NORTH IMPOVERISHED BY ITS POLITICAL LEADERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS – DOGARA
NORTH IMPOVERISHED BY ITS POLITICAL LEADERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS –DOGARA A former Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has attributed the North’s current state of backwardness to its leaders. He also urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu in transforming the nation through the tax reform bills currently awaiting the endorsement of the National Assembly. Dogara spoke as a guest speaker at a town hall meeting for Christian leaders in northern Nigeria. The event, themed “Church and Society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising”, addressed issues surrounding governance and development. The former Speaker lamented that Arewa political leaders mismanaged opportunities to lead Nigeria for over 40 years, leaving the region plagued with poverty and underdevelopment. According to Dogara, northerners should resist the temptation to blame President Tinubu for the North’s current plight. He emphasised the need to unite in supporting the tax reform bills, which he said were designed to bring transformation to the North and Nigeria as a whole. “We are all northerners, and it should be made clear that President Tinubu or the South is not our problem. They have not come to cheat the North. That is out of the question. Some are claiming that Yoruba people are getting appointments, but let’s reflect. We ruled this country for over 40 years when northerners were in power. What did we achieve? The North remains the same, impoverished by our own leaders,” Dogara said. Speaking on Value Added Tax (VAT) and federal allocations received by states, Dogara asked, “We have had so much, but what did our governors do with the resources? They squandered them instead of investing in meaningful development.” He also cited the Ajaokuta Steel Industry, initiated by the Shagari administration, which was 98 per cent completed but was later allowed to deteriorate. “The project was almost finished, yet it was left to rot,” he said. Dogara urged northerners to support President Tinubu’s efforts to transform the country through the tax reform bills currently in the National Assembly. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN), Reverend Joseph John Hayab, stated that the organisation was established in 2007 to provide platforms and opportunities for Christians to explore effective ways of participating in Nigeria’s national life, particularly in areas related to spiritual, social, and economic growth. Hayab urged Christian leaders to deliberate on the issue of tax reforms currently being considered by Nigeria’s legislative arm.
Dons Eze
- Foreign Affairs
- December 20, 2024
- 41 views
KEMI BADENOCH AND THE NIGERIAN POLICE
KEMI BADENOCH AND THE NIGERIAN POLICE The police are a reflection of the Nigerian society, argues Joshua J. Omojuwa A casual observer was going to get away with thinking Kemi Badenoch had become the No. 1 hate figure for Nigerians on social media. Before the play that turned the tide, the leader of the UK’s Conservative Party was never going to truly occupy such a position amongst Nigerians considering the several other options back home. That said, it did look like there was a consensus on the Badenoch bashing by online users until she offered the audience their favourite hate figure; the Nigerian Police. What followed was stories on the many tragic experiences suffered by Nigerians in the hands of the police. Apart from those who have permanently been protected by their access to power, every Nigerian south of Abuja has a bad police story to tell. For several unlucky others, those stories resulted in the death of loved ones, their disappearance or even incarceration, for doing nothing other than being citizens of Nigeria living in Nigeria who happened to find themselves in the same space and time with the police. When it comes to this subject matter, the question is how do you fix it? Unfortunately, whilst there appears a consensus that policing is broken, we have stayed stuck on what to do to fix it for years now. Kemi Badenoch had been asked about the British Police. Because her ambition is solely focused on becoming the Prime Minister, she sidestepped the subject of the British Police and instead offered the interviewer the Nigerian Police. Gimba Kakanda said it best, “it was an unnecessary deviation that reveals her desperation to perform for the British public in her quest to shake off any allegiance to a nationality other than British. Interestingly, if I were in her shoes and asked to compare life in Abuja and London, my story would’ve been different. The first and only time I was ever robbed in over three decades of my existence was in London, on a busy street in central London. “When I reached out to the Metropolitan Police, I was directed to fill out an online form. Less than 24 hours later, they responded and said there was nothing they could do, even though CCTV cameras were all over the area and the robbers weren’t masked. You can’t even wear a decent watch and walk the streets of London without nursing the fear of being mugged. That should be Kemi’s concern if she aspires to lead the UK someday, because the excuse was that the police in the UK had no budget to chase muggers. Again, Kemi Badenoch’s account of the Nigerian police is valid. Many of us have had terrible encounters with them, no doubt, but that wasn’t what the interviewer asked her about. Her account also doesn’t negate the fact that there are outstanding police officers in Nigeria, individuals who defy mainstream stereotypes in their policing duties. They also deserve the benefit of our microphones”. This is not a black or white conversation, at least in my opinion. There are nuances and hard truths. Tough ones about Nigeria and its unwholesome realities. One cannot defend the Nigerian Police. It’d appear Kemi could not defend the British Police either. She’d have had to speak about the submission that it is racially biased for starters. For someone seeking to lead the country, that was a no-go area. Adebayo Amoo, British-Nigerian tech founder, brought it home for the UK politician when he posted to X that, “You represent Northwest Essex constituency as MP, most of the crimes committed in your constituency include violent and sexual offences – does that make every constituent of yours a violent/sexual crime…
INVESTIGATION SHOWS SEVEN REASONS BVAS MAY NOT WORK IN NIGERIA
INVESTIGATION SHOWS SEVEN REASONS BVAS MAY NEVER WORK IN NIGERIA The growing concern in some quarters over the inability of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct free, fair and credible elections again gained gravitas last week in the wake of Ghana’s successful presidential elections. Without prejudice to the introduction of technology (card reader and co) by the Professor Attahiru Jega-led INEC which conducted the general elections of 2011 and 2015, and the outcomes of those elections, Nigerians have largely expressed disappointment at the elections conducted in 2019 and 2023, as evidenced by the barrage of pre- post-election litigations. Apart from the 2015 presidential election which saw incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, conceding defeat, almost all presidential election results in Nigeria have suffered the embarrassing discounts of distrust and lack of integrity. Last week in Ghana, even before the completion of final collation of results of its presidential election, incumbent Vice President and candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP, Mahamudu Bawumia, called his opposition candidate, John Mahama, to concede defeat. Madam Jean Mensa is the chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission and she announced the results later.Based on wide-range consultations and interviews, seven major issues have been codified as reasons BVAS may not work in Nigeria as it does in Ghana. The critical difference between elections held in Ghana and Nigeria using BVAS -1). Integrity of Electoral ManagersGhana: The integrity of electoral officials in Ghana is a cornerstone of the country’s success with the Bimordal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS. Transparent practices, accountability, and a genuine commitment to credible elections have ensured the smooth implementation of the system. The leadership prioritizes the credibility of elections over personal or political interests. Nigeria: In Nigeria, the human factor has been a significant hindrance. Electoral managers have often been accused of bias, corruption, and complicity in sabotaging the BVAS process. These failings erode public trust and compromise the efficiency of the system. -2). Appointment of Non-Partisan OfficialsGhana: Electoral officers in Ghana are appointed based on merit and neutrality, ensuring that those overseeing the electoral process are not influenced by political affiliations. This reduces the likelihood of human interference in technological operations like BVAS. Nigeria: In contrast, Nigeria frequently appoints individuals with political affiliations or connections to influential politicians. Some are card-carrying members of political parties or relatives of political officeholders. This blatant partisanship creates an environment where BVAS can be intentionally misused or sabotaged. -3). Retention of Proven CharactersGhana: Ghana values continuity and institutional memory, retaining proven leaders who have been conducting credible elections and whose know-how are applied to future ones, fostering trust in electoral management. A typical case in Ghana was Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who was the first substantive chairman of the commission from 1993 and was retained up to 2015 because of his track record of honesty and integrity which has eventually transformed the Ghanaian electoral landscape. At the 25th anniversary of the Institute for Economic Affairs, IEA, in Ghana, in 2014, Professor Jega said: “We in Nigeria have a lot that we owe to Dr. Afari Gyan. No doubt he was the longest-serving electoral commissioner on the continent of Africa and…He’s done a lot to restore stability in the electoral system in your country (Ghana). “We (Nigerians) have learned a lot listening to him, understanding the challenges he faced, how he addressed them and how we could do better than he had done because it was very important for us to be able to do that.” Nigeria: In Nigeria, electoral officials, with a reputation for integrity, are often removed or sidelined. Between 1993 and 2015, for instance, several chairpersons of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who resisted undue influence were replaced. Such as Humprey Nwosu, to other known Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs,…
- Foreign Affairs
- December 19, 2024
- 70 views
KEMI BADENOCH WAS RIGHT, NIGERIAN POLICE STOLE MY PHONE IN 2019, BY ELIAS OZIKPU
KEMI BADENOCH WAS RIGHT: NIGERIAN POLICE STOLE MY PHONE IN 2019, BY ELIAS OZIKPU British politician Kemi Badenoch recently became a subject of fierce attacks by officials of the Nigerian government for continuing her criticism of Nigeria’s crumbled and utterly corrupt system.Part of what riled officials of the Nigerian government was her disclosure during her interview with The Free Press, when the Conservative Party leader said, ‘Nigeria is a very poor country’ where people do all sorts to survive. Kemi was right and wrong at the same time, depending on your perspective on this matter. Personally, my understanding is that Nigeria isn’t necessarily a poor country as she put it, but the pervasive poverty in the country is man-made—created and entrenched by political officeholders who have done nothing but privatise public wealth since independence in 1960. So, contrary to Kemi’s submission, Nigeria is a wealthy country, but that wealth appears to be the ‘birthright’ of the political class alone! Except you are a politician, you will never enjoy Nigeria’s immense wealth, nor will you enjoy the benefits of being a Nigerian citizen, if any exist. Even your fundamental human rights, which are inherent, are taken from you if you are not amongst the political class in Nigeria.The second remark that irked Nigerian officials was her submission that the Nigerian police once stole her brother’s wristwatch and shoes. It is not clear why this should get officials worked up, especially with daily reports of the infamous activities of some officers of our police force. Whilst I know absolutely nothing about the theft of the shoes and wristwatch belonging to Kemi’s brother, I can tell authoritatively that I have been a victim of the robbery of officers of the Nigerian Police. During the #RevolutionNow protest in Lagos, which took place on August 5, 2019, I was arbitrarily arrested, and my phone, an HTC Desire 10 Pro, was snatched from me by a police officer. The press captured him holding the phone whilst dragging me to get locked up in a waiting Black Maria. All the police officers present at the scene saw him snatch the phone, but none of them asked him to return it. Whilst I was being prepared for detention, the police did not record the phone as part of my belongings despite my insistence that they do so.Lawyer and human rights activist Inibehe Effiong took up the case at the time and petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, asking him to investigate the robbery of his officers and ensured my phone was recovered and returned to me. When we were invited in respect of the petition, the police told us that it was impossible for them to identify the officer who snatched my phone. They asked me to go and find out from the journalists who captured the officer holding the phone he had forcefully taken from me. That was how that case ended. They didn’t know their own officer, but they expected journalists to. Incredible!So, it is a curious thing to me that government officials should be infuriated because someone talked about the notorious activities of officers of the Nigeria Police. The truth will always remain what it is; it never changes nor dies. Nigeria will never get better with its officials deliberately working to conceal a stinking decay already known throughout the world, nor will the country get better by expecting impoverished citizens to do false PR in the face of the economic oppression they have been subjected to for approximately 70 years as an independent nation. Nigeria will only get better if political officeholders respect citizens and ensure that the nation’s wealth is justly and equally distributed in a way that puts a permanent end to the monopolisation…
EDO ASSEMBLY SUSPENDS LG CHAIRMEN OVER GOVERNOR’S PETITION
EDO ASSEMBLY SUSPENDS LG CHAIRMEN OVER GOVERNOR’S PETITION The Edo State House of Assembly has suspended all the 18 elected local government council chairmen in the state for alleged insubordination and gross misconduct. The House directed leaders of the legislature in the 18 local governments to oversee the running of the councils for the next two months. The House suspended the council executives at plenary on Tuesday following a petition by Governor Monday Okpebholo. In the petition, the governor accused the LG chairmen of refusing to submit financial accounts of their local government to the state government. The governor who described the action of the LG chairmen as insubordination and gross misconduct, requested the House to look into the matter. The motion for the suspension of the council’s chairmen and their deputies was moved by Mr. Isibor Addeh, an APC member representing Esan North-East I. It was seconded by Donald Okogbe, PDP, representing Akoko-Edo II. At the end of the debate, 14 members voted in support of the suspension, six opposed while three members abstained. Eighteen Local government chairmen and 192 councillors were elected on September 2, 2023. Okpebholo had on December 3, 2024, given the LG chairmen 48 hours to submit statements of account of their respective councils to the Assets Verification Committee. Okpebholo directed the council chairmen to submit the statements to the Assets Verification Committee, through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG. He said the statement of accounts should be from September 4, 2023 till date. According to him, the statements would help and enable the Assets Verification Committee to do its job effectively and efficiently. The 24-member Edo House of Assembly is dominated by members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
BENIN REPUBLIC ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN NIGERIA TO UNDERSTUDY INEC
BENIN REPUBLIC ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN NIGERIA TO UNDERSTUDY INEC Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has promised to share the Commission’s experience and make available relevant documents to help the Commission Electorale Nationale Autonomie, CENA of Benin Republic conduct their elections in 2026. Yakubu was addressing a visiting delegation from the Commission Electorale Nationale Autonomie, CENA of Benin Republic in Abuja on Monday. The President of the Autonomous National Electoral Commission of Benin Republic, Dr Sacca Lafia and officials of the Electoral Commission are in Nigeria to undertake a study visit to INEC as they prepare for what they described as their most complex election in 2026. CENA will be conducting three elections within a period of three months. Legislative and Local Elections will be held in January 2026, to be followed by the Presidential election in April 2026. Yakubu said for this reason, the Benin Republic’s 12-member delegation led by its President, comprising National Commissioners, Directors and critical staff “to understudy our processes and procedures.” “CENA is interested in the legal framework for elections in Nigeria, the design and printing of election materials and forms, the recruitment and training of poll officials, election budgeting and mode of payment to different service providers, security during elections, the use of technology, the accreditation of local and international observers, engagement with electoral stakeholders and other aspects of Nigeria’s electoral experience,” the INEC boss added. He said the Commission has drawn up an “elaborate programme for the visit covering all aspects of the electoral process.” “Various Departments within the Commission are scheduled to brief the visitors. Peer learning and support will help to strengthen processes. “I want to assure CENA that we will fully share our experience with you and make available relevant documents that will enrich your understanding of our processes.”
GALE OF DEFLECTIONS: LABOUR PARTY SUFFERS HUGE SET BACK AHEAD OF 2027
GALE OF DEFECTIONS: LABOUR PARTY SUFFERS HUGE SET BACK AHEAD 2027 Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the once vibral Labour Party, LP, appears to be losing steam and membership strength across the country. When the members-elect of the National Assembly were sworn in on 13 June, 2023, the LP had the third-largest caucus in the National Assembly, with 34 members in the House of Representatives and eight senators. The ruling ALL Progressives Congress, APC, had the largest number of members, followed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Labour Party, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP. The Peter Obi effect had transformed the relatively obscure Labour Party into a national force, particularly in the Southeast, South-South, North-Central, and Lagos. The top-to-bottom voting pattern helped elect several Labour Party lawmakers who rode on Obi’s popularity. Eighteen months later, the Labour Party caucus in the National Assembly is rapidly depleting. This is due to court rulings that removed four members— Senator Darlington Nwakocha, Stainless Nwodo from Enugu, Emeka Nnamani from Abia, and Chijioke Okereke from Enugu and a wave of defections shaking the party. In the last 10 days alone, the Labour Party has lost six members in the House of Representatives to the ruling APC. Last week, four members— Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Constituency), Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency, Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Constituency), and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo), left the party on the same day. This week, Dalyop Chollom and Alfred Ajang, both from Plateau State, abandoned “Mama, Papa, and Pikin” and embraced the APC’s “broom.” Earlier in July, Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi also defected from the Labour Party to the APC. Unannounced Defections DAILY POST gathered that several lawmakers in the House have defected without formally announcing it on the floor of the House. For instance, some weeks ago, Thaddeus Atta, a Labour Party member, was spotted wearing a cap branded with President Bola Tinubu’s logo, fuelling rumours that he has joined the ruling party. Most defecting lawmakers are citing the ongoing leadership crisis in the Labour Party to avoid sanctions under Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that a defector’s seat should be declared vacant. However, the law provides an exception in cases of division within the party. It provides thus: “68. (1) A member of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall vacate their seat in the House if— “Being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, they become a member of another political party before the expiration of the term of the House, provided that the membership of the latter political party is due to a division in the former party or a merger of two or more parties or factions of which they were previously a member.” The Labour Party has been battling an internal crisis between the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Julius Abure and another faction led by Governor Alex Otti of Abia State. Party Reaction The Julius Abure-led NWC released a statement on Wednesday, announcing that it has launched a court case against the six defecting lawmakers. In a statement sent by its spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, the party vowed to demand the return of all salaries, emoluments, and privileges received by the lawmakers since their defection. “These defections are unfortunate and condemnable. Politicians who abandon their constituents during critical times expose themselves as untrustworthy and undeserving of future public confidence,” Ifoh stated. In the House, the head of the Labour Party caucus, George Ozodinobi, has been using the 2027 elections a warning against defecting lawmakers. “I want to wish those of us who think defecting from Labour to APC is their best decision in politics well. We look forward…
X-RAYING PETER MBAH’S TOWN HALL MEETING, BY DONS EZE
X-RAYING PETER MBAH’S TOWN HALL MEETING, BY DONS EZE Town hall meeting is a feedback mechanism through which political leaders engage themselves with their constituents on critical issues of governance. It is a political accountably forum by which political leaders periodically render account of their stewardship to their constituents,, while the people will in turn seek clarifications on various issues raised at the meeting. In a town hall meeting, attendees will present ideas, voice their opinions, grievances, and ask questions on issues that were not clear to them. Sometimes, the town hall meeting is televised, broadcast, or recorded. In advanced democracies like in the United States of America, Canada, and Western Europe, town hall meeting is a regular feature, and involves all strata of government, ranging from the councillorship position to the highest level of government. Town hall meeting helps to bridge communication gap between the government and the governed. It also helps the government to guage the pulse of the people, which will enable it to take necessary action, where possible, in order to assuage the feelings of the people, or to improve their welfare. In the same vein, town hall meeting enables the governed to unburden their troubled hearts before the government, and expect speedy fulfilment of promises made therein. Town hall meeting is a democratic process which enables every free citizen to participate in government, different from the usual communiques without communicants by a regime that claims to be all-knowing, and which hardly tolerates alternative viewpoints. It is also an agenda setting forum whereby the government takes necessary actions based on issues raised during the meeting. Even though that in town hall meeting there is no voting right, and there is no binding agreement, nevertheless, it gives the governed a sense of belonging, that at least, the government knows about their existence, and also gives the people the hope that their needs would be attended to. Since coming to power about eighteen months ago, Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has given town hall meeting priority in his programme. He has held such meeting for about two or three times, which involves the participation of traditional rulers, representatives of various civil society organisations, town unions, faith based organisations, trade union bodies, professional unions, students unions, women groups, market unions, farmers unions, ethnic associations, politicians, journalists, etc., In the last edition of the town hall meeting held on Saturday,.December 14, 2024, the over 5,000 capacity sitting hall at the Old Government Lodge, along Enugu -Abakaliki Road,.was filled to the brim. Before 8 O’clock in the morning, the event billed for 11 O’clock, had begun to witness surge of delegates at the entrance gate, with protocol officers and security men having hectic time to sort out names of invited delegates. Even though that the event was delayed for the next two hours, the people were not tired of waiting. They remained seated on their chairs because they were full of expectations, and anxious to hear the Governor speak. When finally the Governor arrived for the meeting at about one O’clock in the afternoon, he was not unmindful of his lateness. He started with profuse apologies for his lateness, stating that it was not in his character to keep the invited guests waiting for so long a time. He blamed it on the rescheduling of his flight from Abuja to Enugu, Governor Mbah kicked off the meeting by giving update on various activities of his goverment. He recalled that 33 percent, or about one-third of the 2025 budget estimate now before the State House of Assembly, is devoted to education. This shows the importance his goverment has for education. According to him, the Smart School system envisioned by his administration, will take off…
- Foreign Affairs
- December 16, 2024
- 39 views
NIGERIA CLEARS N85BN, $54M ECOWAS LEVY AFTER 19 YEARS
NIGERIA CLEARS N85BN $54M ECOWAS LEVY AFTER 19 YEARS Nigeria has made its first full payment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) levy in 19 years, contributing N85.54 billion and $54 million for 2023 and part of 2024. Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, made the announcement during the 66th ordinary summit of ECOWAS in Abuja on Sunday. He called the payment “a vote of confidence” in the organisation and a demonstration of Nigeria’s leadership in West Africa. Touray also highlighted the importance of the payment, noting that it would support ECOWAS efforts in regional integration and development. The payment, made on December 13, 2024, marks a key moment in the relationship between Nigeria and ECOWAS. Nigeria had struggled to meet its financial obligations to the regional body in previous years, but this move reflects a renewed commitment to the organisation. At the summit, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is chairing the event, praised Nigeria’s role in the regional body. The summit also addressed other pressing issues, including the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS, following military coups in those countries. These nations have formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and leaders are now seeking ways to manage the situation diplomatically. The summit is also focused on discussions regarding the proposed single currency for West Africa, the ECO, and ways to enhance economic cooperation among member states.
2027 PRESIDENCY: WE’RE NOT WOOING JONATHAN – PDP
2027 PRESIDENCY: WE’RE NOT WOOING JONATHAN, SAYS PDP The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has denied reports that it invited former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2027 presidential race on its platform. Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, denied the reports in an interview with BBC Hausa, saying the party did not issue its presidential ticket to Jonathan. He said, “The report that PDP has issued its presidential ticket to former President Goodluck Jonathan or invited him to contest the 2027 presidential election is not true. “What happened is this: I had an interview with a journalist where we discussed some issues. But in the course of the interview, he mentioned President Jonathan, asking about our opinion of him, because there are reports that he is being urged to run for the presidency. “I responded by saying that he (Jonathan) is eligible to contest the election, because he is a Nigerian and has the right to do that by the provision of the law, and he still has one more term left. So, there is nothing wrong about him contesting the presidential election because he is eligible in the face of the law.” He also added that PDP had done enough for Jonathan and as a member of their party, there was no way they would woo him. Abdullahi, who explained that they were yet to discuss the issue with Jonathan, said they have 12 governors and many other prominent politicians who are eligible and competent to contest the presidential election. “It wasn’t long ago that his wife said nothing would make her husband run for the presidency, that he didn’t leave behind or forget anything in the Villa for people to think that he’d come back to contest the position again. How then can we consider him. Ticket is given to someone who has shown interest.”