Nigerians Demands For The Promised Change From President Buhari With #WhereIsTheChange Hash Tag

To mark the nine months of President Muhammadu Buhari administration, #WhereIsTheChange hash tag was launched on Monday via Twitter with cross section of Nigerians expressing their mixed feelings over the State of the Nation.

While some Nigerians express grieved on the state of the nation under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, few called for endurance, stating that nine months is too early to judge the Buhari administration.

Issues that topped the reactions on the No. 1 on Twitter Trends #WhereIsTheChange hash tag includes the killing of over 300 people in four villages of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, as a result of the clash between local farmers and Fulani herdsmen;  the reappearance of fuel scarcity in some parts of the country; the reversal by President Buhari not to pay the earlier promised N5,000 welfare package to the vulnerable unemployed youths; the extensive foreign trip by President Buhari; the continued  unreliable power supply across the country; the high cost of consumable foodstuffs; non declaration of assets by political appointees; use of motorbike to fight insurgencies among other issues.

Below are some of the thought-provoking reactions:

Tonye barcanista ‏@TonyeBarcanista

“8 months of APC govt, our NYSC members are still waiting for d 1year post service allowance as promised by APC/Buhari #whereisthechange”

AuduMaikori ‏@Audu

“All I can say is in 2019 choose leaders who have vision. We lack visionary leadership that's why we are still here #WhereIsTheChange”

“Me I am beyond the partisan matter right now the question is how can we solve the problem irrespective of how we voted? #WhereIsTheChange”

“My people while I didn't vote for change,truth is change is here. We didn't ask the right questions and this is the result #WhereIsTheChange”

Achiever Chika @AchieverChika

“GEJ left a ream of paper at N700 My people Is now N1500 oooo #WhereIsTheChange APC & Buhari ????”

Cisca ‏@AtusiubaOkwy  

“They defended his refusal to appear in presidential debate. They defended the fact that he doesn't have a certificate. #WhereIsTheChange”

#TheScrollNg ‏@comradephils  

“Nigerians are now boycotting banks for fraudulent charges #WhereIsTheChange “

@gentleojay ‏@gentleojay  

“I want to ask..Wat re d functions of personal assistant on photography? N dey say its change? #WhereIsTheChange tot we wer tryin 2save money”

The Omonile Lawyer™ ‏@omonilelawyer  

“We are experiencing the 5th Fuel Scarcity under Buhari in 8mths while under GEJ Fuel Scarcity occurred 3times in 6years. #Whereisthechange”

Chika Uwazie ‏@ChikaUwazie  

“Sadly Nigerians everyday for the next three years will be reminded that the wrong choice was made. #WhereIsTheChange”

churchill umoren ‏@abdulchurchill  

“#WhereIsTheChange. 2014 Buhari "I will strengthen d economy, create jobs, defeat Boko Haram, I need prayer to succeed. Lol”

“During campaign Buhari/Osinbajo: we will pay stipend to unemployed. Today: Buhari: It is not my priority, won't pay"

SK - Sola Kuti ‏@SKSolaKuti  

“Fashola the borehole/website guru said an unprecedented 5000MW of power was generated. My gen is still working non-stop #WhereIsTheChange”

#FreeEseOruruNow ‏@Roland_speaks  

“Buhari promised to cut down the cost of Governance so far he has appointed four media aides #WhereIsTheChange”

Tonye barcanista ‏@TonyeBarcanista  

“APC govt blamed GEJ for evrythin when he was in power, nd still blame him for everything now dat he's out of power #WhereIsTheChange”

“PMB pledged to reduce cost of govt but he's having 2 SAs on Media, 2 on Social, and SA on Photography. Is that prudency? #WhereIsTheChange”

Adewole Kehinde ‏@kennyadewole  

“I am surprised that Amaechi, Fashola and Fayemi are walking free while Olisa Metuh and Uche Secondus are been persecuted #WhereIsTheChange”

“How on earth can a Retired General buy Okada for the Army to fight insurgencies in this 21st Century? #WhereIsTheChange”

“Up till now, none of the Ministers & other political appointees has declared assets yet they want @bukolasaraki prosecuted #WhereIsTheChange”

Le philosophe ‏@dibangoxx  

“I urge d APC led govt 2 abide by its earlier stand on transparency 2 publish all expenses incurred since May 29, 2015. #WhereIsTheChange”

“for the 1st time Nigeria is witnessing a failed State, collapsing economy and bad administration #WhereIsTheChange”

#FreeEseOruruNow ‏@Roland_speaks  

“Buhari was with Sanusi last week praying, is Buhari telling us that he's not aware that Ese was kidnapped in my state #WhereIsTheChange”

Governor Kaslas CEG ‏@GovernorKaslas  

“Our govt would create 1million jobs for the youth. 3months after all we hear is Sack. People are been sacked daily #whereisTheChange”

flashy prince ‏@flashyjack  

“GMB promised Empowerment scheme 2 employ 740,000 graduates across d 36 states n d FCT Bt in just 9mnths ova 1M jobs lost #WhereIsTheChange”

OchinanWata 1 ‏@mr_ochonogor  

“They Promised to Obey the Rule of Law But today they Disregard Court Orders @MBuhari #WhereIsTheChange?”

tolu ogunlesi @toluogunlesi

“NNPC unveils first accounts in decade - http://FT.com  http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/b5a5f5f0-cf20-11e5-92a1-c5e23ef99c77.html …”

As is it ‏@Naija_Senator  

“2015 budget exactly copied that's the change #Whereisthechange”

Adeyanju Deji ‏@adeyanjudeji  

“Somebody said the CHANGE is inside Aisha's Jollof Rice. Bia @DOlusegun is it true? #WhereIsTheChange”

Kayode AJULO ‏@KayodeAjulo  

“#WhereIsTheChange? #WhatHasChange? $1k for the best answer to the above. Wailers & Hailers not invited..@AbiodunBorisade @adeyanjudeji”

bravedave osifeko ‏@bravedave01  

“I wonder what the new lies will be that we'd be told in 2019 by our politicians. #WhereIsTheChange”

5% Nigerian ‏@AkandeOluwa02  

“The next movie title in nollywood is #WhereIsTheChange. Watch out for start actors like Saint GMB, RCA, BAT, BRF, even brt, oshi and aregbe”

B#BringBackOurGirls ‏@boluomidiji  

“INSTALLATION OF ELECTRICAL LIGHTINGS AND FITTINGS= N371m #WhereIsTheChange?#2016Budget”

“The 2016 Budget depresses. Linking of Cable from Driver's Rest Room to Villa Admin = N322m? #WhereIsTheChange?”

The Money Laundering Act And Its Discontents

By Chido Onumah

Late last month, President Muhammadu Buhari sent two executive bills to the National Assembly that border on the government’s commitment to strengthen the fight against corruption. The two bills are the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Bill (2016) and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill (2016).

Coming this early in the life of the administration, and in the heat of the government’s momentous anti-corruption campaign, the submission of the two bills was not an ordinary government business. It was symbolic; it signposted, to some extent, the future of the war against corruption and the much needed political will to deal with this canker which hitherto had been lacking.

For many years, the bane of the war against corruption was the lack of commitment and political will at the highest political level to fight the menace. It is no wonder therefore that many enabling laws enacted to solidify the war against corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes, or to increase transparency in the system, remained almost comatose.

Ideally, the two new anti-corruption bills should not only excite interest but accepted with garlands and fanfare as another commitment by the executive and also another weapon in the arsenal to take down one of Nigeria’s greatest maladies. Unfortunately, the new money laundering bill leaves a lot to be desired.

The new bill seeks to repeal an existing Money Laundering Act, “make comprehensive provisions to prohibit the laundering of criminal activities and expand the scope of money laundering offences”, according to the letter from President Buhari read by Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Daily Trust of February 3, 2016, reported that with the bill now before the Senate, President Buhari “has set machinery for the establishment of Bureau for Money Laundering Control (BMLC) to tackle money laundering related cases in the country”.

First, there is a Money Laundering Act (first enacted in 1995 and amended in 2011) of which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is the co-coordinating enforcement agency. The current Money Laundering Act is also not known to have any fundamental flaws. Why then do we need a NEW Act and a NEW Agency? It is quite disturbing that the new bill seeks to establish a NEW anti-corruption agency to implement its provisions, if passed into law.

One wonders why a law that has been implemented for several years will now warrant formation of an independent agency to enforce it, more so when there are anti-corruption agencies empowered by the law to bring the Money Laundering Act into force.

Both the ICPC and EFCC laws have extensively covered financial crimes bordering on money laundering. In specific terms, the EFCC Establishment Act has listed the Money Laundering Act as one of the laws that the EFCC can enforce, under its powers. In fact, so central is this Act to the activities of the EFCC that it is the first to be listed in Section 7 (2) (a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004, before others such as the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act, as amended, and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 1991, as amended, among others.

According to Daily Trust, “The Bureau, when established, would ensure that all designated businesses and professions comply with the provisions of the Money Laundering Act and exercise supervision.” This task is something that was and is still being done by government agencies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the EFCC. There is therefore nothing new that the BMLC will do in this regard. 

Perhaps the framers of this new bill do not know, or have chosen to ignore, the existence of the inter-agency Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) which has the statutory mandate of registering all designated non-financial business. The SCUML “works in collaboration with the EFCC (the coordinating agency for Nigeria’s AML/CFT regime) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) – the national repository of financial disclosures of cash-based transaction reports, currency transaction reports and suspicious transaction reports.” It can’t get any better! Since its establishment in 2005, SCUML has taken the campaign and indeed enforced the registration of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), hotels and real estate business, car dealership, and other real sectors of the economy.  

Clearly, a provision in the proposed money laundering bill has given some clue as to those pushing this agenda and the purpose. Daily Trust reported that, “The Bureau would be run through an advisory board to be headed by a chairman who will be appointed by the president on the advice of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.” One can sense a level of self-aggrandizement to the detriment of the public good.

This new bill, obviously needless as it is, highlights the long standing rivalry that exists between the EFCC and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. And this rivalry is most probably being fueled by top civil servants who endlessly keep looking for more power and perquisites outside their legal means.

Similar machinations took place during the tenure of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua when the then Attorney General, Michael Aondoakaa, went all out to pocket the EFCC. In the last dispensation, spurred by vested interest, the 7^th National Assembly, predictably acting the same script, worked so hard to make the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) into a standalone agency. There is no difference between that distractive move and the current one on money laundering. 

This move appears to be a clear affront to the work of the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies; perhaps, an attempt to weaken existing anti-corruption agencies to satisfy certain powerful personal interests.

The last thing the Buhari administration needs now that the anti-corruption war is gaining some traction is to get bogged down by this rivalry. This is one distraction it can ill afford. What benefit is it for the country to keep creating agencies at a time of acute financial stress, particularly for a government mouthing cuts in cost of governance?

All the relevant laws to fight corruption and economic malfeasance are there. The government only needs to empower the agencies mandated to enforce these laws and where necessary amend such laws if there are any deficiencies.

conumah@hotmail.com; Follow me on Twitter: @conumah

Semenitari Partners Niger Delta States To Fight Lassa Fever, Donates Kits

The Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, has donated personal protective kits and other accessories to states in the Niger Delta.  The donation, Semenitari stressed, was part of the Commission’s collaborative action with the nine focal states’ governments to kick-out Lassa fever in the region. Recalling similar efforts by NDDC during the outbreak of Ebola in Nigeria in 2014, Semenitari who flagged-off the exercise in Benin City, Edo State capital, on Tuesday, disclosed that Edo, Ondo and Rivers States were chosen being the worst hit among the other states.

Speaking during a courtesy call on the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, at the Government House, Benin City, Semenitari said that apart from the donations performed simultaneously across the three beneficiary states, NDDC had been involved in massive public education. 

Semenitari, who had earlier re-affirmed President Muhammadu Buhari’s zero-tolerance for corruption, particularly bribery, while speaking on live radio breakfast show in Benin City, disclosed that dedicated telephone lines and email had been created by the Commission for members of the public to report officials of the Commission who may ask for bribe for service delivery. While stating that contractors and former officials of the Commission might be invited for explanation over their activities while serving with the interventionist agency, she added that the Administration of President Buhari was keen on the completion of projects already ongoing in the Niger Delta states. 

Semeitari informed Gov. Oshiomhole that key road projects in Edo State were already receiving expedited attention while adding that conducive office accommodation for staffers of the Commission at the Edo State office had become critical. “We are going to deliver on the key road projects to Edo people soon”, the Ag. MD promised. 

Gov. Oshiomhole, whose team that received Semenitari included the Head of Service and Honourable Commissioners, thanked Semenitari for the visit, saying he believed in the competence of the Ag. Managing Director to deliver on her mandate. “Based on your pedigree, I have no doubt whatsoever that you will change NDDC. I don’t think you will encounter any opposition similar to what you surmounted in Rivers State when you served as Commissioner of Information. Before now, many saw NDDC as their honey-pot and actually licked half of the pot while they took the other half to Abuja. The people in the region who should have benefitted became mere distant spectators. I trust that with you at the helm of affairs, that place will change”.

Gov. Oshiomhole recommended the use of only competent contractors in the award of contracts and promised to make land available to the Commission for the building of a befitting office accommodation.  

Semenitari later performed the official handover of the kits to the Edo State Government through the Commissioner of Health.

Gov. Sheriff Accused of Boko Haram Ties, Emerges Acting Chairman Of PDP

The former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, has been appointed as the new Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).

Ali Modu Sherrif will take over from Uche Secondus due to the crisis that rocked the party as Ahmed Gulak is laying claim to the position of the Chairman. It will be recalled that Ahmadu Mu’azu, the former chairman resigned shortly after the 2015 polls.

Ali Modu Sherrif has been a controversial figure amid allegations he funded and sponsored the extremist sect, Boko Haram although he denies the allegation.

The spokesperson for PDP, Olisa Metuh, said all organs of the party, including, the national caucus, PDP Governors’ Forum and the National Assembly caucuses agreed on the choice of Ali Modu Sherrif.

Olisa Metuh said the decision would be communicated to the Board of Trustees and subsequently, the National Executive Committee, NEC, for ratification before a formal announcement would be made.

CSOs Slam Emeka Mba As He Flouts Lai Mohammed’s Directive

PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE ILEGAL HANDING OVER BY THE SACKED  DIRECTOR GENERAL OF NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMMISSION ON 16TH FEBRUARY 2016

CSOs SLAM EMEKA NBA AS HE FLOUTS LAI MOHAMMED’S DIRECTIVE

Equity Advocate Initiative is a leading Civil Society Organization in the country with the cardinal objectives of promoting good governance and transparency.

We are alarmed about the action of immediate past Director General of National Broadcasting Commission Emeka Mba in flaunting a ministerial order of Minister of Information and Culture for him to hand over to the most senior Director in  the agency after his sack.

We were shocked when he handed over to Armstrong Idachaba, a Director in DG’s office that joined the organization in 1996 as against the most senior Director in the agency Awwalu Salihu, Director of Public Affairs of the agency. This action by the immediate past DG is against all known conventions in the service and there is urgent need for this to be reverted to avert any brake down of law and order in the organization because is already generating tension in the agency.

As an advocate of good governance and transparency, we call on the Hon Minister of Information and Culture to look into this matter urgently and revert the action of the sacked DG because we are in an era of change where impunity must not be allowed.

Thank you

Comrade Mickeal Babatunde

Executive Director, Equity Advocate Initiative

National Assembly and Citizens' Participation In Budget Process

By Sanni Onogu

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Wednesday February 10, 2016 took his pledge to make the 8th National Assembly open, inclusive, transparent and accountable a notch higher, when he opened the gates of the legislature to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the labour to ventilate their thoughts, make observations and voice their recommendations on how best to ensure that the 2016 budget truly reflects the will and aspiration of Nigerians.

Saraki had in his inaugural speech on his election as Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly on June 9, 2015, said the present National Assembly would do things differently. "It will no longer be business as usual," he said. He promised to ensure that the change agenda of the present administration is reflected in every undertaking of the National Assembly.

Towards the realization of this objective,  the Senate and House of Representatives respectively prepared and adopted a people-centred legislative agenda as a guiding light to make the members stay true and focussed on their stated objectives. It was also meant to make the National Assembly a body that truly encapsulate the wishes and concerns of the ordinary Nigerian. As a way of making the process of law making, oversight and advocacy truly participatory, Saraki utilised every opportunity to engage Nigerians. One instance of such engagement os the use of Twitter and other new media platforms  on a daily basis to inform, educate, explain the rationale for certain actions of the National Assembly and above all. to respond in real time to the genuine concerns of the people. Beside, he had also ensured that the debates of the Senate at plenary are  streamed live to Nigerians, who equally take advantage of the social media to make their contributions, ask questions and voice their concerns. 

However, last Wednesday, January 10, 2015, On hand to receive the representatives of the over 100 CSOs to the National Assembly were  Saraki,  Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and Civil Society Organizations, Senator Rose Okoh, Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ibn Na'Allah, Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Senator Lanre Tejuosho; Senator Olamilekan Adeola; Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator John Owan, Chairman, House Committee on Civil Society Organizations and Development Partners, Hon. Peter Akpatason, who represented the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other other members of the House. Some of the CSOs that participated in the interactive session included: PLAC, CENCOJ, BudgIT, HOMEF, ActionAid, CODE, EiE Nigeria, FEPAR, BMGF, NNNGO, Oxfam, ONE Campaign, OSIWA, YIAGA, NDI, CSR in Action, among others. 

The interactive session with CSOs which has been hailed both in Nigeria and in the international community as "historic and unprecedented", according to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and Civil Society Organizations, Senator Okoh, was meant to ensure citizen's participation in the decision making process in the legislature, especially on the 2016 Appropriation Bill now being considered by the federal legislature, Senator Okoh in her welcome address during the programme said: "Through your capacities of reach, advocacy and data collection, your contribution to this document (2016 budget) will not only enhance our mandate of appropriation for government, but also ensure that there is citizen participation in the decision making process of government at this crucial level."

Saraki in his remarks at the event, noted that the country has come a long way since its return to democracy in 1999. Undoubtedly, according to him, the road had been full of challenges. Consequently, he said, the task of members of the 8th National Assembly, as representatives of the people in government "is to work towards the actualization of a more effective federal system of governance." He lamented that a cursory look at the budgets of the past 16 years showed that "ineffective implementation and abandonment of projects have caused excessive wastages that have negatively buckled the Nigerian economy." He told the CSOs that in response to the unacceptable trend, the 8th National Assembly has stepped up its oversight functions to ensure that funds duly appropriated are spent ‘how’, ‘where’ and on ‘what’ they were earmarked for. 

He further hinted that since economic diversification is crucial to the success of the nation's economy, the National Assembly is working to enact laws that will "boost internally generated revenues by plugging the loopholes that exist in our system, and encouraging the small and medium-scale business owners in our communities." He commended the over CSOs that participated in the interactive session for making themselves available while acknowledging  that the National Assembly counts on the input of all Nigerians to move the country to the next level in her democratic journey. "We know that the work ahead of us is necessary. We also know that the road ahead of us will be lined with challenges. However, we also know that we cannot do this alone. We need all hands on deck for this one," Saraki said. He added that the session was meant to aggregate the wishes of Nigerians concerning governance and to address the concerns of Nigerians who had often criticized the operations of the National Assembly as being opaque, which they contended often tends to various forms of corrupt activities. On the purpose of inviting the CSOs by the National Assembly, Saraki said it was in response to citizen’s concerns and public expectations. "The 8th National Assembly through this platform and the various others that we have set up online, will continue to be accessible to you. We will work tirelessly to address your concerns’ after all, we are only here because of you," he said.

Furthermore, the Senate President said the maiden interactive session between the National Assembly and CSOs on the 2016 budget was convened to allow both members of parliament and the CSOs to "explore new angles, consider fresh opinions and weigh new suggestions on the reasonable changes that need to be made, and on the best way to forge ahead with the 2016 appropriation process. This is not only an opportunity for you to air your views, it is also a window that has presented itself that will allow all of us to work together to pass a budget that we can all be proud of. Therefore, I urge you all to feel free to point out your genuine concerns about the budget. Know that your relevant input is crucial towards ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Assembly to pass a document that we can all be proud of. When the civil society of a nation is strong, loud and empowered - we are all better off for it. When the civil society is a part of the process - with seats of their own at the decision-making table - governments become more responsive and accountable," he said.

After the tone for the novel engagement had been set with the above remarks, it was time for the CSOs to bring to the table their observations aimed at making the 2016 budget a realistic and implementable document. During the session that lasted for about four hours, the 2016 budget was subjected to independent and intense scrutiny and analyses by the CSOs following which they made observations and recommendations to assist the National Assembly in their role of exposing corruption and ensuring that the funds appropriated were not only realistic but that the budget is faithfully implemented in totality in the interest of the people.

The Executive Director of Centre for Global Solutions and Sustainable Development, Adebowale Adeniyi, in the executive summary he wrote on behalf of the CSOs that partook in the event, noted that the exchange was "indeed a great session, first of its kind, and a great demonstration of inclusivity and participatory governance in Nigeria by the National Assembly." He said the CSOs had discovered that from time immemorial, budgets in Nigeria have been an up-bottom approach which is against the democratic principle and practice world-wide. "We recommended that henceforth, budget in Nigeria should be a bottom-up approach, open, transparent, all inclusive and participatory, especially at the formation stage, even at implementation and evaluation stages. That is: everybody must have a voice in it."

Adeniyi said that the need to establish an open, inclusive and participatory budget formation is not negotiable and cannot be over emphasized. "We applaud the effort by the National Assembly towards the determination to ensuring increased participation in the process that govern our activities especially the drive towards ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the Senate to pass a document that we all can be proud of." Globally, according to him, there is a growing government involvement of CSOs in budgeting "and in Nigeria, we have begun the process with this interaction with the Senate. We appreciate the partnership hands extended to us by the National Assembly towards formally institutionalizing the CSO-Legislative relationships. As CSO, we shall continue to engage the government in constructive and intellectual ways in ensuring that things are done in the right manner, especially in conformity with the international best practice," he said. 

He further declared that the CSOs who attended the event were satisfied that the National Assembly has taken it upon itself by doing the needful in ensuring that the remaining process of the budget is now open, inclusive and participatory. "We hereby applaud the opportunity given to us by the National Assembly in opening partnership channel with us the CSOs, recognizing us as important and critical elements or components to good governance and democracy at large. Also trusting our input and seeing us as voice to the voiceless and the intermediary between the government and the governed," he said. 

On his part, the Senate President pledged that the observations and inputs on the 2016 budget made by the CSOs at the session would form part of the report of the National Assembly Committees on Civil Society Organizations to the Committees on Appropriation for onward submission to Senate and House of Representatives in plenary. He called on the CSOs and Nigerians to continue to support the National Assembly, as it strives to "acquire and execute critical and suitable programs that are highly beneficial to every citizen of this nation. Everyone here will agree: we have come here today with the determination and resolve to ensure increased citizen participation in the processes that govern our activities here at the legislature. Today’s session on the 2016 Budget is the first of these series of engagements - but I assure you all - it will not be the last. As my colleagues and I have stated on multiple platforms, on previous occasions, and at various events: the National Assembly is actively working towards repositioning its efforts. These steps - though not as complete as some of you may want; and these endeavours - which may not be as perfect as all of us may wish for - are fully intended to ensure that this National Assembly works for and on behalf of every Nigerian, and for the present and future successes of our collective ‘Nigerian Project.’ These sessions might be baby steps to some, but know that little steps are the beginnings of greater outcomes that lead to the positive change that Nigerians voted for at the polls," he said.

Onogu is the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President.

Wike’s Revelations An Indictment Of The Supreme Court —Rivers APC

•Says apex court’s ruling on 2015 Rivers guber election a complete miscarriage of justice 

•Berates Peterside’s critics

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the revelations made by Chief Nyesome Wike about how he won the State Governorship Election dispute at the Supreme Court as an indictment of the apex court. Wike had publicly said during his well-publicised Thanksgiving Service of 7th February, 2016: “He (referring to former governor, Dr. Peter Odili) would call me at midnight to tell me what to do. He will say, ‘go to so, so place’. I took all his advice and here we are today victorious.”

Rivers APC said in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, and issued Tuesday in Port Harcourt that Wike’s confession had ended the mystery about how he procured the shocking judgement considering that Dr. Odili’s wife, Mrs. Mary Odili, is a Justice of the Supreme Court.

“That Wike may have influenced the outcome of the judgement given by the Supreme Court for PDP in Rivers State was further exposed by PDP supporters, who started celebrating the judgement by 9am – almost ten hours before the incredulous judgement was delivered at 6.45pm on Wednesday, January 27, 2016,” Rivers APC said.

The party regretted that Rivers people had by the judgement been denied the opportunity to vote for the governorship candidate of their choice simply because “to Wike, everything in this world, including every judgement, has a price tag.”

Rivers APC aligned itself with the position of the Head of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Committee, Prof. Itse Sagay, that the reasons adduced by the Supreme Court for its judgement on the Rivers guber election are not convincing. According to the erudite Scholar in his reaction titled, ‘Wike Climbed Into The Governorship Seat Over Dead Bodies’: “Everybody knows that people like Wike climbed into the governorship seat over dead bodies and over the blood of human beings. There were no elections, they wrote the results; the evidence is there.” Sagay added that what the Supreme Court has done is to set the clock of electoral excellence and fairness and credibility back by, “ I do not want to say a thousand years, but certainly it is taking us back to where we were before (former INEC Chairman, Prof. Atahiru) Jega came in and sanitised the system.”

The party expressed its conviction that “the blood of our 100 members killed to install Wike as Rivers State Governor will one day touch the minds of the Supreme Court Justices and make them to give correct judgements that will save Nigeria from the shame in the international community occasioned by this unjust judgement.”

The statement also berated those that are criticising the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, for his principled stand on the obvious misleading judgement of the Supreme Court. Dr Dakuku Peterside only quoted what Wike said in Church and drew the attention of the world to it without passing a judgement. The fact remains that Dr Peterside never ever criticized the judiciary. Every person knows that Dr Dakuku Peterside is a man of character and high moral standing. In other climes what Wike said in church could cause an outrage. The party dismissed those criticizing Dr Peterside in this regard as being insensitive to the inviolability and sanctity of life as the 100 souls of APC killed for Gov Wike to be so elected meant nothing to them. To us, these people are ignorant people who do not deserve any serious attention. If anybody or institution is angry, such an institution or fellow should shift their anger to Wike who shamelessly told the entire world how he procured his Supreme Court judgement and leave Dr Peterside out of this sad development in our judiciary.

Mba Flout Minister of Information Directive

Emeka Mba

The sacking of Nigerian Broadcasting Commission Director General, Emeka Mba, has not gone down well with him as he flout the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed's directive and handed over to Armstrong Idachaba, who is a Director in his office.

Mba was supposed to handover to most Senior Director, who is Awalu Salihu but handed over to Armstrong Idachaba.

Awalu Salihu, the Director of Public Affairs is the most senior because he came into service in 1981 while Armstrong Idachaba, who is a Director in the DG's office, came into service in 1996.

The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed need to urgently look into the abnormality which was also experienced in INEC when Prof. Jega handed over to a lower Commissioner while those who are qualified were neglected.

Governor Wike and Burden of Conscience.

By Felix Balogun

It will do our Democratic experience a whole lot good if concerted efforts are made not  only to raise caution against surreptitious dissipation of energy that seeks to revert the gains of the electoral processes but to also ensure that records are  put in the right perspective for the sake of tomorrow. While congratulating Nyesom Wike, on the Supreme Court judgment which 'validated' his election as governor of Rivers state, a victory the erudite Professor Itse Sagay described as won over corpses of Rivers citizens, it's of utmost importance that his current verbiage and vituperations against institutions of state, no less the body that conducted the bloody elections he won, be checked . 

Having secured this landmark but questionable judgment, Mr. Wike had commenced sustained verbal attacks against the INEC which is gearing to conduct very important elections into the annulled seats in the state assembly. In his usual cantankerous  and loquacious way, during the occasion of a "Thanks giving" ceremony, he didn't spare the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in his misplaced  diatribe as well as its Chairman,  Prof Mahmood Yakubu, alleging ,among so many other that claims that the amiable chairman of INEC was being used to grant electoral victory to the opposition APC in the impending elections.

Before the judgment, Wike insisted that the INEC conducted the elections n the state in line with laid down guidelines and vigorously defended the results of the elections that brought him in as governor. Since his victory, he now sings a different tune. What changed? 

As a lawyer, the Governor of Rivers State should know that INEC doesn't just fix dates for elections, but is guided by provisions of the electoral act and in re-run elections, by pronouncements of the courts. So why take umbrage at the announced dates by INEC which has not run foul of any laws? INEC didn't  make the laws, it only implements the laws as  passed by the National Assembly and as interpreted by the judiciary. We agree that our laws are not perfect, shifting the blame and seeing INEC as one that is compromised is uncalled for.

The Rivers State Governor's statement on the days fixed for the rerun of State Assembly Election smacks of mischief as the time for such exercise are stipulated in the electoral acts. It is  unthinkable, ridiculous and uncalled for to accuse the Chairman of INEC of wrongdoing . One expects him to consult the electoral act which is  very unambiguous on whose responsibility it is to fix election dates. If he had clear knowledge of this, he wouldn't have made such comment concerning the INEC Chairman. 

At this point, one wonders if all the accolades poured on the immediate past Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, who supervised the last elections are justified! The number of elections that have so far been cancelled by the courts are unprecedented in the history of elections in Nigeria.  The case of Rivers State is a dirty and embarrassing reference point. Here is a state where  all elected members in its state assembly had their elections annulled for flagrant disregard and a use of electoral processes. That governor Wike had his election validated by the Supreme Court raises a lot of eye brows but that is a matter for another day. Perhaps, Wike senses that another opportunity to cut short his victory is around the corner leading to his current rant and allegation of compromise against the leadership f the INEC. Conscience, indeed , is an open wound. Is the burden of the atrocities committed against poor masses of the state in a bid to secure this "bloody" victory beginning to prick Wike's conscience? 

There is a need to build and strengthen our institutions including INEC. Public office holders should make themselves familiar with the law as enshrined in our constitution and electoral act and walk and act within its fine lines. The change that we desire is only possible when people act within limits of decency and abide by the rule of law. The gunboat tactics which characterized the last elections in Rivers state must not be allowed to repeat. The INEC and indeed , Prof. Mahmood Yakubu ,must not be intimidated, blackmailed or railroaded into allowing the existing statusquo of sham elections to continue. We are particularly pleased that all elections conducted since the assumption of office f this new INEC leadership have seen a departure from the norm. Where substantial malpractice had been witnessed, affecting the eventual outcome of elections, such elections had been cancelled or declared inconclusive, a practice that was alien to the old order. Rivers state will and should not be different. Elections and its outcomes must be determined only by the will of the people as expressed in the number of valid votes cast. For governor Wike, it's time to stop his present campaign of calumny against the INEC and appeal to the people of the state for the election of his preferred candidates. 

Despite Early Warnings To Security Agencies, The Killing Of APC Members Has Resumed In ONELGA

Late Monday-Eleanya

...Police possibly protecting sponsors, covering up their incompetence

After diligent investigations, the Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress [APC] can authoritatively reveal that massive killing of members of the APC in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area [ONELGA] has resumed while the Nigeria Police has woefully failed to provide security for the people of the area.

Last Friday night, suspected members of the Icelanders cult group invaded Omoku and environs where they picked on selected houses of APC members and murdered some of the occupants. By the last count, 26 persons were shot dead and some beheaded. Eyewitness accounts revealed that the attack lasted from early evening up till 10pm and despite calls to the Police for help, there was no response until the killers finished their dastardly mission and left with some of the heads of those they killed.

The APC notes that a few hours later, the Rivers State Police Command came out with a statement blaming the killings on a fight between rival cult groups. This is the most bizarre statement to come out of the Police because they have not, to this moment, named the suspected cult groups. We make bold to ask the Police, what are the names of the suspected cult groups and their kingpins? How did the Police arrive at their conclusion? Why was the Police unable to respond to SOS calls by victims and neighbours for the over 5 hours the killings took place on different streets of Omoku?

We are convinced beyond doubt that the Rivers State Police Command has resorted to a policy of drawing hasty conclusions for the purpose of either hiding their incompetence or protecting the interests of sponsors of the killers or both.

The APC recalls that not too long ago, the party petitioned the President, IGP, Minister of the Interior and others, alerting them of the threat to lives of the people of ONELGA. We are also aware that groups in neighbouring Ahoada East and Ahoada West LGAs have also petitioned relevant authorities with detailed information on the victims of the spate of recent killings in their LGAs and the suspects. Sadly, there appears to be no response on the part of the Police and others to take necessary investigative action at least to unveil and prosecute those behind the killings in order to avert future occurrence.

On January 14, 2016 the Rivers State Chapter of the APC, in a press statement, warned of a plan to commence the killing of APC members in ONELGA. Our evidence was that following security operations carried out by the military on 11/1/2016 at the house of one Igwe Ejima Dibia alias DON WANNIE at Aligu village in ONELGA, members of Icelander cult group and their PDP collaborators held a meeting at about 2300hrs at Obohia in Omoku and concluded that prominent members of the APC will be eliminated irrespective of whether they live in ONELGA or Port Harcourt and other locations in the State as long as they are of ONELGA origin. They alleged that it is the prominent leaders of APC of the LGA that masterminded the raid by the military and the alleged destruction of Don Wannie’s house.

In a press release signed by the State Chairman, Chief [Dr] Davies Ibiamu Ikanya JP, the APC warned: “We call on relevant authorities to take the threat on the life of our members of ONELGA origin and elsewhere very seriously and do the needful to protect the lives and properties of everyone within and outside of ONELGA. We emphasise that given the antecedents of the Icelander cult group and their PDP allies, they are very capable of carrying out their heinous threat especially in ONELGA.”

In less than 24 hours of that warning, an APC Ward 6 Chairman [Mr. Owotor] was shot dead on his street by gunmen. To date, the Police are yet to make public the outcome of their investigation on the killing.

Last week, a member of the APC of ONELGA origin, Hon. Monday Eleanya, was gunned down around Ada-George area of Port Harcourt where he lives. Still in shock over the death of Hon. Eleanya, last Friday, February 12, the orgy of killings, like an episode taken from a horror movie, played out at Omoku.

The APC calls on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to come to the rescue of the people of ONELGA as the primary purpose of government anywhere in the world is the protection of lives and property of the citizens. We do not hesitate to call for the instant sack of the leadership of any security agency that fails to help the government carry out this primary and all-important responsibility of protecting lives and property of the people. We also call on the Presidency, Minister of the Interior, Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and all those who have been petitioned over the insecurity in Rivers State especially in ONELGA, Ahoada East, Ahoada West and Abua/Odual LGAs axis to take urgent steps to stem the ongoing unrestrained killings that have turned the State into a shameful killing field.

Abolish National Assembly It's A Syndicate Scam!

By Bayo Oluwasanmi

“Moribund society creates its own morbid gravediggers. Revolt against injustice is not honorable but it is imperative.” - Karl Max

The indictment letter written to the National Assembly by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo triggers a fresh riot of words in and outside of the National Assembly. If you have have been following the utter mess in the National Assembly, you won't be surprised any more of new absurdities coming from the hollow chamber.

I have some quotes here to help you laugh, or at least, keep you from screaming in frustration. All you need to do is replace the word “Congress” with National Assembly in the quotes:

“Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress...” - Mark Twain

“In my years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a Congress.” - John Adams

“Ancient Rome declined because it had a Senate; now what's going to happen to us with both a Senate and a House?” - Will Rogers

“You can lead a man to Congress, but you can't make him think.” - Milton Berle

I know that there are some few narrow-minded dinosaurs out there would say that abolishing the National Assembly – House and Senate – Houses of Corruption – and transferring the power to the President is unconstitutional. Well, there are not enough such people to worry about. After all, the Houses of Corruption have no regard for the Constitution.

For most part, the Houses of Corruption do things that are idiotic. It's an assembly where people get to do things that are bad, wicked, and unconstitutional. A frat assembly for thieves. They spend money they don't have. They pass laws that they more or less exempt themselves from. They enjoy staffs that tell them how wonderful they are. They lecture the rest of us how patriotic and upstanding they are, and so on. Things cannot look more perilous than this.

The CV of corruption and criminal dossier of majority of members in the National Assembly have scandalized our nation by its magnitude and gall. The magnitude of brazen robbery and corruption make the Houses of Corruption the world's biggest criminal syndicate. For example, nine out of 109 Senators are entangled in criminal cases. With 10 per cent of members of the upper house in criminal proceedings, the composition of the National Assembly reads like FBI most wanted fugitives. 

The National Assembly is a failed institution. It represents  the world's most corrupt and undemocratic legislature. It is the most cockeyed systems of minority rule, one that allows a tiny corrupt coterie to hold Nigerians ransom until their demands are met. Take the issue of exotic cars demanded by the brainless members. Why should we provide them loans or grants to buy cars on top of the outrageous salaries and other criminal allowances and perks they receive which is second to none in the world? One would expect a Nigerian version of the American Million Man March in the streets to protesting against tyranny of the privileged few. But the crowds aren't there.

In Nigeria, members of the Houses of Corruption are paid when they are absent from congressional sessions or are on vacations, or traveling abroad, or doing something else not related to their congregational duties like when they cramped into bus loads to escort in a comedic circus one of their own – the President of Thieves of  the Senate of Thieves – Bukola Mesujamba Saraki to the court. The National Assembly lurches along badly. The record shows. President Obasanjo's letter to the out of whack legislators was timely, appropriate, well placed, courageous, and blunt. But I'll go a step further: Abolish the National Assembly it's a syndicate scam!

How can a National Assembly of crooks, thieves, con artists, looters, forgers really represent my interest and the interests of other Nigerians? The National Assembly is thoroughly and fully corrupt. It's eating up billions of Naira of our economy through bogus salaries, allowances and corruption binge. The National Assembly is a dinosaur that cost Nigerians billions to operate. Never met people from hell – until now. With each legislative agenda that's not relevant to the needs of the Nigerian people, the National Assembly continues to alienate Nigerians. With the absurdities of the absurd on display each day to the world, the National Assembly has moved is legislative offices to hell in close proximity to like minded zombies.

It is good to question the institution that's supposed to serve the people. Can anything good come out of the National Assembly? Not really. Nigeria is in a dire strait. It's a nation where the wisest are perplexed and the boldest staggered. The National Assembly has proven to be an instrument of conspiracy. It is known for its fetish secrecy.  A democratic government that worth its salt must make openness a regular feature of governance. Under the auspices of openness, no evil can continue.

The National Assembly is a disappointing aberration. For 16 years, the country has remained in ruins.  No sector is healthy. For 16 years, the National Assembly didn't give a damn about the state of the nation: no infrastructure, no water to drink, no electricity, no industries, no safety and security, no standard education system, no hospitals, no housing, no criminal justice system. Nothing, absolutely nothing, you can point to that the National Assembly has accomplished other than pass appropriation bills that would fatten their pockets.

My belief that we should abolish the National Assembly because its a syndicate scam may seem too radical. But can any Nigerian tell me in what way has the National Assembly benefited this country since Nigeria returned to democratic rule 16 years ago?  Only a stranger from hell would disagree that the popularity and the respect of this institution is at an all time low. The National Assembly of thieves and thugs has essentially neutered the essence of a representative democracy.

So, let's shut down Abuja, make it a museum city. Get rid of the National Assembly and replace it with a true representative democracy. We each have a vote in democracy. Let's vote on issues important to us. We'll vote directly through a plebiscite on issues.  We'll authorize the President to initiate bills on our behalf. The President and a new set of Supreme Court Justices will provide checks and balances on anything bizarre and outrageous.

The scrapping of National Assembly will be an event of historical collapse. The House and Senate cost tens of billions to operate and maintain. We should be angry. It's taxation without representation. The National Assembly do not represent us. These thieves get elected every year automagically. We the people should form the legislative branch through direct participation and voting. See, we voted them all in there, they serve their own interest, they loot our treasury, and throw those who elected them under the bus.

We can do without the National Assembly. Right now, there is no proof that we have a National Assembly, hence there is no need for it. We're better off without the National Assembly. Nigerians don't feel its impact. Without National Assembly, there will be no constituency allowance, no wardrobe allowance, no furniture allowance, no concubine allowance, no shoe allowance, no transportation allowance, no housing allowance, no sick days allowance, no solidarity allowance for its criminal members, and other primitive allowances. They are paid for doing nothing. The last time the National Assembly worked for its pay was when they shut down the Senate for a circus that accompanied their President, Bukola Mesujamba Saraki to the criminal court.

Ooh, I remember another occasion when the Senators earned their pay for a day's job. That was when three social media terrorists: Bukola Mesujamba Saraki, Dino Melaye, and Ibn Na'Allah unleashed their vitriolic nonsense in support of the anti-social media bill.

We'll do better without the National Assembly. It will take away from the elite few the power to spend money, for they spend money which is not their own. Nigerians who pay taxes should be the ones to decide when and how money is spent. We must take government out of the hands of the few, for it corrupts them when they're given free rein. They spend our money with reckless abandon and without real concern for our people. Records show the National Assembly is not about the welfare of Nigerians but about the greed of the ruling few.

Nigeria is in total ruins with the National Assembly acting on behalf of Nigerians. Nigeria will continue to be in complete ruins if we take a back seat to the arrogance, insensitivity, wickedness, self preservation, looting, and self-serving few in the National Assembly. We cannot trust the National Assembly in running our country, for too few hands rule over too many lives. The National Assembly is power drunk and obdurately blind to the fact that the power they hold to legislate and to vote was given to them by the people. We the people must be in charge.

The National Assembly has turned Nigeria into a wilderness. A wilderness is never pleasant. It tends to be dry, barren, lifeless, and uncomfortable. You tend to get thirsty there and find yourself yearning to be in a place of rest and refreshment. Nigeria is a paradise turned wilderness nation run down by the thieves in the National Assembly.

The National Assembly has become a national liability. We find ourselves in such extreme distress. We're shoved to-and-fro. The National Assembly is inefficient, inept, self-serving, corrupt, and a spendthrift. It has totally lost the respect and trust of  the Nigerian people. “We the people,” President Dwight D. Eisenhower reminds us, “elect leaders not to rule, but to serve.” The National Assembly is the world's most useless and tyrannical legislature.

The National Assembly needs to go!

bjoluwasanmi@gmail.com