₦airaland Forum

opokonwa:
Everything suddenly becomes newsworthy in Nairaland

Theblessed:
C  R  A  P  !

Kobojunkie:
Please be honest and fair!!

[size=18pt]HID meets Yoruba leaders today[/size]

A meeting of all political leaders in Yorubaland is scheduled to hold today. According to the convener of the meeting, who is also the wife of the sage, Chief (Mrs) H.I.D. Awolowo, the meeting will be held at the Efunyela Hall at the Awolowos’ residence, Ikenne, Ogun State. It will start by 12 noon.
Chief (Mrs) Awolowo, in a press release, said the meeting became imperative as it would deliberate on issues affecting the Yoruba nation and proffer solutions to some of the challenges threatening peace among the leaders.
The co-ordinators of the meeting, according to her, are Bishops Bolanle Gbonigi and Olusina Fape, as well as Senators Femi Okurounmu; Tony Adefuye; Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Prince Segun Adesegun.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/14012010/news/news6.html

Theblessed:
So, you already know that?  Why do you guys treat us as 2nd Citizens?  You watch Nigerian men publicly and verbally abusing, intimidating and controlling women as if we have no Souls and our skin don't bleed. 

Since you know that, isn't it time you start acting it and educating your brothers to that effect, for the sake of unity? Or do we have to remind you that we exist and own this country as much as you?

Theblessed:
Now, you want us to go to war front but won't accept we are equals. 

So, by wanting us to do something, has it finally occurred to you that men and women are equal and that we have equal rights as you And that we should be treated with respect just as you? Well, to get us vacating our seats according to you and, challenge the powers at Abuja, we are challenging you guys now to imprint these Rights in the Nigerian Constitution then, you will know what Nigerian women can do. Try it! Don't be scared!!

I know you guys won't do it 'cos you're frightened we would take over the Universe and, we will because, there's no man in the house! Show me? Where are they?  Y  o  u??  You bet your luck!

Glad, you've finally accepted that've been undermining our rights for so long, frightened people!

[size=18pt]Jonathan can perform Yar’Adua’s duties – Court[/size]

By Ise-Oluwa Ige
ABUJA—A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, declared that Vice President Jonathan Goodluck is empowered by the 1999 Constitution to exercise, in the absence of President Umaru Yar’Adua, all the powers vested in him, including signing of sensitive documents, so far such powers are delegated to him.

The presiding high court judge, Justice Dan Abutu made the pronouncement while interpreting the meanings and intendments of sections 5(1) and 148 (1) of the 1999 constitution in a suit brought by a lawyer, Mr. Christopher Onwuekwe.

Onwuekwe, in his suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/10/2010, had requested the high court to declare that in the absence of President Yar’Adua who is receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia, the Vice President, by virtue of the provisions of Section 5(1) and 148 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, could exercise all the powers vested in the President in the interest of peace, order and good governance pending when his boss, Yar’Adua, would resume office. He sued the Attorney General of the Federation and the Executive Council of the Federation.

He filed the suit last week and served the originating processes on the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation last Monday while judgment was delivered in the case yesterday by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. If it is not the fastest case ever decided by the Nigerian judiciary, it must be one of the fastest because it took the court less than 96 working hours (four days) for the registry of the court to take all processes in the case, hear it on its merit and deliver judgment.

Exercise of  presidential powers
In the verdict handed down, the trial judge, Justice Abutu granted the two reliefs requested by Mr. Onwuekwe to the effect that Vice President Goodluck could exercise, in the absence of the sitting president, all the powers vested in the President.

[size=14pt]He said the exercise of such presidential powers by the Vice President could only be queried by Mr President if he did not permit the Vice President to so perform the presidential functions[/size]. Justice Abutu said the constitutional authority of the Vice President to so perform the presidential functions is enshrined in both sections 5(1) and 148 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

Section 5(1) of the 1999 Constitution reads: “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive powers of the Federation; (a) Shall be vested in the President and may, subject as aforesaid and to the provisions of any law made by the National Assembly, be exercised by him either directly or through the Vice President and Ministers of the Government of the Federation or officers in the public service of the Federation and, (b) Shall extend to the execution and maintenance of this constitution, all laws made by the National Assembly and to all manners with respect to which the National Assembly has, for the time being power to make laws. Section 148 (1) of the 1999 constitution also reads:

“The President may, in his discretion, assign to the Vice President or any Minister of the Government of the Federation responsibility for any business of the Government of the Federation including the administration of any department of government.

Justice Abutu said the two constitutional provisions (sections 5(1) and 148(1) of the 1999 constitution are clear as to the powers of the President to transfer any of his presidential functions to either his vice president or any of his cabinet members.

Before drawing curtain on the interpretation of the two constitutional provisions, the trial judge added that both sections 5(1) and 148 (1), however, did not specify the manner or the procedure through which Mr. President could delegate any of the presidential powers donated to him by the 1999 constitution.

He consequently held that it is, therefore, not available for anyone or institution to pry into the mode of the power transfer by the sitting President to his vice or ministers, noting that so far the president has not complained or challenged the vice president or his ministers over usurpation of his constitutional functions, no one could challenge the exercise of his presidential functions by any member of his cabinet.

Similarly, Justice Abutu, also delved into the meanings and intendments of section 145 of the 1999 constitution even though the subject-matter of the suit being determined did not rest, in the main, on the constitutional provision. While interpreting section 145 as it related to when the Vice President could exercise the powers of the sitting president as an acting president,  Justice Abutu said “when the Vice President is exercising the powers of the President as an Acting President, he is exercising that powers in his own right as acting president and not on behalf of the president.

Written declaration to National Assembly
He said the Vice President, Jonathan Goodluck in this case, can exercise all the powers of the sitting President, Umaru Yar’Adua, both as Vice President and as Acting President, stressing that the difference between the two is that Vice President Jonathan Goodluck could not perform the functions of the President under section 145 of the 1999 Constitution except there is a written declaration to the National Assembly while Goodluck could perform all the functions of the President (Yar’Adua) without any written declaration to the National Assembly so far he is discharging the delegated duties in his capacity as Vice President.

The pronouncement on the three different provisions of the 1999 Constitution: sections 5(1); 148(1) and 145 of the 1999 constitution has, no doubt, doused the rising tension in the polity, at least for now.
Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, who was personally in court to take the judgment said the position of the court had vindicated him on his view that the sitting President, Umaru Yar’Adua could govern the country from anywhere in the world. He said the verdict has resolved the controversy on whether or not the Vice President could exercise all the functions of the sitting President without any written declaration transmitted to the National Assembly.

The knotty suit maintained by radical Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, and a separate one by former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Adamu Farouk, are predicated on section 145 of the 1999 Constitution which the court had interpreted.

Aondoakaa said moments after the judgment: “It seems the judgment has vindicated my position all along. You heard the court say that no person or authority can question the Vice President when he exercises the powers of the President.

It is only the President that can say I didn’t give you those powers. The court also went on to give a final declaration which has settled, I believe, all the crises to the effect that the Vice President, in the absence of the President, can carry out all the functions of Mr. President pending when he arrives. To me, it is a good judgment. The plaintiff brought me here.

He canvassed all the issues and we filed our counter-affidavit and in the wisdom of the court, it found that I was correct. I have been vindicated.  “The issue of section 145 has also been clearly stated. That it is a discretionary provision. The President may wish to transmit or not transmit. And when he transmits, it means the Vice President is no longer exercising the powers of the President on his behalf but exercising the powers in his own right.
But now the powers which the Vice President has been exercising under section 5 of the 1999 Constitution before now, the court said he can continue to act on behalf of the President all the powers vested in the President.”
On why it was difficult for the Vice President to sign the appropriation bill when he can exercise the powers of the President, Aondoakaa said he could not do that at the time because “we have not got the interpretation of the law. With this interpretation, he can now sign anything the President can sign. He can send bill to the National Assembly and he can sign any bill now.”

Precarious circumstance
Also reacting to the judgment, Mr. Amobi Nzelu, the lead counsel to the plaintiff, said the judgment was the best in the precarious circumstance Nigeria finds itself today. According to Nzelu, “the court has upheld the case of the plaintiff who has come to court to seek a mid-course rather than make a heavy weather of section 145 of the 1999 constitution.
We had to bring together section 5(1) and 148 (1) to say that the Vice President can, in the absence of Mr. President, carry out the functions of Mr. President without necessarily transmitting a letter to the National Assembly. That was why we were in court and the court said yes, we were right and that the vice president can do that.

It is our view that we don’t need section 145 to come into play before VP Jonathan can perform the functions of the sitting President who is presently not available. We came to court and the court has upheld our argument saying that Jonathan Goodluck, as Vice President, can lawfully execute the functions vested in Mr. President until the ailing President returns from his medical leave.
That is why we came to court. Although by this judgment, Jonathan could not be called an Acting President but I tell you, the phrase “Acting President” is just a matter of nomenclature. The most important thing is that he can perform the functions of the President. So, it now depends on the name you want to give him: Acting President or President by Court Order.

conscience:
Please find below  a reproduced copy of an Open Letter to Nigerian Bar Association
By Oguchi Nkwocha, MD,
Moderator, Biafra Actualization Forum

(Tuesday, November 29, 2005)
Comments To Dr. Oguchi Nkwocha



"In just one week’s period, the Legal and Justice system in Nigeria has been laid wide open for the world to see."



Oguchi Nkwocha, MD
Moderator, Biafra Actualization Forum
November 15, 2005

Katsumoto:
Cultural differences make it easier for unity in the North and more difficult in the South. Thats why the British selfishly left power in the North.

Beaf:
To be honest, this group seeking autonomy don't represent Yoruba people. Its just the crooks seeking relevance as OAM4J and Katsumoto have noted. They are the Ibori's and Odili's of Yoruba land. The genuine leaders wouldn't make the sort of primitive and imperialistic land grab that those guys are making. Since Fashola isn't in that group, we can best forget about them.

Tsiya:
It is not any group seeking relevance. They represent the interest of the Yoruba nation and you will be suprise they are funded by their state governors and other political god fathers. Fashola for now is in the establishment and will not be publicly rocking the boat but he will be happy to support them. 2003 was just 6-7years ago and we wont easily forget their political machinations. All Yoruba have the same self interest. The OPC are serving the Yoruba interest and that is why they are supporting them.

Kobojunkie:
Why wouldn't it be enough for him to show us a sample, if anything, of the substance we pretend he has?

Beaf:
Bini people will not go with you. You are talking about people whose empire spanned across Ondo, Lagos etc all the way to Ghana.
Itsekiri's will not go either, because despite infighting in Delta state, they are well represented, even though they are a minority. The current Delta state governor is an Itsekiri man, despite the overwhelming numbers of Igbo, Ijaw and Urhobo. I don't know of any other part of this country where that can occur. Itsekiri man will not want to be swallowed up and spat into irrelevance.

Bottomline, we love ourselves too much to let anybody go.

edoyad:
Lahi lahi ti lahi lahi if yoruba men want to go, fine, but we shall never let them take away those voluptuous iyawos and tantalizing buxoms. They must be dreaming if they think we'll let an asset more valuable than crude oil go for free, can you imagine ? All that bootiliciousness go like that ? We'd rather die !

Beaf:
Rubbish! Brazenly stup!d and arrogant!
There is nothing that annoys ND people more than being referred to as some branch of Youruba. You tell a some people that you don't have a bleeping clue of what they are saying and they retort that all bendel people can speak Yoruba. Very annoying!

Nobody should come looking for any "Yoruba zones" in ND.

kosovo:
@OAM4J,
  Thanks and thanks for showing me some love,

Katsumoto:
You are very correct with your first statement. With regards to your second comment; can you imagine anyone joining just a protest led by Gbenga Daniels, Ooni, or Akala? Maybe only their dependent family members.

kosovo:
@Beaf,
   Thanks,

Katsumoto:
Breaking away from Nigeria requires bold action from courageous leaders; Daniels, Akala, Ooni, are not the type of leaders to lead such a move. Even a courageous and well-meaning leader like Ojukwu was unable to free the Igbos from Nigeria. Having said that, the circumstances are different from the 60s. All in all, unless there are some credible leaders somewhere, the others are a bunch of jokers.

Kobojunkie:
At this point, we don't even know if Goodluck and Andooka share the same ideologies or not. All we know is according to the news, he has FULL POWER and able to Do the job of the PRESIDENT. My Question to you at this point is still, why do you think that is not enough now?

blacksta:
I am Yoruba but dont want independence cause my wife is from Rivers state  - where does that leave me?

vote4andy:
All interested Anambarians with valid voter's card should contact me, via email or this forum. Lots of rewards if you join my campagne train.
Long live Anambra state.

asha 80:
See comment  

Gbenga says:
January 13, 2010 at 8:09 pmYoruba is a blessed nation. We have the seas (Lagos, Ikale areas, etc). Ekiti is known for the academic excellence. A state with the highest PhD per capital in the coutnry. Ijebus and Egbas are known for their business prowess. Lagosians (The Yorubas there) are the most sophisticated group of people in Africa, and probably on the planet. We love our culture and we try to preserve it, even via Nollywood. Why do you think Yoruba movie is thriving.


Yep English movie is dominated by the Easterners. But who cares. it is the same bleeping story of violence, kidnapping, and gun touting that is common in Igbo land. Igbos hate themselves, and their language will soon disappear. Up Yorubas. Please get out more movies and ensure quality, we will buy it, because you have good stories to write. And thanks for answering your original name. We all know of Igbos who hate their culture. Lately they begin to answer Nwachukwu or Chinyere. It was always, Jenifer, Linda, Genevieve (don’t worry girl, I like your performance regardless, I am just making a point), etc. I wonder what is wrong with Chidi, Uche, etc? On one side, I don’t need to blame the Igbos too much, since they have no clue what a large society is.


Let Igbo man or worman from Asaba go to Enugu and see how much of an Igbo he or she is. Please do us a favor, vacate Lagos, and take your wealth with it. And just see how the Yorubas will take over and create a model of a nation, instead of you from the East. You are even scared to go to your own land for anything. Oh! it is the Federal government. Then, what the hell did your governors do to improve your people. The slowpoke Kalu got some nerves to be writing in the Sun, and yet he was the governor of his state in the East, he has nothing to show for.


My advice to the Yoruba state in Nigeria is to start coming together regardless of party afflication and start running those states as a country. We know how to choose our leaders. We won’t have 1000’s contesting to lead. We also know how to tell our leaders to go to hell, if they don’t perform. Igbo people hate Nigeria, and that is why you would not see them fight for any civil rights. They are there to pillage the country.


Hey! a friend noted the other day that Igbos have been stashing their money abroad. They wanted to exploit every other areas in Nigeria before they pack back to their pigin holes, where they belong.

aieromon:
C'mon,the guy's reincarnated as Umaru Yar'Adua Yuguda

Kobojunkie:
You are told he has FULL POWER, what do you think it means when a person or VP has FULL POWER? Or are you of the mind that ONLY when he has the BADGE “PRESIDENT” attached to his chest, will he be able to serve the people?