Ezekiel Nya-Etok And Others Remained Suspended - YDP National Leader

The crisis rocking the Young Democratic Party may not come to an end soon as the suspended South East Zonal Coordinator of the Young Democratic Party (YDP) Collins Okelu has dragged INEC, Young Democratic Party and her Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Rapheal Sebibo Horsfall to a Federal High Court in Abuja

Collins Okelu said that the Party Board of Trustees and the Founding Members Council lack the power to suspend the Executive. In his originating summons, he cited Article 28.5 of Party's Constitution which reads thus "The National Convention shall have and exercise authority to: (b) Elect or remove National Officers of the Party," and therefore says his suspension is illegal.

But when our Reporters contacted the National Leader/Chairman, Founding Member Council of the Young Democratic Party (YDP) Hon. Henry Nwabueze to know where the Party derived the power to suspend any member, he cited Article 27.6 which reads thus "The Board of Trustees shall regulate its own proceedings and shall draw up a code of conduct for its members and shall have the power to SUSPEND any National Executive Council (NEC) who openly causes division in the party or involved in serious party breach of national consequence in so far as its quorum is formed with at least 60% of its member from at least four geo-political zones assenting such suspension. Such suspension which must be ratified by the Founding Member Council shall not exceed 30 days within which the suspended member shall face the disciplinary committee of the party and if ratified by the committee, the suspended member shall be liable to any or combination of penalties listed in this constitution all subject to the party's policy on ADR.

He further cited Article 29.2 (15) which reads thus: The Founding Member Council being the highest organ of the party shall be the SOLE organ to ratify rules for Party discipline which shall be binding on all organs and members of the party.

It will be recalled that Board of Trustees of the Young Democratic Party (YDP) on the 6th of October, 2016 suspended some NEC members for embarking on acts capable of bringing division among the members of the party and several party activities.

The suspended NEC members include: Arc. Ezekiel Nya-Etok, National Chairman; Yerima Shetimma, Deputy National Chairman; Vidiyeno H. Bamayi, National Secretary; Ugo Nwofor, National Legal Adviser; Georgina Dakpokpo, Financial Secretary; Usman Haruna, National Treasurer; Bishop Amakiri, National Youth Leader; Collins Okelu, South East Zonal Coordinator; Tosan Blessing, South South Zonal Coordinator; Oluremi Ajibade, South West Zonal Coordinator; Rabiu Abdulsalam Pantami, North East Zonal Coordinator; Elizabeth Abba Victoria, North Central Zonal Coordinator and Mohammed Saboakinzuwo, North West Zonal Zonal Coordinator among others.

Acting on Article 31.5 which says thus “But where there is vacancy arising from anything whatsoever of the substantive officer or deputy or vice as the case may be, then the Founding Council Member shall resolve the matter and fill the vacancy or vacancies” and Article 31.13 state thus “Where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the party, the Executive Committee at the appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from, pending the conduct of election to fill the vacancy”

Based on the above Article, the Founding Members Council appointed replacements for the various vacant positions created as a result of the suspension, so as to carry on with the activities of the party pending the party’s National Convention scheduled to take place in January 2017.

Some of the appointed party’s new acting National Executive Council are: Amb. Raphael Sebibo Horsfall, Ag. National Chairman; Hon. Dahiru Mashainu, Ag. Deputy National Chairman; Hon. Liyasu Mohammed Makaye, Ag. National Secretary; Barr. Maxwell Alaeto, Ag. National Legal Adviser; Evelyn Okere Onyung, Ag. National Publicity Secretary; Barr. Isaac S. Nwachukwu, Ag. National Financial Secretary; Huldah Lynns-Ihetuge, Ag. National Woman Leader and Abdullahi Gambo, Ag. National Youth Leader.

The mandate of the new acting National Executive Council includes but not limited: Ensure there is peace, unity and stability amongst members of the party; reconcile aggrieved members of the party since the inception of the party; protect, preserve and respect the sanctity of the party’s constitution and to ensure that the manifesto of the Young Democratic Party is actualized; take steps to correct the abnormalities and mistakes made by the previous NEC members of the party.

The Ag. National Chairman, Amb. Horsfall at his inaugural meeting warned all disgruntled elements within and outside the party who want to sow seed of discords to desist from such act forthwith as the new leadership of NEC will not tolerate any such further act from within and outside the party capable of causing disaffection/disrespect/disrepute to the YDP.

It will be recalled that it was after Arch. Ezekiel Nya-Etok was suspended that he rushed to the social media to resign his position as the National Chairman of the Young Democratic Party

The Young Democratic Party on the 12^th of October, 2016 notified by writing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the suspension and appointment of acting NEC pending the National Convention scheduled for January 2017.

Selfish Excitement For Foreign Trips By Nigerian Governors

By Bukar Raheem

Those in search of irrational and disgraceful justification of misconduct from Nigeria’s public officials should turn to Ekiti state Governor Ayodele  Fayose. His vocabulary is always drenched in classic idiocy and lunatic ecstasy in support of an unpopular cause.

Mid this year, Fayose would have wrestled to the ground President Muhammedu Buhari, had he sighted him physically for having the effrontery to place foreign travel restrictions on some Governors in Nigeria. They were required to clear with the Department of State Security Service (DSS) before embarking on foreign trips.

The directive incensed Fayose who uttered all manner of horrendous condemnations of Buhari. He insisted by faulting such restrictions as gross violations of the freedom of movement of Nigerians as guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and referenced other laws Buhari has contravened with the “obnoxious” directive.  He dared the President to apply such travel restrictions on him, as states were not appendages of the Federal Government.

State Governors in Nigeria delight in global-trotting. Since 1999, the trend has been ridiculously etched in the psyche of state governors and their hordes of political appointees.

They feel incomplete without junketing to foreign lands as soon as they assume office. In the last political dispensation, some Governors, joined by a retinue of government appointees, acquire foreign exchange and travel out to import specie of swine (pigs) or some kind of grasses for animals in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” (states).

That was when the economy was good and bubbling with free money from the mini-oil boom. So, such extravagance, though painful, but attracted less opposing noise. But Nigeria today is in dire economic crunch which is causing sleepless nights to President Buhari.

 But some state governors, including those indebted to their workers over salary and furiously borrowing loans have refused to discard this damaging idea. It has kept gulping FOREX and draining the economy of their respective states.

The decent ones among them officially claim the foreign trips are meant to source for foreign investors in sectors like power energy, roads and water plants construction and acquire modern agricultural techniques and equipment. But the world is in an age of ICT, where business transactions involving billions of US Dollars can be sealed online within hours, at no noticeable cost.

 But  also, some advance flimsy reasons for the trips such as medical tourism, sight-seeing of Western countries when on annual vacations; personal visits to family members  and friends or attending international conferences, but  on themes which have no bearing whatsoever on any development platform in their states.

It is this proclivity to baseless foreign trips that compelled Plateau state Governor Simon Lalong  to mutate into a pastor to spend two-weeks  in Brazil  to pray for Nigeria.

Presently, at least 13 incumbent Governors in Nigeria have been identified as obsessed with global-trotting. And in some cases, the Governors themselves fail to do as much as feigning an official or unofficial reason for the foreign  trips, which are  hugely funded with tax payers money.

Governors Abdullahi  Ganduje  of Kano state;  the Owelle of Onitsha Rochas Okorocha of Imo state; the unassuming    Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state; Ogun state’s   Ibikunle Amosun; Benue’s Samuel Ortom;   Abubakar Badaru  of Jigawa state; Mallam  Nasiru el-Rufai  of Kaduna;  Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara; Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina ; Solomon Lalong of Plateau; Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe; and  Nyesom Wike of Rivers have  leading  irresistible attraction to foreign trips.

Although, they are chief executives of different states, the reasons often bandied to the public for such trips sometimes, rhyme suspiciously and rarely do the reasons differ.

Peculiarly, almost all the Governors claim the foreign trips are to woo or source for foreign investors. The unconvincing tales also laughably speak of direct foreign investments   in areas like Agro-business, automobiles, industrial partnership, irrigation technology and farm equipment.

These Nigerian State Governors have favorite destinations in Europe, Asia and African continents constantly on their menu of countries to visit. Uppermost is the United States, China, Australia, United Kingdom, South Africa, India, France, Israel, Canada, Lebanon,  Singapore, Malaysia,  Italy,  United Arab Emirate and  Saudi Arabia among others.

What is intriguing about the foreign trips is their failure in virtually all the states, the Governors have refused to let go their flair for global-trotting. Its nearly two years in the tenure of governors who came on board in 2015 and despite their multiple foreign trips, none can pinpoint to any foreign investor or any advantage the state has received from such trips, outside lining their pockets with estacode allowances, catching fun in foreign lands and shopping abroad. 

When opponents in their states demand for dividends of such trips, they only reply with words like “expecting it soon” and the shamefaced ones simply prefer silence. 

But these Governors cannot deceive Nigerians for long.  Anti-money laundering laws have made it extremely difficult to launder stolen wealth, especially with the agreements the Nigerian government has signed with foreign nations in the area of co-operation. These trips provide them with diplomatic cover to ferry sleaze money abroad, under the guise of sourcing for foreign investors and it is the sole reason no public benefits have been derived from the visits.

But the state governors should not forget that the spirit of their impoverished people, poorly developed states and rural communities, coupled with the undeserved penury imposed on them would continue to chokingly haunt them. Very many of the foreign expertise or technology they claim to seek outside the shores of Nigeria can be obtained locally. What irrigation scheme Governor Ibrahim Gaidam sought to create jobs for 40,000 youths that Agricultural Research Institutes in Nigeria cannot offer to him at a modest cost that he went to acquire in China?

Nigerians cannot be taken for granted for a long time and the level of consciousness of the people nowadays should induce caution in leaders, rather than such reckless indulgence into official profligacy. The time to have a re-think is now, before they are crushed by the might of popular rejection by the masses.

Raheem writes from Kaduna.

Nigeria Economy Rating: President Buhari Deserves Commendation

By Kelvin Adegbenga

The recent announcement by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa, demonstrates the bounciness of the economy and the resilience of Nigerians in terms of coming out of recession.

Despite the worst economic recession Nigeria had faced in the last 29 years, the IMF, in its Economic Outlook Report for October, projected Nigeria as the biggest economy in Africa ahead of South Africa and Egypt.

The growth in the economy can be attributed to the massive capital investments that are being made by the Federal Government and the State governments. Nigeria will come out of this recession soon in a matter of time.

The present fiscal and monetary policies will boost the economy as well as expanded her growth.

All the necessary indicators and stimulants have been put in place and I believe that very soon, Nigerians will begin to reap the benefits of what is being done.

The key areas of immediate concerns to the Federal Government with regards to tackling the alarming economic situation are as follows:

• Streamline the cost of government and improve efficiency of public service delivery across the Federal and Sub-national Governments.
• Targeted spending on innovative social programmes and infrastructure, including social infrastructure.
• Direct and model economic policies away from oil and towards non-oil revenues as global demand for oil decreases and supply increases.
• Focus on delivery of basic services to the Nigerian population upon which business can be built and improved standard of living can be achieved.
• Build revenue capacity across Sub-national Governments by increasing IGRs to reduce dependence on the Federal Government.
• Alignment of fiscal and monetary policies across medium and long-term goals.
• Increase investor confidence in Nigeria.
• Increased revenue mobilization and plugging of leakages.
• Greater focus on Power, Transport, and Housing because these areas help to create wealth.
• Strengthen institutions of government across board including tackling corruption.
• A financial sector that is strong, resilient and able to support the real economy.
• Inclusive and sustainable growth – mobile communication, film industry, financial inclusion, among others.

With the above key areas, I am urging Nigerians to have confidence in the economy as we will surely come out of our present economic problems and the potential for growth are much higher.

Kelvin Adegbenga writes from Port Harcourt. Twitter @kelvinadegbenga E-mail: kelvinadegbenga@yahoo.com

Bribery Allegation: In Defence of Amaechi, Morality and Common Sense

By Nkechi Odoma

Blackmail is another weapon Nigerians deploy to flaunt their innocence whenever they are at threshold of being nailed on any issue. Most times, the manner Nigerians resort to blackmail stands logic on its head, twist morality and offend laws of the land.

Although, several Justices in Nigeria are under investigation, but the case of the two embattled Supreme Court Justices John Iyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta’s whom the DSS raided, arrested and detained for alleged judicial corruption has assumed an asinine twist.

Conspiratorially, the duo rushed out in public domain to heap allegations of attempts to corrupt them by former Rivers State governor and Transport Minister, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.

They mindlessly lashed out at Amaechi whom they accused of providing the grounds for their persecution for refusal to tinker with some governorship elections petitions before the apex court. They funnily want Nigerians to believe the refusal to be negatively influenced by one person forecloses the chances of accepting same request from another person.

Justice John Iyang Okoro started it all. Precisely, on October 17, 2016, he claimed in a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN) Justice Mahmud Mohammed that he rejected the offer of Amaechi to influence Justices to alter verdicts on the governorship tussle in favour of APC in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia states. The Justice expressed strong conviction that his present travails may not be unconnected with his snubbing of Amaechi’s request to tamper with the verdicts. And that he made a verbal report to the CJN on February 1, 2016, about Amaechi’s visit to his official residence.

“In that report, I told you my Lord that Mr. Amaechi said the President of Nigeria and the All Progressives Congress mandated him to inform me that they must win their election appeals in Rivers State, Akwa Ibom and Abia states at all costs,” he enthused.

Less than 48 hours after Justice Okoro’s publicized allegations on Amaechi, another embattled colleague also under the heat of DSS over judicial corruption mouthed the same allegation. What separated the two were the states involved- only Rivers and Ekiti states guber disputes.

Justice Ngwuta’s allegations were contained in a letter dated October 18, 2016, also addressed to the CJN. Lamenting his several unfriendly encounters with Amaechi, the Justice reeled out series of mindboggling issues, including alleged threats he received from Amaechi.

Interestingly, whatever problem the accused Justices have with the DSS is strictly their burden to resolve. But the hasty roping of Amaechi into their dilemma with the DSS based on such hazy recollections and projection of the abnormal belittles their status as Justices of the apex court.

By the submissions, it is quite discernible the judges have advertised issues intended to raise a podium to rubbish and blackmail Amaechi; except that they are poorly scripted in timing and factuality.

First, from the files of the DSS and the EFCC, at least 15 judges at various layers of the Judiciary are under investigation currently for alleged judicial corruption. The submission of Justices Okoro and Ngwuta in the letter to the CJN is forcing a baseless impression that the remaining 13 judges too could have possibly turned down Amaechi’s overtures to influence verdicts in their courts and thus, his invocation of “harassment” from security agents? It cannot be true.

And lets hypothetically agree that President Buhari is an interested party in any of the governorships disputes in the mentioned states, under litigation at the Supreme Court, but everyone knows it’s impossible for him to delegate Amaechi to influence any judge at his behest.

Ideally, he would rather parley with the CJN directly expressing his interest in the cases and it ends it all. But if he cannot condescend to the level of the CJN, the alternatives are clear and Amaechi is not in this reckoning by any stretch of imagination.

To further water the impression of the DSS’s arrest and detention of the Justices as vendetta for their refusal to compromise justice, the wailing Justices speak as if the Director-General of the DSS or the Chairman of EFCC take directives from Amaechi, so with his snap of the fingers to settle a personal grievance, the security agents rushed after the accused Judges.

But the Justices, especially those on the Bench of the Supreme Court are the final destination in the interpretation of Laws of Nigeria. Like the River State APC Chairman, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya averred in a public statement, the Justices should know better that the giver and taker of bribes commit criminal offences under the Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offence Act 2000.

These learned Justices had the opportunity to brighten Nigeria’s perception of Buhari’s anti-graft war by publicly clipping the wings of Amaechi who sought to adulterate their verdicts with bribes. But they reneged; waited for months to be accused of judicial corruption before they remembered their uprightness or vow not to desecrate their sacred oath of office. These are tales far from the truth.

Additionally, a very senior Judge like Justice Ngwuta as disclosed in his distorted epistle to the CJN was threatened by a politician like Amaechi who came to his house and said ‘we shall see’ several times,” and he kept mum?.

It is conceivable that a Supreme Court Judge would bury obvious threats to his life and would not even document it with the National Judicial Council (NJC), but merely inform the CJN verbally. Is he saying the NJC forbids members of the Bench from taking legal actions against violators of their rights or when their lives are threatened?

It brings the matter to the doorstep of another realm of reasoning. Almost all the raided, arrested and detained judges are alleging innocence and judicial persecution by the Presidency. They have also qualified the raids of their houses, arrest and detention as illegal and unconstitutional. It implies the DSS and its principals have infringed on their fundamental human rights as Nigerians.

But they are unprepared to explain to Nigerians what is restraining them from challenging DSS action in court, if they are convinced of their innocence. Or are they implying that laws governing the NJC also forbid Judges from seeking legal redress over personal injuries or infringements on them by individuals, government institutions or the government itself?

These Justices should go back to their factory of doubtful tales and bark out something more convincing to Nigerians. For now, their rehearsed fables with the glaring intent of blackmailing Amaechi nay the FGN to inspire public sympathy has failed to impress anyone and hit the rocks.

Odoma is a guest columnist and public affairs commentator.

Aisha Buhari Award: A Mother’s Plea To Nigerians for Soldiers

Hajiya Aisha Buhari

By Ola Oluwasanmi S

Appreciation stimulates in variously. And when it comes from a mother, it is more endearing and bubbles emotions of happiness in the person infinitely. The stream of joy from this simple act strengthens and fires the zeal to spiritedly step out to do more.

Mothers’ or women by their nature are hard to please because of their meticulousness. They are critical and painstaking. They have more time to observe family members and everybody. The verdict of a mother is often faultless and when they chose to dole out blessings, it is because they are more silently studious in the family or community and knows who deserves it.

Hajiya Aisha Buhari, wife of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is one mother who is not given to simplicities. She is someone who cannot be easily impressed or satisfied. Aisha Buhari is strict and only appreciates what is genuine and humanly inspiring. These are the virtues that motivates her as a wife and mother.

In Brussels, the capital of Belgium, Hajiya Aisha Buhari received a prestigious award for her enormous contributions on women and girl-child education, much as her other numerous pursuit of noble causes in Nigeria and around the world.

The award presented to her by the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander is in recognition of her outstanding role in gender equality and empowerment. She has proven that outside her role as the superintendent of the home or domestic affairs, as wife of President Buhari, she has competencies to stretch her energy to other areas of service to humanity.

This is in spite of her confinement to the Kitchen by her husband. The award also justifies the recognition of her selflessness and sacrifice for service to humanity which has become her abiding passion, as evident in her opening remarks at the award event under the theme “Women’s Role in Global Security,” during the Women’s Forum in the Crans Montana, staged in Brussels.

Also, Hayiya Aisha Buhari has not failed on the home front, but she is desirous to see to the betterment of the lives of humans, especially women, as manifest in her innovative mobilization of other first ladies globally and wives of governors in Nigeria to support and crusade the complete eradication of diseases such as tuberculosis, which have been a human scourge for ages.

To complete her excitement or pleasure and without doubt or hesitation, Aisha instantly dedicated the award to the gallant men and women of the Nigerian Army under the command of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai.

She conveyed her unrestrained feelings in these endearing words; “I whole-heartedly dedicate this award presented to me by the Belgian deputy Prime Minister …. to the Nigerian Military men and women who have lost their lives and those at the war front battling to restore peace.’‘

Not many Nigerians may understand or fully comprehend the importance of Aisha’s remarks, while dedicating the award to the unfaltering men and women of the Nigerian Army. At home in Nigeria, much as the international community, Nigeria is reputed for everything odd, but the country is today positively hailed for defeating Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs).

Nigeria has carved a niche for itself as one country in the world with the capacity to humble terrorists and foreign nations which are still suffering under its peril look unto Nigeria as a country where something can be emulated.

Indispensably however, the success of BHTs war in Nigeria is the collective efforts of the Nigerian military and even civilians’ as the badge of Civilian Joint task Force (C-JTF) on the terror war attests. But it is also not in doubt also that the Nigerian army under a tactful leader, Gen. Buratai went to extremes in ensuring their father land is not perpetually held hostage by bands of terrorists.

The record of their dedication, performance and endurance in the BHTs war to lift Nigeria to this enviable pedestal of peace and global veneration is in public domain.

But briefly put, it was under Gen. Buratai that insurgents began to voluntarily surrender themselves to Nigerian army, vowing never to get back to terrorism again. It was under the same Buratai that Nigerian territories (14 LGAs) in the Northeast which the terrorists annexed were reclaimed and a bubbling rural and community life long been deprived by the people have been restored. These accounts can go on endlessly.

But what most people have failed to acknowledge is the fact that the triumph over Boko Haram insurgents, the joys of a restored life to thousands of Nigerians and the improved international image of Nigeria came with a heavy, unquantifiable cost to families and the nation.

Hardly do Nigerians speak about Nigerian soldiers felled by bullets or bombs of the terrorists in the course of exchange of gun fire. They don’t even want to be reminded that these soldiers too are human beings, who also have families (wives and children) to feel their absence.

Its self-gratifying to feel satisfied that a soldier’s job is to die in battle. Not contesting it because he signed his life away upon enlistment into the army. But do the women married to soldiers and their children deserve no modicum of sympathy for losing dear ones or being widowed or orphaned by the circumstances’ of death of their families’ breadwinners? Aisha is saying, these soldiers do not only deserve sympathy, but love and affection or even assistance to trudge the rough paths of life without the pillars of their families.

It is the plea and a call to change of disposition by a mother, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, wife of President Buhari . She has essentially pricked the conscience of Nigerians and the entire world by dedicating the award to the irrepressible men and women of Nigerian soldiers.

By this simple gesture, she is tasking every Nigerian to wake-up from slumber in appreciating soldiers still battling the war and their colleagues who are dead. A mother is always a mother, and Aisha has exhibited the natural virtue of kindness known only to motherhood by this award dedication and Nigerians should listen.

Ola writes from Brandenburg Technology University, Cottbus, Germany.

A Peep Into The Presidential Kitchen

By Philip Agbese

An African adage says, “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.” Whether in Africa, Europe or Asian continents, leaders are burdened. And support of his family has to come with full measure for him to succeed. 

Leaders of nations battle to contain disparate interests; strive to leave a legacy and unquestionably accept responsibility for acts of commission or omission from subordinates. A leader of any nation spends more time cogitating and less for leisure. He deprives himself and his family the comfort of his presence most of the times. It’s worse when a leader operates in a clime where there is stiff opposition.

In faraway Germany, Nigeria’s President Muhammedu Buhari decried the burden posed by a multi-coloured opposition in Nigeria in these words; “It’s not easy to satisfy the whole Nigerian opposition parties or to participate in the government.”

A leader in the words of the ancient Greek Philosopher,Aristotle must be a philosopher King,who must claim superior knowledge over the rest of the ruled, opposition inclusive. He must not only imbibe the virtues of truth,honesty and hard work, but ardently exhibit it at all times in private and public arenas. President Buhari is an embodiment of these virtues,which is the source of his courageous and fearless war on corruption in Nigeria. 

The family of a Leader, whether designated as President, Prime Minister or Chancellor or as in the case of Germany is rightly,the first family of the nation. They must exude the quintessence of uprightness and puritanism.

When they pander to debauchery,the nation screams and shrieks;  hurl invective at them.  Like any other couple, leaders of nations also double as leaders of their families. And the shame of ridicule of a failed first family imposes a heavy and additional burden on the husband and wife to keep an eagle eye on the family.

The temptation of children of leaders of nations to pander to waywardness is extremely high because of the feeling of a paradise on earth. It is fired by the blaze of affluence.

 Therefore,President Buhari’s epochal statement that “I don’t know which party my wife belongs to; but she belongs to my kitchen, my living room and the other room,” is humorous; but also pregnant with meaning.

The President was reacting to comments credited to his wife, Hajiya Aisha Buhari in a BBC interview,which had political undertones. Invariably,President Buhari as leader of Nigeria and also head of Nigeria’s first family sought to limit the duties of his wife, to domestic affairs only, which in itself is a herculean burden.

Nevertheless,the statement is the embodiment of the hard truth about the onerous task on the shoulders of the wife of the President in ensuring the proper upbringing of the first family and proper care of the home-front.

It is a sacred duty she owes to the nation. The Holy books prescribed it. It is the unwritten norm in traditions of almost all communities in the world. Families which slide into immorality, resent hard work and embrace odiousness are not only shunned, but loathed.

In Nigeria,with its complexities and a fastidious people,the imperative of an ideal first family is a ministry of its own headed by the wife of the President. And she needs not be burdened any further with the exigencies of politicking.

It is confirmable that women married to high profile politicians are the epitomes of endurance and patience. They spend days or sometimes weeks, without the comfort of their spouse,who keeps moving from one meeting in one location to another.

And since Buhari’s foray into partisan politics, Aisha was automatically elevated from the position of housewife to the lofty status of the Minister of Kitchen and Domestic Affairs. She has lived with the task all her marital life,by ensuring the children, especially the tender ones are properly brought up,in the periods of her husband’s absence for political adventures. Her ministry of Kitchen and Domestic Affairs ensured the children were properly fed, attended school timely, cultivated good social relationships and never deviated from the path of morality.    

Now,after exhaustive political meetings,only Aisha knows the delicacy that would revive and energize her husband. It is perhaps,the secret of President Buhari’s strength and agility at his octogenarian age. It is the signpost of excellence from Aisha’s Kitchen and Domestic Affairs ministry.

She cooks endlessly for the teeming supporters or visitors to the house and now Aso Villa,where President Buhari is resident. She plans the President’s menu and outlines what goes for breakfast,lunch and dinner as well as refreshments’.

Aisha is the closest confidant of the President and he confides in her, issues that would ordinarily not be thrown to public purview. Even though President Buhari is endowed with superior knowledge over the wisdom of his wife, but undoubtedly,the shared thoughts give him inspiration to courageously and fearlessly confront the devouring external forces against him.

A troubled house unsettles the head of the family.It inflicts a psychological burden on the leader of the house, which affects him in multiple dimensions. But by ensuring peace in the house,Aisha raises a platform that gives Buhari the confidence to face Nigeria to deliver on his mandate of leadership to the country.      

But by far, the most alluring and enduring accomplishments of Aisha’s ministry is her supportive role in ensuring  discipline is inculcated in the children of the first family. They exemplify the virtues of truthfulness, discipline, hard work and honesty. In 1983 when Buhari was military Head of State and since his return as civilian President in 2015, none of his children  has been caught in public cynosure  of haughtiness and  waywardness, traits common with  children of leaders of  President Buhari’s status.

 It will therefore, not be out of place to nominate Hajiya Aisha Buhari as the best performing Minister of Kitchen and Domestic Affairs in Nigeria for the year 2016, as Nigerians look forward to 2017 with more  brightened performance of the first family . So, dragging her into politicking would be a distraction designed to diminish this enviable record.

Agbese writes from the United Kingdom

Justice Okoro Is A Drowning Man

Justice John Inyang Okoro

"The fight for justice against corruption is never easy. It never has been and never will be. It exacts a toll on our self, our families, our friends, and especially our children. In the end, I believe, as in my case, the price we pay is well worth holding on to our dignity". Frank Serpico

By Kelvin Adegbenga

My attention has been brought to a letter from Supreme Court Justice John Inyang Okoro accusing Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi of trying to bribe him and Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The allegations is not just baseless but another means by Justice John Inyang Okoro, to bring down the persons of President Buhari, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi and Umana O. Umana by a drowning man.

First of all, he is not the Chief Justice of Nigeria to dismiss the election case before the Supreme Court; even though the Chief Justice of Nigeria does not have such power.

Secondly, he is not the only Justice to give judgement over election cases; his decision even if is the Chairman of the panel can’t stand against other Justices.

As an experienced Justice, what stopped him from writing officially to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Nigeria Judicial Council to substantiate his allegations?

Justice John Okoro is just like a bull in a China shop; ready to destroy anything without thinking of the consequences.

I challenge Justice John Inyang Okoro to substantiate his allegations with concrete evidences just as the Department of State Service has substantiated their own evidences against him.

It is not enough to mention Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and Umana O. Umana, but we need concrete evidences to take him serious.

Justice John Inyang Okoro should rather clear himself of all the evidences brought against him by the Department of State Security rather than hanging his predicament on Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and Umana O. Umana.

Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi has been performing excellently in this government and the records are there.

As at today, there is no single corruption case against Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi. Even the one engineered by the Rivers State Governor couldn't stand at the Law Court because it was biased and baseless.

For those that didn't know, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi exposed the corruption of the past administration under Goodluck Jonathan.

In his words: “I heard Mrs Okonjo-Iweala say that in the past administration, Governors were unwilling to save; she is 30 percent correct and 70 percent incorrect,” he said.

“In 2009, we had an economic crisis so President Yar’adua put $1billion in the economy so no one felt the crisis. I can’t remember what was left in that account, the excess crude account.

“During Goodluck Jonathan, every month when the Governors went for the Economic Council meeting, the amount in the account kept dropping. If we asked about what happened to the money, the response we got was that the President approved for it to be spent.

“So we said can we please share this money because the rate at which it was going, the President would have continually approved $1billion to spend and we won’t know what we are spending for and they won’t give us an account.

“So we told the Vice President and the Minister for Finance that there was a need for us to share part of this money and we began to agitate. They now agreed to share part of the money and they did. In the first six months of Goodluck Jonathan, oil subsidy increased. Governors started complaining and then we had a meeting in the office of the President’s wife.

“At the meeting, we asked for assurance that the Presidency would no longer collect for oil subsidy and he promised. It is not right for Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to say Governors were not willing to save; Governors were willing to save but we insisted on sharing the money when we saw that the money was not properly managed.”

If he other Governors then has joined him, we won't be going through the recession Nigeria is experiencing today.

Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi is a man of dignity and integrity, no amount of propaganda will deterred him from implementing the Change Agenda of this administration. 

On a final note, I challenge Justice John Inyang Okoro to substantiate his allegations with concrete evidences or tender an unreserved apologies to Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi and Umana O Umana.

Kelvin Adegbenga writes from Port Harcourt. kelvinadegbenga@yahoo.com