Politics
Senator Urges Renewed Fight Against Corruption
Senator Isaac Alfa(PDP-Kogi) has stressed the need for the Federal Government to redouble efforts at fighting corruption and overhauling the Nigeria Police for greater efficiency in protection of lives and property of Nigerians.
Alfa, a former Chief of Air Staff, gave the advice at a news briefing in Abuja last Wednesday.
He said: “The police as constituted presently is not only undisciplined right down the line, police officers are inadequately trained.
“The Police Service Commission as presently constituted is absolutely powerless.
“If the Police is up and doing, we will not need the State Security Service to go after judges, we will not need the military to secure elections.
“Also, lawyers will not charge hundreds of millions or billions to compromise the judges who are representatives of Almighty God on earth.”
Alfa, who was recently reinstated in the senate after a three and half years of legal battle, said there was also need for “surgical operations in several areas if Nigeria is to achieve economic growth exponentially”.
According to him, his victory after a long battle is an indication that the country still has sincere and hardworking persons.
“My case went through 34 judges and I won 10 out of 11 judgments; with the only one won by my opponent reversed by the same Appeal Court.
“I never gave a Kobo to any Judge in my three and half years ordeal.
“I know that no system is perfect, but there are some Nigerian judges today that are absolutely incorruptible. God passed my case through many of them and may God bless them”.
The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki swore-in Alfa on Tuesday to replace Sen. Ali Atai Aidoko who got sacked by the court barely three months to the end of the 8th National Assembly.
The lawmaker while expressing his appreciation to God for vindicating him at last, said he bore no grudge against anybody over his travails.
Alfa also thanked the senate leadership for upholding justice, saying “it has never been about what I can benefit personally from the Senate”.
“By the special grace of Almighty God, I rose to become the Chief of Air Staff, the largest in Africa, and one of the most operationally powerful today.
“I was a member of the Provisional Ruling Council which collectively was then number three after the Head of State and Chief of General Staff.
“So, Senate was a service to my people, bringing this large tribe to where it ought to stay.
“Yes, the battle to retain my mandate was not easy especially when I had to fund the litigation from my pocket with absolutely with no help from anywhere.
“Every politician knows that political litigation is not cheap. But I was determined so that my people’s decision must count whenever they decide to field their choice.
“This is so that nobody should come from outside by any other name to impose their decision on us.
“Now, my people feel liberated and are encouraged to insist on their choice as I have shown that with God on your side, the Judiciary will give you justice”, he said.
He expressed optimism that the country would work again if due attention is given to critical sectors of the economy, and productivity is maximised.
Politics
Kwankwaso Agrees To Rejoin APC, Gives Terms, Conditions
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Politics
I Would Have Gotten Third Term If I Wanted – Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
Politics
Rivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-Month Suspension

The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
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