|
Acting Presidency: Invoke Constitution,
N'Delta Women Tell N'Assembly
• Group warns against harm on Jonathan, military incursion
From Sufuyan Ojeifo, Obi Akan in Abuja and Ahamefula Ogbu in Port Harcourt
Niger Delta Women Forum has called on the National Assembly to invoke relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to transfer presidential powers to the Vice-President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, as Acting President even as another group from the geo-political zone warned against military take over or harm coming to the number two citizen.
The Niger Delta Women Forum made their position known in a press statement issued by the Forum's National Coordinator/President, Mrs. Esther Uduehi, at the end of a routine general meeting at the weekend.
The Forum said that the National Assembly should put "partisan politics aside and rise to save the democratic existence of Nigeria by invoking the various sections of the Constitution and taking immediate action to transfer power to the Vice-President by ordering the swearing in of the Vice President as Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of the Armed forces."
Their position is coming on the heels of call by yet another group, Yar'Adua-Goodluck 7-Point Agenda Alliance Crusade (YAGOSPAC) that irrespective of the position of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) that President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is still fit to continue in office, Jonathan should wake up to the responsibilities accorded him by the 1999 Constitution.
The group led by Michael Ekamon in a press conference held in Abuja yesterday said: "Having observed subterranean moves by disgruntled persons and enemies of democracy to stampede the institution of governance into unconstitutionalities, we equally urge Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to wake up to his responsibilities because he is the Vice-President and when the President is not around, he should take charge. If he had done this, the current crisis would have been averted."
"That President Yar'Adua did not communicate his absence to the National Assembly as enjoined by section 145 of the 1999 constitution is not an issue," it said, stressing that, "even if the Vice President is not designated Acting President and if any Minister disobeys him, he should sack the person. He has all the powers, all he need do is to exercise it".
The group further observed that, "constitution or no constitution, Mr. Vice President should take charge, what s right is right; even if the constitution does not expressly state it, common sense provides that if Mr. President is not around, his Deputy should act, that is the appropriate thing to do"
"By the interpretation of section 144 of the 1999 constitution the Federal Executive Council has neither legal nor expertise powers to give President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua a clean bill of health. FEC is neither an assemblage of medical experts with expertise powers to do so nor an assemblage people vested with legal powers to say the President is medically okay, the group maintained.
In a related development, the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) rose from its emergency roundtable weekend in Port Harcourt, warning that no harm must befall Vice-President Good Luck Jonathan, whom they said has kept to constitutional provisions of the country.
They also made a clarion call for all to rise against any military take over as was being speculated in the country while it urging all ethnic nationalities to convene mini conferences to harmonise their position on the relationship that will exist within the component parts presently called Nigeria.
UNDESS, which had a broad consultation comprising Arewa Youths Forum, Ohaneze Ndigbo and Afenifere and chaired by Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas put the tentative date for the Sovereign National Confe-rence where the future of the country would be determined middle of this year.
The forum used the opportunity to warn that what presently obtains in the Niger Delta was a peace of the graveyard capable of exploding with unpleasant consequences any moment and urged Jonathan to ensure that all agencies saddled with the prosecution of the amnesty programme of the government should swing to action to salvage the already sagging image of the government on the issue.
"All ethnic nationalities should urgently commence the process of convening their own "mini-conferences", with an aim to working out a charter for a Pan Nigerian Sovereign Conference, before the middle of 2010; which confe-rence is the only means to a sustainable democratic Nigeria where all units are respected and would have spelt out how best all units could live together, bearing in mind that when Nigeria was formed in 1914 the various ethnic nationalities were not consulted", the group said.
"There is now, even more than ever before, the need for the peoples of the Niger Delta to be united at this critical moment of a contrived constitutional crisis, if they are to take their rightful places as first-class citizens of a Nigerian Federation based on the rule-of-law, justice, equity, peace and development;
"Nothing untoward (on any dimension) should happen to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, who has so far obeyed the Constitution whilst, in "loyalty" President Umaru Yar'Adua, bearing all the indignities heaped on him, especially in the last sixty-plus days of national anomie.
"Any attempt by ANY group or persons to further undermine, or overthrow, the Nigerian Constitution must be robustly challenged by every citizen of this nation, employing every legitimate means, channels and platforms, at national and global levels", parts of the communiqué read.
They commended the Senate for their action though belated on the issue of ensuring adherence to the 1999 Constitution but regretted the lack luster attitude of the House of Representatives which it asked to wake from its slumber and ensure that the will of the people towered above personal considerations.
The Federal Executive Council also came under the vitriolic searchlight of the roundtable which berated them as lacking in thickness of fiber to speak the truth, wondering how they arrived at the conclusion that the President who has been bedridden and confessed to hope to leave hospital when his Doctors confirm him fit was fit enough to carry out his duties.
They agreed that enough was enough with the toying of the future of the country by politicians and insisted that Jonathan should in accordance with the provisions of Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution be made to take over the reigns of power as Acting President for peace to reign.
For smoother elections in the country, they called for the implementation of the Justice Uwais reports on electoral reforms while also, the white paper of the Niger Delta Technical Committee be published and implemented instead of setting up other committees to do nothing but waste time.
"All monies owed the Niger Delta through debts owed/calculated shortchanging of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the still-dormant Federal Ministry of the Niger Delta be immediately paid-up in full, and in accordance with the laws setting up these bodies [which, in tandem with the over-procrastinating Post-Amnesty Committee, are saddled with the primary mandate of fast-tracking infrastructural and human development in the still-neglected region", they said.
Source: This Day, 1st Feb 2010.
Ex-militants Ask Govt to Implement
Post-amnesty Deal
From Chido Okafor, Warri
SOME former militant leaders who attended a re-orientation programme at the weekend in Effurun, Delta State, have chided the Federal Government for the alleged shabby treatment meted on them after they embraced the amnesty deal.
They said the amnesty project was almost derailed as the government was allegedly no longer pursuing the deal with the same zeal as before and called for a change of attitude.
The erstwhile militants' reaction is coming on the heels of the announced ending of cease-fire by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in the region.
The militants cautioned that if the amnesty programme was not comprehensively implemented, they could lose confidence in the government.
One of the former militant leaders who identified himself as General Idi Amin, said: "Our brothers dropped their guns to embrace amnesty but now, the government has not kept its promise. We embraced amnesty deal because we believed that peace was needed for the much-talked about development of the Niger Delta area. We have dropped our guns, let the Federal Government keep to its promise".
Another militant, who called himself Commander Gboi, criticised government's plan to train them in a formal setting, adding: "Some of us are graduates. We have had adequate formal education, we went into the camps in the first place because there were no jobs. Many of us saw amnesty as a way out but even the whole exercise is now shrouded in secrecy".
Co-ordinator of the United States (U.S.)-based group, Newstime, Mr. Tony Oyatedor, said the decision to embark on the re-orientation project was to position the people to benefit from their abundant natural resources.
He said: "We want to show the whole world that we in the Niger Delta are not criminals. Every Niger Deltan should be a multi-millionaire and not the laughing stock of the nation".
He urged the former militants to remain peaceful and patient and to work with government and well-meaning organisations to ensure that the region was massively developed.
Source: The Guardian, 1st Feb 2010.
Asaba Airport to be Ready in April,
Says Utuama
From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba
AN assurance has come from the Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, that the Asaba International Airport would be ready for use by the end of April, disclosing that 80 per cent of the job has already been completed.
Utuama, who is overseeing the airport projects and inspecting the extent of work done by the contractor, noted that the project was schedule to be completed within 24 months and that it was going on as planned.
"The effort of the contractor is commendable, it is moving beyond our expectations in terms of plan schedule. It is at the finishing stage, that is dotting the 'I's and crossing the 'T's. We are optimistic that going by the current speed, the airport will definitely be delivered by April.
"The airport was scheduled to be completed within 24 months originally. We have not exceeded the 24 months. I think we are in the 18th month now. We are quite ahead of time in the completion. From what I can see, I will say 80 per cent of the work has been done", he said.
The Minister of Aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba, had during a recent visit to the airport, expressed satisfaction at the pace and standard of work being done by the state government.
Omotoba, who was accompanied by Utuama, viewed the project as a demonstration of the vision the Emmanuel Uduaghan-led administration has for the state.
He added: "First, I like to congratulate the people of Delta State for making a good choice in choosing a visionary leader in your governor who has made a wise decision by building an international airport in Asaba.
"I have gone through the work you have done up to date and I must tell you that I am very pleased. This is a good example of putting your money where your mouth belongs.
"I want to assure you and the people of Delta State that we are going to provide all the support you need to ensure that you deliver this dividend of democracy not only to the people of Delta State but also to the people of this country".
Source: The Guardian, 20th January 2010.
Council Chiefs Laud Uduaghan,
Pledge to Raise Performance
From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba
THE 25 council chairmen of Delta State have, at a meeting at Isiokolo, headquarters of Ethiope East Local Council, resolved to step up their performance in order to improve the people's lot.
And for ushering in what they reckon to be an unprecedented development in all sectors of the state, they lauded and formally adopted Governor Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan for a second term.
The move came amid indications that Rear Admiral John Onoriode Kpokpogri, a former Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, has joined the 2011 governorship race on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking to reporters after the meeting of the chairmen and some party chiefs, the state chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Bashorun Askia Ugieh, explained that with the impressive record of Uduaghan and by extension, the PDP, they should resist the temptation to rest on their oars and resolve now not to be laid back and take their opponents for granted.
Giving more reasons for the adoption, Ugieh, who is also the chairman of Isoko South Council, remarked that going by the governor's performance, it was only natural that they looked forward to an era of consolidation and extension of the gains by another four years.
He noted that the state has for the past two and half years enjoyed relative peace and security despite the unrest that characterised some other parts of the Niger Delta.
He said: "The oil and gas industry crisis crossing the waterways and creeks of the state have enjoyed relative stability of operations owing to the deft strategies of Uduaghan in sustaining peace and security in the area."
He also pointed out that hostage taking, kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, disruption of production activities, among other negative activities in the region were now things of the past in the state, thus restoring investors' confidence.
"The Uduaghan administration has also carefully embarked on a structured infrastructure development programme that would in no time make Delta the envy of other states," Ugieh declared.
He said that the council chairmen intend to engage in mobilisation, regular advocacy and sensitisation programmes that will involve all players in the third tier of government.
Kpokpogri's bid is already getting support from a broad spectrum of people in the state and Deltans in Diaspora.
For example, a political pressure group from Delta Central Senatorial District, Urhobo Youth Empowerment Front (UYEF), said it endorsed the Isoko former military chief to effect change and restore good governance in the state.
In a statement in Warri by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Peter Abel Akpotu, the group said Kpokpogri can "liberate and offer Deltans quality and effective governance.
Akpotu noted that the Urhobo and other Deltans are strongly supporting Kpokpogri for equity and even distribution of dividends of democracy across the state.
"All Deltans will feel a sense of belonging as people that produce oil," the group added.
Source: The Guardian, 20th January 2010.
Delta CJ Lists Gains of New Court Rules
From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba
DELTA State Chief Judge, Mrs. Roseline Bozimo, yesterday listed the benefits of the recently introduced High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009.
Bozimo, who spoke at the presentation of the new rules in Asaba, explained that the procedure emphasised the quick dispensation of justice in compliance with the principle of law, that justice delayed is justice denied.
"We are all aware that to the man on the street, no less than the businessman, the courts no longer represent his last hope for having his grievances promptly addressed," she said.
Again, she said that the new rules encourage court-based mediation as reflected in the provisions of Order 29, Rule 1, which states that a court or judge with the consent of the parties may encourage settlement of any matter(s) before it either by arbitration, conciliation, mediation, or any other lawfully recognised method of dispute resolution.
According to her, this is hinged on the premise that the court or judge shall not personally conduct such settlement, which it shall instead refer to appropriate person or institution for amicable resolution within a time frame specified by the court or judge, failing which the proceedings shall resume before the court or judge.
Justice Bozimo said: "By this provision, the court user can no longer view the court as over-bearing as was the position under the 1988 Rules. The judge is now empowered to promote and encourage alternative dispute resolution in the determination of the cases in his court. This no doubt will improve the profile of the court and the face of justice in the manner it is perceived by the public. This has the added benefit of strengthening the integrity of the judiciary."
The Delta Chief Judge explained that the provision of the new rules that promotes court-based mediation, being new to the state's jurisprudence, calls for training and/or re-training of judges who are now assigned the responsibilities previously unknown under the old rules; the court registrar and other support staff; and private lawyers, as well as those in government service, in the skills of mediation and conciliation.
This, according to her, has the benefit of opening a new vista of career for legal practitioners and other interested persons to be trained as Professional Negotiators and Mediators (PNM) as emphasis all over the world now is on the benefits of the multi-door settlement of disputes that leaves former protagonists going away happy and satisfied and thus promoting a peaceful society.
The committee, which was headed by former Chief Judge of the state, (Mrs.) M.A. Okungbowa had former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Chief T.J.O Okpoko (SAN) as a member. Other members of the committee are former Justice F.A. Nwulu, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), Chief Albert Akpomudje (SAN), Chief J.I.Ojeh, Chief Isaac Jemide, Chief V.E. Otomiewo, Chike Onyemenam, A.O.Akpiroroh, C.Omoru, Chief C.O Ogedazi, M.M.Nnamdi, and B.O Odigwe who acted as the secretary.
Source: The Guardian, 14th January 2010.
|
