Friday, 28 February 2014
National Conference: Civil society groups nominate Agbakoba, Ayo Obe, Onumah, 21 others
The organisations listed their core demands and values
A former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Olisa Agbakoba; a former President of the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, Ayo Obe; and a PREMIUM TIMES Columnist, Chido Onumah; are among 24 members of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in Nigeria that have been nominated to represent the civic groups at the National Conference.
According to a statement on Friday by the Pro-Democracy Civil Society Organisations, a body of the various civic groups, other nominees are Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Chima Amadi, Isaac Osuoka, Ezenwa Nwagwu, Samson Itodo, Ayelabola Babatunde, Faith Nwadishi, Nnimmo Bassey, Jaye Gaskia, Olarenwaju Suraj, Uju Agomuo and Steve Aluko.
Naseer Kura, Y. Z. Yau, Dudu Paloma, Ngozi Obiorah, Abiola Akiode, Tor Yorapu, Ene Ede, Idayat Hassan and Jibrin Ibrahim were also nominated as delegates.
The nominees were drawn from different thematic groups in the CSO community in Nigeria.
The Federal Government, while unfolding the modalities of the confab last month, allocated 24 slots to the CSOs.
President Goodluck Jonathan will inaugurate the 492-member conference on March 10; though its three principal officers will be named on Monday.
The Pro-democracy CSOs statement signed by Ezenwa Nwagwu and Jaye Gaskia said the 24 persons were picked after a series of nationwide consultations initiated after the government released the modalities for the conference.
“We had first welcomed the proposed National Conference as an opportunity to engage with all the contentious issues facing our people and nation; and we had promised a robust, frank, but also critical engagement with the National Conference as a process,” it said.
“We reiterate our firm commitment to continue and deepen the pace and intensity of our engagement with the conference as process, that is with the processes leading to its convening; with the processes and deliberations during its duration; as well as with the processes post conference with respect to the mode of validating [through a referendum] and implementing its outcome.”
The group said it had, about three weeks ago, announced its engagement with the National Conference process and had insisted and laid historical claim to the right to provide the nominees for the Civil Society slot in the conference.
It also said that as a demonstration of its seriousness, it would establish a Pro-Democracy Society Engagement Coordinating Secretariat for the National Conference.
The secretariat, it stressed, would be hosted centrally by Social Action in Abuja.
“The secretariat will be decentralised with Geo-political zonal Pro-democracy CSOs coordinating secretariats established in each geo-political zone and hosted by a Pro-Democracy CSO or network in each zone,” it said.
The groups summarised the CSOs positions and demands as follows:
A justiceable and enforceable chapter of the constitution, including a comprehensive listing of Human Rights, including civil and political, social and cultural, as well as economic rights of citizens. This indeed is our social program for the engagement with the National Conference, and our minimum irreducible demand.
We reaffirm our demand that a minimum of two-thirds of delegates to the National Conference should comprise of non state actor delegates.
The National conference must resolve in unambiguous terms the question of citizenship of Nigeria. All Nigerians must have a uniform, common single citizenship of Nigeria; the only qualification for purposes of representation being determined minimum residency status.
Only a national Referendum can validate the outcome of the National Conference. We are insistent that sovereignty resides in the people of Nigeria not in any state institution.
The basic foundations of a road map to participatory political advancement and socio-economic development must be agreed and in such a manner as it can be articulated into a 5 year comprehensive integrated National Development Program, that will address and tackle unemployment, homelessness, and poverty.
A Bipartisan Approach to Fighting Boko Haram, By Bukola Saraki
Once again, Nigerians faced further attacks in the northern part of the country that has left over 43 school children dead. This is another great loss of innocent lives at the hands Boko Haram in the Federal Government College in Buni Yadi.
This month alone, we have lost more than 300 lives to the activities of these militant attacks. As a father, I feel every condolence message that is sent to grieving mothers, fathers or siblings on this wanton spate of killings personally.
As with all insurgencies, fighting Boko Haram is not just for the military to tackle. The success for Nigeria in fighting Boko Haram and terrorism in general is largely dependent upon two other key issues: leadership and political cooperation.
The first, leadership, lies squarely in the hands of the President. President Jonathan says the situation will improve but this isn’t instilling confidence in the rest of his countrymen. He must now urgently provide all the necessary resources allocated by our Government to help ensure our nation’s security. The President must also work together with the Governors of the State to ensure a unified approach to combatting this menace.
The second, political cooperation, is the responsibility of all politicians. We all must understand our duties as elected representatives of our people and cooperate politically to bridge region and religion. We must also appeal to the Governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, to all leaders from the region and to all opposition leaders to cooperate with federal Government. We have to fully support the military and provide all funds required by the security agencies. This must be a priority for both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
I believe that with the continued attacks in northern Nigeria, the support from each and every Nigerian is vitally important for combating violent extremism.
Nigeria will soon be approaching a Presidential election period but in my humble opinion the fight to protect people should be prioritised over domestic politics. Disputes between the central Government and local Governors will not help the already desperate situation.
As the scale of the problem in northern Nigeria is only just being grasped, we should welcome the offers of support and expertise for outside of Nigeria. The United States and other international partners have pledged support and assistance, but this will only work if we are unified. For the sake of the innocent lives our political resolve must be as strong as the military option.
The demands of Boko Haram can never be met because Nigeria is a multicultural, open and welcoming country. The military can fight them but defeating them will take more than guns and bombs. Success will only happen when every leader, Governor, Senator and the President sit together and combine their political will to put an end to these senseless killings.
Dr. Bukola Saraki, two-term governor in Kwara State, is a senator in the National Assembly. He contributed the article from Abuja.
Ogun picks Pastor Bakare, Fola Adeola, others for National Conference
Delegates plan to correct “serious error” caused by 1914 amalgamation
The Ogun State government on Thursday announced its delegates for the National Conference.
The list, as announced by the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, included Olanihun Ajayi, Olabiyi Durojaiye, Titi Filani, Tunde Bakare, Iyabo Anisulowo, Bisi Adegbuyi, Fola Adeola, and the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Kehinde Olugbenle.
According to the governor, Mr. Durojaiye, a former Senator, is the team leader, while Mr. Ajayi would be the elder statesman to the delegates.
Many of the appointees are known politicians with two of them being vice presidential candidates in the 2011 elections. Mr. Bakare, a pastor, was the running mate of Muhammadu Buhari of the defunct CPC, while Mr. Adeola was the running mate of Nuhu Ribadu of the defunct ACN.
At the presentation of the delegates to journalists at the Governor’s office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Mr. Amosun said they would bring up issues such as the devolution of power, decentralisation of office, fiscal federalism and the unity of the nation.
Responding on behalf of the delegates, Mr. Ajayi said it was important for him and his colleagues to realise that they were going to the Conference to correct the serious error committed by Nigeria’s colonial masters, the British.
The elder statesman remarked on President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech marking Nigeria’s centenary celebration where the president called the 1914 amalgamation of the North and South, a blessing.
“Today, I remember the mistake of 1914. That’s the cause of our problems and that mistake has been with us quite a long time. The problem really and truly is that Nigeria was constructed contrary to political geometry. That is why we have not arrived as a country because if we live together for 100 years and yet there’s no stability, there’s no concord, there’s no harmony, there’s no progress – Those other countries like Brazil, Indian, China and Russia who were in the same bracket as we were in 1960 are now far, far above us and we are far below them, why?,” he asked. “It is because of failure to observe political geometry. But we pray and hope that when we get there, God being our helper, we will, as Nigerians unitedly and in the spirit of give and take, arrive at a solution that will bring peace and progress to this country.”
The Ogun State government on Thursday announced its delegates for the National Conference.
The list, as announced by the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, included Olanihun Ajayi, Olabiyi Durojaiye, Titi Filani, Tunde Bakare, Iyabo Anisulowo, Bisi Adegbuyi, Fola Adeola, and the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Kehinde Olugbenle.
According to the governor, Mr. Durojaiye, a former Senator, is the team leader, while Mr. Ajayi would be the elder statesman to the delegates.
Many of the appointees are known politicians with two of them being vice presidential candidates in the 2011 elections. Mr. Bakare, a pastor, was the running mate of Muhammadu Buhari of the defunct CPC, while Mr. Adeola was the running mate of Nuhu Ribadu of the defunct ACN.
At the presentation of the delegates to journalists at the Governor’s office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Mr. Amosun said they would bring up issues such as the devolution of power, decentralisation of office, fiscal federalism and the unity of the nation.
Responding on behalf of the delegates, Mr. Ajayi said it was important for him and his colleagues to realise that they were going to the Conference to correct the serious error committed by Nigeria’s colonial masters, the British.
The elder statesman remarked on President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech marking Nigeria’s centenary celebration where the president called the 1914 amalgamation of the North and South, a blessing.
“Today, I remember the mistake of 1914. That’s the cause of our problems and that mistake has been with us quite a long time. The problem really and truly is that Nigeria was constructed contrary to political geometry. That is why we have not arrived as a country because if we live together for 100 years and yet there’s no stability, there’s no concord, there’s no harmony, there’s no progress – Those other countries like Brazil, Indian, China and Russia who were in the same bracket as we were in 1960 are now far, far above us and we are far below them, why?,” he asked. “It is because of failure to observe political geometry. But we pray and hope that when we get there, God being our helper, we will, as Nigerians unitedly and in the spirit of give and take, arrive at a solution that will bring peace and progress to this country.”
EFCC arrests lawyer for attempting to bribe anti-corruption officials
Lawyer offered investigators N1.2 million
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday said it arrested a Nigerian lawyer, Ayodele Owoka, 47, while trying to bribe operatives of the commission.
A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren said Mr. Owoka was arrested at the commission’s office in Ikoyi, Lagos State while he attempted to bribe a team of investigators.
Mr. Uwujaren said the team were investigating a case of contract inflation, abuse of office, stealing, embezzlement and misappropriation of funds at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, in Owo, Ondo State.
Mr. Owoka is said to have confessed to offering the team N1.2 million; allegedly given to him by the Medical Director, FMC, Owo, O.A Omotosho to coerce the team into soft pedaling on its investigations.
Mr. Uwujaren noted that the accused confessed that Mr.Omotosho, gave him N1.5 Million out of which he kept N300, 000 for himself.
“The suspect would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded,” Mr. Uwujaren said.
Kogi University lecturer accused of terrorism to know fate March 7
The ruling on the bail application was postponed.
The ruling on the bail application by a Kogi State University lecturer, Muhammad Nazeef, who was accused of terrorism, was on Friday postponed to March 7.
Mr. Nazeef was arrested by the Department of State Security Service, SSS, over links with the dreaded Boko Haram sect.
He had applied for bail with the ruling initially scheduled to be delivered on Friday.
The ruling did not hold at the Federal High Court, Abuja as scheduled by the presiding judge, Gabriel Kolawale, because of a valedictory service.
A court clerk who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES at the court said Friday’s ruling was rescheduled for March 7 because most judges at the Federal High Court attended the valedictory service of retired judges.
Mr. Nazeef and two others, Salami Abdullahi and Umar Musa, are being prosecuted by the SSS on terrorism charges.
After a hearing on the bail applications by the three accused persons on February 10, Mr. Kolawole had adjourned ruling on the bail application till February 28.
He also ordered that the accused persons be held at the Kuje prison, Abuja.
The counsel to the accused persons had prayed the court to use its discretion to grant bail since there were no evidences that the applicants would abate justice, interfere with investigations, or jump bail.
Mr. Nazeef, a lecturer in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the Kogi State University, was on November 20, 2013 paraded alongside four others by the SSS, at its headquarters in Abuja.
On the day of the parade, the university lecturer denied being a member of the Boko Haram. He said he believed he was being set up by Boko Haram following his consistent preaching against the sect’s activities.
His daughter, Summayya Muhammad, also stated later that her father had always condemned the Boko Haram’s activities and that tapes of his messages could prove that.
PREMIUM TIMES EDITORIAL: Mr. President, Sack Reno Omokri Now!
“Aides of the president cannot indulge in political contestation, so long as they are paid by the public.”
Many Nigerians are understandably agitated by the slaughter of their compatriots in the northeast states, a trail of murder and mayhem that most recently consumed dozens of children at FGC, Buni. The outrage is directed at both the terrorists, and a federal government that is evidently failing to provide security for its citizens. The conversation has been dominated by a sense of shock at the failure of the government to deliver results in the field and the casual indifference with which it treats the victims of this tragedy. Suspicions have lingered that the Jonathan government sees political advantage in the Boko Haram insurgency, a reason critics cite for its unwillingness to competently assert the prerogatives of the state to contain terror, stabilise the restive northeast and secure its people.
Amidst the shock at the killing of school children, in a federal school in Yobe, a presidential spokesman could only apprehend an opportunity for mindless propaganda. Reno Omokri, a presidential assistant on new media, got caught as he indulged in the dark arts of blaming the Boko Haram resurgence on ousted CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Mr Omokri, was exposed as he tried to pass off his specious views using the alias Wendell Simlin. This level of insensitivity to the victims is mind-boggling. From an ordinary citizen, it would be an unwelcome reflection of barbarity. It is a sacking offence for an official paid by the public.
Mr. Omokri personifies the bumbling incompetence of the Jonathan government. It has been as unable to properly orientate its spokespersons as it has been deficient in projecting any sense that it can govern for the whole country. Aides of the president cannot indulge in political contestation, so long as they are paid by the public. Presidential spokespersons ought to be restricted by considerations of best practices to only explaining or clarifying policy. They are not paid to abuse, antagonise or smear citizens they perceive as hostile to the government. That is a province for party officials, who not being paid by the public, are able to embrace the rough and tumble of politics. But even party officials are expected to be guided in their conduct by civilised ideals and recognise moments of calamity as occasions to respect the humanity of victims, survivors, and their relations.
Mr. Omokri’s tactics are reminiscent of the official attitude during the wanton killings and bombings under General Sani Abacha. When Abacha’s goons shot and failed to kill Afenifere leader Abraham Adesanya, the government blamed the aborted assassination on the old man’s NADECO colleagues. When Chief Adesanya sued Wada Nas, Abacha’s most notorious spokesman, for libel, all Nas could offer as defence was that it was all political banter! An elected government is expected to do better than a military dictatorship in respecting human life, dignity and reputation.
President Jonathan should act now to demonstrate that, though weak and ineffectual, his government is not totally bereft of virtue. He should relieve Mr Omokri of his duties promptly, and cause an apology to be made to the people that were traduced. It is time to set out a clear code of conduct for special assistants and advisers that is unambiguous in removing them from the political fray. The president should do a better job of injecting into his administration the qualities of inclusiveness, sensitivity and empathy. Without these values, no government can be truly responsive.
After weeding out characters like Mr. Omokri from his government, the president must act decisively to check the ongoing insurgency. The northeast states have been under a state of emergency for nearly 10 months. After a momentary retreat as soldiers poured into the region, the terrorists seem to have mastered the situation. Boko Haram have attacked security and military installations, including barracks and airbases at will. They have pummeled schools, towns and villages unchallenged and have ransacked highways. As the litany of atrocities lengthened, the silence from the president has been ominous. The president will rather felicitate or party with supporters, and very visibly so, even as the victims of the latest outrage are being ferried to the morgue. Nigerians have learnt that is a vain hope to expect prompt official acknowledgement of casualties or a display of empathy from their government. The president is failing both as commander-in-chief and as comforter-in-chief, and there is every need to condemn this leadership failure.
It is this leadership deficit that has transformed a crisis into a deepening tragedy. When indifference and incompetence merge during a tragic event, the victims are robbed of their human dignity, and they are treated as little better than fodder. Mafia clans can get away with this crude view of life, but much better is expected of a government. It is an abdication of responsibility when a government is so unable to command a challenge that it permits its sense of helplessness to ossify into callous unconcern for the human toll. This impunity must end now.
Many Nigerians are understandably agitated by the slaughter of their compatriots in the northeast states, a trail of murder and mayhem that most recently consumed dozens of children at FGC, Buni. The outrage is directed at both the terrorists, and a federal government that is evidently failing to provide security for its citizens. The conversation has been dominated by a sense of shock at the failure of the government to deliver results in the field and the casual indifference with which it treats the victims of this tragedy. Suspicions have lingered that the Jonathan government sees political advantage in the Boko Haram insurgency, a reason critics cite for its unwillingness to competently assert the prerogatives of the state to contain terror, stabilise the restive northeast and secure its people.
Amidst the shock at the killing of school children, in a federal school in Yobe, a presidential spokesman could only apprehend an opportunity for mindless propaganda. Reno Omokri, a presidential assistant on new media, got caught as he indulged in the dark arts of blaming the Boko Haram resurgence on ousted CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Mr Omokri, was exposed as he tried to pass off his specious views using the alias Wendell Simlin. This level of insensitivity to the victims is mind-boggling. From an ordinary citizen, it would be an unwelcome reflection of barbarity. It is a sacking offence for an official paid by the public.
Mr. Omokri personifies the bumbling incompetence of the Jonathan government. It has been as unable to properly orientate its spokespersons as it has been deficient in projecting any sense that it can govern for the whole country. Aides of the president cannot indulge in political contestation, so long as they are paid by the public. Presidential spokespersons ought to be restricted by considerations of best practices to only explaining or clarifying policy. They are not paid to abuse, antagonise or smear citizens they perceive as hostile to the government. That is a province for party officials, who not being paid by the public, are able to embrace the rough and tumble of politics. But even party officials are expected to be guided in their conduct by civilised ideals and recognise moments of calamity as occasions to respect the humanity of victims, survivors, and their relations.
Mr. Omokri’s tactics are reminiscent of the official attitude during the wanton killings and bombings under General Sani Abacha. When Abacha’s goons shot and failed to kill Afenifere leader Abraham Adesanya, the government blamed the aborted assassination on the old man’s NADECO colleagues. When Chief Adesanya sued Wada Nas, Abacha’s most notorious spokesman, for libel, all Nas could offer as defence was that it was all political banter! An elected government is expected to do better than a military dictatorship in respecting human life, dignity and reputation.
President Jonathan should act now to demonstrate that, though weak and ineffectual, his government is not totally bereft of virtue. He should relieve Mr Omokri of his duties promptly, and cause an apology to be made to the people that were traduced. It is time to set out a clear code of conduct for special assistants and advisers that is unambiguous in removing them from the political fray. The president should do a better job of injecting into his administration the qualities of inclusiveness, sensitivity and empathy. Without these values, no government can be truly responsive.
After weeding out characters like Mr. Omokri from his government, the president must act decisively to check the ongoing insurgency. The northeast states have been under a state of emergency for nearly 10 months. After a momentary retreat as soldiers poured into the region, the terrorists seem to have mastered the situation. Boko Haram have attacked security and military installations, including barracks and airbases at will. They have pummeled schools, towns and villages unchallenged and have ransacked highways. As the litany of atrocities lengthened, the silence from the president has been ominous. The president will rather felicitate or party with supporters, and very visibly so, even as the victims of the latest outrage are being ferried to the morgue. Nigerians have learnt that is a vain hope to expect prompt official acknowledgement of casualties or a display of empathy from their government. The president is failing both as commander-in-chief and as comforter-in-chief, and there is every need to condemn this leadership failure.
It is this leadership deficit that has transformed a crisis into a deepening tragedy. When indifference and incompetence merge during a tragic event, the victims are robbed of their human dignity, and they are treated as little better than fodder. Mafia clans can get away with this crude view of life, but much better is expected of a government. It is an abdication of responsibility when a government is so unable to command a challenge that it permits its sense of helplessness to ossify into callous unconcern for the human toll. This impunity must end now.
East-West Road may not be completed this year -Minister
Supervising Minister of the Ministry of Niger Delta, Mr. Darius Ishaku, on Friday doubted the earlier assurance given by his immediate predecessor in office, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, that the 338km East-West Road project, which started in 2008, would be completed by the end of this year.
He told the Senator James Manager-led committee on Niger Delta Affairs while defending the ministry’s 2014 budget estimates at the National Assembly that completing the project this year would be a mirage.
Orubebe had in February, shortly before his removal as minister, told the Senate Ad-Hoc committee on Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, that the East West Road would be completed and inaugurated by December this year.
The former minister however, hinged his assurance on the release of the N113bn to the ministry which was needed to complete the project.
But his successor declared before the senate committee, saddled with the oversight functions of his ministry that “with just N46bn allocated to the ministry for capital projects execution in the 2014 Budget out of which a paltry sum of N8.73bn is allocated for continuation of work on the East West Road project, completing the project this year, would be a mirage”
The minister insisted that “for the project to be completed and inaugurated this year, N111bn would be needed to be sourced elsewhere or extra fund added to the N8.73bn already earmarked for continuation of work on the project in the approved 2014 budget of the ministry.”
Ishaku said, “Out of the N349.8bn estimated for the project, a total of N238bn has so far been expended on it by the ministry and other intervention agencies like Sure-P and loans sourced from the African Development Bank leaving the balance of N111bn to be sourced for completion of the project.
“We would not be able to commission (sic) this project by December 2014 as earlier promised by the former Minister unless we get additional funding from all available sources to the tune of N111billion”
A member of the Committee, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi (PDP Kogi Central) had asked the minister why the ministry had not collapsed its entire capital votes in the 2014 Budget for the project alone.
But Ishaku said “even if the total budgetary allocation of N49.193 bn proposed for the ministry in the 2014 budget estimates had been spent on the project alone, it cannot complete it.”
He said, “The entire N49.193bn 2014 budget profile of the ministry was made up of N46.8bn for capital projects, N1.183bn for overhead costs and N1.130bn for personnel expenditures.
“Apart from the N8.73 bn allocated for continuation of work on the East West Road project, another N8.7 bn was set aside for continuation of work on other roads being handled by the ministry in the Niger Delta Area and N6.15bn for completion of work on the Skills Acquisition centre.”
Manager and other committee members nevertheless, berated the ministry for not been able to complete and inaugurate a single project since 2008 when it was established and described the development as very disturbing.
Specically, Manager Said, “It very worrisome that your ministry has not completed and commissioned (sic) a single project since 2008 when it was established.
“Yes, going through the records, your allocations have been reducing on yearly basis since 2010, but that is not enough for the ministry not to be able to complete a single project since it was established about six years ago.
“The little money you have available, it is my utmost view that you use it to complete those projects that are about 70-75 percent completed so that you can have credit for that.”
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