The Eagle Gate

Tag: APC

  • Change in nomenclature, same ambiguous policy

    Change in nomenclature, same ambiguous policy

    By Gurumwal George Longjan

    The widely rejected proposed National Grazing Ranch/Reserve/Colony Policy has just had a name change to: “The National Livestock Transformation Plan”.

    Glancing through the “Transformation Plan”, these are the ten pilot states to “benefit” from the policy: Adamawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Edo, Kaduna, Nassarawa, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara.

    94 locations in these states have been “donated” and have subsequently been earmarked for the Ranches/Reserves/Colonies.

    Who did the donating?
    Were the indigenous people consulted?
    Where are the 94 donated lands located?

    These basic queries have not been answered since the initial Grazing debate started, up till now that this new “Transformation Plan” is being peddled.

    Page 23 of the Transformation Plan partly answered the first of the three questions. It was stated that “Governors and Private Entities” have donated lands for the “Pilot Ranches”. But To the best of my knowledge, there is no vacant land in these states, all lands have owners. So did these owners, from the goodness of their hearts, give their scarce land resources to the State Government for utilisation for the The Plan?

    If it was the various State Government’s lands, did the various Houses of Assembly approve such a ceding of State Land to the Federal Government, even if it’s temporary?

    Confusingly, it states on Page 27 that:

    “Pastoralists to be registered and recognised as cooperatives for the ranching scheme”

    and then in the very next paragraph:

    “State Governments to grant lands to (these) cooperatives on a leasehold basis”

    The mere fact that this paragraph categorically states that Pastoralists will be the ones to form the cooperatives and those cooperatives will be “given the lands” calls for deep concern.

    Now we don’t even know who has rights to the lands to do as they please during the implementation of The Plan. Is it the Federal Government? The State Government? The original owners of the land? The Pastoralists?

    Furthermore it states that there shall be clusters of these “ranches” within the “donated gazetted grazing reserves”. From my limited knowledge, this group of “clusters” more or less describes a “Grazing Colony”.

    The fact that they are being “gazetted” means that the Federal Government will most likely have the rights to the lands, and do whatever they please with it, even if it runs contrary to the interests of the indigenous neighbours. We have not finished recovering from the “Grazing Routes” that were established by Government and “gazetted” decades ago.

    Page 12 and 13 of The Transformation Plan says it is to be built on six key pillars. Of interest is the fourth pillar, the “Humanitarian Relief Pillar” which includes “rebuilding and reconstructing of WORSHIP PLACES”.

    I’m wondering what an economic/transformation plan or an agricultural project has to do with “worship places”. I guess the interpretation of “worship places” and which religion(s) would benefit is anyone’s guess.

    Also of interest is that over 10 years, the Project will gulp more than N179 billion while the first 3 years of the pilot phase will consume N70 billion.

    For the Federal Government to be eager and willing to invest so much money in a controversially unpopular project that has been roundly rejected, that has changed names multiple times and involves an activity that is not generally practised by the indigenous people of the selected states, calls for deep thought.

    It is concerning that a farming activity like grazing cattle, that involves a significantly lower percentage of the population in the aforementioned area, will consume almost the whole totality of the monumental funds that have been earmarked for future farming related activities and projects in the target areas.

    Farming of Potatoes, Yams, Cassava, Millet, Rice, Carrots, Cabbages, Beans, Mai Atili (Olives), Ridi (Beniseed), Cashew, Oranges, Mangoes etc is the predominant agricultural activity in these regions.

    This is where I would have thought the Federal Government would invest N179 billion. Long term investments to build processing plants, develop supply chain routes, upgrade the local airports to international Cargo Terminals and provide other technological amenities to improve crop production to meet the local demand and eventual export to countries that are begging for these agricultural resources.

    All I would say is that let every one keep their eyes wide open. With current happenings, we definitely can not afford to be complacent.

    Beneath every questionable and ambiguous policy, there is an underlying agenda. And in more cases than none, the agenda is nefarious.

  • The Shame of a Propaganda Government: The Holy Aruosa Primary School Video Exposé

    The Edo state APC led government that thrives and propelled by propaganda was exposed and I believe embarrassed by the very damaging video of Holy Aruosa Primary School that went viral yesterday, Wednesday, June 20, 2018.

    It is however pleasing to hear that the government acted swiftly by relocating the pupils and teachers to another school. Just like the “Go and Die” jolted Adams Oshiomhole to render apologies for his bad and uncultured behavior, so has this Holy Aruosa Primary School Video woken Gov Obaseki from his deep slumber and penchant for signing MOUs and endless ground breaking ceremonies!

    That video is actually the tip of the iceberg in relation to the infrastructural decay that litters the nooks and crannies of our beloved state.

    It was a sorry sight to see and preposterous to hear that EDSG is blaming vandals for the rot it has superintended over in the last 10 years and then went into overdrive again posting videos of the few schools it had managed to apply “band aid” to. Even more laughable and unforgivable is the lame statement that they will investigate why the initial relocation order of pupils and teachers of Holy Aruosa Primary School was ignored. This is an after-thought and should be beneath even a government as clueless and insensitive as this Godwin Obaseki led government. Instead of Governor Godwin Obaseki to get to work, his government is still coming up with fancy acronyms to bamboozle a citizenry that he was imposed upon. What is Edo-Best?

    The major reason Holy Aruosa Primary School suffered this fate is because it not a polling center. This government and its predecessor government in preparation for the 2012 and 2016 elections, applied some cosmetic renovations over and over again to the same schools that were voting centers in an attempt to hoodwink Edo people . They forgot that the chickens will come home to roost. The proverbial wind like it is said, has exposed the rump of the chicken.

    Our sympathy goes to the parents, pupils and teachers who were exposed for political expediency to such harsh conditions not fit for animals.

    As a political party, we will continue to expose the ills of this government and propagate good and responsible governance.  

    PDP… listening to the cries of Edo People!

    Signed

    Chris Osa Nehikhare
    SPS PDP EDO STATE

  • Holy Aruosa Primary School in dilapidated state in Edo

    Must watch video: SHOCKING

    “This is Holy Aruosa primary school, a government owned school in the heart of Benin City, I was shocked to see the horrible and dehumanizing condition in which these kids take classes,… This is the wickedness of our leaders, they put their children in the best schools in America, UK and Canada and subject the children of the masses to these kind of horrible conditions”. Pharez

    It is unfortunate to view this type of inhumane condition in the 21st century. Young children subjected to harsh weather conditions because the school has no roof, ceiling, and doors. The floor filled with rain water, children soaked to the skin. There are no tables or chairs, six classes are combined into two because of the collapse of the other classrooms. This is unbelievable.

    The Holy Aruosa Primary School is located in the Center of Benin, on Akpakpava road. Let us be reminded that the APC has been in government in Edo State for the last 10 years.

    Video Credit: Edo State PDP

  • Open Letter to Mr. President

    Open Letter to Mr. President

    Dear Mr. President,

    You seem to be changing each passing day, each passing day. Our collective dreams about you are no longer quiet as they seem, no longer as quiet as they seem. Prior to 2015 election, we never felt like this, never. Now we are feeling more disappointed these ills are coming from you. We are opening up everyday seeing some strange principalities coming from you, are they demons you can’t leave behind? You are looking and acting strangely different.

    We wanted more than this from you Mr. Integrity, that’s why our pain and disappointment are impossible to ignore, impossible to ignore. This that is coming from you is an impossible attitude, an impossible attitude.

    And now we are telling you openly, our hearts are broken. You have become what we can’t define. A totally changed man, so insensitive and so unkind. That’s what you have become. You have become everything we do not wish for.

    You were supposed to be the concept of service and love. Please come talk to us, what’s on your mind? Do not listen to sychophants; why can’t you no longer hold on to the concept of service and love? Why do you now take power as if it is between life and death, as it is for sinners and infidels? Why are your footfalls going backwards? We can no longer hear you.

    We are no longer free and wide open to our thoughts; we now leave in perpetual fear even when we close our eyes to the things happening under you. We have been trying to control ourselves, so please don’t stand on our ways, we have waited for 3 years and there is a climax coming our way, we are no longer fond of you.

    Don’t you analysize and tabulize the magic of the revolution to come? There is war in Syria and Libya, can’t you see the rage is building up, the rage from us all? This is not worth it anymore as we are descending into paths of destruction and war. We can’t take it anymore.

    So return to where you came from because of this embarrassment, this harassment and this decadence.

    We are free to decide and we shall give you our word when the time comes, so please come away with your footfalls, go back to where you come from, go back to where you come from, you have enough time in your hands.

    Elempe Dele

  • Going to the USA is not a constitutional criterion to contest for President

    Going to the USA is not a constitutional criterion to contest for President

    We have heard and continue to hear about presidential hopeful Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa going to the United States of America (USA) before he can contest or be voted for. I am alarmed that this went viral even with the knowledge that this is not a criterion to contest for the seat of President, nowhere in the Nigeria Constitution is it stated.
     

    Some say he is on a list, such list has never been produced nor submitted for public viewing, neither has a document or instrument charging him to a USA court for corruption been produced nor is there a warrant for his arrest from any agency here and abroad. He has not been invited by the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), and he never been indicted for any crime.
     

    Bad news travels fast and far, and the opposition has seen it fit to use the grapevine to taint his image, knowing fully well that many Nigerians go by what they hear and many do not verify information nor ask questions before they believe.
     

    Like any other Nigerian who wishes to travel out of Nigeria to a foreign country on a Nigerian Passport, a visa is required, he must submit his passport to the embassy in question and they may or not approve a visa for him. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has traveled on many occasions to several countries including America as an ordinary citizen and as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
     

    What has changed? There is a new sheriff in town called Donald Trump who dislike immigrants though a product of an immigrant family. A white supremacist, who came up with radical policies concerning immigration that even Americans disagree with. Nigeria is obviously a target, some have disgraced Nigeria by participating in fraudulent activities, and of course President Buhari who went about telling the world that Nigerians are corrupt forgetting that he too is a Nigerian. Trump has on more one occasion insulted the African continent, the black race and specifically Nigeria. In the first part of Trump being in office, he placed Nigeria on a list; Nigerians were harassed and disgraced at US entry points, some sent back even with visas or green cards. This harassment and molestation of Nigerians is still going on.
     

    So let’s get the record straight, void of any evidence to prove any wrongdoing by the Waziri Adamawa, this matter should be laid to rest and real politics played. May the best man win.

     

     

    Omololu Ojehomon

  • Response to Mr. Femi Falana, SAN by Olufab

    Response to Mr. Femi Falana, SAN by Olufab

    I have read the opinion of the learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, where he posited that in the main, the President Muhammadu Buhari [PMB] is not prohibited by law to confer national honours on deserving Nigerians, dead or alive.

    In this riposte, I intend only to challenge the opinion of the learned SAN that the award of the GCFR on Chief M.K.O. Abiola, of blessed memory, is legal. On the sanctification of June 12 as democracy day and a Public holiday, I do not wish to express an opinion.

    In the submission of the learned SAN, the former CJN was wrong as he (the former CJN) did not cite a specific provision of the Honours Act or any other law that had been violated by the president.

    Mr. Femi Falana is legally misconceived in his opinion that no illegality has been occasioned by the award of the national honours on Chief M.K.O. Abiola & Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN.

    The enabling legislation is the Honours Act and the applicable provisions are as follows:

    “3. Mode of appointment to Orders, etc.

     

    (1) The President shall by notice in the Federal Gazette signify his intention of appointing a person to a particular rank of an Order.

     

    (2) Subject to the next following paragraph of this article, a person shall be appointed to a particular rank of an Order when he receives from the President in person, at an investiture held for the purpose-

    (a) the insignia appropriate for that rank; and

    (b) an instrument under the hand of the President and the public seal of
    the Federation declaring him to be appointed to that rank.

     

    (3) If in the case of any person it appears to the President expedient to dispense with the requirements of paragraph (2) of this article, he may direct that that person shall be appointed to the rank in question in such a manner as may be specified in the direction.”

     

    A quick recap. The retired CJN opined that the national honours cannot be awarded posthumously, “much less the GCFR”, which is the highest honour in the land. Mr. Falana, SAN, on the other hand stated that it could and that the retired jurist did not state the law violated.

     

    Mr. Falana is very much mistaken in thinking the former CJN needed to provide the sections of the law violated, when it is quite elementary that violence was done to the entirety of the law itself and general principle of law.

     

    The right of the PMB to award national honours is in no doubt. The germane question to pose is, on whom might a national honour be awarded? The answer stares one in the face much like a star. National honours are to be awarded to persons. If we are agreed, and there can be no divergent opinion on that unassailable fact. The next question is to ask whether Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi fall within the LEGAL definition of persons.

    The Supreme Court in Ibrahim v. Judicial Service Committee, Kaduna State (1998) 14 NWLR (Pt. 584) 1 at 36 (1998) 12 SCNJ 255, espoused thus:

    “The definition of the word “person” in the legal sense under the Nigerian law is not limited to natural persons or human being only. It clearly admits and includes artificial persons, corporation, sole company or any body of persons corporate or incorporate.”

    It follows therefore that persons in the legal sense includes “natural persons or human beings” and also “artificial persons” such as corporate & incorporate bodies. Ipso facto, there can be no doubt that PMB may validly bestow national honours on “natural persons or human beings, and on artificial persons. To add further fillip to the definition of persons, the Interpretation Act, CAP 123 LFN 2004 defines persons as:

    “person” includes anybody of persons corporate or unincorporate;

    On their demise, could it possibly be argued that Chief M.K.O Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN continued to share or retained the characteristics of natural persons or human beings? Absolutely not; it would be preposterous and do violence to language to contend so. However, reject my own IPSE DIXIT on this matter. Do I have legal authorities in support of my position, that the dead cannot by any stretch of the imagination be natural persons or human beings?

    In the case of UDEOGARANYA V. ADEYI (2010) LPELR-4415(CA), the Court of Appeal instructively defined a person as follows:

    “It is beyond dispute that the word “person” when used in legal practice, such as in a legislation or statute connotes both a “natural person”, that is to say, a “human being” and an “artificial person” such as corporation sole or public bodies corporate or incorporates”.

    Just to pre-empt some of my colleagues or lay men who may say, ‘but the Court of Appeal is not the highest Court in the land’; I have good news. Let me dispel any doubt.

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria, in OMOKHAFE V. ESEKHOMO (1993) LPELR-2649(SC), explicating on the Legal Personality of a dead person, has this to say, per Onu, J.S.C.:

    “Generally, a dead person is no longer in the eyes of the law a person but in the eyes of the law, he is a person who ceased to have any legal personality from the date of his death and as such, can neither sue nor be sued personally or in representative capacity.”

    If the highest Court in the land has asseverated that a dead person is no longer in the eyes of the law a person, then to have conferred the respective national honours on both Chief M.KO. Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi has been done in clear breach of the National Honours Act. Respectfully, in my opinion, nothing more needs be said on this said over that issue.

    POSTSCRIPT

    On the issue of whether the honours bestowed on both Chief M.K.O Abiola & Chief Gani Fawehinmi may be conferred posthumously; it is pertinent to state that there is no specific provisions allowing posthumous awards in the enabling Act. Until the National Assembly amends the Act, it is respectfully submitted that any such posthumous award is clearly illegal. It is absurd for anyone to read into an Act of the National Assembly what is not therein provided for.

    Compare the above position with the enabling legislation for members of the Armed Forces, you will find the following:

    “3. Eligibility for award of medals

    (1) The Nigeria Star may be awarded to any member of any of the armed forces for the most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy, or for a pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy, or for devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy, and may be awarded posthumously.”

    The legislation pertain to the Armed forces makes specific provision for posthumous award! One would have thought that the lawyers advocating so vociferously for posthumous award would have asked themselves one simple question: “why would one legislation be silent on the issue of a posthumous award whilst another piece of legislation be specific on the point”?

  • Has Aisha Buhari Gone Missing?

    Has Aisha Buhari Gone Missing?

    In Nigeria, during campaigns, we are used to First Ladies, that’s the wives of Presidents, campaigning for their husbands rigourously for reelections. Prior to 2015 election, we saw Aisha Buhari frying ‘akara’ in the street in support of her husband but forward to 2018, some months to the presidential election, we have hardly noticed this strong willed woman who has been defiling all odds, even shackling religious odds, to speak against her disappointment over her husband’s administration.

    Ok let’s say we have not been noticing her disappearance because we are not accustomed to the unusual situations of this administration, people ordinarily talk about things that ail them. But should we have totally forgotten about the first lady that is almost on the side of the suffering masses?

    There are some dangerous conspiracy theories concerning her being incommunicado recently but one cannot vouch for such theories. But in 2016, if we can jolt our memory, she said in a BBC interview that her husband has been “held hostage by a cabal” to which the president reacted by sending her to ‘the kitchen and the other room.’ Feminists kicked against his primitive comment all over the world, especially when he was being hosted by a female Chancellor, Angela Merkel of Germany.

    Aisha then took to her tweeter handle retweeting both senators Misau and Ben Bruce criticizing her husband’s administration’s lackluster. As if that internalized criticism was not enough, last year, she declared openly that there were no syringes and other items in the Aso Rock Clinic in spite of the huge budgetary allocations for the past two years. And this administration claimed it was fighting corruption. And to this criticisms she was awarded the Vanguard Personality for speaking truth to power even in her difficult condition to do so. She said her position concerning her criticism was not necessarily about confrontation but her sense of justice.

    Is it that Aisha, who has apparently shown distaste for her husband’s incompetence has finally been silenced? Who knows, perhaps she has.

    Well, the reason behind her lack of many public appearances campaigning for her husband is shrouded in secrecy but might not be unconnected with her perception of her husband’s led administration which had not lived up to expectations. It has rather been bizarre, lackluster and out-of-bound in most cases. We should be interested, especially the women folks to whom she dedicated her last year award, feminists and anti-sexist organizations to know what’s happening to her. Its certain things are not normal, and it will get more abnormal if unchallenged.

    #WhereIsAishaBuhari

    Elempe Dele

  • President Buhari’s Eroding Democratic Values in Nigeria

    President Buhari’s Eroding Democratic Values in Nigeria

    To those who know a lot about political engineering and democratic manifestations, would admit that the president is in an effort mission to undermine democratic values in the country. The consequence of this experimental disintegration might be too severe to compensate if the trend is not discarded. The level of his impunity and disregard for the rule of law is not only shocking, but severe, and this has been diagnosed by democratic watchdogs all over the world including Amnesty International and the US State Department. And this endangered institution has been under severe attack since 2015.

    Since 2015, Buhari has unleashed war on perceived enemies which some had termed ‘WITCH HUNTING.’ Never in the history of Nigeria, except under his former master, Abacha, has any president used law enforcement agencies for his personal political favours like Buhari is doing today that we sit in the arena of modern day democracy. We can only look at the Senator Dino Melaye’s case, a modern cult hero in Nigeria and a critic of the Buhari led administration, to see the cooperation and collusion between Buhari and these agencies of government. He is using them to attack and silence those who criticize the government by creating a dark climate of fear.

    As if this is not enough, his absolute disregard of the separation of powers of the three arm of government has become a talking point on a likely Constitutional Crisis if not discouraged. A while ago, the president withdrew monies from the federation’s account to allegedly purchase military hardwares from the United States of America without consulting the nation’s National Assembly or seeking their constitutional approval. That’s a gross violation of the constitution which is an impeachable offense.

    I think what people are worried about, taking examples from history, is that under Buhari, a one time dreadful dictator back in the 80s, Nigeria is again tittering towards autocracy and totalitarianism. What is happening now, if unchecked, would leave the country to move progressively towards having an all-powerful president, and when such a leader continue to engage in his undemocratic nuisances and there is no resistance from the people, his powers are further enhanced. And once he has these powers, he takes more undemocratic actions. (The gods that feed on blood are restless)

    Most of Buhari’s action today are abnormal under democratic dispensation, especially the nascent version, and a lot of them are unprecedented and dangerous. No wonder the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Onnoghen said recently that any government disobeying court orders is inviting anarchy. He was referring directly to the government of President Buhari.

    The law enforcement agencies ought to be apolitical. It’s under Buhari you will see law enforcement agents that are directly involved in the politics of the day, pitching tent with the ruling party to the chagrin of taxpayers. It is a democratic norm that their activities be under law, (not under political parties) including under the watch of the National Assembly’s oversight functions, as well as other basic values such as conflict of interest and government staying away from influencing their activities – all these are parts of the essential elements of the rule of law, which is key to any modern functioning democracy. But in Nigeria, what we have is a voodoo democracy.

    There are listless undemocratic things happening in Nigeria today perpetuated by the government directly and indirectly but somehow, the infrastructure of justice, which are the courts and dissenting voices have been holding up thus far. Despite Buhari’s attacks, people have continued to speak up for and support democratic values and norms. It was the people who spoke against the illegal reinstatement of the criminal fugitive, Maina, before he was let loose from the civil service into the wild. Non-governmental organizations and other busybodies have been showing their displeasures, and to me, that’s a testament to justice.

    Whether or not these violations of democratic values will continue would depend on what happens at the 2019 presidential polls. And the question of whether this violations will continue also depend on the continuous reactions of the sensitive people. I do not believe Buhari can dent our democracy forever even if he wins in 2019, which is unlikely though. For power is not eternal. But I think Buhari would continue now to violate these values as far as he is in power for self-interest. And if after 2019 he ends up badly, which is very likely, owing to his undemocratic values, and other infractions, then whoever will take over from him will be deterred from indulging in these things, and we might even witness a strengthening of these democratic values and its institutions.

    What we are faced with today in Nigeria is a quiet radical and undemocratic negation and gross violation to which we hold President Buhari responsible for his dangerous and retrogressive high-stake experiment.

     

    Elempe Dele

  • Is the trial of Chief Dan Orbih, Shekarau and the others, not one of the entire Nigerian political class?

    Is the trial of Chief Dan Orbih, Shekarau and the others, not one of the entire Nigerian political class?

    The rumor slowly but steadily made the rounds. It then gained momentum that the APC controlled Federal Government planned to put many political opponents on trial for allegedly spending public funds on political campaigns, as part of the “fight” against corruption. Unsuspecting members of the public welcomed it.

    The likes of Oliseh Metuh who was at one time Publicity Secretary of PDP and a few others were arrested. They were thereafter arraigned in a court of law.

    Metuh was accused of receiving money traceable to the Office of the National Security Adviser. There was a huge applause. Suddenly, it dawned on President Buhari and his Government that such involvement was amongst persons few and far between. There was no significant political capital to be made out of such exercise. They changed the narrative in the middle of the game.

    The chase shifted to any political opponent who purportedly shared campaign funds. It didn’t matter whether it was public funds or purpose-driven generated private funds for a political event. As far as this Government was concerned, any politician who is said to have distributed campaign-funds in support of PDP in the 2015 presidential election and refused to decamp to the ruling APC is a thief who should be in jail. For those who could not stand the heat, they got the message and did the needful. Their sins were quickly forgiven. For those who remained faithful to their political party, they became endangered species.

    So the likes of Chief Dan Orbih who is chairman of PDP in Edo State and Pastor Ize-Iyamu who was PDP’s governorship candidate in the same State were arrested and charged before the Federal High court in Benin City by EFCC, the persecution agency of Buhari’s Government. Elsewhere, HE Shekarau of Kano State PDP, HE Shagari of Sokoto State PDP were arrested with others and similarly arraigned in the same court in their respective States for the same reason.

    Their crime is that they are believed to have distributed campaign funds in excess of five million naira contrary to section 1(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 ( As amended by the 2012 Act) in 2015. This time around, it was clearly established that the funds that they allegedly distributed were from donations and contributions by individuals and private companies and ware-housed by one of the Commercial banks. The bank undertook to distribute the said funds to the various States using their outlets nation wide. The donated funds received by the various PDP chapters were distributed through the chain of party hierarchy down the line for campaigns and the eventual general elections of 2015.

    There was no difference in the preparations of APC. As a party, it raised funds from individuals, private companies and even from Public sources from the States of the Federation within their control. By charging the PDP operatives with money laundering, is the Buhari Government suggesting that members of APC and those of other political parties never distributed such funds for campaign and election purposes during the period under reference?They can tell that to the marines. The other parties distributed funds likewise.

    How were the funds that delegates received in Lagos during the APC primaries that produced President Buhari shared? Were they distributed to their delegates through financial institutions? How did APC distribute the funds which were used during the primaries of the party that produced Governor Obaseki in Edo State as candidate of the party and the governorship election that followed? His challengers in the primaries cried out at the time that they were outspent with most delegates receiving about #300,000 each. Over 2000 delegates received that amount at different locations within Edo State from various sharing points where hundred of millions of naira were disbursed.

    Only recently in Ekiti, the APC primaries were fought with naira for naira. One candidate came into the State with loads of money worth hundreds of millions of naira. The money was shared in cash to the delegates before the said primaries. What was different from what they did in Ekiti and what the PDP stalwarts now on trial did with the campaign funds raised for that purpose? None, I believe.

    As far as I know, the use of cash to induce delegates for primary tickets of political parties is not peculiar to PDP. In the same vein, the distribution of funds by cash to prepare for campaigns and elections in Nigeria is also not limited to PDP as a political party. They are common to all the parties. They all do it and are perhaps preparing to do it again in 2019.

    Any Government that wishes to be taken seriously by citizens under its watch, must largely uphold the rule of law in a constitutional democracy like ours. One of the non-negotiable elements of the rule of law is equality before the law. In other words, every one must be treated equally before the law irrespective of class, creed, religion, tribe or political party affiliation. Sadly, this is not the case in our country.

    If the Buhari regime really means business about trying stalwarts of political parties for money laundering each time they distribute sums of money over five million naira as campaign funds, the government would need to build many more prison yards to accommodate the hundreds of political leaders who help political parties to distribute billions of naira nation wide for both intra-party and inter-party political contest. If that were so, President Buhari may just find out that more than half of those that would populate the prison yards are his party men and women. That is how bad it is.

    It amounts to sheer hypocrisy and cheap competition tactics for President Buhari’s Government to hound his challengers for political power by raising criminal charges against them in respect of political practices that the ruling party itself has perfected. If President Buhari really wants to fight corruption, he should turn his attention to the Police, Civil Service, Parastatals, CBN and its foreign exchange deals, NNPC and its questionable transactions. They are all still in business as usual as nothing has changed. The only substantial difference is that the circle of looters of public funds has narrowed down to a few, while the the hunger and want of the populace appears to be on the increase.

    To the political party stalwarts who are on trial for money laundering for distributing campaign funds made available to them by their party, they should weep not. Their real crime is their challenge for power and not the distribution of campaign funds which the entire political class, including the President’s party men freely engage in. They are only a metaphor for the entire political class which in my own opinion is on trial for what they are reputed for. Its all crass policy hypocrisy and Nigerians know it.

     

     

    Dr. West-Idahosa.

  • WHERE IS LOIUS ODION FROM?

    WHERE IS LOIUS ODION FROM?

    My attention has been drawn to the write up of one Loius Odion. I understand that he is a columnist with the Nation, but chose to use his privilege to vilify my person on the pretext of responding to my clarion call for the restablishment of the Benin political class. He accused me of ethnicization of the contest between Oyegun and Oshomhole for the post of the National Chairman. For God sake, we all belong to one ethnic group or the order and I have a duty to defend my tribe of origin against the overbearing influence of fortune seeking strangers tending to treat my ethnic group as a conquered territory. The points I raised in my said article were never really dealt with in his response.

    The bad news for Loius Odion is that my article was well received by the target audience and the renaissance has begun with various Benin groups gearing up to change the political narratives of the Benin people.

    Louis Odion tried hard to deride my person for no reason. Beyond the invective language used in his piece, he gave the impression that my write up was founded on imaginary malice against Oshomhole for failing to support my senatorial bid when I approached him for help in APC. Odion was dead wrong. I never sought a senatorial seat on the platform of APC. I did on the platform of PDP. In any case, Odion’s story confirms my call for Benin political renaissance. If indeed Oshomhole can influence how a senate seat is occupied in Benin province from Iyamoh, a village in Edo North Senatorial District, it is enough reason to justify the views I expressed publicly.

    The most shocking of what Odion wrote about is that he is a “conscientious Bini”. How is he a Benin man? It is true that the Benin heritage is proudly attractive and many, including Odion applaud this. That does not make Odion a Benin man. Those who knew him when he ran media errands for Chief Tony Anenih maintain that Odion claimed to have hailed from Ewu in Ishan land. Some of his professional colleagues have also revealed that Odion confided in them that his ancestral home is in Ondo State and they are prepared to bet on this.

    However, when he was to serve as a Commissioner midway into Oshomhole’s regime, he was transferred to a village called Odiguetue, a trading outlet between Edo and Ondo States. Odiguetue is a village in Ovia North East LGA , within Benin province in Edo State. This was after his rejection by Edo Central ACN leaders on the ground that he was not from Ozallah in Esan West LGA as he claimed. This development made it clear to all that his ancestry was difficult to trace. By this time, Hon. Orobosa Omo-Ojo had already been given the slot of Commissioner from the same LGA. In the end, that LGA had two Commissioners within the said period. One, a son of the soil and the other, a complete stranger. How then is Odion a Benin man? No blue blooded Benin man would have written what Odion wrote on his column against Chief Oyegun, irrespective of what drips into his mouth from the honey pot of his puppeteer.

    I may not be as educated as Odion, but I challenge him to a television debate on any topic of his choice in order to refute his innuendo about the composition of a stark illiterate or whatever he meant by that. I admire Odion’s hard work and how he developed himself from an office typist to what he is now. That is not a reason to disrespect others. Like Odion, I worked very hard for my Ph.D.

    I am a responsible family man with a wife and children and do not move around pepper-souping as Odion has insinuated. Above all, I am a serious minded person and not passion boy for any fellow man. I run a complete and disciplined home as a true Benin man. I do not lack the strength of character to publicly hold my views on contemporary political issues and those who know me can attest to this. Odion must learn to be humble with the pen and work hard to acquire the values that traditional African men are known for.

    Upon the completion of my tenure in the House, I returned to manage my law firm. I have a second address and therefore not a crass opportunist. I stand by my publicly expressed views on the need for the Benin People to resist Oshomhole’s over bearing political influence on the Benin majority in Edo State. I am confident that this would be achieved soon.

    I will not be deterred by the likes of Odion who think that a newspaper column is their preserve and they must use it at will to lampoon others for expressing rationale and pragmatic views that they do not agree with. Great columnists make their points without needlessly being scornful of the authors whose work, may have attracted their commentaries.

     

    Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa.