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Hope Rises On Nigeria's Potential After Jonathan's White House, UN Trips
FROM LAOLU AKANDE, NEW YORK
A GROUNDSWELL of global goodwill and rising acclaim for Nigeria and its re-elected President Goodluck Jonathan was on display last week at the United Nations, New York and Washington DC, as world leaders expressed the hope that Nigeria would actualise its potentials.
For instance, former US President Bill Clinton said, in New York, that Jonathan may turn out to be the leader that would bring Nigeria to its "full potential," just as there are now active talks of a President Obama visit to Nigeria before the end of his first term in office.
After meeting with the US President late Wednesday, diplomatic sources in Washington DC disclosed that the issue of a visit to Abuja by the US President is now merely a question of timing.
Although the idea of an Obama visit to Nigeria has been discussed in recent times, diplomats say, the outcome of the April elections has made the visit imperative and could be accomplished later in the year or the beginning of next year.
It would be recalled that a senior White House official had, while Obama was on Christmas vacation in Hawaii last year, reportedly stated that the US President intended to make another visit to Africa before the end of his first term in office.
Sources say Nigeria will be included on that African tour, which would be the second stop in Africa by Obama after his famous first visit to Ghana in 2009.
Back in New York, the same day he met with Obama, President Jonathan spoke for a fourth time at the UN on Thursday afternoon at a side event organised by the UNAIDS themed Countdown to Zero — an initiative to reduce mother-to-child HIV infections to zero. Before that, Jonathan had spoken on Tuesday at the Security Council and also spoke twice on Wednesday — once at a UN press conference and later at the HIV/AIDS high-level summit of the General Assembly.
It was at the Thursday afternoon event that former US President Bill Clinton congratulated Jonathan on his election and declared that the Nigerian president has a "studied outreach to bridge the divide that has kept Nigeria from reaching its full potential."
Adding that his wife, Hillary Clinton, who happens to be the US Secretary of State, says good things about President Jonathan, including the fact that "your hats are always cool," to the applause of the audience that included top UN and US officials like the Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon. .
In reference to his speech at the event, where he restated Nigeria's commitment to the HIV/AIDS fight and announced that he would lead an ECOWAS initiative to come up with new sources of funding to continue the onslaught against the scourge, Clinton thanked Jonathan fir his efforts. "I thank you very much for what you have done," he said.
Earlier in the week, Nigeria and its President had received commendation from the Secretary-General, who also noted Jonathan's personal commitment to the HIV/AIDS fight.
At the beginning of the week when he addressed a press conference at the UN even before Jonathan's arrival, Ban said: "I appreciate his (President Jonathan's) strong commitment to see the end of the HIV/AIDS epidemic."
Ban himself had recently completed a visit to Nigeria of which he said on return at the UN that he was very impressed by the many efforts of the federal government of Nigeria to advance the MDGs in the country, especially citing the new health bill passed by the National Assembly.
A White House statement issued later after the Obama-Jonathan meeting in Washington DC was silent on the issue of a US presidential visit, and sources explain that an official announcement of such a visit would come only when the timing has been concluded between both US and Nigerian diplomats.
However, the release observed that the US President "personally congratulated President Jonathan on the success of Nigeria's recent elections, which deepened the foundation for future democratic contests."
The statement also added that both "leaders discussed how the Jonathan administration can build on this momentum by investing in Nigeria's energy supply, agricultural productivity, democratic institutions, and security sector."
Besides, President Obama "called on President Jonathan to make fighting corruption a national priority and a critical step in ensuring the necessary conditions for sustained economic growth and lasting prosperity," while thanking him "for his leadership both regionally and within the United Nations Security Council on pressing issues such as Sudan, Libya, and Cote D'Ivoire."
The White House statement concluded, "both leaders agreed to continue to work together to promote peace and security."
Source: The Guardian, 12th June 2011.
Jonathan's 45-Minute Meeting With Obama
As part of his scheduled assignments in the United States this week, President Goodluck Jonathan had a 45-minutes' meeting with US President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington DC, early yesterday, appealing to the American government to help in the HIV/AIDS scourge in Nigeria.
Stressing his earlier presentation at the United Nations General Assembly, Jonathan said, "There are currently about three million cases of HIV/AIDS scourge now in the country."
Although he admitted that there had been growing interest on the issue by successive government in the country to eradicate the virus, he canvassed fo international collaboration in tackling the menace.
A survey by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in September 2010; revealed a national HIV prevalence of 4.1 per cent.
In Nigeria, the prevalence ranged from 1.0 per cent in Kebbi State to 12.7 per cent in Benue State. A total of 16 states and the FCT had a prevalence of above five per cent. Five of the six states in the South-South zone, three of the five in the South-East zone, five of the seven in North-Central zone, two of the six in North-East Zone, and one of the six in South-West zone had a prevalence of five per cent and above.
The three states with the highest rates were Benue, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa. The prevalence was generally higher in urban than rural areas except in eight states, namely, Benue, Adamawa, Kaduna, Akwa-Ibom, Yobe, Jigawa, Kebbi and Ondo where the reverse was the case.
The highest site prevalence of 21.3 per cent in the country was reported in Wannune (Benue State) while the lowest prevalence of 0.0 per cent was reported in four sites, namely, Kwami (Gombe State), Rano (Kano State), Owhelogbo (Delta State) and Ganawuri (Plateau State.
The prevalence rose with increasing age group and peaked at age 30-34 years (5.7%) after which it declined. A higher HIV prevalence among singles than married people was observed.
A declining trend of HIV prevalence among women attending ANC in Nigeria was reported from 5.8 per cent in 2001 through five per cent in 2003 to 4.4 per cent in 2005. However, the national prevalence seemed to have stabilised between 2005 and 2010 as shown by the reported prevalences - 4.4 per cent (2005), 4.6 per cent (2008) and 4.1 per cent (2010).
While six states showed a consistent downward trend between 2005 and 2010, eight states showed a consistent rise. Other states showed no consistency in trend. Trend analysis of HIV prevalence among youths 15-24 years showed a consistent decline from 2001 to 2010 (i.e. from 6.0% (2001), through 5.3% (2003), 4.3% (2005), 4.2% (2008) to 4.1% (2010).
Considering the findings from the survey, NACA had recommended that primary prevention strategies targeting the youth (among other groups) should be strengthened.
The president, who lauded the US for what it is doing within the framework of the U.S-Nigerian Bi-National Commission, which began its operation last year, also told Obama that he wanted more support from his government in all the areas of the commission.
He thanked Obama for all the supports that his country offered Nigeria during the recently concluded general elections.
He said: "I appreciate all the comments made by the United States government over the outcome of the general elections we held in my country."
In his own reactions, Obama, who said that he "sincerely congratulated the federal government of Nigeria on the successful general elections recently held in the country" also wished Jonathan a successful tenure as the Nigerian democratically elected president.
Obama lauded the bi-national agreement between the United States government and the federal government of Nigeria, stressing that his government looked up to more cooperation between both countries especially in the area of the Bi-National Commission (BNC).
Source: Leadership, 11th June 2011.
Obama, at talks with Jonathan, offers to help Nigeria
FROM LAOLU AKANDE AND MADU ONUORAH (NEW YORK)
UNITED STATES (U.S.) President Barack Obama has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to take his election last month as a good opportunity to pursue the development of the country. He said the U.S. government would invigorate its assistance to the country through the U.S.-Nigeria Bi-national Commission.
Obama, who also restated that Nigeria is one of America's strategic partners, spoke late Wednesday in Washington DC at a brief meeting between both leaders, which has been described as mostly a symbolic gesture from the American government towards Nigeria and its newly-elected president.
Although reporters were not allowed to the meeting which lasted about 30 minutes, Nigeria's Ambassador to the US, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye who was present, disclosed that the two presidents discussed about the recent Nigerian elections, Nigeria's leadership in Africa, peacekeeping and the U.S.-Nigeria Bi-national Commission, among other issues.
According to Adefuye, after congratulating Jonathan over the election, Obama advised him to take his election as an opportunity to develop Nigeria's potential and to diversify the country's economic base.
Obama also expressed his appreciation on Nigeria's contribution to international peacekeeping missions and leadership role in West Africa, against the background of Nigeria's recent role as ECOWAS chairman in the case of Cote d'Ivoire's recent political crisis.
Craving that the country continue along such paths, the U.S. President assured his Nigerian counterpart that he looked forward to more co-operation between the U.S. and Nigeria in the nearest future, adding that both the U.S. and Nigeria share common objectives.
Earlier, President Jonathan had expressed his appreciation for his invitation to the White House and also commended the American government's support for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the build-up to the recent general elections.
Recounting President Jonathan's comments, Ambassador Adefuye stated that he also praised the U.S. government for its statement after the elections recognising the largely positive outcome of the polls. President Jonathan was said to have promised that Nigeria would further the cause of democracy in Africa and continue to play a leading role in its contribution to the UN peacekeeping missions.
Jonathan, while appreciating America for the U.S.-Nigeria Bi-national Commission, reportedly said: "I want to see the implementation of the Bi-national Commission invigorated."
Top Nigerian officials who joined President Jonathan at the White House Oval office meeting included the Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs, Dr. Martin Uhomoibhi; the National Security Adviser General, Andrew Azazi; Director-General of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Oladeji; Ambassador Hassan Tukur, the Principal Secretary to the President and Adefuye, Nigeria's Ambassador to the U.S.
On the American side with President Obama were the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Ambassador Johnnie Carson, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Terrence McCulley and Bob Levvit of the National Security Council, among others.
Source: Daily Champion, 10th June 2011.
Obama Wants Nigeria to Spearhead Good Governance in Africa
By Tokunbo Adedoja
United States President Barack Obama has called on Nigeria to help strengthen good governance in Africa.
Making the call while hosting President Goodluck Jonathan at the White House in Washington DC on Wednesday evening, the US President also congratulated the Nigerian leader on his inauguration for second term, and all Nigerians for the success of the April general elections.
A source at the meeting held behind closed doors told THISDAY that Obama said he hopes President Jonathan would use his new tenure "to diversify the Nigerian economy and strengthen democracy and good governance in Africa".
At the Wednesday parley, which was the second time Obama would be hosting Jonathan since he became Nigerian leader, the American President noted Nigeria's contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS pandemic and specifically commended President Jonathan's remarks at the high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS covenend by the United Nations.
In his response, Jonathan was said to have conveyed Nigeria's appreciation to the US for the support provided before, during and after the April general elections.
"President Jonathan thanked US for supporting INEC and also showed Nigeria's appreciation for the various positive comments made by the United States on the outcome of our elections. He said that Nigeria is in a position to help strengtehn democracy on the continent and would not shy away from that responsibility", the source said.
Jonathan was also said to have noted the improved relations between the two countries, particularly the activities of the Nigeria-US Binational Commission, and called for a more vigorous implementation of its objectives.
THISDAY gathered that Jonathan also thanked President Obama for the donation of a US warship to the Nigerian Navy last month and said the ship, which had now been named NNS Thunder, would not only improve Nigeria's defence capabilities, but would also help ensure the security of the Gulf of Guinea.
Jonathan was accompanied to the White House by the Nigerian Ambassador to US, Prof Adebowale Adefuye, National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoeye Azazi, Director of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Olaniyi Oladeji, Permanent Secretary, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi, and Principal Secretary to the President, Hassan Tukur.
On the US team were Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, Amb. Johnnie Carson, and US Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence P. McCulley, among others.
Source: This Day, 10th June 2011.
Abati: The Jonathan To Jonathan Transition
BY REUBEN ABATI
ON May 29, there will be a Jonathan to Jonathan transition as President Goodluck Jonathan takes the oath of office for a term of four years as Nigeria's President: it would be a significant moment in more ways than one. On that day, Goodluck Jonathan will be taking the oath of office after an election in which he was the principal candidate not a side-kick, the first time he would be winning an election as a front runner in his short but eventful political career. With 22.5 million votes, about 10 million votes more than the first runner up, and 20 million votes more than the second runner up in Nigeria's presidential election held on April 16, and more than 25% of the votes in about 31 states (in excess of the Constitutional requirement), with his party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), winning majority seats in the National Assembly and in state governorship and legislative assembly elections, and with local and international observers praising the elections as credible, free and fair, despite observed glitches, Dr Jonathan can speak confidently of having a strong, legitimate claim to the office of Nigeria's President.
Given the circumstances preceding his emergence – he was a much troubled Vice president to a sick President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua; when his boss went abroad for treatment, he refused to hand over to him as required by the Constitution, it took the National Assembly invoking a "doctrine of necessity" to make him Acting President, even then he had to contend with the Yar'Adua cabal which treated him shabbily, and when he eventually became President, by the force of the Constitution, following Yar'Adua's demise, Northern politicians insisted that he could not be President beyond 2011, because Yar'Adua was yet to complete the North's eight-year "allocation" of presidential seat, and that only a Northerner can complete that tenure, not Jonathan or any other Southerner.
Jonathan has survived despite the consequential intrigues: he and his party won convincingly across the North, and his three main Northern challengers (Muhammadu Buhari of the CPC, Nuhu Ribadu of the ACN and Ibrahim Shekarau of the ANPP) lost at the polls. One other fact of Jonathan's election is that there is no individual or cabal that can claim credit for his success in the 2011 elections. Indeed, many of the "sacred cows" and the influential forces in the PDP, who once paraded themselves as either Jonathan's Godfathers or the masquerades behind his throne lost woefully in their wards or polling booths (Obasanjo, Anenih) or barely managed to survive or they lost completely. Even the ones among them who have survived cannot boast that they "made" Jonathan. Jonathan is President because he is the people's choice. He is no longer anybody's "boy", no longer the political tyro that everyone reserved for the position of deputy because he is loyal and well-behaved; he is now his own man and he has shown much greater capacity and dexterity than his now expired Godfathers or anyone else credited him with hitherto. He therefore has no reason anymore to look over his shoulders. He should know this, and if he does not, he should be reminded that the Nigerian people expect him to make the best use of the opportunity that he has been given. If he fails, he will be the one to be held responsible, for he can no longer offer excuses.
He needs to know that the Nigerian people voted for him not just because of the promise of his campaigns, but in part, for identity reasons. This is one President who seems to represent the face of change. More than any other President or Head of State since independence, Jonathan is distinguished by his proletarian background. He is not a Prince, his ancestors did not control empires, he became prominent politically because other people thought they could use him. He did not own a farm or a chain of businesses, and when he declared his assets as Vice President in 2007, many Nigerians chuckled. As recently as 1998, he was a regular Jo next door who according to one tale, travelled to Abuja for the first time, not in an aircraft, but a night bus! He probably did not travel business class until he became Governor of Bayelsa state. He himself made much capital out of his humble background when in the course of his campaigns, he disclosed that he went to school without a pair of shoes, no school bag, his family could not afford to eat rice, and he trekked many miles to school. His parents' most important contribution to Nigeria is that they gave birth to him!
There is indeed an inspirational angle to that story: He said: "I was not born rich, and in my youth, I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but not once did I ever give up. Not once did I imagine that a child from Otuoke, a small village in the Niger Delta, will one day rise to the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I was raised by my mother and father with just enough money to meet our daily needs.
"In my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bags. I carried my books in my hands but never despaired; no car to take me to school but I never despaired. There were days I had only one meal but I never despaired. I walked miles and crossed rivers to school every day but I never despaired. Didn't have power, didn't have generators, studied with lanterns but I never despaired.
"In spite of these, I finished secondary school, attended the University of Port Harcourt, and now hold a doctorate degree. Fellow Nigerians, if I could make it, you too can make it", he said
Lucky Jo is not just President today, he makes many other Nigerians feel as if they too can rise to the highest office in the land, without having to worry about their parental background or whether or not their ancestors controlled empires and resources, and that indeed power does not belong only to those who believe that they are "born to rule." But in this lies the key challenge that Jonathan faces. Nigeria has given him shoes to wear, bags to carry, and he no longer has to trek many miles: he must make good use of that opportunity! For more than a year, he has enjoyed the benefit of what may be called a dress rehearsal in office; he cannot claim that he does not know what the issues are, what Nigerians want and what is expected of him. He must not forget his roots. If he fails, he will not be forgiven.
It is part of the reality of the office that he occupies that many money-bags, CEOs, people looking for oil wells, people who already own oil blocks and who want more, will begin to befriend him afresh; they want his favours, they would want to be his friend, they want to belong, they want to protect what they have. If they thought he had been a caretaker President, now they would seek his favours with much greater desperation, knowing that he is now fully in charge. The only problem is that in this class can be found all the rent collectors, debtors, speculators, ten per centers, buccaneers and thieves who have brought Nigeria to a sorry pass. Those are not the kind of friends that Jonathan needs. He must give them a wide berth and be the people's President. He needs to prove that he deserves the mandate that he has been given and that he represents change in a true sense, not the status quo. There were millions of Nigerians who did not vote for him or his party, and among those are persons who are already convinced that Jonathan is just a lucky man who has no idea what is at stake, based on their own assessment of his performance so far. He needs to prove such people wrong, and win them to his side and the only way to do so is for him to prove worthy of the Presidency.
He is the first Nigerian President of Ijaw, Niger Delta and South South extraction. In the context of Nigeria's geo-politics, that means a lot. Jonathan's victory is not just his alone, the people of the Niger Delta understandably share in his glory. The people of the Niger Delta, whose oil resources account for 90% of Nigeria's total annual revenue have often complained about marginalization and the deliberate disempowerment of their people, the degradation of their environment due to oil exploration activities, and gross injustice. This resulted in low level insurgency in that part of the country turning the Niger Delta into an open wound in the Nigerian polity. Ahead of the elections, Niger Delta militants expressed support for their kinsman's candidacy noting that they were prepared to make Nigeria ungovernable if Jonathan did not win. Now, their man has won, what next for the Niger Delta?
An obvious assumption is that Jonathan's victory will translate into better fortunes in the Niger Delta and the cessation of the aggression against the Nigerian state. The caveat to this however is that the kinsman theory of power in Nigeria is severely short-sighted, that is, the expectation that a man in power represents his own kinsmen first and foremost, does not necessarily guarantee any special advantages for the kinsmen or their communities. Many years of Northern domination at the centre under military and civilian rule never brought Northern Nigeria any special advantages, with the North having the largest population of out-of-school children, miscreants and the poor.
Many Yoruba do not feel any sense of achievement either on account of Obasanjo's many years in power, in fact the people of Ota where Obasanjo lived before 1999 are amazed that their neighbour could be President for eight years and his government could not fix the bad federal road leading to the community. In the same manner, the transformation that the people of the Niger Delta seek may not occur under a Jonathan Presidency, what is certain is that they have already lost the moral right to complain any further about marginalization. Other Nigerians will expect that nobody in the Niger Delta would threaten hereafter to sabotage Nigeria and bring it to its knees as has been the case since 2005, and that the over 300 Niger Delta warlords will join Jonathan in proving that indeed the Presidency does not belong to only a select group of Nigerians, recycling themselves. Even if Jonathan wants to serve his people, however, beyond making the South South fedora cap and walking stick popular, he must realize that he is President of all Nigeria and he must seek to be a statesman, not a "sailor-fisherman" in Abuja.
There are very urgent priorities that he must address. He must make the transformation of Nigeria his chief priority. It took only two Presidents in Brazil (Fernando Cardoso, 1995-2002 and Lula da Silva, 2003 -2010) for that country to embark on the path of economic progress, and in both Brazil and South Korea, even in Ghana next door, the point has been well proven that good leadership is what helps a country in the long run. When he takes that oath on May 29, Jonathan will be signing a pact with history. He can either sleep walk through the four years or make significant difference. We recommend the latter. He should start with the power sector. His government has already announced a road map for the power sector. There are plans to privatize the power sector. He must hurry up. He won't be the first President since 1999 to talk about the same issue. Nigerians are no longer interested in such talks. They want results; they want regular electricity supply and the expulsion of the diesel importation Mafia. With regular power supply, the Nigerian economy will be jump-started, life will be easier for the ordinary man and this will be one way of demonstrating change. Jonathan should be the President to translate all the talks about power into measurable results.
It is a shame that the Nigerian education system has failed. Even poor and lower middle class families now send their children to private schools, and the rich send their children abroad. Many urban-based families do not have a child in the Nigerian public school system, the same system that produced most of the people now in the corridors of power. It doesn't require much creativity or intelligence to rescue the education system. With PDP Governors in the majority across the country, it should not be difficult to secure a broad-based, nationwide buy-in, and lead the process of revamping the education system. Jonathan should aspire to be known as the education President. The failure of the Nigerian education system robs the country of the capacity to compete, and encourages the breeding of miscreants and illiterates who can be easily recruited for dastardly purposes.
Jonathan should fix the country's transportation crisis. He should seek to be the President who solved the Railway problem that other Presidents before him, mismanaged. He should make all Federal roads motorable, and where these Federal roads fall under the jurisdiction of state governments, they should be handed over to those states, thus reducing the burden on the Federal Government. It is scandalous that more than a year after the Jonathan Presidency began, there has been no Federal road that has been put in a better shape that anyone is talking about. Beyond May 29, his government must resist the temptation to keep busy with ceremonies, we have had enough of such things: hollow cabinet meetings and announcements of contracts that have been awarded but which never see the light of day, fictitious job creations, needless travels across the world, meetings and receptions that amount to sheer indulgence, courtesy calls by traditional rulers and all kinds of groups that serve no purpose, empty promises that the government does not intend to keep and so on. Jonathan must settle down to the assignment and get his hands dirtied. He must fight corruption, reinvent the Nigerian civil service (which over the years has been turned into an evil service); and pay more attention to internal security and the national economy.
We do not expect him to run a one-man government. We expect him to stand by the ideals of democracy which he espoused as a candidate, and to be a champion for national unity and integration. He must make the period 2011- 2015, the true beginning of a new and positive era for Nigeria. We are waiting and watching.
Source: The Guardian, 1st May 2011.
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The task before Jonathan
By Chioma Gabriel, Deputy Editor
He should focus on uniting Nigeria, security, power and economy -–-Ohanaeze President, Akerele-Bucknor, others
The 2011 presidential election has been won and lost. Nigerians are thinking ahead of May 29, 2011. President Jonathan has received the mandate to continue in office as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The mandate is not a tea party. It is a responsibility and millions of Nigerians who trooped out to vote for him on April 16 are expecting results. What should be his priority?
The President General, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Professor Ralph Uwechue wants Jonathan to give security maximum attention.
"Jonathan has won the election and international observers said it was adequately free and fair. So, he should ensure that the security situation in the country is tackled especially with the on-going disturbances in the North. President Jonathan also has to ensure affordable energy to be able to enhance economic growth.
"There is also a lot of insecurity due to kidnapping in various parts of the country. Nigerians in diaspora are scared of coming home. Those in the country are afraid of going to their villages. Jonathan should set a machinery in motion that would tackle that. Whatever is required should be done to ensure kidnapping becomes history in Nigeria."
Third-Republic Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Agunwa Anaekwe is of the view that the president has long-term and short-term issues to tackle.
"He started well by declaring no victor, no vanquished after the announcement of election results and by extending a hand of fellowship to other contestants and politicians. He should also act fast on the crisis besieging the nation and ensure it does not spread to the other parts of Nigeria. These are short-term tasks he has to accomplish.
"Then, on the long-term, this is the first time someone from the South-South is occupying the position of President of this country. With his antecedent, he should move Nigeria to the next level. He should do that by assembling the best hands to work with him.
He has made a lot of promises to improve power supply, improve employment and general security and Nigerians are looking up to him. Nigerians should support him in prayers, cooperate with him to realise the noble objective of moving Nigeria to the next level and proving that the leader of this country could come from any part and still do a good job."
Former Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Arigbe Osula wants President Jonathan to unite the country.
"It is paramount to have a one united Nigeria rather than different ethnic groups. He should build one strong nation.
Secondly, he should secure the country and this is the primary purpose of government . It is only when security is guaranteed that people would rally around the government. So, let the President go out there and emphasis all his promises in words and action. We need a people-oriented government in this country.
The Goodluck/Sambo combination was able to outsmart the opposition which enjoys the sympathy of Nigerians due to the 12 years misrule of PDP government. There is now a new face of PDP government and Jonathan/Sambo should distant themselves from the 12 years of PDP misrule by being positively different. It is now obvious that the sympathy shown the opposition was not enough.
"The opposition did not work hard enough to enforce a change but rather, they were fighting themselves. So, now, Jonathn should go out there and produce a virile Nigeria so that in the next four years, Nigerians would see change.
The opposition must accept the blame for their failure. There was no seriousness on the part of opposition such that despite the 12 years of PDP's misrule, opposition could not sell a people-oriented programme to the electorate and they fell into the trap set by Goodluck/Sambo Organisation. The campaign of the opposition was horrible.
Their style was unacceptable to Nigerians. They couldn't improve on PDP's misrule. And Goodluck was sold as an outsider to the electorate and he worked hard for it."
Comrade Joseph Eva, National Coordinator of Ijaw Monitoring Group advises President Jonathan to study Obafemi Awolowo's economic blue-print and do away with sycophants.
" From Niger Delta, we came to Lagos and organised Awo's birthday programme on 6th of March and we asked God to give Jonathan the economic wisdom of Awolowo or he will go down. This economic blue-print will bring about economic empowerment, free education; improved energy which will in turn resolve the problem of the Niger Delta.
Jonathan should not surround himself with sycophants so that God would not regret making him a king. If he studies the economic blue-print of Awolowo and do to Nigeria what Awolowo did to the South West, the entire country will change for the better economically."
Senator Kofoworola Akerele-Bucknor wants President Jonathan to focus on security and resolve the crisis in the North, then get the economy going so that people would invest in Nigeria.
" The crisis in the North needs urgent attention. If it is not resolved now, it could get worse and we don't want that.
Nigeria also needs to get her economy going so that we could get the much desired foreign investors."
For Professor Itse Sagay, power is a major problem in the country.
" For over one year, there was no improvement in power supply. Jonathan needs to focus in the area of petroleum products.
We should stop importing petroleum products when we are exporting crude oil. Then, he must deal with corruption and indiscipline, infra structural problems; road repairs and construction and also construction of railways.
Then, there is the issue of education. Our universities are ill-funded; the worst in the world. Jonathan made a wrong move by pledging to build six universities in each zone of the country when he should have used the money to fund the old ones and make them first rate universities instead of the 3rd rate universities they are.
Graduates of Nigerian universities are rarely accepted overseas. What they do is begin again when they travel abroad. So, he must improve on the standard of our universities and education in general."Source: Vanguard 23rd April 2011.
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Jonathan, Mark Seek Peaceful Polls
By Kunle Akogun and Ahamefula Ogbu in Abuja Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano
With less than 24 hours to the commencement of the April general elections, President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to the political class to allow a peaceful polls instead of the violence that have rocked parts of the country.
He also charged all security agencies in the country to be extra vigilant and ensure that there were no unguarded moments which enemies of the society can latch on to cause trouble or perpetrate violence.
Jonathan also called on all Nigerians to be vigilant and see it as a civic duty to ensure that there were no breaches as the time was too important for Nigeria to toy with or take certain things for granted. "I use this opportunity to appeal to members of the political class, the electorate and all Nigerians to ensure that the 2011 general elections commencing in another forty eight hours are conducted in an atmosphere of peace, harmony, mutual respect and healthy competition. Nigeria cannot afford to be distracted by acts of mindless violence and primordial tendencies at this critical period of our nation's history," he said.
The President tasked security agencies to be extra vigilant at this phase of political transition, pointing out that securing the lives of all Nigerians is paramount, in addition to their traditional roles of securing the nation's borders against economic saboteurs and unpatriotic purveyors of violence.
He reasoned that "Times like this calls for extra vigilance in addition to guarding all our entry points against the activities of economic saboteurs, imperatives of the times impose on you the added responsibility of ensuring the safety of lives in our country," and called all men of goodwill to partner with them in ensuring the success of the exercise.
On his part, Senate President, David Mark harped on the need for a non-violent poll. In a message to the nation, the Senate President cautioned against resort to violence during the election, saying that violence does not produce anything positive.
He urged political leaders and parents to admonish their children and wards not to be ready tools in the hands of desperate politicians. Restating the resolve of the National Council of State for enhanced security for the electon, Mark urged security operatives to be alive to their responsibilities during and after the polls.He specifically charged the security operatives to properly man the border towns to check the likely infiltration by aliens.
The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential candidate, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau has ended his presidential rally in Kano Thursday, urging Nigerians to use their votes as weapons for installing credible leaders along the strata. Mallam Shekarau, while speaking amid large crowd of supporters promised that ANPP has a package to turn around Nigeria, saying it is high time for Nigerians to appreciate the value of their votes and abandon the use of violence during elections.
Source: This Day, 1st April 2011.
Jonathan's Three Noble Actions
So much has been said or written about the temper of President Goodluck Jonathan and how this has impacted on the leadership provided by his government.
To his most considerate critics, he probably would have been a better leader if he had emerged under a political party other than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
His admirers however contain that even in the tension soaked political atmosphere, Jonathan has demonstrated that if given a chance, he would successfully lead Nigeria to increased political and economic advancement.
I share this later view, considering some of the things I recently discovered about his person and in particular, because of the way Jonathan conducted his presidential campaigns. Permit me to argue that he may have won the record of the most civil sitting president in Nigeria, especially during the usually volatile period of electioneering campaigns. Even if you disagree with this argument, you may not honestly deny the fact that his language and personal conduct as he campaigned for re-election are far better than that of other presidents that have travelled this route before him.
When critics attempt this kind of assessment, the tendency is to tender endless proofs to support their pre-concluded positions. While not disregarding other views that may be canvassed, either for or against him, I so sincerely appreciate some three noble actions which I think have placed Jonathan above most of the presidents before him.
The first is that he is unarguably humble and ordinary, almost to a fault.
Some critics have pointed out that these are signs of weakness. I almost thought so also, especially at the very beginning, when as Vice President, later Acting President, he seemed rather slow in the handling of the intricate political situation of the time.
Then, because of sheer impatience or unwillingness to accept sudden change of approach, many of us out-rightly dismissed him, alleging that he was not mature enough to lead Nigeria. We said he was jittery and shy to assert himself and to take decisive actions when necessary. That was why many wondered if such a president could lead a sensitive and fragile nation like Nigeria at this point of her history.
But since he became president and as a reporter, I decided to observe his moves vis-?-vis his temperament more painstakingly, it has dawned on me that everybody's style and pace must not necessarily be the same. I have also come to suspect that most of the bitterest critics of Jonathan, especially those who hinge their complaints on his alleged ordinariness, have been committing the blunder of comparing his temper with that of the long list of military heads of state and presidents before him. Without realizing the full implications of their demands, the critics seemed to be complaining that Jonathan has not been as autocratic, firm and dictatorial as the military and retired military leaders before him.
The genesis of this unfortunate perspective is understandably traced to the regrettable history of long military dictatorship, a reality that has conditioned most Nigerians to unconsciously admire the culture of brazenness and military fiat. It would only take an objective study of Jonathan's style of leadership to truly understand and appreciate what I consider his deliberate rejection of that despicable culture.
Though I may not, on the account of this point and for some other reasons I would still adduce in this piece, conclusively say Goodluck Jonathan has become perfect, I think there are some basic truths to his campaign claims that he represents fresh breath in Nigerian political landscape. He does, no matter how you look at it.
He may be criticized or even condemned in some respects, but we can not deny that he has, to a very large extent, demystified the office of Mr. President. He has, by what some critics, like you and I, have dubbed ordinariness and common mistakes, further humanized that high office in Nigeria.
Since I adopted a more patient approach in the study of Jonathan's styles, I have come to appreciate his personality better. It has, for example, dawned on me that he has a style, which if tolerated by a greater majority of Nigerians, would help to deepen our democracy. Yes! Enduring democracy can only be built on mutual respect for one another, anchored on civil resolution of issues not by jet pace fiat. Such a civil approach, needless to add, will obviously take time though opportunists may try to make spurious claims against the user.
Notwithstanding claims to the contrary, I dare say Jonathan has scored a strong point by striving to show Nigerians that even as the Executive President of Nigeria, the giant of Africa, he remains a humble citizen that can chat with school boys and girls on Facebook.
He blazed this new trail of campaign in Nigeria since the second half of 2010, when his use of the social media to broaden his interaction with youths and the international community became public knowledge.
The innovation of interacting directly with common citizens, anchored by Goodluck Jonathan Global Campaign Team (GJGCT), may be considered very ordinary and of little consequence in some quarters, but, to many citizens, who have used the social network to directly put across their views and suggestions to the Presidency, there seems to be no better way of demonstrating an admission that Mr. President remains one of the people.
All over the world, concerted efforts are currently being made by governments to reduce the frightening gulf that hitherto separated rulers from the common people. It is good that Jonathan saw the need to join this internationally approved trend.
Even in Nigeria, where some have come to believe so inflexibly that power must intoxicate, Jonathan seems to be saying that Mr. President, in a civil and modern Nigeria, can no longer continue to pretend to be anything more than human.
This humble posture makes sense to me because even the President of the United States of America and that of today's China are still mere human beings? Powerful as they are, they still answer calls of nature, I guess.
The second noble action of Jonathan that, in my view, deserves commendation is his public declaration that politics should not be a 'do or die affair.' Shortly after the Port-Harcourt presidential rally tragedy, he courageously said in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State that no one person's personal ambition was worth another person's blood.
If it were a few years back, when the President was expected to talk tough always, he would be condemned for sounding so 'un-presidential.' In fact, he would have been charged for anti-party utterances.
I dare say that under Jonathan, there are some fundamental changes which many of us may not accept immediately. I, for example, believe that this simple statement contains an ideology we should build upon to change Nigerian political culture for good.
I say so because I hold the view that avoidable violence and senseless bloodletting, sponsored by desperate politicians, are two twin demons that have been nurtured by a warped philosophy which contended that survival is only possible when we ?bulldoze and kill off all our opponents. I have so passionately held this philosophy partly responsible for our socio-political and economic stagnation. So, I accept the view that a president, like Jonathan, who openly acknowledges that his ambition to be re-elected into office is not worth the blood of a single Area-Boy in Oshodi, Lagos, is bringing the kind of vision, the kind of message and the kind of ideal we have been lacking for decades.
Jonathan also demonstrated his willingness to act in accordance with this ideal when he recently suspended his campaign director, Mr. Omeri, for employing foul language against his political opponent, General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). This, in my view, is the third noble action that will certainly endear Jonathan amongst well-thinking Nigerians.
So, before we queue for the decisive presidential and governorship elections, my advice is that other candidates should emulate Jonathan and clearly advise their thugs not to shed human blood in a bid to help their ambitions. They should also call on their aides and loquacious associates not to employ abusive languages while referring to their political opponents or to any other perceived enemy. This is the way to peace and national development.
Please, don't bother to make the argument that Mr. President may have merely made these noble utterances without concretely carrying them out himself. The truth is that the required change of attitude in the country and the resultant socio-political development must begin with this kind of noble messages from Jonathan.
Source: Daily Champion, 31st March 2011.
Don't Rig For Me – Jonathan
JOSEPH WANTU, MAKURDI
President Goodluck Jonathan has that the April 2011 general elections should not be rigged in his favour or in favour of any other candidate.
Jonathan, who made the declaration during his presidential campaign rally at the IBB Public Square, in Makurdi, Benue State, said it was for this reason that he was insisting that every vote must count during the elections.
He declared that his administration was bent on ensuring transparent elections, insisting that any unfit candidate should be voted out by the electorate.
"Even though I am contesting, nobody must manipulate any vote in my favour. That is why I am working hard to convince Nigerians. Anybody not good enough must be voted out," the president declared.
The president maintained that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a mass movement that all democrats must join across the country, stating that the party conducted transparent primaries across the country to elect candidates.
"The primaries are over. We are working together because the PDP is one party. PDP is beyond one individual," he maintained
While promising to run an open administration if elected by the people of Nigeria during the 2011 April polls, the president hinted that his administration would create wealth through a re-volutionalised agriculture which would tackle poverty among ordinary Nigerians, saying Benue State would form the starting point of the agricultural revolution because of its position as a farming state.
President Jonathan also said the greatest challenge before his administration was how to improve the lot of Nigerians, adding that as one that came from a humble background, his cardinal objective was to create an enabling environment for every Nigerian, irrespective of his religious, tribal and political backgrounds, to attain greatness.
Jonathan also asserted that he was not in politics to make money.
Earlier, Senate President David Mark started that the state supported Jonathan because of his maturity in tackling the crisis that affected the nation during the days when late President Yar'Adua was ill.
In his address, the state governor, Hon. Gabriel Suswam, appealed to President Jonathan to appointed three ministers during his administration, one of which must oversee agriculture.
Meanwhile, early yesterday morning, members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, condemned the action of the police for not allowing them to have their rallies side-by-side with the PDP on the faithful day.
"What the PDP has done is undemocratic. Using soldiers and security agents to clamp down on our supporters is not the best for our democracy. We have a situation where soldiers are being used to stop our members from exercising their democratic freedom," a staunch ACN member retorted.
Our reporter observed that in several spots, fierce-looking mobile policemen and soldiers were seen keeping vigil to forestall any attempt to undermine law and order.
However, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Benue State described as undemocratic the action of soldiers and security personnel who repeatedly assaulted supporters of the party as they tried to stage peaceful rallies in the state.
Source: Leadership, 18th February 2011.
Nobody should rig for me – Jonathan
By Ademola Babalola and Jude Onwuanam
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday warned that nobody should rig for him in the April 16, 2011 presidential election.
Also, the President has promised the women a 35 per cent slot in his government if they (women) vote for the Peoples Democratic Party in this year's elections.
Jonathan is the presidential candidate of the PDP, the party that has been ruling at the country since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999.
After a short break following the Port Harcourt tragedy when about 20 people died and many others injured in a stampede at the Liberation Stadium during his campaign rally, Jonathan on Thursday held rallies in Jos, Plateau State, and Makurdi, Benue State.
"Nobody should rig for me. I am assuring Nigerians that though I am contesting, nobody must manipulate votes in my favour. Our vote must count." he told the crowd at the PDP presidential campaign rally in Makurdi.
"We must vote the people we want. We no longer want the situation where people imposed candidates on us. Anybody that is not good enough, vote out the person. That is democracy," he added.
He said it was the cardinal objective of his government to deliver a credible poll.
The 2007 elections in the country were massively condemned by both local and foreign observers, civil society groups and the opposition parties as massively rigged and came short of acceptable international standard.
The late President Umaru Yar'Adua, whose election rested on the outcome of the poll, at his inauguration on May 29, 2007 publicly admitted that the election was flawed.
Till date, judicial contests over the election that held almost four years ago are still raging while the results of the poll in several states had been upturned by the courts.
The courts, for instance, had sacked the PDP governors enthroned in Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Edo states, while the victory of many erstwhile members of national and state assemblies had been equally upturned.
As a result of the uproar at the flaws in the 2007 elections, Yar'Adua had promised an electoral reform and commitment to credible election. Jonathan was Yar'Adua's deputy and successor.
In Jos earlier, the President had assured the womenfolk of 35 percent slots in ministerial and ambassadorial appointments if they vote for the PDP.
"Giving the Nigerian women 35 per cent is something we can do. We shall do that here. If a country like South Africa can give women 50 per cent, we should emulate that," he said.
Jonathan saluted existing vibrancy in Plateau State "in spite of its current challenges," and promised that the Federal Government would do "everything needed to change fortunes of the Plateau."
Over 300 people had been killed while many had fled the state since 2008 when incidences of sectarian clashes and killings started in Plateau.
Only on Tuesday, seven persons, including a mobile policeman attached to the Anti-Bomb Squad, were murdered in Jos while the Police banned bag-carrying individuals from the venue of the President's campaign as part of heightened security measures.
The President promised to revamp the mining industry in Plateau, noting that mining activities in the state dominated Nigeria's economy in the 1960s and 1970s.
"We shall refocus on solid mineral development and make it one of the key revenue sources in Nigeria," he said.
Source: Punch, 18th February 2011.
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Don't manipulate votes in my favour, says Jonathan
FROM ISA ABDULSALAMI (JOS), NKECHI ONYEDIKA (ABUJA) AND SIMEON NWAKAUDA (MAKURDI
To reserve 35% of public offices for women
Ribadu accuses Ciroma of insincerity over northern presidency
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan took his message of hope, push for credible elections, and peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic and religious groups to Plateau and Benue states.
In Jos, the Plateau State capital, the President said as a firm believer of the new perspective of politics, which places premium on the well- being of the people and equal opportunity for all, including his worst critics, he had no enemies to fight in any part of the country.
When he arrived in Makurdi, Benue State, after the Jos presidential rally, Jonathan said nobody, including himself, would be allowed to rig the next polls. He told the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters at the event that every vote would count at the April general elections.
Jonathan said: "Even though I am contesting, nobody must manipulate any vote in my favour. That is why I am working hard to convince Nigerians. I am not in politics because I want to be the richest Nigerian, I don't need it. We will have a robust plan to fund our projects to ensure they are completed," he said.
The President said that the administration is working to ensure transparent elections, pointing out that "any candidate who is not good enough should be voted out by the electorate."
The difference in political ideology, the President added, had nothing to do with his relationship with his political opponents and urged all Nigerians to join him in building a new and prosperous nation.
Jonathan assured women that his administration would honour the 35 per cent "affirmative slots" for them in ambassadorial and ministerial offices.
Also yesterday, the Nuhu Ribadu Campaign Organisation accused the Northern Political Leaders Forum led by Malam Adamu Ciroma of insincerity over the issue of a northern consensus presidential candidate.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the organisation said that its position was based on the fact that the northern leaders had brushed aside the presidential aspiration of Ribadu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and that of his Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) counterpart, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who are from the region.
The campaign team said: "Though the organisation recognises the fact that the northern elders were actually looking for a candidate under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), they had all along created the impression that they were looking for someone who would represent the interest of the entire North and not that of a section of the region. In the light of the forgoing, the organisation wondered why the elders' forum would not back another northerner other than Atiku Abubakar if they were really out to protect the interest of the zone.
With this development, it was likely that the northern elders were actually looking for someone who would protect their own interest and not that of the North".
The President said he and his deputy, Namadi Sambo, have no enemy both within and outside the country's political circle.
"Two of us don't have enemies to fight. We can be criticised based on what is going on in political circle but it has nothing to do with the way we relate with people be it our political opponents or anybody else."
He told Nigerian women that if elected, 35 per cent of ministerial and ambassadorial positions would be given to them, adding that if South Africa can give 50 per cent of its positions to women and Rwanda giving even more, nothing stops Nigeria from allocating 35 per cent of its ministerial and ambassadorial postings to women in the country.
Jonathan pointed out that he and his deputy would work with the party leadership for the actualisation of this if the women give the PDP full support in the coming elections.
He said power supply was improving and stabilising and assured that before the end of the first quarter of this year, electricity supply would stabilise to an appreciable level.
The President, who said the Federal Government was aware of the security challenges in Plateau State, promised that lasting peace would soon be restored in the state.
Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State assured the President that he would receive more votes than himself in the coming elections because the people believe in him.
The rally was attended by the pioneer national chairman of the PDP, Chief Solomon Lar, Senators Ishaya Balat, Sati Gogwim, Da Bulus Dareng, officials of the PDP at the national level and many others.
The President, who arrived in Jos at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday, was received by Jang, his wife, Talatu, and senior government functionaries. He was treated to traditional and cultural entertainments at the airport before he proceeded to the palace of Gbong Gwon Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, where he said his administration was committed to poverty alleviation.
The Gbong Gwom Jos thanked the President for showing interest in the state and the traditional institution.
Earlier, Senate President David Mark stated that the state supports Jonathan because of his maturity in tackling the crisis that affected the nation during the days when the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was ill.
In his address, Governor Gabriel Suswam appealed to the President to patronise the state by appointing three ministers during his administration, one of which must be Minister of Agriculture.
According to the Ribadu team, the ACN standardbearer as an anti-corruption crusader is a credible candidate, who has served the nation meritoriously for 25 years. "He has also proved his mettle as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) when he was entrusted with the responsibility of dealing with the crime in the country."
Director, Media and Communications of Ribadu group, Ibrahim Modibbo, in a statement made available to The Guardian said no one brings to the table the 25 years of experience in public service that Ribadu has. He was responding to the assertion by an opposing group that said "Ribadu is not ripe for presidency."
"Ribadu is the only candidate with vast experience in public service," Modibbo said. "He saw the corruption there and spent his entire life fighting it, both as a law officer and a lawyer.
He asked Nigerians to vote for competence, and not sentiments, "because sentiments won't put food on our tables."
Members of the ACN in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, made processions in Wadata and North Bank denouncing the actions of security agencies, who prevented them from having their rallies alongside with the PDP yesterday.
In several spots, security agents and soldiers manhandled ACN members, injuring several of them in the process in Makurdi. The conflicts could not degenerate as some political leaders intervened to stop the ACN supporters from reacting.
Source: The Guardian, 18th February 2011.
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Let's Think Life, Mr President
BY ALITA JOSEPH
ONE of the reports of the country's 50th Independent Anniversary quoted President Goodluck Jonathan as saying that he prays not to be alive when Nigeria celebrates her centenary: "When we are going to celebrate 100 years, those who will be alive, I don't pray to be alive then, will celebrate something bigger."
To begin with, Mr. President, a great number of Nigerians alive now will be alive at that time. Those born on October 2010 will be roughly the same age Mr. President was when as Commander-in-Chief he took Nigeria through the Golden Jubilee celebration. Many of those in their twenties or even thirties now ought to be alive fifty years from now on.
Even you Mr. President, we should not be surprised that you are still around because you would only be a young man of 103 years. We still have Nigerians who are that old.
But now that the president mentioned it, we should also state our own wish that we desire that he is physically present then. Not as president because his term would have ended decades earlier but as a honoured guest specially invited to Abuja to lend weight to the celebrations. He would not be as strong as he is now because age would tell on him. But what honour to have the president who marked 50 years physically present at the centenary celebration? That would be hope for Nigeria. The point here is that we have a positive attitude to life and continuity.
The president's wish, although a personal one, concerns every Nigerian because of the way life is treated in this country. What can make the president so afraid and contemptuous of the centenary age? Easily answered. Our society is one dominated by the very young because the average lifespan is still very low. The sad thing however is that many Nigerians die from preventable diseases. That is why now that the president mentioned it, we should plead with him to look at the issues that have robbed the country of young industrious people who die before the country was able to benefit from their talents. But Mr. President can do something to bring down the mortality rate in this country. Many beliefs teach eternity, with some saying that when a persons passes on, he simply moves to another part of the world to continue to live. But we must eventually leave this world even with the best of health. But we must try our best to leave it a better place.
That is why our leaders must provide structures that give the Nigerian the opportunity to bring out his best and leave a good memory behind. That way the leaders themselves remain indelible in our memories if when they are no longer in the flesh. Some of these life sustainers are the quality of health care available, improved lifestyle and security. Diseases and trauma kill Nigerians before their time. Health care remains an issue which result is that a person whose ailment borders on the natural or who suffers a serious accident is not likely to get the treatment he needs. The result could be death. Infant mortality is still a problem as some childhood diseases, thought to have been eradicated are coming up again, e.g cholera.
Maternal mortality is still high. Young women of child- bearing age continue to die. In fact, that lack of good health care and dignified way of life have led to the most fearsome threat to life – violence and crime.
insecurity
Some people, mostly within the ages 18 to 30 are so afraid that they could die before they realize their life ambitions that they resort to force. That is why the president must give full attention to security. Election times have been associated with violence and thuggery. We should be prepared to prevent bloodshed.
The illegal importation of arms and ammunition should be decisively tackled.
If the opportunity to live a quality lives is provided, people would not die needlessly. Corruption would be reduced because knowing that he has a workable pension to fall back on in old age, the public officer would not steal the money in his care. He steals because he sees a bleak future ahead, when he can no longer work to earn a living.
Source: The Guardian, 29th January 2011.
Jonathan signs amended 1999 Constitution
FROM MADU ONUORAH, ABUJA
THE controversy over whether there is need for a presidential assent before amended portions of the Constitution can become law was laid to rest yesterday evening as President Goodluck Jonathan signed the two amended copies of the 1999 Constitution into law.
The ceremony, held at the conference room of the President's office, was described by Jonathan as "unique."
With Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark and Speaker of the House of representatives, Dimeji Bankole by his side, Jonathan signed the two bills into law, congratulating Nigerians because "from 1999 to date, this is the first time that we concluded amending any part of the 1999 Constitution."
He remarked: "We have operated this constitution from then till now and one is quite conversant with some of the provisions that are a bit cumbersome and some that we cannot implement properly. We still have such in the Constitution and we will continue the process of amendment. So, for today, I have to specially thank the leadership of the National Assembly, the Senate President, the Speaker and the principal officers of the National Assembly for their ability to conclude this first phase of the amendment.
"Amending the Constitution is not an easy thing but if you are outside you think it is an ordinary law because you need two-third votes of members of the national assembly and two-third of the states Houses of Assembly. So, it is an enormous task. For us to have reached this level, it means both the National Assembly and the Executive must have been working together.
Even, with the concept of the separation of powers, you cannot separate the parliamentarians from the executives. You can separate the judiciary but the executive and legislative belong to the same political party. So, how can you separate such people? They must work together for the country to move forward.
"Even, with those controversies about signing, we all agree that the laws of the land have to be followed not necessarily for this set of people but for the subsequent generation. The Executive and the Legislative have no problem at all. I know that as we inaugurate the National Assembly this year, one of the first bills from us will be to amend some other parts of the Constitution. We have to do that with the cooperation of Nigerians until we have a Constitution that reflects the aspirations of Nigerians, not the one that was handed to us by the military."
Mark told journalists at the end of the ceremony that the event showed the "need for us to really move democracy forward and entrench it. Every democracy will be based on the culture of the people and we are building it up and I think this is the right step for us to do."
Bankole added: "We thank God for everything."
Source: The Guardian, 11th January 2011.
Jonathan signs amendment to constitution
Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja
MONTHS of controversy over the amendment to some sections of the 1999 constitution ended Monday, with the President signing into law the two amended bills.
The National Assembly refused to submit the bill to President Goodluck Jonathan for his assent on the grounds that it does not require his assent before it becomes law.
The first and the second bills were, however, presented to the President, following a Federal High Court judgment.
The High Court sitting in Lagos had ruled that any alteration to the Constitution without presidential assent amounts to a nullity.
Justice Okechukwu Okeke held that the purported amendment to the 1999 Constitution remains inchoate (incomplete), until it is presented to the President for his assent, as required under Section 58 of the Constitution.
The judgment was delivered in respect of a suit by former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), who challenged the propriety of the decision of the National Assembly not to subject the amended Constitution to presidential assent.
President Jonathan, who spoke on the controversies after signing the bills, said the government would do everything to follow the law, assuring that there is no rancour between the two arms of government.
While commending the National Assembly for a job well done, the president also said he is looking forward to sending more bills on the amendment of the constitution in the 2011 legislative year.
"Even, with those controversies about signing, we all agree that the laws of the land have to be followed, not necessarily for this set of people, but for the subsequent generation. The executive and the legislature have no problem at all.
"I know that as we inaugurate the National Assembly this year, one of the first bills from us will be to amend some other parts of the constitution. We have to do that with the cooperation of Nigerians, until we have a constitution that reflects the aspirations of Nigerians; not the one that people say was handed to us by the military," the President said.
The president described the ceremony as "unique", being the first time that amendments to some parts of the 1999 constitution are concluded.
"We have operated this constitution from then till now and one is quite conversant with some of the provisions that are a bit worrisome and some that we cannot implement properly.
Source: The Guardian, 11th January 2011.
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