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Finally, Obaseki Buries Legal Challenges, As Supreme Court Reaffirms Him Edo Governor

By
Ayodele Oni
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Godwin Obaseki

By Ayodele Oni

Finally, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, can have a sigh of relief. He can now relax comfortably on his Governorship seat, and face the job for which he was elected into office.

A five- man Panel of the Supreme Court, Friday, unanimously affirmed him the Governor of the State. In affirming him, the Apex court, diminished as rubbish, the case instituted against the Governor, alleging forgery in his educational certificate.

Hailing the judgement, his Deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu,  described the country’s Judiciary as the referee of democracy through enforcement of the rule of law, to protect the minorities from the power of the majority.

According to him, “the ruling of the Supreme Court today has shown that the Judiciary does not lack teeth.

“The rule of law is the strong pillar and rock on which Nigeria’s democracy stands.

“Every other foundation is made of sinking sand because the judiciary is no longer bound by artificial limitations.”

Mr Shaibu said the Supreme Court displayed decisional and institutional independence which underscores the ability of the Judiciary to make decisions free from Political influence.

“The Judiciary constitutes the most important vessel in the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria. The Supreme Court is not a systematic instrument for the acquisition of political power.

“The final judgement today has demonstrated to the World that the Nigerian Judiciary is not a pawn in the hands of desperate politicians to realized their ambition.

“The rule of law has prevailed and this has demonstrated further that no one can sit above the law.

“Justice is the greatest interest of man and the ligament which binds civilized people together. Today’s judgement has reinforced this saying due to the celebration all over Edo State and other parts of the World.

“The extent to which the Nigeria Judiciary is free to perform its roles and efficiently too, will determine how developed and how deep rooted our Democracy will be.”

He commended the Judiciary for bailing the nation out of the woods and for waging unrelenting war against arbitrariness, highhandedness, wickedness and injustice.

The Deputy Governor cautioned politicians that Nigeria is operating the rule of law and not rule by law where unjust and oppressive laws are enacted with hyperpoliticized Courts to oppressed others.

“This is a democracy, for full protection of minority rights within majority rule” he added.

Both the Federal and Courts of Appeal had earlier dismissed the allegations against Obaseki.

Fmr APC Scribe,Timi Frank Faults Appointment Of New COAS, Says Military Reduced To Armed Guards

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Mr Timi Frank, on Friday, condemned the appointment of Maj. Gen. Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff. It is unconstitutional, he said.

He said Nigerians and the international community should hold President Buhari responsible for bastardising the military and reducing its officers and men to armed guards, rather than a well-trained and disciplined fighting force.

Mr Frank in a statement in Abuja, condemned the act, saying it represents a gross violation of the Constitution, Federal Character Principle and a total negation of long cherished military traditions and values.

According to him, elevating  Major Gen Yahaya above his seniors is a direct hit against the military, which will see senior, capable officers being purged through compulsory retirement as in the past and situation that would further weaken the nation’s security architecture.

“We had believed that Buhari, as a retired General, would leverage his experience and tactical know-how to strengthen the nation’s security architecture. But he has failed woefully.

“Under Buhari’s administration, Nigeria has witnessed the weakest and most horrendous security situation largely due to his incompetence and his penchant to elevate incompetent and inexperienced Hausa/Fulani/Muslim junior officers to lord it over competent and experienced senior officers.

“We have seen this repeated over and over in the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Air Force, Nigerian Navy, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria Customs Service (NIS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to mention but a few.

“This, no doubt, has bred widespread distrust, discontent, disloyalty, low morale and lack of motivation among the Officer Corps of the military and other security agencies in the country

“This untoward and dangerous adventure of Buhari as Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, has concomitantly culminated in the deterioration of military discipline and willingness of the security forces to wholeheartedly confront insurgents, bandits and other criminal elements that daily make life unbearable for the average citizen.

“For instance, the recent appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya of Course 37 as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), invariably means that over 68 Majors-General of Course 35 and 36 in the Nigerian Army who are Yahaya’s seniors and still in service would either be retired compulsorily or stay and be bossed by a junior officer.

“Besides, General Yahaya, a junior officer, is now going to be rubbing shoulders with the present Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Auwal Zubairu Gambo – all of Course 35.”

The former APC scribe pointed out further that President Buhari has shown utter disdain for long held military tradition of subordination, discipline, obedience, decorum and regimental service.

“By his actions, Buhari has consistently breached the Nigerian constitution, the Armed Forces Act and the much cherished seniority in military service, no thanks to the rubber-stamp members of 9th National Assembly that have reneged on their oaths of office which they swore to.

“Little wonder that in, almost, six years of Buhari’s administration, the insecurity in the country has continued to oscillate from frying-pan to fire.”

World Bank: FG Gets $700m Loan for Water, Sanitation

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

The World Bank has approved a $700 million dollar for the Nigeria Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Programme, URWASH.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that the $700 million loan is from the bank’s International Development Association, IDA.

It is a body which helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic.

According to the details provided by the Bretton Wood body, the fund is expected to be used to provide 6 million people with basic drinking water services and 1.4 million people access to improved sanitation services.

The bank made the announcement in a statement on its website in Washington D. C. on Thursday, where it said the programme will also deliver improved Water Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH services to 2,000 schools and Health Care Facilities and assist 500 communities to achieve open defecation-free status.

The progamme, it said would be implemented as part of the Federal Government’s National Action Plan (NAP) for the revitalisation of Nigeria’s water supply, sanitation, and hygiene sector.

According to the bank “In 2019, approximately 60 million Nigerians were living without access to basic drinking water services, 80 million without access to improved sanitation facilities and 167 million without access to a basic handwashing facility.

“In rural areas, 39 per cent of households lack access to at least, basic water supply services, while only half have access to improved sanitation and almost a third (29 per cent) practice open defecation, a fraction that has marginally changed since 1990.”

The bank, however, said in recent years, the Federal Government had strengthened its commitment toward improving access to WASH services, spurred on by the need for Nigeria’s WASH sector to catch up with its regional counterparts.

This, it said, led to the government declaring a state of emergency in 2018 and launching NAP aimed at ensuring universal access to sustainable and safely managed WASH services by 2030, commensurate with the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.

It also said the programme would support NAP which was a 13-year strategy prioritising action within three phases.

They are Emergency Plan, Recovery Plan and Revitalisation Strategy and also the Clean Nigeria; Use the Toilet Campaign which aims to have Nigeria free of open defecation by 2025.

Shubham Chaudhuri, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, said the programme’s centrality to the human capital agenda and its potential to influence key human capital outcomes could not be over-emphasised.

He said this was because access to WASH was an important determinant of human capital outcomes, including early childhood survival, nutrition, health, learning and women’s empowerment, all of which in turn affected labour productivity and efficiency.

“This will help to keep more girls in school, create employment and reduce open defecation, while developing greater resilience to the impact of climate change and conflicts between different land and water users,” he said.

The SURWASH programme is performance-based and participation is open to all states in Nigeria based on their commitment to specific reforms in the sector.

Falana Says Nigeria On The Verge Of Collapse, As 2023 Election Looks Unrealistic

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Femi Falana

By Akinwale Kasali

Legal Luminary and Human Rights Activist, Femi Falana, has lamented the State of the nation, saying that the nation is on the verge of collapse.

Falana made this statement following the incessant attack on the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, threatening the 2023 general election.

Speaking at the final sitting of the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, South West, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Zonal Public Hearing, Lagos Center, held in Ikeja, under the chairmanship of Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central,  Falana said Nigeria is ruled by rule of the rulers and not rule of law, lamenting that people commit all manner of crime and got away with it because there are no sanctions.

“This must change. The Social Security Bill must also work so that jobless people can get stipends pending when they will get full employment. What can we do very quickly to save this country which is on the verge of collapse? If you don’t want people to break away from Nigeria, we must give them confidence and sense of belonging, don’t declare a war,” he said.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said that for the constitutional amendment to be fruitful and for Nigeria to have genuine outputs from this meeting, peace must reign.

He stated that Nigeria’s problem must be addressed frontally, as well as give people the confidence of peace and inclusion if the government must kill the cries for secession.

“In fact, in some parts of the country, the 2023 elections are already threatened. “INEC offices are being burnt, police stations are being burnt. In that kind of atmosphere, we cannot pretend that there is political stability in our country.

“Essentially, I am making a case for the poor, the masses of our people who are generally not represented in fora of this nature which are most times for the elites and privileged among our people,” he added.

He explained that Chapter Two of the constitution guaranteed the right to education, health, living minimum wage, good adequate housing, unemployment benefits, among others, but that members of the ruling class conspired and agreed, regardless of political affiliation, that these provisions shall not be enforceable or made justiciable.

“But unless we are prepared to make these provisions justiciable and enforceable, this country will know no peace. Whatever constitution will come forth after now must make justiciable the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state without which there will be no political stability in Nigeria,” he said.

Falana also submitted that the Child Rights Act enacted in 2003 be made applicable throughout Nigeria, adding that as of today, only 25 states have adopted the law, “but even then, not fully implemented. Unfortunately, it is states where banditry, kidnapping and terrorism thrive that have refused to adopt or domesticate the law, and that is where banditry, terrorism, and kidnappers recruit daily.

“We also advocate a 50/50 representation for men and women in government. We should emulate other African countries where women even take a larger percentage in government affairs”, he said.

Restructuring: Changing Only The Driver Of Knocked Engine Is Not A Solution – Peter Obi

By
The Source
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0

The Vice Presidential Candidate of the Pe oples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 General Election, Mr. Peter Obi,  on Tuesday thrilled the Academic Community of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN with his analysis of restructuring and why it must happen for Nigeria to develop.

Obi, who was the Guest lecturer  at the 4th Adada Lecture organized by the Association of Nsukka Professors, ANP, at the Princess Alexandria Auditorium and Unity Hall of the University, said that the clamour to change the Presidency without restructuring amounts to changing the driver of a vehicle without brain box, and expect it to move.

A statement from the Media Office of the former Anambra state Governor, signed by Media Director, Valentine Obienyem, said he spoke on ‘Restructuring, Security Challenges and Development’ and noted that without restructuring the system fundamentally, no effort can come out of the struggle for Presidency in 2023.

“All over the place people have been urging me to go for President in 2023, we will vote for you but I say to them, the vehicle called Nigeria has no brain box but people are talking of changing driver only”

“What can a driver of a knocked engine or car with a faulty or no brain box do? Absolutely nothing until the vehicle goes for complete overhaul.”

“Those clamouring for restructuring are saying fix the car first, then look for a driver”

Obi said that those opposed to fixing the car are exploiting the owner on the day to day repairs and thought it would pay them better than having a good working car that can serve everybody.

He said that those opposed to restructuring are ignorant of the benefits therein, and would do everything to enable the unworkable status quo to remain.

To the excitement of the students and lecturers that had the magnificent hall filled to capacity, Obi listed the numerous gains of a restructured Nigeria which includes paying the lecturers their worth and making the students study in a conducive environment.

“Professors are house helps to politicians. How can such society grow? Professor advising Local Government Chairman and running after political thugs when it should be the other way round”

Obi said that Nigerian students are among the best in the World, given the terrible condition of study they operate.

He regretted that Nigerian politicians see thugs who cluster around and praising them as a measure of popularity instead of seeing them as wasted production hands who should be in factories.

“All these youths who go about shouting and hailing political leaders are supposed to be factory workers. If they were in their firms producing, they won’t have time to come hailing anybody”

Obi charged the Academics to strive to belong, instead of leaving the political space for those who should not be there in the first place.

The former Governor said that security is everything, that’s why the Constitution said it’s the primary function of Government. “We are here because it’s secure”

On development, Obi said that the basis for its measurement is on human capital because a developed person catalyzes every other forms of development.

The well attended lecture was chaired by a former  Federal Permanent Secretary, Chief Chinyeaka Ohaa, and attended by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state, Senator Chuka Utazi of Enugu North Senatorial zone and the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Charles Igwe.

COAS Appointment: Tension In Army, Top Generals To Go

By
Bayo Bernard
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Farouk Yahaya - Major General - New COAS

By James Orji

The appointment of Major Gen. Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff, COAS, shattered all predictions as he was not among top favourites.  His choice as Army Chief by President Muhammadu Buhari, following the death, last week of Lt. General Ibarhim Attahiru, in a plane crash in Kaduna has also created tension in the Army because of the looming sack of top Generals that are his seniors.

Most importantly, President Muhamamdu Buhari’s choice of Yahaya broke the heart of not a few Nigerians who had expected the new COAS to be from the South east, in line with clamour by Igbo that one of their own be picked as a member of the elite class of Service Chiefs.

With his appointment, therefore, analyst insist that heads will roll among serving Generals, in line with the military tradition where it is expected that senior officers will resign when their junior is appointed to a very sensitive post.

Since the former Army boss died in an ill-fated military aircraft on Friday 21, top Army Generals had lobbied the Presidency for the post, with different officers positioning themselves to take over from the late Attahiru, who himself was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari earlier in January.

Among those favoured to become COAS are Majors General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf, a former Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, MI Aliyu of the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, Benjamin Ahanotu, Danjuma Ali-Kefi, amongst others.

Attahiru - Lt General - COAS
Attahiru: Died In a Plane Crash

These Generals will be forced to leave the military now that a junior officer has been appointed to take over command of the Army.

A statement, on Thursday by Brig. Gen. Nwachukwu Onyema, the Acting Director, Defense Information, announced Yahaya’s appointment by President Buhari.

Onyema said “The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari has appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff.

“Prior to his appointment, Major General Yahaya was the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and the incumbent Theatre Commander of the Counter Terrorism Counter Insurgency military outfit in the North East, code named Operation HADIN KAI.”

A tweet from the Presidential Aide, Social Media, Bashir Ahmad, had earlier announced Yahaya’s appointment.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff,” Ahmad said.

Before Buhari finally appoint Yahaya, presidential sources had told the magazine that none of the Generals favoured by public opinion will get the job. This, they say was in line with the president’s tradition to surprising pundits.

One source had informed the magazine when asked if the president was planning to appoint any of the four Generals mentioned above, that the decision ”is left to the president to decide. Yes, they are all qualified but you know Mr President, he may as usual come up with another surprise. All I can tell you is that a new COAS will be appointed soon because nature abhors vacuum.”

That decision, according to those with the knowledge of the military, has now put at least 30 Generals in a quagmire as they are expected to retire voluntarily or be fired from their posts by the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, due to the fact that many of them are senior to the new COAS who is of Regular Course 37 in the Nigeria Defence Academy, NDA. Yahaya was commissioned an officer in 1990.

“Only Generals from Course 35 and few others from Course 36 who are favoured by the new COAS will be allowed to remain in the force. At least, he is expected to make over 30 appointments, with the president’s approval that will assist him in his new role as the Commander of the Army,” a top military source said.

“In total, over 30 Generals from both Courses 35 and 36 will be sacked to pave room for the new appointees by the COAS.  This may be painful considering the huge resources that the country has spent to train these officers, but that is the tradition, because it is the COAS that will choose those he feels he can work with,” he stated further.

Other sources told the magazine that General Yahaya is very popular among the officers. Citing the jubilation among both officers and men following his appointment, analyst insist that President Buhari must have considered many factors, including his pedigree as an Artillery officer and his track records as the Theatre Commander, Counter Terrorism Counter Insurgency military outfit in the North East, code named Operation HADIN KAI.”

“General Yahaya was appointed by the former COAS, Tukur Burutai into that position, and when General Attahiru came on board, he retained him even when other Commanders where redeployed. That should tell you something, that President Buhari must have spotted what many people are not seeing, before appointing him COAS,” another source who crave anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter said on Friday.

Uzodimma Urges Ndigbo To Seek Redress, Says The Igbo Owe No Apology For Seeking Justice

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma with Igbo Leaders

In the face of complaints by the South-east of marginalization by the Federal Government, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has asked the Zone to seek redress.

The Governor  advised Ndigbo to take advantage of the opportunity of the ongoing National Assembly Constitutional Review Public Hearing to present everything that has been agitating their minds in recent past, and seek redress.

The Governor gave the advice Wednesday in his remarks at the National Assembly Review Committee Public Hearing for Imo and Abia States taking place in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Uzodimma highlighted the constitutional issues agitating the minds of the Igbo to include rotational Presidency, State Police, Indigeneship in a State after 10 years of residency, devolution of more powers to the State, resource control and many more.

He said: “These issues can be resolved through constitutional amendment, hence the unique opportunity the public hearing offers to our people.”

Governor Uzodimma added that: “What we seek is justice and equity for our people to thrive and the Igboowe nobody any apology.”

He however notedd that the Igbos “cannot achieve it through violence or threats of secession rather through an avenue such as this that we can put forward our request and follow it through.”

The Governor who had earlier welcomed the Constitutional Review Committee Chairman, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy President of the Senate and other National Assembly members as well as the General  public, emphasized that the Public hearing is an opportunity for Imo and Abia States to make their inputs on the amendments they seek in the country’s constitution.

He reiterated that it is an opportunity for them to key into efforts being made to work out an acceptable constitution that will address the concerns of the majority of Nigerians in general and Ndigbo in particular.

The Governor who noted that he attaches so much value to the public hearing said “there could not have been a more auspicious occasion than for the South East and Ndigbo to ventilate those issues that have been bothering them for some time, especially in the recent pasts than now.”

For him, the constitution review is the beauty of constitutional democracy because it provides a platform for the ventilation of various ideas for the good of society.

For the leaders of the South East, especially Imo and Abia, Governor Uzodimma said they are genuinely committed to the Igbo question, which is demand for Justice and equity.

“When the Igbo talk of restructuring or devolution of power they are talking of actually having an environment created for them to unleash their potentials and talents without let or hindrance. They are also talking of being treated equally like every other part of Nigeria. More importantly, they are talking of being part of the decision process in Nigeria. The Igbo leaders are not talking of domination or secession,” he explained.

Concluding, Governor Uzodimma appealed to Igbo youths “to listen to the voice of reason,” promising them that “all shall be well.”

Earlier in his address at the Public Hearing for Imo and Abia States,  Senator Omo-Agege who was represented by the Senate Chief Whip,  Senator Orji Kalu, the former Governor of Abia State, said that the constitutional review embarked upon by the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is “meant to douse the raging agitation across the country resulting from the several infractions and inadequate provisions in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

He called on Ndigbo, Imo and Abia in particular, to seize the opportunity to articulate their demands to be accommodated in the proposed constitutional review.

In a vote of thanks, the Senator representing Okigwe Senatorial Zone in the National Assembly, Senator Frank Ibezim thanked Governor Uzodimma for making out time to attend the public hearing to declare it open.

He equally thanked all that were present, especially those that submitted reports and advided others that are yet to submit their reports to do so, “so that the South East will not continue to grumble and agitate over what bothers them most.”

  1. From L-R; Senator Frank Ibezim, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Governor Hope Uzodimma, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Hon Princess Miriam Onuoha, Chief of Staff to Imo Governor, Sir Nnamdi Anyaehie and other Dignitaries at the Opening Session of the Senate Constitutional Review Committee Holding in Owerri
  2. Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma (right) Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (centre) and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (left) at the Senate Constitutional Review Committee for Imo and Abia hold in Owerri
  3. Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma (left) Exchanges pleasantries with Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (centre) while Senator Frank Ibezim (right) watches at the Opening Session of the Senate Constitutional Review Committee for Imo and Abia State holding in Owerri

Jonathan Intervenes, Releases Mali’s President, Minister

By
The Source
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Goodluck Jonathan

Leaders of Mali’s Military have released interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane from detention. There release followed the intervention from former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria. Dr Jonathan is the mediator of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)  in Mali.

The former President had travelled to Bamako on Tuesday to meet with the Military leaders and other stakeholders after the sudden turn of events in the transition process that led to the detention of the two leaders by the Military under the control of Vice President Colonel Assimi Goita.

The Mediator and his team had, on Wednesday, obtained the commitment of the Military leaders to release Ndaw and Ouane, after visiting them at Kati Barracks, near Bamako where they were being held, to ascertain their health condition.

Before visiting the President and Prime Minister in detention Jonathan had met with Colonel Goita where he demanded their unconditional release and urged the authorities to maintain peace and stability which, according to him,  are key to the conduct of the transitional process.

The release of President Ndaw and Prime Minister Ouane early Thursday morning  came three days after they were detained and stripped of their powers. This was  nine months after they were appointed to lead the Transition Government.

They had been heading the Interim Government under the Transition Charter with the aim of restoring full Civilian Rule within 18 months.

“The Interim President  and Prime  Minister were released overnight around 1.30am. We were true to our word,” an official of the transition government told newsmen while speaking on condition of anonymity. Family members confirmed that the two men had returned to their homes in the capital Bamako.

Imo: Government Not Establishing Farms For RUGA, Says Uzodimma

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma has slammed those carrying false stories that his Government was reviving and renovating  Agricultural Farms for Rural Grazing Area, RUGA. He said the stories were mischief of the worst order, meant to mislead and misinform Imo.people.

In a Press Release signed by his Media Adviser/ Chief Press Secretary, Oguwuike Nwachuku, the Governor said that the reason behind the renovation on some integrated farms in Imo was not for RUGA purposes.

“Contrary to speculations that the Imo State Government was planning to use the so-called farms for RUGA, those behind such insinuations are simply enemies of the people who do not want the Government to take steps to tackle the mounting youth employment facing Imo”, he said.

Uzodimma had recently  moved to revive some Integrated Farms in the sta5te such as Achara-Ubo Farm in Emekuku, Songhai Farm in Nekede and the Avutu Poultry farm in Obowo.

But no sooner did a Government contractor move into one of the farms than speculation became rife that the Government  had started RUGA implementation in the State  for the settlement of Fulani herdsmen.

At Achara-Ubo Farm in Emekuku, for instance, youths and other Ubowalla Community members had taken to the streets to protest the cleaning of the Farm by the contractor and even ended up locking the place.

However, in dispelling the rumour, Governor Uzodimma said he was not only concerned about the youths who needed to be properly engaged, but the potentials inherent in renovating, rehabilitating and reviving the now prostrate Achara –Ubo Farm.

The Governor, therefore, advised Imo indigenes to dwell less on rumour-mongering, particularly, when the channels to obtain accurate information on Government intentions are available.

He said that the army of youths in Imo State who roam about the streets as a result of not being properly engaged was enough to worry any responsible Government, noting that what is required now is a Government that thinks outside the box to fix our problems.

Governor Uzodimma further admonished Imolites – Traditional Rulers, Town Unions, Youths, Market men and women, Religious Leaders – to join hands with his Government  to make Imo State a better place for all.

He regretted that recourse to rumour-mongering and idle speculations had caused more harm to our State noted before now  across the country as peaceful and urged all and sundry to join hands with his administration to return Imo State to that status and even lift it higher on development.

Adopt 1963 Constitution; Stop Further Amendment Of Military-Foisted Document – Afe Babalola

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Legal luminary, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN) Chief Afe Babalola, has said that it would amount to waste of resources and futile exercise the current effort by the national assembly to amend the 1999 Constitution.

Rather, he advised a return to the1963 constitution, saying the present constitution was foisted on Nigerians by the Military.

The Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, (ABUAD),  in a statement, believes that nothing could be injected into the 1999 Constitution that could make it to fully address the nation’s problems.

In the alternative, Babalola suggested the convocation of a National Conference to accommodate all opinions on how to move the country forward.

“Alternatively, since amendment in law includes substitution for an existing document, why is it that the national assembly cannot call for a Public Hearing on the substitution of the 1999 constitution for the 1963 constitution which was made with the consent of the people?

“Against the background of the massive demand by Nigerians at home and abroad for a true Federal constitution made by the people and for the people, the national assembly is calling for Public Hearing in the country’s six Geo-political Zones for people’s inputs on any issue of interest to enable it amend the 1999 constitution, but I have reservations on this.

“To me, the proposed amendment to the 1999 constitution by the national assembly, whichever way you look at it, is a futile exercise.

“It is common knowledge that the 1999 constitution was made by the military which in its wisdom, claimed that it was made by the people.

“The truth is that there is no way the national assembly can amend the 1999 constitution to cure inherent defects in the 1999 constitution.

“First, you cannot cure fraud. Second, it is impossible, by way of amendment, to take away the military system of government under the 1999 constitution or the power and control of public funds by the President.

“Or can we, by way of amendment, change the Judicial powers of the President under the 1999 constitution?

“The fact remains that you cannot amend a Coconut tree which has no branches to become an Iroko tree which has branches.

“It is a well-known fact that everything about the 1999 constitution is wound round the Presidential system of government.

“We all know that previous sessions of national assembly made laws to convene a national conference.

“I, therefore, advise that the current national assembly should call for a national conference to discuss and make a new, true Federal constitution which will provide for a Parliamentary system of Government.”

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