₦airaland Forum

HUMAN Rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, has lamented that “plutocracy has replaced democracy in Nigeria,” the effect of which is that “people have lost confidence in the democratic process.”

Falana stated this in a keynote address, titled: ‘General Elections in Nigeria 2023: A Review of the Nation’s Political Culture and Electoral Integrity’, and delivered at the 2023 Law Week Programme of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Benin branch, held in Benin City, Edo State.

Falana urged the NBA to put pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to “address the problems of the late arrival of INEC officials and ballot materials at the polling stations, malfunctioning BVAS machines, and limited or non-transmission of the results from the polling units to Results Viewing Portal, IReV.”



According to him, “out of the 93 million voters that were registered; only 22 million voted in the presidential election.”

The paper reads: “INEC must also address insecurity at some polling units, including violent attacks on voters and officials, voter intimidation, snatching and destruction of voting materials, significant cases of vote-buying, and limited access facilities for persons living with disabilities.

“The Benin branch of the NBA should prevail on the national body of lawyers to convoke a national summit to review the 2023 general elections as soon as the curtain is drawn on the election petitions by the various election petition tribunals, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

“The NBA should ensure that the summit is attended by the representatives of all relevant stakeholders. At the end of the programme, the NBA should collaborate with the judiciary committees of both houses of the national assembly in drafting amendments to the Constitution and the Electoral Act to institutionalise credible elections in Nigeria.

“All mass-based organisations must mobilise the Nigerian people to take their political destiny into their hands by participating in the democratic process.”

Former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, has asked the incumbent Governor, Dapo Abiodun to stop the monthly pension being paid to him by the State government.


Daniel, in a letter titled, ‘Request To Suspend My Monthly Pension and Allowances’, Daniel asked that the N676,376.95 pension/allowances he is entitled to as a former governor be suspended.

According to him, the suspension of the pension was in compliance with his conscience, moral principle and ethical code against double emoluments that a serving Senator, who hitherto was a former State governor, shall not be entitled to the payment of pension and allowances from such a state.


Daniel, who is the new Senator representing Ogun East, was inaugurated alongside other Senators on June 13 at the National Assembly.

The Senator noted that he had not benefitted from any welfare packages, be it medical, furniture, transportation and others since he left office in 2011.


The letter addressed to Gov Abiodun read: “I write to request for the suspension of my monthly pension/allowances of 676,376.95 (gross) (Six Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, Three Hundred Seventy-Six Naira, Ninety-Five Kobo) being paid as a former Executive Governor of Ogun State.

“This request is in compliance with my conscience, moral principle and ethical code against double emoluments that a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who hitherto was a former State Governor, shall not be entitled to the payment of pension and allowances from such state.


“It would be recalled that on Tuesday 13th June 2023, I was, with other elected Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, inaugurated as members of the 10th National Assembly.

“It is pertinent to also have it on record that since I left the office in 2011, I have not benefitted from any welfare packages be it Medical, Furniture, transportation etc. Thanks in anticipation.”

IconicR:
😂 I myself never liked the Obi . He's just a deceitful man.

SpecialAdviser:
It is still bearable for one mannaidiot and hellAnus.

Daytonbale:
Agbadorian una never see any yet, this is part 1 wait for part 2 at last all Agbadorian will eat grass

Tntsi:
Tinubu is the only candidate that did not win his own state in the 2023 presidential election amongst all the 4 top presidential candidates.

No one knew him better than his people, yet he was rejected in a landslide.
One begins to wonder where tinubu got votes from.
The yakubu select, placeholder and his gang democracy killers cannot be happy with the EU report.

Cromagnon:
How market?

Benwallt:
This is not the question you should be asking. You should finding answer to the fact that LP spent 4 weeks in court making noises and it took APC oneday to cancel all the noises.

Levels dey. Lawyer pass lawyer. Tinubu is the father of everybody.

BossGerald:
Dem for bring our twitter SANdalili festus keyamo ...yes oo e reach to bring am


Apc supporters have always been questionable characters

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has said the recent hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly known as petrol, and other perceived anti-poor policies were weapons of war against Nigerian workers and masses.

According to NLC, impoverishing workers and pushing millions more into hellish living does not, in any way, approximate sound economic management.

In an address at the opening ceremony of a four-day programme for leaders of the state councils of NLC in the south, taking place in Lagos, President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, said from all intents and purposes, the Nigerian state had declared war on the working people and the masses of Nigeria.

Represented by the Deputy President of Congress and President-General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, in the programme supported by the American Solidarity Centre, Ajaero, noted that trade union leaders must not abandon the Nigerian people and workers to their fate.

The NLC president said labour leaders across the country “must all join hands in the struggle for the articulation and protection of the rights of Nigerian workers and people with all hope that one day, workers of Nigeria will reclaim their natural rights that have been forcefully abridged and trampled upon by uninformed employers and those in government who ought to have been in the vanguard of guaranteeing such rights.

“Various governments in Nigeria have mercilessly trampled upon the rights of Nigerians without any feeling of remorse. Politicians have ganged up against the workers and the masses without any consequences.

”It is important to note that governance in Nigeria is always spoken about in paradoxical dimensions.
Governments are rooted in the lives of the people and thus ought to pursue service to them but in our nation, governance has become an instrument for inflicting pains and suffering on workers and the masses.

”Recently, we are all witnessed the steep heartless hike in the price of PMS by the federal government under the guise of the so-called petroleum subsidy withdrawal without making alternative arrangements to cushion the expected and well-known impact of such unconscionable action.


“This policy direction ought to have been the product of dialogue amongst stakeholders but was shunned by a democratically elected government which rather believes in machoism that has since left the economy reeling.

“That, clearly shows that the Nigerian State from all corners is clearly at war with the people and workers. They have mounted pressure on the people at all fronts and have robbed the people repeatedly even when the people have turned the other cheek refusing to acknowledge that governance must go hand in hand with social justice if it is to have any meaning.

”This onslaught, comrades, is not relenting and would continue if nothing is done to mediate it immediately.

“It has become exigent that we forcefully bring to the knowledge of our various leaders that rendering many more millions of Nigerians poor could not be an option for punishment.

”Moreover, impoverishing workers and pushing millions more into hellish living does not in any way approximate sound economic management.

“Nigerian workers and masses cannot continue bearing the brunt of ill-conceived policies and outright fantasies of our leaders. The continued sacrifice of poor Nigerian workers so that the rich can continue in their unbridled pleasures is beginning to push events to the edge.

“A nation with a huge number of poor people and an increasing number of the working poor is akin to mega trouble. Growth without commensurate benefits to the people is meaningless. Nigerians, workers and comrades can put a stop to this.

”The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, can halt this manifest mischief. As trade union leaders, we must not abandon the people and workers to their fate. We must not leave anything to chance and we must not sit by and watch this rape continue unabated.

“Among the heart-wrenching and serial atrocities of current employers both in the public and private sectors against Nigerian workers is the continued prevalence of abuses of the rights and privileges of the workforce in the various shopfloors which have gone unchallenged.

“Acts of impunity by lawless employers without recourse to our extant labour laws have all contributed to abridging the rights of our fellow workers in our various workplaces.


”It has suddenly become a passion and a dangerous pastime for employers to trample upon our rights as the creators and builders of the wealth of this nation.

“Across the nation, reports kept pouring in of workers deprived and denied of their basic rights and sometimes denied of their rights to fair and living wages.

”Governments at various levels owe salaries sometimes up to one year and when they manage to pay one month, they applaud themselves openly believing that the payment of earned income to workers is charity extended to workers.”

The leader of the Pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo has cautioned Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State against interfering in the leadership issues of the group

Adebanjo stated this while addressing reporters on Tuesday in Ibadan.

Recall that Governor Makinde is making moves to ensure the reconciliation of the two leaders of the group, Pa Ruben Fasoranti, and Pa Ayo Adebanjo.


The governor in a meeting held in Ibadan appealed to the two leaders to unite for the progress and unity of Yorubaland.

Adebanjo, however, cautioned the governor against any attempt to split the group saying he has no issue with his predecessor.

He said, “What Governor Makinde does not know about, he should not interfere. I have no dispute with Baba Fasoranti. He should not be one of those who want to split Afenifere, and that is not what I stand for,” he said.

INTEGRITYA1:
That's why they give him 1 week or 2 weeks ultimatum to decide. After 2 weeks without signing their new contract they will put him up for sell.

Parachoco:
I agree with Senator Bamidele

TemplarLandry:
A fast-fading regional bloc like the European Union should stop pokenosing into our internal affairs. Their unsolicited opinions are inconsequential. Nigeria refuses to be your appendage.

GeneralPula:
Your Propaganda is DOA..

iSense247:
Let me ask helinues, yarimo, seunmsg, lhordspy, FreeStuffsNG, Abdul05, drlateef, AntiChristian, Afamed and other drug Daddy surpporters,

Is Tinubu not a drug baron?

1972xy:
what is your own definition ?
Your definition is if obi wins : election is free, fair and credible.

Nice2023: