Politics
2023: Onovo Condemns Emefiele, Jonathan Over Alleged Presidential Aspirations
Head, Policy Positions, Movement For Fundamental Change (MFC), Chief Martin Onovo, has said that the plan by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and the ‘rumoured’ move by former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2023 Presidency under the All Progressives Congress (APC) reflect the national ethical and moral ambience which signposts the collapse of the nation’s constitutional values.
Onovo, who was the Presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in 2015 spoke with The Tide source on Saturday, stating that the actions of both men were a reflection of the incompetence and corruption of the President Muhammadu Buhari regime that tolerates deviations from normal democratic and moral norms.
Onovo, a political activist and engineer, who cut his political teeth under the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, stated: “Both situations reflect our national ethical and moral ambience, which is the collapse of our constitutional value system.
“They also reflect the incompetence and corruption of the Buhari regime that tolerates all these deviations.”
Onovo, said that the CBN Act requires the Buhari regime to seek the consent of the Senate to remove Mr Emefiele from office based on what he considered a case of serious misconduct.
He stated: “The Buhari regime has as usual failed in his responsibility to protect the institution of the CBN from Mr Emefiele’s destructive games.
“This same Buhari regime prosecuted the innocent former Chief Justice of Nigeria and the former Senate President at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), but has failed to take any actions against Mr Emefiele because the regime places its partisan interests above our national interests.
“This same Mr Emefiele has failed frighteningly in all his duties as CBN Governor. He was also a senior banking executive when many Nigerian banks were distressed, leading to the Sanusi reforms.”
Onovo stressed that the Constitution of Nigeria provides in Section 23 that, ‘The national ethics shall be Discipline, Integrity, Dignity of Labour, Social Justice, Religious Tolerance, Self-reliance and Patriotism’.
“The actions of Mr. Emefiele clearly amount to indiscipline and serious misconduct, which should be punished with removal from office and prosecution at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
“The CBN Act provides for the independence of the CBN. By his membership of the ruling party, Mr. Emefiele is subject to the ruling party and has therefore compromised the independence of the CBN in very clear violation of the CBN Act.
“He is by that fact liable for serious misconduct. Immediate removal from office and prosecution at the Code of Conduct Tribunal will be corrective in this case.”
Onovo stressed that the Public Service Rules prohibits all public officers from participation in partisan politics and also from any other act unbecoming of a public officer.
“By his membership of the APC, Mr. Emefiele is participating in partisan politics and is engaged in an act unbecoming of a public officer. Removal, investigation, probe of his tenure and prosecution are appropriate,” he added.
On former President Jonathan, Onovo noted that he (Jonathan) had publicly dissociated himself from the purchase of the APC Intent and Nominations forms.
“Otherwise, we could have accused him of treachery against the Southern and Middle Belt Forum,” he stressed.
Mr Rhodes-Vivour expressed concern over the development, saying a dangerous precedent was being set.
He said: “What we witnessed at the House of Assembly represents a troubling pattern where might is increasingly valued over right. This forceful seizure of the legislative chambers undermines the very foundations of our democracy and sends a disturbing message about how power is wielded in our state.”
Mr Rhodes-Vivour criticised the ruling party in Lagos, accusing it of systematically promoting thuggery and violence over ideas.
He argued that such actions have eroded public trust in governance and weakened democratic values that should preserve the rule of law.
He said: “For too long, Lagos politics has been defined by intimidation rather than inspiration, by coercion rather than conviction. The ruling party has consistently demonstrated a willingness to use force to have its way notwithstanding the popular will of the people.”
Mr Rhodes-Vivour urged Lagosians to take the current crisis as a wake-up call ahead of future elections, saying voters should prioritise candidates who demonstrate character, competence and compassion regardless of party affiliation.
“The quality of our democracy depends entirely on the quality of individuals we elect to represent us. Lagosians deserve leaders who view public office as a sacred trust rather than a platform for personal aggrandizement”, he said.
In a statement, signed by its spokesman, Mr Chika Adiele, the group warned that the judiciary would be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in Rivers State.
They expressed shock over the verdict, warning that it could disrupt the peace and development efforts of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The statement read in part: “The attention of the pan-Niger Delta Youths Empowerment Forum, under the leadership of Comrade Maobu Nangi Obu, has been drawn to the shocking verdict of the Supreme Court of Nigeria ordering seizure of Rivers State’s allocation. This is nothing short of economic sabotage against Rivers people.
“The apex Niger Delta youths body is dismayed by the infantile antics of anti-democratic forces whose stock in trade is brewing crisis in a bid to topple the people’s Governor. We firmly condemn this judgement as it is against the tenet of the constitution of Nigeria.
“It is an invitation to war and against equity, justice, and fair play. We equally condemn the order nullifying the local government election as reckless and vindictive.
“Unfortunately, the justices of the Supreme Court positioned themselves as a party to the suit rather than impartial arbiters of justice.”
They urged Nigerians to note that the principle of democracy is rooted in sound constitutional pronouncements with a view to establishing justice. “Therefore, any attempt by the enemies of Rivers people to seize power by judicial fiat will be resisted by the Niger Delta youths.
“We cannot be cowed, neither shall we lay in surrender at the altar of political manipulations of rascals. We reiterate boldly, once again, that anyone, no matter how highly placed, will face fierce resistance by the majority of Rivers people,” they said.
Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, has appealed to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, to withdraw her suit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Speaking during a live television interview on Saturday, Senator Olujimi said she does not want women to “look emotionally unstable”.
On February 20, Senator Akpabio, the senate president, and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan engaged in a heated debate during plenary over a change in seating arrangements.
On February 25, the senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review.
However, the Kogi senator filed a N100 billion defamation suit against Senator Akpabio over an alleged defamatory statement reportedly made by the senate president’s legislative aide.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan later alleged that her trouble in the senate began after she rejected sexual advances from Senator Akpabio.
Reacting to the development, Senator Olujimi said a senator cannot speak outside the assigned seat according to the senate rule.
The former lawmaker said the request of the Kogi senator that her senate probe proceedings should be broadcast live was a “little overboard.”
She added that the clash between the senate president and Akpoti-Uduaghan should not have been escalated, noting that the change in seating arrangements is a normal phenomenon in the red chamber.
The former senate minority leader expressed support for the probe of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “weighty” allegations against Senator Akpabio.
She said Senator Akpabio is someone who jokes a lot, adding that the senate president usually made fun of everything.
“I want to say that in the 8th and 9th senate, we never had anything like that (referring to the allegations), and Senator Akpabio was one of us.
“They treated us (female senators) with decorum. We did not have anything like that, and I have not heard anything of such from any other of the remaining senators.
“It is tough for me to be able to take that without proper investigation. There should be an investigation.
“He (Akpabio) jokes a lot. He is fond of making little fun out of everything. He loves to make everything light; when you do that, you become very vulnerable.
“I saw all that they (referring to male senators) went through as men when I was there. They were all victimised by people from outside. I had to rescue them all of the time.
“The court case, I want to appeal to her to take the case out of court. We don’t want women to look like they are emotionally unstable.
“We need to also be strong enough to face the men. Going to court against a presiding officer is not on. I know she is hurt, but she needs to handle it in a better way. I think that should get out of court as fast as possible”, Senator Olujimi said.
-
Niger Delta5 days ago
Bayelsa, NEXIM Bank Mull Partnership On Exports Promotion
-
News5 days ago
Traditional Ruler Tasks Security Agencies On Peace In Ngo
-
Business5 days ago
Dangote Blames Unstable Electricity For Poor Industrialisation In Nigeria
-
Sports4 days ago
Rivers Hoopers Admit Tough BAL Draw
-
News5 days agoHealth Commissioner Tasks New Employees on Professionalism
-
Business5 days ago
LASG Arrests Illegal Dredgers … Issues Stop Work Order
-
Politics4 days ago
Lagos Assembly Crisis: Rhodes-Vivour Calls For End To “Troubling Pattern”
-
Niger Delta5 days ago
Police Detain 5 Over Killing In Edo