Weekly political notes

No One Is In Charge Of Buhari’s Govt- Senator Olujimi
The Senate was on Wednesday thrown into a rowdy session, when a lawmaker, Mrs Biodun Olujimi, accused President Muhammadu Buhari of losing authority on his administration.Olujimi, PDP-Ekiti, was responding to a motion on the face-off between Nigeria’s security agencies raised by Dino Melaye, Kogi-APC.

Presenting the motion, Melaye called on the Senate to take an urgent action on the incidents he described as “recipe for national disaster”.“President, the media and the social media, print and electronics have been awash with a disaster that took place. The EFCC went to the residence of the former Director General of the SSS, Ita Ekpeyong and the former DG NIA, Yemi Oke to effect an arrest and the Directorate of State Security (DSS) stopped the EFCC from arresting him.”

Commenting on Melaye’s motion, Mrs. Olujimi said President Buhari had lost his authority as ‘nobody’ was in charge of the current administration.

“Right now, we have a situation whereby, nobody is in charge of anything and we cannot honestly blame anyone for what is happening. The truth is that you cannot go to the house of a security agent, a man who had kept the secrets of Nigeria for so long, and just try to arrest him like chicken.”

Leader of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, in response, cautioned Mrs. Olujimi against making such statements, noting that President Buhari is in “full control of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’Let’s put joke apart and party affiliation or loyalty aside, Olujimi’s observations and comments are in order. Consistent inter-security agency rivalry in any government is a grave threat to peace of the society. In Buhari’s government, it has become one too many. The question is, who is really in-charge: Buhari or Heads of these security agencies or the cabal? Why has DSS under Buhari become a thorn in the flesh of EFCC under Buhari’s watch and Buhari continues to pretend otherwise? Olujimi expressed the concerns of many Nigerians, considering that cohesion among security agencies is key in every government, especially in a democratic setting.

It is hoped that Buhari knows that neither him nor those who are manipulating the security agents for their selfish interests will be spared when the bubble burst. On Senator Ahmed Lawan’s defence of Buhari, it is ridiculous and hypocritical. Though, not unexpected of him as a loyal party man, but very demeaning of him as a patriotic Nigerian.

Why I Want Recovered Assets Audited–Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari said he appointed a committee to audit all assets recovered by Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies, because of perceived “gaps” in accounting processes.Buhari had on Wednesday inaugurated a three-member committee to audit assets recovered by relevant government agencies.Members of the committee are Olufemi Lijadu, Chinyere Bibiogha and Mohammad Nami.

In his remarks after he swore in members of the committee, the president said pursuant to requisite directives from his office, “recovered assets are progressively being returned to designated accounts by the anti-graft agencies and other agencies of Government involved in the process.”

Maybe Buhari and his men believe Nigerians are suffering from amnesia. It is important someone close to them reminds them they have not published names of those the assets and loots were recovered from as promised. The recovered loots have neither been accounted for nor audited, so why the sudden auditing of assets alone without the loots?

What is the assurance or guarantee that the recovered assets were intact since they were recovered, especially when there was no proper documentation from the beginning? Unless Buhari is saying that nobody has tampered with these assets since they were recovered. This is even when re-looting of recovered loots and assets have become part and parcel of governance in Nigeria.

2019: 34 Governors Support Buhari For Second Term– Okorocha
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo says there is no better man for the Presidency than President Muhammadu Buhari.Okorocha said this while addressing leaders of the “Democratic Youths Congress for Buhari 2019,” who were on a courtesy visit to him at the Government House, Owerri, on Tuesday.

He urged every Nigerian to support Buhari for second term, adding that all but two governors in the country, regardless of party affiliation, were in support of a second term for the President.

“President Buhari is the best for the country at the moment and there could not have been a better option now. I am a believer of Buhari and I made it clear years ago that if President Buhari is running for president, I will not run. Now God has chosen him to be the president of Nigeria and some of us are witnesses that Buhari was and is still the best for Nigeria at this material time,” he said.

While appealing to others to extend the same level of support, he noted Buhari’s second term would bring about enhanced unity and peace of Nigeria. “Our nation is going through a challenging moment and we will require a man of his calibre to see us through this period.

Buhari and his men should not be carried away by Okorocha’s sycophancy and the likes. It is Okorocha’s stock in trade for years. Who told Okorocha that 34 governors are already in support of Buhari? Is Okorocha saying that votes from 34 governors will make Buhari president in 2019 and that other Nigerians have no constitutional right to vote?

Buhari should know that in a free and fair election in Imo State today, Okorocha may not win his senatorial zone for him, talk more of the entire state. Okorocha is not a good representative of APC and good governance.He is a man known for flippancy and reckless talks. APC’s recent loss of Anambra governorship under Okorocha’s watch is enough evidence of his poor political influence in the Southeast region.

2019: No Automatic Ticket For Buhari – Tinubu
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has said that the party is yet to endorse President Muhammadu Buhari as its sole candidate for the 2019 presidential election.
 
He also said the party would follow the ”normal democratic processes” in choosing its candidate for the election.


Tinubu spoke with journalists on Wednesday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, after a meeting with the leadership of Afenifere at the Akure home of its leader, Reuben Fasoranti.
 
His statement is coming on the heels of a recent endorsement by state governors of the party for the president to run in 2019.


Tinubu spoke democratically and constitutionally as politician, who understands the democratic process, even though, he knows that automatic ticket for Buhari will be dressed in democratic robes in 2019 to fulfill all righteousness. Nigerians have seen it before and may see it again in 2019 if Buhari decides to run.Meanwhile, Buhari and his men should be on the watch out as it appeared Tinubu has commenced 2019 political moves.  

PDP Convention: George Calls For Makarfi’s Resignation
A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one of the contestants for the party’s national chairmanship position, Chief Olabode George, has called for immediate resignation of the Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi.In a statement yesterday, the Director-General, Bode George Campaign Organisation (BGCO), Alhaji Ibrahim K. Aliu (OFR), said it is increasingly disturbing and rather untidy the role Makarfi is currently playing in the process towards the party’s convention scheduled for December 9, 2017.

The BGCO, which insisted that Makarfi could no longer play the role of a neutral arbiter who stands far above the fray, said that the caretaker committee chairman is already soiled in the muddy waters of partisan prejudice.The timing of George’s action is very suspicious and political. But it should be properly and genuinely looked into by party leaders quickly, to ensure a level playing field in the party convention. George should be made to show clear evidence of Makarfi’s bias. If it is true that Makarfi wants to contest the party’s ticket in 2019, it is morally wrong for him to preside and influence the emergence of the new leadership of the party. Glossing over George’s complaint may be injurious to the party’s successful convention.

Besides, PDP leaders should be reminded that there is need for them to get it right this time around. Nigeria needs a virile and vibrant opposition now and PDP remains the alternative.