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Mixed Reactions Trail Senate Move To Stop Party Funding

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Mixed reactions trail the proposal by the Senate to terminate grants given to registered political parties by the Federal Government, according to a survey. .

  The plan generated comments from politicians, political groups and other stakeholders throughout the country.

 A cross section of those interviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) either supported the plan or rejected it outrightly  while some called for its modification.

Alhaji Ali Kyari, a PDP chieftain in Yobe, said:  “Some of the political parties are not physically on ground and have been feeding on the funding for different purposes”.

He said there would be more commitment when members invested in the parties.

“Personally, I support the proposal as this will check proliferation of parties in the country.”

In Maiduguri, Alhaji Abba Kale, the National Vice President of the Africa Liberation Party (ALP) told NAN that the Senate plan was laudable.

‘Well the Senate plans has both negative as well as a positive consequence. That means that it is good in one way and bad in the other.

“What I am trying to say is that some parties with wide spread presence actually require the annual grant to take care of certain things,” Kale said.

He said rather than stop the grant entirely the Senate should modify the funding in such a way that only parties with wide spread would benefit.

“The annual grant should be given based on performance of the political parties.

 Mr Ayuba Bello the Borno Chairman of the Conference of Political Parties disagreed with Kale.

“I don’t think there is any basis for the Senate planned stoppage because funding of parties is not peculiar to Nigeria. The annual grant has helped in many ways

to stabilise the parties,’’ Bello said.

He pointed out that the practice of funding parties existed even in countries with advanced democracy like the U.S. because it help to sustain them.

“We should try and copy from advanced countries of Europe who still assist parties with grant to sustain them,” Bello said.

In Nsukka (Enugu State) Some of the people interviewed see the stoppage as a move to cripple party activities while others say it is a welcome development.  Pastor Emeka Abugu, Chairman, PDP Igboeze-North, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the move should be dropped as it would cripple political party activities and starve them of funds.   “If the proposal sells through political parties will be starved of funds to run their affairs.   “Money Bags will bring their money to fund parties and convert them to a personal business since he who pays the piper dictates the tune. Nigeria democracy is too young for such decision that will place political parties at the mercy of wealthy politicians.   “Internal party democracy will be destroyed,” he said.   Mr Timothy Ugwueze, ANPP Chieftain, said that if the proposal was approved it would only favour the ruling party hence it would indirectly be using government money to fund the party.   “It decision will kill parties that have no access to government money. It will destroy parties that will serve opposition to ruling party. For the interest of our nascent democracy, that idea should be dropped for now,” he said.   Mr  A chieftain of ANPP in Zamfara, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakala has declared support for the bill before the National Assembly, seeking INEC’s withdrawal from funding of political parties in the country.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill, which scaled through the crucial second reading at the Senate chamber on Wednesday, is committed to public hearing for broader views before passage into law.Wakala, while reacting on the bill told NAN in Gusau on Thursday that “there is no problem with such bill so long as anti- corruption agencies will strictly monitor finances of the parties“.The chieftain, who is the Zamfara ANPP Vice Chairman, noted that “allowing the political parties to fund themselves would encourage politics of ideology and systematically trim down the number of political parties in the country to a reasonable number“He said that “when political parties are funded from within, genuine and credible membership that is committed to the progress of the party will emerge“.Wakala however expressed fears that “a situation where ruling parties would be funded with public resources at the expense of the opposition parties would pose serious threat to democracy in the country“.“We must not deceive ourselves, there must be a level playing ground where political parties are strictly funded from membership not government resources“. In Bauchi, the CNPP, LP and Justice Party (JP) described the decision to stop government funding of political parties as “undemocratic”.Alhaji Abdullahi Idris, Malam Safiyanu Maisalati and Alhaji Magaji Tungal, Bauchi State Chairmen of CNPP, JP and LP said the action was inimical to the growth of democratic culture in the country.The chairmen told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews that the action would encourage corruption.”It is sending a bad signal to the nation’s democratic process. This will encourage money politics and destroy political ideology.”Looking at the economic and political nature of the country, there is need for the government to maintain funding of the parties adequate to sustain a durable and workable democracy. In Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi Chairman of Congress for Political Change,  CPC, Alhaji Musa Danmaliki,called for the retention of financial grants to political parties,”with stringent modification”.  Danmaliki said that to expunge the law granting financial support to political parties by government entirely was counter productive, but introduction of stringent measures were preferable. He said he was in support of the reduction of political parties, adding that “some of the parties have functional offices only in Abuja where their leaders wait for the annual grant for sharing by a few”. He called for the registration of parties with national outlook , adding: “the parties should be expected to have functional offices at the state, local council area and ward levels to qualify for such grants”. 

In Umuahia,   Mr Emeka Nwachukwu, Chairman, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, Abia chapter, hailed the proposed termination of grants to political parties.    Nwachukwu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the system where political parties were funded by government was an aberration and abuse of democratic norms.    He said that such practice had bastardised the political environment “because many parties only exist as a result of the money they receive from government through INEC and they are not contributing anything to the development of the nation.    “Some of these parties do not even have a national party office in the real sense of it,” he said.    Nwachukwu said that that it had become imperative for the number of political parties in the country to be reduced to ensure an effective and competitive political landscape.    “The agitation for the reduction in the number of political parties is in the best interest of the nation because it will enthrone a healthier competitive environment and a stronger opposition.    “In my view, I will recommend for a three party system and once this is announced all these smaller parties will be forced to collapse into the more vibrant ones,” Nwachukwu said.  In  Abakaliki, Okeosisi Inyaeburu, Chairman Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) Ebonyi branch, has condemned plan to stop grants to political parties.   Inyaeburu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the decision would adversely affect operations of political parties in the country.   “It is surprising that the decision was contemplated by government that is professing a desire for electoral reforms. “This development will weaken the operations of political parties, especially the opposition parties to PDP as they will not be able to meet their obligations to themselves and the people,” he said.   Ebonyi in said the stoppage of the grant was a ploy to impoverish the opposition  “This development will enable the PDP, which had amassed stupendous wealth from the present government to explore all avenues of perpetuating themselves in power to the detriment of Nigerians.   “Stoppage of this grant will eliminate all forms of opposition in the country as almost all political office holders in the country are PDP members who make returns from their involvement in government to the party,” he said.   (NAN) Friday in Yola during a telephone interview that the move was undemocratic as it would extinct other powerless political parties.He said that it was compulsory for the government to fund the political parties because they were  part of government organs. In Gombe, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports while some people were in support of the move, others called for caution.   Inuwa Garba, Deputy Speaker of Gombe House of Assembly, observed that some political parties were just created for the purpose of collecting the grant and then ‘disappearing into the oblivion’.   Yola, also supported the idea of terminating the grant.   “I am in support of withdrawing the grant because most of the political parties are fictitious and do not represent the people.   “They just sprang up for the purposes of grabbing the funds. I will suggest that if the grant is to remain, government should establish two parties like was done in the past, and whoever is not interested in registering with them can contest as an independent candidate”, he proposed.   But Mr Ado Solomon, Gombe State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), called for caution in taking a decision on the matter.     Jacob Lawan, PDP Legal Adviser in Gombe, was also against the withdrawal of the grant, saying such a measure, if taken, will have some repercussions.   “At this stage of our still nascent democracy, political parties need to be nurtured and catered for, in order for Nigeria to reach the Promised Land politically.   “To think of withdrawing whatever assistance they get now is too early and could result in grave consequences,’’ he warned   In Katsina, PDP stalwart and former Kaduna state governor, Alhaji Lawal Kaita  kicked against the proposed removal of grants to political parties in the country.   Kaita who spoke to NAN in Katsina through a telephone call said, “grants to political parties should be maintained because such grants do help the parties.”   He however suggested that instead of removing the grants, INEC reduce the political parties to three or four in the country.   According to him, some of the political were there only for grants, hence the need to trim them, so that the grants were maintained for the remaining few parties.   Also a prominent politician in the state, Dr Mustapha Inuwa said, “right from the beginning the grants are not helping larger parties as they are not enough, while the small parties exist only because of the grants.”   Inuwa who is a former secretary to Katsina state government (SSG), however said that INEC should work out a cateria for the party coverage before giving out grant to any political party or abolish the grant completely.   He also said, “if at all INEC wants to give the grants, it should reduce the political parties’’. (NAN)Reporters/HKOAll Sufferings in the country are due to human errors-Atiku NAN-H-19AtikuJada (Adamawa), May 16, 2010 (NAN) Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that the sufferings being experienced by Nigerian masses were as a result of human errors.He made this remark on Saturday in Jada, headquarters of Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa, while addressing party faithfuls from Ganye Chiefdom which comprised Jada and Ganye council areas.He said most of the problems bedevilling the country were caused by human errors, “deliberately done by politicians through the imposition of leaders on the electorate’’.

Abuja, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it is not influenced by the presidency before deciding on which case to investigate or take to court. This was contained in a statement signed by Mr. Femi Babafemi, Head of Media and Publicity of the Commission and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday. It said the clarification became necessary following persistent insinuations in the media that the anti-graft agency had come under pressure from the presidency to prevent investigations or trial of some people believed to be close to government. “We wish to state emphatically that these insinuations are mere fabrications that have no root in reality.

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We’ll Count Those Who Don’t Want 2027 Elections To Count – Obi

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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, on Tuesday lamented that Nigerians have been turned into refugees in their own country.
Mr Obi made the remarks during the presentation of the book titled “Obi, The Political Change Agent” in Abuja.
He said that Nigerians must rise and change the current political system, adding that the current structure does not care about the people.
The former Anambra State governor highlighted the sufferings faced by Nigerians, as he listed issues troubling the country to include insecurity, poverty, theft, and lack of accountability by public officials, among others.
He urged collective efforts to dismantle the proceeds of ill-gotten wealth, insisting that “any country where those in government are richer than business people is an unproductive country. A very simple definition of production is value.”
He said the current system is totally unproductive, adding that the country has raised “Nigerian masters” who have destroyed rail lines and other infrastructures built by the colonial masters.
Mr Obi further explained that to rebuild the country, Nigerians must make sacrifices, as he disclosed that the Obidient Movement would look for genuine people who are willing to fix the country at all levels.
His remarks may not be unconnected to the activities of some federal lawmakers originally elected on the platform of the LP and have been criticised for allegedly abandoning their core opposition functions.
Meanwhile, the 2023 LP flag- bearer, while calling for transparency in the upcoming 2027 poll, cautioned against attempts to truncate the process.
He stressed, “We will make the election count. And those who don’t want it to count, we’ll count them.”
Speaking earlier in a welcome remark, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Tanko Yunusa, stated that the momentum for the 2027 election had grown from a quest to change the old order of the negative Nigerian landscape to one of the biggest social/ideological movements in Africa and the world.
Dr Yunusa disclosed that the Obedient Movement is not a political organisation or an election regularisation scheme, but simply a movement that focuses on rejigging governance by pointing its direction to the people, and espousing the dividends of democracy for the people.
“Our beloved nation, Nigeria, stands at crossroads. The old ways have failed us, and the status quo is no longer tenable, yet, amidst the challenges, we find opportunities for growth, innovation, and progress.
“The Obidient Movement, led by our champion of change, Mr Peter Obi, embodies this spirit of transformation.
“The Obidient Movement is more than just a political phenomenon; it represents a shift in the narrative, a call to action, and a demand for a better future. It is a testament to the power of collective action, the resilience of the human spirit, and the unwavering desire for a brighter tomorrow.
“As we embark on this intellectual journey, we will explore the themes of resilience and the unyielding desire for a better Nigeria.
“We shall examine the role of leadership, the power of collective action, and the imperative of embracing a new vision for our nation’s future.
“We will discuss the challenges we faced, the opportunities we have, and the strategies we must employ to build a Nigeria that is just, equitable, and prosperous for all”, Dr Yunusa said.
The National Coordinator insisted that the inevitability of a new Nigeria is not just a dream but a necessity.
“We owe it to ourselves, our children, and future generations to ensure that our nation is a place where everyone can thrive, where everyone can live with dignity, and where everyone can reach their full potential.
“As we celebrate our principal, Mr. Peter Obi, it is pertinent that we bear in mind that this auspicious gathering today is far more than just the presentation of a book”, he added.
He said that the Movement could boast of 28 states with 7 outstanding states soon to be announced, with 540 LGAs out of 774, with 234 to be completed.
In her remarks, the Acting National Chairman of the LP, Senator Nenadi Usman, highlighted that in every generation, there arises a voice that does not merely echo the frustrations of the people but dares to chart a new path for them.
“Mr. Peter Obi, whose life and political saga we unveil today, has become such a voice. This book, meticulously authored and boldly titled tells a story far beyond politics. It is the story of accountability against impunity, simplicity against flamboyance, principle against expediency, and prudence against financial recklessness”, she said.

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Defecting To APC Won’t Save You, Okocha Threatens Fubara

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The factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has warned that unless the suspended Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, seeks genuine reconciliation, not even his defection to the APC will save him from impeachment.
Chief Okocha, who spoke at a media briefing at the national secretariat of the APC, Abuja, on Tuesday, warned again that not even the lifting of the emergency rule will stop the impeachment of the Governor, wondering why he had been lobbying for his reinstatement.
He also took a swipe at the former Governor of the State and ex-Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, describing him as a partyless politician since he is no longer a member of the APC.
Asked if suspended GovernorFubara joining the APC will make his sins to be forgiven, Chief Okocha thundered, “Fubara’s suspension and the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State had no business whatsoever with politics. It was about his misdemeanour, and I said to you that he said that the President saved his job by declaring the state of emergency.
“Don’t forget that the Supreme Court in its judgment had said that there was no government in Rivers State. So, if there was no government in the State, something must be done, and that which happened was the declaration of the state of emergency…
“If Fubara decides to join the APC, it has nothing to do with the state of emergency in Rivers State. His sins cannot be forgiven because he came to our party. It is not true”.
He has not spoken to me. He will enter the party through the door, not the window. Not only him, there are procedures for defection to another party, and if he claims to be a politician, he will know that all politics is local; he will try and defect in his ward”.

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2027: Defectors Are Sinners Seeking Forgiveness – Dalung

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Former Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Mr Solomon Dalung, has described politicians moving from opposition parties into the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) as sinners seeking forgiveness.
Mr Dalung, who spoke in Abuja disagreed with the postulation that politicians were trooping into the APC because the ruling party has performed well, “rather they are sinners, who are seeking forgiveness for their numerous sins.”
Mr Dalung said the defectors were only fulfilling what a former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, said regarding corrupt politicians, that no matter the gravity of their sins, they would be forgiven as soon as they joined the APC.
Senator Oshiomhole has severally denied this quote attributed to him but politicians have continued to use it.
He said, “These are people who have committed heinous crimes against the Nigerian people and they are jumping into the APC ship for the forgiveness of their sins. Not that they believe in Tinubu, no; they do not. They are only assembling so that their sins will be forgiven.
“So it is a conclave of political cardinals who have committed grave sins against the Nigerian people and a political party has offered them the opportunity of forgiveness on entrance”.
The former Minister also warned that if care is not taken, the defectors would create problems in the ruling party in the future.
He said, “You know there is an adage in Hausa that if animals celebrate the death of a butcher, has the knife also died? If beneficiaries of the mandate of the people are defecting, have the people also defected?
“So there is no value added to Tinubu except that he has compounded the situation in his party and there will be an implosion.”
He also dismissed concern in certain quarters that the entrance of politicians like the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai into the Social Democratic Party (SDP) could be a potential threat to the presidential ambition of Prince Adewole Adebayo, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, adding that “Adebayo’s political charisma, image and personality within the Nigerian political environment has presented him as an obvious force to deal with in 2027.”
He emphasized that Prince Adebayo is the only presidential candidate who has consistently maintained a media campaign against the failed and unpopular policies of the current government.
“So, Nigerians are very conversant with Adebayo’s voice, charisma and leadership qualities. So, whether you mobilize the whole politicians into the SDP, you must resolve the question of Adebayo in the SDP as a presidential candidate before any other person.
“This is because nobody has promoted the SDP in Nigeria like Adebayo. After Chief MKO Abiola, you rank Adebayo in the contemporary SDP as the highest. So, the concern as some people are expressing is normal. Human beings entertain such fears but the reality is that the name SDP since 2023 has been sustained unilaterally by the doggedness, commitment, dedication and selflessness of Prince Adebayo.
“So, he is a force to beat in whatever political arrangement that the SDP will put on ground to produce a presidential candidate. He is a patriot who did not join politics for himself; he has surrendered the rest of his life to the service of humanity and he did that at his 50th birthday.”

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