Nigeria Content Online

Ten months after they were suspended by their colleagues, former
speaker and deputy speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Taofiq Olawale
Abdusalam and Mayowa Akinfolarin yesterday resumed parliamentary sittings.

The two lawmakers were suspended over allegations that they were
in custody of the Assembly’s properties despite the fact that they had been
removed from office. The duo fought the suspension by seeking legal redress at
the court but the court did not rule in their favor. Mr Abdusalam and Mr
Akinfolarin were expected to resume last week at the end of their suspension
however they could not because of the vacation by other members of the House.

They said that their resumption was based on the series of
announcements that were made in the state-owned radio and television stations
that the impeached officers should appear before the parliamentary session
yesterday.

Aside from the fact that their constituencies were not
represented on any of the decisions taken on the floor of the Assembly, the two
lawmakers did not receive salaries and emoluments throughout the period they
were on suspension.

Speaking with reporters, Mr Abdusalam said they are back in the Assembly to
contribute their quota to the development of the state and their
constituencies.During the sitting, the Speaker introduced the former deputy
speaker, Mr Akinfolarin, as ‘honourable’ without attaching the prefix ‘Rt.
Hon’normally accorded to old speakers.

The national chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists,
Mohamed Garuba, on Tuesday, said that the call for the declaration of a state
of emergency in Plateau and Borno States is not right.

Speaking with journalists at the presidential wing of the
Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Mr Garuba explained that the declaration of
state of emergency in Plateau State in the past did not bring about peace in
the land, adding that the government should be proactive and work towards
unearthing the cause of the anarchy in the affected states. “We believe that
the issue state of emergency should not be the solution to the problems,” he
said.

“Because we remembered vividly that some time ago, when this
crisis continued in Plateau State during the time of [former governor] Dariye,
President Obasanjo then declared a state of emergency, but unfortunately the
crisis and the problems still persisted. Therefore the best way as far as we
are concerned to address this very serious problem is for government to look
inward and find out the root courses of these unfortunate incidents.”

Political repercussions

Mr Garuba noted that the upheaval in the two states may not be
as a result of religious intolerance, adding that the government should act
quickly before the level of security in the States deteriorate beyond what it
is presently. “As far as we are concerned, it has more to do with politics than
religion,” he said. “I am afraid to say that if the government allows such
insecurity to continue, it maybe virtually very difficult for us to experience
the April 2011 elections. People are already scared. If you look at the number
of turn-out on the review of the voters registers in Plateau and Borno, they
have recorded the lowest in terms of participation and I am sure it is going to
be same thing when it comes to 2011 elections.”

“Most importantly I believe there are lot of committees that were formed by
the government to investigate this incident in Jos and Maiduguri, but up to
this time nobody has been arrested and no culprits have been prosecuted and I
think that is the major problem. Government has to implement the recommendation
of all the committees that were formed. There is no reason why the government
should not expose the findings of these committees and then try as much as
possible to implement the recommendation of these committees. If the government
fails to do this, I want to assure you that this crisis will continue; and
indeed it is going to be unfortunate in this part of the country. Why we are a
little bit concerned is that if we are not careful, gradually this crisis will
escalate to other parts of the country,” he added.

The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole yesterday signed the
state’s 2011 budget of N112.7 billion into law.

Promising a commitment to even distribution of amenities in the
state, Mr Oshiomhole while signing the 2011 budget said, that “the challenge
for the executive branch for which you have oversight function is to ensure
that both the spirit and letter of this budget are truly translated.”

According to a statement signed by Peter Okhiria, the chief Press Secretary
to the Edo State Governor, he stated that “Mr Oshiomole assures the good people
of Edo State that this budget, essentially designed to ensure that we complete
the projects that we have started and where possible, we initiate new ones.
With this instrument in place, I have no doubt in my mind that a number of
projects would be completed.”

He commended the state House of Assembly’s Speaker and members for the
timely passage of the bill, stating that “since my assumption of office, this
is the first time that we are concluding and signing the budget into law within
the first month of the year. It has not happened before. In my first year in
office, the budget was passed towards the end of April and by that time, the
rains had started and this had clear implications for capital projects.”

“That under your leadership for the first time the House was able to pass
the budget within January and complete all formalities for the budget to be
signed into law by the end of January, I believe Mr Speaker, you have made
history.”

Presenting the bill earlier, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly,
Bright Omokhodion said the timely passage of the bill was to facilitate the
smooth implementation of government policies and programmes.

Describing ethno-religious violcence as a
threat to democracy, Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, has
said that as long as previous killings and assassinations remain
unresolved, the perpetrators of these wicked acts will be emboldened to
unleash more mayhem on innocent people.

Mr. Abubakar, however, called on Nigerians to shun violence in any form as a means of redressing perceived grievances.

Reacting to the current spate of
violence, political assassinations, and ethnic/religious conflicts in
some parts of the country, the former vice president in a press
statement issued by his media office, said that the entire country
should know that “no nation can achieve development and stability under
the atmosphere of intolerance and frequent resort to violence to settle
scores.”

According to him, Nigerians should avoid
tendencies that could undermine the foundation of the country’s hard
won unity, adding that no sensible person should take stability for
granted. “Economic development, political stability, and social order
cannot be achieved when violence becomes an easy tool for resolving
misunderstandings.

“I have said it before and I need to say it again that since, as
human beings, we are incapable of creating life, nobody under any
circumstance should take human life,” Mr. Abubakar said.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, on Tuesday, said that
the high level of youth unemployment prevalent in the state will be addressed
by the agricultural empowerment scheme in the N450billion appropriation bill
for 2011.

Mr Fashola, at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed
Airport, Lagos, told journalists that the recently passed budget has provided a
better opportunity for the government to take agriculture more seriously.
“Education has always been our priority,” he said. “Agriculture was also a
priority. So, I wasn’t saying that for the first time. What I tried to
emphasize there was that the budget has given us the capacity to address more
seriously the problem of youth unemployment through the agricultural youth
empowerment scheme. There is a special provision in there.”

The governor explained that the budget gives room for graduates
to be involved in the cultivation of crops and rearing of animals, adding that
the state government is working towards getting the youths involved in
agricultural activities. “There are general provisions for adult farmers and
all of that, but there is a special provision for youth unemployment through
the agricultural youth empowerment scheme for graduates,” he said. “We are
moving them to an area where clearly young graduates have not looked enough.
There are enormous opportunities there; become young farmers, provide food for
this country and earn a respectable living from there.”

Fixing Lagos roads

Mr Fashola also promised residents of the state the government
plans to fix roads that are deteriorating, adding that people should express
confidence rather than talk down the administration. “Now, there is a plan to
fix all these roads and I can assure you that the road you are talking about is
already within our radar and I am the last person to want to say ‘go and do
this person’s road’ and all of that,” he said.

“Let the system work. We will get to you because if we start the
practice of running from this local government to that local government, it
becomes a fire fighting approach that does not yield the developmental result
that we want. I assure you, take my words for it, there is a plan and they are
already in your neighbourhood. So, if they haven’t got into your street, it doesn’t
mean they won’t get there.”

Vice president, Namadi Sambo, on Tuesday in Abuja, warned that
the federal government will expose and try any one found guilty of corruption
in the country, no matter how highly placed in the society.

Speaking at the occasion of the foundation laying ceremony of
the new Economic and Financial Crimes Commission headquarters building at Jabi,
Abuja, Mr. Sambo said good governance is a major product of diligent and robust
anti-corruption work, therefore urging all Nigerians to strive and work to
attain that goal. He said that democracy and development will be at great risk
if corruption continues to prevail in public life.

The vice president promised that the federal goverment will
continue to support the fight against corruption through aiding the anti-graft
bodies.

He commended the EFCC saying that “it remains one of the most
respected institutions of goverment today, domestically and internationally.”

He also said the commission has strengthened the country’s
democracy and helped changed the perception of Nigeria as a fee fraud nation,
citing the continuous improvements in the Transparency International global
corruption index.

He said on completion of the new EFCC headquarters, which cost
about 18 billion naira, it will provide conducive environment for the crucial
work of combating corruption in all ramifications.

Recovery strength

Meanwhile, the chairman of EFCC, Farida Waziri, also said that
the commission has recovered 11 billion dollars in the period of seven years
from corrupt people in the country.

She said that if the commission is provided with a befitting
edifice like the one proposed, and also with modern gadgets, it will perform
better.

The managing director of Julius Berger, Wolfgang Goetsch, promised that its
company will meet the time stipulated in the contract and do a good job which
will meet international standards. The project is expected to be completed in
two years.

The Federal High Court has restrained the People’s Democratic Party,
Oyo state, from presenting Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and other contestants
who emerged at the party’s primaries in the state last year, as its candidates
for the 2011 elections.

The court, on Tuesday, ordered the suspension of results of the
congresses and restrained the party from presenting the beneficiaries to the
Independent Electoral Commission pending the determination of a suit against
the legality of the shadow elections.

Three governorship contestants in the party – Wole Oyelese,
Azeem Gbolarumi and Yekeen Adeojo, and 34 other party faithful, including Lekan
Balogun, had approached the court to seek an ex parte motion against the
state’s PDP primaries held to pick candidates to contest for members of the
state House of Assembly, National Assembly and the governorship elections.

Umpires’ Whistle

Giving the ruling yesterday, Justice Johnson Shakarho, ordered a
halt to presenting the governor and other emerging aspirants to the INEC as the
party’s candidates to allow the court to determine the merit of the substantive
suit.

The judge, however, refused the plaintiff’s prayer to restrain
the INEC from receiving, accepting or in anyway acting upon any nomination of
any person or persons for any election purportedly elected at the congress,
saying it has been overtaken by event.

Contending that the congresses fell short of the provisions of
the nation’s constitution, Michael Lana, counsel to the plaintiffs, had sought
for an order to restrain the PDP and the governor from acting on the results
produced there.

The plaintiffs joined the INEC, PDP, Dejo Afolabi, party state
chairman, and the governor, Mr. Alao-Akala in the suit. Mr. Shakarho had
adjourned till February 10 for the hearing of the substantive case. But the
court order came a few hours after the news of acceptance of the governor’s
nomination by the INEC hit Ibadan, the state capital.

The state had been thrown to confusion early Tuesday when the
report of INEC’s rejection of the governor’s nomination came as the exercise
closed on Monday. A statement from Dotun Oyelade, special adviser to the
governor on public communication, described the story as wishful thinking,
saying “the candidature of Governor Alao-Akala is unassailable and cannot be
taken away”.

“We hereby submit that the story is false and a continuation of
the serial desperation of the opponents to plant confusion when they could not
succeed through legitimate means,” the statement read. “The national
headquarters of the PDP successfully submitted the list of PDP candidates in
Oyo State, including our governorship candidate to INEC and there is no problem
whatsoever with the list.

“As a matter of fact, INEC has issued acknowledgement receipt to
all our candidates whose names were submitted by the National Headquarters of
the PDP. We seize this opportunity to appeal to the citizens of Oyo State, who
have been thrown into confusion by this publication to discountenance it and go
about their normal duties.”

Mr. Oyelade described the injunction as ‘height of frivolity’.

The People’s Democratic Party, on Tuesday, described the
alliance talks between the Congress for Progressive Change and the Action
Congress of Nigeria as a mere roadshow which was bound to fail.

According to Ahmed Alkali, national publicity secretary of the
PDP in a statement: “As for the ACN and CPC, we wish them well as they continue
in the wilderness of alliance. If these two political parties could not allow
their followers an ordinary choice of who flies the flag in their respective
parties, we dare say that they have nothing to offer to Nigerians as far as
democracy is concerned.”

Mr. Alkali said that the party was not surprised when the ACN
national secretary, Lawal Shuaibu, announced a few days ago that talks had
collapsed, adding that he (Mr. Shuaibu) was merely echoing what Nigerians
already knew.

“It is all a question of one party trying to lord it over the
other,” he said. “This again did not come as a surprise as none of the two
political parties has ever made any pretences as to how greater its selfish
interest is to that of the nation.”

According to him, “While the ACN, in perpetual indulgence of
name change, could not after all change in its hatred for internal democracy
and democracy as witnessed in the charade that went for its congresses and
primaries, with impunity and imposition as the order of the day, the CPC with
its cult heroism has been devastated by internal divisions.”

Mr. Alkali said that the conduct of the PDP primaries has re-affirmed the
party’s position as the only sure vehicle for the entrenchment and growth of
democracy in Nigeria.

A non-governmental
organisation, Project 2011 Swift Count, which monitored the voter
registration in the first two weeks, yesterday agreed with the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that 58.8 million
Nigerians registered during the first two weeks of the exercise. It said
that the figure is consistent with data collected by its observers from
individual registration centres nationwide.

Project 2011 Swift
Count is a joint initiative of Federation of Muslim Women Associations
in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Justice, Development and Peace/Caritas Nigeria
(JDPC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Transition Monitoring Group
(TMG).

Presenting the
group’s interim report, its 1st co-chair, Dafe Akpedeye said it
dispatched 985 observers to all parts of the nation to monitor the
registration in the first two weeks before it was extended. He said at
the end of the second week of the exercise that 93 percent of the
centres were opened by noon while 86 per cent had two registration
officials present.

He also said that 82
per cent of the centres had complete Direct Data Capture systems (DDC);
79 per cent of centres had the DDC systems functioning throughout the
day; 66 per cent of centres had all essential registration materials; 65
per cent of centres had sufficient materials throughout the day; while
86 per cent of centres remained open throughout the day.

Mr Akpedeye also
said that in two specific areas – opening times and functioning of the
DDC system – there was dramatic improvement of the exercise over time.

He said, “Only 18
per cent of centres opened by noon on the first day, but this increased
to 93 per cent by the end of the first weeks and has remained at this
level. Similarly, DDC systems went from operating properly throughout
the day at 46 per cent of centres at the start of registration to 79 per
cent by the end of the second week.” The chairman also said that the
observers measured how well the centres carried out the multiple
processes of proper voter registration, namely the marking of fingers
with indelible ink, photographing of registrants, issuance of temporary
voter cards, entering of names into both the electronic and the manual
registers.

Mr Akpedeye also
said that in two areas, there were two minor concerns. He said that
while 11 per cent of the registration centres witnessed a few underage
registrants, eight per cent of centres saw few people being permitted to
register even though they were not from the community.

On the group’s
recommendation, Mr Akpedeye said INEC should continue in its efforts to
ensure that all centres are open and properly equipped and that all DDC
systems are functional.

He also said that
INEC needs to improve its logical and organisational capabilities for
the elections since it won’t have the luxury of making improvements over
time as has been the case during the voter registration.

“For elections, INEC
has to ensure that all centres open and operate properly on the first
day because unlike voter registration there won’t be another opportunity
to correct any problems,” he said.

Mr Akpedeye also wants the electoral body to release daily figures
on the number of registration per state and by local government areas.