₦airaland Forum

ISpiksDaTroof:
You need to be hung from a tree. You're a traitor to your country. All your posts make it glaringly clear that you intend your cou.try to fail.

May God keep our President and bless Nigeria, in Jesus Name
Mr Clement Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos

In his ground of appeal, Senator Saraki through his counsel, Joseph Daudu, submitted that the tribunal erred in law and also acted without jurisdiction‎ by assuming jurisdiction over the criminal trial of the appellant at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for a charge which is being challenged at the Federal High Court.

Senator Saraki, in his appeal, stated that as at the time the tribunal overruled the appellant’s application to discharge the order for bench warrant for his arrest by the respondent, there was an order of the Federal High Court which was served on the tribunal.

7. The conduct of the Tribunal today left nobody in doubt that it cannot do justice on the matter before it. It is also clear that today's decision is an abuse of the rule of law which portends danger to our judicial system. The Tribunal has equally set a bad precedent in the way and manner it conducted itself during the proceedings.

[size=15pt]CCT Defiance of Subsisting Court Order : Our Stand[/size]

Following the development in the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) today, Friday, September 18, 2015 when the Tribunal chose to ignore the subsisting order of a Federal High Court by sitting, we hereby state our position as follows:

1. While the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had stated and maintains that he is ready to submit himself to due process of the law on any issue concerning him, he also believes he has an inalienable right to resort to the same judiciary for protection when he feels his fundamental rights are about to be infringed upon.

2. It is for this reason that Dr. Saraki, having satisfied himself that the case filed by the CCB and the manner in which the case was filed show that he will not be given justice, resorted to the Federal High Court for the determination of the issues of competence of the prosecutor as well as compliance with the procedure stipulated in the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

3. The Federal High Court on Thursday, September 17, 2015, therefore ordered that the all parties in the case should appear before it on Monday, September 21, 2015. The implication of this ruling by a Court of competent jurisdiction is that the sitting today has been overtaken by event. It is for this reason that Dr. Saraki chose to go about with his normal official schedule.

4. Today at the Tribunal, Counsel to the Senate President, Mr. M. A. Mahmud (SAN), raised a motion stating that there is a pending constitutional matter before the Federal High Court to be decided on Monday and that the Tribunal should hold the trial until the constitutional matter is disposed of.

5. We are however dismayed that the Tribunal chose to disregard the order of the Federal High Court and the motion to suspend hearing till Monday when all parties are expected to argue their positions on the constitutional matter.

6. It is also a surprise to us that despite the application by the lead counsel to the Senate President that he will produce Dr. Saraki on Monday and the personality of the person involved as the Number three man in the country, the Tribunal insisted on issuing a warrant of arrest as if its intention is simply to embarrass Dr. Saraki. We are not unmindful of the fact that the Tribunal is acting under political influence and external pressure. This is dangerous to our democracy.

7. The conduct of the Tribunal today left nobody in doubt that it cannot do justice on the matter before it. It is also clear that today's decision is an abuse of the rule of law which portends danger to our judicial system. The Tribunal has equally set a bad precedent in the way and manner it conducted itself during the proceedings.

8. We want to emphasise the fact that this is not part of any war against corruption but using state institutions to fight political opponents and seeking to achieve through the back door what some people cannot get through democratic process.

9. We need to caution here that in a desperate bid to settle political scores and nail imaginary enemies, we should not destroy our democratic institutions and heat the polity for selfish reasons. Let us all learn from history.

9. The Senate President is a law abiding citizen who will not do anything to undermine the judicial process and authority. However, Dr. Saraki will always act to protect his fundamental human rights.

End

Signed

Yusuph Olaniyonu
Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President.

cyberdurable:
chukwudi44 Tonyebarcanista mogidi severussnape pls [size=13pt]thank GEJ for me, whenever you see him, He is a hero, for averting such a disastrous mayhem dt would have befall on us[/size]....

adedayourt:
Nice one

wonder y hes no longer on nl

[size=15pt]Barcanista Explains Why Ministers Very Important [/size]


Editor’s note: Tonye Barcanista, public relations professional and socio-political analyst, replies to the statement of President Muhammadu Buhari that ministers are not important and are noisemakers. Barcanista states that Buhari’s perception of ministers is inappropriate.

The role of ministers in governing of Nigeria

Firstly, we have to appreciate the purpose of ministers of the federation. We all we agree that all political parties and candidates standing for elections come with their own program and agenda.

These programs are highlighted in their respective document called their Manifesto. The Manifesto is usually in concordance with the overall ideology of the respective parties. When a party’s presidential candidate get elected, he assemble a team of men and women of intellectual standing and believers of his vision to help formulate policies, supervise implementations and defend these policies before the public to actualise the vision and fulfill the president’s electoral programs.

READ ALSO: Buhari Gives Interview To France 24

This group of people is called ministers. The loyalty of the ministers is to the occupant of the president’s office, the country and in most cases the ruling party. Ministers sit and deliberate on policy issues and strategy with the president
A workforce that carry out activities of the government in power

Every country has a workforce that carry out day-2-day activities of the government in power. We all agree that it is impossible for every government to come on board with their own workforce every 4-8years, hence the country provide for a ‘permanent’ workforce that will work with every administration. This workforce is called the civil service. They are non-partisan career people.

They are not to help any political party or candidate formulate policies but are to work with every ruling party and administration to implement policies. They are technocrats and bureaucrats. Their loyalty is not to the ruling party or individual in power but to the “Office of the President” and the Country. They have NO business deliberating on policy issues and strategy with the president or his party. They only take instruction.
Detailed analysis of the roles in Petroleum Ministry

In the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, there is the minister, the permanent secretary and career civil servants, and other agencies and department (NNPC, PPPRA) under the ministry.

The minister sits with the president to formulate policies and programs for the sector in line with the president’s agenda. S/he prepares budget for the ministry, see to the implementation of this program/policies (supervision) and is answerable to the president, the party and the public. Statutorily, s/he is the chairperson of the NNPC. S/he also supervises other department and agencies under her ministry on behalf of the president.

The permanent secretary is the account officer of the ministry and most senior civil servant (rank) in the ministry. S/he is responsible for the implementation of the minister’s policies/program. S/he is the head of the ministerial tender board but any contract approved by the board has to be countersigned by the minister (to ensure that they are in tune with the minister’s/president’s agenda). He/she is not a member of the cabinet, neither can s/he replace the minister as the chairperson of NNPC except s/he resigns and is appointed minister thereafter.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo, Tinubu Clash Over PMB’s Ministers

The roles of the minister and permanent secretary are distinct and straight forward. The importance of ministers cannot be over-emphasised. It is instructive to note that Nigeria is not an isolated case when it comes to ministers/permanent secretaries. The United States for instance have under-secretaries, which is Nigeria equivalent of permanent secretaries, and secretaries which are ministers equivalent.
Why Buhari’s perception of ministers is inappropriate

Contrary to Buhari’s perception, ministers are not for ‘noisemaking’, neither are they meant to ‘fill space’ except the incompetent and clueless ones. Without cabinet ministers, a country will be likened to one on ‘Auto-piloting’. More importantly, our constitution provide for offices of Ministers just as it provide for the offices of the President and Vice President.

To be fair with the president, his perception of ministers is inappropriate. I wonder what prompted him to utter such statement when he was a former minister under the General Olusegun Obasanjo military regime between 1977-79. Is he trying to say that he was a ‘noisemaking’ minister in General Obasanjo cabinet?

The views expressed in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial policy of Naij.com.

President Buhari has been strictly advised by Senegalese marabouts hired by the Buhari administration to perform spiritual cleansing rites at the Aso Rock Villa to shut down the Aso Rock Villa Chapel, fresh facts emerged on Wednesday.

1. What is the distance of the chapel to the President’s bedroom?
2. Is the President’s bedroom not sound-proof and bullet proof?
3. Are external speakers used by the Chapel and Mosque?
4. Is worship held in the Chapel and Mosque daily?

Rawani:
It can be inferred from the several statements released, such as the one given today.

sammyj:
Point one is must the OP always respond to all PMB s statements while point two is PMB has said he will send his ministerial appointees list to the house for approval before the end of the month while my last point is that the perm secs who are the executive arm of the civil service have more experience than the so called ministers that only come for their share of the national cake and create avenue for theit various constituency to also eat part of this cake rather than focus on developments !!!

5. For the Mosque, which was built by former Military President, Ibrahim Babaginda, why wasn’t it moved by five successive administrations of former Head of States, Sanni Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar; former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan

Former Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom
State, who is a current Nigerian senator, today
faced serious embarrassment at Mandarin
Oriental Hotel, a luxury five-star hotel in the
Knightsbridge area of London. Mr. Akpabio’s credit
card was declined as the ex-governor tried to check
in.

The General Secretary, League of Imams and Alfas in Nigeria, Ekiti State, Alhaji Abdulrazak Adenipekun, has ordered Muslims in the state to ignore the ban on Sallah’s gift from Governor Ayodele Fayose.

that his administration would implement the recommendations of the Justice George Omereji-led judicial commission of inquiry without fear or ill will.

nigerianvenom:
Buhari has a problem and that problem is ignorance on issues of governance

TonyeBarcanista:
Before the election we were told that his actions will be guided by VP Yemi Osinbajo, the Presiding pastor of Tinubu House of Prayer ministry.

atbu1983:
The truth is that Ministers are errand boys of the president. They can be hired and fired in one day.

In d case of Nigeria, only few ministers are actually relevant. Majority are just appointed to fill political space.

TonyeBarcanista:
He doesn't know that a government is not complete without a cabinet

TonyeBarcanista:
I think Buhari's preferred style of leadership is 'Sole Administratorship'

Rawani:
Emphasis on 'could be'. Within the context of present reforms (like the TSA enforcement), ministers could adversely influence their implementation as a result of personal/political interest or other factors. [size=15pt]It then makes sense that the appointments were delayed until the MDA's were reviewed and critical steps/measures/observations were taken[/size].

mrvitalis:
I will take u serious the day u ask Jonathan to declear his asset after leaving office