2015: NIGERIA'S POLITICAL YEAR OF RECKONING (Oyo state version)

Today, in the Political firmament of Nigeria, preparation towards 2015 by politicians can be  synonymized to the way believers prepare for the day of resurrection, the only difference in the two is the manner in which these preparations are carried out. Rivers crisis is prima facie, Al-mustapha’s release is irrefutable, even the state that houses the largest city in Africa is not left out in the race for 2015.

 

When it comes to Elections in Oyo state a politician’s performance or achievement is not a determinant of his victory in an election, Bola Ige’s lose to Victor Olunloyo 30 years ago is a prima facie example. In the history of the State since it was carved out from the Western State on 3^rd February 1976,no civilian governor has spent more than a term in office, but it seems like history will be re-written with Rashidi Ladoja and Abiola  Ajimobi as the front runners in the 2015 gubernatorial election, except a new person springs up to maintain the status quo.

 

From the happenings in the state’s political firmament so far, it appears that the path of the 2011 elections will be trod in 2015.  The question is will, Ajimobi break the jinx? Going by his activities since his inception in the office, he has shown commitment to service through Urban Renewal Program, which has placed the major cities in the state on a new pedestal. With particular reference to Ibadan, which hitherto had the uncomplimentary appellation of the dirtiest city in West Africa, the governor has successfully re-written history.

The August 26,  2011 flood disaster in Ibadan has started to bring positive impact on the state with the reconstruction of some of the bridges washed away by the flood. Aside Infrastructure , Ajimobi has done well through Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State known to have engaged 20,000 youths, transportation, education, security amongst other things.

To supporters of Ajimobi, the ideal thing in a society where performance in office is the gauge for re-election, is to allow him to have a second term but the opposition is already strategizing for 2015.I ask again, will Ajimobi be abke to break the jinx, despite strong Political Opposition from the likes of Akala and Ladoja?

Despite the fact that PDP lost to ACN in 2011, doesn’t mean that the largest political in West Africa is not has strong as before, they still have strong politicians like Alh Yekeen Adeojo, Alh Taofeek Arapaja, Senator Hosea Agboola ‘Alleluyah’ (dEputy Senate whip), Teslim Folarin (fmr Senate Leader), Jumoke Akinjide (Min of State, FCT), Hon Akeem Adewusi ‘arole Obasanjo’, besides they are still very strong in the Ibarapa zone of the State.

All that matters in an election is the mandate of the people. Will this be exercised or some other political factors will come into play? Only the result of Oyo state 2015 election will tell.  

Anifowoshe Titilope Tawakkalt 
300l Law student, University of Ilorin.
ff @classicaltiti

MUCH ADO ABOUT RIVERS CRISIS

When it comes to Nigeria's economy, I wont be wrong if I describe Rivers state as the heartbeat of our great nation ,it is also devoid of fallacy if I say that Gov Rotimi Amaechi is one of the key players in Nigerian Politics (especially after his May 24 2013 NGF election victory despite all odds).Rivers State has soared has experienced different turmoil and chaos in the past such as the ALUU4 , Niger Delta militancy saga etc. but the recent mayhem which some people describe has political, is very shambolic, this is because it involves the not just elephants but big, matured adult elephants and buffalos.

Below, is a timeline which can be linked to the present mayhem in Rivers state.....

August 24, 2010
First Lady, Patience Jonathan, publicly scolded Mr. Amaechi in Anyugubiri, Okirika, Rivers State, her home town, for not entering into dialogue with the people of the community over his plan to pull down some structures around a Model School project being constructed by the state government to create a decent space for learning.

August 25, 2010
The Chairman of Okirika Local Government, Tamunokro Oba, believed to be the first cousin of Mrs. Jonathan resigned his position. It was alleged that after Mr. Amaechi’s altercation with the First Lady, the governor forced the former council boss to throw in the towel, but the state government denied the claim.
Almost three years later…

February 25, 2013
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, announced the creation of its own Governors Forum. The PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, presented the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, as the forum’s chairman. The establishment of the forum was alleged to be part of the plot to whittle down the influence of Mr. Amaechi whose handling of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, the ruling party and the Presidency were not comfortable with. They also allegedly wanted to frustrate the re-emergence of the Mr. Amaechi as NGF chairman.

February 25,2013
Mr. Amaechi survived plot to remove him as NGF Chair just as the election of a new chairman of the forum was pushed to May when the governor was expected to end his first term.

April 6,2013
From Ikogosi in Ekiti State, Mr. Amaechi said some people were plotting to remove him as NGF chair because of his stance on fraud in the oil sector as well as Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF. A major opposition governor, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, also stated that Mr. Amaechi would win the NGF chairmanship election, showing clearly that Mr. Amaechi had the backing of major opposition parties.

April 16,2013
The national leadership of PDP inaugurated a new executive committee for the Rivers State Chapter of the party to replace the Godspower Ake-led executive, which was sacked earlier in the day by an Abuja High Court. The new executive, led by Felix Obuah, is reportedly loyal to the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, a political rival of the state governor.

April 18,2013
The office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, invited the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Ibim Semenitari, to Abuja to provide details on the security helicopters purchased by the state government.

April 19,2013
The new Rivers State PDP executive announced intention to probe Mr. Amaechi and other public office holders in the state. In a statement by its chairman, Felix Obuah, the party said it would audit the activities of all elected officials vis-a-vis the projects executed by them and budgetary provisions therein to confirm if fiscal responsibility was adhered to.

April 22,2013
There was crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly as the chairman of Obio/AkporCouncil, Timothy Nsirim; his deputy and 17 councillors were suspended over allegations of reckless spending without due process as well as security breaches. The chairman and the councillors were reportedly loyal to Nyesom Wike who hails from the area. The House had on April 17 set up a committee to investigate them.

April 26,2013
Mr. Amaechi’s private aircraft belonging to Rivers State was grounded at the Akure Airport. He had flown in the Global 5000 Bombardier Jet to Akure en route Ado Ekiti to attend the funeral of the late Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Olufunmilayo Olayinka.

May 24, 2013
Mr. Amaechi defeated his Plateau State counterpart, Jonah Jang, by 19 votes to 16 to retain his seat as the NGF chairman. However, Mr. Jang and 15 other governors, including Mr. Akpabio, kicked against the result, alleging rigging by Mr. Amaechi. This led to the emergence of two factions of NGF.

May 27,2013
The National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, suspended Mr. Amaechi, who was celebrating his 48th birthday for refusing a directive to recall the suspended Chairman and Councillors of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The same day, the party set up an 11-member committee headed by Joe Gadzama to investigate the governor.

May 27,2013
At an interactive session, the Rivers governor raised the alarm that his life was in danger and begged for prayers. He said, “I want to say the way these people at the federal level are acting, they may come after my life. So, when you pray, pray for me,” he said at the session tagged “Consolidating on Rivers of our Dreams.”

May 30,2013
The Jang faction opened a parallel secretariat of NGF at No 2 Nana Close, Maitama District, Abuja. Governors at the ceremony were Idris Wada (Kogi), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Mukhtar Yero (Kaduna), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina). Others were Theodore Orji (Abia), Peter Obi (Anambra), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Garba Umar (Acting Gov, Taraba), Steve Lawani (Deputy, Benue) and deputy governor of Gombe State.

May 31,2013
Mr. Amaechi headed for court to challenge his suspension from the PDP. Justice Emmanuel Ogbuji of Rivers State High court stopped the party from taking further action against the governor until hearing on the substantive suit was held. He ordered that the status quo be maintained.

June 4,2013
The Rivers state Governor vowed not to quit as NGF Chairman, saying the mandate was freely given to him by his colleague-governors. He stated this in an interview with journalists after inspecting the NGF Secretariat in the Asokoro District of Abuja. It was his first visit to the secretariat since the May 24 election. He was accompanied by Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.

June 5,2013
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, in his capacity as a member of NGF filed a suit in an FCT High Court asking the court to stop Mr. Jang from parading “himself as the elected Chairman of the NGF in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.”

June 14,2013
Wife of the President and First Lady, Patience Jonathan, an indigene of Rivers State, arrived in Port Harcourt to begin a 10-day visit to Rivers State. On her arrival, she rejected the accommodation provided for her by the State Government. She reportedly expressed anger that Mr. Amaechi was not at the airport personally to welcome her. Residents of Rivers State allegedly suffocated due to heavy security presence everywhere. She also attended the marriage ceremony of a member of the state legislature, Evans Bipi. She also said in a statement by her aide that she was not in the state to facilitate Mr. Amaechi’s impeachment.

June 16,2013
In a press statement, Mr. Amaechi warned Mr. Jang to stop impersonating him as his (Jang) actions typified criminality.

June 17, 2013
The Jang faction of the NGF held its first meeting at its new secretariat after which the Plateau State governor replied Mr. Amaechi that he was not an impostor as alleged by the Rivers governor. The faction met with the president that night to brief him on the outcome of the meeting, which was basically premised on the misunderstanding between the 36 states and the Federal Ministry of Finance over FAAC allocation.

June 19, 2013
While playing host to a former Petroleum Minister, Tam David-West, who paid him a solidarity visit, Mr. Amaechi described the State Police Commissioner, Joseph Mbu, as a security risk.

June 20, 2013
Mr. Mbu fired back describing the governor as “a tyrant and dictator.” He alleged that the governor was after him because he refused to be subservient.

June 26 , 2013
Mr. Amaechi and 16 of the governors belonging to his NGF faction rescheduled their meeting, which was to hold this day, to attend a dinner organised by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa. They had converged on the Rivers State Governors Lodge from where they moved to the Villa. At the meeting, the embattled governor was blocked by Mr. Jonathan’s bodyguards from coming close to greet the president. Mr. Jang was also at the dinner with members of his group.

June 27, 2013
Messrs Amaechi and Jang sat close to each other at the meeting of the National Economic Council, NEC, held at the State House and presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo. Seats were arranged for the governors alphabetically hence their sitting close to each other. The sitting arrangement before now was that the NGF chair would sit directly opposite the vice president, who is the Chairman of NEC, the highest economic policy making body in Nigeria. But on that day, neither the Rivers governor nor his Plateau counterpart was recognised or introduced as the Chairman of NGF.

July 2, 2013
The Rivers Governor asked the Inspector General of Police to redeploy Mr. Joseph Mbu, alleging that the police officer was not only attending meetings with his (Amaechi) political opponents but that the security situation in the state had worsened since he arrived the state. Mr. Amaechi threatened to stop funding the police.

July 2, 2013
The Rivers governor survived an accident as a strange car driven by a man suddenly veered off its lane and rammed into his convoy.

July 3, 2013
Mr. Amaechi instituted a suit in the Rivers State High Court restraining the Felix Obuah-led PDP executive in the state from probing him. The party had on April 19 announced its plan to investigate the governor and other elected officials. Godspower Aguma, the judge, asked the parties to the suit to maintain the status quo and adjourned it to July 30.

July 3, 2013
Some leaders and elders of the PDP in Rivers State paid a solidarity visit to Mr. Jonathan over his face-off with Mr. Amaechi. Among those on the delegation was a former governor of the state, Peter Odili; Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike; acting National Deputy Chairman of PDP, Chibudom Nwuche; and the state PDP chapter chairman, Felix Obuah. Mr. Obuah told the president that the delegation was in the State House to pay their respect to the Jonathan administration for its transformation agenda as well as leadership role in the party. Ibim Semenitari, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information dismissed the leaders’ visit saying they were looking for patronage.

July 9, 2013
Crisis erupted in the Rivers State House of Assembly as hoodlums and some of its members attacked the principal officers of the House. Five members of the House led by Evans Bipi, a former aide to Patience Jonathan, attempted to impeach the Speaker of the House, Otelemaba Amachree, leading to bloodshed. Mr. Amaechi rushed to the House allegedly to curtail the violence; and in the melee, one of his security details was injured and flown abroad for treatment. Mr. Bipi later declared himself the speaker of the assembly.

July 9, 2013
Mr. Amaechi wrote the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, PSC, Mike Okiro, demanding again the redeployment of Joseph Mbu. Copies of the letter were sent to President Jonathan, Senate President David Mark, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

July 10, 2013
Gunshots were heard around the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt. The police also fired teargas allegedly to disperse protesters near the government house, while the state government alleged that tear gas was actually fired into the government house.

July 10, 2013
The House of Representatives voted to take over the functions of the Rivers House of Assembly following the protracted crisis in the legislature in accordance with Section 11 (4) of the 1999 Constitution (amended). The Senate, however, voted to dispatch its Committee on Local Government headed by a former governor of Kano State, on a fact-finding mission.

July 11, 2013
The Senate panel held a closed-door meeting with Mr. Amaechi, though details of the discussion were not made public.

July 11, 2013
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, set up an investigation team headed by DIG Philemon Leha to investigate the crisis in the state legislature.

July 12, 2013
Mr. Amaechi set up a nine-member Commission of Inquiry on the July 9 mayhem in the state legislature. The Commission, headed by Biobele Georgewill, was asked to submit its report by October 15.

July 16, 2013
Four northern governors paid solidarity visit to Mr. Amaechi. The governors are Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger), who is also the Chairman of Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF. Protesters pelted their convoy during the visit. The four governors thereafter called for the establishment of state police in the country while demanding the removal of the State Police Commissioner, Joseph Mbu, over his role in the Rivers saga.

July 17, 2013
Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola, withdrew the suit he filed against Mr. Jang.

The police declared the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, wanted and also summoned two of Governor’s Amaechi security officials to Abuja. The same day, the Rivers governor rejected new security details posted to protect him.

The First Lady, Patience Jonathan, opened up on the political crisis in Rivers State while playing host 16 Clergymen from the South-South geo-political zone who visited her at the Presidential Villa. According to her, the misunderstanding with Mr. Amaechi began four years ago in Anyugubiri in Okirika, her home town when she begged the governor to engage her people in a dialogue instead of demolishing a part of the community. Though she referred to Mr. Amaechi as her “son”, the First Lady said the governor was hot tempered.

July 18, 2013
Five governors of Ekiti, Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Osun as well as three deputy governors of Zamfara, Imo and Nasarawa States paid solidarity visits to Mr. Amaechi during which they demanded Mr. Jonathan’s intervention in the lingering crisis. All the governors belong to the parties merging into the All Progressives Congress, APC.

July 19, 2013
Twenty-six lawmakers in the State House of Assembly loyal to Mr. Amaechi warned Mr. Bipi to stop impersonating their Speaker, Otelemabo Amachree, and also pledged to cooperate with the police investigation team.

July 23, 2013
Majority Leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, who was declared missing by the Nigerian Police over his role in the battering of Micheal Chinda during the violence that broke out in the House on July 9 turned up at the Police headquarters Abuja accompanied by his lawyer.


Anifowoshe Titilope Tawakkalt, 300l Law student, University of Ilorin.

ASUU:'Baddest Striker ever liveth'

Being someone who has  no interest in football, asking me to mention Nigeria's best striker, is like asking the proverbial Hausa hen the way to the river (Ba a tambayar kaza hanyar rafi). That's the entertainment industry for you.

But when we come down to the Educational sector, where I am an active participant, I can easily tell you within the blink of an eye, that ASUU is the best, unbeatable and number one 'striker' in Nigeria.

Born in 1978, ASUU started 'striking' at the age of 10 -- in 1988. But because it was an 'amateur striker' then, ASUU was given RED CARD on 7 August 1988 for stepping on the toes of Gen. Babangida Maiwushirya (the gap-toothed general).

As a 'good striker', ASUU wasn't discouraged by the red card, it metamorphosed into ULA (University Lecturers Association), under the leadership of Prof. Attahiru Jega, the present elections umpire.
After so much 'off-the-pitch striking', the red card was lifted in 1990, and ASUU returned from 'injury leave' both physically and mentally fit, ready to 'strike' again.

On 14 May, 1992 ASUU did what it knows how to do best -- it striked! This time the strike was so unbearable that General Maiwushirya had to issue another 'RED CARD' to the striker. So ASUU was proscribed for the second time on 23 August 1992.

Ever since General Maiwushirya handed over power, the striker has been striking with impunity. He became so strong a striker that he could maradonically break the defense of General Maikwale (the face-marked general) in 1994 and 1996!

Having striked in tough military regimes, the striker sees the civilian regime as a walk over. That's why ASUU striked twice in the tenure of Retired General Maitsagu (Baba Iyabo) in 2002 and 2007.

Determined to deal with the civilian regime, the striker skillfuly broke the defense of Late Alhaji Umaru Maidamanga (the hand-knitted damanga cap) striking twice - in 2008 and 2009.

Having gained international recognition, the striker sees the defense of Mr. Ebele Maimalafa as that of TAHITI. While the striker scored two goals per president, Oga Ebele's confused defense allowed him to have a hat-trick (three goals) in 4 years! One painful thing is that those goals were scored consecutively -- 2011, 2012 and 2013!

Now, ASUU has become so strong a STRIKER that it can compete with internationally renowned strikers such as Lionel Messi, Christiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney!
ASUU, PROUDLY NIGERIAN!

ANifowoshe Titilope Tawakkalt
300 Level Law student,university of Ilorin
Ff @classicaltiti

Child Marriage Brouhaha: A Different Perspective

The activities of senators in the hallow chamber of the national assembly has
attracted different reactions from Nigerians from, a faction perceive it as the
legalization of child marriage another (of which I belong) perceive if as
nothing but an amendment of sec 29 of the 1999 constitution others are
indifferent about it,but the issue is what is trending on twitter, facebook
and other social media.IF #chilNotBride were a company or a business
venture,the owner would have broken the record of being Richer than
Dangote or Mike Adenuga.
i was playing one of my favourite games pes 2013 this afternoon when
my friend Lega-Parrot sent me a link via bbm..i opened the link and
behold!! my eyes caught one of the most articulating and intellectually
stimulating and creative article i have ever read all my life...guys!! this is a
new dimension to the ongoing uproar on what some people reffer to as
yerima's propaganda it is titled Child Marriage Brouhaha: A Different
Perspective.The author Legal-Lion tactically tackled the issue from a
magical angle.Magical ¶ mean!!.. Pls open this link http://saiddigge.wordpress.com/2013/07/23/child-marriage-brouhaha-a-different-perspective/ to read the Magical
perspective of Legal-Lion

Vacancy: YOUTHs needed For a bright Nigeria!!!!!!

Gone are those days when Nigerian Youths have stronghold in the decision of affairs in the country..¶ shrink back in revulsion whenever ¶ remember the fact that our great Nation Nigeria was rescued from the hands of colonialist by the likes of herbert Macauly, NnamDi AziKwe, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo who at that time were in their late 20s or early 30s.for instance Herebrt Macauly was 34 years of Age when he left his position in 1898 due to growing distaste for the British rule over the Lagos Colony,infact our beloved father Nelson Mandela alongside Ahley Peter Mda, a, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo founded the African National Congress League in 1944 at the age of 26.
But reverse is the case today,According to Chimanda Ngozie Adichiethe author of Purple Hibiscus 70% of Nigeria's population is under 35 and there has been for a long time a political culture of ignoring the youth who themselves where disconnected from the political process". Ola Bolagun on his part in an article published for the Marxist Tendency online noted that, some 40 million people in Nigeria are unemployed and out of this more than half are youth and as a result massive inequality and underdevelopement.¶ read somewhere on the internet how Nigeria's hip hop Legend 2face Idibia made a statement at a social event where he addressed a large crowd; that he sees shuffling between the United States and Nigeria as time travel; the United States being the future and Nigeria being the past. Now this got people laughing,but with utmost sincerity, its "the bitter truth", A lot of people may find this difficult to swallow or accept but it is in my opinion the truth.

Youths are reffered to as the fulcrum and heart of every society,the question is what role have we youths played in the attainment of democracy, other than using the social media to criticize, serving as tools of destruction in the hands of politicians? It is only in Nigeria that the youth leader of an asscociation is a 60 year old "pot bellied baba".¶ find these facts really heartbreaking::
In 1983, Bamanga Tukur was the
Governor of the defunct Gongola
State (now Adamawa & Taraba) and 30 years later, he is today the
Chairman of the ruling Party, The PDP;
Dr. Bello Halliru was commissioner in the Old Sokoto State (now Sokoto, Kebbi & Zamfara) and 33 years after he is today Minister of Defence; Major General David Mark(rtd) was the military governor of Niger State in 1984 and 28years later he is today the Senate President; Gov. Murtala Nyako was the governor of Niger State in 1976 and 36years later he is today the Governor of Adamawa State; Ogbonnaya Onu was governor of
Abia State in 1992 and 20years after he is today the National Chairman of ANPP; Gov. David Jonah Jang was the governor of Benue State in 1985 and 27years after he is today the governor of plateau state; and Martins Elechi the Ebonyi State Governor is over 80 years old! Only in Nigeria is this possible, where the youth of today have no hope into the future! Where do we go from here?
People Deceive People (PDP), 1985, IBB was the president of Nigeria and our teachers told us that Buhari was the former Head of state..Our teacher also called us "the leaders of tomorrow".. 27years later, IBB and Buhari are still contesting for Presidency..Its either our teacher lied to us about being the leaders of tomorrow..Or tomorrow is yet to come.. Who's fooling who?

When are we going to stand up and fight for what rightly belong to us? The time is NOW. Its high time we stood up and fought for our rights because we are the leaders of Today.

Anifowoshe Titilope Tawakkalt, 300l law student University of Ilorin, Nigeria

#ChildNotBride: amisconception or a necessity???

Senator Ike Ekwerenmadu-led Senate’s Constitution Review Committee, in one of its numerous recommendations, proposed the deletion of Section 29, Subsection 4b of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). The vote, which had already been taken and carried by the required two-thirds members of the Senate (75 of 109), had to be revisited when Ahmed Sani Yerima (ANPP-Zamfara West) invoked a point of order citing Item 61 of Part 1 of the Second Schedule of the Constitution. Even though he was initially ruled out of order, the Senate President, “considering the controversial nature of the clause”, acquiesced to the call for a re-vote.

I reproduce the whole of Section 29 of the Constitution hereunder:

29. (1) Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation.
(2) The President shall cause the declaration made under subsection (1) of this section to be registered and upon such registration, the person who made the declaration shall cease to be a citizen of Nigeria.
(3) The President may withhold the registration of any declaration made under subsection (1) of this section if-
(a) the declaration is made during any war in which Nigeria is physically involved; or
(b) in his opinion, it is otherwise contrary to public policy.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section.
(a) "full age" means the age of eighteen years and above;
(b) any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.

and item 61, Part 1 of the Second Schedule under the Exclusive List which gives the National Assembly the Legislative Powers to consider:
61. The formation, annulment and dissolution of marriages other than marriages under Islamic law and Customary law including matrimonial causes relating thereto.

It is instructive to note that Section 29 falls under Chapter III of the Constitution in which the entire Chapter is devoted mainly to citizenship of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all matters related thereto. Of all the eight sections under this Chapter (S25-32), Section 29 is devoted solely to renunciation of citizenship. Evidently, one cannot renounce what s/he does not previously have; hence the section appertains only to those who previously hold Nigerian citizenship. From the foregoing Section 29 as presented above, S29(4)b which was proposed for deletion had existed since the commencement of the Constitution on May 29th, 1999 and has operated without prejudice to any other provision(s) in the Constitution. For emphasis, this subsection is provided only as a proviso to S29(1) on which categories of citizens are eligible to renounce their citizenship.

To my mind, this subsection of the Constitution is highly discriminatory and gender bias but against the male gender. Notwithstanding, the provision is clear about whose right(s) are further strengthened under this clause. A man (married or not) and a woman (not married) have to be 18 years and above before they are eligible or able to renounce their citizenship of Nigeria, even if prior to this age they feel a compulsion to do so, the Constitution bars them from jettisoning their “Nigerianness”. I dare say that in the face of the multitudes of adversity confronting Nigerians daily and the pervasive discontent within the polity, a good number of Nigerians, given the free chance, would renounce their citizenship well ahead of this age whether or not it is a wise decision to make.

In addition, the provision went further to single out women who have additional rights by virtue of their marriage. I believe it is the contemplation of the drafters of our Constitution to ensure that a woman having been married can elect to abandon her Nigerian citizenship, given for instance, that she has been married to a non-Nigerian. Of course, this is not to preclude women who marry Nigerians but feel the urge to acquire citizenship of a different country and certainly, the clause was clear enough as to refer specifically as ancillary to the earlier provision of S29(1) which in my thinking is without prejudice to any other section/clause of contained therein in the Constitution. I suppose also that the spirit behind subsection 4b is that you are first a first a Nigerian, then a woman under 18, then married and now seek to renounce your citizenship.

I do not think that S29 in whole or in part sets out to consummate, annul or dissolve any marriage or matrimonial cause(s) before a woman is 18 years of age as had been variously peddled and which has triggered wide protests and signature collections. I perfectly understand if Nigerians feel the need to champion a cause for the girl child and to protect their rights but to associate that with the retention or deletion of S29(4)b is a deliberate, willful but puerile misrepresentation of the Senate proceedings of last Tuesday.

If there is any iota of support I give to the numerous calls for the protest gatherings across the country to call attention to the desperate situation of child brides and to bring same to a halt in Nigeria, it will be in continuation of my 2010 opposition to Senator Ahmed Yerima’s marriage to his 17-year-old Egyptian wife (14-year-old as she then was) and not because he has moved the motion to keep subsection 29(4)b in the Constitution which, in my considered opinion, has absolutely no relation to whether or not a girl child should be married of as a minor. To think that this provision is not even beneficial to Yerima’s wife makes the entire episode misplaced.

Now, anyone who is truly interested in the situation of the girl child will delve into a potpourri of extant laws which legally defines what a marriage is in the Nigerian context. Besides, to imagine that a Federal Constitution for Nigeria will busy itself with such mundane issues as marriage comes as laughable as pedantic as it is. The applicable relevant laws on the rights of all children vis-à-vis marital causes include Child Rights Act 2003, Matrimonial Causes Act 1990, Marriage Act 1990, Marriage (Validation) Act 1990, Criminal Code (Southern Sates) Act 1990, and Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act 1990.

Imperfect as the Constitution of the Federal Republic might be, it has far-reaching provisions that have been inserted to safeguard the rights and privileges of ALL Nigerians. For instance, Section 39(2) prohibits discrimination with respect to all citizens, including children. According to Section 15(2), national integration shall be actively encouraged, whilst discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, sex, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties shall be prohibited. Section 17(3) also mandates the government (federal of state) to direct its policies towards ensuring that all citizens, without discrimination on any group whatsoever, have the opportunity for securing adequate means of livelihood as well as adequate opportunity to secure suitable employment. Section 42(1) stipulates that a citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person (a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or (b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions. (2) No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his/her birth.

Essentially, there are sufficient provisions in the Constitution as well as a cocktail of supportive laws, which aim at protecting the rights of Nigerian children. Perhaps, these laws have not been duly implemented, or even invoked, to safeguard the lives of vulnerable Nigerians. I am sure there are sufficient citations in the various law libraries dotting the landscape espousing the justiceability of Chapters III and IV of the Constitution, but willful naivety is rife let alone to call attention to respect and implementation of these provisions at different tiers of society.

Still, there are gaps in these laws that have been explored by the Yerimas of this world. Evidently, there is not much to show for the actual enjoyment of the principle of non-discrimination by children. Children belonging to vulnerable groups, including girls, children living in poverty, children born out of wedlock, children with disabilities, children of outcasts and children from minority groups continue to face serious and widespread discrimination. To date, only 24 of the 36 states have domesticated the Child’s Rights Act passed in September 2003.

Interestingly, the federal Child’s Rights Act of 2003 defines a child as one who is below the age of eighteen years (Section 277, CRA 2003). However due to the federal outlook of Nigeria, state to state have their own definition of a child. As a federal entity, Nigeria does not have a uniform definition of a child. The available definitions differ and depending on the purpose for which the definition is required. As a result, the laws affecting children are scattered in different legislations. The 1999 Constitution, for instance, provides that a person can vote at 18 years of age but cannot stand for election. The Matrimonial Causes Act puts the age of maturity at 21, whereas the Immigration Act stipulates that any person below 16 years is a minor, while for the purpose of criminal responsibility, the Criminal Code provides for ages 7 to 12.

The Nigerian Marriage Act (LFN 1990 Cap 218) merely provides that parental consent is necessary for the statutory marriage of a person under the age of 21 years. Albeit, if a marriage takes place without such parental consent, the marriage does not become null and void but remains valid. The Matrimonial Causes Act (LFN 1990 Cap 220) does not help either. It only provides in Section 3 that for a marriage to be valid under the Marriage Act, the child must be of marriageable age but specifies no particular age.

The age of marriage is a highly controversial issue varying among the States. In northwest and north-central Nigeria, the age of marriage is set at 14. In the northeastern part, the age of marriage is between the second and third menstruation, while in the southern states it varies from 16 to 18 years of age. The age of sexual consent is 18 in most states (Sections 30, 31 & 32, L.F.N 2003, Cap C50). In the west zone, the age of marriage varies from 16 to 19 years, nonetheless the Child’s Rights Act par Section 31(3)(a)&(b) gave the age of sexual consent as 18 when it averred that “when a person is charged with an offence under this section, it is immaterial that (a) the offender believed the person to be of or above the age of 18 years; or (b) the sexual intercourse was with the consent of the child.

To wit, the instruments to challenge is not S29(4)b and the institution to confront is definitely not the Senate nor a certified deviant like Yerima. The Constitution is unwieldy enough and I even advocate that we prune down on all “non-essential” provisions therein. Why for instance should a solemn Constitution or a serious national parliament of a federal state busy itself with such issues as the marriage union? Those who have energy and have called for protests – and I commend them – should direct their passions at the various laws applicable in the states because I cannot see our Constitution (the Grundnorm) attending to all such issues as early marriage. You have to be married first before S29(4)b can become applicable to you. There are sufficient extant laws that will continue to guarantee the marriage or betrothal of young girls, even if S29(4)b were to be torn from the Constitutional pages. Will a properly constituted law court grant a child marriage based on the provision of (4)b? I do no think so...

AMAECHI/MBA FACE OFF: WHO IS THE CERTIFIED GUARD OF SECURITY IN A STATE???

The conflict between Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu, rekindles the persistent controversy over the constitutional relationship between governors and Commissioners of Police. The actions,inactions and role played by Security Agencies in the july 9 2013 Rivers State House of Assembly crisis clearly shows how biased and politicized the Rivers State Police Command is. WHEN Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State dared the state commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, to shoot him on Tuesday 18th june 2013, he inevitably rekindled memories of the famous face-off between Governor Jim Nwobodo and Police Commissioner Bishop Eyitene in the Second Republic.Eyitene as commissioner of police in the old Anambra State wielded unprecedented powers that he won to himself the nickname ‘Head of State.’ It was not for nothing. The motorcade of the police commissioner in sophistication and style overwhelmed that of the governor. The security around both his residence and office according to some reports made the governor’s entourage look like that of a local government chairman. Remarkably, Commissioner Eyitene did not make any pretence of it.Indeed, the story is told of how during a quiz competition between two secondary schools in the state when the question was asked “Who is the Head of State,” and most of the students replied, Mr. Eyitene. And thus, the nickname Head of State stuck to the commissioner. As the principal security agent of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN controlled Federal Government to Anambra State, Eyitene became something of an albatross around the Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP that controlled Anambra State at that time.He was repeatedly accused by the NPP and the state administration of backing the NPN and her principal officers in the state such as Chief Christian Onoh and Ikemba Nnewi, Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu who was to turn into his son-law in due season.On at least 12 occasions, Eyitene was summoned to appear before the state high court presided over by Justice Okadigbo on sundry issues and on the 12 occasions, Eyitene declined. That was despite the massive publicity that the state controlled media gave to the summons on the police commissioner.

The Nigerian 1999 Constitution places the task of policing the entire country on the shoulders of the federal government. The operation, control, discipline and promotion of the police force are under the powers of the federal government of Nigeria. Section 214 of that Constitution provides that the Nigerian Police Force shall be under the full and exclusive control of the federal government.The situation where a state governor is the chief security officer of his state only in words and not indeed, leaves much to be desired. Section 215 of the 1999 constitution, sub section (2) states inter alia that ‘’the Nigeria police command shall be under the command of the Inspector General of Police and any contingents of the Nigeria Police Force stationed in state shall, subject to the authority of the Inspector General of Police be under the command of the commissioner of that state”.
Sub section 4 of the same section further diluted the power of the state governor over the commissioner of police in his state. While the section allows the governor of a state to give lawful directives to the commissioner of police in his state for the maintenance of law and order, it whittled it down with this caveat, ”provided that before caring out any such directions the commissioner of police may request that the matter be referred to the President or such Minister of the government of the federation as may be authorized in that behalf by the President for his directions”. And sub section 5 of the same section provides an ouster clause that “) The question whether any, and if so what, directions have been given under this section shall not be inquired into in any court.”
This provision is absurd and does not accord with the urgency and nature of security matters in a country such as ours. What it means is that a police commissioner in any state can vehemently say no to directives from his host governor. He has the backing of the constitution. Meanwhile, Nigerians continue to suffer and live under worsening security situation in the country.

AS events unfolds in Rivers state do you think the provisions of SEC 215(4)(5) is most appropriate for a country like Nigeria?. The Constitution is said to be the Fundamental Law of the land, and the purport of the Law is to do justice,equity and fairness in all ramification, now the issue of creation of State Police has to come in here, because I am looking at this Amaechi/Mba Face off from two different perception 1.the fact that the State police is under the finger tips of the Presidency and as we all know "he who pays the piper dictates the tune" 2. the Fact that the governor is "meant" to be the Chief security officer of his state.

I am an advocate of creation of State police, but in all fairness the events in Rivers state is gradually changing my stand already. I know that Nigeria has once walked through the road of State policing under the 1953 Constitution but ended up in complete failure Then the police were under regional governments, but they were grossly abused by politicians. Therefore, there is a clear indication that if we return to this system, this crop of politicians will also abuse it. One may be quick to argue that the role of the police under the present dispensation is being abused by the federal government, that it is used against the opposition. This argument can best be answered by looking at two agencies - the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC). An amendment made to the Electoral Act created SIEC which conducts elections into local governments which had previously been handled by INEC. Since its creation, no state in Nigeria has boasted of two chairmen from opposition parties. SIEC declares the ruling party in the state as the winners of all the contested seats in local government elections.

Indirectly the Nigerian Constitution has given errant Mba enough back up to question the orders of Amaechi, but should thimgs continue like this?? what is the purport of the "grundnorm" if the security and order of a state cannot be statutorily guarded by the chief security officer of that state?? WHAT AN IRONY!!!
MAY GOD'S WILL BE DONE

ANIFOWOSHE TITILOPE TAWAKKALT, 300l Law student University of Ilorin.
ff @classicaltiti

AL-MUSTAFA'S FREEDOM: WHAT IS JUSTICE????

ACN URGES LAGOS TO APPEAL AL-MUSTAFA'S CASE

The Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria has urged Lagos State Government to contest the acquittal of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, of the conspiracy and murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

Al-Mustapha, a former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Sani Abacha, was discharged and acquitted last Friday by the Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, on Monday, the ACN said the judgment by the Appeal Court, was yet another indictment on the capacity of the nation’s judiciary to avail Nigerians of justice.
“Al-Mustapha’s acquittal is a shame and follows a pattern that has never punished high networth offenders for crimes they committed against the state or fellows Nigerians,” the statement read.

The party said it was still in shock over Al- Mustapha’s acquittal, given all evidence that had so far been tendered against him and his co-accused, Lateef Shofolahan.

It said, “Weighty evidence had been proferred against Al-Mustapha, including confessions of Sergeant Rogers, Maj. Muhammed Abdul, (the men that allegedly pulled the trigger that killed Mrs. Abiola) and Alhaji Lateef Shofolahun.
“Dismissing the case for lack of evidence seems to be a way of ensuring that Al-Mustapha escapes justice for the acts of crime and not in any way helping the soiled image of the Nigerian judiciary.”

The party noted that the acquittal came a few days after a popular Internet news site did a detailed report of an extensive plan to free Al-Mustapha and ensure that he escaped punishment for Kudirat’s death.
ACN said, “We believe that the judiciary, by this questionable verdict, is hoping to consign the killing of Kudirat Abiola to the long list of unsolved assassination cases that haunt the country today.

“While we align ourselves with the opinions of millions of Nigerians, who have called on the Lagos State Government to appeal the latest verdict and diligently pursue the course of justice for the slain Kudirat Abiola, we state that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder if Nigerians could be killed at will and their killing shoved under the carpet.”

MY PERCEPTION
It is a fact devoid of fallacy that AL Mustapha was ordered by his Oga at the top to eliminate late Kudirat Abiola, but his discharge is one of the problems Nigeria is facing, I wont call this situation CORRUPTION or FAVORITISM , but I l attribute it to JUDICIAL SHORT SIGHTEDNESS. the same is the case of James Ibori who was found NOT GUILTY in a Nigerian Court but was found Guilty by the Judicial system in the United Kingdom. without being sentimental a shallow minded person will see nothing wrong in the judgement because the Prosecution was not able to prove the case devoid of contradiction or beyond reasonable doubt. But I tell you If you are well abreast with Al Mustapha's story and the political history of the Abiolas' your heart will only pound for the phrase "JUSTICE MUST BE DONE".

In the words of "Martin Luther King" Law and order exists for the purpose of establishing justice and when they fail in this purpose they become dangerously dams that blocks the flow of social progress,It is my assertion that the Judgement of Justice Rita Pemu is unjust, justice cannot be for one side alone but must be for both sides even though she asserted that there was no straight circumstantial locus that Al Mustafa Sjot the trigger that killed Late Kudirat Abiola, I am sure that she (justice Rita) was alive hale and hearty in the 1990s,year 1996 precisely must have heard of the actions and inactions of Notorious general AL-MUSTAFA and sergeant Roger.

It is undisputed that Justice is blind and a respecter of no one, but it is also a bitter truth that no matter how skillful a swordsman is if he continues to fight blindfolded he will surely strike the innocent unknowingly somedays.If she can hear me, I will plead with her (Justice)to remove the bandage from her eyes long enough to distinguish between the vicious and the unfortunate.

ANIFOWOSHE TITILOPE TAWAKKALT, 300L LAW STUDENT UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN
ff @classicaltiti

THE NIGERIA OF MY DREAM

I dream of a country where all men would live in peace
And there would be nothing like wars or Boko Haram to break us apart.
I dream of a time when all tribes would speak one language called peace
And there is equality for all.

I dream of a land when religious sentiments are set aside
And unity would strive amongst all.
A time when all will share the nation’s wealth as one
And not a few acting as lords over all.

I dream of a land where corruption is killed
And transparency becomes a friend of all.
A land where everyone will put on the garment of purity
And the stains of kidnapping, oil bunkery, armed robbery
Money laundering, examination malpractices
And all forms of filthiness are cleansed from all hearts.

I dream of when laws are made and obeyed by all.
A time when the bridge that exist between the rulers
And the ruled is slain and only great minds are enthroned
And not selection through violent elections.

I dream of a time when citizens no longer live in fear.
A time when the future of tomorrow’s leaders are guaranteed
Only then will the dividend of democracy is defined.

I seek for a time when past glories is restored in our sports
And we would not have to struggle for medals anymore.
A time when good roads are seen
And citizens no longer sleep on roads.
A time when all will turn farmers
And we would not have to import what we have any longer.
A time when citizens would no longer queue for fuel in our petrol stations.

I long for when citizens will be willing to help the nation
And no longer beg for the nations help.
A time when the Greenland across the globe is pronounced
And citizens speak no evil of this land anymore.


This Greenland,
The land of my birth
May my dreams for you be fruitful
Even as you celebrate longetivity on earth.

VOTE NIYOLA FOR MOST PROMISING FEMALE ACT TO WATCH

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THE GIANT OF AFRICA

AS SMART SPEAKS…
The giant of africa
A replica of mini america
The seat of great men
Blessed with kleptomaniac hands

The giant of Africa
A gargantuan political weed
Where corruption breeds
For office rogues to feed

The giant of Africa
Where impunity prevails
At the expense of justice
For the pot-belly figures

The giant of Africa
My wonderful father land
Where citizens are refugees
In their own abode

The giant of Africa
Where democracy exists
For the interest of the majority
To the detriment of the minority

The giant of Africa
That is blessed with human resources
Utilized in falsity
For the well being of the nonentity.

Ali Toyin Abdul is a law undergraduate of unilorin, a published writer, a
poetic expert, an ace elegiac and information technologist. He has had many
published and unpublished work to himself. You can contact him at
alincokayman@gmail.com, alismarter.blogspot.com, 08135284036. Keep
flying!!!

Happy birthday Mr speaker Sir

Thank you for allowing me
the opportunity
to learn from you
when I was seeking so much knowledge
when I was asking many questions
you patiently listened and answered accordingly
never showing signs of frustration

Thank you for taking the time
to show me the necessary skills today
that will lead me with confidence into tomorrow
for believing in me and having enough faith
to share your work
your dreams
and your vision

Thank you for accepting me as I am
with all my eagerness
and my sheer joy over the little things...
you never tried to squelch that spirit in me
Instead, you have encouraged that spirit
and for that, I do thank you

The day you came into my life
My mind started to take flights
You made me realize the Magaret Thatcher in me
You made me realize how high ¶ can soar
You placed my foot on the path
You are my mentor

May you live a long life
Full of gladness and health
May your dreams come true
May the kindness you spread,
Keep returning to you!
Bigger you shall grow Mr Speaker

GoV AMaEchi and the Devil on the Cross

>Fellow Nigerians, I’m sure you are already wondering what this title is all about. I will explain in a minute, and you will understand in a jiffy. If you are a lover of Literature like me, you must be familiar with the name, Ngugi wa Thiong’O, the famous Kenyan writer and author of the stupendously popular ‘Weep Not, Child’. This article has nothing to do with any of his books, and I’ve read so many of them, but about certain IRONIC developments close to its theme. I have therefore decided to borrow the title of one of his novels, ‘Devil on the Cross’ to encapsulate this piece.

In Biblical history, it was the Devils that used to be crucified and nailed to the Cross until wicked people decided to give Jesus Christ the nail treatment, ostensibly, to fulfil the prophesies in the books of Psalms, Isaiah and Zechariah. Since then mankind has never been able to distinguish between good and bad. The characters and the scenario I’m about to depict may not totally fill our notions and views of the Biblical demons and Saints but their stories do have some resemblance. Perhaps, what is happening to one of the dramatis personae in this melodrama is to fulfil a particular prophecy in the chequered life of Nigeria. When the end is near crazy things begin to happen. The manner the PDP top shots are tearing at each other’s’ throats is emblematic of the end times.

What makes this saga very notorious, but divine, is the fact that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which clearly separates the devolution of power between the States and the Federal Government is being openly desecrated and carelessly debased. We are being shown that the Federalism that we claim to practice has been nothing but a sham in our archetypical fashion of capsizing logic, willy-nilly, at the altar of convenience and expediency.

The war of dangerous attrition going on within the PDP is what has led to my sermon on this page today. It is not that it is new. The People’s Democratic Party has a long history and a robust tradition of ‘fighting to finish’ under the flimsiest excuses. I will refresh your memory by elucidating this assertion with a few glaring examples.

Step forward, President Matthew Olusegun Okikiolakan Aremu Obasanjo, and take a bow as the World Heavyweight Champion. Baba Iyabo, as we all love to call him, is universally advertised as a power house with a very short fuse. It does not take much time for him to blow up. And this could be triggered by the slimmest of needles and a casual pinch. The balloon would instantly burst.

President Obasanjo makes no bones of being the one that laid the foundation of the vindictiveness that is currently ravaging the People’s Democratic Party to its marrow. It all started with the obsession to stop his then Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from becoming President after his tenure. Baba had boasted openly that even if he did not know those who would succeed him he knew those who wouldn’t. That was the beginning of a deliberate and determined annihilation of anyone perceived to be Atiku Abubakar’s friend or associate.

Enter Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, as the Casualty Number One. He was the Governor of Bayelsa State and the anointed Governor-General of the Ijaw nation. He and President Obasanjo were bosom friends and their families were extremely close. But that did not stop the President from going after his jugular when it was rumoured he was going to support Atiku’s mission and ambition. All it took was a mere rumour and Alams, as he is called, would live to regret the day his name was tied to Atiku’s like an umbilical-cord. He never had the chance to cut off the placenta before he was hit by thunderbolt.

Alams had travelled to Germany to undergo a cosmetic surgery. The wound on his flesh was still as fresh as that of a sliced cow in an abattoir when he was pounced upon at a London airport. If he thought he was in a bad dream, his nightmare soon became stark reality. The British agents led him to his home, somewhere off Edgware Road in West London, ripped the whole house apart and carted off whatever cash they found in the apartment. One thing led to the other and Alams vamoosed into rarefied air and eventually found his way back to Yenagoa. He momentarily returned to power before the rampaging forces of Obasanjo came like bullets and ‘impeached’ him Israeli-fashion and pushed his visibly shaken Deputy, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to the front burner. The rest is history.

Those were the giddy old days when the EFFC under Ribadu wielded superlative powers. Corrupt politicians were hounded down with total grit even if many believed they pursued only perceived enemies of President Obasanjo.  It was under that climate that Governor Peter Ayo Fayose was ‘impeached’ in Ekiti State. It is noteworthy that the same Fayose is likely to become the next PDP gubernatorial candidate in the next election, after hobnobbing with the opposition. Nothing is too difficult to try by PDP.

Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye former Governor of Plateau State was another victim of the ‘impeachment’ formula prescribed by Obasanjo and perfected in the EFCC laboratory in Abuja. It did not matter that the Constitution was being crudely assaulted to accomplish these monumental feats; the end simply justified the means for President Obasanjo and those who supported extra-judicial prosecution for corrupt leaders.

It is remarkable that these same ‘devils’ are now back in action.  If Fayose is an aspiring Governor, how about the case of Dariye and Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki who are now both distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? To confound us further, Alams was recently pardoned thus paving the way for his bid to be elevated to the sanctified Chambers of our ‘Distinguished’ Senate.  What therefore was the entire hullabaloo about?

Some other Governors listed for extermination are still strutting around.  They include Alhaji Boni Haruna of Adamawa State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos and Chief Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia. Lagos suffered immense degradation as its statutory allocation was hijacked by the Federal Government while Kalu’s mother was endlessly harassed. Let’s give one more example that I consider very bizarre.



It is time to claim your title, Otunba Johnson Oyewole Fashawe, as the most intimidated First Friend in the history of Nigeria. Chief Fashawe’s case was a total misnomer. He was the de facto Vice President, and actually lived in the highly fortified Flagstaff House. Everything was going swimmingly well between the President and his look-alike friend before the tale-bearers regaled Obasanjo with the story of how Fashawe was secretly fraternising with Atiku. Like a jealous betrayed lover, Obasanjo fumed, reacted irately and kicked against Fashawe. Pronto, the friend who was untouchable was publicly humiliated and hauled into jail by security agents who accused him of shady deals in form of some loans gone bad.  In all, Obasanjo succeeded in stopping Atiku, and his other enemies, who nursed presidential ambition. He did not stop there he also blocked any of his own Princes from being King.

But how time flies! The year 2007 flew in too quickly, the Third Term misadventure had collapsed like a house built with spittle, and Obasanjo was desperate to package his own brand of successor for an already punch-drunk Nigeria. Two unlikely candidates emerged out of the concoction and utter conundrum that only an Obasanjo could have brewed. They were the Governors of Katsina and Bayelsa, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Dr Goodluck Jonathan. It will forever remain a mystery by what permutation Obasanjo arrived at his queer decision.

Since then, Nigeria has witnessed one crisis after the other. While we can say most of the problems were already there ahead of Jonathan, we must still hold him responsible for not being able to solve most of them if any at all. Profligacy has become the order of the day while corruption has gone totally viral. And instead of settling down to find lasting solutions to the myriad of conflicts plaguing Nigeria, the leadership of the ruling party has abdicated governance and is busy playing god instead of seeking how to alleviate widespread poverty. Jonathan who seems to have graduated from the Obasanjo School of Politics has continued the tradition of elbowing opponents in a merciless manner.

Particularly worrisome is the sheer energy and resources being wasted on trying to kill the rumoured ambition of Governor Rotimi Amaechi. It is ironic that a President whose only equity was acquired from a gentle and humble disposition has suddenly become an aspiring dictator who must fight dirty to remain in power. We have suddenly returned to those gory days preceding 2007.

The President must know Nigerians are very familiar with these tactics of seeking to whip recalcitrant Governors into line. No one buys the allegations levelled against Amaechi even if they were true. We all know that in our ‘Animal Farm’, a few pigs are always bigger than all others. If Amaechi was still friends with Jonathan, the aviation people would have turned a blind eye even if his plane was able to fly on one engine instead of two.

But I have some useful tips for Mr President again, totally free of charge. One, please leave Amaechi to run Rivers State as he deems fit. I don’t think he’s your enemy even it appears so to your galaxy of garrison commanders. If you don’t want Amaechi to return as Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, what to do is simple, mobilise his colleagues against him through persuasion and not coercion.

Sir, please call that rambunctious Chairman of PDP in Rivers to order. He may ignite fire and cause an unprecedented conflagration the way he’s been spewing out threats against your so-called foes who were constitutionally elected like you. His brazen disrespect of the Constitution and the place of duly elected representatives of the people are alarming. He has unilaterally suspended members of the State Assembly from your party. He wants to suspend and dreamily hopes to impeach the Governor.

Allowing your acolytes to carry on so recklessly is also a big slight on the National Chairman of your party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, as well as your BOT Chairman, Chief Anthony Anenih, who had both worked assiduously to achieve peace in Port Harcourt and keep the Governor in the fold. The rascality displayed by the warmongers is likely to abort those efforts by your own leaders.

Your aides have been acquiring enemies on your behalf in places you can hardly afford. The number four citizen of Nigeria, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Waziri Aminu Tambuwal, suffered collateral damage when he was left stranded at Akure Airport because of Amaechi. I always say there is no wisdom in setting fire to a whole village because we want to catch a rat. That’s what the overzealous officials at the Aviation Ministry did no matter the justification for their action. The plane brouhaha was not a matter of life and death that could not be resolved at a later date. It was going to land eventually in Abuja or Port Harcourt where it could still have been impounded if necessary at all. Attempting to detain the Speaker and Governor simultaneously in Akure was nothing but unnecessary braggadocio.

I’ve just read an interview granted by Dr Doyin Okupe where he actually mentioned the Speaker of the House of Representatives by name as a potential candidate of the opposition and I sensed that the Presidency has become jittery. Despite the Tambuwal speculation, partly started by me on this page, there’s no concrete evidence yet that Waziri Aminu Tambuwal, Governor Sule Lamido, Governor Babangida Aliyu and Governor Rotimi Amaechi have firmly decided to jump ship. Why is their current political party making strenuous efforts to push them into the sea?

I sincerely plead with you; these gentlemen are not your enemies. They are amongst the finest materials PDP can at least be proud of. Your biggest enemies are your aides who think they can take on anyone and everyone and win all battles to keep you and themselves in power whether you perform or not. Your best ammunition against losing the next election is to truly transform Nigeria. Unfortunately, the time has become too short to do a lot. Three years have already sped by since you came to power as President and Commander-in-Chief. You need every second of blistering and frenetic hard work to manage anything tangible before the campaigns start at the end of next year, if you manage to obtain your party ticket.
My suspicion is that you’re not likely to heed this wise counsel because the prophecy of the end time must be fulfilled.

May God’s will be done

FROM ThE LIPS OF M.K.O ABIOLA part2

Here is yet another fascinating note of M.K.o ABIOLA and EMEKA ANYAOKu, concerning JuNE 12

Meeting with Emeka Anyaoku

The same grounds were covered, so all the above comments were also relevant.

In fact, I believe the Federal Military Government “used” the two men to fly their kite on “declaration” which was the main issue they both said worried the FMG. Both diplomats appear to have co-ordinated their positions.

Chief Anyaoku made the additional point that he had sought legal opinion and it was confirmed to him that the five-year lapse has killed the mandate. My answer to that is that, in the court of public opinion, legal advice is useless. Which country has ever solved her political problems by seeking legal advice? And what do the masses of our people know of “legal advice?” He also said he had met people like Shonekan. I told him that all these “big men” do not carry weight with the people and that Shonekan particularly cannot win a ward councilor election in Itoko ward in Abeokuta South local government where he comes from! He must not rely too much on such people!

Again, the London Times piece is enough to debunk his “legal opinion.” I asked him pointedly what made it his business to seek legal advice?

The two of them were working as agents of the Federal Military Government whether they are paid or not, beyond the free (not clear) and hotel (not clear) I won’t know! And that is not our business either!

Anyaoku’s Response

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku issued a statement on July 16 saying that the suggestion made in some newspapers that he was invited to Nigeria by the Federal Military Government to put pressure on Chief Abiola to renounce his mandate was a “mischievous distortion.”

The purpose of his visit, he said, was to discuss recent developments with the new Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar and urge a speedy movement in Nigeria to a credible democracy, beginning with the release of Chief Abiola and all the other detainees.

Answering a question about Abiola’s mandate at a press conference in Lagos following their meeting, Anyaoku stated: “Chief Abiola will speak for himself about his mandate when he becomes a free man.

No mata how long
No mata how far
THE FIGHt ConTItinUeS
Aluta Continua,victoria ascerta.
Legal_Eagle

FROM THE LIPS OF late M.K.O ABIOLA

The 12th of June 1993 is ever Fresh in the memories of Nigerians,even though ¶ wasn't born by then ¶ still have an adequate knowledge of the events of that day.Here is a captivating and fascinating Note written by Late M.K.Oo°ÚÚÚ° Abiola on the account of his meeting with the former secretary General of the United nations sir koffi annan

I never met Kofi Annan before. In fact, I never knew that Boutros Ghali was no longer UN Secretary-General. Annan was sure I knew him and for the first 30 minutes, I did not know who I was talking to. In the circumstances, I had to tell him that I had no access to any media for four years and was out of date.

He got the message and then introduced himself and intimated to me the many steps he has taken for my release since 18 months in office.

Next, he told me the new head of state had agreed to release me unconditionally but Abubakar wanted an undertaking that I should not seek for my mandate. I told him at that point that, that in itself is the worst of conditions. He, the head of state, felt that any such renewed request will only cause “confusion” as it would not have any effect.

Annan told me that nobody in the international community will recognise me on the basis of a five-year old mandate, insinuating that but for the purported annulment, I would have finished the first term covered by my election of June 12, 1993. He ended by saying that such undertaking will facilitate my release. I interjected that my detention would have ended ages ago if I had given such undertaking.

I thanked him for his efforts on my behalf. I told him firmly that I can give no such undertaking as requested because it will be worse than useless. My declaration was made in public at a mass rally at Epetedo, Lagos, before thousands of people despite the heavy downpour of that evening. It was made in clear terms, without any ambiguity. I then surrendered myself for arrest and was put on trial, which continued until my affidavit of October 4, 1994 showed the federal military government in a no-win situation.

Nothing on June 12 has been done “under the table” or at a “secret meeting” because June 12 is the number one public matter in our country. Even the counting of votes was done openly and in public at every one of the over 209,000 voting centres throughout the nation.

Secondly, given a “private declaration” to secure my own release will make all concerned look cheap. Such “declaration” obtained under duress will not only be worthless but unworthy of all who are involved with it. Since the issue relates to the mandate of all Nigerian people, such a private statement will amount to “shaving our people’s heads in their absence” – an exercise in illusion.

On the issue of non-recognition because of the elapse of time, I told Annan that I do not believe it. And the case for my recognition by the London Times of last Friday (July 3, 1998) proved me right. If what Annan said were true, it would amount to a person (the federal military government) being allowed to profit from his illegal action – the purported annulment which they had no power to do with decree and four-year detention – another illegality.

My own concession on the issue of declaration in my statement to him is that I will not make any fresh declaration.

Firstly, because it will not be necessary anymore since the first one of June 11, 1994 has served the purpose fully to keep June 12 alive. I told him that the state in which June 12 is now is such that I can now, on my release, take time to check my health locally and abroad, rebuild the cohesion of my family which has become tattered by the events of the past five years in general and the brutal assassination of my senior wife, Kudi and of course, breathe life into my business. This is because June 12 is today a major world issue, compared with the situation four years ago when it was in a coma



............Watch out for PART22222

THE BIG QuesTION:::WHaT IS LOVE???

I just finished watching a v. Romantic film (a letter to juliet) and ¶ feel ¶ should share my own perception of Love through different definitions...your opinion may be different...but you are free to drop your in the comment box

-I can be surrounded by a sea of people and still feel all alone then i think of you! [A Cinderella Story]
-Love brings many tears, regrets and heartbreaks. Be careful on who you pick, the one who truly loves you is the one that never says they will love you forever but love you until death do us part!
-Loving you is like breathing, how can i stop!
-Love isn't about finding the perfect person but it's about seeing an imperfect person perfectly!
-I'd rather be single than be with someone i'm not in love with!
-It's easy to find a man, it's hard to find your love!
-A person you love can be so near, yet so far!
-Just because someone isn't there any more, doesn't mean we ever stop loving them!
-We Have 2 Eyes. We Have 2 Ears. We Have 2 Hands. But Only One Heart. 'Coz The Other Is Out There. We Just Need To Find It.
-In proving of what importance she was to him, made his affection every moment more valuable! [Elizabeth Bennet, Pride And Prejudice, Jane Eyre]
-Love is like a rose, beautiful to look at, soft enough to touch but if you are not careful you will get cut!
-Love is both painful and beautiful but mine for you is wonderful!
-I Think Only Once In Your Life Do You Find Someone That You Say, 'Hey, This Is The Person I Want To Spend The Rest Of My Time On This Earth With.' And If You Miss It, Or Walk Away From It, Or Even Maybe Blink. It's Gone! [If You Come Softly]
-Hearts are often broken with words left unspoken!
-Time is too slow for those that wait, too swift for those that fear, too long for those that grieve, too short for those who rejoice. But for those who love- time is eternity.
-You look at her and see everything you want, i look at her and see everything i'm not.
-Guys are like stars, there are a million of them, but only one can make your wish come true!
-Love comes with ups and downs. Life is a roller coaster, never will life be fair, love will have pain and happiness. You just have to remember the happy moments!
-You know when you have found true love, because you will never have time to love anyone else more..!
-True love holds you close. It embraces you with it's warmth and never lets you fall. It is the sweetest, most intense feeling a human can experience. And in today's world.. rare!
-Immature love says: i love you because i need you.
Mature love says: i need you because i love you.
-Love is like a war: easy to begin, hard to end.
-If you love someone never let them go but if you have to.
Hold on to those memories so tight and never let them go!
-Love is like a bar of soap, catch it before it slips away!
-Love is like a mountain, hard to climb, but once you get to the top the view is beautiful!
-Love is not just a hobby, it's passion, a way of enduring yourself into another person's life... forever!
-Love is giving someone the power to break your heart, And trusting them not to...!
-Love is like quicksand. The deeper you fall in it, the harder it is to get out!
-Love and trust are one in the same. That's why you can't love who you can't trust, and you can't trust who you can't love!
-No man is worth your tears and the only one who is, will never make you cry!
-everyone says you fall in love once that's not true because everytime i hear your voice i fall in love all over again!
-two teardrops were floating down the river. one teardrop said to the other, "i'm the teardrop of a girl who loved a man and lost him. Who are you?"...
"i'm the teardrop of the man who regrets letting that girl go!"
-I love you not only because of who you are, but because of who i am when i am with you!
-You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality if finally better than your dreams!
-True love is like ghosts, which everyone talks about and few have seen!
-The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them!
-Love is a game that two can play and both win!
-It's so easy to fall in love but hard to find someone who will catch you

AMAZING FACT OF THE DAY

" In ancient Greek, the word “idiot” meant anyone who wasn’t a politician."

UNILoRIN BABeS FINALY OUT

Word on the street has it that David Hunter,Lil Lurge and Sauce known as the POINTBLANK ARMY are the sickest rappers the city of Ilorin has and will ever have.
They came together to jump on ASAP ROCKY’s F^^^^ing problems with some witty lyrics and flows, David Hunter jumped in on the first verse with some real fast flows while Lil Lurge slowed down the tempo with some playful flows letting Sauce finish off, making a great banger. The song’s just a teaser dedicated to all the pretty girls in the University of Ilorin.
Download and enjoy the tune and expect more cool stuff from this trio. Holla at them on twitter @DavidHunter68 @Lil_Lurge and @Sauceroramase.

www.naijawhistle.com/david-hunter-unilorin-babes-ft-lil-lurge-sauce/

CRACK yA RIBS

A LETTER FROM MAMA AFEEZ TO ENGLISH TEACHER

Dear teaser,

I am greet you but it is not with all my heart that i have do it.
But teaser why, this ya act is very idiomatic expression.
Why did you give my pikin Afeez 3 over 10 in English?
I have crossed check her work thoroughly & have see that
what she has write it dey very correct. So now, what make
you givam this small mark? Ah teaser, I am dey very dismantled in you,
Don't you know dat i teaser her english day by night & she has
know well well! So why the shamu shamu mark? Okay, you're jealous her becos in this her small age, she has know what you were'nt know when you were dey like this! Let me put paragraph.

Ehen, better delete&remark her paper as i dey
see you so oh or else if i come on the two of
december, the headmaster will hear it.

Yours vexation, Mama Afeez

THE UPS AND DOWN OF NIGERIA's POLiTICS ::: RIVER STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IN MAyHEM

Rivers House of Assembly Speaker, Otelemaba Amachree

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State today personally foiled an attempt to impeach the Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
The speaker, Otelemaba Amachree, had convened a session of the legislature in order to amend certain portions of the Rivers State budget. The session followed a prolonged crisis in the state caused by schemes by President Goodluck Jonathan to impeach Mr. Amaechi, who is deemed an impediment to the president’s ambition to seek a second term.
Two lawmakers loyal to Mr. Amachree told Saharareporters that speaker sensed there was trouble in the air after he sent letters summoning members to today’s session. “The speaker now sent a message to the state commissioner of police and the brigade commander and leader of the Joint Task Force to ask for security to enable the house [to] sit,” said one of the lawmakers.
The other legislative source added that, unknown to the speaker, five renegade members of the assembly loyal to President Jonathan had met with the commissioner of police overnight and arranged to come prepared to impeach the speaker. “When we arrived at the state assembly today, we were surprised to see a huge number of military men and well armed policemen,” said the source.
SaharaReporters learnt that trouble soon started as a member of the house, Evans Bapakaye Bipi, representing Ogu/Bolo constituency arrived with thugs, pounced on the house leaders, Michael Chinda and Chidi Lloyd, while the police and the military kept their distance.
Our sources said when Governor Amaechi heard of the fracas and the refusal of the police and members of the JTF to intervene, he rushed to the house with his aides and armed escorts and succeeded in rescuing members of the house loyal to him.
As the governor and the majority of the legislators were leaving the site of the mayhem, they discovered that five renegade members of the house empowered by President Jonathan had seized the mace. They then ran back to retrieve the mace from the minority group, our sources said.
Source:SaharaReporters, New York
You can watch the footage via http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zM9P9nxNMA8