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2024: A Time To Heal
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) gives glory to God for his grace, mercy and preservation in 2023, a memorable year in Nigeria. In spite of political tension and uncertainty associated with general election, economic recession aggravated by the removal of fuel subsidy, devaluation of naira and insecurity across the nation, Nigerians were amazingly resilient, surmounted all odds and expressed abiding faith in the fatherland to build a nation bound in freedom, love and unity where peace and justice shall reign. This could be defined as patriotism at its finest.
The New Year provides us with yet another opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the higher pursuit of a better, greater, prosperous, equitable and decent democratic nation. It is time for individual and national healing of fractured and ruptured relationships caused by the 2023 general election and various communities’ conflicts bearing in mind that “Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand”.
No doubt, 2024 will usher us to a nation that encourages and takes pride in our ethnic diversity, our religious diversity, our cultural diversity – aware that out of this pluralistic heritage will come the strength, vitality and creativity that will make us great and will keep us great with good leadership and good governance as the great arsenal of democracy in Africa.
The tasks ahead are enormous and will require exceptional patriotism, political sagacity, leadership acumen and tenacity of purpose to combat insecurity, turnaround the economy, improve infrastructure, provide jobs, maintain social cohesion, boost the people’s standards of living and move the nation forward.
Leadership is a deep and heavy responsibility, accordingly, all elected public officers are mandated to discharge their constitutional duties without fear or favour and fulfill their campaign promises to the people without excuses. They are elected to solve problems for the good of the masses and not to make flimsy excuses of overwhelming baggage inherited from their predecessors.
It is in view of this that IPAC set up a Peer Review Mechanism to monitor the achievements of elected public officers in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people across the nation. As a major stakeholder in the democratic process, IPAC will continue to hold leaders at all levels of government accountable in the quest for a strong, virile, progressive and united nation.
Council demands free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive, acceptable and peaceful bye-elections and urges the Independent National Electoral Commission to provide a level playing field to all the political parties and their candidates participating in the upcoming polls. The commission should improve its performance in the general election and off-season governorship polls and ensure that electoral materials are adequate and functional particularly the BVAS and the IREV portal to avoid undue glitches that could mar the exercise.
The people’s vote must count and their mandates respected by all stakeholders in the electoral process. Election is the beauty of democracy. The ballot is sacrosanct. Eligible voters are urged to turn up en masse to exercise their franchise as we jointly deepen the nation’s democracy. The obvious flaws witnessed during the 2023 general election and the off season gubernatorial polls call for further electoral reform and amendment of the Electoral Act 2022 to address them. IPAC in collaboration with critical stakeholders will champion this to ensure credible elections in Nigeria.
The Judiciary is the beacon of hope to all aggrieved citizens. As the temple of justice, it should be firm and decisive in discharging its constitutional duties aware that all eyes are on it particularly on election disputes.
I highly appreciate leaders of political parties for the success of the 18th December, 2023 IPAC election monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in which I emerged as the National Chairman of the Council. It was indeed a free, fair, credible, transparent, peaceful and generally accepted election. The spirit of sportsmanship showed by contestants for various positions was an eloquent testimony of the maturity, unity and patriotism of party leaders in Nigeria.
I was humbled by the concession speech of the immediate past national chairman, Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani who applauded the election as free, fair, credible and transparent and congratulated me stating that as party leaders and democrats, IPAC should always set an example in conducting a credible election. I commend the electoral committee led by Chief Dan Nwanyanwu for conducting the poll in accordance with the IPAC Code of Conduct and carried party leaders along during the exercise which was covered by the media.
I will justify the confidence reposed in me as the new national chairman of the Council. With your usual support and cooperation, we shall move IPAC to the next level. I promise to run an inclusive administration that will strengthen the Council and deepen democracy in Nigeria. The election is over, there is no Victor, no vanquished. It is a collective victory that will spur and motivate us to strengthen IPAC as the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria in the quest for a strong, virile, progressive, prosperous and equitable democratic nation.
IPAC commends the media for improved coverage of crucial national issues during the 2023 elections and Council activities. As the watchdog and tocsin of the nation, Nigerian media performed excellently in 2023. A grateful nation looks forward to more robust media engagements and incisive reports in 2024.
IPAC urges citizens to enter the New Year with pride, confidence and courage, and embark on great national deeds. Together, we will build a better future for our children.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
YUSUF MAMMAN DANTALLE
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, IPAC
Aides, Allies Disown Him, Say You’re a Traitor, We’re not Leaving PDP
Barely two weeks after his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), crisis has enveloped the political camp of a member of the House of Representatives for Obokun/Oriade federal constituency in Osun State, Oluwole Oke.
Indeed, these are not the best of times for him as his defection to the APC is eliciting rejection from his close circles and constituency.
His key allies who he groomed into politics and government positions have rejected his calls on them to join him to defect to the APC.
A source said that in the last few days, key aides and allies of the lawmaker have rejected his movement to the APC, describing it as a political tragedy.
“With the way he betrayed PDP, Oluwole Oke is like the proverbial Leopard that can never change the spots on its body. He will also betray the APC. We are staying back in PDP while severing political links with him”, one of his allies, Bamidele Johnson said.
Some of his allies were said to have openly declared that the defection marks a political waterloo for the 6th term legislator.
For instance, some of Oke’s allies in his Local Government scorned his move as “a decision borne out of greed and selfishness.”
One of them described him as “an ingrate who betrayed a party on whose platform he got married in life as a lawmaker and on whose platform he gained all his material riches.”
The Northern Youths Consultative Forum for Justice (NYCJ) has urged Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State, citing a complete breakdown of governance, law, and order.
In a statement issued on Monday in Kano, NYCJ President Dr Sanusi Rano described the situation in Zamfara as “organised abandonment of duty” by elected officials.
“What we are witnessing in Zamfara is not governance. It is betrayal of the people,” Rano said, pointing to the absence of a functional state House of Assembly and allegations linking officials to criminal activities.
The group highlighted the suspension of 10 lawmakers who spoke out against the deteriorating security situation, arguing that their removal has left Zamfara without a legally recognised legislative body.
“This is a dictatorship of silence,” said Rano, adding that the lack of checks and balances has deepened the state’s crisis.
“The same hands that should protect Zamfara are profiting from its destruction,” Rano stated.
Calling for decisive action, the group demanded the appointment of a non-partisan administrator to rebuild the state’s institutions.
“If this is not done now, Zamfara risks becoming a permanent state of anarchy, which threatens our democracy,” Rano warned.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Monday, sentenced the husband of late gospel singer, Osinachi, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of the deceased ( his wife) on April 8, 2022.
The judge held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty.
Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022 by the Office of Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), on behalf of the Federal Government, on a 23-count charge .
The charge was on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, spousal battery, among others.
In the course of trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the late Osinachi, who testified as fourth prosecution and fifth prosecution witnesses, PW4 and PW5 respectively.
The prosecution also tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court.
The defendant testified for the defence and further called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits in his defence.
Shortly before sentencing, the defendant, counsel , Reginald Nwali, in his allocutus pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgment.
Similarly, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to give force to the law as stipulated.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme subsequently sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while he was sentenced to two years imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18.
The court sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imprisonment in Count 11, while he was fined the sum of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively on Counts 6 and 7 respectively. (NAN)