₦airaland Forum

7Ebisco:
Upon being re-elected, President Muhammadu Buhari endeared himself once again to the citizenry when he promised to show significant improvement in his second term. Buhari had also attributed a great deal of his first term setbacks to a dysfunction in the Legislature where the opposition seem to dictate the content and pace of his change agenda. However, any sober analysis of the executive-legislative crisis will show that a perceived injustice towards a section of the country during Buhari’s first term had a huge impact. The injustice had incurred the wrath of a diverse mass of Nigerian socio-political elites which emboldened the leadership of the Legislature to prevail. Unfortunately, however, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) does not appear to have learnt its lessons.

Recall that the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, recently declared that the party has adopted Ahmad Lawan from the North-East as the next Senate President. So, is APC really thinking?

Either way, the glaring implication of latest zoning order is that, with the seemingly replacement Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the North is set to produce the heads of the three arms of government: Executive, Legislature, and the Judiciary. Combine it with the reality that the region currently controls virtually all critical government agencies, including the Police, Army, Airforce, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Immigration, Custom and Exercise, National Population Commission, INEC, EFCC, NNPC, and much more.

These developments are utterly insensitive, shameless, and fundamentally contradict Section 14 (3) of the Constitution, which states that, “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria…”

It has become imperative, therefore, to zone the Senate Presidency to the South. The proponents of the North retaining the senate presidency have inclined their logic to a prevailing assumption which has its origin to Buhari’s gaffe in 2015 that government patronage under his regime would mirror voting preferences. But those peddling such notion are in stark conflict with democratic virtues, as well as the Nigerian history.

First and foremost, free choice, opposing voices, and the right to dissent are treasured virtues of democracy. In short, any government or system without dynamic opposition activity is another name for totalitarianism. Therefore, instead of ceaseless threats of vendetta, the government should learn to show tolerance towards those who oppose it. But if the party must witch-hunt for electoral shortfalls, it ought to start within itself – and from the main culprit at the top. The APC chairman, Adam Oshiomhole, is on record to have brazenly imposed unpopular candidates, particularly in the South; heightened crisis within the party; and orchestrated arguably the worst party primaries in national experience; thereby not only losing the national elections in his home state of Edo, but also losing seven governorship seats – the party had won in 2015 – to the opposition, namely, Oyo, Imo, Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Zamfara, and Sokoto states. Needless to hint that Osun State hangs in balance.

Second, while President Buhari may not have bad intentions, it is important to point out that, besides his first tenure (2015-2019), the recent Nigerian history has not recorded any instance where a zone or region was blatantly targeted because the people freely exercised their democratic franchise. A fitting analogy are the dynamics after the presidential election of 2003. Though the North-West zone voted massively and steadily for the then-candidate Buhari over PDP candidates, such free choice did count against the region in producing the Speaker of the House after the 2003 polls nor factor in the party’s nomination of Umaru Yar’Adua in the elections of 2007. The North-West opposition posture definitely did not preclude the zone from producing the PDP vice-presidential candidate under Jonathan in 2011. It also did not deny the zone its fair share of powerful portfolios after the 2011 elections, for example, the Speaker of the Federal House, Minister of Defence, Mines & Steel Development, Education; and National Security Adviser, among many.

Further, at no time throughout the years power resided in the South under Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan did any region – North or Sought – controll all the three arms of government. It is also worthy of note that President Yar’Adua did not show any discriminatory tendencies towards any zone. Of course, zoning is not the sole panacea to national problems, but there is the need for equity and fairness. Lest we forget, the plausible reason President Buhari was adopted as a sole candidate of the APC in this electoral season was predicated on an unwritten zoning arrangement between the North and South.

Let justice prevail. The new generation of Nigerians yearn for a progressive country – diverse, equitable, just, and free. Many in the APC ranks understand it. But their stoic silence on the absurd zoning order is understandable. This is a transition period with a lame duck president. Political opportunism and sycophancy have taken over public interest. If President Buhari does not get the gist, he is doing so at his own peril.

Buhari must also not forget the following parting words to him from the late Maitama Sule: “Justice will bring about peace. Peace and stability are the pre-requisites of development…Behind every crisis anywhere in the world is injustice and the solution to that crisis is justice… do justice, irrespective of their tribe, religion or even political inclination.” It goes without saying that the brewing injustice in APC – based on political inclination – is bound to provoke another set of executive-legislative crisis. With the opposition likely to produce about 42 senators out of the 108 members, it will not be out of place if 13 patriotic APC senators decide to align with the opposition to upset the apple cart towards the greater good.

The crux of the matter is that Nigeria’s richness lies in her diversity, voting not excluded. This diversity is reflected in Nigeria’s federal system. It is also evident in the national revenue which is accrued from the federating states endowed with remunerative resources. Therefore, any attempt by any central government to perpetrate injustice towards any state, zone or region merely because of voting preferences is to fan the embers of crisis.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/05/senate-presidency-is-apc-really-thinking/

jaxxy:
Apc keeps making same mistakes. U can’t just pick/impose Lawan on Senators. Let them decide using a democratic process.

Islie:
.Party Will Play Into Our Hands, Says Minority Leader Olujimi

.Lawan Most Experienced For Senate President — Bamidele





https://www.independent.ng/more-intrigues-as-goje-ndume-snub-apc-insist-on-contesting/

Hofbrauhaus:
Ribbish..nonsense news that means nothing to anybody. Who knows if he is not part of the kidnappers?

Murderous little urchin.

dukie25:
I see Buhari ending up in prison either at the Hague or here.

Excelboi:
Effort in futility. First in time prevails... A similar ruling has been given by Court of Appeal against his party. He should go and get ready for Supreme Court ruling and not rely on this judgment.

tesppidd:
They should free Rochas abeg,

after all he's not as bad as T A Orji whom the wailers worship and adore.

brave212:
Drama At CCT As Onnoghen's Witness Comes To Court With Written 'Expo'
However, when Aliyu Umar, the prosecution counsel, asked him to hand over the paper in his hand to Danladi Umar, the CCT Chairman, it was discovered that the paper contained written answers to questions of the defence counsel — known in Nigerian parlance as 'expo'.

BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORKAPR 01, 2019

There was mild drama at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja on Monday when a prepared written script was found on one Lawal Olanrewaju Busari, a witness of Walter Onnoghen, the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Onnoghen is standing trial over allegations of fraudulent declaration of assets.

When the matter resumed on Monday, Onnoghen opened his defence as one of his witnesses, Lawal Olanrewaju Busari, his official driver, took the oath and entered the witness box.

During the cross-examination, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the defence counsel, asked a series of questions on his relationship with Onnoghen and how he was sent to purchase and receive the forms on behalf of the defendant.

However, when Aliyu Umar, the prosecution counsel, asked him to hand over the paper in his hand to Danladi Umar, the CCT Chairman, it was discovered that the paper contained written answers to questions of the defence counsel — known in Nigerian parlance as 'expo'.

The court, therefore, admitted the script found on the witness as an exhibit.

Earlier, the court admitted the receipt for the purchase of the asset declaration form of the former CJN as evidence D2 and threw out the receipt of the acknowledgement of the declaration form, stating that it was not relevant.

Umar faulted the document tendered by the defence, saying it was not relevant to the case.

Awomolo also asked the tribunal to serve one Mrs. Theresa Nwafor, the Edo State Director of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), a subpoena (witness summon), to appear and testify before the tribunal. The prayer was granted as the witness was asked to appear before the CCT on the adjourned date

The matter has been adjourned till Wednesday, April 3, 2019.

cheerfulpraise:
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on has urged the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to purge itself of “bad eggs and hypocrites,” whom he said, lacked commitment to return the opposition party to its lost glory.

Obasanjo rued that many of the PDP leaders are still preoccupied with what ministers to “their pockets and stomach,” wondering why some of them left the party while others lost hope the seconds the results of 2019 Presidential election were announced.

The elder statesman spoke on Sunday evening, when the Southwest PDP leaders led by the party’s National Vice Chairman (South West), Dr Eddy Olafeso, visited him at his Pent-House>>http://thenationonlineng.net/obasanjo-to-pdp-purge-yourselves-of-bad-eggs-hypocrites-ahead-of-2023/

cheerfulpraise:
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on has urged the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to purge itself of “bad eggs and hypocrites,” whom he said, lacked commitment to return the opposition party to its lost glory.

Obasanjo rued that many of the PDP leaders are still preoccupied with what ministers to “their pockets and stomach,” wondering why some of them left the party while others lost hope the seconds the results of 2019 Presidential election were announced.

The elder statesman spoke on Sunday evening, when the Southwest PDP leaders led by the party’s National Vice Chairman (South West), Dr Eddy Olafeso, visited him at his Pent-House>>http://thenationonlineng.net/obasanjo-to-pdp-purge-yourselves-of-bad-eggs-hypocrites-ahead-of-2023/

NaijaRoyalty:
Under buhari government , Nigeria became the poverty capital of the world .

Under Buhari Mis-rule , Nigeria ranked 6th most miserable countries in the world .

Buhari is the worst President in Nigeria history .

chiedu7:
Tinubu want Yorubas to take over the legislative arms

The Northerners wan hold am.

By the time the north don dribble Tinubu & Osinbajo again, ein eye go clear.


A showdown is brewing

Johnnyessence:
of course Ademola Adeleke will probe his government when he's been swear in to government. Appeal court will affirm the tribunal judgement. everyone knows that the Ademola Adeleke won that poll.

datopaper:
Tinubu romance with Buhari will be shortlived

positivelord:
OP , I know you are wiser than Atiku legal team...why not wait for the Tribunal verdict on this..haba

id911:
In CCB rules, if a public officer admit he/she forgot to declare parts or some of his/her assets and voluntarily declear those assets as CJN did in 2016, he is now innocent and not supposed to be referred to CCT. That's the law and CJN can't be convicted because he didn't violate the law.

Your daft Buhari and his cabals are only chasing shadows

agbaje123:
But if it APCshit that won by rigging, they would instantly issue certificate appeal or no appeal abi?

kahal29:
BAUCHI STATE 2019

GOVERNOR

- PDP

SENATORS

- APC 3

- PDP 0

HOUSE OF REPS

- APC 7

- PRP 2

- PDP 1

STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

- APC 20

- PDP 6

- PRP 3

- NNPP 1

Lol.... APC is in charge.


https://mobile.twitter.com/yunusxonline/status/1110249084634435586

dre11:
....Plan unsettles APC


.....APC NWC decides on zoning formula





https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2019/03/saraki-pdp-plot-to-install-goje-as-senate-president/

Officialgarri:
You don't think before making comments .

Did you even use your head and notice the 'slim margin"

NaijaRoyalty:
Kano state is about to boil

Nigeria army and police put together don't have enough personnels to face the over population of Kano people .

INEC should cancel that day light robbery called election for peace to reign .

nameo:
These monikers above, are the same shameless hypocrites who shout anti-corruption upanda here.

They are the Buhari warriors who are now supporting a dollar stuffing thief caught in the act.

They are supporting open and brazen rigging....

GavelSlam:
The Satanic party PDP, is simply looking for public sympathy.

jrusky:
And we have one giffaffe sitting in Aso Rock calling himself a president?

I don't think I can ever respect or like Buhari till the world end. I just don't have any soft for him since I grew up knowing him.

solarview:
And by the court judgement of yesterday.... The figure has changed.

Op kindly find out first.

247naijamedia:
Femi Fani-Kayode, former minister of Aviation, reacts As All my closest friends and brothers are abandoning ship and leaving @OfficialPDPNig.




https://all-gists..com/2019/03/My-Closest-Friends-And-Brothers-Are-Abandoning-Leaving-PDP-Fani-Kayode.html?m=1

Amuocha:
Ok.

His gambles are falling.off..

Ambode (classic example)

gidgiddy:
That's what people who have no arguement usually say

Davash222:
Oga activist charge and bail lawyer, go and sit down!

PaChukwudi44:
God punish MC Oluomo.He is a baby thug compared to the likes of Tompolo

actiondrilling:
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will continue with the scheduled supplementary elections in Bauchi state, it was learnt.

INEC noted that the poll slated for this Saturday will hold in areas not affected by the court ruling.

Disclosing this Tuesday, the National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye said the Commission will proceed with supplementary elections on Saturday in relation to areas that are not affected by the Court Order.

Besides, Okoye said that INEC will work towards the expeditious resolution of the Collation process in Tafawa Balewa Local Government.


He said, “The Commission has complied with the Order of the Federal High Court Abuja. The Commission has suspended the Collation of the Governorship Election Result for Tafawa Balewa Local Government.

“The Commission will proceed and complete the Collation of the result of the State Assembly Election for Tafawa Balewa Local Government and make a return.

“The Commission will proceed with supplementary elections on Saturday in relation to areas that are not affected by the Court Order.

“The Commission has a history of obedience to court orders. The Commission will continue to comply with court orders and will take steps to vacate orders where it feels strongly that the Court that gave the order has no jurisdiction.

“The Commission will work towards the expeditious resolution of the Collation process in Tafawa Balewa Local Government.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/bauchi-inec-to-proceed-with.html