POLITICS

Updated November 21, 2008

 AONDOAKAA SAYS LONDON COURT REJECTION OF EVIDENCE JUSTIFIES PRESIDENT'S RULE OF LAW STAND

The Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Michael Aondoakaa, has said that the recent rejection of evidence against former Gov. James Ibori by a London court had justified Federal Government's stand on the rule of law. The court rejected the evidence brought before it by the EFCC on the ground that it did not come through the office of the attorney general.

The bilateral legal assistance treaty between Nigeria and Britain provides that evidence against any national of the two countries in the other, should be filed through the attorney general.

Aondoakaa, who is also the Minister of Justice, told State House correspondents that he had been vindicated against accusations against him that he was  shielding the former governor from prosecution. The justice minister said that the court's adherence to the treaty had ensured that Nigeria was not termed a ``Banana Republic'' where anyone could just walk into a country, gather evidence against its citizens and without government authority, use it for prosecution.

``What happened then was that a bundle of evidence was sent to London without the knowledge of the attorney general or the Federal Government.
``So, when this thing arose, our position was to follow the law and the explicit procedure. ``But there was a lot of clamour and claims that we were trying to shield some people, but as God would have it and when you have confidence in God, you have no fear. ``Of course, it is a matter of common sense. Nobody will allow anybody to walk into his country, pack evidence from its citizens and move out just like that.

``That will make you a Banana Republic. What we were trying to do was to protect the sovereignty of this country,'' he said. ``The president in his wisdom, looked at the law, read it, got quality advice and felt that the Attorney-General was doing the right thing, and now he is vindicated,'' he added.

Aondoakaa noted further that the treaty with Britain foreclosed the use of evidence obtained without approval and vetting by the Attorney General for use in criminal matters outside the country. According to him, the police can gather evidence for intelligence for the purpose of trial, but has to go through the attorney-general whose duty it is to ensure the persons named are not already undergoing trial or have been investigated, prosecuted and convicted already so as to avoid double jeopardy.

``The bottom line is that competent agencies of government like the EFCC, the ICPC, the Police, the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Securities and Exchange Commission cannot just carry evidence and turn it over to foreign countries except such evidence passes through the central authority that can review it,'' Aondoakaa added.

NIGERIAN SENATE COMMENCED SCREENING OF MINISTERIAL NOMINEES

As the Nigerian Senate commenced its screening of Ministerial nominees, Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dora Akinyili has pledged to do her job without any political undertone if appointed as a Minister. Akunyili while fielding questions from the Senators pointed out that doing things right was part of her and her track record in NAFDAC is a pointer to her ability to manage any other office creditably.

The NAFDAC boss stressed the need for different public office holders to do their job well; stressing that by so doing there would be on room for jealousy and rancor. The National Chairman of Accord Party and Former Member of the House of Representative, Ikara Aliyu Bilbis was asked to take a bow without responding to any question.

Another nominee Mohammed Sani Ndanusa who is presently the commissioner of Infrastructural development in Niger State and a water engineer pointed out that if appointed as a minister he would be able to tackle infrastructural decay in the country through proper planning.

Responding to a question by Senate Committee Chairman on Information Ayogu Eze, Ndanusa said the growing membership of the board of trustees of the Nigerian Society of Engineers from six to nine inevitable. The Senate is to continue the screening of the remaining nominees next Tuesday, November 25.

COURT COMMENCE HEARING APPLICATION BY RIBADU

A Federal High Court in Abuja will on November 28 commence hearing in an application by former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Nuhu Ribadu, asking the Court to prevent the Nigeria Police Force from arresting him. In an affidavit filed before the Court, Ribadu said the police had threatened to detain him for failing to honour an invitation by the incumbent Chairman of EFCC, Farida Waziri.

Ribadu disclosed that he received a letter from Waziri requesting an audience with him to clarify some issues that came up after his exit from office.
The former EFCC boss however insisted that he must be told the issues that have come up to enable him decide whether to honour the invitation. He therefore wants an order of Court stopping the police and the EFCC from taking any action against him in connection with the letter of invitation.

Justice Abdullahi Mustapha then fixed November 28 for hearing of the application. You may recall that Ribadu had also dragged the police to Court following his demotion from the rank of an Assistant Inspector General of Police to Assistant Commissioner of Police.

UME-EZEOKE DRAGGED TO COURT

Twelve Members of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, have dragged the National Chairman of the Party Edwin Ume-Ezeoke to court for alleged subversion of the Party’s Constitution. Also standing as defendants in the suit are Senator Saidu Kumo, Ebuta Ayuk and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Some of the issues raised by the plaintiffs include the failure of Ume-Ezeoke, who was the vice Presidential candidate in the last election to resign his position as National Chairman. They also want a declaration that the ANPP as presently constituted does not have a National Chairman as well as the sack of Senator Saidu Kumo and Ebutta Ayuk for accepting to join Yar’Adua’s government.

In another matter at the Federal High Court, Justice Mohammed Umar has adjourned the case by former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai against the Senate.

El-Rufai is challenging the recommendation by Senators that he be suspended from holding public office for ten years based on an investigation by the Senate which alleged abuse of power against him. The Senate had filed a preliminary objection to the case submitting that the Court has no power to stop it from performing its duty as an arm of government. Both the objection and the substantive suit came up in February for adoption.

Gombe vs. Revenue Commission: Case adjourned till December
The case instituted by Gombe State government against the Revenue Mobilization and physical Commission, has been adjourned till December 1. The case was adjourned because, the Judge was not available for the hearing.

The Gombe State government is seeking  for a declaration that the, the letter written by the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization, allocation and Physical Commission,  Hamman Tukur. Asking for the refund of the 300 million Naira Pensions , collected by the Governor and his Deputy, be return; was libelous.
The defendant, who is the chairman of the Revenue Mobilization and Physical Commission, Hamman Tukur, has filed a motion seeking for more time. The Commission has declared that the collection of the pension by the governor and his deputy, while still serving, is illegal.

In a related development, the The Federal High Court would on February 2nd 2009 rule on the case instituted by the former Transport Minister Abiye Sekibo,, seeking an Interpretation of the Supreme Court Judgment,  which brought Governor Rotimi  Amaechi to office.
Cousel to the defendants  argued in their closing statement that the suit would re-litigate matters, which has already been decided.

NIGERIAN SENATE CONFIRMED RECEIPT OF 13 MINISTERIAL NOMINEES

The Nigerian senate has confirmed receipt of list of Ministerial nominees from President Umaru Yar’adua. The nominees are Dora Akunyili (Anambra), I.Y. Lame (Bauchi), Mustapha Shetima (Boronu), Senator Ibrahim Kazaure (Jigawa) and Babatunde Oshotimehin (Ogun).

Others are Sam Egwu (Ebonyi) Dr. Rilwan Lukman (Kaduna), Nuhu Somowehi (Kaduna, Sani Mohammed (Niger) and Senator Bello Jubril Gaba (Sokoto).

Jubril Megeri (Yobe), Ikara Aliyu Bilbis (Zamfara), Ibrahim Isa Bio (Kwara) also made the list. The new ministers will replace those dropped by President Yar’Adua in recent cabinet shake-up.

IRAQ: ELECTIONS TO BE HELD JAN. 31

IIraq says it will hold long awaited provincial elections on January 31 and it will be the first provincial elections since 2005. Government spokesperson Ali Al-Dabbagh says the cabinet decided on the date Tuesday although the elections had previously been scheduled before the end of January.

The announcement of the election date comes as parliament prepares for a November 24 vote on a United State Iraqi security pact to allow American troops to stay in Iraq for three more years. While the security situation had improved, Iraqi politics are still vulnerable to sectarian divisions among the Country’s major factions.

ISREAL/PALESTINE TO FREE PRISONERS

IIsraeli and Palestinian officials say Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has promised to free two hundred and fifty Palestinian Prisoners next month.
Negotiator Saeb Erekat who made this known said Olmert informed Palestinian President Abbas of the planned release during a meeting in Jerusalem.

However Olmert’s spokesman David Baker has confirmed the release, but says a date has not yet been set. The gesture is meant to coincide with an upcoming Muslim holiday. The move would be the latest in a series of prisoner releases meant as goodwill gestures to moderate Palestinian President mahmoud Abbas.

CONGOLESE ARMY CLASH WITH REPELS

United Nations says Congolese army clashed with rebels in some of the worst fighting in a week despite the rebel leader Laurent Nkunda’s promise to support a cease-fire. The Central African Nation has the world’s largest U.N peacekeeping mission, with some seventeen thousand troops, but the peacekeepers have been unable to end fighting.

Nkunda launched a rebellion in 2004, claiming to protect ethnic Tutsis from Hutu militias who fled to Congo after Rwanda’s 1994 genocide left more than five hundred thousand Tutsis and others slaughtered. But critics however say Nkunda is more interested in power and the Country’s wealth.

UGANDA WAR VICTIMS

Amnesty International has accused Uganda’s government of failing to care for hundreds of thousands of victims of a two-decade civil war and urged it to grant reparations. The war between Lord’s Resistance Army, LRA, rebels and Uganda saw mass abductions of children, thousands killed fighting and murder, as well as nearly two million people driven from their homes.

The rights group added that the survivors also needed medical and psychological care, access to education, and compensation for deaths and injuries.
Since a ceasefire between the government and rebels two years ago, peace has slowly returned to northern Uganda, but hopes of a final deal were put on hold in April after LRA leader Joseph Kony failed to show up to ink the pact.

TOGOLESE EX-MINISTER FOUND DROWNED

Former Togo government minister Atsutse Kokouvi Agobobli, had been kidnapped before his body was found on a beach in August and probably died of drowning. His son Ayaovi Fabrice Agbobli said in a statement that a second autopsy found that his father, had not died from a medicinal drug overdose, as authorities had concluded.

Fabrice said the UN’s High Commission for Human Rights has authorized an independent medical expert to carry out a new post-mortem after a request from a Togolese human rights group. He said his father, who was found dead on a beach near Lome on August 15 a day after his disappearance wearing only shoes and socks may have been drowned during the alleged kidnapping. Atsutse Kokouvi Agboli was minister of communications and later minister responsible for parliamentary affairs under the regime of General Gnassigbe Eyadema, who died in February 2005.

RWANDA KEEPS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH GERMANY

Rwanda says it did not plan to break off diplomatic relations with Germany in spite of the expulsion of Berlin’s Ambassador to Kigali. The envoy, Christain Clages, was told to leave on Tuesday after the arrest of an aid to Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame in Germany following an arrest warrant issued by France.

Information Minister Louise Mushikwabo said the move which prompted a major diplomatic row was intended to register Rwaanda at protest against the arrest. Head of the Presidential protocol service, Rose Kabuye, was arrested over her alleged involvement in the assassination of the former president, Juvenal Haby Arimana, which is widely considered to have triggered the 1994 genocide. Mushiwabo said the warrant, issued by French anti-terrorism judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere against Kabuye and eight other Kagame aides, was disputable and disputed.

NIGCOMSAT CONTROVERSY: IMPLICATIONS OF FAILED SATELLITE

Nigeria in May 2007 launched her first communications satellite NIGCOMSAT into orbit with the expectation of tremendous gains for the Nation’s Telecom sector. Barely eighteen months into its expected 15-year life span the 40 billion Naira project is said to be suffering a power failure.

The contract has a projected 15-year lifespan and is being monitored and tracked by a ground station built in Abuja while the Chinese firm, has a ground station in Kashgar, China. The super Hybrid satellite designed to operate in Africa, parts of the Middle East and Southern Europe was expected to promote technological advancement in Nigeria.

But eighteen months after the launch of the forty billion Naira project its where about is shrouded in controversy. The satellite project was supposed to enable internet access to even the remotest rural villages, a major quest of stakeholders in recent times. It was also expected to enhance government’s Economic reforms, particularly in the areas of E-Learning, E-Commerce, Tele-medicine, Tele-Education, and Telephony.

The project, according to experts, was expected to help African users save more than 900 million spent for Telephony trucking and data transport services, 660 million dollars in phone call charges and Broadband access as well as create more than 150,000 jobs for Nigerians. Nigerians eagerly await the outcome of the NIGCOMSAT saga as the Nation at this crucial time can ill-afford to throw forty billion Naira down the drain.

AC ON NIGCOMSAT

The Action Congress, AC has asked the Federal government to come out more clearly on the failure of the forty billion Naira Communications satellite, NIGCOMSAT launched into orbit last year. In a statement by its National Publicity secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said the official explanation that the satellite was merely faulty and now under repairs was unacceptable.

The party noted that the government owes Nigerians a more detailed and sensible explanation on how a satellite worth such exorbitant amount could suddenly go bad. It also questioned if the award of the contract of the construction of the satellite actually followed due process and whether it was awarded to proven manufacturers.

While wondering about, those who certified the satellite fit for deployment in orbit, the party lamented that the hopes that the communication satellite would boost access to information is now going into objection.

OSHIOMOLE VISITS YAR’ADUA

A day after he was sworn in as Governor of Edo State in South South Nigeria, Adams Oshiomole on Thursday was at the State House Abuja for consultations with President Umaru Yar’Adua.

He told Newsmen after emerging from the President’s Office that the number one citizen has pledged to support him in the execution of his mandate. Oshiomole said he is aware of the high expectations Nigerians have on him and promises not to let them down.
13.11.08

PDP ANAMBRA CRISIS

Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP says it is positioning itself to become the dominant force in politics in Anambra State South East Nigeria.

The National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor made this known Thursday in Abuja when he received the report of the Anambra state PDP Peace and Reconciliation Committee headed by former Presidential Aspirant Jerry Gana.
13.11.08

KENYAN LEADER IN TALKS WITH OBAMA

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama held telephone talks with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and discussed issues of mutual interest and future plans of engagement. A statement from President Kibaki's office said the Kenyan leader used the telephone conversation which took place on Tuesday night to congratulate President-elect Obama on his historic victory.

 "During the telephone conversation, President Kibaki once again congratulated President-elect Obama on his historic and well deserved victory," the statement said. He also gave the best wishes of the people of Kenya , saying that President-elect Obama's victory had been received with immense pride and gratification.

 The President said the Kenyan people fully understood that the new U.S. President owed his allegiance to the American people but were confident that Kenya would always have a special place in the President-elect's heart. President Kibaki assured the President-elect that Kenya looked toward to strengthening co-operation and ties with the U.S. and wished him God's blessings in his tenure. President Kibaki extended an invitation to President-elect Barack Obama to visit Kenya at his earliest convenience.

ZIMBABWE- OPPOSITION CALLS ON GOVT. TO RESOLVE POWER-SHARING ISSUES

Zimbabwe's main opposition says it would not join a new government with President Robert Mugabe until unresolved power-sharing issues were ironed out.

The movement for Democratic Change, MDC, spokesman, Nelson Chamisa, said there are outstanding issues such as the issue of governors, equity and allocation of key ministries which have to be addressed. He said unless those issues are resolved, they cannot be invited to be passengers and be bystanders in a government they are supposed to be partners. 

Mugabe has said a new government would be put in place as soon as possible, while his lead negotiator Patrick Chinamasa said Tsvangirai had been asked to submit names for ministers.

Their comments came after Tsvangirai rejected a proposal by regional leaders at the weekend to immediately form a unity government and share the disputed home affairs ministry with Mugabe, dashing hopes of a breakthrough.

ADVOCACY FOR ALTERNATIVE BALLOT SYSTEM RESURFACES

On Tuesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in a press statement admitted that the court of appeal judgment in the Edo State governorship tussle exposed considerable weaknesses in its organization of the election. As a measure to forestall a reoccurrence of the manipulation noticed by the court, INEC said it will take two steps- study the judgment and plug identified loopholes and punish its officials involved in creating such lapses.

However in Abuja on Wednesday, INEC declined to speak on what steps it will take to remedy the weaknesses and how it will identify and punish the erring staff.

Some politicians have disagreed over the extent of damage INEC is perceived to have done to Nigeria’s democracy. Whatever the stance, maybe the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Edo State seems to have thrown up the issue of an alternative ballot system for the country, to the open-secret ballot system currently in practice.

INEC and Nigerians will however get an opportunity to test how much they have learnt over the years since returning to democracy in 1999, at the next general elections in 2011.
12.11.08

OSHIOMHOLE SWORN IN AS NIGERIAS EDO STATE GOVERNOR

The Edo State Governorship candidate of the Action Congress in Nigeria’s last general election, Adams Oshiomhole has been sworn in as the Governor of the State. Oshiomhole was declared winner of the Governorship election by the court of appeal sitting in Benin city on Tuesday.

He took the oath of office before a huge crowd at the Samuel Ognemudia stadium, Benin City.He replaces professor Osarhiemen Osunbor whose removal was confirmed by the court of appeal Tuesday.

The new Governor has promised to restore qulitative education in the State. Governor Oshiomhole who made the pledge today after taking his oath of office described the State of infrastructure in the public schools in the State as deplrable.

He also promised to improve the security in the State as well as ensure better health for the people of the State. The new Governor was earlier sworn in alongside his deputy Pius Egeranwen Odugu.

OSUNBOR ACCEPTS APPEAL COURT JUDGMENT

Former governor of Edo , Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, today said that he had accepted the Court of Appeal judgment which validated his removal from office in good faith. Osunbor, who said this while addressing newsmen at his country home in Iruekpen, Edo, said that as a believer in the rule of law, he had accepted the court's verdict.

``Although many of my supporters may be disappointed by the court's judgment, it is, however, a victory for the rule of law," he said. ``As a believer in the rule of law and as a lawyer, I accept the verdict in good faith,'' he added. Osunbor said that during his short tenure in office, he left no one in doubt that he was out to ``rescue the state from the shackles of underdevelopment''. 

He stressed that his actions and developmental programmes bore testimony to his determination to make a difference in the life of the people. Osunbor congratulated Mr Adams Oshiomhole on his victory and urged him to strive to promote the people's interests and the state's development. 

Also reacting to Oshiomhole's victory, Dr Osahon Enabulele, Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Edo , described the court judgment as a ``victory for the people of Edo State ''.  He commended Oshiomhole for his patience, saying that his victory was that of the electorate.  Enabulele also called on Osunbor to join hands with Oshiomhole, in spite of his defeat, in efforts to enhance the state's development. The Newsmen  reports that Oshiomhole would be sworn in on Wednesday at Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin .

EDO VERDICT, A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY -- NLC 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has  described the electoral judgment in Edo State as a victory for democracy in Nigeria .This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Abdulwahab Omar and Mr John Odah, President and General Secretary of the NLC.``Victory for Oshiomhole has come a long way requiring sustained campaigns and strenuous post victory struggles through the electoral Tribunal and Appeal Court.

``With this type of judgment, Nigeria can, in reality, be counted by the year 2020 among the world’s 20 best democracies,'' NLC said. Oshiomhole, who is the immediate past President of NLC, was today declared governor of Edo .  ``Now as the wheel of justice has finally turned, the victory is a sweet one, particularly for the Edo people and Nigeria in general. ``We in the NLC congratulate Oshiomhole for his hard won victory and wish him a successful tenure in office as the Executive Governor of Edo State,'' it said.

The NLC also thanked the judiciary for its steadfastness in the face of obvious challenges. The Congress, however, said that there was the need to institutionalize a free and fair electoral system. ``This will save the country and its constituent states the embarrassment of waiting for 18 months before a popularly elected governor is sworn into office. 

``We use this opportunity to reiterate our call that all electoral petitions should be decided before a person is sworn into elective political office.
 ``We hope that the electoral reform report and its implementation will ensure that such basic electoral issues are addressed,'' NLC said.

EDO: INEC TO CORRECT LAPSES IN FUTURE ELECTIONS, IWU

INEC has said it would study the Court of Appeal's judgement that declared Mr Adams Oshiomhole the governor elect of Edo with a view to identifying lapses observed and correcting same in future elections.  An official statement of INEC , signed its National Commissioner and Chairman, Legal Services and Clerance Committee, Mr Victor Chukwuani, said it would also investigate the source of the said tabulation error in the election result to determine if there was "wilful negligence or mischief".

 ``Any such laxity will not go unpunished,'' the commission warned. INEC described the judgment of the Court of Appeal `` as a demonstration of the ideals of democracy founded on the principle of justice''.The commission noted that the courts and tribunals provided avenues for persons aggrieved by its decision to air their grievances. INEC, however, reiterated its resolve to comply with the order of the Court of Appeal as soon as it was served on it. ``The commission is an unbiased umpire and welcomes every step that promotes fairness in the electoral system'' INEC added.

AKINJIDE, MBU, NBA, OTHERS HAIL OSHIOMHOLE'S VICTORY

Politicians and eminent lawyers today hailed the judgment of the Appeal Court in Benin , confirming  Adams Oshiomhole as the governor of Edo . The court upheld the judgment of the Election Tribunal, which nullified the election of Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor as the governor and replaced him with the AC governorship candidate, Oshiomhole. 

The judgment of the tribunal was delivered on March 20, by Justice Peter Umeadi A Constitutional lawyer, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) described today's judgment as ``a masterpiece''. ``I have no doubt that the Court of Appeal is right; that is the rule of law,'' he said.  He asked Osunbor to immediately congratulate the winner as it is the practice in the civilized world.` `In a democracy, those who seek elective offices must know that they can win or lose and a civilized way of testing the validity of the election is for the loser to go to court.

``The former governor of Edo did exactly that at the court of appeal, but he has lost, he should now pick his phone and congratulate Oshiomhole. ``That was what AlGore did when he lost to George Bush at the U.S. 's Supreme Court,'' he said.  Akinjide congratulated the new governor, saying that he must know that ``he is the governor of those who voted for and against him''. 

The President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Rotimi Akeredolu noted that the judgment of the lower court was sound for the Appeal Court to have upheld it. He said there should be no further delay in handing over. A former Governor of Lagos and a Chieftain of Action Party of Nigeria (APN), Alhaji Lateef Jakande, described the judgment as a welcome development, which emphasised the rule of law.

He described Oshiomhole as ``a true nationalist, who would govern the state well''. An Afenifere Chieftain, Yinka Odumakin, said this about the judgment: ``Daniel has come to judgment; the will of the people has been upheld'', adding that he believed the winner would give a good account of himself. 
Chief Mathew Mbu also described Oshiomhole as a dogged fighter who had finally been vindicated.

 ``In this case, he has won, justice has been done and the judiciary has won a plus and a new feather to its cap in the dispensation of justice,'' said Mbu, the Chairman of South-South Leaders' Forum.  Chief Frank Kokori said the judgment was a victory for democracy as well as for perseverance. ``Oshiomhole was dogged and at the end of the day, it paid off. ``He should not let down his constituency, the Labor and the Civil Society Groups,'' said the trade unionist.

REACTIONS AFTER COURT OF APPEAL JUDGEMENT IN BENIN

Moments after the Court of Appeal judment which restored Adams Oshiomole to government house, residents of the ancient city of Benin the Capital, trooped out onto the streets jubilating. The people ended the force holiday imposed on them by former governor, Osarheme Osumbor and trooped out onto the streets.

The residentd chanted solidarity songs and danced through the streets.Because of the non-violent out-pouring, policemen who were earlier deployed to the streets just watched and enjoyed themselves.

The police authorities also had quickly removed the barricades on the streets while the Armoured tanks stationed in strategic points were also withdrawn.

AFRICAN LEADERS/ZIMBABWE

African leaders have urged Zimbabwe’s rival political factions to share control of the police ministry to form a unity government, but President Robert Mugabe’s main opponent early rejected the proposal.

The proposal on Zimbabwe emerged from a twelve- hour summit called to push Mugabe, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur mutambara, head of a smaller opposition group, into the unity government they agreed to form more than a month ago. The regional bloc left the details of how the co-ministers would co-operate to parties who have so far shown little trust in one another but Tsvangirai has insisted Mugabe surrender control of police officers accused of politically motivated attacks on the opposition.

Tsvangirai told journalists that his party disagreed totally with the recommendation from the Southern Africa Development Community Summit that both he and Mugabe name ministers in charge of police and other functions of the Home Affairs Ministry. The executive secretary of regional bloc, Tomaz Salamao said Mugabe had accepted the ministry sharing proposal, raising the possibility Mugabe would take Sunday’s developments in Johannesburg as a mandate to form a government without Tsvangirai.

ZIMBABWE POLITICAL DEADLOCK: NIGERIANS EXPRESS DIVERGENT VIEWS ON POWER SHARING

Political analysts in Nigeria have expressed divergent views over the joint management of the Home Affairs Ministry in Zimbabwe. There has been a sharp disagreement between President Mugabe’s ZANU PF Party and the opposition MDC led by Morgan Tsavgirai, over who controls the Ministry which supervises the police. While some support the SADC call for joint management of the Home Affairs Ministry others believe allowing the MDC full control of that Ministry which controls the police is a fair deal.

The crisis emanating from the controversial June 27 reelection of President Robert Mugabe after a disputed simple majority victory of opposition leader Morgan Tsangirai, had led to a September 15 deal over allocation of important cabinet positions. While the ZANU PF led by President Mugabe had maintained hold on the Ministry of Defence and other sensitive ministries.

The opposition movement for democratic change led by Tsvangirai has continued to to insist on controlling the Ministry of Home affairs which controls the police; they had accused the police of being the major tool of government oppression of the opposition. The prolonged deadlock implementing the deal which was to make Tsvangirai Prime Minister led to Sunday’s summit of the 15-member Southern Africa Development Community which resolved in favour of joint control of the Home Affairs, as well as other key ministries.

This call for compromise was rejected by the opposition. Some political analysts believe a sustainable solution will remain far from sight, until Mugabe who has been in power since 1980 is forced out of office. What appears to be common recommendation at the moment is for the African union to wade in, given the failure of the SADC to resolve the impasse.
10.11.08

PPP REITERATES CALL FOR CANCELLATION OF GOVT GRANTS TO PARTIES

The Peoples Progressive Party , PPP, has reiterated its call for the abrogation of direct government grants to political parties. Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the Chairman of the party, Mr Damian Ogbonna, accused some INEC officials of sharing such grants with some political parties.

According to Ogbonna ``this is a common practice and it explains why many mushroom parties exist. It is just to collect grants and share with the mafia within INEC''.
He also accused INEC of unnecessary meddlesomeness in the affairs of the political parties, especially the smaller ones, adding that INEC was the main cause of the division in the PPP. They leveled false accusation against the party leadership on the disbursement of finance.
``This was a political ploy to blackmail my leadership out of power and take over the party through an unconstitutional process,'' he added.

Ogbonna said that the group, led by one Solomon Edebiri, held a convention on Dec. 2, 2007 and petitioned the FCT High Court to legitimize the convention and pronounce them as authentic leaders of the party. He said that the court, in its judgment of April 30, 2008 denied their application and threw out the case.
His words ``in spite of this, their sponsors at INEC fraudulently obtained hearing for them and organised another convention for them.  ``To preempt such unconstitutionality, we have taken the ringleaders to the FCT High Court to determine the constitutional issues surrounding their actions.
``We have also gone to the Federal High Court against INEC to determine the constitutional questions arising from such meddling in our party's affairs in clear contradiction to our party's constitution,'' he added.

The chairman said that the party had to secure the services of a law firm to deliver its protest letter to INEC because of the refusal of the commission to accept the letter.

He said that all efforts made by the party's executives to see the chairman of the commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu, had also proved abortive.

Ogbonna alleged that only the chairmen of bigger parties were allowed to have audience with Iwu.

He said that External Auditors from INEC, which audited the party's finances for 2007, issued a report on Sept. 23, 2008 and completely exonerated the executives of the party of any wrong doing in handling the party finances.

U.S. SUCCESSFUL POLL RENEWS CALL FOR INEC’S

The Imo State Chairman of the ANPP,  Vitalis Ajumbe, says the successful American presidential poll has renewed calls by Nigerians for a truly independent electoral body. ``The truly independent electoral body which successfully conducted the American poll with Barack Obama emerging victorious without delay has renewed the call for a credible electoral body in Nigeria ,'' he said.

 Ajumbe told the Newsmen in Owerri that for the Nigerian electoral body to be truly independent, its funding should be through statutory allocation. ``As against the practice for now, the body's funding should not be from the office of the President,'' he suggested. 

Commending outspoken Nigerians who had made useful suggestions to the Electoral Reform Committee, Ajumbe said that if Nigeria must copy and adopt American democracy it should be total, and not half way.  ‘` America has the best organized electoral process and what Americans are after is the person who has the best ideology and manifesto.  

``Obama won because his manifesto is what the Americans want, but in Nigeria we don't follow individual or party manifestos, and by extension no election holds, we only have selections,'' he said. The party chairman said Obama would not have won the election since he came from a minority race.

``The populace, the peasants were the people who brought their money to sponsor him, not the money-bags or wealthy companies as is the case in Nigeria .``The poorer people and majority say this is our candidate and were donating 50 dollars and 100 dollars. Before you knew it Obama, had had enough money to run his campaign. His victory comes from the people and not from the cabal,'' he said.

 Ajumbe called for the immediate dissolution of INEC, calling for the appointment of a fresh set of people with a new orientation who would start preparations immediately for the 2011 general elections. He said that the fire brigade approach to important national issues had caused the country great harm, pointing out that early preparations would ensure the emergence of true democracy.

 The ANPP leader advised that the positions of members of the new INEC board should be advertised in the national dailies and should not be by government appointment. ``This is to ensure due process and for the most qualified to be interviewed and selected, making the body truly independent of government interference.  ``If the government wants to assure Nigerians of credible polls in 2011, it should start plans immediately for the selection of a new INEC board,'' he said.

OYO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PASSES SUPPLEMENTARY BILL

The Oyo State House of Assembly has passed the twenty three point four billion naira 2008 supplementary Appropriation Bill. The bill was passed after its third reading on the floor of the House. The chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Adeboyega Abioye, said the bill would take care of the overall development in the state.

Abioye said money was also allocated to the education sector and for the welfare of workers in the supplementary appropriation bill. He said of the twenty three point four billion naira released, five hundred million naira was allocated to the state Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board.

AC SLAMS IWU OVER COMMENTS ON US ELECTIONS

The Action Congress (AC) has condemned the comment made by INEC Chairman Maurice Iwu over the US election, describing him as “a man who is either suffering from pangs of hallucination or teetering on the brink of instability” for daring to suggest that the US has a lot to learn from Nigeria on how to organise elections.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the statement, which Iwu reportedly made during a visit to President Umaru Yar’Adua on the same day Americans were voting peacefully, was calibrated to make Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations.

AC said the angry reactions to Iwu’s comments by the Nigerian online community have shown the danger in making such a careless statement.

``Just imagine this: A man who organised what has now emerged as the worst elections in the history of Nigeria, and perhaps that of the world, is now trying to teach the world’s greatest democracy the rudiments of elections. What a joke! it said.

The party added: ``No statement made by Iwu in the past has exposed his lack of seriousness and stability more than his comments on the US elections, and it is sad that this is the kind of man to whom we chose to entrust what should have been Nigeria’s own landmark elections in 2007.

``The fact that he made the statement after a visit to President Yar’Adua is even more embarrassing, and could be read to mean that what he said reflected the thinking of the President”, AC said.

The party said, for the  avoidance of doubt, that judging by the 2007 elections, no country - not the least the United States - has anything to learn from Nigeria beyond election rigging, violence, voter disenfranchisement, ballot box snatching  and vote stealing.

``It is unfortunate, that these are all we have bequeathed to the world after the 2007 elections, and it will remain so until we repudiate the Likes of Maurice Iwu and organise a free, fair and violence-free elections, it said.

Mercifully, the outcome of the US elections, which gave a well-deserved victory to Senator Barack Obama and made him the first Black President of the US, has put a lie to Iwu’s delusion, not minding the damage control now embarked upon by his lap-dog spokesperson.

In the meantime, we will like to renew our call for an immediate dissolution of INEC as it is presently constituted to prevent Iwu from continuing to embarrass Nigeria and to pave the way for the country to stage Elections of acceptable standards.

OBAMA CHOOSE CABINET MEMBERS

After the euphoria of historic election win U.S president-elect Barack Obama got down to choosing a presidential team that faces a mountain of problems, not least the Economic crisis and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Democrat ducked out of the limelight after becoming America’s first black president, but behind-the-scenes activity picked up with the formal creation of a team to handle his transition to power ahead of the January twenty inauguration.

Reports say Obama had asked combative congressman and former Clinton White House aide Rahm Emmanuel, to be his chief of staff, a vital post that helps set the tempo of the administration. Obama said his Economic advisers include Bill Clinton’s last Treasury secretary Larry Summers as well as former Federal Reserve chief Paul Volcker, and mega-rich investor Warren Buffett.

Another name is also being mentioned in the media for obama’s Economic overseer, Timothy Geithner, who as President of the New York Federal Reserve has been in charge of executing the U.S central bank’s sudden explosion of market activity.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: LEGISLATORS IN NIGERIA URGED TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT

A selected group of Nigerian Federal and State Legislators gathered in Abuja on Thursday to fashion out ways to make the Nigerian National assembly more result-oriented.

The conference was organized to correct the wrong perceptions about the functions of the National Assembly. Former President of the Nigerian Senate, Ken Nnamani who chaired the two-day conference called for greater Legislative transparency to enable Nigerians appreciate their role.

It was also agreed that Citizens, participation in the Nations Democratic development should go beyond election rituals. The two-day conference ends on Friday.

PAN, MANAGEMENT AT HOUSE PANEL

Peugeot Automobile Nigeria and the Mangement of the National Assembly say Festus Keyamo presented fake documents in Evidence at the on-going probe of allegations against the House Leadership. these formed parts of the testimony when they appeared before the House Ethics and Priviledges Committee on Wednesday.
05.11.08

PRESIDENT YAR’ADUA COMMENTS ON THE JUST CONCLUDED U.S ELECTION

The election of the Black American President has broken the greatest barrier of prejudice in Human history. Reacting to the election of Barack Obama in the U.S. Presidential election in the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday, President Yar’Adua said, Nigeria can draw lessons from the U.S. experience.

He said Ministers in his cabinet and other top public servants in Nigeria must drop prejudice arising from differences in the tribe and region existing in the country. He said they must move away from this old order and embrace the new one that is devoid of these differences.

While promising to examine closely the decision of Ministers and top government functionaries to ensure that they fall in line with the new order, President Yar’Adua said those that fail to meet up with this standard will be shown the way out.

The President also sent a congratulatory letter to the U.S. President Elect, Barack Obama pledging that he will work towards evolving stronger bi-lateral relations between Nigeria and the U.S.  Earlier the American President Elect, Barack Obama on phone to congratulate him for his victory.
05.11.08

NIGERIAN SENATE SAYS AMERICAN ELECTIONS, A LESSON FOR NIGERIAN ELECTORAL PROCESS

The Nigerian Senate says the conduct of the American Election that produced Barack Obama as President-Elect holds a lot of lessons for Nigeria’s electoral process. Senators spoke on Wednesday on a motion to congratulate the first African-American to emerge as president of the United States.
05.11.08

REACTIONS TO OBAMA’S VICTORY BY NIGERIANS

Nigerians have been reacting in two major ways to the victory of Barack Obama in the American Presidential Election. Many think it is worth celebrating while others say it should prompt the nation to reassess its electoral system.

OBAMA ELECTED AS THE 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE US

Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, sweeping away the last racial barrier in American politics with ease as the country chose him as its first black chief executive.

The election of Mr. Obama amounted to a national catharsis — a repudiation of a historically unpopular Republican president and his economic and foreign policies, and an embrace of Mr. Obama’s call for a change in the direction and the tone of the country.
But it was just as much a strikingly symbolic moment in the evolution of the nation’s fraught racial history, a breakthrough that would have seemed unthinkable just two years ago.

Mr. Obama, 47, a first-term senator from Illinois, defeated Senator John McCain of Arizona, 72, a former prisoner of war who was making his second bid for the presidency.

To the very end, Mr. McCain’s campaign was eclipsed by an opponent who was nothing short of a phenomenon, drawing huge crowds epitomized by the tens of thousands of people who turned out to hear Mr. Obama’s victory speech in Grant Park in Chicago.

Mr. McCain also fought the headwinds of a relentlessly hostile political environment, weighted down with the baggage left to him by President Bush and an economic collapse that took place in the middle of the general election campaign.

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer,” said Mr. Obama, standing before a huge wooden lectern with a row of American flags at his back, casting his eyes to a crowd that stretched far into the Chicago night.

“It’s been a long time coming,” the president-elect added, “but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment, change has come to America.”

Mr. McCain delivered his concession speech under clear skies on the lush lawn of the Arizona Biltmore, in Phoenix, where he and his wife had held their wedding reception. The crowd reacted with scattered boos as he offered his congratulations to Mr. Obama and saluted the historical significance of the moment.

“This is a historic election, and I recognize the significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight,” Mr. McCain said, adding, “We both realize that we have come a long way from the injustices that once stained our nation’s reputation.”

Not only did Mr. Obama capture the presidency, but he led his party to sharp gains in Congress. This puts Democrats in control of the House, the Senate and the White House for the first time since 1995, whenBill Clintonwas in office.

The day shimmered with history as voters began lining up before dawn, hours before polls opened, to take part in the culmination of a campaign that over the course of two years commanded an extraordinary amount of attention from the American public.

As the returns became known, and Mr. Obama passed milestone after milestone —Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Iowa and New Mexico — people rolled spontaneously into the streets to celebrate what many described, with perhaps overstated if understandable exhilaration, a new era in a country where just 143 years ago, Mr. Obama, as a black man, could have been owned as a slave.

For Republicans, especially the conservatives who have dominated the party for nearly three decades, the night represented a bitter setback and left them contemplating where they now stand in American politics.
Mr. Obama and his expanded Democratic majority on Capitol Hill now face the task of governing the country through a difficult period: the likelihood of a deep and prolonged recession, and two wars. He took note of those circumstances in a speech that was notable for its sobriety and its absence of the triumphalism that he might understandably have displayed on a night when he won an Electoral College landslide.

The road ahead will be long, our climb will be steep,” said Mr. Obama, his audience hushed and attentive, with some, including the Rev.Jesse Jackson, wiping tears from their eyes. “We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there.” The roster of defeated Republicans included some notable party moderates, like Senator John E. Sununu of New Hampshire and Representative Christopher Shays of Connecticut, and signaled that the Republican conference convening early next year in Washington will be not only smaller but more conservative.

Mr. Obama will come into office after an election in which he laid out a number of clear promises: to cut taxes for most Americans, to get the United States out of Iraq in a fast and orderly fashion, and to expand health care.

In a recognition of the difficult transition he faces, given the economic crisis, Mr. Obama is expected to begin filling White House jobs as early as this week.
Mr. Obama defeated Mr. McCain in Ohio, a central battleground in American politics, despite a huge effort that brought Mr. McCain and his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, back there repeatedly. Mr. Obama had lost the state decisively to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York in the Democratic primary.

Mr. McCain failed to take from Mr. Obama the two Democratic states that were at the top of his target list: New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Mr. Obama also held on to Minnesota, the state that played host to the convention that nominated Mr. McCain; Wisconsin; and Michigan, a state Mr. McCain once had in his sights.

The apparent breadth of Mr. Obama’s sweep left Republicans sobered, and his showing in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania stood out because officials in both parties had said that his struggles there in the primary campaign reflected the resistance of blue-collar voters to supporting a black candidate.
“I always thought there was a potential prejudice factor in the state,” Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat of Pennsylvania who was an early Obama supporter, told reporters in Chicago. “I hope this means we washed that away.”Mr. McCain called Mr. Obama at 10 p.m., Central time, to offer his congratulations. In the call, Mr. Obama said he was eager to sit down and talk; in his concession speech, Mr. McCain said he was ready to help Mr. Obama work through difficult times.

“I need your help,” Mr. Obama told his rival, according to an Obama adviser, Robert Gibbs. “You’re a leader on so many important issues.” Mr. Bush called Mr. Obama shortly after 10 p.m. to congratulate him on his victory. “I promise to make this a smooth transition,” the president said to Mr. Obama, according to a transcript provided by the White House .“You are about to go on one of the great journeys of life. Congratulations, and go enjoy yourself.”

For most Americans, the news of Mr. Obama’s election came at 11 p.m., Eastern time, when the networks, waiting for the close of polls in California, declared him the victor. A roar sounded from the 125,000 people gathered in Hutchison Field in Grant Park at the moment that they learned Mr. Obama had been projected the winner.

The scene in Phoenix was decidedly more sour. At several points, Mr. McCain, unsmiling, had to motion his crowd to quiet down — he held out both hands, palms down — when they responded to his words of tribute to Mr. Obama with boos.
Mr. Obama, who watched Mr. McCain’s speech from his hotel room in Chicago, offered a hand to voters who had not supported him in this election, when he took the stage 15 minutes later. “To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn,” he said, “I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president, too.”

Initial signs were that Mr. Obama benefited from a huge turnout of voters, but particularly among blacks. That group made up 13 percent of the electorate, according to surveys of people leaving the polls, compared with 11 percent in 2006.

In North Carolina, Republicans said that the huge surge of African-Americans was one of the big factors that led to SenatorElizabeth Dole, a Republican, losing her re-election bid. Mr. Obama also did strikingly well among Hispanic voters; Mr. McCain did worse among those voters than Mr. Bush did in 2004. That suggests the damage the

Republican Party has suffered among those voters over four years in which Republicans have been at the forefront on the effort to crack down on illegal immigrants.

The election ended what by any definition was one of the most remarkable contests in American political history, drawing what was by every appearance unparalleled public interest. Throughout the day, people lined up at the polls for hours — some showing up before dawn — to cast their votes. Aides to both campaigns said that anecdotal evidence suggested record-high voter turnout. Reflecting the intensity of the two candidates, Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama took a page from what Mr. Bush did in 2004 and continued to campaign after the polls opened.

Mr. McCain left his home in Arizona after voting early Tuesday to fly to Colorado and New Mexico, two states where Mr. Bush won four years ago but where Mr. Obama waged a spirited battle. These were symbolically appropriate final campaign stops for Mr. McCain, reflecting the imperative he felt of trying to defend Republican states against a challenge from Mr. Obama.

“Get out there and vote,” Mr. McCain said in Grand Junction, Colo. “I need your help. Volunteer, knock on doors, get your neighbors to the polls, drag them there if you need to.”

By contrast, Mr. Obama flew from his home in Chicago to Indiana, a state that in many ways came to epitomize the audacity of his effort this year. Indiana has not voted for a Democrat since President Lyndon B. Johnson’s ’s landslide victory in 1964, and Mr. Obama made an intense bid for support there. He later returned home to Chicago play basketball, his election-day ritual.

NIGERIAN SENATE MOVES TO CURB UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES

The Nigerian Senate has begun moves to curb unfair trade practices in Nigeria. The Senate Committee on Commerce at a meeting with the country’s organized private sector decried the adverse effects of imported goods on Nigerian Industries. The committee on works also met with official of Nigeria’s Ministry of Transportation to find solution to the deteriorating state of the Niger Bridge.

The concern of the Senate Committee is the dwindling fortunes of the real sector of Nigeria’s Economy. The meeting between the committee and the organized private sector was to examine the adverse effects of unfair trade practices usually perpetrated by foreign business concerns operating in Nigeria.

A bill that seeks to tackle the challenges of unfair competition in Nigeria has already passed second reading and is at the committee state where the provisions are being fine tuned. At a session between the works committee and officials of the transportation Ministry, the state of the existing Niger Bridge was the focus of discussion.

The Senate committee is also worried that the concessioning agreement between the Nigerian Government and GITTO Construction for the construction of the second Niger Bridge was yet to be fine tuned. The Senate had earlier at plenary considered the report of the Power Committee on a bill that seeks to establish a development commission for hydroelectric power producing states.
04.11.08

IWU CARPETS US ELECTORAL SYSTEM

As voting begins in the United States Presidential election today, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Morris Iwu, says the Nigeria's electoral system maybe ahead of that of U.S. Iwu told state house correspondents in Abuja after a meeting with President Umaru Yar ‘Adua that the Americans have a lot to learn from Nigeria.

He said the U.S could borrow Nigeria's practice of holding elections in one day and use of a detailed voters register. Under the U.S system, voting is spread over a Two week period and voters are accredited, using identification system other than the voters register.  

NIGERIAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DENIES VEHICLE JAMBOREE ALLEGATIONS

The leadership of Nigeria’s House of Representatives has denied that the house engaged in extravagance, buying bullet proof vehicles amounting to N333.5m for principal officers. The House says the purchase is in line with the provision of the revenue mobilization allocation and fiscal commission duly provided for in the 2008 appropriation act.

The attention of the House of Representatives has been drawn to various newspaper reports on Sunday November 2, 2008 on the purchase of convoy vehicles for the office of the Speaker and other principal officers of the House. According to the Revenue and Fiscal Mobilisation Act, the President, Vice President , Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are to be provided with a stipulated number of vehicles in their convoy. These vehicles are not private vehicles of the officers concerned but government property for any occupier of the office.

These purchases were in the 2008 budget. The cost of the cars purchased which are yet to be supplied were all purchased at prices below what is contained in the 2008 Budget. He concluded the denial by saying that the official travels of the Speaker or any other principal officers of the House is covered in the Appropriation Act and there is nothing corrupt about entitlements of principals. He called on Nigerians to disregard this concerted attempt at all cost to disturb the peace and progress of the House.
03.11.08

ZIMBAMWE DEADLOCK:  NIGERIANS WANT LESS TALK AND MORE ACTION

With the failed attempts to negotiate a power sharing agreement in Zimbabwe, A cross section of political watchers have called for a tougher line of action as means of drawing President Robert Mugabe and members of the opposition movement for democratic change towards signing the deal. Nigerian’s Foreign Affairs Minister also wants greater commitment on breaking the deadlock caused by a disagreement over control of key Ministers.

The power sharing deal in which opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was to become Prime Minister was signed with President Robert Mugabe on September 15, 2008. The agreement was also to pave way for a fair allocation of sensitive Ministries like Foreign Affairs, Defence and Home Affairs which oversees the Police Affairs.

The Crisis got to its present level following the controversial reelection of President Mugabe in June this year. Tsangirai had led the movement for Democratic Change to a controversial simple majority over Mugabe in March, but boycotted the June rerun for fear of violence and manipulation.

The major source of the current deadlock is the control of Home Affairs Ministry which is in charge of the Police; accused of being a major tool of oppression in the hands of Mugabe’s Zanu PF party. While some Foreign affairs analysts are of the opinion that the intervention of Southern African Development Community as recommended by UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, is not enough , others including Bostwana President, Seretse Khama want a fresh internationally supervised election to resolve the deadlock.

However, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister believes nothing can be achieved if the parties to the conflictare not committed to the resolution. Meanwhile the opposition Movement for Democratic Change has cried out that the deadlock has attracted violent attacks on  its members by Zanu PF Militias and may fuel further tension in volatile towns.

What apparently matter to the common Zimbabwean in the midst of the political crisis is a sustainable resolution that will refocus the attention of politicians to addressing the acute food and other essential commodities shortages, the decay in the Education and Health Sectors as well as Water and Power outages.
03.11.08

RUPIAH SWORN IN AS THE PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA

Zambian leader Rupiah Banda has been sworn in as the President of Copper Rich Country, Zambia. He narrowly won the Presidential election whose result the main opposition party says it will challenge in court.

Banda, a pro-business centrist won 40.1 percent of the 1.79 million votes cast, according to results released by Zambia’s election commission. The leader of the patriotic and main challenger Michael Sata polled 38.1 percent.A third candidate took the bulk of the remaining votes. Chief justice Ernest Sakala had declared the results on Sunday.   

SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOUTH-EAST EROSION

Several communities in Imo state, South-East Nigeria have become victims of devastating effects of gully erosion. Some of the villages in Imo North and East have been cut off as roads linking them to the rest of the world have been rendered impassable. The Nigerian Senate has begun a process of drawing the attention of the Federal Government to environmental challenges confronting communities.

Gully erosion is the most devastating environmental problem ravaging several communities in Nigeria’s South-East geopolitical zone. At Nnekede Town in Owerri West Local Government of Imo State several roads and buildings are washed away by severe flooding that usually create gullies.

The Senate Committee on environment visited some of the devastated sites with a view to ascertaining the level of environmental degradation. Senator Bert who led the Senate Committee in her capacity as chairman gave an assurance that affected communities, Sylvester Anyanwu while commending the environment committee for the visit called on the Nigerian Government to take steps to correct this development quickly.

Indeed, urgent steps are required as school children who live in the affected communities may face the risk of dropping out of school due to the threat of being drowned whenever it rained.
31.10.08

FG VOWS TO TACKLE ACTIVITIES OF KIDNAPPERS  THROUGH LEGISLATION

The Federal Government has vowed to deal ruthlessly with anyone or group of people caught in the act of kidnapping innocent citizens in the country. The Vice President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, gave the warning in Lagos, Friday, while delivering a paper entitled 'The Niger Delta: A Future Assured’’ as part of activities to mark the 65th anniversary of the Island Club of Lagos. He said the Federal Government had already commenced the  process of putting in place a strong policy and relevant  legislations to arrest the problem. ``We feel that so far, our laws are not hard enough to handle such cases and very soon Government will come up with pronouncement  that must stop this criminality,' he said.  Jonathan said that the government was determined and committed to stop the spread  of what he described as 'commercial kidnapping'.
 
``If we allow what is happening in the Niger Delta,  Anambra and Abia States to cross to Lagos, then  we are in trouble because Lagos State is very critical to us.  'Government is committed and we will soon come up with pronouncement on this, we must stop it,' he said.  The Vice President reiterated the Federal  Government’s commitment in ensuring that the sound of gunfire in the Niger Delta would become a thing of the past. He said that anger and frustration of the people would  be brought under the control of hope and opportunity. 'The Niger Delta I want to show you is one in which after fifty years of oil, the promise of good governance and accountability is a welcome reality,' he said.
  
He, however, stressed that government alone could not achieve an effective and long lasting resolution of the crises of underdevelopment in
the Niger Delta. Jonathan noted with delight ``the already great  signals from the states of the Niger Delta, regarding peace-building and peace-keeping'.

'We must encourage those who have demonstrated courage in taking the hard decisions at difficult times regardless of politics,' he said. In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Island  Club, Chief Olufemi Adeniyi-Williams, described the  anniversary lecture topic as appropriate, noting that it  was an issue that had been agitating the country.  He observed that the visit of the Vice President to the Club was in continuation of a tradition which started 65 years ago.

Adeniyi-Willians further stated that the Club  had been providing a veritable Pan-Nigerian meeting point for the elite in the society. He said that the club also served as a platform for notable  pronouncements, consultation and agenda setting by government, the business elite and the diplomatic community. In a message to the occasion, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said the state government  would continue to collaborate with the club in ensuring rapid transformation of the State. The governor, represented by the State Commissioner for Special Duty, Mr Tola Kasali, assured that the state government would continue to support the Club 

MINISTERS SACK: REACTIONS FROM VILLA

Reactions have continued to trail Wednesday’s sack of twenty ministers by President Umaru Yar’Adua. Visitors to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday said the cabinet reshuffle will fast track the implementation of the president’s seven point agenda.

The dropping of twenty ministers by President Umaru Yar’Adua did not come to many Nigerians as a surprise. The President had some few months back given an indication of the cabinet reshuffle. Several visitors to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja told newsmen that the cabinet shake-up is not only timely, but that it will help speed up the implementation of the administration’s seven point agenda.

The question on the lips of Nigerians is when will President Yar’Adua send the names of the replacement of the sacked ministers to the National Assembly? President Yar’Adua’s National Assembly Liaison chief, Mohammed Abba-Aji says it could be anytime. Abba-Aji also said the appointment of supervisory ministers will prevent gaps in government’s business.
30.10.08

THE NIGERIAN SENATE APPROVES 2008 SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILL

The Nigerian Senate Thursday approved the 2008 supplementary appropriation bill of six hundred and eighty three point three billion naira. The supplementary proposal, which was read the second time at Wednesday’s plenary, was passed without amendment of the figures proposed by the executive. The Senate could not agree on a motion that seeks to amend its standing rules.

The supplementary appropriation bill was passed immediately after it was presented by the chairman, committee on appropriation, Iyiola Omisore and seconded by Senator Ayogu Eze. No debate was taken on the committee report as it was the thinking of the Senate leadership that the demand of the executive was not outrageous. But there are Senators even among the leadership who believe all was not well with the nation’s budgeting process.

Senator Olorunimbe Mamora who sponsored the amendment to Senate standing order111 wants the Senate to expunge sub section two as he believes the order is at variance with legislative best practices and section sixty four, sub-section one of the 1999 constitution.

The said section which has turned out to be controversial allows the senate to inherit unfinished business of previous legislative house whose life has expired. Mamora thought he meant well, but he was obviously on the same page with his colleagues.

Even those who had appended their signature to the document, turned their back on the two-time senator. If Mamora eventually wins the argument he may still have to contend with the requirement of two-third majority of the Senate to see the amendment through.
30.10.08

MINISTERS SACK: REACTIONS FROM THE NIGERIAN SENATE

Reactions have begun to trail Wednesday’s shake-up in the Federal Executive Council, in which twenty cabinet members were relieved of their appointment by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Senators who spoke on the development say the action was long overdue.

For more than three months, Nigerians had speculated on a possible dissolution of the federal cabinet. President Yar’Adua on Wednesday evening put paid to the speculation which has led to several rumours, as he made public the sack of twenty out of the 42-member council of ministers.

For Senator Ayogu Eze, PDP, Enugu North and Bala Mohammed, ANPP, Bauchi South, the President’s action is a welcome development. Senators Grace Bent, PDP, Adamawa South and Adego Eferakaya PDP, Delta Central, agree with the views of expressed by Eze and Mohammed. They say the redundancy that has characterized certain government businesses in the past one year warrants thoroughness by the senate when it will confirm the next batch of ministers. The list of the new Ministerial nominees is yet to be submitted to the Senate.
30.10.08

NIGERIA’S CABINET SHAKE-UP: THOSE AFFECTED

Nigeria’s President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has dropped twenty of his Ministers. This decision was announced at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, (29-10-08). Ministers relieved of their appointments are as follows:

Adamu Maina Waziri, Charles Ugwu, Ahmed Garba Bichi, Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu, Jerry Anthony Agada, Fatima Balaraba Ibrahim, Emmanuel Olatunde Odusina, Halima Tayo Alao, Aliyu Modibbo Umar, John James Apanudoedehe, Tijani Yahaya Kaura, Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, Alhaji Haruna Hassan, Sarafa Tunji Isola, Ahmed Mohammed Gusau, Felix Hyatt, John Okechukwu Emeka, Saudatu Usman Bungudu, Mohammed Sanusi Daggash, Abdulrahman Hassan Gimba.

A statement made by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Olusegun Adeniyi, says Demola Seriki, Minister of State for Agriculture and Water Resources will serve as supervising Minister for the Federal Capital Territory Administration. The president also directed Demola Seriki, Minister of State for Agriculture and Water Resources to serve as supervising Minister for the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. While Aliyu Hong, Minister of State, Culture and Tourism takes charge of Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
30.10.08

MONEY IN POLITICS: CONTROLLING FINANCING

The need for the Media and civil Society to intensify pressure on Anti-graft Agencies and Nigeria’s electoral body to check excessive use of money to influence election financing forum on Thursday in Abuja, the Nigerian Capital. The forum which was organized by the International Foundation for Election Systems, IFES, also advocated the need for effective voter Education and Internal Transparency in Political parties as a way out.

The use of money to manipulate the electorate has been a common practice in Nigeria like other developing Countries. The predominant argument appears to be that the problem has continued to thrive not because of the absence of relevant laws, but due to weak monitoring and enforcement, as well as poverty and ignorance of the voters.

However some political analysts have argued that the electoral body and anti-graft agencies cannot win the war until the electorates are adequately enlightened to get their political priorities right. It is believed that if the trend is not nipped in the bud, the problem of bad leadership which is considered Africa’s biggest challenge will continue with attendant socio-economic hardships experienced by the populace.

ZAMBIANS GO TO POLLS TO ELECT MWANAWASA’S SUCCESSOR

Voter s in Zambia headed to the polls to elect a new President. Zambia is regarded as one of Africa’s political success stories and the poll is holding following the death of reform-minded president Levy Mwanwasa. The winner faces a formidable task in matching Mwanawasa’s strong record of fiscal discipline and crack down on corruption. Mwanawasa died from a stroke in August after leading Zambia out of an economic slump and making the country one of Africa’s most stable economies.

Acting President Rupiah Banda, a prominent businessman with wide Government experience, has campaigned as a steady hand who can keep Mwanawasa’s business-friendly policies going in the world’s 10th largest copper producer.His main challenger, Michael Sata, leader of opposition patriotic front, portrays himself as a champion of the poor. The only published opinion poll, released by the African market information group, Steadman, showed Banda with 32 percent support compared to 46 percent for Sata.

Both Candidates have vowed to take on huge challenges facing Zambia. The vote may also be a test of Zambia’s commitment to multi-party democracy, restored in 1990 after 18 Years of One-party rule under Kenneth Kaunda. Zambia’s Army chief said on Wednesday(29-10-08) that election related violence would not be tolerated.  

NIGERIAN SENATE ON 2008 SUPPLEMANTARY BUDGET

With just about two months to the end of the 2008 fiscal year, members of the Nigerian Senate at Wednesday’s plenary expressed concern over the level of the budget. While contributing to the debate on the 2008 supplementary appropriation bill they disagreed with the desirability of the supplementary proposal.

The bill was still read the second time and committed to the appropriation committee for processing. President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua in the 2008 supplementary appropriation bill is asking the legislators to authorise the issue from the consolidated revenue fund of the federation. The total sum of six hundred and eighty three point three billion naira (N683.3b). lots of this amount; four hundred and sixty three billion naira is for capital expenditure.

While the balance of two hundred and twenty point two four billion will be spent on recurrent none debt responsibilities of government. The critical aspects of the bill include the power sector which will gulp two hundred and eighty eight point two billion naira and proposed payment to local contractors which amounts to fifty billion naira.

The bill was read the second time and committed to the appropriation committee where it is expected to receive accelerated processing. The sponsor of the bill to prohibit electronic fraud, Ayo Arise said the crime affects all segments of the society an d as such must be checked in good time. At the senate hearing room one, eleven ambassadorial nominees were screened by the committee on foreign affairs.

The NAtional Assembly had last week approved an ammendment to the 2008 budget and brought the figure down from 2.7trillion to 2.45trillion naira.
29.10.08