The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has made an about turn on the implementation of the N5,000 note as proposed by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN].
Information available to 247ureports.com through sources within the House of Representative indicate that it took the fierce arm twisting action by the leadership of the House of Representative to get the President to back down on the implementation of the N5,000 note.
In particular, the House of Representative members in their session today agreed on a two – prong approach against the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Firstly, the leadership of the House opted to approach the Presidency directly impressing on them that the masses of Nigeria do not want the N5,000 note. And should the presidency refuse to the advice, the House leadership resolved on triggering their second approach – which is to amend the CBN Act.
According to our source, the amendment of the CBN Act will in effect put a tight check on the financial prowess of the CBN Governor. Presently, the legislative arm of the government has no control or supervisory input into the CBN annual budget. So the CBN Governor under the CBN Act is free to make as he pleases with the monies of the CBN.
The House of Representative leadership [two of them] decided to meet with Mr. President to impress on him the available options. The President chose to back down instead.
Given the near total collapse of party supremacy in our current democratic dispensation, and the consequent erosion of internal democracy within our political party structures, it is no wonder that our democracy, though still durable, is however failing in engendering good governance, peaceful co-existence, national unity, stability, growth and development in a united, indivisible and indissoluble Federal Republic of Nigeria. As the dominant governing party in the country, our party, the PDP, not only takes the main blame for these failures but also indeed owes the country the main responsibility to device alternative perspectives to the failed policies of the past with the objective of breaking the circle of failures endemic in our efforts to achieve real participatory democracy in Nigeria since independence. To this end, it is a matter of urgency that PDP members of good standing come together and arrest the drift for the attainment of rapid material development for the country within the matrix of the current Global Democratic Order. Attaining this within the complexity of the extant national politics requires men of courage, honesty and patriotism.
2. Key Issues
In my opinion, there are basically three key issues for consideration and resolution in the much touted, but ill-defined and therefore un-understood current PDP Reform Agenda as enunciated by the National Chairman of the party, Alh. Bamanga Tukur. These are:-
Entrenchment of Internal Democracy;
Entrenchment of Participatory Democracy; and
Institutional Collaboration and Cooperation.
i. Entrenchment of Internal Democracy
It is said that the democratic maturity of a political party is measured by the level of its internal democracy, which comprises basically two key elements;-
The election of party leaderships (EXCO) by members of the party in a free, fair and transparent manner; and
The nomination of Party Candidates (Primaries) for elective public offices by party members also in a free, fair and transparent manner.
These two elements constitute internal democracy. Their entrenchment in the electoral process automatically vests all powers in the hands of the people at all levels of the party organs. The central benefit of this is the widening and entrenching of participatory democracy, while also guaranteeing fairness, level-playing field and justice to all its members and aspirants in all manner of elections within the party. Also, given the fact that the right to vote and be voted for in a political party is an inalienable right of a member, the entrenchment of internal democracy guarantees the exercise of this right to all members. This naturally reduces friction and conflict and creates harmony and amity within the party that will help it capture and retain the support and confidence of the people, and thence give rise to good governance at the higher level in the polity. Conversely, where these elements are lacking, there will be no democracy; instead, there will be anarchy – the central problem facing the country today.
To attain Internal Democracy, certain conditions-precedent must be met. Central of which is the establishment and maintenance of a standard Membership Register as stipulated in our party constitution. This is a key requirement because other than providing membership data, it is the Foundational Electoral College for the operation of Internal Democracy – i.e. party democracy. It is therefore important that our party starts the process of upgrading, harmonizing and standardizing its Membership Registers as the first step to a successful reform programme. The simple truth is that without a standard and authentic Party Register, there is no political party. To date, INEC is waiting in vain for over three years for the PDP to submit to the Commission its comprehensive Membership Registers across the country. To all intents and purposes, PDP does not know the strength of its members simply because it has no comprehensive Standard Membership Registers. This is the first failure in entrenching Internal Democracy in party politics.
It is recommended that the party takes the 9 states listed by INEC for the rescheduling and re-conducting of congresses as Pilot Schemes for the test operation of this process. Its successful implementation in these states would then lay the basis for a nation-wide application of the reform programme.
ii. Entrenchment of Participatory Democracy
Once Internal Democracy takes root in the electoral processes of the party, a central element of participatory democracy is achieved. What simply remains is the establishment of wide and permanent institutional network and channel of communication for consultations and dialogue among the apparatuses and leaderships of all the party organs, stakeholders and financial supporters in all important matters relating to elections, appointments, policy formulation and implementation. This will reduce acrimony and conflict, and conversely create trust for the party leadership and cohesion for the party itself.
To resolve all outstanding issues, conflicts and fractions within the party, all decisions of party affairs must be taken on the bases of law and regulations and not on the bases of vested interests as is currently the vogue. This is the core cause of most conflicts and grievances of members in the party. To this end, I suggest that all aggrieved members are invited by the party leadership, listened to on their grievances and take just and fair decisions on ways and manner of addressing them and resolving the problems at hand. Also, the party leadership should invite all members of the party that are currently in court against the party with a view to addressing their complaints and resolving such issues out of court. To this end, the spirit of give and take in a convivial brotherly manner is to be adopted by the party. Finally, a soft landing ground is devised by the party leadership for all aggrieved members who left the party to return. Such measures should include weaver on the two-year eligibility to contest elections within and under the party platform, lost of seniority, etc. on deserving cases. It is recommended that very responsible and credible party elders and members, based on their collective stature, the information and knowledge they possess in the course of their participations in partisan politics over the years, are centrally involved in the full formulation and implementation of the reform processes.
iii. Institutional Collaboration and Cooperation
This denotes the party leadership works in close collaboration with appropriate institutions and organs of government, democratic institutions and civil society organizations nationally and internationally. Such bodies include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Federal, States and Local Govt. Councils, the Legislature, the Judiciary, National and International Elections Monitoring Groups, the Media, etc. The significance of this collaboration and cooperation is to create synergy and harmonious relationships with these bodies as they are inextricably connected in several ways to the due discharge of the functions and functioning of the political party. Any serious and constant conflict and crisis with such groups will hamper the operations and fortunes of the party in any mature democratic setting. The fundamental essence, and outcome, of such cooperation, however, is the instilment of due process and rule of law in political and party affairs in the country. This will greatly help in not only securing and installing the right person – a wise and a trustworthy leader who is well versed on the essence of leadership – but also producing good leadership that is sincere, accountable, transparent and responsible. This is the central concentrate of elections in party politics.
As an immediate measure, the party should without any further delay comply with the latest report and advice of INEC on the rescheduling of fresh congresses in the 9 states listed in its 4th April, 2012 letter to the National Chairman of the party. This is critically important to restore both INEC’s, members’ and Nigerians’ confidence in the party and in the country’s democracy. This is a sacred duty that the PDP NWC owes Nigeria.
3. Conclusion
It is expected that once such a reform agenda is implemented to the letter, it will be a major departure from the impunity and lawlessness of the past and help bring about not only a positive public perception of the party but also a foremost impact on the electoral fortunes of the party. This approach will help create for the PDP in particular and Nigeria’s democracy in general a high level of organization, a sincere and purposeful leadership, an enlightened and politically conscious citizenry, and an honest and responsive political class working purely for the sole benefit of the people within popular-based democratic cultures relevant to our environment, compatible with our mores and benefiting from diligent application and absorption of the traditional knowledge and practices of our people. Accomplishing this will no doubt help break our failure syndrome and bring about the much desired but seemingly elusive dream of moving our country to an advantageous position within the new global order capable of restoring the pride and dignity of Africa and Africans.
Former President Aide Appeals to Anambra Govt on Rojenny Oba
In less than two months, some African (black) Americans who recently traced their Origin to Igbo land through DNA test will embark on a home coming to Igbo land to identify with their ancestral home land. They are expected to arrive at Rojenny Tourist village Oba ahead of the Obibia Eri Festival at Aguleri Otu
To this end, the chief organizer of the visit and former special Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Art and Culture Professor Catherine Acholomu has appealed to the Government of Anambra state to take urgent measures to upgrade Rojenny Tourist Village for the comfort of the histrionic home coming of the Igbos from the yanks land
Professor Acholonu stated that Rojenny was choused to host the visitors because of its atmosphere of nature with great tourist attraction, assuring that the visitors would be very comfortable in Oba if the facilities at Rojenny are up graded to appreciable standard.
She decried the poor condition of virtually all facilities in Rojenny particularly the stadium which looks like war relics, adding that the amusement park, the club house, the zoo and the environment are not just in good shape. She however noted that facilities like the refurbished Bat Soneco Hotel and Suites, the swimming pool and the tennis court are in good shape to some level of degree
She commended the proprietor chief Rommy Ezeonwuka for his efforts in establishing and maintaining Rojenny to the best of his abilities, calling on Anambra State Government to aid Rojenny village to enable it regain its status as a wonderful Tourist and Games Village East on the Niger.
DNA test: Black American traces their Origin to Igbo land, set to come home
The African (Black) Americans who exist in American lands of the US, Canada, South American and Caribbean countries have traced their origin to Igbo land following Deoxyribo-Nudeic-Acid (DNA) test conducted by researchers. And following the discovering however, the black Americans are set to come home to identity with their ancestral home of Igbo land.
A renowned researcher on art, culture and history Professor Catherine Acholonu disclosed this to journalists in press briefing in Onitsha. Professor Acholornu informed that the proposed historic home coming to Igbo land by black Americans is a home coming of those who were sold to the white men during the era of slave trade.
The renowned researcher who is a one-time Presidential Adviser to former President Oluseguu Obasanjo on Art and Culture also told journalists that American based firm NAUAS Int’l Consortium Inc USA in collaboration with Catherine Alcholonu Research Center is partnering with Anambra State Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to organize the historic home coming.
She said that on arrival, the visitors will stay at Rojenny Village Oba from where they will go to places like Eri Palace in Enugu Aguleri and others places like Igbo Ukwu Mesuem, Ogbunike cave, Agulu Lake and Omambala River etc.
She stated that there is going to be an exercise to cleanse the visitors off the stigma of slave trade to be carried out at Omambala River noting that the visitors would find ways to fully integrate into the lives of Ndi Igbo.
Her words “they are going to hence forth be part and parcel of the Igbo people and as such would grab every opportunity to settle, participate and contribute to the all affairs of Ndi Igbo through the help of the state Government, traditional rulers, town union, churches and other bodies.
“For example, a governor or a traditional can say okay take this land and develop it as residential apartment in other words a village or community or town could adapt them as members of their entity and I can assure you that anybody that could be able to recognize them with such opportunity wont regret it.
The Professor who made shocking revelation on history saying that the Igbo man is the father of civilization, science and language informed that the Igbo man is the original father of the Jews contrary to popular impression that the Igbos are from the Jews land.
“No I don’t agree with you, the Jews are from Igbo land, not the Igbo from Jews, you see we have to rewrite history because a lot of things they tell us about history are wrong, a lot of them” he added.
Today, the scheduled date for the Federal High Courts at Abuja to begin hearing on charges brought against the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] failed to seat.
Information available to 247ureports.com indicates that the Judge adjudicating the case was not in attendance owing to a conflicting engagement in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. Nigerian Judges are reported to be having a conference in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom.
All court seating was, as a result, shifted to Monday September 24, 2012.
The former of Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva was not present at the court.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State directs traffic to clear the gridlock on the Ore-Benin expressway yesterday
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has urged the Federal Government to expedite work on the Benin-Ore road to ameliorate the suffering suffered by motorists on the road on a daily basis. He also urged the contractors to work at night to ensure free flow of traffic in the day.
Speaking yesterday when he helped to direct traffic on the road to ease the gridlock, the governor said man-hours are unnecessarily wasted on the road.
He urged the Federal Road Maintenance Agency doing remedial work on the road and other contractors working on the road to work at night so that the road may be free in the day for motorists.
He said: “when you are doing a job on a Federal highway, you must do it fast, preferably do it at night to avoid unnecessary traffic and even accidents.”
The governor who was on his way to Evbonogbon in Ovia South West local Government Area of the state to flag off the local immunization days in the state was stuck in the gridlock and helped to clear the traffic for over an hour before proceeding on his journey.
Some of the motorists said they had been stuck in the traffic several hours due to portion of the road being worked on by FERMA.
Further secret filming of Mitt Romney has emerged, with the US presidential candidate appearing to declare how he would carry out a terrorist attack on America if he was leader of Iran.
It comes after footage of the Republican secretly being filmed telling donors his job was “not to worry” about the 47% of American voters who back President Obama because they pay no income tax and depend on the state for healthcare, food and housing.
At the same donors meeting, held in Florida in May, Mr Romney said: “If I were Iran, a crazed fanatic, I’d say let’s get a little fissile material to Hezbollah, have them carry it to Chicago, and then if anything goes wrong, or America starts acting up, we’ll just say, ‘Guess what? Unless you stand down, why, we’re going to let off a dirty bomb’.
“I mean this is where we have – where America could be held up and blackmailed by Iran, by the mullahs, by crazy people. So we don’t have any option but to keep Iran from having a nuclear weapon.”
The remarks made pundits raise further questions about his foreign policy credentials.
New films, posted on the internet by left-leaning magazine Mother Jones, also showed Mr Romney seemingly dismiss Middle East peace talks.
He said: “I look at the Palestinians not wanting to see peace anyway, for political purposes, committed to the destruction and elimination of Israel, and these thorny issues, and I say there’s just no way.
“You move things along the best way you can. You hope for some degree of stability, but you recognise that this is going to remain an unsolved problem – and we kick the ball down the field and hope that ultimately, somehow, something will happen and resolve it.”
Meanwhile, President Obama has used an appearance on a popular US talk show to respond to Mr Romney’s remarks that nearly half of Americans are “victims” who depend on the government.
Speaking on the Late Show with David Letterman, Mr Obama said that the occupant of the White House must “work for everyone, not just for some”.
He added: “One thing I’ve learned as president is that you represent the entire country. There are not a lot of people out there who think they are victims or simply entitled.”
Mr Romney, who held a hastily convened press conference following the leaked videos, has since insisted that his comments are evidence of a fundamental difference with Mr Obama’s Democrats over the economy, adding the US government should not “take from some to give to the others”.
Despite Mr Romney’s remarks, the presidential race remains neck-and-neck with just seven weeks to go until voters go to the polls on November 6.
According to the latest AP-GfK poll, Mr Obama is supported by 47% of likely voters and Mr Romney by 46%.
The Rivers State Chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN says the State Government lied that the government of Germany invited the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi on study tour.
The party came out with this in a press statement issued in Port Harcourt and signed by the Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, while reacting to comments credited to the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari.
The Commissioner had in a press briefing in Port Harcourt said that the Rivers State Governor was invited on a study tour by the government of Germany.
The ACN insists that the Rivers State Government lied.
According to the party, “we have it on good authority and documentary too, that Governor Rotimi Amaechi was not invited by the government of Germany. Rather, Amaechi was the person who solicited to meet with a local official of the German government”
The party further insists that all the media propaganda about Amaechi’s visit to Germany was only aimed at deceiving Rivers people from questioning his frequent overseas trips.
‘’It is laughable that Amaechi is still studying how to build low cost houses, vocational studies and other methods of German education, 6 years as a Governor of Rivers State” Jerry Needam asserted .
“When will Amaechi settle down and deliver on his campaign promises?’’ Jerry Needam further queried.
The ACN Spokesman said the failure of Governor Amaechi to deliver on his promises and recorded as embarking on about 200 overseas trips, without tangible results, in the name of study tours, underscores his lack of vision.
The party called on Governor Amaechi to bring to bear on Rivers people and economy of the state the benefits of his foreign trips to justify the tax payers’ money spent on the numerous overseas trips.
Russian Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov. (AFP photo/Andrey Smirnov)
US authorities said the Twitter post by the leader of Russian communists in which he harshly commented on the US ambassador’s death at the hands of rioting mob in Libya would not be left without consequences.
Earlier this week Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF), said in his official Twitter feed that the US ambassador to Libya was “shot like a dog”, adding that the diplomat had reaped what he had sown.
Officials in the United States expressed outrage over the comment and also said they were surprised by it, as Zyuganov has previously maintained close contacts with the US Embassy in Moscow.
Russia’s business daily Kommersant quoted a source in the US State Department as saying that there were a number of reciprocal measures that would demonstrate by example its attitude to such statements.
A source in President Obama’s administration told the newspaper that it was unlikely that Zyuganov would manage to maintain his previous warm relations with the US embassy, but there would be no public announcements for the time being.
However, Zyuganov must expect the reaction will be harsh in the extreme after the November presidential poll, the sources stated, adding that this will happen regardless of who wins the elections.
Initially, Gennady Zyuganov’s aides told the press that the Twitter account was maintained by a certain member of the press service, who claimed that he only typed his boss’s speech, word for word.
After the story broke in the conventional press, Zyuganov personally issued a comment claiming that his words had been taken out of context and distorted by the press service. He said that the actual comment was much longer and more than 10 people heard it, but the press service compressed it to just two or three phrases.
The Communist leader then went on to express his real stance on the present events in the world. He told reporters that the interference of the NATO member states in the internal affairs of other countries has recently put the world on the brink of a major war and that “all North Africa, Middle East, Syria have turned into a bloody mess.”
He said that no normal person would feel happy over the fact that the violence spreads to civilians and even diplomatic offices, but immediately added that it was the US politics of interference that had turned against the United States itself.
“This same ambassador participated in the actual military campaign against the Libyan leadership, gave instructions and finances and NATO troops bombed them from the air, turning the country into ruins,” Zyuganov said.
He added that the “shot like a dog” comment was about Muammar Gaddafi and was made a long time ago, but he had to bring it up again to show how neglecting the Muslim traditions turns against the US embassy and its representatives.
“All this violence and barbarism causes regret. But we must remember that those who sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind. This is the essence of my statement,” Zyuganov told the press.
An Abuja based Non-Governmental Organization, Movement for Equality and Justice (MEJ), has called on the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Muhammed, to hasten the return of the national honor bestowed on him penultimate Saturday by President Goodluck Jonathan and to direct all FCDA agencies to refund public funds wasted to congratulate him in the media for the undeserved honor.
In a press release made available to journalists signed by Chief Andrew Effiong JP, it was stated that despite the glaring failure to deliver service to the FCT and several petitions bordering on corrupt practices against his administration, the minister had the guts to walk tall in the midst of those he short changed to collect an award he does not deserve.
“The national honor is being abused because even those with questionable character and glaring failure are recipients. It appears the committee charged with the responsibility of screening nominees has outlived its usefulness and should be disbanded”.
The release added that since there are several outcries on the demolishing exercise of 19 towns and villages by the minister and several other petitions calling for his sack and probe, the minister should honorably return the award to save his face from further ridicule and restore the confidence of the people in the award and its prestige.
“President Goodluck should call for a thorough probe of how the list of recipients was drawn and the yardstick used. If sincerity and commitment were applied, the likes of FCT minister and several others that made the list could not have appeared”, it was stated.
The Action Congress of Nigeria has expressed grave concern and anxiety over what it sees as a deliberate ploy to deny it right to justice and frustrate its right of appeal in the Adamawa Governorship Election Tribunal by the Court of Appeal
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed,the party described as curious and worrisome the fact that as of today the 19th of September, a mere three days before the appeal becomes statute barred, the Court of Appeal has neither constituted a panel nor fixed a date for the hearing of the appeal
Mindful of section 285(7) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended which says that an appeal from a decision of an Election tribunal or court shall be heard and disposed of within 60 days from the date of the delivery of the judgement of the Tribunal, the party filed and served all processes within the time stipulated by law and by the 5th of September 2012, that is 14 days ago, the Appeal was ripe for hearing. Concerned by the silence from the Court of Appeal despite this, two separate letters of reminder were addressed to the Acting President of the Court of Appeal , all to no avail, the party explained
In the opinion of the party the only logical conclusion for this bizarre conduct of the Court of Appeal in this matter is that it deliberately wants to deny the Party and its candidate the right to be heard, as it is the law now that once an election petition appeal even without any fault of the Petitioner/ Appellant cannot be heard and determined within 60 days from the date of the delivery of the Tribunal’s judgement -in this case by the 22nd of September 2012- such a petition has ceased to exist and by implication becomes statute barred.
Nerves are are already severely frayed in the country today and the Court of Appeal is advised not to use the excuse of the expiration of 60 days to deny the party and its candidate the right to justice as this will be an invitation to chaos and further erosion of the confidence of the people in the Nigerian Judiciary, which at the moment is not enjoying any rave review, the party warned.
The party therefore calls on the National Judicial Council to prevail on the Court of Appeal not to lend itself to an act of electoral injustice by the forcible imposition of a contrived time lapse on its appeal and proceed immediately to constitute a panel and fix a date for the hearing of the appeal before the expiration of the 60 days allowed by law.
