Ahead of November governorship election in Imo state, a Group, Imo Women Matter (IWM) has reiterated its call on political parties to field women as their deputy governorship candidates in the forthcoming election in the state.
Convener of the group, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wife of Ondo state Governor, who made the call in a statement, urged political parties, especially those that were yet to field female deputy governorship candidates to take advantage of the May 26 window for substitution of candidates to do so.
She frowned at the exclusion of women in governance and political representation in the state and called on political parties and stakeholders to address the matter
Mrs Akeredolu recalled efforts made by the IMW to ensure gender parity in governance and political representation to include writing letters to political parties on the imperative of fielding their female faithful as deputy governorship candidates.
According to her, the group also held a press conference in Owerri and would sustain engagements with the leaderships of political parties and critical stakeholders on the issue.
The Ondo State First Lady expressed happiness at the willingness of some political parties not only to accede to the demand of the group, but also extend the frontiers of gender inclusion in political activities.
She pointed out that the group’s priority is the promotion of gender parity and mainstreaming in Imo State and the country.
Mrs. Akeredolu emphasized the need for the commitment of political parties towards achieving gender parity, stressing that lip service would not be acceptable to women in Imo State.
From investigations, only the Labour Party has nominated a woman, Edith Ekwugha, as running mate to its Governorship Candidate, Athan Achonu.
The Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Samuel Nnemeka Anyanwu has picked Dr Jones Onyereri as his running mate, while the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Hope Uzodimma submitted to the electoral umpire the name of Ralph Nwosu as a place holder.
Bello Matawalle, the outgoing Governor of Zamfara State, wants our sympathy. He is asking for it. He is lobbying for it. He is crying for it. He is desperate for it.
Matawalle has been doing everything to curry our sympathy, including throwing in a dose of blackmail since March, 2023, when he lost his second term bid for the Governorship seat of Zamfara State.
He was defeated by Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. That loss reduced him to a deserved one-term in office. It was a loss that sweetened the hearts of not a few people.
Since then, Matawalle has been crying like a baby whose mother’s breast was snatched away from. He is seeking for a listening ear. But he is not going to get that from me.
And here’s why.
The Governor is being dealt by the law of karma. A law that never forgets. No sane person sympathizes with anybody being dealt with by it. It is a just law. A chief consoler. A leveler.
So, here I am, since his ordeal, watching Matawalle run from pillar to post. Sinking. Clutching at every straw to stay afloat. Confused. And to worsen it, the Governor now suffers from diarrhea of the mouth.
This ailment started as soon as he lost his re-election bid. Matawalle, surprisingly, put the blame on the Presidency. He accused the Presidency of hunting him down. He said it was because he took the Federal Government to Court over the Naira re-design, the scarcity of the new Naira, and the sudden withdrawal of the old Naira. He put it as if he fought on the side of the masses. He said his punishment for that was to make sure he was defeated at the polls.
Not true.
True, Governor Matawalle sued the Federal Government at the Supreme Court over the Naira crisis. But he did not do that alone. He sued along with two other Governors – Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, and Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. So, you ask: why would the FG mark Matawalle out, alone,for punishment? How come he was the only one who failed in his desires? El-Rufai was able to have his way, and installed his successor. Bello was able to foist his Governorship Candidate on the Kogi APC for the 11th November 2023 Election. The was, according to the others who contested with Bello’s Candidate, no Primary. They alleged that Bello simply organised people to write the results and submit. But what does Bello care? His Candidate is not only the flag bearer, but Bello took him to President Muhammadu Buhari for a Presidential endorsement. So, why only Matawalle?
And, why would an APC- controlled Presidency decide to lose a State to the opposition just to punish a Governor? If they wanted to punish him, he would be allowed to win, and impeached after his inauguration. Or, isn’t this Nigeria where only six members of the State House of Assembly would stay in a Hotel Room and impeach the Governor?
Ask Peter Obi. When he was impeached as the Anambra State Governor, the process took place in a Hotel in another State. Nothing happened. It was the Court that rescued Obi. By the way, for the records, Matawalle, himself, engineered the impeachment of his own Deputy by concocting lies against him. So, the Presidency would have had no problems impeaching him, instead of losing the State to the opposition. But he was not done.
He looked for a way to hit the Federal Government, to hurt the Country because he failed an election.
Zamfara, since Matawalle, has been the most insecure, most impoverished State in Nigeria. Bandits and Terrorists reign. Hunger too. At a point, the Governor made a show of fighting terrorism. Proof: he suspended an Emir who honoured the leader of a terrorist gang with a traditional title. But soon after he lost his second term bid, he reinstated the Emir, thus setting a trap for his successor, and making it more difficult for the FG to rid the State of terrorism.
Nothing much was done to Matawalle. The FG ignored him.
Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State
But no longer.
The Governor has finally talked himself into trouble, big trouble.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, a few days ago, hinted that a number of Governors would be pulled in for interrogation after they hand over power to their successors on May 29, 2023. That day would mark goodbye to immunity. The EFCC was not specific on any Governor. The Commission did not specifically mention Matawalle’s name. But remember, he sufferes from diarrhea of the mouth. So, he jumped into the arena, and urged the EFCC to also investigate the Presidency, Cabinet members and the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.
When the EFCC, in response, then, disclosed it was investigating Matawalle for an alleged contract scam worth the sum of N70 billion, the Governor threw the bomb. And now, Nigerians are reeling in shock.
He accused Bawa, the EFCC Chair, of demanding from him, Matawalle, a bribe to the tune of two million US Dollars. He said he refused. And hints that his refusal accounts to why Bawa is after him. He said he has evidence against Bawa. However, the Governor has not disclosed why Bawa would ask for such a whopping sum of money in bribe? For example, why did Bawa want to cover for the Governor in exchange for two million Dollars? And how was he going to deliver such an amount of money to Bawa? Money transfer? Cash?
These guys just throw in billions and hundreds of millions just like that. As if it is one kobo or one cent. They are the ones who taught bandits, kidnappers and terrorists how to ask for ransome money in hundreds of millions of Naira.
Matawalle insists he has evidence to prove his allegation against Bawa. Where is the evidence? Why has he not thrown it in? Did he record Bawa? Did he hide a camera which videod Bawa asking for bribe? Wonderful.
The EFCC has called his bluff. It has asked the Governor to spill the beans. The Commission says: make the evidence public. So, the ball is in Matawalle’s court.
My opinion: Either way, Matawalle is in trouble. I tinker that either way, he could be slammed for a criminal act, or criminal conspiracy in the case of Bawa. And that’s in addition to the alleged N70 billion contract scam.
The questions are: Why did the Governor keep quiet till now? If Bawa demanded for that bribe from him, why did Matawalle not report to the Presidency, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police, or the Director General of the Department of State Services? Why did he wait till days to his imminent arrest by the EFCC to start talking?
If you ask me, it smells of blackmail to stop the EFCC from picking him, and if it does, to say: ‘I told you. I’m being persecuted because I refused to give Bawa bribe.’ He wants Bawa leave office with him. He wants Bawa to stand down as the EFCC Chair and face investigation. Some people are already asking for that too. But I disagree. Nobody should encourage Bawa to give in to blackmail, otherwise, EFCC will be gone.
His predecessor Ibrahim Magu, insists he was blackmailed, harassed, lied upon, and heckled out of the Commission. Many people, now, agree with him. Why? After all that public humiliation of Magu, and millions of Naira spent on investigating him by a Panel headed by no-less a person than a retired President of the Court of Appeal, what came out of it? Nothing till date. Instead, Magu went back to his Police work, got promoted to the rank of an Assistant Inspector General of Police, and retired, honourably, on that rank.
The same fate befell Magu’s successor, Farida Waziri. After she was humiliated out of office, nobody accused her of any wrong doing except beer palour gossips. And we know how the pioneer Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, ended. EFCC should not be the graveyard of its Chairmen.
I’m not here trying to preempt the investigation. But I think that Governor Matawalle is not telling the truth. If Bawa had asked for two million US Dollars, Matawalle would have raised it and given him just to save his head. Isn’t it Zamfara? Mine some gold, illegally, sell, and raise the money. Simple. Or, isn’t Matawalle an Executive Governor? Was it not Matawalle’s predecessor, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, the one who wants to be our Senate President, who, the other day, bought a book in honour of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, for a paltry N250 million?
Finally, I’m surprised that Matawalle does not understand where his problem is coming from. It is the law of Karma dealing with him. It is a pay back for his betrayal of his former Political Party, the PDP. It is an answer to his prayers that God should punish him if he betrayed the PDP.
Here is a guy who contested for the office of the Governor of Zamfara State under the PDP in 2019, and came a miserable, distant second to the APC Candidate, Mukhtar Shehu Idris. About 48 hours, or so, I forget now, to Idris’ inauguration, the Supreme Court sacked him and all APC winners over illegal Primaries.
So, enter, all PDP Candidates, including Matawalle, who had no hope of becoming a Governor. He pledged his total allegiance to the PDP. He swore he would never dump the Party. And, if he did, he swore again, that God should punish him.
Midway into his Governorship, Matawalle not only dumped the PDP, but engineered the impeachment of his very young and polished Deputy, Mahid Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, on trumped up charges – for not joining him to dump the PDP.
I don’t know why Matawalle is crying. God has just answered his prayers. And will add an icing on his cake on May 29, when he would, most probably, walk into the waiting hands of EFCC Operatives. After that, another ordeal may be waiting for him – a suit by Bawa against Matawalle for everything he has, unless he proves the two million Dollars bribe allegation against the EFCC Chair. An uphill task. See, as James Hadley Chase would say: “That’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has recommended a return to the1963 Republican Constitution as a veritable guide for the desired development.
The governor identified the law regulating interactions among component units and agencies of the state as the major reason for backwardness in the country.
He pointed out that the independence era witnessed phenomenal development in all the three Regions, saying great achievements were achievable because the policies and programmes of the Governments were owned by the people.
The Governor spoke at the 59th Founders’ Day Anniversary Lecture, Award, and Endowment of the Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, on Saturday.
He was represented by his Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Mr. Dare Aragbaiye.
Governor Akeredolu lamented that the current socio-political structure in the country is hostile to development.
He added that there would be no end to the misery of the people unless the basic law is tinkered with to reposition the country to prepare for the production of goods and services.
The Alumni Association of the Institution presented the Governor with a Distinguished Award of Honorary Fellowship of Adeyemi Alumni Association.
The Governor’s Special Adviser on Education, Dr. Olawunmi Ilawole, and member of the House of Representatives, representing Ondo East/ Ondo East Federal Constituency, Abiola Peter Makinde, also received the distinguished Award.
Governor Akeredolu, who delivered the Anniversary lecture, noted that the component units of the federation must be able to chart the course of development in their localities.
He said every State should be free to explore its areas of strength for the benefit of the indigenes and inhabitants, saying States should not be reduced to pathetic beggars in a Federation as the situation is at the moment.
“A defective law cannot engender peace and progress. It is, more often than not, the source of the seemingly intractable crises.
“There can be no development in a place where the law and its application are skewed, heavily, against the majority of the people. When the law becomes an instrument of repression, the society is imperiled.
“A codification which alienates the people from its intendment is not only repressive but also fraudulent.
“There can be no meaningful achievement from the existence of a set of regulations whose purpose is to sustain the privileges enjoyed by a parasitic few at the detriment of the majority.”
Governor Akeredolu explained that the existence of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, represents an experiment in audacious mendacity.
According to the Governor, the subversion of the people’s Will cannot engender progress in any society if the essence of development is the amelioration of the challenges faced by them.
He said any law which imposes the whims and caprices of a select but partisan few on the majority of the people, cannot be used to advance the cause of the society.
“The current civilian dispensation commenced after the departure of the military on the 29th May, 1999. The 1999 Constitution, as amended, was promulgated to law by the regime of General Abdulsalam Abubakar, GCFR, in the same year.
“If there is any document whose existence represents an experiment in audacious mendacity, it is this so called Constitution of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Constitution tells manifest lies against itself. It purports to represent the wishes of the Nigerian people but nothing can be farther from this obvious lie.” Governor Akeredolu said.
Governor Akeredolu called on the in-coming Administration of Bola Tinubu to be courageous to confront the problems headlong.
“The in-coming Administration has its job clearly defined. It is inheriting not only a heavy backlog of disaffection and complaints from the citizenry from all parts of the country, it has sold its campaign on the promise of a Renewed Hope.
“This clearly points at its readiness to address existential issues which bedevil the country at the moment. The expectations are high but the obstacles which have been erected to militate against progress are enormous.
“The tasks are going to be arduous but not insurmountable. The President and his team, as well as the Governors in the States, must be courageous to confront the problems headlong.
“The Federal Government must divest itself off the overwhelming but self-imposed duties for the country to breathe. The States must be encouraged to explore their domains and be creative.
“The Federal Government must ban importation of all items which the country is capable of producing. The taxation on luxury goods must be heavy.
“The States must be allowed to operate fully without hindrance as it is the case from federal agencies which encroach steadily on their sphere of influence.
“The States should control their resources and pay taxes to the Federal Government. Proceeds from sales tax, Value Added Tax, must be distributed according to contributions.
“Any State which feels incapable of proceeding as a socio-economic cum political entity may seek to join others. The States must be allowed to assume their full identities. They are no junior partners to the Federal Government. They enjoy coordinate powers.
“The development of Nigeria will continue to be an imagined possibility unless these measures are considered, all efforts geared towards development will amount to reinforcing failure.”
Ijaw Leader and a former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clarke, has faulted some last-minute appointments by President Mohammadu Buhari “meant to compensate some of his cronies.”
Clarke specifically condemned the re-appointment of sacked Inspector-General of Police, (IGP), Suleiman Abba as the Chairman, of the Police Trust Fund.
According to the leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum, (PANDEF), the re-appointment of Abba as Chairman of the Police Trust Fund, appears a continuous compensation or reward for a job well done for the roles he allegedly played during the 2015 general elections.
In a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari and made available to journalists in Abuja, Clarke, who urged Buhari to re-examine his actions as he winds up his tenure, stressed that Nigerians cannot also forget in a jiffy, the disloyal action of Suleiman Abba, when as IGP, he went to the airport to receive Muhammadu Buhari, without the knowledge and or authorisation of his principal, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who was the sitting President at the time, and which led to his sack from the Police Force.
The Elder statesman asked what would President Buhari be remembered for, and what legacy he wants to leave after his eight years as a civilian president.
“Is it that of compensating people with appointments, most times the juicier ones, for aiding and executing wrong acts, such as the re-appointment of Abba?
He also noted that the appointment runs foul of the principle of federal character.
“Federal character principle is a doctrine which was introduced by the Nigerian government to ensure equitable representation and as well prevent the dominance of persons from a few states, religion or particular ethnic group in the governance of the country and the sphere of the public sector.
“In any heterogenous society, laws are put in place to ensure that all groups and facets, have a sense of belonging. Nigeria is not an exception, thus leaders and framers of the laws of the land, enacted rules for our cohabitation as a people.
“Federal character principle is a doctrine which was introduced by the Nigerian government to ensure equitable representation and as well prevent the dominance of persons from a few states, religion or particular ethnic group in the governance of the country and the sphere of the public sector.
“It is pertinent to state that the prerogative of ensuring that this aspect of the laws of the land is implemented and or executed lies squarely on the shoulders of the President of the country, presently, Muhammadu Buhari.
“However, it is quite disturbing that the same man who swore to uphold the laws of the land is flagrantly breaching them. A case in point is the recent re-appointment of Suleiman Abba as Chairman, Board of Trustees, Nigeria Police Trust Fund, on 5th May 2023.
“Suleiman Abba is from Jigawa State, in the North Western geo-political zone the previous Secretary of the Fund, Mr. Abdullahi Bala is from Sokoto State, also from the North Western geo-political zone.
“The previous Secretary who resigned his post to contest a gubernatorial election is also from Sokoto State, the northern part of the country.
“One expected that if the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the police fund is from the northern part of the country, the Secretary should come from the South and vice versa because this is one of the ways of keeping Nigeria’s unity.”
The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has slammed the outgoing Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom for honouring and immortalizing the Late Major Gideon Orkar, a coupist.
Orkar, dismissed from the Army, after he was found guilty of treasonable felony, was the one who announced the bloody failed Coup which sought to overthrow the General Ibrahim Babangida Regime. The Coup announcement also excised five States from Nigeria. Along with others, Orkar was executed by the Regime. His name has remained stigmatised since then.
But in a surprise last minute move, outgoing Governor Ortom immortalised Orkar by naming a road after him. Orkar was from Benue State.
The Muslim Organization said it is wrong, abysmal and out of place for the Governor to honour and immortalize Orkar who was the mastermind of violent and bloody coup against the military administration on April 22, 1990.
The Group said the coup failed due to ethnic and religious undertone that accompanied the speech made around 4:00a.m.
It stressed that honouring such person is a slap on democracy and also encouraging coup plotting in the nation’s nascent democratic rule.
MURIC said this in a statement by the Chairman of its Kano State chapter, Malam Hassan Indabawa on Saturday in Abuja.
“The Muslim group wonders what might be the motive of Ortom behind honoring a person found to have committed treason against the state and eventually tried, convicted and executed in July, 1990.
“Major Gideon Orkar masterminded a violent and bloody coup against the military administration of retired Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in April 1990. However, the coup failed due to ethnic and religious undertone that accompanied the speech made around 4:00a.m on April 22, 1990.
“Orkar, in his radio broadcast to the nation, said he had seized power on behalf of the country’s southern and Middle Belt areas, which he claimed had been “reduced to slavery” by the mostly the north.
“He, therefore, made a stunning statement by announcing the excising of five (5) Northern states of Bauchi, Borno, Katsina, Kano and Sokoto from Nigeria,” he said.
Indabawa said that the action led some patriotic military officers to rally in support of the Federal Government when they found out it was a plot targeting their very existence.
“Although the coup was identified to be masterminded by Orkar, the trial and subsequent evidences showed that he was just a puppet and not the original mastermind behind the coup.
“The ideological arrow-heads of the coup were Lt. Col. Anthony Nyiam, Major Saliba Mukoro and Major Cyril Obahor.
“Intelligence findings further suggested it was at a later stage that Orkar was recruited to join the ill-fated coup plot.
“The coup attempt was said to been the bloodiest in Nigeria’s history,” he said.
Indabawa added: ” Orkar and 41 other plotters were captured by government troops and subsequently, tried and convicted of treason. They were executed by firing squad on July 27 1990.
“So what feat is Ortom celebrating. Is he honoring Orkar for failure, or is it the daftness, foolishness or crass incompetence exhibited by Orkar that he is honoring? Orkar was known to be bigoted, unintelligent, irrational, amoral, disoriented and a drunkard.
“ Every responsible Nigerian should understand that one can only venture on a suicide mission by deciding to arbitrarily “excise” any part of the country without anticipating dire consequences.”
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has challenged the authorities of University of Nigeria, Nsukka to put to good use the outcome of the Prof. Eni Njoku lecture series.
He said they could reduce each of the lecture series to a policy formulation suggestion which would then be sent to federal and state governments for possible implementation.
The governor made the recommendation yesterday when he presided over the 15th edition of the lecture series with the topic – Science and Technology as Allies with Good Governance in Wealth Creation and Poverty Reduction.
Represented by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, the governor said it was a waste of time and resources if the outcome of the lecture series is not put to practical use.
According to him, based on the importance the world attaches to research, it was incumbent on academics to push the frontiers of knowledge through implementation of policies initiated through such fora as the Eni Njoku lecture series.
He regretted that the thought provoking lecture he delivered during the 14th edition of the lecture series was not followed up by the Igbo intelligentsia.
Governor Uzodimma insisted that it was the work of the academia to recommend policies to government for the overall good of the society.
He said good governance can only create wealth and lead to poverty reduction when the academia apply Science and Technology to good use.
He therefore challenged the authorities of University of Nigeria, Nsukka to ensure that the outcome of the lecture series is put at the domain of government for possible implementation.
His words: “We need our academics to draw up a roadmap for the realization of policy initiatives be it in politics or the economy or even in security for us to make the much needed progress in wealth creation and poverty reduction.”
The Governor, however, expressed gratitude to the organizers of the lecture series for finding him worthy to be the Chairman of the 15th edition after being the guest lecturer in the 14th edition.
He pledged to continue to support all efforts aimed at sustaining the legacies of late Prof Eni Njoku whom he described as a “Nigerian academic prodigy.”
Uzodimma also extolled the choice of this year’s lecturer in the person of Prof Chinedu Nebo, saying he was one of the finest academics produced by Nigeria.
The crowd that invaded the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to welcome President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from his working visit to Europe was unprecedented.
The private jet which brought him back State landed at about 2.15pm where he was welcomed by his supporters, party members and some governors.
A statement signed by his Media Aide, Tunde Rahman, disclosed that the President-elect would also spend his stay engaging with investors and other key allies with the goal of marketing investment opportunities in the country.
Before embarking on the trip, Tinubu met with the candidates endorsed by the All Progressives Congress for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu.
Vice-President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima led the delegation that included Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje; Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan and the ruling party’s anointed candidate for the post of Senate President in the 10th Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio to welcome the President Elect.
Dressed in a blue ‘babariga’ and his trademark cap to match, Tinubu was accompanied by his wife, Senator Oluremi, who also wore a matching blue attire.
The President-elect departed Nigeria, according to him, to avoid unnecessary pressures and distractions while he continued to fine-tune his transition programmes and policy options with some of his key aides.
It was gathered that the reason for the early arrival of Tinubu is due to the official opening of the Dangote Refinery complex in Kano on Monday, in which President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to commission.
As hearing continues, the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, (PEPT) is expected to listen to evidences from nothing less than 160 witnesses, the tribunal was told on Saturday.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is a petitioner has the highest number of 100 witnesses.
His lawyer’s disclosed on Saturday that no fewer than 100 witnesses will testify for them in their petition challenging the election of Bola Ahmed Tinubu before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
Their lawyer, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) disclosed this in Abuja at the resumption of proceedings before the tribunal.
Uche said the anticipated 100 witnesses will include those already listed before the court and those to be subpoenaed.
Lawyer to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abubakar Mahmud SAN said his client, who conducted the disputed election, plans to call two witnesses to defend the poll.
The President-elect, Bola Tinubu on his part, is expected to call 39 witnesses to defend his challenged victory in addition to those to be subpoenaed.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) which was jointly declared as winner of the February 25 presidential election alongside Tinubu announced its intention to call 25 witnesses to establish the victory in addition to those to be subpoenaed.
Former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has called for the entrenchment
of a culture of integrity across both the corporate and civil spaces
as a way of addressing the problems associated with governance,
democracy and development in the country.
Dr. Jonathan stated this on Wednesday in Lagos at the 40th anniversary
dinner of the Institute of Directors (IoD Nigeria), where he also
made a case for closer cooperation among African leaders, especially
former and serving presidents, stressing that Africa needs such
synergy, to ensure peace and progress on the continent.
Noting that there is a trust gap between leaders and the people of the
continent, the former President emphasised that the challenge could
only be addressed by honest and dependable leaders.
He said: “A culture of integrity is what is needed to address many of
the challenges confronting governance in our country. When integrity
is entrenched as a culture and a corporate lifestyle in many
organizations, the problems associated with corruption, dishonesty,
poor governance, and even election management will be significantly
addressed.
He also noted that cordial relations exist among Nigeria’s former
leaders, describing the development as commendable and healthy for
the nation.
In this regard, he commended IoD for the cooperation among its
leaders, saying: “I have also noticed a similar trend within your
Institute, where former Presidents cooperate and advise the current
President and Chairman of Governing Council.
“This, regrettably, is not the case in some African countries where
political transitions and relations between serving and former leaders
are quite challenging and unhealthy because of unnecessary rivalry. In
some of these countries former presidents and sitting Presidents are
like enemies who hardly talk to one another.
“In Africa, We need to develop a sustainable political culture that
treats elections as a contestation of ideas, where whoever wins will
be disposed to run the country with other broadminded patriots for the
benefit of the citizens.”
Dr. Jonathan further charged members to continue to strive to project
IoD as the go-to organization for integrity and exemplary leadership.
“A place like IoD, given the reputation you have built for yourselves,
could serve as a think tank or policy institute where corporate and
political leaders could visit to test their ideas for responsible
leadership and good governance. It can also serve as the place where
leaders could go to headhunt for tested and trusted technocrats to
occupy strategic national positions; those that would justly deploy
their skill and experience in exemplary service to the nation. This is
my hope for IoD Nigeria as you celebrate this milestone. “
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has announced that a team is currently working to unravel cases of fraud, examination malpractices and other vices at the state owned university, Ekpoma.
Obaseki added that government, in partnership with security agencies is stepping up effort at investigating the alleged crimes at the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, reassuring that anyone found culpable will be duly arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Governor said this when he received the executive members of AAU Alumni Association Worldwide, who were on a courtesy visit at the Government House, Benin City.
Commending the leadership of the alumni association for their support to the government in repositioning the institution to meet global standards, Obaseki noted that Edo has become “a proxy for Nigeria globally when you talk of accelerated countries and people redefining their educational system.
“We are transforming the junior school system, dis articulating it from the secondary school system, and can’t allow AAU to remain without developing and growing.
“We call on you to join us to save this University and ensure we maintain the standard in terms of infrastructure and learning, among others. We must not allow some persons to kill our institution because it belongs to Edo people.
“I heard some people still call themselves union going around and addressing the press. We have said everybody who has been involved in any criminal conduct in AAU is currently under investigation.
“We will arrest and prosecute. You can’t go and harass other people’s children and sell transcripts as these are criminal activities and in the name of unionism, we allow them to go.
“No way, it’s one fight we will fight till the end. It is either they win and take the University or Edo people win and take back their University. It’s time to take politics out of the school and reposition it for the betterment of our people.
“For close to two decades, some group of persons has held the University hostage as several administrations have tried to rescue the University but failed. My predecessor tried and failed too and went to establish another State University.
“We decided not to shut it down but rather get a team to do a surgical operation and look at all issues to ensure the school’s development. From their findings, we can’t run a successful university like that. The school is enmeshed in politics and the school can’t be run like that.
“We have the will as a government to correct the anomaly, and with the support of associations like yours, nobody can stand in our way.”
The head of the AAU Special Intervention Team (SIT), Mr. Andrew Olotu, said staff of the state-owned tertiary institution have been engaged in a lot of illegal activities, including selling of examination question papers, harassment of female students, turning transcript and certificate collection into big business, among others.
Also, the President of the AAU alumni association, Dr. Clifford Omozeghian thanked the governor and the SIT for their efforts in repositioning the institution, pledging to collaborate with the government and other relevant authorities to take AAU to greater heights.
In another development, the leadership crisis that has engulfed the Ambrose Alli University(AAU) Alumni Association worldwide is far from being over. The crisis deepens by the day.
The association in a statement has disowned the executive members led by Godwin Nogheghase, that visited Governor Obaseki, describing them as impostors.
In the statement which was signed by all the branch chairmen of the association and made available to the Press, the association said: “The attention of the Executive Council of AAU Alumni Association worldwide has been drawn to the purported visit by an imposter and self-acclaimed Worldwide President, one Mr. Godwin Omozeghian.
“We wish to use this opportunity to inform Mr. Governor and the general public of a pending case in Benin High Court, suit no B250 05/22 instituted by majority of Branch Chairmen against the Constitutional abuses of the Alumni Association.
“We appeal with you to disregard this so call visit, pending the determination of the ongoing Court Case.”
