Politics
Falana Urges Buhari To Sack Ministers
Lagos based lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari should summon and sack ministers involved in politics, including those who failed to submit their letters of resignation.
Recall that the Minister of Labour and Employment Media Office had dismissed claims by Falana that the Minister, Chris Ngige, withdrew his resignation letter after the valedictory session with President Buhari, last Friday.
In a statement in Abuja, the Minister’s office said the minister neither wrote nor submitted a resignation letter, adding that “Falana is embarrassing the public with a bad harvest of his bumper imagination.”
The lawyer Falana had faulted Ngige and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami’s decision to drop their political aspirations in the 2023 general elections in order to remain members of the cabinet of Buhari.
Falana made the revelation in a statement released on Monday.
The statement read in part: “On Friday, May 13, 2022 President Muhammadu Buhari summoned the ministers who had submitted their resignation letters to a valedictory programme at the Villa. Equally invited to the programme were the other ministers involved in politics but who had failed to submit their letters of resignation.
“At the brief ceremony the President thanked the outgoing Ministers for their invaluable services to the nation through their contributions as Cabinet members. While giving them a pat on the back the President said: “I wish you success in the upcoming elections and in your future endeavours.
“While responding on behalf of the outgoing Ministers, Mr. Godswill Akpabio thanked the President for giving them the opportunity to serve and contribute their quota to nation-building.
He described working with the President as a fantastic and knowledgeable experience, adding that as they step aside they would continue to be great disciples of President Buhari. “After the farewell ceremony the Presidency published the names of the 9 Ministers who had left the cabinet together with the farewell picture taken with the President.
In the circumstances, the former ministers are stopped from denying their exit from the Cabinet.
“In opposing my views, Professor N.O. Obiaraeri was reported to have said that “There is no evidence of a written acknowledgment of the letter and acceptance of the letter of resignation by the person to whom it was addressed.” With respect to the learned Professor, the Constitution does not provide for “a written acknowledgment of the letter and acceptance of the letter of resignation”.
As far as the Constitution is concerned, the resignation of a Minister takes effect once the letter of resignation is received by the appointing authority. For the avoidance of doubt, section 306 (2) thereof provides that “The resignation of any person from any office established by this Constitution shall take effect when the writing signifying the resignation is received by the authority or person to whom it is addressed or by any person authorised by that authority or person to receive it.
“Apart from the direct and express provision of the Constitution, this is also the position as judicially proclaimed in several cases. In Benson v. Onitiri (1960) SCNLR 177 @189-190; Sunday v. Olugbenga & ors (2008) LPELR-4995 (CA); WAEC V. Oshienebo (2006) 12 NWLR (Pt. 994) 258 it was held that resignation or voluntary retirement takes immediate effect, once received by the employer or agent of the employer. In Yesufu v Governor of Edo State & Ors (2001) LPELR-3526 (SC) it was held that resignation needs not be formally “accepted”.
“From the foregoing, the implication of inviting the outgoing Ministers to the valedictory ceremony was that President Buhari had made up his mind to dispense with their services with effect from May 16, 2022. And the participation of the ministers in the valedictory ceremony without any protest whatsoever meant that they had accepted their exit from the cabinet. Having regards to the facts and circumstances of the exit of the Ministers.
“But two ministers have announced their plans to sit tight in office and thereby expose the country to undeserved ridicule. While wishing them well in their dream world, it is hoped that the Federal Government will call them to order without any further delay.”
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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