Senate today ordered the immediate demolition of houses in Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, belonging to the former President of the country, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, former minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, former minister of Petroleum resources, Allison-Maduekwe and over 20 0thers.
The Senate, through its committee on the Federal Capital Territory, also ordered that the plot on which those houses were elected should be revoked
Chairman of the committee, Senator Dino Melaye, who made this known during a budget defence by the FCT ministry led by its Minister, Muhammed Musa Bello, said the affected plots of land were reserved by the federal government.
According to him, the said plots of land allocated to Jonathan and others in the Maitama District fell within an area designated for erection of tourist structure for foreign visitors.
Others who were affected by the demolition order are former Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda; Acting National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus; late National Security Adviser, Andrew Okoye Azazi, among others, as beneficiaries of plots of land in the area.
Senator Melaye said that apart from ordering the workers to stop work on the sites, they also summoned the FCT Minister to appear before the panel to clear air on the issue. [myad]
The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), the foremost independent citizen election observers group in Nigeria with over 400 members, has faulted the recent verdicts by the Supreme Court on the governorship elections in some states in the Southern parts of Nigeria.
The Group, in a statement by its chairman, Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi said that it is with utter consternation to come to terms with what it called “a slew of verdicts on state governorship elections recently handed down by the Supreme Court.”
The TMG noted that the disturbing trend in these judicial pronouncements, was in that the apex court has elected to give judgments, and not justice, adding that in the face of unrepentant attempts to subvert the will of the people in a good number of the cases, the court has curiously turned a blind eye.
“For us, it is absolutely shocking that the Supreme Court has decided to act as if it exists in another planet. TMG is perturbed by the strange legal reasoning that has informed the blank cheque that the court has given to election riggers. We make bold to say that while the legal premise behind these judgments is best known to the apex court, the open reward for electoral impunity does not resonate with the Nigerian people. As the foremost election observation coalition in the country, we see the Supreme Court judgments as clear cut attempts at legalising electoral robberies.
“These judgments, particularly on Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, have merely given judicial imprimatur to the damaging mind set of rapacious politicians who would stop at nothing in their bid to subvert the will of the people. What these judgments have effectively done is to ridicule Nigeria in the eyes of the international community, while diminishing our country’s stature in the comity of lovers of democracy around the world.
“Painfully, the biggest losers are the ordinary people in the states who have been denied their democratic choices on account of the violence and impunity that characterised the polls in those states. In the end, what the Supreme Court has succeeded in doing is to spit on the graves of all those innocent Nigerians who lost their lives as a result of the activities of those hell bent on subverting the will of the people.
“On behalf of the scores of Nigerians, whose lives were cut shut by the activities of election riggers, we take solace in the fact that even beyond the justice of the Supreme Court; there is the justice of the Almighty. And in due course, those who wilfully killed and maimed in the desperate bid to capture power, would be held to account.” [myad]
Osun state government has asked some students of High Schools in Ife, Iwo and Ikire who went on rampage because they did get state government’s scholarship to cover their faces in shame for failure to pass the examination. The state government insisted that it was the fault ot the students who failed to qualify for the government’s sponsorship of the registration for the West African Examination Council WAEC fees, stressing that it is unthinkable that students who failed examinations and should be remorseful, face the challenges of correcting their academic poor performances could go out and vandalize government property in the name of protests. The Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, in a statement today said that the refusal of government to register them for West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) was because of their performance and that it would be irresponsible to continue to fund examination registrations of students who didn’t demonstrate readiness to pass. “The Government of Osun, in the unmistakeable resolve and determination to bring the best out of the students, has said it will henceforth register only final year students for external examination after the conduct of the in-house mock examination. “Students who fail to demonstrate their potential success at the final examination by scoring credits in at least four subjects will not be paid for by the government. Any parent who wants to gamble can register their children.” The statement said that it is a verifiable fact that Osun under Aregbesola has turned around the education sector with the provision of a conducive environment, building of the state- of-the- art schools and the investment in training and retraining of teachers. The statement noted that against this backdrop, government expected significant improvement in the average performance of its registered students in both WASCE and National Examination Council (NECO). “It is this decision of government that some disgruntled few among the students went to the streets to protest against in Ile-Ife and Iwo. ”Whereas government decision was first and foremost informed by the need to seek better performance of the students, the economic realities no longer permit wastage of resources. “Thus government wanted only those who will excel after its investment on them and not those who will fritter away the meagre resources by performing abysmally in the examination.” The statement said that when the Aregbesola administration took over in November 2010, the performance of students in May/June WASCE result for that year was 15.68%. It added that the average performance for the three years (2011-2013) of Aregbesola administration was 21.32%, representing an improvement of 36% compared with the result of 2010. Government stressed that, compared with the average performance (13.26%) of the three years that preceded Aregbesola, the percentage improvement in performance of the Aregbesola years is a whopping 61%. The statement described this as a significant achievement considering the challenges the state had to contend with, especially with regard to low morale among teachers, students’ indiscipline and parents that were largely lacking in discharging their parental responsibilities. Government warned that it will no longer condone any act of indiscipline and irresponsibility on the part of the young ones, warning that full weight of the law will be applied if such lawless repeats itself. [myad]
Southwest is gradually caving in to political conquistadors. Many of our politicians are now acting like vassals to a resurgent powerful political Mafia. This group had once faded into oblivion; but it is now back, controlling the agenda of the seat of power. It is plotting to dominate power for a long time such that anything standing in the way must be crushed. That is why within eight months of the present administration, rule of law has slipped into coma while democracy is gradually on its way to recession.
Indeed, the infamous Ekitigate is just an item in a wider script of power play. It is an elaborate template and the hawks working on this template are not taking prisoners. Some of these plans are targeted at total annihilation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the suppression of the opposition within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Individuals who are perceived to be nursing future ambition to occupy Aso Rock in contradistinction to their agenda now risk possible onslaught. The signs are not only just there, the manifestations are also very real. This is jungle politics.
According to a popular Yoruba saying, “The water beetle that is dancing on the water surface is not just doing so without a purpose; there is a drummer beneath the water beating the drum to create the melody.” As funny as this scenario looks, it somewhat suits the latest resurgence of the over-flogged issues surrounding the June 21, 2014 Ekiti State Governorship Election. There is certainly no smoke without fire and apparently, Mr. Tope Aluko, popularly known as TKO in the Ekiti political circles, is just a pawn in a political crude game. He allowed himself to be led into it for selfish interest. But Aluko is not acting alone in this latest but not strange voyage into EkitiGate.
Unfortunately for Aluko, he seems incapable of seeing through the overall script. The power game is certainly far beyond his comprehension. It is a political ponzi scheme – the schemers have succeeded in procuring a man who is ready to sacrifice his honour and family name for a mess of pottage. Ekiti people are known for their dignity, honour and the protection of family values. An Ekiti man will do everything to defend his family name. But for Aluko to openly admit to perjury is certainly an exception. He did not care about the future of his children. No responsible parent will contemplate such ignoble action.
Although a major reprieve for TKO is that the Mafia through its fronts may have guaranteed him a no-perjury conviction as long as he continues to play ball, yet that in itself is a burden to his political future. Poor Aluko has no clue about the identity of this Mafia. He is certainly not relating with the group directly; it is an extended complex game that even the major actors may not know where it will end. One can only pity Aluko because whatever he gets from this venture will still not be sufficient to secure his political future.
It is understandable that Governor Ayodele Fayose is a major target as he continues to unsettle the hawks with his outspokenness. He is now a leading voice in the land, challenging the excesses of Aso Rock. It is not unexpected if he has been marked for whatever agenda the Mafia may have, while EkitiGate is being reworked in a bid to achieve the unthinkable. Recall the smuggling of the Doctrine of Necessity into the Supreme Court in the case of Wike vs INEC. They are also thinking in that direction and working on something sinister. But the present Chief Justice of Nigeria is not seen as someone ready to sacrifice his hard-earned years of meritorious service to his fatherland. He has just a few times left and must have resisted some wicked overtures to compromise justice. So using the judiciary to hunt Fayose may not work.
We are in a season of political uncertainties where the rule of the President is higher than the rule of law! We currently risk fascism, but for people like Fayose who are talking truth to power. With the exception of Ebunolu Adegboruwa and a tiny few, the human rights community has simply gone completely numb in Nigeria. One may now be compelled to accept the notion that the capacity to defend democracy and the rights of the oppressed is an inspiration that could be derived or compromised. It is like a spirit which can come in and go out. So some individuals who once possessed this spirit, acting as the “conscience of the nation” might have failed to sustain it. Hitherto unknown Nigerians are now standing up to defend the rule of law.
Again for the record, the Ekiti June 21, 2014 governorship election was conducted devoid of rigging and manipulations. There is one truth about that election which cannot be taken away: it is the most covered and monitored single election by local and foreign observers because of the civil society pedigree and connection of former Governor Kayode Fayemi. An interesting addition is that, many of the observers came to Ekiti with smart electronic devices, prepared to record any form of electoral malpractice. They were present in all the 16 Local Government Areas and moved round freely without intimidation and harassment. Ekiti was a major test case for them. And in the end, there was no single report of indictment in that election; it was adjudged free, fair and credible.
I may not be privy to the quantum of money raised for that election by Governor Fayose, but the allegation of $37 million may not be different from the phantom $2.1billion arms money alleged to have been shared out to PDP leaders. Whereas, all the charges in the courts against all the alleged offenders so far when added together is nowhere near N50 billion, as against over N500 billion cooked up for media frenzy. This is certainly not justifying graft or exonerating anyone. But we must point out the recklessness with which figures are bandied around to crucify people. $37 million allegedly spent on Ekiti election is a good sensational script that will alarm the unsuspecting public anytime. There will be many more figures to come. It is a season of drama and aberration.
On the alleged militarization of the election, it was an open secret that security report had suspected the infiltration of Ekiti by State Boys from Osun to wreck havoc. Again, Fayose never hid the fact that if tight security was guaranteed, he would win the election. There could have been some measure of affinity in terms of conversation between some members of the then ruling party and the security officials but certainly not to compromise the poll. It was only strategic for the security personnel to adopt extra measures like using special tags to beat the likelihood of thugs using army uniforms to perpetuate evil. The concern was rife then of an attempt by area boys to compromise the security system. However, the “Tale by Aluko” is giving everything a new colouration to justify a hatchet job, even though not new.
Fortunately, the reports by various election observers did commend all the security agencies for ensuring peace during the election, which significantly aided high voter turnout. The truth about the story of June 21, 2014 will still be told in full by those who, for political and personal reasons, still disagree with the outcome of the poll. We can still remember the contrived political innovation called “photochromic,” blamed for the defeat of the APC in that election. Added to this false invention was the Theory of Stomach Infrastructure. Yet, nothing can ever override the truth.
Unfortunately, the same people who criticized the use of soldiers for Ekiti election have suddenly seen no reason to object to the same for Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections. I believe they will also come with different reasons why it is now justified to deploy soldiers. They are full of inconsistencies and contradictions. The plan to unsettle Ekiti, of which Aluko is now a major player, is all about 2019 projections. From a close observation and in the manner this issue has been syndicated so far in the media, it is not far-fetched to know that this script has been re-jigged to serve an intended purpose. Sadly, a segment of the South West youths on social media recruited to sustain this contrived narrative cannot reason beyond a futile obsession for a political change that has since lost its taste. They trended EkitiGate on Twitter with all vigour as if it was capable of redeeming the battered image of the 2016 budget. They even ignored the invasion of Dalori by Boko Haram and would not comment on President Muhammadu Buhari not visiting Maiduguri to empathize with the people. What a sad commentary for our nation!
Although it is not yet clear where this matter is headed in the end, but one thing is sure: the truth will eventually prevail. However, I urge that we do not joke with the people who are desperate with powers and who think they can do and undo regardless of the Constitution. We must take solace in the fact that power is transient and this phase too will pass away. Until then, the new addition to our political lexicon: EkitiGate, is more than unsettling the “Fountain of Knowledge.”
Many political observers are yet to grapple with the reality of what is gradually unfolding, especially in the Southwest. The hawks are currently doing everything possible to equally whittle down the influence of the Lion of Bourdillon-Bola Tinubu-by saturating the APC with decampees from other parties. The upcoming board appointments will further reveal several misgivings. Take it or leave it, the game for 2019 has commenced in earnest and the battle line is gradually being drawn. In essence, the bigger picture is more than just EkitiGate.
Ariyo-Dare Atoye, a member of Shadow Cabinet of Nigeria (SCN) contributes this piece from Ward 8, Igbara Odo-Ekiti, Ekiti State – aristotle001us@yahoo.com. [myad]
Catholic priests in Nigeria have always captured the public imagination, some of them have served in government positions, some were prominent in the fight and struggle for democracy, some of them have proved their mettle as poets, teachers, musicians, social critics, and public affairs commentators, but Rev. Fr. Ejike Camillus Anthony Ebenezer Mbaka is a cut above the rest, not necessarily in terms of intellect or persona, but in terms of how he has been able to use the pulpit to acquire a rock star status.
It is therefore not surprising that everything about him is with a touch of the histrionic. This is exactly what happened when he was transferred, last week, from a parish where he had served for 20 years: from Christ the King Parish, GRA Enugu, to Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Umuchigbo, Njinike, Enugu. Characteristically, this radical priest and social activist turned what should be a routine administrative posting by his Bishop into a melodrama and an assault on the authority of the Church. You would think he had been sentenced to a jail term, the way he whined and wept and appealed to sympathy.
“I’m going to suffer because I have no place to put my head. I am going to suffer because I have no place to keep the Adoration Ministry’s assets…The Adoration Ministry is passing through suffering right now even though I’ve accepted that it is the will of God. Is the will of God through suffering? It is a mega suffering. The quantum of the assets of the Adoration Ministry is the only thing I am bothered about for now. Where am I going to keep them? I am going to stay in one small room that has only one small bed, one small table, little toilet and bathroom. So where am I going to keep all the Adoration assets? “ I couldn’t believe that this was a Catholic Priest.
His pain was so palpable. He even took a shot at the Church: “I won’t fight anybody or even dream of battling anybody. If anybody allows the devil to use him, the same that advised you to make a mistake will laugh at you when you cry over the error.” This was a clear suggestion that the devil was using his boss, the Diocesan Bishop of Enugu, His Lordship Calistus Onaga, against him, Mbaka and the Adoration Ministry. Rev Fr. Mbaka further spoke with a touch of vanity about how he single-handedly built the Christ the King Parish, Enugu, with proceeds from the sale of his music albums. This priest is certainly special. He objects to suffering even if the Lord Jesus Christ, whose disciple he is, is the embodiment of sacrifice and suffering. He talks about assets in a capitalistic sense, and yet his reputation rests on his commitment to the poor. He finally says he accepts the “suffering”, sounding like a victim.
Mbaka’s melodrama was nothing short of an act of protest and incitement. It didn’t take long before a mob-like group trooped to the GRA, Enugu to help him move his things to the new church where it is said he will be an assistant priest. If his followers had laid their hands on the Diocesan Bishop, only God knows what they would have done to him for allegedly demoting their hero. It also didn’t take long before the spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC), South-East Caucus, Osita Okechukwu issued a statement alleging that Mbaka was being victimized because he is pro-Buhari and pro-APC.
Okechukwu‘s intervention was a needless busybody act. He only stopped short of asking the Diocesan Bishop to reverse himself or get labeled as an enemy of the government of the day. Nor did it take long before the Catholic Church also put its feet down, stating clearly that no priest is above the Church. Mbaka definitely needed that reality check. But he had succeeded in politicizing his transfer and dragging the Catholic Church into mainstream, partisan politics with the Church holding the short end of the stick.
It is perhaps for this reason that the Catholic Bishop of Abuja Metropolitan See, Cardinal John Onaiyekan once asked that Rev. Fr. Mbaka should be sanctioned. He actually accused him of talking “rubbish” when he openly condemned President Goodluck Jonathan and insisted that the electorate should vote for Muhammadu Buhari, then Presidential candidate of the APC, who according to him, was destined to win the 2015 Presidential election. “I do not believe in my mind that the way things are in Nigeria, any Catholic priest has the mandate to decide which of the political contestants should be voted for… I don’t believe a priest should be doing that…If he was in my archdiocese, I will have sanctioned him long ago for the kind of utterances he makes.” Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama. President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), also similarly disowned him. Even with those protestations, Mbaka remained untouchable. He is on record as having declared in a secessionist mood, for example, that the sovereignty of Nigeria is not sacrosanct. “If we must be one Nigeria, let it be one Nigeria, but if it can’t be one Nigeria, let us divide…let us tell ourselves the truth.” He has also since the 2015 elections, made a high profile visit to the Presidential Villa to see President Buhari. He was actually shown arriving in a private jet, waving to the crowd as if he was on a Papal visit to the seat of power! How did one priest, out of over 30 million Nigerian Catholics, become so powerful and untouchable?
Rev Fr. Mbaka’s seeming invincibility lies in his significance and relevance. His Ministry is a loud comment on the relationship between the Church and the congregation. Mbaka is the founder and Spiritual Director of a Ministry within the Catholic Church known as Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN). Gifted, creative and clever; he is without any doubt a liberation theologian. He runs a prophetic church, a church that believes strongly in the power of the Eucharist, and which in every sense is a church of the poor. His source of inspiration must be those liberation theologians and other radical priests who have proven that for the church to be relevant, it must be relevant to the interests, concerns and expectations of the congregation, particularly the underprivileged poor.
More than any other catholic priest in Nigeria, Mbaka has taken the Catholic Church beyond the confines of liberal conservatism to the ordinary man in the market place. He speaks the poor man’s language, he appeals to their imagination. He is the bridge between the Pentecostal churches and the Catholic Church in Nigeria. He has mastered the tricks, the rhetoric, the antics and the persona of the former, and he applies this with a touch of sassiness that is original. He urges members of his ministry to “Pray Until Something Happens” (PUSH). In an overtly religious and superstitious country like Nigeria, there is never a shortage of persons who are ready to push until the impossible happens.
He organizes vigils titled “E no dey again”. That is precisely what the people want to hear. They want to hear that problems, disease, unemployment- “e no dey again!”. Mbaka also has a Foundation, the Multi-Life Savers Foundation. Note the emphasis on the saving of lives! He pays hospital bills, he gives out cars, he builds houses for people, he pays school fees, he sponsors events. He sings. He dances. He is not your typical Catholic priest. He is rich. He talks about assets. Other priests go to him for financial assistance. He is an all-round entrepreneur in church garments. His Ministry performs miracles, signs and wonders. He makes the lame walk, he opens the eyes of the blind, he cures diseases; he spreads wealth and opportunities. He creates jobs. He provides hope. With all this, Fr. Mbaka is far ahead of his bosses within the Catholic hierarchy. Persons of other faiths and Christian denominations troop to his Ministry to seek spiritual counseling. Politicians seek his endorsement. He controls the mind of multitudes. The Catholic Church is probably in need of reinvention, and the seeds of that process may well lie in the example and eclecticism of Mbaka and his likes in other parts of the Catholic world.
The plain truth is that the average church-goer today is looking for something different which the orthodox churches and their mode of worship do not offer. The poor who make up the congregation are as impatient as the politicians who have made them poor. They want immediate salvation, practical solutions to their problems; they want their blessings here and now, not in a world to come. Mbaka and the Pentecostal pastors understand this and so they bring the church closer to the people’s needs. But there is a flipside and it is hubris.
Hubris is risky and pernicious. It is what makes Fr. Mbaka appear so contradictory. It is what has distanced him from his original vows as a priest, making him talk of cash and assets as if he were an investor on Broad Street. It is what makes him complain of suffering and see his transfer as a punishment, rather than as an opportunity for further evangelism of The Word. He must have started out as a humble priest, but today, he has mastered the use of the media for self-projection and he is not contented with being a priest, he is now enjoying the life of a celebrity, hugging the limelight, seeking personal glory. He runs a ministry of miracles, of wonders and signs and he sees visions of possible assassinations, either of himself or the politicians that he supports. No one should be surprised if this Pentecostal Catholic priest goes about with bodyguards. He shares this hubris with many other religious figures who seek to share power with politicians and co-govern Nigeria. They see visions about everything: from elections to diseases and foreign exchange rates. They have created a New Order under which they command the electorate, political parties and governments.
It is this hubris that has blinded Fr. Mbaka to the fact that the souls to be won for Christ are not only in GRA, Enugu, but in all places as well. His transfer to a smaller parish should remind him of the essence of his priestly vows: humility, simplicity, obedience, sacrifice, as well as commitment to the good of the church rather than individual heroism, values which can truly make him a priest in the Order of Melchizedek. Let him therefore, suffer if he must, and let his suffering be a blessing upon the poor and the Church, and if he as much as whimpers again, let him be posted post-haste to Sambisa forest, where the poor are in urgent need of miracles. [myad]
Ebonyi State Governor, Engineer David Umahi has suspended his special adviser on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Chief Jeremiah Oketa for action described as going beyond the authority and command of his office. The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Senator Emanuel Onwe who announced this at a news briefing today, said that the decision to suspend the special adviser was part of the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Abakaliki, the state capital. Onwe, who said that Special advisers and commissioners were no longer authorized to collect any form of taxes or revenue for the state, added that the board of internal revenue had been mandated by SEC as the only legal body to do so. He also announced that it is now an offence for anyone to receive on behalf of the government or pay any rent or revenue in cash to the government. “The Special Adviser on IGR, Chief J O. J Oketa, has been suspended indefinitely for going beyond the authority and command of his office. “Special Advisers and commissioners are no longer authorized to collect taxes or revenue of any kind. The Only legal body now authorized by council to collect revenue is the Ebonyi Board of Internal Revenue or any agent that the board may legitimately engage to do so. “All payments of all kind of revenue should be done in the way it goes directly into the account of government.” He explained that the Executive Council received presentations from companies on enumeration and collection of taxes and revenues for government without imposing hardship on Ebonyians. Meanwhile, the state Executive Council has set up an advisory committee on higher education, comprising representatives of the three senatorial zones of the state. They include, Amb.Frank Ogbewu, Engr.Fidelis Nwankwo and Prof. Chigozie Ogbu. Their function is to look into the situation of higher institutions in the state, particularly the Ebonyi state university and recommend the way forward for government. [myad]
Government of Osun state is set to reconstitute a high performing state executive council for the attainment of its lofty development programmes. This was contained in a communiqué issued after a three day retreat by stakeholders at Iloko Ijesa, in Oriade Local Government Area of the state. The participants took a look at the current economic realities in Nigeria and resolved to come up with new strategies that would help the government to navigate through the financial challenges while sustaining all its development programs. It said that the government is being compelled to review its programs with a view to executing its various development programs within the context of the ongoing economic crisis in the country. The communiqué which was signed by the Chief-of-Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, participants identified the need to reduce the cost of governance, increase internally generated revenues and drive investments to the state as vital to the continued growth of the state. The communiqué said the state is on the verge of unveiling what it called “a competent and capable cabinet” which is expected to be identified and inaugurated soon. It said the in-coming executive council of the state would be expected to work in conjunction with dedicated civil servants of the state for implementation of these plans. The communique said participants at the retreat recognized the urgent need to put in place clear action plans that would put the state on a good footing among its peers in the country despite the biting economic hardship. Highlighting the current global economic hardship, the communiqué added that Osun is not alone in the economic difficulties just as participants noted that the dwindling economic fortune will affect all tiers of government, including their business partners. The communiqué stated: “Osun has been at the forefront of innovation in governance and it is one of the few states in the country with commendable development statistics. “The state has made massive investments in physical and human infrastructure in the last five years. In 2013, Osun had the lowest unemployment rate in the country and the second lowest poverty rate. “Osun’s Youth Empowerment Model and School Feeding Scheme influenced the World Bank’s YESSO programme and the All Progressives Congress (APC) National School Feeding goal respectively.” The communiqué noted the commitment of the Rauf Aregbesola administration to delivering on its development initiatives to the people of the state, stating that Osun will institutionalize performance-driven governance. It stated: “The role of humans in economic development must not be overlooked, so it is important to leverage on the human resources of the state to generate ideas, establish enterprises and create much-needed goods and services. “If we can get 40% of the population to be productive and generate surplus value, we will generate enough revenue to be comfortable. The aim of the Repositioning Osun for Prosperity (ROPE) initiative is to achieve increased IGR by employing creative means to widen taxpayers base and supporting enforcement action.” The communique said that the repositioning of the state will reduce the cost of governance by strengthening the state’s public financial management system and ensure compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards. It added that the new era that Osun is entering will increase investments in the state by attracting investors for short to medium term investments in agriculture, tourism, solid minerals, and strengthening the Public Private Partnership framework. It also identified performance-based governance with the setting up of appropriate mechanisms and frameworks to track performance in Millennium Development Agencies and government policies as benefit of the new initiatives. [myad]
Sterling Bank PLC has donated N50 million to Osun state government in support of Osun Certificate of Occupancy Fast track project (OCOFO). The cheque for the fund was presented to the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola today by the Regional Director of Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi. Adeyemi said that the bank is living up to its promise of supporting the state to give people the dividend of democracy. He added that the bank’s desire to support the state to succeed has increased the support to the OCOFO project from the initial sum of N20 million to the present N50 million. “What we are doing today is as a result of the promise of our bank to this state at inception; we have promised and living to our promise to partner with the government to give dividend of democracy to our people. “We are willing to help the state considering the relationship that we have with the present government that we approached our management to increase the grant from N20 million and we are here today to present a cheque of N50million for the scheme.” Receiving the donation, governor Aregbesola commended the bank for its partnership with the state, saying that the support from Sterling Bank will go a long way in strengthening the resolve of his administration to fast track the issuance of C of O in the state. He said that with the OCOFO project, the 90 days of getting a Certificate of Occupancy for legitimately acquired property will be made possible as opposed to the old regime where it may take eternity to obtain a C of O. The Governor called on investors, residents and citizens of the state to take the opportunity of the new C of O regime and get titles for their landed property within the stipulated 90 days. Aregbesola assured Sterling Bank that the state will account for every Naira the bank has given to support the scheme, saying the relationship shall be a win-win situation. “I want to use the occasion to call on our people to take this opportunity to have title for their property, a land gets value because of its title. “A government title on a land is the only way you can identify your property. We have put up this scheme to fast track the issuance of your Certificate of Occupancy like never before. “With the scheme, you should rest assure that your title will be ready after 90 days of the commencement of the procedure.” Aregbesola highlighted some of the areas in which the bank has partnered with government such as support for the on-going construction of Oba Adesoji Aderemi Road; building of some schools and providing backbone for the school feeding system. He added that support for his government by the bank is a support for the people of the state as well as for a turnaround of the economic situation of the state. [myad]
Head of the Efficiency Unit in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Ms. Patience Oniha has listed the benefits of the unit to the development of the Nigeria’s economy. Speaking with newsmen at a media roundtable event in Abuja organised to provide an update on the activities of the Unit and its proposed strategies, Oniha said that the unit is one of the pivotal policies of the current administration for moderating the government’s Overhead Expenditure and to ensure that the government derives maximum value for its spending. She recalled that the need to ensure that the government’s resources are judiciously used in a cost efficient manner that would also result in savings for government were the primary reasons why the Efficiency Unit was established. Ms. Oniha said that so far, the Efficiency Unit had focused primarily on the aspect of its mandate which has to do with procurement where the potentials for savings are not only high but achievable within a relatively short time. She said that For the Unit has reviewed the Overhead Expenditure of the government in fine details to identify potential areas of savings from procurement. “The strategy to be deployed would be to use the government’s large purchasing power to negotiate favourable terms with suppliers. The overriding objective is Doing more with Less.” She said that the implementation of the second aspect of the Unit’s mandate which is the review of work practices and processes to eliminate waste and duplications will commence thereafter. She said that the savings and funds that will be realised from the cost-cutting initiatives of the Efficiency Unit will become available for financing capital projects such as infrastructure. according to he, Nigerians would benefit from the government’s increased investment in infrastructure which has immense multiplier benefits such as: creating jobs, increasing domestic production (by extension, Gross Domestic Product), attracting foreign investors and overall improvement in the quality of life for Nigerians. She said that other benefits of having a Unit dedicated to cost cutting and generating savings are that because it is internal to government and involves all the MDAs and that it has significant direct and indirect lasting benefits such as learning opportunities, change in culture and continuity of the efficiency initiatives. Ms. Oniha gave examples of advanced and developing countries where this approach has been successfully deployed with demonstrable success. [myad]
Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has gotten a mandate of stearing the affairs of Nigeria as President from today, February 5 until next Tuesday, February 10. This is because, the President, Muhammadu Buhari is proceeding on a brief vacation, shortly after his series of official visits outside the country. A statement by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina said the Osinbajo will perform the functions of the President, saying that the action of the President is in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution. “President Buhari has dispatched a formal notice of his vacation to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.” This is the first time President Buhari would take a break since ascending the Presidency in on May 29 last year after more than a year excruciating campaigns across the length and breadth of this country. During the campaigns, so many stories about his ill-health were spinned from the opposing political parties even as he campaigned day and night. [myad]
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Senate today ordered the immediate demolition of houses in Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, belonging to the former President of the country, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, former minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, former minister of Petroleum resources, Allison-Maduekwe and over 20 0thers.
Ekitigate: More Than Unsettling Ekiti State, By Ariyo-Dare Atoye
Indeed, the infamous Ekitigate is just an item in a wider script of power play. It is an elaborate template and the hawks working on this template are not taking prisoners. Some of these plans are targeted at total annihilation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the suppression of the opposition within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Individuals who are perceived to be nursing future ambition to occupy Aso Rock in contradistinction to their agenda now risk possible onslaught. The signs are not only just there, the manifestations are also very real. This is jungle politics.
According to a popular Yoruba saying, “The water beetle that is dancing on the water surface is not just doing so without a purpose; there is a drummer beneath the water beating the drum to create the melody.” As funny as this scenario looks, it somewhat suits the latest resurgence of the over-flogged issues surrounding the June 21, 2014 Ekiti State Governorship Election. There is certainly no smoke without fire and apparently, Mr. Tope Aluko, popularly known as TKO in the Ekiti political circles, is just a pawn in a political crude game. He allowed himself to be led into it for selfish interest. But Aluko is not acting alone in this latest but not strange voyage into EkitiGate.
Unfortunately for Aluko, he seems incapable of seeing through the overall script. The power game is certainly far beyond his comprehension. It is a political ponzi scheme – the schemers have succeeded in procuring a man who is ready to sacrifice his honour and family name for a mess of pottage. Ekiti people are known for their dignity, honour and the protection of family values. An Ekiti man will do everything to defend his family name. But for Aluko to openly admit to perjury is certainly an exception. He did not care about the future of his children. No responsible parent will contemplate such ignoble action.
Although a major reprieve for TKO is that the Mafia through its fronts may have guaranteed him a no-perjury conviction as long as he continues to play ball, yet that in itself is a burden to his political future. Poor Aluko has no clue about the identity of this Mafia. He is certainly not relating with the group directly; it is an extended complex game that even the major actors may not know where it will end. One can only pity Aluko because whatever he gets from this venture will still not be sufficient to secure his political future.
It is understandable that Governor Ayodele Fayose is a major target as he continues to unsettle the hawks with his outspokenness. He is now a leading voice in the land, challenging the excesses of Aso Rock. It is not unexpected if he has been marked for whatever agenda the Mafia may have, while EkitiGate is being reworked in a bid to achieve the unthinkable. Recall the smuggling of the Doctrine of Necessity into the Supreme Court in the case of Wike vs INEC. They are also thinking in that direction and working on something sinister. But the present Chief Justice of Nigeria is not seen as someone ready to sacrifice his hard-earned years of meritorious service to his fatherland. He has just a few times left and must have resisted some wicked overtures to compromise justice. So using the judiciary to hunt Fayose may not work.
We are in a season of political uncertainties where the rule of the President is higher than the rule of law! We currently risk fascism, but for people like Fayose who are talking truth to power. With the exception of Ebunolu Adegboruwa and a tiny few, the human rights community has simply gone completely numb in Nigeria. One may now be compelled to accept the notion that the capacity to defend democracy and the rights of the oppressed is an inspiration that could be derived or compromised. It is like a spirit which can come in and go out. So some individuals who once possessed this spirit, acting as the “conscience of the nation” might have failed to sustain it. Hitherto unknown Nigerians are now standing up to defend the rule of law.
Again for the record, the Ekiti June 21, 2014 governorship election was conducted devoid of rigging and manipulations. There is one truth about that election which cannot be taken away: it is the most covered and monitored single election by local and foreign observers because of the civil society pedigree and connection of former Governor Kayode Fayemi. An interesting addition is that, many of the observers came to Ekiti with smart electronic devices, prepared to record any form of electoral malpractice. They were present in all the 16 Local Government Areas and moved round freely without intimidation and harassment. Ekiti was a major test case for them. And in the end, there was no single report of indictment in that election; it was adjudged free, fair and credible.
I may not be privy to the quantum of money raised for that election by Governor Fayose, but the allegation of $37 million may not be different from the phantom $2.1billion arms money alleged to have been shared out to PDP leaders. Whereas, all the charges in the courts against all the alleged offenders so far when added together is nowhere near N50 billion, as against over N500 billion cooked up for media frenzy. This is certainly not justifying graft or exonerating anyone. But we must point out the recklessness with which figures are bandied around to crucify people. $37 million allegedly spent on Ekiti election is a good sensational script that will alarm the unsuspecting public anytime. There will be many more figures to come. It is a season of drama and aberration.
On the alleged militarization of the election, it was an open secret that security report had suspected the infiltration of Ekiti by State Boys from Osun to wreck havoc. Again, Fayose never hid the fact that if tight security was guaranteed, he would win the election. There could have been some measure of affinity in terms of conversation between some members of the then ruling party and the security officials but certainly not to compromise the poll. It was only strategic for the security personnel to adopt extra measures like using special tags to beat the likelihood of thugs using army uniforms to perpetuate evil. The concern was rife then of an attempt by area boys to compromise the security system. However, the “Tale by Aluko” is giving everything a new colouration to justify a hatchet job, even though not new.
Fortunately, the reports by various election observers did commend all the security agencies for ensuring peace during the election, which significantly aided high voter turnout. The truth about the story of June 21, 2014 will still be told in full by those who, for political and personal reasons, still disagree with the outcome of the poll. We can still remember the contrived political innovation called “photochromic,” blamed for the defeat of the APC in that election. Added to this false invention was the Theory of Stomach Infrastructure. Yet, nothing can ever override the truth.
Unfortunately, the same people who criticized the use of soldiers for Ekiti election have suddenly seen no reason to object to the same for Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections. I believe they will also come with different reasons why it is now justified to deploy soldiers. They are full of inconsistencies and contradictions. The plan to unsettle Ekiti, of which Aluko is now a major player, is all about 2019 projections. From a close observation and in the manner this issue has been syndicated so far in the media, it is not far-fetched to know that this script has been re-jigged to serve an intended purpose. Sadly, a segment of the South West youths on social media recruited to sustain this contrived narrative cannot reason beyond a futile obsession for a political change that has since lost its taste. They trended EkitiGate on Twitter with all vigour as if it was capable of redeeming the battered image of the 2016 budget. They even ignored the invasion of Dalori by Boko Haram and would not comment on President Muhammadu Buhari not visiting Maiduguri to empathize with the people. What a sad commentary for our nation!
Although it is not yet clear where this matter is headed in the end, but one thing is sure: the truth will eventually prevail. However, I urge that we do not joke with the people who are desperate with powers and who think they can do and undo regardless of the Constitution. We must take solace in the fact that power is transient and this phase too will pass away. Until then, the new addition to our political lexicon: EkitiGate, is more than unsettling the “Fountain of Knowledge.”
Many political observers are yet to grapple with the reality of what is gradually unfolding, especially in the Southwest. The hawks are currently doing everything possible to equally whittle down the influence of the Lion of Bourdillon-Bola Tinubu-by saturating the APC with decampees from other parties. The upcoming board appointments will further reveal several misgivings. Take it or leave it, the game for 2019 has commenced in earnest and the battle line is gradually being drawn. In essence, the bigger picture is more than just EkitiGate.
Ariyo-Dare Atoye, a member of Shadow Cabinet of Nigeria (SCN) contributes this piece from Ward 8, Igbara Odo-Ekiti, Ekiti State – aristotle001us@yahoo.com. [myad]