Political Briefs
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DAVID Mark, president of the Senate, on Thursday, November 20, shut down the National Assembly following the pandemonium which erupted when security operatives tried to stop Aminu Tambuwal, speaker of the House of Representatives, from entering the premises. Mark, who is the chairman of the National Assembly, said the police invasion of the complex as very unfortunate and therefore, ordered that both the Senate and House of Representatives would remain shut until Tuesday, November 25. He also said that Suleiman Aba, inspector-general of police, would be invited to the Senate on Tuesday.
Undeterred by a hail of teargas, angry lawmakers forcibly took Tambuwal into the House complex. The speaker was said to have trekked a distance of more than 500 metres from the main gate to his office.
The Senate president said the military service chiefs were earlier invited to appear before the Senate on the same Tuesday, to deliberate on matters relating to President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for extension of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. Senators, especially those from the North-East, have been kicking against the extension since the president forwarded the request to the upper chamber on Monday, November 18.
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Uduaghan Commends Jonathan on His Programme
IF no one wants to commend President Goodluck Jonathan for his laudable achievement, it is not Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State. On Monday, November 17, in Asaba, Delta State, Udughan declared that contrary to the perception of a segment of the nation, Jonathan was working quietly to develop the country.
The governor, who spoke at the official roll out of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, N2 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund, MSMED, in Delta State, said the president had done a lot in the implementation of his transformation agenda for the nation. “I want to thank you, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and through you, I want to thank Mr. President because if Mr. President does not allow you to do what you are doing now, you will not be able to do it, so, I want to thank President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who is quietly developing Nigeria, I thank him,” Uduaghan said.
The governor, while receiving the symbolic N2 billion cheque from Godwin Emefiele, governor of CBN, said that the Delta State government would give out the loan at zero interest by paying off the nine percent interest of N180 million on behalf of the beneficiaries and also bear the cost of logistics in the disbursement of the fund. The governor while commending the CBN governor said that “the fund is not being rolled out because you are from the state, it is being done because Delta State has prepared for the fund. We have worked hard to meet the criteria for the fund…I want to assure the CBN that the fund will go to the real beneficiaries, you don’t need to be a politician to get the fund, you must meet the criteria before benefiting from it, I want to say that the whole N2 billion will go to the beneficiaries as the state government will provide the logistics needed, this loan will be at zero interest rates to Deltans as the state government will pay the 9 per cent interest on the loan which amounts to N180 million to the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
He, therefore, charged old participants in the programme to put their experience at the disposal of new entrants by mentoring them to ensure that they pay back as and when due so that the programme would not suffer setback.
In his speech, Emefiele said that the CBN initiated the N220 billion MSMED fund as “a catalyst to stimulate economic growth and poverty alleviation in Nigeria, the fund couldn’t have come out at a better time than now where there is fall in price of oil. It will be a means of diversifying our economic base through production of goods locally and reduce the pressure on our foreign reserve.” He assured that the fund had been structured to be accessed by those who needed it the most rather than those who were privileged politically.
He commended the Uduaghan administration for designing a robust micro credit programme that had imparted greatly on the less endowed segment of the society. “It is no mean feat to set up a ministry to alleviate our people from poverty into prosperity, I took note of some of the things produced by the beneficiaries of the micro-credit programme, from the young graduates to the elderly, it tells that when you are faced with challenges, you turn to your creative ability to create development for yourself and your country, I salute you (Uduaghan).”
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Tambuwal Discontinues Suit Challenging Removal of Security Aides
AMINU Tambuwal, speaker of the House of Representatives, is a man who wants to live to fight another day. On Monday, November 17, Tambuwal withdrew a suit challenging Suleiman Aba, inspector general of Police, for the withdrawal of security aides attached to him following his defection from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Following the application filed by Tunji Abayomi, his counsel, Justice Ahmed Mohammed who presided over the case struck out the suit. Abayomi told the court that he had been instructed by Tambuwal to discontinue.
Ade Okeaya-Inneh, SAN, counsel to the attorney-general of the federation and the IGP, opposed the application, arguing that the court should rather dismiss the suit and award costs against Tambuwal because defendants had joined issues in the case by filing counter affidavit and filing reply on the merits of the suit.
But the judge ruled that the defence only responded to the preliminary motion for injunction to restrain the IGP from withdrawing Tambuwal’s security details and not the motion on notice. He made no order as to costs.
Tambuwal had asked the court to restore his security details on the grounds that the IGP had no constitutional powers to effect the withdrawal of his security details without the order of a court.
Meanwhile, two members of Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency in Sokoto State have filed an application for joinder in the suit by Tambuwal challenging the alleged plans to remove him as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Bala Konkani and Sambo Bello Modo, chairmen of Kebbe and Tambuwal Local Government Areas, brought a motion on notice through Israel Ologundare, SAN, their counsel, praying the court to admit them as interested parties in the suit which seeks to remove Tambuwal as speaker and begin the process to recall him to his constituency in Sokoto State.
Justice Mohammed ordered the parties to file their responses to the application for joinder and another application for amendment of the processes by Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, a counsel to Tambuwal.
The suit was adjourned to November 28 for hearing.
Meanwhile, Tambuwal on Tuesday, November 18, suspended his participation in the APC presidential primary on what he claimed as counsel from party elders and in the overall interest of the party. The speaker’s friend had picked a form for him on Thursday, November 13, urging him to seek for the APC presidential ticket.
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Nigerian Military Recaptures Three Communities In Adamawa State
NIGERIAN Military in conjunction with the civilian Joint Task Force, JTF, local hunters and vigilante groups, on Wednesday, November 19, recorded resounding victory over the Boko Haram insurgents. They recaptured Gombi, Hong, and Pella towns in Adamawa State which had been under the control of the Islamic insurgents for sometimes. Security sources hinted that for four days, the military had been making concerted efforts to recapture the three towns under the control of the Islamic sect before they eventually succeeded.
The Boko Haram insurgents were overwhelmed by the Nigerian troops in a fierce battle. More than 400 insurgents were said to have been killed in the four-day battle while several of them were arrested. According to military sources, the Nigerian troops are now in full control of Gombi, Hong and Pella towns. “A lot of weapons and equipment were also recovered from the insurgents, however, a top ranking officer was seriously injured as few soldiers lost their lives in the battle,” a source said.
Confirming the recapture of the three towns from Boko Haram terrorists on Wednesday, November 19, the Defence Headquarters in its twitter handle said: “Nigerian troops in their daring exploit have taken full control of more communities in Adamawa State including Gombi, Pelia and Hong. Our Troops are in full control of Gombi, Pelia and Hong as operations to clear all areas infested by terrorists is ongoing. Many terrorists are being captured as some die. Weapons and equipment are also being recovered. Mopping up is ongoing in the area even now.”
— Nov. 10, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT
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