Politics
“High Cost Of Governance, Recipe For Under Dev”
Rivers State was created on May 27, 1967 by a military Decree and by 1996, Bayelsa State was carved out of it. However, agitation for the creation of Rivers State predated Nigeria’s independence from Britain in 1960. During the Colonial period. Britain signed many treaties of protection with the chiefs of many coastal communities.
Some of these chiefs had hoped that with Nigeria’s independence, the treaties of protection they signed with Britain would also lapse and thus, they would become independent states. The 1958 constitutional conference which affirmed Nigerian nationhood dashed that hope, but agreed on some measures to allay the fears of the ethnic minorities in this area.
Between 1941 and 1952, an organization known as the izo Rivers People’s League had agitted for the creation of a distinct Rivers Province in 1953, another body called the Council of Rivers Chief People Conference in 1956. The leaders of this organization cooperated with the Calabar Ogaja Rivers (COR) State Movement formed in Uyo in December 1953, but later broke away to press their own case before the Willink commission.
To allay the fears of the minorities under the dominant ethnic groups within the Nigerian nationhood, the British made one import and concession by setting up a Commission headed by Sir Henry Willink to look into the misgivings of the ethnic minorities. The Willink Commission recommended the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB) to address the problem of underdevelopment of the area.
Surprisingly that board did not meet the aspirations of the people and thus, some people attempted to take the extra-legal means to achieve their goal. In February 1966, Isaac Boro, Sam Owonaro and Nottingham Dick with their supporters proclaimed a “Delta Peoples Republic.” Federal and Eastern Nigeria Governments brought this rebellion to an abrupt end. On May 27, 1967, Rivers State was among the twelve States created by the Gen Yakubu Gowon Regime.
The cries of political marginalization, environmental degradation and economic pauperization continued among the Ijaws, such that the Old Ijaw province was carved out of Rivers State as a distinct Bayelsa State in 1996 by the Abacha led military government of Nigeria.
The cries of political marginalization, environmental degradation and economic pauperization continued among the Ijaws, such that the Old Ijaw province was carved out of Rivers State as a distinct Bayelsa State in 1996 by the Abacha led military government of Nigeria.
But after the civilians took power in 1999, through a democratic process, Rivers State has not been able to meet those aspirations it suppose to have met after many years of civilian rules in the state.
Baring his mind on Nigeria’s Democracy, the leader of the Movement for the survival of Ogoni people, (MOSOP), Mr. Ledum Mitee, said in some aspect the country may have done as much as it would have done, in terms of freedom of speech, people can express themselves, press relatively free and delections were done and not military exerting force against everybody, even in terms of human rights, we have gone a step ahead but, still believed that in terms of translating the devidends and benefits that democracy offers the ordinary people, I’m not sure that we have gotten there yet. There were times that people living in the Diobu area use to turn the tap and water runs in their various yards, but today that is not the case, people now use pure water or sink a borehole, that is not good enough for a country like Nigeria. The public schools were not in good shapes until few years. The schools then looked like museum that have been abandoned for ages, thanks for the efforts of this government in Rivers State with the edifice that could be point to that there is still public schools.
Apart from the social amenities which has been absent even before the democratic process in the country, Mitee said, the government have not looked at the Agriculture and way of empowering the young ones. They have not explored enough Agriculture. The country have not reach where it supposed to reach in terms of farming, but unfortunately, the nation was still depending on the people who are toiling on their own pace, and we are getting nothing for it, and that adds to the poverty. In the past Rivers State Government use to have produce board, this board guarantee price. We also use to have palm plantations, rubber plantations but I think, since oil came, we completely dealt deathblow to all those things, our children who are growing up do not know what palm plantations are and why they even exited.
In terms of industry, the country, lendership open floodgatefor all sort of goods from every where, and so industries are completely dead, come and think of what had happened to Michelin some years ago, the company used to offer jobs to people and this was because they could produce tires and people could buy, and the company offered jobs for some thousands of people because they could do tyres and prople would buy them and it offered employments to a lots of people. Trans Amadi use to bubble of activities and several people were employed in various companies at Trans Amadi now the economy has sunk to the level, the factories have all gone and churches have taken over as a means of employment, he said.
He noted that one of the causes of the do or die politics in Nigeria is the lucrative nature and the high stake of the political offices, explaining that society have no longer value for professionals and role modes.
According to him, “you see somebody whom have no qualifications but as soon as he becomes a councilor, he earns more than a professor and Medical Doctor who have spent years of learning. “So, we have averted the value of society. If I may ask who are the people who are as role modes now in society, would you think of a medical doctor who have spent about 8 years in the university, trying to do the little that can save lives, or would you think of a university professor, who have gone through all the years learning, no one thinks of them as role models any longer, we are thinking of how to be councilors or politicians. Some even apply to be a political thugs, because that is what is obtainable.
He also said the cause of running governance in Nigeria is also expensive, stressing that it has also contributed to the underdevelopment of the nation. “If you take a look at the amount the legislators are taking, you would be surprise at the cost of governance. If there is a reduction in those areas, there would be sufficient money to handle social security, government can pay every person N10,000 monthly, if even the person has no job. This would make them not to engage in criminal activities. It happens in other countries, I believe that if all these combinations are put in place, we can now say we are geting the real benefits of democracy.
Stressing further, Mitee said government can as well buy jobs for its youth, adding that some countries do it.
He noted that the idea was to secure future for the coming generations but regretted that Nigeria is not thinking towards that direction and does not give attentions to its youths a situation he said was not a welcome development.
He said as Governor Chibuike Amaechi is about to commence the second phase of his administration, he should consolidate on what he has done in the past four years and try to connect the people with what had happened instead, “He has built schools, he should get teachers, not only getting teachers but also putting the system on check through supervision.” This, he said would help create a system that would work and punish the bad eggs.
According to him, “You can put such edifices’ and then have some class of people who would ruin the good job that he has started.
He advised, Amaechi to be thinking more of a legacy, “By now he should have settled those he owed last section. This is his last lap and the time that he owes himself a legacy. It is something that they would remember him of long after people have forgotten who built roads.
On the conduct of the last general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the MOSOP leader noted he was not sure we are there yet but said, “you do not expect a leap from zero to hero just one night,” He noted that the problem does not lie on the INEC, but the mentality and attitude of the people to what is being done. In this respect, we could look at the self imposed urgency we gave ourselves, after the 2007 elections. Late Musa Yar’Adua acknowledged that the 2007 elections was not good enough and proposed for an electoral reforms, but regretted that nothing started until few months to the elections, so I think to build on what had happened 2011 election we should start now to amend any area that needs amendment in the electoral law and not to wait till the next election before thinking of having a law. “We give ourselves imposed urgency and I think it is not too good.”
Politics
Reps Seeks To Retain Immunity For President Only
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed, through a second reading, a bill seeking to retain immunity for the Office of the President and remove immunity from the Vice President, the Governors and the Deputy Governors.
The bill was one of the 42 considered and passed through the second reading stage during plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Benjamin Kalu, in Abuja.
Sponsored by Hon. Solomon Bob (Rivers PDP), the bill is seeking the amendment of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution to guard against abuse of office and to ensure transparency in governance.
The long title of the proposed legislation read: “A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to qualify the immunity conferred on the President, remove the immunity conferred on the Vice President, the Governors and their deputies, in order to curb corruption, eradicate impunity and enhance accountability in public office and for related matters.”
Key amendments include changes to Section 308 of the Constitution, which currently grants immunity to the president, vice president, governors, and deputy governors while in office.
The proposed bill will amend subsection 3 to ensure that immunity only applies to the President and the vice president when acting as President under Section 145 of the Constitution.
Additionally, a new subsection 4 will be introduced to make the immunity clause inapplicable if the office holder is acting in an unofficial capacity, engaging in actions beyond the powers of the office, or involved in criminal conduct.
“The bill seeks to foster transparency and strengthen the fight against corruption by making public officials more accountable for their actions, both in and out of office.”
“Section 308 of the principal Act is amended by:(a) substituting a new subsection (3) as follows: “(3) This section applies to a person holding the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Vice President only when acting as President, in line with Section 145 of this Constitution.
Creating sub section (4) thereto as follows:”(4) The foregoing provisions of this section shall be inapplicable where the person to whom this section applies is acting in an unofficial capacity or where the conduct of the person is beyond the powers of his office or the conduct is criminal in nature.
“This Bill may be cited as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Act 2024.
The bill is currently awaiting further debate and consideration by the National Assembly.
Politics
Recall From NASS: INEC Confirms Petitioners’ Contact Details Receipt, Notifies Natasha
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has written to notify Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, about the petition by constituents seeking her recall from the national assembly.
INEC said it has also received the contact details of the petitioners.
“Pursuant to section 69 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, I write to notify you of the receipt of a petition from representatives of registered voters in your constituency seeking your recall from the senate.
“The notification is in line with the provisions of clause 2 (a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.
“This letter is also copied to the presiding officer of the senate and simultaneously published on the commission’s website. Thank you”, the letter read.
The letter was signed by Ruth Oriaran Anthony, secretary to the commission.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Wednesday, INEC said it has now received the updated contact details from representatives of petitioners seeking to recall the senator.
In the statement, Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, said a letter notifying the senator of the petition has been delivered to her official address, copied to the senate presiding officer, and published on the commission’s website.
“The next step is to scrutinise the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners to ascertain that the petition is signed by more than one half (over 50%) of the registered voters in the constituency. This will be done in the coming days.
“The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the Commission. We once again reassure Nigerians that the process will be open and transparent”, Mr Olumekun said.
Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan had recently accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexually harassing her.
The allegation came in the wake of seating arrangement related altercation between Senator. Akpabio and the Kogi Central senator at the red chamber
She was subsequently suspended from the senate for six months for “gross misconduct” over the incident.
The constituents behind the recall move also accused her of “gross misconduct, abuse of office, and deceitful behaviour”.
The senator has denied wrongdoing and called the recall effort a “coordinated suppression” of her voice.
Politics
Bill To Upgrade Lagos LCDAs To LGAs Pass Second Reading
The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the second reading of a bill to upgrade the Lagos State 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to full-fledged Local Government Areas (LGAs ).
The bill, was sponsored by James Faleke, Babajimi Benson, Enitan Badru, and 19 other lawmakers.
The bill is titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Accommodate the Thirty-Seven (37) Development Area Councils of Lagos State as Full-Fledged Local Government Areas, Increasing the Total Number of Local Government Areas in the Federation to Eight Hundred and Eleven (811), and for Related Matters (HB. 1498),”
Once fully enacted, Nigeria’s total number of LGAs will rise from 774 to 811, with Lagos overtaking Kano and Katsina, which currently have 44 and 34 LGAs, respectively.
Proponents of the bill argue that granting full LGA status to the LCDAs would bring governance closer to the people. The 37 LCDAs were created by President Bola Tinubu in 2003 when he was governor of Lagos State.
However, it’s worth noting that the Lagos State House of Assembly has been working on a bill to replace the 37 LCDAs with newly designated administrative areas.