Umar Bangari, the chief registrar of the court of appeal in Abuja, has disclosed that the judgment of the presidential election petition tribunal will be broadcast live on Wednesday, September 6. 

“In a bid to promote transparency and openness, these judgments will be televised live by interested Television Stations for the public to follow,” he wrote in a statement.

“The court of appeal wishes to inform the general public that judgment in the following petitions before the Presidential Election Petition Court will be delivered on Wednesday, 6 September, 2023:

“• CAREPC/03/2023 between Mr. Peter Gregory Obi & Anor VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 3 Ors.
“• CA/PEPC/04/2023 between Allied Peoples Movement VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 4 Ors.
“• CA/PEPC/05/2023 between Abubakar Atiku & Anor VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 2 Ors.

“Access to the Court premises will be strictly on accreditation.

“Only accredited individuals, including counsel and representatives of political parties, will be granted access into the Courtroom.

“Interested members of the public are advised to watch proceedings from their television sets.”

Tinubu secured 8,794,726 votes to defeat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 6,984,520, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) who polled 6,101,533 votes.

Not satisfied with the outcome, five political parties including the PDP, LP, Action Peoples Party (APP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the Action Alliance (AA) lodged separate petitions before the tribunal seeking to annul Tinubu’s victory.

Shortly after the commencement of the pre-hearing session in May, the APP and AA withdrew their petitions.

Among a slew of grievances, the petitioners contend that Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, the vice-president, were not eligible to contest the February 25 presidential poll.

[TheCable]

"Ideas outlive individuals. Ideas are the driving force behind institutions. People should merely be the vehicles for these ideas."

Dear Nigerians,

I started this piece with the quote above to illustrate the significance of the age-old debate of strong individuals over strong institutions. This debate, which is ever-present in the Nigerian political discourse, often highlights the positive impact of certain former political office holders during their tenures in various political offices.

As much as we applaud such political office holders for their performance, we must begin to ask ourselves important questions like: What happened to these offices after these people left them? How are we building our institutional capacities to maintain the highest standards? Aren't we shortchanging ourselves by always waiting for technocratic-minded individuals to be appointed into public offices, as opposed to having a system whereby the very institutions are able to also drive processes—regardless of who is appointed to lead various ministries?

Most importantly, we must also ask: how can we ensure that the best ideas and practices are carried over from one administration to the next—regardless of who is in power?

This brings me to the entire point of this piece.

A few weeks ago, I was reading the news when I saw a report that the Algerian government had refused a request from France to fly over its airspace for a military operation in Niger Republic. Before I had even concluded the first paragraph, my immediate reaction was, "As expected."

For some, the French request would have seemed like a no-brainer for several reasons. First, a straight flight from France over the Mediterranean Sea, over Tunisia, then over Algeria, would put the French military right in the northern part of Niger. Secondly, given their colonial history, many passive observers would have assumed that Algeria would have granted the French request.

However, with just a basic understanding of Algeria's post-independence foreign policy of non-alignment, sitting in my living room in Abuja, I could easily say, "This is how the Algerian government would respond."

Similarly, in September 2014, while celebrating his 90th birthday, Lee Kuan Yew, the revered first Prime Minister of Singapore, visited the nation's parliament to attend a sitting.

After the legislative activities were concluded, the former lawmaker gathered in the Members' Room with Members of Parliament (MPs) from his party, the People's Action Party (PAP), and all other opposition MPs, where he delivered a brief but impactful message: 

"Singapore must always remain clean and incorruptible," Lee Kuan Yew said. "And you, the Ministers and Members of Parliament, must set the example."

This story, narrated by his eldest son, Lee Hsien Loong, the current Prime Minister of Singapore, was told just last month at the country's National Day Rally as a reminder to the people of the Southeast Asian country, that the national values that made them transform from a third-world country to a first-world country, were still the driving principles that their leaders adhered to.

Where am I going with this?

Since October 1st, 1960, when Nigeria became independent, we have transitioned through various styles of government and multiple administrations, which have been guided by the whims and, many times, capriciousness of the leaders that are in power. For better or worse, the shape of our national priorities often takes the shape of the strongmen of the day.

From one administration to the other, each leader comes into power pushing new ideas and creating new expectations. However, it is often the case that when these leaders leave office, the priorities of the past become shadows in the present. 

This is not sustainable.

In our post-colonial era, Nigeria has had four national conferences to discuss the way forward. Oftentimes, these conferences have been talk shops that have produced bulky reports and recommendations that often go unaddressed. Nevertheless, with all that is going on both internally and around the African continent, we must all agree that our nation needs to embark on some kind of soul-searching. We have an identity crisis that did not start today.

From our foreign policy objectives to our internal policy affairs, we leave too much room for human error. Nobody can authoritatively say this is where Nigeria stands on anything — like in the case of Algeria. No one can also say these are Nigeria’s long-held national values — like in the case of Singapore.

This is why we desperately need a national consensus.

Such a national consensus would come from a painstaking debate on the identity and united values of the Nigerian nation going into the future. It will be a challenging conversation that will address everything, from our expectations of one another to our expectations of the world around us. 

Subjects like devolution of powers need sincere examination. Topics like the Exclusive List and Concurrent List should be discussed in light of global advancements—prioritising the current and future needs of our various states over the current expectations of the government that is in power. Additionally, the composition of our national security architecture must be redefined to create a responsive security framework.

From such deliberations, Nigeria's desired global image and non-negotiable principles will emerge. The recommendations that come from it will guide all our future negotiations, associations, and proposals.

By having our long-term priorities agreed upon, enumerated, and endorsed by a credible national body that comprises all political parties, key religious groups and leaders, key stakeholders in the private sector and the academic community, and influential thought leaders from the media and other sectors, we can make Nigeria a nation that is built on common principles that are shared by all our institutions.

Most importantly, by having a national consensus on key issues, we can benchmark our basic expected minimums. 

Of course, as with any consensus, there has to be compromise. We are a diverse country with people from different ethnic groups, religions, and cultures; hence, finding common ground will not be easy. In fact, it will be difficult. Nevertheless, it is ultimately possible.

I rest my case.

— Oluwole Onemola writes from Abuja.

There is a clear direction. The trajectory is certain – steady and forward. There have been bumps on the way, but not too great to cause a derailment from measured course. Nigeria is in acclivitous motion. It is plodding through thistles and thorns yet rising. It is in cultivated hands.

I would not devour space rehashing what has been said but put some concerns into informed perspective. In the past 100 days, the government has taken some tough but necessary decisions – removing petrol subsidy and unifying exchange-rate windows. Critics are agreed that petrol subsidy had to go, yet some dispute the timing of the abrogation. But when will there ever be an auspicious time?

Favourable and intended time and conditions for any given purpose are contrived; they are created by actions not accidents or force of inertia.

There will never be a perfect time or salubrious season for the implementation of any policy. The reason why some important policies stalled in the past and ultimately ended up in abeyance was because of indecision and ambivalence in the reading of the perception metre. Fuel subsidy was to be axed by the Obasanjo administration, but the plan was opposed by some agents railing against the foregone conclusion today.

The policy volte-face resulted in a cascading of burden and corruption from one administration to another. The subsidy regime became a sinkhole and a Venus flytrap eviscerating the treasury. It became grotesquely unsustainable. It was either petrol subsidy conks or government revenue atrophies eternally.  

The Buhari administration signed The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 which made the subsidy regime inoperative. But it delayed the effective abolishment of the scheme until the end of June 2023. It took a step forward regardless.

President Bola Tinubu had been forthright and genuine about his intentions on petrol subsidy and the shadowy exchange-rate system. He said during the campaigns that he would not maintain the parlous order, and that he would stop the haemorrhage. So, there was a clear plan. There was purposive direction. There was a wilful design.

True to his pledge, the President acted with dispatch in initiating the policies. Some critics say the removal of petrol subsidy should have been delayed or phased. But this is a deadpan argument, considering the imminent danger the subsidy regime represented. It was a case of sink or float. The same arguments had been advanced in the past, but here we are. There was simply no room for niceties and dilly-dallying. Decisiveness, conscientiousness, and courage was required in this instance. And the President rose to the occasion.

The administration did not spend the past 100 days floundering through trial and error. It has been resolute. It has been calculated. It has been steady. There is movement, and there is motion.

Recognising the concomitants of petrol subsidy removal, the Tinubu administration launched sweeping interventions to alleviate the hardship many citizens are facing.

On July 13, the federal government enunciated its plan to effectively address the creeping rise in food prices effectuated by the snowballing of petrol prices. The government declared a state of emergency on food security. It said all matters pertaining to food and water availability and affordability, as essential livelihood items, were now within the purview of the National Security Council. The government also said it would deploy some savings from the removal of petrol subsidy into agriculture, focusing on revamping the sector.

The President directed the release of 200,000 metric tonnes of grains from strategic reserves to households across the 36 states and the FCT to moderate prices, as well as the provision of 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, seedlings, and other inputs to farmers.

The administration, interfacing with state governments, unveiled a catalogue of economic anodynes, targeting vulnerable Nigerians. N5 billion was proposed for each state – and with N2 billion each already disbursed.

The President approved the CNG initiative to create a sustainable alternative, stimulate investment, and drive down the costs of energy. The initiative targets over 11,500 new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-enabled vehicles and 55,000 CNG conversion kits for existing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)-dependent vehicles.

The President signed four (4) Executive Orders to check unsavoury fiscal policies and multiple taxes that are asphyxiating businesses. The administration also pledged to energise micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and the informal sector with N125 billion.

Other interventions are said to be in progress.  

While we cannot all sing kumbaya yet – as there are pressing concerns and challenges afflicting citizens – there are rays of hope on the horizon betokening favourable outcomes after this bumpy episode.

The leadership must maintain its sense of urgency to national matters; it must remain mindful and never succumb to the seven cardinal weaknesses of power -- complacency, obstinacy, indolence, impunity, illusion of invincibility, brute arrogance, nepotism, and ruthlessness. It must remain decisive, resolute, but amenable where necessary. And it must maintain a high sense of integrity, transparency, and accountability to sustain goodwill.

It has started well; now it must keep going forward.

Yakubu Maikyau, Nigerian Bar Association president, says AllEyeOnTheJudiciary campaigners are planning to plunge the country into anarchy.

Mr Maikyau accused the ‘AllEyeOnTheJudiciary’ campaigners of setting the country up for anarchy.

“When you make bare allegations, unsubstantiated allegations, you are hurting the very fabric upon which this country I held together,” Mr Maikyau stated in an interview broadcast Sunday night on ARISE TV. “Because once the people do not accept the judiciary, once public confidence in the judiciary is eroded, then you will not have a country in place. You will only have anarchy and chaos.”

The NBA president added, “You go all out there and make generalised statements about how corrupt they are. If you have evidence, come out and say it. You are even worse than a judicial officer who is practising corruption or who indulges in corrupt practices when you have the evidence, and you refuse to let us know. Because you are destroying the fabric of the system that holds this country together.”

Mr Maikyau declared that the judiciary “has been pauperised” and “has been ill-treated,” yet “they have demonstrated their strength of character.”

He reiterated his call for all ‘AllEyesOnTheJudiciary’ campaigners accusing the judiciary of corruption to come forward with evidence to weed out bad eggs.

“I’ve said it in different fora; if you have any evidence against any judicial officers, please let us have it,” noted the NBA president. “We will pursue the judicial officers. Of all the judicial officers in this country, how many have been convicted of corruption?”

Legal tussles ensued following the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the February 25 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission on March 1.

Atiku Abubakar (of PDP) and Peter Obi (of Labour Party) are challenging Mr Tinubu’s victory on the grounds that he failed to win a 25 per cent vote in the Federal Capital Territory and his forfeiture of money linked to cocaine pushing in the United States of America.

In the run-up to the presidential election petitions tribunal’s verdict on the election, scheduled for September 16, supporters of opposition parties have launched online and offline campaigns tagged ‘AllEyesOnTheJudiciary’, warning the judiciary not to compromise.

Aside from trending the ‘AllEyesOnTheJudiciary’ on social media, its campaigners erected billboards with the same expression in strategic locations.

However, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) ordered the immediate removal of the billboards nationwide.

President Bola Tinubu has reassured Nigerians of his determination not to fail the country in carrying out a permanent transformation of the nation’s economy to an enduring prosperity.

Tinubu said this while receiving members of Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO) on a solidarity visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This is contained in a statement signed by Chief Frank Ebere-Njoku, National Spokesperson, Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO), given to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

The president, who thanked the organisation for standing on his mandate, said that Nigeria was on the path of recovery.

Tinubu expressed confidence in the capacity of his cabinet members to rescue the country from the present economic quagmire.

“I have at this point assembled ministers to work toward achieving my goal of a progressive Nigeria.

“I am sure that they are capable of delivering on their primary assignment of rebuilding the Nigerian economy because I will remove anyone who fails, because I want results,” he said.

Tinubu, however, promised to run an all-inclusive government where everyone would be given the opportunity to serve, especially those that worked for him.

According to him, “I will always reward loyalty, excellence and hard work.”

Earlier, Alhaji Aminu Suleiman, Founder, Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO) reassured the president of their loyalty and support.

Suleiman, who expressed unwavering support to President Tinubu, said they were committed to making the government a great success.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that TSO is one of the associations that mobilised support for President Tinubu’s presidency.

NAN

Nigerian banks, including the United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Access Bank, among others, have jointly announced their intention to initiate a nationwide strike lasting for two days. They have stated that financial services will be unavailable on September 5 and 6, 2023.

This decision follows a directive issued by the National Union of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institution Employees, as conveyed in a memorandum dated September 2, 2023, and signed by the union’s General Secretary, Mohammed I. Sheikh. The memo explicitly referenced the strike notice previously issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress on August 31.

NUBIFIE additionally voiced allegations against the federal government, accusing it of interfering in trade union affairs rather than concentrating on addressing economic challenges.

The notice read; “In line with the communique issued after the meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held on Thursday, August 31 2023, all affiliates should direct all its members to commence two days’ withdrawal of services from Tuesday & Wednesday the 5th & 6th September 2023.

“The directives is imperative to get the needed attention of government and warn it of its newfound love of meddling in the internal affairs of unions rather than address the punishing economic circumstances in which we find ourselves.

“We hereby direct all our organs to comply with this directive by ensuring all our members stay off duty for two days. Your cooperation in this regard will be appreciated.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in an effort to avert the Nigeria Labour Congress’ warning strike scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, has shown interest in resuming talks with the organised labours.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known in an interview with PUNCH on Saturday, September 2, 2023.

According to him, the government would meet with leaders of the union to avert the looming strike.

He said; “Definitely, we are hoping the warning strike can be averted. They are still engaged in discussions and have started to understand each other’s position more. They will meet again on Monday, but the gaps are being closed.

“You know the new minister just came in and has just begun to engage with the NLC. Going forward, you will see more expeditious engagement with the labour union. So far, tension has reduced but work is still in progress. By Monday, they will meet again and hopefully find an amicable resolution on the issue.”

On what the Federal Government plans to do concerning the 21-day strike scheduled to commence later in the month if the parties fail to reach an agreement, the minister expressed conviction that the matter would be resolved before then.

He stated, “This is why I said we are trying to find a common ground to avert the impending strike. Once this is achieved, the other one would have been taken care of.”

The suspended Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, Hon Wale Adedayo, detained since last Friday by the Department of State Security Services has regained his freedom.

Adedayo, who spoke with our correspondent in Abeokuta shortly after he was released, disclosed that he was summoned by the DSS based on a petition written against him that he was making inciting comments that could jeopardize public peace.

The suspended LG boss, however, said he had told the DSS that he had never uttered any inciting comments other than his allegation of local governments getting zero allocation from the state government in the last two years.

He said he remained unshaken over his travails so far and that he would definitely challenge what he called his illegal suspension from office last week Thursday.

Adedayo disclosed that the letter written to report Governor Dapo Abiodun to the former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba, was with the support of other chairmen in the state but he was surprised they could all back out of the struggle which is to primarily ensure good governance at the grassroots.

Recalled that the suspended chairman had written a letter to a former governor in the state, Osoba, alleging that the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, had hijacked public funds, while also forwarding a petition to the anti-graft agencies over the same allegations.

The Joint Account and Allocation Committee in the state saddled with the responsibility of managing the local government federal allocations has however dismissed the allegation, affirming that every fund approved by the Committee passed through the various Local Council Accounts.

Israel prime minister Benjamin Nentanyahu has announced the immediate deportation of at least 25,000 African migrants after the Eritrean violent clash in Tel Aviv, which left dozens of persons injured.

Eritrea has one of the world’s worst human rights records, and migrants in Israel and elsewhere said they feared death if they were to return.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who announced the decision on Sunday, also ordered a plan to evacuate all African migrants in the country following the bloody protest by rival groups of Eritreans in south Tel Aviv.

“We want harsh measures against the rioters, including the immediate deportation of those who took part,” Mr Netanyahu said in a special ministerial meeting to deal with the aftermath of the violence.

Mr Netanyahu, however, requested the ministers present him with plans “for the removal of all the other illegal infiltrators.”

Under international law, Israel cannot forcibly send migrants back to a country where their life or liberty may be at risk.

Ahead of an official visit to Cyprus, Mr Netanyahu said the ministerial team was seeking to deport 1,000 supporters of the Eritrean government involved in the violence.

“They have no claim to refugee status. They support this regime,” Mr Netanyahu said. “If they support the regime so much, they would do well to return to their country of origin.”

African migrants living in Israel, about 25,000 mainly from Sudan and Eritrea, allegedly claimed they fled their country due to conflict or repression.

Israel had tried a variety of tactics to force the migrants out, including sending some to a remote prison, holding part of their wages until they agreed to leave the country or offering cash payments to those who agreed to move to another country, somewhere in Africa.

Some critics had accused the Israeli government of trying to coerce the migrants into leaving. However, many claimed migrants had brought crime to the low-income southern Tel Aviv neighbourhoods where they have settled.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, visited the site of the unrest and demanded that those who broke the law be detained until they are deported.

“They don’t need to be here. It’s not their place,” Mr Ben-Gvir said.

Saturday’s clashes came as Eritrean government supporters marked the 30th anniversary of the current ruler’s rise to power, an event held near the Eritrean embassy in south Tel Aviv.

Similar protests involving rival Eritrean groups had also been popping up in other countries.

Gabon’s coup leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, vowed, after being sworn in as interim president on Monday, to restore civilian rule through “free, transparent and credible elections” after a transition and amnesty prisoners of conscience.

In a speech after taking the oath of office, Nguema said the elections would be the stepping stone to “handing power back to the civilians,” although he did not give a timeline.

Nguema said he was seeking the participation of all of Gabon’s “core groups” to draft a new constitution, which “will be adopted by referendum.”

He also said he would be instructing “the future government… to consider ways of amnestying prisoners of conscience” and “facilitating the return of all exiles” from abroad.

Nguema, 48, who is head of the elite Republican Guard, led a coup that brought the curtain down on 55 years of dynastic rule by President Ali Bongo Ondimba and his father Omar, who died in 2009.

Bongo’s ouster came just moments after he had been proclaimed victor in presidential elections last month — a result branded a fraud by the opposition.

Nguema said he was “surprised” at foreign criticism of the coup.

The military had been prompted by a desire to avoid bloodshed following “an electoral process that was obviously loaded,” he said.

“We are greatly surprised to hear certain international organisations condemn the act taken by soldiers who were simply upholding their oath to the flag — to save their country at the risk of their lives,” he said.

Five other countries in Africa — Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Niger — have undergone coups in the last three years, although their circumstances are different from Gabon’s.

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory finds itself entangled in a crisis marked by allegations of corruption and personnel grievances, with profound implications for the administration of justice in the nation’s capital.

In an unusual move, several judges have revealed to People’s Gazette the distressing experiences they endured under the leadership of Chief Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf.

During discreet interviews conducted over a span of seven weeks, five judges from the court expressed deep concerns about the mismanagement of resources within their division, which has left judicial officers struggling in the midst of widespread hardship exacerbated by President Bola Tinubu’s decision to eliminate petrol subsidies in an attempt to prevent a broader economic crisis.

These judges further accused Mr. Baba-Yusuf of exploiting their meager allowances, resulting in their courtrooms lacking essential support personnel and equipment. They described the Chief Justice’s management style as akin to treating the court as his personal estate, and they felt generally disregarded and disrespected, likening their treatment to that of “secondary school boys.”

Accounts gathered by The Gazette indicate that the judges are alarmed that this neglect could increase their vulnerability to bribery, even though they vehemently asserted their commitment to upholding justice and their willingness to resign rather than compromise their principles.

Since 2007 when President Umar Yar’Adua raised the salaries of FCT judges from N200,000 to N530,000 monthly (roughly $600), no reviews have been conducted, much less approved, they said.

Consequently, the judges said their struggle to work effectively, feed or provide quality education for their children has made it difficult for them to administer justice for millions in the district and even tempted their sacrosanct allegiance to rectitude.

“We regularly sit on cases involving individuals and companies accused of stealing billions, and most of them have agents that usually try to bribe judges in order to influence court decisions,” one of the judges said. “Yet we cannot even feed ourselves or compromise our constitutional oath to guarantee a decent living.”

The judges’ grievances against Chief Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf mirror concerns previously raised by Supreme Court justices in 2022. The Supreme Court justices had accused their then-chief justice, Tanko Muhammad, of irresponsibility and moral decay for withholding utility and data allowances. Tanko Muhammad resigned following these accusations. It remains uncertain whether Baba-Yusuf will face a similar fate.

Additionally, Baba-Yusuf faces allegations of not providing judges with the necessary equipment and personnel, resulting in a significant backlog of unresolved cases. According to judges, over the last quarter, more than 1,000 cases have made no progress on the court’s docket.