Justice Aloma:Beyond Gender By Issa Aremu.

Newsdiaryonline.

Nigerian print media coverage of the historic swearing in of Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, had been remarkable. However a visitor from an outer space reading through the praise-word would have been misled to assume that the singular historic inauguration of the 13th indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria, was another exercise in Nigeria’s distorted elitist office sharing gender affirmative action of which an accomplished judge was a beneficiary.
The simplistic and misleading and patronizing headlines included; “First female CJN in Nigeria”, “The Iron-Lady takes charge of Judiciary”, “Age of Women”, ad infinitum. Joy Emodi, the presidential liaison officer on Assembly matters overdramatized the gender dimension of Justice Aloma’s deserved appointment while praising President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing Justice Mukhtar CJN. According to her; “The appointment of Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, a woman, to head one of the three arms of government in Nigeria for the first time in almost 100 years of the country’s existence and 52 years of Nigeria ’s Independence is a victory for Nigerian women. This is a great moment in history. By this action, President Goodluck Jonathan has added a new dimension to his promise of gender inclusive government and promotion of women. He has indeed lifted Nigerian women to greater heights and left an indelible mark in the annals of this nation.” We were denied the benefit of the robust profile of Justice Aloma who was at the court of Appeal for 17 years and had been in the Supreme Court for almost a decade of meritorious service.
We were not even told that justice Aloma was the most senior Judge of the supreme court legitimately derserving of the appoitment. Belatedly we thank God that Emordi remembered to tell those who care to listen after her dramatized gender card that Justice Mukhtar’s appointment was indeed based on merit and not on federal or gender character. With such exaggerated gender outlook of the likes of presidential spokespersons like Emordi, one can appreciate while President Jonathan’s speech at CJN’s inauguration opened with the recognition of Justice Aloma first as a woman rather than globally accomplished jurist that she is. Witness the President; “Today we are witness to history with the swearing-in of the Honourable Justice Aloma
Mariam Mukhtar, CFR, as the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria.” Certainly Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar is an accomplished woman. It is certainly remarkable and historic that she is truly the first female Chief Justice of the Federation worthy of celebrating. However our obsession with gender dimension of Justice Aloma’s deserved appointment as CJN if care is not taken further points to our readiness to undervalue the participation of women in nation building and belittle their achievements made in spite their gender. In a continent in which women hit the headlines because of their status as spouses either as first ladies, female headship of the judiciary might rightly capture the imagination. But even at that narrow perspective, the point cannot be  over stated that Justice Aloma’s earned nomination and confirmation by the Senate was a product of hard work in a competitive gender blind merit-based setting like judiciary spanning decades. Hers is a fallout of earned and deserved appointment than an ascribed gender. All of us, not just women but men too who are eager to follow her footsteps must realise thatthere is a long walk to deserved appointment. Former Justice Dhahiru Musdapher bowed out as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) after attaining the mandatory age of 70 years and meritorious sevice just like the immediate past CJN Justice Alfa Belgore.
It should be pointed that Justice Aloma is not the “first lady” heading an “arm of government” in the sense of ladies whose roles are defined in relations to their husbands who hold public offices, but in the sense of a first achiever who worked desrevedly worked herself up for merit and integrity. Happily too President Jonathan’s speech says as much “…the learned Chief Justice achieved this outstanding feat on account of her brilliance, resilience and hard work”. For Nigeria, the appointment of Justice Aloma, (whose acknowledged  zero-tolerance for corruption in judiciary is global) assumes even special importance. Justice Mukhtar is reputed for her courage. We must support her to courageously rid judiciary of the acknowledged rot of dubious injunctions, judgment for sale in place of justice, rule of extortionist lawyers in place of rule of law. Her robust testimony and all inclusive knowledge based submissions for genuine judicial reforms at the senate confirmation hearing are refreshing for citizens who are sick of serial judgments in Nigeria’s courts without justice.

Arraignment of Oil Marketers Not Suspended ,Says EFCC.

 Newsdiaryonline.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ,EFCC on Tuesday debunked a reports that  the arraignment of  fuel marketers accused of subsidy fraud has been suspended. A statement  by Wilson Uwujaren, acting spokesman of  EFCC said  the alleged political  pressure on the  anti-graft agency over the subsidy fraud trial  was a “distasteful misrepresentation.”
“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has been drawn to a report which appeared in Thisday Newspaper of Tuesday, August 7^th, 2012 with the banner, Subsidy: EFCC Suspends Arraignment of Marketers. The report suggests that the Commission has, following political pressure, suspended further arraignment of oil marketing companies and their directors suspected to have been involved in the fuel subsidy scam.  The Commission views the suggestion as a distasteful misrepresentation of the reality on ground,” spokesman EFCC said.
Uwujaren added that , “The true position is that there is no untoward pressure on the EFCC to charge or suspend the charging of any suspect to court.
Secondly, the fact that the Commission has not taken any accused person to court in the past few days is simply because the courts have all gone on break and EFCC can only take matters before open courts.
It must be restated however, that, before the first batch of suspects were charged two weeks ago, the Commission had announced that the arraignment of suspects involved in the subsidy fraud shall be at intervals.  That format was chosen given the number of organisations and individuals involved in the on-going investigation.”
Finally, the statement said, “After the first batch of suspects (20 in all) were arraigned, the courts went on recess.  When they resume, the Commission would certainly continue with the prosecution of the first batch and arraignment of the next set of oil subsidy scam suspects.”

Condemn Boko Haram If You Don’t Support Them – E.K. Clark Dares IBB and Buhari.

Elder statesman and frontline Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on Wednesday declared that some highly placed individuals from the Northern part of the country were behind the increasing spate of violence in Nigeria to actualize their vow of “making the nation ungovernable for President Jonathan.”
Our source gathered that he said the likes of former governors Peter Odili, Uzor Kalu, Joshua Dariye and others shouldn’t be walking free if Nigeria is truly serious to fight corruption.
Speaking as a guest lecturer at the “2nd State of the Federation Lecture” organized by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Clark challenged two former heads of state, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari, to establish their innocence by publicly condemning the deadly activities of the Boko Haram Islamic sect.
In his words: “Our type of terrorism is home grown, unlike in Israel and the US, where terrorism was imported from the Middle-East. Here our Nigerians are the Boko Harams. Boko Haram which was religious has now become a political tool.
“Those who said they would make Nigeria ungovernable are those behind Boko Haram. It is our proverb that if in the night a mother sleeps with the child and owl cries, if in the morning that child dies, it is the owl that killed the baby. Federal Government should pick up courage and the political will to take up these people, if that is done I believe the problem of Boko Haram will be solved.
“If the Federal Government should dialogue with them, the government of those states should be able to galvanize their people. What are their grievances? Like in the Niger Delta, our own agitation was for the implementation of the 50% derivation formula, today, what is their grievance?
“They are killing everybody, security forces, burning churches, burning human beings. I appeal to governors, instead of devoting themselves to holding governorship meetings in Abuja every month; they should go home and work. They should be made to know that if they don’t perform, state of emergency will be declared in their states for six months.
“Two former heads of state recently made this kind of appeal against the growing level of insecurity in the country, as if they were not part of the system when Boko Haram was formed.
“Boko Haram preceded Jonathan. It started in 2002 when Obasanjo was President. It was there when Yar’Adua was also ruling. It is not synonymous with Jonathan. I had expected that somebody like Babangida should have spoken since. I thought he would have spoken with his friend Buhari. Two of them have been meeting. So why is he now with Obasanjo?
“At 72, Babangida said he will wear uniform and fight for the unity of Nigeria, he should therefore stand up now and condemn Boko Haram from the bottom of his heart, not with Obasanjo.
“Obasanjo has gone to Maiduguri to meet the people, why has Babangida not gone?” he asked.

iReporterstv.

Legislators too corrupt to impeach Jonathan – Nzeribe.

ABUJA – MAVERICK politician, Senator Arthur Nzeribe, yesterday slammed
members of the National Assembly that they no longer command respect
from Nigerians which will give them the moral courage to impeach
President Goodluck Jonathan over poor implementation of the 2012
budget.

Senator Nzeribe who said he doubts if members of the House of
Representatives understood what it takes to impeach the President,
however described as an effort in futility the proposed impeachment
threat, adding that with the high level of corruption in the system,
it will not be possible for any serious-minded legislature to
successfully carry out an impeachment process, ''wind don blow their
yash open.''

Speaking during an interactive session with Journalists yesterday in
his Apo residence in Abuja, Senator Nzeribe said, ''I doubt if they
understand what they are doing. Nobody respects the average lawmaker
anymore in Nigeria. With the kind of corruption in the system, I do
not think the impeachment threat is real.
''I don't think that the House has the right to summon the President,
but there is nothing wrong with the President walking across then road
and say 'I have come to brief you'. You can't continue to threaten to
impeach the President all the time.''

The Oguta born Politician who also took on Ijaw leader and elder
statesman, Chief Edwin Clark over his last Wednesday's comments on the
activities of the Boko Haram sect, however challenged him to come up
with names of those behind them since he knows them.

According to him, the Elder Statesman, rather than cast aspersions on
some Northern leaders, he should not stop half way by raising alarm
about their sponsors, but should go beyond that.

He however condemned the measures being taken by President Jonathan
and the government in tackling the activities of agents of terror and
sundry issues, just as he urged the President to name names of those
behind the Boko Haram sect against the backdrop that he had mentioned
that they were even in his cabinet, adding that with the almost
everyday massive killings and wanton destruction of property by these
persons, the time has come for the not just saying he knows them, but
he should go after them and arrest the sect members and their
sponsors.

''I don't seem to agree with the way the President is handling the
matter. The President once said the Boko Haram people have penetrated
the government, why has he not made any arrest? We should know who
they are beyond the President telling us that they are in his
government,'' he said.

The Senator who represented Orlu Zone in the Senate during the 4th and
5th National Assembly however expressed concern about the political
developments and in his home state, Imo, stressing that the state
presently under Chief Rochas Okorocha was not only groaning under a
rudderless leadership following his activities, even as he warned that
Imo State may also sink deeper with the 'cowardice' being exhibited by
those who should ordinarily speak against the 'democratic apathy.'

Nzeribe who also expressed fears that the state may degenerate into
the Hobbesian jungle, however called on his colleagues in the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP from the state to shake off the posture of
helplessness and work towards providing purposeful leadership.

According to him, ''I have been very careful, since Rochas took power,
to say anything for or against his administration. But things are
getting worst by the day. It is a very dangerous situation we are
having in Imo State and nobody is ready to bell the cat.

''Must it take the order of the Attorney General of then Federation
for the 27 local government chairmen to be reinstated? Must the
response from Imo State to order of the court for the immediate
reinstatement of the 27 LGA chairmen be that 'since the Federal
Government refused to reinstate Salami as ordered by the NJC , Imo
State is at liberty not to obey court order? Why, for example, take
such a position on the Salami saga?

Speaking on the Justice Ayo Salami's case, Senator Nzeribe who berated
President Goodluck Jonathan for failing to heed to National Judicial
Council's recommendation that he should be reinstated as the President
of the Court of Appeal after being cleared of any wrongdoing in the
prolonged battle with former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Katsina
Alu, stressed that such flagrant abuse of the law by the President was
being copied by state governors like that of Imo State who now ignore
court orders at will.

The Senator who spoke further on Chief Edwin Clark's statement said,
"On Clark's statement that Babangida and Buhari should openly condemn
the sect, I thought Clark has a platform to say what he has in mind.
He has been the spokesman of the government for quite sometime now.
Why is he throwing the balloon in the air for it to burst? He should
tell us what he knows.
''Clark did not go the full hog. If he has fingered one or two
persons, then we would have known where he was going. ''

When asked to comment on the Bamanga Tukur led National Working
Committee of the PDP, Senator Nzeribe who acknowledged that the PDP
has not provided quality leadership at the federal, state and local
government levels, said the party was still grappling with the best
way of managing the opposition, even as he reinstated his implicit
confidence in the Bamanga Tukur to set the party on the right track.

Naija News.

The State of the Nigerian Nation By Ahmed Joda.

Last week two of our former Presidents, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Babangida, issued an unprecedented statement drawing our attention to the danger facing our national existence and urging that we face our problems from the grass roots. This is the minimum we should expect from our past leaders and all those who claim or aspire to lead us.
This country must look forward to the positive contributions of all our past leaders and all those who have held high public office. The debate about our future cannot be left in the hands of only those who now hold public office.
Our country has passed through difficult times, including a civil war and has survived. We must not mistake the fact of our survival to anything such as military might. The truth is that we have survived because the ordinary Nigerian overwhelmingly desires to live together in one united country under some commonly acceptable arrangement.
It is quite clear from all we are passing through and from all the political debates in which we have been engaged in, that there is a sufficient body of opinion around the country that the present arrangements are not adequate and need to be discussed further. Some have gone to the extreme by suggesting the convocation of A Sovereign National Conference to renegotiate the terms and conditions of our continued Corporate Existence
Many; some of them well meaning, in every part of the country, are very fearful that this is a formula for disaster that will lead to the disintegration of the country as we know it and a descent into interminable political and social crisis and violence, the like that has existed in Somalia for more than two decades now. Although such an outcome cannot be ruled out the problems we face, do not permit us to ignore the fact we need and must address these problems in order to safeguard our future either as one unit or some other form of arrangement. It is much better to face the issues frontally, discuss them frankly in an open forum, and come up with solutions that can endure and ensure for us a peaceful existence.
Many in positions of in authority in the Executive and in the Legislatures are understandably, fearful of opening up the  Pandora’s Box. In my opinion we cannot keep the Box shut forever. There will always remain a substantial and influential body of opinion that will reject any Constitutional tinkering that does not address some of the more important issues pertaining to our common existence. Not addressing these issues openly and frankly in a free and fair debate between our true representatives will not permit the orderly continued existence of Nigeria and or engender the potential for us to resume the rapid economic and social development that we all desire.
I suggest that we should immediately begin to address the very important issue of  how to constitute the body that will review our Constitution. Both the Executive and the Legislative branches of our Government maintain that Nigeria is a Sovereign Nation governed by an elected President and bicameral legislature, in whose hands all decisions lie and who, therefore are the bodies entrusted by the people to take all decision including those affecting their existence and their fate.
The above stance may, as far as the law stands and is concerned, be the legalistic position. But we have issues of credibility and therefore moral recognition and acceptability to contend with. What the advocates of a Sovereign National Conference, are saying is that the elections that brought these people into office were not credible. The court verdicts, that maintains them there are also questionable. Even opponents of the Sovereign National Conference do question the credibility of the elections and the verdicts of the courts.
In this situation, it is clearly not safe to leave matters of the review of the Constitution in the hands of those now in power. In order for us to undertake a comprehensive review of the Constitution, a body different from the present National Assembly, State Houses of Assemblies and the Presidency should be empowered to undertake the task.
This contribution is only concerned in drawing attention to the need to devise an acceptable way of approach towards a solution of our constitution and the political crisis associated with the exercise.
It appears that a likely more acceptable arrangement will be the establishment of a Constituent Assembly, with a full mandate to comprehensively review the Constitution. The Constituent Assembly should be composed of an entirely elected membership. No representation should be permitted for special interests. The election should be on zero political party bases. Serving Members of any legislative body should not be eligible. Public Servants, who wish to serve, must resign from their offices.
The Constituent Assembly should be brought into being by an Act of the National Assembly.
Now the important question of defining the powers, the duties and the responsibilities of the Assembly, including that of drawing up the Agenda and the duration of the Assembly. It is the suggestion of this contribution that, the serving President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; should be the Chairman of the body to draw up the instruments that govern the creation and functioning of the Constituent Assembly. Other members should be all former Presidents and Heads of Government, former Vice Presidents including those military who served in the capacities of number two, Former Chief Justices of the Federation; the Presidents of the Senate and the Speakers of the House of Representatives as well as one governor from each of the political zones. It should be provided in the Act of the National Assembly creating the Constituent Assembly that it should complete its work in twelve months; provide a Draft Constitution and the enactment legislation. The Draft should not be subject to review either by the Executive or the Legislature but must be subjected to a nationwide referendum. If approved it will be brought into effect by an Act of the National Assembly.
The Independent National Electoral Commission should be empowered by the Act bringing into being of the Constituent Assembly to conduct the elections into it on the basis of the existing Federal House of Representatives Constituencies. The composition, the procedures as well as the outcome of the Constituent Assembly should not be subject to any legal challenge.
All these processes should be synchronised with and taken into account the 2015 Elections.
For the purpose of ensuring the credibility and, therefore, the acceptance of the work of the Constituent Assembly, the 2015 elections, it is recommended that the present dispensation including the political parties should adopt a Code of Conduct that must be observed by all players. The following basic approaches should be adopted:
a)      The President should restructure his Cabinet; appoint more credible people, complete his present mandate to continue the work of Governing the country to preside over a free, fair and transparent General Election, in 2015;
b)      Immediately impose an Austerity Budget and reduce Government waste
c)      Work with the judicial system to undertake an accelerated fight against corruption;
d)      Visibly demonstrate that all awarded Government Contracts are faithfully
e)      and actively being executed;
f)       Become more visibly and more actively engaged in solving present security challenges
Most importantly, the President should defuse the present political tension that now pervades the country. This should begin with his renouncing any intention he may have of contesting the 2015 elections and devoting his entire time, energy and the resources of the country in order to give Nigeria a Credible and acceptable Constitution; a free, transparent and fair election.
Finally all recognised Nigerian Political Parties should subscribe to a Code of Conduct committing everyone of them to pledge to preserve the unity and integrity of the country; to subscribe to free and fair elections and to accept that for the highest post of the country, the competition should be open to the best and not based on any formula whatever. The people of Nigeria should be enabled to choose those who they wish to lead them at all level

Ahmed Joda,
Yola, 6th August, 2012.

Confused! PDP withdraws petition against Oshiomhole’s re-election.

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party appears set for another round of crisis, following a decision to discontinue with its petition challenging Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s re-election.
The party, had last week Friday, petitioned the Election Petitions Tribunal in Benin  over the re-election of Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria at the July 14 governorship election. However, in a statement on Monday, it made a U-turn, announcing the discontinuation of the petition.
In a statement titled ‘Let God Be the Judge’, by its chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, the PDP anchored its decision on the likely “consequences of protracted litigation on the state.”
In the statement, which appeared at variance with the mood of its governorship candidate, Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (retd.), who said he would address another press conference on the issue, the party called on members in the state not to be discouraged by its defeat at the poll.
Responding to his party’s latest move, Airhiavbere, in a telephone conversation, said only Orbih could explain the development.
He said, “I may not be able to make any statement on phone, because I don’t know who I am speaking with. Ask the party chairman. When I come out, I am going to call a press conference.”
When asked to respond to Airhiavbere’s statement, Orbih said, “I am not General. Ask him.”
The PDP, in its statement, however continued in its condemnation of the process that returned Oshiomhole, describing it as ridiculous.
It said, “The results of the election are not only ridiculous but also completely at variance with rational reasoning and human expectations.
“Curiously, on election day, Oshiomhole had earlier rejected the way and manner the election was being conducted by INEC when he thought his rigging plan had failed, yet the result of the same election is now being hailed by all because it is PDP that has lost. It has now become a tradition that when the PDP loses an election, the election is free and fair.
“With the above assessment of the results, the PDP is aware of the divergent views and expressions by the public. PDP is also aware of the legal options. However, PDP has fully consulted the leadership of the party both within and outside the state.
“During these consultations, legal opinions were sought and it is the conclusion of the party that while we appreciate the effects the results declared by INEC will have on our teaming members, we are also mindful of the consequences which may run into protracted litigation.”
“Consequently, though painful, for now, PDP has decided not to file any petition before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in the interest of the state,” said the party.

via Punch

Nigeria’s Oby Ezekwesili to provide Economic Policy Advisory for Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Other Economies on the Continent

I am so excited about this!
Former World Bank Vice President for Africa to Provide Economic Policy Advisory for Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Other Economies on the Continent
New Initiative Will Support the Development of a Center for African
Economic Policy Expertise and Advisory
Abuja, Nigeria (August 7, 2012)—The Open Society Foundations today announced that it has asked Obiageli Katryn Ezekwesili, a world-renowned expert on economic reforms and economic governance, to lead its new Africa Economic Policy Development Initiative. The initiative was created to build on the strong growth performance of Africa over the last decade and the emergent urgency for structural transformation of economies to expand benefits to the poor majority through policies that boost private sector jobs and incomes.
Operating from Abuja, Ezekwesili will advise the leaders and policy makers of the countries on their economic strategy and policy reforms that can help boost investment and create job growth in the Mano River region. The initiative over the next three years will expand to include other countries across Africa.
“We heartily welcome this initiative by the Open Society Foundations and are eager to seize the opportunity to receive the valuable policy advice and support from Oby Ezekwesili,” said President Alpha Condé of Guinea, one of the three countries on which the Africa Economic Policy Development Initiative will focus initially. “We benefited from Ezekwesili’s rich experience and policy expertise when she was at the World Bank and helped us considerably in advancing our country’s economic reforms and development priorities.”
The initiative, which will help develop leadership in public policy and economic reforms within governments, will leverage African expertise in the Diaspora to strengthen state capacities in various sectors of economies in Africa.
“I am delighted for Oby to join our team working on Africa,” said George Soros, chairman and founder of the Open Society Foundations. “My foundations have long been committed to fostering economic development in post-conflict countries and nations transitioning to democracy.”
In her role as Senior Economic Advisor, Ezekwesili will oversee the creation of a public policy advisory center in Abuja that will collaborate with Paul Collier, the professor of economics who focuses on developing countries, and others to provide economic policy solutions to pro-reform governments starting with Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. She also will help establish a separate Africa-wide graduate school of public policy, based in Nigeria, that will collaborate with leading universities including the School of Public Policy at the Central European University.
“Oby has dedicated her career to the proposition that governments in Africa, as elsewhere, can achieve equitable growth when they are open, honest, and disciplined,” said Christopher Stone, president of the Open Society Foundations. “Oby gets things done. She is the right person to lead this new initiative.”
Before joining Open Society, Ezekwesili was for five years the vice president of the World Bank in charge of the Africa region. She was responsible for operations in 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and supervised a lending portfolio of over US$40 billion. From 2002 to 2007, she worked for the federal government of Nigeria as presidential advisor in charge of public procurement reforms; Chairperson and Implementer of the first ever, country-led Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative; Minister of Mineral Resources; key member and Governance task team leader of the widely acclaimed Presidential Economic Team; and Minister of Education. Ezekwesili has a long track record in the transparency, accountability, good governance, and anti-corruption movement worldwide having been one of the co-founders of Transparency International nearly two decades ago.
Ezekwesili previously served as director of the Harvard-Nigeria Economic Strategy Program in Boston and Abuja. She holds a master’s in international law from the University of Lagos, a master’s in public policy and administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and is a chartered accountant.
###
The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. Working with local communities in more than 100 countries, the Open Society Foundations support justice and human rights, freedom of expression, and access to public health and education.
From - Omojuwa.com.
The Book of Revolution.