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Tag: Yakassai

  • Shagari’s death national loss, say Obi, Fasanmi, Clark, Yakassai

    PEOPLE’S Democratic Party (PDP) vice presidential candidate Peter Obi, Afenifere leader Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Southsouth leader Chief Edwin Clark and elder statesman Tanko Yakassai, have described the death of former President Shehu Shagari as a national loss.

     

    Obi: he showed leadership

    Obi spoke yesterday when he accompanied former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to Sokoto to commiserate with the Shagari family, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

    His words: “Besides the lesson in patriotism and hard work, Shagari showed us that humility, care and love should be essential part of leadership, which is the hallmark of Atiku’s philosophy of leadership.”

    Obi, who described Shagari as “an urbane, compassionate, tolerant, polished politician and a leader worthy of emulation”, said some of the programmes he embarked on while leading the country, such as his “Green Revolution”, were conceived in good faith.

    On the challenges posed by Shagari’s death, Obi said the generation of Shagari is gradually passing out in obedience to the law of birth and death and that such development was a challenge to the youth to brace for leadership positions.

     

    Fasanmi mourns

    Pa Fasanmi, in a statement, described the death of the Second Republic President as a big loss to the country. He noted that “Alhaji Shehu Shagari was the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983 while I was in the Senate.

    “He was a gentle man; he tried his best as a former President of Nigeria. His elderly counsel will be missed. This is the time that his experience will be needed by the young politicians.”

    The Afenifere chieftain noted that “during Shagari’s time, corruption wasn’t rampant as it’s now. His dedication for the selfless service is what young men should emulate. We should learn from his words – One Nation, One Destiny.”

     

    Clark: he was honourable

    Chief Edwin Clark described the late President as an honorable man of integrity.

    He noted that Shagari was committed to his duties as a former President, attending Council of State meetings as much as he could and made meaningful contributions.

    The Ijaw leader, therefore, said the late former president would be greatly missed.

    The former National Commissioner said the news came to him as a surprise.

    He said his relationship with the late former president dated back to 1968, when they both serve as national commissioners and later as members of the same political party, National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1978.

    He noted that the sterling qualities of the late former president made him to be love and accepted by all.

    “I pray and plead with the politicians of today to imbibe and emulate the sterling qualities of this great politician,” Clark said.

     

    ‘A complete gentleman’

    Yakassai yesterday in Kano paid glowing tribute to Shagari, describing his death as a great loss to members of his family, the people of his Sokoto state and the nation.

    In a statement, Yakassai said Shagari was a complete gentleman and respected elder statesman, who was the most experienced politician in Nigeria’s recent history.

    According to the statement, Shagari served as minister in seven different Federal ministries at various times during the First Republic and the military government of General Yakubu Gowon.

    He noted that Shagari capped it all by being the first democratically elected executive President and Commander-in-Chief.

    Yakassai said: “A truly detribalised national leader, who regarded all Nigerians, as equal, without discrimination whatsoever. President Shagari was the only Nigerian leader, who enjoyed almost equal nationwide support of most Nigerians, both from the North and Southern parts of the country alike…

    ”May the Almighty Allah repose his gentle soul in eternal rest and give his family courage and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

  • Fresh call for restructuring: Ango Abdullahi, Yakassai tackle Clark, other southern leaders

    Fresh call for restructuring: Ango Abdullahi, Yakassai tackle Clark, other southern leaders

    Former Presidential Adviser, Professor Ango Abdullahi, has poured scorn on the latest call for the immediate restructuring of Nigeria and the implementation of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference by southern leaders under the auspices  of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA).

    The ex-vice chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University,Zaria said the view in some quarters that the North constitutes a pest on the rest of the country is hogwash.

    Abdullahi and two other leading Northern voices -veteran politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai and Second Republic Governor of the old Kaduna State,Alhaji Balarabe Musa ,believe that the repeated demand for the restructuring  of the country by southerners is out of place.

    Yakasai called it ‘trivial and politically motivated’, while Musa branded the restructuring agitation as  mischief.

    “The North has sustained Nigeria from 1914 till today,” Abdullahis declared in reaction to the frustration expressed  by Ijaw leader,Chief Edwin Clark at the SNPA’s  last meeting that a zone that produces the resources of the nation benefits very little or nothing, compared to another zone that does not contribute anything significant to the national treasury.

    Profesor Abdullahi took exception to the  view that the North is contributing little or nothing to the economy yet it is  monopolizing power.

    He said: “What I want to tell whoever cares to listen is that the North has sustained Nigeria from 1914 till today. They should go and check their records. So, anytime anybody is tired of being part of Nigeria, he is free to go away.

    “We don’t care whether any zone feels it produces whatever, but our position is that the  North has sustained Nigeria since 1914 till today. So, anybody who feels Nigeria should not exist should feel free to walk away.

    “They can call for anything, we are ready. In fact, which resources are they talking about? There is oil everywhere for the North to buy. We can get as much oil as we want from Niger Republic here, we can get it from Chad, we get it from anywhere we want.”

    Yakasai, who spoke to our reporter in Kano, asked  southern leaders to channel their complaints  of alleged marginalization, lopsidedness, inequality and favouritism by the Buhari  administration to the right channel.

     “Whoever is thinking of restructuring Nigeria should realize that he is talking about the fate of over 180 million Nigerians  who are entitled to know what the details of this restructuring are,” he said.

    “ Nigerians need to know the blue-print of the so called restructuring of Nigeria.  Over 180 million Nigerians will also like to know how Nigeria will look like after the restructuring, because nobody will determine their future without their knowledge and without their consent.

    “I know that for some years, some individuals have been going about, talking about restructuring of Nigeria. I know of the former Vice President, Chief Alex Ekwueme talking about restructuring of Nigeria. I know of Prof. Ben Nwabueze talking about restructuring of Nigeria. I know of Pastor Tunde Bakare talking about of Nigeria. All those I have mentioned are yet to present their blue-print on how a restructured Nigeria will look like in their dreams.

    “I am a Nigerian. I am involved, and I will like to know what will be my fate in a restructured Nigeria. Other Nigerians will also like to know what a restructured Nigeria will look like because they are affected. My appeal to whoever wants Nigeria to be restructured is that he should be bold enough to bring out his own modules of a restructured Nigeria so that the proposal will be debated by Nigerians.

    “This restructuring of Nigeria if it is going to happen at all, should involve changing the Nigerian Constitution in one way or the other. Nobody can change the Constitution of Nigeria except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria.

    “It is wrong for anybody to wait until President Muhammadu Buhari agrees to implement the recommendations of the 2014 Constitutional Conference before making a move for restructuring or whatever change in the Constitution of Nigeria. Every Nigerian has a right to initiate a bill that will either make a law through the due process of changing the Constitution of the country; or prepare a bill that can be sent to the National Assembly for legislative action. Every Nigerian has his representative in the National Assembly (both in the House of Representatives and the Senate), that can help his bill sail through the debate in the National Assembly. So, I advise those clamouring for restructuring to follow the due process and the right channels, if only restructuring the country is the answer to whatever problems we are currently facing.”

    In his own response, first Executive Governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa said : “the agitations and counter agitations are ill-timed. We have been together for over 100 years and it is very difficult for us to path ways.

    “Those people making noise are not ordinary people, they are privileged Nigerians who have nothing to lose if Nigeria remains together. They are just making mischief.

  • Stop Rivers political crisis, Yakasai urges FG

    Stop Rivers political crisis, Yakasai urges FG

    Alhaji  Tanko Yakasai, former Adviser on National Assembly Matters to ex-President Shehu Shagari,  has urged the Federal Government to intervene in the political crisis rocking Rivers state, stating that if urgent steps are not taken, it may snowball into the kind of political crisis that greeted the Western Region in 1965.

    Yakasai who spoke in Kano Friday also warned that the spate of killings, accusations and counter-accusations that characterized the Rivers state election rerun does not speak well of the nation’s democracy.

    According to him, imposition of emergency rule in Rivers state for whatsoever reason will not augur well in the present situation, adding that there was need for the presidency to discourage individuals from using security operatives to intimidate the masses or impose their will on the electorate.

    According to him, way back in 1965, “it was a similar trend in the West that people in power at the centre at that time tried to use the power of incumbency to deny the Action Group victory in the West that gradually transcended into killing and mayhem by political opponents.  They resorted to killing one another by pouring acid on their political opponents in order to kill or disfigure them.”

    He also traced the 1966 coup to the political crises in the West at that time and warned against a replay of such occurrence, pointing out that, “1966 coup was a single act that destroyed political stability of Nigeria and sow the seed of successive political crises which denied the nation the ability to match forward.”

    He recalled that after the 2015 general election in which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost power at the centre and gained control of some states in the South-South and South-East, some PDP leaders alleged plot by the All Progressive Congress (APC)-controlled Federal Government to seize control of the areas where PDP managed to win.

    “After the last election and the PDP gained control of the states in that region, allegations were made that APC leaders were scheming to use election petition tribunal to deny them their victory. And true to the PDP accusation, most of the election results in those states won by the party were nullified by the election tribunals. It was only the action of the Supreme Court that reversed the situation and save the peace in that area in particular and the nation at large,” he added.

    According to him, “it was alleged that a scheme was hatched to use election tribunal by the APC to take control of the state’s PDP managed to control power. True to that allegation, the election tribunal cancelled gubernatorial elections in more than half of the state’s PDP managed to gain control.”

    “After last year’s general elections where PDP lost power, the party managed to win control of some strategic states. A lot of them are in the South-South, this area is where we have the largest deposit of crude oil in our country and it is where large chunk of foreign investment is concentrated,” he added.

    He said there was need for the Independent Electoral Commission to ensure that when next it will conduct the rerun election in the remaining area in Rivers state, electoral official that should be sent to conduct the rerun election must be people with no partisan inclination. If that is done, there will not be any need of sending thousands of security forces to maintain peace during the election.

    “A true democracy is when the minority will have their say and the majority will have their way. So, what I want to say is that a democracy without a strong opposition does not work out. I will like to appeal to those in control of the federal authority not to allow over ambitious politicians to manipulate them to achieve their political objectives,” he added.

    He also reminded the Federal Government of the impending consequences should states such as Rivers and Bayelsa would be allowed to delve into political crisis, noting that, “with the huge presence of foreign investors in that state, particularly in the oil and gas industry, it will be of huge consequence for Nigeria if crisis erupts from those areas because the foreign investors will not be happy. Their property and installations will not be safe and it will not be a good omen for our economy, which is already in trouble.”

    Yakasai also stated that with the battle against Boko Haram yet to be won, given another opportunity for groups like the Niger-Delta militants whose operation almost crippled the economy during the regime of late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua will spell doom for the country.

    He added that, “although considerable success has been recorded in the military campaign against Book Haram tactless killings; to provoke a new insurgency in the Niger-Delta area in the name of imposing unpopular leadership in Rivers state or any place in that area will be unrewarding.”

     

  • How we spent N63m, by Yakassai

    How we spent N63m, by Yakassai

    The former Special Adviser to ex-President Shehu Shagari on National Assembly Affairs, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, yesterday dismissed the allegation that the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, gave him N63 million, saying it was wrong.

    Yakasai, reacting  to Anenih’s claim in an exclusive telephone interview with The Nation, said that the N63 million was not given to him personally but to a group of eight eminent Northerners which he served as a coordinator.

    He said: “In the first place, the money was not given to me personally. It was given to a team on the request of former President Goodluck Jonathan for the team to go round the 19 northern states and meet the traditional rulers on an appeal mission over the presidential election.

    “Our assignment was to meet with the traditional rulers and appeal to them to speak with their various subjects in order to ensure that the coming presidential election was conducted peacefully.

    “In other words, failure to conduct the election peacefully could lead to unpleasant circumstances because if the country cannot hold a presidential election peacefully, the alternative will be a military takeover.”

    Yakassai went on: “We were assigned to undertake the tour of the entire northern states and we visited 18 out of the 19 states, including Abuja; and at each state we visited, at least, two traditional rulers were met to convey the message of the former president to them.

    “So, our tour was not for any campaign for the former president nor was it for any selfish interest for ourselves, we did it in the interest of the nation; for peace to reign.

    “The money was made up of allowances to the members of the delegation which was for their transportation and accommodation in the places we visited.

    “Myself and all members of the delegation are prepared to appear before any court of law to present our case; more so, all of us are ever ready to answer any call for national duty at any time.

    “No kobo was given to us to be given to any traditional ruler and no dime was given for that purpose, but as usual, we showed some kindness to the palace attendants.”

    According to him, the team consisted of eight eminent northerners of proven integrity, who command respect all over the North.

    They are former Commissioner for Finance in Plateau State Chief John Makiliki; former Commissioner for Education in Kaduna State Alhaji Suleiman Lawal; former Legal Adviser to Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Bitrus Gwanga, former Deputy Governor of old Benue State, who hails from Kogi State Alhaji Sule Heiyaji and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador to Pakistan Mohammed Anka from Zamfara State.

    Yakassai said: “We started our assignments with visits to the Sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Gwandu in Kebbi State, Emir of Anka and Gusau in Zamfara State, Emir of Katsina, a representative of Emir of Daura, Emir of Kano, Emir of Dutse, Emir of Hadejia, Emir of Zau Zau, Attah of Igala, Maigari of Lokoja, Ohimege of Koton-Karfe in Kogi State, Emir of Illorin, Emir of Nasarawa, Emir of Lafia, the late Tor Tiv, Gbong-Gwon Jos, Emir of Bauchi and a representative of the Emir of Gombe.

    Anenih, in a letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), explained how he shared N260 million during the 2015 presidential election. He said Yakassai got N63 million.

     

  • Yakassai denies attacking Buhari, Odigie-Oyegun

    Yakassai denies attacking Buhari, Odigie-Oyegun

    Elder statesman and Second Republic politician Alhaji Tanko Yakassai has refuted allegations that he blasted President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, over their handling of the crisis in the National Assembly.

    Speaking with our reporter on telephone from Kano, the elder statesman said he has no reason whatsoever to blast them and that as someone who does not belong to any political party that he tries to offer advice most of the time on burning national issues.

    He said: “I never did anything of that nature. I only advised them to handle the crisis in the National Assembly with care. I considered it necessary to offer the advice because neither of them has requisite legislative experience. I was speaking based on my experience working with the National Assembly during the Second Republic, when I was Special Adviser to the then President Shehu Shagari on National Assembly matters.

    “I have no reason whatsoever to blast them; while I’m not very close to Buhari, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun is my personal friend and we have tremendous respect for one another. So, I have nothing against them, to warrant blasting them, as the publications insinuated. I don’t belong to any political party, so I speak my mind when it comes to national issues. In fact, in most cases, I offer advice.”

  • Yakassai faults Senate directive to INEC over creation of additional polling units

    Federal Government nominee at the just concluded National Conference, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai has expressed opposition over Senate’s directive to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) against creation of additional polling units in the country.

    The elder statesman, who was also the former Adviser on National Assembly Matters to Ex- President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic, during an interview with Reporters, lamented that the recent directive by the Senate to the electoral body to halt the exercise amounts to usurpation of the functions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as provided by law.

    Yakassai, who cited the provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to support his argument, categorically stated that the responsibility to add or reduce the polling units is the exclusive function of the electoral umpire. Disturbed by the situation, Yakassai, who is also the Chairman of Northern Elders Council (NEC), described the Senate’s directive as not only an avoidable interference but a distraction of the democratic process.

    “For the purpose of emphasis, we all are aware that the Senate does not possess such powers to direct the Electoral Commission to suspend the exercise. The Constitution is very explicit on this function, which is exclusively that of the electoral body,” he stated.

    “As much as I am surprised among all those, who participated in the debate are very important principal officers of the Senate, who should know better that the Senate or National Assembly has no powers to interfere on this matter” “However, It should be noted that INEC is one of the federal executive bodies specified under Part 2, Schedule 3 of the Nigerian Constitution that cannot be dictated or directed to by anybody, including the Judiciary and the Executive in the discharge of their functions” he stated.

    Yakassai therefore stressed that any attempt by anybody to dictate to these bodies on how to discharge their constitutional responsibilities or how to discharge their mandate, amounts to a violation of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act (as amended). Concluding, Yakassai cautioned politicians, especially those in the Senate to always avoid taking steps or actions that would undermine the collective effort of Nigerians to advance the ongoing democratic dispensation.

  • Nigeria’s problem is corruption -Yakassai

    Nigeria’s problem is corruption -Yakassai

    Alhaji Tanko Yakasai was Political Adviser to former President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic. In this interview with KOLADE ADEYEMI, the elder statesman and renowned northern leader expressed serious concern that 52 years after the country’s Independence, it has continued to wallow in corruption, maladministration and mismanagement of public funds.

    What are the things our leaders have refused to get right 52 years after independence?

    Our major problem is the problem of corruption and mismanagement; because of these two factors, countries that were at the same level with us at the point we had independence have surpassed us in terms of development and good governance. Take for instance; countries like Brazil, Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia who were in the same place with us. They have gone far ahead of us. They had the same problem we are facing today, but they were able to overcome them through hard work and resoluteness.

    Sir, are you telling us that the dreams of our founding fathers who fought relentlessly for the country’s independence are yet to be realized?

    Well, I can tell you that the dreams of our founding fathers are yet to be achieved, and the reason boils down to the issue of corruption and mismanagement. Remember that the incursion of the military in the First Republic did a great damage to the foundation of democracy in Nigeria. For this reason, most of the things that were supposed to be put in place to solidify democracy were shattered; and things have never remained the same since then. So, in essence, I can tell you that Nigeria is yet to realise its dreams and aspiration 52 years after independence.

    Why do you think we are finding it difficult to integrate as one indivisible nation 52 years after; because even in recent times, we continue to face the problem of ethnic war as it is being noticed in states like Plateau and Bauchi?

    The problem of ethnic conflict can also be traced to lack of good leadership. When you have good leadership that carries all classes of people along irrespective of tribe, religion or ethnic background, you will find out that nobody will complain. People complain because they are being marginalised or cheated. But when you give everybody a place, you will find out that there will be peace and harmony which shall in return, give way to national development.

    What is then the way forward?

    The only way forward is for the government and the people in power to ensure that every segment, tribe and region in the country is carried along. We should learn to do away with nepotism and favouritism in our polity. Those in power should learn how to be transparent and accountable so that they can regain the confidence of the people.

    What is your opinion on the issue of state creation?

    I do not subscribe to the argument in favour of state creation because doing that at this point of our nation’s history is doing what is impossible. For one thing, creating more states in Nigeria today will continue to drain our economy. It is improper to continue to use 70 per cent of our recurrent expenditure on funding states. The agitators for state creation should leave the issue for now because it will be counter-productive.

    You are aware that politicians from the North and South have started warming up over the 2015 presidency. As an elder statesman, who do you think should step into President Goodluck Jonathan’s shoes?

    I keep on saying this that anybody who is talking about 2015 election at this time does not mean well for Nigeria. How can you begin to talk about 2015 presidency barely one year after the 2011 general elections? Have we sat down to monitor the level of progress being made by those in power? The people we voted into power last year made several promises to Nigerians; and nobody wants to know how serious they are in the implementation of their manifestos, policies and campaign promises. These are the questions we should be asking at this point: what are the people we voted for doing to alleviate our problems? How far have they gone in fulfilling all the promises they made at the polls? What I am saying is that talking about 2015 at this stage is purely diversionary.