Gov Saraki, point of order

Polscope ...with Eddy Odivwri,email:edwintops2000@yahoo.com 08053069356, 03.05.2010

I  have read the comments of Gov Bukola Saraki on the qualities he wants to see in anyone who will take over from him as Governor of Kwara State by next year. He noted that he would never handover to anyone except the person is “transparent, honest and with a proven ability to manage the economic and political affairs of the state.” He stressed that no matter the lobby by those wanting to succeed him, he would not budge, unless the persons has the stated qualities.

Ordinarily, every sane man will applaud the identified qualities, especially against the backdrop of the deficiencies and bare-faced roguery in governance. But my worry is when Gov Saraki, appropriates to himself, the collective will of the people of Kwara. I probably would have taken the governor’s declaration as a mere expression, but when I match it against what his father, Dr Olusola Saraki, the Olooye himself, has also said, then I am wont to take it a little more serious.

The older Saraki, in dismissing insinuations that his daughter, Senator Gbemi Saraki, will succeed her brother, and that he would clash with his son over the choice of who will replace the governor, said, “People want to see me and my beloved son fight on who succeeds him, just like what happened during Lawal’s period. Bukola has done nothing wrong; he is doing his best for the state and I am proud of him, why should I choose his successor for him when I know that he can do that by himself,” he said.

With that declaration, it becomes clearer that the choice of who succeeds Gov Saraki won’t have much to do with the people of Kwara, which makes it necessary to enquire if this is a democracy or not? How is Bukola or anybody going to choose his successor? Is it the duty of Bukola to determine who his successor will be in the true sense of democracy? How many votes is he going to cast? What father and son have declared is that they have the electoral system within their control and whomever they want to tilt it towards, will be the beneficiary of the electoral effort of the entire Kwara people.

While I am not naןve to believe that the incumbent office holder in Nigeria does not have any role to play in whomever that will succeed him or her, I am disturbed that the declarations of the Sarakis are laced with oracular certainty, as if they are the sole determinants of the will of the people of Kwara.

Having been the political oracle of Kwara, the older Saraki, over three or so decades, has been greatly influential in directing the political current of the state. But I believe it is mere political understanding and influence, not a dictatorial code. I know government is a continuum, and like a stage. Bukola has played his part on the stage for almost seven years now. Wherever he stops next year, will be the take-off point of his successor. His successor will or should be chosen by the people of Kwara, not Gov Bukola, or his father or any one person for that matter.

Bukola stressed that the situation in the state calls for “a well-grounded politician” and that it is to only such a person he will hand over. Your Excellency, I have some questions for this your political sole-proprietorship:  How shall we know when you have found such a person? How can your own judgement suffice for the entire people of the state? What if you never find such a person, will you stay on in office? What if Kwara people in the exercise of their sovereign right, decide that they don’t even care about the qualities you unilaterally outlined, will you over-ride them? And sir, when you took over from late Gov Mohammed Lawal in 2003, how much of “a well-grounded politician” were you?

All said Your Excellency, as the chairman of the Governors’ Forum, you must demonstrate your belief and pursuit of democratic ethos in everything, especially in your utterances and the coming elections. That way, you etch your name as a devout democrat.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010              

The proposed bill on indigene-settler conflict

THE move by the House of Representatives to consider a bill seeking to address the recurrent indigene-settler controversy in the country may not be necessary, as the 1999 Constitution already has taken care of the issues being raised. The indigene-settler problem subsists not because there is no law that addresses it but because states and local government authorities across the country have refused to abide by the law that recognises every Nigerian as a citizen with inalienable rights wherever he or she may reside. The treatment of some Nigerians as if they were non-citizens in their own country is deplorable.

The root of the conflict can be traced to deep-rooted ethnic sentiments and primordial claims in different parts of the country. Tragically, this results in a situation whereby even government institutions brazenly ignore the law and instead draw segregatory lines between indigenes and so-called settlers. Such practices inform the recurrent ethno-religious crisis in the country. The challenge, therefore, is not in enacting a new law but in promoting actions and policies that create the environment that would make Nigerians feel at home wherever they live in the country.

Hon. Sama'ila Mohammed (ANPP, Plateau State) sponsored the "Bill for an Act to provide the right of Nigerians to be indigenes of any local government area or area council in Nigeria". Accordingly, the Bill seeks to ensure that persons whose parents migrated to any local government on or before October 1, 1960, are indigenes of that local government.

Besides, the Bill seeks to restrict the authority for the issuance of indigeneship certificates to the Ministry of Internal Affairs as against the current practice whereby only states and local government councils issue the certificate. Under the extant framework, a person must prove beyond reasonable doubt that he or she is an indigene of a place by, for instance, getting a letter of identification from the traditional ruler or councillor before a local government council or state could issue a certificate of indigeneship (not citizenship).

What this means is that persons who may have lived in an area all their life but who the traditional ruler or councillor does not identify as indigenes are denied basic rights. It is this category of Nigerians that Hon. Mohammed seeks to defend.

But the 1999 Constitution already takes care of this matter in chapters 3 and 4. While Chapter 3 of the Constitution dwells on the issue of citizenship and the different ways by which a person could become a citizen of Nigeria, Chapter 4 spells out fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom from discrimination (section 42). Section 25 thereof clearly states that "every person born in Nigeria before the date of independence" is a citizen of Nigeria by birth, provided either of the parents or grandparents belong or belonged to a community indigenous to Nigeria.

By virtue of this Constitutional provision, it amounts to a flagrant breach to brand or tag any persons within the purview of Section 25 (1) as a settler in any part of the country as is currently the practice. In virtually every part of the country, so-called non-indigenes are not allowed to contest for political office, acquire property; they are compelled to pay discriminatory fees in schools, and so on. This is illegal, for Section 42 (1) and (2) of the Constitution expressly forbids discrimination against any Nigerian, on the grounds of ethnicity, religion, sex or circumstances of birth. This practice is so pervasive that even in some parts of the country where there is cultural homogeneity, people are still being discriminated against along mundane ethnic lines. This however was not always the case.

In 1951, the elections held in the Eastern Region produced Eyo Ita from Cross River State as leader of government business in the Eastern House of Assembly. Similarly, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe won election in the Western House of Assembly and was made leader of the opposition. There were other Nigerians who occupied positions of influence in different parts of the country without being classified as settlers. The concept of indigeneship has since been introduced as a vehicle of mindless discrimination.

The proposed Bill refers to persons born after independence in 1960. What happens to those born before 1960? Is the Bill saying that such persons are not citizens of Nigeria? There is need to reaffirm citizenship and make it stronger as a uniting force. The country can never be united so long as people are more committed to ethnic and primordial affiliations. A situation whereby persons claim to be indigenes of this or that state with too many persons unprepared to respect citizenship rights underscores the extent of disunity in the country.

• Monday 1st March 2010

  Jonathan to start sweeping changes

EMMANUEL ADDEH in this report writes on preparations for the 2011 governorship election in Kwara State and the emerging issues in the race

As uncertainty mounts over who succeeds the incumbent Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, whose second term expires in 2011 and is therefore not eligible to contest in the governorship elections, indications are that the godfather of Kwara politics and father of the current governor, Olusola, might not have it so easy this time.

This, analysts in the state say, is not in any way connected with the failure of his political machinery, which they admit remains well oiled, but because of the opposition to his choice of a candidate for the 2011 governorship elections and the fact that it is coming from the least expected quarters.

Although the resistance to the rumoured choice of Senator Gbemisola Saraki, who incidentally is the daughter of Dr. Olusola Saraki and a sister to the incumbent governor, has been subtle, sources say that the difference this time is that the opposition is coming from close and unusual quarters.

Olusola who unarguably wields a big influence in the state politics, is believed to have successfully installed, former governors Ibrahim Attah, Alhaji Shaaba Lafiagi, the late Mohammed Lawal and the incumbent, his son.

But this time, the resistance is said to be coming from the very influential muslim community in the state, which is said to be opposed to the prospects of fielding the female senator on religious grounds. The opposition argument is that a woman cannot lead a community of Muslim men, just as they are not favourably disposed to another Saraki mounting the saddle in the state. Also, the incumbent governor is not lending his support to the idea of the family fielding another person on moral grounds.

The development is coming as many other names have been mentioned in the race for the Government House in Ilorin, the state capital. Some of the leading ones include Alhaji AbdulFatai Ahmed, former Commissioner for Finance, now in Economic Planning , Rasaq Atunwa ,the former Commissioner for Works and Transport, now in Finance , the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Isa Bio Ibrahim and Senator Ahmed Mohammed.

But the governor had on various occasions dismissed the issue of 2011 and its attendant politics with a wave of the hand, insisting that he should be left to ‘‘concentrate on governance.‘‘

He said, ‘‘ This administration is determined to ensure that all ongoing projects embarked upon are completed and put to use for the benefit of all and sundry, therefore flagging off any political activities at this period would amount to distracting the government that is focused and determined to serve the people with vigour.‘‘

But even as he puts up this defence, things, some analysts posit, might no longer be at ease between father and son. Baba as the senior Saraki is fondly called has cleverly commenced campaigns for her daughter with the recent lavish showing at the Ilorin Airport where posters bearing Gbemi‘s picture and governorship ambition were displayed.

Although followers of political developments in the state insist that the subtle campaign could not have taken place without the knowledge of Baba, a man who has never hidden his love for “red carpet” politics, having variously said that he won‘t allow someone who had never climbed a red carpet to govern the state, those who are wont to defend the scenario painted at the airport, say that the banners were displayed without the Senator‘s consent.

They argue that the presence of the who is who in the state‘s political space, especially those from Abuja, was just a coincidence, as they met in the aircraft that flew them to Ilorin.

But the governor, who is also said to be fast cutting his teeth in political deftness, had quickly conveyed a meeting of the PDP, prompting the party to issue a statement thereafter. The party noted that it had become necessary to make its position known because some of its members and groups were violating the order not to commence campaigns for 2011.

The party in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Isiaka Danmairomo, said, “The embargo on political activities across the state is still in force and consequently it will sanction anybody disobeying this order, as the party remains supreme and will not condone any distractions from any quarters.”

The party stated that its decision to place the embargo was premised on the need to allow the incumbent government to concentrate on its programmes and policies without distraction.

The party, added that it was yet to endorse any candidate for any position, noting that the state PDP has a structure which is known to all its members.

However, certain sections of the Kwaran society, especially in religious circles already seem set for a showdown with the ruling family. The first to stir the hornet‘s nest recently at a ceremony to mark the 47th birthday celebration of the governor, was an Islamic preacher in the state, Uztas Saanu Shehu, who canvassed a shift in governorship power from the lineage of the prominent politician at the 2011 elections.

He said at the event attended by many dignitaries including the Governor, his Deputy, Chief Joel Ogundeji, National Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, and the then Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayinla Bamigbola, that it was enough for the family having produced a House of Representatives member and a Senator in the person of Gbemisola, and a two-term governor.

He added, ”My advice is that in 2011, let somebody else taste power outside the Saraki family. It is more honourable that way. The family has produced a House of Representatives member for four years, a senator for eight years, and a governor for eight years. So the most ideal thing now is to allow somebody else to do it outside that family.”

The jubilation that heralded the comment apparently showed the desire of the people to have a change of leadership in the conduct of the affairs of the state.

Similarly, the state branch of the Supreme Council for Sharia recently warned the Saraki family not to go on with its attempt at fielding Gbemisola, considering particularly her recent comment on religion.

The female senator was quoted as saying recently that religious practice must be consistent with constitution.

Arising from this, the SCS described her as “a non-believer and an unrepentant ceremonial Muslim,” while likening her to Bhutto of Pakistan.

The SCS also took a swipe at the elder Saraki for supporting what they described as the “morbid ambition” of his daughter.

“We hear that Baba Saraki is supporting Gbemi in this morbid ambition. We do not believe it yet until we see practical steps whether secret or open. How would Baba who told the people of Ilorin that he was fighting Lawal (a former governor of the state) for attacking Alimi house now turn around to support her daughter in destroying the only legacy (Quran) and culture(Islam) left behind by Alimi?” it queried.”

Also, in a veiled reference to speculations that some of his aides might have started lobbying his father for the state‘s number one seat, the governor warned them to desist forthwith, as no pressure would stop him from insisting on merit.

The governor declared that no person seeking to take over the leadership of the state from him by 2011 would assume the office without meeting certain criteria, ”no matter where the person goes to lobby for the position.”

He said, ”Some of you (members of the executive council) going about jostling for positions should ask yourselves , am I ready to make sacrifices and spend the many hours it takes ? Am I the one that would say something in the morning and change it in the afternoon?

”If you don‘t have the qualities, if you like, you can move to Government House, it will not help because the future of Kwara is greater than that. We cannot compromise standards in the next elections”

Perhaps, the senior Saraki has observed the uneasiness in the polity, due to the rumoured disagreement between him and his son, and denied endorsing any candidate for the governorship position.

Saraki , who is also the Chairman of the Northern Union, at his Campaign Hall, Olorunsogo, Ilorin, the other day said his family was not divided over the issue.

He said, ”People want to see me and my beloved son to fight on who succeed him, just like what happened during Lawal‘s period. Bukola has done nothing wrong, he is doing his best for the state and I am proud of him. Why should I choose his successor for him when I know that he can do that himself,” he asked.

He also refuted speculations that he had anointed his daughter to succeed her brother.

The 76-year-old politician said, “Those telling you I have endorsed a Senator or anyone else as Governor are deceiving you. I have told you that I am still waiting for God to tell me who He wants and Gbemi has not told me or anyone that she wants to be governor.”

For now, the clouds are still gathering and the coast looks very unclear concerning who the future of the state would be bequeathed in 2011. But one thing that is obvious, analysts say, is that no matter the intrigues that would eventually throw up the contenders, the two major determinants would be the senior Saraki and his governor-son, and the sooner they settle their subtle altercation, the better for the peace of the State of Harmony.

There also seems to be a nexus of opinions among the people of the state that whatever the political arithmetic that would prompt the emergence of their leader in 2011, the interest of Kwara and her people should be paramount.

By Reuben Abati

"SO the President is back in the country?"

"When did he return? You better don't join rumour-mongers to continue to deceive Nigerians."

"Stop being mischievous, you know the man has returned. He came in the early hours of Wednesday under the cover of darkness. The presidency has since issued a statement to say that the president is back, but Dr Goodluck Jonathan can carry on with state affairs."

"What does that mean? Is the president aware that he is no longer in a position to give directives to Jonathan directly. He has to go through the National Assembly, inform that august body that he is back to his job. But he sneaks in Nicodemously in the middle of the night and he starts giving instructions. "

"Once he returns, he takes over automatically. Did he ever write a letter to the National Assembly asking for a vacation? So why should he write the National Assembly to say that he has returned. It was the National Assembly that wrote a letter for him, claiming that his BBC interview amounted to a letter whereas the Constitution is very clear about a proper letter being written. This is what you get when you play Ludo with the law, and the country. Why doesn't the same National Assembly now accept the statement by the presidency as the letter confirming his return. Why are they saying they are not aware that the man has returned? "

"But have you seen the President with your two eyes? Do you know anybody who has seen him?"

"Nobody. Except may be his wife and his security guards"

"That is why I say I don't believe that the man is back in the country. He has to show his face. He has to talk to Nigerians. If you ask me, the manner of his return shows great contempt for Nigerians. It has increased the uncertainty in the land. I dare say it is disruptive."

"Oh come on Brother Thomas. Too many Nigerians are sounding as if the man has no right to return to the country. If a man is ill, and he goes abroad to seek medical help, definitely he would return one day?"

"President Yar'Adua is not just another citizen. This is the president of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. That comes with some responsibility. The key responsibility is that the President must show that he is a patriot and that the country's interest is uppermost in his mind. When I see him on television, I'll believe that he is back."

"You may have to wait for a long time oh. What I hear is that the man came back in an air ambulance on a stretcher. Nobody was allowed to see him. Soldiers took over everywhere between the airport and the Presidential Villa"

"Where was the Acting President?"

"I don't think Jonathan knew anything about the President's return? He must have been asleep in his bedroom when they woke him up to tell him his oga was back."

"At the time the President returned, Jonathan as Acting President was effectively the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Who ordered the troops that went to the airport?"

"The Chief of Army Staff could have done that"

"Without briefing the Commander-in- Chief? That is not good for national security".

"You like to moralise. What happened on Wednesday was definitely a coup against Jonathan's Acting Presidency. You can see the effect it has had. The meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation could not hold on Wednesday because there was allegedly a directive postponing the meeting."

"Someone said soldiers were deployed to the meeting room to protect the President's chair. If Jonathan thought after sitting on that chair for two meetings, he could do so again, someone had made proper arrangements to put him in his place."

"Ha."

"Poor Jonathan. He was beginning to enjoy the position of Acting President. Now, he needs all the luck that he can get. I hear they have even changed all the security guards at the Presidential Villa."

"A special squad, mostly soldiers from Katsina."

"Talk about the Yar'Adua group taking physical possession of power."

"It is called high-wire power politics. High stakes."

"They have played their last card."

"Last card?"

"Yes, their last card."

"Don't be too sure. I understand the Acting president will now take instructions from Mrs Turai Yar'Adua"

"How?"

"To do anything now, Dr Jonathan will have to ask Mrs Yar'Adua what the President wants."

"Jesus Christ of Nazareth! They want to run Nigeria on the basis of he said, she said. Why can't Jonathan assert himself?"

"How? Did you not notice that in the first statement issued by President Yar'Adua, there was absolutely no reference to Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President? The President returns to the country and he pretends not to know that there is an Acting President in place."

"But technically, Jonathan's Presidency ended the moment the President returned to the country; it will be ludicrous to have a President and an Acting President at the same time."

"You see why I was insisting that the President is not yet back? As far as I am concerned, what we have is an acting Presidency led by Goodluck Jonathan. If the president says he is back in the country, let him follow what the Constitution says. He should write a letter to the National Assembly reporting for duty. Why is there so much desperation? And it is not enough for him to say that he is back in Nigeria. Is he well enough to do the job? That is the question the Americans were posing in their statement on Yar'Adua's return".

"The Americans should not tell us what to do. After all they too had Woodrow Wilson and Edith Wilson"

"You are comparing President Yar'Adua and Woodrow Wilson? What about the 25th Amendment to the American Constitution which was meant to correct the Woodrow Wilson effect."

"I am saying a president can be ill and the country will still function."

"But Nigeria is not functioning. "

"I thought you said Jonathan is in charge."

"He is not. How can he be in charge if he has to take instructions from a boss that he cannot see, he is not even sure he is in the country, and he, the Vice president will be reduced to the First Lady's errand boy."

"But you people caused the problem."

"What do you mean you people?"

"All of you going about hailing Goodluck Jonathan. The man was supposed to be an acting President but you people started setting an agenda for him. People started talking about the Jonathan Presidency. Former leaders were beginning to troop to Aso Villa to see him. If that had continued, it won't take another month before everyone would forget Yar'Adua. The Yar'Adua group needed to put an end to that. So, they have brought their man in, they have kept him under protective custody, and you all have no option but to talk about Yar'Adua's Presidency. Don't you know that it that six-man team that went to Saudi Arabia had been allowed to return with Yar'Adua still in Saudi Arabia,, and without their seeing him, by now the only subject of discussion will be impeachment of Yar'Adua. And it will make sense."

"You know what I think?"

"What? Checkmate?"

"They have just played their last card."

"You have said that before. Why are you repeating yourself?"

"Because what may well happen is that you will soon have people back on the streets protesting that they want to see Yar'Adua by all means"

"There is nothing in the Constitution that says the President should go about shaking people's hands and showing himself off like a clown."

"But there is something in the Constitution that says the President must be fit. The way the President stole into the country, confirms our worst fears that he is not well. If he had fully recovered, he would have gone straight to the Chambers for the Wednesday meeting. If he had showed up for just one hour, and taken photographs, that would have been the end of all of this."

"Nigerians won't give up. They will insist he must do triple jump on national television to convince them."

"I wonder what Obasanjo and those other leaders who went to Aso Villa to support Jonathan would do now? "

"You wait. They will all soon start trooping to the same Aso Villa to welcome the President."

"They won't see the President. Even people who travelled to Saudi Arabia could not see him. He is the unseen President. You remember unseen poetry? This is also just as tough."

"The First Lady is there, and she will tell her husband that some people came. For your information, some people have started going there already. I read in one report that the PDP Chairman and the Chairman of the Governors Forum went to Aso Villa, they were turned back."

"Nigerians. They will go again although I don't have a problem with that. In fact, the National Assembly should put together a high-powered delegation with a mandate to go to Aso Villa and see the president. This must be treated as a matter of urgent national important. They will be doing so on behalf of all Nigerians."

"Wonders shall never end. Who will ever think President Yar'Adua will return to this country Nicodemously? "

"What kind of English word is that? Nicodemously? "

"Go and read your Bible, you Pharisee. Nicodemus asked: How can these things be? How are these things possible? Those are questions I will also like to put to President Yar'Adua."

"Madam Turai will give you the answers you deserve. If you are careful with that your mouth, they will lock you up"

"Nobody can do anything. Why? All I am saying is that I love my country I no go lie... There is another meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation next Wednesday. Do you think the president will attend that? "

"He doesn't have to. In fact the meeting can be adjourned indefinitely. "

"We won't agree to that"

"Who are you? You think those people pay attention to noise makers? Go and sit down. Even the Vice President wouldn't dare raise his head in front of the Katsina enforcers that have hijacked the presidency. Do you know that the office of the Acting President was ransacked by State Security? And yet Jonathan says the ship of state is on course?"

"I suspect the statement was written for him. Nobody cares about the people, It is all about them and the power they wield. It is not fair. "

"The Saudi authorities must be relieved. Nigeria was going to drag them into a crisis that is not of their own making. They had to advise Yar'Adua to return home."

"But what do you think will happen if someone suddenly discovers that Yar'Adua is actually not in the country and all of this is just being stage-managed? "

"What will happen? Nothing. This is Nigeria where everything is possible."

"We are in a worse shape than we were three weeks ago."

"Don't worry. You'd get used to it."

Members of the Governors’ Forum and the House of Representatives, the Principal Secretary to the President and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party were not the only people barred from seeing hospitalised President Umaru Yar‘Adua in Saudi Arabia, Saturday Punch investigations have revealed.

Some members of the Yar‘Adua family were also prevented from seeing their ailing brother at the King Faisal Specialist and Research Hospital, Jeddah by the First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar‘Adua, recently.

Sources close to the family disclosed this to our correspondent on Friday even as the newspaper learnt that the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation had procured Saudi visas for all the ministers selected to visit Yar’Adua in Jeddah.

President Yar’Adua has been on admission for acute pericarditis at the Arabian hospital since November 23, 2009.

Saturday Punch investigations revealed that Turai allegedly prevented some key members of Yar‘Adua‘s extended family from visiting the ailing President at the hospital recently.

It was learnt that the President’s sisters had bought tickets and were billed to travel to Saudi Arabia to see things for themselves when they were asked to stay back by Turai for reasons she did not disclose.

One of the sisters said to be resident at the Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja, and others who are said to be worried about the health of their sibling were said to have been stunned by the decision of the First Lady, an impeccable source told our correspondent.

According to the source, the only person from the Yar’Adua family who could not be prevented from seeing the number one citizen is a younger brother of the President, a Lt. Colonel in the Army. The source added that the colonel was the only close extended family member that had been to Jeddah to see the President since his illness worsened.

The source added that one of the wives of the late elder brother of the President, Gen. Musa Yar‘Adua, an Ethiopian lady, who had four children for the elder Yar’Adua, was also dissuaded from travelling to see the president.

It was learnt that only three people has access to the President in the Saudi hospital; the Chief security Officer to the President, his Aide de Camp and Turai. It is only these three that have information about President Yar’Adua’s state of health.

Since the illness became protracted, several highly placed Nigerians have made futile efforts to see the President.

For in stance, a delegation of the Governors‘ Forum led by its chairman, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and comprising Gabriel Suswan of Benue State; Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State; Isa Yuguda of Bauchi; and the President‘s Economic Adviser, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, travelled to Jeddah on November 29 last year, but was not allowed to see the President.

On December 26, 2009, the president‘s Principal Secretary, Mr. David Edevbie, also travelled to Saudi Arabia but was not allowed to see his ailing boss. A delegation of the House of Representatives led by Shehu Agaie (Niger State) and comprising Ali Ndume (Borno), Patrick Ikhariale (Edo State), Moruf Fatai (Lagos State) and Jibril Adamu (Kaduna State) also went to the hospital on February 9 but after waiting for five days without seeing Yar‘Adua, it returned to Nigeria.

And just last week, a delegation of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party led by the party‘s National Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, also travelled to Jeddahbut was reportedly barred by Turai from seeing the President.

Meanwhile, the six-man delegation raised by the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday to visit the president may depart for Jeddah on Sunday, even though that departure remained uncertain as at Friday.

Reliable sources in Abuja told Saturday Punch that the SGF collected the ministers passports on Thursday, took it to the Saudi Arabia embassy in Abuja and returned it with visas on Friday. He also added that a decision had been taken that the delegation should depart for Saudi Arabia on Sunday. The delegation is expected back on Monday to brief the FEC about its findings next Wednesday. Sunday is a working day in Saudi Arabia, the flight is expected to take about five hours and the delegation may not spend more than an hour at the hospital if things work according to plan.

However, a source was also quick to add that there was uncertainty about the departure date, saying, “Although the ministers now have their visas, the Sunday departure date has not been confirmed or cancelled. So, no one knows if the trip will take place on that day.”

The delegation comprising the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed; the Ministers of Justice, Adetokunbo Kayode; Agriculture, Abba Ruma; Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe; Health, Babatunde Osotimehin; and Petroleum, Rilwan Lukman, will also pay a courtesy call on the King of Saudi Arabia.

But the inability of the previous delegations to see Yar’Adua has given rise to concerns that the FEC team may not be allowed to see him at the King Faisal Hospital.

By KEMI OBASOLA, Published: Friday, 19 Feb 2010

In this report, KEMI OBASOLA highlights the activities of Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on the state of the nation, the absence of President Umaru Yar‘Adua and Nigeria‘s listing on the United States list of security risk states

When, last week, Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, engaged former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, on the Cable News Network, no one was taken aback by his point-blank description of the former minister as a liar.

It was the quintessential Soyinka whose voice had been the much sought after especially in moments such as Nigeria is passing through.

Soyinka has straddled the political scene for as long as most politicians including the present crop can remember. As far back as 1965, he had shown his dislike for tyranny, oppression and misrule when he allegedly seized the Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service studio to make a broadcast demanding the cancellation of the Western Nigeria Regional elections believed to have been rigged.

During the struggle for the enthronement of democracy, Soyinka was visible on the political scene; speaking against the government of late Sani Abacha. He floated Radio Kudirat International to ensure Nigeria‘s return to democratic governance and embarked on self-exile in 1993 while the Abacha government pronounced a death sentence on him in absentia. 11 years after the return to civil rule, he remains active, outspoken and in the forefront of the actualisation of good governance and adherence to the rule of law.

Since his return from the United States on January 6, he has been vocal as usual, addressing journalists on two different occasions, participating in the Save Nigeria Group’s Abuja Rally on January 12, condemning President Umaru YarAdua‘s continuous absence; an aftermath of which heated the polity, lamenting Nigeria‘s inclusion in the United States list of security risk states and calling for mass civil disobedience, ‘the kind that will bring the government to its knees and make it do the right thing.‘

But, for the first time in his many struggles, Soyinka seems to be confused, he does not know, if ”Nigeria is in a post meridian or post mortem state.”

At a media briefing recently, Soyinka said, ”Has Nigeria reached the peak of its sunlight and we are in the post meridian state, or are things so bad that we need a post mortem to be conducted on this country?”

His outburst was not unrelated to his erstwhile comments on the state of the nation since the ‘Absent President’s’ episode began. He has also not been silent on the alleged signing of the 2009 Supplementary budget by the President from his sick bed in Saudi Arabia.

Soyinka had also told newsmen at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport on January 6, that, ”the screening exercise at the airport in the United States was strenuous.”

Craving the indulgence of the journalists to spare him further questions because he had been flying for several hours, Soyinka had said he would speak on the state of the nation at a later date.

Since then, he has spoken, not once, not twice but several times.

At a media chat, he said, Nigeria‘s listing on the US‘ security risk list was harassment to Nigerians.

He said, ”The decision of the US to include Nigeria among countries whose citizens will undergo extra security screening before boarding flights to the US is punishment to Nigerians. The extra security screening at the airports could make a lot of Nigerians who have engagements in other countries, especially US to cancel their trips, I am already thinking along that direction. I am already revisiting my dairy to put off some trips. Travelling on its own is a burden; the situation at the moment has further been worsened by this restriction.”

Again, to Soyinka, the victims of the US‘ decision are the ordinary citizens of Nigeria and not the government.

”What the US did is a punishment to Nigerians, not the government. They are harassing the people by that decision. Agreed we have our internal problems as a country, they would have looked at other ways of dealing with the problem,” he said.

On the President‘s absence, Soyinka has also spoken; first at a media chat, then at the SNG rally in Abuja.

But, speaking about the President, Soyinka said his decision to travel abroad for medical treatment without handing over to Vice-president Goodluck Jonathan was an insult. However, to him, the precedent for what happened in the country was set during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. According to him, Nigeria began to break apart during the Obasanjo era.

”Unfortunately, this country began to break apart during the tenure of Obasanjo. When we look at the actions of Obasanjo, you will begin to know that he had programmed the country for disintegration. Obasanjo‘s deliberate inactions for allowing the Sharia law run in a circular form was one instance. We had two different systems of government. That was one instance,” he said.

Not one to overlook an iota of bad governance or a lie-cloaked truth, Soyinka said a panel of enquiry should be set up to investigate the President‘s signature on the 2009 Supplementary budget, in order to ensure that he was the one who actually signed it.

”Lies are being exposed including forgery; did the President truly sign the 2009 supplementary budget? I think a commission should be established to find out if he actually signed,” Soyinka said.

Three days after the Abuja rally, where Soyinka addressed a mammoth crowd and charged Nigerians to arise and claim their sovereignty, he addressed journalists again in Lagos, where he expressed his fears on the state of the nation.

”The nation is completely comatose; the situation can be likened to the plastic zone of congealed palm oil during a long harmattan siege. The critical mass has been reached, cracks will begin here and there and people will be constrained to push. We will see the manifestations in the actions of the citizens within and outside the country,” he said.

Soyinka said due to the absence of the President, governance had been put on hold, while nobody was saying anything about the Niger-Delta issue.

Speaking extensively on the incessant crisis in the Niger-Delta and talks about electoral reform, Soyinka said the rehabilitation issue and post-amnesty plans had been put on hold while those brought out of the creeks on the basis of a process of rehabilitation were not being told anything.

He noted that the President had set in motion a certain process to begin immediately after Ramadan. ”What happened to that process?” he asked.

”Nigerians need to ask what happened to the proposal for electoral reform. Who is acting on it? Who is working on the reform? Who is tinkering with it? Why are we in the doldrums? Is it so that events will overtake electoral reforms, is it so that Nigerians will forget about the reform and we will go into the 2011 elections like sheep?

”We do not have a constitution; we only have a document pretending to be a constitution. It is a military centralist document which ensures re-enslavement,” he added.

The nation, according to Soyinka, is sick just like the President, adding, ‘Only that the President is receiving treatment.” The Nobel Laureate however added that a certain cabal wanted the country to remain sick because of what its members were enjoying.

”The nation and the President are sick, both need to be healed, but at least, the President is receiving treatment,” he said.

Soyinka said those who did not want the President to recover comprised the cabal that was secretly controlling affairs.

He said, ”They are all corrupt, some of them elected, some of them unelected, they want uncertainty to continue for as long as possible so as to reinvent themselves for the 2011 election. They are the ones who wish the President would never return.”

The solution to the crises in the nation, Soyinka said lies with Nigerians, saying they alone could decide what they want by engaging in actions of civil disobedience.

Urging Nigerians to prepare for massive campaigns of civil disobedience in order to compel those in positions of authority to do the right thing, Soyinka noted that this would only be avoided unless government listened to the yearnings of the people.

”Nigerians are close to the explosive point and the situation has been worsened by the comatose state of the nation.” he declared.

Latest News Feb 18, 2010 By Demola Akinyemi

Ilorin — THE Kwara State government will not implement Shariah in the state so as to ensure religious harmony among the existing religious bodies in the state.

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kwara State, Alhaji Saka Isau, who spoke yesterday on the occasion of the commencement of 2010/2011 legal year of the Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal explained that the refusal of the state government to accede to requests urging it to expand the scope of Shariah courts in the state was aimed at fostering religious harmony.

The A-G explained that government was cautious of rushing to expand the present jurisdiction of the Shariah Court of Appeal to enhance peace in the state, stressing that the understanding currently enjoyed by the various groups in the state, irrespective of religious differences, must not be disturbed.

Noting that harmonious relationship among various religious bodies in the state was only feasible in an atmosphere of peace, the A-G urged the judges to consolidate the gains and achievements of the past legal year and hasten the course of justice.

Isau condemned the Boko-Haram and the recent Jos crises, assuring that the state government has put security arrangements in place to nip every crisis in the bud.

He, however, assured the judicial workers in the state agitating for improved welfare package that the state government would approve a package for them after the committee set up to review the situation had submitted its report.

The Grand Qadi of the Shariah Court of Appeal, Justice Imam Fulani, in his address at the event said of all the 50 cases recorded in 2009, 36 had already been disposed while the rest would be treated this year.
He called on Governor Bukola Saraki to attend to the pending judiciary workers’ agitation, noting that the constant strikes embarked upon by the workers were not in the best interest of the state.

Thursday, February 18, 2010              

How 2011 presidential race is shaping up
From Alifa Daniel, Asst. Political Editor, Abuja

THE next President of Nigeria is not due to take over until another 15 months, but the race would seem to be already shaping up in earnest. All shades of politicians are lining up and strategies, calculations and permutations are deft enough to impress even the worst skeptics around.

There remains the unwritten power rotation code of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under which the North hopes to have two-term or eight-year kick at the presidency, following the eight years of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, regarded as the southern slot. President Umaru Yar'Adua is presumed to have begun the North's "turn" but faced with the President's ill-health, what happens to the north's assumed claim to the presidency up to 2015 is now one of the critical questions dominating the political terrain at the moment.

Also, everyone seems to agree that whoever emerges depends on which way the sitting Acting President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan wants the pendulum to swing. The Acting President has managed to ignore the issue, but political some pundits are saying every king is usually interested in power and who takes over from him if it comes to that.

The race may not just be a northern affair. Ambitious southerners such as a former Governor of a South-South State is said to be looking up to the Civil Society Organizations to mass behind him, using a former Managing Director of one of Nigeria's foremost but moribund newspapers as his link to prominent pro-democracy groups. His friends however suggest that he may be playing indirectly for the Vice Presidential slot if thrown in his direction.

However, northern gladiators and young Turks are already featuring prominently. Among those who said to be lining up and showing definite interest are former Head of State and Presidential candidate, retired Major-General Mohammadu Buhari and former Vice President and presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, who is reputed to have a huge financial arsenal to dig it out with anyone. There is Alhaji Danjuma Goje, the governor of Gombe State, who is said to have proved his mettle in the State by working actively for unity among the Christians and Moslems although many suggest that his less than political ways of resolving conflicts could count against him. His supporters however are upbeat since his methodologies had yielded positive results. Retired General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, a Head of State who adopted the title of President in the past is being touted again, although he is not known to have played any open card in this direction, more so when he is still mourning the loss of his wife, Maryam who died last year.

With indications that elections may be called later this year, the names of three dramatis personae under the administration of former Obasanjo are surprisingly popping up as likely to step out to run. They are embattled former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el Rufai, and the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The third is the erstwhile governor of Bauchi, Alhaji Adamu Muazu. Two of these are said to be looking to using the Obama strategy of mobilizing youths en-masse to win votes in 2011. A secretariat is already on ground with a pro-democracy facade to monitor developments and push the agenda of el Rufai and Ribadu.

Speculations on the alleged throwing up of the three men is coming as Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu made desperate efforts to dispel stories making rounds in the media that gave the impression that his Senate Committee on Constitution Review (SCCR) had taken decisions on recommendations made to it by a technical committee. A statement from Ekweremadu's office said Tuesday: "The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (SCRC) has explained that its proposed recommendations to the Senate are yet to be discussed and agreed upon, urging the public not to rely on recent newspaper reports alleging decisions has been reached already on aspects of the constitution.

He said, "We have not agreed on anything. We have not even discussed the recommendations to be presented to the Senate. That is why we are going to Uyo, to discuss these issues and agree on these things. So it is completely misleading some of the things being reported in the media. We promised to make our recommendation public. There is no need to speculate on the issues when the recommendations will be submitted to the Senate for debate. We are committed to our time line, which is to submit the report within the first quarter of the year.

Let me also assure Nigerians that there is a commitment of both Houses of the National Assembly to push the amendment through and avail it to our country for the conduct of the next general elections."

It first emerged last week that some northern political heavyweights had begun moves to ensure that President Yar'Adua resigns or is removed from office so that a northerner can take up the office of Vice President in the interest of the region. A member of the Senate Leadership told The Guardian that a retired general from the North-West had made overtures to Senators to ensure that a new Vice President from the North is named so that the region is not short-changed in the political equation in the country.

"They are saying the presidency is theirs and if their man cannot continue for health reasons, they should be able at least have the second in command post instead of a situation where the South is now enjoying solely what is rightfully theirs," the Senator said. Some lawmakers had begun meeting to push the presidential ambition of a former president from a state capital that is less than two hours from Abuja by road. Another top government official from the North East with vast experience in the civil service is believed to be interested in being the nation's number two. It was gathered in Abuja last week that all the men involved in the fresh push were calculating that "if they get the number two spot, they would be in a better place to the number one position in 2011."

It was gathered that as part of behind-the-scene negotiations for Acting President Jonathan to take over, it was agreed that he would not contest the 2011 election so that the stability of the country could be guaranteed. "In that way, the slot could be left open for the South-South in 2015," an insider to the negotiations said. The Guardian learnt that the new moves, which a lawmaker said "appeared immoral because the man (Yar'Adua) is sick not of his own making," may crystallize if in the next six weeks the President does not return to the country.

"Except they all know something about the President the rest of us don't know, I don't think it is fair what I am hearing some people are planning to do," the lawmaker added. It was learnt Tuesday that the name of Ribadu, el Rufai, and Muazu is part of a strategy to dislodge old hands in the politics of Nigeria.

"Muazu transformed Bauchi State with infrastructure that is unmatched in the entire North. El-Rufai brought about significant reform in the administration of the Federal Capital Territory and also headed the Public Service Reforms. For Nuhu Ribadu, the way he fought the war on corruption gave Nigeria much needed credibility." The Guardian had reported last Sunday that a former President and a former presidential aspirant, both retired Army Generals were amongst those who had begun to lobby federal lawmakers in an intricate plot to ensure early elections.

In some Abuja political circles, there are claims about support from the international community for some of these persons especially those classed as new generation. "Nigeria's most important diplomatic partners are averse to having persons without known pedigrees becoming President," is one such claim.

Amidst suppositions that Acting President Jonathan, was careful not to show interest in the forthcoming election, there were disclosures that the foot soldiers of the three men were consulting with interest groups including the Afenifere Renewal Group, Ohaneze Indigbo and civil society groups. "The other consideration of the young northerners is that the rest of the country has formed the erroneous impression that the north is the problem of Nigeria. They now want to provide outstanding leadership for Nigeria that will reverse this scandal."