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Jonathan's Acting Presidency Has Brought Stability to Nigeria –Anyaoku
By Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja
A former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on Tuesday said Nigeria was drifting in the absence of President Umaru Yar'Adua until Dr. Goodluck Jonathan assumed office as the country's Acting President.
Anyaoku, who led members of the Presidential Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs to a meeting with Jonathan in the Presidential Villa, further said that, until the National Assembly resolution that made Jonathan Acting President, Nigeria's fate was unpredictable.
He said Jonathan's assumption of office had lowered tension and anxiety brought about by concerns over Yar'Adua's long absence from the country.
"I can say that before he became the acting president, our friends abroad and people at home were worried that the country seems to be drifting and there was concern that if the country continued to drift you couldn't predict what the end would be.
"But his formal assumption of office as Acting President has brought in stability and the lowering of tension and anxiety and that has been very good thing," Anyaoku said.
Reacting to criticisms that have continued to trail the process that led to Jonathan's assumption of the office, Anyaoku said the arrangement had brought stability and predictability to the country.
"I think that most of our critics abroad and at home have welcomed the fact that we now have a constitutionally-approved arrangement for the governance of this country and that has brought in much greater element of predictability and that is what a stable country should aim at," he said.
Anyaoku, who said the council briefed Jonathan on its work noted, "This is the presidential advisory council on foreign affairs and we have been briefing the acting president on our work, which is concerned with looking at the international scene and advising on Nigeria's interests and attitudes to those issues."
Earlier at the meeting, Anyaoku had informed Jonathan that his assumption of office has stabilised the polity.
He said, "I was on assignment in Switzerland and the United Kingdom three weeks ago and wherever I went people were asking me what was happening in my country.
"There was understandable anxiety among friends not to mention the discernible tension on their faces.
He urged Nigeria to take steps on the situation in Niger Republic, while sustaining interventions in other parts of the continent through the AU and ECOWAS.
He also enjoined the Federal Government to take proactive steps in pursuing its post-amnesty programmes in the Niger Delta, noting that "the world is watching out for the successful outcome of the amnesty."
On his part, Jonathan extolled the Presidential Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs, saying he would continue to draw from its vast experience from time to time.
The acting president told members of the council that he would be having regular consultations with them for advice on Nigeria's foreign relations.
He also said the political developments in Niger Republic were causing Nigeria some concern as any major crisis there could affect Nigeria due to its geographical proximity to the country.
Source: Punch, 24th Feb 2010.
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Aondoakaa Apologises to Akunyili
By Emeka Madunagu
The immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), on Thursday apologised to the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, over disparaging remarks in a newspaper report.
Aondoakaa, who was redeployed to the Ministry of Special Duties on Wednesday by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, was reported by a national daily (not The PUNCH) as having described Akunyili as someone seeking cheap popularity.
In the report published on Monday, the former AGF said Akunyili's controversial memo asking ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua to hand over power to Jonathan, was "self-seeking."
Speaking further on the memo, which was rejected last week by members of the Federal Executive Council, he advised her to go and confront unstated issues about her tenure at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
Aondoakaa reportedly said, "What she is trying to do is self-seeking. Let her go and confront herself with what happened in NAFDAC."
The information minister swiftly replied Aondoakaa by telling him in a letter to clarify the comments in the story within seven days or face legal action.
But, in a February 9, 2010 letter to Akunyili, tiled "Re: Retraction of libellous publication," Aondoakaa adopted a conciliatory tone.
Addressing Akunyili as "My Dear Sister," he wrote, "I wish to draw your attention to the above subject matter conveyed by your letter dated February 8, 2010.
"While much of the quoted words in your letter can rightly be ascribed to me, the import of the last sentence, to the effect that 'let her go and confront herself with what happened in NAFDAC' was meant to be in the positive but was wrongly presented in the negative.
"The correct import of the above quoted words is that the honourable minister had already earned a reputation for herself while at NAFDAC and needs not seek to do more by embarking on the present course of action to the detriment of a resolution already adopted unanimously by members of the FEC.
"Accept the assurances of my highest regards and consideration."
Source: Punch, 12th Feb 2010.
Defamation: Aondoakaa Replies Akunyili
By Philip Nwosu
The former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa yesterday clarified his comments against the Minister of Information, Professor Dora Akunyili, stating that he meant no harm over his reference to the minister's operations as director general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The former AGF in a letter dated February 9, 2010 and addressed to Akunyili admitted that most of the quoted words could rightly be ascribed to him. He, however, explained that the comments were meant in the positive, "but wrongly presented in the negative."
Aondoakaa was quoted in the letter as saying that, "while much of the quoted words in your letter can rightly be ascribed to me, the import of the last sentence to the effect that "…let her go and confront herself with what happened in NAFDAC," was meant to be in the positive but was wrongly presented in the negative.
"The correct import of the above quoted words is that the Hon Minister had already earned a reputation for herself while at NAFDAC and needs not seek to do more by embarking on the present course of action to the detriment of a resolution already adopted unanimously by members of the FEC."
Aondoakaa's rebuttal came a day after the information minister handed out a seven-day ultimatum for the minister to refute the statements made against her in a national newspaper or face prosecution.
Indeed, Professor Akunyili's letter to Aondoakaa which was dated February 8, 2010 and made available to Daily Sun had in the last paragraph said that, "I am by this letter insisting that you confirm if the statement credited to you is true. If your answer is no, I am giving you seven days to refute the statement in the said publication or supply full particulars of your allegation of my misdeeds in NAFDAC to which you alluded to. In the event of your failing to so comply, however, I will be left with no alternative than to refer the whole matter to my solicitor for necessary action."
Akunyili also said while she may not concern herself with the venom poured on her by the former AGF, she said her concern was on the statement by Chief Aondoakaa, which gave the impression that she did something untoward while in NAFDAC.
It was not clear if the pleadings of the former AGF had been accepted, Aondoakaa, however, urged Professor Akunyili, to "accept the assurances of my highest regards and consideration."
Aondoakaa was quoted in the national newspaper as saying, "… I think she was trying to make herself a cheap hero out of that. If you see what the Senate said, the Senate made an appeal. She does not need the FEC to make an appeal; she can also appeal.
"The Senate said it was appealing. You saw the spokesman of the Senate eventually came out and said they have no power to compel the man. Now, there is even a court decision that says that transmission of letter shall be voluntary. It is within the President.
"Bringing the memo to the FEC is just to make herself an angel. She wants to be seen as a populist. Whatever she wants to gain from it is still personal. None of the FEC members has disrespect for the Vice-President. As far as we are concerned, the VP is our leader and he is leading us. What she is trying to do is self-seeking; let her go and confront herself with what happened in NAFDAC."
Source: Sun, 12th Feb 2010.
Aondoakaa begs Akunyili
MALACHY UZENDU, Deputy News Editor, Abuja, ABIODUN ADELAJA/ADEKUNLE ADESUJI, Abuja
Minister of Special Duties, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, yesterday retracted a libelous statement he made against the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili.
Akunyili had threatened to sue Aondoakaa over the statement published in a national newspaper, in which he suggested that Akunyili was involved in fraud while superintending the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Enraged by the statement, Akunyili had given Aondoakaa a week's ultimatum to retract the statement or face legal action. She also followed up by sending a petition to the House of Representatives.
But in a four-paragraph retraction entitled: "Re: retraction of libelous publication," Aondoakaa said the import of his statement was meant to be in the positive but was wrongly presented in the negative.
In the letter, Aondoakaa had addressed Akunyili in a red ink as "my dear sister".
He said: "While much of the quoted words in your letter can rightly be ascribed to me, the import of the last sentence to the effect that "…let her go and confront herself with what happened in NAFDAC," was meant to be in the positive but was wrongly presented in the negative.
"The correct import of the above quoted words was that the Hon Minister had already earned a reputation for herself while at NAFDAC and needs not seek to do more by embarking on the present course of action to the detriment of a resolution already adopted unanimously by members of the FEC.
"Accept the assurances of my highest regards and consideration", he added.
Meanwhile, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Petition, Hon C.I.D. Maduabum yesterday said the House will go on with its investigative hearing on the petition by Akunyili against Aondoakaa, unless she formally decides to withdraw it.
He said as "a validly referred petition," his committee would go ahead and conduct an investigative hearing to ascertain the veracity of the allegation.
"The petition has been referred to us and consistent with our rules it will be treated accordingly. It is a validly referred petition. We can only stop the hearing when she formally withdraws the petition," Maduabum stated.
Akunyili had last Tuesday through Hon. Dino Melaye and two other federal lawmakers filed a petition before the federal legislature complaining that Aondoakaa made disparaging statements against her by accusing her of sharp practices while serving as Director General NAFDAC.
She also said Aondoakaa made uncomplimentary remarks against the National Assembly in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on the resolutions of the Senate and the House that Vice President Goodluck Jonathan should assume full presidential powers.
"The (former) Attorney-General as the custodian of our laws, should be compelled by the House of Representatives to appear before the relevant committee to prove his allegation," Maduabum stated.
The lawmakers said they believe that compelling Aondoakaa to substantiate his allegation would go a long way to show that his remarks against Mrs. Akunyili were made in good faith.
Maduabum said both parties would be given the opportunity to present their cases when the hearing commences.
Although he declined to give a specific date for the hearing, Maduabum whose committee has just dispensed with 33 cases ranging from extra-judicial killings, discriminatory disengagement and allied petition leveled against the police hierarchy, said despite the fact that there are "too many petitions now before us, the committee would ensure speedy hearing into the matter."
Source: Daily Champion, 12th Feb 2010.
Akunyili to sue Aondoakaa
ONYINYECHI NWANGWU, Abuja
Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, has given the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa seven days to refute a libelous statement he allegedly made against her or face a law suit.
Aondoakaa in an interview he granted a national daily was quoted as telling Akunyili, who last week called on the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to reconsider its position on President Umaru Yar'Adua's ability to continue in office, to "go and confront herself with what happened in National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) or face prosecution."
In the said interview, Aondoakaa had reportedly described Akunyili as "self-seeking" and "trying to make herself an angel and a cheap hero."
Akunyili in a statement yesterday in Abuja and signed by her Special Assistant, Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, said the comment suggested impropriety against her performance as the past Director-General of NAFDAC.
In the response, Orji said the information minister would not dignify such a statement with a response, noting that "no amount of intimidation" could change the Minister's faith in constitutionality regarding the need for Yar'Adua to transmit a letter to the National Assembly.
"We wish to caution that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones because when you point a finger at your perceived enemies, the other four are pointing at you," he said.
Also reacting, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Centre for Civil Rights Research and Education (CCRRE), separately gave Aondoakaa seven days to substantiate his allegations against Akunyili, in the interest of the fight against corruption, or face prosecution.
The CNPP warned Aondoakaa that as the chief law officer of the federation, he should not use his position to protect Akunyili, while the CCRRE suggested that Aondoakaa is simply part of a "campaign of calumny" against her.
In the statement by CCRREE the group's executive director, Chijioke Kanu, the group said: "Nigerians will definitely ask questions on the billions of Naira spent on the failed prison decongestion of the Ministry of Justice … and demand explanations to those blocking the prosecution of corrupt politicians."
Coming at the same time as recent developments at the National Assembly, and just hours before the next FEC meeting, observers say that meeting will be the most interesting FEC meeting in many years.
Source: Daily Champion, 10th Feb 2010.
More Ministers Back Akunyili
•Ogbulafor puts off trip to S'Arabia
From Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Some young members of the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) are planning a showdown with other members of the cabinet in a bid to get a letter from President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to enable Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan act as the President.
THISDAY gathered that some of the younger elements in EXCOF are planning to support the position of Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, who had last week asked that the President send in a vacation letter.
This coincides with a fresh demand by the Action Congress (AC) that EXCOF rescinds its decision that the ailing President is fit.
THISDAY also learnt that the planned trip of four members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Saudi Arabia to see the President has been put off at the last hour.
It was resolved at the last meeting of the committee that the National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Harilu Bello Mohammed, National Secretary, Alhaji Abubukar Kawu Baraje, and Deputy National Secretary, Dr. Musa Babayo, should travel to Saudi Arabia to see the President. No reason was given for the change of action for which flights tickets had already been bought.
In EXCOF, one of the young elements said: "This Wednesday is a decision and drama day for the members of the Federal Executive Council as the young professionals amongst the ministers are battle ready for the discussion on the President's future."
The Minister said they had tried to be "patient, understanding and stupidly loyal" by staying the course "based on the sensitivity and sensibility of the nation".
However, the Minister said: "We have vowed that Wednesday (February 10) is the day to resolve or dissolve, as we will insist that power be handed over to the Vice-President to stem the tide of polarisation and drift in the country.
"We also have expressed full support for the memo by the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, as well as the call by the Nigeria Governors Forum that power of authority should be transferred to the Vice-President."
Giving details for their change of mind, the minister said: "Our hard-earned reputation, character, ethical standing and moral uprightness are being questioned by this conspiracy of silence."
Meanwhile, AC in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed said: "Today, as always, we demand that the President should immediately transmit a letter to the National Assembly saying he is proceeding on a medical vacation, as the necessary pre-requisite for Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to act as President. We demand that the Federal Executive Council should jettison their recent decision, not supported by the facts on the ground, that the President is not 'incapable' of performing the functions of his office."
Source: This Day, 8th Feb 2010.
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