Monthly Archives: May 2010

Could Nigeria Ex Military Leader Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida be serious ?

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I have not been consulted this time even though I was part of a middle-belt group which the General invited, among others, for “consultation” before his stepping aside in 1993. The General under Nigeria’s constitution has the inalienable right like any other Nigerian, – not disqualified by the rules – to aspire to any political office. By the same token all Nigerians including me reserve the right to express their opinions as to the acceptability and competence or otherwise of all those who seek to rule over them in a democratic setting. Indeed it has been the failure of those Nigerians with the capacity to express their rights of objective criticism that has foisted as leaders at various levels simpletons, the light fingered, and even the fanatically insane. The crisis of development and the near failed-state status of Nigeria today is the outcome of this collective failure to strictly audit those who became leaders in Nigeria.

Three Generals namely, Gowon, Obasanjo and Babangida ruled Nigeria for 9, 11 and 8 years respectively. These three, therefore, have between them ruled Nigeria for the total of 28 years or 56% of 50 years since independence in 1960. A common denominator which characterizes their years in office is plentiful petrodollars, but how can each of them be said to have performed.

Gen. Gowon can be said to have secured national unity and integration by his post civil wars policies of “no victor no vanquished”, his Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction as well as the NYSC programs. Before then, Gowon had laid down the political and administrative structure (12 state structures) of Nigeria upon which subsequent developments have taken cue. He can also be credited with establishing Nigeria’s basic economic, social and artistic infrastructure including: roads, bridges, electricity and energy, universities, colleges, and polytechnics, hospitals and the new Federal Capital city of Abuja, the National theater and FESTAC 77 among others. Gen. Gowons failure was reneging on his promise to hand over to a civilian administration.

General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.)

General Obasanjo is credited during his first tour of duty with successfully handing over to a civilian administration in 1979. During his second tour, albeit under U.S pressure, he established the anti graft agencies of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). However, his most outstanding achievements remain the ushering in of the mobile phone revolution and the procurement debt relief and forgiveness for Nigeria from the London and Paris clubs.

Obasanjo failed with respect to organizing free and fair elections, infrastructure development such as power, roads, etc, his utilizing the anti-graft agencies selectively against perceived opponents and his sit-tight-attempt to have a third term as president. Obasanjo’s place in Nigeria’s history as villain-in-chief has however been assured by his imposition of an ailing Yar’adua as president in 2007.

With respect to General Babangida his, administration was strong on initiation of institutions, policies and programs but weak on strengthening them, policy implementation and sustainability. For instance, Mass Mobilization for Social and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DIFRRI), National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND), National Directorate for Employment (NDE), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nation Board for Community Banks (NBCB), National Republican Convention (NRC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), Structural Adjustment Program (SAP), Commercialization and privatization programs and many more are some of the examples of institutions, policies and programs initiated by the Gen. Babangida.

However, like Gen. Obasanjo’s EFCC and ICPC, Gen. Babangida’s NDLEA which has survived and thrived may also have been established under pressure from the USA. At the time, Nigeria had become the drug hub of Africa, and Nigerian leaders and their lackey’s were indeed the drug barons. I suspect that NDLEA was established as a compromise to save Nigeria from the kind of treatment which the USA meted out to Panama and its then leader Gen. Noriega. Luckily for the country NDLEA, except in a few instances, has largely served the objectives for which it was established. The BPE, NERFUND, Commercialization and Privatization as institutions, policies and programs respectively have also survived.

The shine has however been removed from these initiatives as they were largely perceived as used by the General and his cronies as avenues for dispensing undeserved favors and patronage as well as means for legalizing the mass plunder of our national assets and patrimony in the name of privatization. These apart, all other institutions, policies and programs of the Babangida era have been scrapped, have crumbled or simply collapsed under the weight of their irrelevance, inefficiency, corruption and non-viability. Spectacular among which are: SDP, NRC, MAMSER, DIFRRI, NACB and many more.

General Babangida’s failures in the political and economic realms are even more puzzling given the relatively more favorable and unfettered environment in which he led Nigeria. His transition to civil rule program was just last week described by the Nation Newspaper’s Dele Akinola as “the longest running failed state project in recent global history.” That program becomes even more of a moral burden on Babangida and his boys given the monumental waste of time and resources which the building of NRC and SDP party offices across the nation, funding the operations of the two parties, and banning and un-banning of candidates at will represented. Indeed had this mad – scientist experiment not ended with the annulment of the fairest, freest and most credible election till date, the killing of Chief Abiola and Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’adua and setting up of the disastrous Interim National Government (ING) led by Chief Shonekan, history may have been kinder to Babangida.

On the economic front, we have already noted the General’s privatization program as legalized plunder. But most disturbing was Babangida’s failure to utilize the first Gulf war oil money wind-fall to, modernize Nigeria’s power, roads and rail infrastructure or improve its foreign reserves or reduce its high debt profile by paying up its debt to the Paris and London clubs. That none of these happened, and that the money was “fritted away on non priority

Ex-President Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo

projects” not beneficial to the economy as posited by the Okigbo investigation panel leaves Babangida’s economic and financial record severely tainted. There is not much that IBB or his apologists can say to mitigate his culpability in this respect. Also, given the claim of his regime’s “elevation of corruption to a major state policy” nothing favorable can be said about the general.

With respect to the personality and character traits of these three Generals, once again Babangida tops them from the bottom. If one is to be charitable IBB and Obasanjo can be ranked the same, yet Obasanjo with all his legendary braggadocio, infidelity and treachery to me comes a distant second, when compared to IBB. The Nation’s Newspaper Deputy Editor on IBB’s character trait is instructive when he says that he is “a leader whose trademark is saying what he would later deny and denying what he will later say.” While Owei Lakemfa of Vanguard says that “but we all know that as part of his instinctive nature of deception, whenever Babangida talks about peace, he would have sounded the bugle for war.”

In my opinion, Gen. Babangida’s personality traits are in consonance with his leadership style of governing by deception, subterfuge, treachery, backstabbing, booby-traps and non-predictability. The general has indeed not helped the perception of his person and character by crowning himself the grand master of these negative attributes, styling himself as the “evil genius”, the “Maradona of Nigerian politics” and “Machiavelli-in-chief”.

Gen. Babangida has the unenviable distinction of being Nigeria’s leader when a prominent journalist was killed by parcel bomb the first in our history. This killing coincided with the maturation of drug trafficking in Nigeria and the mystery of the death and or disappearance of an apprehended drug courier Miss. Gloria Okon in police custody. He also holds the record of detaining the highest number of journalists at any one time, and shutting down more magazine and newspaper publishing houses than any other regime.

With respect to the annulment of the elections of June 12 1993, very few Nigerians are aware of the fact that Gen. Babangida had appointed and sworn-in a tribunal specifically to hear petitions on that presidential election. The tribunal was under the chairmanship of a justice of the Supreme Court Justice Babalakin now retired. Gen. Babangida’s perfidy was at its highest when he proceeded to annul the same election for which the tribunal was set up two days before it was due to start sittings. In the recent past, Gen Babangida made a mockery of the justice Oputa panel on truth and reconciliation by not only refusing to appear before it but by placing all available legal obstacles to frustrate its work. The Gen. had to avoid the Oputa Panel because he could not afford to be question under oath as that will finally exposed his culpability on several fronts such as the Dele Giwa, Gloria Okon, Gen. Vatsa’s, the Gulf war wind-fall, and the June 12 elections among others.

In the last few months while past leaders, men of honour, goodwill and patriotism and integrity rose in support of the then Vice President Jonathan Goodluck to assume presidential powers as Acting President, Gen. Babangida characteristically did not stand up to be counted.

These character traits explain why Gen. Babangida finds it hard or impossible to take a clear and an unequivocal and principled stand on any issue. Whether the issue, be that of the IMF loan, SAP, number and structure of political parties, candidates at elections, trial and execution of suspected coup-plotters, nullification of fair and free elections. Babangida’s motives and justification for any of his actions and decisions in the issues mentioned above have up till today remained mysterious. This obscurantism has also characterized IBB’s acclaimed leadership abilities because there are no concrete and verifiable criteria which he or his apologists can proffer as his leadership assets.

Most Nigerians are mesmerized by the illusion of IBB’s grandeur, charisma and presumed leadership abilities which to me are inconsequential. Nigeria’s situation today requires incontrovertible and concrete proof of a leader’s intellectual, physical, moral, mental and psychological abilities. Nigerians should no longer accept illusive, obscure, undefined and unverified claims to leadership abilities as has been the case with the General Babangida. It is time Nigerians knew the why, of any individual’s leadership aspirations, the what he intends to achieve and the how he intend to achieve his declared intentions for the country. We can ill afford a leader whose style is that of dithering, prevarication and concealment. Democracy has no room for these and it would be foolhardy for Nigerians to think that IBB can be born again at this stage of his existence.

It is now agreed by all that Nigeria requires strong institutions and the rule of law i.e. a mature political culture but not strong leaders. In this regard, Babangida is neither strong nor the person who can build our institutions or strengthen our laws. His multiple failures in governance, institution building and entrenching the rule of law, his moral standing and credibility spring no doubt from his intrinsic nature and character. Never one to be strong on any issue, his, it is to leave us wondering while himself wondering without direction. Otherwise, how do you explain his introducing the federal character principle into Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution and his being adverse to its application today.

If, as portrayed above, Babangida failed in the many fronts described as an unfettered military dictator within a much more favorable economic regime, what are we to expect from him in a much tighter, civilian and democratic setting where compromise and complex horse trading are order of the day? A culture which a general and a dictator is deeply averse to, and in a world just recovering from a major economic recession no one should expect miracle from the General. If Babangida himself or any of his apologists have fresh facts and logical arguments contrary to these given above, I am open to reconsider. For now, my conclusion is that Nigeria does not need IBB at this point in time.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Jonathan May dissolve the PDP Zoning System come 2011 Election

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Nigeria Acting President Jonathan Goodluck

This is the story of the bad blood being generated by on-going moves to scuttle the PDP zoning arrangement which concedes the presidency to the north until 2015.  The plot to kill the zoning formula is to pave the way for Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to contest next year’s presidential election. But will the plan succeed?  The report traces how the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, introduced zoning as a principle of political office allocation.

Oddly, the evil deed happened on a day that was meant for holy deeds.. Then Vice President Atiku Abubakar had been deliberately sent out of Nigeria to avoid a counter action.  Then President Olusegun Obasanjo could have sent just any other person.  But because the latter knew exactly the game he wanted to play, he chose his deputy for the diplomatic mission to the Central African Republic, CAR.  Then on that fateful Sunday, Obasanjo invited Chief Audu Ogbeh, the then embattled National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who also doubled as Obasanjo’s Special Adviser on Agriculture to the Presidential Villa for a private meeting.

Once Ogbeh got inside the president’s wing of the villa, Obasanjo waved off his security aides who were around.  The task at hand was as simple as it was ridiculous.  Because some days earlier, just as tension enveloped the polity this past week, the nation was on edge that January 2005 just before PDP held it’s National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting.  Just as it happened this past week when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan was pitched against party chairman, Vincent Eze Ogbulafor, Obasanjo in 2005 was pitched against Ogbeh and more than half of the state governors of PDP extraction.

The major domo in the opposition within the PDP at that time was Atiku Abubakar, Obasanjo’s deputy.  But because the compromise that was reached in 2005 and which saved both Obasanjo and Ogbeh from public embarrassment was that the latter would resign ahead of the party’s national convention, which effectively meant that he would be leaving office ahead of the expiration of his tenure, Obasanjo, known to always operate like a locomotive engine whose break system has gone kaput, wanted Ogbeh’s resignation on the spot.

Therefore, right there in Aso Rock Villa, Obasanjo made available to Ogbeh all he needed to produce his resignation.  It was an act of unmitigated show of presidential power by Obasanjo.  Ogbeh, who was alone, could neither reach Atiku, who was already in CAR, nor establish telephone communication with any other leader of PDP.

He resigned there and then as directed by Obasanjo.

Like a rain-beaten chicken, Ogbeh announced the following day that he had resigned as national chairman of PDP.

For an Obasanjo who took delight in warehousing offences committed by government officials and party leaders, what, perhaps, appears to be playing out in the present case of the arraignment of Ogbulafor by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, is no different from the Obasanjo-style warehousing of offences.
So, what was Obasanjo’s reason for acting in that manner?

That removal of Ogbeh, was the very first signs that Obasanjo was about to tinker with the zoning arrangement of his party by elongating his own tenure beyond the constitutionally stipulated two terms of four years. For, had Obasanjo sailed through with his Third Term Agenda that would have effectively been the nunc dimitis of the zoning arrangement in PDP?

Today, it is Acting President Jonathan who is breathing down the neck of Ogbulafor for daring to insist that the party’s zoning formula would be adhered to for the 2011 elections.

With that statement, Ogbulafor foreclosed any growing ambition in Jonathan to vie for the presidency next year.  But pro-Jonathan forces in the presidency and the polity would have none of that and, therefore, went for Ogbulafor’s jugular by exhuming a 2004 corruption case against the PDP chairman.

But Who Owns The Zoning Rights?
It was in 1979, during the formative years of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, that the idea was suggested. For the NPN, the fable goes that it had been assured of the presidency by the out-going military junta then led by Obasanjo. But what punctures this fable was an incident which happened immediately after the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, elected the late Chief Philip Umeadi as his running mate.

Sunday Vanguard was reliably informed that once Awolowo chose Umeadi as his running mate, Obasanjo sent words to Awolowo to change that choice.  Obasanjo’s argument was that the choice made by UPN did not in any way take into cognizance Nigeria’s peculiar ethno-tribal balancing.  But Awolowo and the UPN refused to shift their ground.  Their counter position was that there was need to ensure that merit was not sacrificed on the altar of federal character or quota system.

But the NPN, peopled by politicians whose main advantage bore all the signs of pragmatism ended up with Alhaji Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari, from Shagari Village in Sokoto State.  The party then went all the way down, as if slightly diagonally to the left across the Niger River, to Anambra State to choose Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme.

Still disputed in some quarters, the NPN won the 1979 presidential elections.  Though Awolowo went all the way to the Supreme Court, he lost to the calculation of a constitutional provision which states that whoever would emerge President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces needed two thirds of the total votes cast in two thirds of the states of the Nigerian Federation.  This provision itself lends itself to the ethos of national spread and, by implication, the need for participatory mandate.

The NPN did not stop there.  It also ensured that it zoned party offices across the groups in the country vis: Yoruba, Igbo, Southern Minorities, Middle Belt, North (East and West).

Flowing from that arrangement, its national chairman, Augustus Meredith Adisa Akinloye emerged from the Yoruba West and the Senate President, Joseph Wayas from Southern Minority Cross River State. The Speaker, House of Representatives, Edwin Ume-Ezeoke came from the South-East, having been nominated by the Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP, which had a working relationship with the NPN.  But where did zoning lead the NPN and Nigeria?

Most Nigerians at that time did not understand the principles behind what NPN called zoning.  Bashorun MKO Abiola wanted the NPN presidential ticket in 1983; but the NPN zoning arrangement was bound to put paid to that.  Abiola persisted but the leadership of the party simply went ahead with their national convention in Kaduna.

Despite his enormous resources and his contributions to the NPN, Abiola was muscled out of the race, with the then powerful Transport Minister, Alhaji Umaru Dikko saying the party’s presidential ticket was not for sale to the highest bidder. Although with his resources, MKO could have sprung a surprise on the NPN leadership, they did not want to take any chances hence their strategy of not even allowing him to participate in the primaries which held in Kaduna.  He read the handwriting clearly and kissed the party bye-bye.

Enter PDP’s Zoning Arrangement
Consequent upon the war of attrition waged by the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, and some pro-democracy activists across the length and breath of Nigeria on account of the injustice arising from the annulment of the election of MKO Abiola as president on June 12, 1993, and the unwritten concession that for Nigeria to know peace, there was the need for a conscious effort to placate the Yoruba South West geo-political zone, the presidency should be given to the Yoruba, the out-going military junta of Abdulsalami Abubakar surreptitiously ensured that the PDP was the party of choice to win the presidential election.  It did not stop there.  It then went ahead to deploy resources of all sorts to ensure that Obasanjo, a Yoruba man, emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.

And as if the Nigerian nation agreed to the zoning arrangement in 1999, even the Alliance for Democracy, AD, and the then All Peoples Party, APP, now All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, went into an alliance which meant one of the parties would subsume its interest.  APP was the senior partner in the alliance and, therefore, was expected to produce the presidential candidate while AD was expected to produce the running mate.  But by one curious yet inexplicable twist, the alliance handed the presidential ticket to the junior AD’s Olu Falae, who emerged via the decision of a few old men sitting in an apartment at D’Rovan’s Hotel in Ibadan.

Ogbonnaya Onu, who was the APP presidential candidate was not even taken into confidence in giving away his ticket.  But his prospective running mate, Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, the Marafan Sokoto, ran with Falae, a Yoruba man.  Therefore, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the presidential election was a straight fight between two sons of Oduduwa, the Yoruba progenitor.

Requiem for Zoning?
Lately, however, there has been a plethora of opinions challenging the propriety of zoning or national character or quota system.  Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida had made statements to the effect that national character might not take Nigeria very far.  Senate President David Mark has been known to extol the virtues of meritocracy.

In fact, Chief Richard Akinjide, Second Republic Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, insisted that “the talk about turn by turn would not do us any good in that context.  Look, isn’t it ridiculous, that whenever we want to talk of the presidency of Nigeria we talk in terms of Hausa Fulani, Yoruba or Igbo.  Totally unfair!  In the US, Obama comes from a minority of the minority but look at him now, because he was the best man for the job, the people of America said he should go and do the job.

“The truth we must understand is that in a particular circumstance or at a particular period, the area you zone the office to may not have the best man for the job.

“One of the flaws in our constitution is the matter of this geographical spread things and candidacy or national character thing.  This national character or zoning thing is nonsense.  That doctrine was introduced in India, we are not the original owners of that doctrine but it is subject to quality in India.  It doesn’t mean that if the geographical spread must apply to your area and you then bring a buffoon or a nonentity then it must be imposed on all of us, no.  It’s not right, it’s been abused.

I would advocate that this national character thing should be abrogated as regards certain offices.”
To compound the woes of the apostle of zoning, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua suddenly developed serious health challenges that have kept him away from office since Monday November 23, 2009.  It took the creative legislative acumen of the Senate, in consultation with other segments of the leadership of the Nigerian state, to pronounce Yar’Adua’s deputy, Jonathan, as Acting President, relying on the doctrine of necessity.

But once Jonathan took over, a new breed of forces emerged in his support and defence and has since been putting pressure on him to contest the presidency next year.

Therein lies the problem
First, since Ogbulafor dared to re-echo the position of PDP on zoning, that the presidency would remain in the North for next year’s election, he became a marked man.
Besides, once it was discovered that a few former state governors had enormous resources that could stop a Jonathan-for-president project, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, sprang into action again and made James Onanefe Ibori the first target.  Ibori is at large and is being looked for.  Then came the PDP Reform Forum which is insisting that merit should be the order of the day as against the usually whimsical approach of PDP as a political party.

An Anti-Climactic NEC Meeting
This explains why PDP’s 50th NEC meeting which was held last Tuesday after an injunction and counter injunction was sought and quashed, respectively, ended up as an anti-climax of sorts.  The main decision of the NEC meeting was the proposed amendments which the party believes would do it a world of good.

The issue of reforms was not discussed as expected.  The Acting President made preachments on the need for caution, respect for due-process and rule of law, as well as the halting of the vaulting ambitions of some politicians ahead of next year’s general elections.  The party is amending the following sections of its constitution 12.14, 12.46, and 12.48.  The parts of the PDP amendment deal with number of delegates to elect flag-bearers of the Party at various levels, just as it noted that the current provision which makes the number of delegates in a Senatorial Congress more than those electing a Governorship Candidate was an anomaly

A communiqué at the end of the meeting read by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali said, “the 50th meeting of the National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party just ended here at our National Secretariat.

“NEC passed a vote of confidence on the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for his heroic role in stabilizing the polity since his assumption of office as the Acting President.
“NEC also passed a vote of confidence and commendation on the National Assembly for their steadfastness in ensuring the stability and good governance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“In the same vein, NEC also unanimously expressed a vote of confidence on the National Working Committee, led by the National Chairman, Prince Dr. Vincent Eze Ogbulafor and encouraged the National Working Committee to continue along its current line of organizing the Party and ensuring its growth and stability.

“NEC received a report on progress on the new National Secretariat and expressed its delight that the contractors have fully mobilized to site and work has commenced in earnest. NEC commended the Acting President for the pivotal role he has played in the realization of the project”.

Will The North Agree?
To be fair, the north as an entity, the core north may not buy this argument about meritocracy.  The simple reason is that after Nigeria had gone through the eight years of Obasanjo, and the north having just enjoyed (if that is the word) barely two and a half years of the presidency via Yar’Adua’s headship, would it be fair as a federation to now re-order the arrangement and chant the mantra of meritocracy as against the gentleman’s agreement of zoning.

Yet, for anybody to argue safely on the matter, it should be made clear that zoning is purely a PDP arrangement of convenience.

The north which is kicking and would kick forever against the re-ordering of the zoning arrangement knows that the ladder to the presidency is the PDP.

In any case, for all the ills and vices of PDP, which political party can stand in its way?

PDP Reps on zoning formula of the party– Hon. Aminu Shehu Shagari (PDP/Sokoto)

Let the PDP keep to its words on zoning.  The zoning formula was an agreement reached by the PDP long ago. I want the PDP to be a keeper of its words. If we say something, we should abide by it.

Hon. Clever M. Ikisikpo (PDP/Bayelsa)

There is no constitutional provision for zoning.  Zoning, as currently arranged by the PDP, is not provided for in the constitution. It was an agreement reached by the party after the consideration of some issues. But it behoves  on the PDP to look into the current zoning arrangement and decide whether it is in the best interest of the country, because what matters in the end is how to improve on the well being of the electorate. But, as a faithful member of the PDP, whatever the PDP decides on, I shall abide by it.

Hon. Elizabeth Ogbaga (PDP Ebonyi)
We have to be careful and wise on this issue. I believe that zoning should be done in a manner that minimises conflicts.
There should be places where zoning should be applied, and some places where it may not be applied. But, I know that in the past, it has helped to reduce all kinds of problems.

And, as a member of the PDP, I am bound to respect the decision of the party at all times, and I don’t want to think that I would have problem with that.

Don’t contest, Fayose to Jonathan

Former governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose says: ‘’l will personally advise the Acting President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan not to heed the advice of those in the ruling PDP asking him  to  run for 2011 presidential election, his mission  should be on  how he would organise a credible election for Nigerians without himself taken part.
‘’He should not allow the sycophants around the Presidential Villa  to mislead him ,l think Mr acting president should remains tactful and watchful

‘’But l must admit that Dr  Jonathan being a Nigerian has an inherent constitutional power to stand for any election on the platform of any party.  I know he is a sensible person , he would do the right thing.

Former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope – PDP will continue with zoning

“Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has not told anyone that he wants to run for election. His speech to the PDP National Executive Committee, NEC meeting, was a great speech from a great mind and from the way I look at it because I was present at the NEC meeting, Jonathan was guided by the highest interest of the PDP. I am convinced that Acting President Jonathan will never do anything that is detrimental to the zoning arrangement of the PDP.
The PDP will continue with the zoning because it is in the best interest of the party to do.

Already, Jonathan is establishing himself as a hero of Nigeria who acted to save the country at this very time. I am sure that when the rotational presidency moves down to the South, Acting President Jonathan will be the automatic choice”.

Zoning should not stop Jonathan -Dr. Goodnews Agbi, former Delta State governorship aspirant and PDP Chieftain

“Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has not come up to tell Nigerians that he wants to contest for the position of President of this country, but if he wants to contest, it is in order because every Nigerian who is capable, intelligent and very resourceful should be allowed to aspire to any office of the land. The idea of zoning at the initial stage was to allow disadvantaged zones to contest for the highest office in the land, but now, every thing in the world and Nigeria evolves, Nigeria has got to a stage where anyone who is capable to address the problems should be allowed to do so.

“As a PDP chieftain, I believe that if Jonathan wants to contest for the Presidency, he should go ahead. For example, the South South has not had a taste of the Presidency before.  It is the time for Acting President to contest.  After all, other political parties provide candidates for elections, with or without the zoning arrangement of the PDP”.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Nigeria: Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima allegedly marries girl, age 13

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LAGOS, Nigeria — The marriage took place at one of the Nigerian capital’s most recognizable landmarks, under the golden dome of the National Mosque in front of an audience of the elite.

But the recent wedding of one of the Muslim leaders who brought Shariah law to Africa’s most populous nation is under scrutiny as human rights groups say he married a 13-year-old Egyptian girl.

As authorities investigate Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima, the marriage is drawing fresh questions about the role of religion in a country of 150 million people split between Christians and Muslims.

Yerima, 49, arranged the marriage with the girl after paying her family a $100,000 dowry, according to a complaint filed by the Nigerian Human Rights Commission in April. Initially, Yerima couldn’t arrange a visa for the girl to travel from Egypt to Nigeria, so he instead brought the girl through neighboring Niger, said Chidi Odinkalu, a lawyer for works for the Open Society Justice Initiative.

That leaves Yerima open to human trafficking charges, as well as possible child-sex and endangerment charges, the lawyer said.

“You don’t need the Quran or the Bible to get this,” Odinkalu said. “I think most people, irrespective of the cleavage between the two faiths, wouldn’t marry off their 13 year old.”

Yet 30 members of the girl’s family attended the ceremony at the National Mosque, the human rights commission said. It’s unclear who else attended the wedding. Ustaz Musa Mohammed, the chief imam of the National Mosque, could not be reached for comment.

Under child protection laws enforceable in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, a woman must be 18 before being able to consent to marriage. However, those laws aren’t enacted in all of Nigeria’s 36 states and activists say child brides have been married off in Muslim communities after their first period.

It also isn’t the first time Yerima has apparently married a child bride. The right commission alleged that he married a 15-year-old girl, only to divorce her at 17 as she nurses his child.

“The senator is in the habit of marrying minors and has gained notoriety in enticing girls to marry him,” the commission said.

Yerima himself appears unrepentant in recent interviews, though he has declined to say how old his new wife is.

“As a Muslim, as I always say, I consider God’s law and that of his prophet above any other law,” Yerima told the BBC’s Hausa language radio service. “I will not respect any law that contradicts that and whoever wants to sanction me for that is free to do that.”

Religion has played an integral part in Yerima’s political career. As Nigeria came out of a string of military dictatorships and into democracy in 1999, Yerima was elected as governor of Zamfara state in northern Nigeria. There, Islam has been the dominate religion since Muslim warriors on horseback claimed the territory in the early 1800s.

When he became governor, Yerima was one of the first politicians to champion the idea of putting a Shariah court system in place, which rules based on Islamic civil law. Now, more than a dozen northern states allow Shariah law, something that Nigeria’s Christian south warily accepted — if at all. Rioting and violence over the introduction of Shariah law left thousands dead.

Yerima himself blames the attention on his marriage to that, though it sealed his political fortunes.

“I consider all those complaining about this issue as detractors, because since 1999 … many people have been waging different kind of wars against me,” he said.

But those who have brought the allegations against Yerima are struggling not to make it a religious debate in a nation where killings over faith still happen. The Senate is investigating Yerima over allegedly breaking the law, while other agencies are examining whether he illegally brought the child bride into the country.

“He’s breached the law. It’s not about faith,” said Iheoma Obibi, executive director of Alliances for Africa, a human rights group. “In the campaign with the sisters from the north, we’ve been very careful not to address this in the religious situation.”

The whereabouts of the Egyptian girl remain unknown.

“She should be in school,” Obibi said. “She shouldn’t be rolling off your bed.”

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Nigeria Acting President says credible poll, security among priorities

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ABUJA — Nigeria’s Acting President Goodluck Jonathan said Saturday his priorities while in office were providing a regular power supply, peace and security in the Niger Delta, and fair and free elections.

“I have taken the challenge of an inadequate power supply, peace and rapid development of Niger Delta, food security as well as overall security of all Nigerians and promoting credible elections as priorities in the concluding months of this administration,” Jonathan said at a May Day rally in Abuja.

Jonathan, previously deputy president, took over as acting president in February from President Umaru Yar’Adua, whose ill health has kept him in a hospital bed for months.

The acting president is expected to step down in May 2011 at the end of Yar’Adua’s tenure and the oil-rich west African country is due to hold general elections next year.

Jonathan told the rally of hundreds of workers that his government would give Nigerians free, fair and credible elections in 2011, compared with previous polls that were judged largely flawed by local and international observers, including the United Nations and the United States.

He also promised to improve security in the restive, oil-rich Niger Delta that has in the past three years been the theatre of kidnappings and attacks.

Besides the violence in the oil region which has substantially hurt the multi-billion-dollar oil industy, Jonathan vowed to stem growing insecurity in other parts of the country.

Around 1,500 people have been killed in sectarian clashes in the central city of Jos since the beginning of the year, according to local rights groups.

Jonathan assured the workers that the government would meet their aspirations for higher wages.

“I am aware that negotiation is going on by the joint negotiation council on the issue of a national minimum wage. This negotiation must have a time limit which must give birth to positive results,” he said.

The Nigerian leader said he hoped that a deal would be struck within three months.

“A good working environment is non-negotiable because it is the basis for the most beneficial productivity,” he said, adding that the government would create a conducive working environment in appreciation of workers’ immense contributions to nation-building.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Vaccines: Perspective from Nigeria

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I think making the next ten years of vaccines successful will require two main efforts: first, the billions of poorer populations in our world today should have access to the most basic services, with immunization through vaccines being top priority. Continue reading →

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Yes, a bad marriage can kill -Pastor Aity Inyang

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A good marriage tastes like honey. It excites and warms the heart. It gives you the kind of feeling that starts from the scalp of your head and gently spreads downwards to the tip of your fingers and the nerve endings of your toes.

Remembering moments shared with your spouse can turn you into a poet, and make you begin to pen lines like King Solomon did in the Songs of Solomon, a very significant book in the Bible. The micro-electrical charge set off by the recollection effortlessly makes the tiny muscle at the base of the shaft of the hair on your skin to contract and pull the hair up, off the surface of the skin. And goose pimples break out all over your skin.

Make no mistake about this: a loving marital relationship really helps keep the blood pressure at a normal level. You talk about it, all the time glorifying God for putting you in such a beautiful union. It is a wonderful, treasured feeling, every woman wants to experience and hold onto “for life”, an expression Pastor Aity Inyang unabashedly uses to describe her enviable marriage to the Senior Pastor of Sure Word Assembly, Pastor Dennis Inyang.
The depth of her feelings for her husband comes across when you listen to the songs she writes specially for him in all her music CDs.

The lady with the winsome smile is a fulltime gospel music artiste who with her husband, is also engaged in pastoral work. With 20 wonderful and memorable years in marriage tucked under her belt, Aity has been using the experience she acquired to help couples build relationships that would equal or even surpass the beautiful edifice which her union with Pastor Inyang has turned out to be.

“My husband is my friend for life,” she says delightfully.
In an earlier interview, she told Sunday Sun: “In my CDs, I write songs for him. In my current work, the song I wrote for him is called Just Like Yesterday. Because it’s actually just like yesterday even though August this year will make our marriage 20 years old. In my last CD, I wrote a song for him (My Beloved – If I Ever Had To Choose Again). Whenever I travel, and I do so often, he does his best to take care of the home. He calls me so often to be sure I’m Ok. He is interested in my wellbeing. In fact, he is what any woman would ask for in a husband. He wins the Husband of the Year Award every year.”

But then, Aity also revealed: “I never would have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be a pastor’s wife; but God has a sense of humour. When you consider my sanguine go-go temperament, you can give it to God that He can indeed use anybody. As a pastor’s wife, you affect the lives of so many people. You are a role model to several women in terms of dressing, conduct etc. So you have to make sure you are not a disappointment to God and to the ministry.

I have also found out that you share your life and your husband’s time with the whole church. So, if you are the very jealous type, you need to sit up, be mature and adapt to the situation very fast. If not, you will die before your time. Another thing is, you must know that inasmuch as so many people will bless and appreciate you for your contributions to their lives, you will be hurt by countless others, especially those you least expect. So you must learn to have a heart as large as the bosom of Abraham, and budget to live a continuous life of forgiveness, so that you don’t live in bitterness and wind up in hell while you were busy trying to prepare people for heaven. God forbid! In summary, being a pastor’s wife is actually a very rewarding experience.”

When God is involved in a person’s choice of a marriage partner, He usually gives you the right individual that complements your life in a seamless, lovely and beautiful way. In addition to being a full time gospel artiste, pastor, mother, Aity is a magazine/book editor, who bagged a first degree in French and put the icing on her academic cake with a Master’s degree in Mass Communication. At different times she worked as a french teacher, TV producer and advertising practitioner.

And all that experience (please, assets, just like the virtuous woman) she has poured into the work of the ministry, using the abundant grace of God to minister to couples in troubled marriages, prayerfully nudging them to re-discover romance and marital friendship. More than 95 percent of the time, she and her husband have been successful, but there are those who, she reveals, fall into the undesirable five percent.
In this interview, Aity shares her views on troubled marriages. Excerpts…
At what point should a partner pull out when a marriage is heading for the rocks?
I believe if the couple knows that their marriage is heading for the rocks, instead of pulling out, they should do everything to change direction and head towards a safer destination. No sensible couple should just sit back and helplessly watch their marriage crash. Even some air crashes have been avoided. God didn’t create anyone to come and live as a loner in this world.

The couple should get help immediately they notice the first signs of cracks in the marriage. They should talk with a marriage counselor, a pastor or a reliable friend. Help is always available. I have seen a turnaround in so many marriages that were heading for a crash just because the couple or one partner was bold and wise enough to seek help. Why we are witnessing many divorces today is sometimes because many people pretend everything is okay while they are dying in silence.

When does a marriage actually become life threatening? And at this point should either of the parties call it quits especially the partner who feels threatened?
There are instances when a sickness actually becomes life threatening because the patient ignored the warning signs or the ailment was not diagnosed early and properly treated. A marriage can become life threatening, which is to say that the life of one or both partners is in danger as a result of the marriage.

For example, if there is extreme physical abuse or one party vows to kill the other, then that is a life-threatening situation. Much as I do not advocate divorce, nobody should wait to be transformed into a corpse in the name of marriage. There are some people who, if they go to hell when they die, would have gone to the place two times because their so called marriage here on earth is hell already with the husband or wife as the presiding demon.

Is it possible that Christian couples could find themselves in that situation? Can you give examples that you’ve witnessed or had to intervene?
Yes, it’s very possible for a Christian couple to have that kind of experience. Life is what you make of it. Some people take instructions and their lives get better while others don’t care about whatever counsel they are given. Marriage involves two people and if both of them (…please note that I said both of them, not just one partner) are not willing and consciously working at making the union work, then that would be the end of Solomon Grundy.

Of course, I have seen some cases of this kind of marriage. I remember one couple vividly that we had to keep intervening. Each time the wife ran away, the husband would come to beg us to intervene. When we got into the case, we discovered that theirs was a boxing ring with the children as the unfortunate spectators. The wife was very stubborn and without feelings. The man resorted to becoming a Mohammed Ali and since the woman didn’t have enough fighting skill, she had to keep fleeing to stay alive.

Don’t forget that two of them were Christians, carrying very big bibles without bothering to check what was inside. If you saw them outside, you would think all was rosy. They were great posers. We counseled them to no avail. One of those times when she escaped and we tried to intervene, she said something that my husband and I can’t forget.

She said, ‘Pastor, one day my husband will kill me in that house and will tell the world a different story and since I will not be there to say that he was the one who killed me, everyone will believe him and life will go on. Pastor, when that happens what will you do?’ Since the couple was not ready to heed our counsel and we were not ready to conduct a burial, we had to stop bringing the woman back. Today they are living apart but at least they are alive.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Nigeria’s democracy at risk

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The ripples from growing uncertainty about the future of Nigeria’s democracy are spreading far beyond the country’s borders. A briefing by John Campbell (who served as the United States Ambassador to Nigeria between May 2004 and January 2007) and published Wednesday by the US Council on Foreign Relations predicts that President Umaru Yar’Adua’s will soon be forced to abdicate power, and that a succession crisis is likely to follow. Highlighting Nigeria’s crucial position as “the United States’ most important strategic partner in Africa and one of its largest suppliers of oil”, it also warns of the “political and constitutional crisis” that could arise if President Yar’Adua is forced to leave office.

Mr. Campbell acknowledged the existence of “king makers” waiting in the wings to effect a change of presidential powers “because the ailing president can no longer exercise them” but also pointed out the challenges the kingmakers will have in reaching a consensus because of wildly differing interests and desires. In addition, he expressed fears of the growing possibility of the military cashing in on the confusion to seize power.

‘Presidential decision’

Concerns about the fate of Nigeria have been further exacerbated with the botched Christmas Day bombing incident involving a Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. The glaring vacancy in the presidential seat, and the attendant confusion caused by the nature of the vacancy, have raised concern about the capability of the country to effectively fight terrorism. Campbell argues that this incident is a watershed moment in the current impasse. According to him the incident “appears to have forced Jonathan’s hand” and that Mr. Jonathan’s order to Nigerian security agencies to cooperate with the US is “in effect a presidential decision.”

He added that the worst case scenario following Mr. Yar’Adua’s removal is that “the competing factions will struggle among themselves without resolution, and the army will step in and establish a military government, though with a civilian façade,” and the most hopeful one is that “the country will limp toward national elections scheduled for 2011.”

Mr. Campbell also believes that the Mutallab incident will further arm the growing camp of those who harbour deep suspicions about Northern Nigeria. “Power brokers from other parts of Nigeria now have a rationale for assuming a harder line on the continued reservation of the presidency for the North.”

It is not only the civilian power brokers who believe they have a stake in the increasing power play. “Nigeria’s military, though much weakened, continues to regard itself as the ultimate custodian of the state. If the current crisis spins out of control, the Nigerian military is likely to intervene, possibly with a nominal civilian head,” he stated, citing the high stakes involved in power play at the highest levels of Nigerian government.

“Capture of the state means access to oil revenue, which the Nigerian press is estimating at up to $100 billion a year.” One clear fallout of the leadership vacuum is the decline in Nigeria’s “diplomatic activism, leaving a void that will be hard to fill.”

Failed states listing

For three years running (2007 – 2009), Nigeria has been ranked amongst the Top 20 countries on the annual Failed States List, released by The Fund for Peace, “an independent, nonpartisan research and educational organisation that works to prevent war and alleviate the conditions that cause conflict”

Year 2007 – the year President Yar’Adua became President, following elections massively fraught with irregularities – was the first year in which Nigeria crossed into the top 20.

The 12-month old Obama administration has also done little to veil its lack of enthusiasm about the current Nigerian government and the country’s situation. Mr. Obama did not include a Nigerian stop in his six-city African tour in July. Shortly after, the US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton said in Abuja, during an African tour, that “Nigeria is at a crossroads.” Barely two months later, at the U.S.-Africa Business Summit organised by the Corporate Council on Africa in Washington, she described the Nigerian situation as “a heartbreaking scene.” She added that “the consequences of being a large energy producer has not been translated into positive changes for the Nigerian people.”

War games

The US Central Intelligence Agency is the least optimistic of foreign observers regarding the Nigerian situation. The CIA factbook on its own part describes Nigeria as “a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets.” In 2001, in the wake of the September 11 bombings, the agency released a report, “Global Trends 2015: A CIA look into the future” that predicted that “South Africa and Nigeria, the continent’s largest economies, will remain the dominant powers in the region through 2015.”

Four years later, the CIA significantly revised its outlook and predicted that Nigeria faced the likelihood of a break up by 2015. With this in mind, the United States military in 2008 embarked on a war simulation (an “Army war game”), code-named Unified Quest 08, which imagines that it is 2013, and that “the Nigerian government is near collapse and rival factions are vying for power in that troubled part of the world.”

The Campbell briefing concluded by outlining respect for the constitution, the rule of law, and electoral reform (in the light of approaching elections in 2011) as measures that need to be taken urgently to prevent crises in Nigeria, and that “Washington and Nigeria’s other friends” need to keep the pressure on Nigeria’s leadership, and its restless military.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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The presidential wars -The untold story of Iwu’s removal

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Last week, precisely on Wednesday, April 28, the wind of change blowing across the nation continued with the sudden removal of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Maurice Iwu. For the former university lecturer, it was the end of an era strewn with thorns and thistles. The development shows that in the life of a man, there is always a point of exit.

Nigeria Acting president Goodluck Jonathan

But for the country, the end of Iwu’s tenure marked a new dawn either for good or bad. What is remarkable though is that the Professor of Phamacognosy arguably dominated public discourse more than any of his predecessors since June 13, 2005 when he was appointed to superintend over the electoral body. The storm swept off not only Iwu but also the INEC Commissioner in charge of legal services, Victor Chukwuani, who until the new changes, was the next ranking officer.

As expected, some heaved a sigh of relief while, for others, the reverse was the case. Of course, in this clime, there are usually winners and losers in such situations. For instance, for former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, the INEC chairman’s ouster was a welcome development. He had said, “Praise God that finally He has removed one of the major obstacles to a genuine, transparent, free and fair election. Iwu deliberately refused to operate the electoral law. Iwu is evil. I have not seen an electoral umpire that is as combative as Iwu”.

But the former publicity secretary of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), chief Ebenezer Babatope has a different view. His position is that the INEC chairman should have been allowed to learn on the job.

His words,“We have a culture that we need to correct in this country. That is the culture of not allowing people to grow on their job. I am appealing to all those who are crying for Iwu’s removal to soft-pedal. If you remove Iwu today and you bring in the person you call Mr Clean, he will have the same problem Iwu had as long as politicians remain what they are. They are unpredictable, lack principles and go in search of power in a ruthless and stupid manner.

Iwu’s sack came as a shock to us but now that he has been removed, we want Jonathan to replace him with someone of integrity who will move the country forward and also steer the ship of the electoral commission in the right direction. Personally, I would have wanted Iwu to remain as the INEC chairman but when the Acting President has made a decision, who am I to say no?
So, opinions are divided on the propriety of the terminal leave which Iwu has been asked to embark upon.

The trend of the reaction showed that while majority of members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were in support of Iwu’s re-appointment for a second term, the civil society, Labour and the opposition parties wanted the Imo State born electoral umpire to leave the stage. But in all of this, the opinions largely depended on which side of the divide one belonged even as there were issues that eventually led to the removal of the INEC chairman.

Jonathans search for legitimacy
Not a few argue that the Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan sacrificed Iwu as part of his effort to secure confidence of Nigerians and legitimacy for his government. One of the odds which worked against Iwu was the mood of the nation. For sometime, especially after the 2007 general election, there had been a mood of change among the people with many, especially civil society groups consistently calling on the federal government to demonstrate commitment to cleansing the electoral Augean Stable by asking the man who supervised the elections and bye-elections since then to quit the stage for a fresh hand.

Many believe that even though the former Bayelsa State governor was hesitant to relieve Iwu of his seat, he had no choice but to sacrifice him to further worm his way into the hearts of many Nigerians. For people in this school of thought, the Acting President knows that having a credible election remains at the heart of most Nigerians and the calculation was that the removal of Iwu would be the first step toward achieving that feat.

Maintaining status quo
It is on record that in the history of Nigeria, none of Iwu’s predecessors had ever been re-appointed and the Acting President did not have enough justification to change the status quo. However, there were feelers that some members of Goodluck Jonathan’s kitchen cabinet were not enthusiastic over his removal because they were hoping that it would be easier for the former Bayelsa governor to pursue his 2011 presidential ambition under Iwu as still head of INEC.
But sources revealed that long before his removal, there was an informal understanding between the former INEC boss and the Acting President that he (Iwu) would not be re-appointed.

In interviews he had granted the media of late, he had given the indication that he was on his way out and those close to him knew that he was psychologically prepared for the exit door.
But it was gathered that though sure that he would not be re-appointed, he did not expect that his removal would be so sudden.

In-fighting in INEC
Critical observers believe that for some time now, the electoral body has been embroiled in in-fighting among its key officers. It was gathered that Iwu had a running battle with some of his subordinates before his removal. One of the obvious signs of the power tussle in the commission was a recent advertorial in some national dailies by one of them insinuating that aides of the former INEC boss were sponsoring stories against him.

Followers of events argue that at a point, some INEC staff were working at cross purposes with Iwu and the development affected the effectiveness of the commission. There are those who argue that even though Iwu wanted to redeem his image in some elections recently held in the past, he could not achieve much as some of his subordinates compromised the process. People who share this view argue that Iwu could not do much as he did not have any control over the 12 national commissioners who are directly appointed by the President. According to the INEC structure, each of the national commissioners is in charge of three states.

So, the veiled crisis between Iwu and some of his commissioners was a major issue which Jonathan also worked with based on security report.

The role of International community
No country is an island unto itself and the present administration is not unaware of the image of Nigeria outside her shores. Since 1999 when democracy was re-introduced in Nigeria, the nation has witnessed a turbulent political process occasioned by flawed elections and there is no gainsaying that the 2007 election which Iwu supervised was the high point of the decay. The exercise which was condemned by the international community was trailed by a deluge of controversy and petitions leading to the cancellation of some elections.

Political observers argue that the Acting President was constrained to remove Iwu to pander to the wishes of not only the people but the international community.
Recently, when he visited the United States to attend the Energy summit, he was unequivocal that a holistic electoral reform remained a priority to his administration. In an audience with CNN, he had promised to overhaul the staff of INEC even though he was not categorical that its former chairman would be removed.

Staff recruitment in INEC
According to sources, part of the reasons why Iwu’s exit was brought forward was because of the nationwide recruitment exercise he initiated even when it was obvious that his time was up. There are those who insist that his sudden removal was to ensure that he did not complete the recruitment exercise considering that he would not be there when the next election would be conducted.

At a closed door meeting Iwu held with top staff of the commission on Thursday, April 29 as part of his handover procedure, the fate of the recruitment exercise in INEC was discussed. Though it was not clear what would be the fate of those whose applications are currently being processed, it was gathered that both Iwu and those he was leaving behind agreed that there was need to hasten the recruitment process ahead of next year’s polls.

How Iwu fought to save job
The ambition of Iwu to have his appointment extended for another five years, hit the rocks when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan asked him to proceed on terminal leave. Other National Commissioners are said to be on the firing line. The misconduct of INEC under Iwu was given official confirmation when President Umaru Yar’Adua while taking oath of office admitted that the election that brought him into office was less than transparent and he promised to reform the electoral process.

This is an indictment on the commission and this laid the foundation for the calls for the overhaul of the commission and its managers. Interestingly, while complaints and condemnation were greeting the conduct of INEC elections, the results of which became subject of litigations at election petition tribunals, Iwu rather than being sober was busy boasting and defending the Commission.

The Acting President’s decision put paid to several attempts by the INEC boss to wriggle himself out of the spate of criticism that has trailed his conduct before, during and after elections all of which are perceived to have culminated in discredited elections across the country. Elections were cancelled in at least six states of the federation after 2007 elections.

The public reactions trailing the decision indicated that the people could no longer trust the INEC boss with any election again. In fact, the opinion of vast majority of people is that other INEC National Commissioners that served with Iwu should also go with him because, stakeholders believe, they also have been contaminated with flawed election virus.

Realizing that the public perception was against his continued stay in office and the alarming rate at which the fight against him was growing, Iwu began to deploy various strategies to get the Presidential nod for re-appointment. The matter became worse for him with the United States involvement in the Iwu-Must-Go-campaign. Findings have shown that If not for the international community connection, he probably would have been retained.

The first move by Iwu to sway the presidency into accepting him for another term in office was in employing the goodwill of the National Assembly. Iwu visited the Senate and was received by the distinguished senators including the Senate President, David Mark as well as other principal officers.

The visit coming at a time the heat was on the INEC Chairman over his handling of electoral matters in the country, it was gathered that Iwu had come to plead for the understanding of the senators and the need to save him from the impending hammer.

After a closed door meeting which was described as fruitful, the way and manner the senators were falling head over heels to take photograph with Iwu spoke volume of how successful the meeting was. The lawmakers, it was learnt had assured him of their support and Iwu left the National Assembly beaming with smiles.

A day later, he released a timetable for the 2011 elections. Shortly afterward, Iwu began to beg the issue, he began to exonerate himself and the INEC from the inability to organize free and fair elections. According to him, his organization was working within the space provided by the electoral law. Iwu was quoted to have said that his INEC had tried a lot for the kind of elections it had come out with boasting that with the system on ground, even an angel would not be able to conduct credible elections in Nigeria.

As parts of his strategy, he convened a stakeholders’ conference in Abuja where stakeholders diagnosed past elections and offered suggestions on how elections could be improved upon. It was at this stage that the United States of America joined the fray demanding that the INEC helmsman must be excused if Nigeria is to have a genuine electoral reform that can guarantee credible elections where votes will count. Not done yet, the Professor also allegedly employed the services of professional protesters to demonstrate on his behalf.

The sponsored group staged a counter protest to the National Assembly after that of Labour’s “Iwu must go” mass rally. Prof. Iwu’s protesters with various placards condemned those asking for his removal. They urged the Acting President to discountenance Labour and other anti-Iwu groups. Blame the System, Not Iwu was their slogan, obviously a carryover from the stakeholders’ conference.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, Isiaka Adeleke assured the protesters that the Senate will do the needful and ensure the electoral process is not derailed and that the reform will be directed to the critical areas of the electoral process. In all of this, Prof. Iwu carried on as if all is well. He told whoever cares to listen that INEC should not be blamed for the lapses in the elections but the system, he was quick to point to the feat achieved in Anambra governorship election, where Governor Peter Obi was returned against bookmakers permutation.

He also praised the dexterity of his commission for the peaceful conduct of Area Councils in Abuja. While he was basking in the euphoria of these successes, the hammer fell on him. The visit of the Acting President to the USA became the deciding factor for his sack. Dr. Jonathan had reportedly assured Barak Obama that his administration would work towards credible elections in Nigeria and one of the steps to ensure this is to do away with the INEC boss who has been described as the main clog in the wheel of credible election in Nigeria.

This much, Dr. Jonthan also conveyed to Nigerians in USA. Therefore to give vent to this international commitment, Iwu had to go. Unknown to many, as Prof. Iwu was fighting external battle to retain his seat so also he was contending with some forces within the INEC especially from among the National Commissioners.

Sources revealed how dirty Iwu and one other commissioners have been fighting themselves over deals in some elections. They even accused themselves of releasing vital information indicting one another. However, the exit of Iwu, observers say may have eased the tension generated by the feuding commissioners as none of them is sure of his fate too.

After Iwu, the next question is who succeeds him? Many have argued that the Justice Muhammed Uwais Electoral Reform Panel’s recommendation should be adopted in this.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Honour and shame: two sides of the stigma coin

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I had a conversation yesterday with a friend about domestic violence within the Muslim community in the Africa and western countries and the issue of why some Muslims resist discussing what they know is happening in the company of non-Muslims. In my friend’s view, challenging Muslims, and Muslim men in particular, about domestic violence in such an open space, where non-Muslims are present, is problematic because of the current socio-political climate within the country, including widespread Islamophobia. She felt that a public naming of the problem would be hijacked by those with a racist agenda to further demonize Muslims in the eyes of the  public, for instance by accusing Muslims of having barbaric cultures.

While I don’t disagree that this hijacking is likely, I remain unconvinced that this is sufficient justification for not being vocal about violence against Muslim women in a relevant forum such as a meeting with the police on ‘community safety’ for one key reason: I believe advocating silence makes one complicit in the stigmatization of the victims. This stigmatization, in turn, is closely related to ideas about honour and shame that undermine women’s rights. Muslim women must start now to be vocal on the treatemnt they recieve from their husband or men which is a pure violation of human right.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Responding to the needs of African women

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As we all mark the 16 Days of Activism, we should all recognize that gender based violence has received all the necessary global attention and recognition as a human rights violation and a form of discrimination. The special needs of minority African women and girls in the UK continue to be an uphill task in bringing our issues onto the mainstream agenda on gender based violence. African women’s experiences of gender violence are compounded by the multiple discriminations they face as immigrants with varied ethnicity and cultural practices which do not fit into the definition of domestic violence.

The UK Government defines domestic violence as ‘Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.‘ This includes issues of concern to black and minority ethnic (BME) communities such as so called ‘honour based violence’, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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