The crisis rocking the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) over its continued participation in the merger arrangement with other opposition political parties yesterday took a new dimension as the faction controlled by a former Minister of Federal Capital (FCT), General Jerry Useni (rtd), has resolved to withdraw from the merger talks.
In a bid to reaffirm its non-aligned status, the party leadership approved the expulsion of the acting Deputy National Chairman, Mr. Olisaemeka Akamukali, for trying to drag the party into the yet-to-be registered All Progressives Congress (APC).
Useni and a former governorship candidate of DPP in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, are the driving force behind the faction.
The expulsion of Akamukali was part of the decisions taken at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party, which held yesterday in Abuja. The NEC also resolved to hold the party’s national convention on Saturday in Abuja.
In a communiqué signed by DPP's National Chairman, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), the party resolved that it would no longer be part of the ongoing merger negotiations with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
However, the Akamukali faction is pushing on with the merger talks as it had gone ahead to hold a national convention to ratify DPP's participation in the merger talks.
Tuesday's NEC meeting was apparently meant to counter the step taken by Akamukali to railroad DPP into the opposition coalition. In the communiqué, DPP said the party would not merge with any other parties.
"The NEC of the party has unanimously expelled Mr. Olisa Emeka Akamukali, former acting Deputy National Chairman of the party for anti-party activities and gross misconduct and the NEC has accordingly appointed a new deputy national chairman to replace him in the person of Mr. Gashon Benson from Rivers State,” the communiqué said.
THISDAY gathered that DPP was listed as one of the parties to participate in the resumed talks of the joint merger committees fixed for next Monday. However, while responding to questions posed by journalists, Magashi said the party did not receive any invitation, neither was it aware of any merger meeting coming up on Monday.
The Useni-led DPP had during its previous NEC meeting, disbanded the merger committee set up on February 13 to engage other opposition parties in merger negotiations and replaced it with another committee.
Magashi, who defended the position of DPP, deplored the action of some people he referred to as the breakaway faction who had gone ahead to join APC even before the merger committee submitted its report to the party.
"Our delay in taking action on the merger stems from experience of such alignment. After the committee came back from the merger talks, four persons decided to stay back and join APC without recourse to the party leadership.
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.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), headed by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, has presented the scorecard of its achievements since assumption of office to the National Working Committee (NWC) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mohammed who came in company with the Minister of State for FCT, Ms. Olajumoke Akinjide and other top FCTA officials, said a lot had been achieved within the last two years despite financial constraint.
He said the positive trends of their achievement had been tremendous as literacy rate had risen to above 71 percent, while the FCT Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had also appreciated from N4 billion to N5 billion. The minister also disclosed how efforts to expand the development of the nation’s capital had been successful with the completion of a 10-lane Abuja-Kubwa Expressway with a link route to Kaduna, as well as the Umaru Musa Yar'Adua Expressway (Airport Road), amongst others.
The minister explained that through the land swap policy, the FCTA has been able to open new districts and accelerate infrastructure development of the FCT. He however noted that the fund allocation to FCTA was below what was needed for the development of FCT, adding that this has made the FCTA to incur an accumulated debt of N1.3 trillion.
Mohammed also said despite the development of 10 districts, in addition to the five that were newly opened, the territory’s development was far behind the maximum number of districts in the Abuja master plan.
"We have only developed 10 districts, in addition to five that is currently being developed but it is quite far away from the 83 districts envisaged in the master plan", he said.
Responding, the national leadership of the PPDP made a passionate appeal to the minister to grant its requests for land allocation for its staff members.
National Auditor of the party, Alhaji Adewale Adeyanju, in his remarks while lauding Mohammed's explanation on land swap in the FCT, which he noted was informative, however asked Mohammed to treat with dispatch land allocation requests from the party.
Adeyanju said: "Today, I am better educated on the land swap programme of the FCT. The impression we have been given is that you are seizing land from the indigenes. Now, we are better educated.
“But I haven't heard you talk about pending application for land for PDP staff on your desk. I want to hear your explanation."
Reacting to the demand, the minister assured the PDP leadership that its requests would be given consideration as he noted that members of staff of ministries in the federal capital were being granted plots of land.
"Other ministries staff have been given, why not PDP? But other political parties are free to make formal requests, because we believe in fairness and equity," he added. On the land swap programme, Mohammed told the PDP leadership that land was not being taken illegally from the indigenes as he submitted that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, vests the ownership of FCT land in the federal government.
He however assured the party that his ministry has a sustainable resettlement programme for the people.
"Land swap isn't to punish the indigenes, but to develop the FCT and improve social infrastructure. But we have outright resettlement programme for them. But again, we must restate that no land is forcibly taken. The constitution vests the FCT land on Mr. President," he added.
The minister also justified the demolition of structures in the federal capital as he declared that it was meant to check impunity.
"We are no longer going to condone impunity. Where we have issued deeds and titles and you encroach on the land, we owe it a duty to Nigerians to check impunity and we shall continue to do that," he said
The PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, in his remarks, lauded the developmental strides in the federal capital under the leadership of Mohammed.
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.
As part of its mid-year assessment of its elected officials, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Tuesday gave all the governors elected on the platform of the party a pass mark for providing the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
Tukur also said the party had come to a conclusion that PDP governors remained the best with landmark achievements.
The PDP chairman who made this known during a chat with journalists after a private meeting with some former members of the National Assembly in his residence, said he had personally been assessing the development across the country and had realised that PDP governors remained the best performers.
However, the PDP chairman admonished the governors not to ascribe the glory of the achievements to themselves, but to the party, which he said, offered them the platform to serve.
He said most of the PDP governors had been implementing the party’s manifesto on education, infrastructure, agriculture, rural development, power generation, transportation, aviation and others.
He said from the efforts so far put in place by those he rated as high performers, it was clear that the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, pegged on the PDP manifesto, was on full course.
Tukur warned the PDP governors never to fall prey to the antics of praise singers, adulators and those he described as grovellers, who were always around them. The grovellers, according to him, have mastered the trick of causing government officials to derail. Such individuals, he added, have been responsible for making public servants to develop swollen heads and feel bigger than the party. He said: “If you are performing and everybody acknowledges it, it is not you who should take the credit, but the PDP. It is the party that gave you the platform to serve and so the party’s name, like a label, must be attached to every achievement you made.”.
“The best performing governors are in PDP, no doubt. I took note of this during the reconciliation tour we made, and I also got reports on their day-to-day performances and to me, we must give the PDP the credit.”
Tukur asked the governors to take a cue from President Jonathan who, according to him, had been demonstrating great virtues and consistence in the face daunting challenges facing Nigeria, while also placing the PDP at the centre of his agenda. He disclosed that the PDP would continue to assess the performances of the state governors in order to encourage them to raise the bar in the delivery of dividends of democracy to Nigerians in their respective states.
The PDP chairman charged the governors to be hardworking and committed to the good of the public, just as he urged them to commence early preparations for the challenges of winning their respective states in 2015.
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.
More than anything else, the bitter rivalry over the Nigerian Governors' Forum chairmanship, is an indication of what to come in the 2015 elections.
With each passing day, only the discerning is able to see the representative danger inherent in the bitter politics that seems to be defining the proposed election of the chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF). The issues are pointless, petty and unintelligent. The analysis is scary just as the implications are niggling. But the actors are less bothered. Instead, they have continued to display crass insensitivity to the collective good on the altar of politics and ego and they are not stopping yet.
Although, the incumbent NGF chairman and Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has not fixed a date for the election for obvious reasons, the presidency as an interested party in the affairs of the NGF has thrown caution in the wind, causing as much chaos and discontent in the polity as this owes critical its survival.
The supremacy battle peaked last week with an even more damning twist. In the latest pull, the president was alleged to have adopted some sinister ploy in the streak to not only break Amaechi but seize complete control of the NGF. Here, the president, sources hinted, had employed compulsion as a tool, in addition to the threat, blackmail and harassment that had characterised the trend.
Shortly after the National Economic Council meeting last week, the president was said to have invited some of the governors to his office to sign an undertaking, declaring support for him over the NGF chairmanship election.
Apart from having dropped the Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, for his Bauchi State counterpart, Isa Yuguda, as the establishment candidate for the office of NGF chairman in what appeared a game changer; the need to secure as many supports as possible was believed to have led to the latest development.
THISDAY learnt at the weekend that Jonathan had invited some of the governors whose loyalty was still in doubt to his office and insisted they must sign an undertaking and pledge loyalty as the NGF election inches closer, although without a date in view yet.
According to sources, the president had invited the Kebi State Governor, Saidu Dakingari; Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Geidam; Kwara State Governor, Abdul-fatah Ahmed and Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, to his office to sign the undertaking after the NEC meeting presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.
The President, sources said, had done this with subtle threat on the implications of not supporting him in the bid to edge out Amaechi, as well as the benefits that accrue to supporting the presidential project.
Although, three of the governors- Dakingari, Geidam and Ahmed allegedly stooped to the president’s threat and signed the undertaking, the Borno State Governor, Shettima, was said to have declined and accused the president of blackmail, arm-twisting, and harassment, noting that the reason the president was doing that was to prevent the NGF from holding the all-important election.
Shettima, sources said, insisted there was no justification for signing any undertaking and allegedly reiterated the implications of interfering in the affairs of the governors as a body, adding that the recourse to blackmail by the president in order to have his way would backfire, the implications of which would be enormous.
Besides, the dropping of Shema for Yuguda has been hinged on political exigency. Sources said the reason Jonathan had dropped Shema was because the president’s camp sensed that Yuguda could play a spoiler if not fielded since he had indicated a strong interest in the seat.
The calculation, sources noted further, was predicated on the fact that since Shema was already an in-house person and a stakeholder in the Jonathan re-election project, it was only sensible to lure Yuguda, who was believed to have more than a passing influence on his Gombe State counterpart, Ibrahim Dankwambo, to their camp and then, continue to build a formidable team, albeit to rattle Amaechi.
As a result, the equation has since changed from Amaechi versus Shema to Amaechi versus Yuguda even though in the real sense, it is Amaechi versus Jonathan.
While Amaechi being the NGF chair is undecided on a date for the election because of the confusion that has dogged the exercise, sources said the reason Jonathan has embraced a somewhat desperate measure was because of his plan to stop the election at all cost since it has become apparent that an open-secret ballot would not serve his interest and the only way to go about it was to stop the election from holding.
Observers contended that it was enough to bother the rational mind that with the insistence of the pro-Amaechi governors that the only way to the election is an open-secret ballot as guaranteed by the constitution of the NGF, then, there is serious problem.
That the president and his foot-soldiers had latched on to various excuses to justify the descent into indecent politics also calls for reflections. From the argument that Amaechi wanted to challenge Jonathan to the fact that he was romancing former president Olusegun Obasanjo, have all been played up without substance or even proof of the allegations. Yet the polity is on steady heat.
Particularly instructively is the fact that what is happening now signposts something loathsome for the polity- it is the fact that the 2015 election may have been doomed! The degree of desperation on the part of the president to always want to have his way with brute force and without properly analysing the consequences of his actions suggests that the same treatment could be administered on the 2015 elections- subverting all known democratic norms and tenets.
It is no wonder, therefore, that observers believed that those desirous of an enduring democratic legacy for the country must stand up and be counted. Whatever are Amaechi’s shortfalls- either as an individual, chairman of NGF, or Rivers Governor- observers believed are not enough to jeopardise the gains of democracy in one fell swoop, either for personal aggrandizement or ego massaging.
Unfortunately, the governors, observers held are no more than a sheer disappointment. They argued that the crisis in the NGF may have further exposed the corruption of most of the governors since the only reason the president could blackmail them is because their hands are not clean and in the event that he chooses to send the anti-graft agencies after them, then, they would be consumed.
Observers therefore see the latest development as an eye-opener in the next general election. That choice is inevitable in 2015 is common place. The indices are there and Nigerians may exercise their franchise more determined than they have ever been.
Indeed, the country faces a lot more challenges than to dissipate as much energy, time and resources in advancing personal causes with no convincing raison d’etre other than a self-serving motive.
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.
A fortnight ago, the South-south and South-east geo-political zones of the Peoples Democratic Party met in Asaba, Delta State, to, according to them, review the state of the nation. The row call was long and intimidating.
The list at a glance: Governor Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Peter Obi (Anambra), the host, Emmanuel Uduaghagan (Delta), Theodore Orji (Abia) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo). The Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, naturally was absent but he played smart politics by asking his deputy, Engineer Tele Ikuru, to represent him.
Apart from the governors, other eminent personalities at the meeting included the Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, members of the national and state assemblies, the Senate Leader, Senator Udoma Egba, House of Representatives Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor and a cross section of state party chairmen and stakeholders. Ostensibly, the meeting had been called to look at some of the critical issues in the country as they pertain to the region. And after rambling back and forth, they zeroed in on why the meeting was called in the first place- to declare support for President Goodluck Jonathan.
Certainly, there was nothing wrong in declaring support for the president, besides, they are politicians and the time for real time politics is nigh. So, such needless but politically expedient moves would be frequent features on the turf as the countdown to 2015 continues. The problem, however, was the basis of their support. Theirs was the height of intellectual sycophancy as they almost referred to the president as the best thing that has happened to the country.
Their communiqué read in part: "For his focused leadership, bold and result-yielding transformation agenda, which deserves the unwavering support of all Nigerians and friends of Nigerians and Nigeria alike, as the laudable achievements of the administration in strengthening our democracy, stabilising the polity, growing the economy and improving the quality of life of all citizens continue to unfold."
Haba, in this same Nigeira? Isn’t it the same president that a recent NOI Polls described as having badly dropped in rating on the basis of same poor performance that these people have declared their support?
For sure, many things can be drawn from this but one thing stands out: should we continue in endless search for what is wrong with Nigeria or what the Nigerian problems are? These people are obviously the problems of the country. For as long as they remain dishonest in their assessment of the situation and unable to speak truth to power, they are the real problems that the nation desperately seeks solution to.
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.
The Bauchi State chapters of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have called on security agents in the remaining northern states, where there was no state of emergency to increase its security surveillance in order to forestall any breakdown of law and order that may erupt as result of migrants from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.
The state Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bappa Taffida, who spoke in an interview with journalists yesterday, said the declaration of state of emergency often triggers movement of people from the affected states to other neighbouring states, hence the need for security to be beefed up in such states.
The party expressed concern over the state of insecurity in northern states like Bauchi, Kano, Taraba, Plateau and Niger, saying the aforementioned states share boundaries with the affected states.
According to him, “with the declaration of state of emergency in these three northern states, I would advise that the security agents to increase its security surveillance because some of these terrorist groups may start feeling uncomfortable and may migrate to neighbouring states, where they could be free.
“Everybody has a stake as far as security is concerned, so even the civilians at this time are supposed to become vigilant and report any suspicious characters to security agents. If we relax and think it is only the job of the security agents, am afraid we may be in for a shock because these people will commit crime anywhere they find themselves.”
He lamented the non-challant attitude of most Nigerians towards security, saying it had contributed to the massive destruction of lives and property in the north.
Bappa said: “It is very unfortunate that we live in a country that people don’t care about what is happening around them. They notice something unusual or strange in their communities, they don’t care .Everybody will pretend as if he is not aware and when there is an attack, they begin to complain and wail, but they could have saved the situation, if they played their part by giving information to the security agents close to them.”
Meanwhile, the state Secretary of CAN, Rev. Joshua Rai Mains, who fielded questions from journalists, called on the state government to provide adequate security for its citizens, following the declaration of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.
Mains stressed that security surveillance should be intensified because of some migrants coming from the affected states, stating that: “I think for now with the declaration of state of emergency in these three states, Bauchi State may not experience any problems because these miscreants know that if they make trouble, Bauchi may be affected with the same state of emergency. For now, they will take a break, until things normalise in those states.”
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.
The kidnapping of a former Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, despite his philanthropy, which has endeared him to the people, came as a surprise to many.
During the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Borno State in March, it was a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, who led the campaign for dialogue and subsequently, amnesty for the Boko Haram sect. At a town hall meeting, Jonathan had with the people, Monguno advised the president to welcome dialogue with the sect, noting that if not for dialogue, Jonathan would not have become the president of the country.
Further in his argument, Monguno contended that the nation’s founding fathers came together with a spirit of living peacefully together and respecting one another, though with individual differences, “we should not let the labour of our heroes past be in vain. Everyone should sit up and remember that one life lost can never be replaced without a birth.” He told the president that since the battle with the sect has continued to lead to loss of lives, the proper thing should be done by way of peaceful resolution of the crisis.
To active observers of the issues surrounding the Boko Haram menace, the former minister and the first black chairman of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is an avowed supporters of carrot approach to the crisis. Indeed, at a point in time, he referred to the insurgents as his sons.
As he led the elders and leaders of thoughts in Borno under the auspices of Borno Elders and Leaders of Thought (BELT) to a press conference last year, Monguno said: “The members of the Jama’atu Ahlus Sunnah Lid Da’waati Wal Jihad (Boko Haram) are our grandchildren, sons and brothers. We are aware of your grievances. We are however appealing to you to ponder on the recent happenings and how our people are subjected to those harrowing experiences…We wish to appeal to you to consider the plight of your people and consider bringing the situation under control.
“We appeal to you to lay down your arms, come back home, re-integrate yourselves and help salvage our destroyed society and economy. Nobody else will do this for us except ourselves. You have the right to live your normal lives like other citizens and go on with your lawful activities as members of our community. All of you should as a matter of urgency come back, confide in us and seek the path of dialogue to resolve all issues you may wish to raise. You need to do that for Islam, for our people and for yourselves,” he said.
However, a few weeks after his advocacy, Monguno was kidnapped by people suspected to be members of the Islamic terrorist group and was ferried away from Maiduguri to somewhere between the Nigerian border with Cameroun. The abduction of Monguno, was described as a stab in the back by people whose cause he was championing After a few days in captivity, Monguno was freed through what people, including the Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, who had equally canvassed for dialogue and amnesty for the sect, called moral suasion. They had told the world that no ransom was paid to secure the release of the former minister.
The governor and members of the Monguno family had made persistent appeal to Monguno’s abductors to free him with the victim’s eldest son, Rahama, urging them to consider the age of his father and his philanthropy as well as long time service to the community, nation and humanity. He also pleaded with Nigerians to keep their father in their prayers.
Shettima, in his appeal, used different approaches, including moral suasion, subtle curse and religion. In his appeal contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Communication and Media, Isa Gusau, the governor said: “Allah places high premium on orphans, adding that in many portions of the Quran that take care of orphans is one of the best deeds before him because His noble Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) grew up as a poor orphan. Allah has clearly described those who help orphans and feed the poor as the righteous ones He is pleased with.
“Those who help orphans and the poor have special place before Allah and this makes our elder statesman, Shettima Ali Monguno, a special person before Allah because over the years, he has dedicated his lifetime to catering for the orphans, widows and the needy, he feeds them, cloths them, takes care of their health and other social needs. He sponsors them for Islamic education, builds Islamic schools for orphans, widows and women, he is a righteous old man as all humans can testify, leaving Allah to be the judge; he is associated with honesty and integrity. This means Allah cannot be happy with anyone that hurts this good servant of His if for nothing because of his help to orphans.
“Monguno is an old man of over 90 years, he hardly eats well because of his age, he takes routine drugs about seven times a day to make up for lack of eating, keeping him in custody away from his drugs can make his health deteriorate very fast, I strongly appeal to his abductors to consider his old age; they should regard him as their own father and grandfather, they should realise that by keeping Monguno away, they are breaking the hearts of many orphans and whom Allah has special interest in; they should realise even during the times of the Prophet when Jihads were fought to liberate Islam.
“Allah abhorred harming old persons, children and women unless if they arm themselves at battle fields; the abductors should realise that they are keeping an old man that is one of the leading voices against bad leadership, against corruption, against oppression; against public freedom; they are keeping in custody, an old man who has over the years raised his voice in defence of the masses and against their oppressors; they are keeping in custody someone who has been advocating for amnesty, dialogue and peaceful negotiation of the crisis in our land, someone who is promoting Islamic scholarship and practice, promoting harmony, tolerance and coexistence
“Someone whose house is open to the poor masses, someone who even in the face of threats, kept fate and continued to visit his old neighbours and family friends to pray with them and extend alms even when he has the option of staying away; they are keeping a defenceless old man who cannot even run away when he sees an opportunity to escape from custody; they are keeping an old man who only deserves their kindness, help, courtesy, respect, admiration and prayers and not to be made to undergo a trauma as reward for doing good and helping orphans; by keeping Monguno, they are discouraging good tidings and empathy for the reward for good is good and nothing less.” Monguno was kidnapped a few days after the Joint Task Force (JTF) had raised the alarm that Boko Haram was planning to kidnap people to raise money for its terrorist activities. According to the JTF, Boko Haram has collected several millions of naira from the Borno State government, which had sent a delegation to get the deal finalised and Monguno released.
The abduction of Monguno underscores the point that the battle against terror transcends morality and other sentiments that have made many members of the northern elite to be sympathetic towards the insurgents’ cause. The reason while Monguno, like many northern elite, had kept quiet was attested to by his son, Rahama who spoke to THISDAY on the development.
“Baba is well and wants to only say that what happened to him, God had ordained. Any good Muslim will know what destiny is, and what Allah has destined, one must accept as the will of the Almighty, to whom we owe everything. He is in good health and grateful to Allah (SWT), to each and every person who prayed on his behalf, and to his captors for bringing no physical harm to him and deciding to release him. Thank you and may Allah (SWT) have mercy upon us all.”
Yet, what happened to Monguno has been described as an indictment on the Northern elite by observers who have accused the elite of giving tacit support to terrorism by their refusal to condemn the activities of the insurgents. Observers believed that if the northern elite had intervened objectively, by standing on the side of truth and reason, perhaps, the insecurity in the north would have ended a long time ago. It is for that reason that many observers believed that the sect has the support of some of the prominent northern leaders, hence the reason they have established their foothold in those parts of the north where primordial sentiment other than reason has continued to determine their response to the state of insecurity foisted on the north by the terrorists.
In the overall, the indication of Monguno’s kidnap, observers have further noted, is that the country is in dire strait as the issue of Boko Haram is no longer religious or moral but a complex security issue that should be viewed and address as such. While the latest move to clip the wings of the sect through the declaration of state of emergency in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa may go a long way, observers insist that the northern elite have a major role to restore normalcy in the region.
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.
With the convocation of national conventions by the major partners in the proposed opposition political parties’ merger, Onyebuchi Ezigbo writes that the battle has now shifted to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the registration of All the Progressives Congress
The opposition coalition train is gradually but steadily edging its way towards actualising the dream to fuse into one political umbrella. But there is a major stumbling block on its way right now. The merging parties are pitched in a battle of wits with another rival group, the African People’s Congress (APC), which is equally laying claims to the APC abbreviation, on the grounds that it first applied for registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Although, the merging parties are defiant in their resolve to hold on to the abbreviation, observers believed that mere defiance and resort to subtle blackmail and threats would not get the anywhere. They need to convince INEC and the courts on why they should hold patent right to the abbreviation at the expense of the rival group. No doubt, the three major parties promoting the merger, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) have shown considerable commitment to the cause of the union. To their credit, the venture has so far recorded major milestones and surmounted obstacles in their push for the merger.
What started as a marriage of convenience between losers in the 2011 presidential election, has now blossomed into a political octopus threatening to upstage the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As at the last count, these parties have formed committees on merger, which had met and spelt out the rules of its engagement. Making of APC Constitution and Manifesto The three major opposition parties defied all odds to come up with a constitution, a manifesto and have also adopted a logo, flag and common slogan all in the effort to convince pessimists that they are indeed a cohesive entity that can actually work together under one platform.
In drawing up their manifesto, the parties tried to give their opponents, particularly the PDP, a scare through its populist-oriented policy thrust which seeks to among other interventions, confront corruption squarely with an unequalled ferocity. In the same vein, the coalition came up with a draft common constitution which provides for a six months transitional party structure, that is, to come into force immediately after the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or ninety days before the day of any election in which APC might field candidates.
In the constitution which was circulated among the parties for their consideration and adoption, sharing of transitional offices at the national level is to be based on a parameter to be worked out later. Similarly, filling of party positions at the state, local and ward levels is to be based on the performance of the parties at the last held elections. One of the key provisions contained in the merger constitution is the modalities for management and transfer of assets owned by the merging parties and groups. The parties are proposing in the constitution to have all their assets automatically transferred to the new party, APC, right from the date of its registration with the INEC.
Under its draft manifesto which has been adopted by the parties, the coalition expressed a resolve to work for the promotion and protection of an enduring democratic system with credible national political leadership, while promising to ensure among other things, fundamental human rights, freedom of worship and association, freedom of the press, enforcement of rule of law and a new moral code that will engender national re-orientation. “APC in government shall muster the political will to wage strident war against corruption otherwise our post-oil-era will be disastrous. It is our concerned view that none of our cardinal programmes will succeed if the current level of corruption and looting going on in the land is allowed to continue,” the stakeholders stated.
In terms of development agenda, the merging parties said in the manifesto that they would be paying attention to the implementation of 11 cardinal programmes, including war against corruption, agriculture and food security, power supply, transportation, mineral and steel development. Other areas of focus are education, healthcare, industrialisation, full and gainful employment, infrastructure development and housing. On the issue of addressing the problematic power sector, the coalition said apart from ensuring proper funding of power generation companies, it would work assiduously to improve the management efficiency of the distribution system, ensure better consumer service while at the same time promote national energy conservation and maintenance culture.
The manifesto provides that as a social democratic government, APC will not hesitate to intervene in any critical sector of the economy when the need arises, especially where the private sector lacks the capability to do so. With the successful conclusion of national conventions of the three major constituent parties to endorse their merger plan, the three political parties now face one more hurdle in the quest to actualise their dream of fusing into one political platform. Ironically, the challenge is such that is enormous and stiff.
For instance, one of the parties, CPC, still has an in-house squabble to sort out before it can have a safe ride to the new destination. Perhaps, the biggest challenge is the registration by INEC. And given its battle with another political group over the party’s abbreviation, APC, the matter is now subject to adjudication in the court and no one can predict its outcome, even though registration exercise lies with INEC.
The Identity Crisis When the APC first emerged after members of the opposition coalition floated the All Progressives Congress in February 6, many saw it as yet another addition to the political lexicon of the country. But as soon as politicians began to dissect the import of its political meaning, especially as it affects the 2015 general election, the abbreviation became controversial. Opponents of the merging parties started throwing mud at the proposed new party. Some even made mockery of it and likened it to a medication used many years ago to treat headache and fever but which has since lost its potency and trust and no longer on the shelf.
They also described the brain behind the formation of APC as strange bedfellows who cannot work together under one umbrella let alone agree to share power. It was the PDP that threw the first salvo, when it said that only those having headache needed to take the opposition coalition’s APC. PDP also went on to say that the combined forces of all the merging parties could not dethrone it. On the other hand, the coalition of ACN, ANPP and CPC fired back and claimed that the PDP had given the country too much headache that it requires an APC to cure the nation of the malaise. As all these altercations lingered, no one foresaw the looming identity crisis of APC except perhaps those who were behind the drama that led to the sudden emergence of two rival political groups laying claim to the same abbreviation as the new party formed by the opposition coalition.
Despite the volte face by its publicity machinery, the opposition coalition parties and their leaders realised that they were up against a difficult challenge and they might need more than a Chief Tom Ikimi (right) unveils the name and logo of the merger party at a meeting in Abuja with him are the progressive governors passing interest in the workings of INEC and in the way the judiciary will handle its case to be able to scale through the all-important hurdle. At the valedictory national convention of CPC, held last weekend at the Eagle Square in Abuja, most leaders of APC, who spoke at the event harped on the need for Nigerians and INEC to give the merger a chance to survive. Some of them even made spirited attempts to court the goodwill of the egg-heads at the INEC.
In his solidarity message at the convention, National Chairman of ACN, Chief Akande Bisi, told CPC supporters at the Eagle Square, venue of the CPC convention, that the main aim of forming a common opposition platform was to rescue the country from collapse. “We have embarked on the historic journey, the first of its kind in the country, because we want to be recorded positively on the side of history. We intend to rescue the country from threat of collapse. We have embarked on an irreversible path to wrest power. “For the PDP years of locust, we are offering Nigerians a new regime of fiscal discipline, total reformation and a period of security. We want our people to realise that good leadership is possible,” Akande said. It was the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Raji Fashola (SAN), who tried to capture the mood of the coalition leaders during the convention when he urged the INEC not to miss an opportunity to make history by associating with the change that was on the way by registering APC.
“Although I said INEC must act above board; that alone will not be enough. INEC must also be seen to have acted above board. If it is true that our worried opponents have any plans or any hand in scuttling the merger, they must re-think and desist. If they believe that the merger offers no ideology, it is not for them to decide that. That is the decision the people of Nigeria, who own Nigeria’s sovereignty, have to make and live with. “More importantly, every personnel of INEC, from the chairman to the most junior officer, must see the consummation of this merger as a historic milestone in the political history of Nigeria.” Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State equally pleaded with INEC to allow the opposition merger to work, saying the parties have passed the political rubicon.
On his part, the Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, said he was not entering the merger under any political platform but as a detribalised citizen who was seeking a means to improve the lives of Nigerians. In his remarks, CPC National Chairman, Tony Momoh, said the amalgamation of the three major parties into one platform would mark a watershed in the evolution of party politics in Nigeria. He noted that the merger was a product of patriotism, sacrifice and nationalism, saying without the serious steps being taken by the promoters of APC, Nigeria would continue to wallow in poverty and underdevelopment.
At the ANPP national convention in Gusau, Zamfara State, it was the same sing-song as the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, described APC as a revolutionary instrument coming at the right time to rescue the country from imminent collapse and unremitting insecurity. Onu said politics was essentially a game of numbers, stressing that the decision to merge with ACN and CPC was borne out of the desire to form a formidable platform that ordinary Nigerians could trust to wrest power from the PDP. He said Nigeria was reaping the bad fruit of 14 years of political monopoly by one party that stifled competition and increased decay.
According to him, “Problems of the nation can only be solved efficiently if there is competition in the political arena. Imposing one party rule on the people brought disaster in many African countries. The Arab Spring revolt in the Arab world is because of lack of strong opposition. We cannot afford such consequences in our country. “It is true that those who play opposition politics are seen by those in power as political enemies instead of competitors. Everything is done to weaken opposition and in the process, people suffer and the country is worse for it.”
Addressing the convention, the Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, said the large gathering of party supporters at the convention was an indication and a clear message that nobody could scuttle the merger, stressing that it is the desire of Nigerians. For the chairman, ANPP Board of Trustees, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, APC has come to stay, even as he prayed that God would make the merger a success
‘Missing’ CPC Certificate Beyond this, CPC remains in a fix. Apart from the internal squabble, the party’s further participation in the opposition coalition merger process may be threatened because its certificate of registration is being withheld by a dissident group led by the expelled former chairman of the party, Senator Rufai Hanga. Buhari said Hanga and his group had no basis to lay further claim to the leadership of the party. It first began as mutiny when some group of pioneer protem national officers of the party protested their removal through what they described as illegal convention held in January 2011.
The group led by Hanga, had sued the Momoh-led National leadership of CPC, disputing its legitimacy. Although their case at the Federal Capital Territory High Court was struck out on technical grounds, the group later re-approached the court seeking remedy to its claim as the rightful leadership of CPC.
Last Thursday when speculation became rife that the aggrieved group may have secured an injunction to stop the party’s national convention, the CPC National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, described it as false and unfounded and insisted that no court had given an order stopping its national convention. In a statement issued at the end of the party’s Board of Trustees meeting last Thursday, Fashakin said the convention would go on as planned. “Our attention at the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) was drawn to an outright falsehood that tended to insinuate that the CPC convention scheduled to hold on Saturday, 11th May, 2013 had been called off as a result of a court injunction.
“First, we hereby use this medium that there was no such court injunction. Second, this piece of mendacious impudence was the handiwork of unscrupulous individuals who lost their case against the party and have resorted to other extra-legal means” However, dismissing the rumour of court injunction may have served the purpose of ensuring that the party’s convention was held but it did not resolve the problem of who has the right to the custody of the party’s registration certificate nor the pending litigation.
In an attempt to recover the INEC certificate, CPC wrote to the police alleging theft of its registration certificate. The National Secretary of party, Buba Galadima, signed the petition addressed to the Utako Police Station in the Federal Capital (FCT). The party defended the move, saying it was forced to report Hanga so that the police would it help recover the certificate from him. “Yes, the party has reported to the police over its missing certificate of registration which the former chairman, Senator Hanga has been keeping illegally since being eased out of office.”
It was learnt that Galadima had requested the police to give the party covering notes that would enable it apply for a certified true copy from INEC. But contrary to the position of Galadima, the aggrieved faction said the original registration certificate was never missing and has always been in their possession. The spokesman of the group, Chief Dennis Aghanya, explained that his group was in rightful custody of the certificate since there was a pending court action challenging the authenticity of the national executive of CPC. In the same vein, Hanga has written to INEC, to inform the commission that his group is in custody of the certificate. For the first time the national leader of CPC and former Head State, General Muhammadu Buhari, acknowledged that the party was having a problem with the splinter group.
Speaking on the matter at the end of the party’s BoT meeting in Abuja, Buhari said Hanga was withholding the party’s certificate illegally. He said Hanga could not continue to hang on to the position of national chairman of CPC, which he had relinquished in 2010 when he sought to contest the Kano State governorship ticket.
However, Buhari, who is committed to the actualisation of the merger bid, has given assurance that the party would overcome the crisis. “I think what the party will do is to go to court and swear an affidavit and get Hanga jailed. I want to assure you that we are going to go with APC to INEC and whatever the commission requires, I am sure we can comply with it.”
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.
Before 1999, the Ijaw nation had no one whom they affectionately called the governor-general. Not because the Ijaws, Nigeria’s fourth largest ethnic group spread over a wide swath of the coastal terrain had a shortage of personages, anyone of whom could be hero-worshipped.
There was Major Isaac Adaka Boro, who staged the 12-day Revolution for the establishment of the still-born Niger Delta Republic in 1967. There were many others, including Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye. At any rate, for more than 15 straight years before 1999, the country- together with the Ijaw nation- was beleaguered by different strains of retrogressive military regimes during which it was a sure-fire daring of the gallows for anyone to muster the kind of following that would have earned him the sobriquet of governor-general.
But after 1999, with the advent of the Fourth Republic, the Ijaws found one in whom they were immensely pleased. That person was Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha (Alams, for short), the democratically elected Governor of Bayelsa State from 1999 until 2005, when, midway into his second term, he was removed from office in a dramatic gun-boat legislative undertaking that advertised the reckless abuse of federal might and politics of vendetta. Through a combination of genuine populism, empathetic appreciation of the deplorable status of the Ijaws in the national scheme of things, robust articulation of far-reaching measures to redress the age-long grievances of the Ijaws, coupled with the steps he took to begin opening up Bayelsa from its backwater status, Alamieyeseigha won hearts and minds of the Ijaws.
Before long, Alamieyeseigha was no longer being addressed as Governor of Bayelsa State, but as Governor-General of the Ijaw nation, a somewhat anachronistic title dating to the colonial era. But, it was, nevertheless, an alias that reflected the gut feeling of the Ijaws, the largest population of whom are concentrated in Bayelsa.
Alamieyeseigha was a leading voice in peaceful agitation for resource control, in particular, a constitutional amendment that would drive up derivation, as a factor in revenue allocation, from at least 13 per cent, as prescribed in the 1999 Constitution, to no less than 50 per cent. And given the nation’s manipulative and rapacious politics that thrives on parasitism, while tokenist reliefs are tossed to the deprived areas that produce the country’s oil wealth, it was only a matter of time before this new-found Ijaw hero would be brought back to earth by forces too powerful for him to combat.
Alamieyeseigha himself made the task easier for his adversaries. He failed to realise that when a favourite wife misbehaves, all she earns may be a frown, or a mild rebuke; but not so for a disfavoured wife who in similar circumstances might be visited with far harsher punishment for her transgression.
Yet it is easy without necessarily justifying the conduct, to understand why Alamieyeseigha failed to appreciate that he was a high-valued target, and therefore needed to be above board in order not to give his traducers the much-needed pretext to nail him. Thus, when they began to hunt him, he was arrested in London for being in possession of foreign currency that could not be justified by any reasonable earnings.
Taken to court, he jumped bail, and entered into the frying pan that had been prepared red-hot for him back home. To, as the saying goes, cut a long story short, he was impeached by the legislature in questionable circumstances, handcuffed and flown to Abuja. His became the first high-profile case that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted against a former governor since the beginning of the Fourth Republic. Alamieyeseigha pleaded guilty, and was convicted with a prison sentence and forfeiture of a number of assets.
Nigerians are unlikely to forget in a hurry the snide remark of then President Olusegun Obasanjo, who described some of Alamieyeseigha’s colleagues as “Owambe Governors” that were partying all over the world. If these governors were having a ball, it cost money, and no one is fooled that it was small money- money that could not be justified from reasonable earnings. It wasn’t that these other governors were merely partying, there was also implied in President Obasanjo’s remark a negative competitive spirit that had overtaken some of the governors, who then began to brag about “My Mercedes (or mansion) is bigger than yours!” But these other colleagues of Alamieyeseigha were not the target hence the law could look the other way, while they had a lavish time.
Alamieyeseigha succumbed to the pervasive peer pressure of the time. Again, it is useful for us to remember the mood of the political class when democracy began anew in 1999. There were serious doubts about the survival of the system; fear was rife that sooner or later the military would strike again, and send everyone packing.
The nation had been through various transition rigmaroles since Gen. Ibrahim Babangida came up with the Political Bureau in 1986, which led to his deceptive transition politics that eventually ended in a fiasco with the June 12, 1993 presidential elections. Gen. Sani Abacha came with his five fingers of a leprous hand that sought to adopt him as sole candidate and leader-for-life, until he died suddenly. Politicians had lost huge sums of money in earlier botched transition programmes; their hopes had equally evaporated. Thus, from 1999, there seemed to be a conscious determination by the political class not to be caught napping, if the Fourth Republic collapsed like others before it.
Politicians generally, therefore, sought to minimize their losses. And, let’s face it- there was no legitimate way of doing this, other than recourse to funds under their custody. There was gross abuse of security votes, a situation that has merely decreased in intensity in recent years. Some governments took questionable loans that were guaranteed by irrevocable standing payment orders, such that their state monthly allocation from the Federation Account was mortgaged. If there was any saint of that era, let him/her come out and swear by juju, the Holy Bible or Holy Koran that he/she is squeaky clean.
Of course, if no one was caught, it became a game that they thought could go on forever. But, when democracy did not collapse after the first two/three years, politicians again descended on the till, to the detriment of the people and country no doubt, in order to raise funds for the next electoral battle- the badly flawed 2003 general elections- that was a do-or-die affair. By now, the political class had become the new money-class, able and willing to dispense financial favour that the people appropriately termed “empowerment”. Those politicians with definite term limits also began to think of funding the election of their successors.
Additionally, serving governors had seen the penurious state of some governors of old, and like serving civil servants who do not wish to die on the queue waiting for their miserable pension, and therefore help themselves through inflated contracts and outright stealing; politicians thought they could accumulate for the rainy day. Except that, there was no limit and the recklessness was all over the polity- at Federal, State, Local government- in both the Executive and Legislative branches of government.
Alamieyesigha was a trophy to be won, and he made the game easier for his hunters. He tumbled from hero to villain, at least in the immediate circumstances of his humiliating impeachment, arraignment, plea and conviction. But can Alamieyeseigha, before and after the presidential pardon, walk the streets of Bayelsa freely? The answer to the question is a pointer to the man’s enduring heroism. Yes, of course, Alamieyeseigha has been walking the streets of Bayelsa neither molested nor taunted for his travails. It would be insulting to the people of Bayelsa, and to the Ijaw nation that they did not know the injury Alamieyeseigha meant to them by his conviction.
The truth is that the people know the deeper undercurrent that sought to make Alamieyeseigha the quintessential villain, while his contemporaries, who behaved in the circumstances described above, have been given a slap on the wrist, or have made a yo-yo of the legal system, such that nobody knows the precise status of their trial, for lack of diligent prosecution.
Alamieyeseigha has completed the cycle of heroism and villainy; and now, he is on the rebound. He has been deploying his influence to abate the scourge of oil theft and brazen militancy in the Niger Delta region, which by most accounts has yielded beneficial results as indicated by the quantum leap in crude oil production and export, with attendant resource flow for the entire country. What Alamieyeseigha has been achieving silently in his post-conviction years is not altogether new. The period of his rise as Governor-General of the Ijaw nation also coincided with a parallel development: the intensity of militancy that had been brewing since the years of military rule.
From genuine agitation for resource control and remediation of the Niger Delta environment that had been devastated by the reckless operations of the oil companies, criminal gangs emerged from all over and began a reign of ransom-kidnapping and plain oil theft. As Governor of Bayelsa, Alamieyeseigha interceded on numerous occasions to secure the release of expatriate oil workers who had been kidnapped. He braved rough seas on occasion to negotiate with the kidnappers to secure the freedom of the victims.
He may not now be hailed as Governor-General, but Alamieyeseigha has since been back in the warm embrace of his people, who should know that Alamieyeseigha is no villain, and the presidential pardon has formalised it by transforming him into a novus homo (a new man).
•Azaiki is a former Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government
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.
The death toll of policemen killed by members of the Ombatse cult in Nasarawa State has climbed to 72 following the discovery of the bodies of 25 policemen that had been hitherto declared missing in a mass grave in an unnamed village in the state.
Security authorities had earlier confirmed 57 operatives, comprising 47 policemen and 10 agents of the State Security Service (SSS), killed in the attack that took place on May 7 when they were on a rescue mission to a village in Nasarawa State.
The police, which launched a manhunt for the killers, had declared the 25 policemen missing because their bodies could not be found to confirm if they were dead or alive and nobody knew their whereabouts.
The manhunt for the killers however yielded fruit yesterday as seven of the suspected Ombatse cultists were said to have been arrested in Borno State while trying to flee to Niger Republic. While the police are still searching for the killers, the Chairman of the Northern State Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, yesterday called on the federal government to fish out the killers and bring them to justice. A top police source confided in THISDAY yesterday that contrary to the hope among the police authorities that the 25 policemen might still be alive, their bodies were recently found in a mass grave in a village. But he declined to name the village and when the bodies were discovered.
“By the time we found the missing policemen, their bodies were already decomposing in a mass grave in the village. It was a gory sight,” he said. He promised that the police would spare no efforts and resources in ensuring that those behind the killings are found and prosecuted.
Efforts to get more details from police spokesperson, Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), proved abortive, as he did not pick or return his calls. It was also learnt yesterday that seven of the suspected killers of the security agents have been arrested in Borno State while trying to flee to Niger Republic.
The arrest has however not eased tension in the state as many people feared that the case will not be closed until the arrest of the chief priest of the Ombatse shrine whose concoction people believed helped the cultists to become invulnerable to injuries from weapons.
THISDAY learnt that the fear stems from the fact that the power and influence of the chief priest is known to the people, especially politicians who had also benefited from his mystical powers in 2011 during the general election.
The cult, according to a source, is said to be bitter that those who climbed to positions of power through its influence turned round to send enforcement operatives to destroy it.
The seven suspected Eggon militants believed to have been apprehended at the weekend by the Joint Task Force (JTF) operatives in Borno State may have been handed over to the Nasarawa Police Command.
Initial investigations have also shown that some top politicians in the state had patronised the shrine during the campaign for the last general election and helped in the funding and provision of logistics, especially sophisticated weapons used by the cultists. Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar, while visiting the troubled area at the weekend, had called on elders and eminent citizens of Nasarawa State to collaborate with the police to fish out the killers.
The IG, who was in the state along with the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), described the killing of the security agents as “callous”.
He said some officers were still being held hostage by the militants, adding that efforts were being made to free them.
“We are making every peaceful effort to ensure that some of our men still being held hostage are released unhurt,” Abubakar said.
On his part, Olubolade said such a “barbaric act” of snuffing out the life of security personnel, who are meant to safeguard lives, was unacceptable in a decent society. “Somebody, somewhere is causing havoc for whatever reason and the society must not allow that to continue,” he added.
The Niger State governor also Monday made a case for the apprehension and prosecution of those behind the killing of the security agents in Nasarawa State. Aliyu, who spoke in Abuja during a peace forum and launch of polio eradication almanac, which was organised by the Northern State Governors’ Wives’ Forum (NGWF), also called for equal compensation to families of security agents killed in Nasarawa State.
Over N70 million was raised to encourage the peace mission and polio eradication in the region.
The governor said it was deplorable that security agents who are symbols of the nation’s authority could be killed by insurgents.
“I heard that a policeman’s life is worth N500,000 and that it took the intervention of the Force Headquarters to make it N1 million, while that of the SSS is N10 million and a house. We should begin to treat our security agents equally,” he said.
Chairperson of NGWF and wife of Benue State governor, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam, said the peace forum would allow for open and fair interaction and exchange of ideas on the peaceful co-existence of the nation. Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, who also spoke on the occasion, blamed ethnic bigotry and religious intolerance for Nigeria’s problems and urged women to instil strong moral values in their wards.
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.
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