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Envy Not INEC …Beyond APC Registration
L-R: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Mohammed; Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe and Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja last Wednesday
Nigeria’s ultimate electoral umpire, Prof Attahiru Jega might have had the most peaceful sleep, last week Wednesday, July 31, 2013. It was the day the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shed the dangerous bone in its throat-the All Progressive Congress (APC), a merger of three opposition political parties. They are the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC.
Since June 12, when, the interim leadership of the merging parties submitted its request to shed their previous identities and merge into a single party, APC, there had been all colours of suspicion, intrigues, threats, false or true alarms, hope and fears. And when on July 1, 2013, INEC eventually replied the new party leadership with a request for more documents the rumour mill went hay wire, not to forget threats of public protests.
First accusation was that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was scared stiff of the emerging APC that it was influencing the INEC to deny it registration. It was even more so, when another political association also seeking registration, the African Peoples Congress (APC) challenged the intended registration of the All Progressive Congress (APC). The questions were: Should the merger be denied because the acronym APC sounds like the association also seeking registration? Should INEC refuse an APC merger when the three parties involved, ACN, ANPP and CPC were already full-fledged registered parties, in preference for an APC still awaiting registration.
Morally, the answers were clearly in favour of the merging APC but legally, there still were issues awaiting interpretation before a court of competent jurisdiction. It was in the middle of that, APC was registered last Wednesday by INEC amidst loud commendation for INEC by members of the merger.
Expectedly, INEC has in the past few days enjoyed the most opposition approval and praise. Infact, key opposition politicians like leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former Lagos State Governor Bola Timibu, CPC leader Major-General Muhammadu Buhari and indeed the Progressive Governors Forum poured encomiums on INEC in ways never seen since 1999, with many describing it as responsible, unbiased and indeed patriotic.
Unfortunately, these are words that shift as quickly and often as Nigeria’s political pendulum, depending on which party or individual is at the receiving end. Infact, here in Nigeria a politician sees a political umpire as unbiased only when the outcome is favourable and biased when the opposite is fact.
In his re-election bid as Governor of Edo State, last year, Adams Oshiomhole virtually blackmailed both President Goodluck Jonathan and INEC to win. In weeks leading to the election, Oshiomhole sang Jonathan’s praise for his contribution to democracy by breaking away with the past, when, incumbent Presidents did everything to wrest power from opposition party-ruled states.
In near frequent public rallies Oshiomhole told the Edo electorate that Jonathan had assured Nigerians, and he believed him that the people’s vote would count. In same manner, he lavished encomiums on Jega, INEC chairman, describing him as a man of integrity, impartial umpire and indeed rare nationalist.
Even so, Oshiomhole did not take chances and caused early results to be announced even while, still praising the INEC and President Jonathan, and vilifying the ruling PDP to such extents that painted the picture that President Jonathan belonged to another party other than the ruling PDP.
When the elections ended and Oshiomhole was declared winner, he expressed total faith in INEC and commended Jonathan for keeping his promise to deepen democracy. Not too long after, Oshiomhole became the comrade governor that found the duo of INEC and Jonathan as dangers to democracy, over perceived delay by INEC in registering APC.
What of Buhari? A man who, so sure that Nigerians needed him as their President in 2011, but suspicious of the same INEC and the ruling party, threatened bloodbath and afterwards describing INEC as a ministry in the ruling government, is today praising the same electoral umpire’s neutrality, for summoning the courage to register APC against perceived fears of and opposition to the project by the PDP.
One lesson that must be learnt of Nigerian politics is that politicians speak the truth when it is favourable especially if it concerns institutions like INEC, the Judiciary and the Press, and cry blue murder when the tide ebbs against them.
For instance, Nigeria’s judiciary tasted the most lavish of praises, Thursday, July 25, 2013 when an Abuja High Court restrained the ruling PDP from further proceeding to conduct its planned special national convention slated for last Saturday August 3, 2013. The opposition described the judiciary as the last hope of the common man that seemed bent on checking the culture of impunity. It praised the courage of the court in standing for the truth and that way, helped to save the nation’s democracy.
Can anyone stop to imagine if an Abuja High Court had restrained INEC from registering APC the time it did? Would it not be blamed on PDP or the federal government? Is it normal, judging by history of African leaders to expect judicial statements unfavourable to the ‘throne’? Bottomline is that whatever the judiciary does, someone must describe as either great and gruesome and fair judgment or miscarriage of justice. Just like INEC.
This is why INEC and APC should savour the moment while it lasts. APC is happy, and rightly so, that it had its way and sees INEC as unbiased. This should be permanent, in good times and bad times, for better for worse. But the only way to ensure that, is for the opposition to develop a positive integer, aware that the fight to unseat a party that has been in power since 1999, will surely require more than one and half years and more than three, not too-successful opposition parties, to wish away.
It is even more so, when viewed from the facts that even with the merger of the three parties, the APC’s political fortunes still do not match the PDP, the APC’s biggest gamble being, that some key members of the ruling party, particularly governors, Senators and members of the House of Representatives may jump ship. That remains to be seen but the facts are clear that to PDP, APC remains codine.
With merger of ACN, ANPP and CPC, APC now parades 10 governors, with one other on individual basis. They are Kashim Shettima, Borno (ANPP), Adams Oshiomhole, Edo (ACN), Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti (ACN) and Babatunde Raji Fashola, Lagos (ACN).
The others are Tanko Almakura, Nassarawa, (CPC), Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun (ACN), Rauf Aregbosola, Osun (ACN), Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo (ACN), Ibrahim Geidam, Yobe (ANPP) and Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, Zamfara (ANPP) while, Rochas Okorocha, Imo State governor’s party, APGA’s total merger still remains shrouded in intra-party confusion.
Sadly, in 1999, the PDP which controlled only 21 states, today has 23 states, the federal capital, Abuja and the Presidency. This means, rather than making necessary inquests, the opposition has lost grounds. The merger of the three dominant opposition (not sure CPC fits) parties, it must be stressed, does not and should not be expected to translate into automatic victory. This is why positive integer is necessary: One that does not expect too much, accepts any outcome no matter how modest and not the over-estimation, the APC seems to be enjoying.
APC can only become a true alternative to PDP with a truly progressive, clear-cut, different ideology that clearly convinces the electorate of its service agenda, far different from the known; shed tribal garbs, ensure party discipline and internal democracy at the same time, to ensure harmonisation of various interests and individual ambitions, wear a national toga and most importantly, be ready to face and address the dangers of a marriage of strange-bed fellows which the new party, has inadvertently become.
How progressive for instance, should say a Tofa be perceived by the new ensemble after publicly opposing what June 12, represents and calling it, history, a complete departure from the progressives’ viewpoint? What of Buhari whose only reason to remain in partisan politics seems the Presidency? What of the like of Nuhu Ribadu who believes that the Presidency is the North’s in a merger, where, majority view must count, in this case, the ACN’s. Or is the ACN of the view that it is incapable of producing a national figure, popular enough to become President of Nigeria? What of plans to address the interests of possible fresh comers from other parties, including PDP vis-a-vis, ambitions of other party members, who through thick and thin had waited patiently till July 31, 2013 to actualise their dreams?
These are not very easy problems that can be solved in a year and half, and still remain strong enough to unsit a ruling party. But this is Nigeria where anything can happen.
My Agony is that the tune may change, from Great INEC to Biased INEC, Wonderful Judiciary to Corrupt Judiciary, and Patriotic Media to Partisan Press, if by 2015, after all the parties have rigged, (In Nigeria, none is innocent) and INEC gives judgment in disfavour of the opposition.
My prayer is that what the Lord has done for INEC…..should be permanent, so, an APC Praise shall endure.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has promised to give the best attention to the education sector so that standard and quality learning will never be compromised in the State.
The governor emphasised that in achieving such legacy, schools in the State will be driven with a curriculum that will equip school-aged children to become competitive, innovative and self-reliant.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Governing Council of Rivers State University at Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He said: “There is a lot of noise everywhere: people asking what we are doing; that we are not focused, and that we don’t have direction.
”But I want to tell the world that we are focused and aware that we cannot grow if our energies are not channeled to education. Not just education, but purposeful education.
”Education that is creative. Education that gives you independence. We have left the era in the world when you speak too much grammar. We are in such times when it is what you can do with your hands.
”Our purpose for education is that we should bring back our academic programmes to where, at the end of your studies, you don’t need a job but you create jobs. When one creates a job, you automatically employ others. That is what I want this council to see as their task.”
Governor Fubara noted the non-existence of public secondary schools for the male child in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
He said such negligence leaves children in that area who have completed primary education, and whose parents cannot afford sending them to far away secondary schools, to roam the streets, and therefore becoming willing tools for criminality.
Governor Fubara assured that such fundamental problem will be addressed by his administration as a measure to curb the negative impression associated with Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
The governor said he trusts in the capacity of the members of the Governing Council of Rivers State University to bring about positive change in the institution while also contributing their quota to improving the general education standard in the State.
”I charge you, not just in terms of administering the affairs of the university, but let us add something different from the normal things that we already have to see new things.”
In her response, on behalf of the other members, the Pro-Chancellor of the Governing Council of Rivers State University, Justice Mary Odili (rtd), thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve in such capacity.
Justice Odili assured they will work assiduously as a team to solve the problems that agitate the mind of the governor and ensure their contributions form part of the legacy that will be bequeathed by his administration.
The members included Justice Mary Odili (rtd) as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council with Barrister Mela Oforibika and Chukwuma Chinwo, Esq.
Others were Adata Bio-Briggs, Esq., Dr. Jonathan Nimi Hart, Ngo Martins-Yellowe, Dr. Nancy Nwankwo, Dr. Igoni William-Park, and Mr. Ogbugbu Barisua.
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