₦airaland Forum

Gerontocracy

eGuerrilla: Did you see the following proposed amendment?

Yes! His job will only be to prosecute!

eGuerrilla: Having pondered over this issue for some time now, I have no qualms stating that my views are aligned with those who want the immunity clause expunged from our constitution. I understand the fears you cited but feel the attendant risk of interference from detractors and naysayers, which an elected official is likely to face, is a price worth paying.

It is either we bite the bullet now, through the adoption of extra checking mechanisms, or our politicians to continue pushing the envelope of impunity across new frontiers, as they have done for the past 14 years. The later is a luxury we can ill afford, in my opinion.

Here is a list of a few countries that cope just fine without an immunity clause -


Source: Wikipedia

Knowing Nigerian politicians, they will take advantage of the removal of immunity clause to push forward fictitious petitions and open a floodgate of litigation in order to destabilize the polity and harass elected office holders. Even though I agree that we need to curtail the culture of impunity by this category of people(president and state governors), The argument for removal of the clause is already trumped by the impeachment clause. As soon as they leave office, they answer for their errors of omission or commission.

We need to understand that we have a corrupt justice system, if immunity clause is removed, corrupt public office holders will still use public funds to defend themselves(buy legal services), they can manipulate the process, delay their trials and even evade justice. Removal of immunity clause won't stop corruption!

Can a Chief Justice or judges appointed by the president or governors convict their benefactor? Can the EFCC or police boss appointed by the president sincerely investigate and prosecute him? We need to strengthen our institutions before thinking of removing the clause!

eGuerrilla: I sense that NLers are vigorously going to debate these proposed changes over the coming weeks. They signal quite a radical departure in some areas and would certainly alter the calculus of political power to an appreciable degree.

It of course remains to be seen whether or not the recommendations resulting from a similar exercise in the upper house would be harmonised with this one, especially in light of yesterday's pandemonium which compelled a postponement of further deliberations till next Tuesday.



Source

State governors will oppose and frustrate the entrenchment and full autonomy of local governments in the constitution. It is left for Nigerians to rise against the stranglehold of state governors on local government. Local government system should not be tied to the apron strings of the state government.

Independent candidacy is a welcome development. In a country that has no decent history of internal party political democracy, where party leaders give away nomination certificate as though it were just a piece of paper. The independent option will stop politicians from running from one party to another, and also promote the culture of merit.

I hope they pass these amendments this time around because this isn't their first time of proposing them, only to dump later.

Why should duly elected political office holders lose their immunity, therefore subjecting them to civil and criminal prosecution? Removal of immunity clause will generate a lot of distractions and would impermissibly interfere in the discharge of their duties. We cannot afford to have leaders whose energies are diverted by concerns with lawsuits thereby neglecting the effective functioning of government.

We already have an impeachment clause in the constitution, Impeachment should precede prosecution. Whenever an elected official is found wanting most especially in the areas of financial impropriety or misuse/abuse of power, such person should be impeached by the House of Assembly or the National Assembly and then face prosecution. What we should rise against is legislative docility, they should be alive to their statutory duties of scrutinizing the activities of the executive, check the profligacy and recklessness of the executive arm, and not to serve as an appendage to it. Removal of immunity clause will leave room for agents of the pull-him-down syndicate to hamstring the operation of government apparatus.

The new spokesperson of PDP just wants to appear busy, crying more than the bereaved and poke-nosing into the affairs of another party even when his own party is teetering on the brink of implosion because of one man's unbridled lust for power. Is this an expression of frustration or what? Is Tony Anenih not canvassing for automatic ticket for President Jonathan and PDP governors? The people of Ekiti will decide!

anonimi: Should we take the above, which aligns with Tinubu's political philosophy of using thugs and touts even against late Gani Fawehinmi or should we take this one below:



I can agree with the bit about political education.
However, please note that what happened in Egypt is NOT mob action. You had committed people, including many middle class professionals telling Morsi he OVERSTEPPED by trying to play DICTATOR Pharaoh.
When you win elections you should learn to take into consideration the views of ALL your compatriots especially when you did not have a landslide.

African leaders have to take note as it will be our turn some years down the line.
Western Europe started theirs a few centuries back and Eastern Europe some 30 years ago. Maybe Asia will have a taste first before Africa, who knows?
You cannot hold the people enslaved FOREVER!!!

It applies to PDP just as it does to Tinubu. We know those who turned our political space into an arena of violence and political thuggery with their brand of garrison(do or die) politics.

Morsi and his muslim brotherhood-backed party did a poor job over their year in power, failing to win over opponents and broaden their base of support but it wasn't enough excuse to overthrow his government. Opposition who lost at the ballot box and remnants of the Mubaraq regime cannot be vanguard of a revolution. What would be your reaction if the likes of Tinubu, Soyinka, Bakare and middle-class professionals, civil and political activists mobilize Nigerians against Jonathan's government and with cover provided by them, the military topples his government? Egyptians should expect autocracy.

mankand: What is happening now in Egypt is NOT a military coup. It's the People's Revolution against a fascist, fanatic regime. 33 million Egyptians are out in the streets to kick Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood OUT once and for all.
The Egyptians have spoken out of free will to change this country around. The army is by our side to protect us and to protect our beloved Egypt.

What's happening in Egypt is a real revolution it is not a military coup and the authority will be handed as per law to the Head of the Constitutional court for a limited period till they have a new fair election.

What happened in Egypt was a military coup, carefully choreographed and wrapped as a democratic act! You can argue that Morsy was an Islamist leader, wannabe dictator and his government was suppressive but in a fuctioning democracy, there is an orderly process of protesting and removing a leader.

You think replacing him on an interim basis with the Head of the Constitutional court, a bastion of the former establishment(Mubaraq's regime) and whose institution had been in cahoorts with the military all along is a victory for democracy? The opposition, anti-democrats, past and present in Egypt are the real victors, and not the Egyptian people. What happened can't be sugercoated, it was a military coup!

citizenY: @above,

This is the type of docility that is holding us in perpetual bondage to clueless leaders.
What a shame.

What Nigeria need is neither mob action nor military coup but political education to elect the right leaders and make them accountable! What distinguishes constitutional democracy from mob action is that orderly processes are followed!

citizenY: Nigerians should look towards Egypt for guidance on how to treat the type of leaders we have today., Nothing more nothing less

Why should we look toward Egypt, a nation with no democratic experience? The popularity rating of a president may be low, but that does not mean he should be removed through unconstitutional means. The president needs a majority only when elected, not at every subsequent moment and even if at all the president was to be removed either because of gross abuse of power or incompetence, it should be by legal means except you believe that rule of law is a myth and democracy is a lie!

ckkris: Morsi made a DECREE that the Supreme Court had no jurisdiction to hear any petition against his Presidential decision. Then everyone started calling him Pharao.

Is that enough justification to oust a democratically elected government? A president doing a bad job or violating the constitution must be removed by a constitutional process and not by the army with cover provided by protesters who lost at the ballot box.

Lesson: A democratically-elected leader is illegitimate, the rule of the mob is sacrosanct

Why won't the Local Government appoint a Babaloja, when Presidents of the market association cannot be trusted.


Ladipo Market ex-President accused of embezzling N46m, other funds
on July 03, 2013 at 2:00 am in News
By ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH
LAGOS — Justice Olabisi Akinlade, of an Ikeja High court, was, yesterday,  told how the embattled former president of Aguiyi Ironsi International Market, known as Ladipo Market, Jonathan Okoli, allegedly failed to remit the sum of N46million trade permit to Lagos State Motor Vehicle Association Agency, MVAA.

This was exclusive of other funds he allegedly collected on behalf of the market’s association, but allegedly converted to his personal use.
A prosecution witness, Anthony Mark, led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, counsel, Anselem Ozioko,  said the defendant only remitted fund he allegedly collected from 430 shops instead of about 1,500 to government’s coffers.
According to the witness,  “In 2007 the Agency confirmed through the letter written to the association that he (defendant) only paid N700,000 out of the N8.7 million made that year.”

He said the letter indicated that state government should only collect N5,000 instead of the excess of N5,500 being paid by the traders.
Mark said apart from N5,500 being paid to MVAA, the traders at each shop in the market also paid N12,000 to Mushin local government annually.
The witness claimed the money allegedly paid between 2008 and 2009, amounting to N18.7million was diverted to the defendant’s personal account.

He alleged that the defendant failed to remit the sum of N8.5million collected from the traders in 2011 and 2012 to the state government instead, he allegedly paid same  to his personal account number 126101014690.
Okolie was arraigned on April 22, this year by the anti graft agency on a three-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences and stealing.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/ladipo-market-ex-president-accused-of-embezzling-n46m-other-funds/

^ The misgoverning fatcats are fully aware of our weakness. Fixation on religion is a sop for impoverished souls, and a warm compress for the sores and festers of poverty.

Initially the cry was that there are no Christians in APC. After seeing names of Christian party officials, they are like why should Christians be deputies to Muslims? Heavy fixation on religion instead of what the party/candidate is bringing to the table! Nigeria does not need the sort of religiousity it has sunk itself in. It augurs nothing for the country but further stagnation, if not regress!

Double standard and hypocrisy! In the so-called "National Party, the PDP", all the principal officers in its newly constituted executive committee are Christians excluding the Chairmanship position and two other inconsequential offices, yet no one is making a fuss over it. We all know how the Chairman, Bamanga Tukur is seriously battling to retain that seat.

Tony Anenih- Chairman BOT(Christian)

1) Bamanga Tukur- Chairman(Muslim)

2) Chibudom Nwuche- Deputy Nat. Chairman
(Christian)

3) Remi Akintoye- Nat. Secretary(Christian)

4) Emma Agboti- Deputy Nat. Secretary(Christian)

5) Tony Okeke- Nat. Publicity Secretary(Christian)

6) Caleb Yahya- Deputy Nat. Publicity Secretary
(Christian)

7) Simon D. Jok- Nat. Legal Adviser(Christian)

Yau Kwadon- Deputy Nat. Legal Adviser
(Christian)

9) Oyibo Nnwaneri- Nat. Women Leader(Christian)

10) Torkwuase Ajor- Deputy Nat. Women Leader
(Christian)



11) Onyemaechi Jideofor- Deputy Nat. Organizing
Secretary(Christian)

12) Mohammed Dandari- Nat. Treasurer(Muslim)

13) Augustine Lugbenwie- Deputy Nat. Treasurer
(Christian)

14) Bolaji "Akpan" Anani- Nat. Financial Secretary
(Christian)

15) Mohammed Sa'ad- Nat. Youth Leader
(Muslim)

16) Peter Adefunmilayo- Deputy Nat. Youth Leader(Christian)

17) Akin Taiwo- Ex Officio(Christian)

18) Mike Akinfenwa- Ex Officio(Christian)

19) Gbenga Oduwaiye- Ex Officio( Christian)

The PDP is ready to exploit all divisive issues in our polity, from ethnic differences, religion and even opposition parties in the pursuit and furtherance of mainly parochial goals and other selfish interests. And also to divert attention from their 14 years of bad Governance


"As long as the people who are gathered at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa are alive, we will not let governance slip out of our hands in our life time."- Ahmed Gulak, Political Adviser to President Jonathan.

"PDP would rule Nigeria for 60 years."- Vincent Ogbulafor and Ahmadu Ali, former Chairmen of PDP.

The scathing and unwarranted criticism of Our Mummy, the First Lady is unacceptable. We should have love for our fellow Nigerians irrespective of their Nationality!

Its a good move provided the recommendations are faithfully implemented as they are designed to cut waste and block leakages in the system as well as reduce bureaucracy. We know that most of these agencies perform overlapping functions as many were mere duplication. The problem now is, how government will address the attendant negative consequence which is job loss. There is no way government will streamline these agencies without downsizing!

Why not also do a pay cut for our fat cow, unproductive political class and not just push more civil servants to join the colony of unemployed Nigerians. Of what good is reducing the cost of governance only for the thieving political elite to fritter away the money saved?

They are using "herbs" to make them agile(mentally alert)!

Academic excellence does not make one a good manager of an economy, especially when such people are not well grounded on socio-economic realities of the economy

^Watery Brain, we all know its a good move provided the recommendations are faithfully implemented as they are designed to cut waste and block leakages in the system as well as reduce bureaucracy. We all know that most of these agencies perform overlapping functions as many were mere duplication. My post was to address the attendant negative consequence which is Job loss(es).

chei: Wetin this wan dey talk sef? I honestly wish you were making sense.

Unfortunately I wasted my time on a dimwit!

chei: Bla bla bla. Imagine that the annual budget of one of these agencies are 300 million. Multiply 300 million by 219 and tell me exactly how much govt will be saving from this trimming exercise.
For the retrenched workers, either they'll be absorbed with the merging agencies or they join the private sector. The government has tried for them for the years their agencies existed.

Goodluck Nigeria

Such an inconsiderate doofus with comprehension problem. Did I not agree that its a "bold and necessary" move though untimely, and that we could do with just 20% of the entire civil servants of the Nation if only we have a smart and effective government? So you believe that government should be a matter of few holding the cow for the strongest and most cunning to milk? If he sincerely want to cut the cost of governance, he should start from the top and not the other way round in order to show sincerity of purpose. Your interest is in how much will be saved for some thieving political elites to fritter away and not the plight of those who will be relieved of their jobs with no sure means of livelihood.

mekaboy: this one no be madness? you say you won resign them accept, you won make them beg u to stay again ?

If you contributed immensely to the growth of an organization, and all of a sudden you indicate your intention to resign. Is it not appropriate that your boss engage you to seek clarification on why you want to leave the organization? OBJ helped PDP retain its position as the ruling party through his distinctive brand of garrison and family politics, and feels he is an institution within the party

taharqa: If this is true and if these Recommendations are actually implemented, it would be the Most Effective, most extensive and Greatest Stream-lining of Govt's Apparati in this nation's history!!


It would also mean the boldest move to cut d high Cost of Governance Ever

The President will receive a lot of backlash for taking this bold, necessary and commendable action. There is no way you will streamline without downsizing. One would have expected that the president starts with political office holders even if he cannot temper with those holding elective offices in order to show sincerity of purpose. Political office holders and elected officials keep a retinue of PA's, Senior Special Assistance, Special Assistance, Special Advisers etc. And these unneedful political bag-carriers consume a large chunk of the recurrent expenditure. For example, the President has more than 3 media managers who also have their own personal aides (Okupe, Abati, Reno and co, not forgetting that he already has a Minister of information) when he can make do with just 1. The same thing with ministers and other elected officials.

Some of the civil servants who will join the colony of unemployed Nigerians because of this plan of government live on national wage which most time is not the living wage. The wages of 10 to 15 low-grade civil servants combine is not up to what an expendable Special Assistant receive. With a smart and effective government, we could do with just 20% of the entire civil servants of the Nation in order to reduce the cost of running government. But as it is now, the cut should start from the top(unproductive political class) and not the other way round.

I'll need to sue some people for plagiarism

@Topic- What should non believers in both faiths do as we are almost turning everything into Christian Versus Islam, after all, Nigeria is a secular Nation?

donchris999: My guy! PDP did elections for their post unlike APC that selects their exco. So PDP a democratic party should jettison electing their officers. Now publish the list of PDP excos right from 1999 and you will be shocked to see that PDP is a national and non-religious party. When the likes of IBB were running PDP they were christains abi? I mean this is what we call a national party were election takes place. And to think that this list is a temporary list after the excos were dissolved. Tinubu and terrorist ayotollah buhari selected their boko haram members and your comparing it to PDP that does election.

Guy, are you a learner? Can't you see that both are "interim" management executive committees? APC will also be holding its own national convention after its registration must have sailed through. Do you even know why members of PDP's NWC were sacked? So you do not know the difference between "Selection" and "Election"? Lol! Try to google INEC's report on the PDP 2012 National Convention.

You want me to publish the list of PDP's Exco from 1999! Lol! You are looking for whom to spoon-feed you as its obvious you know next to nothing about the party you claim to support. Try again later!

^Did you even take your time to read by post? Did I not attest to the fact that Christians are in the minority in their interim management executive committee, even though I am yet to see the full list? I only pointed out that, PDP's interim management executive committee is Christian-Dominated and no one is making a fuss over it. How can I get the names of all the 35 member interim management executive committee when it is not yet in the public domain? I guess that was why he(Lie) referred those on a fact finding mission to INEC. You can as well help a bruva out if you have the names!

Is the PDP a Christian Party? Below are the names and religion of members of the newly constituted PDP interim management executive committee. Out of 23 powerful key positions in the PDP, we have 19 currently being occupied by Christians.


1) Bamanga Tukur- Chairman(Muslim)

2) Chibudom Nwuche- Deputy Nat. Chairman(Christian)

3) Remi Akintoye- Nat. Secretary(Christian)

4) Emma Agboti- Deputy Nat. Secretary(Christian)

5) Tony Okeke- Nat. Publicity Secretary(Christian)

6) Caleb Yahya- Deputy Nat. Publicity Secretary(Christian)

7) Simon D. Jok- Nat. Legal Adviser(Christian)

Yau Kwadon- Deputy Nat. Legal Adviser(Christian)

9) Oyibo Nnwaneri- Nat. Women Leader(Christian)

10) Torkwuase Ajor- Deputy Nat. Women Leader(Christian)

11) Yahya Abubakar- Nat. Organizing Secretary(Muslim)

12) Onyemaechi Jideofor- Deputy Nat. Organizing Secretary(Christian)

13) Mohammed Dandari- Nat. Treasurer(Muslim)

14) Augustine Lugbenwie- Deputy Nat. Treasurer(Christian)

15) Bolaji "Akpan" Anani- Nat. Financial Secretary(Christian)

16) Mohammed Sa'ad- Nat. Youth Leader
(Muslim)

17) Peter Adefunmilayo- Deputy Nat. Youth Leader(Christian)

18) Akin Taiwo- Ex Officio(Christian)

19) Mike Akinfenwa- Ex Officio(Christian)

20) Gbenga Oduwaiye- Ex Officio( Christian)


Other influential positions in the PDP:

Goodluck Jonathan- National Leader(Christian)

Tony Anenih- Chairman B.O.T(Christian)

Godswill Akpabio- Chairman, PDP Governors Forum(Christian)



I am yet to see any muslim PDP member or neutral observer protest against the marginalization of muslims in the PDP.

Before some people start calling for my head and calling me an Islamist or Boko Haram, let it be known that I am a Christian but I vehemently oppose the hypocrisy currently being displayed on these boards. Agreed that Christians are in the minority in APC's interim management executive committee, but so far party members who are christians were a part of the ratification process of the executive we should let it be. Those who are promoting this ethno-religious dichotomy amongst us, unite in ethno-religious looting!

donchris999: Look at this imbe. So you dont know that Tinubu have pocket you and your future generations in the south west. Free yourself from slavery first in the south west before talking of what obama this about terrorist ayotollah buhari haram and crookish criminal Tinubu! We will vote Gej over those terrorist and criminals 1million times. You have to deal with that or go hug transformer in Tinubu empire the bourdillion jagajagagbantis of yorubaland.

What have I done to deserve this abusive and contemptuous reaction? You left the bone of contention to attack my personality and lumped my tribe/ethnicity to it! E dey your body, ill-bred and nearly illiterate fellow!

Obama na APC member! He is working for Buhari and Tinubu

bloggernaija: Spending unappropriated money is tantamount to stealing and it is an impeachable offense.
The behaviour of the president is exactly why the country is in such a mess.
Of what value or priority is otuoke in bayelsa when even the oil to the government stake a claim is not derived from there.there are poorer and more remote places in bayelsa which would have benefitted more from this. this clannish and tribalistic behaviour is the exact reason why the country is in such a mess.
Obj never exhibited such behaviour while he was president. He treated/mistreated everybody the same way.
While using his position as president to funnel cash to otuoke/bayelsa, his minions are busy looting the state dry. Bayelsa is one of the state in Nigeria receiving enough money to build a world class infrastructure and society.
If jonathan and his minions were not busy looting bayelsa and nigeria, the money could have been available as assistance to truly poor states like ebonyi,ekiti,yobe . Even the governors of these poor states deemed it necessary to build hospital out of their limited resources.why can't bayelsa do the same with her gigantic allocation?
NIGERIA IS RULED BY LEPERS AND THE LEADERS ARE............................................I REST MY CASE

Bros you dey mind them?

Was money appropriated for the hospital project in the Appropriation Acts of 2011, 2012 and 2013? Does it not amount to an egregious violation of the provisions of the constitution to allocate funds which are not appropriated by the National Assembly that is constitutionally vested with the power of appropriation of Public funds? According to this report, the project was not listed in the budget between 2009 and 2011, and even after.

When you jettison a longstanding government policy of not building secondary health facilities because those in-the-need are your people. Is that not an evidence of a government sullied by "Clannish Nepotism"? Though this is not new in Nigeria, but we all thought he promised a fresh air, a break away from the past.

No one is against him showering the goods of democracy on his people, but it should be done the right way.

Some will be here to justify his actions with response such as: na Niger-Delta oyel money, and Jona na their pikin!