THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 31, 2010
News
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Tenure extension self-serving, divisive, says NBA
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HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to replace the present tenure of the President and Governors from two terms of four years each to a single term tenure of six years. The association described it as self-serving and divisive. The NBA expressed its misgivings in a press statement and communiqué
By Ibrahim Apekhade Yuusf
issued over the weekend at the end of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Katsina State. The nine-point communiqué which was signed by the NBA President, Mr. Mr. Joseph B. Daudu, SAN, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to jettison the idea due its “impracticability.” According to the NBA, “The idea is divisive and contrary to the mandate
given to him by Nigerians. It is self-serving contrary to the denials expressed from the Presidency. “The decision to amend the Constitution must proceed from the people and not from elected politicians like the President. For the people to raise such issue there must have been a debate in the domain of public opinion as to the best way forward.” Nigerians, the NBA stated, are not interested in seasonal design of political
structures which only serves the interest of politicians. What the people need the association said is “concrete execution of their mandate and it does not include changing the system which brought Mr. President and his political friends into office. “The new system being sought to be foisted on Nigerians is based on the presumption that politicians won’t change
The Governor of Anambra State Mr. Peter Obi exchanging pleasantries with Ozo Dr. Onyebuchi (right) while receiving in PHOTO: OBI CLETUS audience the elders/leaders of Awka Community at Govt. House Awka, the state capital at the weekend.
Nigerian drug convicts saved from execution in Malaysia OFFICIALS of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) have prevented two Nigerians from execution in Malaysia. The suspects, Onovo Sylvester Henry, 26, an auto parts dealer at Ladipo auto parts market Lagos and Ufiri Onyedika Emmanuel, 36, were caught attempting to smuggle 2.575kg of methamphetamine to Malaysia where drug offences attracts capital punishment. The latest arrests were made just as narcotic officers at the Lagos airport discovered 1.150kg of heroin concealed inside 32 inches plasma television imported from Malaysia. Nnamdi John Kingsley, 31, was nabbed while taking delivery of the television set containing heroin at the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Shed section of the airport. Onovo Sylvester Henry, 26, an auto parts dealer ingested 67 wraps of
By Kelvin Okubor
methamphetamine weighing 1.275kg while Ufiri Onyedika Emmanuel a trader at Trade Fair Complex, Lagos ingested 77 wraps of methamphetamine weighing 1.300kg. Reacting to the arrests and seizures, Chairman/ Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade reiterated his resolve to reduce drug trafficking in the country through diligent investigation, arrest, seizure of drugs and prosecution of accused persons. “We shall continue to arrest drug traffickers, seize their drugs and prosecute them. The Agency will also not relent in anti-drug enlightenment programmes to guide members of the public” Giade stated. The anti-drug boss noted that a situation where drug traffickers die prematurely or spend years in prison custody was worrisome. He added that the consequences of drug trafficking should serve as warning to others who may
be contemplating the criminal act. “Drug trafficking and abuse is a choice. It is amazing that some people deliberately make choices that will destroy their dreams and subject them to pain and reproach. If not for the arrest of the two suspects going to Malaysia, they may have been caught and executed. We therefore urge people to make the best of their life by shunning drug trafficking” the anti-drug boss stressed. Nnamdi John Kingsley who operates a video club along Port Harcourt road, Aba said that his business partners in Malaysia sent the 1.150kg of heroin to him because he needed money. In his words, “I did not know that I will be caught. My business partners sent the drug to me inside the television. They told me to clear the television set and raise money after selling the drug”. He hails from Abia State. Onovo Sylvester Henry who lives in Lagos said that he swallowed drugs without knowing the implications. According to the suspect, “this is my first
time of trafficking in narcotics. I did not know the implications. I wanted to use the money to buy spare parts from Malasia. I can say my poor financial situation and Satan made me to carry drugs but I regret everything. When I was caught, I knelt down and asked God for forgiveness”. He hails from Nnewi village in Anieri Local Government Area of Enugu State. Ufiri Onyedika Emmanuel was to board an Emirate flight to Malaysia when he was arrested. The suspect who sells baby wares at Trade fair Complex Lagos resides at Igando area of the State with his wife and 2 children. Ufiri blamed his woes on customs officers that seized his goods worth 750 thousand naira at Seme border in 2009. “My problem began in 2009 when customs seized my goods at Seme border. Since then I have been living from hand to mouth. I got involved in drug trafficking to be able to sustain my family” Ufiri who hails from Anambra State stated.
their ways as it relates to violence, rigging, lack of internal democracy, etc all of which have been canvassed as the reason for a one –term tenure. “But having regard to the progress made in the last election in the transformation of the political psyche of Nigerian through an avoidance of rigging and electoral fraud it became possible to have an election internationally recognised as free and fair, it became possible for President Jonathan to have the legitimacy to govern, which he now seeks to squander on the altar of political expediency and on the ‘scratch my back I scratch your back syndrome.” The President, the NBA maintained, “ought to build on the gains of the last election in terms of an evolving political maturity rather than proceeding on this misadventure of constitutional amendment at this stage. “The quest for a one term rule will in future deprive the people of the services of a conscientious and indeed dedicated leader who has discharged his constitutional mandate and ruled in accordance with his oath of office but who has not completed his program. Should such a dedicated servant of the people not be entitled to re-election and in the converse, should a non-
performer be allowed to exceed four years? The decision on whether to reward or reject a serving politician with re-election is the exclusive preserve of the people and it cannot be taken away by a band of politicians elected by the very same people they purport to represent.” The NEC also approved the immediate inauguration of the 14-man Nigerian Constitution and Electoral Laws (Reform) Panel of the NBA headed by its past president, Chief Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, saying it would afford all Nigerians the opportunity of participating in the process of genuine Constitutional and Electoral Laws amendments that will meet the expectation of the people. The NBA equally condemned the attitude of some State Governments, who in its view have deliberately refused to allow the conduct of elections into Local Government Councils and in breach of the clear wordings of the constitution set up an illegal entity known as caretaker committee. It noted that this has consequently resulted in the failure to guarantee the existence of democratically elected officials at that third tier of government.
Aregbesola’s wife seeks better welfare for women, children
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IFE of the Osun State Governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola has called on wives of elected officials in the country to always promote the interest of women and children across the nation. She made the call while receiving wives of the state lawmakers at the Government House Banquet Hall, Oke-Fia Osogbo. According to her, there would be no significant change in welfare of the world if women and children are not adequately catered for socially and economically. She urged them (wives of elected representative) to always offer qualitative advice to their spouses and always be willing to intercede for the success of the world. “We should bring our intuition and empathy, fear of God and sound judgement into our relationship in the administration of the state. “sometimes our role may appear passive, if it is motivated by the fear of God and directed at seeking common good; it is far more rewarding than sometimes public service which is lacking in intellectual and Godly content”, Mrs Aregbesola
added. Furthermore, the first lady urged wives of the elected representatives to always seek ways of improving conditions of children and women, saying they should identify with their pains and pleasure. According to her, women are builders and moulder of nation’s destiny, maintaining that bringing her strong nature could be a supreme motivator for her male counterpart. She states: though women are delicate and soft as lily in nature, she has a heart, strong and bolder than that of man, she is the supreme inspiration for man’s onward march”. Speaking further, she explained that women constitute about 40% of the nation’s population and as such, their welfare must always be on the front burner. “We should always be there for our spouse and children and seek for opportunity to put smiles in the faces of our people at all time”, added the first lady. She then appeal to the women to always see themselves as stakeholders in the development and building of the state and the country in general.