By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – As 2017 winds up in few days from now, Sundiata Post recaps the various landmark political events that created excitements and anxiety to our corporate existence as a people and nation. Also some of the issues highlighted below are those that Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry in view of their deposit or withdrawal, to or from, the goodwill of the government.
They are as follows:
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Medical Trip to London: The long absence of President Muhammadu Buhari for more than three months on account of medical treatment in London genrerated serious controversy in the polity and amongst Nigerians. This led to protest by a youth group under
the auspices of #OurMumuDonDoo who converged at the Unity Fountain, Abuja demanding that President Buhari resumes or resigns. Buhari was on medical vacation in London for the treatmentr of undisclosed ailment.
The leader of the group, Charles Oputa popularly called Charly Boy, narrowly excaped death as he fainted due to serious targas from the
police who said they are at the venue to ensure peace and order. This attack on Charley Boy triggered similar protest at the Abuja London House where President Buhari was spending his medical vacation.
It is largely believed that these two issued accounted for why President Buhari huriedly returned from London.
Removal of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal: The removal of the former Secretary to the government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal was one of the actions of the Buhari-led governmnet that was greeted with resounding commendation. Though Babachir Lawal had earlier been indicted by the Senate for breach of law and due process over contract on the Presidential Initiative for the North East, PINE. Mr. Lawal was accused of holding directorship of a company, Rholavision, while he was SGF and used same company, originally registered for ICT services in 1990, to receive ‘grass-cutting’ consultancy contract from PINE, an agency under his supervision, all in breach of Nigeria’s code of conduct for public officials.
But the Presidency accused the senate of not giving the former SGF fair hearing before arriving at its conclusion.
However, when the news of Osborne loot discovery broke and the name of the Director General, NIA was mentioned, the government in an attempt to exonerate itself of miscarriage of justice on the matter affecting former SGF, hurriedly suspended both Babachir Lawal and Ayo Oke and set up a three-man panel chaired by Prof Yemi Osibanjo to investigate their alleged involvement. The committee has long submitted its findings but the findings are yet to be made public. Babachir Lawal has since been replace but no charges has been brought against him before any court of law till date.
Osborn Loot Discovery By EFCC: April 12, 2017 is a day Nigerians will not forget in a hurry. It was the day Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed the 7th floor of a four-bedroom apartment at Osborne Towers located at 16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where a humongous find of foreign currencies and naira notes to the tune of $43.4m, £27,800 and N23.2m was uncovered. The total value of the money at the Central Bank of Nigeria official exchange rate is over N13 billion.
It was gathered that relevant top government officials and that of the NIA are aware of the money and that when the then incumbent Director General of the NIA, Ayodele Oke, was alerted that EFCC operatives had swooped on the apartment, being discreetly guarded by covert operatives, he rushed to the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Abuja to advise its
chairman, Ibrahim Magu, to withdraw his men as the funds belonged to government.
As at then, about 13 police officers and some soldiers, accompanied by photographers and videographers, had broken into the apartment, and were already dismantling the safes in which the funds were concealed.
The EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu however declined Mr. Oke’s request, instead, he directed his men to proceed with the operation. Ambassador Ayo Oke was later relieved of his appointment as DG, NIA in connection with the EFCC discovery.
Initial Refusal to pay the Whistleblower: The government’s initial refusal to pay the whistle blower who alerted of the more than N13billion Osborne loot discovered by the EFCC attracted wide condemnation from Nigerians and created suspicion and almost caused loss of confidence in the government’s fight against corruption.
PDP Successful Convention : The Peoples Democratic Party’s successful convention rekindled the hope of many Nigerians for the growth of democracy in the country.
To many, it is a welcome development and elicits a ray of hope that for once, the ruling party will be forced to wake up from its slumber as it has carried on without clear opposition. It has also created a standard for measuring the democratic habits of the ruling party itself that has failed to conduct its national convention almost three years after winning the 2015 presidential election. The PDP’s successful convention few months after the leadership tussle between Ali Modu Sheriff’s led faction and that of Senator Ahmed Markafi’s faction is a demonstration that PDP is a party rooted in rule of law.
Atiku’s Dumping of the APC: Another issue that dominated the public discourse was the dumping of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Atiku was one of the political bulldozars
in the All Progressives Congress as he was said to have contributed financial resources; political structure and even mobilized his supporters that led to the victory of the party in 2015 general election. Atiku Abubakar has since joined the Peoples Democratic Party saying accusing APC of failing Nigerians and draconian clampdown of democracy.
Appointment Of New SGF, Boss Mustapha: The appointment of Boss Mustapha as the Secretary to the Governmnet of the Federation (SGF) was greeted with wide jubilation. Boss Mustapha has shown that he is familiar with Nigeria’s political terrain. So far his actions have been applauded and seen as politically correct.
Talk of his visit to the National Assembly immediately after assuming office; this reduced the acrimony between the two arms of government. It took a humble Boss Mustapha to acknowledge that “the executive is not in competition with the National Assembly” against Babachir Lawal’s description of the senate as bagdadash. He has brought professionalism and vibrancy to the office of the Secretary to the government of the Federation, (SGF).
Reinstatement of Fugitive Abdulrasheed Maina Into Civil Service: Nigerians were shocked as the news of the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina broke. Mr Abdulrasheed Maina was the Chairman, Presidential Task Force Committee on Pension Reform was declared wanted in 2014 by the EFCC on issues bothering on pension fraud to the tune of more than, N2billion.
He later fled out of the country without any attempt to clear his name. In a controversial circumstance, Abdulrasheed Maina was reinstated into the civil service, promoted and posted the Minitry of Interior as Assistant Director in charge of administration. The pandemonium his reinstatement created led to his immediate suspension by President Buhari who also ordered the Head of Service, Mrs Oyo Ita to explain the circumstances that led to Maina’a reinstatement.
This directive resulted into accusation, counter-accusation and denial as well as blame game amongst the trio of Arthoney General of the Federation, (AGF), Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau and Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo Ita.
However, it was discovered in the course of the public hearing organised by the House of Representatives that a letter authorising the reinstatement was signed by Mustapha L. Sulaiman for the Federal Civil Service Commision’s chairman, indicated that the AGF advised the FCSC that Maina should be reinstated.
Minister of Women Affairs (Aisha Alhassan’s) Declaration of Support for Atiku For 2019 Presidency: One of the issues that cut the attention of Nigerias in 2017 was the rare show of courage exhibited by the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan when she declared that she will support her political god-father, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for 2019.
Aisha Alhassan said: “I would support former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar even if President Muhammadu Buhari declares to contest in 2019.
“And again, Baba Buhari did not tell us that he is going to run in 2019.
“Let me tell you today that if Baba said he is going to contest in 2019, I swear to Allah, I will go before him and kneel and tell him that, ‘Baba I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve your government as a minister, but Baba just like you know, I will support only Atiku because he is my godfather. If Atiku said he is going to contest.”
Deployment of Military’s Operation Python Dance II: The military launch of Operation Python Dance in the South East and the consequent invasion of the home of the IPOB Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as well as the extra-judicial killing and torture of IPOB members along Portharcourt-Enugu
expressway caused tension and panic in the land. The three minutes video clip of the military’s brutalizing of armless IPOB Members that went viral on social media attracted both local and international condemnation.
This issue almost caused diplomatic showdown following the accusation by th Minister of Information and Culture, Chief Lai Mohammed to the effect that some identified countries are sponsoring the activities of the IPOB.
Misau and IGP Idris Faud: One of the issues that dominated the polity was the feud between the Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Isah Hamman Misau and Inspector- General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. Misau had accused Idris of corruption, nepotism, misuse of office, misappropriation of funds and illegal promotion of officers.
The led to the senate’s extension of invitation to the IGP to appear before it to clear some issues.
Based on this, the Inspector- General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, on November 8, appeared before the Senate Committee. The IGP, who appeared in company of his lawyer, Alex Iziyon, SAN, to clear himself of allegations against him said he appeared before the committee because of the respect he had for the Senate as an institution, stressing that he had nothing to hide.
Idris however engaged the Senate in a verbal war regarding the legality or otherwise of the upper chamber’s probe of corruption allegations against him. The IGP noted that the case for which the investigation was ordered was already in court, informing that it would amount to subjudice for him to respond to any queries from lawmakers.
The IGP later took the matter to court but the federal government waded into the matter and opted for out of court settlement by the duo.
Quit Notice to IGBOs in the North by Arewa Youths: The ultimatum by the Arewa Youths to all Igbos resident in the northern Nigeria to quit and relocate back to their respective states before October 1 or face massacre and the recall of all northerners in the south to return back to the north before the said date was another issue that generated pandemonium and threatened our unity as a nation.
Bail Granted the Leader Of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu: The bail granted the Leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was another issue that generated heated debate in the polity and generated diverse views. The events that followed his freedom became more worrisome. Nnamdi Kanu was facing trial over alleged treason brought against him by the Federal Government. He was later granted bail under stringent conditions considered to be a breach on his fundamental human rights.
The bail conditions are: Mr. Kanu must not hold rallies. He must not grant interviews.He must not be in a crowd of more than 10 people. He must provide three sureties in the sum of N100 million each. One of the sureties must be a senior highly placed person of Igbo extraction such as a senator.
The second surety must be a highly respected Jewish leader since Mr. Kanu said his religion is Judaism.The third surety must be a highly respected person who owns landed property and is resident in Abuja.
Others are:The IPOB leader must deposit his Nigerian passport; he must also deposit his British passport with the court; he must provide the court with reports on the progress of his health and treatment on a monthly basis; the order for him to deposit his Nigerian and British passports also mean he cannot travel out of the country.