Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search
Breaking News:

Weekly political notes

By Samson Ezea
02 September 2017   |   4:20 am
Maverick musician, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, on Monday led a protest to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.

Andy Uba

Charly Boy Leads Protest To EFCC, Wants Diezani Extradited
Maverick musician, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, on Monday led a protest to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.

The protest, which was peaceful was organised to demand the extradition of former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, from the UK to Nigeria.

Madueke has been in the news consistently for alleged misappropriation of the nation’s funds while she held sway as minister during the immediate past administration.

Charly boy at it again!!! He has now moved from leading protest against President Buhari to asking for Diezani’s extradition. It seems leading protest is his new calling. But who is sponsoring him against Diezani now? Nigerians need to know, because this is a country, where there is always a motive behind every action, especially as patriotism has been compromised. It is hoped President Buhari and his cohorts are not his sponsors. Yes, it is possible.

After all, it was alleged that Charly Boy was sponsored to lead protest against Buhari. So this may be payback time for those who were behind Charly Boy’s protest against Buhari. But wait if one may ask; how will Diezani’s extradition help in her prosecution in a country, where the judiciary is in the eye of storm? Was it not in this country that former governor of Delta State, James Ibori was freed by the court, only for him to be expeditiously prosecuted and jailed for years by a UK court. Charly Boy, majority of Nigerians will prefer Diezani to be tried in UK than bringing her to Nigeria. With this, it appears your protest is off the mark.

We Plotted Jonathan’s Fall In Sokoto –Amaechi
The plot that cost President Goodluck Jonathan the 2015 presidential election were planned, hatched and perfected in Sokoto, the seat of the Caliphate.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, when he paid a courtesy visit on Governor Aminu Tambuwal, at the Government House.

He said Nigeria would have been worse off economically if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had won the presidential election.

The former governor of Rivers, who was in Sokoto to present a keynote address at the 15th National Council on Transportation said: “I have been to Sokoto severally, especially in 2015 during our struggle to change Nigeria. Sokoto played a very critical role in that struggle. The then governor, Aliyu Wamakko and then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, worked together and closely with us to ensure we achieved our objective.

Amaechi’s disclosure is not new. It is immaterial at this point, because it is no longer of any effect. It is only that Jonathan and cohorts lacked political sagacity, not to have seen the chain of conspiracy, especially from the North against his 2015 presidential ambition. This is even when they were too obvious and numerous to be overlooked. But that is by the way.

Instead of dwelling on how they plotted Jonathan’s ouster, Amaechi and his APC-led government should tell Nigerians how they have provided good governance in the last two years. That is what Nigerians want to hear and feel the impact, not tales by moonlight. The swan song shouldn’t be about Jonathan or PDP. They are no longer in power. APC is incharge now. Let the party and its leaders provide better governance and prove they are better than the ousted PDP-led government. This is because Nigerians are already running out of patience.

Why We’ve Not Arrested Sponsors Of Quit Notice –AGF
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said the Federal Government did not go after sponsors of quit notice to Igbo living in the northern part of the country, because of its security implications.

He spoke at a media briefing in Abuja, on Tuesday, on the activities and progress made by his ministry. Malami said his ministry has concluded a total of 296 terrorism cases between 2015 and 2016, while a total of 6,646 criminal cases ranging from oil theft, culpable homicide, rape, armed robbery, unlawful possession of arms and murder, among others were also prosecuted.

It is quite unfortunate that Malami turned simple logic upside, despite being a senior lawyer. It is hoped that this is not the kind of legal advice Malami gives President Buhari. If truly, it is because of the security implication that the Federal Government has not arrested sponsors of quit notice to Igbo in the North, is Malami saying that there is no security implication in re-arresting IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu as being planned by government?

Why did Malami write to the court on behalf of the government, asking for Kanu’s bail to be revoked? What has Kanu done that is worse than that of Arewa youths that are still threatening fire and brimstone; and are still walking freely today? From Malami’s position, it is obvious that there are different laws for different sets of people in this country. This is even when Nigeria is not yet an Animal Farm.

Nigerians Unhappy With APC Performance–Wike
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared that Nigerians will vote out APC in the next general elections, because of the party’s woeful performance.

Speaking when he granted audience to the Implementation Support Team on the World Bank-Assisted State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) on Tuesday, Wike said no political miracle will allow APC govern the country again.

He said Nigerians have already made the mistake, but emphasised that the country cannot afford to make the costly mistake again in the future.

Wike’s gospel is not new to Nigerians. But Wike is not the right person to preach it, having been part and parcel of the PDP-led government that also failed Nigerians. Besides, Nigerians know that the difference between APC and PDP lies only in name. In short, it is just change of name. It is almost the same politicians that were part of the PDP mess that are in the APC today. It is expected that they cannot give what they don’t have.

Wike should know that come 2019, Nigerians may not vote for the APC or PDP, unless there are no better alternatives. Meanwhile, party platforms may not be the deciding factor in 2019, especially if the proposed independent candidacy becomes a reality. Wike and his co-politicians should be reminded that Nigerians are wiser now. But it is hoped that INEC will conduct free and fair elections in 2019.

I’m Still In APC– Andy Uba
Senator Andy Uba (APC Anambra South), said on Tuesday that he is still a member of the APC despite his defeat at the recent gubernatorial primary in the state.

There were claims the Senator had perfected plans to go back to the PDP.

Uba, who scored 931 votes in the exercise was defeated by a member of the House of Representatives, Tony Nwoye. While addressing journalists at his country home in Uga, Anambra State, he described the reports of his planned defection as false.

Well, for Senator Uba, staying back in APC is the best bet for him now, even though no law stops him from returning to PDP again. Again, returning to the PDP again after losing out in the APC primary will rob him of the remaining integrity, having jumped to Labour Party, back to PDP, before joining APC recently. Doing such will put him in the league of serial political defectors like Atiku Abubakar, Rochas Okorocha and others.

Uba’s loss in the APC governorship primary did not come to many as a surprise, considering that it was not long he joined the party, that he declared his governorship ambition. Though, a man with heavy financial war chest, not even his experience, contacts and financial wherewithal could save him from defeat by his estranged political godson, Tony Nwoye.

This is not the first time Uba is being defeated by Nwoye in a political contest since they parted way. It will be recall that Nwoye defeated Uba and others to clinch the PDP ticket in 2013 governorship election in the state, which Nwoye emerged the second runner up to the winner, Governor Willie Obiano.

PDP Committee Yet To Contact Me-Tambuwal
Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has said the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) reconciliation committee is yet to contact him for possible return to the party.

The governor spoke with journalists at the home of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido’s in Bamaina village, Birninkudu Council Area, after a meeting.

He said he was in the former governor’s home to condole with him over the death of his daughter.

Why is Tambuwal worried over not being contacted yet by the PDP? It is not late. If there is need to reach him, the committee will surely do so. After all, they are the same and have been in the game of politics since 1999.

Meanwhile, it will not be surprising to discover that Tambuwal has been reached by the PDP committee. But he is being economical with truth, while weighing his options. Tambuwal is not different from other politicians, who see their selfish political interests above every other interests.

Besides, Tambuwal has a history of political defections, having moved from the defunct ANPP to PDP and from PDP to APC. Who knows if he will defect to PDP again, if the party offers him the 2019 presidential ticket. After all, he is just a Nigerian politician, who wants power and relevance at all times.

0 Comments