Sahara Reporters Latest News Saturday 26th January 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 26/01/19
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target=_blank>Adamawa Community Gets New King For The First Time In 58 Years
Ngida Zakawa Kwache, King of Kamwe in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, has been installed 58 years after the throne became vacant.
Checks by SaharaReporters revealed that Stephen Kwatir-Kwara, favoured by kingmakers, was rejected by the colonial masters after the demise of the last king in April 1960.
Reasons for his disqualification, SaharaReporters further learnt, were due to tax evasion and other sundry offences.
In his place, Mohammed Maunde, a retired Police Corporal, was appointed by the colonial government to oversea the affairs of the kingdom.
The new king has this to say about Kwatir-Kwara: “The last king died in 1960 and kingmakers nominated my uncle, Stephen Kwatir-Kwara, to ascend the throne of his ancestors. However, he was the king our people never had, because he was not married, considered too young and also was accused of not paying tax.
“The colonial masters, therefore, appointed one Corporal Mohammed Maunde (RTD) in acting capacity, who acted for 53 years until his demise in April 2013.”
Our correspondent further gathered that Corporal Maunde acted for such a long period and was neither confirmed, nor a new king appointed to replace him, because he was considered not a member of the community and was in the position due to the confidence reposed in him by the government of that time.
Besides being a Laka by tribe from Mubi, the provincial headquarters of the area, Maude was a Muslim, ruling over a predominantly Christian, Kamwe people.
On the other hand, subsequent efforts by Kamwe tribal lords and ruling clans to upstage him did not succeed, because the colonial regime had subjugated the Kamwe kingdom to Mubi emirate.
However, the actual trouble escalated when Maunde died in 2013, setting the stage for a new king to emerge. After the contest, Ngida Zakawa Kwache, a Christian, was elected unanimously by the kingmakers.
Speaking on the matter, a resident said: “Mubi emirate was reluctant to endorse him, just as authorities in the state kept mute for about five years.”
In 2018, however, Governor Jibrilla Bindow ordered the Emir of Mubi, Abubakar Isa Ahmadu, to carry out necessary documentation to that effect. This gave rise to the new king entering into his palace in Michika for the first time on Thursday, since Boko Haram occupation and subsequent liberation.
This is because besides the leadership tussle, Boko Haram terrorists captured Michika town in 2014, and made the palace the seat of their own caliphate.
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E2%80%98s-lawyer-attempts-discredit-witness-using-malami%E2%80%99s-malabu-deal-letter-buhari target=_blank>Etete‘s Lawyer Attempts To Discredit Witness Using Malami’s Malabu Deal Letter To Buhari
Ibrahim Ahmed, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has testified before the Milan Court, Italy, in the trial of Shell, Eni and officials of both companies for corruption and bribery associated with procurement of OPL 245 bloc by both companies in 2011 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to the investigator, the involvement of Malabu in the allocation of the bloc in 1998 by Malabu, a company jointly owned under alleged false identities by both Dan Etete (Kweku Amafegha) and Mohammed Sanni Abacha, violated all extant laws guiding the process of allocation of oil blocs in Nigeria at the material time.
Before the appearance of Superintendent Ahmed, a former DSS Assistant Director, Victor Nwakwo, who retired from service last year, testified before the court. Though admitting to be one of the over 100 security officials of President Goodluck Jonathan from March 2010 till 2015, he denied knowledge of officials of the oil company or even, as an assistant Director in DSS serving in the Villa, ever coming in contact with a one time National Security Adviser, Aliyu Gusau, while he was in service.
Ahmed painted the graphic picture of shares manipulation of Malabu oil and gas company by Dan Etete, Otunba Fasawe and Mr. Volpi of Intel for which about $5million was paid by Volpi and Fasawe, to the exclusion of Mohammed Abacha, an original holder of 50 per cent shares of Malabu from inception.
Under cross-examination by lawyer to Dan Etete, one of the defendants in the trial, attempted to play a fast one on the witness and the court by presenting a newspaper report of a letter written in 2017 by Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s Attorney General and Justice Minister, addressed to Buhari, calling for discontinuation of the prosecution of the suspects by the EFCC, under the guise of lack of sufficient evidence to secure conviction in the criminal matter involving the immediate predecessor of Malami, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) and accomplices. The prosecutor, Fabio Depasquale, objected to the use of the newspaper article or report of the letter. The Court President requested for a five-minute break for ruling on the objection.
At resumption of the court, the judge upheld the objection of the prosecutor and the evidence was rejected. The lawyer to Etete, obviously relying on the letter for his cross-examination, abruptly withdrew from further cross-examination after the court’s ruling.
Without the timely objection of the prosecutor, Malami would have subjected the country to another round of international opprobrium, like what happened during the case instituted against the Nigerian government by Adoke. If the report had been admitted, the prosecutor had planned to embarass Malami by tendering in evidence President Buhari’s reply where he had turned down the legal advice.
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target=_blank>Ijaw Youth Council: Onnoghen’s Suspension Is Coup Against Democracy
Walter Onnoghen and Buhari
Walter Onnoghen and Buhari
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) says the news of the suspension of Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), is “a coup against democracy”.
Onnoghen’s suspension was announced on Friday evening by President Muhammadu Buhari. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed was sworn in as the acting CJN.
A statement by Eric Omare, the IYC President, noted that the move is desperation taken too far.
The statement read: “This is a coup against democracy and the rule of law. Nigeria is under a constitutional democracy that is governed by the rule of law and the action by President Buhari lacks foundation in law. President Buhari lacks the powers to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria without the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and it is even unthinkable to suspend Justice Onnoghen in the light of the multiple valid and subsisting orders of the National Industrial Court, Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which bars the Code of Conduct Tribunal from going on with the trial of Justice Onnoghen.
“President Buhari claimed to have acted pursuant to an order of the CCT made on January 23, 2019. However, from the records of proceedings of the CCT, no such order was made. The pending motions are yet to be taken, hence it is surprising for the President to be relying on a non-existing order.
“This is desperation taken too far and the IYC in the strongest terms condemns this display of impunity by President Buhari. This is the height of lawlessness and the greatest threat to democratic rule in Nigeria. The IYC calls on President Buhari to immediately reverse this illegal, despicable and undemocratic decision.
“We also call on Nigerians and all lovers of democracy all over the world to rise up and defend our democracy in Nigeria. Anti-democratic forces who truncated democracy in the past must not be allowed to truncate democracy again.”
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target=_blank>LASPOTECH Management Intimidating Us With Paramilitary Group, Says ASUP
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) of Lagos State Polytechnic chapter has accused the institution management of frustrating its union by inviting militia men to the school to disrupt the union activities.
The union is on a week-long industrial action to press home their demand for de-migration of their salary structure, restoration of the union’s check-off dues deduction, and other staff welfare deductions, among others.
The union held a protest at the Lagos State Secretariat on Thursday to urge the state government to immediately intervene in the issue.
Speaking on the current situation, Comrade Salami Olugbenga, Chairman of ASUU LASPOTECH, said the school management brought in a vigilante group to attack the union leaders.
He said: “They brought the Onyanbo security group and the target is on all protesters, especially the union leaders. The management ordered them to come into the school and they are following the CSO of the institution around. They felt that we are going to be intimidated by their presence and guns, but we will not be.
“The militia group said the NASU Chairman has been sacked and he is not expected to be on campus; they wanted to carry him outside. They are also saying I should just leave the campus without any reason.”
Comrade Salami said the union was able to resist the militia group and remain on campus.
“It was a serious fracas, but we were able to resist them. When they saw that people are taking pictures and recording videos, they retracted a little and they have been following us closely since then. We don’t know what their line of action will be because some of them were wearing masks and carrying guns,” he said.
When contacted, Colonel Mike Ogunlade (rtd), Chief Security Officer of the Polytechnic, refused to comment on the matter.
Also, Mr Olanrewaju Kuye, Public Relations Officer of the Polytechnic, said he was not in the school and not aware of the situation.
The union is embarking on industrial action to demand for the reversal of the CONTISS 15 de-migration, investigation into the finances of the polytechnic, stoppage of harassment and intimidation of union leaders and members generally, restoration of unions’ check-off dues deduction and other staff welfare deductions, stoppage of administrative recklessness, and the immediate sack of the management team and governing council.
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target=_blank>QUESTION: Does Buhari Have Powers To Remove Onnoghen? Yes? No?
President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Onnoghen is standing trial for fraudulent declaration of assets.
Buhari based his decision on an order by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) issued on Wednesday, directing the suspension of the CJN.
A statement by the President on Friday evening noted that Onnoghen’s suspension is “pending final determination of the case against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal”.
Buhari has also sworn in Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed as the acting CJN.
The question on everyone’s lips at the moment is whether the President has the capacity to direct the suspension of Onnoghen. Does he or does he not?
NO
Section 292 of the Nigerian Constitution reads as follows:
(1) A judicial officer shall not be removed from his office or appointment before his age of retirement except in the following circumstances –
(a) in the case of –
(i) Chief Justice of Nigeria, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and President, Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate.
(ii) Chief Judge of a State, Grand Kadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal or President of a Customary Court of Appeal of a State, by the Governor acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly of the State, Praying that he be so removed for his inability to discharge the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or of body) or for misconduct or contravention of the Code of Conduct;
(b) in any case, other than those to which paragraph (a) of this subsection applies, by the President or, as the case may be, the Governor acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council that the judicial officer be so removed for his inability to discharge the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or of body) or for misconduct orcontravention of the Code of Conduct.
(2) Any person who has held office as a judicial officer shall not on ceasing to be a judicial officer for any reason whatsoever thereafter appear or act as a legal practitioner before any court of law or tribunal in Nigeria.
The forgoing proves that the President lacks the powers to ‘remove’ Onnoghen, but this is only true to the extent that ‘removal’ includes both temporary, like a suspension, and permanent removal from office.
YES
There could also be an argument that the President hasn’t ‘removed’ Onnoghen but has only suspended him, meaning Onnoghen’s return to the office, should he be cleared of fraudulent asset declaration charges, is also possible. In the event that ‘suspension’ does not constitute ‘removal’, then the President would be seen as not having violated the law.
THE FINAL ANSWER
Only the lawyers, really, can tell us clear-cut. Let the debate begin!
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target=_blank>BREAKING: I Expected Onnoghen To ‘Swiftly’ Remove Himself, Says Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has expained his reasons for suspending Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and installing Tanko Mohammed in his place.
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BREAKING: Buhari Suspends Onnoghen, Swears In Tanko Mohammed As Acting CJN
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In an address on the suspension, the President said he expected the CJN to have “acted swiftly to spare our Judicial Arm further disrepute by removing himself from superintending over it while his trial lasted”.
He also said it was “no secret that this government is dissatisfied with the alarming rate in which the Supreme Court of Nigeria under the oversight of Justice Walter Onnoghen has serially set free, persons accused of the most dire acts of corruption, often on mere technicalities, and after quite a number of them have been convicted by the trial and appellate courts”.
THE PRESIDENT’S FULL ADDRESS
Fellow Nigerians,
A short while ago, I was served with an Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal issued on Wednesday 23rd January 2019, directing the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen from office pending final determination of the cases against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and several other fora relating to his alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
The nation has been gripped by the tragic realities of no less a personality than the Chief Justice of Nigeria himself becoming the accused person in a corruption trial since details of the petition against him by a Civil Society Organization first became public about a fortnight ago.
Although the allegations in the petition are grievous enough in themselves, the security agencies have since then traced other suspicious transactions running into millions of dollars to the CJN’s personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by law.
Perhaps more worrisome is the Chief Justice of Nigeria’s own written admission to the charges that he indeed failed to follow the spirit and letter of the law in declaring his assets, citing ’’mistake’’ and ’’forgetfulness’’ which are totally unknown to our laws as defences in the circumstances of his case.
One expected that with his moral authority so wounded, by these serious charges of corruption, more so by his own written admission, Mr. Justice Walter Onnoghen would have acted swiftly to spare our Judicial Arm further disrepute by removing himself from superintending over it while his trial lasted.
Unfortunately, he has not done so. Instead, the nation has been treated to the sordid spectacle of a judicial game of wits in which the Chief Justice of Nigeria and his legal team have made nonsense of the efforts of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to hear the allegation on merit and conclude the trial as quickly as possible considering the nature of the times in which we live.
Whether deliberately or inadvertently, we have all seen the full weight of the Chief Justice of Nigeria descend on the tender head of one of the organs of justice under his control. There is simply no way the officers of that court, from the Chairman to the bailiffs, can pretend to be unaffected by the influence of the leader of the Judiciary.
Not only the trial court, but others have been put on the spot. Practically every other day since his trial commenced, the nation has witnessed various courts granting orders and counter-orders in favour of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, all of them characterised by an unholy alacrity between the time of filing, hearing and delivery of judgment in same.
The real effect has been a stalling of the trial of Justice Onnoghen, helped along by lawyers who insist that these orders, whether right or wrong are technically valid, and must be obeyed till an appellate Court says otherwise. No doubt, that it is the proper interpretation, but is it the right disposition for our nation?
Nigeria is a constitutional democracy and no one must be, or be seen to be, above the law. Unfortunately, the drama around the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria has challenged that pillar of justice in the perception of the ordinary man on the street. For it is certain that no ordinary Nigerian can get the swift and special treatment Justice Onnoghen has enjoyed from his subordinates and privies in our Judicature.
In the midst of all these distracting events, the essential question of whether the accused CJN actually has a case to answer has been lost in the squabble over the form and nature of his trial. This should not be so.
If Justice cannot be done and clearly seen to be done, society itself is at risk of the most unimaginable chaos. As a Government, we cannot stand by wailing and wringing our hands helplessly but give our full backing and support to those brave elements within the Judiciary who act forthrightly, irrespective of who is involved.
As you are all aware, the fight against corruption is one of the tripod of policies promised to Nigerians by this administration. Needless to say that it is an existential Policy which must be given adequate attention and commitment by all the three arms of government. The efforts of the Executive will amount to nothing without the cooperation of the Legislature and especially the Judiciary.
It is no secret that this government is dissatisfied with the alarming rate in which the Supreme Court of Nigeria under the oversight of Justice Walter Onnoghen has serially set free, persons accused of the most dire acts of corruption, often on mere technicalities, and after quite a number of them have been convicted by the trial and appellate courts.
Since there is nothing the Executive Arm can do after the apex court of the land has spoken on any matter, several of these individuals walk free among us today, enjoying what are clearly the proceeds of the corruption which for so long has defeated the efforts of this nation to develop and prosper.
It is against this background that I have received the Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal directing me to suspend the Chief Justice pending final determination of the cases against him. It also explains why I am not only complying immediately, but with some degree of relief for the battered sensibilities of ordinary Nigerians whose patience must have become severely over-taxed by these anomalies.
In line with this administration’s avowed respect for the Rule of Law, I have wholeheartedly obeyed the Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal dated 23rd January 2019.
Accordingly, I hereby suspend the Honourable Mr. Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen, GCON as the Chief Justice of Nigeria pending final determination of the case against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
In further compliance with the same Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, I hereby invite Honourable Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed JSC, being the next most Senior Justice in the Supreme Court, to come forward to take the Judicial Oath as Chief Justice of Nigeria in an Acting Capacity.
Fellow Nigerians, we can only stand a chance to win the fight against Corruption, and position our dear nation for accelerated development when we stand together to contend against it.
Thank you and may God bless our country.
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target=_blank>PHOTOS: The Swearing-In Of Tanko Mohammed As New CJN
Justice Tanko Mohammed
President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday swore in Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) in acting capacity.
Mohammed was sworn in on Friday after Justice Walter Onnoghen was suspended. Onnoghen is standing trial over allegations of fraudulent declaration of assets.
According to the presidency, the swearing-in of an acting Chief Justice follows an order by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) directing the President to swear in the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as acting Chief Justice and Chairman of the National Judicial Council.
Below are photos from the event.
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target=_blank>EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS: When Galadima’s ACPN Begged Ezekwesili To Accept Its Presidential Ticket
The leadership of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) chaired by Ganiyu Galadima is still at daggers drawn with Obiageli Ezekwesili, its former presidential candidate, over her withdrawal from the 2019 presidential race.
Ezekwesili had withdrawn from the race on Thursday after “extensive discussions with Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora”, citing the need to “help build a coalition to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election”.
She said her action was also prompted by “an examination of the country’s electoral environment sequel to the 2019 presidential debate of Saturday, January 19, 2019″.
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“This decision followed extensive consultations with leaders from various walks of life across the country over the past few days,” she had said. “I deem it necessary for me to focus on helping to build a veritable coalition to ensure a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the forthcoming elections.”
However, hours after her withdrawal was made public, Galadima, the National Chairman of ACPN who was also her running mate, convened a press conference where he said Ezekwesili’s announcement was not surprising, as she only pre-empted the party’s decision to support another presidential candidate.
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BREAKING: ACPN Disowns Ezekwesili, Endorses Buhari’s Second Term Bid
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“She only pre-empted the decision we would have reached today which was to withdraw her candidacy and give to somebody else. Our presidential nomination ticket is N10 million and expression of interest is N500,000, but when she came she said she did not have money, that she only had N100,000 and because we wanted to encourage women, we gave her our platform,” he had said.
“The reason for calling this press conference is to let the world know about the presidential aspiration of Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, which, in actual fact, is not the truth. We have been put into confidence by several of her aides, one of which is named lyinoluwa Aboyeji also known as Maureen, that she only wanted to use the platform of the ACPN to negotiate to be Nigeria’s Finance Minister. This she did not deem fit to inform the party whose mandate she is holding.”
At the end of the conference, Galadima declared the party’s decision to henceforth support the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.
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Ezekwesili Describes Galadima’s Allegations As ‘Baseless’
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Ezekwesili has since dismissed those claims, initially declaring them as “baseless and a figment of Galadima’s imagination”, before subsequently branding the parties’ leaders “political entrepreneurs with a transactional approach to politics”.
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ACPN Leaders Are Political Entrepreneurs With A Transactional Approach To Politics, Says Ezekwesili
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The full scale of claims and counter-claims from Galadima and Ezekwesili is yet to be known; however, on the claim that “when Ezekwesili came she said she did not have money”, SaharaReporters has confirmed that it was indeed ACPN that went begging the former Minister in her office to convince her to accept its ticket.
This confirmation was made based on three videos exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, one of which featured Galadima telling Ezekwesili how he had been given a prophesy that the party would be great in Nigeria but it would be driven by a woman.
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EXCLUSIVE: Obasanjo, Sanusi Among Those Who Convinced Ezekwesili To Step Down
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Faces that can be seen in the videos include those of Galadima and other party leaders, Aisha Yesufu, Ezekwesili and members of her team.
While the first two videos were recorded on October 2, 2018, the last was filmed three days later.
Video of EXCLUSIVE: When Galadima's ACPN Begged Ezekwesili To Accept Its Presidential Ticket (I)
EXCLUSIVE: When Galadima’s ACPN Begged Ezekwesili To Accept Its Presidential Ticket (I)
In his attempt to convince the former Minister of Education to contest on the ACPN platform, Galadima said: “There was this old man. They call him Alhaji Abdullahi. He was the treasurer of the local government. The man has been a source of great inspiration to me. Since that day, out of all of us, he has been like my adopted father. About five months ago, I went to say hello to him as usual and he said ‘Alhaji Ganiyu, what is happening? This your party, let me take you to somebody’.
“When we got there, we saw the man, a very old man. He would be over 100 years old. He is a very old man, but he is a blind man. When we got there, the man asked ‘whom did you bring? What’s the name of his party?’ I told him ACPN. He said: ‘That your party will be great in this country. But the person that will drive it is a woman’. Since then, I found it difficult to place it. I started imagining that ‘could this be the woman this old man just spoke about?’
Video of EXCLUSIVE: When Galadima's ACPN Begged Ezekwesili To Accept Its Presidential Ticket (II)
EXCLUSIVE: When Galadima’s ACPN Begged Ezekwesili To Accept Its Presidential Ticket (II)
“The effect of this meeting had been foretold a long time ago and I pray to God to bless it for us and make this day a day for all of us to remember. This is 5th October, our convention is 7th. It will mark the beginning of great things to come. Congratulations! Congratulations!! Congratulations!!! And congratulations to the team, especially Hajiya Aisha. When I mentioned Her Excellency coming to this party, it has gone further in the North. Some of my friends said she should please take Aisha Yesufu as her vice-presidential candidate. And they have their reasons. They say they want us to make history. That this will address the gender issue. In addition, they said Aisha Yesufu is very popular in the North and the women in the entire North will support her. This job is a job that God has concluded. By the grace of God, I pray that we will all live long to remember this day for good.”
In her response, Ezekwesili said: “One of the things that I can see clearly is that it is going to take a coalition for us to seek what we want to achieve, which is to basically dismantle this old order of governance and to completely refresh our politics. And so, it’s going to be important that we find as many like-minded as the party to come on board.
“I do have a number of parties that have been talking to me, so it’s going to be important for us to bring them on board and find many more of them because it has to be a people’s movement to say we want to redefine what governance is all about. It’s because of that that I appreciate your openness to learning new things because frankly, what helps us as a team has been this willingness to learn things that we don’t know.”
Presenting the nomination form which was contained in a brown envelope, Galadima continued: “On the platform of our party, the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), this is as a result of our conviction that we can make it. You have the capacity; that you have paid your dues; and that you have contributed so much to the accountability of governance of this country. I want to encourage you to practise what you have been preaching. If you think they’re not doing it well, you cannot sit down and still be expecting that the same thing should continue to be recycled.
Video of EXCLUSIVE: When Galadima's ACPN Begged Ezekwesili To Accept Its Presidential Ticket (III)
EXCLUSIVE: When Galadima’s ACPN Begged Ezekwesili To Accept Its Presidential Ticket (III)
“We want to encourage you to come out to take up the gauntlet to challenge the bourgeoisie and the people who are deceiving us, deceiving the masses, that they are messiahs, whereas they are not. We will challenge them and we will win the election for you to be able to serve the masses and the people of this country. On behalf of myself, the National Working Committee, the NEC, and members of the ACPN in Nigeria, we, in proxy, deliver the invitation and we hope that the response that we will get from you will be positive.”
The brown envelope containing the documents was received by another lady on Ezekwesili’s behalf. According to the lady, the envelope containing the nomination form was accepted “not in commitment” to the proposal, but so that the Ezekwesili camp could “revert” on its decision.
There was mild drama as Galadima attempted to present a souvenir to Ezekwesili, which he said “she must collect”. However, Ezekwesili and her team rejected the souvenir, saying they had not decided if they would accept the offer or not.
Galadima pressed further by saying she could accept the souvenir off the record, but the former Minister nonetheless refused at the time the video playback ended.
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target=_blank>BREAKING: Buhari Suspends Onnoghen, Swears In Tanko Mohammed As Acting CJN
President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended the Chief Justice of Nigeira (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, pending the completion of his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The President announced the suspension at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday.
He said the action followed the order of the CCT directing him to suspend Onnoghen, pending the completion of his trial.
The President consequently swore in Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Mohammed who hails from Bauchi state is the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court.
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2019: Analysing Nigeria’s Democracy 20 Years After? By Adejumo Kabir?
The term “Democracy” is derived from two Greek words “demo” (people) and “kratos” (rule). Meaning, democracy is a form of Government where everybody has the right to take up representative role in positions of authority in a society. This form of government is preferable globally because of the advantages that are inherent in it which includes: decent standard of living, housing, healthcare, education, equality of persons, freedom of expression and other fundamental rights associated with the concept.
The struggle that brought about democracy in Nigeria did not, however, come with a tea party after several years of military dictatorship characterised by maladministration. Nigerians continued to agitate for democratic governance and the death of Sanni Abacha in 1998 gave hope to the struggle after AbdulSalam Abubakar who succeeded him registered three political parties which were People Democratic Party (PDP), Alliance for Democracy (AD) and All Peoples Party (APP) which gave birth to democratic governance in 1999. The journey, however, began when AbdulSalam Abubakar handed over power to Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999, and since then, the day has been set aside to celebrate democracy.
However, 20 years after uninterrupted democratic governance, the celebration is vanity due to a high level of corruption, poverty, decay infrastructure, unemployment, insecurity and other irregularities with shall be examined in this piece.
ELECTORALCOMMISSIONANDELECTIONS:
Elections allow the participation of citizens to choose among contestants in various political parties for political offices. Nigeria elections are conducted by the Electoral Commission that lacks institutional and administrative autonomy as fund is being released by the Federal Government. This led to the power Ibrahim Babangida had to annul June 12 presidential election in 1993. However, since 1999, the Independent National Electoral Commission cannot be said to be independent due to weak institutionalisation, and political interference.
Since 1999, INEC is composed by/with the Federal Government appointment. This makes manipulation very easy by the Presidency and makes their removal possible base on flimsy excuses which was what happened to Humphrey Nwosu in 1993 following the Babangida’s decision to annul June 12 election but was contrary to the commission’s position. This makes the capability of the electoral body so constrain. Since the Federal Government appoints those persons at their will, it further makes the commission filled with people without professional competence to lead the body. Maurice Iwu, the former Chairman of INEC who was removed by Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in April 2010 after irregularities in 2007 election had no professional experience in electoral management.
Also, most ad hoc staff use by INEC yearly are often trained a day about what conducting election entails and after failed electoral processes, the body blames the temporary workers instead of accepting their irregularities. Over the years, INEC has failed to organise an election that every Nigerians will applaud its credibility. The INEC has been able to hold five consecutive elections without military intervention in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015. The results of 1999 presidential election which brought Olusegun Obasanjo over Olu Falae where the former had 62.78% over the later who had 37.22% were challenged and even local and international observers including the Transition Monitoring Group, the International Republican Institute and the EU attested to the incredibility. Notwithstanding, Abubakar handed over to Obasanjo.
In 2003, another irregularity occurred. Prior to the election, the electoral bill was changed in 2001 specifying that the presidential election would come first. The president and members of the National Assembly aimed to secure their re-election because they were scared that if the state Governors were elected first, they might use their local power to deny the president and the members of National Assembly re-election. However, lack of autonomy from the end of INEC led to tension across the country. Again, PDP emerged as winner all levels with Obasanjo winning with 61.80% while Muhammadu Buhari of ANPP was second with 32.3%. The power of incumbency also made PDP had 75 of 109 senatorial seats. INEC as an agent of the presidency won the election for the rulling party. According to the reports of local and international observers, the irregularities in the election include; rigging, violence and buying of votes and ballot stuffing. These abnormalities made people lost their confidence in INEC and posed the question of Independence.
Again, rigging was prominent in South East, South South and South West as there were cases where INEC disqualified candidates on the eve of election in 2007. This was the case in Kogi, Anambra and Adamawa states where opposition candidates were excluded. Again, local and international observers condemned the manipulations in the election. Just from the conduct of the election, there were 1,250 election petitions with the presidential election having 8, governorship election had 105, the Senate had 150, House of Representatives had 331 and the state Houses of Assembly had 656. Infact, most of the cases where decided in the highest court. A re-run was mandated in most gubernatorial elections. Nigerians begin to trust the judiciary after achieving great feat in restoring normalcy to the country through judgement delivered on matters surrounding 2007 election. Residents in Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti protested violently against rigging.
Also, observers reservation for 2011 election include: political violence, ballot stuffing, underage voting and rigging. After the April 16 presidential election, the supporters of Muhammadu Buhari who was CPC candidate then protested against President Jonathan’s victory and that led to violence in Kano, Zamfara, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Niger, Sokoto, Gombe Adamawa, Katsina and Yobe. The protest and violence damaged properties and claimed lives. Police put the total number of deaths from the violence at 520 and thousands of persons were displaced in 12 northern states.
In 2015, there was much enthusiasm of voters and it was applauded despite fears that the election would come with violence. However, card readers failed INEC this time which made accreditations very slow and late. In fact, as at 4pm in Anthony, Lagos State, accreditation was yet to be perfected. Observers confirmed irregularities in several places such as River State where there was shooting in Ikwerre LGA and in Kano where we reportedly had underage voting and many more. While the Attairu Jega led INEC was applauded after the election, irregularities in some states stained his white cloth.
THE PLAYERS OF POLITICS AND CORRUPTION:
Since 1998/1999, there had been men who always want to have their personal interests met through briefcases and they disappear from their constituents and constituency after elections. True, democracy has been buried in the last 20 years of democratic governance as there was/is no difference between the PDP, APC and every other political parties. The players of the game prioritise their survival and aim of remaining relevant when things are not going fine. A typical example is Olusegun Obasanjo, an emergency activist whose recent love is open letters to government in power. Meanwhile, the statesman had forgotten that he had all he could to perfect change as a military ruler and again, as a civilian president. Despite, countless number of political parties in the country, only two or three of the parties are dominating the political atmosphere. Infact, with several parties merging together every year and it is becoming clearer to the people that Nigeria is heading towards a two-party system; the rulling party and a strong opposition.
It is pathetic that the same set of people who ruled during the military era are still very powerful in the decision making of today democratic governance. In 1999, Obasanjo who once served as military ruler in connivance with some retired General perfected his emergence as PDP candidates in 1998 at Jos convention. This was the beginning of godfatherism, manipulations and briefcases politics. Godfatherism amongst these elites gave birth to misrepresentation of electorates. It has gone worse to the extent that even Babangida who annulled the fairest election of June 1993 still sit in his house to anoint political parties’ candidates. Candidates are selected based on loyalty and whomever the party leaders endorse manoeuvre their way into offices. They settle leaders in kind or in cash and this mostly lead to electoral malpractices. After emergence, the emergency political office holders end up serving their godfathers instead of the masses. This is one of the reasons why Aisha Buhari said some men are in charge of her husband led administration.
Corruption is a phenomenon that strive in all the three arms of government. The corruption has over the years been a threat to national development as it is already a norm for Nigerian political office holders to loot the public treasury. The corrupt practices of these men and women in power has led to mediocrity in every as aspect of governance. 20 years after uninterrupted democratic governance, corruption increases every second to the extent that the former president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said that stealing is not corruption. While serving as the Chairman of Economic Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu said many of the governors whose second term lapsed in 2007 were corrupt and should face sanction. It was afterwards that James Ibori who served as Delta State Governor was convicted in London after he was acquitted in Nigerian court. Deprieye Alamaesigha and host of others including Ministers, Senators and Members of the House of Representatives collectively stole and still stealing the collective joy of the masses.
Several contracts are awarded to companies that are not registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission and many of the perpetrators of these corrupt practices still drive freely in their flamboyant cars on the streets. Many of those indicted for subsidy fraud still walk freely because the judiciary appear helpless. The judicial arm which is expected to be the last hope of the poor has failed in its role against corruption. There have been several cases of bribery and corruption against Judges. While many them argue that what they get is gift, it leads to miscarriage of justice.
There have been approval of several budgets with scary figures at the states and national level with unimplemented projects. Trillions have been generated from our natural resources including crude oil but few infrastructural facilities or developments. While government officials continue to award contract to agencies and firms that does not exist, our roads remain death trap, children use underneath tree for school, underneath bridge for home, mortuary for hospital and many other facilities left untouched. Many workers at the state level are not paid properly which amount to governors leaving debt of unpaid salaries and abandoned projects to their successors.
Large number of members of the National Assembly use their capital/constituency projects fee for frivolities. One of the reasons why many of them love to return to the Senate and House at all time in order to remain in Government. Many contracts awarded to associates of political office holders are arguably for syphoning funds for every next election. Since, 1999, Government is just attending to Lagos-Ibadan, Lagos-Ore-Benin road and other express ways that have been budgeted since 1999. An average Nigerian is yet to feel the impact of democratic governance. Infact, democracy has been a representation of betrayal. While some countries would love to practice democratic governance for social and economic advantage, we have a democracy for the advantages of few in Nigeria.
The level of insurgence in Nigeria over the years is disheartening despite the huge budgetary amount on security yearly. Nigeria has become a country with kidnapping and terrorism as norms. While the militants continue to burst oil pipes and kidnap in the south east, the Boko Haram have become owners of various territory in the northern part and the herdsmen continue to butcher farmers in every part of the nation. While parents of Chibok Girls are still mourning, Dapchi Girls menace follows. All these have become disaster and pose major difficulties to democratic governance.
The leadership on their part, are also slow in responding to issues of security. Dasuki and his cohort are still standing trial for huge amount of money on security that was diverted into their personal pockets. Indeed, if we have more autocratic leaders, heads would have been rolling. Since it is democratic governance, cases rust in court. None of the probe panel of the government has ever seen the light of the day. The obvious is allegation and another is rejoinder from the accused with over 100 Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing thief.
Since 1999, hardly we find the government implementing the recommendations of probe panel. The big question is: Why should public funds be spent on probe panel whose recommendations will not be put into implementation? With all these irregularities, it is not inaccurate to say that Nigeria democratic governance is a curse. In my view, the best way to fight these anomalies is through revolution but who will lead the struggle? Will you?
AdejumoKabiris a student journalist at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State. He tweets @AdejumoKabir2
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