₦airaland Forum

If these guys should operate in the Niger Delta, the Scavengers will know the difference between khaki and leather.

Currently I am the author of the funniest book in Nigeria selling in many schools in Lagos. I love to write rib cracking stories which has endeared me to many people especially children. I am contemplating a blog for these hilarious stories that will go with cartoons. All my contents will be original. What do you guys think? Please advise accordingly.

THANKS.

metime in 2004, Governor Ayo Fayose was reported by The News magazine to have stolen N1.2 billion from the coffers of Ekiti State government. The brutal killings in the state were also traced to a killer squad funded by the governor. Embarrassed by the publication Mr. Fayose sued the magazine at the high court holden at Ado Ekiti. Our law firm defended the magazine and pleaded justification. At the trial of the case, the allegations in the publication were proved beyond any shadow of a doubt. In dismissing the lawsuit, the trial judge said that Mr. Fayose had no reputation worthy of protection by any court.

The allegation of the looting of the treasury of the state was investigated by the EFCC, which proceeded to charge Mr. Fayose at the Federal High Court. The Police also charged him with the murder of Tunde Omojola at the Ekiti state high court. Both cases were pending in court when he contested and 'won' the Ekiti State governorship election. Shortly thereafter, a young army officer, Captain Sagir Koli exposed the involvement of some armed personnel led by General Aliyu Momoh in the coup which resulted in the 're-election' of Governor Fayose. All the criminal suspects initially denied their involvement in the criminal enterprise. But when confronted with the tape recording of the plot to manipulate the election Mr. Fayose admitted that he took part in the coup.

Based on the expose by Captain Koli the authorities of the Nigerian Army set up a panel of enquiry to investigate the role of the armed soldiers in the violent subversion of the democratic process in Ekiti State. The panel conducted the inquiry and identified the military officers and men who participated in the coup which led to the pyrrhic victory of Mr. Ayo Fayose. The report of the panel was submitted to the Chief of Army Staff who promised to act on it by implementing its recommendations.

The indicted military officers and armed soldiers have since been flushed out of the Nigerian army. Some of them were also referred to the EFCC for further investigation over allegations of financial inducement and corrupt practices. The findings of the Nigerian Army panel have been corroborated by Mr. Fayose's campaign manager, Dr. Tope K. Aluko, who addressed several press conferences wherein he gave graphic details of the illegal deployment of armed troops and criminal diversion of public funds for the governorship election allegedly won by Mr. Fayose. In particular, he revealed that the fund for the election was ferried to Ado Ekiti by a former minister who is currently in self-exile in the United States.

While not challenging the allegation by the EFCC that the sum of N1.3 billion has been traced to his personal account Mr. Fayose has attempted to hide under the immunity clause to shield himself from the investigation. Contrary to the governor's claim he does not enjoy immunity from investigation with respect to his criminal involvement in treasonable conduct and corrupt practices. It is trite law that all the public officers protected by Section 308 of the Constitution can be investigated for corruption and other criminal offences. In Chief Gani Fawehinmi vs. Inspector General of Police (2002) 23 WRN 1 the Supreme Court held:

“That a person protected under section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, going by its provisions, can be investigated by the police for an alleged crime or offence is, in my view, beyond dispute. To hold otherwise is to create a monstrous situation whose manifestation may not be fully appreciated until illustrated…The evidence may be useful for impeachment purposes if the House of Assembly may have need of it. It may no doubt be used for prosecution of the said incumbent Governor after he has left office. But to do nothing under the pretext that a Governor cannot be investigated is a disservice to the society.”

To ensure that the investigation of the public officers covered by the immunity clause is not compromised by the executive the Chief Justice of Nigeria is empowered by section 52 of the ICPC Act to appoint an Independent Counsel (who shall be a legal practitioner of not less than 15 years standing) to investigate any allegation of corruption against the President, Vice President Governor or Deputy Governor. The ICPC is enjoined to cooperate fully with such independent counsel and provide all facilities necessary for such independent counsel to carry out his functions. At the end of the investigation, the Independent Counsel is required to make a report of the findings to the National Assembly in the case of the President or Vice President and to the relevant House of Assembly of a State in the case of the Governor or Deputy Governor.

Since there is no immunity for impunity as far as electoral malfeasance is concerned the investigation by the EFCC is in order. The senior lawyers who have questioned the freezing of Mr. Fayose's account on the ground that the EFCC did not obtain a court order have not read section 28 of the EFCC Act which provides that "where a person is arrested for an offence under this Act, the Commission shall immediately trace and attach all the assets and properties of the person acquired as a result of such economic or financial crime and shall thereafter cause to be obtained an interim attachment order from the Court". The law permits the EFCC to freeze an account or attach a property of a criminal suspect and proceed thereafter to obtain an ex parte order from the appropriate court.

I am not unaware that by the strict interpretation of section 308 of the Constitution no court process can be issued or served on a governor. But because immunity cannot be pleaded or invoked to cover electoral fraud, elected governors are served with court processes and dragged to court to respond to allegations of electoral malpractice. However, in order to give effect and validity to the equality of the rights of all contestants in a presidential or governorship elections, it has been held by the Supreme Court that immunity clause cannot be invoked in election petitions. Otherwise, public officers covered by the immunity clause may take advantage of their positions to rig elections and thereby sabotage the democratic process. The rationale for suspending the operation of the immunity clause during the hearing of election petition was explained by the late Justice Kayode Eso in Obih Vs. Mbakwe (1984) All NLR 134 at 148 when he said:

“With respect, to extend the immunity to cover the governors from being legally challenged when seeking a second term will spell injustice. I am conscious of the fact that in my interpretation of section 267 of the Constitution, I am giving that provision a narrow interpretation. This is deliberate for in my view, in the interpretation of the Constitution, care should be taken not to diminish from the justice of the matter, this is not a case of a judge engaging in legislative process. ”

Similarly, in Turaki v. Dalhaltu(2003) 38 WRN 54 at 168 the Court of Appeal (per Oguntade JCA (as he then was) had this to say:

“There is no doubt that a Governor by the force of section 308 of the 1999 Constitution is immuned from civil and criminal proceedings for his personal acts but in proceedings in an election petition or seeking to enforce rights appertaining to or arising from national elections, no Governor in my view enjoys or can claim immunity. In an election matter, as in this case, the right of the Governor to remain, such Governor, is in issue. If a Governor were to be considered immune from court proceedings, that would create the position where a sitting Governor would be able to flout election laws and regulations to the detriment of other person contesting with him. This will make a nonsense of the election process and be against the spirit of our national Constitution which in its tenor provides for a free and fair election.”

In the case of the Alliance for Democracy v. Peter Ayodele Fayose (No 1) (2004) 26 WRN 34 the Respondent had challenged the issuance of a subpoena on him on the ground that Section 308 has conferred immunity on him as a governor. While dismissing the objection the Court of Appeal (per Muri Okunola JCA) held:

“…The provisions of section 308 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are not applicable to confer immunity on a State Governor in an election petition involving his election to preclude the issuance of subpoena on him. Or put in another way: the immunity provided by the provisions of section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 on a State Governor is put in abeyance when his election is being disputed before an Election Tribunal as to make him amenable to being compelled by a subpoena to tender document(s) or give evidence before the Election Tribunal.”

In view of the fact that the effect of section 308 of the Constitution has been watered down, Governor Fayose cannot invoke the immunity clause to shield himself from an investigation. Since the offences of fraud, treason and criminal diversion of public funds were allegedly committed in connection with the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti state, Mr. Fayose who was a candidate of the PDP at the material time is liable to be investigated. And if he is indicted Mr. Fayose ought to be prosecuted by the EFCC since the immunity of a governor is put in abeyance when the legitimacy of his election is in dispute.

Finally, in his desperate bid to divert public attention from the ongoing investigation of the criminal diversion of public funds Mr. Fayose has attempted to link me with his indictment by the Nigerian Army and the EFCC. Notwithstanding that the allegation is completely baseless I fully support the investigations. I do not need to instigate the anti-graft agencies to enquire into the activities of a serial treasury looter. Having admitted his involvement in the coup which occurred in Ekiti State, which culminated in his emergence as governor Mr. Fayose ought to be prosecuted for treason which arose from the electoral malfeasance.
http://saharareporters.com/2016/06/22/limit-gov-fayoses-legal-immunity-femi-falana

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Wednesday announced what it termed the “automatic adjustment mechanism of the exchange rate” in a flexible foreign exchange regime aimed at reducing the pressure on the Naira. CBN has been under immense pressure to devalue the Naira for a while, which has been resisted by both the monetary and fiscal authorities, claiming that past devaluations did not benefit the economy- which is import dependent. Mr. Emefiele said, “The Central Bank of Nigeria has always maintained that it would continue to monitor situations on the ground and ensure that the Bank’s policies reflect these facts and developments rather than the sentiments of any groups or sectors. Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele “It is in light of this principle that we now believe that the time is right to restore the automatic adjustment mechanism of the exchange rate with the re-introduction of a flexible inter-bank exchange rate market. “The workings of this market will be consistent with the Bank’s objectives of enhancing efficiency and facilitating a liquid and transparent Foreign Exchange Market. Highlights of the flexible regime Under the new regime, Governor Enefiele said that the market would operate as a single market structure through the inter-bank/autonomous window Below are the highlights of the new regime: *The Exchange Rate would be purely market-driven using the Thomson-Reuters Order Matching System as well as the Conversational Dealing Book. *The CBN would participate in the Market through periodic interventions to either buy or sell FX as the need arises. *To improve the dynamics of the market, we will introduce FX Primary Dealers (FXPD) who would be registered by the CBN to deal directly with the Bank for large trade sizes on a two-way quotes basis. *These Primary Dealers shall operate with other dealers in the Inter-bank market, amongst other obligations that will be stipulated in the Foreign Exchange Primary Dealers (FXPD) Guidelines, which would also be released immediately after this Press Briefing. *There shall be no predetermined spread on FX spot transactions executed through the CBN intervention with Primary Dealers, while all FX Spot purchased by Authorized Dealers are transferable in the inter-bank FX Market. *The Forty-One (41) items classified as “Not Valid for Foreign Exchange” as detailed in a previous CBN Circular shall remain inadmissible in the Nigerian FX market. *To enhance liquidity in the market, the CBN may also offer long-tenored FX Forwards of 6 to 12 months or any tenor to Authorized Dealers In addition: *Sale of FX Forwards by Authorized Dealers to end-users must be trade-backed, with no predetermined spreads; *The CBN shall introduce non-deliverable over-the-counter (OTC) Naira-settled Futures, with daily rates on the CBN-approved FMDQ Trading and Reporting System. This is an entirely new product in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, which would help moderate volatility in the exchange rate by moving non-urgent FX demand from the Spot to the Futures market; *The OTC FX Futures shall be in non-standardized amounts and different fixed tenors, which may be sold on any dates thereby ensuring bespoke maturity dates; *Proceeds of Foreign Investment Inflows and International Money Transfers shall be purchased by Authorized Dealers at the Daily Inter-Bank Rate; and *Non-oil exporters are now allowed unfettered access to their FX proceeds, which shall be sold in the Inter-bank market. Timelines *Selected FX Primary Dealers would be notified by Friday 17th June 2016. All other non-Primary Dealers would remain valid and eligible to participate in the market *Inter-bank trading under the new guidelines will begin on Monday 20th June 2016; and *The tenors and rates for the OTC Naira-settled FX Futures will be announced on Monday, June 27, 2016. Depleted foreign reserves The CBN, the governor said, had to take the measures sine the nation “witnessed a significant decline in our Foreign Exchange Reserves from about US$42.8 billion in January 2014 to about US$26.7 billion as of 10th June 2016. “In terms of inflows, the Bank’s foreign exchange earnings have fallen from about US$3.2 billion monthly to current levels of below a billion dollars per month.” He blamed the poor foreign exchange receipts on the over 70 percent drop in the price of crude oil, which contributes the largest share of our Foreign Exchange Reserves; Global growth slowdown and geopolitical tensions along critical trading routes in the world; and Normalization of Monetary Policy by the United States’ Federal Reserve. The CBN boss explained, “the interplay between reduced FX Supply and rising FX demand accounted for a substantial reduction in our foreign exchange reserves.” Mr. Emefiele, assured, however, that “Our Reserves, despite having fallen, is still robust and is able to cover about 5 months of Nigeria’s imports as against the international benchmark of 3 months.” He said that his team at the CBN would ensure transparency in the new regime and that there would be no place for speculators. His words, “Let me note that the Central Bank is strongly determined to make this market as transparent, liquid, and efficient as possible. Therefore, we would neither tolerate unscrupulous behaviour nor hesitate to bring serious sanctions on offenders. “The CBN expects all authorized dealers particularly to display the highest level of professionalism. We expect them to understand the spirit and letter of this transition to a market based system. The CBN will not allow the system to be undermined by speculators and rent-seekers. *Permit me to emphasize that any attempt to breach any aspect of this new framework will be heavily sanctioned by the CBN and this may indeed result in the suspension or withdrawal of the FX dealing license of an offending Authorized dealer.” The governor explained that the Primary Dealers would be about eight or ten and banks with the capacity to go to the market with as much as $10 million.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/breaking-finally-cbn-floats-the-naira/
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/breaking-finally-cbn-floats-the-naira/

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Very soon it will rumble in the creeks. I am still waiting for the air force boys and the naval warships operation. The NDA are the enemies of this country and must be crush.

Cossy misdemeanor is not ordinary. She does these things to please the devil. She is possessed by a mermaid demon.She is in strong bondage and does not see anything wrong with what she does.

Very soon their fathers and grandparents will pay for this with their lives. The bombs from the airforce plane will destroy them and their oil in the creek. If I were Buhari I will destroy pipelines, oil and all the people in the creeks. Wipe them out. Militancy will stop. We dont need their votes for a second term.

Buhari is a general. I am waiting when the air force guys will go and level all of them and thier oil plus the pipelines in the creeks. Useless people. They deserve no mercy at all because their parents are supporting them.

by the time the airforce boys move over, blood will flow. Their parents and wives will be buried in the creeks. Its a war. Its no retreat no surrender. Buhari is a soldier. The calibre of weapons we have now will teach them the lessons of their lives. stupid avengers my foot.

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Its a win for Ath Madrid. Or a draw at most.

It can be replaced.

AFTER a 37-year peaceful reign that brought development to Benin King­dom, the Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Eredi­auwa has reunited with his ancestors.

The Iyase of Benin (Traditional Prime Minister), Chief Sam Igbe, yes­terday announced the passage at the palace ground with the breaking of the traditional white native chalk.

The announcement is coming over a year after the highly reverred monarch was rumoured to have passed on. The rumour was almost officially confirmed when the Oba’s palace on March 16, 2016 issued a statement stating that Oba Erediuawa was indisposed and would no longer perform public engagements.

The official announcement yesterday was witnessed by the Enigie, palace Chiefs, the Oba’s children, relatives and subjects.
http://sunnewsonline.com/benin-palace-announces-oba-erediauwas-death/
“Osorhue Bunrun. Oba Erediauwa of Benin Kingdom, the Prince of Peace, Ebo Ayemwirhe, Emini Mini Mini, has reunited with his ancestors. May he find perfect peace with God”, the Iyase said.

The Iyase also announced that as part of the mourning of the Oba, all markets in the Benin-speaking local govern­ments are to remain shut; all Benin sons to shave their heads, while all Benin chiefs are to wear one round bead on their necks.

The announcement of the Oba’s tran­sition, yesterday threw the Benins into mourning.

Commenting on the passage of her father, the Oba’s first daughter, Princess Theresa Erediauwa, said “my father was a great man. He upheld our values”.

Also speaking, one of the pal­ace Chiefs, Omon- Osagie Utetene­giabi, the Obadolagbonyi of Benin Kingdom said “it is customary that when a sitting Oba becomes an ances­tor, translate to a greater glory, the news is first broken to his eldest son and the immediate family which was done ear­lier today.

“ Then, the Iyase of Benin, as the highest ranking Chief breaks the news to the people of Benin Kingdom and the world. Iyase is the traditional Prime Minister and the bridge between the people and the royalty and that is what he has done today.

“From today until the expiration of ‘Emwinekhua,’ all Benin Chiefs, all chiefs that have been entitled by the Oba to wear two round beads round their necks will now wear one.

“It is customary because when you see a Chief wears one bead, it shows that we are in a state of mourning.

“After today, we are awaiting further instructions on what to do. But the Oba of Benin does not die because he is an institution; he mainly translates to high glory as an ancestor.

“Oba Erediauwa is the Oba of Peace, the Oba who brought prosperity to his people, the Oba who understands his people. He made sure that no one was offended. He was the Oba who could sit in judgment and give judgment against his own son for a commoner.

“It is rare. Oba Erediauwa is the best that has happened to Benin Kingdom in the last 1,600 years”, chief Utetenegiabi said.

A 26-year old secondary school leaver, Oluwaseyi Babatola, who burnt to death five family members while they were sleeping, says he is being haunted daily by the memories of the children he murdered.

Babatola, who spoke with our correspondent in Abuja, stated that he was disturbed by the thoughts of the two children that died along with their grandmother, mother and uncle, when he set their apartment on fire on April 15, 2015, at Sabongari, Bwari, in the Federal Capital Territory.



The fire consumed the whole building, including the apartment of the Babatolas, and also injured the suspect.

Babatola, who is being detained by the FCT Special Anti-Robbery Squad, identified his victims as Janet Isuawa; her sons, Samuel and Osaze; her cousin, Taphael; and Janet’s mother.

Babatola, a mobile phone technician, stated that he had wanted to commit suicide after setting the family on fire, but was dissuaded by his younger brother, James, who asked him to report the incident to the police.

Explaining what led to the tragedy, the suspect said he started dating Janet, a divorcee, sometime ago, adding that he supported her and the children financially.

According to him, the relationship developed problems after he demanded sex, noting that each time he asked for sex, Janet would turn him down and taunt him.

Babatola said matters came to a head on April 12 when Janet informed him that his mother had told her that he suffered from hernia and therefore could not date him.

He said, “Janet said my mother told her that I suffer from hernia, and that she could not date me; she called me a ‘mugu’ (fool), and said she had chopped my money. So, I went to where she was charging the phone I bought for her and took it.

“She attacked me and bit my chest, and as I struggled to free myself from her grip, her cousin, Taphael, came in and pushed me down and held me there while she beat me with her fists. After I left the house, Janet’s younger sister called me on the telephone and abused me, saying they would deal with me if I come to the house again.”

Babatola stated that he moved to an area called Arab Road in Bwari, where he stayed with a friend, adding that he kept getting telephone calls from Janet’s sister, who said he would be dealt with if he went back to the house.

“On the night of April 15, around 11pm, I went to the house and found that the gate was locked. I scaled the fence into the compound. I went towards Janet’s room and saw her sleeping, as the window was opened because there was no power supply. I went to the bathroom, where she kept a gallon of fuel and poured it into the room through the window; the room caught fire from a lighted lantern,” he said.

He further explained that he headed for the nearby bush to kill himself after coming to his senses.

“I headed for the bush to hang myself, but my phone suddenly rang and my brother told me that our house just got burnt; I told him I did it and that I was about to commit suicide. He said I should not, and persuaded me to report to the police,” Babatola added.

The technician said every night, he remembered how he used to relate with Janet’s two sons, noting that he had not been able to erase their memories from his mind.

“I can’t get them off my mind, they haunt me every time; I thought it was only Janet that was in the room, I didn’t know the children were there. I thought they had gone for a vigil with their grandmother who attended vigil every Thursday,” he said.

A senior police officer said Babatola did not know that he had killed all the family members, until he saw their charred corpses the next morning.

The police said the suspect would be charged to court soon.
http://www.punchng.com/memories-children-killed-haunt/

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a resident of Shobowale Street in the Alagbado area of the state, Victoria Alaba, for allegedly killing the wife of her landlord during a scuffle.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased, Mrs. Amosa Ogunyemi, had ordered Alaba and other tenants not to wash dirty clothes at a section on the premises as the compound was being messed up.



It was said that the suspect ignored the order and was washing on the premises on Saturday when Ogunyemi approached her and told her to vacate the spot.

Our correpondent gathered that Alaba declined the directive, causing an altercation between the two.

A source close to the family told PUNCH Metro that Alaba, said to be in her 30s, pounced on the deceased and beat her up, while another resident said they engaged in a scuffle during which Ogunyemi gave up the ghost.

It was learnt that the landlord’s wife, who was said to be in her late 50s, was rushed to a hospital in the area, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The source, who declined to mention his name, said, “The landlord’s wife had warned on several occasions that tenants should stop washing clothes at the spot, but Victoria (Alaba) did not listen. On Saturday, she chose to wash her dirty clothes at the spot again. The landlord’s wife walked up to her and told her to leave the spot. She refused and they started exchanging words.

“She pounced on Amosa (Ogunyemi) and pushed her to the ground. The woman became unconscious and was rushed to a nearby hospital, but she died. The tenant has been arrested by policemen from the Alagbado division.”

However, a resident of the area, who identified himself simply as Adamu, said the argument between the two women led to a fight.

“I was not there, but I was told that it was a fight and the woman (Ogunyemi) was overpowered by the tenant. She died in the process,” he added.

Other residents approached by our correspondent, who visited the neighbourhood on Wednesday, refused to speak on the issue.

In the deceased’s residence, a one storeyed-building, some sympathisers gathered under a tent outside, while others were with the husband of the late woman in a living room.

The distraught widower and a relative said the matter had been amicably resolved and called one of the deceased’s children, identified as Kazeem, to speak to our correspondent.

The son told PUNCH Metro that the family members were not interested in taking any legal action against the suspect, adding that his mother had been buried according to Islamic rites.

He said, “We have resolved the matter and the police have released her corpse to us. We don’t have any comment on how the incident happened. All we are going to say is that everything is settled. Thank you.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident in a text message, adding that the suspect was transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba, for further investigation.

She said, “The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has ordered the case to be transferred to the SDCI for discreet investigation. The name of the tenant is Victoria Alaba while that of the deceased is Amosa Ogunyemi.”
http://www.punchng.com/tenant-beats-landlords-wife-death-lagos/

This was photo-shopped. The original poster read: OVERSEA MUST FAVOUR ME AND MY FAMILY.

Deceiver at work to make front page.

But investigation is still ongoing. Why the conclusion?

I am greatly pained by this man's death. I thought that the abductors would demand a ransom.I was even praying for his release. My God shall fish out his killers who have murdered sleep. May your soul rest in peace sir.

Just noticed that Linda Ikeji'a blog is down. No reason was given for this. I hope that all is well. Guys please check out.

Please I need the candid opinion of the house if it is \worthwhile for me to learn Ms-Access for database. I would like to incorporate it with Ms Excel for personal project. Pls advice accordingly. Thanks.

Buhari is a soldier by training. Let d militants declare war. This time they regret their actions. The air force and navy boys will do d needful. May d souls of those that will b buried in d creeks rest in peace. A decimation in d offing.

They deserve to go down six feet too.

Quite unfortunate. We are winning this battle. Buratai is doing a great job. Our soldiers are the best in the world.

Not the Enitan Ransome Kuti that I know. He is a good man. A fine officer. I pray the President intervene on his behalf and commute the dismissal to retirement. The evidence of Alex Badeh will do the magic at the appeal. We are praying for him. God will help him and his family.God bless Nigerian Army. God bless Nigeria.

I wept for him. He was my friend. A nice and loveable officer. A gallant officer I have believed will do this nation proud. But why?

During the last election campaign, Mrs Patience Jonathan at Ekiti and Oyo states had pleaded to the masses to return her husband to the seat of power. She was ostensibly begging for votes because she had this phobia which she couldnt hide. The fear that her husband will be sent to jail and she cannot afford to be bringing food to her husband in jail. At a point, some of the electorates including myself started wondering why Patience thinks her husband will be sent to jail if he loses the election.
Few days ago, the media reported the nocturnal visit of Jonathan to Buhari at Aso Villa. There were feelers that he might have come to plead for a soft landing because he knew the antecedents of Buhari when he ruled as military head of state. Why the midnight visit? What are his fears? Did he go to the villa on his own volition or at the instance of his fear -stricken wife who believes that Buhari will send her to jail. Why is Baba Obasanjo joining forces that Jonathan must go to jail. It is evident that our prisons will soon welcome some high profile visitors. With few weeks to the commencement of trials of corrupt office holders, will Jonathan be exempted or will he defend his slogan that STEALING IS NOT CORRUPTION.

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LAGOS — ALL Progressives Congress, APC, leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, attributed the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in the last presidential election to a commonsense revolution anchored on a rebellion against the excesses of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He spoke at a book launch in Lagos where Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka extolled him, and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as the drivers of the uprising, which he said, was fast-tracked by President Jonathan’s mishandling of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF crisis.

The public presentation of the book “Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years”, was witnessed by a cross section of the political class and civil society including governors, former governors, senators among others.

Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, who was chairman of the occasion, said the book only offered a glimpse into the vision that stimulated the infrastructure and developments during the Amaechi years in Rivers State.

Amaechi on his part gave a peep into his political challenges, noting how even when he got Tinubu angry before the APC convention, both men set aside their issues for the common goal of achieving victory in the elections that were yet to be held at that time.
BOOK PRESENTATION—The book, Dynamics of Change, The Amaechi Years was launched, yesterday at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. From left, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader, Apc; Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, Chairman of occasion; Mrs Judith Amaechi, Mr Tonye Cole, book presenter; Dr Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State; Dr Chidi Amuta, co-editor of the book; Alhaji Abdulazeez Yari, Governor of Zamfara State and Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State during the book presentation. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. More photos on Page 16.

BOOK PRESENTATION—The book, Dynamics of Change, The Amaechi Years was launched, yesterday at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. From left, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader, Apc; Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, Chairman of occasion; Mrs Judith Amaechi, Mr Tonye Cole, book presenter; Dr Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State; Dr Chidi Amuta, co-editor of the book; Alhaji Abdulazeez Yari, Governor of Zamfara State and Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State during the book presentation. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. More photos on Page 16.

Tinubu, who was guest of honour at the presentation of the book written by Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi and Dr. Chidi Amuta in his comments said: “Amaechi is an example of common sense revolution. In the course of the historic campaigns for the 2015 Presidential Election, I was emphatic that the election itself was a great opportunity to popularise and test the noble idea of a Common Sense Revolution in Nigeria. Soon enough, we found in the resonance of the APC Change mantra with the electorate a confirmation that Nigeria needed a Common Sense Revolution that is non-violent.

“Indeed there is a publication with that title authored by me in which I argued that Nigeria was ripe for a change of leadership and Nigerians must act in a Common Sense and rational way in choosing their leaders. The results of the March Presidential elections and that of April have demonstrated clearly the desire by Nigerians for change.”

The APC national leader, however, urged the new crop of leaders to embark on policies that will alleviate the plight of Nigerians.”

Continuing, he said: “Elections over, both the leaders and citizens must brace up to meet the challenges required to build a better, more prosperous nation. Indeed, even as we subscribe to the tenets of Common Sense Revolution, we must retool ourselves, the new leadership must embark on policies that will improve the general well-being of the mass of our people.

“It is a positive one to rescue, repair and restructure the nation and its institutions in ways that further collective prosperity and well-being. The only violence that is to be done is to violence, injustice and poverty themselves. At its essence, a common sense revolution is a call to return to a level of decency in the relationship between government and the governed, between each one of us and his neighbour.


“In my view, our gathering to celebrate the landmark achievements of my brother, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, in Rivers State in the last eight years is also another justifiable celebration of idea of Common Sense Revolution for development. The publication of the book, Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years is a timely service to history.”

Governors’ Forum crisis

Lauding Amaechi’s leadership of the NGF, the former Lagos State governor said “this occasion is all the more remarkable because of the huge challenges Amaechi has been facing especially in his second term from an extremely hostile federal government. His role as the chairman of the Governors’ Forum invariably brought him into a bitter collision with President Jonathan.

“Governor Amaechi and most of the governors want a properly defined federalist relationship with the government at the centre. The President would have none of that as in the notable example of the management of the federation account. This is, therefore, another great opportunity to salute Amaechi’s rare courage of conviction and sense of purpose. The APC has every cause to be proud of him,” Tinubu said.

Amaechi took a risky decision—Soyinka

In his comment, Prof. Soyinka commended Amaechi for standing up to President Jonathan during the NGF crisis. He identified Tinubu and Amaechi as the two main agents who brought down the PDP.

“The political atmosphere today, whatever you call it, change or hope or cautious hope and naked hope or careless hope, I recognise two personalities, in particular, who led the chant of change. One of them, I call him the architect of the process, the architect, in fact, that houses the essence of hope. That is Ahmed Bola Tinubu. The other person was unconsciously, perhaps, the arrow head of that charge that led to the change and that is the man that we gather here to celebrate.”

Soyinka said Amaechi took a risky decision during the NGF crisis that inevitably exposed him to the wrath of the presidency.

“He (Amaechi) was the one who said no, we cannot turn the clock backwards. Nothing about the philosophy of the clock runs against what we were hoping for. It was a very unpopular and risky decision to take. But it exposed to us the basic arithmetic fallacy of governance in demonstrating that when 16 is said to be higher than 19, something is fundamentally wrong and the same kind of arithmetic leads to the cooking of figures in governance. And it was within that nexus that he stood up and challenged even his own colleagues, and said let’s change the mentality of the stock, let us re-orientate it towards the people and towards the nation and the electorate.

“I remember someone very close to me that said I hear you are close to Rotimi Amaechi, tell that young man that he is going to destroy himself, and I said, you know something, you have been in a position where I have had the opportunity of being your teacher and your mentor and you mean to say you never learnt from me that it is better to be destroyed on the basis of what you really live for? And you want me to deliver such a message? That person who is in Aso Rock wanted me to tell Amaechi to back off, to slow down and that he is playing with fire and playing with a catapult against big guns. I never delivered that message. All I did was to study him more closely and wait to see.”

Karibi-Whyte commends Amaechi

Justice Karibi-Whyte commended Amaechi for embarking on developmental projects that were beneficial to the people of Rivers State, saying it was only a peep into the successful adventure of Amaechi in the state. “From my observation, I believe those who have written, wrote from the position which they thought but they did not to a large extent, look behind the facade of the motivating factors because I believe that he had been pained that nobody had seen the problems which he was foreseeing when he brought about schools, health centres in every local government, roads, education.”

I was determined to effect change—Amaechi

Giving the background of the challenges he faced after joining the APC, Governor Amaechi noted the sacrifice he and other leaders made for the eventual victory that was realised with the victory over the PDP in the presidential election last March.

“I am determined that there should be a change because if there’s no change, things will not move. Even before the party convention, I got Asiwaju Tinubu angry. I went to him and implored that we should not fight or disagree over issues. I told him that the important thing was for us to win first and after which, we can disagree. I believe that we must win and make a change, for anything that will not bring that change; I am ready to make a sacrifice.

I am proud to be a part of the change process. I am not stubborn but principled. I speak the truth and abide by the rules.”

On the crisis that engulfed the NGF, Amaechi, who is the chairman of the forum, accused the president of instigating the crisis.

He said: “In the Governors’ Forum, we set up a mechanism where we go from state to state to see how the governors were faring. Unfortunately, the President scattered the Governors’ Forum”.

Extolling Soyinka’s virtues, he said he is the only person whose bag he has ever carried because of the respect he has for him.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/how-we-defeated-jonathan-tinubu/