You Can’t Dissolve PSC: HURIWA TO PRESIDENCY

A pro-democracy and non-governmental organization – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari not to be stampeded or hoodwinked by political forces to commit the illegality of dissolving the governing board of police service commission (PSC).

HURIWA’s warning came against the backdrop of a purported petition to the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) Mr. Boss Mustapha by a Lagos based group – civil society network against corruption (CSNAC) asking that the chairman of police service commission Mr. Mike Mbama Okiro, a retired Inspector General of Police be stopped from parading about as head of the Police Commission.

But HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) in a written presentation submitted today to the secretary to the government of the federation completely ruled out the legal validity of the so-called dissolution of the police service commission’s board as insinuated by the Lagos Non-governmental group, submitting that constitutionally the presidency has no power to dissolve a board recognized in the constitution and whose statutory tenure will run till June 2018.

Asking President Buhari not to be dragged into another unnecessary constitutional crisis by the misguided and misdirected petition against the Mike Okiro – led police commission, the Rights group cited several sections of the Nigerian constitution to unambiguously establish that political dissolution of boards of certain Federal Executive Commissions listed in chapter 6 of the constitution including PSC, is legally null and void and of no consequence.

CSNAC had in its petition stated thus: “It is with grave concern that the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) view the contemptuous disregard of the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari as conveyed by your office on the 29th December 2017, dissolving the board of Police Service Commission (PSC) among others, headed by retired Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, by his continued stay in office and performing functions of the office despite the composition of a new board”.

But HURIWA sent a counter position paper to President Buhari through the office of the secretary to the government of the federation and argued that contrary to the position of CSNAC, Mr. Okiro – led board of PSC can’t be arbitrarily dissolved but the constitutional tenure of 5 years will elapsed in June 2018.

The position paper of HURIWA states thus:

“It has come to our attention that a Lagos based non-governmental organization known as the civil society network against corruption which goes with the acronym of CSNAC purportedly petitioned to your desk demanding the immediate cessation of functions by the IGP. Mike Okiro’s (rtd) – led governing board of the Nigeria’s police service commission (PSC)”.

“As one of the most credible civil society organizations that has been in existence for over ten years, we have worked actively and vigorously around the thematic areas of good governance monitoring and we have consistently organized workshops and undertaken advocacy activities targeted at the promotion, protection and nurturing of constitutionalism. We are vanguards and conscience of the nation because of the conviction of the members numbering over eight thousand and still growing, that the ordinary citizens must vigilantly watch over the democratization process and to safeguard our valued democratic tradition of constitutionalism from all impurities and tendencies to corrupt the political and legal systems to massage personal ego”. 

“So this shocking petition from the Lagos group which is absolutely bereft of logic and lacking substantially in ethical and law-based foundations has made our group to rise to the occasion and to quickly write to your good offices to remind you that as a lawyer of many years standing, that it is incumbent and indeed imperative upon your good offices to adhere strictly to the spirit, letter and operational import of statutory legislations as it concerns the independence of the governing board of the constitutionally covered commission like the police service commission. We are still in trepidation and considerable shock on why this group coordinated by a well-known civil society actor resorted to hatching this self-serving petition. It is out of malice or mischief? Only time shall tell”.

“As you may be aware, there are several provisions in the chapter 6 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 (as amended) which act as effective buffer and safeguards against undue interference in the affairs or tenures of such independent executive bodies such as the police service commission which is to our considered opinion, the victim of outright media intimidation by this Lagos based non-governmental organization”.

“Section 153 (1) and (2): “(1) There shall be established for the Federation the following bodies, namely -: Code of Conduct Bureau; Council of State; Federal character commission; Federal judicial service commission; Independent National Electoral Commission; National Defence council; National Economic Council; National Judicial Council; National Population Commission; National Security Council; Nigeria Police Council; Police Service Commission; and Revenue mobilization allocation and fiscal commission; (2) The composition  and powers of each body established by subsection (1) of this section are as contained in part 1 of the Third Schedule to this Constitution”.

“Specifically, section 157 (1) makes the police service commission amongst a few other bodies constitutionally and operationally independent.

Section 157 (1): Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, a person holding any of the offices to which this section applies may only be removed from that office by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct”.

“Besides, section 155 (1) (c) states the tenure thus: “(1) A person who is a member of any of the bodies established as aforesaid shall, subject to the provisions of this part, remain a member thereof, (c) in the case of a person who is a member otherwise than as ex officio member or otherwise than by virtue of his having previously held an office, for a period of five years from the date of his appointment”.

“Section 157 (1) of the constitution goes to the issue of the critical independence granted these bodies and to guide against undue interference just as this provision specifically rules out the possibility of the board of police service commission being politically dissolved by the President as being insinuated by CSNAC”. 

“The current board constitutionally can only vacate offices in June 2018”.

“Sir, we humbly write this position paper to urge you not to capitulate to the politically motivated temptation of using your good offices to misdirect the President and to coerce him not to abide by the clear provisions of both the constitution and the enabling Act specifying functions and tenure of the PSC. By the way, the provision of the constitution is supreme in the event that a grey area exists, assuming without conceding that it is so. We expected the founding Chairman of CSNAC as a stakeholder in the democratic process to be at the forefront of the crusade to guide against executive lawlessness and any atom of rascality”. 

“However, CSNAC knows why they are clearly out to misguide your good offices only because they don't like the face of the ex-inspector General of Police Mr. Mike Okiro (rtd)”. 

“We pray you to be properly guided and to maintain decorum as a sound lawyer and astute administrator that you have always being”. 

“May we also inform you that as a nation, we are at a crossroads in the nation building process and it will do a whole lot of harm to the growth and advancement of constitutional democracy should the current administration which ought to subscribe to the constitution be used as an instrument for decimating and disrespecting extant legal provisions unambiguously written in black and white in one of the most readers' friendly Constitutions in contemporary times”. 

“There are already insinuations that Mr. President is in breach of certain constitutional provisions such as the Federal character principle (in appointments) and the alleged flagrant breach of section 6 of the constitution following successful bail orders granted certain accused person such as erstwhile national security adviser and the leader of Shiites Islamic movement who are still being detained against what the law says”. 

“After a thorough reflection of the above petition, we hereby pray your good offices to throw this petition written out of political half- truths and possible case of 'vendetta' to the dustbin of history”.

“We have followed through the trajectories of the PSC and the numerous petitions authored in the past by CSNAC against the chairman of PSC and we are left with the inevitable conclusion that this particular petition may not have been done altruistically and thereby should be jettisoned”.

“It is a notorious fact that in the past this group has written several unsustainable petitions against the PSC under Mike Okiro thereby confirming that the latest is just a repetition of a pattern aimed at scoring personal grudge that can only be explained by CSNAC”. 

A Great Man (Senator Ike Ekweremadu)

His Excellency, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, PhD, CFR hails from Mpu in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State. He holds both Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degrees from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka as well as Certificates in Leadership from Harvard University and Oxford University. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law from the University of Abuja. Senator Ekweremadu was a career legal practitioner and an Associate Lecturer at his alma mater before running for political office. He has since held several elective and appointive positions in Nigeria, namely, the Legal Adviser, National Republican Convention (NRC), 1990-1993; pioneer Chairman of Aninri Local Government, 1997-1998; Chief of Staff, Enugu State. Government House, 1999-2001; and Secretary to the Enugu State Government from 2001-2003.

He was elected a Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District in 2003. He was re-elected into the Senate in 2007 and 2011. In the Senate, he was unanimously elected the Deputy President of the Senate for two consecutive terms in 2007 and 2011.In 2015, he was again re-elected a senator and re-elected for three consecutive times as the Deputy President of the 8th Senate. Ekweremadu became a member of the Nigerian delegation to the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Parliament) in 2003 and was subsequently elected the First Deputy Speaker of the Community Parliament. In 2011 he was unanimously elected the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament. Ekweremadu remembers with deep attachment his election as the chairman of his community age grade at the age of ten years and later the president of his community’s Town Union. These two positions injected in him grassroots impetus and passion for service to humanity. The two positions exposed him to the enormous challenges and needs of his native Mpu community. His desire to render service to Mpu community in particular and Aninri Local Government Area in general was the driving force for his journey into politics. His exceptional performance as the Town Union President leveraged him to win an election under the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party(UNCP) as the pioneer Chairman of Aninri Local Government. In 1997, he was declared the best Council Chairman of the year for constructing an ultra-modern local government secretariat for the newly created local government area within a record time without recourse to loans. His prodigious background facilitated his appointment as the Chief of Staff, Government House of Enugu State in 1999, a position he held most creditably. His sterling qualities and distinctive accomplishments as the Chief of Staff earned him an elevation to the position of the Secretary to the Government of Enugu State in 2001, a position he also held with colour and panache until he was elected a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2003. In the Senate, Ekweremadu has a number of Bills and motions to his credit in addition to several co-sponsored Bills. His Bills include the Civil Process Servers Bill, Private Detectives and Investigators Bill, Federal Land Registry (General Provisions) Bill as well as the State of the Nation Address Bill and the River Basins Development Authority (Amendment) Bill both of which have been passed by the two Chambers of the National Assembly. His co-sponsored Bills include the Nigeria Police Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, Abolition of Discrimination Against Women Bill; National Human Rights Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, and the Legal Aid Council Act (Amendment) Bill. Key among his sole sponsored Motions include “The Absence of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, “The Surging Incident of Kidnapping and Hostage-taking in Nigeria”; “The Outbreak of Hostilities in Jos”, “The Menace of Gully Erosion and Landslide in the South East of Nigeria”. He has also chaired various important Committees in the Senate, including the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, which at present he heads for three consecutive time. As Chairman of this Committee from 2007 to 2011, Senator Ekweremadu has received recognitions and awards for piloting the first successful amendment of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. The amendment resulted in elaborate electoral reforms that laid the foundation for the widely applauded 2011 General Elections. As Chairman of the Joint steering Committee of the Policy Analysis and Research Project (PARP) of the National Assembly (a capacity building project supported by African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), based in Harare, Zimbabwe) from 2007, Sen Ekweremadu effectively steered the Project to a resounding success, resulting in its transformation into a full-fledged National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), which Governing Council he chairs at present. As a Member of the Nigerian Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament since 2003, the First Deputy Speaker in 2007 and subsequently the Speaker of the Community Parliament, he has gained wide reputation as a firm believer and courageous defender of democracy in the West African sub-region. The decisive recommendations of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Ad-Hoc Committee on the Political Situations in Niger Republic and the Republic of Guinea which he chaired, contributed greatly in resolving the crises in favour of democracy. as the Speaker in 2011,Ekweremadu pursued with passion, the Enhancement of the Powers of the Community Parliament as a core Legislative Agenda at the sub-regional parliament. He rallied the Parliament to adopt and submit a Draft Legislation on the Enhancement of the Powers of the Parliament to the ECOWAS Commission for adoption/enactment by the Authority of Heads of State and Government. This is a milestone in the history of the Community Parliament that no Speaker before him ever attained. He also spearheaded an ambitious infrastructural upgrade of the Parliament, including a new office complex for the parliamentarians. The Deputy President of the Senate is an erudite lawmaker. He has so far presented over 20 public lectures and papers within and outside Nigeria to enrich public discourse on the themes of democracy, Nigerian federalism, the Nigerian constitution, security, anti-corruption, environment, and economy. Senator Ekweremadu’s quality representation at the senate resonates with his people. He fulfills the aspirations and consciousness of his constituents. He has within his incumbency in the Senate exited his people from a labyrinth of neglect to a symmetry of infrastructural development. His Youth and Women Empowerment Programmes are legendary. He, for instance, attracted the establishment of five Youth Development Centres, one in each of the five local government areas that comprise his Enugu West constituency. Ikeoha Ndigbo is a philanthropist. He founded the Ikeoha Foundation on assumption of public office as a Council Chairman in 1997. This has been his constituency outreach platform for grassroots development. The Foundation has helped to uplift youths, women, children and other vulnerable members of the society, while also serving the educational needs of over one thousand less privileged students. Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu holds the Nigerian National Honour of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in addition to several honours and awards. He has received honourary doctorate degrees, Doctor of Laws, LLD honoris causa from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and his alma mater, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). He has also been decorated with the Dr. Kwame Nkurumah Africa Leadership Award. He has been conferred with many chieftaincy titles, such as Ochiagha Ndigbo conferred on him by Eze-Nri, the custodian of Igbo culture and Ikeoha Ndigbo, which was bestowed on him by the South East Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers. Senator Ekweremadu was born on May 12, 1962 and is happily married to Lady Nwanneka Ekweremadu, PhD. They are blessed with four children.

Only 115 Sokoto indigenes are enrolled Fedetal Girs' College-: Tambuwal

Worried by the apparent lack enough Sokoto indigenes at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) Tambuwal, the state government has sponsored 115 girls to begin academic pursuits in the institution.

The admission for the 115 girls was secured under the auspices of the newly-created Agency for Female Education.

Though located in Sokoto State, reports indicate that the number of Sokoto indigenes in the school is less than 30, a situation that warrants government to take drastic action to fill the gap.

Speaking to reporters in Sokoto, Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Girl Child Education, Dr. Amamatu Yusuf, said government acted when it was brought to attention that there were few Sokoto indigenes in the school.

“The Agency for Female Education liaised with the Ministry for Local Government to source for students from the 23 local government areas of the state. We organized an entrance examination for them and the best among them were offered admission.

“To lessen the burden on parents, Governor Tambuwal gave approval that all necessary materials needed for fresh students in the College be provided for the new intakes. We therefore distributed mattresses, school bags, sandals, mosquito nets, blankets, schools wears among others free of charge to support them,” she added.

The Adviser noted that all the girls were admitted into JSS 1 and 2 and SSS 1 and 2.

“We will continue to monitor the progress of the girls. Even though this admission circle is over, next time, we will also ensure that anywhere there is deficit in the number of our girls in any College in the country, we will fill it up without hesitation,” she added.

Governor Tambuwal recently created the Agency for Female Education promote and coordinate all issues related to female education from basic to tertiary levels in the state. 

HOW TO COMBAT TERTORISM IN AFRICA-: BY DOGARA *Speaker Dogara calls for active vigilance by citizens, parliaments to protect democracy

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has called for active vigilance by citizens of any democracy, saying this is how to ensure that liberty that democracy promises is achieved. 

Dogara, who was speaking when a delegation  of MPs from Puntland State of Somalia paid him a courtesy visit in his office, also explained that this is the role of an independent parliament.

He added that for any democracy to thrive,  an inquisitive, vibrant parliament must be on ground to check the excesses of the executive and judiciary, especially as the media and civil society organisations may not be independent in many nations. 

"For you to have a democracy, you have to have a parliament that is independent,  a parliament that is inquisitive, a parliament that is a watchdog and a parliament that is always on the heels of the executive and the judiciary. Because the whole aim of democracy is liberty and we all know that power is very sweet.

 

"In fact, one of jurists in those days had posited that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, especially executive power that is very, very sweet and the price every democracy must pay in order to maintain liberty is vi-vigilance and there is no level at which this vigilance is maintained more than the parliament itself. 

"In many nations, the media is not independent, it is an appendage of the government, they tell the media what information they want to pass to the public. 

"In some countries, the civil societies are not independent, they are offshoots  of government being promoted by different department and so, they can't do the work of democracy. The work of democracy is done by parliament. 

One of those great things that parliament does is ensuring that elections are reflective of the wishes of the majority of the people. Because if you are talking about representative democracy, then the system has to be free and fair.  It must have to hold within an environment that is devoid of intimidation because when people are intimidated, their will can be supplanted. But when elections are held in a very free and fair atmosphere, the will of the people now translates into governmental power. The people holding onto the reins of power and those people who they have decides to be there," the Speaker said. 

He added that Nigeria will continue to provide support to other African countries in order to help in their development and achieve a system that will benefit the whole continent. 

While extending his condolences to the people of Somalia for the devastation they suffer due to terrorist activities, the Speaker also urged African nations to unite against terrorism on the continent.

Earlier, Speaker of Puntland State of Somali parliament, Hon Ahmed Ali Shire, said the delegation is in Nigeria for a benchmarking and study visit.

He also expressed satisfaction at the knowledge they have acquired so far, adding that their parliament will like to maintain a relationship with the Nigerian National Assembly to benefit from its experiences, technical knowledge and capacity. 

The lawmaker also hinted that their parliament will replicate the National Institute of Legislative Studies in their legislature.

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No Justification for herdsmen’s terrorism – HURIWA to Defence Minister; *Warns against attack on free speech:

Demanding that President Muhammadu Buhari balance the composition of the National Defence Council to stop the illegal dominance of one ethno-religious group, a human rights platform – Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has asked the minister of Defence retired Major General Mansur Dan-Ali to stop providing subtle justification for the dastardly criminal attacks by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen.

To this prominent civil society group, the statement credited to the Minister of Defence which affirmed that the proliferation of anti-open grazing laws in different states of the federation and blockade of so-called grazing routes were responsible for bloody violence unleashed by armed Fulani herdsmen, was unpatriotic and unstatesmanly even as HURIWA accused the presidency of pampering suspected armed Fulani herdsmen because of similarity in ethno-religious affiliations with all heads of internal security agencies under President Buhari including the defence minister who is Fulani also.

In order to douse the mutual mistrust that has been further exacerbated and heightened by the unacceptable statement of subtle justification of the attacks as contained in the reported media statement of the serving Defence Minister who is of Hausa/Fulani ethnicity, HURIWA has once more called on President Buhari to respect the constitutional provision of federal character principle and to commence the immediate and comprehensive reconstitution of the national security team to reflect the Federal character of Nigeria and end the ugly era of the Fulanisation of national security team. 

Specifically, Section 42 (1) (2) of the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeris of 1999 (as amended) averred that: “(1) A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person – (a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government to disabilities or restrictions to which citizen of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or (b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizen Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions; (2) No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth”.

HURIWA insists that the lopsided domination of the Security forces by Hausa/Fulani Ethnicity is a grave breach of the extant provision as coted above even as the selective appointments of persons from one section of Nigeria amounted to discrimination which is absolutely illegal and unconstitutional. 

“Nigerians expect the holder of the high office of Defence Minister to be patriotic enough to denounce blood cuddling terror attacks being masterminded by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen, but what has come out from the meeting of President Buhari’s security meeting as relayed by the Defence Minister shows that the current administration is not determined to arrest, prosecute and punish all perpetrators of the bloody killings in Benue, Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa and Enugu states suspected to be armed Fulani herdsmen but rather the national security forum has now become the mouthpiece of cattle owners who are mostly Fulani”.

“The current administration must respect the constitution and provide security to lives and property of the citizens and should desist from making irresponsible and insensitive statements which may be construed as seeking justification for the numerous bloody attacks waged by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen". 

"The claim that anti-open grazing laws and the blockade of grazing routes for the attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen is shocking and alarming to have emanated from someone whose salaries are maintained by the tax payers of all ethno-religious components that make up the Nigerian state. The Defence Minister must be sanctioned by relevant authorities for issuing this callous and insensitive statement which amounts to dancing on the graves of the thousands of innocent Nigerians massacred by armed Fulani herdsmen in the last three years since Buhari came into office".

Stating that states have the constitutional powers to make laws to guarantee security of lives and property of their citizens which is what the anti-open grazing laws means, HURIWA referred the Defence minister to the Constitution in Section 11 (1) (2) which provide thus: “(1) The National Assembly may make laws for the federation or any part thereof with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order and providing, maintaining and securing of such supplies and services as may be designated by the National Assembly as essential supplies and services; (2) Nothing in this section shall preclude a House of Assembly from making laws with respect to the matters referred to in this section, including the provision for maintenance and securing of such supplies and services as may be designated by the National Assembly as essential supplies and services”.

Also, HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) in the media statement through the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, warned the federal government to perish the thoughts of beginning an illegal war against free speech. "No government in this modern era will succeed in turning Nigeria into a full blown dictatorship without incurring active resistance from millions of the citizens who would become slaves and second class citizens should they keep quite and allow the dictator to institutionalise tyranny of one man". 

The Rights group said any attempt through subterfuge to whittle down the enjoyment of the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of speech and media rights would amount to waging war against constitutional democracy even as the Rights group warned government not to carry out its threat to go after new media users in the guise of fighting hate speech because what is being planned is simply an illegal war against constitutionalism.

CAN’S RESPONSE TO GARBA SHEHU FOR DEFENDING WHAT IS INDENFENSIBLE AND TO JNI FOR ACCUSING CAN OF USING HERDSMEN TO DESTABILIZE NIGERIA.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) through its secretariat had a press conference on January 16, 2018 in which they called the attention of the Federal Government to the current situation in the country in which the Fulani Herdsmen are going about killing innocent people with impunity and the lopsided appointments in the Security and Education sectors by President Muhammadu Buhari. The press conference was read by the General Secretary of the Association Rev. Dr. Musa Asake. Immediately after the Press conference, Garba Shehu who is the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity released a press statement in which he accused me that in my press statement “I could not cite any valid cases of constitutional violations.” While his accusation was going round, the JNI had a press conference in Kaduna on January 21, 2018, in which they accused CAN of using Herdsmen to Destabilize Nigeria. This development becomes very necessary for me to respond to the two accusations to put the record straight so that Nigerians should not be misled into believing those hypocritical statements. 

MY RESPONSE TO GARBA SHEHU’S ACCUSATION: He Is Selling a Bad Product 
Frankly speaking, Garba Shehu should be pitied with his current position because he is  trying to sell a bad product and as a result he cannot do without being sycophantic. Unfortunately for him, in his bid to defend President Muhammadu Buhari, whose government’s record for nepotism, favoritism and discrimination is second to none, Shehu goofed by claiming that I “could not cite any valid cases of constitutional violations”. It is apparently clear that Shehu did not read the full text of my address at the Press Conference before kicking against it otherwise, he would have kept quiet. Because in my address, I said inter alia, “...By failing to curb the attacks of the Fulani herdsmen President Buhari has failed to uphold Section 14, Para. 2 (b) in the Constitution which reads, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” 

Through his partial, sectional and discriminatory appointments, particularly in Security and Education, President Buhari violated Section 14, Para. 3 which reads: “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.” 

So, how comes Garba Shehu is clamming that I could not cite any valid cases of constitutional violations? Let me make it clear to Mr. Shehu Garba and suggest that he checks the records, read the daily papers, and listens to what concern Nigerians who are saying that President Buhari has no respect for the Federal Character Commission. I still stand firmly on my position that President Buhari has been making sectional and discriminatory appointments in the Security and Education sectors which poses threat to the country’s democracy and constitution. I advised him to speak with any lawyer outside the Presidency on several sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) that are being violated by his principal. It was John F. Kennedy Jr. who said, “Politics is too important to be left to the politicians.”   For obvious reasons, it seems to me that Garba Shehu is ignorant of the function of the Church to the society. As a Servant of God and a Minister of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, I have a divine mandate to be a voice to the voiceless, to condemn the evil in the land and to praise or criticize the government as the need arises. 

My Response to JNI FOR ACCUSING CAN OF USING HERDSMEN TO DESTABILIZE NIGERIA: JNI is Protecting Fulani Herdsmen Killers 

My attention has been drawn to the full text of the statement by the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, read by its secretary, Dr. Khalid Aliyu where as usual, they ignored the substance of the position of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to the ongoing genocide in some states of the Federation. Instead of facing the reality and admit its ungodly complicity with the Fulani terrorists, the JNI leadership  at its press conference held in Kaduna on Sunday January 21, 2018, embarked upon character assassination, acrimony, vulgar abuse in their futile attempt to justify their ungodly, unpatriotic and wicked support for the murderous Fulani herdsmen who are also enjoying the complicity of the security agencies whose headships are occupied by the JNI’s cronies at the expense of the unity and progress of our dear country Nigeria. 

It is an open secret that the criminal activities of their boys have gone to the extreme because of the tacit encouragement they are getting from the leadership of the JNI, the way and manner they did for the Boko Haram terrorists when they began thinking they were spreading Islam in the country. There was never a time the JNI has come out publicly to condemn the criminal activities of the Fulani herdsmen since they have begun killing and maiming the innocent all because most of their activities were targeted at Christians in the Northcentral, Enugu, Ondo, Ekiti and a host of others. If otherwise, how come that it was the Press Conference addressed by CAN that forced the JNI to break its ungodly silence over the evil in the land, that is being perpetrated by the people they not only know too well but they have been protecting, for religious and tribal sentiments, which literally tied the hands of the security chiefs who also share same sentiments. 

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) wishes to protest the lack of seriousness and kindergarten approach of JNI to serious national issues. We are amazed that the spokesman of Jama’atu Nasril Islam could ascribe the ownership and control of Fulani herdsmen to any Christian organization. Such attempt to stand reason on its head does not portray JNI as a serious minded organization. We used to assume that JNI is a credible and responsible organization that can meaningfully engage in national discourse.  Unfortunately, the response of Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu is a great disappointment. 

May we suggest to his Eminence, the President of Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, to reach into the community of educated Muslims and find serious minded individuals that could engage in serious national issues to speak for JNI. The Fulani herdsmen are Muslims. For the herdsmen, it would be considered demeaning if anyone should ascribe any other religion apart from Islam to them. Therefore, for anyone to suggest that the Fulani herdsmen are “franchise” of CAN is the most unimaginative and ridiculous statement of the century. 

We noted the poor attempt of JNI to distract people’s attention, without addressing the issues, in the waves of Islamist religious insurgency in Nigeria. The murderous attacks of the Fulani herdsmen are insufferable and we must speak out in condemnation of both the Fulani herdsmen and their murderous activities. Not only will the Christian Association of Nigeria speak out, CAN shall also encourage other Christian and humanitarian bodies to speak out. Speaking in condemnation of cold-blooded murder cannot be termed “hate speech”. The truth can neither be referred to as hate speech, nor can it be overshadowed by sentiment. The attacks of Fulani herdsmen have to be highlighted particularly after the attacks of genocidal proportions in Benue State. Christians were the victims of the unprovoked criminal attacks on their homestead. In the circumstance, no one can accuse CAN of overheating the polity. Those who are overheating the polity are the sponsors and protectors of the Fulani herdsmen. And in due course, justice and judgment shall catch up with them. 

It is rather unfortunate that the State structure set up to protect all citizens has become discriminatory in the discharge of its functions. While some citizens are protected, some are exposed to danger while the instrument of the state is being used to protect the assailant criminals. Christians in Nigeria realize that even the existing political parties no longer protect Christians. As nature abhors vacuum, CAN is compelled by the circumstances to speak for Christians in Nigeria. Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen are Moslem organizations and both have confirmed that they are waging jihad in Nigeria. Christians do not have similar organizations anywhere in the world that goes about killing innocent people to enlarge Christianity. 

Bishop Oyedepo, Bishop Kukah, Apostle Suleiman, Prophet El Buba, and many other Christian leaders in the vanguard of defending Christians and Christian communities are filling the void which Christian politicians and politically correct Christians are meant to fill. These men of God cannot remain silent while Christians are being slaughtered like rams. The often touted claim that more Muslims are killed than Christians is nothing but “Taqiyya” because Muslims killed in error by the Jihadists have earned 70 virgins in paradise. From the pattern of attacks over the years, it is clear that the target of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen are Christians while Muslims that are victims are referred to as “collateral damage”. 

In order, not to prolong debate on this issue, I will like to refer JNI, all Muslim leaders, and Islamic organizations in Nigeria to the following questions for it is my hope that JNI would seek answers to these credible questions and in the process, correct its kindergarten assumptions. 

First, Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram, in one of his video releases, said in 2012, “… This war is not political. It is religious. It is between Muslims and unbelievers (arna). It will stop when Islamic religion is the determinant in governance in Nigeria or, in the alternative, when all fighters are annihilated and no one is left to continue the fight. I warn all Muslims at this juncture that any Muslim who assists an unbeliever in this war should consider himself an unbeliever and should consider himself dead.” If this statement is not a declaration of Jihad, could Muslim leaders explain what this means? 

Second, In a 154-page Research Report conducted by Arne Mulder in 2015, the researcher affirmed that over 13,000 Christian places of worship (Churches) have been destroyed in Northern Nigeria as at December 2014. Under what condition do Muslim insurgents destroy Churches if not Jihad? 

Third, On the 4th of February, 2017, the United States Congress affirmed that the most dangerous nation on earth for anyone to be a Christian is Nigeria. The implication is that Nigerian Christians have become endangered species in a country in which they constitute over 50% of the population. 

Fourth, According to the Global Index on Terror, the 1st and the 4th most terrible Islamic Terrorist organizations in the world operate in Nigeria. Boko Haram is 1st while the Fulani Herdsmen is 4th. If these terror organizations are not fighting Jihad, what then are they doing in Nigeria?  

Fifth, Under the present administration, every key and sensitive position in National Security is held by Muslims from the North, in outright violation of Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution. Also early in the life of this administration, we recall that more than 95% of senior army officers retired from the Military were Christians.  In NNPC, only recently, more than 95% of the new appointments into senior management positions are Northern Muslims.  Taking these developments in conjunction with the lopsided appointments in National Security, is one not confronted with the inevitable conclusion that there is a deliberate attempt to emasculate Christians, Southerners and other non-Muslim population of Nigeria verifiably by intimidation and force which are stealth Jihad? 

Sixth, Despite unconstitutionally appropriating all security positions to the Muslim North, the Fulani Herdsmen operate with impunity in mostly Christian areas, killing, maiming, raping, and destroying without any arrest, without any prosecution. If this is not complicity of the Muslim dominated Security services, are we then to conclude that the Nigerian security units are so incompetent that they cannot successfully engage insurgents after the Nigerian Army successfully prosecuted a Civil War? 

Seventh, Added to the above are the big questions begging for answers. Who is funding and equipping the Islamic insurgents? And more importantly, who is shielding them from prosecution? 

Eight, We would not wish to belabor these issues but rather appeal to the distinguished leaders of Islam, who have stepped forward to be identified, to join us in putting Nigeria first. Nigeria is a Secular State according to Section 10 of the Constitution, but a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious society. The diversity in the country should be harnessed for progress and prosperity and not resisted thus leading to disintegration of the country. It is wishful thinking for anyone to imagine the possibility of imposing one religion or one culture on 389 Ethnic Nationalities. 
God bless Nigeria! 

Signed 
Rev. Dr. Musa Asake 
General Secretary 
Christian Association of Nigeria 
23rd January, 2018 

Breast Cancer Awareness: Mrs Akeredolu takes BRECAN to Imo and Abuja

Wife of the Ondo State Governor and founder of Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) Chief (Mrs) Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has disclosed her plan to Organise a town hall meeting on breast cancer in Imo State as part of activities on the campaign against breast cancer and awareness.

According to a release from the office of the first lady, stated that the event which would come up on the 1st of February 2018, is part of activities marking the 2018 world cancer day,  at the auditorium of the Imo State University, Owerri, would be chaired by a renowned medical consultant, Revd Dr Angelica  Anele, from the Federal Medical Center Owerri.

The release further stated that the event would also featured investiture of Imo State executives of BRECAN, fund raising and clinical breast clinic among others.

According to the statement, the clinical breast screening programme will commence by 8 in the morning, while the investiture proper comes up by 2pm same day.

The Special Guests of honour are the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha and his wife, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha, while His Royal Majesty Eze Samuel Ohiri, Eze of Imo and his queen Ugoeze Chioma are expected to be Royal Father and Royal mother of the day respectively.

In a similar development, the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, will inaugurate the Abuja chapter of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) on Sunday February 4th 2018, at the NAF Conference Center Abuja by 4pm.

According to the organisers, the event will also feature a public lecture and fund raising for the organization.
While a keynote address will be delivered by Dr. U. N Shagaya.

Saraki Laments Funding Constraints in National Assembly

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has stated that despite the widespread perception that the National Assembly is being overfunded, it is actually grappling with funding constraints in carrying out it statutory functions.

Saraki, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Print Media, Chuks Okocha, disclosed this when he paid a working visit to the Chairman and members of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) at their temporary office located in Utako, Abuja on Wednesday.

Responding to the request of the Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Adamu Fika, to have a permanent office of the Commission inside the National Assembly complex, Saraki pledged the support of the leadership towards the project, while noting that adequate funding remains the major challenge of the National Assembly.

Saraki said: "One of the things that I see here today is the issue of budgetary constraints. However, the impression around the country is often that the National Assembly has too much money. But we have seen the challenges of the last few years.

"As we work through the number of bills passed, the public hearings held, and the number of ad-hoc committees that have been established — we know the challenges of not being able to fund some of our activities. 

"So far, I am happy to report that despite these constraints, the 8th Senate has been able to surpass all previous Senates in the number of Bills that we have passed in 2-years — despite the funding gaps.

"We know that as we continue over time, people will begin to have more confidence in the National Assembly. However, right now, the challenges that we have are the issue of perception, and the issue of funding. We need to work hard to change this", he said.

Saraki who is also the Chairman of the National Assembly, further noted that it has not been easy for Nigerians to appreciate the various roles of the legislature as an  arm of government being the youngest of the three arms of government.

"Therefore, we all have a lot of work in trying to make the people appreciate the role of the legislature in our democracy," Saraki said. "This has not been easy, this is why I am sure that working with the Commission, we can work towards this together so that we can improve the image of the National Assembly."

Earlier, the Chairman of the NASC, Dr. Adamu Fika, lamented that the commission still operates from a rented apartment with the attendant cost. 

He enjoined the leadership of the National Assembly to come to its aid by supporting it to build a befitting permanent office within the National Assembly complex.

He however commended Saraki for being the first President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly to have visited the office of the commission.

Herdsmen’s Killings: human lives more precious than cows: - HURIWA TO ARMY

The reported deployment of operatives if the Niger Army by the presidency to Niger State to battle the scourge of cattle rustling whilst sending only police to checkmate the dastardly animal acts of herdsmen’s terror campaign in Benue State has been criticized as insensitive and unfortunate.

A prominent civil rights body – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) which made the observation in a statement also faulted and dismissed as mischievously uninformed the reported claim by presidential spokesman Mr. Femi Adesina that soldiers are not to chase after armed herdsmen because it is outside the remit of their constitutional duties.

In a media release endorsed jointly by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA reminded President Muhammadu Buhari that the constitution of Nigeria obliges him as a primary duty of care to the citizens, to deploy all resources and manpower towards the protection of lives and property of the citizenry.

Citing section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 constitution HURIWA criticized the undue attention that the current President pays to the issues of stopping the criminal acts of cattle rustling but lamented that when the incessant violent attacks and killings of farmers by suspected armed Fulani threatens national security, the government is too slow or totally inactive.

Besides, HURIWA said the obligation to end internal insurrection which the frequent terror attacks launched by armed Fulani herdsmen constitute, remains a fundamental constitutional duties of the military as enshrined in section 218 (1) of the constitution even as the Rights group said since the President is an office holder elected not by cows by human beings, it is therefore unconstitutional to use the soldiers to defend the private commercial interests of Fulani herdsmen instead of deployment of armed security forces to protect lives and property of Nigerians.

Specifically, section 218 (1) (2) and (3) specifies as follows: “(1) The powers of the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation shall include power to determine the operational use of the armed forces of the Federation; (2) the Powers conferred on the President by subsection (1) of this section shall include power to appoint the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and heads of any other branches of the armed forces of the Federation as may be established by an Act of the National Assembly; (3) the President may, by directions in writing and subject to such conditions as he may think fit, delegate to any member of the armed forces of the Federation his powers relating to the operational use of the Armed Forces of the Federation”.

HURIWA also carpeted the presidential spokesmen for defending the non-deployment of soldiers to crush armed Fulani herdsmen just as the Rights group referred the presidential media Adviser to section 217 (2) (a) to (d) of the 1999 constitution to understand that the duty of care to ensure right to life of Nigerians rather than right to life of cows rests squarely on the armed security forces.

Section 217 (2) (a); (b); (c); and (d) provides thus: “(2) the federation shall, subject to an Act of the National Assembly made in that behalf, equip and maintain the armed forces as may be considered adequate and effective for the purpose of; defending Nigeria from external aggression; maintaining its territorial integrity and security its borders from violation on land, sea or air; suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the president, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly; and performing such other functions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly”.

HURIWA has therefore tasked President Buhari and the National Assembly to quickly activate mechanism for the creation of a regular department of all the armed security forces whose sole duty would be to chase after armed Fulani herdsmen. The group has further called for the classification by Nigeria of armed Fulani herdsmen as terrorists.

As a result of incessant kidnapping and cattle rustling in some parts of Niger State, the military authorities have deployed a special squad to the state to dislodge the criminals.

Indication to this effect came to light when the General Officer commanding 1 Mechanized Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Major Gen Mohammed Mohammed, led other top military officers to intimate the acting Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso, at Government House on the development.

Other on the GOC's team were Garrison Commander, Major Gen Odiakor, Col. Yau, who represented Commander Signals and Staff Officer of the GOC, Col. Obayo.

The team had separate meetings with the Acting Governor, Alhaji Ketso and Secretary to the state Government, Alhaji Isah Ladan, before leaving the Government House.

They were accompanied by five loads of heavily armed Soldiers.

Journalists were shut out of the meetings, but Vanguard gathered that the mission of the military top brass to the state is tagged "Operation Yaki" aimed at dislodging the criminals from the state.

It was also gathered that the operation would be led by the GOC Commander, General Mohammed Mohammed, though the date for the commencement of the operation is still hazy.

There have been incessant cases of kidnapping and cattle rustling in the state in the past few months heightening insecurity in the state.

Three Local Government Areas mostly affected are Shiroro, Munyan and Rafi.