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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013
NEWS Abuja land dispute: Court rules in favour of Turai
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N Abuja High Court in Jabi has resolved the dispute between First Lady Patience Jonathan and her predecessor, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, over a parcel of land in Abuja in the latter’s favour. Justice Peter Affen, in a judgment yesterday, set aside the purported revocation of the right of occupancy of the land measuring about 1.84 hectares earlier allocated to Turai’s nongovernmental organisation Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF) - by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The disputed land, plot no.
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From Eric Ikhilae and Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja
1347 Cadastral Zone AOO, Central Business District, allocated to Mrs. Yar’Adua’s WAYEF was on November 2, 2011 revoked by FCT Minister Bala Mohammed for “overriding public interest”. The Minister re-allocated the parcel of land to Mrs. Jonathan for the construction of the African First Lady Peace Mission Headquarters. Mrs Yar’Adua on behalf of WAYEF, went to court. Defendants in the suit included the FCT Minister, Abuja GeoContinued on page 62
US may stop military aid to Nigeria •Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola (fourth right) with the Lord Mayor of the City of London, The Rt. Hon Alderman Roger Gifford (fourth left); Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule (third right); Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze (third left), his Finance and Science and Technology counterparts, Mr. Adetokunbo Abiru (right); Mr. Adebiyi Mabadeje (right), other members of the business delegation and members of the State Executive Council when the Lord mayor led a business delegation seeking to collaborate and invest in Lagos State on a courtesy call on the Governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja…yesterday
Chime’s death rumour: Detectives go after facebook story authors
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ECURITY operatives are looking for the purveyor of the false news that Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime passed on yesterday. An on-line publication posted on facebook the purported death of the governor in an Indian hospital. The story caused anxiety in Enugu State and among Nigerians. But yesterday, Chime had a busy day. Among other activities, he approved the appointment of 57 administrators for the 57 development areas of the state. A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Amaechi Okolo, said the gov-
From Chris Oji, Enugu
ernor will inaugurate the administrators on May 8 at the Okpara Square, Enugu. Security sources close to the Government House, Enugu told The Nation that the particulars of the person who posted the false information had been obtained. The source said security agents were on the trail of the “satanic” author. Chime, who was seen in Enugu on Wednesday, was said to have travelled to Abuja same day on an undisclosed mission. Although he was not at the Workers’ Day ceremony, Chime hosted participants of
the Senior Executive Course No. 35 of 2013 of the National Institute of for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State. Led by Mallam Kuru Adamu, the NIPSS scholars were hosted on Wednesday by Chime at the Government House, Enugu. Information Commissioner Chuks Ugwuoke described the news as unfounded, saying the “governor is hale and hearty”. A member of the opposition Save Enugu Group (SEG), Ray Nnaji, urged the public to ignore the rumour, which he said was posted by mischief makers. Nnaji, who was a commis-
sioner in the former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani administration, regretted that those behind the rumour were toying with the life of the governor, adding that Enugu people would not be decieved again by such wicked rumours. He said: “It is a taboo among the Igbo for people to wish one dead, even if the person is your enemy. These ugly rumours always peddled about our governor by mischief makers must stop. You cannot call that opposition, but mischief.” Nnaji urged the governor not to be distracted by such mischevious insinuations and concentrate in his delivery of democracy dividends to the people.
Anti-Amaechi plot: Five lawmakers go into hiding
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IVE members of the Rivers State House of Assembly believed to be enjoying the backing of Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike, disappeared from public glare yesterday. The Assemblymen allegedly went underground to perfect their plot to impeach Governor Rotimi Amaechi. They went into hiding a day after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in the state, Felix Obuah, refuted the purported plot to unseat the
From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt
governor. The pro-Wike lawmakers Michael Chinda (Obio/Akpor II); Kelechi Godspower Nwogu (Omuma); Evans Bipi (Ogu/ Bolo); Martins Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor I); and Victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt III) - are reportedly restrategising. Their whereabouts remained unknown last night. Their mobile telephone lines were also not available, when attempts were made to get their reactions
to developments in the state. It was learnt in Port Harcourt, the state capital, that the plot of the lawmakers was to catch unaware House Speaker Otelemaba Dan Amachree, the other 26 lawmakers and Amaechi. Amachree, on Tuesday, raised the alarm over the “plot” to impeach him and Amaechi. In a statement, the speaker alleged that a fake mace had been smuggled into the state to perfect their act, thereby provoking anarchy and paving the
way for the declaration of a state of emergency. Activist-lawyer Femi Falana and Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), cautioned against the move to use the minority to impeach Amaechi. Besides, the duo said there was no justification for the plot against the governor. On April 29, the 27 proAmaechi lawmakers, including the speaker, were suspended by the Obuah-led state execuContinued on page 62
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tary was extensively discussed.
The source said the satellite images of abuses in Baga released by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the testimony of a woman human rights activist from Borno assisted in drawing conclusions at the session. The source said: “The female activist and others spoke about the attitude of the military to the civilian population in Baga. “The human rights activists agreed that the conduct of the military was not in line with the international rules of engagement.” The source quoted McCulley as saying: “There is a Congressional law preventing the US from funding training activities or technical partnership with the military of any country that is violating human rights. If evidence abounds in Nigeria, we will do that. “In America, when the military violates the law, they are punished but in Nigeria they are allowed to go. “America is not obliged to assist a country whose military is notorious for human rights violations. I have already told the Nigerian government.” On the US position on corruption, the source quoted the Ambassador as saying: “We are standing by our findings on corruption in Nigeria. Corruption is one of the reasons why there is insurgency in Nigeria because it breeds poverty and underdevelopment.” Another activist at the session reportedly said: “The meeting was called to seek our advice on human rights, democracy and good governance. They sought to know if there are areas the US Government can assist. “Some of us raised objection to
the US attitude to corrupt political office holders who are allowed to buy assets in the US. We said they cannot be talking against corruption and be allowing the laundering of looted funds to the US. “The Ambassador said American institutions are very strict when it comes to money laundering. McCulley said: ‘We won’t allow that to happen. If you have contrary information, send it to us.” A third source at the meeting said most stakeholders asked the US to stop President Jonathan and other leaders, whose nations are perpetrating human rights violations and corruption, from attending the G-8 Summit in the UK in June. The source quoted the Ambassador as saying: “I will relate your observation to the American Government.” Asked if there was any commitment from the Ambassador, the fourth source at the meeting added: “McCulley said the US is determined to deepen democracy and good governance in Nigeria. The US wants peace and development in Nigeria because of its enormous potential.” Some of the activists at the meeting include the Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Mr. Clement Nwankwo; the National Coordinator, Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria(HURIWA), Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko; Dr. T Kole Shettima of the MacArthur Foundation; Executive Director at Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani; a political scientist and Director, Centre for Democracy and Development, Dr. Jibo Ibrahim; Advocacy Officer of OSIWA, Mr. Ilo Jude Udo; and Hajiya Saadatu of Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA).
Senate committee okays six-year single tenure for President, others System will be counterproductive, says ACF
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Also, the Senate Committee has resolved to separate the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) from the Office of the Minister of Justice. The Minister of Justice will be a political office holder, but the AGF will be a lawyer, who will have a seven-year tenure. The AGF will outlive the administration that appointed him or her. Other highlights of the resolutions of the committee are abolition of Joint Account; First Line funding of local governments; withholding of statutory allocations of states without democratically elected governments in local government areas; rejection of rotational presidency and six geopolitical zones; and placing State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) on First Line charge. According to sources, the Senate Committee has opted for
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HE Pro-North socio-political organization - Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), yesterday kicked against the report of the Senate Committee on constitution review, which recommended a sixyear single term for the president and governors. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani, the Forum said: “The attention of Arewa Consultative Forum has been drawn to the reported recommendations for provision in the constitution for single tenure of six years for president and governors by the senate. “Such a provision is counter-productive because it cannot further the cause of good governance that comes with purposeful leadership, especially when regard is paid to the fact that it lacks the basic elements of
a single six-year term in office for President, Vice-President, governors and deputy governors. A source in the committee, who spoke on the recommendations, said: “We approved a single term of six years, with a proviso that all incumbents that
From Tony Akowe, Kaduna
motivation and incentives needed in any management of human affairs. “In the single-tenure system, there are no incentives, motivation and reward for excellent performance. And this is because the good, the not-so-good and the feckless are grouped together without any distinction. “Such practice cannot deliver on good management. And that may explain why most countries in the world practise multiple tenure systems which enable leaders to aspire for excellence in the hope of reward by way of re-election. “Those countries which put limit on their multiple tenure, like America, do so for propose of deliberate allowance of ingress of fresh hands into leadership and governance. That is to say there is allowance for motiva-
are entitled to second term will not be allowed to run or enjoy it. “By implication, the President, the Vice-President, governors and their deputies are banned from contesting for their offices in 2015 or their tenure will end the day the amend-
tion and incentives that inspire excellent performance and for fresh blood into governance in multiple tenure. “As to the fear of abuse of incumbency prevalent in our clime, it is to be noted that countries device their own ways of curtailing such abuses. While developed democracies have mobilized their citizens to make judicious use of their democratic rights and ensure their votes count, some developing countries have sand bags placed on the path of abuse of incumbency. “For example, Chile has multiple tenure which are not consecutive. That is to say, no candidate is allowed to conduct elections in which he is a candidate. And that was why the extremely popular President in the person of Madam Michel could not contest the last presidential elections in Chile.”
ment to the Constitution takes effect. “We took cognisance of the fact that there was a similar amendment in the US to a twoterm tenure system, the then President was banned from benefiting.” But it was gathered that the
Senators from Niger Delta protested against the proviso by alleging that it is a ploy to stop the President from benefiting. The source added: “The Senators from Niger Delta took it personal by alleging that it is targeted at frustrating Continued on page 62
•Senate President Mark
CORRECTION The headline of one of the letters written to the editor on page 20 of yesterday’s edition should have read ‘Diamond Bank and my ATM woes’. The letter has nothing to do with Mainstreet Bank.
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