REFUSING TO BE DELIBERATELY DISENFRANCHISED

REFUSING TO BE DELIBERATELY DISENFRANCHISED

Responsibility cannot be shoved and when there appear to be any lapses in a statutory duty you strive to fix same up

As election approaches every right thinking Nigeria who’s tired of the old perceived smelling and odorous fresh air of the rather seeming sycophants’ of the on paper transformation agenda of the current administration is willing and ready for an era of change where there lies an equal opportunity and a level playing ground for all and sundry. But in achieving this desired change it is incumbent and important to get the permanent voters card (PVC) in other to fully exercise the constitutional rights bestowed on me by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

As every willing Nigeria will take fervent steps to get his or her voters card, I endeavour to do same but was unavoidably absent to get same at the time it was shared as i heed the clarion call to serve my father land under the NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS compulsory one year service. As a responsible and willing citizen who’s always willing to discharge all constitutional duty reposed in him, proceeded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in my Local Government in Lagos to get same but to my utter dismay I was told that some data’s of the polling booth I registered was missing, which fortunately or unfortunately mine was a part of the missing data and my PVC could not be produced. However I swung to ask few questions, how will I get my PVC now? How will I register for another voter’s card? When will it be ready?

These are few of the questions I asked the inec official that attended to me and all I got for an answer was the registration is over and there’s no registration again until further notice. This response destabilizes me, as I never expected same but alas it appears have forgotten we are in Nigeria where anything can happen and nobody seems to care what’s happening despite the continuous plundering of the collective wealth of all Nigerians by some cabals. Few months ago millions of dollars went missing, 216 girls still missing, thousands of people die daily due to government nonchalant attitudes towards making the economy work, book haram menace yet sum few individuals still use billions of naira to eat despite the seeming crash in the economy.

Inec as a commission is charged with lots of responsibility as the constitution that establishes it knew the task to be faced by the commission and it gave same autonomy and independence to run without interference from any person or authority. The electoral act also empowers inec as it relates to administering her official duty. It is the duty of inec to provide voters registration card for eligible individuals, the electoral act also further provides for a continuous voters registration in section 10 of the said act. Section 10 of the electoral act provides as follows;

(1)Without prejudice to section 1O (5), there shall be continuous registration of all persons qualified to be registered voters.

(2)Each applicant for registration under the continuous registration system shall appear in person at the registration venue with any of the following documents-

(a) birth or baptismal certificate;

(b) national passport, identity card or driver's license; or

(c) any other document that will prove the identity, age and nationality of the applicant.

(3) The Commission shall, within 60 days after each year, make available to every political party the names and address of each person registered during that year.

(4) When a general election is notified by the Commission pursuant to section 31 of this Act, the current official register of voters certified by the Commission in accordance with the provision of this Act shall be the official voters' register for those elections.

(5) In the case of every by-election conducted under this Act, the official voters' register for use at such elections shall be the existing current register relating to the senatorial district or the constituency concerned.

(6) As soon as claims and objections have been dealt with or the period for making claims and objections has expired, the supplementary list shall be included in the revised register, which shall be certified by the Commission as the official register of voters for the purposes of any election conducted under this Act and supercedes all previous registers.

The above provisions shows how responsible inec should be in having a process that enables a continuous voters registration in the country to enable all eligible Nigerian voters exercise their constitutional right as guaranteed them by the constitution. Its about  a month a few days to the conduct of the general election yet thousands of Nigeria have not gotten their PVC and millions still unregistered due to inec’s insensitivity and ineptitudeness towards duty imposed on her by law.

The question is how will those who were unable to get their PVC due to inec sheer incompetency and negligence cast their vote for their various candidates in the forth coming election? Inec as better fashion a way to solve this rather unwarranted happening to avoid any legal consequence of failing to abide by the rules as lay down by section 10 of the 1999 constitution as amended. The time of when Nigerians are gullible and unwilling is past. We are at a time when we know when to press the charges in court even against the untouchables.

As I refuse to be disenfranchised deliberately, I implore inec to take swift step to solving the lapses in her internal dealings and produce our PVC or rather conduct a swift voter’s registration or risk legal battle in days to come.

Mubarak Tijani writes in from Lagos

Tweets @illuminant_o

08084390248

tijanimubaraklaw@gmail.com

 

        

The Anatomy of Hon Tambuwal's Defection

The News of the defection of the speaker of the house of representative,RT Hon,Aminu Tambuwal got to me late on the 28th of oct 2014,I immediately picked up my phone to confirm this News,and the first update I saw,was from a big brother who doubles as a mentor,and A lover of the APC,where he wrote on his BBM personal message "The APC now has the 4th citizen of the country in its fold" this made me take it upon myself to express my self concerning the speaker's defection and to examine the pros and cons of his defection to the opposition party the APC.
Firstly,I will like to express my view about HON Tambuwal's personality,to the best of my knowledge,hon tambuwal is a man of integrity and dignity, an exemplary legislator who understands his political ways well. I must however confess,that this recent move from him is ill timed and mal-calculated (if I'm permitted to use such word),considering his current position in the country,and the proximity of his defection to the 2015 elections.
Also,for obvious reasons,which is clear to the blind and loud enough for the deaf,he cannot contest for the presidency under the platform of the APC nor be presented as the party's candidate,considering the work General Buhari has done so far and Atiku Abubakar and not forgetting kwankwanso,in order to emerge as the party's presidential candidate,thus in the light of this, Hon Tambuwal getting the APC presidential ticket is close to an Impossibility.
It is also worthy of note that,Sokoto state in the Northwest, where Hon Tambuwal is from,is a Stronghold of the PDP,even if he is given the APC's ticket to contest as governor of Sokoto State come 2015,his chances of Wining in the state is very slim if not impossible.
Before I drop my pen on this issue,it is pertinent to note that,The PDP had already counted out Hon Tambuwal as a member of the PDP for the past 6 months looking at his romance with The APC and his silence on party politics, they were only waiting for his official defection from the party,which means the PDP was fully prepared for his defection,and it never took them aback when it eventually happened. this is Evident in the Stop and Search carried out by security operatives on Hon tambuwal's convoy some months back in Abuja,this was done by PDP in my opinion, to show him how powerful the PDP is,and the imminent trouble his defection holds for him.
In this light,I strongly opine that,Hon tambuwal's political career May be heading for the rocks after this defection,considering the surrounding circumstances aforementioned,like a learning friend rightly said,"he is not getting anything positive out of the defection,rather than being called a former speaker".
I wish Hon. Tambuwal well in his political stay in the APC,and i await more intriguing stories as we all Anticipate the 2015 general elections.
Long live NIGERIA!
Aregbesola olayinka N.

Open Letter to Mr President

LETTER TO MR PRESIDENT
Your Excellency,

I am a citizen of Nigeria who cares so much about her country, you don’t know me but I know you very well, you are one of the most powerful, affluence and a person of authority in Nigeria.
With all due respect Mr President, the writer will like to see you in person to convey the message but due to your busy schedule; thus the decision to write you this way.

I wish to bring to your notice a vital, pertinent, sacrosanct, germane and above all of juristic importance observation in Nigeria, which is the “THE PRISON YARD”. What prompted the letter is my visit to the prison yard in kano state which condition is so pathetic and highly human degrading. The prisoner’s jungle is not worth living as they are overcrowded, and to add insult to the injury, feed on stale food.
It is an undisputed fact that the essence of the prison yard is to correct and deter offenders, doubtful it is however to allow the violation of their constitutional rights. It is such an unfair situation!!!!!!!!!!! Some are awaiting trial, which condition is worse than the convicted ones.  This will compel one to ask: what if after trial they are not found guilty? And how much compensation will be given to them for all the unspeakable they have gone through: the pain and inhuman treatment. I shook my head in pity. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Surprisingly another sad event occurred in kirikiri Maximum
Prison yard in Lagos state in which some inmate lost their lives and several injured. What do we call this???????????????????????????
Mr. President, you tour all over the world, please do add the prison yards in Nigeria to the tour list; hopefully you might appreciate what I have seen even far better.
This is the humble request I have and I await its grant.


Yours Faithfully,

FALANA RUKAYAT ABIMBOLA.

Bimmygurl501@yahoo.co.uk

08062531120 

REBASING NIGERIAN ECONOMY; AN AFTER THOUGHT

REBASING NIGERIAN ECONOMY; AN AFTER THOUGHT

As part of the transformation agenda of the jonathananians, they came with the rebased economy reports on the 6^th of April 2014 after about half a century when the last rebasing was carried out in the year 1990. Commendations may follow but the afterthought of the report must be considered.

The following questions must be asked, will the rebasing provide foods on the table of an average Nigerian? Will the rebasing create jobs for the timid populace of the Nigerian youths? Will the rebasing provide infrastructures for Nigerians? Will the rebasing provide a level playing ground for small medium scale business to strive? Will the rebasing provide security? Will the rebasing provide for a conduct of credible elections? Will the rebasing protect the rights of an average Nigerian from exploitation? Will the rebasing assure Nigerians of equal rights and access to justice without favour and delay in dispensation of justice? Will the rebasing assure Nigerians of prompt power supply? Will the rebasing curb corruption and bring culprits to book rather than bargaining? Will the rebasing make our looters leaders accountable? Will the rebasing answer the developmental problems Nigerians is facing? Will the rebasing stop the oil theft in the upstream and downstream sector? Will the rebasing make our roads free from ghastly motor accident? Will the rebasing solve our numerous problems?

These are few after thoughts questions on the rebasing of the economy reports that was released of recent, it beckons on all to think of what positive effects it will have on our economy despite that it will leave open to foreign direct investment an easy access to invest in the Nigerian economy.

The rebased estimates put Nigeria on nominal GDP in 2013 at about n80.2trillion (about $509.9 billion) with comparative figures of previous three years showing N54.21 trillion ($360.6 billion) for 2010; N633 trillion ($408.8 billion) for 2011, and N71.186 trillion ($449.9 billion) for 2012. Needless to further state the obvious, of what benefit is the released data to the average Nigerian citizenry in the midst of continuous loot of the public treasury.

One should actually asked another question that why as the Nigerian government not rebased the economy since 1990, probably an answer should be provided in this piece, it is to undervalue the economy to access more aides and under account for the annual assets that the country gain yearly. This further shows the level of insincerity on the part of our government over the years. The recent released Data puts Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa ahead of South Africa who generates 40,000 megawatt of power supply and the ego called largest economy still have an embarrassing 4000 megawatt being generated to supply 36 states of over 150 million habitants. What a shame, yet we are celebrated by our shameless leaders.

The largest economy in Africa yet it has been declared one of the poorest along india, china amongst others. Recent reports shows that Nigerian youths are the least happy in the world, yet our leaders are happy about our recent GDP that can’t cater for the needs of his harmless citizens. In developed economies government provide the platform for individual business and small and medium scale businesses to strive.

The recent Nigerian Immigration Service Recruitment also show how insensitive our government his as it further shows that the bureau of statistics have shortchanged us in declaring the true state of things. It further proves that over 60 to 70 percent of the Nigerian youths are jobless; this further shows that our government are still sleep walking.

An Afterthought;

Our thoughts now as youths should be not to get carried away by this rather cosmetic show of good sportsmanship by our government. Yes it is a good development, though long overdue as it will help us ask further question the prevalent opportunities created as a rather promising site for direct investment.

Nigerian youths must not be carried away as to the continuous question on the #missing N20 billion naira and demand continuous probe into the reckless conduct of the Nigerian Immigration Service Recruitment Exercise and a continuous demand for the entrenchment of the rights of the common man.

Nigeria can be great again, the vision of our founding fathers can be achieved, we can still do it as Nigerian youths, we can, and yes we can.

 

                

NIGERIA @ 54: MY THOUGHTS, DEVELOPMENT AND THE CURENT ADMINISTARTION

NIGERIA @ 54: MY THOUGHTS, DEVELOPMENT AND THE CURENT ADMINISTARTION

Declaration of independence does not in any way signifies true independence

Nigeria is a country with prospect at the declaration of her intention to gain her independence in the year 1957 before final actualization in 1960. During this period, majority of our leaders are under 30’s with just few above the 30 age bracket, this signifies the hope that the future belongs to the youth. Soon after independence series of coups and counter coups were faced with as the military seized power until the year 1999 when succor soon came back to all Nigerian as the regime of democratically elected government return to power. The golden question is from 1960 to 1999 what has been the gain of the Nigerian populace and from 1999 till now what have we gained as faithful citizens of this once christened great nation Nigeria.

Nigeria began her struggles with great prospect to attaining the best economy in the world within a short period of time. The likes of Singapore, China, and India amongst others dreamt of having a country like Nigeria as a frontier to liberate them but today Nigerians would rather gather money to travel to this country for menial jobs, this is the country we live in today. The question is, is the prospect still there? Are Nigerians still faithful and believe Nigeria can still be great? In recent times Nigeria as spend more on recurrent expenditure and even lost trillions of dollars to corruption due to the ineffectiveness of our anti graft agencies. The question again is whose fault it is?

The constitution of the land guarantees the survival of all citizens via the government to provide her citizens with needed amenities such as welfare, security of life’s and property, quality education, equality of opportunities among others and same constitution retrieves same back by saying it is not justiciable and cannot be enforced in any court of law. The question here again is are the drafters not alive to the rights of the citizens being enforceable? Now it’s clear that Nigeria in on a verge collapse if no drastic step is taken.  Rather than being pessimistic I will be optimistic.

Developing a nation like Nigeria needs a strong legal frame work that entrenches competency and abhors any kind of recklessness on the part of any incumbent government. The constitution of the land provides a viable means from which the country can be successfully runned if and only the constitution can be enforced to its letter and followed accordingly. The current administration as it stands has not shown any sign of serious commitment to the plight of the Nigerian citizens. The Jonathan led administration has been nonchalant in tacking the rot in the various sectors of the country and would rather trade words with opposition and violate clear provisions of our laws.

The current administration as refused to investigate and prosecute its cronies found wanting and would rather use state apparatus to intimidate the opposition and other Nigerians trying to contribute their quota to the development of their nation. The Stella Odua saga is unattended to, 20billion dollars missing, subsidy scam, immigration scam, and the recent 9.3billion dollars intercepted in South Africa, this has gone to show that this current administration has failed in its entirety, unemployment is the order of the day, epileptic power supply even despite privatization the current administration still have to bail out the power sector with another billions of naira as their cronies are in charge. Where do we go from here?

In correcting the ills in our country, then we must go back to our roots, the yoruba’s will say “odo toba gbagbe orisun oma gbe ni” meaning a river that forgets its root will dry up, so as Nigerians we go back to our roots trace our misdeeds as individuals and correct same. Nigeria would only get to its desired status if we all  committed to the development of this country, the market women should be faithful and not increase the price of goods all in the name of festivals, the transporters should not also increase tee fare all in the name of traffic, the civil servants should be alive to their responsibilities and be diligent, students should be obedient and focus on their studies, youths should engage their leaders constructively to better the lots of generations yet unborn and not demand for 30% or nothing, youths should avoid being used as political thugs and agents to violate our laws like the PDP is currently doing with TAN and above all government should live up to expectation and use chapter two of the constitution as a frame work to measure its performance and our legislooterslators should probably one day review that chapter of the constitution to make it enforceable to some extent, as the good of the enforceability will far outweighs the non enforceability, our judiciary should be corrupt free and dispense justice without fear or favour.

I believe in a NIGERIA that will grow and be the envy of all nations one day and someday.

Mubarak Tijani writes in from lagos

@illuminant_o

08084390248

tijani_mubaraklaw@yahoo.com

             

NIGERIA MEDIA OUTFIT; FAIRDEALING AND QUALITY REPOTRTAGE

NIGERIA MEDIA OUTFIT; FAIRDEALING AND QUALITY REPOTRTAGE

Fair-dealing must be Equal to All Irrespective of the Status of Such Individual

Colonel Obasanjo like every other Nigerian soldiers ambushed by the deadly bokoharam insurgents deserve to be honoured, but where an individual is singled out of the multitude who are victims of the ambushed of the 12-12-14 thus shows the incompetence of our media outfit to be fair in their reportage.

It must be however noted that the crisis in the northern eastern part of the country in under reported the timid Nigerian population only gets what’s fed on him or her by the reports in our national dailies.  It’s a smack of biasness on our media outfits to carry the news of colonel Obasanjo and even went ahead to use same as front page as fondly said they need catchy headline to attract readers. Before the ambush on colonel Obasanjo we have had series of ambush on the Nigerian soldiers and none has for once made the headline of any of our national dailies, which brings about the competence of our reporters and media outfit on quality reportage and fair-dealing.

The objective of journalism should be predicated on fairness and equal opportunity to reporting events as it occurred irrespective of the status of the individual subject of the report. Over the years the Nigerian media circle as been a subject of ridicule as it has not been able to leverage on it’s responsibly. If ALJAZEERA, BBC can comfortably carry information’s that bothers on the Nigerian territory the question is what has been the responsibility of our own and home grown media outlet both prints and electronic.

It saddens the heart that reports on our dailies these days are politically motivated and any happenings that are not connected to any political figure in recent times those not deserve to be reported. Journalism in its objective should serve the purpose of truth carrier to the timid population of the average Nigerians in the society in other to avail themselves of the current situation of happenings in their country and society.

Our media outfit should be mindful of their kind of reportage that tends to tilt more to some specifics other than general and should always abide by its code of conduct cum mission and vision statement in purposeful, fair and equal reportage of events as they occur without discrepancies in the reports of various media outfits.

Nigeria can only show its real self and strive well through the quality of reports we get from our Media outfits, which in turn keeps the masses abreast of current happenings in our locality, society, sate, nation and the world beyond.

Mubarak Tijani writes from Lagos State Nigeria    

BREAKING MY SILENCE; NANS AND ITS STRATEGIC STOMACH RESTRUCTURING

BREAKING MY SILENCE; NANS AND ITS STRATEGIC STOMACH RESTRUCTURING

Few weeks ago some unscrupulous element and disgruntled oldies in the name and disguise of the National Association of Nigerian Students were busy distributing a rather seeming shameless award to some sycophantic leaders of theirs all in the name of merit and the end result is not unknown to some who have been active players for years appointment or getting the cash. Initially I intend keeping mum but in the face of tyranny and one still adopt the option of keeping mute then posterity will never forgive such individual who has the means of belittling the hazardous act of some few microscopic individuals to taint the image of the vast population of the youths, which makes it important to break my silence on the disdainful act embark upon by the leaders of Nans.  

Objectively Nans metamorphose from the well structured and willing West African Student Union to National Union of Nigerian Students to what we today refer to as National Association of Nigerian Students. Its formation was to strive for justice, equality and fight for the right of the timid population of the Nigerian students in the light of any intimidation. Nans as it is fondly called as over the years depicts its shallowness, greed and act of desperacy at the expense of the original students who are entitled to the post the self acclaimed students’ leaders occupy presently.

The composition of Nans should be students who are currently running a programme and not school drop outs, touts and graduates. The essence of the association is to engage the government of the day in constructive debate as to its policies as it affects the education sector and all other spheres of the economy, but the reverse is the case as our so called union leaders embark on a voyage of award sharing. Which reasonable individuals will give an award to a government that has refuse to bring back our girls, that has refused to provide us with basic amenities to survive as citizens, there’s lack of power, small scale business are not thriving, unemployment, lack of security of life’s and property which is the main function of our government, our roads are death traps, corruption is the order of the day, book haram strives daily, our armies morale are down, our 20 billion dollars is still missing, cabinet full of criminals and sycophants.

Our dear Nans should realize that the future they are toying and joking with is not that of the unprivileged ones alone but that of the entire nation as an injustice done today is threat to justice forever. while it  might not be too late to cleanse the union of the rotten ones, because am sure there are few good ones too, the totality of the real Nigerian students must be on the lookout in other to salvage the situation themselves and that will only happen if there is active participation.

Get involved today in deciding the next phase of your future both ass Nigerian students, youth and a full fledge Nigerian citizen.

Mubarak Tijani writes in from lagos

@illuminant_o

08084390248

tijani_mubaraklaw@yahoo.com