₦airaland Forum

“we are aware of the PDP governors’ plan to reintroduce the disqualification of Governor Sylva from contesting the Bayelsa State governorship primary election''
whats even wrong with all this people sef,

, empowering the women ,

Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State, Sunday, declared that he was still in the gubernatorial race in spite of the primaries held Saturday and that he was prepared to pursue his course through democratic means. He challenged acting Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, to come out with reasons why the party excluded him from its primaries.
The governor’s reaction is coming on the heels of media reports in which Alhaji Baraje was quoted as alleging that the Bayelsa State Governor had been told the reasons he was excluded from the governorship primaries and that such “sins” would be made public in due course.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Doifie Ola, the governor challenged Baraje to come clean on these “sins”, perhaps, for necessary “atonement”.
The statement reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, Sylva says at no time did Baraje discuss the so-called sins with him. We are aware that the PDP national chairman has been giving different ‘reasons’ to different people on the illegal exclusion of the governor. At last, Baraje has exposed the fact that there was no reason known to law and commonsense for the exclusion of the governor.
“With Baraje’s tone of voice, we fear that after having excluded Governor Sylva without any justification, there is now a desperate attempt to cook up reasons, however untenable and tenuous, as an afterthought.
“Governor Sylva feels it is saddening that PDP is descending to this level and believes they are up to something sinister.
“Sylva has served PDP and the people of Bayelsa State creditably well. So, it is for the people of Bayelsa State to reject him at the poll if they do not want him as their governor anymore.
“It is illegal and unjust for PDP to exclude the gover-nor from contesting without any cogent reason.”
“Baraje also alleged in the report that Sylva’s case is not the first time a sitting governor would be disqualified by PDP, saying it had happened in the case of the former Anambra State governor, Chinwoke Mbadinuju.
“We wish to refresh the memory of Baraje, if he does not know or has forgotten, that Mabadinuju was never disqualified by PDP. He contested the party primary and was rigged out. But in the case of Bayelsa State, Sylva is not even given the opportunity to compete with whosoever has been ‘anointed’.
“We feel sad that instead of drawing useful lessons from the Anambra debacle, the current leadership of the party, under Baraje, is celebrating it. Not only did PDP lose the state, so many lives were lost and a lot of odium was brought on the party because of power. None of those losses has been recovered till date. We do not wish this to happen in Bayelsa State.”

By Davidson Iriekpen and Jaiyeola Andrews

You want to marry two or more wives? You can relocate to Lagos State to fulfil your heart’s desire as bigamy is no longer a criminal offence there. There is no chance that you would be jailed again.

THISDAY can report today that the state House of Assembly has silently amended the Lagos State Criminal Code and expunged bigamy from its statutes.

When next the clerk tells you at the Marriage Registry that you risk seven years in jail if you get married to someone else, you can smile and tell her she’s behind the news.

The old Criminal Code of Lagos State Cap C17, section 370 stated: “Any person who having a husband or a wife leaving, marries in any case in which such marriage is void by reason of its taking place during the life of such husband or wife is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.

“This section does not extend to any person whose marriage with such husband or wife has been dissolved or declared void by court of competent jurisdiction, nor to any person who contracts a marriage during the life of a former husband of wife, if such husband or wife, at the time of the subsequent marriage, shall have been absent from such person for the space of seven years and shall not have been heard of by such person as being alive within that time.”

The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeola Ipaye, confirmed the development, saying the old law was no longer useful.

Ipaye said it became necessary to remove bigamy because the state government found out that there was no need to criminalise the offence.

He nevertheless said bigamy would now be treated as a civil offence and such a marriage would simply be dissolved without any criminal proceedings being instituted against the offender.

Ipaye did not however say under what law such marriage would be dissolved since bigamy, technically, no longer exists and there is no prescription for remedy.

“Yes, bigamy was expunged from the amended criminal code. It was necessitated by the need to decriminalise it. What this means is that it is no longer a criminal offence when a man or woman who is legally married to contract another marriage. Instead, the marriage remains null and void,” he said.

But speaking to THISDAY last night, a legal practitioner and Chairperson, Women Empowerment & Legal Aid, Mrs Funmi Falana, said the organisation was already in court to challenge the decriminalisation of bigamy.

“In any case, bigamy is still in the federal law. So if Lagos fails to prosecute you, the Federal Government can take it up,” she told THISDAY on phone.

Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi (SAN) said it became necessary for the state to remove bigamy from the criminal code because in the last 40 years, nobody had been charged with the offence.

He said what the lawmakers simply did by removing the act from the law books is to decriminalise the act.

Human rights lawyer Ebun Adegboruwa said if it was true that the state House of Assembly had expunged bigamy from the state criminal code, it was long overdue.

Adegboruwa noted that for over 10 years now, there had been pressure on the state government to expunge the act because it was not enforceable because of the peculiar nature of the Nigerian society.

Bigamy was introduced into the Nigerian law books by the British during the colonisation of the country and Nigeria is not ripe to fully practise the act, he said.

Adegboruwa said: “These days, because of the cost implication of prosecuting divorce and the time it takes, couples prefer to quietly go their separate ways and remarry and this weakened the law and made it ineffective and unenforceable.”

Also, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN) commended the state lawmakers for expunging the act from the state criminal code, saying that since 1914 when the law came into force, it had not recorded any conviction.

He argued that since the law is inconsistent with the country’s values, the best thing to do is to discard it.

Nwobike said though the act is no longer a crime, it is an offence under the Marriage Act which is one of the laws of the federation, but wondered where the offender would be the prosecuted.

Though some Lagos lawmakers chose not to comment on the issue, but a member of the House representing Eti Osa 1 constituency, Hon. Yishawu Gholahan, told THISDAY that “bigamy, to be frank with you, is a way of life among Muslims. There is nothing government can do about it. We should just let it be.”

Nevertheless, bigamy only applied to those who married under the Marriage Act. Those who choose to marry under customary and religious laws are excluded from prosecution.

By Soji Omotunde, The Nation Newspaper

Bayelsa: Let PDP Live Up to Its Name

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been in power in Nigeria for more than 12 years. By now, the inherited military dictatorial mentality ought to have given way to the assimilation of democratic principles. But internal democracy, principles and consistency have become scarce in the party, causing apprehension in the hitherto assumed secured political firmament.Name is meant to be a reflection of an image. Democracy is not intended to be just an appellation for the sake of it, but a guiding principle in governance that empowers the people. Since the commonplace definition of democracy is government of the people by the people and for the people, then the recurring tag (people) must be at the centre of its reality. And this was what the slogan of ‘power to the people’ by a political party called the PDP must have been fashioned to manifest.The beauty of genuine democracy is not its being built on the people alone, but more when the people have the liberty to actualise the choice of their conscience. It would not matter if the choice should turn sour, an opportunity would have been emplaced to remedy the error of choice. This right of choice might have been what brought about the saying that people deserve any government they have – good or bad.The irony of our new dispensation democracy is that those voted to power see themselves as wiser than those who gave them the mandate. The trend has been that whenever election campaign comes, the people will be elevated with the chant of their right to vote. The aroma of office-seekers’ love for the people would fill the air. But as soon as the people are cajoled to release their votes, the humility and modesty of politicians disappears for pride and arrogance towards the elevation of dominating self-interest. The right of the people to good things of life would not only be relegated, but in most instances it would be turned around as favour to be sought.As concluded by Major General Muhammadu Buhari, not only has PDP underdeveloped Nigeria and caused primordial sentiments to divide the citizens, its credibility as a willing democratic nation remains at the ebb.As was the case under the semi-military Olusegun Obasanjo administration, democracy in the nation still remains on trial. Under Obasanjo was the era of selective obedience to court orders. Even though an elected president, Obasanjo ruled the military way: no respect for justice and the right of the people to determine their destiny. Elections were blatantly manipulated; governors that failed to do the personal will of the president were yanked off their seats contrary to the civilised rule of law. Whatever the president desired was forced on the people. Therefore, that his eight-year rule thereafter fizzled away without leaving much significant impact on the populace was no surprise. That was also the story of the wasteful years of the military in power.Today, an Obasanjo who was privileged to be at the helm of the nation’s affairs for no fewer than cumulative 11 years cannot be confident of running for a ward election in his Ogun State without being disgraced at the poll.It is a pity that President Jonathan seems to be desperately willing to tow that failed line of his political grandfather. Towing a line of democratic dysfunctionality might just have meant a resignation to end the same way like a failed predecessor. Charity, it is said, begins from home. Likewise, dishonour too takes its root at home. The ongoing political impasse in Bayelsa State, the president’s home state cannot be said to be good for the health of our sagging democracy. Incumbent Governor Timipre Sylva wants a second term, but because the President has some personal scores to settle with him, he is making all efforts to deny the people of their legitimate and constitutional right to place judgement on his eligibility. It is adverse that a president who got to office by grace is the same working to deny another person of grace. And unfortunately, the political party placed to adjudicate with fairness is taking side.Sylva might have been a disappointment to the PDP in any way, but the party should be responsible for his performance for throwing him up as their flag bearer in the first place. If the party now feels it needs a performance-oriented candidate to flag its banner, it should have been done without a trace of Aso Villa and without infringing on the rights of Governor Sylva.Justice is the panacea for peace, progress and socio-economic development. A government cannot go far if it perpetrates injustice, especially when court order are truncated and defied to suit personal purposes. The manner the so-called primaries in Yenegoa were held clearly showed it was all in a bid to oust Sylva. The town was militarised so as to intimidate; whereas the decent approach would have been to give the party members the freedom to vote Sylva out if that was their desire. If not, let the people go for whosoever they want, even among the president’s several men that stepped forward as camouflages.The hope of the people of Bayelsa now is in the judiciary, if only it would be allowed to perform in the way the new Chief Justice of the Federation has publicly enunciated. In pushing Sylva’s case, Femi Falana has even introduced an interesting dimension. His argument is that Sylva’s victory at the PDP governorship primaries held in January is still valid. He said although the election scheduled for April was later postponed on the basis of a court ruling, Sylva remains the party’s candidate as long as he has not withdrawn his interest.According to Falana, the provision of section 33 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) are now very clear that once a political party has submitted the name of a candidate” to INEC for a particular elective office, “the political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute the name of that candidate” pursuant to Section 32 of the Act. For him therefore, the conduct of a fresh PDP governorship primary in Bayelsa State was unnecessary. This position has now pushed the task to the court. To the Ethnic Minority and Indigenous Rights Organisation of Africa (EMIROAF) the crisis over who flies the governorship flag in Bayelsa State is a time bomb. In a release by the organisation, “It is difficult to understand what has happened between January 2011, and now to warrant the rejection of the same Timipre Sylva by the PDP central working committee.” As earlier said, the party is playing the president’s game. And that is where the error lies. Whatever gives PDP the assumption that it has already won the governorship election, no matter who is fielded is a pride that can be subdued by the people?If truly it believes that power belongs to the people, it should allow the same people to exercise their right of determining their political fortune.Credibility is like virginity. Once it is lost, it can never be recovered. Let PDP work towards retaining the credibility of its name as a democratic party that believes in the rule of law. Let it guide the President to imbibe the ultimate reality that democracy by selection will never work in favour of the people. Imposition of candidate on the people will not yield the result of performance desired by the people. The profitable concept is when the people are allowed to decide who becomes their accountable leader.

By Chuks Okocha

As part of its efforts to meet the December 11 deadline for political parties to submit the names of their candidates for the February 11, 2012 governorship election in Bayelsa State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday submitted the name of Hon. Henry Sierake Dickson as its governorship candidate.

Also, Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, Senator Abubakar Gada and former Minister of Sports, Alhaji Yousuf Sulieman, will face the PDP governorship screening committee in Kaduna today ahead of the party’s primary election.

Though the PDP is still at the Court of Appeal over the validity of the election of Dickson as its candidate and the hearing will hold December 12, THISDAY reliably gathered that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at its meeting on Wednesday directed that the name of Dickson be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) immediately.

A source from INEC informed THISDAY that like other political parties, the PDP has successfully complied with the deadline of December 11 for the submission of the name of its governorship candidate.

According to the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, political parties are expected to submit the names of their respective flag bearers not later than 60 days to the election date.

Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State, who was disqualified from contesting the governorship primary election, has gone to a Federal High Court challenging his disqualification.

Though the PDP conducted its primary won by Dickson won, Sylva prayed the court to annul the election, a decision that made the PDP through its National Legal Adviser, Chief Olusola Oke, to appeal for the stopping of proceedings at the Federal High Court presided by Justice G.O. Kolawole on the ground that no court can stop the primary election of any political party.

Both parties to the matter have submitted their written briefs to the Court of Appeal and it is expected for the court to decide on the substantive appeal on December 12.

THISDAY gathered that Dickson’s name was submitted with retired Rear Admiral Jonah Gboriibiogha John as his running mate. When THISDAY contacted an aide to Sylva on the submission of the list, he simply said, “be rest assured that Sylva’s name will be in the ballot at the February 11 2012”, explaining that the governor was still exploring all available options before taking the final decision.

“Though, the deadline for the political parties to submit names to INEC is December 11 which is 60 days to the election date of February 11, but there is a 30 days period (January 11, 2012) for any of the political parties to substitute the names of its candidates, if they so wish,” he said.

Also, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has chosen a lawyer, Kamela Okara, to fly its flag in the governorship election. Meanwhile, all the three governorship aspirants that purchased the Sokoto state governorship election nomination forms are expected to appear before a five-man screening committee in Kaduna today.

The names of the members of the screening committee were yet to be made public as at last night

eh, pdp, maybe it reason y, they refused bayelsa protesters from entering abuja yesterday,,,,

great development

na, wa o,

umm, naija,
ok bayelsa, still dey now,

now u know all these,

both,

yep,

good,

absured, vapid,

please get him to talk,

did u remember the word "connection",

trash, i guess

obviously yes , or maybe,

great,

lie,

who is scared,

okay,

bring it on,

bullshit

great

sorry,

okay,

we are not scared of buhari, we not just clear on wat he wants, or rather wat his intentions are,
wat is he looking for ?he had his chance, wat did he do, plsss,

its a tradition in the north, too many ghost workers,
imagine whr pple are jobless, graduates are on the streets looking for job, we have ghost workers,
lugubrious,