Weekly political notes

Budget Padding: EFCC Writes Clerk, Perm Sec
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has written the National Assembly Clerk, Mohammed Sani Omolori, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning over the budget padding scandal.

The EFCC, which began probe of the scandal, asked Omolori and the Permanent Secretary to produce documents on the contracts awarded by the Assembly and the budget.

This move may sound cheering to some, because that is what they expect of EFCC.

Of utmost importance and concern is the final outcome of investigations and the diligent prosecution, if need be. Commencing probe without concluding will amount to an exercise in futility, which was the usual practice until recently.

Tinubu Is Planning To Impose Candidate In Ondo —Abayomi
Ahead of the forthcoming governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, an aspirant of the party, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, has accused a chieftain of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, of planning to impose a candidate on the party.

Specifically, Abayomi alleged that Tinubu summoned all the party leaders in Ondo State to Lagos and directed them to work for a particular aspirant, Dr. Segun Abraham, in order to ensure that he emerged as the candidate of the party.

Hope Abayomi, a seasoned constitutional lawyer understands the implication of his allegation? This is because nothing is wrong or unconstitutional if Tinubu decides to canvass support for a particular candidate in the primaries. It is within his fundamental rights.

Those who are not comfortable with it should prepare to test their popularity in the primary. Abayomi’s major concern should be for there to be a transparent primary, so that whoever emerges in the process will be accepted by other aspirants.

Is he saying if Tinubu were to nominate him for the position of flag bearer, he would still level this allegation against him? Meanwhile, Tinubu is neither conducting the primary nor constituting the committee that will conduct it. Abayomi and others should concentrate on their campaigns, instead of crying foul and chasing shadows.

Mimiko, Fayose Can’t Impose Leaders On Us — S’West PDP
The South-West leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have said they would not allow the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and his Ekiti State counterpart, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, to impose the next national chairman of the party on them.

The South-West Zonal Chairman of the party, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, who said he was speaking on behalf of officers of the party in the zone, described the meeting hosted by Mimiko and Fayose in Akure on Monday as a “nullity and non-inclusive.”

South-West PDP leaders and members should be conscious of the fact that this is the first time the zone is being given the chance to produce national chairman of the party since its formation. Bungling this opportunity could amount to political suicide, considering that the ruling APC enjoys political dominance in the zone for now.

Obviously, ahead of the 2019 polls and the forthcoming Ondo governorship election, PDP’s success or continuous presence in the zone will be dependent on the ability of its members to resolve their differences amicably, especially as it concerns the forthcoming national convention.

While, it is unconstitutional to impose a chairmanship candidate on party members, the two governors as leaders in the zone have a role to chaperon the zone towards a successful outing in Port Harcourt. Southwest PDP needs more of consensus now, not rancour.

Jonathan Using Avengers To Destabilise Buhari Govt — MEND
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said it has been vindicated by the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers’ allegation that former President Goodluck Jonathan is a grand patron of the new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers.

MEND claimed in a statement that Jonathan is one of the sponsors of the NDA with the motive to destabilise the government of his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari.

While there have been unsubstantiated allegations of sponsorship of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) against some Niger-Delta leaders before now, which was not unusual, the recent allegation by MEND that Jonathan was a grand patron of MEND is not only surprising, but suspicious and conspiratorial.

Coming some days after Jonathan visited Aso Rock to confer with Buhari on how to resolve the raging militancy in the region makes the whole thing look political and pre-determined.

Why was it that MEND just suddenly discovered that Jonathan is a sponsor of the Avengers, whereas the same MEND has been chasing shadow in the name of negotiating with the Federal government on behalf of Avengers without mentioning Jonathan as one of the sponsors? It seems MEND has become uncomfortable with Jonathan’s genuine move to end militancy in the region, which may have threatened MEND’s opportunity to play the role of conflict entrepreneurs.

Count Buhari Out Of Budget Padding Scandal— Presidency
Presidency has distanced itself from the budget padding scandal rocking the National Assembly, saying that the Appropriation Act being implemented was the one passed by the lawmakers in March.

The Senior Special Assistant to President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, said this at the national secretariat of APC after a closed-door meeting with the party leadership.

Enang would have saved himself the stress of this vain explanation, considering that the allegation of the 2016 budget being padded originated from the Presidency.

Was it not the same Presidency that first raised the allegation of budget padding against the National Assembly, before Jibrin turned the table against his colleagues in the lower chamber? What is Enang trying to say? Is he trying to rewrite history of yesterday?

Nobody is disputing that the budget being implemented by the President is not the one passed by the lawmakers in March. The question being asked is whether the budget was padded by the Speaker, Dogara and other principal officers of the House, as being alleged by Jibrin. Enang, it is over to you. Nigerians are listening and watching attentively for factual explanation, not circumlocution.

Jonathan Alleges Assassination Plot, Says Okah After His Life
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised alarm that his life is under threat.
Jonathan said a list, which named him and other South-South leaders as sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers was another attempt by a group, Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, to eliminate him.

Considering several unresolved politically motivated assassinations in the country, Jonathan’s alarm demands urgent attention from appropriate authorities, considering that as a former president, he no longer control the security apparatus.

Still fresh in peoples’ memory were the allegations and counter allegations between Jonathan’s government and the South Africa imprisoned Nigerian militant and MEND leader, Henry Okah, following October 1, 2010 bomb blast in Abuja.

So, it is not out of place that some persons who have an axe to grind with Jonathan before, may like to take their own pound of flesh now that he is out of power. That is why adequate security should be provided around him to avoid the country being embarrassed by an attack on him.

PDP Chair: George, Agbaje Divide PDP Governors
Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party are said to be sharply divided on whether to support Chief Bode George or Mr. Jimi Agbaje for the position of the national chairman of the party, reports revealed.

Why the division over the choice of candidate for the party’s chairmanship position? It is not necessary, especially now that the party is in search of fresh air and direction, after being enmeshed in protracted leadership crisis.

Besides, the choice of who becomes the party’s national chairman is not that of the governors alone, but of the entire party members.

However, it is expected that the governors, having benefitted immensely from the party in the last sixteen years should play a leading role of uniting the party members ahead of the forthcoming convention.

Having succeeded in zoning the chairmanship position to the South, specifically the Southwest zone, which no member is disputing, the next challenge before the governors and other committed party faithful is to ensure that a level playing field is provided for the best candidate to emerge at the convention. That is the only soothing balm for the party now.

Govs Close To Dogara Blocking Me From Meeting Buhari —Jibrin
A former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin, said two state governors and three former members of the House of Representatives were blocking him from meeting President Muhammadu Buhari.

He added that the action was part of a perfected plot to provide a soft landing for Dogara.

Why is Jibrin eager to see President Buhari after he had spilled the beans and submitted his petitions at the anti-graft agencies? If he was actually sincere and meant well for the party and Buhari’s government, he would have seen Buhari before dancing naked in the market.

Seeing Buhari now makes no sense because the anti-graft agencies have commenced probe of his allegations of 2016 budget padding against the Speaker and other principal officers.

Meanwhile, the best bet for Jibrin now is to concentrate energy and attention in furnishing the anti-graft agencies with evidence to substantiate his allegations. Anything contrary to this will be mere distraction to those who have been following his macabre dance.

Ezeife Advises South-East Governors On Farming
Former governor of the old Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has asked South-East governors to put necessary structures in place to encourage workers to embrace farming.

Ezeife, was reacting to the recent policy introduced by the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, which directed workers in the state to take two days off for farming.

Ezeife should have moved beyond giving advice, to furnishing the governors with concrete blueprint on agriculture. This is because most of the governors in the zone have no policy or plans for agricultural development. Where such policies exist, it starts and ends as a mere paper policy.

Even Okorocha who ordered workers to embrace agriculture, has not unveiled his government’s incentives to motivate the workers. If Okorocha’s government is sincere about workers embracing agriculture, it behoves on him and his government officials to lead the way. That is leadership by example.

Obasanjo Is Most Corrupt Nigerian, Says Ex Speaker, Na’abba
Former Speaker of House of Representatives, Ghali Na’abba alleged that no Nigerian is more corrupt than the former President Olusegun Obasanjo. 
The former Speaker said the controversial budget padding could not have been achieved without the backing of some members of the executive.

According to him, “ I don’t think there is anybody that is more corrupt in this country like the former President.”

This same allegation has been bandied by many before now. So, there is nothing new in the narrative to attract much attention.

It seems Na’abba has just woken up from political slumber to lash out at his worst political enemy, Obasanjo.

It is a common knowledge that there was no love lost between the two while they were in government. So one may not be surprised at Na’ abba’s tantrums at Obasanjo. Meanwhile, saying that Obasanjo was Na’abba’s greatest political albatross is like stating the obvious. This is because since Obasanjo terminated Na’ abba’s second term bid in 2003, the former Speaker’s political profile has suffered arrested development. Maybe he needs to appease the god of do-or-die politics.

31 Years After, Buhari’s War Against Indiscipline Returns
The Nigerian government has said it was teaming up with some private individuals to bring back the dreaded War Against Indiscipline, previously introduced by Muhammadu Buhari during his military regime between 1983 and 1985.

The Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Garba Abari, said the brigade would help curb the high rate of insecurity, violence, kidnapping and other forms of social vices.

Well, nobody is against the war because indiscipline has been the bane of development in the country. However, let the war begin from the corridors of power, where indiscipline has become a tradition over the years.

While ordinary Nigerians should not be used as scapegoats to promote or test-run the exercise, responsibilities of the agency should be streamlined with democratic tenets to avoid extra-judicial issues.

Obasanjo Denies Presence At PDP Event
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has denied news report that he was at a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) event at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja recently.

Obasanjo said: “Those who know me, know that I have publicly announced my quitting partisan politics and those who will believe the purported story will believe anybody who tells him that his or her mother is not a woman.”

“If I quit a party when it was alive and seemingly united, how could I go back to a now divided, fractionalised party gasping for breath?

From Obasanjo’s reactions, it is obvious that he was not only annoyed by the reports, he was embarrassed and devastated. As a leader of the once ruling political party, not many expected him to react that way, even though, he had torn his PDP membership card before now.

There is no doubt that PDP is the party that made Obasanjo politically, only for him to be instrumental to its destruction when it mattered most. Analysing the cause of PDP’s gasping for breath today cannot be complete without stating Obasanjo’s role. Obasanjo will always try to wish the PDP away, but he cannot wash it away, because it will forever be a trademark on him.

PDP Convention: Mark Warns Against Impunity, Imposition
Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has warned the Peoples Democratic Party against impunity and imposition of candidates ahead of its national convention.

He said leaders and members of the party should allow the will of the people to prevail at congresses and convention to avert mistakes of the past. According to him, delegates should elect, rather than allow candidates to be imposed as was done in the 2015 elections.

This democratic sermon at this point is new and unprecedented, especially from somebody like Mark, who has been part and parcel of the party and has benefitted immensely from its impunity in the last 16 years.

So, to be more exemplary and pragmatic, Mark, having seen it all in the party should move beyond warning to deploy his experiences, to ensure that the party’s convention is hitch free. Especially now that there are divisions, rifts and crisis among the state governors and party faithful in the Southwest zone ahead of the convention.

The convention is opportunity for Mark to redeem his image in the party, having been too silent and on the fence, since the protracted leadership crisis rocking the party erupted some months ago.