Bishop Matthew Hassan-Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, said President Muhammadu Buhari will be leaving Nigerians ‘far more vulnerable’ than when he assumed office on May 29, 2015, despite his many promises.
The cleric stated this in his 2022 Christmas Message titled, “Nigeria: Let Us Turn A New Page,” and made available to newsmen by the Director, Social Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Fr Christopher Omotosho.
Kukah also said he has no doubt that the health of the President had improved in the last seven-and-a-half years but wished millions of Nigerians enjoy a fraction of Buhari’s enhanced health through access to better healthcare services in the country.
He said, “Mr. President Sir, a merry Christmas to you and your entire family. I speak for myself and Nigerians when I say, we thank God that He mercifully restored you to good health. We know that you are healthier now than you were before. We can see it in the spring in your steps, the thousands of miles you have continued to cover as you travel abroad. May God give you more years of good health.
However, I also wish that millions of our citizens had a chance to enjoy just a fraction of your own health by a measurable improvement in the quality of health care in our country.
It is sad that despite your lofty promises, you are leaving us far more vulnerable than when you came, that the corruption we thought would be fought has become a leviathan and sadly, a consequence of a government marked by nepotism.
“In my Christmas Message last year, I pointed out the fact that you had breached the Constitution by your failure to honour and adhere to the federal character provisions of our Constitution. The evidence is all before us all,” Kukah said.
The Bishop, however, commended the President for the efforts made in the area of infrastructure and in seeking to end malfeasance in the electoral processes.
He said, “Am I to believe that you knew and could do nothing about the Muslim-Muslim ticket within your Party?” Kukah quickly interjected. “Still, we pray for a free, fair and credible election.”
Kukah lamented abducted “children still in the forests, in the hands of evil men” and urged Nigerians to be “vigilant” and called for a change of strategy on the part of the masses to dethrone arrogant men and women in power who are determined to make Nigeria a jungle.
“This is the last Christmas for this present government’s administration. Let us all do our duty as we have a chance to choose new leaders. Do not be cynical. God is not done with us. Choose leaders who, in your view will love us, will care for us, will cry with us, will laugh with us. Look ahead and do not look back,” he said.
“Although the responses to my messages suggest that, generally, Nigerians listen to our voices in the wilderness. However, the deliberate culture of pauperization and destitution of our people continues. So, we need a change of strategy so that we can turn a new page. We need a new strategy to confront those who sit on the throne of power in arrogance and are determined to reduce our country to a jungle.
We need a new strategy that separates men and women of honour from those who have chosen dishonour. We need a new strategy that provides a clearer moral guide for ordinary citizens who, based on the moral strength of culture and religion, are seeking to build a good society, even if with straws. We need to stand up and stand firm. We need new mechanisms for saying no to the violence of governance,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday night described the claim that he was dead and Jibril Aminu from Sudan’ occupying the presidential villa in Aso Rock, as a joke that was not funny.
President Buhari stated this in a documentary at a private dinner organised by his family and very closed associates, to celebrate his 80th birthday tagged “Celebrating A Patriot, a Leader, an Elder Statesman”.
The documentary, produced and directed by US based filmmaker Ose Oyemadan, showcased the President’s early life, school days, military career, rise as Head of State in 1984, coup and imprisonment, release, PTF days and return to democracy where he contested elections in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 when he won and his re-election in 2019.
The narrative was driven by the President and supported with deep and authoritative insights by his nephew, Mamman Daura, classmate, Senator Abba Ali, close family members, friends, aides and political associates, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, FCT Minister of State, Ramatu Aliyu, spokesman, Femi Adesina, former running mate in CPC, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Special Envoy to Chad, Amb. Babagana kingibe, State Chief of Protocol, Lawal Kazaure, SGF, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gamvari and the publisher/biographer, John Paden
The President said some Nigerians have a way of creating humour to feast on something they do not understand, adding that the rumour that he was dead and one Jubril from Sudan was the work of of some mischief makers to demonstrate their cheekiness.
Asked by the interviewer if he heard about the crazy rumour a while back that he was not Buhari, he replied smiling, “Yes! People said I am somebody from Sudan. I didn’t bother with the name. Nigerians have mischievous ways of explaining themselves.”
Also asked whether he finds such things funny, the President said: “No. It’ is not funny because those who made those statement, they just want to be cheeky. They want to distract attention from the main issue.
“Our main issue is to do the infrastructure, make people aware that they need to work hard to live well. They just want to enjoy life without earning the respect of their community and so on.”
The President also said he will not miss Aso Rock much because he is being harassed and that his efforts to make the country better is not good enough and appreciated by some people.
Asked what he will miss about the presidency when he leaves, Buhari said: “I wonder if I am going to miss much. I think I’m being harassed. I believe I’m trying my best but still my best is not good enough. Because there are people around that think that they can intimidate me to get what they want instead of going through certain systems to earn whatever they want to earn. And they are some people who want to be clever by half.”
The President revealed that he lost two of his children by his late wife to sickle cell anemia and that was why when he wanted to remarry, he insisted the second wife must be AA genotype, so that his children will not inherit the S from his AS genotype.
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, while proposing a toast for the celebrant, described him as a forthright, good and kind man, as well as an exemplary leader.
He also noted that the president would make a very good entertainer in retirement because of his wackiest sense of humour.
Osinbajo recalled how the president used jokes to calm him down and rescind his decision to submit a letter to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), to investigate allegations of corruption leveled against him.
“Mr. President is a very humorous man and I think he would make a very good career in entertainment one way or the other when he retires.
“One day, I went to him because there were some allegations that were made against me. And I was so angry, so I went to him to show him the letter I had written to the EFCC to investigate. He looked at it and looked at me and because he calls me VP or Professor depending on his mood.
“This time he said, ‘VP, why do you worry yourself about all these people. These people just make all sorts of allegations, they make all sorts of stories up, even they are saying that I am about to get married again. And even some foolish people were waiting at the National Mosque, waiting for me to come and marry again.”
He praised President Buhari for leading the nation with great courage, determination and commitment.
“I invite your excellences, ladies and gentlemen, to join me in proposing this toast to an exemplary leader, a forthright and honest man, a good and kind man, and a man who has led this country with great courage, determination and commitment for so many years.
“We pray that the almighty God will preserve his life for very many years to come and that he will live all of these many years in good health, peace, joy and with the love of all of our country men.”
Also eulogizing the President, former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, described Buhari as a man with impeccable character, a nationalist, a good listener, a man who loves his family and the country, Nigeria.
“He is a nationalist. He doesn’t think of himself, he is a contented human being”, he said.
Amosun added, “He is a man whom all of us; even his adversaries will agree that this is a man with a flawless character, a man with a good heart, very compassionate, very committed and a good listener.
“Somebody that loves his family (and) Nigeria; he is a nationalist. President Muhammadu Buhari will always think about others. In his own little way and even in his humorous way, he will always not just think about himself. He is somebody that is not bothered about all these worldly things he is already a contented human being.”
Similarly, Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi described President Buhari as a detribalized person that means well for Nigeria.
“Let me say here that the President is a very highly detribalized personality. He is a man that loves this nation. Every time you meet him, he laments about the level of patriotism of our people. You will see a man that has passion for the people of this country, a man that loves every section of this country,” he said.
Umahi, commended the president for what he called, “the miracle of the second Niger bridge”, saying, “Second Niger Bridge, is now facilitating the movement of people and goods to the Eastern part of the country this yuletide season.
“Second Niger Bridge is a miracle that those of us in the South East are still savoring and is only you, Mr President that could have done it.
Because when you say something, you do it.”
Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, who also graced the occasion, thanked President Buhari for sacrificing a lot for the progress of Nigeria.
He said: “You have been at the helm of the affairs of this country at a critical time. We have seen a life of commitment, dedication, patriotism and honesty. Mr President, you have done well for your country. Our nation has seen the difference, the leadership that you demonstrate.”
He said they belong to the class of leaders who came and served their country with commitment, dedication patriotism and honesty.
He likened him to leaders like “Charles De Gaulle of France, Franklin Roosevelt of America, Winston Churchill of Great Britain and Buhari of Nigeria.”
The APC flag bearer who was in attendance with his running mate, Kashim Shettima, said: “The leadership you have demonstrated reminded me of the speech you gave at the Primary Convention when you won the nomination. You thanked the people with all humility and said even if you had the money, you would not have paid. But that is because, they know who you are, a man of integrity, great commitment, transparent and a exceptional humility.”
Tinubu prayed that “God will continue to spare you to see the history as you want it for the country, the ship of this nation will be on the right course. You will live long to enjoy a nice evening of democracy that you brought about.
“When you talk of PVC, card reader, transparency and honesty in the electoral process like you did, we can only promise not to let you down. Enjoy 80 till you celebrate other birthdays.”
The President’s eldest daughter, Fatima Buhari, who spoke on behalf of her siblings and the entire family, used the occasion to thank her father for investing in their future by giving them the needed training and care for their wellbeing.
“We are deeply honoured to be here celebrating the 80th birthday of our beloved father. I thank almighty Allah for his mercy and grace, for giving our beloved father long life and good health.
“Baba is someone who money cannot buy. That is one thing we know and he taught us that. He taught us humility, loyalty, integrity, dignity and honesty and he has a very good sense of humour. He gave us everything a parent will give his child; love, care, good education, shelter and many more,” she said.
Fatima also described her father as a man with penchant for accountability and a stickler for time.
She said: “He gave us everything, love, care, good education and all.
“He is blessed with 10 children. Two of whom are dead, 22 grandchildren whom he gives funny names.
“We have learnt so much from his character like ‘no African time’, he is always prompt. He once left me behind and went on a journey we all planned to go because I was late. Of course, I cried but I learnt my lesson.
“He taught us accountability. He is always saying bring me back my change. Baba, I’m sorry I am saying all these in public but we are so proud of you, we love you to the moon and back.”
There were good will messages from traditional rulers, who all eulogized President Buhari as a man of integrity and a huge sense of humour.
Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, said the president has done a lot and the results will manifest much later after he must have left the scene.
He described him as the promoter of traditional institutions and for preventing the returned artefacts of Benin Kingdom from being relooted, when he instructed that, the artifacts must be handed to the traditional ruler directly.
Oba of Benin said, “President Buhari has done a lot for this country, for the youth and for the traditional institution, and the result will come out much later.
He is a man of Integrity and transparency. I have been interacting with him for several years.”
Emir of Kazaure described the President as Mr. Law and Order who once denied him, the opportunity to be given a generator to make his job as the secretary of the then Petroleum Trust Fund, easier in order to avoid submitting reports late because he was using candlelight to work, because as he was not entitled to one according to the law.
He said: “If you are looking for Mr law and order, you have found him in President Muhammadu Buhari.”
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; (Ọjájá II) also spoke about President Buhari’s dedication and commitment to the growth of democracy.
Also present were governors of Katsina, Aminu Masari and Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari and members of the cabinet, family members, captains of industry including Chairman of AriseTV and Thisday Group, Nduka Obaigbena among others.
The highlight of the event was when the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, led other members of the President’s cabinet to present a giant birthday card and cut the birthday cake as they rejoiced with him on his 80th birthday.
Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo inherited a political party that is yearning for breakthrough and progress in winning elections not just in Anambra State but also in the Southeast geopolitical zone and Nigeria at large.
Incidentally, Governor Soludo as the national leader of APGA is facing the 2023 general elections less than one year in office. And the question now is: How far can APGA go in Southeast facing other political parties at the polls in 2023 under Soludo as National leader?
To answer the above question, there is need to look at what Soludo inherited, what he has done and what he is prepared to do.
Politics of winning election is definitely consequent upon works already done and promises on works to be done with ideas and knowledge driven by message on the plans and vision for the electorates. It also involves movement in search of good relationship, good collaboration, alliance, merging, grouping and machinery building through the media, one on one contact and open air campaign. There comes the issue of popularity and acceptability by the electorates.
As a leader of APGA, Soludo inherited campaign message driven with a slogan tagged “This is our own” (Nkea bu nke-anyi) meaning that APGA is of the Igbo extraction or Igbo background. For many years running now, APGA has relied on this slogan as its driven force but unfortunately the slogan is yet to inspire the party to win elections at some levels both within and outside Anambra State. Perhaps, APGA needs much captivating power broker slogan going for 2023.
Analysts say the overwhelming support being enjoyed by the Presidential candidate of Labour Party Mr Peter Obi in the Southeast has invariably made Labour Party another strong opposition to APGA in addition to PDP and APC. Clearly seen, the elections of 2023 in Anambra and Southeast is a four horse race between PDP, APC, APGA and Labour Party. According to analysts, APGA will find things difficult facing Labour Party in some parts of Anambra most especially in Anambra Central Senatorial zone where the Presidential candidate of Labour Party and former Governor Peter Obi comes from.
Also Soludo inherited APGA that is engulfed in leadership crisis with Edozie Njoku fighting tooth and nail to wrestle the leadership of the party from Victor Oye. As at the time of filling this report, Njoku is still dragging at the Supreme Court judgment saying that the judgment on leadership of the party is at his favor. Njoku is insisting that he has to be recognized as the authentic National Chairman of APGA by Soludo being the national leader of the party. Political pundits say Njoku and Oye have to reconcile on a round table as according to them, APGA has to be crisis free to be able to focus on winning elections in 2023.
On performance, Soludo is not doing badly. His vision and style of governance is gradually taking shape. For instance, his disposition for disruptive change and passion to turn Anambra into a liveable and prosperous homeland as Africa’s Dubai/Taiwan is gradually evolving and making head way. At first he has launched a comprehensive offensive against corruption in government quarters with machinery to protect the revenue of the State from cabals and broad day thieves that milk the resources of the State.
His disposition towards getting the people pay their taxes and to ensure that every Kobo is well channeled to development projects is worthy to follow. Much so, he is fighting against high cost of governance with a view to reduce the number of appointments and government spending. Unlike his predecessors that dished out political appointments like birthday gifts, Soludo is mindful of the kind of appointments he gives and the way government should spend money on overheads and functionaries
Most importantly, he rose up to the task to give effective response to the teething security challenge he inherited. Observers say Soludo has made Anambra a tough terrain for criminals. Thirdly, he has also given effective response to bad condition of roads he inherited. Addressing a gathering of Church leaders in Onitsha, he revealed that he has awarded road contract of over 250klm so far across the State with some palliative measures in strategic places already done. One of the major palliative measures is the rehabilitation of Amansea version of Onitsha – Enugu Expressway which was hitherto unmotorable owing to the terrible condition of the road.
Furthermore, he has repositioned the education sector for greater heights with employment of 5000 teachers in the State. On the other hand, he has redefined the environmental face of the Light of the Nation State with effective waste disposal system and demolition of illegal structures in the environs of Onitsha and Awka. Creditably again, he is moving along with the youth with a program on youth empowerment tagged “one man two skills” initiative. Under normal circumstances Soludo’s performance in less than a year suppose to earn APGA votes in 2023.
Another thing that suppose to earn APGA votes is what Soludo has in mind to do on the 2023 polls. Analysts and observers say his romance with the Prresidential candidate of PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubukar ahead of the 2023 election is an indication that he has intention towards another level of things. And APGA is invariably the platform to build up towards that level. It is not a bad omen if APGA captures like three States in 2023 elections. That’s a good advancement towards the next level for the party. For now APGA is the way for Soludo and unlike his Predecessors that couldn’t muster the strength to move APGA beyond Anambra , he has to muster the strength to move the party beyond boarders if he is serious about next levels.
Interestingly, APGA has got some goodies for progress hence the vision of turning Anambra into a liveable and prosperous homeland as Africa’s Dubai/Taiwan is seeing the light of the day. Analysts say, as governor of a super rich Anambra State, Soludo has what it takes to make APGA a Lionel Messi in the field of 2023 elections in Anambra, Southeast and beyond. The situation he inherited nevertheless, Soludo has to take up the challenge and work hard to make a difference. Good enough, there are credible and capable candidates contesting for governorship and National Assembly seats under APGA in the Southeast. More interesting is that APGA is going into the 2023 elections with much credibility unlike 2019 when the party went for elections without credibility owing to poor conduct of primary elections.
Soludo should take it up and work hard to make APGA proud like never before.
Yes it is possible for APGA to coast home to victory with governorship seats as well as National Assembly seats in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States considering the qualities of candidates in the race for positions under the party. In Abia, the governorship candidate of APGA Professor Gregory Ibe is good to go. Professor Ibe, a high capacity entrepreneur and academic guru with vast experience in human and economic development and management is leading a revolution in the politics of God’s Own State with the likes of Senator Enyinaya Abaribe and a host of other experienced and fresh breed politicians ready to bring about change and make positive impact in governance of Abia State.
In Ebonyi, the governorship candidate of APGA, Professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh, a former Secretary the State Government (SSG)) another academic and a Professor of Geophysics who is well grounded in the affairs of the State is leading the charge for new political order in the Salt of the Nation State. In Enugu, the governorship candidate of APGA, a former Minister of Information Mr Frank Nweke Junior is good to go with a cream of young energetic and zealous politicians with passion for change of leadership baton in the Coal City State.
In Imo where APGA is much popular having produced the governor of the State at one time, APGA is likely to spring good waves in winning elections. Going by the unpopularity and unacceptability of APC government in Imo State ,APGA remains the most credible alternative political party in the Heartland State and the 2023 elections is a great opportunity to just prove that.
In Anambra, the 2023 elections is another opportunity for APGA to strengthen and advance its hold as the ruling party in the Light of the Nation State. Apart from Anambra Central Senatorial zone where the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi is expected to influence his party to sweep all positions including Senate, Federal House and State House of Assembly seats, APGA is expected to do well in other Senatorial zones in Anambra.
For instance, APGA is expected to win Anambra North Senatorial zone following the massive range of political appointments, road construction and other things enjoyed by the people of Anambra North during former Governor Obiano administration. Obiano as governor under APGA for eight years did a lot of things for Anambra North where he comes from. Incidentally, Obiano’s wife is the APGA candidate for Senatorial election in Anambra North, thus APGA is good to go.
As earlier noted, politics of winning elections demand for vast works which include ideas and knowledge that are good to form captivating message to convince the electorates. Soludo should design a fresh and stronger message to move APGA round the Southeast region to win elections. Never minding the wave of Labour Party ahead of the 2023 elections APGA remains most credible alternative to the Southeast over PDP and APC. Soludo should reach out for relationship, collaboration, alliance and machinery building with massive media works for effective campaign onward to victories of APGA candidates at the polls.
Election victory requires so much works and that is just what APGA needs at the moment. Whichever way, the truth is that there is need to enact good effort to move APGA forward and Soludo is in a better position to write his name in gold in that direction. Former Governor Obiano whose wife is in the race for the Seat of Anambra North Senatorial zone in the Senate in 2023 elections and others should muster the strength to join Soludo to run effective campaign for APGA in the entire Southeast ahead of the 2023 polls to ensure that the party takes the advantage of the polls to widen up.
Prof Ben Nwabueze and Rotimi Williams were key members of 1979 Constitution drafting committee that produced 1979 for the military regime. Their senses of patriotism,though misguided made them to create a monster as federal government in order to unify Nigeria. Unknown to them , the powerful centre has made the unity of Nigeria checky and unstable.
Vanguard conducted this interview sometime in 2013 with Prof Ben Nwabueze. This is therefore from the archive .
Read the full interview below:
The transformation agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration is inadequate because of its limited objectives. To begin with, it focuses only on the economy. Even as limited to the economy, it does not aim at a radical change in the nature or character of the economy. Its aim as stated in its enabling document is to engender economic growth and development in a way to achieve improvement in the welfare of the citizens.
The word ‘transformation’ according to the dictionary definition of it, is “change in condition, nature of character of a thing”, ‘a change into another substance.’ A new approach in the management of the economy may well bring about a great improvement in the economy in the form of enhanced growth and development and welfare services, but such improvement cannot in any meaningful sense be described as changing the Nigerian economy into something radically different in nature or character or changing it into another substance.
The Transformation Agenda is inadequate for another more fundamental reason. It has absolutely nothing to do with, not a word to say about, the transformation of our society from moral decadence into which it has sunk. No agenda, in the context of Nigeria, is worth being called a transformation agenda, which does not aim at the moral and ethical transformation of our society. Its focus must enhance the entire society or nation not the economy alone.
On how to improve the transformation agenda
What this country needs is national or social transformation not just economic transformation. I can think of nothing more disastrous for this country than an enhanced growth and development built or superimposed upon a morally and ethically decadent society, a society bereft of a sense of justice, probity, integrity, accountability, civic virtues and noble values.
The vice-President in a speech at the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership Award Ceremony on March 6, 2013 said that government planned as part of the transformation agenda programme to establish mega universities, each of which can take up to 200,000 students. The establishment of such universities will be a disaster, a disastrous misplacement of priorities when it is taken in the context of the incredible decline in educational standards in the country as attested by the phenomenon of near-illiterate university graduates, the existence of magic schools all over the country whose students are guaranteed automatic success in the school certificate examination, not of course by merit, certificate racketeering; examination malpractices etc.
His take on perceived looming revolution
For the present, unless the situation deteriorates to a point where the mood and reaction of the people can no longer be controlled, what I advocate for Nigeria is a peaceful, non violent social and ethical revolution led by a person imbued with a revolutionary ardour for national transformation. And I implore Mr. President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to lead it.
On calls by major northern stakeholders for amnesty to the Boko Haram sect
I think the call for amnesty for the Boko Haram people is misplaced and it is based on mis-guided comparison between the amnesty granted to the militants in the Niger Delta. These are two different things, completely different. The Niger Delta militants were fighting for justice, it is not an insurgency. Boko Haram is an insurgency, revolt against constituted authorities.
Carrying arms against the state, that is what insurgency means. Militants in the Niger Delta never revolted against the state when they were protesting and that is the difference between militancy and insurgency. These Boko Haram people are insurgents therefore there should be no question of amnesty. However, I sympathise with them because they are revolting against the absence of social justice.
Now, forget the hardship and suffering, these are not the only cause for their insurgency, it also has political and religious undertones. The origin of the group Boko Haram is political, it was what happened after the death of (former President Umaru Musa) Yar’Adua, the North said the South has ruled for eight years under President Obasanjo and therefore it is their turn justifiably or unjustifiably, that was their argument.
They also said after the acting tenure of President Jonathan, that power should return to the North and that the price of that is what Nigeria is experiencing now. That is the political angle to it. I have mentioned the economic side of the revolt, which include hardship, suffering and poverty as well. They have now added a position which is untenable by adding religion to it. They say they want to convert Nigeria into a Muslim state; that is incredible.
On The Patriots recurring call for a National Conference, resistance from the National Assembly and next line of action
We are still going ahead with the National Conference. The arguments from the National Assembly are again misplaced. They are representatives of the people who are elected members, elected by the people, but what is their mandate? There is a clear difference and distinction between the National Assembly and the Constituent Assembly or National Conference. The National Assembly are elected and given a mandate to govern according to the Constitution.
The Constituent Assembly, the National Conference is an assembly for just one specific purpose, the purpose of making a constitution. Their mandate is not to govern, the mandate is a special one and that is making a constitution. The people are the constituent power; the constituent power in any country is in the people as a sovereign people. The National Assembly is not sovereign, the people are sovereign. In exercise of their constituent power of their sovereignty to deliberate on their constitution and how they are to be governed, that is the whole purpose of the demand for a National Conference.
On areas that need amendment in the 1999 Constitution
Quite frankly, there are many flaws and many errors in the content of the constitution. So many errors and I as a person was partly responsible because I was a member of the constitution drafting committee set up by the military government in 1978. I was not only a member but chairman of one of the sub-committees that produced Chapter 2, the fundamental objectives and one of the cardinal flaws in the constitution is the concentration of powers in the centre.
That is why I accept that I am partly responsible for that because at the time, late Chief Rotimi Williams, a close friend of mine and nearly everybody in the Constitution Drafting Committee were so overwhelmed with this feeling, this patriotic feeling that we needed unity and the most effective way to achieve unity of the country is by having a very strong central government.
Most of us in the committee shared that idea at the time. Chief Williams shared it because of the patriotism in us and we wanted a united Nigeria, we feel we can achieve unity by having a strong central government. Then, what did we do to achieve our mis-guided objective? We took away 50 per cent of the items on the concurrent list and gave it to the centre.
We feel by doing this, we are establishing unity. We did not stop at that. We looked at the residual matters, these are matters exclusive to the states, we took a large part of it, more than 30 percent and close to 50 percent; we took it away from states and gave to the centre. And the result is the almighty Federal Government, but what we discover was that instead of producing unity, we produced disunity because of the intensity of the struggle to control the centre.
The intensity is so much and it is not just in the political power that was concentrated at the centre, much of the money also went to the centre and so by action, we destroyed what is called fiscal federalism. Too much money at the centre increased the struggle for the control of the centre and the control of the money itself and that has remained the feature of the Constitution up till today.
So when people struggle and agitate for true federalism, for fiscal federalism, they know what they are talking about and they are right, that must be changed and until it is changed, we might not achieve true federalism because the basis of which we did it has proved to be misguided, the unity we thought we will achieve was not achieved and what we achieved was more disunity than unity because of the struggle.
So I am not sure the rectification of that error is what the National Assembly can do because so much is involved. We have to restructure the territorial basis of the federation. Even if we have to take power away from the centre, whom are you going to give it to?
The 36 states, many of them carry even the power they have now not to talk of bringing back what has been taken away. Many of them are so small to carry those powers. So not only restructuring in political power, not only restructuring in financial power, you have to restructure territorial basis of zones. Six zones as suggested already but there is nothing sacrosanct by number of zones, it can be six, seven or eight but realistically six zones. So that has to be done. Can the National Assembly do it?
That is why again the entire people, all the 300 or more of the ethnic groups in the country need to come together and discuss and there are also many other things in the Constitution which experience has proved cannot work and it is not a matter for National Assembly alone and that is why I said let us have a National Conference to look at the whole thing both the more fundamental issues, the source of authority and the content of the Constitution.
The Director General of Labour Party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Doyin Okupe, has stepped aside from his position following a Federal High Court ruling which convicted him of receiving more than N200 million in cash from former National Security Advisor (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.
In a letter written to the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi today, Okupe it is time to step aside but that he remains with Obi and the presidential campaign till he emerges victorious.
You will recall that I briefed you yesterday about my personal travails in seeking justice and clearing my name using the Nigerian legal system to pursue same.
I have invested too much in your campaign to allow my personal travails to become a source of distraction.
In the circumstance, I have opted to step aside and plead that you appoint a new campaign DG who can continue the assignment with zero distraction,” Okupe said.
According to the ruling, Okupe, the first defendant in the lawsuit brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), breached the Money Laundering Act with his actions.
While stating that the Act provides that no individual or organisation shall receive any sum above N5 million and N10 million respectively without passing through a financial institution, the judge held that “there is no evidence that the money passed through a financial institution”.
According to Justice Ojukwu, the NSA is not a financial institution, adding that even if the president was said to have authorized the funds, he did not say that the money must be paid in cash in violation of money laundering.
Consequently, the court held that the first defendant, Okupe was guilty in counts 34, 35, 36, and 59.
The Judge, however, found the defendants not guilty in counts 1 to 33 on the grounds that the prosecution failed to establish the charge of money laundering and criminal breach of trust and corruption against the NSA.
In counts 34 to 59 upon which Okupe was convicted, he was accused of receiving various sums ranging from N10 million on different occasions from 2012 to 2015 when he was SSA to President Goodluck Jonathan.
The court sentenced Okupe to two years imprisonment on count 34 with an option of a fine which Okupe opted to pay.
The new anti-money laundering law in Nigeria has criminalized collection from anyone by anyone any amount above five million naira cash at a time or for a single transaction. For instance, if you sell your house for N5.5m and the buyer pays you in cash, you will go to jail.
Whether you pay a fine or serve the time, you will become an ex-convict for selling your property or goods and collecting cash.
This could be the reason why CBN has stipulated that for any cash withdrawal above N5m the beneficiary/account holder will be required to fill a lot of documents to enable the security agencies to follow the money.
The anti-money laundering law demands that everybody in Nigeria should route all payments in excess of N5m through a bank by way of electronic or manual bank transfers. The Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), which is a specialized agency of the federal government that monitors follow money in Nigeria, wants to see the flow of the money to ascertain who is paying who and to trace payments to criminal elements in the society. NFIU works closely with EFCC, CBN, ICPC, DSS, Interpol, Nigeria Police and FIRS.
Again, traders could have over N5m sales proceeds in their shops or vaults but they must have documented evidence that no one customer paid more than N5m for goods. Hence, business people could take more than N5m to the bank to lodge into their accounts. However, bankers are under strict obligation to notify NFIU of any of such lodgements.
The unsaid side of this whole thing is that anyone who is caught with any amount above N5m cash would have to provide a satisfactory evidence to prove the source(s) of the money.
Why subject yourself to the danger of imprisonment if the source of your funds is genuine? Don’t fall into the temptation of receiving cash from anyone in excess of N5m.
Can you see why politicians are kicking against the recent cashless policy imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria? It will impede their capacity to distribute large amount of cash for vote buying across the country even as they are presently contending with how to return to the banks, the old notes they had stored, that would become useless before the election. It is a big tragedy for wealthy politicians that depend on vote buying to win.
The money for vote buying is usually huge. For instance, the cost of purchasing 5,000 votes at a discounted price of N2,000 is N10,000,000 and payment is done cash.
Payment through bank transfers for vote buying will land both the giver and voter in jail as many people will be asked to come and explain inflows and outflows in and out of their accounts within the voting periods. This anti-money laundering law has now been made more effective by CBN’s cash policy. Nsogbu di!
The truth is that anyone who can handle N5m can learn how to make bank transfers. So, the court will not accept plea for ignorance. The law is clear on that. Hence, 30 lawyers cannot save anyone that violates this law because it is has a strict liability whereby the judge can do nothing but to convict the accused.
Commission says violence may mar election, prevent presidential poll winner from emerging
•Electoral body plans supplementary budget to replace destroyed buildings, equipment, others
•IG, EFCC boss warn politicians against inducement, survey puts 33 states on vote-buying watchlist
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday expressed concern that persistent attacks on its facilities were threatening successful conduct of the 2023 elections.
The commission also lamented that its past efforts to curb vote-buying failed, adding that the vice could mar successful conduct of the elections.
The electoral commission expressed the concerns at two different events in Abuja on Monday as part of the preparations for the elections.
Speaking at a two-day workshop on political violence and election security organised by the National Defence College in collaboration with African Global Empowerment and Development Network, the INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, insisted that there must be an end to the attacks on its facilities as well as the insecurity ravaging parts of the country if the commission must conduct free, fair, and credible elections in 2023.
Yakubu added that if the attacks continued till next year, they could impede the successful conduct of the polls.
He also said if the insecurity in some parts of the country did not cease; it could affect candidates’ chances of having the required number of votes stipulated by the constitution to be declared the winner.
The chairman who was represented by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, stated, “The commission is preparing well for the 2023 general elections. Although, we have recorded some reverses in some of the states of the federation in relation to attacks on some of our facilities leading to the destruction of ballot boxes, voting cubicles, and permanent voter cards. We have the capacity to recover from these attacks.’’
He noted, “Since the 2019 general elections up till 2022, we have recorded 50 attacks in 15 states of the federation. The ones we recorded in 2022 are the ones we considered systematic and coordinated. They are targeted at derailing our commission from conducting free and credible elections. We are recovering and will recover.
“But if these attacks continue to January and February next year, it will be difficult for us to recover. This is because if you look at section 134 of the constitution, there are thresholds that a candidate must meet before he/she can be declared a winner of any election.’’
Yakubu further stated, “For instance, if no winner emerges on February 25, the law says we have to conduct a second election within 21 days and only two candidates out of the 18 will participate in this second election. The candidate that records the highest number of votes in that election would be considered number one. The second will be the candidate that secures the majority of votes in the majority of the states.
‘’The constitution did not say it is the person who came second. Also, If for instance, we are unable to conduct elections in some of the local governments it will definitely affect the calculation of the threshold required to make a declaration. We also have a constitutionally prescribed window with which we must conduct elections, so if we have sustained insecurity in the country, it may be difficult for the country to achieve this mandate given to us.”
He stated that the commission had sought the help of the National Assembly as well as the security agencies to ensure that its offices and staff’s security were given priority.
Yakubu added that the commission had commenced the replacement of materials lost to the various attacks, assuring that the BVAS machines needed for the 2023 elections would be made available before the end of the year.
He said, “We don’t want distractions. That is why we have made it very clear to the National Assembly that all our offices must be declared as a high priority that needs adequate protection. We don’t want these attacks to continue although we have assurance from the security agencies to protect our staff and offices.
“Already, we are reprinting the PVC damaged in some of the attacks, we are also purchasing new cubicles and ballot boxes to replace the ones lost to the attacks. We are trying to rent offices for those we can’t repair. But I want to assure Nigerians that we are prepared for this election. The entire BVAS needed for this election will be on the ground before the end of the month. “
The INEC chairman also assured that the Bimodal Voter Registration System cannot be manipulated, adding that those buying up PVCs were doing so to oppress voters.
“There is no way anyone can bypass the BVAS machines. They can only oppress voters by buying their PVCs. It is not possible for a PVC to be used by another person,’’ he assured.
Yakubu also disclosed that the commission had updated its Memorandum of Understanding with the various transport unions and would co-opt their leaders in the commission’s situation rooms.
Also, at a stakeholders’ summit on ‘Addressing the influence of money on the 2023 general election,’ INEC organised in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation, in Abuja, Yakubu said inducement of voters could mar the elections.
He said, “The negative role of money in elections goes to the very heart of our democracy. It destroys the very basis of democratic elections which is that citizens should freely choose those who exercise power on their behalf. It renders the emergence of the right candidates for positions extremely difficult, undermines fair electoral adjudication, and destroys the professional and independent conduct of INEC officials and other public agencies involved in elections.
“Even more worrisome is the high prospect that criminal money may find its way into our elections through money laundering. Above all, the pernicious use of money tremendously increases the likelihood of election violence due to a ‘win at all costs’ mentality among contestants who would have invested a fortune in the election.
‘’Surely, elections are not a business venture for profit. Instead, it is an application to serve the people with the understanding that they may prefer someone else on one occasion. But then, there would be an opportunity to reapply after four years.’’
According to him, the commission has over the years introduced a number of measures, including the slight reconfiguration of the polling units to bring the ballot boxes closer to the voting cubicles to discourage the exposure of the marked ballot papers by voters to vote buyers.
Yakubu laments
’We also banned the use of smart phones and photographic devices by voters in the voting cubicles. Yet, these measures have recorded limited success,’’ Yakubu lamented, adding that this informed the need to collaborate with relevant institutions to fight the menace of money influence in the electioneering process.
“We must mobilise every relevant national institution to support our effort. We must rely on the professional and other capacities of cognate agencies in our determination to improve electoral administration in Nigeria,” he said.
The INEC boss acknowledged that the EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, National Broadcasting Commission and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON have all pledged their cooperation in this regard.
While admitting that there are lawful means of dealing with election traders as it were, Yakubu added that more still needed to be done to stamp out the menace of financial corruption in the system.
His words, “The commission is aware that legal provisions and the actions of the agencies are critical but will not be enough to completely root out the deep-seated cancer of corrupt money in our elections. The concerted actions of citizens are crucial. Citizens must reject inducements to sway their votes through vote buying.’’
“They must also engage effectively in stopping the negative use of money in our electoral process generally by reporting cases to INEC and other agencies. In addition, civil society organisations should make this a major plank of both their pre-election and election observation activities. Financial institutions, religious organisations, traditional institutions, the media, civic bodies and, above all, citizens must also join in this fight,” he stressed.
That said, the INEC boss said those bent on doing business as usual would expectedly fight back, noting, however, that the commission has resolved to run them out of their ignoble venture.
We fully realise that today’s initiative will not go down well with people who may not be committed to the growth of our electoral system and the consolidation of our democracy. We expect them to fight back. There will be both covert and overt pressure, countervailing actions and even threats by these vested interests.
‘’I wish to reiterate that our loyalty is to Nigeria and our allegiance is to Nigerians. We are committed to working with the collaborating agencies to see that this initiative succeeds in the 2023 general election and beyond,” he said.
EFCC chairman
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Hadiza Zubairu, the EFCC boss, Abdulrasheed Bawa, said over the decades, vote-buying has become a major obstacle to free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
Warning politicians, he said the EFCC would continue to monitor compliance with section 2 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 on “limitation to make or accept cash payment,” in the processes leading to the 2023 elections.
Usman Baba, the IG represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police (Operations), Bala Ciroma, on his part, identified violence, thuggery, use of money and ballot box snatching as some of the ills threatening credible elections in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, nine weeks to the general elections, INEC has said it will require additional funds to replace the buildings, permanent voter Cards and other assets destroyed in various attacks on its facilities across the country.
The commission explained that it would decide the appropriate time to request for the funds.
The PUNCH reports that the electoral body had so far recorded 50 attacks on its facilities across 15 states in the last four years.
Speaking with The PUNCH on the impact of the attacks on the commission’s preparation for the polls on Monday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, affirmed that more financial resources would be required to address the losses the commission had suffered in recent times.
He stated, ‘’Definitely, more funds will be needed to replace destroyed buildings and resources. However, the commission will, if the need arises, decide on the appropriate time to approach the National Assembly for additional funds.’’
Asked if the commission had set up a committee to assess the destroyed assets and compute the costs, Oyekanmi said this has yet to be done.
When asked if the National Assembly would accede to funding request by INEC, the spokesperson to the Senate, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said that the outcome of such a decision cannot be pre-empted until it is debated on the floor of the Senate after the request might have been made.
In an interview with our correspondent, the Director of Strategic Communications of the National Election Management Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council, Chief Dele Momodu, said the PDP would champion any course aimed at making sure that the 2023 elections are held as scheduled.
He stated, “The party will support anything that will make the forthcoming elections take place. We must not give chances to bad people in this country. The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) has repeatedly promised to deliver hitch-free elections in 2023 and as a party and campaign council committed to the sustenance of democracy, we will continue to support INEC. So, the commission has our support on this,” he said.
Similarly, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Abdullahi described additional funding for INEC as rational, stressing, ‘’it is in our overall interest provided that will justifiably facilitate credibility of the process whilst enhancing electoral integrity. Accordingly, INEC’s request is logical, rational and informed.”
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Oye, urged the National Assembly to spare no effort in assisting the electoral umpire to deliver on its mandate.
“The National Assembly should listen and address the needs of INEC. This is to ensure that the 2023 elections hold as expected,” he said.
On his part, the National Publicity Secretary of the Social Democratic Party, Rufus Aiyenigba said INEC is in a better position to know what impact the damage to its facilities would have on the conduct of the elections.
“They (INEC) know the challenges they are facing. The commission has been doing very well in the past few years and we have no reason to doubt that in reaching out to the lawmakers for help, they truly need it. The supplementary budget is a legitimate request and we are fully behind them,” he added.
Mr Peter Obi, Labour Party Presidential candidate, has said the conviction of his Campaign Organisation’s Director-General, Dr. Doyin Okupe, over alleged money laundering would not break his resolve to be Nigeria’s President.
Obi said this during interaction with journalists in Uyo at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council Secretariat on Monday.
The labour party presidential candidate said he was undaunted by the conviction and would continue with his campaign and allow the due process of law to take its course.
I am hearing about it (the conviction) just like you. I am still studying what is coming out of the Court and everything. I believe in the rule of law. It is not going to demoralise me.
Today, when I arrived Akwa Ibom somebody asked me why I haven’t been using my aircraft because it has been grounded and all that, and I said to him that nothing demoralises me.
In my life, I have never stayed where they dropped me, otherwise, I would have been where they dropped me before. This election, if they like, let them do anything about people who are around me. I will get there,” Obi said.
On the impression that he does not have political structure to win the presidential election, he said he was determined to dismantle the existing political structure in the country which encouraged corruption and spread poverty among Nigerians.
“The structure they have today is the structure we want to destroy. It is the structure of criminality. It is structure that produced 133 million people living in poverty,
It is the structure that produced 20 million out of school children. It is the structure that has made Nigeria surpass India in infant mortality. It is the structure that will destroy Nigeria and we want to destroy that structure,” he said.
The LP presidential candidate added that his priority would be how to secure a United Nigeria and pull people out of poverty.
He that said if elected president of the country come 2023, he would work towards the realisation of the Ibaka Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom.
He said, “my problem is how to create a future and make Nigeria a productive and not a consuming nation.”
Ngozi Odumuko, a member of Anambra State peace, justice, truth, and reconciliation commission has officially resigned.
The peace, Justice, truth and reconciliation commission was set up by governor Chukwuma Soludo in order to tackle the security challenges in the state.
Meanwhile, Odumuko in her resignation letter addressed to governor Soludo, said she decided to resign from the commission because it appears quite unclear to her since its inauguration how the commission intend to achieve the real reason for which it was established.
She however, explained that after praying and discussing the matter with her immediate family and their joint resolve is that it will be honorable that she resign from the commission.
Part of the letter reads, “Mr Governor, I write to express my appreciation for the opportunity given to me to serve in the commission. And I would like to say a very big thank you for the opportunity and the confidence reposed on my person.
“Your Excellency, please if you may recall we had intense discussions prior to the formation of this commission on how urgent it is for us to address the insecurity bedeviling our region and for us to collectively take immediate and urgent steps in solving this problem. It is quite unclear to me since the inauguration how the commission intends to achieve the real reason for which it was established. I fear that things are not very clear to me in the commission’s approach in solving this urgent problem.
“On this note I regret to say that I have prayed and discussed this with my immediate family and our joint resolve is that it is only honorable that I resign from this commission at this time. I will continue to provide all manners of support and pray for the government and people of Anambra state, the commission and pray for the good people of Alaigbo and Nigeria. Meanwhile, I sent an earlier note on the security and future of Alaigbo.
“Again, I thank you for the opportunity to serve.
“Thank you, Mr Governor.”
Few months ago , two prominent Nigerians Viz Charles Oputa ( Charlie boy) and Onyeka Onwenu have resigned their membership from the Commission due to non seriousness of Soludo Administration to pursue the root cause of agitation in the South east as per the reason for setting up the Commission.
Doyin Okupe, a former Senior Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, has been convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja, for violating the Money Laundering Act.
Justice Ijeoma Ojuwku of the Abuja court on Monday found Okupe, who is the first defendant in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) guilty of receiving over N200 million cash from former National Security Adviser (NSA). Col. Sambo Dasuki.
According to the Judge, “there is no evidence that the money passed through a financial institution”, expressing that the Act provides that no individual or organization shall receive any sum above N5 million and N10 million respectively without passing through a financial institution.
The court held, “I find the first defendant, Dr Doyin Okupe guilty in count 34, 35, 36…… 59.
The judge however found the defendants not guilty in counts 1 to 33 on the grounds that the prosecution failed to establish the charge of money Laundering and criminal breach of trust and corruption against the NSA.
