Nigeria Content Online

Some national delegates to the PDP presidential primary have

applauded the level of arrangement and orderliness witnessed at the Eagle

Square venue of the event.

The delegates are Senate president, David Mark; Dimeji Bankole,

Speaker, House of Representatives; Ike Ekweremadu, deputy Senate President; and

the duo of Atiku Abubakar and Sarah Jibril, both PDP presidential aspirants.

In an interview, Mr. Mark said the national primary was very

colourful and orderly, saying it was an opportunity to showcase to the world

the biggest party in Africa.

The Senate president said at the end of the primary, only one

winner would emerge from the three presidential aspirants, urging the losers to

join forces and ensure victory for the party at the April general elections.

Mr. Mark said it was important for the losers to accept defeat

in good faith and minimise going to court that might slow down the process of

consolidating the democratic principles in the country.

Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Bankole said he was deeply

impressed by the improvement recorded in the conduct and arrangement of the

2011 presidential primary.

The Speaker, who wished the aspirants well, advised the

delegates to ensure that the voting process went on smoothly without any form

of rancour.

Job well done

The deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, eulogised the

organising committee for a job well done, especially in the orderly nature of

the convention and the security arrangement.

Mr. Abubakar said in an interview that the orderly manner of

the delegates was impressive and encouraging, and urged them to keep it up. He

said his experience, capacity and vision would see him through the election

process.

While commending the organisers for a job well done, Mrs.

Jibril, the only female PDP presidential aspirant, called on all women to

repeat the gesture in Liberia, where the women ensured the victory of Mrs.

Ellen Sirleaf, as the first African female president.

“We women have paid our dues; we should help one another as

wives, mothers and sisters. We should allow our conscience and fear of God to

guide our actions,” she added.

More than 5,000 delegates graced the 2011 PDP national special convention.

A civil society group, the Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP), has petitioned the UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights, Navi Pillay, to facilitate the holding of a special session of
the UN Human Rights Council to address the deteriorating human rights situation
in Jos, Plateau State.

In the petition, dated 13 January 2011 and signed by counsel to
SERAP, Femi Falana, the group executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said that,
“the holding of a special session on Jos would contribute to a speedy end to
the human rights crisis and violence, and to peace and greater respect for
human rights of the citizens in the area.”

Furthermore, it said the Council cannot be silent when innocent
civilians are caught up in violence, such as the one going on in Jos.

“The holding of a special session on Jos will be consistent with
the practice of the Human Rights Council regarding its previous special
sessions on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Lebanon; Darfur; Myanmar; the
Democratic Republic of the Congo; the Global Food Crisis and the Global
Economic and Financial Crises,” the group said.

“Nigeria is a member of the Human Rights Council, and has
ratified several UN human rights treaties, including the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights; and the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights.”

Failure of due diligence

The group also said that it believes that it is the failure of
the Nigerian government to exercise due diligence that have resulted in the
violations of human rights of citizens in Jos.

“Due diligence obligation requires the Nigerian government to
undertake measures to prevent abuses by state and non-state actors where
possible, investigate violations that occur, prosecute the perpetrators as
appropriate, and provide redress for victims,” it said.

“The government of Nigeria has international legal obligations
to respect the right to life; the right to security of the person; the right to
freedom of residence; including not to be forcibly displaced; the right to
property; the right to adequate housing; the right to adequate food and the
right to water; and freedom from cruel and inhuman treatment. All of these
internationally recognised human rights have been repeatedly violated in Jos on
a widespread scale,” the group added.

The SERAP said the government has promised to bring perpetrators
to justice but, like similar promises made in the past, these promises will
count for nothing.

“Successive governments have failed to implement the country’s
international legal obligations to respect, protect, and fulfill the human
rights of the people of Jos by persistently failing to deter and prevent
recurring outbreaks of violence, and by failing to effectively investigate and
prosecute suspected perpetrators,” the group said.

The group also asked the Nigerian government to ensure a more
secure environment for Nigerians, including those in Jos.

“Ask the Nigerian government to provide restitution,
compensation or both, as warranted, for damages resulting from the serious
violations of the human rights highlighted above,” SERAP said in the letter.

The governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
in Ogun State, Gboyega Isiaka yesterday said his group’s main objective is to
focus on winning at the general elections scheduled for April, 2011 rather than
spend time on the factional rivalry in the party.

Mr Isiaka was elected by a faction of the party loyal to the
state Governor, Gbenga Daniel while the second faction, backed by former
President Olusegun Obasanjo picked Olatunji Olurin as its candidate.

But Mr Isiaka said his nomination was a challenge for him to lead
the party to victory at the general election, just as he extends his
appreciation to God and party leaders who gave him their support to emerge as
the flagbearer of the party in the general elections.

“I am extremely honoured to have been nominated as the gubernatorial
candidate of our great party, the PDP and would like to express my deepest
respect for party leaders and other aspirants that keenly contested the
elections with me,’ Mr Isiaka said.

Brought together

He said he will ensure that all aggrieved groups within the party
are brought together, just as he emphasised that he will need the cooperation
of all to take the party to greater height.

“You all have my admiration and I also seek your advice and
immense support in the task of moving Ogun State forward,” he said.

Mr Isiaka said “the current administration has made giant strides
and, in consolidating such achievements, we will work harder, be more
innovative and confront the challenges that face us by quickly facilitating the
four pillars of greatness which is our programme for the socio-economic and
human development of Ogun State.

“In leading Ogun State to greatness, our business in office will
be predicated on these four pillars which are the rapid growth our economy
through building an entrepreneurial state, provision of quality social
services, strengthening people and the society and energizing our government
and polity,” he said.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has called on officers
and men of the nation’s armed forces to take sides with democracy, saying their
support should be for the people and not the ruling class or a political party.

Mr Oshiomhole made the appeal yesterday at the launch of the
2011 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem Appeal Fund in Benin City.

According to him, “the commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces
must be to the Nigerian nation. And it is important as we are approaching the
next general elections that the Nigeria Armed Forces must stand on the side of
democracy.They must remind themselves that they are for the country and not for
the ruling party. If there is a conflict between the interest of the ruling
party and the interest of the Nigerian nation, the interest of the nation is
superior to that of any political party.

“When we stand by the people and defend the democracy, not
individuals,then the campaign of One man, one Vote will be thororughly carried
out even to into the military barracks.”

Divisive politicians

He berated the political class for its divisive tendencies which
tend to weaken the foundation of the nation, saying “whereas Nigerian Armed
Forces have continued to struggle to keep the country together, the evidence is
everywhere that the political class or a good section of the political class
often behave in a manner to weaken our national unity.” Mr Oshiomhole also
admonished Nigerians to ensure that their actions do not threaten the unity of
the country, adding that “Nigeria will never know peace for as long as there is
no justice.”

Earlier,the Edo State Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Johnbull
Awanbor a retired colonel, commended the governor for the developmental strides
in the State. He appealed to the state head to consider members of the legion
for opportunities to serve the state.

The emblem launch was attended by the Commander of the 4
Brigade,

Benin City, Abel Umahi; Commandant, 81 Air Maritime Group, Air Commander J.
Atiku; representative of the Police Commissioner, top government functionaries,
among others.

The Kwara State governorship candidate of the Allied Congress
Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Gbemi Rukayat Saraki, on Thursday, urged all indigenes
of the state to come out and participate in the voter registration exercise,
which kicks off tomorrow nationwide.

Ms. Saraki, a senator, advised the electorate to exercise their
fundamental right, saying the right to vote is sacred and sacrosanct.

“The survival of democracy and indeed our nation’s growth will
depend on each individual being able to express his/her voting rights without
intimidation or disenfranchisement,” she said, even as she told Kwara State
indigenes that the ACPN is the true symbol of peace, people and democracy.

Ms. Saraki, in a statement she issued in Ilorin, said the only
way the people of the state can receive the kind of development they have been
yearning for is to be proactive in the electoral process.

“The coming elections can only be successful if people
participate actively in it,” she said.

She warned that failure to register during the registration
exercise means that the people would have disenfranchised themselves and would
not be in a position to vote in credible people to drive the state’s
development.

Sensitisation drive

Ms. Saraki said her party, the ACPN, has started a mobilisation
drive to sensitise people on the need to participate in the exercise.

She noted that ACPN will take over the state in May, adding that
the party is ready to ensure that developmental projects are spread across the
state.

Promising that gender-based issues will equally be addressed
with vigour, Ms. Saraki said “women will not be relegated in the scheme of
things.”

Former Nigerian ambassador to South Africa, Buba Marwa was
yesterday presented with the certificate of return as the governorship
candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) for Adamawa State.

Mr Marwa, declared winner of the primary elections, polled
23,401 votes to defeat the other aspirants, Mohammadu Jibrilla and Suleiman
Abdullahi who polled 3,904 and 5,505 of the votes cast respectively.

Balami Ayuba, chairman of the CPC panel who monitored the
elections in the state, presented Marwa with the certificate of return.

Mr Marwa said it was a “great risk” staking his personality for
a contest which he entered alone, with neither a structure nor any of his
political supporters.

However, Bappa Waziri, the state chairman of the party
attributed Mr Marwa’s victory to members of the party whom he said knew what
they wanted.

Haste in accepting Marwa

Meanwhile a coalition of youth groups within the CPC have
expressed their dissatisfaction with the haste with which Mr Marwa entered the
party and picked the party’s nomination.

The group, through its spokesperson, Tasiu Mohammed at a press
briefing at the NUJ secretariat in Yola, said they were against the “hasty
manner” Mr Marwa was adopted by the state leadership of the party to contest
the governorship primaries.

“We condemn the party exco for bringing a candidate from the
opposition party two days to the primary elections without availing us of the
candidates manifesto,” they said. The group also alleged the “non-conformity of
the party exco to the guidelines and procedures set for aspirants seeking
nominations under the party platform, that all duly completed nomination forms
for governorship aspirants are to be submitted at least one week before the
congress for the election of such a candidate.

“This kind of people, when elected to power, will go back to their
respective parties where they came from. We are calling on the national
executive of this great party, CPC to look at this matter and find a lasting
solution to this problem.”

Nuhu Ribadu, one of the contenders for the presidential ticket
of the ACN at the party convention tomorrow has received a critical endorsement
from party members from Adamawa State, as over 1035 delegates affirmed their
endorsement of the Adamawa born politician.

The endorsement, which came the way of Mr Ribadu ahead of the
ACN convention holding in Lagos today ,was sealed at a special convention of
the party which was held at the conference hall of Silver Hotels, Yola, with Mr
Ribadu in attendance.

“This gathering is specifically called to enable us rally
support for our son,” a national leader of the party, Boss Mustapha said.

The motion for the adoption of Mr Ribadu was moved by Sander
Lamurde, a position which was adopted by all the delegates following secondment
by Suleiman Bagirei.

“We must be the first to make our voices known that we are in
support of our son, Nuhu ribadu. All 1035 delegates from Adamawa State, the
home state of Mr Ribadu are bound to cast their votes for the aspirant in party
convention holding in Lagos as direct outcome of this special convention,” Mr
Mustapha said.

Mr Ribadu, retired Assistant Inspector General of police and
former head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission acknowledged that
last year presented some of the most unimaginable challenges for him.

Accepting the endorsement, he said, “I am greatful to God, I am
humbled by your support. When I reflect back to last year, especially those
periods of my travails, and I now consider where God has brought me to today. I
cannot but give thanks to God. It is a thing of joy, since I started this
journey. I have seen the hand of God,” Mr Ribadu said.

Spreading party philosophy

The aspirant, who said he has known nothing else other than
service, noted that a few selfish individuals have spoilt the country. But said
he wants to assure Nigerians that his party will thread the path of justice and
ensure the equitable distribution of the country’s wealth.

Mr. Mustapha, the deputy national chairman of the party, said
the mass defection of members of the People’s Democratic Party to the ACN is a
proof that the party has engulfed the nation’s political fabric.

Meanwhile, Markus Gundiri has emerged the ACN governorship
candidate for Adamawa State. Announcing the results of the primaries at the
party secretariat, Baba Dala said Mr Gundiri polled a total of 28,600 of the
delegates’ votes to beat other aspirants by a simple majority.

The Senate majority leader, Teslim Folarin, and three other
persons docked for the alleged killing of Lateef Salako (aka Eleweomo),
factional leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), were
on Thursday discharged by an Ibadan Chief Magistrates Court.

Their discharge was sequel to an application from the state’s
police headquarters seeking to withdraw charges earlier preferred against the
accused persons.

Messrs Folarin, Ramoni Jayeoba, Bankole Olaide Raji, and Raimi
Ismaila were, on Tuesday, January 4, arraigned before an Ibadan Chief
Magistrate’s Court on a two count charge of felony (conspiracy to murder) and
murder of Mr. Salako, who was killed on December 30, 2010 at a People’s
Democratic Party’s (PDP) congress of the Ona-Ara local government council.

The accused persons were due for appearance before the court
today (Friday) to witness the session fixed for the mention of their matter.

But, the police prosecutor, Matthew Ojeh, yesterday applied for
an abridgement of the adjournment to an earlier date to allow him move an application
requiring urgency.

In the motion on notice, supported by a 7-paragraph affidavit
deposed to personally by Baba Adisa Bolanta, Oyo State Commissioner of Police,
the police prosecutor asked the court to shift the adjournment date to an
earlier one to allow him move his urgent application.

While granting the application, the presiding magistrate,
Fatimat Badrudeen, said since Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), lead counsel to the
accused persons, did not object it, the abridgement was therefore fixed for
yesterday, which was the only date earlier than the original date fixed.

She also ordered that the accused persons be brought to the
court for the movement of the urgent application.

It was, however, a stormy and dramatic session when the accused
persons were brought from the prison and the court was reconvening. The Senate
leader, who looked ruffled, was brought into the court’s premises in an
ambulance bus around 12.50 pm.

When the case was called and appearances were sought, H.L. Sule,
the state’s director of public prosecution, rose to announce his appearance.
That attracted a vehement rebuff from Mr. Akintola, who insisted that he was
not known to the matter and lacked the right to be heard by the court.

“I am opposed to Mr. Sule’s appearance. He is the DPP. He was
not the one that preferred a charge against the accused persons and he is not
the Commissioner of Police who gave indication of withdrawal of the case. The
police lawyer, who is the prosecutor, is here and he has withdrawn from the
case. It was upon his application that your worship abridged the case to today.
He even filed affidavit of urgency before you to expedite the discharge of the
accused persons. So, there is no other person apart from the Commissioner of
Police that has the charge before you. This case was stood down for the accused
person to be produced in court and here they are,” he said.

Case discharged

It took the intervention of the magistrate, who urged the
learned silk to allow her know why he was in the court.

But as soon as Mr. Sule announced that he was for the
prosecution, Mr. Ojeh interrupted him and told the court that he was the one
for the prosecution.

Though she agreed with the DPP that he has the right to
prosecute anybody anywhere within the state, Mrs. Budrudeen denied him that
right yesterday, arguing that two agencies cannot prosecute the same case at
the same time.

According to her, the police and the DPP should have agreed
before coming to the court and that since the case in question had earlier been
brought to the court by the police, the police prosecutor would be allowed to
carry on.

Having settled that, Mr. Ojeh, on behalf of the Commissioner of
Police, formally moved the application for withdrawal of the charges against
the accused persons to allow “further interrogation on the case.”

Again, Mr. Akintola did not oppose to the application, but
prayed the court to strike out the case and discharge and acquit the accused
persons.

Delivering her ruling on the application, the magistrate said,
“the complainant is hereby allowed to withdraw the charge against the accused
persons and others at large. The charge is hereby struck out.”

She also noted that since the court is a temple of justice, it
would not want to be a clog in the wheel of fairness and justice, adding that
since the premise of the police was to allow it further its investigation on
the killing, the application should be allowed.

Her pronouncement lightened the court hall as Mr. Folarin’s
supporters burst into shouts of victory.

After a few minutes when the noise subsided, Mr. Akintola still
asked the court to give an order to release the accused persons, since the
order to remand them in prison earlier came from the same court.

The court also obliged him, but the accused persons could not
leave the court premises until some hours later due to efforts to perfect
papers of their discharge.

Political maneuvers

News of Mr. Folarin’s release had crept into Ibadan, the Oyo
State capital late Wednesday, and steadily spread through to the morning of
yesterday. Thousands of his supporters were at the Agodi Prison yesterday,
thinking that he would be released earlier.

Despite the theory of further investigation the police fed the
court, NEXT gathered that the release was not unconnected with the developments
at the PDP presidential primaries going on in Abuja.

Sources said members of the National Assembly, who were part of
the delegates to vote at the primaries, had given President Goodluck Jonathan
the condition that if they must participate at the exercise, the Senate leader
must be present there.

They reportedly insisted that they would not be part of the show
if the leader of the Senate is still being incarcerated in Ibadan. Sensing
their seriousness and the consequences on his chances at the programme, the
president, according to the source, ordered the InspectorGeneral of Police
(IGP), Hafiz Abubarkar Ringim, to order his release. That, it was learned,
culminated to the release yesterday.

Mr. Folarin left the court yesterday for the police headquarters
for a meeting with Mr. Bolanta, probably on the restoration of his security
aides withdrawn few hours after the killing of Eleweomo, and it was also learnt
that he was flown to Abuja last night to participate at the primaries.

An Oyo State High Court had, on Wednesday, fixed Monday for
ruling on the bail application argued on their behalf.

The ruling will not be necessary anymore as the charges against the accused
persons have been withdrawn and the accused persons are no more in custody.