Politics
Jonathan, PDP Govs, NASS Leadership Meet Over 2012
President Goodluck Jonathan recently met with the leadership of the National Assembly and PDP governors to review the implementation of the administration’s programmes in 2012.
The Tide’s source reports that the review meeting, also attended by the PDP leadership, lasted for over three hours at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Olisa Metuh, said the meeting deliberated on national issues; x-rayed the year 2012; and projections for 2013.
“We want to assure Nigerians that the PDP is ready and able to satisfy the aspirations of Nigerians. We are going to produce, a lot of reforms and innovations in the New Year to ensure that the people of Nigeria will be happy with the party in government.”
On the nature of the reforms to be expected in 2013, Metuh said President Jonathan would unfold the nature and structure of the reform programmes in his New Year nationwide broadcast to the nation.
“We will await the President to unfold it, the President is going to address Nigerians in the New Year, and the National Assembly will make their own position clear in the New Year. We will await the leaders of the country to make their position clear.”
Metuh dismissed insinuations that the PDP instigated the de-registration of some political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
“It is normal in a football match, when there is a winning team, the losing team will always accuse the referee of being bias; we are not the referees; we are not the arbiter; we are part of the team; we are playing in the field; we listened like them and we await the decision of INEC; and we will abide with the decision of INEC; it is an independent body.”
Also speaking to the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Joy Emordi, said the meeting discussed the 2013 budget as passed by the National Assembly.
On the omission of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the 2013 budget as passed by the National Assembly, she said: “I don’t think that there is a problem because we are looking at all the features of the budget.”
Also speaking on the meeting, Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam said the meeting was important to enable them feel the pulse of the President on issues concerning the nation and the party.
“So, all that we discussed here among the President, the Governors and the Party is how we can bound the party together. If we have that bonding together, all the seeming misunderstanding, some of them are artificial anyway will be resolved.
“And that will create a better room and enabling environment for all of us at all levels to provide better leadership for this country, which is what I think is very important for this country at this point in time.”
Suswam expressed optimism that the reform programmes of the PDP-led Federal Government would continue to yield fruits in the years ahead.
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.
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.
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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