Business, Politics

National Assembly budgets N850m for failed constitution amendment

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The National Assembly has again allocated N850m for Constitution Amendment in the 2023 Budget.

The National Assembly had recently raised the 2023 Budget by N1.3 trillion from the N20.5 trillion proposed by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in October 2022.

The constitution amendment process has faced several delays at the parliament and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, confirmed recently that the passage of the amendment bill in the ninth Assembly had been stalled.

He said;

“The National Assembly passed a raft of amendments to the constitution and advanced them to the states as required. That process now seems to have stalled in the state assemblies. As it is today, it is doubtful that the current constitutional amendment effort will conclude before the expiration of this legislative term”.

The government has over the years allocated about N1bn annually for constitution amendment which has continued to face challenges since 2011.

The Ninth Assembly recently lamented that the process of the constitution review was being frustrated by some state governors.The National Assembly has however continued to make allocation available for the project.

The Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, recently lamented that only 11 states have passed bills.

The 11 states that have passed their bills include; Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun and Osun.

Speaking on the yearly allocation of funds to the National Assembly, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani, believes the project has failed, saying the 10th Assembly, which begins in June 2023, will have to start all over again.

He said;

“Constitutional Amendment has deliberately become a ritual that the lawmakers are using to embezzle funds without any yielded result.

“It is unfair and a total waste of public funds that all the key issues that affect Nigerians like indigenization, discrimination, land ownership, and some other laws are not captured in the Amendment.”

The activist added that “It is sad that the leaders both executive and legislature do not have the interest of the people at heart, if they do, we won’t be spending money every year over the same repeated circle of a failed constitution amendment project that has never succeeded for once.

“The process of the Constitution Amendments should begin with gathering information from the citizens to know what issues to be amended exactly.”

Rafsanjani added that people must begin to demand for accountability the money that it spends especially as it relates to the constitutional amendment.

Efforts to get comments from the Senate proved abortive as the Senate spokesperson, Ajibola Basiru.

Lifestyle, Politics

Buhari arrives at national assembly for his last budget presentation as President

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President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived at the national assembly to present the 2023 appropriation bill.

The budget presentation, which is the last before he hands over to his successor, is taking place at the improvised House of Representatives chamber.

While he would be presenting an appropriation bill of N19.76 trillion, the national assembly had already approved the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) and fiscal strategy paper (FSP) parameters on which the 2023 budget will be framed.

Politics

Aggrieved National Assembly members plan showdown with govs over lost tickets

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National Assembly members, who failed to win their parties’ tickets for the 2023 elections, are set for a showdown with state governors and their aides.

Findings by our correspondents showed that in states such as Benue, Kebbi,  Zamfara, Delta, Ekiti and Ogun, governors or their loyalists defeated incumbent Senators and the House of Representatives members to clinch their parties’ tickets during last month’s primaries.

Many of the National Assembly members have defected to other parties, where they would contest against the governors or their aides, who won the parties’ primaries.

Those who are not contesting are believed to be poised to work against the election of those who denied them of tickets.

The All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, had on Wednesday met APC senators as part of moves to halt the planned defection of members of the red chamber.

No fewer than 13 Senators have already dumped the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party and other parties.

In Zamfara State, an APC member of the House Representatives, Kabiru Ahmed, who is representing Gusau/Tsafe Constituency, lost the ticket to  Alhaji Sanusi Garba Rikiji, a former Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila.

According to sources,  Rikiji is close to the state Governor, Bello Mattawale.  Ahmed defected to the PDP, where he was given the ticket to re-contest the seat.

In an interview with The PUNCH, Ahmed said because he was cheated by the leadership of the APC,  as such, he was left with no option but to defect to PDP in order to actualise his ambition.

“I was cheated by the APC leadership, as such, I decided to change the party and joined the PDP and I thank God that I got the ticket to contest for the same position.”

Another APC House of Representatives,  Ahmed  Fulani, lost the ticket following the reconciliation between Mattawale and a former Governor of the state, Abdul Aziz Yari. He was replaced by  Zubairu Abdulmakik. Fulani defected to the PDP where he would contest the 2023 poll.

In the Kaura-Namoda/Birnin Magaji constituency, the incumbent member,  Sani Umar,  could not get the ticket to re-contest as he was replaced with Aminu Sani Jaji.

In an interview with The PUNCH, the APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris,  said House of Representatives members who could not get the tickets defected to the PDP even before the primaries.

He stated, “Those  members of the House of Representatives who did not get their tickets under the APC had already left the party before the primaries.”

“They refused to participate in the primary and returned to their former party, the PDP where they got the same tickets.”

Okowa’s aides triumph

 Three PDP House of Representative members, Mr Nicholas Ossai, Mr Ben Igbakpa and Efe Afe  failed to secure tickets to contest the 2023 elections.

Ossai, a third-term member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani Constituency, was defeated by an aide of the state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa,   Mr  Nnamdi Ezechi.

Also, Ms Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, daughter of former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, defeated Igbakpa to pick the PDP ticket.

Afe of the Uvwie/Okpe constituency lost to immediate past Commissioner for Water Resources, Evelyn Obiri.

Speaking to one of our correspondents, Ezechi promised to work hard to win the general election,

Efforts to reach Nicholas Ossai and Ben Igbakpa failed as calls put across to them were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

Ekiti lawmakers

In Ekiti State, one senator and four House of Representatives members lost their bid to return to their positions following last month’s primaries.

It was gathered that some of those who won the National Assembly primaries were close to the governor.

Some of the National Assembly members who lost have, have resolved to seek legal redress to challenge the elections.

The APC Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Olubunmi Adetumbi,  was defeated by Cyril Fasuyi, the Director General of the party’s governorship candidate, Abayomi Oyebanji, who won last Saturday’s poll in the state.

Also, Peter Owolabi ((APC Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1) was defeated in his return ticket bid by Mr Akin Rotimi, a former Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communications to the state Governor Kayode Fayemi.

However, nothing has been said about the ticket for Ekiti Central Federal, Mrs Omowumi Ogunlola’s constituency, which was contested by her, Biodun Omoleye, former Chief of Staff to Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Mr Dele Phillips.

However, state Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe,  in an interview with The PUNCH, said Fayemi did not grab the party’s National Assembly tickets. He said “Those who won and those who lost are governor’s men and governor’s women.

“So, I don’t know how on earth anybody will think the governor will be interested in collecting tickets from somebody who is with him and give it to somebody who is with him. People will just come with conjectures.

“I think people should just allow our internal democracy to work out. At every stage of our election or process, people will always go ahead to make permutations, but they should just allow us to do things our way and stop all these concerns especially if they are not APC members.

“I don’t think any APC member will say that Senator Adetumbi is not Fayemi’s man or that Cyril Fasuyi is Fayemi’s man more than him. I don’t think anybody will say  Wumi Ogunlola is not Fayemi’s woman or that anybody is Fayemi’s man or woman than anybody,” he said.

Prominent APC members in Kano State, including a former governor and incumbent Senator, Ibrahim Shekarau;  a former member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumini Jibrin and an ex-presidential aide, Kawu Sulaiman defected to the New Nigeria Peoples Party where they will contest National Assembly elections.

Following the APC leaders’ failure to resolve the crisis in the Kebbi State chapter, federal lawmakers, including Senator Adamu Aliero; Senator Yahaya Abdullahi and a member of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Jega, have joined the PDP. Aliero will contest the Kebbi Central Senatorial seat with the state Governor, Atiku Bagudu.

In Benue State, three PDP House of Representatives members lost the party’s tickets.

They are Francis Ottah Agbo representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu;  Mark Gbilah of Gwer West/Gwer East and Kpam Sokpo of the  Buruku constituency.

An APC House of Representatives,  Herba Hembe,  dumped the party for the Labour Party, where he contested and won the governorship ticket.

He, however, defected to the Labour party where he contested and won the gubernatorial ticket.

But Senator Orker Jev representing Benue North-West failed to seek re-election because Governor Samuel Ortom got the ticket.

The PDP Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, in an interview with The PUNCH, said, “He (Jev) only exercised his right not to contest because as a party member you have the right to contest and not to contest.”

Jev’s media aide, Samson Yanor, in an interview with The PUNCH, said   a zoning arrangement was between two areas of the state; Jemgba and Minda

According to him,  the senatorial slot which has been in Jemgba for the past 16 years ought to move back to Minda, hence the senator’s decision.

The Senator representing Kwara Central zone,  Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe, lost the party’s ticket to the Turaki of Ilorin, Alhaji Saliu Mustapha.

Oloriegbe said that he accepted his defeat by Mustapha which he attributed to the wish of Allah.

In Plateau State,  all the three incumbent senators will not return to the National Assembly.

While the Senator representing Plateau North, Istifanus Gyang, who was elected on the platform of the PDP failed to secure the party’s ticket as he lost to a  House of Representatives member, Simon Mwadkwon; the Senator representing Plateau South, Prof.Nora Daduut, who was elected on the platform of the APC  did not contest the party’s primary.

The state Governor, Simon Lalong, got the APC’s ticket.

Senator Hezekiah Dimka, representing Plateau Central on the platform of the APC,   contested the governorship ticket of the state but lost out.

Out of the eight available House of Representatives seats in the state, only the lawmaker representing Shendam/Mikang/Qua-anpan on the platform of the APC,  Komsol  Longgap,  failed to clinch the party’s ticket.

A member of the  House of Representatives representing Illela/Gwadabawa Constituency in Sokoto State,  Abdullahi Balarabe Salame, in an interview with The PUNCH, said he had no regret not going back to the National Assembly.

Salame, who is a member of the APC and governorship aspirant, stated, “I joined the race for the governorship primary with belief that every member would be given a level playing field.

“When I and some other aspirants saw how the things were being handled, we complained to the national headquarters of our party but nothing was done.

“On the day of the primary, we held a press conference calling for direct primaries but the leaders of the party never cared.”

Also Senator Ibrahim Gobir, Senator representing Sokoto East,  will not return to the Senate.

Gobir lost to Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, the anointed candidate of the leader of the party in the state, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.

Abiodun’s aides

Also, five out of nine House of Representatives members in Ogun State and all the three senators are not re-contesting their seats. The Senator representing Ogun Central, Ibikunle Amosun,  did not contest the APC senatorial primary.

Those who lost their return tickets are  Lanre Edun (Abeokuta South), Jimoh Aremu (Egbado-North/Imeko-Afon), Kolawole Lawal (Egbdo South/Ipokia ) and Kolapo Osunsanya ((Ijebu-Ode/Odogbolu/Ijebu-North-East).  All of them are APC  members. A House of Representatives member,   Adekoya Adesegun (PDP Ijebu North/Ijebu-East/Ogunwaterside) also lost the ticket.

While Senator Tolu Odebiyi,  Ogun West, was defeated by Senator Olamilekan Adeola, currently representing  Lagos West.  Lekan Mustapha,  Ogun East, was said to have stepped down for a former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

The Chief of Staff to the state governor, Shuaib Salis, secured the Ogun Central ticket.

It was learnt most of those who won the party’s tickets were loyalists of the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, while those who lost out were in the camp of his predecessor, Amosun.

Edun had after the primary threatened to challenge the result, describing the exercise which led to the emergence of the current Commissioner for Local Government and  Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape,  as the party’s candidate as a charade.

Commenting on the political struggle between the governors and the National Assembly members, a political analyst and Media Specialist, at Caleb University,  Mr Olawale Adekoya, berated governors, who would contest senatorial seats.

He said, ‘’The trend is dangerous because we have desecrated and abused the parliament. The parliament is the heartbeat of modern democracy. A national assembly is meant for the best brain, that is where the power of scholarship, charisma, intellectualism, and inherent quality must be found. What we have today is that the national assembly has been turned into a retirement ground where old and sick Nigerians are being navigated to spend the rest of their political years. Certain laws should be put in place to checkmate this dangerous trend.

On his part, the Head of Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Prof. Adepoju Tejumaiye, stated, ‘The whole issue revolves around the fact that we don’t have laws. Many of our politicians do not have morals and we don’t do things the right way in this country. If our politicians continue to behave recklessly this way, our democracy will not grow because they like doing things to favour themselves and enslave all of us. We have not seen the end of it’’

World News

Expedite action on electoral bill to aid INEC preparations for 2023 elections,’ Jega tells Buhari, National Assembly

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A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru, Jega, on Sunday warned on the danger of making direct primary compulsory for political parties in Nigeria.

Jega, who addressed participants at a Citizens Town Hall Meeting organised by Yiaga Africa in Lafia, Nasarawa, expressed doubt if any political party in the country has a comprehensive membership register.

He urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to reach agreement on the electoral bill before the 2023 elections.

He said the state governors have the capacity to manipulate the electoral process regardless of the system adopted in the absence of substantive improvements in the electoral system.

The former INEC chief stressed the importance of having a new electoral law in place before the next year’s election.

Jega said: “Give INEC the law to begin the preparations for the 2023 elections. INEC made 36 recommendations in the new electoral bill. National Assembly adopted 25 and adopted five with some adjustments.

“I think that this country will be better off with a new electoral law which will enhance the preparation and conduct of the election.

“Since 2010 we have not had substantive improvements until now. We must ensure that this bill becomes law as soon as possible in order not to hamstring the electoral process.

“Which of the parties have a clear register of numbers. Any governor that has the capacity to manipulate direct primaries has the capacity to do for indirect primaries.

“The challenge is how do you ensure that members of parties are properly registered. Governor can only manipulate the delegate list but with a faulty register there will be room for manipulation even in direct primaries.”

Politics

Wike knocks National Assembly over e-transmission of election results, Buhari govt’s borrowings

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The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday raised the alarm on alleged plans by unnamed individuals to rig the 2023 elections.

Wike, who addressed the congregation during an interdenominational church service put together by the state government as part of activities marking the nation’s independence anniversary at the Saint Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Diobu, Port Harcourt, raised concerns on the credibility of future elections because of the National Assembly’s rejection of electronic transmission of results in the country.

He said: “Other countries are talking about how their elections will be transparent, we are talking about how we will plot to rig an election in 2023.

“Transmit a result electronically to show the transparency, to show that really the person you are declaring won the election is the problem.

I thought by now, we should be talking about how this country will be competing with other developed nations.”

He also knocked the National Assembly for failing to check the excessive borrowing by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The governor added: “What are we celebrating about 61 years old? We have a congress where anything goes. Where is the legislature? A legislature that cannot speak, a legislature where anything they bring is right?

“A legislature that cannot say that Nigeria has gotten to the age of conducting a free and fair election, a legislature that will close your eye anytime they bring money, borrow you borrow.

“Where are the courts? The courts have been intimidated; the judges have abandoned their responsibilities out of fear of what will happen.”

Politics

National Assembly building now dangerous for lawmakers —Elumelu

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The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, on Wednesday, decried the deplorable state of the National Assembly complex.

Elumelu, who addressed the lawmakers at the plenary, expressed concern at the poor state of the roofs, especially during a heavy downpour.

He said: “If something is not done to address the problem, nobody owns one’s life but we never can tell what can happen.

“Coming into this place, you can see the cleaners; they are busy packing (mopping) the water that is coming down from this chamber. To me, it is dangerous for our continuous participation in our day-to-day representation of our people and speaking for our people.”

Politics

National Assembly flooded as roof leaks during heavy rainfall (Video)

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The lobby of the National Assembly was on Tuesday, June 22 flooded due to heavy downpour that made its way into the building following a leaking roof.

According to reports, plenary was delayed for a few hours as cleaners had a hectic time scooping out the water.

This is comes two years after President Buhari approved N37 billion for the renovation of the complex located in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Watch video:

Business

National Assembly moves to bar bankers from operating foreign accounts

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The House of Representatives is considering a bill seeking to bar bank workers and staff of other financial institutions from operating accounts outside the shores of Nigeria.

Their spouses and children may also be mandated to declare their assets when a bill presently at the House becomes law.

This was contained in the ‘Bank Employees, Etc., (Declaration of Assets)(Amendment) Bill 2021’, which has scaled first reading, The Punch reports.

The legislation was titled ‘A Bill for an Act to amend the bank employees, etc., (Declaration of Assets) Act CAP. B1 Laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 to reflect the prevailing situation in the country’.

Shina Peller, the lawmaker representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal constituency in Oyo State, sponsored the bill and proposed a series of amendments to the Act.

Section 1 of the Act is to be amended by deleting the existing subsections and inserting new ones that read; “(1) Every employee of a bank shall, immediately after assuming duty and, thereafter, at the determination of his (or her) employment, and in the case of a serving banker, within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the Declaration of Assets form from the appropriate authority or at such other intervals as the President or the appropriate authority may specify, make a full disclosure of his (or her) properties, assets and liabilities, and those of his (or her) spouse or unmarried children under the age of 18 years.

(2) For the purpose of this section, a transfer or secondment from one bank to another shall be treated as a new employment.”

The bill is also seeking amendment to Section 5 by inserting new subsections that prohibits foreign accounts for bank workers.

(a) A bank employee shall not maintain or operate a personal bank account in any country outside Nigeria.

“(b) Any complaint that a bank employee has committed a breach of or has not complied with the provisions of this Act shall be made to the Central Bank of Nigeria or the appropriate regulatory body in the case of employees of other Financial Institutions.”

Section 12 of the Act is to be amended by deleting the existing provisions and replacing them with, “(1) The President may direct by an instrument published in the Federal Gazette that the provisions of this Act be applied to other financial institutions. (2) Where the President directs as provided in Subsection 1 of this section, the Act shall apply subject to such textual modification as may be necessary for its execution.”

Politics

Lawmakers on alert over plot by Boko Haram to attack National Assembly, VIP locations

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Federal lawmakers have been notified of a possible attack by Boko Haram insurgents on the National Assembly complex and other public infrastructures in Abuja.

According to The PUNCH, a copy of the security notice was sent to the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, other principal officers and all members of the House.

The ‘security alert’, dated May 4, 2021, was issued by Chairman of the House Committee on Internal Security, National Assembly, Usman Shiddi.

It was titled ‘Re: planned insurgent attacks on VIP locations, government facilities and assets in Abuja.’

The alert read; “I refer to the above subject of which a copy of the intelligence report from the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigeria Police Force in the National Assembly Complex has been made available to my office.

“The report indicates planned insurgent attacks by some elements of Boko Haram on some VIP locations, government facilities and assets in Abuja, including the National Assembly complex.

“In view of the above intelligence, I have considered it paramount to advise that all members should, henceforth, use the presidential gate for ingress and egress.

“This is to avoid the unforeseen congestions that are sometimes encountered at the main gates, since such congestions could easily be the targets for these insurgent elements.

Security agencies are, however, actively on top of the issue to unravel and to contain the intended menace. Accept the assurances of my highest regards, please.”

Several members of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, confirmed to The Punch that they had been notified of the imminent attack by the terrorist group.

One of them, who is from a state in the South-West, said his presence would henceforth be limited on the premises.

That is the security alert I saw today. I’m already moving out of here. I’ll only be around when there is a major reason to do so. Nowhere is safe in the country anymore,” he said.

Already the notice on the impending attack has been made available to the lawmakers.

Meanwhile, Security has been beefed up in and around the complex since Thursday last week.

Politics

National Assembly postpones resumption over APC registration

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The National Assembly on Saturday postponed its resumption of plenary till February 9 over the All Progressives Congress (APC) registration exercise.

The lawmakers were earlier scheduled to return from their Christmas and New Year break on January 26.

The Clerk of the National Assembly, Olatunde Ojo, who disclosed this in a statement, said the postponement was to enable lawmakers elected on the APC platform participate in their party’s registration exercise.

The statement read: “This is to inform all distinguished senators and honourable members of the National Assembly that the resumption of plenary sessions earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 26th January 2021, is hereby rescheduled for Tuesday 9th February 2021.

“This postponement is to enable members of the All Progressives Congress to participate in the registration and revalidation of its membership scheduled to commence on Monday, 25th January 2021.

“All inconveniences caused by this change of date are regretted.”

The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, had said late last year that the National Assembly members would begin work on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the Electoral Act amendment when they resume from their holiday.

Politics

Has The Microphone Been Turned Off On National Assembly’s N81bn Probe Of NDDC? By Fredrick Nwabufo

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So, it is a convenient tactic to hold the dirt of the interim management of the NDDC supervising the audit in the air for an eventual entente. What was happening was just crossfire of blackmail and intimidation. It is the threat of mutually assured destruction before the ‘’meeting at the table of kindreds’’.

Probe. This is another word for political manoeuvring, horse-trading, chicanery and blackmail – in the Nigerian milieu. Probes are launched here not for righteous ends but for some predetermined recidivist motives. In particular, the so-called ‘’corruption probes’’ are themselves felonious panels set up to exact vengeance, broker deals or cause distraction from national discontent. Beelzebub cannot cast out demons.

I recall the Ndudi Elumelu corruption probe of the power sector in 2009 where as chairman of the house committee on power, ‘’the prober’’ was accused of receiving bribes and allegedly annexing N5.2bn from the rural electrification budget alongside other officials on the panel. I would like to ask, what came out of this all-important and well-noised probe? Nothing!

I also recall the senate’s probe of sale of government assets by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) under Nasir el-Rufai in 2004. El-Rufai had alleged the previous year (2003) that some senators demanded a N54m bribe to confirm his appointment as minister. So, the angry senate unleashed itself in a tit-for-tat subsumed as ‘’corruption probe’’.

And not too long ago, Nigerians witnessed perhaps the grandest of all fiasco probes – the fuel subsidy probe involving Farouk Lawan, Mr Integrity, in 2012. Lawan, who was the chairman of the house committee investigating fuel subsidies, allegedly demanded a $3m bribe from Femi Otedola to exculpate his company, Zenon, of blame in the fuel subsidy fraud.

The probe came on the heels of the unrest occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Jonathan administration in January 2012. The fuel subsidy regime was natively corrupt. Some oil companies held the government by the noggins and were paid regardless of whether they supplied petrol or not. Lawan, Mr Integrity, was recorded on video allegedly receiving a bribe of $500,000 from Otedola – a part payment of the filthy lucre.

In July 2020, Nigerians were entertained by a riveting but gallows-humorous spectacle from the national assembly panels probing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over alleged stealing of N81.5bn. The interim management of the commission admitted to have spent N1.32bn on themselves as ‘’COVID-19 palliative’’.

The commission also owned up to spending N81.5bn in just eight months. What is most discomfiting, really, is how this humongous sum was spent.

A breakdown of the profligacy by the house of representatives panel ‘’probing’’ the agency showed that the commission spent, ‘’N1.3bn on community relations; condolences, N122.9m; consultancy, N83m; COVID-19, N3.14bn; duty travel allowance (DTA), N486m, imprest, N790.9m, and Lassa fever, N1.956bn’’.

Other items on the lavish list are, ‘’legal services, N900m; maintenance, N220m; overseas travel, N85.6m; public communications, N1.121bn; security, N744m; staffing-related payment, N8.8bn; stakeholders engagement, N248m’’.

A big whale feast. That is what the NDDC has become.  In July, I wrote that the theatrics and pyrotechnics during the probe sessions at the senate and the house of representatives were nothing more than entertainment skits. It has been four months since the probes, but no one has been held to account for the gross plunder of funds assigned for the Niger Delta people. In fact, owing to the revelations from the probe sessions, Concerned Nigerians, a civil society group led by Deji Adeyanju, filed a petition against certain officials allegedly complicit in the graft bazaar at the NDDC to the EFCC, but none has been invited for questioning, let alone being prosecuted.

Kemebradikumo Pondei, acting managing director of the NDDC, ‘’fainted’’ during an interrogation by the house panel; Godswill Akpabio, minister of Niger Delta affairs, accused Peter Nwaoboshi, a member of the senate panel probing the NDDC, of  being a major beneficiary of the sleaze in the agency. The senator riposted, accusing Akpabio of appropriating a N300m NDDC fencing contract for himself. Joy Nunieh, former MD of the NDDC, unlatched the grimy closet accusing the minister of corruption, abuse of office and sexual harassment.

The distraction continued at the house where the chairman of the committee probing the NDDC was accused of being a shareholding partaker of the iniquity in the commission. Allegations and recriminations – by both the prober and the probed. Unclean hands seeking justice against bloodied hands. Again, Beelzebub cannot cast out demons.

I had said the probes were essentially about deal-brokering. The audit of the operations of the NDDC from 2001 and 2019 will bring to the fore a lot of interred skeletons involving those at the national assembly and those at the composite quarters of national corruption.

So, it is a convenient tactic to hold the dirt of the interim management of the NDDC supervising the audit in the air for an eventual entente. What was happening was just crossfire of blackmail and intimidation. It is the threat of mutually assured destruction before the ‘’meeting at the table of kindreds’’. The NDDC probes have gone the way of other probes.

Politics

True Federalism: I didn’t indict National Assembly—El Rufai

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Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna state did not indict the National Assembly for not acting upon the report of the All Progressives Congress(APC) Committee on True Federalism.

A statement issued by Mr Muyiwa Adekeye, Special Adviser on Media and Communication on Monday, clarified that the governor merely appealed for urgent action from the federal legislature.

The Special Adviser who was reacting to the comments of Senator Ajibola Bashiru, the spokesman of the senate, wondered ‘’how can this public appeal for urgent action prompt the sort of diatribe attributed to the Senator in the newspaper report?.’’

‘’The comments do not show that the person has read Malam El-Rufai’s speech, except if the person quoted is suffering from the crisis of comprehension that has become sadly endemic in our country.

According to Adekeye ‘’the unnecessary defensiveness to an allegation that was never made against the National Assembly cannot be deemed as distinguished conduct.’’

‘’Neither can the attempt to portray the report of a party committee on which several governors sat as that of the individual who had the privilege of chairing it,’’ he added.

It will be recalled that Senator Bashiru said that that Governor El Rufai does not know the workings of the National Assembly, by accusing the legislators for not acting on the report of the APC on True Federalism.

The statement said that El Rufai had ‘’ appealed to federal legislators to initiate the necessary constitutional amendments to secure restructuring using the draft bills that are contained in the report of the committee.’’

‘’Notwithstanding the comments attributed to the spokesman of the Senate, Malam El-Rufai believes that the entire National Assembly will play a positive role in helping our country meet the urgent demands of the moment,’’ he said.

Adekeye advised that ‘’these times call for responsibility, not for a flourish of ego; for sobriety and utter focus on what is significant and consequential for the future of our country.’’

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