Politics

Governance And Buhari’s Re-Election Bid

Published

7 years ago

January 10, 2018

That 2018 is a pre-election year and therefore expected to be loaded with intense political activities is not lost on political watchers and Nigerians in general. However, many Nigerians were jolted when only on the second day of the year news filtered in that President Muhammadu Buhari had re-appointed his Minister of Transportation and former Rivers State Governor, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as Director-General of 2019 re-election campaign.
Only last year, the president hinted of his intention to run for a second term in office at least twice. One was in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivore, during a regional security summit hosted by the West African country. The other was during his official visit to Kano, capital of Kano State.
While the president’s action may not be strange or novel as many before him had not acted much differently, there are many Nigerians who are disappointed as they had expected a different standard from him. Of course, apart from removing every shade of doubt around his willingness to seek re-election, news of the appointment marks the kick-off of high level political activities in the country. This, in the estimation of many, will not be without grave consequences for governance.
The displeasure of some other Nigerians about the kick-starting of election campaign activities less than three years into his tenure is anchored on the fact that the development re-enforces the notion that only two years of a four-year tenure are usually utilised for governance in Nigeria – a situation that shortchanges the people.
Reactions have since started trailing the announcement. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is reported to have declined putting his weight behind President Buhari’s re-election bid at this stage.
Answering reporters’ questions at the University of Oxford, last Monday, Chief Obasanjo who did not hold back anything in his support for Buhari in his 2015 election said it was too early for him to say he would support the President’s 2019 re-election bid or not.
In its own reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called for the resignation of the transportation minister following the appointment.
According to the publicity secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan “under the constitution of Nigeria, Mr Amaechi cannot combine the job of a minister of the Federal Republic with another responsibility such as the Director General of a campaign organisation.”
He said “Amaechi’s action in accepting the job while still holding office as minister is in clear breach of the oath of office and the oath of allegiance which he swore in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended). He should, therefore, resign as minister with immediate effect,”.
Mr Ologbondiyan recalled that under similar circumstances, Chief Tony Anenih resigned as Minister of Works under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, adding that the development was an indication that “the APC have not the littlest agenda on governance for our people and do not have the interest of Nigerians at heart. They have shown that all they care for is their selfish political and pecuniary interests.”
Speaking with The Tide on the subject matter in his office in Port Harcourt, a public affairs commentator, Dr Andy Akportiveh expressed displeasure at the turn of events.
According to Dr Akportiveh, the standard of democracy practice in the country was unacceptable in many respects, arguing that it would be best for us to adopt a form of democracy that is best suited for our peculiar situation if we cannot copy wholesale from the developed world.
“In America, for instance, do you see a president who has just finished a second year of a four-year tenure coming out to kick the ball for a second term?” he quarried, stressing that our institutions were too weak to support the system of government we have chosen to operate.
“If you check our electoral law, you will find that there are provisions there that make it impossible for some of the things that are being done today from being done,” he said, pointing out that “this is because we have not had leadership that can give direction to these institutions to work in a democracy the way they should work.”
Dr Akportiveh who is also a medical administrator called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rise up to its constitutional duties and individual Nigerians and the general public to also closely monitor and call erring government officials to order at all times.
He said it was intolerable that Nigerians have found themselves in “a vicious circle where you have a president who has a four-year tenure and two years into his administration, he has started campaigning again; he has lobbied a few persons to say he is the only one that can lead the country; he is the one that we have not seen before (and) making government and governance weak.”
While urging some public-spirited legal practitioners to challenge some of the issues in court, Dr Akportiveh also charged the general public not to remain docile but rise up and demand accountability from those they have given their mandate. “I’m sure that if Gani Fawehinmi were alive today, he would have tested a lot of these things in court to find out whether an incumbent can spend State fund to run his campaign or even leave his country and going abroad and suggesting that he is interested in running for a second term even though the first term that he was given has not expired. Somebody should go to court and ask the court go give judgement for or against that thing,” he said.
“In another three or four months, you will see that indeed governance has come to a halt. What will be happening is alignment, what will be happening is making travels and this portends danger for the citizens of the country. This insults our collective intelligence as Nigerians,” he lamented.

Opaka Dokubo

Politics

Nwodo, Secondus Hail New PDP National Secretary, NWC

Published

5 days ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

Two former National Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo and Prince Uche Secondus, have congratulated the new National Secretary of the party, Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye.
They also expressed gratitude to members of the National Working Committee (NWC) for standing firm in defence of the rule of law and party discipline.
The two former national chairmen said this in a joint statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday.
Media adviser to Prince Secondus, Mr. Ike Abonyi, made this public in a statement he signed on their behalf.
He quoted both men as saying that by recognising Chief Ude-Okoye, the party leadership had demonstrated its total commitment to the rule of law and rightly portrayed the party as a truly democratic institution.
He said, “Nwodo and Secondus warned the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Federal Government to allow the opposition parties to breathe, as a strong opposition is the right measure for vibrant democracy all over the world.”
According to him, the two former chairmen also commended the PDP Governors Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT), and particularly the chairman of the Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, for being resolute in defense of the rule of law.
The experienced party leaders advised the new secretary and the members of the NWC to work towards strengthening the party to position it as the party to beat in the subsequent elections.
The party leaders also advised the party leadership to be forward-looking and not allow their acrimonious past to affect their vision for the party.

Politics

No Delta Assembly PDP Lawmaker Defecting To APC – Majority Leader

Published

5 days ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the Delta State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, said that none of the assembly members was warming up to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Majority Leader of the House, Mr Emeka Nwaobi, said this in Asaba while reacting to the allegation that 10 out of the 22 members of the assembly were planning on joining the APC.
Mr Nwaobi said that all the 22 PDP members in the House were irrevocably committed to the thrust of the party, and their loyalty to the PDP was unquestionable.
He, however, disclosed that five out of the seven APC members in the assembly were already indicating interest in joining the PDP, adding that their defection plan was already in the pipeline.
Similarly, the Speaker, Rt Hon. Dennis Guwor, advised residents of the state, particularly PDP faithful, to discountenance such allegations.
According to him, members of the party were solidly loyal to the party’s ideals in the House.
“There is no doubt that the 22 members of the PDP in the state house of assembly are intact. There is no indication anywhere that any member of the party is planning to join any other party.
“Rather, there is strong indication that no fewer than five out of the seven members of the APC in the House are already warming up to join the PDP.
“So let me use this forum to inform them that the umbrella is wide enough to accommodate as many that are interested in joining us,” he said.

Politics

Rivers Assembly Tasks LGAs On Youth Restiveness …Confirms Assembly, LG Service Commissions

Published

5 days ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State House of Assembly has called on local government chairmen in the state to aggressively tackle violent disturbances in the local government areas through empowerment schemes.
Deputy Speaker and Chairman, House Committee on Local Government Affairs, Rt Hon. Timothy Adolphus, gave the charge when the Committee visited Akuku-toru, Degema and Asari-toru local government areas on an on-the-spot assessment of projects inspection as part of its oversight function.
The Deputy Speaker, who noted that lack of empowerment or job creation brings about agitations, said the youths’ involvement in criminal activities could be reduced to the barest minimum if they’re meaningfully engaged.
Also speaking, the House Leader, Hon Sokari Goodboy, said the committee’s visit was not to ridicule any chairman, adding that the administration in the state has placed emphasis on the principle of checks and balances.
Hon. Goodboy stressed the need for council chairmen to replicate the good examples of Governor Siminalayi Fubara in their various councils, especially in projects execution and empowerment of the people.
According to him, Governor Fubara had spread development projects to all the 23 local government areas in the state and therefore enjoined them to replicate same in their council areas, adding that it is by so doing that the people at the grassroots would feel the impact of Governor Fubara’s administration.
The Committee, however, commended the various council chairmen for doing a good job and urged them to redouble their efforts in projects execution and empowerment of the people.
In Akuku-toru Local Government Area, the Chairman, Mrs Tonye Briggs-Oniyide, said her administration was following in the footsteps of Governor Fubara.
She said her mantra is service before self, adding that her administration had embarked on impactful projects that will benefit the people such as renovation of Obonoma health center and the doctors quarters; renovation of the local government headquarters to provide conducive work environment for the staff and strengthened security in the area.
According to her, the Abonnema cemetery was being reconstructed and remodelled, while her administration has given the people of Abonnema 18 hours power supply while empowering them in various capacities.
On his part, the Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Dr Agiriye Harry, said his administration had carried out several renovation work at the council secretariat, procured 150 solar lights, configured and renovated some health centers and empowered about 200 widows.
The Chairman of Asari-toru Local Government Area, Engr Sule Amachree, on his part, informed the Committee that all projects executed by his administration followed due process as transparency is his watch word.
He said his aim was to embark on projects that would increase the internally generated revenue of the council, adding that his administration has made arrangements to attract the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to the local government, functional judicial system as well as sustainable housing programme to create jobs for the youths.
The committee had earlier visited Abua/Odual ,Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas where similar charges were given.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed chairmen and members of the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission and the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission.
Those screened and confirmed for the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission were: Dr Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, chairman; Barr Jones Ogbonda; Dr Kennedy Ebeku; Mr Soberekon Clark and Engr Kingston Sylvanus.
For the local government service commission, the House screened and confirmed GoodLife Ben as chairman, Chief Emmanuel Jaja, Mrs Betty Warmate, Barr Jerome Chimenem, Barr Philip Okparaji and Mr Christian Amadi.

John Bibor