Many reasons Buhari should change style – Opara, Ex- Deputy Speaker

Former deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sir Austin Opara speaks on a wide range of issues. While condemning the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region, the former deputy speaker, however, blames the issue on the skewed appointments made by this government, which he says are “provocative.” Excerpts .
Over one year into office, how would you compare the All Progressive Congress government and the sixteen years of the Peoples Democratic Party?
It is very clear to everybody. The situation is worse than it has ever been in the country in all sectors. We are using the recession as a blanket phrase to describe the situation. Going to the grassroots, the situation is precarious and pitiable.
There is no foodstuff, workers salaries are not being paid, the price of fuel is beyond reach, electricity supply is terrible, the exchange rate has skyrocketed.
There is crisis in virtually all sectors of the economy. We need expert intervention as well as divine intervention to save this nation from total collapse.
But it has been argued that the poor foundation laid by your party is responsible for what we are going through now.
That does not make sense to me, except for a government that is unserious and is keen on making excuses. When President Barack Obama took over in the United States of America, the American economy was in crisis as left by President George Bush.
War against corruption
Obama never spent time blaming President Bush but took on the challenge. We have elected a government because they told Nigerians that the PDP government was not performing.
To turn around to blame their failings on the PDP government is no longer excusable. For a president who had contested election four times, the least Nigerians expect from him is to have a plan on how he is going to do things differently. For him to turn around to blame others for his failing is very unfortunate.
But it is agreed that the president has made much progress in the fight against corruption.
It has come out clearly that even the war against corruption is skewed against a few people and I will give you examples. In Rivers State, so much has been presented against the past government but nobody has said anything but this government goes after people whom they don’t even have evidence against. It is a clear indication that this government only goes after its opponents in the so-called war against corruption.
The precarious state of the economy has made the government consider selling some national assets. Do you support this?
For me, something must give in at this point. I disagree with the sale of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas because, in the past several months, it has paid dividends of over $4 billion which was shared amongst the three tiers of government. To that extent, the NLNG is a productive and viable entity. But divesting government interests in some of the assets is necessary, especially those that have continued to constitute liabilities to the country. One good example is the JVC with the oil companies where Nigeria holds about 54% shares. There is nothing wrong with divesting say 4%. But the important thing is to ensure that in doing this, the government must ensure that the beneficiaries of such policies are Nigerians.
To get us out of recession now, there must be some short term measures, including borrowing. But there must be a cocktail of opportunities that government must bring to bear. It must inject money into the system in the short term.
What is your reaction to the chain of events in the House of Representatives that culminated in the suspension of a member for one year?
It is unfortunate that a member of the House, former chairman of a prominent committee will speak in the manner that he did, denigrating the parliament because he lost out. I don’t understand what he is talking about padding or no padding.
As a parliament, you have the right to adjust the budget in a manner that would be for the total good of the nation. Section 4 of the Constitution says the Parliament should make laws for the good governance so if an adjustment is done to ensure good governance, what is wrong with that? It is only when such adjustment is done out of selfish reasons that you can say there is a problem.
My take on the crisis is that the former chairman of the Appropriation Committee was wrong in his approach. The speaker or any member of the parliament can introduce projects to the budget, but the problem again is the approach. Some of the projects they may introduce may not be federal government project.
Yes, while it may not be outrageous to amend the budget or introduce new projects, this must be done in liaison with the relevant agency that may execute such projects. But for a member of the House to speak in the way the former chairman of appropriations committee spoke, it shows that he is just bent on pulling down the system.
The institution is bigger than any individual. The fact that you have fallen out of favour does not mean that the institution should be destroyed.
What is your reaction to the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region?
We have condemned this. A lot of us have spoken out against this because ultimately, we from the region would be the loser. The degradation of the environment, the loss of revenue to our state and local government and other issues. We keep talking to those who say they are aggrieved or unhappy because we believe there are better ways of going about the problems. Let the destruction of pipelines stop in the interest of our people and the nation.
But it is also necessary to put it on record that this government, in all that it has done, including appointments that have been skewed in favour of a section of this country, has been provocative.
The government should look inward and address the style of governance. This is not the first government we have had in this country.
It is important that the government should look inward and readdress a lot of issues, especially that of appointments. The appointments so far made are skewed, and it is very provocative.
What are the lessons to be learned from the recent governorship election in Edo State?
The fact that has come out of the Edo election is that 2019 will not be business as usual. It will not be like the previous elections. Both the government and the governed should know that 2019 will be different. I congratulate PDP members in Edo state for their performance. We have been told that the unit by unit results that the party agents indicated that PDP won the election.
We will leave that for the tribunals to decide but the fact is that for a state that it does not have a government yet they performed so creditably, they deserve commendation and it is an indication of what will happen in 2019.

Morocco: A prodigal son gives conditions

AFRICA, beloved of God has many sons and daughters. Some of them in ancient Egypt gave the world its modern civilisation. It also gave Greece its philosophy which became the basis of Western thought and philosophy. However, a different race whom our Seers had warned us against, swooped and enslaved almost all of Africa’s children. In pain and in tears, through our sweat and blood we struggled for freedom. That was years before the whole humanity agreed that the right of a people to self-determination is non-negotiable.
Even at the dawn of freedom, Africa’s children were like sheep without Shepard as the former slave masters sought to continue our enslavement, this time, indirectly. Then we coalesced into two broad groups. Some met in Casablanca, Moroccco and became the Casablanca Group; the other became the Monrovia Group. Africa’s far sighted leaders met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and on May 25, 1963, gave birth to one united movement of the African people called the Organisation of African Unity. We vowed that never again will Africans be enslaved and that those still in bondage like South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Guinea Bissau and Western Sahara shall be free. Indeed, despite the efforts of enslavers, they became free. All African children became free but we did not envisage that one of our prominent sons would collaborate with the foreign slave masters to deprive one of us her freedom.
Mother Africa has been generous by providing for us all; big and small, we have our own inheritance. But our brother Morocco decided in addition, to seize the inheritance and wealth of small Western Sahara. First it connived with the Spanish slave masters to deprive Western Sahara, its independence. Then it got the latter to hand over the riches of Western Sahara to him and Brother Mauritania; both proceeded to share it as a booty. Mauritania was to rethink and wash its hands off its share of the loot which greedy Morocco seized and added to its share.
However, Africa will not have such covetousness and decided to call Brother Morocco to order reminding him that the African peoples are one and that our ancestors forbid stealing. But stubborn Morocco would not agree, and when the rest of Africa welcomed our Saharawi brothers and sisters to our common home, the African Union, Morocco would have none of it. It decided to leave home and go hunting with the old slave masters. A few brothers walked out with him, but when they got to the gate, turned back to join the rest of the family. Morocco, backed by the former slave owners, went looting the fishes, phosphate and the riches of the Saharawi. It brutalised the Saharawi, detained some, destroyed their homes, forced some into refugee camps, built a wall dividing the territory, and forced the rest under its jackboots. It paid no heed to the international community, refused to allow the referendum the rest of the world directed should be conducted to allow the Western Sahara decide freely whether it wants to be free or be part of big brother Morocco. In one of the most ridiculous cases of thuggery, Morocco seized one our Saharawi sisters, Aminatu Haider and exiled her to the territory of the former slave master. If indeed the Saharawi is Moroccan, how would you exile your citizen to a foreign territory?
After thirty two years of wandering in the desert and keeping bad company, prodigal Morocco decided to return home to the African Union. He must have realised that he is a nobody outside the homestead; that his foreign friends will never threat him as an equal, that is if in the first place, they regard him as a human being. Our brother, King Mohammed VI of Morocco who was born three months after the Union was founded, wrote a rambling and insulting 2,144-word letter announcing Morocco is willing to return. Nobody will stop such a return because Morocco is a long lost son and our home is a common patrimony. It is like a long lost sheep; why won’t motherly Africa rejoice that her prodigal son has decided to retrace his steps and return home? But while the Biblical prodigal son was remorseful, full of regrets and begged for forgiveness, the Moroccan prodigal is unrepentant, arrogant and exhibiting the traits of a street thug.
In the letter announcing his decision to return home, he referred to his brother Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, SADR (Western Sahara) as a “phantom state” His illogical argument is that the SADR which is a biological son of Africa, is not a member of the United Nations (UN). So what? How is being a member of the UN the criteria for statehood? For decades, Switzerland, one of the oldest republics of the world, was not a member of the UN. In any case, do we need the certification of the UN to determine that the Saharawi is a full blooded African?
Morocco indulged in falsehood when he claimed it left the homestead because he does not want to create a division. The truth is that it left when it could not create a division. It wants to adopt the same tactics by trying to induce other Africans with economic and monetary baits to expel or suspend Western Sahara from our common home. Morocco can swallow its pride and return to the African fold, but the Saharawi will never be expelled from the home of his father. Africa belongs to all Africans and no African is superior to the other. Any African leader who backs Morocco whether for a mess of porridge or due to pressures from the former slave masters to expel or suspend Western Sahara from the African House, should know he is trying to break and destroy the union of the African peoples. Such people will be the enemies of the African people and foes of social justice. We cannot allow the rule of might over right in our continent. All those sharing in the loot of Western Sahara be they foreigners or Africans will ultimately have to account for their greed.
When leaders like President Muhammadu Buhari and Dr. Julius Nyerere (who presided) sat in the African Union thirty two years and decided to admit the SADR into the Union, it was in the fundamental interest of Africa. To seek to take a different action today, is to betray these leaders, endanger the health of mother Africa and mortgage the future of our continent and children. If the prodigal son will not abide by the basic principles and the brotherly love that bind all of Africa, it is free to continue wandering in the desert. Prodigal Morocco cannot give Africa conditions to return home.

Morocco: A prodigal son gives conditions

AFRICA, beloved of God has many sons and daughters. Some of them in ancient Egypt gave the world its modern civilisation. It also gave Greece its philosophy which became the basis of Western thought and philosophy. However, a different race whom our Seers had warned us against, swooped and enslaved almost all of Africa’s children. In pain and in tears, through our sweat and blood we struggled for freedom. That was years before the whole humanity agreed that the right of a people to self-determination is non-negotiable.
Even at the dawn of freedom, Africa’s children were like sheep without Shepard as the former slave masters sought to continue our enslavement, this time, indirectly. Then we coalesced into two broad groups. Some met in Casablanca, Moroccco and became the Casablanca Group; the other became the Monrovia Group. Africa’s far sighted leaders met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and on May 25, 1963, gave birth to one united movement of the African people called the Organisation of African Unity. We vowed that never again will Africans be enslaved and that those still in bondage like South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Guinea Bissau and Western Sahara shall be free. Indeed, despite the efforts of enslavers, they became free. All African children became free but we did not envisage that one of our prominent sons would collaborate with the foreign slave masters to deprive one of us her freedom.
Mother Africa has been generous by providing for us all; big and small, we have our own inheritance. But our brother Morocco decided in addition, to seize the inheritance and wealth of small Western Sahara. First it connived with the Spanish slave masters to deprive Western Sahara, its independence. Then it got the latter to hand over the riches of Western Sahara to him and Brother Mauritania; both proceeded to share it as a booty. Mauritania was to rethink and wash its hands off its share of the loot which greedy Morocco seized and added to its share.
However, Africa will not have such covetousness and decided to call Brother Morocco to order reminding him that the African peoples are one and that our ancestors forbid stealing. But stubborn Morocco would not agree, and when the rest of Africa welcomed our Saharawi brothers and sisters to our common home, the African Union, Morocco would have none of it. It decided to leave home and go hunting with the old slave masters. A few brothers walked out with him, but when they got to the gate, turned back to join the rest of the family. Morocco, backed by the former slave owners, went looting the fishes, phosphate and the riches of the Saharawi. It brutalised the Saharawi, detained some, destroyed their homes, forced some into refugee camps, built a wall dividing the territory, and forced the rest under its jackboots. It paid no heed to the international community, refused to allow the referendum the rest of the world directed should be conducted to allow the Western Sahara decide freely whether it wants to be free or be part of big brother Morocco. In one of the most ridiculous cases of thuggery, Morocco seized one our Saharawi sisters, Aminatu Haider and exiled her to the territory of the former slave master. If indeed the Saharawi is Moroccan, how would you exile your citizen to a foreign territory?
After thirty two years of wandering in the desert and keeping bad company, prodigal Morocco decided to return home to the African Union. He must have realised that he is a nobody outside the homestead; that his foreign friends will never threat him as an equal, that is if in the first place, they regard him as a human being. Our brother, King Mohammed VI of Morocco who was born three months after the Union was founded, wrote a rambling and insulting 2,144-word letter announcing Morocco is willing to return. Nobody will stop such a return because Morocco is a long lost son and our home is a common patrimony. It is like a long lost sheep; why won’t motherly Africa rejoice that her prodigal son has decided to retrace his steps and return home? But while the Biblical prodigal son was remorseful, full of regrets and begged for forgiveness, the Moroccan prodigal is unrepentant, arrogant and exhibiting the traits of a street thug.
In the letter announcing his decision to return home, he referred to his brother Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, SADR (Western Sahara) as a “phantom state” His illogical argument is that the SADR which is a biological son of Africa, is not a member of the United Nations (UN). So what? How is being a member of the UN the criteria for statehood? For decades, Switzerland, one of the oldest republics of the world, was not a member of the UN. In any case, do we need the certification of the UN to determine that the Saharawi is a full blooded African?
Morocco indulged in falsehood when he claimed it left the homestead because he does not want to create a division. The truth is that it left when it could not create a division. It wants to adopt the same tactics by trying to induce other Africans with economic and monetary baits to expel or suspend Western Sahara from our common home. Morocco can swallow its pride and return to the African fold, but the Saharawi will never be expelled from the home of his father. Africa belongs to all Africans and no African is superior to the other. Any African leader who backs Morocco whether for a mess of porridge or due to pressures from the former slave masters to expel or suspend Western Sahara from the African House, should know he is trying to break and destroy the union of the African peoples. Such people will be the enemies of the African people and foes of social justice. We cannot allow the rule of might over right in our continent. All those sharing in the loot of Western Sahara be they foreigners or Africans will ultimately have to account for their greed.
When leaders like President Muhammadu Buhari and Dr. Julius Nyerere (who presided) sat in the African Union thirty two years and decided to admit the SADR into the Union, it was in the fundamental interest of Africa. To seek to take a different action today, is to betray these leaders, endanger the health of mother Africa and mortgage the future of our continent and children. If the prodigal son will not abide by the basic principles and the brotherly love that bind all of Africa, it is free to continue wandering in the desert. Prodigal Morocco cannot give Africa conditions to return home.

Reps query UBEC over pre-budgetary spending

THE House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education yesterday queried the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, over pre-budgetary spending which violated the Fiscal Responsibility Act,
The Committee on Universal Basic Education, led by Zakari Mohammed, APC, Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency, issued the query during an interactive session with the leadership of the commission to appraise the 2016 budget performance, in line with its oversight responsibilities.
The Director of Finance win the commission, Mohammed Sambo, while responding to a question by a member of the committee, gave the indication that the commission had received almost 92% of the 2016 budget allocation with 100% utilisation.
Sambo told the lawmakers that the commission started accessing funds for recurrent and other expenditures since March, 2016 from a budget that became operational in May.
He said: “We get our funding based on what was appropriated. If the appropriation is N77billion, we get N6billion every month and in 1st quarter, we would have got N18billion.’’
He explained that the commission started accessing funds as early as March, 2016 even before the budget was passed.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Mr. Habib Bobboi, however, tried to clear himself of any complicity, saying he came to UBEC on August 4and met N300million in-balance according to his handover note.

Reps query UBEC over pre-budgetary spending

THE House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education yesterday queried the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, over pre-budgetary spending which violated the Fiscal Responsibility Act,
The Committee on Universal Basic Education, led by Zakari Mohammed, APC, Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency, issued the query during an interactive session with the leadership of the commission to appraise the 2016 budget performance, in line with its oversight responsibilities.
The Director of Finance win the commission, Mohammed Sambo, while responding to a question by a member of the committee, gave the indication that the commission had received almost 92% of the 2016 budget allocation with 100% utilisation.
Sambo told the lawmakers that the commission started accessing funds for recurrent and other expenditures since March, 2016 from a budget that became operational in May.
He said: “We get our funding based on what was appropriated. If the appropriation is N77billion, we get N6billion every month and in 1st quarter, we would have got N18billion.’’
He explained that the commission started accessing funds as early as March, 2016 even before the budget was passed.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Mr. Habib Bobboi, however, tried to clear himself of any complicity, saying he came to UBEC on August 4and met N300million in-balance according to his handover note.

Rep advocates adequate funding for NDDC

THE Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr Nicholas Mutu, has called for adequate funding of the commission to enable it deliver its mandate for the benefit of the people of the region.
Mutu, who addressed newsmen in Abuja shortly after being conferred with the Most Outstanding Legislator award by Tozali magazine, urged the Federal Government and the oil companies to endeavour to live up to expectations in their onerous responsibility.
Mutu argued that the NDDC, more than ever before, needs adequate funding to embark on aggressive infrastructural development across the region in order to douse current tensions in the area.
He recalled that the assignment of the NDDC, which is to transform the neglected Niger Delta region, was an uphill task that must be met.

Cynthia Osokogu: Court forecloses right of defendant to file address

Justice Olabisi Akinlade of a Lagos High Court in Igbosere, yesterday, foreclosed the right of the second defendant, Ezike Olisaeloka, to file his final written address in the ongoing trial of four men, who allegedly killed Cynthia Osokogu.
Osokogu was allegedly killed on July 22, 2012, at Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, Festac Town, Lagos, by her Facebook friend.
The defendants are Okwumo Nwabufo, 33; Olisaeloka Ezike, 23; Orji Osita, 33, and Ezike Nonso, 25.
The defendants are facing a six-count charge of conspiracy, murder, stealing, reckless negligence and possession of stolen goods.
At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, Justice Akinlade ordered the prosecution counsel, Mrs Bola Akinshete, to file her reply to the final written addresses of the defendants.
The judge said: “I am not going to wait indefinitely for the second defendant’s counsel to file his final written address.
“It is on record that the court had given the second defendant several opportunities for him to file his written address since June 16 at the last adjourned date. Up till now, he has been unable to do so.
“It is obvious that the counsel is not ready to file his final written, address. I hereby foreclose the right of the second defendant to file his final written address and order the prosecution to file her reply on the final written addresses.”
The judge adjourned the case to December 8, for adoption of the final written addresses.
Prosecution’s prayer
Earlier, the prosecution urged the court to foreclose the right of the second defendant from filing his final written address to enable her file her reply on the defendants.
Akinshete said: “Since June 16, despite the order of your Lordship for the second defendant to file his final written address, he has refused to do so. I, therefore, urge your Lordship to foreclose his right to file the address to enable us make progress in this matter.”
The trial had suffered several adjournments due to the delay tactics of the defence counsel.
It will be recalled that Justice Akinlade, at the last adjourned date on June 8, expressed displeasure over the delay of second defence counsel in filing his final written address and threatened to award substantial cost to the second defendant over failure to file same.
The prosecution said that the 25-year-old Osokogu, who was resident in Abuja, was lured to Lagos, where she was killed.
The offences committed are punishable under Sections 221, 249, 285 and 327 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.