Politics

Musings On The Nigerian Polity

Published

10 years ago

September 12, 2016

The new consciousness
the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari wants Nigerians to imbibe with the launching of the “Change Begins With Me” initiative is to reinforce the notion that the task of building the country is a collective responsibility rather than that of the leadership alone. The message is unmistakable that all and sundry in Nigeria, including corporate bodies, groups, associations and individuals have their roles to play and their contributions to make towards achieving our collective national aspirations and dreams.
These roles and contributions require everyone to be responsible citizens, not only in conduct but also in being alive to developments in the polity and expressing relevant opinions and proffering solutions on issues when necessary. This, indeed, is the hallmark of responsible and responsive citizenship.
“having observed the challenges we are going through as a nation, we are moved by conscience to address some of these issues.” These were part of the opening words of a body of Christian professionals and opinion leaders under the name Club 401 who addressed the media at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre in Port Harcourt recently.
Led by their chairman, Elder Lawrence F. Jumbo, the socio-religious group bared their mind on contemporary and burning issues in the country such as peace and security, economic wellbeing of the people, inter-governmental relations, pollution and environmental issues in the South-South, perceived inequities, the federation question and the level of involvement of the State in religious affairs.
In making their observations and expressing their convictions on these issues and others, they were mindful to underline with emphasis their belief in one united and indivisible Nigeria and the need for necessary sacrifice from everyone to sustain it.
“Welfare and security of the people is the primary purpose of government,” they noted, arguing that they expect those given the opportunity to deliver on this mandate or be humble enough to throw in the towel when they fail instead of giving the excuse of dwindling resources to deny the people their legitimate earnings while clinging on to power. They described the failure of many State and local governments in the country to be up to date in the payment of salaries to civil servants as a “manifestation of executive recklessness and insincerity” since government functionaries live insulated from the poverty and misery of the working people.
On the issue of peace within the borders of the country, the group challenged the federal government especially to enthrone justice and equity in dealing with all sections of the nation so as to forestall dissentions and violent agitations.
“Government owes all citizens equal obligation to protection,” they posited, adding that they found it inequitable for the authorities to leave farmers without protection while allowing armed herdsmen a free rein to unleash terror on helpless villages and their livelihood.
“Worse still, in a situation where about 80% of command positions are concentrated in the hands of one ethno-religious group, it becomes near impossible for persons from other groups to have a sense of fairness and security,” they said.
While expressing regret about some acts of impunity perpetrated by some law enforcement agents, the Club 401 also decried the involvement of government in some religious activities.
“Making available scarce foreign exchange in these lean times for religious pilgrimage at below the inter-bank rate while critical sectors of the economy such as power, aviation and manufacturing are being starved takes things to a new height,” they noted, adding that they see it as a misplacement of priority that seems not to be sufficiently sensitive to the economic downturn and the folding up of businesses.
As well, the group is disturbed that government had not dealt with the ugly manifestations of religious intolerance in the country in the way it should. They referred to a bill before the National Assembly that seeks to extend the jurisdiction of Sharia Courts to criminal cases and expressed the fear that contrary to a pronouncement by the Sultan of Sokoto that no one can Islamize Nigeria, the federal authorities were not doing enough to prove otherwise.
“Christians are being intimidated or killed for standing for their faith on a regular basis either by herdsmen, students or community mob,” they averred and observed that “the current psyche of some Nigerian Muslims is as if Nigeria has already been Islamized and our leaders are not discouraging same.” They called on the government to rise up to their responsibility of dispensing justice squarely and evenly for and against every Nigerian irrespective of their religious persuasion.
On the question of our federalism, the Christian professionals insisted that our present federal system as practised encourages productive laziness and will not motivate governors and their stats to be resourceful and responsible in revenue generation and management. Their verdict: “there is need for fiscal federalism: let us restructure to liberate our productive potential.”
Not least or last of all, the group also addressed the issue of equity with regard to giving back to the oil bearing communities and asked that due attention be given to the Petroleum Industry Bill (P.I.B) currently before the federal legislative house. They acknowledged the initiative to clean-up Ogoni land and asked that the same be extended to all other polluted sites in the Niger Delta region.
Exchanging views with The Tide in Port Harcourt on the state of the nation, a onetime deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Iyk Oji, identified the absence of leaders with national outlook and interest as the major problem confronting our country.
He recognised the fact that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and religious country that requires leadership to harmonize and unify it.
Regrettably, he said men and women with the requisite attitude and orientation have continued to elude the nation at the helm of its affairs for as long as it has existed.
“We have ethnic leaders,” he said, pointing out that the grumblings with regard to perceived lopsidedness in federal appointments were fueled by mutual ethnic and religious distrust.
He said that what Nigeria needs are leaders that have an overriding national identity and appealed to our leaders to be broadminded in order not only to untie the nation but to lead it to realise its full potentials.
Irrespective of our differences, Nigeria must not disintegrate, he emphasized, but quickly added that our leaders must make conscious and sincere effort to move away from ethnic, religious and sectional bigotry.

Opaka Dokubo

Politics

Senate Defends Passage Of State Police Bill

Published

3 days ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The Senate has defended the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, saying the proposed creation of state police is driven by national consensus and the country’s security needs rather than political considerations.

The Red Chamber passed the bill last Wednesday after more than two-thirds of senators voted in support.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele described the bill as “a child of necessity and not of political expediency as well as a product of national consensus and not of cynicism.”

The senate leader said the proposal to establish state police was a matter of urgent public importance that could not be delayed because of political interests, given the country’s security challenges.

He explained that the proposal did not originate recently but emerged from memoranda submitted to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.

According to him, the proposal underwent extensive consultations and rigorous scrutiny because of its sensitive nature.

Bamidele said the National Assembly consulted widely with the Executive, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, the leadership of the Nigeria Police and other stakeholders before passing the bill.

He added that during the public hearings conducted across the six geopolitical zones in July 2025, participants overwhelmingly supported the creation of state police.

“At each level of our consultation, nearly all stakeholders embraced the State Police Bill in the light of stark realities we are facing today,” he said.

The Senate leader noted that recommendations from the Nigeria Police contributed to the bill, particularly on accountability and oversight mechanisms aimed at preventing abuse of state police by political actors.

According to him, the police’s support for the proposal underscores its national significance in tackling insecurity at the state and local levels.

Bamidele also said the bill received broad bipartisan backing in both chambers of the National Assembly.

“Even though the APC is the majority, there are members of opposition parties — PDP, ADC, NDC and Labour Party — that exercised their discretion in favour of the Bill, mainly in the national interest and not on parochial basis.

“In the Senate, for instance, 84 out of 109 members voted clause by clause in support of the Bill. This accounted for 77.06 per cent approval at the Senate alone,” he said.

He argued that national security should transcend political affiliations, saying political actors in other countries often set aside partisan interests to support initiatives that strengthen security.

Bamidele called on opposition parties to contribute constructive ideas that would promote peace and stability, adding that they have a responsibility to offer alternatives that would strengthen the country.

“Even when they disagree on some grounds, they are under obligations to provide credible and useful ideas that can make our nation better and greater. Unfortunately, they have not passed this critical test of opposition democracy,” he said.

News

Probe N6.3bn Constituency Funds Or Face Legal Action, SERAP Tells Akpabio, Abbas

Published

3 days ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to refer allegations of the diversion or non-accounting of over ?6.3 billion in constituency project funds to anti-corruption agencies for investigation and possible prosecution.

The group also urged the National Assembly leadership to ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted where sufficient admissible evidence exists, while all diverted or unaccounted public funds are recovered and paid into the treasury.

In a letter dated June 27, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said the allegations were contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 Annual Report, published on September 9, 2025.

The organisation disclosed this in a statement signed and released by Oluwadare, yesterday.

SERAP also asked Akpabio and Abbas to disclose the identities of contractors and companies, including their shareholders and beneficial owners, that allegedly received constituency project funds but failed to execute the projects.

It gave the National Assembly seven days to act on its recommendations, warning that it would institute legal proceedings should the legislature fail to respond.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the National Assembly to comply with our request in the public interest,” the letter stated.

It said, “The allegations involve several federal ministries, departments and agencies, including the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON); the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Volm; the Federal Polytechnic, Udana; the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP); and the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).

“The Auditor-General identified numerous cases of payments into private bank accounts, contracts awarded without due process, payments for contracts not executed or services not rendered, undocumented expenditures, inflated contracts, procurement irregularities and failures to account for public funds, recommending in each case that the funds be recovered and remitted to the treasury.

“According to the 2022 audited report, contained in pages 367 to 396, the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON or Council) Abuja paid over ‘N22 million [N22,944,565.16] into the private account of some members of staff of the Council from the Constituency Projects Fund Account.

“There ‘was no evidence of the utilization of the funds and no explanations on the purpose for the payment of such amount into the individual accounts.”

SERAP added, “The Council (EHORECON) also in 2021 ‘awarded suspicious consultancy contracts of over N12 million [N12,030,818.29] for the development of Modern Abattoirs in Kebbi State and the supervision of 7 projects in Kebbi, Jigawa, and Headquarters Abuja.

“The money was to ‘produce bills of quantity, architectural design, structural design, mechanical design, and electrical designs for the contracts and supervision.’ But ‘the ‘items could not be found.’”

Altogether, SERAP said the Auditor-General’s 2022 report alleged EHORECON paid more than ?1.8 billion in constituency project funds through questionable transactions.

For the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, SERAP said the institution “in 2022 reportedly ‘paid over N279 million [N279,700,500.00] to 3 contractors to empower and train youths in selected vocational areas in Borgu and Kontagora, Niger State, train women and youths in entrepreneurship in Niger East Senatorial District and to train youths and women in agro production and self-reliance in Barki Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency, Plateau State.

“But the money was paid to the contractors without any document.’”

Other irregularities involving the college include another ?279.7 million in mobilisation fees allegedly paid without documentation, and more than ?629.4 million paid to unqualified contractors for various constituency projects without evidence of due process, contract advertisements or details of the contractors.

SERAP further alleged that the Auditor-General’s report identified multiple financial irregularities involving the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Akwa Ibom State, including over ?407 million allegedly paid as mobilisation fees without supporting documents, more than ?399 million paid to unqualified contractors, contracts allegedly inflated by over ?192 million, over ?279 million paid for projects not fully executed, ?50 million allegedly paid for an unexecuted borehole project, and more than ?83 million disbursed without the required documentation or approvals.

It also alleged that NAPTIP reportedly irregularly awarded contracts worth over ?21.8 million, paid more than ?176.8 million for logistics and consultancy services without supporting documents, and disbursed over ?89.6 million and ?4.4 million for projects that were allegedly not executed.

The report also alleged that NILDS failed to submit audited financial statements for 2012 to 2022, did not remit over ?15 million in stamp duties, and spent ?1.6 million without authorisation from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

SERAP said the report recommended the recovery of the affected funds and their remittance to the treasury.

It argued that corruption in constituency projects disproportionately affects poor and vulnerable Nigerians by diverting resources meant for public services and development.

It added that the National Assembly, in exercising its oversight responsibilities, should demonstrate leadership by ensuring accountability in the management of constituency project funds.

The organisation further argued that the allegations, if established, would amount to breaches of the Constitution, the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and the Public Procurement Act 2007, which require transparency, accountability and due process in the management of public resources.

Politics

Parties’ Deregistration: How Justice Lifu Overruled Appeal Court Justices

Published

2 weeks ago

June 17, 2026

The Tide

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday brushed aside the order of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which ordered him to stay proceedings in a suit that sought deregistration of the African Democratic Party (ADC), Accord Party and three others.
The Court of Appeal in a unanimous decision of a panel of three Justices had on May 22, 2026 directed the Federal High Court Judge not to proceed with the suit until an appeal pending before them and filed by Accord Party is resolved.
In a Certified True Copy Enrol Order of the Superior Court, Justices Mohammed Danjuma, Adebukola Banjoko and Oyejoju Oyewumi asked the lower Court Judge to stay proceedings until all issues on the appeal filed by the Accord Party were resolved
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State had, through the Accord Party, applied to justice Lifu to join him as a defendant in the deregistration legal battle instituted by a group of former legislators.
The contention of the Osun State governor was that he had a stake in the Accord Party, being the platform he was seeking re-election in the August 15 gubernatorial poll in the state.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu on April 27 ruled against the Osun State governor, rejecting his request to be joined in the suit to defend his own position and interest.
Not satisfied with the Federal High Court decision, the Osun State governor, through his lawyer, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), moved to the Court of Appeal in Abuja where he challenged the Justice Lifu decision to refuse to allow him join the suit.
After listening to the argument canvassed, especially that he has interest to protect as Accord Party gubernatorial candidate for Osun State governorship election, the three Justices of the Court of Appeal, unanimously directed Justice Lifu to allow them look into the grievances of the governor.
In specific terms, the Court of Appeal Justices directed Justice Lifu not to proceed further with the matter and fixed October 27 to determine the interlocutory appeal of the appellant.
However, when the certified enroll order and notice of appeal were served on Justice Peter Lifu by Mr Adetunbi (SAN), the judge rejected it on the ground that it was a ploy to arrest his judgment in the matter.
Although the judge had adjourned his judgment delivery in the matter indefinitely, he finally made a dramatic turn around on Monday and proceeded to deliver the judgment that has now proscribed the five political parties.