It is recollected that the expiring government, the Goodluck Jonathan administration was known for purchasing second-hand old trains, claiming Nigeria did not need new trains.
Trains introduced by President Jonathan
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Friday, 24 April 2015
PICTURE: Buhari New Government Brims Over Highest Quality Electric Train Concept For Niger
It is recollected that the expiring government, the Goodluck Jonathan administration was known for purchasing second-hand old trains, claiming Nigeria did not need new trains.
#WalkForChange: Buhari Support Org Accompanies Hashim To Turkish Hospital Management [Pictures]
The Buhari Support Organizations, (BSO) accompanied the Buharian
Traveller, Suleiman Hashim, to pay a ‘Thank you” visit to the Management
of the Nigerian Turkish Hospital in Abuja for supporting him with the last lap of his walk from Lagos to Abuja.
On hand to receive us were the Deputy Director of the Hospital, Dr. Atilla Emiroglu and Dr. Mohammed Abubakar.
The President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari Rejects DSS Offer of New CSO
It gathered from a credible source close the DSS that as soon as General Buhari emerged as President-elect, the Service hurriedly moved to replace his CSO, but met a brick wall as the President-elect vehemently rejected the offer which he viewed with suspicion and insisted that he would prefer to retain and continue with CSO AbdulRahman Mani as against having a new officer to be posted to him.
The Director-General of the DSS was believed to have gone to General Buhari to explain to him that based on his new position as President-elect, he was deserving of an officer with a higher rank to that of Mani. But General Buhari, a former Head of State and a military General, who understands the workings of the system, said there was nothing wrong in promoting Mani to the next rank to enable him qualify for a job he is already used to doing.
Accordingly and in line with the request of the President-elect, the Director-General of the DSS left and returned the following day with a letter approving the appointment of Mani as the substantive CSO to General Buhari.
NEWSPUNCH
Constitutional Amendment Details: Nigerian Senators Trying To Become More Powerful Than President, Get Life Pension, Immunity
Raising about 13 grounds, President Jonathan in a letter entitled: “Re: Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Fourth Alteration Act, 2015,” questioned the power the National Assembly has to arrogate to itself the power to pass any constitution amended without the assent of the President.
He also picked holes in whittling down the power of the President, allowing the National Judicial Council, NJC, to appoint the Attorney-General of the Federation, separating the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation from that of the Federal Government, and limiting the period when expenditure can be authorized in default of appropriation from six months to three months, among others.
Leading lawyers, who endorsed the president’s action were Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), Mr Festus Keyamo and Mr Kayode Ajulo.
Shocked by the President’s letter, the National Assembly Conference Committee, comprising members of the Constitution Review Committee in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, yesterday, began a two-day retreat to look into the bill and the attendant consequence of the president’s action. It will come out with a definite position on the issue next week.
Mark stops senators from debating President’s letter
The President’s letter was read on the floor of the Senate during plenary yesterday by the Senate President, David Mark. But he stopped Senators from debating the President’s refusal to assent to the amended bill, when some senators, led by Senator Sadiq Yar’Adua, APC, Katsina Central, raised a Point of Order, seeking permission to that effect.
The President, in the letter also lamented what he termed as usurpation of powers of the executive by the legislature in the fourth alteration of the constitution.
Shortly after the Senate President finished reading the letter, Senator Abubakar Yar’Adua, APC, Katsina Central, raised a Point of Order, seeking that the Senate be allowed to debate the President’s letter.
He said: “I think it is important for us to discuss that letter and see whether there is need for us to consider the letter or not. I think he has raised very serious fundamental issues, especially in terms of our conscience as lawmakers and his own position as the chief executive officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is why I am raising this point or order.”
But the Senate President refused his request, saying he was earlier communicated by the Conference Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, that it was holding a two-day retreat between yesterday and today, to discuss and take position on the president’s letter.
Mark said: “Obviously, this letter is not like any other normal letter. We can’t discuss the letter unless you have a copy of it. So, the first reaction is for me to make copies available to everybody. And you go and study it. And if you notice, there is an announcement also by the Constitution Review Committee that they are going to meet. So, that will straight away go to them. I agree with you that weighty issues have been raised. It’s a peculiar case, so everybody will be involved.”
Where lawmakers erred —Jonathan
“Section 4 of the Fourth Alteration Act, 2015 seeks to alter Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution by the insertion of a new subsection 3A, which dispenses with the assent of the President in the process of constitution amendment. However, this alteration can only be valid if the proposal was supported by votes of not less than four-fifths majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly and approved by a resolution of the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the states as provided by Section 9 (3) of the 1999 Constitution.
“This is a fundamental requirement of the constitution and in the absence of credible evidence that this requirement of the constitution was met in the votes and proceedings of the National Assembly, it will be unconstitutional for me to assent to this Bill,” he explained.
Besides, the President said there were a number of provisions in the Act that altogether constitute flagrant violations of the doctrine of separation of powers enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and unjustifiably whittle down the executive powers of the federation vested in the president by virtue of Section 5 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.
Jonathan observed that the power vested in the President to withhold his assent to bills passed by the National Assembly was part of checks and balances contained in the constitution.He said Sub-section 5a of Section 58, which provides that the bill becomes law after the expiration of 30 days in the event that the president fails to signify the withholding of his assent, may be inappropriate.
“The provision appears not to have taken cognizance of the afore-mentioned variables, the vagaries inherent in the legislative process and the wisdom in requiring two-thirds majority to override the President’s veto.
“In the light of the above, I am of the view that the failure to signify assent by the President within the prescribed period of 30 days should rather be treated as dissent, which would require two-thirds majority to override.”
Jonathan faults NASS over alteration
“Our recent experiences with the process of passing the Appropriation Act do not justify the reduction of six-month time limit in the constitution,” he insisted.
The President also faulted Section 84a that created the new Office of Accountant General of the Federation distinct from the Accountant General of the Federal Government, saying it did not address the funding requirements for establishment of the office.
“It is necessary to clarify, for instance, who staffs and funds the office of Accountant- General of the Federation and from whose budget he will be paid since he serves the three tiers of government,“he stressed.
He also said it was important to state who will exercise oversight powers over the office, noting that the National Economic Council, which was mainly an advisory body, was now charged with the responsibility of recommending those to be appointed to the office of the Accountant-General.
The President equally faulted the National Assembly in separating the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation from the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General from the Commissioner for Justice in the respective states of the federation and also the provision for independence of the Office of Attorney General by guaranteeing tenure and funding.
He said as desirable as the alterations were, there were some provisions that violate the doctrine of separation of powers and also negate what he called “the age-long independence and absolute discretion that the office has enjoyed for centuries since its creation in the middle ages.”
He said the first setback was that the alteration was silent on who was the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, noting: “This is a serious lacuna, which may create implementation challenges.”
President has minor justification—Sagay
On the controversy, Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, said though the President has a minor justification in refusing to endorse the amendment in the 1999 Constitution, some of the sections he rejected would have been good for the country.
Sagay said: “There is the main issue of whether the President is really entitled to sign the constitution, that is the constitution could have been changed without him, that issue is not yet resolved and probably won’t be resolved until it gets to the Supreme Court because every constitutional change goes through a process of two thirds vote in the National Assembly and approval by state Houses of Assembly.
“So, it raises the question of after going through that process, is it still necessary to present it to the President for his signature. That issue is there but the way the people behave this time is as if they needed the President to vote.”
Speaking further, the legal icon said: “If you look at his reasons for refusing to endorse the amendment, his main reasons are that the executive powers are being depleted to the advantage of the National Assembly and the National Judicial Council.
“For example, he said the office of the Accountant-General was split into two. One for the federation and the other for the Federal Government. That is a very good thing. I do not know why he should be against that because the present Accountant-General of the Federation operates more as the Accountant-General of the Federal Government. It is usually unfair to other parts of the federation, that is why that position was made, it was a sensible provision.
“As for the National Judicial Council appointing the Attorney-General, I do not think it is a good idea. It is going too far because the Attorney-General exercises executive powers in the sense that he can decide to institute a criminal case and he can decide to end a criminal case. I think that should remain with the executive and not with the judiciary.
“As for meeting the provision of Section 9 (3), I do not know what he expects them (National Assembly) to meet. They have met the Two Thirds requirements. The only provision of the constitution which requires three quarter votes are those that affect human rights. These ones do not affect human rights as far as I know. I don’t see why he is complaining about Section 9(3).
All told, he has some minor justification but the bulk of what has been rejected would have been positive for the federation.”
President did the right thing —Ngige
On his part, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, said the president’s action was in order. He said: “My view is that I whole-heartedly support the President’s action by not signing the bill. It is only a fool that will append his signature to something that would make him look foolish. I am surprised that the National Assembly wanted the President to sign off his powers in the constitution amendment process.
“The President did the right thing and it is now left to be seen whether the legislators would override the President’s action. I am, however, in doubt that they will get the required number needed to do that as things stand now in the country. My advice is that they suspend the constitution amendment process until the next dispensation.”
Jonathan is correct —Keyamo
He also sided with the President in rejecting the proposal to give the National Judicial Council the responsibility of appointing the attorney general, asserting that it breaches the doctrine of separation of powers.
He said: “I think the President is correct and he divided his objection into two. In the first one, he gave reasons he could not sign the issues dealing with healthcare, education and all that.
“In the second one, dealing with four-fifths requirement needed to alter the mode for constitution amendment is a special provision in the constitution and if you need to change the provision by which the constitution should be amended, you need a higher number than the normal two-thirds and the President said that they did not attach the votes and proceedings to show that that number was met. That was very fair by him. There is no evidence that you have met the requirements before sending it to me. So he is correct on that one.
“On the requirement for free education and all that, what the President is saying is that you cannot impose free healthcare on private hospitals and private schools; you should restrict it to government schools. So do you want people to start taking private schools to court? It should be restricted to government hospitals because you would otherwise destroy the spirit of free enterprise in the country.’’
On separation of Attorney General and Minister of Justice
“What the President said was that they would be infringing on the principle of separation of powers. For example, it would mean giving the judiciary the power to appoint the attorney general who is an executive member and don’t forget that the attorney general sits in the exco.
“You are now saying that the judiciary should appoint him or recommend him to the President for appointment subject to the approval of the Senate, so that appointment is coming from the judiciary whereas in the past the NJC only recommended judges.
“Now, the danger is that when a government fails in its anti-corruption war, you blame the president; meanwhile the person who is responsible for anchoring the anti-corruption war of the government is the attorney general who is not appointed by the government but may actually be destroying the anti-corruption war and yet the government cannot touch him.
“So it is a two-edged sword, but the government gets the consequence. So you could have a case where the attorney general can destroy the government’s anti corruption battle but the government cannot sack him.”
It’s constitutionalism in action—Ajulo
On his part, Mr Kayode Ajulo commended the president for using his discretion, saying this is constitutionalism in action.
“When you look at it very well, the president has the discretion to either sign the amendments or not. What the President has done is the right thing because this is constitutionalism in action. It is well inscribed in the law and if the President exercises his discretion, so be it. Either rightly or wrongly, it now lies with the Supreme Court to do the required.”
-Vanguard
Thursday, 23 April 2015
Court Halts Fayose’s Impeachment, Sets Aside Omirin, APC Lawmakers Actions
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Xenophobia And The United States Of Africa Project
The recent wave of xenophobic attacks in South African especially against fellow Africans is unfortunate, regrettable, and condemnable.
History will no doubt remember this killings, and the perpetrators will never be forgiven. This is because, Africans especially Nigeria played a very vital role in the fight against apartheid in South Africa. Nigeria has spent a lot and accommodated a lot of South Africans in the spirit of brotherhood and Africa’s liberation. Now it is South Africans that are attacking their fellow Africans, killing them and looting away their properties. It is awkward and irrational pay back gesture.
Xenophobia in it self, it is a barbaric thing of the past. No country, state, or nation can survive on it’s own. That was why Europeans despite their development had to smelt their differences and unite under the cover of European Union.
International organizations like UN, AU, WHO etc were created purposely to assist and help countries. Legally registered foreigners that pay taxes in a country are more important to that country that its criminal citizens. America is a country that accept all people. That is why an African-Americans, Arab-Americans, Latino-Americans etc, feels more of been Americans than their ancestral background. That is because, the US understands and harnesses the benefits in diversity and capabilities.
The realization of United States of Africa is vague and a mirage if xenophobia and tribal wars will continue among African states. How can we achieve a United States of Africa when South Africans don’t like Nigerians, when Nigerians don’t like Ghanaians, when Libyans don’t like Sudanese etc. Africa must come of age and start to deals with its problems using a local solution. The African Union should be strengthened and able to defend the interest of all Africans where ever they are.
I call on the South African government to protect all foreigners within its domain and to protect their properties also. The perpetrators of this xenophobic attacks should be brought to justice irrespective of their status.
The government should also apologies and compensate victims of the barbaric attacks – with assurance that such will never be allowed that happen again.
BREAKING: EFCC to Declare Former Borno Governor, Modu Sherrif, Wanted
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to declare a former governor of Borno State, Modu Sheriff, wanted for failing to honour the commission’s invitation.
Mr. Sheriff was summoned by the anti-graft agency to appear on Thursday at 10.a.m. for questioning on allegations of “misappropriation, embezzlement of funds and abuse of office while he was governor”.
However, a defiant Mr. Sheriff damned the EFCC’s invitation.
A source at the commission who wouldn’t want to be named because he was not authorised to do so, said Mr. Sheriff’s failure to appear before the commission will automatically compel the commission to effect his arrest.
The source said the commission would have to first declare the ex-governor wanted and then move on to arrest him.
Multiple sources at the anti-graft agency had earlier told PREMIUM TIMES that should Mr. Sheriff fail to show up as directed, he would be declared wanted and then arrested.
Our sources said detectives were already on his trail and watching his movement to prevent him from fleeing.
Although the specific allegations against the former governor are unclear at this time, this newspaper gathered that the investigation is related with allegations that parts of the N300billion his administration received from the Federation Account between 2003 and 2011 may not have been judiciously spent.
The investigation began in 2012 and had been ongoing ever since, our sources said.
Mr. Sheriff governed Borno State on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party.
Before then, he was a senator between 1999 and 2003 on the ticket of the same party.
It remains unclear why Mr. Sheriff is being invited by the anti-graft agency at the end of an administration formed by his own party, the Peoples Democratic Party, which he joined only last year.
The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached for the commission’s moved on Mr. Sheriff.
Fear of Being Jailed: NNPC, Alison-Madueke Starts Refunding Unremitted $1.48bn
The Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Wednesday disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has started refunding the $1.48bn unremitted fund into the Federation Account as recommended by an audit firm, PriceWaterHouse Coopers.
She however did not disclose how much has for far been refunded by the corporation.
She also denied reports that she was seeking the assistance of some highly-placed persons in order to escape prosecution for alleged corruption from the incoming administration of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.
Alison-Madueke spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the weekly meeting of Federal Executive Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
It will be recalled the Federation Account Allocation Committee had on Monday night constituted a committee to find out the reasons for the delay in the refund of the sum.
PriceWaterHouse Coopers had in the report of its forensic audit report of the corporation recommended that the NNPC should refund the amount to the Federation Account.
Alison-Madueke however explained that the unremitted fund was owed by the NPDC for a block that had been assigned from the NNPC to the NPDC.
She said, “The PriceWaterHouse Coopers forensic audit that was done few weeks ago in his recommendation mentioned that $1.48bn was owed by the NPDC for a block that had hitherto been assigned from the NNPC to the NPDC which is its subsidiary.
“They felt that the right process would be that the NPDC will refund that money to the Federation Account. The NPDC has apparently started those refunds and it is also in discussion with the NNPC and the DPR on same. So the refund has actually began.”
While saying that the payment was being done under her directive, she insisted that the sum was not missing but transferred by the NNPC to the NPDC.
The minister also denied media reports that she was reaching out to some prominent Nigerians, including a former military Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar (retd.), to seek soft landing from the incoming government.
She said she had in the course of her job as minister met with elder statesmen across the country and wondered why her meeting with Abubakar would be singled out.
The minister said she could not be seeking for a soft landing because she was not aware that she had committed any crime.
She said, “I have not sought such assistance because I am not aware that I have been indicted of any crime that I will need a soft landing.
“Over the last four years, I have many times been unfortunately accused and libelled in so many malicious and vindictive ways.
“I have explained these things and pushed back robustly on these accusations and I have even gone to court on many of them. Yet, they keep being regurgitated.”
Nigerians Support President Jonathan Against ‘Greedy’ Senators #RejectConstitutionalChange
Civil activists are supporting president Goodluck Jonathan in rejection of last minute constitutional changes that will among other things give immunity to senators and life long pensions. Civil activist Femi Falana yesterday rejected the constitutional amendments designed solely to safeguard the law makers’ interests.
Other activists also raised their voices in supprts of Goodlcuk Jonathan against the senators:
President Jonathan has sued the national assembly over these changes.
Jonathan Takes National Assembly to Supreme Court over Constitution Amendment Bill
The Executive Arm of the Federal Government on Wednesday went to the Supreme Court asking the court to declare as a null the passage of the proposed amendment of the constitution by the National Assembly.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, instituted the fresh suit with SC/214/2015 on behalf of the executive arm of government asking the court to nullify any attempt by the National Assembly to override the President’s veto powers.
In the suit, the executive arm argued that the bill was not passed by at least four-fifths majority of all members of each House of the National Assembly as stipulated in sections 48 and 49 of the Constitution.
The suit follows the crisis that had developed over President Goodluck Jonathan’s refusal to assent the fourth Alteration Bill of the Constitution. Instead, the President wrote to the National Assembly last week listing some grey areas that he said were contentious.
The National Assembly had threatened to override the President’s veto powers as it relates to the bill.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana has warned the National Assembly against passing the bill without looking critically at some of the arguments given by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Falana, who stated this in a statement on Wednesday, said if the National Assembly failed to review the grey areas as raised by the President before overriding his assent, it could result in legal issues that could be challenged.
Falana, who also criticised the refusal of President Jonathan to assent to the bill, recalled that the last alterations to the constitution sanctioned by the President in 2010 and 2011, were passed by the same two-thirds majority of the federal and state legislators recalling further how former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, challenged an attempt by the National Assembly to amend the constitution without recourse to the President.
Falana stated: “In 2010, the National Assembly had purportedly empowered itself to amend the Constitution without the assent of the President of the Republic.
“The action was challenged in the Federal High Court by Olisa Agbakoba SAN, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association. The court declared the amendment illegal and unconstitutional and proceeded to set it aside in toto.
“In view of the fundamental errors which have characterised the 4th Alteration to the Constitution, the National Assembly members should go back to the drawing table.
“They should have no difficulty in jettisoning the alteration of section 9 of the Constitution as it is the height of legislative dictatorship to amend the Constitution of a country without the assent of the President and the endorsement of the people via a referendum.
While the concern of the legislators for the rights of Nigerians to basic education and health is appreciated the inclusion of both rights in chapter four of the Constitution is unnecessary as both rights have been statutorily recognised.
“However, if the members of the National Assembly refuse to remove the objectionable provisions before overriding the veto of the President they would have engaged in a futile exercise which is likely to be challenged in a law court.
“Apart from the serious observations raised by the President some of the provisions of the Amendment completely negate national interests.
“Whereas majority of Nigerians have consistently demanded for the removal of immunity clause from the Constitution the amendment seeks to confer immunity on legislators in addition to the heads of the executive arm of government.
“Another objectionable proposition in the 4th amendment is the provision of pension for life for former leaders of the National Assembly.
“Indeed, one of the former speakers of the House of Representatives who will be a beneficiary of the largesse spent a few months in office and resigned for fear of impeachment.
“Another retired speaker who served for less than four years is barely 40 years old. The National Assembly should justify why Nigerians should pay pension for life to such legislators for rendering part time service in the parliament.” Source
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
BREAKING: Gunmen Trail, Shoot Nasir El-Rufai Campaign Coordinator Dead
El-Rufai’s spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna.
According to Aruwan, the gunmen trailed Mr. Markus Ishaya to his village, Atuku Kasa, Atuku Ward of Jema’a local government area of the state. And shot him several times. He was the Governor-elect’s coordinator in Atuku Ward and did very well in mobilizing support.
Aruwan said “His family informed us that unknown gunmen stormed his residence and shot him several times.
“The men, two in number were well armed and did not pick any property in his residence except carrying out the ungodly act.
“The Police have confirmed the incident. The Police have also visited the scene of the crime and have commenced investigation.
“While we appreciate their prompt action, our expectation is that the security agencies will fully investigate this killing and prosecute the perpetrators.
“Security agencies must adequately protect all Nigerians irrespective of their status and standing.”
Condoling the family, Malam El-Rufai who prayed for the soul of the deceased said “Our empathy and prayers go to the family of Mr. Markus Ishaya and the entire community over this callous murder and desecration of human life.
“May Almighty God grant his soul eternal rest and give his family and friends the fortitude to bear this painful loss.”
The killing of Ishaya brings to ten the number of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that have been killed in the state during the election campaign and its immediate aftermath.
Nigerians Port Lines Away From MTN As South African Giant Threatens Nigerians Over #BoycottSA
Mohammed Keana, a civil activist pictured above went to Glo network today and immediately ported his phone number away from MTN. Thousands across the country and continent are similarly reducing or abandoning using MTN network, DSTV and other South African products and services.
Another Nigerian tweeted a promise to port away from MTN tomorrow:
Yet another Nigerian had illustrated his plan to burn his MTN lines and DSTV box earlier this week in the tweeted image:
As different countries protest xenophobia in South Africa by abandoning the country products and services with Ghana giving the nation a 5 day (from the 19th) ultimatum before boycotts, the South African government has been blamed for promoting the phenomenon with president Zuma’s son accused of directly suggesting the killing of foreigners and the nation’s small business minister saying this week that foreigners need to teach locals their trade secrets to stave off being looted.
Images from Protests in Kaduna Yesterday
Impeachment: No Escape Route For Fayose – APC Elders
The body said Fayose has serially breached the Constitution, desecrated the esteemed office he occupies and should be ready to face the consequences of his actions.
The Publicity Secretary of Ekiti APC Elders Forum, Dr. Bayo Orire, who made the group’s position known on Tuesday, also warned the military and the police against being used to hinder the lawmakers from carrying out their constitutional functions.
Condemning the military for turning back the 19 APC lawmakers from entering Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Tuesday, Orire said the party’s elder body was concerned about an alleged open partisanship of officers and men of the Nigerian Army on the matter.
He also said the police and the Army should not be watching helplessly for hoodlums to seize the whole state and interfere with the constitutional duties of the Assembly members.
Dr. Orire explained that the lawmakers should not be blamed for signing and forwarding an impeachment notice against Fayose, saying a responsible House of Assembly was not expected to look the other way when the chief executive was overstepping his bounds.
MTN Threatens Nigerians Of ‘Consequences’ of #BoycottSA; Says 6000 To Be Made Jobless
Yobe Governor Ibrahim Geidam Accused Of Terrorizing, Abducting Imam – BBC
The Imam, Malam Abubakar Ciroma had earlier told his congregation to vote for General Muhammadu Buhari to save Nigeria.
It was when ahead of the governorship elections he did not likewise preach for the governor but rather preached against him for gross misappropriation of state funds that governor Ibrahim Geidam reportedly had the Imam abducted.
BBC reports that his wife complained of his arrest.
CHAI! Tinubu To Kashamu: We Are Not In The Same Class; Go, Face Your Charges In US
Tinubu said he does not need praises from Kashamu, saying they are not in the same class.
Kashamu had in an advertisement praised Tinubu over the outcome of the 2015 general elections.
The APC national leader asked Kashamu, a PDP financier, to make a trip to the United States of America to answer drug charges against himself.
“Please keep your peace until you make your trip to the USA as a Senator-elect. Upon your return we can then have a conversation. We can then proceed with your repudiation of the PDP with a promise that you will stop corrupting and fouling the political system,” Tinubu said in a statement signed by his media adviser, Sunday Dare.
“Our attention has been drawn to the recently advertised letter by Mr. Buruji Kashamu to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in which he described Tinubu in superlative terms and as his role model. Kashamu needs to stop this cynical fawning. It will not work.
“The days of false adulation are gone in Nigerian politics. Fake praise singers like Kashamu will find that their particular craft is no longer in vogue. During this election cycle, their practice has dramatically turned from the way things are to how it used to be.
“Henceforth, there will be consequences for the positions a politician takes and the words they utter.
“Politicians will no longer be able to change direction and loyalties as if they were changing clothes. Those in politics must know that responsibility and accountability shall now follow them. One can no longer walk both sides of the street at the same time. In case Kashamu has not noticed, the politics of principle defeated the politics of posturing.
“That Kashumu undermined the democratic process by buying his victory does not mean he is part of the new Nigeria. He is merely an isolated vestige of a dying past. The man is an extinct species the realization of which will soon dawn on him.
“For him to liken himself to Bola Tinubu is for a small rut to call itself a mountain. For Kashamu to call Tinubu a role model is Kashamu’s admission that he does not know the meaning of the term. There are no grounds for comparison. There is only contrast. Tinubu has sacrificed years trying to bring democracy to Nigeria. He struggled in opposition to the powers that be. Without this, at times, lonesome fight and singular determination, the great change in Nigerian politics would not have happened as it did. TInubu is an architect of democracy. Kashamu is a failed demolisher of that which Tinubu has strived to build. Under Kashamu’s designs, our elections would be a wholly mercantile undertaking.
“Meanwhile, Kashamu has blown wherever the prevailing winds took him. He stood for nothing and sacrificed nothing except the people’s welfare.
“This same Kashamu rained insults on former President Obasanjo in a vicious campaign of calumny. Kashamu’s party, PDP sponsored defamatory documentaries full of lies and innuendos against me, General Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of APC. Please keep your peace until you make your trip to the USA as a Senator-elect. Upon your return we can then have a conversation. We can then proceed with your repudiation of the PDP with a promise that you will stop corrupting and fouling the political system.
“That Kashamu would deign to compare himself with Tinubu is a distasteful insult to Tinubu and to anyone who knows Nigerian politics. If he has any sense of propriety, Kashamu should retract the corrupt missive and apologize for this latest lie to the public.”
“Kashamu in a factory of incoherent mischief aimed at achieving selfish goals. Before the election, Tinubu was his arch-enemy. Now he seeks to be the prodigal son returned home. This scam will fail.
“Kashamu may be prodigal but he is no political son of Tinubu. Kashamu’s political lineage tracks to people like Bode George and President Jonathan. He should direct his encomiums to these men who are his true role models. They need his contrived affections more than Tinubu does,’’ the statement added.
BOMBSHELL: Gov Akpabio, Akwa Ibom REC Caught Redhanded By INEC HQ With 500k Fake Voters [Documents]
A copy of the Summary of Accredited Voters which was forwarded to the INEC headquarters, and obtained by us through a credible source at the INEC headquarters shows that contrary to the 996,071 votes declared by Prof. Ekpoke as the total number of votes which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Udom Emmanuel allegedly polled to defeat his closest rival, Umana Okon Umana of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the total number of accredited voters captured by the Electronic Card Readers in Akwa Ibom state stood at 647,215.
However, based on the copy of the summary of the controversial result which the State INEC Returning Officer, Prof. James Epoke used in declaring the results of the election, and which was also forwarded to INEC headquarters, the figure penned down as the total number of registered voters stood at 1,548,531 while 1,158,624 was given as the total number of accredited voters.
SEE DOCS
The official at the INEC headquarters who mailed the original copy of the document revealing the total number of accredited voters as captured by the Electronic Card Readers disclosed that there has been several questions arising from what he described as the alarming discrepancies in the results declared in Akwa Ibom State.
“To be very honest with you, the PDP in Akwa Ibom and our oga who is the REC there did not do their homework well. And unless they look for a way to block the alarming loopholes, they would end up dragging their names in the mud. As a Resident Electoral Commissioner, you saw that the Chairman of the Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega had, just in one glance during the declaration of the presidential election spotted discrepancies in the result coming from this same Akwa Ibom state, where you presided over as REC, and had told the Returning Officer to go back and sort it out, yet, you didn’t learn.
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Where is the room for the decline in the number of votes due to outbreak of violence that reportedly marred the voting process in the State? Or would you say that people will still stay back to vote after gunshots have been fired and people scampered away for safety? How about the voters’ apathy that was recorded nationwide, did your figures reflect that? Check out the results declared by some other states and you would find that the margin can never be that big like what you have in your state.
These are the places we at the Commission believe the election was free and fair. But then, most of these shocking revelations will be made at the tribunals that have just been constituted. I have worked in this Commission for over 15 years now and this are just elementary issues for some of us. That una Akwa Ibom state na real abracadabra state, I swear. ” The source at INEC Headquarters stated. Meanwhile, we can report authoritatively that the reason for the delay in the declaration of the results for the elections into the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly was a fallout of the inability of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner to perfectly allocate figures to each of the candidates vying for the election in a way that they do not contradict the overall result declared for the governorship polls.
It would be recalled that a mild drama played out during the declaration of the Presidential poll as the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega had to stop the announcement of the result for Akwa Ibom state and consequently asked the Returning Officer for the State to go back and sort out the discrepancies noticed in the results.
Thousands of people protested in the State capital on Sunday 12th April, 2015 in response to the wide malpractice and violence that characterised the elections. The protest disrupted traffic flow in Uyo for hours. The police has so far confirmed the killing of 3 persons during the elections in the State.
Both local and foreign observers have faulted the elections in the State as falling below acceptable standards. In separate statements, the American Embassy in Nigeria and the European Union Observer Mission said elections in the State was deeply flawed.
The Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room led the Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Center (PLAC), Mr. Clement Nwankwo, has equally called for a total cancellation of elections in the State.
Tuesday, 21 April 2015
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