₦airaland Forum

Fellow Nigerians, this has been a very interesting week for me. I finally made a trip to Lagos and Abuja for the first time since General Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo got elected as President and Vice President respectively. Abuja, in its own case, was an instant revelation as soon as I landed. It was obvious right from the tarmac that something has ostensibly changed about Nigeria's seat of power. I noticed a huge crowd disembarking from several planes simultaneously and spilling in from different directions. I scanned some of the faces and saw hope boldly etched on many of them. I felt very much at home as security agents and customs officers came out to share in the festival of congratulations. This is truly refreshing, I soliloquised.

The Transcorp Hilton Hotel was in its usual effervescent mood with ubiquitous politicians and esoteric entrepreneurs swarming the whole place in search of new positions and unmatchable deals as they always deem fit. Getting a room was near impossible even as a diamond card member. It took the intervention of some benevolent contact to find me a room to lay my head after some strenuous meetings. The Buka Restaurant at the hotel displayed a kaleidoscope of colours with the array of assorted foods which competed for the rich palates of some members of the privilegentsia.

No doubt, something has changed in Abuja. I was happy to meet many old friends, and made new ones. The camaraderie between the North and the South seemed more evident. The artificial barriers erected by some voluble politicians appear to have melted away. I discovered that the social media has also brought people closer than ever. Nearly everyone I encountered was my follower or acquaintance on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. They spoke generously and eloquently about my audacious activities during the Presidential campaigns. I was made to take pictures as if photography was going out of vogue. I sincerely thank in particular my over 380,000 ardent and engaging followers on Twitter and the over 57,000 followers on Instagram. Together we rocked Africa and took the world by storm.

I'm now more confident than ever that whether our hard-core politicians like it or not, Nigerians will no longer tolerate nonsense as business.The social media has collapsed the world into an even tinier village and any leader who tries to play God would be shown the way to Golgotha. If the ruling party PDP can be made to eat the humble pie then no one is unsackable. The incoming government should beware of falling into grave temptations like the unwary transgressors. The most important thing for me is that it must not take our people for granted. The next major key point to note is that it cannot afford to be complacent.  It must avoid the attitude of playing politics the traditional way. Some things have definitely transformed and situations have shifted drastically. The hawks of power must calm down and cool temper. The old days of oppressing fellow citizens must yield to a new dawn of putting the people first as priority.

I will continue to plead with the People's General, President-elect Muhammadu  Buhari, and his brilliant Vice-President elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, not to waste those attributes that gave them power. They must resist every attempt by control freaks that litter our political landscape to mortgage this landmark victory that has unified Nigerians like never before. What Nigerians expect is nothing other than performance. The politicians can't do jack if the Buhari/Osinbajo Administration accomplishes its mission. A good government would of necessity step on the toes of anyone who proves too difficult to manage. It is normal for Nigerian politicians to seek to dump their deadwoods on new governments but it behoves a responsible leader to reject same with automatic alacrity and let the dead bury their dead.

The first point to note is that APC must resolve all its power-sharing squabbles amicably and equitably. The greed factor must be jettisoned for fair-play. Every partner in the greatest political merger ever in Nigeria must be treated with respect and decorum. No attempt should be made to treat anyone as an inferior member of the union. Once that is taken into consideration and settled pronto, the Party would enjoy the bliss it deserves after a most excruciating campaign. What kills most amalgamations is egocentricity.I already foresee a war of attrition if APC does not immediately halt the present macabre dance by some of its members. The Party and the Government that it will establish at executive and legislative level must not see itself as a coalition of Parties with separate ideologies and detrimental interests. Having fused into one it must behave as such and cater to the core doctrines embodied in its manifesto.

Let me be more specific. The APC has been locked in a logjam over the zoning of the highest positions in the land. The way I see it is that CPC has already produced the number one slot. ACN has provided the number two. ANPP has secured the boss of all bosses the National Chairman of APC. The New PDP which came into the union with five formidable Governors and a multitude of National Assembly members is yet to get any position. This appears to me as grossly unfair and disproportionate. It is one of the reasons many onlookers and none-party members like me supported the candidacy of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as Senate President. We must learn to honour our heroes. Dr Saraki with Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Rabiu Kwankwaso risked everything to make this Change Movement possible. They and their other colleagues took the bulls by the horns and took the battle to the doorsteps of PDP. It is unfathomable how anyone would say they don't deserve any chunky positions in this grand alliance. Haba!

Aside from working assiduously for the new party, these influential and energetic leaders deserve the best of positions on sheer merit. They are among the brightest stars of APC who must not be compensated with the type of chicanery being witnessed in APC at this moment. What is the essence of hard work if the rewards would go to those who did less or little? Success breeds many relatives but we must never forget the gallant men and women who made it happen. Kwara State had always been disadvantaged. That State suffers greatly from its ambidextrous nature. It is not likely to produce a President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria soon unless our country can change its current configuration by whatever stroke of miracle.

Kwara is geographically in Northern Region but tribalistically seen by some as a an integral part of the Yoruba nation. But its influence stretches to Kogi State and both were powerfully delivered through the quintessential leadership of Dr Saraki without any shade of doubt. As a prominent member of the North Central, often considered as one of the minority regions in Nigeria, it has always been marginalised and solemnly oppressed by others. This is a great window of opportunity for the Kwara/Kogi axis to feel a true sense of belonging in the scheme of things and APC should not bungle it for God's sake. Benue has produced Senate Presidents and Party Chairmen endlessly. Niger State has produced two Heads of State, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar. Plateau had Chief Solomon Lar while Kogi Chief Sunday Awoniyi and Colonel Ahmadu Ali, as party Chairmen. Benue produced many Senate Presidents, Ameh Ebute, Iyorchia Ayu and David Bonaventure Mark. Benue also produced Audu Ogbeh and Barnabas Gemade as PDP Chairmen.

The North West has been the luckiest of all the regions in Nigeria. It has produced General Murtala Muhammed, President Shehu Shagari, General Muhammadu Buhari, General Sani Abacha, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and now back to General Muhammadu Buhari. The North East has produced Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as Vice President. The South West also has benefitted immensely with Ogun State alone producing President Olusegun Obasanjo, first as military Head of State and twice as civilian President. The same Ogun State nearly produced President Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola before it gave birth to the contraption known as the Interim National Government which was headed by Chief Ernest ‘Degunle Shonekan, another prominent Ogun son.

The South East produced the first President and Governor-General of Nigeria, the great Owelle of Onitsha, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Nigeria's second Head of State, Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, as well as Second Republic Vice President, Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme. The zone has also produced a long list of Senate Presidents namely, Senators Nwafor Orizu, Evan Enwerem, Chuba Okadigbo, Pius Anyim, Adolphos Wabara and Ken Nnamani and Speaker House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Anakwe Agunwa. It would probably have produced the next Senate President had the zone not committed some form of political hara-kiri by choosing to place all its eggs in the PDP basket. The zone has also produced Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. The South South has not been so fortunate. It only managed to get a Senate President in the Second Republic, Dr Joseph Wayas, from Cross River State and also a shot at the Presidency by a whisker after the unfortunate death of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. Sadly, the zone lost the Presidency after its first tenure for reasons I won't have the space to explain here.

For a region that is seen as the goose that lays the golden eggs, it would be preposterous not to do everything to compensate it for losing power in such a jiffy. And the strongest men who worked hardest from our zone are Governors Adams Oshiomhole and Rotimi Amaechi. Since my Governor still retains his job beyond May 29, 2015, Amaechi should be the biggest beneficiary. The post of Secretary to the Federal Government should be offered to him on first acceptance or refusal basis. No right thinking person would deny the strategic role of the Captain of the winning team as Director-General of Buhari/Osinbajo. His incredible victory as Chairman of Nigeria's Governor's Forum provided the platform and impetus for this monumental victory in the Presidential election. Amaechi had stoutly stood in front of a moving train that the Federal is in Nigeria and he conquered. Let no one dismiss such a man with a lion heart as not deserving our accolades. I wish to reiterate that such stupendous talents like that of Governor Amaechi must always be rewarded not as an act of patronage but out of appreciation for his effort, devotion and ability.

In my recent article on the same subject matter, I mentioned those who should be in the next cabinet but didn't assign portfolios to most of the names. I shall do so today for the outstanding ones. Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola is always a man after the heart of those who appreciate quality leadership. The most important task before the next government is how to solve the intractable problem of power. I can't think of anyone better to take on this enormous challenge than Fashola. And I'm not saying this for the fun of it. I've taken time to study the State driven power projects in Lagos and would wish to see such replicated nationwide. Fashola is one man who is so resolute about the modernisation of our country and the way that Lagos State has slowly been solving its power problem without Federal Government assistance commends Fashola to anyone who believes that the problem can be solved.

I will love to see Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory so that he can weave his Kano magic in Abuja. He not only deserves the position on the merit but also because he worked tirelessly and assiduously to ensure victory for the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket notwithstanding the fact that his hopes were dashed at the Presidential primaries. He succeeded in garnering the largest number of votes for the Party and the votes in Kano practically accounted for the margin of APC over PDP in the Presidential elections.

Now one of the frustrations Buhari/Osinbajo would encounter is the process of selecting cabinet members which is usually cumbersome and fraught with the danger of godfatherism. The Capos of Nigerian politics are never happy unless they can find one of their lackeys to put in power, whether qualified or not. But General Buhari would have to set very high standards for those who wish to be considered for appointments. If he allows the godfathers to dump their dregs on him, it would be disastrous for the nation.

These are the calibre of men and women that we need at this time and age in every sector.

May God help Buhari/Osinbajo in this difficult task.

HAPPY WORKERS' DAY

Every first day in the month of May provides an opportunity to salute the efforts of the labouring hands behind the socio-economic balance of our great country - Nigeria.

I join millions of Nigerians not only to felicitate, but also to commend the boundless efforts and sacrifices by Nigerian workers. In the quest of ensuring sustainability, stability, tranquility, and social growth of our fatherland, the civil servants remain the gear and the driving force.Today therefore will remain an historic day of appreciation.

I use this opportunity to implore our dear workers nationwide to remain steadfast and courageous as Nigeria passes through the current economic turmoil which has created the Challenges of some states not being able to pay salaries on time. This I believe our president elect will urgently and aggressively attend to.

I commend the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress for the leadership they provide for Nigerian workers and urge them to close ranks to hold a united front to assist the 8th assembly to build on the achievements of improving work conditions in Nigeria.

The labour of our heroes, past and present, must never be in vain. As a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, i am committed to raising and supporting Bills that will create jobs, protect the Nigerian workers and improve our work environment.

Happy Workers' Day.

THE NEXT SENATE PRESIDENT OF THE 8TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE FUTURE OF NIGERIAN DEMOCRACY.

By Ishowo Lateef

The fall of the most giant political party in the black world came to its members
like a blow in the face. However, the reality of losing their firm grip on the polity is
now staring the party’s faithfuls in the face like a bright lonely star in the sky at
the thick of the night. The dream of the party ruling Nigeria for sixty years has
suddenly been shattered; but not without giving the country sixteen years of
nightmare and political solitude anyway. To paraphrase Tatalo Alamu, the principal
casualties may have to be counted for many years to come. State orphans abound
as the sixty year Reich has become the sixteen years of wreck.
The death of the PDP is like the fall of a super-power nation for the emergence of
another. The expected reincarnation of the party however largely depends on how
the supposedly political orphans are able to handle the political funeral of their
benefactor; come together to form a strong opposition and stage a comeback in
the next eight or sixteen years.
Personally, I will appreciate a situation where PDP is able to keep APC on its toes,
wrestle power with it and shortchange each other intermittently as the situation in
the states between the Democrats and the Republicans. This and only this can
improve governance and sustain the country’s fledgling democracy. But with the
ongoing exodus of PDP members defecting to APC, I am afraid we may be heading
towards another one party de-facto system as experienced under PDP government
in the last sixteen years.
Well, the elections have been won and lost and as expected, it has thrown up so
many challenges for the party that emerged victorious—APC. Chief among which is
the need to give the country a complete change of scene in the nation’s style of
governance; from infrastructural revamping to eradication of decades of corruption
in a decayed system.
This would be a herculean task for the new administration of Alh. Muhammadu
Buhari without a National Assembly headed by experienced Law makers with track
records of peace making. Nigerian democracy had witnessed enough violence in the
past that it is presently in dire need of peaceful environment to make way for the
hopes placed on the incoming government by millions of Nigerians. As Paul Collier
noted in his book “wars, guns and votes”, political violence is both a curse in itself
and an obstacle to accountable and legitimate government. It is a curse because
the process of violent struggle is hugely destructive. It is an obstacle because
where power rests on violence; it invites an arrogant assumption that government
is there to rule rather than to serve.
However, the nation is presently awashed with political intrigues among the
politicians of the six geo-political zones, maneuvering among themselves over who
becomes the Senate President of the eighth National Assembly. Having succeeded
in ousting a clueless government via the ballots, Nigerians are not ready to
welcome a National Assembly headed by another set of clueless, inactive or violent
leaders. Fortunately or unfortunately, the larger society has little or no role to play
in the process of selecting leaders of the National Assembly. The election will be
done within the chambers among the legislators.
However, there are many factors that are going to be considered in arriving at who
becomes the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in
the eight National Assembly. The most important factor is the zoning arrangement
within the ruling party—APC.
Nigeria being a plural nation and giving the act of balance of power among the
differing ethnic groups along the six geo-political zones; where the President, the
Vice-President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
etc come from matters a lot. Now that the president-elect is from the North-West
and the Vice-president from the South-West, the positions of the Senate President,
Deputy Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Deputy Speaker,
SGF, Chief of Staff to the president, NSA, etc are to be distributed and zoned
among the remaining four geo-political zones of the federation.
North-Central seems to be the favourite of the APC’s movers and shakers, going
by the resolutions from the outcome of the meeting held by the leaders of the party
some days ago. The party is of course not out of tune as precedence had already
been set in the past. For instance, the late president Umar Musa Yar’adua was
from the North-West, his Vice, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was from the South-
Southern part of the country while the President of the Senate, David Mark came
from the North-Central. The outgoing administration of Goodluck Jonathan equally
comprises of the President from the South-South, Vice-President from the North-
West and Senate President from the North-Central.
Now that the searchlight is focused on the North-Central to produce the next
Senate President, there have emerged many contenders from the geo-political zone,
but Senators Bukola Saraki from Kwara State and Senator George Akume form
Benue State appear as the two strongest contenders for the post.
However, as soon as the duo indicated interest for the post, the political intrigues
and permutations have thrown up lots of sentiments among the supporters and
admires of the two distinguished ranked senators. One of the most pronounced
sentiments raised against Senator Bukola Saraki is the issue of ethnicity. Those
who are plotting the senator’s disqualification and their supporters erroneously
argued that he is a Yoruba man and it would be inappropriate for both offices of
the vice-presidency and senate presidency to be occupied by men from same tribe.
This argument has once again raises the question of imbalance federal structure
and the problem of geographical identity in our national life. When has Kwara
suddenly changed its status as a north-central state to a south-western? Haba!
So there is nothing politics cannot paint any choiced colour in our dear country?
Besides, once the APC has decided to zone the office to a particular zone, the tribe
or language of the benefactor does not matter any longer. Moreover, precedence
was set when Hon. Aminu Tambuwal who hails from same geo-political zone and
speaks same language as Nnamadi Sambo was allowed to emerge as Speaker of
the House of Representatives even when Sen. David Mark is from north-central.
And if we say Tambuwal’s emergence was as a result of the political chicanery
exhibited by the presidency to surreptitiously impose Hon. Mulikat Adeola on the
Green Chamber as Speaker; you will agree with me that precedence is precedence.
Again, are there no Yorubas in Abijan, Lome, Yaunde, etc? As there are Hausa-
Fulani in Chad, Mali, etc who are non-Nigerians? Does that change their status as
citizens of their country?
Still on the balance of power and rotation spirit, while Benue state has produced
three Senate Presidents in persons of Sen. Iyocha Ayu, Sen. Ame Ebute and Sen.
David Mark, Kwara State has not been fortunate to be considered for any of the
four highest offices in Nigeria under a democratic setting in Nigeria’s political
history.
Instead of using the ethnic/language card, it would be more appropriate to focus
on the attributes, intelligence and maturity or any other qualities of the two ranked
senators that will help stabilize the eighth National Assembly as experienced under
David Mark. Though Senator Mark is still very much interested in retaining the seat
even after spending eight years on the throne, his party becoming a minority may
not thrust this opportunity on his lap. As APC will fight tooth and nail to claim their
rightful position.
While admitting the fact that Senator George Akume possesses good qualities that
can be found in several others vying the post, it is important to choose the best
out of all the contenders for the best interest of the nation rather than sentiment
and politics of hatred.
Considering Sen. Saraki’s role in stabilizing the nation during his tenure as
Chairman of Governors’ Forum under Yar’adua’s administration, he deserves to be
tried for the position, so that he can use the same maturity applied then in
managing the affairs of the body to take the higher chamber of Nigeria’s legislature
to the next level.
Members of APC, including the party’s national leader, Sen. Bola Tinubu should
equally consider Sen. Bukola’s role in the party during its trying moments under
President Jonathan to compensate him for the post. He single handedly delivered
five governors for the party to give it a national look and strengthened its capacity
to win national elections.
His unquantifiable contributions to the seventh national assembly and exposure of
the suckers of the nation’s oil proceeds should equally serve as added advantage
to his emergence.
Lastly, APC became a strong party with national outlook after different political
parties played down all their differences and merged as one. However, while Buhari
emerged from the defunct CPC, Osinbajo from the defunct ACN and Hon.
Gbajabiamila has been tipped or anointed as the preferred candidate for the
position of Speakership in the lower house, what will be the benefit of the migrated
PDP members to the APC?
In this modern world, a well exposed and obviously charismatic individual with
wealth of experience like Dr. Bukola Saraki is needed to pilot our National Assembly
to its glorious status. It is not blindness but refusal to see that ails our civilization.
Quipped Novel Prize-winner, Jose Saramago, in his novel ‘Blindness”.
God bless Nigeria.

Ahead of the inauguration of the 8th Senate, 64 current and senators-elect yesterday had a meeting at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, to endorse the former Kwara State governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, for the post of Senate president.

Quoting a source at the meeting, ThisDay reports that the senators who are backing Saraki had decided to throw their weight behind the former Kwara State governor, because they want a “Senate president who is a product of the members and not imposed by a godfather.”

The insider noted that those present at the meeting comprised 19 senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and 45 from the APC.


It was gathered that senators present at the meeting include: Senators Muhammad Adamu Aliero, Danjuma Goje, Andy Uba, Mohammed Ali Ndume, Gilbert Nnaji, Dino Melaye and Isiaka Adeleke, who are new to the senate, the three senators representing Delta State and two from Edo State, among others.


The resolve of the senators is aimed at thwarting attempts by the APC to zone the Senate presidency to the North-East geopolitical zone, and efforts by the National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, to foist Senator Ahmed Lawan, his preferred candidate from Yobe State, as Senate President.


http://dailypost.ng/2015/04/30/senate-presidency-saraki-gets-endorsement-of-64-senators/

The All Progressives Congress promised Nigerians change; now the party has power, it must show us that change in truth and in deed. One place where that change will be mostly needed is the National Assembly. It is supposed to be a public National Assembly but on matters of finances and spending, it is largely private. From a budgetary allocation of just about N50bn during the Obasanjo presidential years, the National Assembly now spends some N150bn per year. Apart from this unjustified budget, no one knows exactly how this money is spent.

The National Assembly has been seemingly above the law and any Minister of Finance or government official who tries to stop it from playing well above the law on this one, the Assembly uses its oversight function to bully the same into line. Something has to give this time.

Nigerians cannot afford the N150bn/year currently being enjoyed by both Houses. It was never justifiable and it will not be justifiable under the current economic realities we now face. Nigerians who are privy to government information know that the state of the economy is worse than it is being made to look. The budget presented to the National Assembly is what you’d call an “election budget” as Nigeria cannot even fund such a project based on the projections with it. The Excess Crude Account is gone, the Foreign Reserves are the lowest in a decade, revenue from crude sales has taken a huge plunge and we continue to wonder how we will survive these trying times. Let me state that the reality of this trying time can only be fully appreciated when the new government is inaugurated. President-elect Muhammadu Buhari may be looking to give some people a soft-landing but by the time he and his people truly see what is left of the national treasury, they would not need an extra incentive to pursue everyone who’s stolen Nigeria’s money. This is why the National Assembly has to wake up!

As long as everything is negotiable to the leadership of the National Assembly as it has been under the current Senate President David Mark, we will not make process. The era of an appendage National Assembly ought to end with this administration. We know change when we see it and if the APC continues on the same nonsensical track as the Peoples Democratic Party did with the Senate especially, we will not keep quiet until they are either forced to do the right thing or they get booted out like the outgoing government rightly experienced.

The era of a “please, take a bow” National Assembly that’d allow even renowned election riggers to be passed as ministers, even if junior to a junior minister, will not be allowed. The era of the distant inaccessible Senate President is over. Senate President David Mark has a zilch presence on social media. You cannot even reach him through an assistant. On the contrary, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has an active social media presence and his media aide is also always available to monitor issues and engage citizens.

This is where the likes of Femi Gbajabiamila, Abdulmumin Jibrin and SENATOR BUKOLA SARAKI have an edge over their peers in the House and Senate. Those touting Gbajabiamila for the Speaker of the House of Representatives are doing the right thing; he has been a productive member of the House over the years and has opened the door of the House, not just to his Surulere constituency but to Nigerians from across. Jubril on his part would be a good Speaker too but for the geopolitical realities against him; the president-elect is from the North-West, a Speaker from that region would be hard to sell under the unwritten power rotation exigency. It would add a lot of credit, class and seriousness to the House if he ends up as Deputy Speaker though. A leadership of the House of Representatives comprising both men would be one to watch out for and be excited about.

As for the Senate leadership, we’d need to ensure we don’t let it go to just anyone. There is a reason BUkOLA SARAKI has the support of most young people on social media; he has been involved with several issues these young people took to heart. The remediation of Bagega in Zamfara State happened because he put his influence to great use even as online citizens pushed the ‪#‎SaveBagega‬ hashtag as attention got called to the issue. He it was who first raised the fuel subsidy scam issue on the floor of the Senate. This eventually became the reason for the ‪#‎OccupyNigeria‬ protest. The kerosene subsidy revelations and his work in the Senate Committee on Environment stand him out. More than all these, he is accessible and he has agreed on social media at least that he’d help work at reducing the budget of the National Assembly. We want a Senate President we can tweet at. Other contenders for this office need to up their social media game.

The personalities of the National Assembly leadership will not matter if the same corrupt practices continue; the whole arm- twisting pre-budget hearing that eventually affects the size of the budget, has to stop. If the APC’s National Assembly does not offer a clear difference from the PDP’s current National Assembly, Nigerians will reward the APC the way they rewarded the PDP this year. It will not be enough for the Executive to succeed; we need a virile, responsive and responsible National Assembly. We cannot be running a jobless economy with over 100 million poor people yet expend huge national resources on the allowances of already privileged but underworked lawmakers.

There is a need for a new order in the National Assembly. The fresh faces must look to raise the ante from the get go. You cannot criticise Abuja people for so many years then finally come to Abuja and then become just like them. That would be a disaster. We voted for a difference, we voted for newness, we voted for change. If we don’t see that change truly play out, we would realise our mistakes quickly and work out a punishment plan in 2019. It may look far away but that was just how 2015 looked far away when President Jonathan uttered, “I don’t give a damn!” on national TV. You must give a damn about these issues; the budget must come down, because Nigeria cannot afford it and lawmakers around the world are earning far less anyway.

After all said, both Houses must be allowed to decide their leaders. The APC came to the 2015 elections on the strength of its peaceful, transparent, free and fair primary election. That must be in place as the lawmakers choose their leaders. The party and the different causes will obviously play their roles but in the end, the Reps. and Senators are certainly politically mature enough to choose their own leaders. Nigerians cannot wait to see a National Assembly that truly represents the interests of the Nigerian people. The onus is on the APC to deliver on this promise.

Omojuwa is a social media entrepreneur and political commentator

Copyright PUNCH

As the nation shook, the National Assembly, which ought to have waded in promptly to bring about stability, dithered. Something urgently needed to be done to save our democracy, nay our dear nation. Enters the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, led by Dr. Bukola Saraki, the then Kwara State Governor

Roll back to mid year 2009. The nation was caught in political crisis. The then President, late Umar Yar’Adua, lay in the throes of incapacitating terminal ailment. The exact nature of the affliction and the whereabout of the then president was shrouded in secrecy. His deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, was not only kept in the dark, he was also prevented from assuming the responsibility of piloting the affairs of the state as required by the constitution, as those close to the ailing president held firmly on to power.  The nation floundered. The citizens’ initial concern turned into agitation. Led by rights activists like Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Church; Lagos Lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN); and sundry pressure groups, Nigerians took to the streets to demand that the nation be saved from the naked threat to our evolving democracy. As the nation shook, the National Assembly, which ought to have waded in promptly to bring about stability, dithered. Something urgently needed to be done to save our democracy, nay our dear nation. Enters the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, led by Dr. Bukola Saraki, the then Kwara State Governor. Date was February 9, 2010. The governors, having watched as the nation inched towards the brink, decided to wade in and save the nation. Rising from an emergency meeting at the Kwara State Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, the governors, led by Saraki, went over to the National Assembly where they met with both the Senate and the House of Representatives leadership and urged them to direct the Vice President Jonathan to take over as the acting president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thus was born “the doctrine of necessity” proclaimed by the Senate President, David Mark, upon which Jonathan became the nation’s No 1 citizen. The rest, they say, is history. The patriotic move by the governors at that time, saved the nation from what was obviously a potential crisis of unimaginable proportion. A more vibrant and proactive National Assembly would have acted more promptly and saved the nation the trauma and international ridicule the unfortunate situation exposed us to. This brings to mind the present race for the leadership of the 8th National Assembly.  The nation was lucky to have had a largely peaceful election contrary to pre-election fears of widespread conflagrations. As  expected, there have been permutations, calculations and speculations on the geographical zones to produce leaders for the nation’s highest law making bodies. In line with the federal character clause in the constitution, this, to me, is healthy enough. However, given how far we have come and the need to deepen and strengthen our democratic values, focus should also be given to the character, quality and capacity of the men to conduct the affairs of the incoming National Assembly. The office of the Senate President, understandably, has generated more interest with powerful names being bandied across the media. Intense claim is also being made over which zone should produce the nation’s number three citizen. So far, the battle seems to have been narrowed to two zones from the North: North Central and North East. Frontline contenders from the North Central are Bukola Saraki; two term former Governor of Benue State and the Senate Minority Leader, George Akume; and Senator Abdullahi Adamu, also a two term former Governor of Nasarrawa State. From the North East are Senator Ali Ndume from Borno State; Danjuma Goje, ex-two term Governor of Gombe State; and Senator Ahmed Lawal from Yobe State. Of the pack, Saraki has attracted most interest. However, his eligibility as being pushed in the public domain is being reduced to regional consideration. This is sad. At this stage of our democratic development, an office as important as that of the Senate president should not have party patronage or ethnic gift as main criteria for occupation.  Rather, the personal qualities of the seeker should be paramount. All the contestants for the Senate presidency are eminently qualified to occupy the office, but Sarkai’s antecedents in public office stands him out.  In 2011, while winding up as Kwara State Governor, the question of whether he would consider going to the Senate as most governors do after leaving office, came up.  Addressing select editors on the issue, Saraki said frankly that going to the Senate would only be an option if he is going to make a profound change and impact in the nation’s legislative culture. “If you expect me to just go there, sit down and be sharing money, then you can count me out,” he told the stunned editors, adding that with his resolve to confront the forces negating good governance, best practices and transparency, it is doubtful whether he would last in the Senate. It was a miracle he did. The first bombshell was the issue of petrol and kerosene subsidy, which he raised on the floor of the Senate in 2011. This subsidy, Saraki exposed, is a conduit pipe of corruption through which billions of the nation’s wealth finds its way into private pockets. While he won the hearts of the populace by this rare shows of courage, Saraki earned the wrath of the powers that be. He became a marked man. He had to battle with government sponsored corruption charges and other sundry harassments. Saraki remained undaunted. Perhaps, his traducers did not reckon with his antecedents. Saraki is a consummate public administrator, one totally committed to public good.  For him, public interest will always take precedent over personal interest or a relationship.  And this he has demonstrated in all the public offices he has found himself.  As the chairman of the Governor’s Forum, Saraki took over at the time Nigeria’s democracy ranked low in international reckoning, and quality of governance was anything but inspiring.  The forum, under Saraki’s leadership decided then, that there is the urgent need to rescue the situation. According to the Saraki-led governors, for democracy to thrive, for good governance to be provided for the increasingly hopeless populace, there is the need to engage political office holders on capacity building. There is the need to inculcate in them, good governance, best practices, transparency, accountability and all other values that strengthen democracy and delivery of quality services to the people.  The Governors believe this could be better achieved through collaboration and partnership with credible international agencies.  One of the fall outs of these laudable ideas was the peer review policy of the governor’s forum, which opened a new chapter of governance for the people of Nigeria. As the governor of Kwara State, Saraki charted a new course for other governors to follow.  The commercialization of agriculture which not only put Kwara, a hitherto civil service state on global map, but also became a model for several states in the federation, ranks among his major achievements.  President Jonathan corroborated this when he recalled at a gathering, his move to embark on commercial agriculture as the then governor of Balyesa state.  According to him, he had consulted the then president, Olusegn Obasanjo, on his plans. Obasanjo, without hesitation, told Jonathan to go to Saraki if he wants to succeed in his agriculture venture.  Aside agriculture, Saraki also initiated a community insurance scheme where with a paltry N200 one can have access to primary health care and free medical treatment. This scheme received the commendation of the then United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Anan. Kwara under him was also rated best in primary health care in the country many times. In order to attract investment and build a prosperous Kwara, Saraki embarked on construction of World Class Infrastructure. To provide stable power supply, he took over Ganmo transmission station and lobbied to get it included in the National Integrated Power Project.  When the NIPP was stalled across the country, Saraki mobilized funds to complete the one in Kwara, thus making it the first NIPP to be completed in the country. In the race for the senate presidency, opponents of Saraki’s candidacy have resorted to the usual blackmail: His so called problem with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.  It is a well-known fact this was designed to harass and whip Saraki into line by the powers that be.  For the records, Saraki has never been arrested or arraigned by the anti-corruption body. While the body was headed by Nuhu Ribadu, its pioneer chairman, Saraki was one of those publicly given a clean bill of health. Also, it is on record that as a serving governor, Saraki offered to surrender his immunity so as to be prosecuted if found guilty of any act of corruption. Till date no corruption claim has been established against him.  As Senate President, Saraki will hit the ground running and work hard to make the senate, one all will be proud of. The next Senate president must be visionary, proactive, committed to good governance, probity, accountability, best practices and transparency. These are qualities Saraki is offering Nigeria as number three citizen.  Nigeria does not deserve less. Saraki believes in hard work and ability to deliver. These he put above all other consideration when seeking office.  If he is seeking the Senate presidency, he seeking it because he believes he’s going to make the difference. He believes he’s going to help put the nation on higher pedestal through vibrant, visionary and public spirited legislation.  Consequently, he would love to be considered more on his qualification and less on his region, tribe and religion.  In 2007 when he was seeking re-election, some political editors met him in Abuja and asked what role his father, the late Dr. Olusola Sarki, would be playing in his re-election bid. Saraki’s response was, if his achievement in the state for four years cannot win him re-election then there is no need asking the people to return him, even as he acknowledged his father’s valuable support.

That’s essential Saraki.

Attah, a public analyst, writes from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Culled from: The Eagle Online

Nigerian Young Professionals have endorsed the candidature of Dr Bukola Saraki as the president of the eighth Senate .

The professionals in a statement by their national coordinator,Ms Sherifat Aliyu said their endorsement of Saraki for the plumb office stemmed from his immense contribution to the development of Kwara state his state and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Describing Saraki as a bridge builder, the young professionals said they were particularly impressed about his passion for youth development.

Ms Aliyu in the statement noted with delight that the former governor of Kwara state led the Nigerian Governor Forum to an enviable position during his tenure as the chairman of the forum.
According to her, “ during the former president Olusegun Obasanjo's third term bid that ushered in late president Umar Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan. Saraki led his colleagues and other patriotic leaders to reject that proposal."

She recalled that for proper balancing, the north central zone had enjoyed the seat in the last eight years, but stated that “but what is clear is that if merit is the yardstick for measuring who gets what under the progressive dispensation, then Saraki is the best man for the job”

She emphasized that kwara - Saraki's home state was overdue for the seat because from 1999 to 2001, plateau and Nassarawa states had produced Senator Haruna Abubakar and Senator Nasiru Mantu as deputy senate presidents while Benue had Senator David Mark as Senate President

By Henry Umoru
ABUJA- AHEAD of the inauguration of the 8th Senate where a new Senate President would emerge, strong indications emerged yesterday that the National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC and former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu may have bowed to pressure from the Senators that he should allow them elect their own Senate President.
Following insistence on the Senators to have their own Senate President without being under intense pressure from ‘ outside’, former Governor Tinubu who has been a strong supporter of Senate Minority leader and former governor of Benue State may have soft- pedalled on him.

Danjuma Goje, Bukola Saraki,Abdullahi Adamu and George Akume
It was gathered yesterday that feelers at the Induction Course for Senators and members of House of Representatives elect holding at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja may not have gone down well with the APC leader against the backdrop that he was also pushing for the House of Representatives Minority leader, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila from the South West for the Speakership position.
While some Senators want the position of Senate president zoned to North Central and preferably, the Chairman, Senate Committee of Environment and Ecology and former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, the former Lagos State governor was said not to be comfortable with Saraki with 2019 political colouration.
According to a source, Tinubu was said not to be supporting Saraki now because with such a position, he may be too powerful come 2019 with the support of Senators and some Governors, he may be eyeing the presidency.
At the moment senators prefer Senate President zoned to the North Central with Saraki, because they see in him the qualities they want in the leader which must be a reflection of the members of Senate without external influence.
With Tinubu now dumping Akume, he may shift his support to a candidate from the North East and a source told Vanguard that the Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Ahmed Lawan from Yobe may fit in.
Some influential backers behind Akume led by Tinubu have withdrawn their support mainly because they see he is not a reflection of the choice of Senators and any attempt to railroad him will be rejected.
With different aspirants for the position and divergent support from leaders, indications have emerged that if no compromise was arrived at, the race wouldlikely to be thrown open to the contestants from the north east and north central.
A Senator attending the induction programme for national assembly members at the Hilton Hotel, said, “the issue of senate president is the personal issue of the senators so all leaders who are insisting on producing the senate president should know that it is our affair and not the thinking of APC leaders.
“We are going to ensure that our leader emerges among us and not through any form of imposition from any quarters.
“If care not taken, those insisting on taking all will lose all because the north east has almost succeeded in getting majority members to support its desire to produce the speaker of the House of Representatives and if feelers from the party leadership is anything to go by, Tinubu has told his foot soldiers to ceasefire on the Akume project.”
There is also push for Honourable Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi, North East for Speakership just as from South South, Honourable Pally Iriase from Edo State is also a very strong contender for the position and Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin from Kano, North West Zone is also eyeing the position. The feeling is that the South West has the Vice President and should not pick the Speaker as well.

As Nigeria awaits the inauguration of the 8th national assembly, the political space has understandably become awash with speculation about who will be Senate President and therefore President of the National Assembly. The speculation is understandable.
The Senate president will not only be the number three man in the country, he will play a pivotal role in governance and the political direction of the country’s post May 29. However, much of the speculation about who the cap best fits has focused on geopolitical issues especially the zoning formula of the in-coming governing party.
Most Nigerians expect, and expectedly so, the position to be zoned to the North Central geo-political zone of the country. The North Central not only delivered over whelming votes to the APC, it is the minority north with a convergence of ethnic nationalities.
If the position is truly, as speculated to come from the North, it is generally hoped to come from the North central since the core north, North West already produced the President. Therefore, zoning the senate presidency outside the north central will be tantamount to deepening alienation of the zone.
More importantly, given the sensitive times the country is going through, the Senate needs a competent, respected and accomplished president who can command the respect of his colleagues, provide effective leadership at the national assembly and work well with the other arms in the interest of democracy and good governance.
Therefore, if it is about equity, fairness and competent Senator Bukola Saraki deserves our support.
To say that Senator (Dr) Bukola Saraki, has made Kwara State the envy of many, including the leadership of his former party so much so that he became a target of political persecution is to say the obvious.
Though rough and tough as it were, Bukola Saraki’s influence did not wane as he insisted on pushing for the deepening of democratic tenets and today, he has emerged as the undisputed political heavyweight in Kwara State.
Driven by a high sense of accountability and respect for the rule of law, Senator Saraki abandoned the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) where he was apparently comfortable, to pitch his tent with the APC and thus began the task of cleaning the mess he discovered in the PDP from the position of weakness as a member of the opposition party, using the broom.
This, he did fearlessly, not minding threats of witch-hunting using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Special Fraud Unit (SFU); the two agencies that trailed him for nearly  four years and found nothing to charge him with.
This was a governor poised to instill accountability, established the Price Intelligence Unit, (PIU), in Kwara state to checkmate over invoicing, through which he saved millions of naira for the state for which he got an international award. For a state with a meagre resource a little above N3b, he established the Shonga farm, health insurance policy, aviation college and Harmony diagnostic centre, which till date, remain models in prudence financial management.
Without doubt, these explain why Saraki’s emergence as a strong contender for the office of Senate President was greeted with joy, particularly as the new government is expected to usher in government of prudence management of national resources.
All over the world, the ability of the Senate President to organize and lead, as well as ensure a smooth and cordial relationship between its members and the presidency or otherwise, has been known to largely affect the running of the country and the delivery of electioneering promises.
With the sensitive and strategic position of the Senate President, it requires that the man or woman who will lead the senate must be one that understands the leadership intricacies, operation, body language of most members and has negotiating powers, as well as the ability to rally support for the president with little or no difficulties.
Indeed, these qualities cannot be compromised if the party at the centre or by extension, the president, must redeem and execute party manifesto, and maintain law and order, while grappling with the task of governance and delivering on people-focused policies.
While most names on the table for the exalted position qualify to lead being senior members of the National Assembly and of sound intellectual judgment,  Senator (Dr) Bukola, however, fits well and has the administrative exposure needed for a stable senate that will assist the new Buhari presidency to quickly settle down to work, particularly as he was a former chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), a period that saw the governors’ forum witness relative peace and the governors enjoy true friendship.
Interestingly, the new senate will be peopled by a good number of some former governors most of whom were part of the NGF when Dr Saraki was chairman.
Traversing the chairmanship of various committees in the senate such as chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Food Security, Education and later Environment and Ecology, debates were robust and deliberations ideal and people-based.
The high-point of his quality committee leadership was the championing of bills to sanitise the environment, such as the Gas Flaring Bill and the Noses Amendment Act on oil spillage.
Saraki’s passion to formulate laws to ensure total eradication of oil spillage in oil bearing communities as well as ensure timely clean-up, remediation of impacted areas and payment of adequate compensation to affected communities remains unrivaled.
As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ecology, he proposed the Nigeria Oil Spill Detection and Regulatory Agency (NOSDRA) Amendment Bill which aims to ensure that oil companies responsible for Oil Spillage and other harmful environmental activities do not go scot-free. It is on record that Saraki’s effort resulted in the $83.3million compensation paid by Shell to communities in Ogoniland that were victims of oil spillage for decades.
?Dr Saraki as a first term senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is credited with raising the motion considered as the most important motion of the 7th Assembly. His motion on “TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF FUEL SUBSIDY SCHEME” has been referred to as the singular legislative act that exposed the monumental fraud in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) where officials illegally diverted over N1trillion in the name of fuel and kerosene subsidy in 2012 alone.
There is no doubt that Saraki’s intellectual weight, good nature and friendship contributed in no small measure to the success of the current republic. This played out during the party convention in which the leaders of APC led by Asiwaju wanted Odigie Oyegun as party chairman, while most of the governors wanted former governor of Bayelsa, Timipre Silva.
Saraki played a stabilising role by insisting that the wish of the leaders and legacy members of the Party must be respected. Saraki also eschewed primordial sentiments, voluntarily stepped down his presidential ambition  by insisting that Buhari was the best option for Nigeria, which expectedly, pitched him against certain dominant interests.
Indeed, if Saraki is allowed to lead the next Senate, it is definitely not for him but for Nigeria. A Saraki senate presidency will not only be a stabiliser, a bridge builder but ensure a robust senate. Saraki’s Senate Presidency is definitely for Nigeria’s progress.  This will also give the president a breathing space.
A product of King’s College, Lagos and Cheltenham College, Cheltenham, London, Dr Saraki studied at the London Hospital Medical College of the University of London where he obtained his M.B.B.S (London). He had worked as a Medical Officer at Rush Green Hospital, Essex and as a Director of Societe Generale Bank (Nigeria) Limited, as well as appointed Special Assistant to the President on Budget in 2000.
Senator Saraki is the leader of Kwara State politics and by extension, North Central and one of the national leaders of APC, who ensured that Buhari won the state and ultimately changed the direction of the election. He also serves as a tribal nobleman of high rank in Kwara State in his capacity as the Turaki of the Ilorin Emirate and also Turaki Raya Kasan Nupe.
?In a country deeply divided along religious, ethnic and political lines, Saraki is seen as a blend of all by having his origin in North Central with close ties to the South-West. Saraki is a Muslim with a Christian wife.
His consideration by the APC to serve in the capacity of the Senate President of the 8th National Assembly where the party and Nigerians are hoping he will further contribute his quota to the development of the country by firming up existing legislations and initiating new ones for the benefit of all Nigerians, certainly, is a good sign of the better things to come in the years ahead. Therefore, he deserves the support of all who genuinely mean well for Nigeria, APC and Nigerians.
Oba, Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, writes from Ilorin.

Coward is the man who envy an achiever, the tendency of a man who can't separate left to right is low, this is a millennium age at which everyone can choose to sustain on self built potential. One's failure in life can never be answered by an agent or anyonE your behave. Do what is best for you and stop posting childishly..

A VOTE FOR SEN. @BUKOLASARAKI AS SENATE PRESIDENT

By Prof. Hassan A. Saliu
Department of Political Science,
University of Ilorin, Ilorin.

The victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the 2015 polls has necessitated many permutations on the shape of government that will come into being as from 29th of May 2015. One of the issues is what kind of therapy would the General Buhari government be putting forward to address some of our pressing national problems. Gradually, the attention of Nigerians is shifting to the National Assembly which its current leaders will vacate their seats at the end of the Seventh Assembly in June. Given the majority status that the APC has now acquired in the two chambers of the National Assembly, the expectation and following the tradition, the party will produce both the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate President.

Going by the mood of the nation, the issue of who becomes the next Senate President in June 2015 has generated concern and all kinds of calculations have appeared in the political circles and the media. Although the final shape of what would happen have not emerged, two names, among others, have featured prominently on the list of those aspiring to succeed David Mark. This piece is however concerned with the candidacy of Senator Bukola Saraki. While I agree that all ranking Senators from the preferred geo-political zone are entitled to the seat, the thrust of this piece is on Dr. Bukola Saraki, a foremost candidate from the North Central Zone.

He is a political giant in Kwara state where he has, in two elections and in spite of stiff opposition, led his political parties to victory in 2011 and 2015 and thus establishing himself as a strong political force in the state. I must confess that when he joined other PDP stalwarts to walk out of the PDP Convention in 2013 and later defected to APC, I was one of those who had expressed some reservations on how he could emerge from the crisis without losing some political mileage. But as events have shown, he did his calculations well before taking the political risk. The end of the two rounds of elections this year has firmly established his total control over the politics of Kwara state as all the posts/seats contested for were won by the candidates of APC. What this means is that he has a solid home base and his position as a leader of APC cannot be contested. This naturally should qualify him for the post of Senate President.

Shortly before the presidential election his sister, Gbemi Saraki, through her body language defected to the party of her brother. Today, she is already giving a good backing to her brother in consolidating the hold of Bukola Saraki on the politics of Kwara state. This represents a significant political statement and stronger support base for Dr. Bukola Saraki given Gbemi’s considerable influence in the Senate where she had served as a two term Senator.

Any one familiar with Yar’Adua presidency would recall the immense role the then Governor Bukola Saraki had played in stabilizing the regime. As a loyal friend of the late President and at a time when many had deserted the late President on account of his ill-health, he made some visits to Saudi Arabia and remained a friend to the President until he breathed his last. The import of this is that the President-elect as well as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu can rely on Senator Saraki to play even a greater role in stabilizing the in-coming Buhari government.

The now famous Doctrine of Necessity that brought the second Acting President to power in the country in February 2010 was greatly facilitated by the Nigerian Governors Forum that was headed by the then Governor Bukola Saraki. The kind of crisis that later gripped the Forum may not have happened if Dr. Saraki were still to be in the saddle based on his track record of always being lucky at resolving political conflicts. This trait still endears him to his peers, former governors who have memorable occasions to share on his ability to fix problems.

One recalls that a coup of sort was hatched by some members of the Forum in 2010 apparently to humiliate Governor Saraki out of office on account of his presidential ambition. Surprisingly, both Adams Oshiomhole and Raji Fashola of the defunct ACN resisted and spoke against the unorthodox way of changing the Chairman of the Forum by rendering the efforts of Governors Gabriel Suswan and Gbenga Daniel, the purported beneficiary of the conspiratorial effort, a nullity.

He survived the premeditated attacks and retained his Chair of the Governors Forum. Such a man that is adept at boardroom politics is needed at this point in time to build bridges across party lines for the smooth take-off of the Buhari government. He can be relied upon to work through complex political situations to arrive at a seamless consensus. No doubt, some challenges await the APC in managing its electoral successes and the kind of officiating personnel that are put forward will go a long way in giving Nigerians the needed succour and relief.

As a Senator, he has been known to back popular causes. One of these is the lid that he blew open on the huge and largely unaccounted money that was being spent on oil subsidy. The disclosure especially the aspects dealing with budgetary provisions necessarily made him to enter into a political bad weather with the consequential inconveniences but he showed character and conviction. This made Senator Adefuye Adeyeye to commend him on the floor of the Senate for his bravery and he went ahead to draw a comparison between what Dr. Bukola Saraki did by raising alarm on the overshot of budgets on subsidy provisions and what his father, Dr. Olusola Saraki, had done under the Second Republic on the issue of missing oil money.

To be sure, Dr. Bukola Saraki has a rich credential and the relevant experience to become the next Senate President. With his network of friends in the Senate and among the ranks of ex-governors who are increasingly finding the Senate more attractive coupled with the fact that he was one of the architects of the APC’s victory at the polls, he will add value to the party and be a good reference and rallying point for PDP’s members who defected into the APC. The new ruling party in the country has more to gain by giving the nod to Dr. Saraki to fly its flag as the next Senate President.

I am aware of the issue of shortcomings that some people have raised concerning the candidates that are in contention for the position. My position, however, is that the contest for the position of Senate Presidency is not all about shortcomings. Rather, it is about harnessing all potentials of our politicians for the greater interest of Nigeria. It is in this regard that one argues that it was the potential that people saw in the current Senate President, David Mark that made him to be preferred for the job in 2007. The issue of Benue politics came up. Some others had complained about his elitist orientation borne out of his remarks on telephone users in the country. Notwithstanding, on the aggregate, David Mark has made the North Central Zone and indeed, Nigeria proud by his sterling performance. Let the baton now pass on to Bukola Saraki to consolidate on the good performance of David Mark as Senate President.

All Nigerians are hereby urged to support his aspiration by setting aside their political differences and appreciate the value of national assignment involved. It is possible for Senator Saraki to impact on the office by bringing more substance and relevance to it. There is also a high chance that the broad mindedness that the office requires will rub positively on him in a manner that would change some aspects of his politics that are distasteful to the people. He deserves the support of all citizens especially people of the North Central Geo-political Zone, a part of the north that he had the rare privilege of serving as the Chair of the Northern Governors’ Forum between 2003 and 2007

As the lobby for the president of the eighth National Assembly hots up we must look at some qualities in order not to put a round peg in a square hole.

If the in-coming government zones same to the North Central geo-political zone, then the lot favours Dr Bukola Saraki. He has been one of the major achievers of success for the coalition called All Progressives Congress(APC).

He almost single-handedly delivered his Kwara State in the presidential, national and states assemblies as well as governorship elections to APC. He is not a green-horn in the Red Chamber.

Neither is he a novice in politics; he was Kwara State governor for eight years. He was the heir to the late Senate Leader Dr Olusola Saraki.

If the story that Benue state is equally lobbying for same is true, moral justice demands that as Benue state’s man is the out-going Senate President, it should allow another state to occupy the seat. The cap fits Bukola Saraki.

The 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections gave the All Progressives Congress (APC) a clear majority in the new National Assembly with the implication that the party would certainly produce the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives. Barring the interplay of unforeseen political intrigues and last minute review of intra-party zonal arrangement, the representative of Kwara Central Senatorial District in the upper legislative chamber, the Most Distinguished Senator Abubakar Bukoka Saraki, is most favoured to grab the coveted position of President of the incoming 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Although I am not aware that the Distinguished Kwara Central Senator is eyeing the coveted post yet, a combination of factors - such as his impressive political antecedent as former Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum for eight solid years, his robust membership of the 7th Senate, his pioneering efforts in the formation of the largest and most vibrant opposition party in the country’s political history about a year ago – will almost certainly ensure his emergence as the nation’s Number Three Citizen when the new National Assembly is inaugurated on June 4 this year, or thereabout.

Political analysts had projected that the Senate President would have automatically emerged from the South East if the APC had won a senatorial seat in that region. However, it is now clear that extant political expediency does not favour such arrangement, as other regions that voted massively for the majority party would likely feel short-changed if the party fails to reckon with their numerical strength to bypass them in sharing top political appointments. It is in view of this that political pundits believe that the best any APC senator (if eventually there is any) from the South East could get is the position of Deputy Senate President. In this case, the coast appears very clear for the North Central Zone to produce the next Senate President. And the Senator representing Kwara Central, Abubakar Bukola Saraki will most likely get the plum job. 

Another touted candidate for the Senate Presidency from the North Central Zone is the current Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume. Like Senator Saraki, Senator Akume is also a ranking senator, being a second term member of the Red Chamber too. He also has impressive political credentials like Saraki, having also been a former two-term state governor too. But again, political expediency may not favour Akume for the post of Senate President since he is from the same Benue State as the outgoing occupant of the position, Senator David Mark.

Although not very compulsory, it has become an established convention in the National Assembly that an aspirant to the position of presiding officer in any of the two chambers should be what is called a “ranking member” in legislative parlance. In other words, the position is not for a legislative green horn. And Senator Saraki is definitely a ranking Senator, as he is going for his second term in the Senate, a reality that makes him eminently qualified to aspire to the position of Senate President.

Another factor that would favour a Saraki Senate Presidency is his visible contributions/sacrifice towards the resounding victory of the APC in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections. It is on record that the ebullient Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology literally took the entire Kwara PDP machinery, which include all but one state legislators; all members of the House of Representatives from the state; two of the three senators representing the state; all state commissioners; all special advisers to the governor, all local government chairmen and other political appointees in the state, to the APC at the risk of dire consequences including persecution, denial of personal comforts and federal patronage. Although some people may not want to agree with this assertion, no other political personage than a Saraki could have achieved such feat in Kwara State’s political milieu. It would, therefore, not be entirely out of place for the APC to show a token of appreciation to this astute political enigma by conceding the position of the President of the 8th Senate to him.

But beyond political patronage, Saraki is eminently qualified for the position in all ramifications. His legislative antecedents at the 7th Senate give practical credence to this. Not only is he a very audible voice on the floor of the Senate, his robust contributions to Senate proceedings, sponsorship of impactful bills and scooping of people-oriented and public-spirited motions are factors that would eventually stand him in good stead when it is time to elect a new Senate President. From my personal experience while covering the Senate for THISDAY Newspaper until late 2012, I can attest to the fact that Senator Saraki is one of the few among the 109 members of the upper legislative chamber whose contributions to the making of positive legislations cannot be easily wished away.

One particular motion that is generally acknowledged as a truly people-oriented legislative intervention sponsored by the Kwara Central Senator is the one seeking to probe the management of the fuel subsidy scheme of the Federal Government. The 2011 Motion was generally acknowledged to be one of the best propositions ever brought before the Senate in terms of the quality of research that went into its formulation and the quantity of reactions it elicited from both the floor and the gallery. To the lawmakers, the motion was a veritable wake-up call to their statutory duty of acting as checks on the executive arm of government. And for the members of the public, the motion had invariably renewed the hope that the legislature could yet be awake to its responsibility, given a little notch. And with the passage of the motion, the nation’s fuel subsidy regime was not to remain the same.

I was also a witness to the historic anti-gas flaring bill sponsored by Senator Saraki in 2012. The bill, cited as the Gas Flaring (Prohibition and Punishment) Act, 2012, was the first comprehensive and sanction-specific legislation in the country, which environmental activists believe would end the impunity and barefaced wastages associated with indiscriminate flaring of gas by multinational oil companies in the country. And so, in defiance of the typical Nigerian officials’ connivance with multinationals to fleece the country and its citizens of huge sums of money and wreak unimaginable environmental hazards on Nigerians, Saraki sought to be different by sponsoring the anti-gas flaring bill not minding whose ox is gored! If such a personage could be encouraged to take up the position of Senate President, the nation would be the better in terms of quality and people-centred legislations.

Another factor that could ensure the emergence of the former Governor of Kwara State as the next Senate President is his dynamic leadership of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) between 2003 and 2011. The Forum, which came into being after a seminar organised for the first set of 36 governors in the Fourth Republic on April 26, 1999 in Abuja, was largely a mere convocation of state chief executives – a mere assemblage of “gubernatorial senior boys” - without much group relevance on the national political space. But the status of the Forum changed substantially positively with the emergence of Saraki as its chairman in 2003. Not only did Saraki set up some administrative structures, he also gave the organisation a more authoritative voice in the polity. Probably as a result of his insightfulness in lifting the NGF from near obscurity to an organization to reckon with, Saraki became so powerful and influential among his peers who also deferred to him on many issues. This is indeed another plus for him in his bid to become the next Senate President, especially now that at least 10 members of his NGF will be sitting in the 109-member Senate. To be sure, most of these former governors who cut across the two major political parties (APC and PDP) will not forget the good old times when Saraki fought tirelessly to make the Governors’ Forum a vibrant political force to reckon with in the nation’s political matrix.

Above all, Senator Saraki’s administrative acumen, garnered over the years both in public and private sectors, is a veritable testament to his capability to successfully conduct the affairs of the upper legislative chamber. Since his first inauguration into the Senate in June 2011, Saraki has been a veritable shining star in the Red Chamber, having built a robust relationship with his colleagues across party lines. He will indeed be our ideal Senate President. I think he should not encounter much problem clinching the plum job!

•Akogun, a former National Assembly Editor of THISDAY Newspaper, wrote from Ilorin. Photo shows Senator Bukola Saraki.

Source News Express

Posted 28/04/2015 02:42 AM

TIME FOR CHANGE. BY ONILEMARUN ABDULKAREEM 

It’s generally said that politicians cannot be trusted but at this stage we need to trust one of such politician with our vote; A man who can’t control his thirst for power should be driven away with a whip, after all it’s a democracy and not a monarchical system of government, the man who failed to govern the country well doesn’t deserve the masses votes.

During the last campaign, PGEJ told us he had no shoe, but now, he has more than enough shoes; and in the course of getting his desired material assets and enrich his desperate and uncultured gang, he failed to fight corruption, insecurity, injustice and yet justified criminals keep enjoying presidential pardon and our economy keep draining, to the extent that even our foreign reserves couldn’t be managed.

How will such a materialistic and unfocused leader know the value of life when we all know that he’s too incompetent to fight NIGERIA’s problem? Let not give our votes to the man who can’t be trusted because whoever knows the value of law will never swim against the law.

“Wise is the mother whose child becomes a revolutionary so whoever obeys a tyrant deserves to die a slave”.

After reading different reports/closure I found out that a government who promised to monitor all the affairs that will bring about good governance could not even be precise about the actual amount of oil produced in NIGERIA right from the day he assumed office and even till date.

Around 10% of oil is estimated to be lost or stolen; does the government who failed to manage our economy well for 6years deserve another term? Nigeria as a thirsty country needs a courageous leader, one who will see beyond minority reasoning and the cost of achieving this is to set an adequate goal at which the government officials will sacrifice any vested interest of all forms, the basic is just simple for us to track out of the many weakness of PGEJ let us cc this to ourselves; in January 2012 PGEJ removed fuel rentage which we call subsidy, many protests were up-staged which yielded nothing because on the long-run, the NLC leader compromised and they got sold out to dance with the FG wise-base on the little reversal then.

When different analysis came in, we were told that the subsidy fund will be adequately utilized. Not more than some months this same fund was mis-managed by some cabal.

On this occurrence fewer pious political leaders stood up against this one of them is Bukola Saraki of Kwara we can watch his stand here on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKt-3A97jDk

If our leader could ever be Patriotic this subsidy fund will be channelled to where it will be well managed. Its well known to me that the last time Nigeria government fought corruption was during the time of late president Musa Yar’adua we all hope that his VP will emulate from the good records when he got the power accidentally which he was tried for the first 2years, he failed and beg for re-election which Nigerians gave to him in 2011.

For the past 6 years no masses has enjoyed good governance from the PDP led Federal Government.

My submission:

If a single man can’t get things done in the same party for 6 years should we have a reason to re-elect the man when he has done us nothing but bad?

A government that can’t deliver well on: Infrastructure, Welfare, Education and all other basic amenities in 6 years, how will such government do us proud if given another 4years?

“Change isn’t easy to be managed but it’s so easy to be enjoyed”

#Votewisely.

Written by Onilemarun Abdulkareem from Ilorin

Twitter handle: @Onile050

FUEL SCARCITY: STOP PLAYING POLITICS WITH THE WELFARE OF NIGERIANS, KWARA SPEAKER TELLS JONATHAN 

The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and APC candidate for the House of Representatives (Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency), Barr. Razak Atunwa has described the allegation against the All Progressive Congress by the People's Democratic Party on the ongoing nationwide fuel scarcity as irresponsible and immoral of a party who was constitutionally elected to ameliorate the welfare of the nation.

The National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu had made an allegation against the All Progressive Congress stating that the ongoing fuel scarcity was caused by the APC which he said had bribed oil marketers to hoard petroleum product nationwide.

Reacting to this in a statement signed by his Media Office, the Kwara State Speaker, Barr. Razak Atunwa decried the poor state of the nation's economy and called on the President to stop politicizing the welfare of Nigerians by positioning the nation's economy in a way that makes it impossible for Nigerians to embark on their daily activities.

Atunwa said "PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu has blamed the fuel scarcity on the opposition party, another flimsy excuse! No serious government will blame everything on the opposition, a serious government must take responsibility for whatever happens in the country. 

"The Federal Government has spent trillions of Naira on so called subsidy without accountability. Under Jonathan, over 8 billion U.S. Dollars is lost annually to oil theft, the biggest Nigeria has ever experienced. 

"Unfortunately, US who is the major importer of Nigerian oil since 1973 has announced that it will not import oil from Nigeria anymore, yet president Goodlcuk is not diversifying our economy. APC has no power to ignite scarcity of fuel in the nation, hence, Goodluck should better take responsibility and stop politicizing the wellbeing of Nigerians" he stated emphatically.

Recalling the damage done by the PDP led government to Nigerian economy, including the multibillion-dollar government oil-corruption scandals, a wave of cold-blooded killings by Boko Haram militants still holding almost 300 schoolgirls for almost a year, Atunwa said these are resulting effects of an irresponsible government that has prioritized it's selfish interests over the interests of Nigerians.

However, Barr. Atunwa called on Nigerians to resolutely vote against the PDP in the forthcoming elections in order to break Nigeria away from the shackles of poor leadership. 

"We have been on this road for almost four years now, the road of poor leadership accompanied by severe corruption and lack of compassion on the masses and the only way we can make a change is to vote out the incumbent government of Goodluck Jonathan. We have waited for this period hurtling through the hard times to reset Nigeria and rewrite our history. Thus, let's be passionate, dodged and legally resilient in our fight for a better Nigeria" he said.

Atunwa expressed serious optimism that the All Progressive Congress will reform Nigeria if elected into power in the forthcoming elections. "Nigerians must capitalize on the failure of Jonathan to vote a new government, no doubts, with the commitment and passion for Nigerians demonstrated by the APC, it will perform better when elected to power in the coming elections. Therefore, we should all come out and vote for APC in order to renew Nigeria and set it on the right path politically and economically" he stated.

FUEL SCARCITY: STOP PLAYING POLITICS WITH THE WELFARE OF NIGERIANS, KWARA SPEAKER TELLS JONATHAN 

The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and APC candidate for the House of Representatives (Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency), Barr. Razak Atunwa has described the allegation against the All Progressive Congress by the People's Democratic Party on the ongoing nationwide fuel scarcity as irresponsible and immoral of a party who was constitutionally elected to ameliorate the welfare of the nation.

The National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu had made an allegation against the All Progressive Congress stating that the ongoing fuel scarcity was caused by the APC which he said had bribed oil marketers to hoard petroleum product nationwide.

Reacting to this in a statement signed by his Media Office, the Kwara State Speaker, Barr. Razak Atunwa decried the poor state of the nation's economy and called on the President to stop politicizing the welfare of Nigerians by positioning the nation's economy in a way that makes it impossible for Nigerians to embark on their daily activities.

Atunwa said "PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu has blamed the fuel scarcity on the opposition party, another flimsy excuse! No serious government will blame everything on the opposition, a serious government must take responsibility for whatever happens in the country. 

"The Federal Government has spent trillions of Naira on so called subsidy without accountability. Under Jonathan, over 8 billion U.S. Dollars is lost annually to oil theft, the biggest Nigeria has ever experienced. 

"Unfortunately, US who is the major importer of Nigerian oil since 1973 has announced that it will not import oil from Nigeria anymore, yet president Goodlcuk is not diversifying our economy. APC has no power to ignite scarcity of fuel in the nation, hence, Goodluck should better take responsibility and stop politicizing the wellbeing of Nigerians" he stated emphatically.

Recalling the damage done by the PDP led government to Nigerian economy, including the multibillion-dollar government oil-corruption scandals, a wave of cold-blooded killings by Boko Haram militants still holding almost 300 schoolgirls for almost a year, Atunwa said these are resulting effects of an irresponsible government that has prioritized it's selfish interests over the interests of Nigerians.

However, Barr. Atunwa called on Nigerians to resolutely vote against the PDP in the forthcoming elections in order to break Nigeria away from the shackles of poor leadership. 

"We have been on this road for almost four years now, the road of poor leadership accompanied by severe corruption and lack of compassion on the masses and the only way we can make a change is to vote out the incumbent government of Goodluck Jonathan. We have waited for this period hurtling through the hard times to reset Nigeria and rewrite our history. Thus, let's be passionate, dodged and legally resilient in our fight for a better Nigeria" he said.

Atunwa expressed serious optimism that the All Progressive Congress will reform Nigeria if elected into power in the forthcoming elections. "Nigerians must capitalize on the failure of Jonathan to vote a new government, no doubts, with the commitment and passion for Nigerians demonstrated by the APC, it will perform better when elected to power in the coming elections. Therefore, we should all come out and vote for APC in order to renew Nigeria and set it on the right path politically and economically" he stated.

2015 POLLS: DO NOT FAIL NIGERIANS...KWARA SPEAKER CHARGES INEC

The Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly and APC candidate for House of Representatives (Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency), Barr. Razak Atunwa has called on the Chairman of  the Independent Electoral Commission to afford the opportunity provided by the forthcoming election to uphold its integrity before Nigerians.

The Speaker enjoined the chairman of the Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega to be committed to the founding value of the commission which is to conduct a free and fair election in the nation.

Atunwa who made this known in a press statement commended INEC over the ongoing distribution of PVCs and the introduction of electronic card readers, saying the development introduced by the commission will enhance its commitment toward a transparent poll by guaranteeing one man, one vote which is the popular will of Nigerians.

Citing the success of the electronic card readers in Kenya, Sierra Leone and other African nations, Atunwa expressed serious optimism about the gesture, stating that it will minimize electoral fraud to the barest minimum in the coming elections.

Atunwa also charged INEC to be above board in fulfilling its salient promises to survive the antics of those who might want to subvert the democratic wishes of the people.

Atunwa said, “INEC must be commended for the ongoing distribution of PVCs and also the introduction of Electronic Card Readers for the forthcoming elections. However, as the pressure builds toward the election, INEC must be clear and transparent in its conduct as the election umpire. 

"Nigerians look forward to a free and fair poll, INEC must not dash the hope of Nigerians. INEC must design its electoral operations in a way that will bring civility and honour to the election conduct and the commission as a whole.

"I urge the Commission to embrace and accustom itself to the use of modern technology that will shut doors against electoral fraud. The use of Card Readers will apparently lead to optimum transparency in the electoral processes. This must be done and proper training must be given to ad hoc staff in order to make use of the gadgets without abuse" he said

Atunwa charged Nigerians to collect their PVCs in order to participate in the forthcoming elections. "Bad leaders are elected by good citizens who refuse to vote, if we want change, if we want corruption and insecurity to stop, we must collect our PVCs and vote for change in the forthcoming elections" he added.