Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe Federal Constituency, Kayode Oduoye, got the clearance as the flag bearer.

    Ismail Kolawole of Boluwaduro/Ila/Ifedayo Federal Constituency would fly the PDP flag to contest for the House of Representatives seat.

    For the Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency, Hon. Wole Oke, PDP’s candidate will take on the incumbent Hon. Nathaniel Agunbiade. The federal constituency is one of the few, where the PDP, through Wole Oke, had an impressive performance in 2011. Oke, who participated in the PDP governorship primary poll but lost to Omisore, is set again to battle the APC candidate that defeated him in 2011 election.

    It is believed that Oke would put all he has into it because he is aiming to to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives  when it inaugurated after the election. Oke is counting on his two term membership of the House, where he was once the chairman, House Committee on Defence.

  • Tragedy of parliamentary disruption

    Tragedy of parliamentary disruption

    The uproar in the Rivers State House of Assembly has rekindled the memory of the disruption of the parliament in the earlier dispensations. Whenever it occurred, democracy was usually under strains.It started in the House of Representatives in the First Republic. Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa proposed the Anglo-Nigerian Defence Pact to the 312-member parliament. It generated controversy nation-wide. The radical segment of the newly independent Nigeria perceived it as re-colonialism through the back door. The supporters of the bill, mainly from the ruling Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) advised the Head of Government to forge ahead.

    However, students from the universities of Ibadan and Lagos stormed the Parliament at Onikan, Lagos during the plenary session and drove the legislators out of the chamber. They claimed that they did it in the national interest. Among the legislators in the House that day were the proponents and antagonists of the controversial pact. They included Balewa, the Leader of Opposition, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Mohammadu Ribadu, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief Theophilus Benson, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Ayotunde Rosiji, Alhaji Shettima Ali Mongonu, Chief Babatunde Akin-Olugbade, Chief Jaja Nwachukwu and others. Many of the legislators took to their heels. On that note, Balewa dropped the idea.

    Following the split in the Action Group (AG), the Western Regional House of Assembly was enveloped in tension. Pro-Awolowo and Chief Ladoke Akintola’s supporters turned the chamber in Ibadan into a theatre of war. AG legislators claimed that Chief Akintola had been removed as the Premier, adding that Chief Dauda Adegbenro had been nominated to fill the vacuum. Akintola and his supporters rejected the directive of the governor, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, that he should vacate the State House, Agodi. He insisted that a proper vote of confidence or otherwise should be taken in the chambers.

    But hell was let loose on that fateful day in the parliament. A legislator from Ogbomoso Constituency, Akintola’s birthplace, Hon. Oke, suddenly jumped up from his seat, threw his chair at Akintola; shouting ‘fire on the mountain’. Some parliamentarians started throwing their seats in a pre-determined manner. Many of legislators were injured. Among the regional legislators present at that rancorous sessions were the Speaker, Chief Adeleke Adedoyin, Chief Oduola Osuntokun, Chief Olu Ogunniran, Oba Claudius Akran, Abraham Adesanya, Ehinafe Babatola, Remi Fani-Kayode, Adegbenro, Jonathan Odebiyi, and Joseph Odunjo. The members were later tear-gassed by the policemen, who invaded the chamber. The legislators dispersed. The chains of events that followed led to the declaration of a state of emergency in the region.

    The House of Representatives was also a House of commotion between 2007 and 2011. Legislators converted the plenary sessions into boxing ring. It was a self-inflicted tragedy. Decorum was thrown away and democracy was mocked.

    The war in the Rivers Assembly has only echoed the past unruly behaviours of parliamentarians in the country.

  • Mark, Ndoma-Egba, others for Inter parliamentary conference

    President of the Senate, David Mark, would today leave for Czech Republic for an Inter-Parliamentary exchange program with his counterparts in that country.

    On the delegation, according to a press statement by Mark’s Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, are Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba; Chairman, Senate Committee on Inter- Parliamentary Affairs, Abdulazeez Usman; Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Chris Anyanwu and Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Domingo Obende.

    The statement reads in part: “On arrival, the Nigerian Senate delegation will pay courtesy visits on the President of Czech Republic Mr. Milos Zeman and the Prime Minister of the government of the Czech Republic Mr. Petr Necas.

    “Senator Mark will thereafter meet with the President of the Senate of the Czech Parliament, Mr. Milan Stech, where he will address the Senate at the Kolowrat Palace, the Green Lounge on the ‘Nigerian democracy, the achievements and challenges.’

    “The Senate President is expected to hold talks with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Mrs. Miroslava Nemcova.

    “Senator Mark will meet with the Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, the Czech Republic -States of the Sub-Saharan Africa.

    “He will also undertake a guided tour of the Exhibition Hall of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Trcka’s gallery.

    “Before returning to Nigeria on June 13, 2013, Senator Mark will address the Nigerian Community in Czech Republic.”