ALTHOUGH the menacing issue of kidnapping is not peculiar to DeltaState, there appears to be confusion especially between the members of the Delta State House of Assembly, who are constitutionally empowered to make laws for peace and good governance; and the State executive governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Presently, the two arms of government are engulfed in cold war on how to address the issue permanently. While the 29-member State House of Assembly, on one hand, voted for outright death penalty for anybody caught in the act of kidnapping to act as deterrent; the governor, a medical doctor by training is vehemently opposed to it.

It is no longer news that DeltaState had witnessed series of high profile kidnapping ranging from kidnapping of commissioners, lawmakers, judges, mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and even a 70 year-old cousin of Governor Uduaghan.


Ironically, the 70 year old cousin of the governor, Pa Sam Uduaghan was abducted on a fateful Wednesday morning , the 13th day of June last year, the same time the governor was receiving the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar who was on a visit to the State to receive some operational vehicles donated by the state government for improved crime patrol.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/ripples-as-uduaghan-refuses-assent-on-death-penalty-for-kidnappers/#sthash.3bTpv7bR.dpuf



Day Uduaghan broke silence on why he should not sign the death penalty

On Saturday, 24th February, 2013, at a town hall meeting organised as part of programme during the visit of the Good Governance tour team to DeltaState, the governor publicly broke his silence on the matter.

Before the governor publicly declared that there was no need to sign it into law, some Deltans including the lawmakers who passed the Bill since November last year were still optimistic that the governor might change his mind later, but the public utterance has sealed their hope for now.

Investigation by our reporter showed that there are mixed reactions to the governor’s position. While some members of the public interviewed are backing him, others disagreed, noting that only a capital punishment meted to such culprits would act as deterrent to others.

….. The governor’s bombshell

Said the governor while reacting to a question posed to him during the interactive session “…there is already a death penalty. Every kidnapper is an armed robber. So, I don’t know why we are talking today of death penalty for kidnappers. Why do I have to sign another law for kidnappers?

“Once you are a kidnapper, you are also an armed robbery. So, why all these unnecessary debate about Uduaghan not agreeing to sign death penalty for kidnappers and all that. The law is already there to sentence kidnappers to death”, he added.

The Speaker’s mind before Uduaghan dropped the bombshell

Speaker of the House, Mr. Victor Ochei had told our reporter sometime last year when the Bill was still being considered in an interview that “by the time we pass the Bill, it will scale through by the grace of God because, one, we received memoranda when carried out public hearing. The government through the chief law officer of the state, the Attorney General had made his submission to the committee, other organisations and the public have all made their submissions. So by the time we are coming out, we are coming out with a very robust bill. That is one bill signed by 28 members of the House.

“There is no way it will not scale through. If by the time the bill is ready and the governor does not give assent, there is a constitutional provision of what to do and I am sure he cannot discountenance the opinion of 28 members of this House . So, I don’t want to pre-empt what it will come out as if the bill is passed into law. There is a process, the next process. If it is not assented to, you are asking me this question, then I can tell you, yes, we can invoke section 100 of the Constitution but until that time comes, I think it will be too hasty to say”.

…. And the stalemate

By 8th of this month, March, it will be exactly four months the Bill was passed and sent to the governor for assent.

…. Ex Speaker lambasts House

Former Speaker of the House, Dr. Olisa Imegwu has said that the DeltaState governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan should not be entirely blamed for not assenting the Bill prescribing death penalty for kidnappers. He wondered why his former colleagues were dragging feet in vetoing the bill if it was the general feeling of the people they represent.

According to him, “Uduaghan is not the fault. Also, the legislators under the Constitution, after 30 days or so, says that if a Bill is given to you (governor) was not signed into law, you (legislators) override it by veto. Then you ask, if Uduaghan refused, let the legislators override it with veto. What I am telling you now is that the whole system of governance is broken down, it is dis-functional”.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/ripples-as-uduaghan-refuses-assent-on-death-penalty-for-kidnappers/#sthash.3bTpv7bR.dpuf

Obasanjo, who identified lack of quality leadership, among other factors, as major hindrances to development in Nigeria as well as other African countries, lamented the lack of leadership that could harness the resources to the point of noticeable development.

The former president spoke in Abeokuta during the final of Africa Region Inter-collegiate Debate on Human Security Africa, organised by Centre for Human Security (CHS), an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.

The occasion featured universities and secondary school students from Nigeria and other African countries who participated in a debate as part of the activities marking Obasanjo’s 76th birthday.

The former president opined that there were not many good leaders in the country, stressing that leadership in any country was very important to development and growth.
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

“On the topic you have chosen for this debate, ‘Human Security in Africa’, whether it is a myth or reality, threat to human security, high economic growth, whether it is flash in the pan or sustainable, it all comes to one major thing and that one major thing is leadership. Very soon, I do hope that we’ll bring leadership in all dimensions and in all ramifications.

“I realise that we have many Nigerians and there are not many good leaders in Nigeria. Whatever is the reason, it is something we have to tackle because we cannot continue the way it is.

“That brings me to the hope and the bright future that I see in what Profs. Akin Mabogunje and Peter Okebukola are putting together (the debate).

“It’s to try and prepare African youths, boys and girls, together that future belongs to you youths.

“Nobody will help Africa, nobody can help Africa and that is the truth. If we expect others from outside to come and help us, it is a second class help.

“What do I see for the future? We have caliber of women, men, young and old that Africa needs to put itself up and to make its voice heard in the world today and tomorrow.

“Alfred Mills explains in his book, ‘Why Africa is poor’ but it’s a choice, a choice that our leaders have made.

“But here watching you (students) at the college level and university level. I believe that the materials are there.“

Obasanjo said he was shocked when Alhaji Aliko Dangote told him that six Ph.D holders and 600 master degree holders were among applicants for truck drivers in his (Dangote) company.

He stated that the issue boils down to the problems of job creation, wealth creation, among others.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/nigeria-lacks-good-leaders-obj/#sthash.YdbouZEN.dpuf

Ejiné:


Anything else?

Ejiné:

Awww, that's nice.
Try harder,

Ejiné:

Keep trying, boy.
I'll care about your ineffective nursery-level insults someday. I promise.

Ejiné:

Yawn. Try again, loser. Your lines are generic and boring now.

Protip: First pull your head out of Fashola's rotten asss before typing. That would help you see things from a much different "Point of View".

Ejiné:

Coming from Eko-Ile the Tinubu butt-pimple, I find this post hilarious!

Of course I'm not surprise at your attempts to side-step issues especially when they expose the hypocrisy of your tin god, whose only talents include running the state to enormous debts while shamelessly coming out on TV to show himself commissioning water projects (which should be the job of the LG chairmen), as well as sending criminals and thugs on peaceful protesters who were against his Lekky tollgate.

These issues are either swept underneath your already filthy rug, or dumb excuses (such as your above post) are made.

This surprises me not.
Your hypocrisy has been exposed on this thread.

zenatta:

How did we as a nation get here? Pitiable!

Ejiné:



Fashola does not have to say "I blame Okada for Damoche's death" for anyone with a brain to know what he was driving at.
That he even made mention of the boy's death while also talking about the vices of OKADA is enough to see where he was going,

manny4life:

Just like I'm used to your shameless show of disgust and arze licking. Between your post and I, there't no telling whose own reeks of ignorance and stupidity. Like I said, you asked me to prove if he endorsed it, I showed it to you, YES I ACCUSE HIM because he did, if it pains u too much, GO FUCKKK YOURSELF AND HANG...

Just like you and your fashola, no difference. Go back to new articles and see where fashola endorsed subsidy removal at the NGF, but came January, he started singing a new song condemning the govt. When Nigeria knows how two-sided you are, ain't no telling what will happen, heck, the media is already doing justice to Fashola's chameleoness,

manny4life:

Who is this person, from what hole did you come out from?

What the hell is he talking about? This is the effect of late night crack

manny4life:

This is what Fashola does best - a CHAMELEON.

This is exactly the same thing he did in the subsidy debate, he yourthe removal only to come back later to condemn the govt after the shitt hit the fan. If you can't trust a man with his own words, he changes his mouth and stance almost opposite, then it's a serious problem.

Governor Mobolaji Johnson went on radio to address Lagosians in a way sharply different from the conciliatory tone he adopted the previous month when Biafran explosions began to rock Lagos. “Ibos openly rejoiced at the events in the Midwest and that some openly boast Ojukwu will soon take over Lagos or bomb Lagos to ashes. All these acts of treachery, sabotage and uncharitable-ness are an abuse of kindness and hospitality of people of Lagos State,” Johnson said.

Afam4eva:
These nonentity governors are not bokoharam targets but Goodluck Jonathan as the president of Nigeria is a target. So, he must be very careful. That's not to say that i support the fact that he has refused to visit Maiduguri.

Afam4eva:
I will only believe them if they can spend at least one week in Maiduguri. FRom the picture sef you can sense fear in them. I trust Igbo man Rochas. Did you notice that he was not visible in the first picture? That's because he was between those in fron and those at the back. So that if yawa gas, he'll have a second chance. I pity Oshiomole. See as him dey waka for front like say na him get Bokoharam.

On a more serious note, BH sees no need attacking this BK guys cause they don't really have any grouse with them. Their fight is against the FG and not local champs whose governance have no bearing on them.

Afam4eva: This doesn't prove jack. Why didn't they work round maiduguri without their security detail?

jmaine:

I gave you the content which is the main crux of the article, So ?

Undeniably correct . . . .

FreeGlobe:
you and this your amala and tuwo reasoning. Is it not you folks that keep telling us how OBJ would have ended boko haram? How is the comparison off? Is it because it has to do with GEJ now? Go siddon jare mumu.

jmaine:

Only a highly mischievous fellow will seek to deny the JTF efforts in drastically reducing the terror threat of BH in Borno from the daily mayhem we used to know

Meanwhile the bombs went off after the Governors left town not during their visit . . .



Source

jmaine:


Yes, they scored a political point, but in my opinion not major as you might deem it to reflect the entire political landscape of Nigeria . . .

Every discerning and fair minded folks can't equally deny the quelling impact of the JTF on BH; which made this publicity stunt very possible .

I love the political inclination of their visit though . . . . .

FreeGlobe:
can you provide us pics of obasanjos visit to odi? Thanks in advance eko fraud

Eight governors from the major opposition parties met on Thursday at the Government House, Maiduguri, Borno State where they continued discussion on the formation of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

They also discussed the prevailing insecurity bedeviling Borno and Yobe States, both governed by the All Nigeria Peoples Party.

Maiduguri is the hotbed of the Boko Haram insurgency and the governors appear to have ventured into the city to shame President Goodluck Jonathan who is yet to make a state visit to the Borno State capital.

The governors met in the troubled city in spite of reports of explosions in a part of the metropolis.
- See more at

: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/122474-apc-governors-venture-into-boko-harams-den-in-ridicule-of-jonathan-pdp.html#sthash.zH9SwjKF.dpuf

9ja_I_hail:

Mr. Intellectual what is your suggestion/ideas ? close the danm market right? don't allow sentiment to cloud your sense of judgement.I would have ignored this campaign of pictures you have been doing since this issue started if you are eko ilo.

Do you know Lagos state Govt appointed environmental sanitation agency call lawma who does collect money monthly from the traders without doing sanitation?

LAGOS — GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, described Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as amateurish party, lacking in global development and trend.

Fashola spoke against the backdrop of allegation by Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state, that the visit of former President of the United States of America, USA, at the inauguration of Eko Atlantic City Project, as part of the State government’s propaganda.

Speaking at the commemoration of his 2,100 days in office, at Alausa, Fashola said: “I thought I have seen the worst that our political opponent here could produce. But that party seems never to be ashamed of rolling in the mud.

“I accept also that they have demonstrated a lot of amateurish and that is what is on display. They are behind global development and trend. If they follow development, they will know that former President Bill Clinton immediately after he left office launched global initiative to help provide support for environmental sustainability, waste management and others.

“Eko Atlantic City project was one of the projects that won award in New York in 2012. But because the Clinton initiative is a globally recognised organisation, it is not as dysfunctional as the PDP, Clinton was going around the world to see what was going on around the world. That was why Clinton came to Lagos to see our project. I think that this occasion was too important for such amateurish discussion.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/02/clinton-fashola-slams-pdp/#sthash.lpvxYqxD.dpuf