Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared that the mass defections at the National Assembly indicated that democracy was taking shape in the country.
Governor Wike spoke, on Tuesday, during the celebration of 40 years of legal practice of Onueze Okocha, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by Okpo Club of Nigeria, an association of Ikwerre lawyers worldwide, and the inaugural Okpo Club awards.
The governor said that the defections from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has shown the direction the country is headed in 2019.
He said,
“Democracy is taking shape in Nigeria. I hope you are aware that the PDP has taken over the Senate. We are likely going to take over at the House of Representatives”.
Governor Wike described the day as a happy day, saying Nigerians must continue to work towards a development-oriented government next year.
On the celebration of Okocha, Governor Wike said that he deserved the honour of the people.
The governor continued,
“This is 40 years of successful law practice. I commend Chief OCJ Okocha for mentoring young lawyers to be worthy legal practitioners”.
Also, Chief Moses Wifa (SAN) said that Okocha deserved the honour because he is a bridge between old and young lawyers.
A former governor of the state, Sir Celestine Omehia, said the celebrant was a living icon, who has contributed to the development of the state.
In his remarks, Okocha said he would remain committed to the promotion of access to justice and the rule of law.
He assured that he would continue to join other lawyers and members of the bench to enhance the Independence of the judiciary.
The celebrant stated that he would always serve as an inspiration to others to join the legal profession.
A book titled: ‘Opening and Enriching the channels of Justice in the Nigerian Society’ was launched at the occasion.
The book was reviewed by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Enefiok Essien.
The event attracted seasoned legal practitioners, politicians, traditional rulers and top government officials.
The highpoint of the occasion was the honour to Governor Wike with the Dr. Obi Wali Prize for leadership, by the Okpo Club of Nigeria.
Other prominent award recipients included: former State Governor, Dr Peter Odili, Okocha and comedian, Julius Agwu.
Governor Willie Obiano has granted amnesty to twenty prison inmates in the State to mark the 2018 Democracy Day. The ex-convicts who were drawn from different prisons across the State have amongst them two persons who are not indigenes of the State.
They are; Messrs Augustine Emelue and Sunday Agbo, who hails from Delta and Ebonyi States respectively
The rest granted amnesty are from Anambra State, they are;
Chimezie Ewuzie, Amaechi Edochie, Monday Nwobu, Oluchi Emeodi, Nchedochi Rachel Christopher Biali, Innocent Nwokeke, Emmanuel Nwoye, Ignatius Ohams, James Odor, Uchenna Ifecheobi, Tochukwu Okpala.
Onwuachu Augustine, Emeka Okoye, Ekene Okeke, Ernest Onyemechalu, Afam OkoliUbaka Okwuchukwu.
Speaking during the exercise, Governor Obiano urged the former prisoners to stay away from trouble by being good citizens of the State and Nigeria.
He promised to empower them with seed money to enable them fend for themselves as most of them have stayed more than five years in jail and lost contact with the real world.
A former inmate, Ekene Okeke, from Abatete, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked Governor Obiano, for granting them amnesty.
He informed the Governor that they had undergone training in various skills in the prison during their stay and promised to make judicious use of any amount of money that would be given to them.
They commended Governor Obiano for his security exploits and promised to key into the state governments policies to develop the State.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he will, in a few days’ time, sign into law the ‘Not too young to run’ bill. The President made this promise in a nationwide broadcast in commemoration of the Democracy Day on Tuesday.
He said,
“In a few days to come, I will be joined by many promising young Nigerians to sign into law the ‘Not too young to run’ bill.”
The bill, which is part of the process to amend the 1999 Constitution, seeks to reduce the minimum age requirement for elective positions in the country.
It was first passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives in July 2017. Many state houses of assembly in the country have also passed the bill.
President Buhari also advised all and sundry to be law-abiding as the country enters into another election season.
He said,
“The upcoming months will usher us into another season of general elections. Let me use this opportunity to urge us all to conduct ourselves, our wards and our constituencies with the utmost sense of fairness, justice and peaceful co-existence such that we will have not only hitch-free elections but also a credible and violence-free process.”
The President, who reiterated that the fight against graft remained his administration’s primary objective, vowed not to relent in killing corruption before it did an irreparable damage to the nation.
He said,
“The second primary objective of this administration is to fight corruption headlong. Like I have always said, if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will destroy the country. Three years into this administration, Nigerians and the international community have begun to applaud our policies and determination to fight corruption. We are more than ever before determined to win this war, however hard the road is. I, therefore, appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to support us in this fight.
“Various policy measures already put in place to stem the tide of corrupt practices are yielding remarkable results. Some of these key reform policies include Treasury Single Account, which has realized billions of naira being saved from the maintenance fee payable to banks. N200bn has also been saved from the elimination of ghost workers in public service.”
President Buhari noted that the whistle-blowing policy had helped the government to recover over N500bn.
He added,
“The Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit, set up with a mandate to validate controls, assess risks, prune personnel costs and ensure compliance with Public Financial Management reforms, has helped to identify and remove over 52,000 ghost workers from the Federal Government’s MDAs Payroll.
“The Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme aimed at expanding tax education and awareness has offered the opportunity for tax defaulters to regularise their status in order to enjoy the amnesty of forgiveness on overdue interest, penalties and the assurance of non-prosecution or subject to tax investigations.”
He explained that the Sovereign Wealth Fund project portfolio had been expanded with an injection of $650m so as to strengthen its investment in local infrastructure, power, health, reconstruction of the Abuja-Kano Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, East-West Road (Section V) and the Mambilla hydro-electric power project as well as the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge.”
Speaking further on the anti-graft war, Buhari noted that the fight against corruption, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, had resulted in the recovery of billions of naira, as well as the forfeiture of various forms of assets.
He said,
“We have retained the services of one of the world’s leading assets tracing firms to investigate and trace assets globally. This is in addition to the exploitation of provisions of existing treaties, conventions as well as bilateral agreements with multilateral bodies and nations. Nigeria has also signed Mutual Legal Assistance Agreements to ensure that there is no hiding place for fugitives.”
Buhari added that through prudent spending and blocking of leakages, the nation’s foreign reserves had improved to $47.5bn as of May 2018, as against $29.6bn in 2015.
The inflationary rate, he added, had consistently declined every month since January 2017.
The President, who applauded the women for their contributions to national development and advancement of democracy, also urged Nigerians to avoid hatred and intolerance.
This, he said, would help the country to achieve its developmental objectives in an atmosphere of harmony and peaceful co-existence.
He listed his achievements in the last three years to include increase food security programme built around self-sufficiency and minimization of import dependency.
Specifically, he said rice importation had been cut down by 90%, which he noted had a direct impact on foreign reserves.
Others, he said, included Social Investment Programmes, Home Grown School Feeding Programme, and Conditional Cash Transfer where underprivileged Nigerians were given N5, 000 per month.
The President described the commemoration of 2018 Democracy Day, which is the third anniversary of his administration, as a celebration of freedom for Nigerians.
He said the celebration was also a recommitment by his government to keep its promise to lead Nigeria into a new era of justice and prosperity.
Buhari admitted that his administration had faced challenges in the journey of three years while Nigerians stood by his government in achieving its three cardinal points.
He said,
“Today marks the 19th year of our nascent democracy and the 3rd Anniversary of this administration. I am thankful to Almighty God for bringing us thus far.
“This administration came at a time that Nigerians needed change, the change we promised and the change we continue to deliver.
“We have faced a lot of challenges on this journey and Nigerians have stood by us in achieving the three cardinal points of this administration namely; security, corruption and the economy.
“The commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day is a celebration of freedom, a salute to the resilience and determination of Nigerians and a recommitment by Government to keep its promise to lead Nigeria into a new era of justice and prosperity.”
Nations with the largest oil reserve is not presently economically viable.
That should be a warning to Nigeria! We must look beyond oil in Nigeria! US and UK who use to buy our oil, no longer buys from us. America now plans to sell her own oil!
Nigeria can get out of oil boom and burst circle. Anambra is a case study! Anambra is not an oil producing State, yet it does not take loans or owe workers salary!
According to the United Nations, Anambra has one of the lowest poverty rates in Nigeria! Anambra once lagged in male education but today leads the Nation in WASSCE and other examinations!
Anambra has made the best improvement in Education in the while Nation!
In Anambra, the State Government supports private and mission schools financially! But States that depend solely on Federal Allocation are broke, cannot pay salaries and are debt ridden.
These States are performing woefully in Education!
There's something to be learnt in Anambra: Their policy; their budgeting practice; their sense of community, etc!
Anambra is Working!
Other governments should study what Anambra State has been doing right and replicate it nationally!
Anambra proves that Nigeria does not need of to thrive.
What Nigeria needs to thrive is education!
What's under the ground of this Nation is nothing compared to what is between the ears of our people!
Source
Ben Murray Bruce
Anambra Youths earlier today took to the streets of Awka on a Peaceful Protest against what they termed "Miscarriage of Justice" against APGA... They were led by the APGA National Youth Leader.
Check out photos from the protest below;
Anyway, we see this as one of the beauties of democracy... What do you think?
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