.The State of Emergency in Ekiti State and the Nebuchadnezzar Non-Option

This State of Emergency step was the crowning one of the vertical cocktail of illegalities, and has ...Read the full article.

Son of the Delta · Oct 26, 2006 , 11:18 AM

The question I am still asking the Injustice Minister,Bayo Ojo of Nigeria and his tribal war lord president(Olusegun Obasanjo) is why do they have a different treatment for Fayose and Ladoja in comparison to Alamieyeseigha?

tonsoyo · Oct 26, 2006 , 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by Son of the Delta

The question I am still asking the Injustice Minister,Bayo Ojo of Nigeria and his tribal war lord president(Olusegun Obasanjo) is why do they have a different treatment for Fayose and Ladoja in comparison to Alamieyeseigha?

Son of Delta
Simple, Alams is a national disgrace and a monumental international embarassment, he jumped bail in a foreign land! This was why nobody cares about his travails, except people like him.

MrOneNaija · Oct 26, 2006 , 06:01 PM

Good question, Son of the Delta!

My reaction to Prof. Aluko is that by being adamant that Fayose should not reclaim his seat as substantive governor inspite of the fact that a law court or competent authority is yet to find the latter guilty of any wrong doing even as the same Aluko is calling for the law courts to be allowed to adjudicate in the contrived Ekiti imbroglio, is one not trying to eat one's cake and have it?

Namio · Oct 26, 2006 , 06:13 PM

Son of Delta,
The sympathy for your cause is beginning to wear off as you sound like a broken record. Everybody knows your region did not get its due but you now have more than ever only to be squandered by those you consider "heroes". Shut up!

Auspicious · Oct 26, 2006 , 06:29 PM

Somebody please remind me - perhaps Son of the Delta himself can: how exactly was the impeachment process of the then Governor of Bayelsa, Solomon Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, unconstitutional/illegal? Honest question here please..I just don't remember. Can anyone jug my memory please?

Auspicious.

Son of the Delta · Oct 26, 2006 , 06:34 PM

Tosonyo & JJC Namio
If you can fool others you cant fool others.We all know that in Nigeria ALAMS was not the first to commit that crime if we are talking let the truth be told.Others have never been punished but why Alams?Is he a bigger disgrace than that farmer from Ota?

From the biased comments Yorubas like you are making I am beginning to think that you are just as wicked as Obasanjo your brother.

Was he(Alams) accused of Murder? But Fayose is a man that is being accused of murder yet you defend him.

Son of the Delta · Oct 26, 2006 , 06:36 PM

Auspicious,
Is gun-point impeachment legal or illegal?

gwobezentashi · Oct 26, 2006 , 07:00 PM

@ MrOneNaija

My reaction to Prof. Aluko is that by being adamant that Fayose should not reclaim his seat as substantive governor inspite of the fact that a law court or competent authority is yet to find the latter guilty of any wrong doing even as the same Aluko is calling for the law courts to be allowed to adjudicate in the contrived Ekiti imbroglio, is one not trying to eat one's cake and have it?

Thank you for pointing out the apparent contradictions from a usually lucid Bolaji. Now we see where the problem is - a seeming incompatibility between objectivity and self interest in this matter.

Aluta!

Gwobezentashi

Auspicious · Oct 26, 2006 , 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by Son of the Delta

Auspicious,
Is gun-point impeachment legal or illegal?

"Gun point impeachment"? What is that? I was actually hoping you were going to enlighten me, perhaps academically, how the said impeachment of Diepreye Alamieyeshiegha breached the rules in the statute books of the Federal Republic.

For example, I can tell you that the impeachment of Ayo Fayose was illegal because the state lawmakers acted against the spirit of the Constitution of the Federal Republic when they suspended a Chief Justice and appointed a substantive Chief Justice and empowered him to constitute a new panel to oversee the impeachment - when those lawmakers were not even empowered by the same Constitution they claimed they were following to do such a thing! And in Oyo, the required quorum needed to impeach a sitting Governor was never met..and the same thing that happened in Oyo is about to play out in Plateau.

Now, can you tell me, SPECIFICALLY in a nutshell, how the PROCESS of Governor Alamieyesigha's impeachment was unconstitutional - "illegal" in the layman's words? I know you can do better than the hypothetical question you posed above in response. Anybody out there? Can somebody pleeeease enlighten me? How exactly is Alamieyeseigha's removal from power unconstitutional Was it simply a case of "gun-point impeachment" as alleged by SOD? What does "gun-point impeachment" mean? Were all the law-makers physically threatened with a gun to the head? Were they threatened to be killed? Is that it, or theirs was some specific instances of disregard for the rule of law as guaranteed by the Constitution of Nigeria?

Auspicious.

tonsoyo · Oct 26, 2006 , 07:55 PM

You know what Auspi. do we really have to address every article written on this forum from the Ijaw point of view as the duo of Sonofdelta and Mronenaija always try to drag us? I think not. If they are bitter or feel seroiusly concern about the impeacment of Uncle Alams let these two guys go and write thier own articles and we will adequately react to them. These guys are always trying to find a way of passing off other people concern to Ijaw issue. Make the two lazy guys go write dem own article jare!. Then they will hear from us.

Namio · Oct 26, 2006 , 07:58 PM

Son of Delta,
What is the difference between you and the Yoruba, tell us? Until we know the difference between chop chop club and the masses, Nigeria will never move on. Our loyalty is to our kin and not the difference between right and wrong. Balogun is a Yoruba man and he was humiliated. Alamco is Inter. thief thief in far away Europe and Nigeria and you are crying for him. Fayose was caught red handed about the fake poultry, and if he is implicated in murder, must pay dearly. That is what all of us should be saying, not protecting our kin. Fairness my hoot.

tonsoyo · Oct 26, 2006 , 08:07 PM

Thanks a lot Namio, this is the point I have always try to make, Nigeria's problem is not about what tribe is good and what tribe is bad, it is about our corruption infested elites from all tribes and the masses.

tonsoyo · Oct 26, 2006 , 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by Son of the Delta

The question I am still asking the Injustice Minister,Bayo Ojo of Nigeria and his tribal war lord president(Olusegun Obasanjo) is why do they have a different treatment for Fayose and Ladoja in comparison to Alamieyeseigha?

The focus of Prof Aluko in this piece is the impeachment crisis in Ekiti State, he does not have to justify or condemn it in the light of the one carried out in Balyesa. It is OK to make reference to it in addressing the focus of this article. If you have concerns about Balyesa's impeachment, write your own article!

Bolaji Aluko · Oct 26, 2006 , 11:31 PM

Dear Forum Members:

As you may be aware by now, the National Assembly has approved the
State of Emergency in my native Ekiti State.

In the last few days, progressive Ekiti thought has shifted from
stridently opposing the SOE to cautiously welcoming it. The
uncertainty of what is "status quo ante" and the possibility of a
Fayose return was worrisome, coupled with the return to "misbehavior"
of the House of Assembly members under renewed PDP influence/other
un-determinable characters that we could not control.

The National Assembly has now thankfully approved the State of
Assembly, ridding us in Ekiti State of Fayose. Some of you readers
may not like it, but I can assure you that an OVERWHELMING majority of
Ekiti welcome it.

Arguing the pros and cons is important - but that is in order to make
our Constitution more "reasonable" in the future. For example,
allowing a SINGLE person - ie the Chief Judge - to by himself
constitute a "jury" from ordinary citizens is CLEARLY a recipe for
abuse. The assumption of integrity in that situation is simply too
high. That recommendation should either be replaced by a panel of
judges, or else by a jury system in which potential members can be
interrogated by the lawyers of both sides and accepted or rejected as
the case may be.

Furthermore, hedges must be built around a situation when two out of
the three branches of government might collude to thwart justice, or
to offend the third branch unjustly.

Finally, underlying some of the desperation here is the Immunity
Clause, which enabled our governor to act with impunity for so long.

Ekiti's problem with Fayose was not stealing money
alone, but killing people and intimidating others too. He had to go,
and we were not going to allow the full niceties of an ill-thought-out
"military" constitution to keep a murderer in place.

Defending against murder is by all means necessary.

Those are some lessons learnt here.

Do pray for Ekiti-land, but if you cannot pray, then please leave us
the way that you met us. If you will not do in your state what we
just did in our state, more power to you.

Best wishes all.

Auspicious · Oct 26, 2006 , 11:35 PM

Professor Aluko:

You have spoken well. Case Closed.

Auspicious.

MrOneNaija · Oct 26, 2006 , 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by tonsoyo

You know what Auspi. do we really have to address every article written on this forum from the Ijaw point of view as the duo of Sonofdelta and Mronenaija always try to drag us? I think not. If they are bitter or feel seroiusly concern about the impeacment of Uncle Alams let these two guys go and write thier own articles and we will adequately react to them. These guys are always trying to find a way of passing off other people concern to Ijaw issue. Make the two lazy guys go write dem own article jare!. Then they will hear from us.

The first time the author of the inane rant in the above quote did make disparaging remarks about my person, I said I was going to ignore the unwarranted insult. And I did. Now, the recidivist numbskull going by the handle of "tonsoyo" would seem to be pushing his luck. But the nitwit must be told that I'm not prepared to descend into the gutter where he seems to have found a favorite abode.

At any rate, if the character in question is even vaguely interested in enlightened debate, he should know that he can always have access to some of my writings at the following link:
http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...ondu/index.php
My last article which touched, in passing, on the Ekiti crisis is entitled "Driving Nuhu Ribadu Out Of Town".
http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...t-of-town.html
So, will "tonsoyo" keep to his word and actually muster the guts to intelligently react to this latest article of mine?

Auspicious · Oct 27, 2006 , 07:13 AM

Ordinarily, the letter from Mr. President to Mr. Senate President below would have been commendable but...in light of Mr. President's history of meddlesomeness in places like Oyo (where his silence indicated support for the blatant illegality in the removal of then Governor Ladoja) and Anambra (where his silence also indicated support for the bullying of former Governor Ngige), one cannot trust his sincerity. But the deed has been done, so we can only look forward....I guess. But then again, how often are we going to keep overlooking things? Where/what is the standard to go by for future governments? Hmm...

Auspicious.

"I feel constrained to write you this letter on recent developments in Ekiti State, efforts by the Federal Government to bring about peace and harmony and the inevitable resort to the last constitutional option open to me: The imposition of a State of Emergency.

"We have all made personal and collective sacrifices not just to enthrone peace, stability and democracy in Nigeria but also to consolidate our democratic enterprise and cultivate new values. It is, therefore, very painful when that new collective commitment to democracy, peace and security is compromised, contaminated or truncated in any way or form.

"At this stage, it is the belief of government, based on available security reports, as well as visible evidence on ground, that the situation in Ekiti State, to say the least, constitutes a challenge to our democracy, negates the norms of rational human interaction, contradicts the tenets of civil society, and devalues opportunities for peace, stability, co-existence and social justice. It constitutes a grave threat to law and order and a great danger to security in Ekiti State.

"It is, therefore, clearly a great threat to the security and unity of Nigeria.

"Let me give you some insights into direct efforts made by me and the leadership of our party, the PDP. After the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), had submitted its report on Governor Ayo Fayose's proven corrupt acts, I summoned the leadership of the party for the consideration of the report. We concluded that Ayo Fayose could no longer put himself up as a gubernatorial candidate of PDP, anywhere in the country. We made him to understand this point, which he accepted.

Secondly, we made him to understand that he had to face up to EFCC's follow-up actions. The State House of Assembly requested the EFCC for the report. On receipt of the Report, the State House of Assembly decided that they would carry out their duty and responsibility. Nobody in the face of the Report stopped them from carrying out their constitutional responsibility as they deemed fit. At this stage, to save the State from the agonising experience of impeachment, some leaders of the Party at State and national levels counselled Ayo Fayose to resign but he decided to see the impeachment process through.

"Mr. Senate President, the situation in Ekiti State which culminated, on Monday, in the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly being sworn in as Acting Governor is patently unconstitutional and, on that same day, the Attorney-General of the Federation issued a statement to that effect. Let me say from the onset that, for us at the Federal Government level, the issue is not the constitutional right of a State House of Assembly legitimately removing the State Chief Executive or Deputy Chief Executive for misconduct. The issue clearly is the due process and the constitutional and legal procedure to be followed without violating the Constitution and without breaching the rule of law. As at today, we have three people laying claim to the governorship of the State - a State of anarchy.

"I am sure that you can fully appreciate the grave situation I have described thus far. You can also see evidence of gross abuse of rule of law. This must not be allowed to crystallise and to be consolidated. The time to save our democracy from being undermined and badly eroded is now. We must save our democracy and preserve our Constitution and that was the oath of office I took. We must save Ekiti State from anarchy.

"From what is on ground at the moment, we need to take very serious action.

"Mr. Senate President, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 foresees the ultimate of emergency in part or all of Nigeria and provides for it as the last resort. Therefore, by virtue of Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), I have to declare a State of Emergency in Ekiti State with effect from today, 19 October 2006. This declaration has been published in a Federal Gazette as of today.

"The Governor and his Deputy by this declaration, cease to be in charge of the affairs of Ekiti State for six months in the first instance. An Administrator to manage the affairs of Ekiti State in the person of Brig-Gen. Tunji Olurin is nominated.

"The Ekiti State House of Assembly also ceases to exist as the formal legislative body of the State with immediate effect. Having a State Assembly in position under a State of Emergency is incongruous and may not allow for the expeditious actions that the Administrator will need, to put the State back into a situation of peace, harmony, security for all and maintenance of law and order throughout the state.

"It is the hope of the Federal Government that the Administrator will not need new laws for the administration of the State. But if he does, it will be in the form of a regulation, which he will submit to the President for consideration by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the State.

"The decision to impose a State of Emergency in Ekiti State was based on the collective desire to strengthen our democratic practice, institutions, and values. This decision would, without doubt, enhance security as well as protect the stability and corporate existence of our nation for which many have died.

"It is my hope and prayer that this six-month period will be used by the Administrator and all peace-loving people in and outside the State to bring peace and join hands to promote democratic values and enshrine the values of transparency, accountability, social justice, love, good neighbourliness and good governance.

"I thank you for your understanding and appreciation of the reasons why the State of Emergency had to be imposed in Ekiti State. I am certain that we shall all come out of this stronger, more united and more committed to democracy and good governance."
Courtesy: The Nigerian Guardian Online.

gwobezentashi · Oct 27, 2006 , 12:53 PM

@ Bolaji Aluko

Do pray for Ekiti-land, but if you cannot pray, then please leave us
the way that you met us. If you will not do in your state what we
just did in our state, more power to you.

Rather confusing entreaty. Is Ekiti now independent of the rest of the country? Pray what have "you" just done in "your" state with simultaneous three governors and two chief judges? The whole Ekiti drama simply attempted to set a dangerous precedent that could endanger our republic. Simply put, it established wuruwuru to the answer as a form of governance. If "we" do in "our" states what "you" have done in Ekiti, the entire Nigeria will be in a State of Emergency with the Garrison Commander Balogun Owu at the helm ad infinitum. Is that the answer?

Aluta!

Gwobezentashi

Abraxas · Oct 27, 2006 , 01:51 PM

Hi, folks!

The moral of the Ekiti episode is simple: In the (likely) event of a condition of constitutional controversy or logjam (or both) in any state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the "civilian" President would declare a state of emergency in such a state, with the subsequent deployment of a retired general, with the enabling mandate to completely dismantle all democratic institutions in that state, for at least 6 months.

However, in the (unlikely) event of a state of constitutional controversy or logjam throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the "patriotic" generals, air marshals, admirals, and Inspector General of police, in joint venture with their officers and men in the barracks, would declare the suspension of the constitution (which, in the first place, they very likely wrote while they were previously illegally in power), with the subsequent deployment of a serving general to take over political power from the bloody civilian president, with the enabling mandate of the “patriotic” officers and men (like Joshua Dogonyaro, Gbadamosi Babangida, Sani Abacha, Joseph Garba, Mathew Obasanjo, Murtala Mohammed, Dimka, Okar, et al) of the Nigerian armed forces, to completely dismantle all democratic institutions in Nigeria for at least thirteen (13) years.

And like every coup d'état that has taken place in Nigeria (including the 15 January 1966 coup d'état), the citizens of Ekiti have welcomed Brigadier General Tunji OLURIN (rtd.). One day, this same gang of power addicted soldiers will tell Nigerians to the face, and remind them that, after all, the bloody civilians of Ekiti welcomed Brigadier General OLURIN, with the fool-proof alibi that they jubilated on his arrival , on a mission to save them from themselves!

Once bitten thrice shy.

Muchas gracias.

Don Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III)
(Director of Propaganda & Enlightenment, Global Alliance for the Total De-militarization of Nigerian Politics, post OBJ)