News Star newspaper

While Justice Abdullahi handles Osunbor and Agagu’s appeal

 More facts have emerged as to why Justice Umaru Abdullahi has decided to handle the appeal suits in respect of the Edo and Ondo states governorship election petitions.
Poligist learnt that the decision of the president of the Court of Appeal to personally handle the matters must have been borne out of the intense pressure mounted on him by the ruling party and some prominent politicians who are apprehensive of the danger of assigning the cases to judges not sympathetic to the interest of the party.
An informed source said that these powerful individuals, who are not comfortable with the ruling of the tribunals on the governorship petitions in the two states, are said to be desperate and ready to stake anything for overturning the decisions of the two tribunals at all cost.
The source said that having realised the desperation of the said politicians, Justice Abdullahi offered to personally handle the matter, so that the judiciary would not be dragged into the political mud.

Gov Sambo and billboards

If there is any medium that the Kaduna State Governor, Arc. Namadi Sambo, so much falls in love with for interpreting the policies of his administration or sending signals to the public, it is billboard.
This architect cum politician has dotted every nook and cranny of the state especially strategic areas with his extraordinarily large billboards.  Before one covers ten electric poles, no fewer than three billboards with different messages will be staring at you.  He has no doubt surpassed his predecessors in the use of story-telling billboards.
But there is a particular one that does not conform with either elementary principles of advertising or the message the governor is trying to convey.  It is the one that has to do with the National Sports Festival, which the state is hosting and tagged: KADA 2008 or it is now KADA 2009.
In this particular billboard, the governor appears in flowing babariga and tall cap to match.  Yet, the message is about sports.  The governor seemed to have forgotten that sport is war and you don’t go to war in your traditional flowing agbada or babariga.  It is not in agreement with the principles of advertising, which emphasizes unity or marriage of image or victuals with the message.  The question is: where is the place of flowing babariga and Solomon Lar type of cap in the sporting area?
This might not be unconnected with the snail speed at which construction work on facilities meant for the festival is going.  Thank heavens that the National Council on Sports has at the end of its extraordinary meeting in Kaduna shifted the games earlier scheduled for next month to February 2009.
Now that the festival has been shifted to February 2009 can somebody re-dress the governor in track-suit; national track-suit?  We are not talking about national cultural festival but sports festival.

Between Gen Abdusalami and Gov Aliyu

Even after his exit as Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar still commands love and respect within and outside the country. He is highly revered most Nigerian, including the student. This probably informed his appointment as Chairman of the University of Ibadan Advancement Centre, which has the mandate to source money for welfare of the students of the institution.
Abdusalami has been carrying out this responsibility with all his vigour, no doubt. The retired General, however, recently met his match during the UI 60th anniversary lecture when he jokingly implored the gathering to donate one naira each towards the welfare of the students.
Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, who was the guest lecturer on the occasion, however, reminded the former Head of State that one naira donation would not solve the students’ problems, thereby urging the University management to look inward. Who says a general’s order cannot be flouted?

Edo AC secretariat wears a new look

Throughout last week, it was like a festive season at the Action Congress (AC) state secretariat in Benin-City, Edo State. The party secretariat situated along the airport road in the state capital, which now wears a new look witnessed massive renovation work throughout the week. 
As it is, preparations seem to be in top gear in the party ahead of the Appeal Court judgment on the appeal suit filed by Governor Oserheimen Osunbor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the verdict of the tribunal which declared Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of the AC winner of the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial election.
Party chieftains and supporters were seen in their large numbers coming into and going out of the secretariat in high spirit with the expectation that the appellate court would uphold the ruling of the tribunal.
Some of the party supporters, particularly Okada riders who had thought that the judgment would be delivered on October 28, had to abandon their jobs in readiness for the anticipatory victory of the AC.

A deputy governor and his senatorial ambition

One wonders why the deputy governor of Ekiti State, Dr Sikiru Lawal, has an obsession for political offices. Even with 2011 elections still a mile away, the Deputy Governor has been on the battle turf with anybody who dares nurture the ambition of going to the senate come 2011 in his senatorial district. He never hid his intention to contest the senate seat of Ekiti Central. Already, he has commenced strategic planning towards the realization of that dream. As a first step, he has installed his goons as the chairmen of the caretaker committees of the local government areas.
Again, he has been fraternizing with grass-root politicians to muster enough followership and possibly curry the favour of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti so that he could pacify perceived contenders like former chairman of Ado-Ekiti Local Government Areea, Mr. Taye Fasubaa.
Lawal’s thinking is that he might be dropped as deputy governor for a possible second term.

Ogun commissioner as a de facto governor

Akogun Kola Onadipe is a household name in the administration of Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State. Reason: He is a powerful commissioner and remains one person Daniel cannot afford to ignore.
This two-time commissioner was at the inception of Daniel administration appointed to man the Special Duties portfolio. His relevance in the administration earned him the Commissioner for Water Resources in the new dispensation.
These appointments certainly are not the news. What is news, however, is that if you want anything done by Governor Daniel, your best bet is to have a good romance with Onadipe. To some people, Onadipe’s name open doors to the government house.
Unlike some of his fellow commissioners, Onadipe has unhindered access to the Ogun State number one citizen. In fact, Poligist learnt that he is being envied by other commissioners.
Onadipe was said to have warmed his way into the heart of Daniel during the 2003 governorship electioneering when the commissioner was in-charge of the campaign finances. And because of the manner he discharged his duty then, Daniel has found him to be tested and trusted

Lawmaker of the Week
Delta House has done well Ejiro

Honourable (Prince) Johnson Erijorepresenting Isoko South 11 constituency is one of the vibrant and leading lights of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Delta State House of Assembly. Erijo, a former Chief Whip of the House and currently the Chairman of Business and Rule Committee sees politics as a vehicle of rendering service to the people rather than amasing wealth.
Erijo, a master’s degree holder in Public Administration, was into private business before he ventured into active politics in 1999. The one-time Chairman, House Committee on Environment and Niger Delta speaks on the challens of lawmaking and other issues in this interview with our Correspondent, ANASTACIA AGUNWA in Asaba.
Excerpts:
 
Challenge of lawmaking The major challenges of lawmaking by the legislature particularly in Nigeria and not just peculiar to the Delta State House of Assembly is that we have not been able to imbibe the spirit of observing the rule of law. We were even thinking that the present administration of Yar’Adua is insisting on the rule of law and that will help us in the discharge of our duties, but so far I really have not been able to see clearly all over the country if legislations are really being observed. This is so because the laws are being made and kept there; nobody enforces them. Primarily, I can say that is the challenge of every legislative House.
On Delta House of Assembly performance 
Ours is to formulate policies for the general governance of the state.On individual, the electorate will expect one to improve their lots by causing development, providing infrastructure, providing employment and human development. Fortunately, these are the three cardinal objectives of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan-led administration. So far, I think we are doing very well as a few appropriation bills have been passed. Also, we have been able to ensure that certain infrastructural development are put in place in my constituency which  are currently ongoing  in terms of roads, provision of water , among others.
My achievement 
I have a great record of achievement in the House by performing brilliantly to the expectation of my people, touching their lives through the provision of major infrastructure in terms of road, pipe borne water, electricity, health facilities, good education and other basic necessities of life.
Executive-legislature relationship 
My personal assessment is that we have done so well. Our relationship with the executive arm of government is very cordial and it could not have been better compared to other states. You know that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has a three-point agenda which everybody is pursuing vigorously and you can attest that we now have peace in the state. So far, the peaceful situation had helped me in the projects I carried out in my constituency.
Advice to the youths
The youths should be patient and chart a proper course for themselves in order to develop themselves properly so that they would not be used by anybody. In addition, they should acquire proper education that will enhance their lives in order not to be tagged as militants. I enjoin them to be peaceful, work hard to give government the opportunity to better their lives.
On agriculture
At a time in Nigeria, Agriculture used to be the mainstay of the economy. But with the discovery of oil everybody’s focus went to oil and we no longer have flair for agriculture. The Niger Delta region was the worst hit.
The impact of oil exploration further caused a lot of degradation in our environment resulting in low agricultural productivity, thereby causing a lot of people to flee from farming. The solution to the problem is that government should try as much as possible to encourage people especially the youth to engage in agriculture. In the time past, farming used to be a culture. Even as a teacher, you have a farm, but these days the habit had gone. So, we should encourage everybody to go back to the farm.