Politics
President Yar’Adua And Second Term Agenda
The lid over political campaign moves to get President Umaru Yar’Adua re-elected in 2011 has been blown open. The president recently halted all shades of campaign, citing the need to concentrate on governance as motive behind his decision. In defiance of this presidential directive, promoters of this project, mostly the president’s henchmen and chieftains of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have commenced campaign for his re-election. Nwife, one of the arrow heads of the initiative denied an on-going campaign for re-election of the president, but confessed: “But if you ask me whether I want Mr. President to be re-elected, I will say, yes, because Nigeria has never had it so good. This is despite denials by those involved that their moves are not tantamount to re-election campaign for the president”. The political antecedents of these men, and the style adopted are reflective of the regular deceptive pastern of the president’s friends, super rich businessmen and political jobbers in the past at the corridors of power.
The re-election campaign is very hypocritical and an attempt to unduly outsmart the opposition when the political campaign whistle has not been officially blown. Curiously too, we are concerned within why (PDP) must push the president for another term, when nothing had worked in the country, more than two years after the president came on board.
In the first place, why we think President Yar’Adua is qualified to rule the nation if not for his imposition on Nigerians by President Olusegun Obasanjo who manipulated the votes of Nigerians in 2007. the president acknowledged this by admitting publicly in the early days of his administration that the election that brought him to power was flawed; hence his setting up of the electoral reform panel headed by retired Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais.
So far, there is nothing on ground to show that president deserves a second term. His seven-point agenda merely exists on paper and appropriation, infrastructure level is zero, the roads are in a shambles, unemployment is soaring to high heavens, potable water remains elusive while insecurity looms large across the country.
Under developed democracy, the president’s poor performance would have attracted his resignation. He has travelled abroad on many occasions to put his health in shape, sometimes when the nation is facing challenges.
With a leader like president Yar’Adua, Nigerians don’t need anybody to remind us that we have remained too long in the comity of under developed country. With the huge lot left unattended to in the country due to leadership incompetence, allowing the president another term of four years, though legal, will not augur well for the country.
Dr. Charles Anosike a lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University, said, “We now have more impoverished people walking on the streets today than in the past. Everything points to the fact that this administration does not have the panacea for remedying the country’s anomalies”.
“For running an incompetent government that has inflicted pains on the people and distress, the president does not deserve a second term. He should call his Lapdogs that are behind his re-election campaign to order”, he said.
“Take a look at the president’s Democracy Day’s address. It is instructive that half way into his four year tenure none of his promises in his seven point agenda have concretely materialised, they all seems to remain in the pipeline. The promised to generate or boost electricity supply, improvement of the road network, resuscitation of the of the moribund rail system and dredging of water channels, and the reinvigoration of the agricultural sector to ensure food scarcity, security of lives and property and rampage by criminals. “You could say that isn’t for lack of noble intention on the president’s past but, as have been often said, because the decay is deep-rooted and requires prolonged gestation in planning and effecting a remedy”. But the citizens in the interim are getting the raw deal and wondering what impact governance has. It marked the second year and of the administration of President Umaru Yar’Adua at the federal level and more than two-thirds of governors at the state level. Given our historical antecedents, these represents a testimony that our people have clearly shown their preference for democratic governance and an abiding faith in its transformative power.
You could say that this country earned in the last 10 years from her crude oil resource more than she did in all the previous years of independence, but this hasn’t rubbed off much on its citizenry. Prof. Dora Akunyili, has vigorously carried on with a campaign to rebrand Nigeria but how much of a bad product can you rebrand by changing the package without improving the content? But we have every cause to celebrate and defend this rule and ultimately grow it into a true democracy. Is it time to 2011 in order to roll out the drums and celebrate concrete accomplishments in national development, or time to complain about the published failure and wastages of the past or time to persuade masses loss of memory (amnesia) and simply look forward to deferred promises of the gains of nationhood.
Ucheonye Onyekachi is IT student from Anambra State University.
Ucheonye Onyekachi
The state chairman of the party, Dr Babandi Gumel, disclosed this in a statement signed and made available to journalists on Saturday.
According to the statement, the Jigawa PDP received news of Alhaji Lamido’s suspension with “profound shock and disappointment”.
The statement added that the suspension, which was reportedly based on allegations that Alhaji Lamido attended meetings capable of undermining party unity, amounts to an affront to justice, internal democracy and the reconciliation efforts recently championed by the PDP leadership.
The party stressed that the exercise of legal and constitutional rights within the party should not be interpreted as an act of disunity. It recalled that Alhaji Lamido approached the court after he was allegedly denied the opportunity to purchase a nomination form to contest the position of National Chairman of the PDP.
The statement further noted that the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, ruled in Alhaji Lamido’s favour by restraining the PDP from proceeding with its national convention until his right to contest was determined.
The Jigawa PDP argued that the suspension appeared to be a punitive action against Alhaji Lamido for seeking judicial redress over an issue on which the court had already found merit.
The party also faulted the decision of the BoT for contradicting recent public statements by its chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, who had emphasised reconciliation within the party, admitted past mistakes and appealed to aggrieved members to return fully to the PDP fold.
However, it maintained that suspending a founding member who sought justice through legal means runs contrary to the spirit of reconciliation and healing publicly advocated by the party leadership.
The chairman said the suspension was premature and prejudicial, as the matter remains before the courts. He also described Alhaji Lamido as one of the few founding fathers of the PDP who has remained loyal to the party without defecting, warning that punishing such loyalty sends a negative signal to other committed members.
The party further argued that the action undermines party unity at a time when the PDP requires cohesion to effectively challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). It also insisted that there is no provision in the PDP constitution that allows for the suspension of a “life member”.
The party called on the BoT to immediately and unconditionally withdraw the suspension of Alhaji Lamido.
It also demanded that the BoT publicly affirm the right of all party members to aspire to leadership positions in line with the party’s constitution and the laws of the country, without fear of victimisation.
It further urged the BoT to retrace its steps, align its actions with its reconciliation agenda, and tender an apology to Alhaji Lamido.
The Jigawa PDP reaffirmed its commitment to a united, democratic and law-abiding Party.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC warned that if proven, such actions would amount to a serious breach of constitutional order, legislative integrity, and public trust.
The organisation noted that Nigeria’s law-making process is clearly defined by the Constitution, stressing that any alteration of a bill after parliamentary passage undermines democratic governance and the principle of separation of powers.
CISLAC further emphasised that taxation has direct implications for citizens, businesses, sub-national governments, and the overall economy. It stated that uncertainty or a lack of transparency in tax legislation could erode investor confidence and raise concerns about accountability and the possible abuse of executive power.
The organisation described the situation as particularly troubling given the rare inclusive, and thorough public consultation that shaped the law’s final provisions prior to its passage.
“This process brought together taxpayers, civil society groups, professional organisations, the private sector, labour unions, local governments, and technical experts, ensuring that diverse viewpoints were considered and carefully balanced.
“Any unilateral changes to these agreed-upon provisions, made outside the established legislative process and without renewed public engagement, not only breach public trust but also violate the fundamental tax principle of representation, which holds that citizens must have a meaningful voice in shaping the laws that govern how they are taxed. Such actions undermine democratic accountability, weaken the legitimacy of the tax system, and risk eroding public confidence”, it noted.
CISLAC expressed particular concern that uncertainty surrounding the authenticity of the tax law, coming at a time when a new tax regime is expected to take effect, could exacerbate the economic hardship already faced by many Nigerians.
It observed that citizens are contending with rising living costs, inflationary pressures, declining purchasing power, and reduced access to basic services, warning that implementing a disputed tax framework under such conditions, risks deepening inequality, discouraging compliance, and fuelling public resentment.
The organisation stressed that tax reforms must be anchored in clarity, legality, fairness, and social sensitivity, cautioning that any tax system introduced without full transparency, adequate public communication, and legislative certainty undermines voluntary compliance and weakens the social contract between the state and its citizens.
As part of its recommendations, CISLAC called on the Presidency to urgently publish the exact version of the tax law assented to, alongside the authenticated copy passed by the National Assembly, to allow for public and institutional verification.
It also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to promptly exercise its oversight powers to determine whether the assented law reflects the will of the legislature, including a review of the enrolled bill process.
The organisation maintained that any discrepancy discovered should be treated as unconstitutional and addressed through lawful means, such as the re-transmission of the correct bill or judicial interpretation where necessary. It further called for an independent review of the process by relevant institutions, including the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and, where required, the judiciary, to establish the facts and assign responsibility.
CISLAC noted that the controversy highlights the urgent need to strengthen safeguards at the legislative and executive interface. It recommended measures such as digital tracking of bills, public access to enrolled legislation, and more transparent assent procedures.
CISLAC emphasised that the issue is not about partisan politics but about safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions. It warned that allowing any arm of government to unilaterally alter laws passed by another sets a dangerous precedent and weakens constitutional democracy.
The organisation urged all parties involved to act with restraint, openness, and fidelity to the Constitution, noting that Nigerians deserve laws that reflect due process, the public interest, and the collective decisions of their elected representatives.
CISLAC added that it will continue to monitor developments and engage relevant stakeholders to promote accountability, transparency, and the rule of law in Nigeria’s governance processes.
