₦airaland Forum

u don come again, Kobo?
How far for that Fashola thread?

all these comedians,

From Kunle Akogun and Sufuyan Ojeifo in Abuja, 03.30.2010
There was a blend of agitation and drama yesterday when the role of former Information and Communication Minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili, in the dissolved cabinet of ailing President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua came under focus in the Senate.

It all happened during her screening by the upper legislative chamber as a prospective returnee-minister.
Senate Chief Whip and arrow head of the pro-Yar’Adua men in the Senate, Senator Mahmud Kanti Bello, put Akunyili at her wits’ end, saying her role was divisive and against national unity.


Bello’s question tended to portray the former minister as a traitor “cooking dishes” for First Lady Turai Yar’Adua only to allegedly move against the family.
In her response, which came amid bouts of rowdiness in the Senate, Akunyili defended herself, saying, “I’m loyal to him (President Yar’Adua), I’m loyal to the constitution and I’m very loyal to the country, Nigeria.”
At the height of President Yar’Adua’s prolonged absence from the country on medical ground, Akunyili had written a memo to members of the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF), asking for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to be empowered.


She also granted a series of interviews to some newspapers and television stations where she alluded to a cabal in the Presidency holding the country down.
Yesterday, Akunyili was the third and last nominee to appear before the upper legislative house on the first day of the screening that may extend beyond the next two days.
Meanwhile, Acting President Jonathan has forwarded the names of five more ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, bringing the total to 38 now before the upper chamber.

Senate President David Mark read Jonathan’s letter under announcement.
Four of the nominees who were members of the dissolved cabinet are former Minister of Environment, John Odey; former Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Aderemi Babalola; former Minister of Transport, Hon. Ibrahim Isa Bio; and former Minister of State for Commerce, Mr. Humphrey Abbah.
The fifth nominee representing Benue State is Special Adviser to the state Governor Gabriel Suswam on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Sam Odeh.
Of the 14 nominees slated for screening yesterday, only four - former Minister of State for Agriculture, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), and Akunyili - were screened.


But Akunyili’s screening, which ended yesterday’s session, turned dramatic when Senator Bello (PDP, Katsina North) rose to ask her questions.
He questioned her nationalism and patriotism against the backdrop of the role she played as Information Minister.
Bello questioned her claim of the existence of a cabal in the Presidency, wondering how she could not have been a member of the cabal when she identified with the First Family and, in fact, was a very close friend of the First Lady Turai Yar’Adua.


Attempts by Senator Lee Maeba (PDP, Rivers South-east) to block Bello’ s question through a point of order were frustrated by the Senate President who clarified Bello’s question and refocused Akunyili on the specific issue she was asked to address.
After an initial rowdy session on the floor, Akunyili said: “I want to state here very respectfully that I have always tried my best to be a nationalist right from when I was in NAFDAC.


“I worked for the whole country. The people that were supposed to be involved in drug counterfeiting were actually my own people. But I did not spare them because of my interest in Nigeria as a nation and the Nigerian people as my own people.”
Some senators applauded her; some others murmured their disapproval of the statement.
Then Akunyili continued: “Then coming to the cabal, Senator Kanti Bello mentioned…
Distinguished senator said that I was supposed to be part of the cabal and he went on to say that I was cooking dishes for Madam (Turai). Sir, I never cooked for Madam (Turai).”


Mark interjected, saying “That bit is not part of the question.”
Akunyili went on: “Thank you Sir,” adding, “Again, I was not in any way part of the cabal and I want to state here very clearly that President Yar’Adua is my boss, my big brother. And everybody knows he is a fine gentleman and with beautiful spirit, but when we started having issues in the system; when we started having problems, I decided…”
It was at this point that some senators became somewhat rowdy again; forcing the Senate President to stand on his feet and to repeatedly hit the gavel on the table to call the house to order.


Mark cited Order 63 of the Senate Standing Rules (2007 as Amended), which states inter alia: “Whenever the President of the Senate or the Chairman rises during a debate, any senator then speaking or offering to speak shall sit down and the Senate or the committee shall be silent so that the President of the Senate or the Chairman may be heard without interruption.”
According to him, “For those who are new on the floor here, once the President of the Senate stands up, you must stop talking. Let me just remind everybody that we must conduct ourselves in a responsible manner.


“We are on live television; whatever your views, you have an opportunity to express it. This is the first time that I would stand up as the President of the Senate. I would not want this to happen again. We have got a nominee in our front here. We must conduct ourselves properly, please.”
Facing Akunyili, he directed her to wind up on the question she was answering.
Akunyili responded: “Consequent upon my close relationship with Mr. President, when he became ill, I organised a fast with my workers and my household and the Director-General of the FRCN was part of the fast.


“I also booked 90 days Novena mass for him in Saint Leo’s Parish, Ikeja, when he went to the hospital. This can be cross-checked. That shows you that I have nothing against our President. I am loyal to him; I am loyal to the Constitution and I am very loyal to the country-Nigeria.”
She wanted to continue, but the Senate President ended it for her, though the rowdiness on the floor also continued.
Mark, at this point, thanked her and asked her to take a bow.


As Akunyili was leaving the chamber, she went in the direction of Bello and greeted the senator.
The former minister’s screening is to continue this morning in the same Committee of the Whole Senate.

ud4u:
Tinubu and cohorts at work, what did Tinubu achieve at his eight years in office that will make them crucify Fashola that is not up to four yeras in office.

If Fash should be probed then it means Tinubu should be hanged.

Arrant nonsense.

why are you asking that kind of question?
in case you missed it, see what he achieved below

felele:
Frankly, I think the "True Face of Lagos" guys are just a bunch of disgruntled party apparatchiks who have lost their usual feeding troughs in the Fashola administration.

The true meat of the matter is the WAY and MANNER the Lagos-Epe expressway expansion concession was granted, to whom it was granted and what Lagos State Government paid - over N22.5 billion - for the privilege of giving away a major arterial road for 30 years!!!
.
The true meat of the matter is how Bola Ahmed Tinubu came to be the owner of:

1. 4 Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi.

2. The Lagos State Government Guest House in Abuja

The true meat of the matter is how Trojan Estates Ltd came into ownership of the 250 hectare Royal Gardens Estate, Ajah.

How Ocean and Oil Petroleum (Oando) was able to buy Agip with Lagos State Government funds

How that deal impacted upon who eventually became the Oba of Lagos.

How Oando was able to corner one half of the Gas distribution network concession for metropolitan Lagos (to be fair to them, they are actually performing, as opposed to Atiku's Gasland, which cornered the other half, comprising Lekki, Epe, Lagos Island, Victoria Island and Ikoyi)

These, amongst others are the real questions that the Government of Lagos State, and not necessarily the person of Babatunde Raji Fashola, need to address, and immediately too.

For Fashola, I understand his position, but a true man dies but once. Cowards die several times before their actual death. To use the fear of Tinubu as an excuse to turn a blind eye is to open yourself to allegations, possibly provable on the probability of guilt by association, of collusion in the BLEEDING of Lagos State by the self same Bola Ahmed Tinubu!

-

felele:
Frankly, I think the "True Face of Lagos" guys are just a bunch of disgruntled party apparatchiks who have lost their usual feeding troughs in the Fashola administration.

The true meat of the matter is the WAY and MANNER the Lagos-Epe expressway expansion concession was granted, to whom it was granted and what Lagos State Government paid - over N22.5 billion - for the privilege of giving away a major arterial road for 30 years!!!
.
The true meat of the matter is how Bola Ahmed Tinubu came to be the owner of:

1. 4 Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi.

2. The Lagos State Government Guest House in Abuja

The true meat of the matter is how Trojan Estates Ltd came into ownership of the 250 hectare Royal Gardens Estate, Ajah.

How Ocean and Oil Petroleum (Oando) was able to buy Agip with Lagos State Government funds

How that deal impacted upon who eventually became the Oba of Lagos.

How Oando was able to corner one half of the Gas distribution network concession for metropolitan Lagos (to be fair to them, they are actually performing, as opposed to Atiku's Gasland, which cornered the other half, comprising Lekki, Epe, Lagos Island, Victoria Island and Ikoyi)

These, amongst others are the real questions that the Government of Lagos State, and not necessarily the person of Babatunde Raji Fashola, need to address, and immediately too.

For Fashola, I understand his position, but a true man dies but once. Cowards die several times before their actual death. To use the fear of Tinubu as an excuse to turn a blind eye is to open yourself to allegations, possibly provable on the probability of guilt by association, of collusion in the BLEEDING of Lagos State by the self same Bola Ahmed Tinubu!

tori full ground,

tkb417:
I dont argue with Ibime on Niger Delta issues cos i personally think they paid for his school fees both home and abroad
He has signed a pact with those criminals so who am i to question his allegiance?

bar all those, the boi sabi stuff so lets give it to him.

LWKMD,
like you said, the boi is good (speaking like an European club scout).

tkb417:
MINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jarus is just like Ibime, Loma, Ajanlekoko,]Windywendy and Biina
brilliant peeps. You can never fault them

i can fault these two like any human can.
I have stated my faults in Suraj in previous posts and i find it unacceptable that a person like Ibime with his level of intelligence can fall for the scam perpetuated by criminals called militants whose only ideology is their pockets.
However those two (i have not monitored the others you mentioned well enough) are always a breath of fresh air in discussions and i always find their posts and views enlightening.

tkb417:
[b]
and netotse, to your question
what those guys have in common?
they all love women

so you love men

are you guys even sure that this becomerich is a human being?
he (it) may be a programmable robot designed for comic relief.
i am still unconvinced.

skfa1:
I always see my self as a lucky guy right from my childhood cause luck always happen in my life

I used the cash machine just to withdraw 10 pound but it gave me 20 pound instead

Another, I went to credit my account in the bank but the cashier put more money into my account by mistake

Sometime ago I was damn broke, i decided to play lottery with my 1 pound, the next day i won 450 pound = 125,000 naira

Years back, I was 1 of the 48 people that applied for Visa but just only me was given a visa rest of the 47 refused.

2004 My name came out of the national visa service website, i was so happy.

Loads and loads of luck dont wanna continue counting them.

dude, the first two instances are fraud o!!

In addition to Ajanlekoko's point, i hope you used your banks ATM cos if it is another bank, it would take longer for the error to be sorted out.
heard a case that the victim had to wait till the end o the month.
Most of the cases that were reversed speedily were same bank's ATM.

^^^^
of course he will.
He deserves it.
i have found his posts passionate and devoid of personal insults even when you disagree with him (a trait that is not very common on NL).

[quote author=metal-gong link=topic=421251.msg5786661#msg5786661 date=1269841501]Exactly my opinion . . . . These evil men are always out to rubbish well respected Igbo technocrats. As I said earlier, the overall system is the cause of INEC failures and not Prof Iwu. However, if the Jonathan still want to appoint a new INEC umpire, there are alot of people from other tribes willing to accept the job.[/quote]You belittle the evil that is Prof. Iwu

If he runs as fast as those legs of his can carry him, he should also relinquish the right to criticize whoever takes the position.
We need a few sane men and women to chase these Barbarians from the gates.
I am more worried about the level to which rumours have been raised in the Nigeira media.
The title says Jonathan is wooing Anyaoku, yet a line in the article says it seems unlikely that the man has been contacted with the offer.
All articles in Nigerian media are peppered with 'close sources' and sources close to xyz'.
It is becoming very ridiculous.

ziga:
I'm so sorry that you misunderstand my point like i thought.

Talking about picking and choosing, who is picking and choosing? You are selectively attacking the only government that has been trying to even listen to the people because he has been listening?

Who defines where we draw a line on how much leeway we give a person (or a government), simply because unlike the others it is seen to be listening and acting?
Do we leave up to BRF to determine how much transparency and information the people are entitled to, simply because he is acting?
Mate, you have to be careful, i mean very careful cos you are threading on a very slippery path.

^^^^^^^^^^
he who seeks equity must come with clean hands.

babapupa:
Going back n forth with these clowns is absolutely unnecessary and pointless. Let them weave and swim in their conspiracy theories and mindless rants.

Why respond to people who don't have to prove their allegations and ridiculous innuendos with documented facts and evidence? All they have is mindless rants and hearsays. Till they come up with something, just ignore them.


The burden is on them, not you. They are nothing but needless distraction.

i know where we first heard a similar argument.

Kobojunkie:
I think the man is too intelligent to use that ridiculous excuse. Like I said, All he needs to do is HONOR our democracy by understanding that the people HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW. This blame game is not working for either camp.


Again, someone said SILENCE IN GOLDEN and I wonder if that person thinks Democracy is some sort of dictatorial system. “Silence is Golden” does not, I repeat, does not work in a democracy. It is ANTI-DEMOCRACY. We just went through a period were a whole nation of 150 million people were left in the dark as to the whereabouts of their president, and the state of their government. I am sure any sane mind out there would be willing to admit that it would be best we never have to deal with such again considering the impact that hard on the nation as a whole and our image on the global scene.

This becoming the greatest downfall of our present political space.
The tendency to govern by rumours,lies and deceit.
As Nigerians become more and more integrated to the global community, the need for information becomes more relevant.
The same thing happened in Yar Adua's presidency.His health issue began and the people began to ask questions.
Instead of answering the questions pointedly, the likes of Akunyili, Segun Adeniyi and that i.m.b.e.c.i.l.e who is the ambassador in Saudi Arabia were feeding the public outright lies and deceit.
The ruling cabal used the Nigerian media to perpetuate rumours (even went as far as deploying a noble and respected institution like the BBC).
The man will fly in and out and instead of doing the proper thing and keeping the public informed, we were told he was going for short hajj and long hajj.
Now they are embroiled and tangled in their own web of lies and deceit.
Now truth and rumour are so intimate that the public no longer cares for the demarcating line.

The same will be the end of this Lekki scam if Fashola does not address the issues at stake wholly and directly.
In a democracy, the people have a right to know.
A denial of that right destroys the government more than it destroys the people.

felele:
Most REAL Lagosians like the idea of having someone of Aganga's impeccable stature ([size=16pt]one out of 1500 "Managing Directors" at Goldman Sachs[/b][/size]) on Jonathan's cabinet. However, we would be happier if he could go from his home state of Edo.

Why should Lagos have to suffer because Edo State wants to have more than the alloted number of ministerial appointees?

Would it be fair if a Lagosian who just happened to have been born and brought up in Benin by his Yoruba parents were appointed as an Edo state nominee, thereby making it impossible for at least one real indigene of Edo State to take up a space in the nations affairs commensurate with his skill and experience

At any rate, the Constitution, no less, stipulates that ministers must be indigenes of all states of the Federation. I don't really think I like the idea of having someone from Edo state representing my state, and by extension, my interests at the national level.

All this balderash about Lagos State being a no man's land is just that, pure bunkum. I am an indigenous Lagosian and I DEEPLY resent settlers who try to claim my state as their own, and in so doing, deprive myself and my brethren of opportunities which rightly belong to us. We certainly cannot go to their states to claim the same. Why should we be the ones making the sacrifices?

We are quite well educated and high achievers in Lagos, and we really resent slightly less competent outsiders being brought in to take our birthright.

The powers that be should just move this guy to Edo State's slot, where he rightfully belongs, and appoint Musiliu Obanikoro, the current performing Nigerian High Commissioner in Ghana to the Lagos State slot. Nobody can argue that Koro has not given a splendid account of himself in that position.

Enough is Enough!!!

Enough is enough with this romance with mediocrity.
What do you mean by current performing High commissioner?
How did you measure his performance and come up with the bolded parts of your posts.
Guy enough is enough with all these backward tendencies of ours.

Instead of scrapping section 147(3) of the constitution, the hideous looters at the NASS are busy removing the limitation on convicted criminals contesting elections.

By Elor Nkereuwem
March 28, 2010 11:33PM

There is a massive hunt for James Ibori, the former governor of Delta State, in connection with recently launched investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on his role in the illegal disposal of about 500 million units of Delta State-owned bank shares.

Sources in Abuja, over the weekend, said that Mr. Ibori, who is wanted for questioning over some of his actions while he was governor of the oil rich state from 1999 to 2007, has ‘disappeared’ and has not been seen in the past two weeks since NEXT exclusively reported that a new round of investigations into his activities had been launched.

Looking for him

Efforts to obtain an official position from either Mr. Ibori or the EFCC were unsuccessful at press time. But a source in the commission, who asked not to be named, told NEXT that “EFCC operatives were out looking for him to interrogate him. I think he got wind of it and has disappeared.”

Indeed, according to other sources, Mr. Ibori has cut off communication with all but few associates and relatives. “It is believed that he may be communicating with the Delta State governor, who is related to him,” the source said.

Indeed, Mr. Ibori, who was hitherto very visible in government circles, has suddenly become very scarce. It was not uncommon to find Mr. Ibori in the company of Vincent Ogbulafor, chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the presidential villa, in the era of the Yar’Adua presidency. However, he has not been seen in the State House in recent times.

Fresh charges

Asides the 107 count-charges brought against Mr. Ibori by the EFCC in 2007, the commission is preparing fresh charges against the former governor following a petition signed by some leading citizens of his state.

The latest petition, signed by 10 leading citizens of Delta State headed by a former minister of information, Edwin Clark, includes a demand for a probe of the former governor over the alleged illegal disposal of 528 million shares belonging to Delta State, in Oceanic Bank.

The EFCC responded by launching investigations.

The investigations led to the unravelling of some facts, which have now led to the latest move to interrogate the former governor.

Mr. Ibori allegedly sold off Delta State assets to fund private investments while he was still in office.

“The search has to do with the N44 billion loan which he took from Intercontinental Bank. He used Delta State shares in Oceanic Bank as security for the loan. He later asked the bank to sell off the shares, over 500 million units, to repay the loan,” our source said, adding however that Mr.

Ibori’s disappearance has now stalled the EFCC’s investigations.

felele:
Even people who have no real stake in the matter will come and blab. Mr. Kanu, or whatever your name is, concentrate on the affairs of your state, wherever that is. Only a non-Lagosian would refer to a Senator and Ambassador of Nigeria from Lagos State, a son of Lagos of whom we are quite proud, in such a derogatory manner. You are aware of course that your IP is logged, and you can be traced through it? You make libellous/slanderous statements like that in public at your legal peril.

Dude, take a chill pill and while at it, get a life.
You are threatening someone on a forum?Are you kidding me?
If you and Koro are interested and have so much free time on your hands,let me know and i will give you an address where to forward the court summons.

Show love and affection to their mother in their presence.
Never counter their mother's instruction to them in their presence.
Enjoy the process (of aftherhood), it can never be replicated and it is priceless.

Suraj,
What is the plan?
Are we going to vote at the end of the collation?
Or every one that ends up in the original post ends up a Legend (in different categories)?
Knowing you and your tendency to please all parties, we might end up with 100 legends.
Kindly consider a means of elimination and an adequate weeding process to make the process and award respectable.

since the entire system called Nigeria is faulty, should we suspend the rule of law and let criminals go scot free, close the courts, dissolve the police and retire all judges?
since almost everything is wrong with the country, lets just close shop and go home, abi?

From Imam Imam in Kaduna, 03.28.2010
Loyalists and political associates of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar are to meet tomorrow in Abuja to discuss their principal's planned return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), THISDAY has learnt.
The meeting followed a similar one held yesterday between Atiku, former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita and two other associates, where the former VP intimated the elders of his political group of his desire to return to the PDP and also seek their support in his new endeavour.


A source close to the former Vice President said tomorrow's meeting will decide among other things when to make Atiku's decision public and how best to go about the matter.
The source, who himself is among those invited for the meeting, said already leaders of the old Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) founded by President Umaru Yar’Adua’s elder brother, Shehu have decided to support Atiku. The PDM is now led by Abubakar


The source added that all Atiku's political associates are in support of his decision to return to PDP “because it is in the best for this country” at the moment.
When asked yesterday if he would follow Abubakar to return to the PDP, Kaita had told THISDAY that he would make his position known to the public only after a meeting with the former Vice President billed to hold last night in Abuja.
Kaita in the interview with THISDAY had chided the PDP for “muscling its way to power by stealing people’s votes and by outright rigging.”


He, however, added that “even though I hate to admit this fact, I am finding it difficult to say this, but I do know, even with the mega party being formed, even if the electoral reforms is concluded on time before the next elections, it will be difficult to oust PDP from power. That is a fact. I say this with all sense of responsibility, because with their rigging machines [are] all out, with people like Iwu still in office, and with all the money they have, I think we will have a battle on our hands.”


Meanwhile, Abubakar's planned return to the PDP has been described as a necessary sacrifice the former VP had to make to bail the country out of its current political confusion. Atiku's aide and pioneer national chairman of Action Congress (AC) Hassan Zurmi told THISDAY in Kaduna yesterday that this was the time for all Nigerians to join hands and present a common front in the effort to find lasting progress and unity of purpose in the country.
Zurmi said Atiku's action was a collective decision and all his top lieutenants and loyalists are ready to follow him back into the PDP.


"The decision more or less came from us, and we took into consideration all options before us. We were swayed by the fact that almost all the political parties in this country have the same ideology, the same manifesto and the same mode of operation. So if that is the case, why not just return to PDP and contribute your quota for the development of this country?”
Asked if the desire to get the party's ticket for the 2011 presidential election is the driving force for the return of Abubakar to PDP, Zurmi said 2011 elections was secondary issue.

na today
no be today yansh dey for back, i beg

•Agusto scenario may play out
By Yusuph Olaniyonu, 03.28.2010


There are fears that the nomination of Mr. Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga, managing director of London-based investment bank, Goldman Sachs as minister by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan may run into stormy waters.
The problem with Aganga’s nomination is the stiff opposition mounted to his candidacy by a group consisting of members of Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The group is protesting that Aganga is not an indigene of Lagos State and therefore should not be allowed to usurp the slot meant for the state.


The group opposed to Aganga’s nomination is hoping to ambush the investment banker during the screening of the 33 ministerial nominees which would commence in the Senate Chambers tomorrow.
The anti-Aganga group operating under the aegis of Lagos State Indigenes Association in a newspaper advertorial yesterday contended that Aganga is not from Lagos State and that his nomination contravenes Section 147(3) of the 1999 constitution.


“Our investigation has revealed that he (Aganga) is from Sabongida Ora of Etsako Local Government Area of Edo State and it will be highly insensitive to nominate an outsider to represent the interest of Lagos State in the Federal Executive Council,” the group stated in the advertorial signed by Chief M.A. Akintoye and Barrister F.A.Macaulay.


However, THISDAY checks reveal that Aganga was born in Lagos, he schooled in Lagos and lived in Lagos before travelling out of the country but he has his root in the old mid-west region.
As a result of his wide experience and knowledge, his candidacy is said to enjoy the support of the three senators from Lagos State, Olorunnimbe Mamora, Ganiyu Solomon and Muniru Muse.
The support of the senators from the state the ministerial nominee is representing is crucial during the screening, according to senate rules.


The support for Aganga by the three senators from Lagos State who are members of the Action Congress (AC) is set to rekindle the 2007 scenario in which they supported another technocrat, Mr. Bode Augusto nominated to represent Lagos State in the cabinet. Agusto, however, faced stiff opposition by the PDP.
The Lagos PDP members then colluded with members of the PDP Senate caucus from the north to mobilise votes against Agusto’s nomination. The Northern senators collaborated with the Lagos PDP members because the former feared that if Agusto was cleared, he would be beat their man, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman to the post of Minister of Finance.


However, with Aganga, the scenario is a bit different. The calculation in the presidency is that if Aganga is not cleared, then former Minister of State, Finance, Remi Babalola may head the finance ministry.
AC senators at the weekend resolved to support Aganga’s candidacy because of his wealth of experience in international finance. His candidacy may also have enjoyed the support of AC because two of the senators from Lagos State have their ancestry outside the state.


A friend of the investment banker yesterday told THISDAY on phone that Aganga is “ready, able and willing to serve his country to the best of his ability and to use his international connection for the benefit of Nigeria, but he is not desperate for the job and would not be caught in the web of politics.”
The senators from Lagos State have also sent clear warning signals to PDP leaders that if they frustrate Aganga’s nomination, then they would oppose any other nominees from the state.
As at yesterday when 22 of the 33 ministerial nominees presented themselves for security screening by the state security service (SSS), Aganga was not among them.

By Olawale Olaleye, 03.28.2010
Lagos based lawyer and president of the West African Bar Association (WABA), Mr. Femi Falana has written the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, complaining that the continued stay of Professor Maurice Iwu as chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was unconstitutional.


In the letter dated March 16 and titled “The Unconstitutionality of Professor Maurice Iwu’s Continual Membership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” Falana said events of the past few months in the country have necessitated the need for every patriotic citizen to feel concerned and contribute to the progress of our collective future.


“We have observed with great dismay certain constitutional aberrations plaguing our nations in debilitating dimensions. These aberrations bother on two basic issues which shall be raised and discussed for immediate intervention by Your Excellency to avoid prolonging this unnecessary imposition blowing nobody any good.


“The tenure of members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), like all other Federal Executive bodies is five years certain with effect from the date of the appointment of such members in accordance with Section 155(1)(c) of the Constitution. The definition of the word ‘member’ includes the Chairman of such bodies as provided in Section 161(c) and Section 318 of the Constitution.
“The implication is that where a member, during the course of his five-year tenure, becomes the Chairman of the body, such fact of elevation to chairmanship will not affect the fixed term. To argue otherwise is to seek to elongate the tenure of a member who becomes a Chairman after he had served two or three years beyond the letter and spirit of the Constitution.


“Your Excellency, it is not in dispute that Professor Maurice Maduakolam Iwu, the Chairman of INEC, was appointed a member of INEC in August 2003. After serving for close to two years as a member of INEC, he was made the Chairman in June 2005. Since the five-year tenure of Professor Iwu commenced in August 2003, it is clear that his appointment ought to have come to an end in August 2008 by effluxion of time. The contrary has been the case as the constitutional provisions regulating the membership of Professor Iwu have been consistently ignored by this Administration,” he said.
Falana who likened Iwu’s case to that of Mr. Timi Alaibe, the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Corporation (NDDC), also described as disturbing, Iwu’s alleged penchant for disobeying valid orders of court.


“Whereas on the 17th day of December, 2009, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, presided over by Honourable Justice A. M. Liman in Action Congress v. INEC - Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/36/09 – directed that INEC should issue to the Action Congress the CURRENT register of voters for the two constituencies of Osogbo Local Government of the House of Assembly, Osun State, and the Osun East Senatorial District of the Senate before the re-run elections ordered by the Court of Appeal. But in total flagrant and disobedience to the order, INEC issued the Voters Register used for the 2007 General Elections.


“We must also point out that the decision to conduct the said re-run elections on the 23rd day of December, 2009, is in contempt of the proceedings of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/37/09 between Action Congress v. Prof. Maurice Iwu and 5 Ors. judgment in which had been fixed for 29th day of January, 2010 whereof the court was required to determine whether INEC was competent to conduct any election in Nigeria whatsoever based on the deficiency in the quorum of INEC as its membership had fallen below the minimum of five members by the Constitution.”


Based on the above, Falana said “we believe that any serious government worth the billing in the comity of nations would definitely return this political liability and an albatross to democracy to its rightful place in history. Rather than hanging Iwu on our necks like a worthless metal of burdensome substance, we are of the humble opinion that it would do the credentials of this administration a lot of good to let Iwu vacate the membership of INEC of which he has overstayed.”