Should Declaration Of State of Emergency Mean removal Of Democratic Structure?

On Tuesday, 14th may, 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three states, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, and this declaration has been trailed by several reactions but for and against. I did my part my writing a post saying that our president now has the balls to take decisive decisions. I am in support of the state of emergency declared.

However, the part which drew my attention is the reaction of people to the paragraphs 15 quoted below:

1 5.  “The details of this Proclamation will be transmitted to the National Assembly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. But in the meantime, let me make it clear that within the purview of this Proclamation, the Governors and other political office holders in the affected states will continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities.”

In this paragraph the president declared that the political office holders will continue their constitutional duties. So the state governors and the state houses of assembly were left intact. This pronouncement was condemned by a cross section of people saying it is not proper. That he should have removed the state executives and legislators. They even said that this half state of emergency and not full.

I want to differ from this opinion. From my understanding of declaration of state of emergency in any state or sector, it is not the abolition of existing structure. According to Wikipedia, “A state of emergency is a governmental declaration which usually suspends a few normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviors, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale for suspending rights and freedoms, even if guaranteed under the constitution. Such declarations usually come during a time of natural or man-made disaster, during periods of civil unrest, or following a declaration of war or situation of international or internal armed conflict.”

By the president’s declaration, only a few executive functions have been affected or suspended. Key among these is the function of the governor as the chief security officer of the state. That function will now be handled by the commander of the military body handling the state of emergency.

I think that the reactions of people as regard this were based on the state of emergency declared by the Obasanjo administration. When he declared state of emergency in Plateau and the Ekiti states, he removed the executive governor during those periods. Some commentators have even declared Obasanjo’s actions then as unconstitutional. Let us leave that to others to debate.

The purpose of this piece is to enlighten a few who may not know what it meant when a state of emergency is declared in any state or sector.

The question I have in my mind is, “will these military people operate within the rules of engagement?” another question is “what are even the rules of engagement of this exercise?” I hope that the answer to the second question will be included in the details the presidency plan to send to the National Assembly.

God bless Nigeria and drive away violence from our midst.

#2015OnMyMind

#PoliticalGabriel

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So The President Has Balls Afterall

Following the declaration of state of emergency in three northern Nigerian states (Adamawa, Borno and Yobe), I decided to look at this president again. And await other manly decisions he might take in the future.

The decision to impose this state of emergency was long overdue but the president was toying with the idea. I cannot categorically say a reason why he delayed but I will not be surprised if it is connected with his 2015 bid. However, I am more of the opinion that he lack the balls to take that decision in the first place. I am happy somehow he has shown us he has balls afterall.

What has been lacking in Nigeria has been good leadership. We lack leaders who are not carried away by their parochial interests but rather by the interest of the entity called Nigeria. When we voted Jonathan we thought he was going to be different. As it is now I am yet to see the difference.

But this action of declaring the state of emergency may be the beginning of more decisive moves by the president. I am looking forward to action like jailing those oil theives, like arresting flagrant talking Asari dokubo and Annkio Briggs, bringing the Omatse traditionalist to justice, fighting corruption and be seen doing so, and so many things we expect of him.

He should remember to ensure that electricity is provided too and our roads repaired. He should weed out those in his government that are encouraging the slow motion because of their selfish interests. All I am saying is the this president should take action and show us that he really has balls.

#2015OnMyMind

#PoliticalGabriel

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Jonathan Declares State of Emergency In Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States, Nigeria

 The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gave a national broadcast yesterday, 14th May, 2013. Below is the full address:


ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR ON THE DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN BORNO, YOBE AND ADAMAWA STATES IN ORDER TO RESTORE PUBLIC ORDER, PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY IN THE AFFECTED STATES OF THE FEDERATION

MAY 14, 2013


Dear compatriots,
1.    It has become necessary for me to address you on the recent spate of terrorist activities and protracted security challenges in some parts of the country, particularly in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau and most recently Bayelsa, Taraba, Benue and Nasarawa states.  These unfortunate events have led to needless loss of lives and property of many innocent Nigerians including members of our security forces.

2.   The recent killing of security operatives by a cult group in Nasarawa state is particularly condemnable. I have directed that no effort or expense be spared in identifying and bringing to justice all those who had a hand in the killing of the operatives.

3.   The activities of insurgents and terrorists have been reprehensible, causing fear among our citizens and a near-breakdown of law and order in parts of the country, especially the North. We have taken robust steps to unravel and address the root causes of these crises, but it would appear that there is a systematic effort by insurgents and terrorists to destabilize the Nigerian state and test our collective resolve.

4.  Since I returned to the country after cutting short my visit to South Africa and aborting a planned state visit to Namibia, I have received detailed briefings from our security agencies. These briefings indicate that what we are facing is not just militancy or criminality, but a rebellion and insurgency by terrorist groups which pose a very serious threat to national unity and territorial integrity. Already, some northern parts of Borno state have been taken over by groups whose allegiance is to different flags and ideologies.

5.   These terrorists and insurgents seem determined to establish control and authority over parts of our beloved nation and to progressively overwhelm the rest of the country. In many places, they have destroyed the Nigerian flag and other symbols of state authority and in their place, hoisted strange flags suggesting the exercise of alternative sovereignty.

6.  They have attacked government buildings and facilities. They have murdered innocent citizens and state officials. They have set houses ablaze, and taken women and children as hostages. These actions amount to a declaration of war and a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the Nigerian state and threaten her territorial integrity. As a responsible government, we will not tolerate this.

 7.  Previously, we adopted a multi-track approach to the resolution of this problem through actions which included persuasion, dialogue and widespread consultation with the political, religious and community leaders in the affected states.

8.  We exercised restraint to allow for all efforts by both State Governors and well-meaning Nigerians to stop the repeated cases of mindless violence.

9.  Yet, the insurgents and terrorists seek to prevent government from fulfilling its constitutional obligations to the people as they pursue their fanatical agenda of mayhem, mass murder, division and separatism.

10. While the efforts at persuasion and dialogue will continue, let me reiterate that we have a sacred duty to ensure the security and well-being of all our people and protect the sovereign integrity of our country. Therefore, we shall, on no account, shy away from doing whatever becomes necessary to provide the fullest possible security for the citizens of this country in any part of the country they choose to reside.

11.   We have a duty to stand firm against those who threaten the sovereign integrity of the Nigerian state. Our will is strong, because our faith lies in the indivisibility of Nigeria.

12.  Following recent developments in the affected states, it has become necessary for Government to take extraordinary measures to restore normalcy. After wide consultations, and in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the provisions of Section 305, sub-section 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I hereby declare a State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

13.  Accordingly, the Chief of Defence Staff has been directed to immediately deploy more troops to these states for more effective internal security operations. The troops and other security agencies involved in these operations have orders to take all necessary action, within the ambit of their rules of engagement, to put an end to the impunity of insurgents and terrorists.

14.  This will include the authority to arrest and detain suspects, the taking of possession and control of any building or structure used for terrorist purposes, the lock-down of any area of terrorist operation, the conduct of searches, and the apprehension of persons in illegal possession of weapons.


15.  The details of this Proclamation will be transmitted to the National Assembly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. But in the meantime, let me make it clear that within the purview of this Proclamation, the Governors and other political office holders in the affected states will continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities.

16.   I urge the political leadership in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states to co-operate maximally with the Armed Forces and the Police to ensure that the exercise succeeds. We call on the citizenry to co-operate with our security agencies to ensure a return to normalcy within the shortest possible time.

17.   I am again approaching our neighbouring countries, through diplomatic channels, as done in the recent past, for their co-operation in apprehending any terrorist elements that may escape across the border.


18.  Nigerians are peace-loving people; these sad events perpetrated by those who do not wish our nation well have not changed the essential character of our people.


19.  I want to reassure you all that those who are directly or indirectly encouraging any form of rebellion against the Nigerian state, and their collaborators; those insurgents and terrorists who take delight in killing our security operatives, whoever they may be, wherever they may go, we will hunt them down, we will fish them out, and we will bring them to justice. No matter what it takes, we will win this war against terror.

20.  I am convinced that with your support and prayers, we shall overcome these challenges and together, we will restore every part of our country to the path of peace, growth and development.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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A Case Of Pot Calling Kettle Black

There is an advert I listened to a few time on Radio Nigeria network news targeted at fighting oil theft. It featured the voice of two children who are discussing what their parent told them about what is lost to oil theft and how among all oil producing nations it is only in Nigeria that the citizens steal oil.

That advert is touching as it exposes the magnitude of losses Nigeria incurs from oil theft. It is also saddening that our citizens will be stealing our oil, our main source of income, thereby preventing our government from earning her well deserved income. Come to think of it that only Nigerians among the citizens of all oil producing nations engage in that dastardly act. What a shame!

But when one looks at it more critically and also looks at other areas of thievery in the Nigeria economy, what came to mind is a case of pot calling kettle black. How do I mean? Even though this attempt at discouraging oil theft is laudable we need to look at what were the remote causes of these acts being perpetrated by some Nigerians.

In my opinion the people helping themselves to our oil illegally see this as an opportunity to take their share Nigeria’s wealth. They see that they have no access to government positions where they can steal from the treasury so they decided to steal direct from source. It is their way of taking from the national cake. What they are doing is similar to what some of our top government officials but just in a different area.

The underlying problem is the problem of greed which has characterized every stratum of the Nigerian life. This is responsible for all forms of stealing whether in the government office or at the creek, whether it is a policeman collecting twenty naira or an office clerk collecting a little bribe before forwarding a file. It is the same greed when we in our respective offices collect more our own due share or cheat our colleagues or clients and customers.

Pot calling kettle black or kettle calling pot black! Whichever you choose to say is a case where one bad person is calling another bad. Many of the government officials are stealing from the government treasury and are now blaming those stealing crude for causing problem in our economy. Is it not a case of one set of thieves calling other set thieves?

The stealing of our oil must stop so also the stealing in our offices. Right from the top down to the bottom of the ladder, the stealing must stop. A thief has no moral justification to call another person, doing same thing he does, a thief.

The government should come out strong in fighting corruption. It should be beyond paying lip service to the fight against corruption. Corrupt officials must be punished and seen to be punished. Enough of the plea bargain, negotiations, or out of court settlement. We need to see action; we need a decisive step to be taken to prevent others from indulging in the same act.

Nigerians too in their respective places of responsibility should refrain from acts of corruption. A Nigerian who is corruption to steal ten thousand naira is as guilty of corruption just like the man who stole one million naira. My argument is that if he can steal that ten thousand naira in his small position he can also steal millions when he occupies a bigger position.

The fight is ours to carry out. Let us all put hands on deck to make Nigeria corruption free and a better place for us and our unborn children.

#2015OnMyMind

#PoliticalGabriel

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Jonathan Gives Progress Report On Facebook

I read the post below on Facebook today. It written by our dear President Jonathan and posted on his profile. The full post is as below:

"In January last year, I had cause to brief our nation on my determination to sanitize the oil industry in order that it would be run in a most businesslike manner such that Nigeria receives value for her God given resources and investments. I had earlier taken strong action with regard to the power sector. The goal was to arrive at the destination of self-sufficiency where waste and inefficiency is eliminated and electricity is available to meet the needs of our citizens.

I have received briefings that previously closed petroleum depots have been reopened or are about to be reopened nationwide and as at today, our domestic refining capacity has peaked at over 10 million liters per day which is our highest level in decades. Nigeria is now is on the road to meeting her fuel consumption needs domestically. Simultaneously, I have also received encouraging reports on the progress made in bringing suspects found wanting during the fuel subsidy probe to book and in accordance with the rule of law. 

 Two weeks ago, I hosted the Presidential Power Reform Transactions Signing Ceremony. The five power generation companies that emerged successful in the bidding process of the privatization of the sector received their certificates and are set to run their companies in a way as to guarantee electricity for domestic and industrial use even as the world is celebrating the transparent bidding process that culminated in the signing. I want to assure you my friends on facebook that we shall put the darkness of these past decades behind us in no distant time. We shall only keep a forward movement in the critical sectors of our economy and may Almighty God help us all. GEJ"

This post is encouraging and gives hope that things are looking good ahead. When Nigerians get these kind of updates it gives us hope. It shows that things are happening and we may soon have a sigh of relief. However, I want to tell the president that this announcement should not be a thing on paper only. Nigerians want to see these in reality.

If our local refining capacity has increased, we desire to see it that the importation has reduced. If the suspects of oil subsidy fraud being are brought to book, we expect that they really face the music and not the plea bargain being touted everywhere. The issue of power reform is the area where you, as president, can score a high point. We want to see that darkness has really disappeared. This incidentally cannot be only on paper, if it is true we shall all see it.

I wish our dear president success in the task of running our fatherland and pray that God Almighty will give him the wisdom to get us to El Dorado.

I wish to implore my dear fellow Nigerians to give him the support he so desires to make this task of governing Nigeria an easy task.

God bless Nigeria.

#2015OnMyMind

#PoliticalGabriel

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Asari Dakubo’s Verbal Diarrhea

Many times when I read some statements credited to some hooligans I just ignore them because I feel they are not serious minded people. But I want to react to this one by Asari Dokubo as it is becoming one too many. And in my opinion his statements are not intended for good governance or for the good of Nigeria.

During the fuel subsidy saga he made some statements which are so daft I thought then that he was being disturbed by myopia however his other flagrant statements are getting out of hand. I am not surprised anyway looking at his pedigree. What more do you expect from a man with a militant, or is terrorist, blood running in him?

Inasmuch as the Niger Delta has suffered its own share of neglect it is not a right to hold other parts of the country to ransom. The way this guy talks is as if every other part of Nigeria should pay for the sins of our former leaders of whom are some Niger Delta leaders too.

Now that the presidency is headed by a Niger Deltan what development has the region really experienced? Anyway my grouse with this guy is his insistence that Jonathan must return for 2015. Is Jonathan the only person that can lead this country? Where is he placing our collective intelligence? Is he saying Nigerians do not have the sensibility to judge if a leader is good enough to be retained or bad enough to be thrown out?

And for him to threaten violence if Jonathan did not return to Aso Rock come 2015, is that not a treasonable offence? Is his statement not threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria? When someone said that they will make Nigeria ungovernable for Jonathan, the whole place was awash with condemnations, now that this militant has made a similar statement where are all the condemnations?

When will the government deem it necessary to put any trouble maker to order? Recently some journalists were arrested for what they reported, what is the government doing about this Asari guy since this is not his first statement? Or are they engaged in selective justice?

There is no region that has the monopoly to the presidency of Nigeria? If that was it, how will a shoeless Ijaw boy become president when even the Ibos have not had a taste of this exalted office? That Jonathan is occupying this office goes to show that any group in Nigeria can aspire to this position. For some people to be calling for the retention of the presidency in Niger Delta does not say well of the right of others.

Jonathan was not elected because he was from the south-south, he was voted for by Nigerians because of the expectations we have of him. Asari and his co-agitators should wait for 2015 for Nigerians to take another decision whether we want Jonathan to continue or give way to another person. These guys should talk to their brother, Jonathan, to prove himself worthy of the responsibility we reposed on him rather than talking aimlessly.

#2015OnMyMind

#PoliticalGabriel

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Reserved Anger Against Government

I learned a new term when I was discussing with a friend and brother. He mentioned a phrase like three or more times in the course of our discussion. We were actually discussing the grounding of the Rivers State government’s plane and other matters of national interest. We were looking at what people are saying and what the House of Representatives were discussing on the matter. We also talked about the attitude of the citizenry as regards expectation of government and how they are being swayed by some people.

The term is Reserved Anger Against Government. There is a kind of anger and lack of trust that people tend to have towards government. This attitude is not towards the Jonathan administration only but to all governments. Whether federal, state or even local government! Some people might want to call it opposition but opposition is a little different from this.

People with this attitude don’t seem to see the government doing any good. They will find fault one way or the other from the actions of government. Their statements do not add value to governance rather pull government down and in some cases set the people against government. And some of these people are very vocal.

I also want to add that many of such people exist among the masses. It is not an elitist issue. Many people in the all rungs of the society exhibit this attitude. There is a kind of negative perception to the extent that they never see any good in what government does. Even a lot of those who listen to them have same attitude.

The opposition has a duty to say their opinion on what government is doing. They point out faults and 

shortcomings. They are not only to do that but also to make suggestions on how things can be done better. 

Our opposition in Nigeria is doing their role but what is missing that the later part of their duty which is suggesting to government. The people with reserved anger for government do not have same attitude and motive as the opposition although some members of opposition may have this attitude.

What may be responsible why people develop this attitude? There could be many reasons. I think one of them is the pull him down syndrome. Some people just cannot see that others succeed. Everything others do is just wrong. If the government builds a road, they find why it was not well done. They will just find a fault with it, no matter what.

Another reason which I believe is very important is the continuous failure of governments. We have had governments who have promised and failed woefully. We have had leadership whom we entrusted our all to and turn around to hurt us badly. We had people who have gone into government and do not have any clue as to what to do for the people. Some governments are so clueless that all they do is jump from one thing to the other without a certain course of action.

When you consider the second reason above you will agree with me that some people can develop this reserved anger against government. However, I will want to say that even though government after government have failed us we should at least acknowledge any good thing the government does and not see everything as being bad.

Another reason could be opposition gone wrong. Some people in the opposition think that when you are in opposition you must find fault with the government. So at every time they are only looking for loopholes. And shout it over the roof when they see one. My opinion is that opposition should be proper opposition and do it right. When the opposition sees anything wrong they should point it out as well as follow it with the alternative ways to get result. After all both government and opposition are out to serve us the citizenry.

There will be a rejoinder to this write up so watch out.

#20156OmnMyMind

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