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Tag: Wali

  • Shekarau, Wali, Gwarzo reject Kano PDP exco dissolution

    Kano State stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday rejected the dissolution of the executive (exco) of the party.

    Addressing thousands of party faithful at the state secretariat on Maiduguri Road, Kano State, on behalf of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Amb. Aminu Wali and Senator Bello Gwarzo, Sarki Labaran, an engineer, said the action of the national headquarters was illegal and could not stand.

    He frowned at the manner former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had been conducting himself since he defected to the party, saying “this calls for concern.”

    Labaran accused him of causing disaffection in the once peaceful party.

    The former commissioner during the administration of Malam Shekarau said PDP contradicted itself by the dissolution, noting that the state executive elected members of the National Working Committee, as such it should also be dissolved.

    Labaran wondered why such action should be taken by the national executive of the party, saying the exco’s tenure had not expired and they had not been found wanting in anything that could warrant the dissolution.

    The state Deputy Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim KT, also condemned the sudden dissolution, saying: “We are not in support of such dissolution. We are in support of the Masaud El-jibrin Doguwa- led leadership of the party.

    “We cannot allow somebody to come and hijack the party, which we suffered to build. We will not support the dissolution of the 484 wards.”

    Doguwa said on the phone that he remained the chairman of the party.

    He said: “I’m yet to be communicated over the said dissolution.

    “Nobody has the power to unilaterally dissolve our exco. This cannot stand and will never stand, because it is unconstitutional.”

    On the court order restraining the national headquarters from dissolving the state exco, Doguwa said: “The court action wasn’t instituted by my exco, some loyal party members whom I’m in support of approached the court.”

     

  • Sokoto: Still, Shagari battles Wali

    Sokoto: Still, Shagari battles Wali

    IN an apparent move to calm frayed nerves and put an end to speculations over the matter, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has upheld the emergence of former Nigerian Ambassador to Morocco, Alhaji Abdallah Wali as the party’s governorship candidate in Sokoto State.

    This announcement, according to party sources, is expected to tell party chieftains, members, stakeholders and other interests that contrary to kites being flown in some quarters, Wali’s candidacy, which has remained a subject of fierce acrimonies within and outside the party, would not be invalidated.

    But Deputy Governor and leader of the party in the state, Mukhtari Shagari, is insisting that the party would lose the governorship election in the state, if it fields Wali, the declared winner of the party’s primary election, in 2015.

    The angry Shagari, who refused to follow Governor Aliyu Wammakko to the All Progressives Congress (APC) when the later dumped the PDP, was said to have recieved only one vote in the last week’s PDP primary election in the state won by Abdallah Wali, believed to be anointed by the state’s ex-governor, Attahiru Bafarawa.

    The aggrieved Deputy Governor’s insistence on being given the governorship ticket of the party in spite of several interventions by other party leaders within and outside the state, according to pundits, may further hurt the very slim chance of the PDP to reclaim the leadership of the state.

    “Shagari’s position is that the national leadership of the party ought to have fulfilled its promise of giving him the ticket for the 2015 election, the failure of which portends disaster for the party in the state.

    Aside that, he is saying that no primary election took place in the state, since strange people were smuggled in at midnight as delegates and it was not conducted based on the laid down rules and procedures.

    With efforts by his party leaders to make him accept Wali’s emergence failing so far, the chances of the PDP at the general election in Sokoto State is also getting slimmer.

    Shagari is no push over in the politics of the state. He is one major factor why the PDP is still reckoned with in the state after Wammakko’s exit.

    So, unless something is done to assuage his anger and reconcile him with Wali as well as the party, his anger his capable of further hurting the slim chance of both Wali and his party in 2015,” Shehu Ali Girei, former Chairman of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) told The Nation.

    It is also being alleged by the camp of the Deputy Governor that what happened in Sokoto at the governorship primary last week was not an election but a plan by some people to destroy the party in the state.

    “You remember that Shagari had before the commencement of the exercise, protested against the composition of PDP delegates’ list but chairman of the election panel, U.U Kumo, went ahead to conduct the primaries.

    It is on the strength of this same complaint that former Minister of Sports, Yusuf Suleiman, withdrew from the race before the election started. In protest, Shagari had reportedly directed his supporters to vacate the Stadium, venue of the election, when Mr. Kumo declared the results,” Girei said.

    Findings by The Nation within the embattled Sokoto PDP reveal that relationship between the two political rivals may have broken down irretrievably. After several peace overtures made by him to the Deputy Governor, sources say the PDP candidate is concentrating more on how to win the election than pacifying any aggrieved opponent.

    “Shagari’s action is capable of distracting our candidate and we don’t want this to happen. He has been advised to forget about the aggrieved aspirants and concentrate on winning the general election. And that is what he is actually doing now.

    “Don’t forget that he made several efforts to pacify Shagari in the past. But the Deputy Governor, for whatever reason, is obstinate and uncompromising. This is unlike him. And that is why we are suspecting foul play. This is not the first time he would be losing in an election. Why is he behaving in this manner this time? But all the same, our focus now is on winning the general election because Shagari was defeated fairly and squarely at the primary,” an aide of the PDP candidate told our correspondent.

    But the Deputy Governor would not have any such comment about losing the election to Wali. According to him, Wali is not a match to him politically and as such cannot win the general election for PDP against APC’s Aminu Tambuwal, in 2015.

    “What I did was to address the press and leave, because I could not be in a place where the blood of people could be possibly shed. After I left, most of the delegates also left, because they were tired, hungry and angry. Most of them left the place.

    “Later, somebody came up with his own result, which probably was written in his own bedroom and they read it. In that result, they gave me only one vote. That is very ridiculous in Sokoto State, a party that I actually brought to Sokoto and apart from that, I was a minister who was the leader of the party in the state.

    “I became Deputy Governor, when my governor left, and I did not leave with him. And for somebody to say Mukhtari Shagari got only one vote in Sokoto is the most ridiculous thing in this century,” he said.

    Shagari insisted that unless the ticket is given to him, PDP should forget about reclaiming the state. According to him, “the issue is that you cannot win election in Sokoto state, unless you field the candidate that can win election for you. By what happened, it means that PDP is ready to sacrifice the governorship of Sokoto State to APC, which we do not want.

    “You know there was peaceful demonstration in Sokoto. People were saying we don’t want what happened. All we want is Mukhtari Shagari, give him back his ticket.”

    But Wali is not looking or acting like someone willing to hand over the ticket to anybody ahead of the 2015 governorship election. The former Envoy to Morocco has been defending his emergence as the party’s governorship candidate vigorously.

    Responding to Shagari’s claim that the party once promised him automatic ticket for the 2015 race, Wali said the party did not promise Barrister Mukhtari Shehu Shagari automatic ticket for the seat, challenging the Deputy Governor to produce any evidence to prove his claim.

    He said Shagari’s action was not in tandem with democratic principles and therefore unbecoming of a person of his calibre. He called on the Deputy Governor to join hands with him in order to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.

    “I must admit that his refusal to accept the result of the election is a challenge but a manageable challenge in view of the fact that I only need 75 percent of the party supporters to win in the election, which I already have,” he said.

    With the current situation between Wali and Shagari, it is left to be seen how the PDP intends to muster enough support to displace the more vibrant and united ruling APC in 2015.

     

  • Wali: ‘PDP’ ll return to power in Sokoto’

    Wali: ‘PDP’ ll return to power in Sokoto’

    Nigeria’s  former Ambassador to Morocco  Senator Abdallah Wali  won the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship ticket in Sokoto State. In this interview with ADAMU SULEIMAN, he speaks about the Sokoto governorship primaries, his vision and other issues. 

    How do you feel emerging as the PDP’s governorship candidate in Sokoto State?

    I feel grateful to Almighty God for making it possible to be elected as the governorship candidate of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for next year’s general elections. I am highly delighted by the level of support by members of our party, who have demonstrated their confidence in me, by allowing me to fly the party’s flag in the forthcoming general elections. I thank all the delegates, particularly members of the National Working Committee and Mr. President for leading the party in such a way that people can aspire to various positions through a free and fair election. I must say that without the discipline that the national headquarters of the party has provided, people like us would not have had the opportunity to aspire, let alone win the primary election. I sincerely thank them all.

    What strategies did your party intend to adopt or put in place to win the governorship election in the state?

    Well, winning strategies are not things that should be disclosed in the public. They are things that are exclusive to the campaign committee, which is being worked on for our victory. But, be it as it may, I will say that we are well prepared for the elections. We look forward to a successful race. We have gone through the same system before and we believe we will make it again.

    The party won the 2007 and 2012 general elections in the state. Although, the governor and some of his aides have since moved to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC),  we believe that the PDP is a party that is still alive. It is still kicking and capable of winning any elections in the state. The coming of His Excellency, the former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa into the PDP fold has re-galvanised the party. We believe we can win all the various seats. You will also recall that in 2003, former Governor Bafarawa was running for second term on the platform of the defunct All Progressive Party (APP), and I was also contesting on the PDP platform for the first time. But, he (Bafarawa) won the election in that contest and today the two of us are working together. We believe that we have the necessary structure on the ground to win the election for the PDP. By God’s help, it will come to pass.

    Why are the other contenders refusing to accept the outcome of the primary?

    Well, I will say that I am very disappointed by the development because the election was covered by the media and other observers. We, the four aspirants received an invitation to the venue from the panel in order to address us. When we arrived, we found that we were only three; we were told that the forth aspirant, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman had withdrawn from the race. The panel advised us to go through the election in a peaceful manner and urged us to accept the outcome of the elections.

    The accreditation lasted for a long time.  Though, the accreditation exercise was supposed to be a simple formality in the sense that the same delegates voted a week earlier for the state assembly election across the state. All the delegates that had participated in the congress of the governorship primary were delegates to the state assembly elections in their respective constituencies. These same delegates also participated in the National Assembly elections which was conducted without hitch. The governorship election was the fourth election the delegates were participating in. The accreditation was still done in the usual way and after that the election panel announced the commencement of the election.

    That was when one of the aspirants, Alhaji Mukthar Shagari, as we were told, approached the panel that since the election could not hold in neighbouring state of Zamfara, it should also be postponed here in Sokoto. That was an absurd proposition. The Police Commissioner had to come and address us individually assuring us that election must hold because the accreditation has been completed. Later, he (Shagari) had a session with the media and later met with the electoral panel before staging a walk out from the Giginya Stadium, venue of the exercise. To me, all those actions are not consistent with the democratic principles. People who hold the position of leadership are supposed to live by example. In summary, the voting continued and election was conducted peacefully in the open. The result was later declared and we expected them to quickly congratulate the winner.

    One of the contestants alleged that the delegates’ list was manipulated in the process. What is your take?

    As I said earlier, the delegates that were accredited had voted three times previous occasions before the congress. In the real sense, there is no justification for accusing anybody of manipulating the delegates’ list.

    Do not forget that these delegates were accredited in front of three certified agents that represented the three aspirants.

    To us, it is embarrassing for anybody to raise the issue of fake delegates during the election. This venue was an open air arena and not a hall. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present and they monitored the processes. Security agents were also present at the venue. To many, the election was one of the most transparent in the state. Two of the aspirants were even seen going round, speaking with the delegates.  But, I was not involved in the act because according to the rules, contestants are not expected to have contact with the delegates. Anybody who says the exercise was not fair, is not telling the truth. I hope such people would quickly desist from that and accept the outcome.

    Have they formally congratulated you?

    Senator Abubakar Gada, one of the contestants had since congratulated me for winning the election. Alhaji Mukthar Shagari was not at the venue when the winner was declared, so I am not expecting him to congratulate me immediately. I have been hoping to receive his phone call or text message. But, up till now he has not done so. I believe we are one PDP family and we are supposed to work together as a team for the success of the party. I have invited the party executive members to brief them on the preparation of my campaign team and activities. We will also invite the supporters of my co-contestants to join our campaign team, so that together we will work hand-in-hand in order to come out victorious.

    The action of your co-contenders, by not accepting the outcome of the contest, could threaten the party’s success next year. Don’t you think so?

    You see, this borders on the unity of the party as a whole. We all believe that it is only a united front that can bring success to our party. The first aspect is that, one of the aspirants, Senator Abubakar Gada, has accepted the outcome of the election because right there, he congratulated me and I alluded to that in an acceptance speech.

    It was in the open when he came over to me and I thanked him for that. The second aspirant who is yet to accept the result now is Alhaji Mukthar Shagari. Of course, his decision not to accept the outcome is a challenge. But, it is a manageable challenge because the election is not a question of somebody winning 100 per cent. We only won with 74 per cent of the total votes, which means three quarters of our party faithful shared our beliefs and dreams. That is a strong percentage of the party followership that can lead the party to success. Secondly, even among sympathizers of other aspirants, we are still going to have sizeable numbers of them that could work for the party. Since all of them are aware that the process was free and fair. They (delegates) would be convinced to toe the path of truth at the end. It is natural for aspirants to be disappointed after losing a contest and thereby refuse to congratulate the winner. But, that is not always the case for followers.

    What are your plans for the state, if elected as the governor?

    You see, Sokoto State is facing very stiff challenge in terms of moral value. The people of the state are so worried that the morality level among the youths has gone so low and they believe that something must be done. One of the reasons I am aspiring for the governorship position is because people believe in our sincerity of purpose. They are aware that we are really committed to changing the trend of moral decadence in the state and that we will do by the grace of the Almighty. We are committed to doing that for ourselves and for the sake of our children. That is one area. The second one is the national disgrace that the state is facing today going by analysis from National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The bureau has for long identified Sokoto as the poorest state in the poverty indices. The question is that, why should we be the poorest state in the country?

    What really is the problem, is the state lacking in human or natural resources?

    The answer is none. So, why should a state that has over 90 per cent of its land arable and has one of the major productive dams in the country be called a poor state? This is simply because of lack of good leadership. We believe that we can change that trend. We intend to use agriculture as number one focus in transforming the fortunes of the state. We will give support to farmers during the rainy season. We will make sure that we draw the Goronyo Dam to service all the farmers that are on the sloppy part of the state. Where we cannot use the dam, we are going to construct tube wells and make sure that our people are engaged in farming all-year round. Sokoto people are productive people and we believe that if we can support them, it will improve their lot.

    What can you say about education in the state?

    On that also, the National Bureau of Statistics has also released the indices that Sokoto State is the worst state in education. How can this state that is the historical bedrock of learning be rated so low?  Sheikh Usmanu Danfodiyo of blessed memory established the Danfodiyo dynasty on the basis of knowledge which is the most critical ingredient for the foundation of the Danfodiyo dynasty. So, how can we say 200 years after, all the evidences of learning in terms of the books produced by Danfodiyo, his son Muhammadu Bello and his brother Abdullahi Fodiyo have faded off? That is not acceptable. So, if voted into power, we will tackle the problems facing education from the primary up to the university level. Take for instance when you talk about scholarship, the government made a principle that it will provide scholarship to students. But, such promises are usually not fulfilled.

    So, we believe that we will strategically tackle that. We will bring the best brains we have from primary school to the tertiary level, so that the state can compete favourably with other states. We will design a system that will bring the best out of us.

    As a stakeholder, have you in anyway proffered solution to the government in these areas you have identified?

    The problem is that we do not have a listening government. Even when we were both members of the same political party, the state government never considered us as stakeholders in the system. The best we can do is to get them out and then take charge.

    Do you see the emergence of the APC flag bearer, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal as a threat to your aspiration?

    Honestly, I do not see it that way. We know from the onset that he (Tambuwal) is one of the possible contenders of the APC ticket. For that, we built our strategies in such a manner that anybody that the APC pushes forward, we believe that we have an edge over him and can be able to face any of their candidates. I believe that when he emerged we did not have any cause to be apprehensive. We only considered it as one of the natural cause of the event. So, we will go ahead and fight the APC until we take over the state.

  • Ex-NBA chief Wali’s abduction spurs search for answers

    Ex-NBA chief Wali’s abduction spurs search for answers

    The kidnap of the immediate past Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN), has, again, drawn the nation’s attention to a major failure of government in its responsibility of protecting the citizenry. It is now a case of ‘who’s next?’ What is the way out? Eric Ikhilae sought lawyers’ views.

    Kidnapping for ransom used to be a distant occurrence in the past until the Niger Delta militants deployed it as an instrument of struggle.

    Today, individuals are routinely kidnapped and their families compelled to part with huge sums of money before they are released. In some cases, the victims are not returned alive, even where ransoms are paid.

    Incidentally, lawyers, who defend suspected kidnappers and abductors in court, are themselves not immune to this criminal act, fuelled primarily by the prevailing culture of heightening impunity and criminality in the land.

    The recent abduction of the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Okey Wali (SAN), in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has brought to five the number of prominent lawyers so far kidnapped.

    The past cases involved Mrs. Doyin Rhodes-Vivour (wife of Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour of the Supreme Court) and her daughter (who were kidnapped on the Benin-Ore Road); rights activist Mike Ozekhome (SAN), kidnapped on the Benin-Auchi Road, in Edo State  and Kayode Ajulo (who was abducted in Abuja). There was also the case of Ilochi Okafor (SAN).

    Unfortunately, the police and other security agencies appear helpless in the face of this major challenge to citizens’ liberty and national security, despite that   some states and the Federal Government have made kidnapping a capital offence, particularly where life is lost. Imo, Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Edo, Ebonyi and Rivers states have enacted laws prescribing the death penalty for kidnapping.

     

    How deterrent is the law?

    On October 18, 2013, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State signed a law that amended the previous Kidnapping Provision Law 2009. Among its many provisions, the law states that: “Any premises where victims of kidnapping were held would be demolished.”

    The new enactments are in addition to existing provisions in the Terrorism Prevention Act, the Criminal Code   and Penal Code.

    Section 364 of the Criminal Code provides that: Any person who unlawfully imprisons any person, and takes him out of Nigeria, without his consent; or unlawfully imprisons any person within Nigeria in such a manner as to prevent him from applying to a court for his release or from disclosing to any other person the place where he is imprisoned, or in such a manner as to prevent any person entitled to have access to him from discovering the place where he is imprisoned; is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for ten years.

    Section 271 of the Penal Code provides that:  Whoever takes or entices any person, under 14 years of age (if a male) or under 16 years of age (if a female), or any person of unsound mind out of the keeping of the lawful guardian of such person without the consent of such guardian or conveys any such person beyond the limits of Northern Nigeria without the consent of someone legally authorised to consent to such removal, is said to kidnap such person.”

    It equally provides in Section 273 that:  Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine.”

    The law also provides in Section 274 that: Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person in order that such person may be killed or may be so disposed of as to be put in danger of being killed, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine.”

     

    Why kidnapping is on the rise

    Despite the legislations and measures purportedly put in place by relevant security agencies, the rate of kidnapping appears to be on the increase in the country, with kidnappers going about their trade with ease.

    In most cases of kidnaping, the culprits are hardly apprehended, prosecuted and convicted in accordance with the law. The only known pending trial of individuals linked with major kidnap cases is that involving Kelvin Onorah Eziegbe, Frank Auekor and Michael Omonigho. They are accused of masterminding the kidnap of Ozekhome and some other prominent Nigerians, and are being tried on a 14-count charge before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The preponderance of opinions is to the effect that the blame is attributable to three major sources. First, is the overwhelming failure of government at all levels to preserve core societal values of integrity and respect for law and order, and preserve the people’s goals and interests. Second, is the creation and sustenance of a faulty unitary security architecture in a federal democracy, and third, a faulty criminal justice system with emphasis on punishment as a sole deterrent measure.

    Observers argued that where the majority of the citizenry is denied access to the basic needs of life; law enforcement mechanisms are weak, compromised and easily amenable to manipulation by the wealthy few, and the criminal justice system emphasises punishment as against rehabilitation and reformation with the aim of socialising the citizenry away from criminality, impunity and criminality become a common feature of daily existence.

    They argued that the body language and conduct of incumbent administrations at all strata of governance in the country have equally served not as deterrence, but help to nurture the culture of impunity and criminality.

    Critics contend that the prevailing massive youth unemployment, the growing disregard for societal values and disdain  for the supremacy of the  law have not only helped to promote the increasing resort to self-help, they have greatly aided  the nation’s progressive regression to the Hobbesian state of nature.

    They noted that in the country, today, might is right, arbitrariness and misnomer are becoming the norm, with scant regard for law and order, and  the supreme doctrine of the rule of law. The fulcrum of every democracy has effectively been shoved to the back seat of societal relevance.

    To reverse this, they suggested that the government must first evolve socio-economic policies targeted at halting the progressive decrease in state capacity to guarantee the people’s socio-economic rights and generally improve their well-being.

    Such policies, they argued, should be fuelled solely by the need to promote general prosperity and employment, and the creation of an enabling social economic environment to serve as a catalyst for the generation of wealth for all citizens in the private sector.

    Observers also suggested a holistic review of the nation’s security architecture to de-emphasise the centralised control and management inherited from the military. They argued that since most crimes, kidnapping inclusive, are localised problems, there is the need for a localised response by state and local governments, which could only be complemented by federal interventions where necessary.

    There is also the argument that the resort by most states to the ancient Hebrew law of kidnapping as provided in Exodus chapter 21 verse 16 that: “Anyone who kidnaps another and either sells him or still has him when he is caught must be put to death,” is a cruel and unusual punishment for a crime that is a reflection of the society, where the elite and those in government do not reward hard work, but pay lip service to corruption, abuse of office and other acts of impunity.

    They contended that rather than emphasise harsh punishment, the state and managers of its criminal justice system should devise ways to mitigate the people’s propensity for crimes and ethical violations.

     

    Lawyers’ views

    Lawyers, who spoke were equally of the view that the problem did not stem from the paucity or inadequacy of extant laws, but the inherent challenges in the society, which include the failure of security measures.

    The NBA President, Augustine Alegeh (SAN), while reacting to his predecessor’s kidnap, reminded the Federal Government that it has failed to effectively discharge its major role of adequately safeguarding the people’s lives and property.

    He urged the government “to step up efforts to fulfil its primary constitutional role of providing for the welfare and security of all Nigerians.”

    Joseph Nwobike (SAN) observed that the failure of the government to adequately protect the people and secure their rights to personal liberty is “a sad one and despicable. It is bad for this country and ominous for democracy. It is even challenging to the legal profession.”

    Rights activist Femi Falana (SAN), who also put the blame on the failure of the government to secure the people, urged the NBA to sue with a view to compelling the Federal Government to refund any ransom paid for the release of any abducted persons.

    “More importantly, the NBA should embark on urgent measures designed to compel the Federal Government to actualise Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which stipulates that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

    Dr Abdullahi Utman observed that kidnapping and other vices result from the failure of the Nigerian state to provide for the people as is the case in every sane society.

    “The Nigerian State lost the moral authority to socialise the people away from criminality and deviant behaviour through law enforcement.

    “The only means by which the citizenry can be socialised away from criminality to having greater stake in conformity is for the state to give effect to those rights as contained in our core values and which relate to the citizenry.

    “Those core values, which include the promotion of prosperity and employment, protection of socio-economic rights, the rule of law, good governance, human liberty and democracy, must form the core of our national security policy,” Utman said.

    Fredrick Chukwuma argued that the prevalence of kidnapping in the country should not be treated within the context of the abduction of some prominent lawyers alone.

    “We should see it as a societal vice, which is fuelled by the failure of the leadership to effectively police the society and provide the people with the basic needs of life. I do not think the laws are inadequate. In fact, we have too many laws on this crime. The problem is, as most of your respondents have said, a reflection of the failure of law and order in the larger society.

    “We just need a few reasonable leaders, who are able to lead by example and uphold the core societal values of integrity, respect for law and order and the supremacy of the law. With that, majority of the nation’s problem would have been solved,” Chukwuma said.

    The NBA Ikeja Branch urged security agencies to do all within their power to secure Wali’s release.

    Its chairman, Yinka Farounbi said they were  highly disturbed and worried by the sad news of the kidnap Wali.

    “This is one kidnap  too many and we call on all peace-loving Nigerians to rise and condemn it in very strong terms,” it said, adding: “Wali is a peaceful gentleman to the core.

    “We therefore call on his captors to please immediately release him unconditionally and unharmed,” he said.

    Farounbi urged all the security agencies, particularly in Rivers State and its environs, to step up their security systems with the view of getting the former NBA President released without any further delay.

    He said this latest kidnap has cast another doubt on the constitutional provision of the fundamental duty and responsibility of the government to protect the lives and property of it citizens.

    “We cannot afford the luxury of seeing our citizens kidnapped on a daily basis and the government will pretend that all is well.

    “We do not want to believe that the government has surrendered to the kidnappers and other criminals. There is no doubt that our nation is facing enormous security challenges and our police in particular seem to be overwhelmed.

    “We, therefore, join other patriotic Nigerians in calling for the creation of state police now. Recent security lapses all over the country makes the need for state police to be urgent and desirable more than ever before,” it stated

    Formerlegal adviser of the NBA Mr. Victor Nwaugo said: “This is the time for his friends and well wishers to  rally round to make sure that he is released unharmed; his kidnappers arrested,  arraigned and prosecuted. After all, he has contributed his quota to national development.”

    Former Financial Secretary of the NBA Mr. Marc Enamhe said: “ It is highly condemnable for any Nigerian to be kidnapped in his state, a man’s home is his safe haven, where he knows how to move and how not to move. For this to happen to our former President in Port Harcourt shows that people have not learnt from experience. Since the kidnappers have not established contact with the Wali family, we cannot actually identify their purpose now. We only pray that they release him in good health and sound mind.”

    Abuja-based lawyer and chairman of the Abuja chapter of Labour Party Mr. Felix Ashimole said: “ I join NBA President Augustine Alegeh (SAN) to condemn the kidnap of our former President, Okey Wali (SAN). Let us continue to pray for his safe release.”

     

    Who will be next?

    Society activist and constitutional lawyer Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said: “ It is most shocking and heart rending to hear that Okey Wali, the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has been kidnapped by unknown hoodlums. This is certainly the last proverbial straw that has broken the carmel’s back. To kidnap Okey Wali has introduced a new dimension, a novelty to this dastardly merchantilistic trade in people’s blood, lives,  destiny and liberty, by societal misfits. News have it that it was done about 200 metres from his residential gate at about 9:00pm on Saturday. That means the kidnappers must have laid ambush for him. Where were the security agents, such as policemen and members of the Civil Defence Corps, who ought to patrol streets?”

    “The Nigerian nation is clearly under great, multi-dimensional siege – siege from ritualists, siege from Boko Haram, siege from political buccaneers, siege from legislative rascality, siege from executive lawlessness, siege from judicial tyranny, siege from leadership inertia, siege from civil society compromise, siege from all of us, who see nothing, say nothing and do nothing! Okey Wali’s kidnap is totally condemnable in the strongest words possible, for the simple reason that he is a peace-loving, very humble and God-fearing Nigerian, who led the NBA, the biggest civil society umbrella organisation in Nigeria, for two good years, without any blemish, charge of corruption, or embezzlement of public funds against him. To Kidnap Okey tantamounts, therefore, to kidnapping the entire collective quintessence and conscience of all Nigerian lawyers, and. therefore, of the totality of the civil society.

    “As one who went through a most horrific and spine-chilling experience in kidnappers’ dungeon for three harrowing weeks of near death, I can feel it, see it, smell it, taste it and empathise with it. The irony is that it was Okey as NBA President, who broke the news of my August 23, 2013 kidnap to the NBA AGM in Calabar, with the entire body of lawyers led by him, calling for my immediate and unconditional release.

    “Last year, it was me. Today, it is Okey’s turn. Who will be next? No one knows. No one can conjecture. The Federal Government, Rivers State and neighbouring state governments, the IGP, DG, SSS and the entire security aparatus in this country should immediately rise up and deliver OkeyWali, safe, hale and hearty, to his family and Nigeria. There must be no excuses, no foot dragging and no dilly-dallying.

    “I appeal to Okey’s kidnappers to, please, release, unhurt and unharmed, this great patriot, this unassuming Nigerian, who means well for all, including the poor peasants of this country. He has contributed immensely to the development of law, human rights and to the Nigerian nation. Let not your insatiable thirst for money and earthly things push you to hurt him. I beg you all, in the name of Almighty God.

    Former Chairman, NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), said: “We condemn in very strong terms the abduction of Okey Wali (SAN), the 26th president of the NBA. Mr Okey Wali stood firmly for the enthronement of the rule of law, democracy, equity, justice and  fair play in our body polity. He never failed to speak out whenever the rights of the common man were in jeopardy.

    “We urge  his abductors to release him unconditionally to reunite with his family and community. Time has come when the government and all other stakeholders must do more to secure the lives & liberty of citizens of this country; otherwise, a time will come when nobody will walk on the streets of this  nation. May such a day never come.”

     

  • Agbakoba, Ngige, others condemn kidnap of Wali, urge FG to secure his release

    Agbakoba, Ngige, others condemn kidnap of Wali, urge FG to secure his release

    A Former  Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) and other senior lawyers have condemned the abduction of the association’s immediate past Okey Wali (SAN).

    He he kidnapped last Saturday in Port Harcourt.

    They urged the federal government to secure his release.

    Agbakoba said he was too shocked by the kidnap. “What! Too shocked for words,” he said.

    Ngige said: “The news of the kidnap of the immediate past President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Okey Wali, SAN by some gun men at his Port Harcourt residence last night is to say the least, the most shocking and disheartening news I have received in recent times. Okey is a peace loving and easy going gentleman who abhors violence in any shape or form.”

    According to Ngige, Wali did nothing to warrant his being kidnapped gunme,  noting that while serving as the 26th President of NBA, he stood for and fought for human liberties and cessation of all form of violence in our national life.

    “Indeed the NBA under his leadership organised a the first ever Security Summit where issues bordering on the state of insecurity in Nigeria was thoroughly considered.

    The report of that summit along with its recommendations was forwarded to the Presidency for its consideration. Sadly, nothing was ever heard from the Government in that regard.

    “The kidnap of Mr. Wali brings once more to the fore, the recurring issue of the state of insecurity in Nigeria and in Rivers State in particular. The Police in that State are now more interested in engaging in partisan political activities instead of protecting lives and property.

    “This is another kidnap too many! Yesterday it was Ilochi Okafor, SAN, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Doyin Rhodes-Vivour and others. Today it is the turn of Okey Wali. Who knows whose turn it will be tomorrow? It is on this note that I join all other well wishers in calling on the abductors to release Okey from their custody forthwith and unconditionally. It is an irony that a person who has stood on the side of the downtrodden and oppressed in the country will be treated this way. But this is Nigeria, where life is now ‘nasty, short and brutish,’ a country that is now strictly speaking, a failed state! I call on the Security agencies to brace up on their responsibilities in ensuring that protection of lives and properties are maintained at the highest level nationwide”, he said.

    Former General Secretary NBA, Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN) said: “The news of the kidnap of the immediate past president of the NBA, Okey Wali SAN, yesterday night, came as a rude shock to me. One was under the mistaken belief that cases of kidnapping have become a thing of the past for which Nigerians were beginning to show signs of relief.

    “The prayerful hope for security seems to have been shattered once again. The kidnap of Okey Wali SAN is certainly a great pain not only to the members of his nuclear family, but also to the NBA family nationwide.

    “ I appeal in the name of God to the captures, wherever they may be, to please set the captive free. I also call on the government and the security agencies to secure the release of  Okey Wali (SAN)  unharmed. I would like to, with all sense of responsibility, call on our government at all levels to double efforts at ensuring the security of lives and properties of the people of this country, as this is their primary responsibility”, he prayed.

    Former General Secretary NBA, Mr. Lawal Rafiu Rabana (SAN) said: “  The kidnapping of our immediate past President  Okey Wali (SAN) is very unfortunate and a reflection of the total breakdown of our moral values.

    “The threat to freedom of movement and apparent ease with which the kidnappers operate calls for an urgent national security summit to specifically address this degrading menace. I join other well meaning Nigerians to call for his immediate release”.

  • Lawyers reject Wali’s constitution amendment

    Lawyers have rejected attempts by the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)  Okey Wali (SAN) to effect fundamental changes in the constitution of the association and alter its leadership and administrative structure.

    This brings an end efforts by the immediate past two regimes of the association to restructure the secretariat and model same after the International Bar Association (IBA ) structure.

    The restructuring of the secretariat   whittles down the powers of elected national officers of the NBA and vests them on the secretariat staff headed by the Executive Director, who is at the beck and call of  the President.

    Under the Wali administration, elected NBA national officers were mere observers.

    They were addressed as national officers by name but had no powers to act in their respective offices.

    They   had no offices at the NBA secretariat from where to perform  their statutory duties. In effect, the last administration made them almost redundant.

    NBA national officers including the three Vice-Presidents had to ride in cabs while in Abuja on NBA duties while official cars are parked at the secretariat.

    However, Wali’s bid to institutionalise what many have come to see as an anomaly was roundly rejected by the lawyers.

    They rejected 24 out of his proposed 33 amendments to  NBA  constitution. Presenting his report,  chairman of the committee, Mr.Okey Amechi (SAN) thanked lawyers for the  confidence reposed on him and his committee during the conduct of the last NBA elections when lawyers voted simultaneously for election of new officers and constitution ammendment.

    The proposal to introduce Associate membership into the association was rejected with all the purported advantages and privileges. The proposal for the association to publish on its website the names of defaulting lawyers in the payment of Practising fees by the fist of April as provided by the Financial Secretary was also rejected.

    Also rejected was the proposal to appoint an Executive Director of Administration who shall be in charge of the Directorate of the association with all the responsibilities attached thereto. The power of the President to appoint and remove such Executive Directors was also rejected. The proposal to stop any of the NBA branch of the NBA from instituting legal action kin court  against the association without first having such a dispute heard and determined by the President or a Committee set up for that purpose or the NEC of the NBA was also thrown into the dustbin.

    Wali’s  proposal for the National Executive Committee to remove from office any erring  National Officer found guilty of any misconduct was rejected but the proposal to remove from office any National Officer who commits fraud or becomes bankrupt or insolvent was approved. Also approved was the amendment to remove from office an officer who accepts appointment from any arm of the government ( except as a member of an adhoc committee or panel), the proposal to remove an officer who is convicted of any offence by a Court of competent Jurisdiction was also approved.

    Also approved was the proposal to remove from office, any officer who: breaches any of the provisions of the Code of Conduct for officers duly approved by the NEC,  or who engages in public misconduct owing to intoxication by alcohol, drugs or other intoxicants or stimulants or any bestial acts; who engages in any Act of behaviour that brings or is likely to bring the association into disrepute; acts of disobedience to the association, NEC, the President or any of its organs.

    Provided,  however, that such officer may be removed from office by two thirds majority of NBA NEC members present at a meeting of the NEC where the matter is raised.

    The proposal to abolish the offices of the Assistant Financial Secretary, Assistant Publicity Secretary and Second Assistant Secretary  were also rejected by lawyers.

     

     

  • NBA holds NEC meeting tomorrow

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) will hold its quarterly National Executive Committee (NEC)  meeting at the Fountain Hotel, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State from tomorrow, March 5 to 7, 2014. Consequently, a meeting of the National Officers of the association is scheduled to hold today at the national secretariat, Abuja by 2. 00 pm. NBA President, Okey  Wali (SAN)  has called on NEC members to attend the meeting as a lot of important issues would be discussed and decisions taken. He therefore, called on lawyers to be focused and passionate as decisions would be taken on issues that would affect the future of the association.

    Fielding questions on the participation of the NBA at the forthcoming national confab, Wali said the NBA will painfully not participate at the dialogue because the   one delegate slot given to the NBA  clearly showed that the NBA presence is not needed at the  national dialogue.

    On whether he would lift ban on campaigns at the meeting, Wali said: “When we get there, we will know what to do.”  However, it is widely speculated that the electoral committee that will midwife the next NBA elections would be constituted in Ado-Ekiti.

     

  • Senate screens six ministerial nominees

    … Nominees asked to ‘ bow and go’

    The infamous “bow and go” syndrome played out on Wednesday as the Senate screened six persons President Goodluck Jonathan nominated for ministerial appointment.

    Those screened are – Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos), Hon. Mohammed Wakil (Borno), Ambassador Aminu Wali (Kano), Mrs. Akon Etim Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom), Mrs. Lawrencia Labaran Mallam (Kaduna) and Gen. Mohammed Aliu Gusau (Rtd) (Zamfara).

    Senator Obanikoro who was the first to be screened recalled his days in the Senate and his appointment as Nigeria High Commissioner to Ghana.

    He listed some of his achievements as a High Commissioner in Ghana and the motions and bills he sponsored as a Senator.

    One of the motions, he recalled, was the issue of ocean surge in Lagos which led the Senate to empower a committee to visit the site to seek solution.

    He also recalled that he sponsored anti casualisation bill to prevent expatriates from enslaving Nigerians.

    He was asked to “bow and go” without any question.

    Before Obanikoro was asked to “bow and go” Senate President, David Mark, noted that the Senate believed that anybody who was able to become a Senator or a member of the House of Representatives was more than qualified to be a minister.

    A former leader of the House of Representatives, Wakil was the second to be screened.

    The former House Leader who was accompanied by a former Speaker of the House, Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba and a host of other old House members, also recalled his days in the lower chamber and his work experience.

    He was also asked to “bow and go” without question.

    The same treatment was extended to General Gusau.

    As the Sergeant at Arms walked the former National Security Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo into the chamber, Mark remarked that Gusau is a retired General from NDA Course one while he (Mark) is a retired General from NDA Course three.

    There was prolonged laughter in the chamber as Senators shouted “it is a tale of two Generals.”

    The Senate President’s remark set the mood in the chamber as Senators shouted “bow and go, bow and go.”

    Mark promptly asked “Is it the wish of the Senate that Gusau should bow and go?”

    The Senators yelled “yes, he should bow and go.”

    Mark asked Gusau to take a bow and go.

     

  • How to win anti-graft war, by Tambuwal, Wali

    How to win anti-graft war, by Tambuwal, Wali

    The House of Representatives has pledged to work with the Nigerian Bar Asociation (NBA) to stem corruption.Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said lawmakers and lawyers were well positioned to tackle corruption, which is one of country’s biggest problems.

    He spoke on the role of the legislature in curbing corruption during a workshop by the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day.

    Tambuwal said corruption was a cancerous impediment to development, noting that if Nigeria is to witness true development, then corruption must be dealt with.

    He said combating corruption was a duty requiring will, zeal and passion on the part of the three arms of the government and indeed the entire citizenry.

    He said: “As a phenomenon, corruption is so notorious that it does not require introduction at an occasion or definition in a discussion such as this. The mere fact that corruption has been able to secure a whole day globally set aside for the observance of the prosecution of war against it confirms it’s notoriety beyond doubt. It also establishes the fact that corruption is a global citizen.

    “For us in Nigeria, the reality that no greater challenge than corruption confronts us as a people is not in controversy. Indeed if the roots of the overwhelming majority of our woes were traced, they are sure to terminate at the doorsteps of corruption. This is a commonplace fact known to all Nigerians and requiring no corroboration. Yet for the avoidance of doubt, it is important to state that in its 2012 Global.”

    He recalled that the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) by the global corruption watchdog, Transparency International, ranks Nigeria as the 36th most corrupt country globally!

    Nigeria placed 139th of the 176 countries assessed, scoring 27 per cent in contrast with the least corrupt countries Denmark, Finland and New Zealand which scored 90 per cent.

    Tambuwal said a list of manifestation of corruption, especially in the public sector of Nigeria is legion.

    They range from direct diversion of public funds to private pockets, contract over-pricing, bribery, impunity, nepotism, general financial recklessness, fraudulent borrowing and debt management, public assets striping, electoral fraud, shielding of corrupt public officers among others.

    Corruption, he said, thrived in any environment where there is community indifference and in societies, with a culture of ritualised gift giving where the line between acceptable and non-acceptable gifts is often hard to draw, and in which values have been overthrown by materialism and laws observed more in the breach.

    Tambuwal said: “It would appear that these environmental preconditions are all prevalent in the Nigerian society and no wonder, therefore, that corruption has found fertile soil to blossom.

    “As noted earlier, corruption is Nigeria’s greatest problem and a cancerous impediment to any development effort planned or envisaged. It follows then that if Nigeria is to witness true development, then corruption must be dealt with decisively and comprehensively.

    “It is a duty requiring will, zeal and passion on the part of the three arms of government and indeed the entire citizenry.”

    Tambuwal said the legislature plays three basic functions in a democracy, to with the legislation, representation and oversight. It is within this scope of authority that the legislature can and indeed does impacton governance and can articipate in the prosecution of the war against corruption in Nigeria, he added.

    “Under the legislative function, Section 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 provides to the effect that the National Assembly shall have the power to make laws for peace, order and good government of the country.

    “More specifically, under Section 15 (5) of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, it provides: ‘The state shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of office’. Again, in Section 2 (2) (b) and (c)’ government is enjoined to harness the resources of the nation for the common good and to prevent the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of few individuals or of a group.

    “The responsibility of fashioning the legal

    framework for the fight against corruption and corrupt practices is thereby vested in the legislature.

    “In the exercise of this mandate, the National Assembly has enacted The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2002 and The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission Act 2000′ for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting Public Officers and other persons suspected of involvement in corrupt practices.

    “In both legislation, the Commissions are given extensive powers of investigation and prosecution to deal with all cases of corrupt practices and abuse of office that may arise,” Tambuwal said.

    On transparency and accountability in the management of the resources of the nation, the National Assembly enacted the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and the Public Procurement Act 2007.

    Both legislations make copious provisions aimed at engendering transparency and accountability in the public space, Tambuwal said.

    “I make bold to say that if the provisions of these legislation and indeed others were diligently enforced, significant milestones would have been accomplished in the fight against corruption and corrupt practices in Nigeria. Sadly, however, these legislations are observed more in the breach by the majority including government and government agencies.

    “I am pleased to report that the House of Representatives is working on some proposals for the reform of these laws with a view to reinforcing the independence of the agencies administering these laws including their mode of constitution and disbandment. I wish, therefore, to call on members of the NBA and, indeed, all Nigerians to prepare to buy into these reforms by making their input  now or when the time comes for Public Hearings,” Tambuwal added.

    Every December 9 is the International Anti-Corruption day, which is set aside all over the world by the United Nations to mark the campaign against corruption.

    The global theme for this year’s is: Zero corruption – 100 per cent development.

    NBA President Okey Wali (SAN) said the day “reincarnates” all efforts, crusades, and campaigns against corruption by all stakeholders including a strong coalition of governments, business community, civil society organisations, academics and media to resist corruption, and build culture of prevention and integrity.

    His words: “According to Transparency International, corruption is the abuse of public trust for private gain. Corruption may take a number of different forms, including and not limited to bribery, embezzlement, misappropriation patronage systems or nepotism etc.

    “With regard to Nigeria, it is obvious that the level of corruption is high. The level of endemic corruption in Nigeria is alarming. This alarming height of corruption in Nigeria is not made any better or easier by the recent publication of the 2013 Corruption perception Index of Transparency International. According to the said report, Nigeria is the 33rd most corrupt country in the World.”

    Wali said it was regrettable that in spite of all the efforts against corruption in Nigeria, and in spite of all the anti-corruption institutions in place, Nigeria is still rated very low in its fight against corruption.

    “So, the question that should be agitating our minds today is: What are we to do about it? This is because it is not enough to be saying that there is Corruption.”

    Wali praised the NBA Anti-Corruption Commission for choosing the topic: The legislature as a vanguard for anti-corruption crusade, which exlpores the legislature’s role in the anti-corruption crusade.

    “In doing so, the NBA Anti-Corruption Commission identified a very important and veritable institution that can play a pivotal role in the crusade against corruption. This can be deciphered from the pragmatic and realistic topic, which brings to the front burner of national discourse, the role of the legislature in the campaign against corruption.

    “In the entire process of nation building, the role of the legislature has remained paramount. Just as there could be no government without the law or constitution, there could be no government without the makers of the constitution.

    “Regrettably, in Nigeria, the impact of the legislature in national development has not been felt, essentially because that arm of government has not been allowed to take root because of the incessant forays of the military into politics.

    “Globally, most of the Legislative Houses are strategically positioned and empowered to tackle corruption through legislation, participation in regional and inter-regional seminar that foster the exchange of information on anti-corruption techniques, law and research.

    “In Nigeria, the role of the legislature in the fight against corruption is tripartite, which means that there are three major roles, the legislature should be involved in the quest to reduce corruption to its bearest minimum,” Wali said.

    Chairman, NBA Anti-Corruption Committee Yusuf Ali (SAN) noted that corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation and, therefore, deserves every effort to eradicate it.

    He noted that his committee has within its short life span, raised the consciousness of Nigerians on the magnitude of corruption in the country.

    Ali urged all Nigerians to join hands in the fight against corruptipon for the benefit of all.

     

     

  • NBA wants Suntai to address House ‘in person’

    NBA wants Suntai to address House ‘in person’

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Thursday urged Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai to address the House of Assembly in person if he is indeed healthy enough to resume official duties.

    The association took the position during its Annual General Meeting at the ongoing Annual General Conference in Calabar, Cross River State capital.

    It said the controversy over the governor’s health status is capable of creating constitutional and political crisis in the state.

    NBA said reports that there are “pseudo-governors” in Taraba should be cleared once and for all to restore the people’s faith in governance.

    NBA President Okey Walli (SAN) said: “The governor should address the House of Assembly. If he does not address the House, then it means he is not there.”

    On indiscipline among lawyers, Wali said NBA in May this year barred five lawyers and suspended two for five years after its disciplinary committee concluded 22 of 41 cases before it.

    “We are determined to deal with corruption and indiscipline at the Bar. I am sorry to say that more (disbarrments) are on the way.

    “Some of our colleagues have turned themselves to conduits of all sorts, hobnobbing with clients and, with respect, some judicial officers to subvert the rule of law.

    “We are determined to return the legal profession to its past glory. The message is clear: it is no longer business as usual,” Wali said.