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Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • NBA to Buhari: rule of law not subject to national security

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement that the rule of law is subject to national security and interest.

    It said national security and interest are rather subject to the supremacy of the rule of law.

    NBA, in a communiqué issued at the end of its Annual General Conference in Abuja, condemned the disobedience of court orders by the government.

    It also faulted the issuance of executive orders over matters that are in court.

    President Buhari has been widely criticised for his comments at the opening of the NBA conference which began on Sunday.

    He had said: “The rule of law must be subject to the supremacy of the nation’s security and national interest.”

    But the NBA, in the communique read by its immediate past president, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), disagreed with the President.

    The association said it “completely rejects the presidential statement subordinating the rule of law to national security.”

    NBA added: “The NBA restates that the rule of law is central to democracy. Any national security concerns by the government must be managed within the perimeters and parameters of the rule of law.

    “As a corollary, conference frowns at the present growing trend whereby government decides on which court orders to obey.

    “The court has exclusive duty under a democratic dispensation to interpret the constitution and other laws. Government and the citizenry must comply with court orders at all times until set aside.”

    On executive orders, NBA said any such order issued in respect of a matter pending in court breaches the principle of separation of powers.

    “Executive orders should be issued for good governance and to manage operations of government, and not to encroach or usurp upon the constitutional powers of other arms of government, lest executive orders become attempts at decree-making,” the communiqué said.

    New NBA president, Paul Usoro (SAN), who was sworn in along with other officers, said the association would continue to hold government to account.

    “Lawyers and their association are not adversaries of government but partners with government in the promotion and protection of the rule of law.

    “The NBA’s significant role in that partnership is to serve as the watchdog of society and, in the process, call the government to account. We shall not shirk our responsibilities in that regard,” Usoro said.

    He urged his rivals for the NBA presidency to join hands with him in moving the association forward.

    “We are strong only when united and together. Divided, we’re vulnerable and subject to external and devastating attacks – and these are the dangers we face daily.

    “My immediate task would, therefore, be to heal these wounds, seal the cracks and unite our family of lawyers.

    “I have already started the process of such integration and healing by extending my hands of fellowship and brotherhood to my co-contestants, Prof Ernest Ojukwu, SAN and Chief Arthur Obi Okafor, SAN. But I will go beyond them in the days ahead.

    “I’ll seek to heal the wounds of the 2016 NBA elections by reaching out to my very good friend and brother, Chief J. K. Gadzama, SAN, and bring him back into the NBA family. I know that he has plenty to offer to our association.

    “There are also several of our Bar elders who have stayed outside the NBA fold for several years now for one reason or the other, mostly out of disenchantment; we’ll actively work to bring them back into the fold and in the process harvest from their rich repertoire of intellectual resources, experiences and wisdom,” Usoro said.

    The NBA president, among other plans, said he would hold monthly press briefings on the state of the nation and issue quarterly financial account reports of NBA.

     

  • Illegal Nigerian migrants travel at own risks, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday warned that Nigerians travelling out of the country illegally to search for greener pastures are doing so at their own risk.

    Buhari gave the warning during a joint press briefing with the visiting German Chancellor, Ms Angela Merkel, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, his administration does not support anything illegal or any act of indiscipline.

    Illegal Nigerian migrants stuck in foreign countries, he said, will continue to be repatriated back home.

    He said the Federal Government had so far repatriated more than 3,000 illegal migrants who were stuck in Libya on their way to Europe.

    He said: “I’m against those (my) countrymen and women who illegally find their ways to other countries other than Nigeria.

    “But I believe you know that the ECOWAS Protocol includes free movement of persons and goods and services.

    “But for those going to Europe, we are not, as an administration, in agreement with those Nigerians who try to defy the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean (Sea) because they feel there are greener pastures there, whether they are pre-paid, free or not.

    “It will be recalled that we repatriated about 3,000 Nigerians who were stuck in Libya on their ways to Europe.

    “You also must have read in the newspapers or seen in the television stations the number of Nigerians lost in the Mediterranean.”

    He added: “So, the position of this administration is very clear: we do not support anything illegal, and anybody who feels that his country does not value, does not offer him what he should be offered as a citizen and decided to defy the desert and the Mediterranean is doing so at his own risk.

    “But if found stuck in Libya or anywhere between his final destination and Nigeria, we will bring him back home.”

    Speaking through an interpreter, Merkel gave details of agricultural cooperation and other assistance coming to Nigeria.

    She also said that Germany would provide educational assistance that would increase the number of Nigerian students studying in Germany.

    The two countries signed two memoranda of understanding in agriculture and commerce.

    The first agreement was signed between the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA and the German-Africa Business Association.

    The First Deputy National President of NACCIMA, Hajia Saratu Iya Abubakar, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while Dr. Stefan Liebing of German Africa Business Association signed on behalf of the German Business Delegation.

    The second agreement was signed between the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and the PETKUS Technologie GmbH, a company that specialises in post-harvest agricultural value chain.

    While the Managing Director of NIRSAL, Aliyu Abdulhameed, signed on behalf of Nigeria, the representative of PETKUS Technologie GmbH, Peter Huser, signed for the Germans.

    Speaking after signing the MOUs, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, said the agreements would increase the collaboration between Nigeria and Germany in the two areas.

    Enelamah said the agreements would also leverage small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.

    He said: “We want our SMEs to learn from the German experience and be as important. The other area of German excellence is the technical area-technical education, technical training and technical development. It is also an area of great interest to Nigeria.

    “We are also working with Germany in the automobile sector because that’s also an area where Germany is a leader and Nigeria clearly has a policy to be a leader in the auto sector in West Africa and Africa.”

    He said all this would require high levels of engagement, collaboration and communication to be actualised.

    Also speaking, Abdulhameed said the MOU signed between NIRSAL and PETKUS was borne out of the realization of the opportunities that exist for investments in the Nigerian agricultural sector under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    He said: “Under the current administration and the present agricultural promotion policy of this government, there are ample opportunities for investors in terms of technology and capital, to come to Nigeria and to invest in the agricultural sector.

    “NIRSAL provides the risking environment and mechanisms to enable investors like PETKUS to come to Nigeria and do their business.”

    According to him, the agreement would go a long way in reducing the 51.3 metric tons of aggregate food production, equivalent of about US$9 billion, which the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) report says Nigeria loses annually.

    He said PETKUS, which specialises in the post-harvest segment of the agricultural value chain, would bring its expertise to bear on post-harvest productions in Nigeria.

    In his remarks, Huser said the interest of his company was to help small farmers boost their yield.

    “We are not talking about big investments; we are talking about small holder farmers, where we like to help them to boost their yield, to get better yield. We are talking about plant production. We are talking about fertilization.”

    He said each machine supplied by PETKUS Technologie would provide employment and improve income for five persons and their families.

    “We are talking today not about one machine; we are talking about one thousand machines and you can imagine the value this can bring into the agricultural sector,” Huser said.

    He said the agreement was a step further in the interest of his company in Nigeria.

     

  • Democracy and the politics of exclusion and confrontation

    There  is no doubt  that in Nigeria the battle line is drawn  between those who  want  to  replace President Muhammadu Buhari  as Nigeria’s president and his die hard supporters who believe he is the god sent leader t  to  turn Nigeria round, no  matter  the odds. It is not just politics as usual  this time around. It  is a do or die situation because the stakes  are  so high there  may be at least  10 formidable Nigerians  in the opposition PDP  lining  up to  get  their party nomination to unseat  the Nigerian president.  That competition in the opposing  camp to the president  is  potentially  fiercer than the  coming  presidential  election  itself. It  is a clash  of the titans of Nigerian  politics over the years. You  may  call it a fight  in which everyone is for himself  and may the devil  take the hind most.  Such  is the nature and mood of Nigeria’s politics  today that has provoked the topic of the day.

    But  such  politics of exclusion  and confrontation  is not peculiar  to  Nigeria  and it is our  intention today  to  trace its roots and  see why  the  human virtues  of tolerance, accommodation  and mutual  respect are fast abandoning the realm of politics in most nations of the  world  today.

    It  is necessary  to highlight  some events to illustrate  the high level  of tension  and potential  violence  in world  politics today.

    Let  us  for  now, if possible  ignore Syria, Iraq  and Yemen which  are the hot theaters  of war and destruction  nowadays  such that people  are wondering how if  ever  Syria will  be repaired  and reconstructed  and yet  the war  has not  ended. We  shall  look  at the social  issues  that  are at the bottom  of  many  provocative reactions in most  nations today. Religion  has always been the leading issue  in this  regard  and  spawned  9/11 , Al Quada, Boko Haram  and ISIS. But  cultural  issues  are  causing  more  tension nowadays.  Issues  like  gay  right,  migration  and  feminism.

    That  was what happened in Germany  this week  when  the news spread  that  two Arab  immigrants  have killed a German trying to protect  a lady  from them. That  was dangerously  followed  by the observations of some non  rightist  Germans that  they are concerned that  any one  who  opposes  immigration  in  Europe  is branded racist  and  that makes it difficult to  make comments and people are worried of being excluded  and silenced  on a major  issue  in their nation. That  means  that  in the EU  some  silent  majority  is just  waiting to explode  some day  no matter  the excuses  and advice from  German Chancellor Angela Merkel  on the matter.

    Similarly  in  Nigeria  it was  difficult  to talk  about Boko  Haram openly  because  of Muslim  sensitivities  and the general  belief that  Islam  is  a religion of  peace. Yet  Boko Haram  and  ISIS claim an  Islamic mandate  for their  terrorism and  bloodletting. Till  now  the Nigerian  army has not been able  to suppress Boko Haram  because of this  religious  affinity of those even in the army to take on Muslim enemies. It  is a daunting task  that needs great dispassionate  intelligence  and collaboration from all  the security oufits in Nigeria  to  achieve  in the interest  of  the  Nigerian nation.

    Really it is the duty of the Nigerian  government to fight and defeat the enemies  of  the nation no  matter  their origin or affiliation. The  matter  of killings  by so called armed  herdsmen follow  this manner of  handling the Boko  Haram  insurgency. For now most  Nigerians believe that Myetti Allah  is being treated  with kid gloves  because  it is a Northern  organization  and the president is both Muslim and Fulani  like the herdsmen. The  fact  that the President once  publicly lamented that if he did not go to school  he would be a Fulani  herdsman  has  not  helped  matters. It  is my candid  belief  that  the president  must  show  all  Nigerians  that nobody  is above  the law where the security of all Nigerians in all parts of Nigeria are  concerned.

    Similarly  I  hold  the strong view    that  democracy in Nigeria must    be seen  as capable  of lifting  Nigerians out  of poverty and  not  a sure way  to die  in dirt, squalor  sickness  and insecurity. Democracy  should  not be seen  as creating  an emergency and exclusive  class of rich citizens whose  main  business is that they went into politics  and  made  money,  and  a lot of it too.  Democracy  should not  be seen  as  an  elevator  that  makes retired  military  officers automatic  governors after elections  and automatic senators  after governorships.  That  is the trend now copied by civilian governors  who  now live in the  state  houses and legislature  for 16  years  and get  so stupendously  rich  that  they become a state  within a state  in terms  of political  power  and influence.

    They  have  now  become  such  a  serious  threat  in our  democracy  to  any meaningful  political  participation  and competition  by  other Nigerians  equally,  if  not better qualified,  but lacking  their  huge  financial  muscle  fattened by years  of looking after  public  funds  and getting fat  at it.

    Right  now in Nigeria the show down  between  the Senate President and the presidency is overshadowing  even  the primaries  to choose a presidential  candidate  for  the  opposition  party. The senate president  has declared his intention  to be president  but he just defected  to  the  PDP  and that may  polarize  even  the PDP leadership.  Has the opposition  the discipline to prune down aspirants to even two  to face  the primaries  for presidential candidate  election?  Can the senate president  suppress his ambition for the highest  office of the land in his new  and old party? And  will  the senate president  be in office till  the primaries for  PDP  are  held?  These  are  the questions  begging for answers as we approach the 2019  elections  and  you  must  admit  like the Chinese  are  famous  for  saying    that  we live  in very interesting  times  indeed here in Nigeria. Once again, long live the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Path to justice sector reforms

    Ordinarily, President Muhammadu Buhari’s submission at the opening of the 2018 Annual General Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) on the relationship between the rule of law and national interest as well as security should not generate needless controversy. No society, democratic or otherwise, allows personal liberty to supersede considerations of national interest and security. As the President rightly, even if controversially, said: “However, let me remind you all, my dear compatriots that the law can only be optimally practiced in a Nigeria that is safe, secure and prosperous”.

    Although he did not give specific details, the president said “Our apex court has had cause to adopt a position on this issue in this regard and it is now a matter of judicial recognition that where national security and public interest are threatened or there is a likelihood of their being threatened, the individual rights of those responsible must take second place, in favour of the greater good of society”.

    Yes, law can only be practiced within the context of a safe, secure and prosperous country. But can sustainable safety, security and prosperity be achieved without the guarantee of the supremacy of the rule of law as a bulwark against descent to arbitrary rule? Nothing in history suggests that this is so. A fundamental difference between a dictatorship and a democracy is that in the former, the interest of the extant regime is conflated with national interest. In a democracy on the other hand, it is the constitution as interpreted by the judiciary, an independent arm of government that determines what constitutes a threat to or subversion of national interest.

    The executive cannot at once determine what constitutes a violation of national interest and security, pronounce as guilty those it perceives as being in breach of national security and interest as well as subject those so accused to prolonged imprisonment without trial in utter violation of court orders. If that happens, the bedrock of constitutional democracy, which is the submission of all those within a given territorial jurisdiction including the state to the sovereignty of the rule of law, has effectively been removed and nothing can sustainably continue to stand on nothing as the lawyers sagely remind us.

    Yes, PMB may be naturally restrained and mature in the utilization of the enormous state powers at his disposal. Already, however, the Nigerian presidency is perceived to be one of the most powerful offices in the world. Not every President coming after him can be expected to be a Buhari. We must be wary of creating precedents that more ruthless and Machiavellian occupants of the office in future can cite or exploit to hound perceived enemies and do grievous harm to the country’s democracy.

    PMB’s umbrage at the outrageous and unconscionable elite corruption responsible for the co-existence of obscene wealth for a few and the mass misery and impoverishment of the vast majority of Nigerians is understandable. It is dissatisfaction with this kind of gross inequity and injustice that informed the advocacy in a 1994 public lecture by legal icon, Professor Akin Oyebode, that “it was time we did away with the shibboleth of the rule of law and embrace the seemingly novel notion of the rule of just law or, more plainly, the rule of justice in order to re-establish the link between law and social reality”. This kind of elegant theorizing is in my view of little practical import in a liberal democracy like ours in terms of concrete policy.

    There are two options for us. We can opt for a revolutionary approach to fighting corruption, which will entail terminating the current democratic process and allow President Buhari because of his anti-corruption credentials, to transmute into a maximum ruler for an interim period in order to enable him frontally confront the scourge of corruption without the encumbrance of the rule of the law. Thereafter, we can return to the practice of democracy. After all, is it not possible to argue that elections in which allegedly corrupt persons who have acquired humongous amounts of stolen resources can legally contest and even win, constitute a violation of national interest and security? In choosing such a path, let us never forget Lord Acton’s proven iron law that ‘power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ no matter how saintly and well meaning its wielder may be perceived to be.

    On the other hand, there is the possibility of working carefully and meticulously within the context of the extant liberal democratic system to identify weaknesses and initiate far reaching justice sector reforms to gradually turn things around. This is exactly what Vice President Yemi Osinbajo did as Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in Lagos State between 1999 and 2007. In a comprehensive account of his tenure when leaving office, Osinbajo itemized no less than 30 problems identified on his assumption of office in 1999 and the concrete actions taken to address them through the Justice Sector Reform Programme implemented from 1999 to 2007.

    These reforms were based on the recommendations of the Justice Committee, one of the Transition Working Groups inaugrated  by the then Governor-Elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel & Towers on January 25, 1999. Permit me to refer at some length to only three items in Professor Osinbajo’s report:

    1. ERADICATION OF CORRUPTION IN THE JUSTICE SECTOR

    Recommended Extract

    “Corruption is a matter of serious concern not just for the administration of justice but for governance as a whole. It is clear that the ability to deliver on election promises will largely depend on the availability of resources. Where resources have been looted, as has been the experience in the past years, service to the people is impossible…It is therefore critical that institutions and policies are created to eliminate corruption”.

    Action Taken

    “The state Government has addressed the problem of corruption, especially in the judicial system by taking prompt action to remove affected persons from office…At the same time, significant efforts are made to improve the recruitment process, enhance the welfare of judicial officers, establish transparent procedures and cultivate a culture of zero tolerance for corrupt practices. At the point of making judicial appointments, the input of the State Bar Association is sought on each applicant. This allows for better scrutiny of applicants’ records. Those who may have complaints against him/her are also thereby given the opportunity to speak up. Furthermore, all complaints against Judges and Magistrates are promptly investigated by the Judicial Service Commission. So far, 3 judges and 22 Magistrates have had their appointments terminated on account of this disciplinary process”.

    1. APPOINTMENT AND TRAINING OF JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES

    Recommended Extract“The 1999 Justice Committee recognized the fact that the number of judicial personnel was inadequate and that training facilities available to them were poor”

    Action Taken

    “During the past 7 years, over 30 High Court Judges and several Magistrates were appointed into the state judiciary. The process of selection has radically changed. The new policy entrenches merit as the principal consideration as rigorous tests and interviews now precede judicial appointments. Also potential lawyers are identified not only from the ranks of State Counsel and Magistrates but also among other lawyers in various fields of endeavour. This has considerably enriched the state Judiciary and changed the culture of judicial appointments for the better. In the Magistracy, promotion to higher levels now depends on performance in mandatory assessment examinations”

    1. OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER (LEGAL AID SERVICES)

    Recommended Extract

    “The government of Lagos State must quickly carve a niche for itself as a serious believer in human rights. Government can actively collaborate with Faculties of Law of the two universities in Lagos and civil society groups to establish Legal Aid Clinics and Centres in the State”.

    Action Taken

    “The Lagos State Government established a full-fledged Directorate for Citizens Rights in the Ministry of Justice in 1999. The Directorate has, among others, the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), and the Human Rights Protection Unit (HRPU). OPD offers free legal advice/representation in civil and criminal matters to the poor and most vulnerable. At the moment OPD operates from 5 centres across the state and has about 40 full time lawyers…To institutionalize the concept of free legal services, the State Government has enacted the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender Law, Cap L82, Laws of Lagos State 2003 which sets up OPD as a statutory body with its own management and staff structure”.

    These are only three out of the over 30 reform initiatives in the Lagos State justice sector reforms contained in the Osinbajo 2007 report. Achieving meaningful justice sector reforms as well as meaningfully fighting corruption requires a well conceptualized and articulated plan and not the erosion of the rule of law or restricting democratic liberties. Critical to achieving this is a Minister of Justice/Attorney General with a capacity for hard work, attention to detail, passion for justice, creative thinking and impeccable integrity; an AGF with the human skills to mobilize the bar, the bench and civil society components to work harmoniously to achieve concrete positive reforms.

     

  • President to visiting German Chancellor: we respect agreements, rule of law

    President Muhammadu Buhari said in Abuja yesterday that his administration will always uphold the sanctity of the rule of law in governing the country.

    He also assured the visiting German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, that all agreements will be fully respected.

    President Buhari received the German Chancellor, who was accompanied by top government officials and a business delegation, at the Presidential Villa.

    In his remarks during a bilateral meeting, the President said unity and harmony in every society can only be preserved by observing the rule of law and ensuring that agreements reached in good faith are followed through to the mutual benefits of countries.

    Buhari, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, also told Chancellor Merkel and members of her delegation that the rule of law embodies all the rightful mechanisms for conflict resolution, both within the country and in dealing with all foreign partners.

    He assured that his administration remains focused on delivering a peaceful, economically viable and politically stable polity to all Nigerians.

    The President said Nigeria remained grateful to the German government for its fair treatment of migrants.

    He said Nigeria looks forward to improving its trade figures with Germany, which he said had taken strong interest in investing in the country and supporting the government in providing effective services in security, education and creation of jobs.

    The President said his administration instituted reforms in the economy to make it more internationally attractive and business friendly for investors, noting that infrastructure development had been a priority, especially in power supply, road and rail constructions.

    The economy, he said, was already responding to the diversification reforms and the stimulus of the government as growth is now largely driven by the non-oil sector.

    The President said Nigeria was politically stable, urging German investors to take advantage of the friendly climate.

    “I enjoin you to invest in Nigeria because this is the best time to do so,” he added.

    President Buhari noted that the successful political transitions since 1999 were clear indications of the country’s stability and preparedness to welcome more investments that will bolster the economy.

    In her remarks at the meeting, Chancellor Merkel said Germany was prepared to further strengthen bilateral and business relations with Nigeria, which, according to her, controls 60 per cent of ECOWAS economy.

    She said the population growth and opportunities in the economy can always be explored to improve employment situation in the country.

    Chancellor Merkel said the three Memoranda of Understanding signed during the visit represent a starting point for a healthier and deeper partnership with Nigeria in areas of security, trade, immigration and education.

    The Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Volkswagen of South Africa for the manufacturing of Volkswagen vehicles in Nigeria while Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Petkus Technologies GMBH for the supply of seed and grain processing machines.

    The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with German African Business Association on fostering trade and investment.

     

  • Saraki, Tambuwal, others exit have no dent on APC – Buhari

    …they are conservatives, migrant, rolling stone politicians says Oshiomhole

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari said on Thursday that the defection of Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, Governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara) and Samuel Ortom (Benue) and some members of the National Assembly which was meant to cripple the party barely had any dent on the APC.

    The President spoke just as the National Chairman of the party; Comrade Adams Oshiomhole described those who have left the party as conservatives whose departure will strengthen the party since they never believed in the change agenda and the spirit of progressives.

    Read Also:APC decides on primary today

    Buhari who spoke at the sixth National Executive Committee meeting of the APC and the first under the new leadership of the party said those who plotted the down fall of the party failed to muster the required number to cause an upset within the party, particularly the at chambers of the National Assembly.

    The President who arrived the APC national secretariat for the NEC meeting at about 11.20am and departed at exactly 2.16 pm however told the meeting that the party must ensure a hitch free, fair and credible primary which he said will be a precursor to the conduct of free, fair and credible general elections in 2019.

    While congratulating the current leadership of the party for their election, he said “the team emerged at a turbulent time when there were rumors and speculations of massive defections in such a way that could rock the very foundation of the party.

    “Despite reconciliatory attempt to keep the house together, some members were hell bent on pulling down the roof. They left, threatening to go along with scores of people. But due to the work of the new party Leadership, the exit barely made a dent on our super structure as they could not muster the figure they had envisages to cause an upset, particularly in the two chambers of the National Assembly. APC remain in control and is increasing by the day with quality people joining the party.”

    The President said further that as the party match towards the conduct of party primaries, “I ask All and sundry to ensure that we play the game according to the rules. Let us come out with free, fair and credible primaries which will be a precursor to free, fair and credible election next year.

    “Let us shine the light through our primaries and the rest of the country will find the way. Our primaries must be in complete compliance with the provisions of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the electoral act and above all, the constitution of the party.

    “This is the time we must work for unity, harmony and togetherness. Let us all join hands to move the party forward. We must take our party to the next level and I urge all and sundry to give support to our National Working Committee.

    “The new National Executive Committee members assumed duty at a very critical time. With the general elections coming very early next year, 2019, any political party worth its salt must get its internal dynamics right and match as a team towards a deceive time such a major election in the country.

    “Today, we are meeting to look at some major decisions that will ensure an excellent performance at the polls next year. Starting with party primaries at various levels, I urge you all to ensure that decisions taken here are those that be for the good of the party and meets the yearnings and expectations of our teeming members and supporters nationwide. They look up to us for guidance and we must not disappoint or fail them.”

    He assured of his commitment to fulfill his Electoral promises, saying “Hope is rekindled in our heart that we will give our country purposeful leadership and improve the quality of life of the people.

    “We will continue to secure the country, fight graft and reposition the economy in such a way that jobs can be provided for our youth and give them a future and hope. We will fulfill all the promises we made to Nigerians. We are fulfilling them and will continue to serve with heart and might to build a nation where peace and justice and prosperity shall reign.”

    Addressing the meeting, National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said ambition was responsible for the exit of all those who left the part6 and not because of anything done to them by the party.

    While practically referring to them as conservatives, he said “I stumbled on a quote which might interest Mr. President and I think it summarises what has happened to us. I can’t find anything more appropriate.

    “I do not know exactly the occasion and I don’t know the date this statement was made by one of Nigeria’s foremost political leaders who was described as the best president Nigeria never had, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    “In one of his works, he said, ‘For the Progressives to be in power, they need the support and collaboration of some Conservatives. After attaining power, the conservatives would on their own move away. The progressives, once the conservatives have moved away on their own, would now build a great party that will move the nation forward’.

    “Mr. President, the conservatives have moved away. So, this was bound to happen because when we promised change, they all sang it, but it had different meanings to different people.

    “For some, it was to be the change that would lead to more of the same but for the Nigerian people; they know that change meant a move from a political order that services only the political elite at the expense of the poor and the masses.

    “When it became clear that this change cannot allow business as usual, the conservatives left on their own. Our party is stronger, smarter, more cohesive and there is no better evidence than the fact that we have won all the major elections after they left the party.”

    Going down memory lane on efforts made by the Leadership to address grievances by members, Oshiomhole said “After our elections, we worked hard to meet with people from the states who had issues arising from the congresses and we reassured them that we would treat every case on its merit and I believe that we have done a lot of that and will continue to do what we have to do to ensure that there is peace and unity in the state chapters.

    “We also had meetings with the APC caucus in the senate and thereafter we had a meeting with the APC caucus in the House of Representatives. At those meetings, we reassured everyone that as a party that is democratic, there will be issues and contestations but that the most important thing is for us to be able to see through the issues.

    “I am happy to report that as a result of those engagements, many senators and members of the House of Representatives renewed confidence in our party. But those who were determined to leave, not on account of what anybody has done wrong against them, but on account of an ambition they believe they cannot realize on our platform, even though they were not denied the opportunity to try out that ambition, but perhaps because they could read like an Oracle what the future would be particularly as people have contested before when we didn’t have any incumbent.

    “I had thought that by the provisions in our party constitution, they had the right to contest and that right was not going to be denied them. But reflecting on what has happened in the past and reading the minds of party members and leaders, they came to the conclusion that the only way they can realize their ambition was to relocate and they relocated. Of course, for distant observers, they think that this is a huge blow to our party.

    “I made a comment which seems to have been misunderstood in some quarters, when I said that if some individuals of no particular fixed political address decide to leave, I will not lose my sleep.

    “I speak of no particular fixed address because if you have a history of moving every season from one political party to the other with one constant thing in mind, to contest, now what is your political address? So, for people like that who are migrant politicians, rolling stone politicians, I am not able to identify their political address and therefore, I refuse to miss my sleep.

    “But some people said this was arrogant, but we also need to be blunt. What can you do about someone who feels that in every election, he must contest and if he cannot win he must decamp. Some have decamped as many times as the many elections that has taken place.”

    He said further: “I made a commitment on behalf of the leadership of the party that every one of persons who have grievances, no matter the nature of those grievances, arising from genuine misunderstanding, arising from communication gap, arising from conflict of interest, our responsibility is to help this party to find common ground and do genuine reconciliation, play up what unite us, down play what divide us so that together, we can continue to work together within the party and address issues that affect our Vision.

    “I am proud that most of the people who have such issues have confidence that the party will listen and we have listened and have resolved a lot of the issues. Today, I am sure that many of our senators, House of Representatives members and leaders across the country who have issues have seen that the issues are being resolved and now have greater confidence in the activities of our party.

    “I will continue to assure them that we will not pretend that there will be no conflict tomorrow. What we promise is that as they arise, God will give us the wisdom, patience and courage to do justice and make them feel comfortable within the family of the APC.”

    “We have seen people who go back to their communities to decamp and we see ‘uncommon defectors’ but the others sat in their chambers, in a Guest House and prepared their defection notes. Some are known to have remained in Abuja, detained by their own consciences and unable to visit their constituencies.

    “So, I want to assure you that we have purged ourselves of excess fats that would have possibly interfered in the flow of blood in our vain. We are stronger, more determined and we are much certain of our future.”

    Turning to the President, he said “We asked the President to continue to provide leadership to deal with the vices that has detained Nigeria in the last and which seems to explain the paradox that has detained Nigeria, a country that is so rich and its people so poor.

    “Mr. President, God has a purpose for sparing your life and that is because you have not finished the mission that He entrusted to you, to lead the forces of change, to reposition our country, reorder our values and to encourage all of us.

    “Those who submit to change, in spite of their past still have a chance to play a role in the commitment to rebuild the nation and ensure it offer hope to every citizen.

    “Mr. President, you are the only one who has had the courage to look at western leaders’ eye ball to eye ball and as them to return the stolen money. If you have stolen money in their vault, you won’t have the courage to say so. None of your predecessors have had the courage to say so in the manner that you did. Those are thing we are proud of and they give us courage and confidence that Nigerians will not be fooled come 2019.”

  • ‘Buhari’s elevation of ‘national interest’ above rule of law legal, constitutional’

    Project-2019 (P2019), a civil society organisation on Thursday said that President Muhammadu Buhari‘s statement on national interest and the rule of law is legal and constitutional.

    Mr Wale Ogunade, Convener of the group told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  in Lagos, that President Buhari ‘s statement was a restatement of the provisions of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Read Also:Buhari to May: 2019 polls will be free, fair, credible

    According to him, the President’s statement takes its foundation from the fact that, the rule of law can only exist when the national interest and security is secured in a state of peace and tranquility.  Otherwise, it is a farce.

    President Buhari while flagging off the 2018 Annual General Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja on Sunday,  asserted the supremacy of national security and interest over and above the rule of law, quoting a judgment of the Supreme Court.

    He said: “Rule of law must be subject to the supremacy of the nation’s security and national interest.

    “Our apex court has had cause to adopt a position on this issue in this regard and it is now a matter of judicial recognition that; where national security and public interest are threatened or there is a likelihood of  being threatened, the individual rights of those allegedly responsible must take second place in favour of the greater good of the society”.

    Ogunade said that fundamental rights of citizens are not absolute as there could be limitations.

    ”As active stakeholders in the political development of the country, it becomes imperative to examine the statement dispassionately and objectively for the collective good.

    ”While it is a recognised fact that the rights of citizens are fundamental according to the constitution and international treaties of which Nigeria is a signatory, it’s also a fact that such rights are not absolute on their own, but with limitations.

    ”For example, the right to free speech is limited by the aftermath of libel or slander by whoever has been defamed.

    ”Also, the fundamental right of a citizen to free movement can be limited in the public interest or national security, if his or her actions constitute a threat to societal order through the provocative act of assaulting public sensibilities. For  example, exercising the right to movement naked.

    “‘Again, the right of an individual or group to practice his/their religion is not an absolute right to permit the infringement on the rights of other citizens through making the public space inaccessible to them in the discharge of one’s religious rights.  This is tantamount to a threat to public or national interest.

    ”Again, the fundamental right of association of citizens, of being members of an ethnic nationality or group does not confer on them, the absolute right to undermine national security by deriding and threatening the lives of other citizens who are not of same ethnic stock.

    ”This act if not curtailed is a threat to national security and interest.

    ”Furthermore, under our laws, an individual right to property can be abridged in the public or national interest by the state, through acquisition and the right of the former owner can only be remedied by compensation in most cases only on the basis of the owner having legal documents to the property.

    ”This again is a reaffirmation of the fact that where national or public interest comes into contact with individual right, the latter becomes subsumed, ” he said.

    Ogunade said that section 45 sub-section 1 of the 1999 constitution is clear on the issue.

    According to him, the power to determine what constitutes a threat to national security and national interest  is solely vested in the executive arm of government for now.

    ”Section 45 (1) of the 1999 constitution states explicitly that:

    “Nothing in sections 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 of this constitution shall invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society –

    (a)  in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or

    (b) for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom of other person’s.

    ”Therefore, instead of dissipating energy of whipping up emotions and sentiments in condemning Mr President’s statement which is in alignment with provisions of our constitution, we will be more interested in extensive public engagement on this matter if and only if genuine and legitimate concerns are directly focused towards curtailing the abuse of power likely to arise from the power to determine what constitutes a threat to national security and national interest which is solely vested in the executive arm of government for now.

    ”Like the French philosopher Montesquieu posited, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

    ”Unless and until the law is amended  to take care of the concerns noted above, President Buhari’s statement is a restatement of the provisions of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which is indisputably right, ” he said.

     

  • APC constitution supports direct, indirect primaries – Ambode 

    …I’m in APC to assist Buhari create jobs – Akpabio

     

     

    The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday night said that the constitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) supports the adoption of direct or indirect primaries.

    Some of the party stakeholders have been divided over which of the methods to adopt.

    No matter what the party settles for, Ambode said that what is important is that party members are allowed to elect their leaders.

    Ambode spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the APC national caucus meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Read Also:Obas to meet Ambode over Lagos-Badagry Expressway

    Asked if the issue of direct or indirect primaries was resolved, he said, “The fact remains that the constitution of our party allows us to carry out our primaries and elections using direct or indirect primaries.

    “We cannot disagree with the constitution so either direct or indirect primaries, you are at liberty to justify the choice you want to pick, once it suits your purpose and in line with constitution as the state determines.

    “The whole essence is for us to deepen democracy and also allow our members to participate in this whole process. The idea is once you have party members that are able to take decisions on who should represent them, I think we would have gone a step higher and better than other parties, that makes us a better party.” he said

    On his part, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who attended the caucus meeting for the first time, said the resolutions will benefit both the party and the nation at large.

    He said, “The meeting went very well and a lot of topical issues were discussed bothering on the interests of the nation. The resolutions are fantastic and I believe that the resolutions will not only move the party forward but will help to alleviate the situation in the country today and Nigerians will be happy for it.”

    On what is uncommon about APC, he said, “Well, you want me to talk from the position of an opposition leader before? Let me say that the first thing you need to know about the APC, from the point of view of leadership, I am quite impressed; the President has kept his integrity intact.

    “He has been able to improve the image of Nigeria and restore a lot of respect to Nigeria from the international community.

    “I can assure you that he alone can attract millions of people, he is that infectious. Of course his stance on corruption and that Nigerians have food on their table is something that is applauded all over the world.

    “I have also advocated that he also fights the twin brother of corruption that is poverty.

    “I am joining the APC as a government to stabilize the government and to assist the government to create employment opportunities for Nigerians so that we can fight the twin brother to corruption, which is poverty.

    “Poverty creates corruption and corruption deepens poverty, so we need to fight the two together. And that is one of the things I find attractive with the APC and believe me with my people in Akwa Ibom State, with my presence in the APC my people in South South have now seen the light and they say APC is the party to vote for come 2019,” he added.

     

  • Buhari, Theresa May meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met behind closed doors with the British Prime Minister, Theresa May at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    May’s visit to Nigeria is part of her tour of some Africa countries.

    Read Also:Uduaghan, Marwa, others join Buhari at APC meeting

    The meeting started in the President’s office shortly after May arrived the forecourt of the State House around 1pm.

    She was received on arrival by President Buhari and top government officials.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Why I decamped to APC – Uduaghan 

    One of the newest defectors to the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Tuesday night listed the reasons that attracted him to the party.

    Uduaghan, who was the immediate past Delta State Governor, moved from the major opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Read Also:Uduaghan, Marwa, others join Buhari at APC meeting

    He was among those that attended the APC National caucus meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday night.

    He said that one of the factors that brought him to the ruling party was the massive developments coming to the Niger Delta area under Buhari’s administration.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, he said; “Politics is about interest, I’m from the Niger Delta and I managed a lot of crises from in Niger Delta. Sometimes I went to the creeks and engaged the boys and my principle when I was managing the Niger Delta was that of engagement and the current APC government has succeeded in managing the crises they met on ground through engagement.

    “The President was seeing a lot of leaders from the Niger Delta while the Vice-President went from state to state of oil producing states, making a lot of engagements and agreements were reached.

    “Nobody at that level had gone from state to state before in Nigeria, this was the first time and of course if that is happening, the crisis is not over, they need to be supported by those of us from the Niger Delta who are passionate about Niger Delta so that in moving forward we can have solutions to the crisis of Niger Delta.

    “If a new person comes he would start putting agreement up again and all that.

    “Secondly in the area of infrastructure, this government has done very well. Talking about my state, for the first time a rail line came to Delta, for the first time the gas city which we have been talking about, a committee has been officially inaugurated and for the time we have human capital development projects, school feeding and a lot is happening in Niger Delta.

    “So for me, let me join the party to be able to effect changes because we cannot achieve anything by working from the outside in the Niger Delta.

    “Some of us have to join the APC train and many people are going to come with me so that we can achieve a lot more in the Niger Delta for the APC government. Politics is about regional interest and I’m interested in the Niger Delta,” he stated.