Tuesday 18 March 2014
Corruption: EFCC grills sacked Justice Olotu for 7 hours
BY SONI DANIEL
Barely two weeks after being dismissed from office, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, yesterday, interrogated sacked Justice Gladys Olotu for over eight hours over corruption-related issues.
The embattled female judge, who has already challenged her untimely removal from office in court, was accompanied by two of her sisters and lawyer to the EFCC’s Intelligence and Special Operations Section following an invitation by the anti-graft agency.
Olotu, 55, who wore a Polka-dot dress and arrived the office at 9am, was still being interrogated by the operatives of the anti-graft agency as at the time of filing the report.
But there were indications she could be granted bail on self recognition by the operatives.
A top source at the EFCC said Justice Olotu was invited to clarify issues relating to property and bank accounts allegedly traced to her by the anti-graft agency.
The source alleged that many judicial officers, including Olotu hold a huge amount of monies, personal property and bank accounts in and outside the country.
A competent source hinted that when Justice Olotu arrived the EFCC’s office, she was immediately confronted with a catalog of property and accounts said to be owned by her.
Among Olotu’s alleged myriad of landed property, which the Commission is investigating include an uncompleted three-bedroom Town Hall located at City Scope, Lagos.
The property valued at N20 million was acquired in 2006; a four-bedroom bungalow located at Karshi, Nasarawa State, acquired from the Nigerian Navy in 2009 valued at N10 million; a plot of land at Kjah Nasarawa State valued at N2.5 Million in 2010; a plot at Kuruduma Abuja acquired in 2012 at N2.8 million.
Other properties alleged to be owned by ex-Justice Olotu are: six plots of land at Ogba Village, Benin, Edo state at N480, 000 in 2005; three plots of land located at Oben Village, Benin valued at N2.2 million; blocks of 4 six-bedroom flats acquired in 1979 valued at N16 million; one uncompleted twin 5-bedroom duplex, via a Lagos State government Allocation at N10 million; one block of 4 three-bedroom flats via Edo State Government Allocation valued at N10 million.
Others are: a plot of land at Guduwa Estate acquired in 2001 via FCDA allocation at N800, 000; a plot of land located at Lugbe, Abuja at N200, 000 and a plot of land at Ugbor, Edo State acquired via Edo State Government allocation at N600, 000.
Ex justice Olotu’s alleged shares being investigated include: Shares in Ossimo Investments Limited, a private family company. As at December 31, 2012, her estimated value of investment in the company was put at N825 million; shares in Unity Nominees Limited, a private family Company valued at N165 million as at December 31, 2012.
Others are 1, 030 units of shares in GTB; 20, 890 units of shares in Oando. She is also alleged to be a partner in Investment Company Limited, which has shares in Access Bank, First Bank, GTB, Julius Berger Nigeria, Oando and UBA.
Sources at the Commission told our correspondent that the embattled judge, who was on February 27, 2014 ordered to vacate her office after the National Judicial Council found her guilty of judicial misconduct, could be granted bail on self recognition.
Head of Media and Publicity of the Commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren could not be reached to confirm the story; but a competent source at the Commission’s headquarters confirmed that “it is true the retired judge was with us to answer some questions”.
Her ordeal followed a petition dated September 10, 2013, by Civil Society Network against Corruption. Titled: “Demand For Investigation Of Financial Accounts and Assets of Judicial Officers”.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/corruption-efcc-grills-sacked-justice-olotu-7-hours/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#sthash.gFTDupvV.dpuf Follow @wingrassnews
Iraq to enact new law that will allow men marry 9 years old girls
The proposed law would allow men to marry girls as young as nine and give husbands license to force their wives to have sex with them without consent. The legal age for marriage in Iraq is currently 18
Human rights advocates are up in arms about a proposed law in Iraq that could allow men to marry girls as young as nine and give husbands license to force their wives to have sex with them anytime.
“It’s a provocative act that’s gotten a lot of attention, and blatantly violates Iraq’s constitution,” Erin Evers, an Iraq researcher based in Baghdad for Human Rights Watch, said in an interview.
The law, called The Jaafari Personal Status Law, still hasn’t been approved by Iraq’s parliament, and likely won’t be until after April’s elections, the Associated Press reports. Based on a school of Islamic law, it was introduced last year and unexpectedly approved last month by the Cabinet of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
“I certainly haven’t heard anyone defend it except the minister who introduced it,” said Evers. “But I never thought it would get as far as it did.” She calls the bill, which stoked protests in Baghdad on March 8, International Women’s Day, a major step back for women’s rights and the country as a whole.
The legal age for marriage in Iraq is currently 18. The proposed law does not explicitly set a new age limit for marriage, but it defines when girls become women at about age nine. Critics decry this provision as a backdoor to making child-marriage legal.
The bill also states that a man can have sex with his wife regardless of her consent. It says a woman cannot leave the house without her husband’s permission, and that only fathers can accept or refuse a marriage proposal on behalf of their daughter. It also lays out complicated rules for divorce, giving men more flexibility to to divorce their wives than women are afforded, the Associated Press reports.
Iraqi Justice Minister Hassan al-Shimmari’s office defended the proposed legislation, and has introduced a bill to go along with it that would route marital disputes into special religious courts. According to the Associated Press, he said the new law would actually prevent abuse. “By introducing this draft law,” he said, “we want to limit or prevent such practices. Follow @wingrassnews
THE IMO SPEAKER MUST GO RALLY
The Youths Against Human Rights Violations and Corrupt Practices [YAHVCP] postponed the Imo Speaker Must Go Rally Scheduled for March 17th 2014. The Rally was postponed due to security reasons. A new date will be announced soon.
We also totally condemn the March 8th invasion of the Egbema residence of our National Cordinator Mr Kenneth Uwadi by armed uniformed officers. The invaders stormed Mr Uwadi’s place in a crude military-like assault asking for him and ransacking his place. Uwadi’s residence was invaded on the excuse that he wrote articles alleging that the Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly Hon Benjamin Uwajumogu looted Imo tax payers monies and that he was planning a mass protest to call for his resignation.
This unwholesome action is a flagrant abuse of fundamental human rights. It violates Nigerian constitution and international norms on freedom of expression. YAHVCP cannot and will not keep quiet and watch the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly walking freely after stealing over N3billion naira Imo tax payers money In a state where more than 80 percent of the population do not have access to potable/pipe-borne water supply. We condemn strongly the insensitive looting of Imo monies by the Speaker against the background of mass misery afflicting the vast bulk of Imo people. This anti-poor and self-serving conduct is why thousands of Imo youths are unemployed today. To us what this has also shown is that the problem of lack of youth employment in Imo State is not due to lack of funds to pay salaries but gross mismanagement and looting of our resources.
We are insisting that Hon Benjamin Uwajumogu should be investigated and removed as Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly. Uwajumogu does not feel that something is wrong with his colossal looting of public resources to gratify his lust for luxury. We are also calling for the investigation of 4 other members of the Imo House of Assembly for road contract scam. The members are Hon Stan Dara, Hon Ikechukwu Amuka ,Hon Ugonna Ozurigbo (OZ-B) and The Speaker’s Chief of Staff Kodichi Anamekwe.
YAHVCP is aware that Hon Stan Dara, Member Representing Osu Constituency in the Imo House of Assembly And House Chairman of State And Rural Roads Monitoring Committee with his own loot from road contract scam has built a multi million naira Massive Farm at Irete in Owerri West LGA. Dara is also presently from his loot building a multi million naira Asphalt plant in Owerri and also owns several duplexes at Egbeada Housing Estate in Owerri. Dara’s duplexes at Egbeada are painted dark green.
We are also aware that Hon Ikechukwu Amuka ,Member representing Ideato South Constituency and House member of State And Rural Roads Monitoring Committee with his own loot from road contract scam has built a multi million naira hotel (Eastern Emirate Hotel) located at World Bank Housing Estate in Owerri. Amuka is also building a second multi million naira hotel.We are also aware that Hon Ugonna Ozurigbo (OZ-B) of Nwangele LGA has from his loot in the contract scam turned his Kelvic Hotels Owerri of 12 rooms into a multi million naira Hotel.
We are also aware that the Chief of Staff to the Speaker Kodichi Anamekwe has with his own loot from contract scam bought 30 plots of land in Owerri and has built a multi million naira mansion at Achike Udenwa Estate near Concord Hotel. Anamekwe’s landed properties can be verified at the ministry of land and survey in Owerri.He is presently building a Hotel in Owerri. All the road contract papers of road contractors in Imo State were signed by him. Who authorized the Chief of Staff to the Speaker to sign road contracts? You can see why the House members are silent in the face of massive fraud rocking the House .
YAHVCP is calling on all Imo people in Nigeria and Abroad to support us in every way as we fight this corruption in the Imo House of Assembly. We are giving the Imo House of Assembly 2 weeks to set up a probe panel to investigate this Uwajumogu-gate.In two weeks time we will release more information about the stinking smell coming out of the Imo Assembly. We cannot keep silent to this capitalist looting when our unemployed youths in their thousands have become a wild and homeless lot and socially disinherited.
WE WANT AN IMO STATE WHERE:
Government will LISTEN to the PEOPLE
Government will meet the needs and expectations of the people
Government will promote and defend the welfare of the people
Those in government will put public interest above their selfish and personal
interest
Those in government will stop looting our monies and be mocking
us by calling us paupers and never do wells
The Police , Judges and the Courts are not politically used to oppress the
people
We call on the good people of Imo State to rise against this Uwajumogu House of thieves masquerading as Assembly Members , a House that is neck-deep in corruption. As for us in YAHVCP, despite all this repression we remain undaunted.
Aluta continua! Victoria acerta!
Signed
Kenneth Uwadi
National Coordinator
YAHVCP
Amaka Didanda
National Media Affairs Director
YAHVCP
Anambra: Reactions trail Obiano’s assumption of office
Obiano
More reactions have continued to trail the swearing in of Governor Willie Obiano and his deputy Dr Nkem Okeke in Anambra State.
The Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Mrs. Chinwe Nwaebili while speaking with the NationTuesday in Awka said that Anambra had witnessed a huge success during former Governor Peter Obi’s administration.
“I give God the whole glory for answering our prayers, what has happened has never occurred in the history of Anambra since its creation that a sitting governor will handover in a colorful ceremony.
Also, Governorship candidate of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, congratulated the newly sworn Governor of Anambra Chief Willie Obiano as the 5th democratically elected governor of the state.
He said that Anambra was a state blessed with numerous resources both human and material enough to take the state to map of total civilization and development to an enviable level.
“Anambra is the heart base of the Easterners by virtue of personalities from the state, nothing absolutely nothing would be hard to achieve if all resources are pulled together with one might”.
“I will ask the governor to put behind all that happened during electioneering and pick the egg heads in the state that would help him pilot the affairs of state creditably”.
“He said that the time has come for us all to join hands with our leader to pull, nit and move our dear state toward a pinnacle of developmental growth,” he said
Ezeemo said the core areas of life like improvement of power to encourage industrialization and mechanized farming should not be down played adding that the youth must be engaged meaningfully to fight crime in the state.
Chief Nathaniel Uzoma, state chairman Ohaneze Ndi Igbo group in Ekiti state and president South West of the group said that the peaceful inauguration was a sign of greater things to come in Igbo land.
Uzoma said that Igbo had come of age and would take their political life by their hands by aligning with things that promote Igbo interest.
He said that Anambra had shown that there was strength in unity and called for all Igbo to be united where ever they live.
Also, Mr. Alex Ezeobi Ohaneze National Youth leader said that the ceremony called for more unity among the Igbo, knowing that if united that they could achieve more landmarks in political life of the Ndi Igbo.
He called on Igbo youth to be responsive and sensitive to issues affecting their race and to be politically enlightened in order to face the challenges of the present day.
Furthermore, Mr. Ikechukwu Umeh, a member of the Anambra house of assembly and chief whip collaborated the opinion of the speaker and others.
He added that the legislature would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that development growth were recorded and sustained in the state.
He called on the people and residents of Anambra to cherish and nurture the state for the common good of all adding that political difference should not be allowed to divide the state.
Speaking further on behalf of Anambra in Diaspora, Mr. Allison Anadi, President of Anambra Indigenes in America (ASA-USA) said that the ceremony had shown that the state had attained a height.
He said that the group would give every support to the government of Anambra at every point to ensure that the state grows from strength to strength.
Onwusanya elected as Delta speaker
Tuesday, 18 March 2014 16:09 Written by Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba
MR. Peter Onwusanya (Oshimili South) was on Tuesday elected as the new Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly in Asaba following the expected resignation of Chief Victor Ochei.
Faced with a fait accompli as about 27 out of the 29 member House had reportedly signed the impeachment notice Ochei, had no choice but to throw in the towel to prevent what would have been a disgraceful end.
Citing his personal resolve to pave way for a new leadership in the House, Ochei in a letter dated March 18, 2014 and addressed to Deputy Speaker Basil Ganagana which he read out on the floor hoped that the new leadership will take the state and the House to a higher level.
The former Speaker wrote: “I wish to thank all those, numerous and many who made my tour of duty a pleasant affair further. To you my esteemed colleagues, I remained grateful for your love and camaraderie we shared while it lasted.”
Ochei (Aniocha North) was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the 29 member House on June 7, 2011 while Ganagana (Patani), a fourth term member who was first elected in 1999 was selected as the Deputy Speaker fifth session.
In the terse letter, he prayed God to avail his successor and indeed the House of all human sagacity in the task of accentuating the core ideals of the legislature as a partner in governance for a better society.
In place of Ochei who was absent at the plenary session which lasted about 45 minutes, Ganagana who took charge before the emergence of Onwusanya promptly declared the exalted vacant while the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Johnson Erijo (Isoko South II) proceeded to nominate Onwusanya as Speaker and was seconded by former Speaker Sam Obi (Ika North East).
The new Speaker was immediately sworn-in by the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Lyna Ocholor.
NSA Designs Economic Plan For Boko Haram States
The office of the National Security Adviser, NSA has designed an economic revitalisation programme targeted at the states currently affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, as part of measures to contain insurgency in the country.
The NSA, Mohammed Dasuki made this known yesterday, during the public presentation of the “Roll Out of Nigeria’s Soft Approach to Countering Terrorism,” where he disclosed that the economic empowerment programme was the Fourth Stream of the approach.
Part if the measure would also include interparty collaboration for counter-terrorism aimed at ensuring that party affiliation did not hinder stakeholders from contributing to efforts targeted at countering extremism.
“Based on our understanding of the economic root causes of terrorism and global best practices in addressing them, we are working with the governors of the six northeast states of Nigeria to design an economic revitalisation programme targeted towards the states most affected by terrorism.
Monday 17 March 2014
Jonathan to sack Moro over SERAP petition to UN
The Federal Government has been dragged before the United Nations over the tragedy that befell some graduate job seekers last weekend while participating in the recruitment exercise by the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, last weekend.
In a petition to the UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, it requested him to use his offices and leadership to “publicly condemn and refer the unlawful deaths and inhuman and degrading treatment of job-seekers by the Nigerian government to appropriate United Nations human rights bodies.”
Among the human rights bodies mentioned in the petition are: the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council.
This was coming as Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, through the National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko and the national media affairs director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, demanded the immediate dismissal of the top officials of the Nigerian Immigration Services and the Federal Ministry of Interior, including the minister and permanent secretary and further prosecute them for negligence which led to the high fatality rate at the ill-fated recruitment exercise by the NIS.
For over two hours Monday, Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, and the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. David Parradang, were on the hot seat as they told President Goodluck Jonathan all they knew about the circumstances that led to the death of over 16 job seekers during a recruitment exercise last Saturday.
Our source confirm that the president is not satisfied with moro explanation and may sack him this month to save face. The duo is under fire following the deaths that occurred during stampedes at the recruitment centres in Abuja, Minna and Benin, and was summoned to the State House to shed more light on why what should have been a smooth exercise turned tragic.
Also yesterday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and more groups joined in the call for the probe and removal of the minister and the NIS boss for their alleged culpability in the tragedy.
Although details of the encounter the duo had with Jonathan were not disclosed, it was learnt that the meeting was not a pleasant experience for Moro and Parradang, as they came out of the president's office wearing long faces.
They brushed aside questions from reporters who had approached them to find out what transpired during the meeting.
However, the minister in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, George Udoh, commiserated with the bereaved families and Nigerians, describing the incident as a national tragedy.
He said he was extremely traumatised by the death of the job seekers despite efforts to enthrone transparency and credibility in the recruitment.
“My heart goes out to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the stampede,” he stated.
The statement quoted the minister as promising to foot the hospital bills of those receiving treatment, directing that ambulances be provided to convey the corpses of the deceased to their hometowns.
Also, the Bauchi State Command of the NIS yesterday confirmed the death of one person and two others injured during the recruitment test at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.
The state Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. Ejukwule Usman, while fielding questions from reporters in his office in Bauchi, said the injured were receiving treatment at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi.
According to him, “The name of the person who lost his life and who hailed from Shira Local Government Area in Bauchi State is Mudal Mohammed Ahmed. The command is yet to ascertain the cause of the death of the victim because no autopsy was conducted on the body of the deceased as he was buried that same day.”
He said a total of 8,883 applicants from the state took part in the exercise, while 500 others came from Yobe State because of the insecurity in the state.
However, northern elder, Alhaji Junaid Mohammed, held a contrary view stating that the president’s speech was “much ado about nothing”.
He said: “It is a flight from reality. There is no sincerity in the speech. In the situation that Nigeria is in today, this speech is inappropriate.
"The speech on Nigerian unity not negotiable is neither here nor there. It is better you lay down a good framework for honest and sincere discussions that make the need for the division of the country unnecessary, rather than put a no-go-area which amounts to nothing.”
After the inaugural ceremony, the conference adjourned until 10 am today for deliberations.
Despite the minister’s expression of regret over the tragedy, the calls for the probe of the incident and his removal along with the NIS comptroller-general have refused to abate.
NLC, in a reaction yesterday, demanded a full investigation into the methods adopted by the NIS for the recruitment exercise.
It said the NIS employed what turned out to be a tragic process out of crass opportunism to bleed the applicants who were asked to pay N1,000 each.
It described as shocking what it said was the avoidable deaths of the unemployed applicants in circumstances that turned out to be a do-or-die struggle for employment.
In a statement by its National President, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, the NLC rejected Moro's explanation that the applicants died due to impatience and non-adherence to laid down procedures.
NLC said: “We also demand that the federal government must authorise an investigation of the Nigerian Immigration Service, query the methods it adopted and interrogate the discretion it exercised in collecting money from hard pressed applicants.
“To invite 520,000 applicants for 4,556 positions is a call for anarchy and irresponsibility from the NIS.
“We condemn in the strongest terms possible, the recruitment protocols adopted by the immigration department. It is grossly unfair for the immigration department to have invited over thousands of our youths to physically present themselves to compete to fill miserly 4,000 vacancies.
“Nothing but crass opportunism can explain this heartless scam. A more rational and discerning recruitment process could easily have reduced the numbers by insisting on raising minimum standards.
“This follows a condemnable pattern, which has now become common, even in the private sector, where thousands of applicants are invited in droves to compete for extremely limited opportunities.
“Ordinarily objectionable, this rogue method of head hunting, must count as execrable in the extreme, when adopted by a reputable department of government.”
The NLC called on the government to take better steps to protect applicants as the current processes in place leave them open to abuses and grave danger.
“Unemployment at the current scale is a grave challenge to the status quo and should shatter the complacency that many of us feel. The spectre of over 80,000 youths in a stadium in Abuja, assembled, not to watch an A-list football match, but rather, challenged by an epic hunger to have something to do, must break all hearts.
“We therefore call on government to tackle unemployment with increased commitment, and appropriately sanction those who have had a hand in causing these scandalous deaths,” it added.
A group, the Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), however has petitioned the United Nations (UN) over what it described as the “flagrant violation of human rights to life and dignity of the human person”.
The Executive Director of the group, Mr. Frank Tietie, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while presenting a copy of the petition to the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Ben Angwe.
Tietie said the petition was propelled by the need for Jonathan and NHRC to correctly read the signs of the events as a harbinger of an impending social collapse, which would be too costly for the world to bear in terms of humanitarian crises that would ensue.
He said: “In flagrant violation of the citizens’ fundamental human rights to life and dignity of the human person, the officials of the Ministry of Interior on March 15, 2014, allowed hungry jobless, poverty stricken and desperate Nigerian youths seeking lower cadre public jobs to trample upon themselves in stampedes in order to gain entrance into the various stadia across Nigeria where a test was scheduled to hold. This led to the cumulative death of about 20 Nigerians in four different stadia.”
Tietie expressed displeasure at the minister's statement blaming the applicants for the tragedy, stressing that there was no proof that the ministry made any plan to control the expected crowd despite the huge revenue it earned from them.
He called on the president to immediately suspend Moro and Parradang to pave the way for an unimpeded investigation into the calamity.
Responding, Angwe said it was clear that while the incident was not intended, adequate provisions were not put in place to cater for the mammoth crowd.
He assured the group that the commission would follow up on the issue in order to unravel the circumstances that led to the tragedy and set up a system to prevent a recurrence.
He promised to ensure that the federal government compensates the families of the victims.
Meanwhile, a group, Idoma Youth Progressive Movement (IYPM), has frowned on calls for Moro's removal.
The group, at a press conference in Makurdi yesterday, said the minister could not be blamed for the incident, as the NIS as an independent parastatal, superintended over the exercise.
President of IYPM, Mr. Igoche Mathew Egwa, said the minister only played a supervisory role and so should not be blamed for the tragedy.
However, following the meeting with Moro and Parradang, the president yesterday promised that the government would get to the root of Saturday’s recruitment tragedy.
Jonathan, who made the promise when he inaugurated the National Conference in Abuja, said he was set to take a decisive action on the matter.
The president called for a minute’s silence in honour of those who lost their lives at the nationwide exercise, where close to 600,000 applicants turned up for the immigration test.
“As we were preparing for this inauguration a very sad incident happened on Saturday.
“We are looking into the circumstances but we wouldn’t want to bore you with the circumstances now,” the president was quoted as stating by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Full text of President Jonathan’s address at inauguration of National Conference
1. I am delighted to welcome you all to the inauguration of this historic National Conference which promises to be another significant landmark in our efforts to strengthen national unity and consolidate democratic governance in our beloved country.
2. I also believe that this National Conference is coming at a very appropriate time. Having just celebrated the first centenary of our country, the most compelling task before us, as we move ahead and contemplate what our nation will be at the end of its second century, is to lay a much stronger foundation for faster development.
3. This we can achieve by building a more inclusive national consensus on the structure and guiding principles of state that will guarantee our emergence as a more united, progressive and prosperous nation.
4. In our history as a political entity, we have experienced highs and lows but have always forged ahead. To my mind, the fact that we have weathered all storms and continued with the mission of evolving a truly national identity signifies that we are going in the right direction.
5. The strongest nations in the world today also went through their own formative stages; some for decades and others for centuries. We must learn from them that nationhood will not happen overnight, especially given the circumstances of our birth as a nation.
6. History also teaches that nation-building is a journey of dedication, commitment, diligence, perseverance and patriotic vision. To be successful, nation-builders must continually strive to evolve better and more inclusive societies in which every citizen is a proud and committed stakeholder.
7. It was with this objective in mind that we set up the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) on the National Conference in October last year and charged its members with the responsibility of designing the framework and modalities for a productive National Conference.
8. The Committee which submitted its Report in December, 2013, was able to reach out to all Nigerians and various interest groups, socio-political groupings, regional and religious elements, professionals, civil society, the organised private sector, labour, youth, women and others to ascertain their views on the initiative.
9. The Presidential Advisory Committee established that there was indeed, a national consensus for this Conference to be convened immediately, to meet the yearnings and aspirations of our people.
10. The National Conference is therefore being convened to engage in intense introspection about the political and socio-economic challenges confronting our nation and to chart the best and most acceptable way for the resolution of such challenges in the collective interest of all the constituent parts of our fatherland.
11. This coming together under one roof to confer and build a fresh national consensus for the amicable resolution of issues that still cause friction amongst our people must be seen as an essential part of the process of building a more united, stronger and progressive nation.
12. We cannot continue to fold our arms and assume that things will straighten themselves out in due course, instead of taking practical steps to overcome impediments on our path to true nationhood, rapid development and national prosperity.
13. For many years we have discussed and argued over various issues concerning our national existence and well-being. Much of this national discourse has been conducted through the mass media, both print and electronic. More recently, the advent of the age of ICT and social media has greatly enlarged the space for the discussion of our country’s future.
14. Many more young and articulate Nigerians who previously had little access to the traditional mass media have now joined the conversation, motivated by patriotic concern for good governance, peace, stability, justice, equity, fairness and the harmonious co-existence of the diverse groups that make up our great nation.
15. Dear Compatriots, my administration is convening this National Conference today because we believe that we must assume responsibility for ensuring that the long-running national debate on the best way forward for our country is not in vain.
16. It is our expectation that participants in this conference will patriotically articulate and synthesize our peoples’ thoughts, views and recommendations for a stronger, more united, peaceful and politically stable Nigeria, forge the broadest possible national consensus in support of those recommendations, and strive to ensure that they are given the legal and constitutional backing to shape the present and the future of our beloved fatherland.
17. In inaugurating this national conference today, we are not unmindful of the argument of those who say that we do not need such a conference since we already have an elected Parliament and an elected Government in place.
18. As cogent as that argument may sound, I have chosen to act on the sincere conviction that in the truly democratic nation we are striving to build, we must never ignore the loudly expressed views of the majority of ordinary Nigerians.
19. I have heard that majority say, that we need to rebuild trust by involving them in the process of developing a guiding document of our national political relationships which is more acceptable to all sections of the country. I have heard our people say that we need to openly and frankly discuss our problems and seek acceptable solutions instead of allowing them to fester and remain sources of perennial conflict.
20. I have also heard them say that, as the elected representatives of our people, we must never arrogate to ourselves all knowledge and wisdom regarding the development of our country.
21. And I am in full agreement with our people. The power we hold is, without question, in trust for the people. Sovereignty belongs to the people. Their voices must be heard and factored into every decision we take on their behalf.
22. This National Conference is a very important avenue for the voices of our people to be heard. Our people have yearnings and desires that need to be discussed. Their representatives at this conference are neither usurping the role of the National Assembly nor the Executive. They are complementing us in our march towards a greater and stronger union.
23. Over the years, well-meaning Nigerians have drawn attention to inadequacies in our current constitution. Some have described it as a military-inspired document which does not take into full consideration the genuine desires and wishes of the people.
24. The phrase in the preamble that says “we, the people,” has been variously criticised as being misleading because, according to the critics, the constitution was not written by the people. There are also those who believe that the constitution is not our problem but the political will to faithfully implement it for the peace and progress of Nigeria.
25. While opinions on the matter can be as diverse as rain showers, I believe that irrespective of our personal views on the issue, no one can deny the fact that every constitution is a living document that needs to be revised and improved upon from time to time. The United States, which is the model democracy in the eyes of many, has amended its constitution 27 times since it was first adopted in 1787.
26. Some of our compatriots also believe that because we have held several conferences in the past, we do not need to hold another one. I do not share that view at all.
27. A deeper look will reveal that the challenges we faced before each of the preceding national conferences were different. The challenges of 1956 are certainly not the challenges of 2014, and definitely not the challenges that the nation will face in years to come. It makes sense, therefore, that as the challenges before us evolve, we must be constant and proactive in our search for fresh solutions. We cannot continue to proffer yesterday’s solutions for today’s problems.
28. This conference is open for us to table our thoughts and positions on issues, and make recommendations that will advance our togetherness. The issues range from form of government, structures of government, devolution of powers, revenue sharing, resource control, state and local government creation, boundary adjustment, state police and fiscal federalism, to local government elections, indigeneship, gender equality and children’s rights, amongst others.
29. We must not approach these issues with suspicion and antagonism. Rather, we should be open-minded and work to achieve what is best for Nigeria. Even though you come to the Conference as nominees and representatives of different interest groups, I urge you all to make a more united, stronger, indivisible and prosperous Nigeria your preoccupation and reference point at this national gathering. Whatever the pressures on you may be, I call upon you to put the best interest of Nigeria before all other sectional or group interests.
30. Indeed, I am quite worried when I hear people say that some participants in this National Conversation are coming here to defend and promote ethnic or clannish agenda. It is very regrettable that there are persons who believe that we cannot undertake any collective task in our country without the hindrance of ethnic rivalry even after 100 years of nationhood.
31. This conference gives us an opportunity to prove such persons wrong and I believe it will. As we start a new century of nationhood, we have an obligation to reshape and redirect our country for the benefit of our children. There should be no room for divisive cleavages and ethnic jingoism. There should be no room for selfish considerations that defeat the purpose of national progress. There should be room only for the national interest.
32. In the 60s, our country was ranked along with some developing countries including India, Malaysia and South Korea. Today, those countries have moved far ahead of us in several areas. My expectation is that the outcome of this Conference will be a positive turning point for our country’s development. We must seize this opportunity to cement the cleavages and fault lines that tend to separate us. We must re-launch our country.
33. I know the task before you is onerous; but there must be only one winner, and there can only be one winner if we do everything right, and that winner must be Nigeria. I urge you therefore to focus strictly on the Nigerian Agenda.
34. I expect that, as persons of integrity and honour, you will do nothing in this Conference that will undermine our efforts and desire to build a truly great nation. I also expect that your discussions will be informed only by the noblest of instincts and persuasions.
35. Our sole motivation for convening this conference is the patriotic desire for a better and greater nation. We are determined that things must be done in a way and manner that will positively advance that objective.
36. While we recognise that groups and communities are the building blocks of our nation, we must also emphasise that we need one another to build the solid and prosperous country of our dreams.
37. We cannot join hands together to build with a collective vision if we continue to harbour negative biases and prejudices against ourselves.
38. Yesterday’s prejudices should die with yesterday. Today is a new day. This is the dawn of a new era. This is an opportunity to think anew. We must jettison the poisonous mind-sets of the past, which were built on unhealthy competition among our diverse groups and peoples.
39. We need a new mind and a new spirit of oneness and national unity. The time has come to stop seeing Nigeria as a country of many groups and regions. We have been divinely brought together under one roof. We must begin to see ourselves as one community. We are joined together by similar hopes and dreams as well as similar problems and challenges. What affects one part of the community affects the other.
40. An average Nigerian sees every part of the country as home. Let us seize the opportunity of this Conference to do more to further turn our diversity and plurality into unique national resources for strength and greatness.
41. I have always affirmed that our ability to stay together despite our acknowledged differences, when other countries are finding it difficult to meet that challenge, is a powerful statement by Nigeria to the world on the virtues of tolerance and unity.
42. It is a strong and compelling statement in a world much afflicted by strife and violence. We must sustain it. We must not allow the antagonists of unity and togetherness to prevail. We must work ceaselessly to remain one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity, as our National Anthem says.
43. Honourable Chairman and distinguished delegates, I urge you not to be under any illusions as you begin your assignment. The task that lies ahead of you is formidable. Over the coming weeks, you will be confronted with complex and emotive issues; strong views will be expressed by opposing sides and some disagreements will, in all likelihood, be intense.
44. I sincerely believe, however, that we can overcome all obstacles to true national unity if we dig deep into the recesses of our national character and look up to God Almighty for wisdom, guidance and the generosity of spirit we need to ensure the success of this conference.
45. Once again, I wish to express my appreciation to the Nigerian people who have, without hesitation, accepted dialogue as a means of resolving all differences and tensions that may exist in the country, and therefore, given their unequivocal support for this National Conference.
46. Let me at this point thank the National Assembly for introducing the provision for a referendum in the proposed amendment of the Constitution. This should be relevant for this Conference if at the end of the deliberations, the need for a referendum arises. I therefore urge the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly to speed up the Constitutional amendment process especially with regard to the subject of referendum.
47. I thank the Chairman, Senator Femi Okurounmu and members of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the arduous work they undertook to prepare for the Conference. I also thank the Chairman of this National Conference, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, the principal officers and all the distinguished patriots and representatives of our people who have taken time off their busy personal schedules to serve the cause of national unity and progress at this conference.
48. I am confident that we are embarking on a landmark journey that will make us stronger as a nation if we undertake it with all sense of purpose and sincerity. Let us do that which is selfless, purposeful and patriotic so that history will remember us for having served our nation well.
49. In conclusion, I urge all officials and participants in the national conference to work extra hard to ensure that their deliberations are completed on schedule, well ahead of the schedule of events for the next general elections already announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
50. Let me again repeat what I have been saying that Goodluck Jonathan has no personal agenda in convening this national conference.
51. Ladies and Gentlemen, I now have the honour and privilege of declaring the National Conference open, for the good of our Nation and to the glory of God Almighty who has brought us together.
52. I thank you all
Senate Won't Work against Nat'l Conference Resolutions, Says Agboola
Senate Deputy Whip, Senator Hosea Ayoola Agboola, yesterday said the Senate and indeed the entire National Assembly would not work against the resolutions of the national conference inaugurated Monday.
He said notwithstanding the fact that there was no legal backing for the ongoing national conference, the Senate would look into their recommendations and key them into the constitution, especially the portions that are necessary for the corporate peaceful existence of Nigeria as a nation.
Agboola, a member of the National Assembly representing Oyo North, in an exclusive interview with THISDAY, said: "We cannot work against them. Those in the national conference are people of high calibre and proven integrity."
According to him, “President Goodluck Jonathan cannot be blamed for the convocation of the conference since Nigerians wanted it and as representatives of the people, we had no choice than to support the efforts at bringing all ethnic nationalities together for dialogue on how we want to live together as a people.”
He said further: "All the representatives of the federal constituencies are in the National Assembly and all the senatorial districts are also in the National Assembly. This means that those in the National Assembly, are true representatives of all federal constituencies and senatorial districts across the country. All of us are elected representatives of the people. So what they are doing at the conference is purely advisory."
Karibi-Whyte: Courts Should Carry out Substantial Justice
A retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, yesterday enjoined courts to “avoid technical justice and do substantial justice.”
Karibi-Whyte made the call while delivering a lecture titled “In the Eyes of the Law” at the week-long celebration of the 35th anniversary of the National Institute of Legal Studies (NIALS) in Abuja.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the retired judge referred to the decision of the Supreme Court on the 1979 presidential election adding that it was “one case that resonated so many years after the decision had been handed down”.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the retired judge referred to the decision of the Supreme Court on the 1979 presidential election adding that it was “one case that resonated so many years after the decision had been handed down”.
He identified two other election petitions decided by the apex court which included the Adamawa and Rivers governorship election of 1999 and 2007 respectively adding that the decisions remained “jurisprudential”.
“In Nigeria, we have several notable judicial pronouncements and I chose to discuss three which I consider novel in many respects.
“What is 12 two-third of 19 will continue resonate in this country and beyond; the expanded definition of death in the Adamawa case will remain a challenge to lawyers and medical practitioners.
“And that someone whose name was omitted in election boxes and deprived of standing for election was eventually declared a winner has remained jurisprudential.
“And that someone whose name was omitted in election boxes and deprived of standing for election was eventually declared a winner has remained jurisprudential.
In the cases analysed, the issue has been whether the courts make or interpret laws.
“It is trite that courts do not make but expound the law and in doing this it is in the interest of justice and fair play to shy away from technicalities,” he said.
“It is trite that courts do not make but expound the law and in doing this it is in the interest of justice and fair play to shy away from technicalities,” he said.
He noted that there was a need for words used in decisions to be explicit adding that the rules of interpretation were meant to aid effective creation of statutes.
Also speaking, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, Director-General, NAILS, told newsmen that the lecture was a way for stakeholders to share their views and also sensitise the public on decisions of the judiciary.
“It is not often that the public exception of what the judiciary has done seems to be in accord with their expectation but it is not for everybody to interpret the law.
“It is not often that the public exception of what the judiciary has done seems to be in accord with their expectation but it is not for everybody to interpret the law.
“The decision is vested in the judges so even if they make mistakes in the course of their interpretation, we have to live with such mistakes.
“But in order to make sure mistakes are corrected, we have the hierarchy of the courts.
“We have taken this as an opportunity for them to ventilate their views on this matter and sensitise people.
“They should continue to bear with us and understand that in the course of interpretation there are certain technicalities that must come to mind and the judges are trained to do so,” he said.
The lecture was part of activities to mark the week long 35th anniversary of the institute.
“We have taken this as an opportunity for them to ventilate their views on this matter and sensitise people.
“They should continue to bear with us and understand that in the course of interpretation there are certain technicalities that must come to mind and the judges are trained to do so,” he said.
The lecture was part of activities to mark the week long 35th anniversary of the institute.
REGULAR EXERCISE CAN REDUCE PRE-MATURE DEATHS
He added that regular exercise also reduces risk of major illnesses by up to 50 per cent, urging Nigerians to cultivate the habit.
“It can reduce coronary heart disease and stroke by 35 per cent, lowers risk of Type 2 diabetes by up to 50 per cent and lowers risk of colon and breast cancer among other diseases,” he said.
Akande, while delivering the 144th inaugural lecture of the University of Ilorin, said for an individual to feel better, have more energy and live longer, regular exercise is very vital, adding that many people are dying “little by little” due to lack of adequate health information.
The don recommended physical activity for different age groups, suggesting that children under five years should exercise for 180 minutes everyday; five to 18 years should do 60 minutes while adults should embark on physical exercise for 150 minutes every week.
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“It can reduce coronary heart disease and stroke by 35 per cent, lowers risk of Type 2 diabetes by up to 50 per cent and lowers risk of colon and breast cancer among other diseases,” he said.
Akande, while delivering the 144th inaugural lecture of the University of Ilorin, said for an individual to feel better, have more energy and live longer, regular exercise is very vital, adding that many people are dying “little by little” due to lack of adequate health information.
The don recommended physical activity for different age groups, suggesting that children under five years should exercise for 180 minutes everyday; five to 18 years should do 60 minutes while adults should embark on physical exercise for 150 minutes every week.
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