TINUBU UPBRAIDS JONATHAN OVER PDP GOVS’ FORUM

•Tambuwal, Ezekwesili, Kukah proffer ways to deepen democracy

Former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, Thursday in Benin City, the Edo State capital, sharply crticised President Goodluck Jonathan for presiding over the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors' Forum (PDP-GF) as a counterweight to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), which cuts across party lines.

Tinubu, who spoke at a lecture held to celebrate the 60th birthday anniversary of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, accused the president of dividing the governors just because they had the temerity to oppose the Excess Crude Account (ECA).

The lecture, which had as its theme, “Deepening Democracy and Public Welfare”, was attended by the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; former Vice-President of the World Bank, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili; and Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, who all spoke on measures needed to deepen democracy in the country.

On the issue of deepening democracy, Tinubu was of the opinion that good governance, accountability and commitment to the people were critical components of Nigeria’s democratic experiment.
He said the “one man, one vote” campaign as exemplified by the celebrant and not about squandering of $45 billion foreign reserves and $22 billion from ECA, which he termed an illegal account, were also critical to the development of democracy.

While calling for the enforcement of Section 162 of the constitution which provides that all revenues must be paid into the Federation Account and shared by the three tiers of government, Tinubu said he was ashamed of the president for presiding over the creation of the PDP-GF, because the governors had opposed the ECA.

The former Lagos State governor, who reiterated his call for a decentralised police force, given the security challenges in the country, stated that the president by his actions was not promoting democracy, adding: “That was why we are forming the APC (All Progressives Congress), so that if they don’t do it right, we will give them a dose of it.”

On the celebrant, Tinubu described the Edo State governor as his younger brother and congratulated him for joining him in the club of 60-year-olds.

“I am so happy that our comrade governor has joined me in this club. As such, I believe I have the freedom to call him my younger brother. With that in mind, let me say a hearty and warm happy birthday to my slightly younger but much shorter brother,” he said.
Tinubu told the gathering that they had come to celebrate a stalwart leader and a tireless guardian of the public trust, adding: “This man is a bold champion of the needy and less privileged; he is a strong aid to the downtrodden.

“No matter his other talents, a leader amounts to nothing but a disappointment and threat and his people will experience little except danger if that leader lacks vision and commitment.

“The people of Edo State are fortunate and also wise for they have selected a man of great vision, commitment and compassion. Adams Oshiomole may just be like any human being, but his superior quality is that he is a humane being.”

He added that because of Oshimhole’s days of radical unionism, many thought he might lack the temperament to administer and manage material and resources.
“I never thought such a thing for I understood the talents of this man and the depth of his convictions. But when he entered electoral politics, the cynics had a field day predicting he would fail.

“He quickly proved them wrong first with the fight to win back his stolen mandate and then with the team he picked to help him govern. These cynics joked that he thought politics was a union arena, but they soon found who they were dealing with. Today, the joke is on them,” the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) national leader stated.

In his presentation, Tambuwal, who kick-started the discussion, said for Nigeria to deepen democracy, there was need to go back and redefine our value system and accept the culture of independence of each arm of government as enshrined in the constitution.
He added that the doctrine of separation of powers, strengthening institutions, reduction of corruption to the barest minimum, security and welfare of the citizenry must be the primary purpose of government.

His words: “We must begin to strengthen the institutions, political platforms through which parties’ elections are organised by making sure that they are not only ideologically based, but ensure the independence of the electoral umpire as a critical element.”

Also, Kukah was of the view that to deepen democracy, Nigeria must plan for leadership, adding that since Nigeria became independent from the time of Tafawa Balewa as prime minister to President Jonathan, the country has not really made adequate preparations for those that govern it.

Kukah said he did not believe that Nigeria was practising democracy, adding that the biggest problem Nigerians have today is to think they are in a democracy “with anti-democratic notions existing everywhere.”

Meanwhile, Aliyu called for a better way of tackling corruption that has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation if democracy must be deepened.

He regretted that while democracy in other climes is succeeding and enhancing the welfare of their people, Nigeria is ridden with corruption, tracing the cause to the culture of enthroning elected officers who are supposed to be servants of the people.

In her contribution, Ezekwesili, a former minister of education, observed that a governance system that is indolent, where oil revenue is all that matters cannot deepen democracy and bring about public welfare.

While congratulating Oshiomhole whose symbol and fighting spirit have taken advocacy to utilitarian ideals, she said democracy in Nigeria was in recess because of the cynicism of the electorate with respect to the political leaders.

She said for democracy to thrive, those thrown up by democracy must have a rallying vision, noting that more than 50 years after independence and discovery of crude oil in Nigeria, the country still has a per capita income of $1,500, whereas countries like Singapore and Malaysia boast per capita incomes of $40,000.

As a way forward, Ezekwesili said no democracy can be deepened without the citizens, adding that until Nigerians who bear the brunt of inequality rise up to say enough is enough, not much could be done.

“There is an urgency for the country to have a critical conversation on the way forward,” Ezekwesili said.
In showing his appreciation, Oshiomhole thanked all those who found time to grace his birthday celebration.

About 15 serving governors, several ex-governors, past and present senators, Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, Crown Prince Ehenede Erediauwa, and a host of others, attended the lecture held in is honour.  

Earlier, at a thanksgiving mass held at the Government House chapel, Oshiomhole recounted his early struggle through life and how he slept at the police station for three days when he first went to Kaduna because he had no place to stay.

His said: “My life is a life of miracles. When I went to Kaduna, I ended up sleeping at the police station for the first three nights because I didn’t have anywhere to stay.
“My struggles through the NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) to becoming the governor and for Edo people to unite around me to build a very powerful political forces was an act of God.”

Oshiomhole called for more prayers for him to overcome his weaknesses and not to do things that would benefit a few at the expense of the majority.

Source: Thisday