Rethinking Our Constitutional Arrangements

 The reason why we are so full of cynicism and nihilism is because we have not been able to dig deeply into what afflicts us and propound lasting solutions to our problems. All the solutions we have at this time were hurriedly foisted on the nation by a beleaguered and departing military.

When people compare Nigeria to other countries that are doing well, they tend to forget one big elephant in the room. Those countries they compare Nigeria to were never subjects of coup and counter coups. There was something very peculiar about the military regimes that ran Nigeria. They totally abrogated any form of democracy. From 1966 until 1999, Nigeria never had any parliament. As bad as Saddam of Iraq was, he did not abolish the parliament of his country when he took over. Citizens still had a modicum of debate on local issues. This was not the case with Nigeria. The military came in and threw away the culture of debate that was very robust in Nigerian nascent democracy.

In the first Republic Tafawa Balewa will address his constituency about the goings on in parliament. Other regional leaders did same and citizens were engaged. What is happening in our present situation is the harvest of the many years of military misrule. The present crop of politicians is the product of the military. They have no clues and are very imperious and distant from the people they serve. A majority of them are illiterates, clueless and products of forged certificates. Up from 1999,  I am yet to see any representative or senator address their constituents about any solution to the myriads of problems facing the country. They are distant from the people who elected them and imperious like the military that selected them. They have no sense of civic responsibility. They are there to coast and collect their huge salaries and allowance and go home. The Nigerian parliament is a big joke. It is like Will Rogers Republic. Anytime they make a law, it is a joke and anytime they make a joke, it becomes a law.

As citizens, we have to think deeply on how to get rid of this odious system without involving the military in our body politics. A military regime is always a curse on any nation. The military cannot solve any problem. It is very unfortunate that prominent Nigerians succumb to this foolishness and visit people who were nothing but soldiers of fortune. Anyone who gained power through the military in Nigeria was a soldier of fortune who in a democratic system will be a nonentity.

Buhari was a military leader. He became clueless as an elected leader. David Mark spent more than twenty years in the Senate, and nobody knew what he stood for. I gave these examples so that Nigerians can see that the Military have no solutions. They are all about bravado and subterfuge. Nigerians must articulate the way forward. The reason why there is cacophony of ethnic reductism is that Nigerians don’t feel represented at any level. All the tiers of governments in Nigeria are sham. The leaders are not properly vetted, and they are very distant from the citizens that they are supposed to serve. They are imperious. They use their security to clear citizens from the roads they did not construct. We have to think deeper.

The present constitution cannot be workable in Nigeria no matter how much we tinker with it. That constitution is a product of military Regime that alienated and infantilized the citizens. They say it is an American style Constitution. That is a big lie invented by the military. The similarities between US constitution and the Nigerian constitution are night and day. There should be no comparison. The American constitution frees the citizens; the Nigerian constitution imprisons the citizens. The Nigerian constitution caters to a unitary executive while the American constitution is a federal document. To suggest otherwise is a big fraud.

In order to extricate ourselves from the imprisonment of this document, we must evolve a system in which every citizen will feel represented in a multicultural and multi-ethnic society. This is what I advocate and what I think will work for a country like Nigeria.

Nigeria already has six geopolitical zones. Each geopolitical zone should elect its President and Vice President who will represent each region at a council of presidents at Abuja. This council of presidents will be for a period of six years. The presidency will be rotated among these six presidents every year. The substantive president for each year will represent Nigeria at international Fora for that year. Their vice presidents will be the liaison and head of regional parliament. For any legislation to be law, two third must accent. The Senate should be abolished, and Reps should become senators for a term of five years.

The various houses of assemblies should be collapsed into the regional assemblies. The title of governor should be changed to state Coordinator who will be Chair of the state contingent at the Regional assembly and be answerable to the citizens. Most of these state assemblies are doing nothing apart from influence peddling.

A situation where the representatives of the people cannot be challenged in open debate is odious. This is what we have now. When each region sees their representation at the center, the agitation for North Central, East and West will evaporate and Nigeria can concentrate on the business of building Nigeria. All the aforementioned can be tinkered with by scholars and we can have a workable constitution.

Another aspect that will be relieved is the heavy logistics involved in trying to elect one candidate throughout the country. Now people will just elect who will represent them at the center. Let political scholars get involved in this project instead of lying to ourselves that we are practicing true democracy. We also must eschew this culture of Nihilism and engage in rebuilding the edifice that was destroyed by the military.

 

Dr Austin Orette Writes From Houston Texas

 

A Question of Justice

By Dr Austin Orette

 

There is no development if it is done at the expense of the rule of law and the confiscation of people’s properties. The greater part of development is the upholding of the rule of law and justice.

 

Since I can remember, successive Nigerian governments have treated the rule of law as an inconvenience. The rule of law is the bedrock of any society that wishes to develop. It is the sine qua non of a developed society. It is the main difference between developed and underdeveloped countries.

 

Successive Nigerian governments from states to the federal have made the demolition of people’s properties as a developmental tool. This is wrong at all levels. This they do without any conveyance from the courts. This is anathema to the rule of law.

 

Our laws must develop more than physical structures. These gross violations of the rights of the people by the government are the root for all the insecurities and anarchy in the land. The Nigerian government proposes and disposes. This is wrong. The damage done to the economy by these actions is monumental. No one in his right mind would bring money into such an economy where policy summersault and brigandage are the order of the day. Those who are there are just agents of capital flight.

 

I have always said that the National Assembly has betrayed Nigerians by being a collection of military boys who lack the acuity to create an enabling environment for the development of our laws. They take these fat salaries and go to Abuja to sleep. They have done nothing to expunge bad laws in the Nigerian statute books. This is very wrong.

 

At the end of apartheid when Nelson Mandela took over, the first order of business of the South African Parliament was the expunging of bad laws that were passed during apartheid. That is what they call development.

 

Since the inception of civilian rule in Nigeria, the successive governments from state to federal level have not reviewed any of the bad decree passed by the departing military personnel. They even refer to these military decrees as act of the National Assembly. Some of these laws are still observed to the detriment of the citizens. Olusegun Obasanjo passed the Land Use Decree. Since that decree was passed, a lot of Nigerians have had their properties confiscated or demolished by agents of government without any conveyance from the courts. This is abnormal. No one should be surprised that this is the major reason for insecurity and anarchy in the land. This is the reason for the stagnation of the economy. There is no rule of law in Nigeria and government agents are the people using the government to violate the rights and properties of the people. No nation can develop in the terrain of injustice.

 

From time to time, the Nigerian government goes begging for people to bring their hard-earned money to invest in Nigeria. A foreign entity recently announced an investment of 600 million dollars in Nigeria. This is not money compared to what Nigerians can push into the economy on their own. The people in power are too blind to see, or they deliberately ignore the Nigerians in diaspora who can flood the place with cash and lift the economy.  They are financially buoyant and technically savvy. The Nigerian diaspora remits more than 25 billion dollars to Nigeria annually. This is the official amount that is documented. This doesn’t include unofficial remittances. This is the power that Nigerians in diaspora have that the government is deliberately ignoring because they know that the day these Nigerians make Nigeria their home, the shenanigans of the peacocks will be over. These Nigerians are savvy and technologically equipped. This is the formula that built China and India. Those countries gave their people in diaspora muscle, and they exercised it.

 

Today the Indians and Chinese are in Nigeria discriminating against Nigerians. No foreigners will bring his knowledge and talent to a place where the pronouncements of those in government and government officials become law. Nigerians in the diaspora are very sensitive to this lack of rule of law. A lot of them have lost their lives because they succumbed to the yearnings. This curiosity has been dampened by these unfortunate incidents. They know that life and properties are not guaranteed in Nigeria, and they have slowed their foray into Nigeria.

 

The hurt is too much. China and India leapfrogged into the twenty-first century by using their diaspora. Nigeria has more ingredients than these countries, but still on its knees and continues to treat the rule of law and justice as a gift it bestows on “deserving” citizens.

 

Nigeria is a place where a fellow Senator will suspend another Senator. Is our democracy a joke? It is a big joke as those in power think they can bend the laws to punish their detractors. The whole judiciary is corrupt. The criminals who should be in jail are in high positions enacting laws to imprison the people. The lawyers are nothing but high priests in the court of Herod. Their main job is to collect bribes for the judges.  The rest of the people can be damned.

 

Development is not a gift you impose on people. It is a process that is necessary for the survival of a people. The development of the rule of law is the sine qua non of progress. Unless we champion the development of the rule of law, we are going nowhere. This is where our emphasis should be instead of building roads and bridges that lead to a cul-de-sac. The absence of the rule of law makes these constructions nothing, but monuments to our ego.

 

Dr Austin Orette writes from Houston Texas

 

FOMWAN Pays Courtesy Visit to Comptroller Balogun in Imo

By Bon Peters

 

The Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Imo State Chapter, has paid a courtesy visit Wednesday to the Customs Controller, Federal Operations unit (FOU) Zone C, Owerri, the Imo state capital. Leading other Executive members, (FOMWAN) President, Mrs. Anifat Bola Animashaun Ameerah in her remarks has expressed delight of the Association to visit Comptroller Bishir Abdulahi Balogun insisting that the Association was delighted and honoured to be in his presence.

 

"We are delighted and honored to be in your esteemed presence today” she said.

 

Giving details about the association, she said "FOMWAN, established in 1985, serves as a civil society and an umbrella for Muslim Women Associations across Nigeria, operating in all 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with a presence in over 700 Local Government Areas."

 

The FOMWAN President added "Our focus areas encompass education, Da’awah, health, humanitarian and community development, good governance, youths, finance and resource mobilization, projects and capacity building.”

 

Speaking further, she noted that  the visit has accorded them the  opportunity to extend their warm welcome  officially to  Comptroller Balogun  in Imo State even as they  expressed  their appreciation to  his humility and adherence to Islamic values, which  they said  have captured their admiration and prompted FOMWAN to associate with him.

 

Her words, "sir, please permit us to inform you that FOMWAN as a national body holds Annual Conference which is rotated among states and 40th Anniversary of FOMWAN."

 

"In 2012 Imo state hosted the annual conference and it was a huge success."

 

"This year August 19th to 24th, 2025, Kaduna will host all the states and preparations have been seriously going on, Imo Chapter must participate with others" she insisted

 

She further reiterated that "As we navigate our activities in Imo State, we sincerely hope for your continuous guidance and encouragement."  "It is with great respect and admiration that we propose to adopt you as our patron, understanding the importance of your role.”

 

The association however wished Comptroller Balogun a joyous stay in Imo state praying that Allah should continue to guide him in his responsible task of overseeing the Customs Federal Operations Unit Zone C Imo State.

 

Addressing the association, the highly elated Comptroller Balogun expressed satisfaction with the visit insisting that he would not take it for granted.

 

"Am very delighted for this show of gratitude and care towards me in particular and the unit in general.

 

Speaking further, he added, "Mothers will always be Mothers “noting that "everyman no matter how highly placed must accord our mothers respect which they deserve"

 

On the synergy and collaboration between Customs FOU Zone C, and FOMWAN, he informed them that his wife being the chapter Chairperson of Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA) in FOU Zone C, Owerri, is automatically their member assuring them of his unalloyed support and encouragement to move their association forward.

 

Continuing, Comptroller, Balogun said,  "I have listened carefully to your address, and am glad to inform you that some  of the things you said  are in-line with the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR mandate on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the Nigeria Customs Service."

 

“FOU Zone C, Owerri, will be glad to partner with your association and accord you recognition” he assured.

Women Allegedly Caught In Compromising Position Declared Wanted

Security operatives have intensified efforts to locate Adeola Adebogun and Yetunde Biodun, who are currently wanted in connection with an alleged same-sex relationship and assault.

According to a police report, Adeola and Yetunde were allegedly found in a compromising position at Adeola’s residence, located at 2 Alhaja Sekinat Street, Fadeyi, by a concerned resident, Mr. Olumide Oni.

Prosecutors alleged that Oni was assaulted by the women after he attempted to use his mobile phone to record the incident.

The suspects are also being accused of stealing, tampering with physical evidence and destroying Oni’s phone by throwing it into a dumpster.

Oni reportedly sustained injuries during the altercation.

The women were invited for questioning at the police station in April 2025, after which formal charges were filed in court.

Although granted bail, they failed to appear for trial.

Police say efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend them

Alema of Warri, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan Laud Ibori for Remaining Faithful to the Task of Nation Building

Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, has been commended for his inimitable contribution and commitment to the country’s unity and development.

 

As a governor, you gave politics in Nigeria greater vision and breadth. You pointed out that the goal of a well-performing government is about delivering public services, upholding the rule of law and ensuring the well-being of its citizens’’.

 

The commendation was contained in a statement issued by the Alema of Warri, High Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan and his dear wife, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan,

 

The statement described Ibori’s days in Delta State Government House as fruitful.

 

“You worked with a high sense of mission, delegated responsibilities to competent individuals, promoted economic growth, maintained social order, provided a stable and secured environment, managed resources adequately, made the people partakers of democracy dividends and encouraged women participation in politics.”

 

The statement titled: ‘’Celebrating Ibori’s contributions and legacy’’ applauded the ex-governor for his political acumen and humane approach to governance.

 

“You made huge strides in terms of educational institutions and infrastructure such as roads and bridges in each senatorial zone of the state. You expanded capabilities and opportunities, strengthened the civil service, trained youths in various vocations, built modern markets and sports complexes and promoted the spirit of peaceful co- existence among all the communities in the state.”

 

The Warri High Chief and the Senator representing Kogi Central hailed Ibori for remaining faithful to the task of nation building, pursuing politics of issues and ideas and securing respect for the people of the South-South geo-political zone in the national scheme of things.

 

“As a strategist, you used wisdom and experience to sort out the Warri crisis, implemented an economic blueprint for transformation and industrialization of the oil rich state, developed capabilities inherent in people and increased the options open for them.”

 

Particularly, they applauded Ibori for his robust experience in organization, planning and strategy.

 

“Your investment in security, physical development, youth and women empowerment, education, health, potable water, tourism, electricity and agriculture cannot be overemphasized. Indeed, you re-directed the faith of Delta State, provided good leadership and social amenities, introduced free qualitative education, pioneered overseas scholarship, restored bursary awards to all students of Delta State origin in tertiary institutions in Nigeria, rehabilitated hospitals and healthcare centres, employed youths and developed agriculture.”

 

The statement emphasized Ibori’s deep penetration of men, political behavior and dynamic touch of excellence.

 

“As a leader with a large following, you raised your voice higher in the clamour for true federalism, state police and ceding of the presidency to the South-South geo-political zone.”

 

It also emphasized how Ibori brought succor and sense of belonging to the Niger Delta people.

 

“On this memorable occasion, we cherish your fatherly advice, support and contribution to the good of our dear country, Nigeria. We also cherish your leadership style, generosity, humility and perspective on true federalism and power sharing.”

 

“In the period ahead, we wish you more strength, good health and wisdom in your quest to better the lot of humanity. Once again, Congratulations on your birthday” the statement added.

Credit: Henry Ovie

Customs Area 1 Controller, Compt Hashim Congratulates CGC Wale Adeniyi on Tenure Extension, says it is an honour well deserved

By Bon Peters

The tenure extension of the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has been described as an honour well deserved by the Customs Area 1, Command Controller, Comptroller YM Hashim 

 

In a congratulatory  message made available to our Correspondent in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital this weekend by the command's Public Relations Officer Area 1 Command, Assistant Superintendent of Customs II  Barilule Aanee, which stated that the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR has distinguished himself among his equals with the introduction of unprecedented innovations, adding that his tripod policy thrust of  consolidation Collaboration and Innovation have positioned the Nigeria customs Service in a good stead, noting that no wonder that the CGC emerged as the council Chairman, World Customs Organization.

 

While thanking the President and Commander in-chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the extension, the Customs Area 1 boss insisted that leadership is not achieved through sycophancy but by dedication, integrity and  total commitment which he reiterated that CGC  Adeniyi has exhibited  hence his appointment was not gotten on a platter of Silver.

 

Our Correspondent reports that the issue of the tenure extension or otherwise has elicited debate among the industry players but this development has gone a long way to show that reward for good work is more work . 

 

The statement continued by saying that "the extension of tenure of the CGC shows that even God rewards dedication, discipline, hard work, resourcefulness and integrity."

 

"We at Area 1 Command, Port Harcourt are proud of the CGC's performance and very much happy to be part of this development”

 

"We pray that Allah will continue to sustain the CGC, give him more wisdom, good health to pilot the affairs of the Nigeria Customs Service with more vigour."

 

The statement posited " I call on  our gallant officers and Men of Area 1 Command, to redouble their efforts in making sure that we are on the same page with our amiable Comptroller General through our dedication to duty for effective service delivery and to ensure that revenue is generated, Trade Facilitated and Smuggling suppressed to the lowest minimum and do our work in  line with international standard  best practices."

ACG Dangladima Felicitates With CGC Wale Adeniyi on Tenure Extension

..... Urges Officers And Men to Remain Committed in the discharge of their Duties.

 

 By Bon Peters

 

 

The tenure extension of the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC, Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has elicited positive reactions as   the  Zonal Coordinator Customs Zone C,   Headquarters   Port Harcourt ACG SK Dangladima has given kudos to the development even as he advised officers and men of  Zone C,  to remain committed in discharge of their duties.

 

 

Recall that this issue has been at  the front burner fouling speculation on the next move  for the CGC who has shown leadership prowls, integrity and commitment to the upliftment  of the Nigeria customs Service Zone C.

 

But with the development, industry watchers and critical stakeholders were of the opinion that the unprecedented innovations started by CGC would be sustained.

 

 

In his remarks, the Zonal coordinator, Zone C, ACG Dangladima, stated, ” The extension of tenure of the CGC by President Bola Tinubu is a manifestation of God’s reward on discipline, hard work and resourcefulness in selfless service delivery! ”

 

ACG DANGLADIMA, added, “Unalloyed commitment to duty and Selfless service delivery pays because nothing comes on a platter of gold.” 

 

He continued, “The extension is not a surprise because the Comptroller General of Customs had made remarkable and monumental impacts and reforms in Nigeria Customs Service which has earned him Chairman of Council, World Customs Organization. 

 

 

"We at the Zone C are proud of the CGC's performance and commend the wise decision of the President and Commander in Chief, President Bola Tinubu.”

 

His words: “This extension is a call for all officers and men to redouble their efforts and zeal to achieve  the tripod policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs hinged on Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation in  line with international standards and best practices.“