For those of you that are saying that atiku should resign, i will like you to know that if he does the mad OBJ will send the bulldog EFCC to come and lock him up, this is nigeria we are talking about where injustice reings supreme, u can never get justice if u are on the oppisitiuon and atiku knows it very well. he is taking full advantage of his immunity because without it he can't cough out.

we all know that OBJ is a dictaor that has no time for oppoistion, u don't expect atiku to resign and make the revelation he did about the PTDF and still be a free man , though i know that Atiku's campaing against the tenure elongation was on a personal basis i will still want to believe he has done something for the nation, else OBJ would have still been there for a long time and nigeria will still be moving backwards because nothing has change for good from 1999 to date.

Not in support of atiku but how can the charcoal be calling the pot black? it just doesnt make sense. OBJ has no right to tell we nigerians that Atiku is corrupt and not a loyal VP(how can he be loyal to such a meaningless administration, that is not there to serve the people?) remember Audu Ogbeh told OBJ the truth and see where it landed him, he told OBJ to call chris uba to oder else nigeria will fall and OBJ felt it was a slap on his face hence his removal as the PDP chairman. OBJ is not a man to argue with. what about Nogozi Uwela, most people don't even know why she was dropped, she was dropped because OBJ didnt want to be told the truth most of the time, her sincerity got her out so u see , u don't expect a resonable person to be loyal to such a rubbish baboon.

OBJ is just as corrupt as atiku. why didnt he tell us atiku was corrupt during their first tenure till atiku started  oppousing his 3rdterm ambition? this is just madness to me . OBJ is not a better person than atiku and we all know it, he swore to uphold the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria and he should else he should rot in jail.

@Mazaje,

Did Okonjo Iweala record any positive achievements?

am not talking about Okonjo Iweala here, am talking about the mad brainless OBJ so i wont anwer that question, because it has nothing to do with OBJ's neglect of the constitution.

People are just talking, Obj has not impeached his VP nor Sacked him. He is not even oblivious of the fact that he lacks the powers to do that otherwise he would have done that long ago since they both had open confrontation.
Declaring the seat vacant is not so strange as it seems cos that is what the presidency would have done if Atiku was honourable enough to tender a resignation letter. But Atiku on the other hand as the No.2 citizen of the country knows the constitutional implication of moving to another party and thus if he has gone ahead to do that he has technically resigned. Which of course calls for the reaction the situation got from the presidency.

Howere there is only a single route out of this to restore sanity to system. The National Assembly will void the pronouncement by the presidency on the ground that there is no formal letter from the VP detailing his resignation. However it must mandate Atiku to either resign from office as VP and pursue his ambition or remain as VP and forget his ambition on another political party. Which if he refuses to do either of them he will face impeachment cos the act of being the VP in a PDP led government and yet the presidential flagbearer of the AC is in itself unconstitutional and threatening the National security which him the VP should be a stake holder.


the truth is that no need for long gramma the VP should just resign, decency demands that he does. He has brought disrepute to the office of the VP

@Mazaje,

I smell a great deal of inconsistency here, if you knew that Okonjo Iweala had nothing to do with the issue why bring her up in your attempt to blame OBJ?

Needless to say, your answer would have made nonsense of the point you are trying to make and I believe you just realised that.

The 2 quotes below are your statements.

mazaje:

OBJ is not a man to argue with. what about Nogozi Uwela, most people don't even know why she was dropped, she was dropped because OBJ didnt want to be told the truth most of the time, her sincerity got her out so u see , u don't expect a resonable person to be loyal to such a rubbish baboon.

mazaje:

am not talking about Okonjo Iweala here, am talking about the mad brainless OBJ so i wont anwer that question, because it has nothing to do with OBJ's neglect of the constitution.

You do not need a prophet to tell Nigerians that OBJ does not tolorate dissent of any form. He can even assault you for wanting to eat bread when he wants to eat amala. He is that dictatorial and demands totalitarian submission to his ideals.

What was Audu Ogbe's offence? He wrote a letter telling the president to reflect on the mistakes of (1979-1983) democracy and improve on his programmes. This annoyed OBJ so much that OBJ began to seek absolute control of the PDP. He eventually had Ogbe out of the PDP at gun-point. He became its life-leader and gradually began eliminating anyone who was loyal to the old PDP bloc.

Atiku has since then been frustrated. Atiku realised the plan to perpetuate OBJ in power and opposed it vehemently not really for Nigeria's good cause Atiku is equally corrupt. He (Atiku) had become the official opposition within the PDP and OBJ does not like this stance. Atiku knows he cannot no longer control the PDP nor its machinery so he opted to join another party. But this is of no effect as he is still the VP and ought to have resigned first. He must be from the same party as OBJ for him to continue to be VP. But his declaration for another party does not amount to his impeachment or sack. It all boils down to INEC and recognition. INEC already identifies him as the VP, so does the N.Assy and the courts. INEC cannot therefore recognise him as AC presidential flagbearer cause he is still the VP in this term.

OBJ's sacking of his VP is an abuse of the constitution no matter what Atiku has done. It is OBJ's abuse of power and of office. OBJ will not stop there I assure you. OBJ would go ahead to do something worse to prove to all Nigerians that he is not a democratic fellow. I see OBJ dissolving the N.Assy any moment from now. Since OBJ could not win the tenure elongation plot, he will do anything to perpetuate himself in power at the expense of anybody including Nigerians. This he can do by either rigging in a lame duck president in the person of Yar Adua or causing a state of emergency nationwide. We have seen in 7 yrs plus that his best has been privatise this or that and has no real agenda for anything. His anti-corruption crusade has been mere selective justice and he has made a noble cop Ribadu his gestapo IG.

Those behind him (OBJ) are the worst enemies we have now for if men cannot tell their leaders the truth (which does not change their loyalty), then they are equally guilty of conspiracy against society. There is neither honour nor nobility in our political class. Nigerians (the common you and I) make matters worse, we are indifferent and easily satisfied with half-measures and petty presents. Rather than clamour for good governance, we prefer indifference - suffering & smiling. Rather than demand accountability we demand petty presents - rice, N500 apiece and ankara cloth during elections.

We have thrown our consciences overboard. We prefer the present state where anything goes is business as usual. We are benefitting from it so why should it stop? We are happy to see coup plotters in the persons of IBB, Buhari, OBJ run for public offices and we are not bothered. We are happy to see corrupt Atiku become the AC candidate causing a heat in the polity and we are not remorsed. Where, Nigerians have we put our consciences?

No wonder, the North & South laugh at the end of their meetings. They laugh and mock at us Nigerians. The mock and laugh at the media who are supposed to be the watchdog of society. The press is still drunk from watching the handover ceremony of May 29 1999. Else, they would have championed the cause for good governance. They have like the rest of us come to accept the status quo and do thing about it. Atiku ordered his guards to beat up a photo-journalist some time ago and later offered to fix the broken camera or buy a new one. The Nigerian press did not even decry the issue.

Someone reasoned and concluded that Nigeria is a nation of idiots. I now see why. Our society has decayed beyond measure as a result of poverty. Where can we get hope from?

We better rise up for the sake of tomorrow and right the wrongs of yesterday by doing the right thing today.

Anyone that says Nigeria is a nation of idiots is a very big idiot.

On Audu Ogbeh, I do not have sympathy for people who commit crimes against Nigeria only turn themselves into defenders of Nigeria once they lose out in the power game.

Audu Ogbeh set an unprecedented record in Nigeria for being the first party chairman to oversee the use of the military to massively rig elections to ensure that PDP won elections in 2003.

Not even the PDP chairman under Abdusalami Abubakar did anything close.

He should be reminded of all the atrocities he commited, being against OBJ after they fell out is not enough because we are tired of hypocrites that will support policies that are bad only to turn themselves into human rights defenders overnight.

Afam:

Anyone that says Nigeria is a nation of idiots is a very big idiot.

On Audu Ogbeh, I do not have sympathy for people who commit crimes against Nigeria only turn themselves into defenders of Nigeria once they lose out in the power game.

Audu Ogbeh set an unprecedented record in Nigeria for being the first party chairman to oversee the use of the military to massively rig elections to ensure that PDP won elections in 2003.

Not even the PDP chairman under Abdusalami Abubakar did anything close.

He should be reminded of all the atrocities he commited, being against OBJ after they fell out is not enough because we are tired of hypocrites that will support policies that are bad only to turn themselves into human rights defenders overnight.

@ Afam

so you believe OBJ is still in power cos because the 2003 polls were rigged? why then are u supporting him?

mazaje:

@ Afam

so you believe OBJ is still in power because because the 2003 polls were rigged? why then are u supporting him?

That is the problem with many Nigerians, once you do not agree with any position they hold they come out with very ridiculous conclusions.

I do not know what you mean by supporting OBJ. I freely commend him for any positive thing he does and criticize him for any negative thing he does, I am not cut out for any blanket commendation or condemnation.

If I take for a brief moment your style would it be correct to say that you are supporting Atiku?

OBJ has done a very wrong thing by declaring the seat of the VP vacant but u felt it was right, that feeling it self is a wrong feeling, though u have ur reasons , cant force u to agree with mine so have fun

I could not lay my hands on the constitution for now; can anybody tell me if the constitution says that the political office holders who wish to recontest election should resign their offices prior to election? If so, why is it that our politicians are not doing so?

>
What is right? What is wrong?
Many questions unanswered!!! This topic is just getting interesting

This topic is wrong in the first place. OBJ has not removed Atiku form office, he is not even oblivious of the fact that he has no powers to do that because we have seen more damning confrontations between OBJ and Atiku without OBJ reacting in this manner.
If he has done this on this occassion we should ask ourselves why?

The point is that OBJ did not sack Atiku he rather declared Atiku's seat vacant because it is vacant. Going by section 142 of the constitution Atiku declaring for AC automatically suggests he has lost his seat. So OBJ was only announcing to Nigerians the latest developments in the presidency owing to events and has not in anyway assumed the powers of Legislator or Judiciary to sack his deputy.
See excerpts from the constitution below

142. (1) In any election to which the foregoing provisions of this Part of
this Chapter relate, a candidate for an election to the office of President
shall not be deemed to be validly nominated unless he nominates another
candidate as his associate from the same political party for his running for
the office of President, who is to occupy the office of Vice-President and
that candidate shall be deemed to have been duly elected to the office of
Vice-President if the candidate for an election to the office of President
who nominated him as such associate is duly elected as President in
accordance with the provisions aforesaid.
(2) The provisions of this Part of this Chapter relating to qualification
for election, tenure of office, disqualification, declaration of assets
and liabilities and oaths of President shall apply in relation to the
office of Vice-President as if references to President were references to
Vice-Presiden

146. (1) The Vice-President shall hold the office of President if the office
of President becomes vacant by reason of death or resignation, impeachment,
permanent incapacity or the removal of the President from office for any
other reason in accordance with section 143 of this Constitution.
(2) Where any vacancy occurs in the circumstances mentioned in subsection
(1) of this section during a period when the office of Vice-President is
also vacant, the President of the Senate shall hold the office of
President for a period of not more than three months, during which there
shall be an election of a new President, who shall hold office for the
unexpired term of office of the last holder of the office.
(3) Where the office of Vice-President becomes vacant:-
(a) by reason of death or resignation, impeachment, permanent
incapacity or removal in accordance with section 143 or 144 of this
Constitution;
(b) by his assumption of the office of President in accordance with
subsection (1) of this section; or
(c) for any other reason,
the President shall nominate and, with the approval of each House of
the National Assembly, appoint a new Vice-President

OBJ should even start shopping for a deputy who he should nominate for the approval of the National Assembly because Atiku's movement to the AC amounts to technical resignation.

Link to full copy of constitution

http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/Nigerian%20Constitution.pdf

what is going on here how many senators & assembly members have decamped from other parties to the PDP? so many, and did they lose their seats? no . why is it that its when the opposition that leaves the PDP to any other party that their seats are always decleared vacant? na wahh ohhh , this jungle justice needs to end, that amala politician needs to rot in jail because he is no better than all these men he is trying to show are evil. am not in support of Atiku but OBJ is not a better man at all he is more currupt and more evil than Atiku, because they have fallen apart does not mean he has the right to do what ever he can , there are laid down procedures and he knows it, why not follow them because he knows he will never win.

Decamping to AC and wanting to retain the vice presidency in a PDP led government is not a laid down procedure either.
It is the duty of opposition parties whose members defected to PDP to petition INEC and not the PDP, That people got away with it in the past does not make it legal or constitutional. Atiku can not walk arround the constitution he claims to uphold simple.

He should act responsibly, heard he is calling on the Nigerian people and Military to overthrow OBJ. He is on his own and when he comes back from vacation he will learn to respect the constitution more.

McKren:

146. (1) The Vice-President shall hold the office of President if the office
of President becomes vacant by reason of death or resignation, impeachment,
permanent incapacity or the removal of the President from office for any
other reason in accordance with section 143 of this Constitution.
(2) Where any vacancy occurs in the circumstances mentioned in subsection
(1) of this section during a period when the office of Vice-President is
also vacant, the President of the Senate shall hold the office of
President for a period of not more than three months, during which there
shall be an election of a new President, who shall hold office for the
unexpired term of office of the last holder of the office.
(3) Where the office of Vice-President becomes vacant:-
(a) by reason of death or resignation, impeachment, permanent
incapacity or removal in accordance with section 143 or 144 of this
Constitution;
(b) by his assumption of the office of President in accordance with
subsection (1) of this section; or
(c) for any other reason,
the President shall nominate and, with the approval of each House of
the National Assembly, appoint a new Vice-President

What about 3(c) for any other reason,? I read in a newspaper article that this is the part of the Constitution the PDP used to convince OBJ that the VP can be dismissed.

Those comparing senators decamping from PDP to other parties with that of Atiku's case are missing the point.
The senators ran as their own man on their own ticket. However, the vice president was not elected as his own
man but was elected on a joint ticket with the president!

Atiku can not have it both ways. You can not be elected on a joint ticket from one party, expect to leave that
same party and keep your elected office at the same time. If Mr. "Defender of Democracy" was really who he
claims to be, he should have resigned, face the music and mount a more credible opposition. You can not be a
VP and have an agenda that is completely separate from your boss. If you do, the honorable thing to do is to
resign otherwise you shut up and put up with his agenda.

Someone earlier cited Sharon of Israel leaving the Likud and forming Kadima (I believe) as an example. Are you
aware of what the Israeli's constitution position is on this? I am sure you have no clue on this, but I guess it
felt good to mouth off. Once again, people tend to make the mistake that every allegation coming from Atiku's
mouth is the whole truth.

As usual, the administration's execution and handling of this crisis could have been more tactful in terms of the
pronouncements being made and timing of their actions . It would have been better to tender the matter before
INEC and NA for consultation before announcing the vacancy of the VP's position. That being said, Obansanjo
is the president and wields the most power in the land. He may not be able to remove Atiku from office but he
can surely make life miserable for him by effectively leaving a VP only in name - no real office, no privileges, etc.

@Iyke-D

Try and read the constitution again as regards senators decamping and the Vice Presidents, The Bible here is the Constitution pls, the constitution is clear on the legislator, there is no provision that the Vice President should leave his Office when he decamps, anyway let us wait for the courts, the matter is before the courts.

@Mariory

The 3(c) you mentioned is being quoted wrongly, " any other reason" means any of the listed reasons in the above sections of the Constitution, if you are still in doubt lets wait for the Court to adjudicate.

All this gra gra wey una dey make, no be Nigeria we dey? Lets see what the court will say though. Even if the courts say Atiku should remain VP and contest for presidency under AC the matter will not end there. He has issues of corruption that are unresolved before the court of Law. He will not pass screening.
It will be easier for the camel to pass the eye of a pin than for Atiku to take part in next years election or even become president.

It will be easier for the camel to pass the eye of a pin than for Atiku to take part in next years election or even become president.

This will be a blessing to our nation and one of the best lagacies OBJ could leave behind. We are at a point in history when actions like these are required to save the nation from itself!

To me i don't think OBJ has the right to remove Atiku as V.P. They should let the court of law decide on that and apart from that i think there is something they are hidden from the public, so they are just using PTDF Fund or whatever to deceive the innocent citizen.

What is an indisputable fact is that Atiku has lost the right to be VP under OBJ.

The constitution should be supreme, so I hope that the action in the courts now will resolve this once and for all. However, what gives me joy is the knowledge that Atiku and IBB have come to the end of their desperate presidential journeys.

Irrespective of the outcome of courts, Atiku will never again be relevant as a VP and has lost the privelage of criss-crossing the country with a retinue of 200+ police, customs and SSS operatives + numerous senior goverment paid advisers + presidential jets. This would have confered an underserved advantage to a candidate eager to destroy the same party and goverment that have made this possible.

He is extremely greedy, disloyal, desperate and currupt and should have no role to play in the future of our nation.

Posted by joshO:

He is extremely greedy, disloyal, desperate and corrupt and should have no role to play in the future of our nation.

Good description, my man.

Now, how would you describe Mr. President?

How would you descibe IBB?

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