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Nigeria VP says Obasanjo should resign over 3rd term
06 Apr 2006 20:15:37 GMT
Source: Reuters


By Estelle Shirbon

ABUJA, April 6 (Reuters) - Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar said on Thursday President Olusegun Obasanjo should resign for seeking a third term in office as the men's rivalry ahead of elections next year erupted into the open.

Abubakar has been Obasanjo's deputy at the helm of Africa's most populous nation since 1999 and wants to succeed his boss in 2007, setting him on a collision course with powerful Obasanjo allies who are campaigning for the president to stay on.

The statement from Abubakar's office followed an earlier call by an Obasanjo spokesman for the vice president to resign after he gave a speech against the idea of a third term to a meeting of opposition leaders.

"The call for resignation should be directed at the president ... for pursuing an agenda that is subversive of the constitution, and the will of the majority of Nigerians," said the statement signed by Abubakar's spokesman.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the vice president believes tenure elongation is morally wrong and a breach of the constitution, which he took the oath to defend," it said.

Abubakar gave his speech to five state governors, more than 100 lawmakers and several opposition leaders at an overnight meeting at the house of one of the governors after police stopped the group gathering at a hotel.

"It is bad enough that the meeting yesterday was violently disrupted by security agents which, again, is against the tenets of democracy as they are known the world over," said the statement.

RISING TENSIONS

Obasanjo is nearing the end of his second term and the constitution prevents him from seeking a third. But a campaign is underway to amend the charter to make a third term possible.

Obasanjo has not said publicly whether he wants to stand again but he has done nothing to stop efforts to amend the constitution.

The third term idea infuriates many who back their own candidates for the presidency in 2007.

In particular, many in the Muslim-dominated north feel the top job should go to one of them after eight years of Obasanjo, a Christian from the southwest. The vice president is one of several prominent would-be candidates from the north.

Tensions over the issue were one of the drivers of a spate of religious and ethnic violence that killed at least 150 people in February, and of a series of attacks against the oil industry that have cut output by a quarter.

Opposition politicians have been teargassed, labelled a threat to national security, investigated for corruption and charged with belonging to an unlawful society.

Abubakar told participants at the meeting they could stop the third term plan from coming to a vote in parliament because the Obasanjo camp would not risk a humiliating defeat.

Participants included prominent figures from both the ruling and opposition parties, signalling that the third term issue was uniting many of Nigeria's usually fractious discontents. (Additional reporting by Felix Onuah

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ATIKU EXPLODES - Vows to resist 3rd term at all cost - April 6, 2006 Tribune
VICE President Atiku Abubakar early Thursday morning in Abuja declared that he was resolutely opposed to the third term agenda of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Atiku made this declaration at the Niger State Government House in Abuja where former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, two former Inspectors General of Police (IGP), Mohammadu Gambo Jimeta and Mohammadu Dikko Yusufu, Governor Bola Tinubu, Governor Orji Uzor Kalu and other prominent political figures had relocated with some members of the House of Representatives, to hold a meeting about the third agenda of the president.


Atiku said at the meeting that nothing would stop him from opposing the third term agenda of the president, not even threat, harassment or intimidation, adding that he would resist it at all cost. The delegates had relocated the meeting following the sealing off of the Sheraton Hotel and Towers earlier booked for it by a combined team of policemen and SSS operatives who were said to have acted on orders from above. As early as 7.00 p.m. Wednesday night, the security operatives had arrived at the Sheraton Hotel, preventing those billed to attend the meeting from entering the Ladi Kwali Hall. The operatives were led by the Abuja Commissioner of Police (FCT), Mr. Lawrence Alobi.


In the ensuring face-off which saw delegates accusing the security operatives of harassment and intimidation, a member of the House of Representatives and an anti-third term campaigner, Honourable Francis Amadiegwu, was said to have been pushed down and dragged on the floor by an SSS official. Vice-President Atiku, who was reacting to a remark made by former speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Umar Ghali Na’Abba, said he had gone through many turbulent situations over certain comments of his since 2003 and was no more bothered about whatever moves anybody made against him. Atiku, who promised to speak soon as the issue of third term becomes more controversial, also promised to support those in opposition to the third term agenda in order to ensure that the National Assembly did not pass it.


He urged them to remain steadfast in the crusade, adding that they should always count on his support for their mission. Former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Yusufu, urged Nigerians to ensure that the president left power in 2007 and did not spend a day longer. Former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who also joined others in condemning the third term, begged that Nigerians should ease out Obasanjo and not allow him to die in office. Meanwhile, Vice President Abubakar may be heading for fresh trouble as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds an emergency meeting on him and other members of the party who attended the meeting.


This is coming just as the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party has been fixed for next Thursday over the growing “anti-party� activities of some of its chieftains. An impeccable source told the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja on Thursday that the leadership of the party was taken aback by the presence of Vice President Atiku, some PDP governors and members of the National Assembly at the meeting, despite the earlier directive from the police high command and the State Security Service (SSS) that the meeting was illegal and should be cancelled. It was gathered that the leadership of the party was also sad that Atiku did not only attend the meeting, but also made some uncomplimentary comments about the system in which “he is the number two�.


The source revealed that consequently, the national chairman of the party, Senator Ahmadu Ali, had directed all the members of the NWC to report in Abuja for an emergency meeting over the latest development ahead of next week’s NEC meeting. Senator Ali, acting on the instructions of the NWC, had earlier forwarded a memo to the NEC of the party drawing its attention to the alleged anti-party activities of Vice President Atiku who was accused of promoting some political associations against PDP. Nigerian Tribune learnt that when the matter was raised at the NEC meeting, the Vice President was reportedly warned to stop such activities and “acts of disloyalty�, failure which he would be sanctioned.


The party also went ahead to ban all its governors, officers at all levels, members of the national/state Houses of Assembly and other members from attending sectional, regional or group meetings. The sources revealed that following the disobedience of the directive, especially by some of its chieftains, the leadership of the party had resolved to review the situation and sanction those found wanting. The source disclosed that the Vice President and all PDP members that attended Wednesday’s meeting might be suspended from the party. Though the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. John Odey, could not be immediately reached for comments as he was said to be out of Abuja on official assignment, a member of the party’s NEC who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune confirmed today’s meeting and that of next Thursday.


However, the presidency has also reacted to the comments by Vice-President Atiku, advising him to resign immediately. President Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Public Matters, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, stated this in Abuja while addressing newsmen, stressing that since the vice president had openly come out against his boss, he ought to bow out honourably. Describing the utterances credited to Atiku as shocking, strange and unbelievable, Fani-Kayode said there was no way the president would continue to accommodate a disloyal deputy.


“It seems so strange that somebody that is not just a senior official of this government, but also the number two in this government, should be stating that he has taken a position on an ephemeral issue such as third term, especially since the president has not at any point in time told anybody that he is interested in a third term,� he said. But the Vice President yesterday clarified his presence at the stakeholders meeting called by some members of the National Assembly. His presence at the meeting, said the vice president, was in his personal capacity and not as a representative of the Presidency or his party.


The vice president said that the views he expressed in opposition to the so called third term at the meeting were views he held as a citizen. “For the avoidance of doubt, the vice president believes tenure elongation is morally wrong and a breach of the constitution, which he took the oath to defend,� a vice president’s spokesman said. Based on this, the call by the presidential spokesperson that he resigns, according to the vice president’s spokesman, should not at all be taken seriously. In a related development, Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State has said that he and others had concluded plans to stop the alleged third term bid of President Obasanjo.


Speaking with newsmen at the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, on Thursday, Governor Kalu said the meeting he had with the former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Atiku, among other top leaders, was about how to stop the third term bid completely. Governor Kalu, who said Nigeria was gradually becoming a police state, condemned the policemen for preventing them from holding the meeting at the scheduled Sheraton Hotel and Towers, adding that they would not accept that again.


“That kind of thing will not happen again. We tolerated it because it is good to give peace a chance. We’ll soon match force with force. If we are talking about democratic government, the Federal Government and its agencies should allow true democracy to take place, with freedom of speech and assembly, without any hinderance. “But, what I want to assure you is that third term cannot succeed in this country. We will make this country ungovernable for anyone supporting third term. No one has a monopoly of causing problem. We all want peace, unity and progress in this country, but we will not tolerate dictatorship�, he said.


In a related development, the House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously condemned the Nigeria Police and the State Security Service (SSS) for disrupting Wednesday’s meeting of anti-third term lawmakers. The House also condemned what it described as police and SSS brutality of its member, Hon. Francis Amadiegwu, who is currently ill at the National Hospital, Abuja. It has, therefore, summoned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Sunday Ehindero and the Director-General of SSS, Col. Kayode Are, to appear before it to explain why their men had to stop the peaceful gathering of lawmakers and others.


The House also resolved to summon the FCT police boss, Mr. Lawrence Alobi, who led the police team that scuttled the said meeting at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers.

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member of the House of Representatives, Francis Amadiegwu who was attacked by the Nigerian Police team led by FCT Police Commissioner, Lawrence Alobi is now hospitalized. Saharareporters earlier reported that Hon. Francis Amadiegwu was dragged on the floor of the lobby of the Sheraton Hotels and Towers in Abuja last night as police prevented anti-third term activists in the country from meeting at the hotel.

According to Hon. Uche Onyegocha who spoke with our reporters earlier today, Hon. Francis Amdiegwu condition had deterioted due to the way he was rough handled by the police team. Last year, Honorable Amadiegwu a Federal legislator from the Southeast was attacked by “armed robbers’ in his hometown last year. He sustained spinal cord injuries which led him to been flown abroad. He received treatments in German and US hospitals and spent considerable time recovering with members of his immediate family in Maryland, USA.

The police brutality visited upon him last night led to the deterioration of his physical condition. He walks around supported by a walking stick, according to Hon. Uche Onyegocha.

Though the meeting called to fight against third term, eventually held at the Guest House of the Niger State government last night Honorable Amadiegwu could not attend due to his condition he is currently hospitalized at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja.

It was at the meeting that the Vice President, Abubakar Atiku made public declarations that he “opposes” his boss third term agenda setting him in direct collision course with President Obasanjo. Earlier today, his spokesperson, Femi Fani-Kayode responded by asking the VP to resign his position immediately, condemning him for criticizing the president in public.

Meanwhile, pro-third term groups led by PDP party chair and secretary paid a courtesy visit on the speaker of the house earlier today. After meeting with Speaker Masari they went into a secret meeting with pro-third term legislators at 2:30 PM to formally declare that President Obasanjo will run for a third term in office. According to Chairman Alli, “the president has to continue his many projects and complete his economic reform programs”. In the meeting which held at “Hearing Room 1” at the National Assembly complex, the delegation led by Alli and Ojo Madueke promised each member of the pro-third term legislators a piece of land anywhere in Abuja, which they could sell if they wanted at any time. But the meeting became rowdy as the lawmakers present demanded to see a written agreement signed by President Obasanjo to that effect. Many of them said they will be more comfortable with a written agreement that precludes the EFCC or any government agency from investigating them in the future should the third term agenda fail.

The PDP party hierarchy left the meeting promising to return back soon with a concrete assurance. On their way out they paid another courtesy visit to the Senate President Ken Nnamani, in another closed session they thanked him for saving his Deputy Senator Ibrahim Mantu from suspension by casting a tie vote. They thereafter headed to Aso Rock for a meeting with President Obasanjo

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The House also condemned what it described as police and SSS brutality of its member, Hon. Francis Amadiegwu, who is currently ill at the National Hospital, Abuja.

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I feel sorry that this young Igboman got cut in the middle (just like Okadigbo} while with Buhari.

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Northern group threatens reprisal attack
Meanwhile a Northern pro-democracy group yesterday threatened a reprisal attack if last week’s alleged humiliation of the Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in Lagos was repeated.The group, Arewa Coalition for Democracy and Good Governance (ACDGG) said in Kadunathat it was concerned about the ugly development which culminated in the attack on Atiku and likenedthe development to an attack on the North.”We make bold to say that an attack on the Vice President is an attack on the north.

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We won't stop attacking Atiku - PDP


By Sakibu Olokojobi, Rafiu Ajakaye (Lagos) and Paul Mumeh (Abuja)

More molestation is on the cards for Vice President Atiku Abubakar, says Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which, on Tuesday, poured cold water on plans by the state government to probe the attack on the number two citizen last Saturday.

It threatened to embarrass him as long as he continues to "insult" President Olusegun Obasanjo.

One of the leaders of those who confronted Atiku last week, state PDP Publicity Secretary, Muyiwa Collins, said in an interview on Tuesday that Governor Bola Tinubu would only be chasing after shadows if it goes ahead to investigate the matter.

He insisted that the protest was "very civil as it was very peaceful. Nobody caused any violence and there was no attack on the person of (Atiku)".

He argued that the report in the newspapers of how the man waved at the protesters was a testimony to the peacefulness of the protest.

Collins accused the state government of being the brain behind the crisis as it organised the meetings where Atiku knocked the third term agenda.

He stressed that Tinubu would not tolerate from his deputy one-tenth of what Atiku did to the President.

In any case, Auwalu Yadudu has argued that Atiku may have foiled the plot to sideline him from the Presidential race through his disclosure that Obasanjo seeks to perpetuate himself in office.

He said the statement is a boost to the rising anti-third term voices, and one telling the National Assembly and pro-third term governors that democracy is all about people and their desires, not based on individual.

"It is good for democracy, no doubt", said Yadudu, former Legal Adviser to the late dictator, Sanni Abacha.

To him, Atiku's move is best called "a masterstroke of political opportunism" matching people's resentment against the third term.

"He has indeed pulled an earth-shaking palace coup against Obasanjo. The President needed any prodding to reconsider his duplicitous outing to elongate his regime without his handbag (Atiku)".

Yadudu warned that it would be dangerous to expel Atiku from the PDP.

But if that happens, he stressed, it would elicit a nationwide sympathy for him and "purge him of a widely-held belief in his connivance, if not active participation, in all its (PDP) past inequities and electoral robberies.

"Atiku's drawing of the battle-line, or biting the bullet as it were, at the particular time and in the circumstances - to wit; incessant suppression of dissent, intolerance of all opposition to the term bid, all of which have of recent been carried out with no tact and lacking in political sensitivity by Obasanjo handlers - was a masterstroke of political act of opportunism.

"He threatens to tell all he knows about Obasanjo's behind-the-scene moves for regime continuation, opposition to which, he will want us to believe, being the only reason for his estrangement with his boss - not any acts of disloyalty.

"That is bound to bolster his political credentials - particularly in the North - quite apart from that being a pre-emptive move to throw his pursuers off his trail and render their smear campaigns, which he should expect sooner than later, as utterly suspect and lacking in credibility or sincerity".

Yadudu believes that Atiku has got his act right dealing with those against him by allegedly co-founding the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) and advised the National Assembly to ignore tenure extension whenever the Presidency seeks its approval.

"The press, to its eternal credit, has been alive to its responsibility as the vigilant watchdog, which, in diverse ways, has roundly condemned the elongation of tenure ploy. For the record, I am not aware of any respectable newspaper at home or abroad that has thrown its weight behind the ignoble cause with an editorial in support.

"On the contrary, many have voiced, in no uncertain terms, their opposition to it. Above all, the masses all across the nation have left no one in doubt as to how they will deal with the traitor legislators who masquerade as their representatives".

The PDP has made 2007 issues the central theme of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

The worsening impasse between Obasanjo and his deputy will also occupy the attention of the parley, to be attended by the gladiators, the 27 PDP governors and members of the party's Board of Trustees (BOT).

The PDP National Working Committee (NWC) will meet today to fine tune arrangements for the parley.

Sources said Atiku may be expelled from the party.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, John Odey, confirmed that the 2007 elections would be the main topic, but did not rule out other matters.

The PDP disciplinary committee said on Tuesday that it has received a report of alleged misconduct against Atiku and is ready to act accordingly.

Committee Chairman, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, stated that the committee will rely on article six of PDP constitution, which bothers on indiscipline and misconduct, to deal with any errant member.

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Both South east and south south should take turns and after each turn, the Presidency should go to Middle Belt and finally to the core North. – Rick

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