Politics
Crisis In PHALGA: Who Is Right?
Democracy is an egalitarian form of government in which citizens of a nation determine public policy, the laws and the actions of their state, requiring that all citizens have equal opportunity to express their opinion.
The most common system deemed “democratic” in modern world is parliamentary system of government in which the voting public take part in elections and choose politicians to represent them. Such representatives take decisions on behalf of those they represent at whatever level, such as int he legislative arm of government.
The term “democracy”, comes from the Greek word, onjuokaria (demokratia), meaning “rule of the people,” which was coined from orjuo (demos) meaning “people,” and kpator (kratos) meaning “power in the middle of the 5th-4th century BC, to denote the political systems that existed in some Greek states, notably Athens, following a popular uprising in 508BC.
Elements considered essential to democracy include freedom of political expression, freedom of speech and freedom of the press, so that citizens are adequately informed and able to vote according to their own best interests, as they see them.
Democracy is often used as shorthand for liberal democracy, which may include elements such as political pluralism, equality before the law,the right to petition elected officials for redress of grievances, due process, civil liberties, human rights and elements, civil society outside the government.
Nigeria operates the presidential system of government and have three tiers of government: the Federal, States and the Local Governments. The composition of the Local Governments Areas was to create and ensure development in these parts of the country.
It is on this ground that the idea of separation of powers, checks and balances came to be. Separation of power is a doctrine which provides a separate authority that makes it possible for the authority to check others.
The implication is that the functions of the three arms of government should be carried out by separate bodies of the people. so that each could act as a check against the other to avoid the concentration of power in the hands of a few.
The doctrine is associated with French philosopher, Montesquieu, and the clearest example of this is found in the American Constitution where the legislative power of the federation is vested in a Congress, the executive power is vested in the president and judicial power in the supreme court
This system was designed to ensure that the two arms of government have different functions, while the executive have the sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state or local government, as the case may be. the legislature is the arm of government that makes laws.
The executives also have the power to enforce laws made by the legislature.
The legislature therefore is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend and repeal laws. It has an exclusive authority to raise and adopt the budget and other money bills.
With the foregoing in view, the crisis in the port Harcourt City council in Rivers State, where the executive and legislative assembly have been at logger-head for over one month is something to be worried about.
Many have said the essenced of electing those at the head of affairs have been defeated following the continued in-house fighting over who leads the legislature.
The two arms have not worked together since after the election and inauguration of the two arms last year. Things became worst when the Chairman of the local Government, Hon Chimbiko Akarolo returned to the council after his suspension was lifted in January.
Akarolo was among the 12 local government chairmen suspended last December by the executive Governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi. The suspension, according to the Governor, was to ensure that the chairmen live up to their responsibilities by delivering dividends of democracy to their people.
Many analysts believed that the Chairmen became lords soon after they were elected into office. They no longer attended meetings to brain storm on how to help the state government develop their areas. These 12 Chairmen became scape goats when a meeting of stakeholders was called in December by Governor Chibuike Amaechi with only 11 chairmen in attendance.
Their attitudes did not go down well with the Governor, who had stated his determination to ensure that all parts of the state is developed. He suspended the 12 chairmen and swore in their Deputy two days later to handle the affairs of their local governments with a view to ensuring development.
The story of the Port Harcourt City council started in February when Hon Endurance Elenwo, councilor representing the council in Ward 15, wrote a petition on misappropriation, Gross misconduct, abuse of office and misinformation meted by the house leader, Mr Kingsly Owhonda Amadi of the legislative Assembly.
Mr Elenwo, while moving a motion to impeach Mr Amadi as the leader, noted that members of the legislative assembly were sworn into office on June 3rd and the leader declared the sum of three Million, five hundred naira as house vote whereas, the sum of Four Million was released by the executive chairman.
According to the letter, dated 20th February, Mr Elenwo noted that upon being confronted, Mr Amadi, admitted but could not explain the whereabout of the remaining five hundred thousand naira.
The letter further noted that in December,2011,the sum of two hundred thousand naira was released for Mock session of the house to Mr Amadi, the house leader, by the executive chairman and he, Amadi, declared One hundred thousand and also could not account for the remaining One hundred thousand Naira.
These and many other reasons culminated in the impeachment of the leader. It was learnt that 13 councillors, which represents the majority, and two third voted for the impeachment of Mr Kingsly Owhonda Amadi as the leader of the Port Harcourt City Legislative Assembly which subsequently elected Bar. Linda Amadi as leader.
It was learnt that the situation did not go down well with the Executive, headed by the Chairman, Hon Chimbiko Akarolo, who insisted that the impeached Leader must be reinstated.
The matter has gone through a long process of settlement from government House, to the State security service,(SSS), Police command as well as the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
In each of these, the question raised by the Councilors was “why is the chairman interested in a legislative matter and a man that was been alleged to have misappropriate funds.”
The story, funny as it may sound, became more worrisome even when the Clerk of the House, who would have protected the house went on to conduct an illegal meeting or sitting by the so-called minority. News have it last week that the Chairman, Hon Chimbiko Akarolo presented his 2012 budget to six councilors presided over by the impeached leader.
The crisis which took another dimension also believed that the six councilors have approved the budget and the impeached leader went to court after one week of impeachment.
But the new leader, Barrister Linda Amadi, insisted that the Majority councilors are not going back and would fight to the end. She also noted that the Clerk of the House, who witnessed the Impeachment of Mr Amadi and was faulty alongside the Chairman, who has decided to frustrate the legislative assembly
She noted that the majority have written to authorities and recommended punishment for the Clerk while the Assembly may proceed on Impeachment on the chairman.
Many stakeholders in the local government have questioned the Chairman on his interest in involving in legislative matters ,instead of concentrating on his administrative and executive work.
The in-house fight between the two arms of the local government has paralysed the development of the area. Many believe that the present executive has failed in its efforts to represent the people in all ramifications of governance, noting that after about 10 months, the administration has not embarked on projects that would impart on the people.
Sources say that the continuous in-house fight would force the state government to dissolve the council to allow peace rain.
Having analysed the scenario, however the question is “who is right and who is wrong?” Majority is often listed as a characteristic of democracy. But it is also possible for a minority to be oppressed by a tyranical majority in the absence of governmental or constitutional protections of individual or group rights. In the case, there is a Government and a constitution.
As the drama of who is at fault continue to unfold without a defined code, those who are authors in the game should also note that Port Harcourt is the capital of Rivers State, the “Treasure base of the nation” and that many are interested in the intrigues, and of the executive and the legislature of the Port Harcourt Local government.
Politics
Alia Denies Calling For Ganduje’s Resignation
Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has denied calling for the resignation of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday in Makurdi by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Tersoo Kula.
The Tide source reports that the CPS was reacting to some media reports that the governor had called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.
Kula said the governor at no time called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.
He said the governor enjoyed a good relationship with the Ganduje-led leadership of the APC.
“It is imperative to clarify that at no point did Governor Alia assembled, attended and sent a representative or participated in any meeting to discuss the removal or call for resignation of Alhaji. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
“The Benue State governor remains firm in his support and allegiance to the leadership of the National Working Committee of the APC, under the leadership of Alhaji Ganduje.
“Furthermore, at no point, whether publicly or privately, has the governor advocated or expressed any desire for the resignation of the national party chairman”, he said.
He said the governor was focused on positively changing the fortunes of the state.
“He is alive to his responsibilities as the leader of APC in Benue State and is doing everything legitimate to reposition the party for future victories,” Kula said.
Politics
LP Re-Elects Abure As National Chairman
The embattled national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Julius Abure, has been re-elected for a second term by a unanimous affirmation of delegates despite the protests by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The Chairman of the National Convention and Deputy Governor of Abia State, Mr. Ikechukwu Emetu declared him the winner during the party’s national convention that held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday.
Other serving officers of the party were also returned unopposed.
Recall that the NLC had called for Abure’s resignation as party chairman and the immediate constitution of a caretaker transition committee to organize an all-inclusive national convention for the party.
Meanwhile, a factional chairman of the Labour Party in Anambra State, Mr Peter Okoye has boasted that the Nnewi national convention will not stand.
Describing the convention as a sham, Okoye said: “This is not a convention. We are on top of the matter. It’s purely illegal.
“There was no ward congress, no local government congress, no state congress, and now who and who are the elected delegates that are electing the National Working Committee, NWC, members?
“The NLC was not there, TUC was not there, the owners of the party and members of the NEC and BOT members were not there too. So, who is holding the convention?”
Politics
Suswam Blames External Forces For Problems In PDP
Former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is being undermined by external forces which have rendered the party ineffective as a viable opposition.
Senator Suswam stated this during a live television interview on Wednesday.
He lamented that the party had since after the 2023 general elections failed to live up to expectations of Nigerians as a viable opposition.
Senator Suswam, who blamed the current PDP leadership for the ineffective state of the largest opposition party in the country, said unless there is an overhaul of its leadership, the party would “go nowhere” because the current leadership has lost focus.
He said, “I think there are subterranean forces inferring in the party and they are determining what is going on in the party. And the leadership is acquiescing to it.
“Subterranean suggests that people are trying to control the party from the outside. They are controlling the party from the outside and they are keeping the party in a comatose state.”
The Benue senator accused the party of refusing to call a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to help resolve some of the issues arising in the party.
He regretted the inability of the party to resolve the fallout of the 2022 presidential primary election which saw a group of five governors work against the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election.
He added that the inability of the Iliya Damagum-led leadership to discipline erring party members worsened the situation.
Senator Suswam said it was wrong for the party not to have sanctioned the G-5 governors and their allies who openly declared that they would remain in the party and work against its interest.
“They were not sanctioned which made others become emboldened to act anyway they wanted. PDP has been weakened since then,” he said.
He said no serious organisation does that, stressing that, “A serious organisation would apply sanctions” based on the laid down rules as contained in its constitution.
He further accused the acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, of occupying the position which belongs to the North-Central zone, following the removal of the substantive chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, who hails from the zone.
Amb. Damagum, who was the Deputy National Chairman (North), hails from the North-East zone but was, as permitted by the party’s constitution, made acting chairman after Ayu’s removal by a court order.
The party’s law provides that the deputy chairman from the same region as the chairman takes over in the event of the latter’s removal from office.
Senator Suswam further lamented that “PDP is comatose now, and nothing can happen now,” adding that it was regrettable that politicians are now preferring to hold talks with smaller parties and not the PDP.
Noting that the PDP was at the precipice, Senator Suswam said, “Until we provide that leadership, PDP will not be a viable platform. We need to overhaul the leadership of the party. There is no pretence about it, everybody in PDP knows it. Without discipline and reconciliation, the party goes nowhere.”
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