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Tag: President

  • Constitution clear on maximum tenure, says President

    Constitution clear on maximum tenure, says President

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday drew the attention of the political class to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulate the maximum term for office holders.

    Jonathan, who spoke during the dedication of the All Saints’ Anglican Church built by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu in Aninnri Local Government Area of Enugu State, said that politicians should be ready to subject themselves to the provisions of the constitution.

    It was not immediately clear whether President Jonathan, who has not declared his intention to run again in 2015, was responding to the criticisms that have followed his purported ambition.

    According to him, no individual could stay in office for life, even where the constitution does not stipulate the maximum term of tenures.

    Dr. Jonathan said: “There is no point fighting for political leadership that is transient, to the extent that you want to even burn a house down because they perceive you are not too comfortable with a particular situation, be it at the local level, be at the state and federal levels. These are transitional leadership.”

    “Today, we have a constitution that defines the maximum tenure that any individual can stay in office. And even if the constitution does not define, no leader will stay there for life. I think, collectively, we should think more about our own country, think more about leaving behind a society that our children will be happy with.”

    “I believe no leader can do everything for the society. But, think about some key things and do those ones, but try and do those ones very well. What I can promise Nigerians is that with your support, we will succeed. We have our challenges, no doubt about that, but we are committed that we will make these little changes that will make a different in our lives,” the President said.

    He enjoined prominent Nigerians, who enjoy dual citizenships, to join hands with his administration towards building a country everybody will be proud of.

    Corroborating the position of the Primate of the Anglican Communion, the Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, that those who are well endowed should join hands to build the nation, the President said: “I want to concur with what His Grace said, that if we leave Nigeria and go elsewhere, you may have different passports that can take you to many countries without even visas; they will still regard you as a Nigerian. You cannot fit in properly, until you come home.”

    “So, let us join hands and build a nation that we, our children and children yet unborn will be happy with. Just like the Primate said, political leaders are transient; they come and go. As a leader, you always pray that as you go, you leave good footprints behind.”

    Commending the Deputy Senate President for building a church – in line with his covenant with God – the President said: “Ike has been able to build a church for Mpu community. We have to thank God for giving Martias (his late father) a son like Ike.”

    Dedicating the church, the Primate of the Anglican Communion, the Most Rev Nicholas Okoh, congratulated Ekewremadu for being chosen by God to build the church.

    “Of all you have ever done in your life, this is the best. You have applied your money to do something that brings glory to God,” he noted.

    Calling on other wealthy individuals who have the resources to build a church to emulate Ekweremadu, he said: “We want to encourage you to spend money to the glory of God.”

    While praying for President Jonathan, Rev. Okoh said: “He came to this position through your grace, may he not be disgraced out. There may be people who are not happy with him, may you protect him from their powers. Give him the grace as the man who transformed this country. May he not go home empty handed. May our destiny as a nation be fulfilled.”

    Stressing that being religious remains a strong factor going for Nigeria, he said that it was a shame that the country was still being confronted with various challenges.

    His words: “It is a shame that we have not been able to harness this powerful resource to the benefit of our country. It means somebody is not sincere. We must all work hard to deliver our country together. We should have a new resolution to go out and transform our society. It is wisdom, therefore, to build this place (Nigeria) and this government in power should be a transition to the new order.”

    Ekweremadu said even as he saw homelessness while growing up, he made a covenant with God to build a church for him if successful in life.

    Recalling that he went through serious health challenge and that only God saved him, the Deputy Senate President said: “I said, God, because of these challenges surrounding me, if you make me successful in life, I will build a church for you.

    “And from that day, it has been one progress or the other. Today is a very important day in the life of my family. It is the most important day in my life because God has given us the opportunity to redeem our pledge and covenant.”

    The Senate President, Senator David Mark, took the first lesson from Exodus 12:14 to 36. The second lesson was read by the wife of the donor, Lady Nwanneka Ekweremadu, from Colossians 3:1 to 11.

    Other dignitaries at the dedication included Deputy Speaker of House of Reps., Emeka Ihedioha, Governors Theodre Orji of Abia and Peter Obi of Anambra, Ministers of Finance Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah; Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke and Minister of State I for Foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri as well as presidential aides.

    Also present at the occasion were Senators Ayogu Eze, Tunde Ogbeha, Prof Dora Akunyili, Mr Frank Nweke jnr, Mr Osita Chidoka.

  • Boko Haram: NBA gives President seven days to address the nation

    Boko Haram: NBA gives President seven days to address the nation

    President Goodluck Jonathan has seen given seven days within which to address the nation  and explain to Nigerians what his administration is doing to curtail the  Boko Haram insurgency and killing of innocent people.

    Chairman NBA Ikeja Branch, Mr Monday Ubani made this known in Lagos, in reaction to the bombing of some Lagos bound luxury buses in Kano last Monday “These killing cannot be allowed to continue daily in Nigeria”.

    “If he fails or refuses to do as demanded, Nigerians are being advised to prepare to hold the Peoples National Conference outside the government and decide their destinies independently”, he said.

    Addressing a press conference on the state of the nation at the Bar Centre, Ikeja, Ubani asked the Federal Government to explain why there is no apparent positive result towards stemming the menace of the dreaded islamist group.

    “It is the minimum requirement if we must exist as a nation, else let it be known by all and sundry that if the country disintegrates on our faces, we all cannot escape the judgement of history and that of our children” he said.

    The NBA  condemned  the level of extra judicial killing across the country, and charged security agencies  to live up to their responsibilities in ensuring security of lives and properties.

    “Therefore, it is clearly barbaric and a breach of national interest and international laws, treaties and protocols for lives of citizens to be taken away on mere suspicion of having committed a crime,” Ubani added.

    The chairman also called on the government to issue a directive to all security agencies to respect lives and follow due process in carrying out executions.

    He condemned  the recent state pardon granted former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, saying, “As lawyers, the Prerogative of Mercy provision is in Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution.

    “That section is not meant to be used for parochial and selfish interest, it must always be used in the national interest.”

    “The president exercises this power in consultation with the Council of State in a properly conveyed meeting.

    “But we must be made to understand why that provision was inserted in our Constitution.

    “The mischief that, that section tends to cure is to enable any sitting president to use the state pardon to redress an injustice.

     

  • President’s powers need review, say Reps

    President’s powers need review, say Reps

    House of Representatives members Dr. Ifeoluwa Arowosoge and Hon Bamidele Faparusi have called for an urgent review of the powers of the President of the country.

    They also appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and other public office holders to inculcate the habit of using power responsibly in the interest of the polity.

    The legislators reacted to the presidential pardon granted to the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreiye Alamieyeseigha, former Chief Executive of the Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama, and former Chief of General Staff, Lt- General Oladipo Diya (rtd).

    Arowosoge and Faparusi, who represent Ekiti South West/Ikere/Ise-Orun Constituency and Emure/Gbonyin/Ekiti East Constituency, respectively, told The Nation that the decision was “a gross abuse of the powers of the President.”

    Arowosoge said: “When I learned of the development, my heart jumped to my mouth; I developed more fears for my dear country and I asked myself what signal the President was sending to us in the country and indeed, the international community. To me, it was a crude assault on the already battered image of our nation which we have all been sweating to rebuild.

    “Not only did it occur to me that leadership needs to change hands in this country, it dawned on me that we must henceforth allow naked reason to take pre-eminence in our decision as leaders. I also strongly feel that the powers of Mr President must be addressed now.”

    Faparusi said: “Mr President must learn to exercise his powers responsibly. Extending pardon to someone convicted of money laundering, fraud and corruption at this time when corruption has grounded the country is an irresponsible act. It is unacceptable and disappointing. I think we need to take a second look at the powers of Mr President with a view to moderating them. Naked powers are daily being abused to the disadvantage of our corporate image as a nation.”

    On signals from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the pardon would not bear negatively on the nation’s anti-graft war, the lawmakers urged the PDP leadership to be patriotic. They said the pardon has done damage to the anti-corruption battle.

    Arowosoge stressed: “What has happened stands to reason that Nigerians are now being encourage to loot the treasury, conduct themselves well later and get pardoned. We must face the truth and desist from deceiving our people”.

     

  • Amaechi congratulates new NGE president

    Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has hailed the emergence of Mr. Femi Adesina as the new president of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE).

    Speaking through his chief press secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, Amaechi commended Adesina on his sterling attributes and wished him a successful term at the helm of affairs of the guild.

    The governor expressed confidence that the leadership of Adesina, who is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Deputy Managing Director of the Sun Newspapers would take the guild to greater heights.

    He said, “I believe that his tenure would well represent the Nigeria Guild of Editors and cause an increase in professionalism in the field and among its members.”

    The governor also congratulated other members of the newly elected executive made up of seasoned professionals in the media industry.

     

  • 2015: So you want to be president?

    2015: So you want to be president?

    Until lately, few of the many puzzles the first-time visitor to Nigeria encounters could have been more intriguing than the warning in bold letters they find on the façade of many homes in many of the bigger towns: THIS HOUSE IS NOT FOR SALE.

    “If it’s not for sale,” the visitor must wonder in his or her innocence, “why call attention to that fact? Surely, any person offering to buy a house that is not on the market cannot complain if they roughen him up and throw him into the streets on the perfectly sensible ground that he could well be an intruder with criminal intent on his mind.

    It could be worse, of course. The owners of the property could just as easily – and with greater profit to their own equanimity – hand him over to area boys forever lurking in the neighbourhood and abandon him to their not-so-tender mercies. Or they could march him to the nearest police station, serenaded by the jeers and taunts and curses of passers-by, and turn him in as a burglar caught in the act

    Even in the more genteel section of town, offering to buy a house that has not been placed on the market is a fraught proposition. When it is proclaimed in bold letters on the property that it is not for sale, the contumacy is compounded.

    As if this puzzle was not mystifying enough, a new one that cannot fail to raise questions in the visitor’s mind about the political rationality of the natives has now been added.

    Hardly a day passes without a political figure proclaiming in full-page newspaper advertisements in lavish colour, on radio and television, on billboards and wall posters and in handbills, that he is not contemplating running for higher office (usually for president), has never contemplated such a move, and will never contemplate it.

    To leave absolutely no room for any misreading, the statement usually adds for effect that any person who asserts, suggests, insinuates, implies, or in any other way creates the impression, by word or image or any other means whatsoever, that the declarant has ever harboured, now harbours or will ever harbor such an ambition, belongs in a lunatic asylum and should be rushed there without further delay.

    You could hardly blame any visitor who concluded on encountering such abject disavowal again and again that aspiring to higher elected office is the greatest political crime in this realm. You would have a hard time convincing the visitor that political ambition has not been criminalised – at least, not yet.

    It was not always like this.

    Back when politics was politics and politicians were politicians, you adopted one of two strategies if you were desirous of climbing higher on what Disraeli called the greasy pole.

    You proclaimed your desire from the rooftop and as loudly as possible, thus serving notice on anyone with any eye on the same position that he or she would have to reckon with you.

    This strategy also carried with it the advantage of primacy, which is no small matter in politics. If you were the first to declare, you or your supporters could always label anyone declaring after you a spoiler driven by no higher motive than envy and malice.

    Nor is that all. If you cannot silence them altogether, jumping out ahead of the pack could also be an effective way of serving notice to all those professional malcontents who are forever kvetching about one thing or another to keep their intrusive eyes off you or face the consequences of their temerity.

    The late Godwin Daboh understood this strategy very well. Even while the rules of the game were yet to be fashioned, Daboh would declare that he was going to run for governor of Benue. Thereafter, if anyone wrote or said anything he didn’t like, he would threaten to file a lawsuit seeking compensatory damages on the ground that the speech or publication had ruined his chances of being elected governor. . .

    Daboh had his faults, but you could never accuse him of reticence.

    The second strategy is to keep everyone in suspense, without affirming an intent to run or denying it – the kind of strategy Dr Goodluck Jonathan has been employing with regard to the presidential election scheduled for 2015.

    Those “on ground,” to employ a delicious Nigerian locution, say that his “body language” points powerfully to his seeking a second substantive term in 2015. But the wily resident of Aso Rock has steadfastly refused to be goaded into saying anything remotely definitive on the issue.

    “It is too early to talk about it” has been his stock response when pressed on the matter. He could for good measure add that the whole thing is a distraction when so much that has been malformed, deformed or unformed is awaiting transformation. From this vantage point, he can survey the entire field, identify potential challengers, and neutralise them on the threshold.

    Could this be what has happened to Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, or are their current travails the products of pure coincidence?

    No sooner was it bruited that the one might be running for president in 2015, with the other as vice president, than the political environment began to crackle. Though billed only to play second fiddle in the rumoured project, Amaechi frantically bought acres of pages in the newspapers and large chunks of prime time on radio and television, not forgetting billboards and handbills and social media, to proclaim that he had no plan to run for president or vice president.

    Apparently, they did not take him at his word.

    So, knock him off his perch as chair of the influential National Governors Forum. Failing that, create a separate caucus of PDP governors with a complaisant governor as chairman, to dilute whatever influence Amaechi may still muster. He may be governor of an oil-rich state, but he knows only too well that he can be brought to heel by the Federal Might.

    Did I hear someone just say that the EFCC is waiting in the wings?

    In this political season, fear of the EFCC is the key to self-preservation. Consider the cruel swiftness with which it was deployed against Timipre Sylva, former governor of Dr Jonathan’s home state, Bayelsa. Recall how it was pressed into service to rein in one party in what was essentially a war of words between protagonists of the previous order and the present one.

    After his son was arrested, charged with trafficking in foreign currency and denied bail, Sule Lamido, who had been playing the waiting game, announced that he would not be a candidate for president in 2015.

    In the months ahead, we are likely to see many more political figures declaring in the most emphatic manner possible that they have no plan to run for president, possibly going so far as to echo American Civil War general, William Sherman, who warned those seeking to draft him to run for president, that if nominated, they would not accept and if elected, they would not serve.

    The PDP might well end up begging Dr Jonathan to run for re-election in 2015 because no one in the party currently holding high elected office is willing to risk being smothered in the EFCC’s net.

    But the “No Vacancy In Aso Rock” opera, led by Tony “The Fixer” Anenih, had better not take the curtain call yet. Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu for one is not in the least fazed. He says he is not afraid of running for president and will announce his plans at the opportune moment. He has even summoned the audacity to assert that Dr Jonathan, having solemnly undertaken to hold office for just one term, cannot in good conscience run for another.

    Bravo, Talban Minna.

    Expect the EFCC or the ICPC or both of them to come calling shortly.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Prospects for Igbo president of Nigeria in 2015

    Prospects for Igbo president of Nigeria in 2015

    It was not by mere conjecture or political gamble that the United Progressive Party (UPP) resolved to zone the presidential ticket of the party for the 2015 presidential election to the Igbo people of the South East geo-political zone of Nigeria. The decision to hand over the presidential flag of UPP for the 2015 election to a credible and qualified Igbo person was borne out of a deep research and highly intellectual analysis of the potential but latent political movement of Nigerian masses which only the Igbo have the natural force to galvanise and lead.

    Ndigbo: A minority with a unique majority political force (a) It is a fact of Nigeria’s man-made geo-political structure that the core Igbo people of Nigeria have been confined to five (5) out of Nigeria’s 36 states structure. Ndigbo have for several decades lamented over this lopsided structure designed and executed by the military junta that ruled Nigeria after the Biafra – Nigeria war which ended in 1970 or 43 years ago. This has left Nigerians, including some unwary Igbo people, with the erroneous impression that Ndigbo are the least populated ethnic group in Nigeria and therefore least likely to ever win any presidential election in Nigeria in a democratic contest.(b) It is also axiomatic and beyond any debate that Ndigbo constitute the second largest ethnic group in the remaining 31 states of Nigeria.

    Put differently, Ndigbo are the largest minority group in all of the remaining 31 states of Nigeria. Implicit in this unrivalled geographical spread in Nigeria is an intimidating political force which can surmount any political obstacle in a democratic encounter for the presidency of Nigeria if effectively mobilised, deployed and managed. (c) It is unarguable that minority groups whether religious or ethnic share common experience and face the same kind of problems in the states of Nigeria where they are domiciled. Even where such groups are indigenous in those states, they remain victims of oppression for as long as they are in the minority.

    Expectedly, these more vulnerable groups have always looked up to the larger minority group which is Igbo to lead them in a concerted effort for political protection from their majority over-lords and oppressor

    It is only on the platform of a truly progressive political party that is insulated from the control and ownership of cabals that can be trusted to mobilise over-whelming majority of Nigerians for an enduring political revolution in Nigeria

     

    UPP as the solution

    The United Progressive Party (UPP), with the tiger head as its symbol, is a mass movement, pure, and unencumbered. There are no money bags, cabals, political god-fathers laying claim to its ownership and control. Our party’s progressive credential is unassailable.

    Our candidates in all forth- coming elections shall emerge democratically, without the usual imposition of candidates that characterise other parties. UPP is the miracle of 2015. We are here to challenge the status quo and nothing shall be the same any more. The people shall from the next general election take their destiny in their hand through the instrumentality of the United Progressive Party (UPP).

    In UPP, what we need and that is what we are working for, is a coalition of progressive forces on the undiluted and untainted platform of the United Progressive Party to overthrow the forces of oppression and retrogression.

    Nigerians must come to terms with the hard fact that the missing third leg in Nigeria’s political tripodal sub-structure is fully resurrected through the United Progressive Party (UPP).

    We are fortified and geared towards an epic democratic battle with reactionary forces.

    Chief Okorie (Oje Ozi Ndigbo) is the National Chairman of United Progressive Party (UPP)

  • 20 states set for 2013 President Cup

    20 states set for 2013 President Cup

    : YSFON says it will boost Bayelsa’s economy

    No fewer than 20 states have registered for this year’s edition of the President Unity Cup. The competition which is exclusively for U-17 boys will run from 24th February to 3rd March 2013.

    The President Unity football cup competition was initiated by second republic president, Shehu Shagari in 1982 and is played in the home state of the serving president.

    The bulk of footballers that have played for Nigeria’s national football teams participated in previous editions of the competion. It would be recalled that Bayelsa-born John Felagha who played for Nigeria at the U-17 World Cup in 2009 was a product of President Unity Cup competition which Bayelsa won in 2008. Most of the indigenous players in Bayelsa United and Divine Warriors FC of Yenagoa are products of the President Unity Cup which Bayelsa won in 2010.

    In a chat with newsmen, the National vice president of YSFON in charge of the South-South, Kali Gwegwe said that a total of twenty states have registered to participate in the competition. He also explained that each of these states would spend a minimum of N5 million while in Bayelsa. Gwegwe said that this will help to inject about N100m into the economy of Bayelsa State.

    For a state that is desirous of moving away from depending on oil revenue, Gwegwe called on the Bayelsa government to create the enabling environment to boost sports tourism.

    He commended the governor Seriaki Dickson-led administration for investing massively in the sports sector. This, according to him, would help to develop the capacities of youths pursuing careers in sports and thereby reduce the menace of youth unemployment and crime in the state.

  • ‘I regret not being President’

    ‘I regret not being President’

    Former Secretary to the Federal Military Government and Finance Minister Chief Olu Falae spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU on national issues.

     

    It was alleged that ballot papers were sighted in the house of an Afenifere leader in Akure, ahead of the recent governorship election in Ondo State. There are three Afenifere leaders in Akure, namely Pa Falae, Pa Fasoranti and Pa Adegbonmire. What really happened?

    The name, Afenifere, is synonymous with integrity, honesty and good leadership. When you now link that precious name to dishonesty, criminality and the devil, we leave it to God as He deems fit. Pa Fasoranti is a role model in the whole of this area. He is an exemplary gentleman; a grandfather and a man of civilised values. For anybody to link his name to something that is not honourable is stupendous unbelievable. The same for Chief Adegbonmire. Although we are not in the same party now, but I can vouch for him. He is a man of integrity, outspoken and honest. He will never be associated with anything that is wrong or evil. Speaking for myself, when was running for the Presidency, when I was fighting for nomination on the platform of SDP in 1991/92, I designed a pamphlet for training my agents throughout Nigeria and I stated in that pamphlet that, don’t rig for me because I don’t want to rule by fraud, but please, don’t let other people rig you out. That is my philosophy. So, how can I be assisting somebody to rule by force. We have standard of morality. We have responsibilities as leaders in the society. We have duties as committed Christians to ensure that the high standard is sustained in whatever we do. The rumour must have come to the devil himself.

    Do you regret not being President of Nigeria?

    To the extent that Nigeria is suffering today, yes. Not to the extent that Olu Falae did not occupy the position. As Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria, I exercised presidential powers by leave of my President. I exercised presidential powers without bearing the name President. There is nothing exciting personally about me becoming President, except to assume higher responsibilities. My intention was to work for Nigeria because I had a blueprint, 326 pages long, to guide my activities in government. I had a position on every sector of the economy; industry, agriculture, health, transportation, defense. it took me two years of discussions, seminars and research to define my position in every sector. That was to guide me in office. I am not saying that was all I was going to do. I knew I would flesh it up and make modifications as time goes on. But I was clear in my mind where I wanted to take Nigeria to. To the extent that Nigerians were denied that opportunity to be led by a purposeful administration with a clear vision, I feel sorry that all of us, including myself, were unfortunate to have missed that opportunity.

    People said if you had joined the PDP, they would have made you the presidential candidate and they would not have presented Obasanjo for the role. What is your reaction?

    So I had. Indeed, there were leaders of the PDP who came to me and said I should come to run for the Presidency on the platform of the PDP. Our former governor here, Dr. Agagu, and others came to me. When I was marking my 60th birthday on September 21, 1998, soon after I came out of detention, the leaders of PDP in all the states of the Federation published an advertorial page to congratulate me on my birthday and to literarily say this is the man we have been waiting for. That was in the public domain. But I did not join the party because I am an Afenifere man and Afenifere is a philosophy of governance, a philosophy which put man and his wellbeing at the focal point of government endeavours. Government exists solely to promote the welfare of individuals from cradle to grave. That is the philosophy which i have imbibed. Therefore, I could not have left my Afenifere Group and go alone to become a President somewhere else. That would be meaningless. That was one answer to that question.

    It soon became clear that the serving military rulers have made up their mind that a military man should succeed them. I want to say something for the first time in public. When I left detention, in June 1998, I went abroad for medical check up. While there, a very prominent Nigerian who was then serving in Europe, at the Hague, a friend of mine who had served with me in Babangida’s government called me in London and said I should see Obasanjo on my return to Nigeria. He said Obasanjo who had just come to spend some time with him had just returned to Nigeria and that he said he was going to support me to become the President. He said Obasanjo said I worked with me and said many good things about me. He advised me to go and see him on returning home to consolidate the support. Before I returned to Nigeria, some delegations led by military people had gone to meet Obasanjo to persuade him to come and take over in the interest of the military.

    So, if I had gone to the PDP, I don’t think that would have stopped them from doing what they did. May be at the beginning, they all wanted me. The leaders of the PDP were my friends who had worked me, either in the civil service or banking industry, who knew me and trusted me that, by the grace of God, I would perform as a de-tribalised and I don’t discriminate. I think there was a struggle within the PDP between the civilians and military. The military won the upper hand and went and brought Obasanjo. That was what happened. But O believe the destiny of man is in the hand of God. What will be will be.

    Your group has been advocating for a Sovereign National Conference. When will that conference come?

    Let me clarify our position. There are people should continue to show the light, tell people what the ideal is. It is left for the members of the society to try to move to that ideal. If a Sovereign National Conference is not achievable, we let people know that it is necessary. We can in the meantime go for amendment as they are trying to do now in Abuja. Amendment may make a bad constitution a little bit better. A legitimate constitution is not less legitimate by amendment, but may be a little more workable. The bone of contention is the power of the federal government to dictate to the states on how to share the revenue between the states and local government. That kind of monstrosity can be removed. But let there be no illusion. We still do n ot have a legitimate constitution by amending the illegitimate one. So, we accept pragmatically that what is bad can be made better, but the ultimate constitution for Nigeria must be written by Nigerians and approved by Nigerians. This one was not made by us, it was not approved by us. After all, during the colonial period when there was no constitution, the whites were ruling us. We did not commit suicide. We accepted it.

     

  • What was the President angry about?

    What was the President angry about?

    SIR: The Police College Ikeja is a mirror of our 52 years of absentee leadership and 13 years of the Fourth Republic democratic shenanigans. What is more to say?

    With utmost respect, I submit that the rot and decay the Police College evidences, is nothing compared to that which lie frighteningly in several other sectors, erected copiously as the stark reality of our national story in this time and age. Thus, we refuse to be carried away by the President’s reported anger; rather we assert that the President should have been angry a long time ago particularly since he came to power.

    If the President is just angry now after spending more than 13 years in the corridors of power, after about two years as President, then ours is a much more dangerous state of affairs.

    So now that the President has visited the Police College, shall we still not wonder if his reported anger will survive the period after the President sufficiently regains his composure and returns to the air-conditioning comfort and staggering opulence of the Presidential Villa?

    Time to ask the President the following questions, questions that must certainly evoke a wave of sadness, a burden perhaps too easily faraway from those in power: How will the Police College not be in decay, when about 70% of the country’s annual budget goes into furnishing the belly and attending to the needs and luxuries of those in government in an unpatriotic spending styled “Recurrent Expenditure”?

    How will the Police College not be in total rot when the annual budgetary allocation to the Nigeria Police, a body charged with the core responsibility of securing the country, is a lot less than that continuously wasted on unnecessary foreign travels by government officials that adds no value to the prosperity of the country? How will the Police College not be on its knees crying for help, when about N16 Billion is being budgeted to build the Vice-President’s official residence at the moment?

    That is why the question again lingers, what is it that the President was angry about? Is it that as President, he has led by example in pruning down government’s bogus transformation team, thereby checking hundreds of pipelines of wastages in government, and channelling the rescued funds to critical Institutions of the state? Is it that as President he has relentlessly fought for increased allocation to the Nigeria Police and several other very sensitive sectors of the country, so as to help turn around their infrastructural facilities, but all to no avail?

    With utmost respect I submit, and again ask that profound question, what exactly is it that the President was angry about?

    • Olusola Adegbite, Esq.

    Abuja.

     

  • Confusion as Ohanaeze elects new president

    Confusion as Ohanaeze elects new president

    • Faction alleges manipulation of election by PDP

    There was confusion yesterday in Enugu as Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, elected its new national executive, with  Nnachi Enwo-Igariwey from Ebonyi State, emerging as the President-General. He was returned unopposed as the other two contestants for the position were not available.

    But while the election was going on in Enugu, there were reports that traditional rulers of certain stakeholder states like Ebonyi, Imo and Delta and some other leaders rejected the exercise, alleging that it was manipulated by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the out-going President-General, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue.

    Although proceedings at the venue of the election appeared peaceful, signs of disagreement were first noticed shortly after the commencement of the voting, when some prominent leaders and elders of Ohanaeze present at the election, left the venue rather abruptly. Among the leaders that left long before the end of the election were Senator Uche Chukwumerije and Professor A. B. C. Nwosu, who were alleged to have left in anger, and to have proceeded to another meeting on the affairs of Ohanaeze.

    A source at the venue of the event, who is one of the contestants for a national position, told The Nation in a telephone chat yesterday that the elders actually walked out of the venue because they were not satisfied with the way the out-going executive handled the election.

    But in a telephone chat last night, Nwosu said: “I didn’t walk out. I left the venue because I had some other function to attend.” Asked if he was satisfied with the Ohanaeze election, he said, “I am not in a position to answer that question now. But all I can say is that the elders of Ohanaeze will certainly hold a post election meeting with the aim of ensuring that there is no rancour in Ohanaeze, ensuring that the governors, the traditional rulers and Ohanaeze work together harmoniously.”

    Emma Okocha, who was contesting for the position of National Publicity Secretary, however, told The Nation yesterday that the election was in bad faith and cannot stand. He corroborated the allegation that the election was manipulated by the out-going leadership and the PDP. Okocha alleged that the PDP took over the election, flooding the election venue with policemen armed to the teeth.

    He contended that the election was “illegal, one, because of the court injunction restraining Uwechue from holding such election and, two, because the Ime Obi, the highest organ of Ohanaeze, had earlier put the election date for January 17. It is therefore curious that Uwechue suddenly rescheduled it for the 12th without adequate information and approval. We are hereby rejecting this election and will hold the real election on 17th, the real date”

    But when The Nation called Uwechue’s number yesterday, an aide, who refused to give his name, he was still at the centre of the election. He, however, denied that Ime Obi slated the election for 17th, alleging that it was slated for between 12th and 17th.

    Investigation by The Nation, however, shows that some traditional rulers from Imo, Ebonyi, Delta states and others were not aware of yesterday’s election and may soon send their petitions, as most of them are alleged to have sworn to adhere only to Ime Obi’s timetable.

    Also, when contacted on telephone yesterday, it was obvious from his responses that the former President-General of Ohanaeze, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, was not aware the election actually. After confirming from our reporter that the election actually held and after making enquiries over the results, he declined giving his reactions. He said simply, “Please, I will need to study the whole thing before commenting.”

    In spite of the confusion, however, it is on record officially that a new executive of Ohanaeze Ndigbo emerged yesterday with Enwo-Igariwey, elected President-General.

    The position of secretary general was won by Dr. Joe Nworgu, who defeated two others with 211 votes to their 43 and 10.

    Elected also were O. A. U. Onyema from Enugu State as deputy president general; I. N. Wonwu from Rivers State as the deputy secretary general; Mrs. Selina Adibua from Enugu, financial secretary and Emma Ajoku vice president, Rivers State.

    In attendance were Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; former chairmen of Ohanaeze, Igwe Eze Ozobu; and Prof. Joe Irukwu, MASSOB leader, Ralph Uwazuruike; and former military governor of Imo state, Joe Aneke.

    Also in attendance were representatives affiliates of Ohanaeze Ndigbo such as Aka Ikenga, Igbo World Assembly, Igbos in the North and South West and Igbos the Diaspora.

    The chairman of South East traditional rulers council, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya and other traditional rulers were similarly in attendance.

    Meanwhile, MASSOB leader, Ralph Uwazuruike, yesterday endorsed the election of new executives for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo. He said he was optimistic that the incoming executive would improve on the achievements of their predecessors.