The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PDP

  • Benue: Is Ortom flirting with PDP?

    Benue: Is Ortom flirting with PDP?

    SINCE the new year killings of 73 farmers in Benue state by suspected Fulani herdsmen, Governor Samuel Ortom had being at loggerheads with the federal government and security agencies, particularly the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. Even though Governor Ortom visited Aso Rock alongside some prominent Benue elders and met with President Muhammadu Buhari recently, observers say the relationship between the duo may be worsening.

    Governor Ortom is simply that those who attacked and killed Benue people are known and must be arrested and prosecuted. He pointedly accused Meyitta Allah Kautal Houre , a Fulani group, of being the brain behind the attacks and killings  in the state . “I had informed the Inspector General of Police through a letter and all other security agencies of the plan attacks but nothing was done ” said Ortom.

    The governor, while organizing mass burial for the victims of the killings, lambasted the All Progressive Congress (APC) for failing to protect lives and property in Benue state. In addition, he had at several fora, called for the resignation of the Inspector General of Police.

    The continued altercation between Governor Ortom, who of the ruling APC and the federal government has provided an opportunity for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) to exploit the situation to its advantage. So far Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, had visited Benue and donated N200 million to support the internally displaced  persons (IDPs). Wike ,who also visited the grave site where 73 persons are buried, advised Ortom to return home.

    Many commentators are now interpreting Wike’s statement as an invitation to the Governor to return to the PDP where he originally belong to before defecting to APC to contest in the 2015. Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state, another PDP governor also came calling on Governor Ortom during the week. Like Wike, he visited the burial site and donated N10 million. He told the Governor to “join another vehicle” to continue his political journey as the one he is currently has broken down.

    Fayose used the occasion and told Governor Ortom that ‘ When you entered a vehicle and there is break down, you come down and join another to continued your journey . The message from Ayo Fayose was quite understanding ,he was telling Ortom to return to PDP. Before he joined APC during the 2015 was the minster of state for under President Goodluck administration ,he also over see Aviation Ministy when Oduah was sacked from office.

    With such development and recent statements of the governor himself, many observers are insinuating that Governor Ortom may be done with APC and on his way out of the party. Thus, his recent romance with PDP governors is seen by many as indications of the things to come as the 2019 general elections draws nearer.

    Following the above indications, some people within and outside the state are already asking the pertinent question; which party will he joined ? The easily available platform for him to seek is the PDP. But he will have to cross some hurdles to achieve that given the current soured relationship between him and the leadership of his former party in the state. A commission of enquiry set up by Ortom probed former Governor Gabriel Suswam and many PDP leaders in the state.

    The commission turned in a verdict which suggests that  over 109 billion was looted during the eight year tenure of Governor Suswam. Suswam, his aides, Commissioners and many others were harassed by several anti graft agencies. Suswam is still standing trial in an Abuja federal court alongside Oklobia Omadanchi, his Finance Commissioner, over alleged diversion of some investment funds.

    Suswam on his part denied any wrong doing and accused Governor Ortom of deliberate attempt to run him down politically. The two prominent Tiv sons took their fight to the media. There was and still biter rivalry between their political camps. Suswam is the leader of PDP in Benue state and the sole financier of party. Both Wike and Fayose visited Gabriel Suswam in his Makurdi residence during their visit to Ortom, This is to under score his important in PDP.

    If Ortom joins the PDP, how will he handle his relationship with Suswam and other PDP leaders across the state? Will he drop the cases against Suswam and others? Well, in politics as they say, there is no permanent enemy while only permanent interests exist. But is Ortom toying with the idea of returning to the PDP? Only Time will tell.

  • Court orders PDP to obey judgment on Ogun leadership 

    Court orders PDP to obey judgment on Ogun leadership 

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Friday ordered the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to recognise the Adebayo Dayo-led executive in Ogun State.

    Justice Mohammed Idris held the executive’s tenure will not expire until May 2020.

    The PDP in Ogun has been embroiled in leadership tussle, leading to factions and crisis.

    The suit was filed by a member of the PDP National Working Committee, Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju, Ogun State Youth Leader Femi Alao, “national delegates” for Sagamu and Ijebu North Local Government Areas Idris Muniru and Chief Tuke Omotara, chairman of Ijebu East LGA Badejo Abiodun and chairman of Sagamu LGA Kola Akinyemi.

    They sued for themselves and on behalf of “PDP Ogun State Delegates to the National Convention”.

    The defendants include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, Tunde Odanye, and others.

    The plaintiffs urged the court to hold that there was a subsisting and binding judgment and orders of the Federal High Court in Lagos and Abuja delivered and issued on June 24, 2016 and on August 10 last year.

    The plaintiffs said by virtue of the court verdicts, only they were entitled to attend and participate in PDP conventions.

    They urged the court to restrain the PDP Caretaker Committee in Ogun State from usurping the plaintiffs’ functions as “authentic officers of the Ogun PDP Executive Committee” led by Chief Adebayo Dayo.

    Justice Idris, in his verdict, dismissed the defendants’ objection on the ground that the plaintiffs are beneficiaries of the judgement delivered by Justice Ibrahim Buba in a suit no FHC/L/CS/636/2016.

    Justice Buba had held that the tenure of the Adebayo Dayo led executive subsists until May 2020.

    Affirming the judgment, Justice Idris directed INEC and the PDP (first and second defendants) to obey Justice Buba’s orders.

    The court also nullified the congresses which were held in defiance to Justice Buba’s judgement and orders.

    “The decision of a court of competent jurisdiction is binding on all parties concerned until set aside by either Court of Appeal or the same court that made the order if found that it was made in error.

    “I am not in agreement that the decision of my learned brother Justice Buba is in conflict with the decision of the learnt law lords of the Supreme Court.

    “All objections are overruled. Parties are bound by the judgement of this court delivered by Buba J. and everybody should obey a judgement of court until set aside,” Justice Idris held.

    The court nullified the appointment of Odanye and others as Ogun State PDP Caretaker Committee, saying their appointment was contrary to Justice Buba’s judgment which affirmed Adeboyo Dayo led exco.

  • Aspirant condemns NASS on proposed bill on women

    Aspirant condemns NASS on proposed bill on women

    A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Prof Olufunmilayo Adesanya-Davies has condemned the National Assembly’s recent bill to bar married from contesting elections or being appointed into political offices in their states of origin.

    The bill is an amendment that will prevent women who married outside their place of origin, from contesting elections or being appointed into political offices in their states of origin.

    She said that the review of terms of constitution need not be visited but should be maintained and to remain at status quo -ante.

    Adesanya- Davies added that the federal lawmakers in their bid to improve the laws through constitutional amendment should not be seen to be turning the clock anti-clockwise on their duty posts.

    She appealed to the state Houses of Assembly nationwide to ‘reject the recent Bill, “an amendment, that prevents women; who married outside their place of origin from contesting elections in their place of origin” where they were born and nurtured; engrafted by nature, well established and very well known before contracting any form of marriage.”

    The presidential hopeful added that: “This amendment has definitely crossed the national red lines and must be stopped.

    “A daughter has the same right as the daughter-in-law, or even more for regents from palaces, and this amendment must not be so. Or is this geared at encouraging divorce and discouraging national unity through Inter-state and inter-ethnic marriages? Or could it be an advise to all women to remain single, unmarried and stay at home!

    “Nigerian women can now see that this APC government does not want the women to be married, nor contest elections into political offices. Nigeria having made the ticket open for women; after making our potential husbands to lose their jobs, and with the ongoing killings in the nation. They have decided to perfect it all with a law, so we cannot help as mothers .

    “We want to remind the National Assembly that, “every woman according to nature’s endowment is entitled to her father and marital homes and this is no bone for any contention.

    “This is strictly a gender issue and the Nigerian women all say ‘NO’ to any such backward and negative amendments.”

  • Between Atiku and PDP

    Between Atiku and PDP

    Recently, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa and former vice president, re-joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  He called it a come back to the family he helped build.

    Nobody is in any doubt that the ex-vice president plans to contest the presidential election on the platform of PDP. The PDP ruled the country for 16 years, from 1999 to 2015, and lost power to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Atiku’s return to PDP has generated mixed reactions from the APC, PDP and well-meaning Nigerians. He has been vilified, dismissed, called a serial contestant with no electoral advantage and condemned for his ambition. But some have applauded his courage and insight into the nation’s challenges.  This development also seems to bolster the fortunes and electoral chances of PDP as he may end up clinching the party’s presidential ticket.  As a former vice president and two-time presidential aspirant, he is on familiar terrain and possesses the political structure to execute a presidential campaign that can intimidate other parties and their candidates.

    It is, therefore, imperative at this build up period, to analyse the intra-party politics in PDP, which will determine the geo-political zone that gets what in a PDP presidency in 2019.

    A review of positions already occupied by various zones in the last PDP governments will help in the calculations.  In 1999, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, from the Southwest was President, while Atiku, from the Northeast was his vice president. Many, from the Southeast occupied the office of the Senate President.

    Graphically stated:  1999 to 2007 (Obasanjo presidency) –  President – Southwest;  Vice President – Northeast;  Senate President  –  Southeast; House Speaker – Northeast.  (2).  2007 to 2009 (Yar’Adua Presidency -President – Northwest; Vice President – South-south; Senate President   – Northcentral; House Speaker – Southwest. (3). 2009 to 2015 (Jonathan Presidency) – President – Southsouth; Vice President – Northwest; Senate President   – Northcentral; House Speaker – Northwest.

    Although the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is not an elective position and should not be a major yardstick for measuring federal character and justice in party allocation of sensitive political positions, it has been used to placate zones that cry of neglect.  A critical look at the statistics shows that the Southeast, even with its adoption of PDP as its dominant party, is always passed over in the allocation of prominent positions in 16 years of PDP rule.

    Except in Obasanjo’s era when it got the Senate president, in Yar’adua’s, through Jonathan’s, to Buhari’s, the Southeast was never part of the four foremost positions.  This, indeed, has given credence to the zone’s incessant cry of neglect and call for self-determination.

    To correct this imbalance and sense of alienation in the Southeast, which will be the panacea for PDP’s electoral success in the 2019 presidential election,  the Southeast should be given the vice presidential slot, with a promise to zone the president to it after eight years of Atiku.

    The credible and politically sound allocation of the four most important positions in an Atiku presidency should be as follows: President – Northeast; Vice President – Southeast; Senate President – Southwest; House Speaker – Northcentral.

    A critical factor that supports this assertion will be the consideration that in the APC government of Buhari, the president is from Northwest, vice president from Southwest, Senate president Northcentral, while House Speaker is from Northeast.

    The Southeast and South-south, which the president believes are the strongholds of PDP, were not considered. Not even with the consolatory position of SGF, which Buhari’s supporters in the zones were expecting.

    It is important to commend PDP for their novel decision to elect their national chairman from the South-south, which is now the nucleus of the party.  It is the zone with the highest number of PDP states.  The zonal distribution of the party is as follows: Southwest – one of six states  = 16.6 per cent ; Southeast – three of five states = 60 per cent; Southsouth – five of six states = 83.3 per cent; Northcentral – one of six states = 16.6 per cent; Northeast – one of six states = 16.6 per cent; Northwest – zero of seven states = 0 per cent

    From this data, it is important to note that South-south, with 83.3 per cent, and Southeast, with 60 per cent of states, should be the heartbeat of the party. This was aptly captured during its last convention when it elected its national chairman from South-south.  The zone mainly funds the party and should determine who presides over its affairs.

    Having achieved that at the National Working Committee level, the party should allow other zones to take up other prominent positions, to precipitate a mass exodus into the party to actualise its success in 2019. The coast of success is clearer now than before, especially with the low performance of the Buhari government. The economy has completely crumbled; prices of fuel and other food items have hit the ceiling. Prices in the last 30 months have increased by 300 percent; a sign of bad government.

    Security of life and property is being de-emphasised. Innocent citizens are slaughtered in their homes or farms on a daily basis by marauding ethnic militias a.k.a herdsmen, who have been described as the fourth deadliest terrorist group. They have killed more people in Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Kaduna, Enugu and other states than known terrorist groups.

    Boko Haram has festered more than it did in 2015 when the then publicity secretary of APC Lai Mohamed told a London audience as reported in The Nation of February 25, 2015: “President Jonathan should apologise to Nigerians for allowing the Boko Haram insurgency to fester for this long”. He went say that Jonathan should resign for “underrating the capacity of Boko Haram,” which made him not to defeat them. Now, the question:  If Buhari, a general, has not been able to defeat them, despite the “Boko Haram has been decimated, Boko Haram has been degraded” propaganda; what will Nigerians tell him? He should not only resign, but he should also apologise to Nigerians and refund the money siphoned on the pretence of fighting Boko Haram.

    Buhari overrated his capacity to change things, which he has actually achieved in the contrary. The chips are down; we have seen the difference between propaganda and governance.

    But Atiku will only become president in 2019, if he puts PDP in order by preventing its destruction by extraneous forces, this time around. The Southwest should accept the last PDP convention as it will be in the interest of the party.  A living dog is better than a dead lion.  Southwest should mend fences with all zones working with the National Working Committee to woo back their kith and kin, who are hobnobbing with strange fellows, despots and non-progressives deceptively wearing the garb of democrats.

    Atiku should use his managerial acumen and organisational skills to placate the Southwest and galvanise all zones to re-establish the formidability of the party.  If he sows sparingly, he will reap sparingly or not at all, but if he deploys his enormous economic and social network in revitalising PDP, he will be the ultimate beneficiary.

     

    • Alozie, is a United States-based public affairs analyst.
  • ‘Nigeria would have gone bankrupt under PDP’

    ‘Nigeria would have gone bankrupt under PDP’

    The Chairman of Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC), Otunba Henry Ajomale, fielded questions from reporters recently on a wide range of national issues, including killings by herdsmen, the performance of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in the last two and half years and the propriety or otherwise of President Buhari contesting next year’s presidential election. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI was there.

    What is your reaction to the recent killings by Fulani herdsmen?

    It is very sad and very unfortunate. The killings have become a national tragedy. But, I believe that the situation will soon be brought under control, as President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security agencies to go after those behind it. To underscore how serious the matter is, the President has ordered the Inspector General of Police to relocate to Benue State. I am however baffled and worried about the upsurge in the killings; after all Fulani herdsmen and their host communities all over the country have been living together in harmony for decades without rancour. This is why I support the argument by some Nigerians that these killings are being carried out by some foreigners who are intent on wreaking havoc on innocent Nigerians. There were even recent security reports that these killings are being carried out by some members of the dreaded ISIS terrorist groups who had infiltrated the country. There have also been claims that it is Boko Haram insurgents that are carrying out the attacks. Meanwhile, many Nigerians are pointing accusing fingers at Fulani herdsmen with some even saying these Fulani herdsmen are carrying out the attacks because President Buhari, a fellow Fulani man, is the President.

    But, I don’t support those making this argument. Buhari has never condoned any killings. How many herdsmen have enough money to purchase sophisticated arms that the killers are using?

    Critics have accused President Buhari of not taking the necessary action to deal with the menace. What’s your take on that?

    It is very unfair to make President Buhari a scapegoat over these killings. These killings have been taking place before Buhari assumed office. The killings took place when Obasanjo was there; it took place when Yar’Adua was there and it took place during the time of former President Goodluck Jonathan. I believe some Nigerians are just being mischievous, especially PDP members and their apologists. They are just looking for a way to get back at Buhari, because of the ongoing anti-corruption war, which has affected many their members. It is corruption fighting back. When somebody even now sneezes or coughs, it is Buhari. It is these looters and enemies of the anti-corruption war that are behind the smear campaign against Buhari.

    The President has ordered security agencies to secure the affected areas to prevent further destruction of properties and loss of lives. Since he assumed office, Buhari has been trying his best to tackle various socio-economic challenges facing Nigeria. But, some Nigerians are not comfortable with his anti-corruption war and this is why some of them are deliberately destroying the man’s name – this is why they are trying to demonise him. But, Buhari and the APC will not be distracted by the antics of these disgruntled elements, because the President and the APC have a mission to fulfill. The APC is on a rescue mission; because the 16 years of PDP’s rule were years of waste. They were years of the locust.

    But, the PDP has been boasting, saying that things were not this bad when the party was in power. How do you react to that?

    It is unfortunate that PDP members still have the courage to be speaking in public. Was it not under the yoke and burden of 16 years of the PDP that Nigeria almost became bankrupt? Nigeria would have by now become a failed state, if the PDP had won the 2015 election. Under Jonathan and the PDP, things became so terrible for Nigeria. While millions of Nigerians were hungry, looters were having a field day and security was nothing to write home about. Unlike now when Nigerians are more secured, Boko Haram was having a field day during Jonathan’s era; bombings became a daily occurrence. It became so worst to the extent that Boko Haram suicide bombers bombed Police Force Headquarters in Abuja; they bombed the United Nations office, also in Abuja. At a point, Boko Haram suicide bombers almost stormed Aso Rock. No Nigerian was safe. It is unfortunate that these PDP leaders talking now and some Nigerians have short memory. There is no basis for comparison between the APC and the PDP at all. Was it not under Jonathan’s watch that almost 300 Chibok girls were abducted?

    Jonathan and his PDP government at that time became so ineffective to the extent that Jonathan was described clueless. Look at the profligacy of the PDP and Jonathan’s administration. During that period, crude oil was selling for over 100 dollars per barrel and Nigeria was making a lot of money, but the PDP government under Jonathan wasted the billions of dollars got from the oil boom of that era. Looters were having a swell time under Jonathan’s nose, and at a point he became so confused that he as the President didn’t know the difference between stealing and corruption. Nigeria would have collapsed, if the situation had continued.

    Critics say things are getting worse under the APC. What’s your candid assessment of the Buhari government?

    It is only mischievous persons that will claim that Nigeria has not changed for the better under the APC. Under the administration, security has improved. People can now sleep with two eyes closed. Before the fear of Boko Haram was the beginning of wisdom. In Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and some other major northern cities, then the fear of Boko Haram was all pervading, but Buhari’s government has been able to degrade Boko Haram and major parts of the country are now safe from Boko Haram attacks.

    Now accountability and probity is the order of the day, unlike the previous era when looters were having a field day. With the introduction of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), financial sanity had been restored and all loopholes and avenues for looting have been blocked. Between 2010 and 2015, when Jonathan and the PDP were in government, the total revenue remitted to government coffers by JAMB was N51 million, whereas under Buhari’s administration, within just a year, JAMB remitted N7.8 billion to the coffers of the Federal Government. Is the difference not then clear between the APC and the PDP? Buhari has also introduced agricultural revolution and today rice is being cultivated on a large scale across the country.

    Some Nigerians are of the view that Buhari should not seek re-election, based on his performance…

    For us in the APC, those talking about 2019 are distracting Buhari. The President is working. He is seriously working to fix Nigeria.

  • Kogi: PDP fault alleged planned sale of govt. property

    Kogi: PDP fault alleged planned sale of govt. property

    The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi state, has condemned alleged plans by the Governor Yahaya Bello administration to sell some state assets, towards funding the 2018 budget.

    The PDP Monday in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Bode Ogunmola, copies of which were made available to newsmen in Lokoja, described the planned sale as not only uncalled for, but wicked, anti-people and retrogressive.

    It read: “The news coming out of Lugard House, the seat of power is a grave foreboding from one faulty step to another. The administration has proceeded in the destruction of our patrimony with the energy of an invader in a foreign territory.

    “We are shocked that the state finance commissioner, Asiru Idris last week during his budget defence at the State House of Assembly confirmed this and went ahead to list these legacy assets/projects.

    “The projects/assets to be sold include the newly constructed Kogi Hotels, Conference Stadium, Confluence Beach Hotel, Commissioners’ quarter, Lokoja International Market, the 12-storey KOGI liaison office in Abuja and Kogi liaison offices in Kaduna and Lagos, among others.

    “We reject this proposal in totality and warns Governor Bello to immediately perish this thought. The plot is devilish, selfish, myopic. It is shameful and the peak of rascality that a government which cannot pay salaries of workers let alone execute projects will now scheme to mortgage our collective future.

    “Our party is not unaware of the grand plan of the government to sell these legacy projects to its officials as a decoy of repositioning the state; we will however strongly resist this evil plan”.

    When contacted, the commissioner of finance said any moment from now the consultant will commence with the sales.

  • EFCC sues firm, MD over alleged N1.275b ‘gift’ to PDP

    EFCC sues firm, MD over alleged N1.275b ‘gift’ to PDP

    The Economic and Financial CrimesCommission (EFCC) has filed charges at the  Federal Capital Territory High Court against Stallion Motors Limited and its Managing Director, Hapreet Singh, for allegedly offering a gratification of N1.275 billion to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 polls.

    A former National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and ex-Minister of Finance Mr. Bashir Yuguda allegedly collected the money for the party.

    The two suspects will face a four-count charge bordering on alleged bribery and gratification.

    The bribe cash was, however, suspected to be “assistance” to PDP for 2015 general election.

    The EFCC also suspected that the payment was an inducement to facilitate payment by the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) for a contract for the supply of some 700 trucks and 50 buses.

    But the PDP, in a letter to EFCC, denied receiving such a gratification from Stallion Motors.

    The development has made the anti-graft agency to probe the whereabouts of the cash.

    According to investigation by the anti-graft agency, the bribe sum was routed through a Bureau De Change, Jabbama Ada Global Ventures Limited.

    The owner of the said BDC, SalisuGarus, admitted on oath that he received the cash on behalf of Yuguda.

    He said based on Yuguda’s instruction, he handed over the dollar equivalent of the cash to the ex-Minister’s son, Safinu.

    A top source said: “We have filed charges against Stallion and its MDHapreet Singh in the High Court of Federal Capital Territory.

    “Stallion between December 2014 and February 2015 paid the sum of N1.275billion to Dasuki ostensibly to assist in the 2015 general election campaign of the People’s Democratic Party.

    “The MD of Stallion(Singh) allegedly claimed that the PDP, through Yuguda and Dasuki, demanded for donation to assist the party prosecute its campaign in the 2015 general election.

    “The fund was paid to Jabbama Ada Global Ventures Limited, a Bureau de Change (BDC). SalisuGarus, who is the owner of the BDC, claimed he received the funds on behalf of Bashir Yuguda, a former Minister of State for Finance, at whose instruction the money was changed into dollars and handed over to his son, Safinu Bashir Yuguda.

    “When the former minister was invited for questioning, he admitted receiving the money from his son but, added that he “handed the entire sum to Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).”

    “The former NSA, the source disclosed, claimed that a former minister directed him to contact the owners of Stallion Motors because they had promised to make contributions to the election campaign of the PDP.

    He consequently mandated Yuguda to collect the money.”

    But the EFCC said it was suspecting that the payment was an inducement to facilitate payment for the supply of some 700 trucks and buses.

    The contract was awarded by the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    The source added: “Detectives suspected that the bribe was allegedly paid by the auto marketing firm to induce payment of a contract by the Office of National Security Adviser under Mr. Sambo Dasuki for the supply of 700 Stallion carrier trucks and 50 buses.”

    Though the value of the contract is not stated, military sources disclosed that the vehicles were not on the priority list of the Federal Government’s need at the time.

    But only 50 of the vehicles were allegedly supplied by the company and while payment was still ‘hanging’, the company donated the N1.275billion to the PDP.

    “This suspicion was more or less confirmed as the PDP, in a January 26, 2018 letter to the EFCC and signed by Prince TunjiAdeyemo, its Acting National Director of Finance, denied having any relationship with Stallion Nigeria Limited.

    “The party had at no time requested and or solicited for any fund as donation towards the 2014/2015 general electioneering campaign or for any other purpose whatsoever from Stallion Nigeria Limited,”Adeyemo said.

    A source in the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan gave insights into how the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) came about the contract.

    The source said: “Stallion is a Nigerian company and it was among those local firms into vehicles manufacturing in the country.

    “The auto policy of the government was to patronise the local companies like the case with the patronage of Innoson Motors.

    “The contract was never consummated and that was at the peak of Boko Haram attacks when the government needed all the facilities and military vehicles to prosecute the war.

    “Don’t forget that they bought Volkswagen and there was a problem with it. But members of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) solved it.”

  • Obasanjo’s verdict on PDP, APC

    Obasanjo’s verdict on PDP, APC

    This column will not concern itself with the vitriolic and virulent contents of ex President Olusegun Obasanjo’s rabidly unforgiving and unsparing public missive to President Muhammadu Buhari, his depiction of the Daura-born General as an unmitigated all-round disaster in governance and his consequent advice that the latter should perish any thoughts of a second term in 2019. After all, it is vintage Obasanjo – who takes no prisoners and fires on all cylinders when the embers of his combustible temper are stoked.

    But how valid is Obasanjo’s submission that the two major parties – the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have failed thus necessitating the formation of what he calls ‘a Coalition for Nigeria Movement’ to salvage the country? From insinuations in his letter, this strange ‘Movement’ is to be led and championed by the ‘Ebora Owu’ himself.  In my view, Obasanjo’s dismissive avowals on the two parties portend ominous signals for the continuous development of Nigeria’s evolving democracy.

    For one, Obasanjo shoots himself on the foot and engages in amazingly damaging self-immolation when he declares that the two major parties are failures which cannot be entrusted with Nigeria’s future and must now be replaced by his Third Force. He was president   for eight years at the inception of this dispensation in 1999. Whatever may have been his flaws, his administration had notable records of achievement as my colleague, Sanya Oni, wrote in his column in this paper on Tuesday.

    Reiterating some of the Obasanjo administration’s attainments, Oni wrote “I refer here to his pension reforms which given the mess that has been made of the old defined benefits scheme has become revolutionary, the power sector reform, the creation of anti-corruption institutions – the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission – all of which have given governance a sense of modernity”. And of course we must refer to his administration’s landmark success in getting the Paris Club to right of $18 billion of Nigeria’s debt in 2005.

    If these commendable reforms of the Obasanjo PDP administration were not sustained, the fault lies with the former president than with the country’s political system in general or the party structure in particular. In the first place, immediately he assumed office as president, Obasanjo deliberately weakened and systematically destroyed the PDP, ensuring the expulsion of influential, experienced and powerful leaders; he removed national chairmen and other officers of the party at will and completely subordinated the PDP to the presidency.

    Without a powerful party platform to hold it in check, the Obasanjo presidency was able to act with impunity committing all kinds of unconstitutional acts like removing elected governors unlawfully, seizing Lagos State government local government funds even against the ruling of the apex court in the land or completely razing communities like Odi and Zaki Biam. While destroying any effective restraining voice within the PDP, the Obasanjo presidency now turned its attention to infiltrating and destabilizing other opposition parties like the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) thus considerably weakening the entire political system and its inbuilt checks and balances.

    Another serious shortcoming of Obasanjo was his inability to influence the emergence of physically fit and intellectually capable successor to build on, sustain and improve on his policies. His critics say that his choice of either physically challenged successors or abysmally incapable ones was motivated by the selfish interest of wanting to remain in power even while out of office. This was a marked difference from Lagos State where the Asiwaju Tinubu administration not only laid a solid foundation for development between 1999 and 2007, but was also succeeded by competent and visionary leaders like Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) (2007 to 2015) and now the superlative Mr Akinwunmi Ambode. Obasanjo must not be allowed to get away with blaming the party system for his own personal deficiencies.

    The sad thing is that the APC, which came in amidst popular exultation as a party of change in 2015 has patterned itself organizationally and functionally in the mirror image of the dysfunctional PDP. As this column had cause to warn once, it is important for the APC to realize that the party’s complete subordination to the presidency, lack of inspirational and charismatic leadership, embarrassing immobility of its internal organs and structures and the surrender of their functions to a cabal in the presidency were some of the reasons why the PDP lost so scandalously to the new ruling party about three years ago.

    The truth is that a government’s being held in check by and responsible to the party that provided it an electoral platform enhances the chances of good, transparent and ethical governance. Perhaps if the APC had been more assertive as a party with a better hold on its government, the difficult-to-deny allegations of skewed appointments, nepotism or the unbelievable Maina-gate or Lawal-gate scandal could have been avoided and President Buhari’s solid integrity better protected.

    But the alternative to the defects of the current party structure, particularly the perception and performance of the two major parties that Obasanjo is so craftily playing upon cannot be the ex president’s ill-conceived ‘Coalition for Nigeria Movement’. In the first place, there are scores of other registered parties that Nigerians can vote for if they are irreparably dissatisfied with both the APC and PDP. Secondly, even the names that Obasanjo has coupled together to help midwife his ‘Movement’ – Former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State, former governor Donald Duke of Cross River State, former national chairman of the PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Alli, former national secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Buba Galadima, Bashorun Segun Runshewe, Otunba Babatunde Fasawe etc are no fresh faces on the political scene. They are not necessarily any better or different from most members of the two major parties.

    The historic election of 2015, which saw an incumbent government at the centre displaced for the first time, demonstrates that Nigeria’s democratic form of government can indeed be made to work. And whatever may be the shortcomings of the Buhari administration, no one can claim it has not provided a better moral climate and more disciplined governance  than the previous PDP administration. If the APC does not listen to popular outcry and urgently redress its own defects, deformities and excesses, nothing stops it from suffering the same fate as its predecessor at the centre. But I think the real Third Force the two major parties have to fear is not Obasanjo’s “Coalition for Nigerian Movement”. Rather, it is the very possibility of a genuine coalition of popular forces, young professionals, aggrieved, unemployed youths etc being successfully mobilized by genuine faces of integrity to lead the country in a new direction.

     

    Let the democratic process take its course 

    While Obasanjo’s identification of the nature of the succession problem currently facing Nigeria (though not its root causes) may sound quite reasonable, one is not sure about the solution he prescribes or the motives underlying it. I hope the Coalition for Nigeria masquerading as a Movement is not another subterfuge for scheming another “Interim Government for Nigeria” (ING) thing used for subverting the Abiola Claim to the Presidency in the wake of the debacle resulting from the June 12, 1993 annulment. No such debacle currently exists, nor do we have any national emergency to warrant a military-turned-political leadership being again brought in as it were like a Cincinnatus from the field to assume affairs of the republic or for that matter the abrogation of the democratic process or rule.

    Adekanye
    Prof Bayo Adekanye

    Let the democratic process define for us who should  rule. The citizenry generally and youth in particular (given the powerful means of social mobilization members now have at their disposal) should rise up to the challenge. If they find existing political party structures not good enough to use for turning the fortunes of the country around, let the youth mobiles just like their counterparts in other parts of the world to set up alternative political vehicles for taking over power and the machinery of rule. But in doing this, they must be careful not to be used by anyone. I recommend Emmanuel Macron’s strategy (France).

  • PDP urges Obaseki to restore deposed monarch

    PDP urges Obaseki to restore deposed monarch

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has urged Governor Godwin Obaseki to recalling the deposed monarch of Uromi in Esan North East Local Government, Anselm Aidenojie.

    Ex-Governor Adams Oshiomhole, on November 9, 2016, deposed the traditional ruler pursuant to Section 28 (i & ii) of the Traditional Rulers & Chiefs Law, 1979, after the expiration of  a seven-day suspension given to him.

    Aidonojie was first suspended in October 2016 for allegedly assaulting Betty Okoebor during the September 28 governorship election.

    He was also accused of travelling without permission, and for refusing to answer a query given to him.

    Archbishop of Catholic Benin Diocese Obiora Akubeze had asked Oshiomhole to forgive those who offended him during a thanksgiving to mark the end of his tenure.

    Speaking yesterday at a town hall meeting in Uromi, state Chairman of PDP Chief Dan Orbih said Obaseki must stop playing politics with the traditional institution of Uromi.

    He said it was wrong for indigenes to support a party that deposed their king.

    Orbih urged the people not to remain in All Progressives Congress (APC) when their monarch’s deposition is yet to be lifted.

  • PDP alleges plot to rig Plateau council polls

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of planning to rig the February 17 local government elections.

    The chairman, Damishi Sang, who addressed a news conference in his office at Yakubu Gowan Way, Jos, yesterday, said: “With two weeks to the council polls, the State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) has not deemed it necessary to display the voters’ register.

    “Under the PLASIEC law 2017, the voters’ register collected from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be on display at least one month to the date of election. But with just two weeks to go, PLASIEC is yet to display the list. Therefore, we are not sure of those qualified to cast their votes on February 17.

    “Under normal circumstances, recruitment of ad hoc workers should be properly advertised, but we are witnessing a secret recruitment handled by the state APC Chairman.

    “Worse of all, there is no existing law to govern the administration and functions of those to be elected. We are aware the House of Assembly passed the local government laws, which takes care of tenure and general administration five months ago. However, the governor is yet to assent to the law.

    “It is evident from these observations that the absence of the local government law is a deliberate attempt on the part of the governor Simon Lalong-led administration to build a house without a foundation, thereby creating loopholes for the collapse of the local government system, thereby allowing the governor to continue to impose caretaker committees to run the councils.

    “The non-display of voters’ register, as provided for by the law, is intended to disenfranchise our supporters, as we suspect the list is being doctored.

    “We wish to state that while we have worked hard to contain our supporter’s apprehension, we urge the government and PLASIEC to come clear on the issues raised.

    “However, despite the shortcomings mentioned above, PDP is fully ready for the February 17 elections.”