₦airaland Forum

Ministerial nominee, Senator Sanusi Daggash yesterday escaped the senators’ wrath as he received a pardon from his former colleagues who had planned to nail him for allegedly disparaging them over a disagreement between him as the then minister of national planning and the lawmakers on budget allocation in 2008.

The former minister who was one of the nominees screened, had admitted erring, and was eventually asked to bow and take his leave but not without a caution that he should “go and sin no more.”
It would be recalled that President Umaru Yar’Adua was at loggerheads with the Senate and House of Representatives in 2008 over adjustments made by the lawmakers to some allocations in the budget, an action which the president considered inappropriate.

It took intervention from various quarters before a meeting was arranged between the president and the National Assembly leadership to reconcile the issue. It was at that meeting that it was allegedly discovered that the president’s position was informed by the information made available to him by Daggash, then the national planning minister, who allegedly had a grouse with the Senate leadership.

Since then both Daggash and the senators have been flexing muscles. So the nomination for his reappointment as a minister was seen as a pay-back opportunity, but the icy relationship appeared to have thawed before his appearance for screening yesterday.
The senators had on starting the plenary gone into executive session, which sources revealed was to discuss how to get soft landing for Daggash and some other nominees to prevent the uproar that characterised the screening of Prof. Dora Akunyili, former minister of information and communications on Monday.

Expectations were high as Senator Daggash was invited to the floor to take his turn for the screening, but on being asked to say something if he had anything to say, he began to sound apologetic and shower praises on the senators, admitting that he misbehaved when he was a minister.
Sounding remorseful, Daggash said: “The President of the Senate, Senator David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark (GCON), my most revered and respected deputy Senate president, a gentleman I served with for four years. An ally to the deputy Senate president and just for your information I ended up as the deputy chairman of population for being an ally to the deputy Senate president, ”

“I took a short census of the senators in this hallowed chamber and I found out that personally, beyond just a mere acquaintance, I know personally 96 senators in this hallowed chamber. Meaning I know them, I know their antecedents, I know their personalities, I know their potentials, I know their prospects, and in fact, I have not found myself wanting in that regard.

“But having found myself in the deep end of an arm of government which operates slightly differently from the legislative branch, I tried to learn the ropes, I found myself that I went into that arm of government as a senator with the respect and dignity of this office and I felt I had to maintain that. certain misinformation, happenings and so on, but yes, I stood, I took it as a man and the bottom line is that anybody is in a position to err. But the most important thing is that I must have learnt something. I may one way or the other have stood up for certain things probably I did not understand too clearly, but having been out for a while now I have had time to review and this citadel of power as I said, Mr. President, is the same citadel that has trained me, that has developed me, that has put me forth and today as I stand before you, giving me the due respect that I don’t even have to say anything, I know I am back home and to that effect, I am looking forward to being given a second opportunity to be able to prove myself.

“This is history in the making. In one government, the same government, I was asked to bow out, in the same government I was asked to come in; clearly for anybody in a lifetime this is a record, from 1960 to date. I am very appreciative of this opportunity to speak directly to the senators collectively, not individually as I have done in the last few days to prove to you that I am one of you and I will be looking for that extra support this time to be able to prove myself. I thank you Mr. President.”

Responding, Senate President, David Mark told him “your performance will reflect directly on this hallowed chambers and the members. We expect your performance to be excellent. We expect you to be above board and we hope. We sincerely hope that you have also learnt some lessons moving from the legislature to the executive and then to the executive again and we hope that those lessons will remain with you.
“You have our prayers, we also hope that when you get there as you represent us, you will represent us well. There are traditions that we follow, and if you belong to this club, you must also obey the rules and regulations of this club. Thank you very much. You can take a bow and go.”
One thing common to most of the nominees in their comments on the state of affairs in the country is their painting of the Nigerians situation as being replete unachieved targets but all agreed that with more responsible leadership, the situations are not beyond redemption.

Link:

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/mar/31/national-31-03-2010-004.htm

Members of the House of Representatives yesterday failed to agree on what should be the minimum educational qualification for election into the National Assembly during future elections, as they debate the report of the ad-hoc committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution.

While some members supported the committee’s proposal that aspirants into the two chambers should have a minimum qualification of diploma, others insisted that the qualification should remain the West African School Certificate (WASC).

The lawmakers also disagreed vehemently on the issue of members defecting to other parties after they have been elected.

The 44-member committee, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Usman Nafada, had last week submitted its report to the House in plenary.

Deliberation over the report was however almost stalled, as members kicked against the initial procedure adopted by Mr. Nafada who, incidentally, presided over the House sitting on the day the recommendations were considered.

The Deputy Speaker said that the report would be considered clause by clause, and members comments noted, but that there will be no votes taken on the contents of the report until a later date.

This was, however, rejected by some members, including Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi) and Emmanuel Bello (PDP, Adamawa), who described the procedure as “strange.” Former Speaker, Patricia Etteh, and Cyril Maduabum (PDP, Anambra) also demanded that members be given copies of the report to read before any debate takes place at the next legislative day.

Although the issue was resolved somewhat when Mr. Nafada ruled in favour of the procedure he suggested, more arguments followed the committee’s recommendations.

The committee sought an amendment to Section 65 of the constitution by (a) substituting for the words “least” in lines 1 and 2, the words, “Diploma level or its equivalent and obtained the relevant certificates and has served as a member of the National Assembly” and (b) inserting immediately after the last word “party” the words, “or he is an independent candidate.”

Assembly for dunces

But some members, who were apparently not comfortable with the recommendation, said raising the educational qualification from WASC to Diploma could discourage people with lower qualifications from aspiring to be members of the legislature.

Mohammed Maifata (ANPP, Kano) argued that somebody with a lower qualification could also function well as a legislator, adding that a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, whom he did not name, rose to that position without a university degree.

Yusuf Tuggar (ANPP, Bauchi) also opposed the recommendation. He said someone with a lower qualification could attend workshops and seminars to prepare himself for legislative duties.

Patrick Ikhariale (PDP, Edo), Farouk Lawan (PDP, Kano), Joseph Idachaba (PDP, Kogi), Saudaatu Sani (PDP, Kaduna) and Mr. Ningi supported the proposed amendment, saying it would encourage people to go to school. According to them, the quality of education has gone so low that a secondary school certificate is no longer comparable to what it was 30 years ago. They stressed that some holders of this certificate could hardly spell their names.

But in the attempt to allay the fears of members who want to seek re-election to the National Assembly but have only the school certificate, the Deputy Speaker explained that there will be a waiver for any Nigerian who has spent at least three years in the National Assembly.

Mr. Nafada, however, said the new law may not apply to aspirants into state houses because some of them do not use English Language to conduct their legislative business.

Stop defectors

The frequent defection of lawmakers across the country, to other parties, also generated intense debate as some members expressed worry that Section 68 (g) of the constitution, which deals with the matter, has not been put to proper use.

Many of the members who contributed to the debate, therefore, called for the deletion of the provision from the constitution, while others said it should be retained.

Femi Gbajabiamila (AC, Lagos) suggested that any legislator expelled by his party should be free to cross to another party of his choice without losing his seat in the assembly, whether federal or state.

There was also serious debate on Section 66, which bars any Nigerian indicted by any panel of inquiry from seeking elective office. The ad-hoc committee, in its recommendation, said the section should be deleted and that aspirants to elective offices should only be barred by competent courts since some panels are set up to victimize and blackmail perceived political enemies.

But some members noted that the section should be left intact because allegations of fraud and embezzlement are serious.

Most of the lawmakers also disagreed on the committee’s proposal to restrict the age limit for people vying for president, senate and the House to 40 years and above.

For instance, Mr. Maduabum, in his contribution, said raising the age to 40 years could entrench gerontocracy (government of the old) in the politics of the country.

“In this digital age, you don’t emphasize the old thinking that old age is equal to wisdom. Let the young go into politics and serve if their people want them,” he said.


Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5548051-146/lawmakers_disagree_over_constitution__.csp

President Barak Obama has applauded Nigeria for taking steps to restore confidence in the nation’s political system while adhering to democratic principles. The United States leader was speaking at the White House on Monday while receiving Nigeria’s new ambassador, Professor Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye, upon the presentation of his Letter of Credence. Mr. Obama said the United States was encouraged by Acting President Jonathan’s public promises to strengthen democratic reforms, improve the economic environment, and address the ongoing violence and impunity seen in the Niger Delta and Jos. “We look forward to supporting these efforts to improve the lives of all Nigeria’s citizens.”

He also commented on the upcoming US.-Nigeria Binational Commission, observing that it illustrated the desire of both nations to enhance their relationship on the basis of mutual commitment to development and peace.
In his statement, Professor Adefuye noted that the interest of the United States in Nigeria’s economic and political well-being has been one of the critical factors in the progress made in consolidating democracy in Nigeria and delivering its dividends to the people of the country.

He also acknowledged the tremendous supporting Nigeria in the achieving sustainable regional security in West Africa, as well as in the fight against corruption and economic crimes; public health development; infrastructural development; capacity building in the oil sector; strengthening democratic institutions and counter-terrorism initiatives.
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria requests that these initiatives be sustained and even increased in the following years,” the Ambassador said, as he looked forward to the successful implementation of the objectives of the Nigeria-United States Bi-National Commission, which will be launched
With reference to the Christmas Day 2009 Abdulmuttalab terror incident, Professor Adefuye said that it was condemnable, and that it has been severally condemned by Nigeria. Without downplaying the seriousness of that event, he described it as a “one-off incident” which ought not to have warranted the classification of Nigeria as a country of interest in the fight against terrorism.

“I have been asked by His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan to again convey Nigeria’s shock at this and urge you to revisit this issue as soon as possible,” he said, reiterating Nigeria’s continued cooperation with United States institutions in the fight against terrorism.

Link:

http://www.saharareporters.com/news/5668-obama-praises-nigerias-progress-as-adefuye-presents-letter-of-credence.html

Political associates of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, Tuesday inaugurated three committees to study all opportunities open to the group ahead of future polls, including a possible return to Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

The group, which held a meeting with Mr. Abubakar in Abuja Monday night, also decided to hold further consultations with their teeming supporters nationwide on the political future of the group. The meeting was attended by over 50 political associates of the former vice president.

A statement issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the media aide to Mr. Abubakar, Garba Shehu, said the former vice president briefed “those present about the journey so far with the Mega Party Summit Movement, MSM; the National Democratic Movement, NDM; the Action Congress (AC), and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He also spoke about his efforts to form a mega opposition party with like minds to strengthen Nigeria’s young democracy.”

Mr. Atiku also reportedly expressed his dissatisfaction “that efforts to set up a strong opposition party had not succeeded as a result of serial acts of betrayal.” Mr. Shehu however, said although the meeting has not ratified the option of a possible return to the PDP, “it is still an option as the committees’ decision might be final.” Responding on why the likes of Bola Tinubu and Bisi Akande, who are also leaders of Mr. Abubakar’s present party, Action Congress, were not present at the meeting, Mr. Shehu explained that “this is just the gathering of those that are close to him. If you notice, this is not even the PDM gathering. So, he only brought his associates around for this.”

Mr. Shehu said the discussion does not mean that Mr. Abubakar is no longer a part of the Mega Party plan and confirmed that his boss will be part of the Mega party meeting that will hold in Abuja, Wednesday. One of the participants at the meeting, Saleh Shehu said the plan of the group was not “a plan to decamp or join PDP but to return to the party,” if agreed on by members of the group.

Examine all choices

The agenda of the meeting, according to Mr. Shehu, was an examination of “the reasons that led to the parting of ways between a majority of the members and the Peoples Democratic Party, such as their exclusion from its re-registration exercises; the third term plot of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, and the persecution of the vice president, Atiku Abubakar, and the fact that a great deal of change has occurred within the party.”

The gathering however, resolved that the committees would carry out robust consultations with the supporters and that “one of the committees is particularly charged with assessing the political situation in each state of the federation so as to be able to take into account the peculiar interests and the well-being of leaders and followers in taking a final decision when and where to go and the modalities for any such movement.”


Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5548043-146/atikus_group_signifies_a_return_to.csp

A Lagos High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday March 29, 2010, adjourned further hearing in the petition for dissolution of marriage sought by Nollywood actor, Fred Aseroma, against his wife, Blessing Aseroma, till April 30, 2010.

From evidence before the court, Mr. Aseroma, 40, had on November 4, 2009 submitted an affidavit of urgency, praying the court to dissolve his marriage to enable him remarry a British resident, so as to complete his education in the United Kingdom.

“I have been living in the United Kingdom without the appropriate papers for some time as a student. [That] my wife-to-be in the UK does not wish to accommodate me any longer unless I am able to formally obtain divorce from my present marriage. [That] the only option available to me to remain in the UK is get married to a resident, to enable me conclude my studies,” read the affidavit signed by Mr. Aseroma.

Though the case did not come up for mention owing to the ongoing deployment of Lagos State judges, Mrs. Aseroma, 38, said her husband has not been truthful about his marital situation to the court. She said her husband has already got married to his would-be benefactor in the UK, while not yet divorced from her.

“He told the court that I left our matrimonial home because of his absence to seek for greener pastures. This is not true. Even when he kept travelling to the UK and hardly sent upkeep money, I have always been at our house in Ojodu with our three kids and his brother, Temotighe, who lives in the same house with us,” Mrs Aseroma said.

In a media report (not NEXT) published on February 3, 2010, Mr. Aseroma was said to have secretly married Titi Jacobs, described as a ‘London Big Girl’ seeking “to be a successful film maker”; with them both living in an apartment in Hackney, London.

The report also read: “Fred who relocated to London few years ago is seeking greener pastures in UK after he fell on bad times in Nigeria and the only way for him to survive in UK is by getting married to someone who can help him facilitate his resident papers.”

Following Mr. Aseroma’s arrest last week Friday by the Ojodu-Abiodun Police Division over allegations of wife battery, Mrs. Aseroma, who met her husband over 10 years ago while they were both students at the University of Lagos, said she is willing to concede to her husband’s request for a divorce, but not on his terms.

“I have suffered his beating for over 10 years. I cannot take it any longer. Let us go our separate ways. But I will not accept for him to take my children from me. These are the same children that I am the one taking care of, looking for money everywhere to pay their school fees,” Mrs. Aseroma said.

Mr. Aseroma had asked the court to grant him custody of their children, aged six, eight and 10 years, while proposing that their mother “have access to the children once a month” and that they “spend part of their long holidays” with their mother.

Also commenting, counsel to Mrs. Aseroma, Simeon Ikani of Ikani, Afolabi and Co. Chambers, questioned the procedure applied by Mr. Aseroma in seeking his divorce, which he said suggests wanting the court to hear and determine the marriage dissolution proceedings without Mrs. Aseroma contesting.

“The petitioner (Mr. Aseroma) filed his first petition for dissolution of marriage on March 4, 2009. Another petition was filed on October 8, 2009 with the affidavit for urgency filed in November 2009. But throughout this time, my client (Mrs. Aseroma) was never served. I had to apply myself for all the documents,” Mr. Ikani said.

Though all phone calls and text messages to Mr. Aseroma went unanswered, his lawyer, Lawrence Ehiwogwu, in a telephone call, said he would not comment, as the case is in court.

“My friend, why are you wasting your credit? The matter is in court. I cannot place it in the domain of public opinion. You can find out from the court,” Mr. Ehiwogwu said.


Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Crime/5547398-146/story.csp

The screening of former minister of information, Dora Akunyili, by the Senate for a ministerial position in the new cabinet proposed by the Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, caused an uproar between senators loyal to her and her non-supporters.

After almost thirty minutes theatrical session, Mrs. Akunyili, unlike other nominees who went through the ministerial nominees screening, had to take three bows: one for the Senate president, the other for the chamber, and the last one for senator Kanti Bello.

In an unusual turn of events, the Senate president, David Mark, could not control the senators for the first time since 2007. He had to stand up to make his presence felt.

"I wouldn't like this to happen again," Mark pronounced, as he stood from his seat to force order back into the Senate chambers on Monday evening.

The senators became unruly after a question by Kanti Bello (PDP Katsina State), awakened the division that once existed between the senators.

Mr. Bello wanted the nominee to explain how her actions during the absence of President Umaru Yar'Adua was nationalistic and not a personal agenda or aggression against the family of the ailing president.

Mrs. Akunyili was outspokenly against the continuous absence of President Yar'Adua without transmission of the executive power to his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan. She was the first minister in that cabinet to write a memo asking her colleagues to make public Mr. Yar'Adua's health status and break the reign of "the cabal" which was responsible for making it a top secret.

"I understand you are a member of the cabal," Mr. Bello said accusingly.

"You were cooking for madam (Turai Yar'Adua, the wife of President Yar'Adua), but later turned against the family. Do you think your action helped to unite or divide this country?" he asked aggressively, pointing fingers angrily at the nominee.

Other senators were offended by his actions and demanded that Mrs. Akunyili should not respond to the question.

"We should please leave our emotions behind and ask the simple questions. There is time for screening of the nominees; this is still question and answer time," the Senate president said, in a bid to calm Mr. Bello's nerves.

At this point, the Senate was already divided along two opposing opinion groups.

The group of senators who were offended by Mr. Bello's show of aggression against Mrs. Akunyili tried to shout him down. Mr. Bello is the Chief Whip of the Senate. He is supposed to enforce tranquility at plenaries on any other day, but he shouted back, trying to finish his question.

The Senate president calmed the senators this time and in concluding his question, Mr. Bello asked if she was not over populating the list of nominees from Anambra State.

Akunyili's Response

While the brouhaha lasted, Mrs. Akunyili watched silently until the Senate president asked her to respond to some of the issues raised.

"I never cooked for madam," she replied Mr. Bello. "I was not in any way part of the cabal. I want to state clearly here that President Yar'Adua is a fine gentleman with a fine spirit but when the system started going wrong, " She could not finish the sentence as Garba Lado (PDP Katsina State) led another group of senators to shout her down, throwing the Senate into a disruptive session.

Mr. Lado had earlier asked Adetokumbo Kayode, the former Justice Minister and a nominee too, to educate him on what ‘doctrine of necessity' is and whether the Senate was right to apply it to empower the acting president.

After several senators ignored bangs of his gravel, the Senate president had to stand up and the chamber suddenly went quiet.

"We are live on a national television. We have a nominee here with us. We must conduct ourselves properly. I wouldn't like this to happen again," he said sternly.

Mrs. Akunyili went ahead to explain how she had organised prayer and fasting for Mr. Yar'Adua when he fell ill initially.

"I have nothing against the president. I am loyal to him and I am loyal to the nation. What I did, "

Again, Mr. Lado shouted her down, saying "No! No!" and she could not finish the statement. The Senate president asked her to leave and the session was adjourned.


Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5547536-146/akunyilis_confirmation_stirs_the_senate_.csp

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It was full scale political drama in Abuja today as the Nigerian Senate began screening of candidates nominated by Acting President
Goodluck Jonathan for ministerial posts. The screening turned testy as the Senate’s Chief Whip, Mahmud Kanti Bello, spared with Dora Akunyili, one of the nominees retained from
the cabinet that was dissolved two weeks ago. Senator Kanti Bello is from Katsina North, the home state of Nigeria’s gravely sick ruler, Umaru Yar’adua. The chief whip tackled Mrs. Akunyili over a reference she made in a memo to “a cabal” that was deceiving Nigerians about Yar’adua’s health status.

Akunyili, who served as Minister of Information and Communication in Yar’adua’s cabinet, had written a widely distributed memo in which she challenged her colleagues to do the right thing by declaring Yar’adua incapacitated. In the memo, which earned her the ire of Yar’adua’s wife, Turai, as well as the enmity of the ailing ruler’s kitchen cabinet, Akunyili made numerous references to a cabal intent on holding Nigeria captive. There was some commotion caused by the fiery line of questioning by Senator Bello. The scene became so chaotic at a point that Senate President David Mark had to rise to his feet to restore order.

Mrs. Akunyili resumed speaking once order returned, but Senator Bello kept insisting that she explain if she is a member of the cabal to which she categorically said “No”. Unsatisfied, Senator Bello accused the former minister of being a member of the Yar’adua cabal, alleging that she used to cook for the
Yar’adua family. Mrs. Akunyili denied that allegation.

The screening exercise began in the late afternoon after the nominees were kept for several hours in the anteroom. Those screened today
included Adetokunbo Kayode, who was former Minister of Culture and Tourism – and was briefly assigned as Attorney General of the
Federation after Jonathan kicked Michael Aondoakaa from the post. Mrs. Fidelia Njeze was also screened before Akunyili took her spot for an exchange that turned tumultuous. Several political sources in Abuja told Saharareporters tonight that Senator Kanti Bello’s attack on Mrs. Akunyili is part of a
co-ordinated plan anchored by Turai Yar’adua to derail Akunyili’s reappointment as a minister.

“Turai has feels that Dr. Akunyili showed disloyalty when she wrote a memo to declare President Yar’adua incapacitated,” said one source, “and she’s determined to mobilize all her political capital to derail Dr. Akunyili’s clearance.”

The screening of nominees continues tomorrow at the Senate.

Link:

http://www.saharareporters.com/news/5662-drama-at-the-ministerial-screening-as-a-member-of-the-cabal-confronts-dora-akunyili.html

Libyan Leader, Muammar GaddafiLibyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi appears to be relentless in his controversial comments about the sovereign status of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. At the closing session of the Arab League Summit, Gaddafi who had controversially suggested that Nigeria split along religious lines between Christianity and Islam is now proposing that the country should be carved into many ethnic states. Libya’s Jana News Agency quotes Mr. Gaddafi as saying that Nigeria’s problems can’t be resolved by dividing the country into two states, but like the former Yugoslavia, Nigeria comprises other populations who want independence without religious considerations.

He went on to say that the model that best fits Nigeria, which comprises many ethnic groups, is Yugoslavia, which was divided into six countries, including Kosovo whose independence has not been unanimously recognised.

The Libyan leader’s comment earlier this month that Nigeria be split between the Christian and Muslim communities to end its sectarian violence received scathing reactions from a cross section like the Senate President, David Mark who described the Libyan leader as a “mad man”.

Gaddafi’s comments are coming on the heels of the recent crisis brewing in the northern Plateau- Jos, which claimed many innocent lives, especially women and children.

The rising tide of crisis in the northern states has given rise to many other violent outbursts, which has raised concern locally and internationally, hence, Gaddafi’s suggestions.

The federal government has placed Plateau State on a “Red Alert”, thereby deploying the military and the Joint Task Force (JTF) into the state to curb and prevent any other violent upsurges in the state.

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Against the background of the alleged public appearance of President Umaru Yar’Adua, a civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to compel Dr Salisu Banye, personal physician to President Umaru Yar’Adua, to “release information on oath on the present medical condition of the President, in order to definitively decide whether he is capable of continuing to perform his public trust and constitutional responsibility as President; and if he is not, for appropriate measures to be taken to address the situation.” In the suit number FHC/L/CS/390/2010, dated 25 March 2010, and filed by SERAP’s executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group said that, “The failure and/or refusal of Dr Salisu Banye to provide a sworn statement and information on President Umaru Yar’Adua’s current medical condition, and the names of the medical specialists providing treatment to President Yar’Adua is illegal and unlawful as it violates the Applicant’s right to receive information and breaches the fiduciary relationship implied and imposed by Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.”

The suit is brought under the newly enacted Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.

The group argued that, “Despite demand by the Applicant, Dr Salisu Banye has failed and/or refused to publish in major national newspapers and to forward to the Federal Executive Council or the National Assembly a sworn statement on the medical records and conditions of President Umaru Yar’Adua; and on the names of the medical specialists providing treatment to the President.”

According to the group, “Given the public nature of his duties, Dr Salisu Banye has a fiduciary responsibility to provide accurate information to the Applicant and all Nigerians on the medical condition of President Umaru Yar’Adua in order to allow the citizens, the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly to decide whether he is capable of continuing to perform his public trust and constitutional responsibility as president, and if he is not, to take appropriate measures to address the situation.”

“Since his alleged return to the country from Saudi Arabia where he reportedly received medical treatment for months, many high level government officials have been denied access to President Yar’Adua. And there are doubts about his capacity to continue to govern the country as his medical condition remains shrouded in secrecy. This situation continues to be exploited by some people apparently for political or pecuniary reasons thereby precipitating unnecessary tension and political uncertainty in the country, and contributing to violation of internationally recognized human rights,” the group further argued.

According to the group, “Publishing a sworn statement about the president’s current medical condition is of particular importance because of the documented history of deception and secrecy regarding his health. A sworn statement will ensure that Dr Salisu Banye takes responsibility for the truthfulness and accuracy of the contents of the medical report of President Yar’Adua; and can be prosecuted for perjury if the reports are false as this is the only way to resolve the lingering doubts on the medical condition of the president.”

The group also argued that, “Everyone has the right to access information held by private persons or bodies, which is necessary for the exercise or protection of any right; any refusal to disclose such information is subject to appeal to an independent body and/or the courts. This is based in part on the following fundamental principles: that the Nigerian people have the right to be governed only with their consent; that people’s consent is meaningful only when they have access to information necessary for making informed decisions about their leader’s medical condition; and that such information is necessary for making informed decision”.

The group is asking the court for the following reliefs:

1. A DECLARATION that the failure and/or refusal of the Respondent to urgently publish in major national newspapers and to forward to the National Assembly a sworn statement on the medical records and conditions of President Umaru Yar’Adua is illegal and unlawful as it violates Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act

2. A DECLARATION that the failure and/or refusal of the Respondent to publish in major national newspapers and to forward to the National Assembly a sworn statement on the names of the medical specialists providing treatment to President Umaru Yar’Adua is illegal and unlawful as it violates Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act

3. AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS compelling the Respondent to publish in major national newspapers and to forward to the National Assembly a sworn statement on the medical records and condition of President Umaru Yar’Adua; and on the names of the medical specialists providing treatment to President Umaru Yar’Adua

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Signed
Ugochi Okpe
Staff Counsel
29/3/2010


Link:

http://www.saharareporters.com/letters/press-releases/5655-yaradua-serap-asks-court-to-order-doctor-to-disclose-medical-condition-.html

The Senate will, at 2:00 pm today, begin the screening of ministerial nominees, whose names were sent to it by the acting president, Goodluck Jonathan, last week.

David Mark, the president of the Senate, had last week read out the names of the 33 ministers out of an expected 42-strong cabinet, though portfolios have not yet been allocated.

Nine other names have emerged in recent days to fill the remaining slots in the new cabinet. A security source revealed at the weekend that Audu Ogbeh and Sam Ode, both from Benue State, have also completed their initial security screening.

The source also added that former ministers Ibrahim Bio, John Odey, Humphrey Abbah and Remi Babalola have also been screened by the State Security Service ahead of nomination.

The last of the nominees completed their screening over the weekend.

Breaking convention

Conventionally, the Senate does not sit on Mondays and Fridays, but the leadership said it was necessary to break the convention and confirm the ministers in order to get the executive arm back to work, considering the limited amount of time left to the expiration of their tenure.

This resolution to hold plenary on Monday is the second unusually friendly gesture the Senate has extended to the acting president since he assumed this office.

Going by their earlier plan, the Senate is supposed to be on a three-week Easter recess. But the leadership came out with a resolution early last week to postpone its Easter holiday by one week to enable them attend to the acting president’s request for the confirmation of his ministers and formation of a new cabinet.

The Executive Council of the Federation was dissolved by the Acting President Jonathan Goodluck,

on Wednesday, March 17, with a promise to re -constitute the council as soon as possible. Most of the ministerial nominees, both new and old, arrived in Abuja late last week and the new additions reported to the office of the National Security Adviser for screening.

If successful, the new nominees will also face the Senate this week.

Possible controversy

Sam Ode, who is currently special adviser on local government affairs to the Benue state governor, Gabriel Suswam, may however be up against Audu Ogbeh.

Mr. Ode is reported to be the governor’s pick, while Audu Ogbeh, a former PDP chieftain, is David Mark’s nominee.

The two may still be put forward though, as other states have had more than one nominee. If nominated, the contingent of ministers from the dissolved cabinet will rise to 14.

There have also been speculations that a group of legislators might be working against the nomination of certain nominees especially Dora Akunyili, managing director of Goldman Sachs Olutoyin Aganga, and three others, for a cocktail of reasons. The alleged argument against Mr. Aganga is that he is appointed to represent Lagos when he is not from the state.

In Ondo State, there were rumblings that a faction of the state’s PDP was solidly opposed to the re-nomination of former justice minister, Adetokunbo Kayode, even though sources indicate that the matter has been resolved.

The reappointed nominees whose names were submitted earlier include Fidelia Akuabata Njeze, Peter Godsday Orubebe, Nuhu somo Way, Adetokunbo Kayode, Henry Odein Ajumogobia, Akinlabi Olasunkanmi,

Diezani Alison-Madueke, Shamsudeen Usman, and Dora Akunyili.

The new nominees are Chukwuemeka Ngozichineke Wogu, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Labaran Maku, Chris Ogiemwonyi, Suleiman Bello, Murtala Yar’Adua, Sanuai M.Dagash, Bala Mohammed, Nduese Essien, Josephine Tapgun, Mohammed BelloAdoke, Ernest Olubolade. Others are Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga, M.K Abubakar-Kebbi, Adamu Waziri, Umar Aliyu, Awodele Najeem Adewale Alao, Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed, Yusuf Suleiman, Ruquiya Rufai, Musa Sada, Sheik Abdallah, Emmanuel Iheanacho,

and Jibril Martins Kuye.

‘Exciting choices’

The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said on Sunday that very few few nominations in the state have ignited excitement as that of Nduese Essien, a former two-term member of the House of Representatives named by Mr. Jonathan as a nominee.


Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5546990-146/senate_begins_ministerial_screening_today_.csp

Welcome back

Barring any die minute change in decision, the remnants of the Peoples Democratic Movement, (PDM), led by former vice president Atiku Abubakar, who are still outside the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are billed to dump both the Action Congress, AC, and the National Democratic Movement, NDM, this evening and return to the PDP.
This much was confirmed by Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State at the weekend in Kaduna, when he told Daily Sun that PDP was where Atiku “rightly belongs.”

Daily Sun gathered authoritatively that Lamido has been quietly leading a move to bring back the former vice president to the PDP.
Lamido, who though did not say anything about the proposed (PDM) meeting holding tonight, even though his reaction was not sought on the matter, in a response to a question from Daily Sun said that “I will do anything to bring anybody back to the PDP. I will also do anything I can to bring Buhari to the PDP.

“You see we are out on a conquest, you know to me anybody who has something to contribute to the development of Nigeria should come to PDP. So what is wrong in me talking to my friends, to return to the PDP because where they went, have they fared any better? Fine, they were part of the PDP, it is their own family, it is where they rightly belong. So what is wrong in him (Atiku) coming back,” Lamido said.
Confirming Atiku’s return to the PDP, a competent source close to the Adamawa-born politician told Daily Sun on Sunday morning that the decision of Atiku and his group to return was necessitated by the hard stance of the AC in the proposed mega party, adding that the extreme position the party took in Edo indicated that the opposition was not likely to make any headway.

“Yes, I can confirm to you that talks are ongoing, chief among which is whether or not to return to the PDP. But that decision, will be taken today. “You know politicians meet at night, so it may be difficult for me to tell you anything (today, Monday). But certainly, I will have gist for you after the meeting, “the source said.

On why Atiku is considering re-joining the party he co-founded, especially at a time when the opposition appears serious on its challenge to take on the PDP in 2011, the source further said “you know this is about the second or third time this kind of a thing is happening. In 2007, if you remember very well, at the initial stage, Atiku, Buhari and PPA, together with their group, agreed not to participate in the 2007 elections, only for the Buhari group and others to later say they were participating, and that was why Atiku eventually participated.

“This time again, the whole thing started smoothly, but certain forces are not willing to make concessions and sacrifices. In fact, the extreme position taken by AC in Edo, contributed to this latest development,” the source further said. As at the time of filing this report, a few political associates of Atiku confided in Daily Sun that tonight’s meeting would just be a formality, as the group have decided to move back to the PDP in the “best interest of democracy and nation building.”

Link:

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/mar/29/national-29-03-2010-012.htm

Staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are calling for the investigation of a pet project that Ojo Maduekwe, Nigeria’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, rushed into play last weekend, days after he was supposed to have handed the affairs of the ministry over to the permanent secretary. Saharareporters sources at the Ministry revealed that Maduekwe last weekend summoned the legal adviser of the ministry to his residence, ahead of the March 22 handing-over, to fine-tune legal documents on the installation and operationalization of the project, an ICT-Global Communication Network costing the ministry 900,000 US dollars. All of that was being done several days after Acting President Goodluck Jonathan dissolved the cabinet.

Our sources said the staff was concerned about the state of the ICT equipment, installation of which has been completed at the High Commission in London as one of the 16 pilot cases.

At his handing-over to Permanent Secretary Martins Uhomoibhi, Maduekwe, pontificated extensively about corruption and lack of transparency in the Ministry, but Saharareporters findings show he left the ministry badly run and looted.

Mr. Maduekwe commissioned 1st October Publisher, Fidelis Anosike, who bought the Daily Times but could not see to its takeoff, to produce a commemorative and pictorial book on “Nigeria at 50” at an astonishing total cost of N300 million. The publication, which was supposed to have focused on the history and progress of the nation’s foreign policy, is costing the ministry N175 million, with Nigerian missions abroad being forcefully compelled by Maduekwe to contribute the other N175 million. Some of those missions are so poor they often have difficulty paying Nigerian diplomats.

Among his curious actions before handing over, Maduekwe directed the ministry to pay $100,000 dollars for a chartered flight for an aborted 12–day tour of Eastern and Southern African countries he had billed for Sunday March 27, 2010. Due to his sack Mr. Maduekwe could not make that trip, but according to ministry officials, and despite his long speech about corruption, he had already collected his 12 days estacode upfront.

A source told Saharareporters that the minister had also just returned from a 10-day tour of Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Angola, where he claimed to have been on tour, to preach what he called “Neighborhood Diplomacy,” following the failure of his so-called “Citizen Diplomacy.”

With reference to Maduekwe’s delay in handing over, Presidency sources say Madueke wrote a memo to the Ag. President Goodluck Jonathan asking that he should be allowed to conclude some outstanding diplomatic meetings, but Jonathan turned him down.

Some of the commitments include UN-US Ministerial International Donor’s Conference on Haiti, scheduled for March 31in New York; the ongoing ECOWAS International Conference on Two Decades of Peace Processes in West Africa; and the signing of the Framework Agreement for establishing the Nigeria-US Bi-national Commission scheduled for April 7 in Washington D.C. Our analysts said the request was framed to give Jonathan the impression he was indispensable as Nigeria’s foreign minister.

Saharareporters sources in the ministry describe Mr. Maduekwe as the “most incompetent minister” to ever lead foreign affairs for Nigeria. They cited his ridiculous travel budgets and frivolous trips which they said kept him on the road most of the time doing nothing but traveling for fun. On one occasion during his last trip to the United Kingdom, Maduekwe reportedly traveled with “Miss Nigeria.”

Regarding Haiti, the minister has not been able to fulfill the net amount promised Haiti by Nigeria towards its relief efforts, nor did he deliver on a promise to send 50 Nigerians to help with relief efforts in the earthquake-ravaged nation. One source in the ministry said that when all is said and done, Maduekwe and those in the foreign missions that he has recommended for probe might be sharing the same cell at the EFCC before long.

Link:

http://www.saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/5648-how-incompetent-ojo-maduekwe-looted-ministry-of-foreign-affairs-.html

Who says wedding have to be Expensive

Ibrahim Shekarau, the Kano State governor, yesterday debunked claims by some state governors that they have recently met with ailing president, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Mr. Shekarau, who spoke on Radio Kano programme, Da Bazar Ku, said that none of the 36 state governors in the country has seen Mr. Yar’Adua since November 2009.

“None of the members of the Governors’ Forum can claim to have seen President Umaru Yar’Adua so far,” he said, adding that all of the governors only wish the bedridden president to recover his health.

The governor defended the decision of governors to support the idea of vesting presidential powers on Goodluck Jonathan, even though ‘there is nothing like acting president in the constitution’.

“In the constitution, there is nothing like acting president or acting governor,” he said. “It was not the spirit and letter of the constitution that guided their decision but the doctrine of necessity and their sense of right and wrong.

“In a situation whereby the president is around in the country, and cannot run the affairs of government, the constitution remains silent. Even a judge sometimes uses conscience to adjudicate.”

Dissolved executive

Mr. Shekarau also supported the recent dissolution of Executive Council of the Federation. He said the reality that the council was divided and for the country to move forward there was need for it to be restructured. “I think a divided FEC (Execuitive Council of the Federation) can’t deliver the best to the nation,” he said.

Mr. Shekarau also said that the governors cautioned Mr. Jonathan to ensure that he did not take any decision that would threaten the peaceful coexistence of the nation.


Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5546997-146/no_governor_has_seen_yaradua_says.csp

Mexican authorities are now under pressure to apologise to the family of a United States-based Nigerian, Okoronkwo Umeham, who was illegally detained for two days while crossing the American border into Mexico on a visit last week, Empowered Newswire reports.

US media reports said that Okoronkwo Umeham, 73, who is also a US citizen, spent two days in a Mexican jail in the town of Tijuana because Mexican border guards who are English illiterates mistook ingredients of an Igbo soup, Egusi, he was taking to his relative in Mexico for illegal drugs.

Although the Nigerian has now been released after the Mexicans discovered their error, his family is insisting on an apology.

His wife, Mrs Gail Umeham, said after his release from two days of detention that her husband had been humiliated by the experience. ”It would have been nice if someone had said sorry,” she was reported to have demanded, according to media reports in the US.

Umeham, who works as a social worker in San Diego, US, was detained while crossing the border from San Diego to Tijuana last week because overzealous Mexican border inspectors thought he was carrying a stimulant popular in East Africa but illegal in Mexico called khat.

But Umeham was also taking along dried fish, vegetables and spices, to be used to prepare a famous and spicy Igbo soup to a younger relative, Nnanna Nwafor, who lives in Tijuana, Mexico.

Curiously, Umeham had taken the same ingredients to Nnanna last September without any incident and turned them over to inspectors during his last visit, not knowing they were suspicious already.

Associated Press reports that the Mexican inspectors asked if the labeled packages contained marijuana, and Umeham replied in the negative. But the language difference did‘nt allow Umeham to explain what they were and the Mexicans offered no interpreters, preferring instead to detain the 73-year old man.

According to his own accounts, Umeham said Mexican authorities put him in jail, telling him they needed to test the suspicious materials.

Local US media reports quoted a Mexican official, Javier Cossio, the head of the federal attorney general‘s office in Tijuana, having confirmed Umeham‘s arrest.

Cossio told the San Diego Union-Tribune, a US newspaper that contents of the bags that Umeham was carrying had to be tested and that Umeham had to be checked for drug use.

But afterwards, the Mexican authorities concluded ”he was not carrying any drugs,” nor did Umeham tested positive for any drug.

Nigerian diplomats in Mexico could not be reached as at press time to comment. But Umeham‘s American citizenship is expected to also enhance his right to redress if the Mexicans refuse to apologise for the infringement on his freedom of movement.

Umeham has lived in San Diego for 12 years, and the vegetables mistaken by the Mexicans were still in bags from San Diego‘s African Caribbean Food store when the Mexican guards mistook them for khat.

”The whole situation was really unnecessary,” Umeham told another news agency, UPI. ”It shouldn‘t happen to anybody.”

Link:

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201003264334520