NASS hands over 2016 budget to Presidency

FINALLY, the corrected version of the 2016 budget was, yesterday, handed over to the Presidency through the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters Senate (Senator), Ita Enang.
 The final conclusion and onward transmission of the corrected version of the budget, which had suffered delay, was disclosed by the Deputy Chairman of House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Jonathan Gaza, while briefing journalists at the assembly complex.
Though Gaza did not give details on how and when the budget was transmitted to the Presidency, sources close to the Presidency confirmed that it was Senator Ita Enang who collected the budget from the 10-man committee of the National Assembly, headed by the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun.
Recall that earlier in the day, it was scheduled that the deputy speaker would hand over the corrected version of the budget in the presence of journalists, but the plan was later cancelled and was submitted quietly. While fielding questions from journalists on the position of the budget, Gaza said: “It is the same media that has kept the whole country abreast. Don’t forget that we are equally Nigerians and it is our desire for the country to move forward.
“A committee was set up, which was in the papers and was headed by the deputy speaker. Members from the Senate as well as the executive arm looked at the budget and I believe the resolutions have been transmitted or rather the resolutions have been submitted to the President.
“I am quite optimistic and I enjoin all other Nigerians, including yourselves, to be as optimistic as me that in the very near future, this budget will be signed into law.” On when the budget was submitted and whether it was an amendment that was submitted, the House Deputy spokesman said: “Well, I honestly believe that we have to be quite careful with our choice of words.
 “Over time, there have been differences and both arms of government had sat down to look at what those issues are. Most importantly, what we want is to see our country and our economy moving forward.”

Reps order IG of Police to re-seal of Kogi

The House of Representatives on Thursday urged the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, to immediately re-seal the Kogi State House of Assembly pending the resolution of its crisis.
The reseal order followed the recommendation of the ad hoc committee constituted by the house to reassess the assembly’s impasse.

The committee which had the Majority Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila as Chairman, recommended for the reprimand of the IGP for undermining the authority of the legislature by unsealing the assembly recently.


The house resolved that all resolutions, laws and actions taken by the Kogi assembly from the date of the National Assembly’s resolution to seal it were null and void.

“The Governor of Kogi State is to send the state budget and other executive bills to the National Assembly for consideration as stipulated in section 11 of the Constitution,“ the representatives said.

The lawmakers described the actions of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Arase as an affront on the legislature and the country’s democracy by ordering the reopening of the assembly without recourse to the house.

Gbajabiamila dismissed the Attorney-General’s submissions that any matter in court could not be discussed on the floor of the house. (NAN)

Ben Efeturi: Redefining the Nation's Apex Parliament Bureaucracy

The race for the exalted position of Clerk to the National Assembly is  gathering momentum not with the ugly drama that has pervaded the selection process. But a closer look at the personality of Benjamin Efeturi who is the most senior person in rank and with the support of the apparatchik of the National Assembly leadership  shows a man who has come a long way and done a lot to change the face of the bureaucracy of the nation's apex parliament especially the Senate where he has served creditably as its  Deputy Clerk and later Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly.
Born on the 3rd day of November in Delta state, Mr. Ben Efeturi never expected in life that nature will smile on him as to making him head one major government institution as the Nigerian legislative arm. He  was employed into service at a young age of 24  and showed great sense for service and patriotism in his early days. A graduate of political science with masters in international law and diplomacy, he came well prepared for the task ahead.
During the military era, the man Efeturi still remained committed to service and focused on when the country will return back to civil rule. This is why when the military handed over power and he returned back to the National Assembly, he was one of those who was looked upon to bring professionalism laden in true patriotism to the National Assembly bureaucracy. Between the year 2003 and 2005 when he was appointed deputy director and later Director in the National Assembly, his dedication to duty and the creativity he exuded endeared him to many alike something that helped propel him to Deputy Clerk to the Senate and later Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly.
As Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, the hard working and resilient Efeturi brought stability and professionalism to the office leading to commendations from members of both chambers and staff of the National Assembly. The Assembly had hitherto experienced bottle necks in the way and manner the office was run but by the time Mr. Efeturi assumed office, he brought in a fluid system of running  the affairs of the  office eliminating bottle necks that the office had earlier contended with. His creativity led to the introduction of a novel system called the electronic system in the Senate. This system which has received celebrated acclaim brought about transparency in the proceedings of the Senate especially in its voting system.
Efeturi who is married with children can best be described as an encyclopaedia of the National Assembly owing to his vast knowledge of the workings of the National Assembly. If there is anyone in the National Assembly that has the highest knowledge and ways of bringing about efficiency and effectiveness in the running of the National Assembly then the Delta state born Benjamin Efeturi stands heads and shoulders above others.
On several occasions when he served as acting CNA while Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa was on leave, Efeturi did not disappoint. He showed great knack in resolving biting issues in the National Assembly especially as it had to do with the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria PASAN, National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum NASSLAF and the Youth Corpers Forum. A compassionate technocrat and philanthropist he assisted staff personally and seeing that his personal efforts is not enough to solve the myriads of personal problems of the staff, he went ahead to initiate the Senate Welfare Scheme which has assisted a lot of staff of the Senate wing of the National Assembly prompting  members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria PASAN to implore the House of Representatives to emulate the Senate.
As the search for an acting Clerk to the National Assembly gathers momentum, Nigerians in general and staff of the National Assembly in particular are looking forward to the selection of Mr. Ben Efeturi as the acting Clerk of the National Assembly and what can be the best icing on the cake of a technocrat, dedicated husband and father as well as compassionate individual other than occupying a position he rightly deserves?

Kill the grazing Bill in national interest

Those behind the controversial and dangerous grazing Bill are pushing the erroneous argument that it will help in checking the incessant attacks of armed Fulani herdsmen on farming communities in many parts of the country.

For nearly fifteen years, the attacks, which started in the Plateau areas later spread to Nasarawa, Benue anda number of  states in the South, with herdsmen boldly brandishing sophisticated weapons unchecked by the law enforcement agencies. They invade communities, lead their livestock into farms, break into people’s landed property and displace people from their communities. They kill, maim, kidnap, rob, rape and harass citizens with reckless abandon.

An indication that the Muhammadu Buhari regime is mulling the establishment of grazing reserves nationwide emerged recently when the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Audu Ogbeh, disclosed that the President had directed him to establish the reserves in the North, and then “move South”.

Already, at least two Bills are reportedly being considered in the House of Representatives, though the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has denied the existence of such in the National Assembly. The Bills in question are attributed to Hon Sunday Karimi (PDP Kogi) and Hon Sadiq Ibrahim (APC Adamawa), with an executive Bill reportedly being expected from the Presidency soon.

A version of the reported Bills, which is circulating in the social media is a barefaced recipe for national disaster if it is allowed to see the light of day. It provides for a National Grazing Commission, which will have the power to confiscate people’s land in all parts of the country, pay them compensation and hand such over to Fulani pastoralists. People who disagree with the confiscation can only sue if the Attorney General of the Federation grants them the permission to do so.

We call, once again, for all moves towards the establishment of grazing reserves and cattle routes to be halted forthwith. The opposition to it is mounting from all corners of the country because it will seize land from indigenous communities and hand them over to pastoralists, which will smack of ethnic expansionism.

It will violate the constitutional rights of Nigerians and set the stage for conflicts which the army might have difficulty in controlling. Such a Bill is capable of destroying the unity of the country. It should not even be tabled for debates at the National Assembly because it will polarise the country and possibly lead to unpleasant consequences.

We restate our call for the modernisation of animal farming practices in Nigeria through a ranching policy that conforms to world standards. This will increase productivity, give herdsmen access to better life and eliminate ethno-religious conflicts between pastoralists and farmers.

We reject the grazing Bill.

Senate okays death penalty for kidnappers

Accuses security agencies of unhealthy rivalry  –
THE Senate, yesterday, agreed to begin a process for the enactment of a law that would prescribe capital punishment for kidnappers across the country. The Senate also asked state governments to enact laws that would prosecute kidnappers and other crime-related offences in their jurisdiction and recommended that the Inspector General of Police and Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, in particular as well as other security agencies be encouraged to do more.
These resolutions of the Senate were sequel to the consideration of a report of the Joint Committee on Police Affairs, National Security and Intelligence in respect of a motion on the unfortunate recurrence of kidnapping and hostage-taking in Nigeria, entitled, “A National Wake-Up Call.”
The Senate also recommended that the funding of security agencies be taken as a priority project, bearing in mind that the practice of envelop budgetary for security agencies had proved ineffective, adding that efforts should be put in place to create employment opportunities for the nation’s teaming unemployed youths. It also agreed that security agencies should embark on training and retraining of their personnel for effective capacity building. The Senate equally stated that synergy and information sharing between security agencies should be pursued vigorously.
The recommendation for death penalty, as adopted by the Senate, was recommended by Senator Adamu Aliero (APC-Kebbi Central) as an additional recommendation after the six resolutions were already adopted by the lawmakers. In his contribution, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, noted that family members of kidnapped persons go through psychological trauma, having experienced it himself.
He said: “Just recently, one of my relations also was kidnapped. So, I believe I am talking as an expert or an experienced person in kidnapping. I know the psychology of kidnappers because I stayed for two days with them.
“These are normal human beings who are sometimes looking for money and also afraid of security agencies. I think there are three types of kidnappers. There are some who kidnapped either to make a statement or to intimidate the government, like the Boko Haram people and the Niger Delta militants.
“Then there is another type of kidnappers, these are just normal armed robbers. Sometimes, they just kidnapped you, put you in the boot and they can even use the vehicle as an escape or they use it to rob.
“Such kidnappers, once they succeed, it’s either they take away the vehicle, use it or they dump their victim. But the third type, which is very dangerous, is the professional kidnappers, who kidnapped for money and that is the one we are focusing on this afternoon.
“We have encouraged this type of kidnapping because we panic and pay money most times. This kind of kidnappers, when they take you, they put you somewhere else and they can refer you to negotiate so that they can set you free and go for another business.
“Most times, our people are reluctant to delay or endure the inconvenience or the hardship and then they quickly negotiate and if we can discourage this kind of kidnappings, the only way forward is to insist that you will not pay.” Firing squad for kidnappers.
Also in his contribution, Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), recommended firing squad for kidnappers. While contributing to the report, the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio (PDP, Akwa Ibom), regretted that kidnapping escalated in Nigeria when ex-governor and now Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, was kidnapped around 2002.
Earlier in the presentation of the report, Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Abu Ibrahim, noted that the Senate at its sitting on Thursday, November 19, 2015, deliberated on a motion on the unfortunate recurrence of kidnappings and hostage-taking in Nigeria.
According to him, the Senate at the time, mandated its Committees on Police Affairs and National Security and Intelligence to invite the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, Director-General, and Department of State Services, DSS, Lawal Daura, to brief the committees on efforts to eliminate the menace.
According to him, in the course of the briefing, the Director-General of DSS told the committee that in October 2015, a total of 108 kidnap and sea piracy incidents in 24 states in which 180 victims, including 26 foreigners, were involved.
He listed the states to include Abia, Adamawa; Akwa Ibom; Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kebbi, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto and Zamfara. N85m demanded, N28m paid by victims Senator Ibrahim, who disclosed that N84,500,000 was reportedly demanded same month as ransom by kidnappers, said some victims’ family/employers purportedly paid a total of N28,016,000 ransom.
According to him, the committee was told that in November, 2015, a total of 117 incidents were recorded, involving 151 victims spread across 23 states. Security agencies in unhealthy rivalry Senator Ibrahim said the committee observed that there appeared to be unnecessary and unhealthy rivalry among the security agencies, leading to lack of required synergy and intelligence sharing on time.
He added that relations of the victims were always ready to pay ransom which tended to encourage the criminals. He said the committee also observed that security agencies had not been able to perform optimally due to lack of modern technology and equipment.

Kogi: Reps move to make running mate replace dead governorship candidate

A Bill for an Act to make provisions to cover a lacuna in the event of death of a governorship candidate anytime before conclusion of an election yesterday passed Second Reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill also seeks to amend the 2010 Electoral Act to empower election tribunals and courts to declare candidates who scored the second highest votes as winners of elections when the tribunal or court finds the winner of an election unqualified for election, abinitio.

Sponsor of the Bill and House Majority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila of the All Progressives Congress, APC, described it as a proactive measure to prevent a recurrence of the 2015 Kogi governorship election debacle.


It would be recalled that the APC candidate, the late Abubakar Audu was already coasting home to victory in the November 2015 election before his death was announced. His running mate, James Faleke, who sought to step into Audu’s position as standard bearer was denied the opportunity by the party leadership, who settled for the runner up in the APC primary, Yahaya Bello. Faleke is a member of the House of Representatives.

The bill, sponsored by Gbajabiamila and six others equally seeks inclusion of the Card Reader as part of the Electoral Act as well as ensure that all political parties are gender sensitive and eliminate all forms discrimination in political parties.

PDP Congress, Saraki’s CCT Trial halts Senate

Following its inability to form a quorum, the Senate on Thursday adjourned plenary without considering any motion or bill as members present were not up to the required number.
The rules of the Senate stipulates that quorum is formed for plenary when one-third (at least 37 senators) of the senators are present at the chamber.

However, senators present on Thursday were not up to 37 and were only of the All Progressives Congress, APC, with only three PDP members as other senators of the PDP are said to have gone for their party’s local government congresses.


After considering the votes and proceedings of Wednesday, the Leader of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) moved that plenary be adjourned to the next legislative day.

The senate, thereafter adjourned plenary to Thursday May 12.

Meanwhile, inquiries on reasons for reopening plenary on Thursday, 12th May instead of Tuesday 10th as reflected in Senate’s legislative day Calendar, showed that Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki will be at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on 10th for his trial, hence the Thursday date.

Senator Sunmonu explains why grazing reserve bill is dead on arrival

Senator Sunmonu explains why grazing reserve bill is dead on Arrival
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, who represents Oyo Central Senatorial District, has advised those losing sleep over the National Grazing Reserve Bill to consider the proposed law as dead on arrival.
Disclosing that while her investigation indicates that no such bill was pending in the Senate, she said she had consistently received telephone calls by concerned citizens of her constituency about the “Grazing Reserve Bill” and the massacre of Nigerians by people alleged to be herdsmen.

She noted in a statement entitled, “My thoughts on the #GrazingReserveBill and “Herdsmen” issued on Thursday that there cannot legally be an Act of National Assembly providing for the compulsory provision or confiscation of land, stressing that the Land Use Act unequivocally vests all land in the hands of governors to hold in entrust for the people.


The former Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker insisted that any such law, promoted for compulsory acquisition or confiscation of land, will undoubtedly be unconstitutional and therefore void.

She pointed out that the Land Use Act has been elevated beyond the realms of being a normal Act of National Assembly, because it can only be amended in the same way that the Constitution can be amended.

The statement reads, “As a Nigerian, a legislator and representative of the people I have had recourse to think long and hard about these issues and ask myself what I, as a member of the Senate can do to help solve the problem.

“The genesis of land law in Nigeria is the Land Use Act 1990, CAP 202, Laws of the Federation (“the Act”). Section 1 of the Act unequivocally vests all land in a State in the Governor of that State and such land shall be held in trust and administered for the use and common benefit of all Nigerians in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The tenors of the law are very clear: Governors are in control of land within their states on trust for the people.


“Section 49 of the Act goes on to state that the provisions of the Act shall not affect any land that the Federal Government (or any of its agencies) already has title to (i.e. the Federal Government shall continue to own land it already owns irrespective of section 1). This is further to section 297 of the Constitution, which provides that the FCT and national boundaries are vested in the Federal Government.

”Section 315(5)(d) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) (“the Constitution”) provides thus:“Nothing in this Constitution shall invalidate the following enactments, that is to say –

(d) the Land Use Act, and the provisions of those enactments shall continue to apply and have full effect in accordance with their tenor and to the like extent as any other provisions forming part of this Constitution and shall not be altered or repealed except in accordance with the provisions of section 9 (2) of this Constitution.”

The lawmaker noted that “In effect, what the Constitution has done is to incorporate the Land Use Act as part of it (the Constitution). The Constitution unequivocally provides that the Act shall not only apply, but shall have full effect just like any other part of the Constitution.”

The intendment of the draftsman to incorporate the Act as part of the Constitution, she said, is unambiguous and is further demonstrated by the provision that any alteration or repeal to the Act shall be done in accordance with section 9(2) of the constitution.

She said that it is significant to realise that while normal Acts of National Assembly can be amended by passing the amendment in the National Assembly followed by Presidential assent, constitutional amendments needed to be passed in the National Assembly and also in 2/3 of the State Houses of Assembly (i.e. 23 states) before the President can assent.

She maintained that the consequence of the foregoing is clear; ”the Land Use Act is now in pari passu with the Constitution.”

According to her, “Section 1 of the Constitution is unambiguous that the Constitution is binding on all authorities and persons and that any law that is inconsistent with the Constitution shall be void to the extent of the inconsistency.

“To tie it all together therefore, the Land Use Act has been elevated beyond the dominion of an ordinary Act of the National Assembly and has in fact been incorporated as part of the Constitution. It is now part of the foundation upon which our society is built.

“The foregoing begs the question as to whether an act of the National Assembly can be used to excise the clear provisions of the Constitution that all land is vested in the Governor of a State? Can there legally be an Act of National Assembly providing for the compulsory provision or confiscation of land? I’m afraid the answer is in the negative. Any such law will undoubtedly be unconstitutional and therefore void.

“My contention is that if there is to be anything similar to a Grazing Reserve Bill it necessarily needs the cooperation of States who are willing to pass such laws in their State Houses of Assembly. And of course, the Governor will need to assent.

“We must not forget that land matters are not listed in the Exclusive or Concurrent list in the Constitution meaning they cannot be legislated on at the Federal level.

“How therefore do we solve the problems of the “Herdsmen” grazing cattle around Nigeria?

“Landowners in Nigeria will argue that nomadic herdsmen are a bother. Their reason is that farmers cultivate their land with the motive of yielding crop to sell for profit. However, when a herdsman grazes his cattle on the land of a fellow Nigerian, the hard work of the farmer goes to waste.

“It is beyond doubt that in such circumstances, tensions between the two sets of people will heighten, particularly if they are from two different ethnic tribes and of different religions. The herdsman has a way of life that has been passed down through generations, and, the farmer also has his right to use his legally acquired land as he sees fit in line with Constitutional provisions.

“In the current economic climate and with the targeted push towards diversification of the economy, where we are actively encouraging people to invest in agriculture, we must ask how appealing the current sets of circumstances are to potential investors. Would an investor invest huge amounts of capital in agriculture just to have his land grazed on, without his consent, by cattle that does not belong to him?

“What therefore is the solution? I am of the opinion, that this is a problem that takes a little initiative to solve. In other parts of the world (UK, US etc.), people who want to rear cattle purchase land/ranches on which they graze their cattle.

“This land is not provided for free by government, it is bought. Payment can be made in a number of ways and can be staggered over a period of time. Rearing cattle is no different to conducting any other business and should be treated like any other business.

“It is generally known that these cattle do not belong to herdsmen but well endowed financial businessmen. The people rearing cows for business should be subsumed into the normal business realm and approach banks for loans to buy land; in the same way farmers buy land to grow their crops. This will mean that we have statistics on cattle rearing for taxation purposes also.

“I need not address the fact that some of these herdsmen are carrying arms. The laws of our beloved nation are clear that it is illegal to carry firearms without a valid license. If the herdsmen (or anyone else for that matter) do not have the relevant permits for their firearms then they should feel the full forces of the law.”

New Edo Speaker Promises Open Policy as Another Member Joins Others

The rank of lawmakers that signed the impeachment notice removing the Speaker of the Edo state House of Assembly, Victor Edoror, has continued to swell as the member representing Oredo East, Osaigbovo Iyoha, who earlier was on his side, has joined the 16 members who initially removed the speaker.
Iyoha’s move, THISDAY gathered, was made on Wednesday during a victory party organised by the new speaker, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, when she presented the 17th member of the house

During the party which took place at the legislative quarters, the newly elected Speaker reassured members of the house of her decision to run an open  door policy.
She said the purpose of bringing the members together is to reaffirm that she remains the newly elected speaker of the house and as well assure them of her desire to run an open door policy.

“We have given you the opportunity to see all the members that have taken part in this impeachment and that we have been able to clear the air and that you should not have any doubt in your mind and  in fact, from sixteen members we are now seventeen members. And by our rules  two-third of the twenty four is sixteen and all the statutory  things that we are supposed to do, we have done it. And as we speak now, we have started doing the work of the house and you are going to see a very re-burst house, you are going to see a house that will be an envy that other states are going to emulate.

“Edo state house of assembly will run a very inclusive and transparent house and we will not allow cheating any more”, she said.
Speaking earlier, Chris Okabean (Oredo West), said that they have absolute trust in the leadership of the newly elected  speaker, Hon. Ative, and that they would give her the necessary support to succeed as the speaker of the house.

Buhari yet to receive corrected 2016 Budget – FG

The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, on Wednesday said President Muhammadu Buhari was still expecting the corrected version of the 2016 Budget details from the National Assembly.

She expressed the hope that the document would be transmitted to the President either later on Wednesday or on Thursday.



Ahmed spoke while briefing State House correspondents at the end of a meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

She was joined at the briefing by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Khadija Bukar-Ibrahim; and the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar.

The minister said the Executive and the Legislature were working hard to resolve the budget impasse, adding that the exercise was at its final stage.

“On the 2016 Budget, I must say that the Executive and Legislature have worked very hard putting things together, reviewing the details of the budget and it is at its final stage.

“So may be between today (Wednesday) and tomorrow (Thursday), the ‎National Assembly will start the process of transmitting the details to the President,” she said.

Ahmed said the council discussed the strategic implementation plan for the yet-to-be signed 2016 budget‎, adding that the ministry listed priority economic activities that should be undertaken to ensure that the purpose for which the budget was made is realised.

She said the purpose of the budget was to stimulate the economy, create jobs for youths and to extend support to the poor and the vulnerable‎.

Abia State commercialised kidnappings in Nigeria – Senator

Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday at the Senate plenary gave a highlight into how Abia State pioneered the commercialization of kidnappings in Nigeria.
He stated this while contributing to the debate on Joint Committee Report on Police Affairs, National Security and Intelligence which was monitored by DAILY POST in Abuja.

According to the former Governor, Kidnapping of expatriates in the Niger Delta in those days were purposely to protest for harm done to the environment by multinational oil companies and government’s lack of political will to address the trend, but in misplacement of purposes, the trend began to spread to other places.


Akpabio explained that in Abia State when former governor, Theodore Orji held sway, kidnappers would build a form of bungalow and dug gallows underneath where they kept victims until ransom was paid.

“In Abia state then, they will build a bungalow with gallows underneath, and when someone was kidnapped, they will keep the victim there until ransom was paid even with Police guarding the compound,”Akpabio emphasized.

While calling for capital punishments for the perpetrators, he lamented the current three year maximum imprisonment was so inadequate that can never deter them.

“Currently, the maximum penalty is three years imprisonment for kidnappers, and this cannot deter them while I want to call for stringent penalty to punish them,” Akpabio maintained.

Stop labeling every herdsmen as Fulani – Northern Senators

Senators from the northern part of the country, under the auspices of Northern Senators’ Forum, on Wednesday declared that it is wrong to categorize all herdsmen as Fulani, stressing that the labeling must stop.
This was as they warned against provocative statements that could inflame tempers in the country in view of the massacre of villagers in Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State by herdsmen.

While appreciating the steps so far taken by the Federal Government to contain the problems of herdsmen/farmers clashes, the lawmakers specifically asked community leaders (including governors) “to be careful when making statements on these ugly incidents.”


Chairman of the Forum, Senator Abdullahi Adamu who read the communiqué of the lawmakers said that they, “resolved to continue their complete support for President Muhammadu Buhari in order to bring about even development to all sections of the country.

Adamu said that members of the Forum further resolved to work assiduously to enact laws and amend existing ones when and where necessary in order to promote the interest of Northern Nigeria in particular and Nigeria in general.

He added that they noted specially the steps taken by the government to wipe out incidents of insurgency and are hopeful that in no distant time, “we shall say bye-bye to the problem of insurgency.”

On the tagging of every herdsman as Fulani, the Nasarawa-born lawmaker said, “We have tried to kill the idea that every herdsman is Fulani. I am a farmer but I am not Fulani by birth. It is very very wrong to say that everybody you find with a cow is Fulani.”


He recalled that when Chief Olu Falae was kidnapped, the news went round that the kidnappers were Fulani, noting that when those responsible for kidnapping the elder statesman were eventually arrested, it was discovered that they were not Fulani.

Adamu, who said he saw a lot of Yoruba cattle rearers when he travelled to the western part of the country insisted that cattle rearing is no longer the exclusive preserve of the Fulani.

Speaking further on inflammatory remarks currently being bandied, he noted that some groups in the South East have said that Fulani should leave their part of the country, adding that, “if people from the North say the same thing of people from the south East, we wonder where it will lead the country.”

Be committed to nation building – Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki has urged Nigerian workers to be more committed in their service to the nation, especially at this time of economic strain.
In a statement by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu to mark this year’s workers day,  Saraki said the growth of the economy and overall development of the country depended on how much support workers give government’s policies, programmes and projects.




He commended Nigerian workers and the organized labour movement for their contributions to the nation’s economic growth and overall development.
According to him, from the pre-independence era till now, the labour movement had provided the backbone for the survival of the country. He also lauded their resilience and support for the change movement that brought in the All Progressives Congress (APC) government  led by President Muhammadu Buhari to power at the federal level.

I foresee PDP taking over Senate — Ojo

There are so many controversies surrounding the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. What do you make of this?
The trial is a very interesting thing that has happened to our political system. Bukola Saraki had tried to stop the trial and that was the first thing he did to disappoint his admirers because of the saying, “clear conscience fears no accusations.” Why would Saraki want to stop the trial if he has no skeleton in his cupboard? The attempts have failed and more revelations are coming out in the course of his trial.‎ We have around us some shameless leaders. If not, Saraki should have resigned as Senate President. Notwithstanding, Nigerians will not accept Saraki coming from his exalted office to a cage in court. He must resign and face his trial squarely. It will be too shameful for him to continue to preside over the Senate while he is facing trial. He should resign and save Nigeria’s image in the international community.

Some observers believe that the Senate president has enormous support at the Senate, and that removing him may likely favour the opposition PDP.
‎The APC should be very careful in the event that Saraki loses out. Of course, it is very imminent that he will not survive the trial. But it should be noted that his emergence as the Senate president was by simple majority, and the gap in the membership of APC and PDP senators is not much. So, I foresee a situation where a PDP senator will emerge as Senate president if the APC as a party and the caucus in the Senate do not put their acts together. Whether we like it or not, APC senators, who are Saraki’s supporters, would want to support the PDP to take over the Senate presidency. Remember, Saraki was a member of the PDP before his defection to the APC. The PDP senators are one and very powerful united force, whereas the APC senators are divided into two groups. This, if not resolved on time, will be detrimental to the ruling party.

Some Nigerians have challenged the APC administration over the prevailing inconclusive elections under its watch. What ‎is your view?
Conduct of inconclusive elections is not the fault of the ruling party. APC is not controlling the electoral umpire known as INEC. Any complaints, errors, failures on the part of INEC should be squarely blamed on the commission and not the APC.


‎Do you think the PDPs convention coming up on May 21 in Port Harcourt will change the fortunes of the party ahead of 2019?
The PDP convention is one convention that will make or mar the party. PDP bouncing back to power will depend largely on the emergence of its new leaders, who will pilot the affairs of the party. However, I don’t think Nigerians are in a hurry to have PDP back in power at the federal level in 2019.‎ Presently, the PDP is badly mutilated and divided into several groups, but they are managing the internal crisis that will bring about implosion very soon. Mark my words, PDP will break up after the May 21 convention in Port Harcourt.


But there are rumours that the APC will also break up before 2019?
It is just a political hallucination of the opposition party. The APC remains a very strong and indivisible party. Although there may be little political disagreements in the party, they will be resolved and make the party stronger and unbeatable in future elections.


‎Former governors, who are now senators, are collecting double pay. Is this healthy considering the prevailing poverty in the country?
Former governors who are presently senators earning double salaries are not at fault, it is an issue that cuts across board in Nigeria. What about former governors who are presently ministers and board members? What about retired civil servants, retired Generals in the Nigerian Army, who are now ministers and senators? Our system is designed to be corrupt and it is revolving around the same set of people in our country. An outgoing governor will go to the Senate and an outgoing senator will either become governor or minister. This cannot be easily corrected as the benefactors are doing it for their selfish interest.‎ The economy of the country is collapsing but private pockets and economy of individuals at the corridors of power are growing speedily.


There is still blame game between the APC-led federal government and the PDP over the state of the economy. ‎ Do you think this is healthy for the polity?
The present state of the country’s economy should not be blamed on the ruling APC.  It is as a result of the 16 years satanic rule of the PDP. The economy of Nigeria was totally battered and satanically destroyed under PDP and it will take some reasonable period of time to correct the damages. There is no need for any blame game. We should believe that the PDP is staging a very serious come back and they must stage a very formidable propaganda machinery to deceive Nigerians. But, I know Nigerians won’t fall for their antics.


Do you see the formation of new parties as panacea to the country’s challenges?
The Peoples Mega Party (PMP) and the NPCAG if registered may benefit from the instability in the APC and  PDP.‎ I know that some political heavyweights are behind these two parties seeking registration. But, both the old and new parties will not help the country because those corrupt individuals that have been operating the existing parties will still be in the new parties without clear cut ideological beliefs. To be patriotic, a new party is not what we need now. What we need are changes in our individual and political value system.


 Some Nigerians have started losing faith ‎in the APC government because of the present state of the economy. What is your view?
To be sincere, our present economy is not friendly and conducive for all, and Nigerians are losing faith in the ruling party. But, I will advise Nigerians to be patient with the present administration, knowing well that there will be tremendous improvement. President Buhari is rebuilding a very serious foundation for a new edifice called a better Nigeria. We should all be hopeful.

Dogara commiserates with Sokoto state over Hamzat Ahmadu’s death

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Yakubu Dogara, has condoled the government and people of Sokoto State and the Sultanate Council over the demise of Alhaji Hamzat Ahmadu.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Turaki Hassan, Special Adviser on Media to Dogara, in Abuja on Monday.
Dogara described Ahmadu’s death as a big loss not only to Sokoto State, but Nigeria in general.

He said that the deceased made valuable contributions to the development of Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives.
The speaker described the deceased a consummate statesman and an accomplished diplomat who dedicated his life and time to the service of his country and people.

Dogara prayed God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss of former Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S. Ahmadu died at a private hospital in Lagos on Sunday at the age of 92.

NASS will not support the creation of grazing reserves – Ekweremadu

The Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, says the National Assembly will not support the creation of grazing reserves anywhere in the country. Addressing newsmen on Sunday after a meeting of the South East governors and stakeholders in Enugu, Ekweremadu said that there was no bill on the creation of grazing reserves before the National Assembly.
He, therefore, said that the purported bill for the creation of grazing reserves was a “hoax’’, adding that the press should strive to stop such rumours.
“There is no such proposal or bill on the creation of grazing reserves either in the Senate or House of Representatives. “Nobody is considering it; not even at the executive level. I do not think they are considering it but we will not support it even if it has been considered,” he said. Ekweremadu said that the meeting was convened in reaction to the attack on the people of Uzo Uwani by suspected herdsmen.
He said that the meeting reviewed all that happened since then and thanked all stakeholders who had shown sympathy to victims of the attack. On the absence of Imo and Anambra governors, Ekweremadu said: “The South East governors proposed to meet today to review these matters but regrettably, the message did not get to Imo and Anambra governors.
“So you can see mainly the PDP governors are here. So, they had to review the matter and more importantly, ensure that every governor will be in attendance in the next meeting.
“The meeting is rescheduled within the week where all the governors are expected to be in attendance,” he said. Ekweremadu said that the meeting looked at a more regional approach to curbing the menace of the herdsmen so as to ensure that it did not happen again. “We are looking at a concrete and more coordinated approach on how to protect our people from this carnage,” he said.
Also speaking, Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi said that there was no disunity among governors in the South East zone. Umahi said that the governors would take a cursory look at the federal budget, when signed into law, so as to ensure that the zone got what was due to it. He said that the governors would ensure the rehabilitation of federal roads in the zone if such arrangements were captured in the budget.
“I am sure the Federal Government’s budget is not yet signed. So when it is signed, it will be the duty of all zones to start agitating for attention,” Umahi said.
Gov. Umahi, Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia attended the meeting.

Saraki, Dogara salute workers, assure on welfare

Senate President, Bukola Saraki yesterday urged Nigerian workers to be more committed in their service to the nation, especially “at this time of economic strain”.

In a solidarity message to mark May Day celebrations, signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki commended Nigerian workers and organized labour movement in the country for their contributions to the nation’s economic growth and overall development. “No doubt,

we are not in the best of times as a nation, but, with cooperation, dedication and perseverance we can turn our economy around for good and the contribution of every Nigerian worker is key to the realisation of this dream,” Saraki said.

Similarly, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, in a statement issued by his Special

Adviser on Media, Turaki, yesterday, said improvement in the condition of workers remains critical to the change agenda of the present administration.

“Workers are the lifeblood of every nation and a well trained and motivated workforce is vital to our

goal of a vibrant, strong, productive and efficient economy. For their sake, we shall do all in our power and employ the necessary legislative tools to make a difference in their lives.”

Meanwhile, in Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole announced increment of the National Minimum

Wage from N18,000 to N25, 000 with immediate effect, for employees in the state’s public service.

He also promised prompt payment of outstanding arrears of salary to the staff of Local Government Councils in the state.

Oshiomhole, who made the announcement on yesterday at the grand finale of activities to mark the 2016

Workers Day, said plans had also been concluded to pay staff of Egor Local Government Council, who were owed 13 months arrears of salary, within the next two weeks.

In Kwara State, Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed promised workers in the state that his

administration’s strategies in reducing the cost of governance and the renewed revenue generation mechanism would ensure prompt payment of salaries and pensions.

Governor Ahmed, represented by the State’s Head of Service, Hajia Zara Umar, noted that the

state Internal Revenue Services (KWIRS) has been empowered to shore up the state’s internally

generated revenue, adding that this would enable the government meet up with its statutory commitments and infrastructure development satisfactorily.

His Zamfara State, counterpart, Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, yesterday, advised civil servants in the state to embrace farming and forget about Minimum Wage for now.

Governor Yari stated that his administration has concluded arrangement for the implementation of Zamfara state Comprehensive Agricultural Revolution

Programme (ZACAREP) Phase Two in the state.

“As part of government’s drive to create employment opportunities, we have concluded arrangement to launch ZACAREP Phase Two.

The policy has been designed to improve the productive capacity of small and medium scale farmers, improving food security in the state,” the governor said.

Kogi sues N’Assembly, AGF over Assembly takeover

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami

The Kogi State Government has sued the National Assembly and the Attorney General of the Federation at the Supreme Court, asking for an order nullifying the House of Representatives resolution to take over the legislative functions of the state’s House of Assembly.

The House of Representatives had, on March 9, 2016, passed a resolution to take over the legislative functions of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

The House passed the resolution following the crisis that broke out as a result of the tussle for the speakership of the House between two factions of the Assembly.

In the said resolution, the Reps directed the Inspector-General of Police to seal off the House of Assembly until the crisis was resolved.

But the Kogi State Government, represented by the state’s Attorney General and the House of Assembly, filed its suit on April 29, 2016, before the Supreme Court to challenge the House of Representatives resolution.

The National Assembly and the AGF are the two defendants in the suit.

The plaintiffs in the suit number SC.340/2016, filed under Order 3 Rule 5 of the Supreme Court Rules, asked the apex court to declare that the House resolution was passed in breach of Section 11(4) of the Constitution.

They also urged the apex court to nullify the resolution.

They contended in their statement of claim that “the factional disagreement” between members of the House of Assembly was normal in a democracy.

According to them, the crisis started on February 16, 2016, following a disagreement between two factions in the House of Assembly on the position of the Speaker of the Assembly.

They claimed that following the disagreement, a faction of the members of the House of Assembly filed the suit, FHC/LKJ/CS/16/16 (Kogi State House of Assembly & 3 Ors V National Assembly& 2 Ors.

They said while the suit was pending, the House of Representatives invoked its power under Section 11(4) of the Constitution to take over the functions of the House of Assembly.

The plaintiffs said the House of Representatives declared the impeachment proceedings embarked upon by five members of the House of Assembly for the removal of the Speaker, as clearly violating Section 92(c) of the Constitution.

But the plaintiffs claimed that the said “disagreement” between the factions in the House of Assembly did not create any “adverse security situation” in the state.

Their statement of claim, accompanying the suit, added, “There is no security report by the Governor of Kogi State, the police or any security agency in Nigeria that the disagreement among members of the Kogi State House of Assembly caused insecurity and danger to public safety in the state.

“At all times material to the passage of the resolution of the National Assembly to take over the Kogi State House of Assembly, Kogi State was and is calm and peaceful as citizens go about their lawful business.”

The plaintiffs therefore sought the following two prayers, “A declaration that the resolution of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, which purportedly took over the legislative functions of the Kogi State House of Assembly, is passed in breach of Section 11(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”

Oba Of Benin: We’ve Lost A People’s Monarch, Says Saraki

The Senate President, Dr.Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday expressed grief over the passing of the Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa.

“we have lost a People’s monarch!”, Saraki exclaimed.

In a statement  by the Special Adviser, Media & Publicity to the President of the Senate, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki described the late Oba as a “just, fair-minded, courageous, benevolent and a people’s monarch who lived his entire life in the service of his people as a prince and king while also serving the nation as a bureaucrat and diplomat of high repute”.

Saraki said he received the news of Oba Erediauwa’s transition with great shock.

According to him,  “a glorious chapter in the annals of the Benin Kingdom has just come to a close. My grief stricken heart however goes out to the immediate family of the Oba, the Benin Traditional Council, the people and Government of Edo State, over the glorious but yet sad exit of the Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa – our highly revered King”.

He said the late monarch  “was a fearless and pious monarch – attributes that distinguished him among other monarchs in the country. As we mourn the departure of our highly revered and benevolent patriarch, I can only enjoin his immediate family and the people of Edo State to take solace in the long, peaceful, enigmatic life of the departed which was full of exemplary service to his subjects and the entire country.

He prayed that Almighty God will grant Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa of Benin eternal welcome and bliss in the midst of his ancestors and make his successor-designate a greater king and worthy successor  who will positively advance the commendable legacies of progress and development exemplified by Oba Erediauwa.

Saraki’s Trial Political, Premeditated, Says Waku

A former National Vice Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Joseph Waku yesterday alleged that the federal government was directly involved in the ongoing trial of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over issues concerning his assets declaration and that the whole trial was politically-motivated.



Waku, who was also a Senator alleged further that he was sent to the CCT in Abuja on Thursday by the leadership of the ACF to observe the court session on behalf of the forum.

He said from what he observed, Saraki’s trial was politically-motivated and that it would do a lot of damage to the country’s democracy.

The former senator who addressed judiciary correspondents after observing the court session claimed that from all indications and from the conduct of the proceedings, the tribunal’s chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar was being tele-guided by external forces.

He also warned that the federal government “through the CCT must not give a predetermined judgment against Saraki for political reasons as doing so, will not be in the best interest of this country.”

Waku, an elder of the ACF said from what he observed, the on-going would not bring justice to the President of the Senate.

He said that he was not impressed with the performance of the Tribunal so far.

“I think that Nigeria is again moving through a trying period of Judicial process and I make bold to say that there is already a tele-guided and premeditated judgment that one expect to see in future and that may not be good for this country.

“It will not be good for judicial process, it is not going to be good for democracy and it will not be in the best interest of the ‘Change’ that we are looking for.

“I have been watching the proceedings on the television and reading in the newspapers. The judiciary is on trial; the country is on trial; the Justices are on trial and we are watching to see, because similar cases have gone on before and we know how they ended.

“So, my observations here are those things that I have witnessed. I have to go back to the mother organizations to report my findings based on what I witnessed, what I have seen and the way I have looked at it.

“In as much as we are against corruption, let the legal process take its due cognisance of the facts that it is the last hope of the ordinary and common persons. That is my observation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the ACF has distanced itself from reports that it had appointed Waku to observer proceedings at the CCT.

The forum in a statement yesterday in Kaduna said that at no time did it appoint anyone as an observer at the trial of the Senate President.

The statement which was signed by the Secretsry General of the ACF, Col. John P. Uba reads: “The attention of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has been drawn to a report by online newspaper the Premium Times, of a statement by Senator JKN Waku to the effect that he was appointed by the ACF to be an observer at the on going CCT trial of the Senate President Bukola Saraki.

“The ACF wishes to state categorically that at no time did the it meet in any of its organs ( the NWC, NEC, BOT) to discuss the issue of  Senator Saraki’s ongoing trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

“Hence the ACF did not send anybody to the CCT trial either as observer or in any capacity. Therefore the ACF totally dissociates itself from the statements credited to Senator JKN Waku. The ACF is a non-partisan, and foremost umbrella organisation committed to Northern Development and National Unity. It is not in the tradition of the ACF to take sides or interfere in judicial processes”.

As 2016 Budget Heads for Resolution…

With the declaration of an end to the budget standoff between the Presidency and National Assembly, both parties must now adopt a more flexible and imaginative approach to the document to ensure its quick and successful implementation. Vincent Obia writes

The saying, “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers,” is remarkably appropriate to Nigeria today, at least with regard to the bickering between the Presidency and National Assembly over the contents of this year’s national budget. The bickering had raged beyond the constitutionally prescribed period for an amicable settlement, raising fears about a more severe degeneration of the relationship between the two arms of government.

But on Tuesday officials of the National Assembly and the Presidency said all disagreements regarding the budget had been resolved and the document would be ready for the president’s assent in a few days. That was after a meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the legislature.



The agreement reached between the executive and the legislature on the passage and subsequent assent to the budget is commendable. But it would, certainly, not be a cure-all for the challenges that have dogged the budget and others that may potentially arise in the course of its implementation. That is why the executive and the National Assembly must consciously avoid anything that could further impede the budget, whose long delay has extensively held up socio-economic activities in the country.
The Buhari government must hit the ground running, when the budget is eventually signed into law, on the execution of the key policies of the administration. The government has consistently claimed that its core policies have been delayed by the budget stalemate.

Prior to the resolution of the disagreements, the executive had sought to withdraw the budget and rewrite it to accommodate certain projects it believed were removed from the appropriation bill it submitted to the National Assembly. The budget of N6.08 trillion, which was passed by the National Assembly on March 23 with some adjustments and later transmitted to the president for his assent, was rejected and returned to the legislature by the president following the latter’s observation of alleged omissions and insertions by the former.

The Presidency had first argued that the appropriation bill passed by the National Assembly and sent to him consisted of mere highlights and lacked details. Then it contended that some core projects in the administration’s socio-economic agenda, which were in the budget proposal, had been removed or unduly altered by the Senate and House appropriation committees headed by Senator Danjuma Goje and Hon.

Abdulmmumin Jibrin, respectively. Some of the affected projects are the N60 billion Lagos-Calabar rail project, which was allegedly removed by the National Assembly; Lagos-Ibadan Expressway budget, which was allegedly reduced by N24 billion; Second Niger Bridge, which was devalued by N3.9 billion; Benin-Sagamu Road, whose proposed cost was cut by N800 million; and Kano-Maiduguri-Ngala rail project that was reduced by N260 million.

But in the National Assembly’s view, it was constitutionally wrong for the president to rewrite a budget that had been passed. It, therefore, argued that the president should sign the budget transmitted to him and later propose an amendment to the appropriation law to accommodate the said omissions.

The arguments raged until April 22, the expiration of the constitutional 30 days interval within which the president must give his assent to the appropriation bill or have his veto on it overruled and the bill passed into law by two-thirds majority votes of the two chambers of the National Assembly.
Nigerians feared that the National Assembly and the Presidency were headed for more collision through the application of strict legality. But both parties decided to change course on the issues. How they steered a course between their seemingly incompatible interests during the meeting Tuesday night, which was said to have lasted only about 10 minutes, is difficult to determine.

But both parties could well have resolved the issues much earlier and saved the citizens from the current harsh economic conditions. The budget standoff has brought economic activities to a complete standstill, as everyone tends to wait and hope that the issues would pan out well. One of the most affected has been the construction subsector, where government debts of over N600 billion to contractors have resulted in the stoppage of activity at the sites. President of the Federation of Construction Industry, Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola, said recently that his members were yet to receive anything from the N350 billion the federal government had in March promised it would inject into the economy through settlement of contractors debts to try to stimulate economic activities.

In addition, acute nationwide petrol scarcity has shot up living expenses to levels not seen in recent history. Generally, the standard of living has fallen to terrible new lows, and the response of the All Progressives Congress federal government to many of its campaign promises has become a source of bad jokes.

But the Buhari government says the future is bright, and it pins its hopes on the budget.
As Nigerians continue to absorb the harsh realities of the budget impasse, it is necessary to examine some of the issues in the imbroglio. This is so that, perhaps, the executive and legislature can take a lesson or two on political harmony, which is indispensable in the successful implementation of the budget by the executive.

Even though the legislature has powers under the constitution to approve projects in the budget, it does not have the right to initiate projects. Projects are initiated through the budget by the executive after the due processes of costing, evaluation, and other feasibility studies by experts. Legislators can recommend projects to the executive, but they cannot stay in the National Assembly and initiate projects for the executive. It is never done, as such projects would necessarily be lacking in due costing and evaluation.

The National Assembly should remove the illegal injections in the budget done by its committees and return the document to the president for assent. After assenting, the executive can then, in the spirit of give and take, present a supplementary budget to take care of the legislators’ constituency projects and their other interests within the limits of the law.

To achieve the harmonious relationship between the executive and the legislature, which is needed for a smooth implementation of the budget, each arm must be willing to accept some of what the other wants and give up some of what it wants.

As Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Emeka Ngige, put it, “Insistence on strict legalism might not achieve the solution that the country needs. What the situation calls for is give and take on the part of the two arms of government in the interest of the masses and to move the country forward.”