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Tag: Tambuwal

  • 2015 poll: Reps meet Tambuwal with nomination form

    2015 poll: Reps meet Tambuwal with nomination form

    THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday accepted the presidential nomination form bought for him by 80 members of the House, friends and associates.

    He, however, said he would make his final position known to Nigerians.

    But it was learnt from one of his key strategists that  Tambuwal has made up his mind to vie for the office instead of the governorship poll.

    The strategist said the Speaker was delaying in making any declaration because he ought to finalize consultations with past Heads of State and Government, some key  leaders, royal fathers and governors.

    The Speaker’s residence at Danube Street in Maitama District, Abuja was a beehive of activities as members of the House jostled for space to present the nomination form to him.

    The event was delayed   until about 4.45pm, following pressure from many members to witness the ceremony.

    Clad in white babanriga, white cap and shoes, the elated Speaker admitted that he was overwhelmed by the show of love of the members.

    He said: “My dear friends, I must say that I am moved by this show of love, commitment to the  course of the oneness of Nigeria and the progress of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ably demonstrated this evening by my friends across the divide of this country.

    “This discussion about whether Aminu Waziri Tambuwal should run for this or that has been on for some time.

    “As I was about to round off my consultations, these my friends came in to say we were drafting you into this. I thank you most sincerely for your kind words and for identifying me as such a personality that in your belief possessed some of these qualities that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is expected to have.

    ‘I’m humbled by this gesture’

    “I am humbled by this gesture. I must say that this is almost akin to what happened in 2011 after our general elections when I left my Federal Constituency of Kebbe/Tambuwal to Abuja and my colleagues in the House of Representatives and several Nigerians, in consideration for the need for us to have a stable, focused  and progressive House of Representative, decided that I should come and serve as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    “To God be the glory and with every sense of responsibility, we have done fairly well as the leadership of the House of Representatives. I am sure that part of what you have done as part of the traits of leadership in me is coming from what we have been able to do in the House of Representatives.

    “Therefore, I will thank my 359 colleagues in the House of Representatives that have showcased me and given me the support to get to where I am today for me to be considered by these very well-meaning Nigerians to contest and vie for the most coveted office in the federation.

    “Having heard what you have said, I have accepted to collect this nomination form and go and conclude my consultations and come back to Nigerians soonest on what should be my final position on this matter”.

    Earlier, the spokesman of the members, Engr. Peter Ede  from the Ezza North/Ishelu Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State described the Speaker as a unifier.

    He said in view of “what is happening in Nigeria today, the lawmakers believe that Tambuwal possesses the right quality to lead the country.”

    ‘We’re here on

    behalf of Nigerians’

    Hon. Ede, who presented the form to the Speaker at about 5.00pm, said: “We are here on behalf of millions of Nigerians to visit Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “The reason we are here is because we are of the firm belief that these are uncommon times in Nigeria because the country is facing enormous challenges and having examined everything that is happening in Nigeria and convinced of the need to find a solution and take Nigeria into a country of our dreams.

    “We have decided to come and urge Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal to consider presenting himself as a candidate for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We do this in the conviction that Alhaji Tambuwal is a unifier.

    “His track record as leader and Speaker of the House of Representatives and as a leader in Nigeria, he has shown that he is a unifier, somebody who can bring the people together and make them work as one, somebody who can energies Nigerians to fight for the country we all desire.

    “This is a leader who, despite all the malaise in the country, has till date not been tinted with the brush of corruption. It has not been mentioned in connection with him. He is known to be very detribalised. He is somebody who has travelled throughout  this country.

    “We are aware that he has visited 340 out of the 360 constituencies in this country. So, he has first-hand knowledge of the people’s problems because he has seen them first hand and knows their culture. He has seen and respected their religious beliefs. He is also somebody who relates to everybody with humility and firmness. Nigeria needs a man of such qualities.

    “Nigeria needs a man who can speak truth to power. He is a man who can say a thing and stand by it. Nigeria needs a man who will be accountable to you and all of us.

    “We have found in him  these uncommon qualities and we believe that he has the modern world view that will see us do things differently and confront our problems with new approaches. What we need now is a paradigm shift. It is not all about age and youthfulness. Those are clauses by the side.

    “But we respect his vision about Nigeria; we respect his nationalistic appeal and his ability to weld the country together. These are qualities we think that the President of Nigeria should have in this era. He is, in our view, the right person to lead Nigeria at this time.

    “Let me also say that within the All Progressives Congress, there are other candidates with good qualities, but the mix in him is so complete that we think he is the right man to lead Nigeria. All we are doing is to put him on the shop window for Nigerians to consider, evaluate and make a decision.

    “He has to take this request seriously. What we have done is to bring him before the people and ask the people to see him as a solution to the different challenges we are having today and we believe that by God’s grace, if he becomes President, this country will change for the better for all.

    “The people in this project are from a broad-based coalition, coalition of professionals, legislators, politicians and people from all shades of life. It is pan-Nigerian project and not a project driven by any segment of the polity.

    “It is a project supported by students, youths, market women, the old, the young,  experienced politicians and people who have the interest of Nigeria at heart. The clerics, regardless of their religious persuasions, are also behind this project.

    “Those who have Nigeria at heart are buying into this project, and we believe that if it becomes successful, Nigeria would have escaped the problems of the last decade.

    “We are asking Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to be our President. We have purchased his nomination form for him, and we are here to present it to him”.

    Some of the members of the House  at the session were Edeh, Samuel Adejare, Rotimi Makinde, Emmanuel Jime, Solomon Adeola, Julius Fakeye, Zakari Mohammed, Aliyu Ibrahim Gebi, John Dyegh, Razaq Bello-Osagie, Yakubu Dogara, Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, among others.

    Immediately after the formal presentation of the form, the Speaker and the members retired into a private session.

    The acceptance of the nomination form put paid to speculations on the 2015 aspiration of the Speaker.

    One of his strategists, who spoke with our correspondents last night, said: “The Speaker is going for the presidency and not governorship poll as being insinuated or propagated by some forces. He has accepted the nomination form, and all doubting Thomases should get the message once and for all.

    “We have done our homework before we concluded that Tambuwal should give the presidency a consideration. The issue is not about being a dark horse or an underdog. If you look at the history of Nigeria, underdogs have always been leading the nation.

    “You may underrate Tambuwal as a potential presidential candidate, but you cannot ignore the desire of Nigerians for change now.”

    Another source said: “The Speaker has delayed in making a declaration because he wants to finalize consultations with ex-Heads of State, key leaders nationwide, royal fathers, governors and strategic groups.

    “This project is not Tambuwal’s own alone. It is the handiwork of concerned citizens, seeking a genuine change for the nation. Just wait for it to unfold.”

  • Run for president, 80 Reps, associates tell Tambuwal

    Run for president, 80 Reps, associates tell Tambuwal

    House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal is likely to run for president.

    Eighty members of the House yesterday obtained the nomination form, which will be presented to Tambuwal today in Abuja. He could accept or decline the offer.

    Some of the Representatives stormed the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) at about 5pm to collect the form from the party’s National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso.

    Those mandated to get the form were Yakubu Dogara(Bauchi), Idris Wase (Plateau), Solomon Olamilekan (Lagos), Zakary Mohammed (Kwara), Emmanuel Jime(Benue), Abiodun Faleke, Samuel Adejare(Lagos) and Peter Ede(Ebonyi).

    For about 30 minutes, the delegation was with the National Organising Secretary.

    After the paper work, the Representatives were ambushed by reporters but they refused to speak with the press.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We came around to collect the presidential nomination form for the Speaker because we believe he has the requisite qualifications and integrity to lead the nation in 2015.

    “Those behind this project include 80 members of the House of Representatives, friends and associates of the Speaker from the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

    “We refused to disclose our mission to the press because we want to formally present the nomination form to him on Friday (today). He has the right to accept or reject the offer.”

    Another source said: “We waited for this long because we were busy consulting some opinion leaders in all parts of the country. The consultations took us about three months.

    “The Speaker is cosmopolitan, a man of peace and a peculiar leader who can be a source of unity for all Nigerians. He has the wisdom, the patience and the vision to lead this country.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “We are aware that some respected leaders of our party are aspiring to be APC presidential candidate in 2015.

    “What we have done is to make Tambuwal part of the list to widen choices for party members. This is without prejudice to the aspiration of all these aspirants who are eminently qualified as well to be president.”

    The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media, Imam Imam, confirmed that some members of the House bought a form for Tambuwal.

    He said:  “Earlier today, some friends and political associates of the Speaker notified him that they have bought a presidential nomination form for him”.

    The collection of the form for Tambuwal was however with a tinge of drama between the National Organising Secretary of APC, Osita Izunaso and reporters.

    The drama went thus:

    Is it true that some members of the House of Reoresentatives came to your office to  obtain a nomination form for Speaker Aminu Tambuwal?

    I am not aware and cannot confirm it.

    But some members of the House of Representatives just left your office. What was their mission?

    They came and we had a very useful meeting and they promised to come back tomorrow morning.

    What was the meeting about?

    We had to discuss about the future of the party as it concerns the House of Representatives and they are coming back here in the morning and we are looking at the time table, the overall timetable for the party.

    In your record, has Aminu Tambuwal collected presidential nomination form?

    No as at 4.00pm today (Thursday).

    What has happened after 4pm?

    Izunaso, who was clad in a grey Safari, burst into laughter.

  • Reps obtain presidential nomination form for Tambuwal

    Reps obtain presidential nomination form for Tambuwal

    Some members of the House of Representatives on Thursday obtained presidential nomination form for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.

    The Representatives stormed the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at about 5pm to collect the form from the National Organizing Secretary of the party, Senator Osita Izunaso.

    Shortly after, the Representatives headed for the residence of the Speaker to present the form to him.

    It is left to Tambuwal to accept or decline the nomination form.

    The Special Adviser on Media to the Speaker, Imam Imam, confirmed that some members of the House had purchased the form for the Speaker.

    He said:  “Earlier today, some friends and political associates of the Speaker notified him that they have bought presidential nomination forms for him.”

     

  • PDP in the hands of a cabal – Tambuwal

    PDP in the hands of a cabal – Tambuwal

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, on Wednesday gave insights into why he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Speaking at the 6th anniversary celebration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Tambuwal said he left the PDP because the system had been hijacked by a cabal.

    According to him, the system of governance at the centre was already malfunctioning.

    “We have accepted to join the movement of progressives to change the system. The system today is malfunctioning and has failed in several ways.

    “You have to change a system that is not working. We have a cabal that has hijacked the instrument of authority. We should vote them out in February. What do the people of the South South have to show for voting the President? Nothing.”

    Speaking further, the Speaker said President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda of Nigeria (TAN) is populated by economic saboteurs who want to protect their wealth.

    He asked people in TAN to settle their debts with the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

    Tambuwal warned Nigerians, especially those from the South South against voting for leaders based on sentiments, adding that Nigeria needs a good leader that would not be elected on sentiments.

    The Speaker said Nigerians were deceived to vote for President Jonathan based on certain sentiments.

    Also speaking, a former National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh, berated President Jonathan over the loss of Mubi to the Boko Haram, saying there was no law in the country that recognized the need for special forces to fight the insurgents.

    Ogbeh noted that it was worrisome that the Nigerian Army that has built a reputation for strength and discipline for over 50 years was now running at the sight of Boko Haram insurgents.

  • Comments

    Comments

    For Gbenga Omotoso

    Tambuwal’s defection doesn’t make any difference. As speaker, how many laws did he enact for the benefit of Nigerians? No amount of cross carpeting, blackmail or deceit will make the average Nigerian not to vote whoever he chooses. They are all the same. From Robert, Port Harcourt.

    It is when the wind blows that we see the anus of church chicken. Soon PDP shall stand naked. Pity Dog Pity* Anonymous

    Tambuwal’s defection is part of inevitable change that will happen in 2015 presidential election. No power of incumbency can stop it except APC allow the opportunity to slip. Anonymous

    Sir, you have said it all. They PDP were in the Glass house and they throw stones. Nothing disturbs the opponent APC to destroy PDP house. It is if you Tarka me I Daboh you. Nigerians are no more fools. They have wise up. From Isaiah O. Fakunle

    A good piece, hope the opposition will put their acts together and win the election at the centre. Anonymous

    Why some of us do not bother about hon tambuwal is that he is the same hausafulani stock that has ruined this country.this comeback attempt to continue to pillage nigeria after jonathan has repaired our railways will not work. Anonymous

    I congratulate our (Nigerians) Honorable House Speaker for taking this bold step. It’s now better for the wise to know where the future of this entity called Nigeria is heading for -Definitely Nigeria is sailing to a safe island with this development. From I.O. AJIJOLA, Unilorin.

    Honourable Tambuwal’s defection is the genesis of PDP down fall, there is hope for Nigerians. From Dr Maduike, Ideato South, Imo State.

    Tambuwa defection is democracy in action and a right step towards rescuing Nigeria from the People Deception’s Party woos and bad leadership inhibiting Nigeria progress. Anonymous

    If it is truth that President Jonathan belong to the class of the wise leaders in the world as TAN always claimed in there jingles, why then order AIG the withdrawal of Honourable Tambuwal’s security personnel? From Comrade Isola Olamilekan, Area 10 Garki Abuja

    PDP has again shown its anarchistic nature by using state institutions to fight political opponents. The withdrawal of the security personnel attached to the speaker of the House of Representatives is indeed provocative and an abuse to the collective sensitivity of all Nigerians. Anonymous

    Mr Omotoso, lf your “Editorial Notebook” isn’t translated into a book. You would have done great injustice to Journalism. Keep it up! From Abdullahi Ali Mama, Nasarawa State.

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

    Reaching a consensus: Vintage press in-house experts. Please expound on these – APC to allow north eight years rule not because they merit it on account of past misadventures but to start a process of redeeming Nigeria now from the present locusts hovering over Nigeria and misappropriating our entire commonwealth. Remedies can still come from the North taking the following steps: 1. General Buhari to lead an APC government for four years only with ex-governor Dr John K Fayemi Vice President to sanitize the country. 2. Dr Kwankwaso to serve Nigeria next four years president with Comrade Adams Oshiomole as Vice-president to start a building process. 3. Ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar should be appeased not to unleash his wealth on Nigerians to scuttle APC primaries. He has had his opportunities. This appeal is challenge to us all to save Nigeria. Anonymous

    The election of governors of the states comes and goes. And no governor remains in office for ever. The election of Fayose instead of Fayemi with his (Fayemi) fine democratic credentials though quite a mystery and unacceptable, shouldn’t be enough to bring d entire Ekiti down to her knee,whatsoever.Let there be more mature in handling of the matter in the interest of all. If Ekiti people have thoughtlessly or erroneously chosen the way of an Esau because of stomach infrastructure, I think it’s just proper they are allowed to suffer the fate of an Esau for the next four years and learn their lesson. That is if Fayose would still want to remain his old political self come what may, even in this his controversial second coming. From Emmanuel Egwu

    Sir, you truly expressed the mind of the Almighty God. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan met Nigeria a city of gold and marble but turned it a devastated clime of stones and pebbles. He lacks moral standard to think of seeking another term that has the likelihood of being more painful. The number of lives lost during his senseless reign has surpassed that of the three years of civil war. Let him go and rest and enjoy his loot. From Sola Olagoke, Ibadan.

    Segun, I appreciate your piece on practicing                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       progresses.

    It is sad that greed and poverty has so closed our part of truth that we have lost the essence of living as a people .I challenge PDP government to tell Nigerians what else it owes Nigerians most if not security. From Mathias Oshie, Calabar

    I just read your column of October, 28 and I am so shocked by the ‘thoughtless’ reactions of some people. Truth is bound to elicit reactions, negative & positive. The Truth that sets men free is the Truth they don’t want to hear. Anonymous.

     

    For Tunji Adegboyega

    ‘Tambuwal’s ‘coup’: please tell that … of a man to go and put his house in order first. From Ali.

    The PDP should allow Tambuwal to be; after all he is not the first politician to defect. How is Tambuwal’s defection different and why is it generating this much heat in so many quarters? Time will tell. Part of the beauty of democracy is having strong opposition parties to engage and keep the ruling party on its toes for good governance and leadership. Let us go down memory lane, how many of those who had defected had their security aides withdrawn? We should not do something for which our conscience would judge us tomorrow. I can’t see any crime that Tambuwal has committed for the IGP to withdraw his security details. It is normal in Nigeria for politicians to cross-carpet to where their interest would be better served. The IGP should use his good office to restore Tambuwal’s security details as our Number Four citizen. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

    You are a wonderful writer; keep it up, my brother. From James Abeva, Port Harcourt.

    Re: Tambuwal’s ‘coup’. To me Tambuwal is unprincipled. He gave two reasons for his defection – the PDP he was a speaker leading all was corrupt for three and a half years and he stayed in such a mess? Then he looks messy by inference. Second, the political climate in his state (now APC) where he realised he couldn’t win governorship under the PDP. Mimiko, when he had problem with OBJ and national PDP, he went to LP, contested and won until he defected. Defend not any unprincipled Nigerian politician. They are birds of the same feather, flocking together. Tomorrow you will see more of the dirty politicians. His defection was with double tongue. Note that Ribadu is waiting for 2015 in Adamawa after Ngilari must have completed Nyako’s term. From Lanre Oseni.

    Human life is a network of cobwebs; when it tangles and collapses, redemption is a mirage. In tandem to the aforesaid, Mr President and his cohorts are bellowing the furnace that would in corollary reduce them into ashes. From Bayo Alimi, Lagos.  

    He who lives in a glass house should not even dream of throwing stones because the consequence might be grave. When other party members were decamping to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its members were busy celebrating it, forgetting that he who points a fingerer  at someone, the remaining four are pointing at him. It is very sad that our so-called leaders are lawless leaders. The president and his party men are celebrating arrogance, forgetting that he who arrogates to himself the power that is not his or hers is liable to be disgraced.. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

  • Withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security aides not justifiable

    Withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security aides not justifiable

    A lawyer, Stephen I. Azubuike, argues that there is no constitutional basis for the removal of House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal’s security aides

    The office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives is one constitutionally provided for under Section 50(1)(b) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), (hereinafter referred to as the “1999 Constitution”). It states that “there shall be a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by members of that House among themselves”.

    The above implies that a Speaker of the Houseor his Deputy must first be an elected member of the House of Representatives.

    It was on the above constitutional platform that Rt. Hon. AminuTambuwal assumed office as the Speaker of the House of Representatives after a hot contest with Hon. MulikatAdeola on June 4, 2011 when the 7th National Assembly was inaugurated. Both Tambuwal and Adeolaare members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

     

    Vacation of Office

    The 1999 Constitution under Section 50(2) provides for the circumstances under which a Speaker or his Deputy shall vacate Office –

    (a) Where he ceases to be a member of the Housewhile the House has not been dissolved; or

    (b) Where the House of which he was a member first sits after any dissolution; or

    (c) Where he is removed from Office by a two-thirds majority votes of members of the House.

    Paragraph (a) above is to be read in conjunction with Section 68 (1) (a) – (h) of the Constitution which further provides circumstances under which a member of the House shall vacate his seat. Section 68(1) applies to a Speaker on the ground that, as we had earlier seen, a Speaker must in the first place be a member of the House. More so, we have seen that a Speaker loses his seat as a Speaker if he loses his seat as a member of the House.

    Going by Sections 50(2) and 68(1), especially 68(1)(g), the question now is whether Rt. Hon. Tambuwal is bound to vacate his Office as the Speaker of the House in view of his defection to All Progressives Congress (APC) from the PDP.

    It is submitted that by virtue of the proviso to Section 68(1)(g), a defecting member of the House (like Tambuwal) shall not lose his membership if he proves that the reason for his defection (to APC) is the existence of some division in his former political party (PDP)  or if PDP merges with any other party.

     

    Security aides

    It is common knowledge that senior government officials like the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, State Governors, etc deserve, by virtue of their Offices, reasonable protection. It is for this reason that the State Security Service (SSS) was established as one of the National Security Agencies under the National Security Agencies Act Cap. N74 LFN 2010. The SSS is primarily responsible for intelligence gathering within the country and for the protection of these top government officials.

    The Police as established under Section 214 of the Constitution has, as one of its general duties, the duty to protect life and property as seen under Section 4 of the Police Act Cap. P19 LFN 2010. The cconstitution under Section 215 empowers the President to appoint the Inspector General of Police (IGP) whose primary duty is the supreme command of the Police Force and the maintenance of public safety as provided under Regulation 309, Part XIV of the Nigeria Police Regulations being a Subsidiary Legislation to the Police Act.

    Therefore, it can be safely concluded that the President and the IGP have the responsibility to ensure the protection of senior government officials like the Speaker, Tambuwal, by ensuring the provision of security details.

    However, there is nothing in the law which expressly empowers the IGP to withdraw the security details of any senior government official (like the Speaker, Tambuwal). This is notwithstanding the constitutional provisions under Section 215(3) empowering the President to issue directives to the IGP. In fact, the directives the Constitution speaks of are ‘lawful directions’ for the maintenance of public safety and public order. It can only be reasonably deduced that where a person ceases to be a senior government official, he is no longer entitled to the security detail attached to that Office.

     

    Determining legality of speakership

    Interestingly, the constitution contains express provisions on when a senior official like the Speaker or a member of the House shall vacate office or his seat. It is worthy of note that the courts have the exclusive powers to interpret the constitution and other laws in exercise of the judicial powers conferred by Section 6 of the1999 Constitution. Hence, any controversy as to the position of Tambuwal as the Speaker of the House may be channeled to the court by any concerned person or authority.

    It is, therefore, submitted that so long as no competent court of law has ordered Tambuwal to vacate office, he remains the Speaker of the House and is absolutely entitled to security details. Any withdrawal of same is unlawful and any directive to this effect by the President is an unlawful directive which can be challenged in court notwithstanding the provisions of Section 215(5) of the 1999 Constitution.

    In conclusion, the removal of the security details of Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker of the House and the 4th Nigerian Citizen in order of protocol, by the IGP (acting on the directive of the President) is utterly unconstitutional and there is nothing in the law to justify same. The reliance placed on Section 68(1)(g) as the ground for the removal is highly misplaced and misconstrued.

     

  • Who’s fooling whom?

    THE NATION ON SUNDAY front page headline slips of November 2 welcome us this week: “Tambuwal (Tambuwal’s) loyalists move to sack deputy, Ihedioha”

    “Crisis (Crises) nationwide as PDP holds ward congresses”

    “…the need to raise a high powered (high-powered) delegation comprising of former leaders….” Delete ‘of’.

    “Court of Appeal upholds FRSC powers on new plate number” Not news: number-plate

    “Ondo oil producing (oil-producing) firms tasked on CSR in host communities”

    “In these reports, our correspondents have pieced together compelling analysis (analyses) of the politics, issues and events that….”

    “Who is fooling who (whom)”

    “…revealing a scary statistics (statistic) that experts say may be worse than all the major killer diseases put together.”

    “…creating awareness in the scourge amongst (among) others”

    “The show has, overtime, gathered massive and ardent listenership/followership.” Why not followers?

    “Any actor who passes through the rudiment (rudiments) of theatre will know that….”

    “As the nation prepares for the next election come (in) 2015….”

    “Assemblies of God ex-communicates ex-leader, sets (set) for legal battles”

    “In what appears an image laundry (image-laundry) exercise….”

    “…to allay the concerns (concern) of the general public.” Comment: the fear of the public

    “Ekiti: Fayose, Arise clash over delegates (delegates’) list”

    “…series (a series) of strategic meetings have been held by….”

    Saturday PUNCH of October 18 collects the baton from THE NATION ON SUNDAY with this front page headline promo infelicity: “Ekiti workers read riot act to Fayose, warn against debts” The most widely (most-widely) read newspaper: the riot act. I know that the article ‘the’ is avoided in headline casting as much as possible, but there are exceptional (fixed/stock expressions) cases where it is inevitable.

    “PDP gives Jonathan, others seven days (days’) ultimatum to buy nomination form (forms)” (The Guardian Front Page Headline Promo, October 23)

    “Submit nominations for the 2014 Integrity Award (no punctuation?) you may be introducing someone to a destiny changing (destiny-changing) experience” (Full-page advertorial by Securities & Exchange Commission Nigeria, THE GUARDIAN, October 21)

    “Vacancy for area manager for all state (states)” (Full-page advertorial by Viju Industries Nigeria Ltd., THE GUARDIAN, October 26)

    “Redeeming pledges to victims (victims’) support fund” (THISDAY Editorial Headline, October 28)

    “Brazil: Rousseff (Rousseff’s) victory rattles markets” (THISDAY Headline, October 28)

    “My grouse against (about) Ihejirika”

    “Siasia submits U-23 blueprint for All Africa (All-Africa) Games” (THISDAY Headline, October 21)

    THISDAY front page sub-headline solecisms of October 19 come next: “Fresh terrorists (terrorist or terrorists’) attacks in Borno, Adamawa”

    “My clientele includes (include) celebrities, governors”

    “Does regular masturbation leads (lead) to weak erection?” (THISDAY, October 16)

    “Residents of Greenfield Estate appeal to Lagos govt to compliment (complement) their self-help efforts”

    “Murder of Alamieyeseigha’s son: Keyamo accuses FG of double standards (standard)” (Source: as above)

    “Anambra House pass (passes) vote of confidence on (in) Governor Obiano”

    “Oni condoles (condoles with) Ogun APC Chairman over wife’s death”

    “Osun kicks-off Oranmiyan new town scheme” (THE GUARDIAN Headline, October 27) Phrasal verbs do no admit hyphenation.

    “According to him, within the past four years each of the three labour unions within the system, NASU, SSA, ASUU, have engaged in strikes….” ‘Each’ takes ‘has’ (not have).

    “But on the contrary, propaganda are always employed in peace times.…” ‘Propaganda’ is uncountable.

    “Algerian President visits troubled spots” Simply trouble spots!

    “There is no doubt that he who pays the piper must dictate the tune.” He who pays the piper calls (not dictates) the tune.

    “These agencies have been working in the nooks and corners.” Nooks and crannies (not corners)….

    “Then came this fateful 72-hour period between Wednesday, February 8 (a comma, please) to Friday, February 10, during which….” ‘Between…and’ or ‘From…to’.

    “Bauchi NUT threaten (threatens) to down tools”

    “As a journalist, how did he manage to round up (off) the discussions for the business?” Did he arrest the discussions?

    “Delay in announcement of Hajj fares worry Bayero” ‘Delay…worries’.

    “It has reduced families into nothingness.” ‘Reduce’ goes with ‘to’; not into.

    “Because such cars are not, manufactured in the country, servicing them or fixing mechanical problems have forced them…” Servicing them or fixing… has (not have).

    “Their prowess were tested in the ability to play…” Their prowess was (not were).

    “School fees, shoes, books, uniform and stationeries of course.” Plural of ‘stationery’ remains the same.

    FEEDBACK

    ‘CHAIRMEN’ and ‘chairwomen’ are used for both men and women. Also, board and company chairman and chairman of the board or company. A lady chairman or woman may be addressed as madam chairman. Also chairman of the joint chiefs of staffs is correct. The joint chief or the chief is acceptable. But do not use ‘chairlady’, ‘chairwoman or chairperson unless it is an organization formal title for an office. At the NJC meeting, do members address Chief Justice Aloma Mouktar as chairman, Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman. (BAYO OGUNTUASE, 08056180046)

    MOST times n your column, you blame editors and others for the atrocious grammar and mistakes you help to put right. Now, what do you say when even the eggheads who by virtue of their learning ought to do better proceed to write atrocities like ‘rest in perfect peace’. I ask, like you, is there ‘imperfect peace’? See The Guardian of November 7, 2014, Page 56 (Uniben obituary advertorial)) (ONUORA NWABUFO, Abuja, 08036487027)

    I know of money or image laundering but image laundry (laundering) exercise used in THE NATION EDITORIAL of November 2 sounds strange to me. (KOLA DANISA, 07068074257)

    BLESSED WEEK AHEAD!

  • Adoke, IGP insist Tambuwal ‘no longer Speaker’

    Adoke, IGP insist Tambuwal ‘no longer Speaker’

    The Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, on Friday argued that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, AminuTambuwal, has ceased to be a member of the House by virtue of his defection to another party and is no longer entitled to rights and privileges associated with that position.

    The duo while justifying the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security details, contended that having defected from the party that sponsored him, he has lost his membership of the House and “automatically ceased to be the Speaker.”

    They argued in a joint counter-affidavit filed in response to the originating summons sent to the court by Tambuwal, challenging the withdrawal of his security aides, alleged threat by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its leadership to reconvene the House, declare his seat vacate and remove him as Speaker.

    The case is being heard by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The AGF and IGP, in the -affidavit filed by their lawyer, Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN), argued that they cannot be accused of acting in breach of the Constitution by withdrawing the security aides attached to the Speaker because he is no longer the Speaker as at when the security men were withdrawn.

    They argued that Tambuwal, having defected from the PDP that sponsored his election into the House, and having purportedly ceased to be a member of the House and is Speaker, is now “an ordinary citizen of Nigeria, is not exposed to any danger or bodily harm because of the withdrawal of his security details.”

  • Tambuwal: Judge stops reconvening of House

    Tambuwal: Judge stops reconvening of House

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday restated his earlier order that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu and others should refrain from reconvening the House of Representatives before its December 3 adjourned date.

    The judge had last week Friday, ordered parties in the suit filed by the House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, to maintain status quo.

    He adjourned to November 7 for the defendants to appear before the court and explain why he should not grant orders of interim injunction sought  by the plaintiff in an ex-parte application.

    In the application, Tambuwal urged the court to among others, order the restoration of his security aides.

    Lawyers to the PDP, Mu’azu, Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Yunus Ustaz (SAN) and Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN) told the court that their clients have not acted against its order on the matter.

    They assured the court that their clients will not act in any manner to destroy the res (subject matter) of the case.

    Delivering verdict, Justice Mohammed, who was silent on the request that he should make pronouncement on the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security aides, ordered parties continue to maintain status quo and refrain from taking steps that will destroy the rest of the case.

    He elected to hear the objections raised by some of the defendants along with the substantive suit. Those, who filed the objections, are challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

    The judge adjourned to November 17 for hearing.

     

  • Tambuwal: History will absolve us

    One of the major beauties of democracy is in its innate tenets of freedoms – of choice, expression and association which allows the individual or group if they so choose to participate in the various political processes without coercion. These qualities as envisaged by the proponents of this enduring governance framework creates the needed platform for all political gladiators to negotiate their interests allowing its institutions to mediate peacefully the diverse outcomes to ensure that the system continues sustainably without imploding.

    It is on this plank that I situate the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representative – Hon. Aminu Tambuwal from his erstwhile party the PDP to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    We believe that the practice of democracy is a process that allows for continuous learning as we test and allow each precept to go through the fire that the various democratic institutions generate. It is this testing and their outcomes that sends the correct signals to all stakeholders on the right actions and steps to take in every given situation and it is these that also builds democratic values, norms and traditions. An accumulation of these invisibles eventually become the foundation for measuring the maturity of such democracies.

    Democracy especially its practice is not a 100 meters dash but a marathon that transcends many ages, individuals and climes. As one in a marathon, it therefore requires serious patience and endurance if we are to make any serious success out of the whole exercise. If our intentions are to make Nigerian democracy very enduring then, we should not be in a haste to take certain actions rather we must allow all the democratic processes to be carefully followed and exhausted before taking any action. It is only on such predicates that such actions taken can be adjudged to be right and democratic but any other way, abridges democratic practice and culture and is thus aberrant.

    Having laid this foundation and understanding so that some may not misunderstand the trajectory of my intervention, it becomes imperative to say clearly that the response of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) –Suleiman Abba under the presumed instruction or acquiescence of President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP is not just irresponsible but does not in any way help in building our democracy. We see it as a slap and derogation of our democratic culture and traditions and has caused a very steep setback to the efforts of well – meaning Nigerians to build democratic culture and practice in the country. It’s indeed a great leap backwards.

    We had thought that in a country that is desirous of ensuring that we move forward and given the recent avowals of the federal Government to enthrone fairness and equity in all its activities especially as we move towards 2015 that this event would have been used as one of those test cases; a watershed. Unfortunately, we are all about to lose the learning which this affords us as a nation to build our democracy. In this unfolding frenzy, the productive side of the entire event will be lost in the melee with everybody going back to business as usual afterwards. This is not the way to build a democracy and this is definitely not the way nations that are aspiring to be amongst the top 20 in the global economy behave.

    The right step was for the PDP which rightly lost its member to the APC or any other aggrieved party for that matter to have sought the interpretation of the courts in this matter before embarking on such ruinous action of withdrawing the official security attached to the Speaker. It is not Aminu Tambuwal that owns that office so, anything that denigrates that office does not denigrate Tambuwal but is a reduction of that hallowed office and a definite reduction in the collective weight of our democratic value and culture.

    If the PDP or for that matter the Police were desirous of pursuing the hallowed path of democracy, the option would be to immediately set in motion the process of getting the courts to decide the fate of the Speaker and this is a right which nobody will query but deciding to usurp the powers of the courts is rather anti-democratic.

    When this has been tested in the courts, the outcomes either way will have positive impact on the political landscape as it will add value to the practice of democracy in Nigeria and help in redirecting future actions in this regard. As political actors learn from this experience, political decisions and actions would become better guided in the future with all stakeholders knowing what the implications of their actions are especially when it has become very glaring that if this is allowed as the PDP has shown in the recent past to rest in the perceived good judgment of some interested parties, there will be an overriding predilection to greater and higher impunity and overdose of partiality.

    While some will argue that the withdrawal of the security details of the honourable speaker does not amount to removal from office, out position remains that it does amount to the IGP and his paymasters arrogating to themselves the power to assume that the speaker has lost his position and seat in the House thus no longer deserves the official benefits of that hallowed office. It is also in this implicit that the case of not just abuse of democratic process is expressed but the desecration of our democratic values.

    How else can we explain the action of the administrators of the House of Representatives who hurriedly removed all paraphernalia of office belonging to the Speaker including portraits from where they were originally?

    We urge the PDP if they feel too concerned over that decision of the Speaker to quit their party to approach the courts and not be afraid about the outcomes of such judicial process as most of the judges are also appointees of the same PDP-led federal government. One wonders why the PDP should be afraid of seeking legal redress in the law courts which they clearly control. This perhaps may turn out to be their greatest contribution to Nigeria’s politics and democracy since they have failed woefully in their effort to give Nigeria a semblance of the benefits of democracy since 1999.

    It even becomes more exigent as we approach the final few months before the 2015 elections that all political actors should eschew any act that may send the wrong signal not only to other contenders in the political arena but to the international community especially our development partners. We must as a nation aspire to get 2015 right so that we can at least regain some of our lost international prestige since the advent of this civilian democracy especially under the watch of the PDP led federal Government.

    Two wrongs they say does not make a right. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is a maxim that is not known to democratic traditions. No matter the provisions of Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, tit for tat as an instrument of governance in this case is not creative and cannot support our quest for higher democratic ideals but lends to the pull down; water it down mentality that seems to have pervaded our polity. It is definitely an ill-wind that will not blow anybody good.

    Our institutions of governance ought to be allowed to work and all democratic processes exhaustively and patiently followed in all situations. Patience is a virtue in governance and whatever position we hold, it is important that we persevere in all things as that is the only way all national stakeholders will have a buy-in into the eventual outcomes. When processes are followed, justice will not only be done but will be seen to have been done. That is the way to carry everybody along and foster unity amongst the diverse cleavages that make up our polity.

    Finally, it is important that we see the opportunity which this event has offered us as a nation in our political learning curve to grab it and use it to assiduously deepen our democratic traditions and practice. We must not lose it and I pray that we all see the collective consequences of our actions so that together we will be awakened into seeing this as a collective action to ensure that those who have allowed themselves to commit that error immediately and gallantly reverses themselves. There is no shame in admitting a mistake but entirely it is adjudged on the side of greatness.

     

    • Honourable Jimoh is a member of Lagos State House of Assembly