Comments on: Cross carpetting, a threat to our democracy?

By: KELECHI

KELECHI — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:55:32 +0000

The insincerity always displayed by these educated fools that call themselves members of National Assembly can not be tolerated any longer.There is nothing to show that Nigeria as a country is moving forward. Rather,we have moved 20,000 miles backward.I stand to make a call for the return of MILLITARY RULE in the country.

By: Kenice King

Kenice King — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:22:25 +0000

What do you expect from a bunch of nonentities who all crashed into the senate and the other elective posts through the back door. David is coupist so the only language he understands is the one he spoke in favour of Gogwim. By the way, Satti was only used to stop the well known moron and huge political prostitute, the third term champion Mantu. I guess Satti will soon be dumped. Meanwhile, Mamora please continue to shine the light of civilized Nigeria the way you have been doing. Maybe God will save Nigeria because the few courageous men like you. The world is watching.

By: Jonathan D Amande

Jonathan D Amande — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:32:33 +0000

Congratulations, Distinguished Sen. Mamora. Shame on Satty GOgwim for not being able to defend himself. If he was the author of the letter the Senate President read, he should have made the explaination further instead of Mark doing it for him.
Iam disappointed that the #1 Legislator will not know that Distinguished Sen.Mamora, as a leader of his party in the upper house of the N A, is in an obsolute position to knowing REALLY WELL, his party.
Nigerians understand clearly that you are just protecting your handbag, Sattty Davies Gogwim.

By: Ikechukwu okorie

Ikechukwu okorie — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:46:23 +0000

It shows that while we claim that our democracy is “maturing” , our highly revered politicians who are supposed to be guardians of this democracy of ours, are growing hopelessly immature. The legislators make all the noise about constitutional violations and what not, yet they allow this to happen right there in their “hallowed chamber”, simply because it serves their selfish interests. I wonder what these guys would expect from those comin behind.

By: Dr Davidson Lawoyin

Dr Davidson Lawoyin — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:02:47 +0000

These politicians are prostitutes and Yagudu is playing to type. These are men who are unstable and the Bible says “a double minded man is unstable in his ways”. Nigeria is what it is today because we are ruled by these spineless gluttons whose only aim in politics is to get money and influence even if they have to break faith with the electorates.

By: CHUKWUEDO IWEGBU

CHUKWUEDO IWEGBU — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:25:24 +0000

It is the same old story: total disregard of the electorate, total lack of integrity, avarice at a record level and complete disservice to Nigeria. By being a party to carpet-crossing and by not acting on the apparent greed and dishonesty of people he appointed to important posts to, President Yar Adua has disappointed many Nigerians, who, like me, thought he was a good and competent leader.

By: Pere

Pere — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:58:14 +0000

It’s all about money. PDP has strangle hold on the treasury – oil money. Yagudu is Yar Adua in law, therefore the political strategy is access to the Presidency to obtain more benefits for his big family. There will be no improvement in State budget or development. Greed! Indirectly Sharing ND resource money at the center.

By: Peter

Peter — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:14:45 +0000

It is not something new for politicians to defect to other parties.It just happened in the U.S recently.Senator Arlene Spector,a republican from the State of Pennsylvania just defected to the Democratic party.It is the choice of the politician.I do not think banning crossover to other parties should be part of the constitution.
They should amend the constitution to allow states to control their resources(50%) derivation,have their own state police,allow states to control the universities,control drivers’ license issuance etc.
If all these things are done,it will allow the states to develop at their own pace.This current system of taking oil from the Niger Delta,giving them only 13% and sharing their money to unproductive states is the highest level of injustice ever seen.
Those states that cannot generate income to run their states should join other states and stop being parasites.

By: Matthews Itiku

Matthews Itiku — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:07:23 +0000

Error observed – Satty Gogwin’s former party, Action Congress (AC)

The writer of this piece may have said it all in his assertion in the intro about the “hypocrisy” of the Nigeria political class regarding the issue of decampment of Senator Satty Gogwin from his party, the Action Congress (AC) into Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last Tuesday.

Infamous Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) made similar reference in a separate forum while addressing factors responsible for the flaws in our electoral process. In a lecture entitled “Whose Democracy is it?” delivered at the Pre-conference seminar organised by Nigeria Civil Society Union in Enugu, the INEC chairman listed “sundry loopholes and rather confusing legal interpretations of the laws…” as problems that hinder the conduction of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria. Prof. Iwu was referring to the electoral act guiding the conduct of the 2007 general elections which has been regarded as the most flawed elections in the history of Nigeria. Pardon the digression.

Back to the issue at hand, on the part of the Senate President, David Mark, having done an extensive appraisal of the 1999 Constitution, the Senate President, David Mark, came out with the verdict that it (the Constitution) does not require amendment. According to him, what was needed was “sincere observance of constitutional provisions in our dealings.” In essence, we should maintain status quo.

By extension, any bill/act which seeks to pose encumbrances in the path of defecting members from other parties to the ruling party may not be wholeheartedly embraced. However, it is left to be seen what the reactions of PDP members of the Senate may have been if this carpet-crossing of members were the other way round – from PDP to other parties.

Could it therefore be interpreted that the act of turning blind eyes by members of the ruling party in the upper legislative house on the issue of defection is show of disdain to the sponsored bill of the Presidency seeking to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, among others, section 135 of the Constitution to the extent of stopping a President from decamping from the political party on whose platform he is elected? In this case, it is left to be seen, by political observers, whose eyes will blink first.

On the other hand, could it be considered as part of an intrigue conceived by the ruling party at ensuring that Nigeria gravitates into a one-party state?

By: Matthews Itiku

Matthews Itiku — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:00:22 +0000

The writer of this piece may have said it all in his assertion in the intro about the “hypocrisy” of the Nigeria political class regarding the issue of decampment of Senator Satty Gogwin from his party, the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) into Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last Tuesday.

On the other hand, could it be considered as part of an intrigue conceived by the ruling party at ensuring that Nigeria gravitates into a one-party state?

By: solomon olumese

solomon olumese — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:51:08 +0000

it is not new where were my country men when all the n.c.n.c. members crossed to Action Group. They left Zik because he was an Ibo man and followed the Ijebu man. what is the noise about history was made on that fateful day in the western house of Assembly when the dramatic change took place. A delicate and dangerous seed was sown on a good soil and what do you expect, why are crying now. where were the felanas soyinkas utomis and others so no need to weep because it is hard for bad habits to die.There is a prize for sin let the good judge take the final decision on them.in usa a senator crossed to democratic so it is not strange thing in the world. our problem is that we overdo things and we also over reacted. nothing is new under the earth.

By: michael chuks

michael chuks — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:17:17 +0000

Could it be true that senior officials of the presidency are afraid of the constitution exercise? I think as much. But the truth is that the north which is benefiting from a lopsided polity occasioned by a defective constitution is trying all within its reach to maintain the status quo. Any time the issue of constitution amendment comes to the fore, the north often expresses an undue anxiety like an infant that is forcefully being removed from the mother’s breast. But the north must rise up to the present challenge. Nigeria cannot afford to wait for them forever. We need a real constitution derived from the people. Not a piece of paper that glorifies Quota System for admission into university and other retrogressive laws that have held the country hostage all these while.
Yar’Adua it seems, is not interested in constitution amendment. Even the few areas he proposed for amendment were done half-heartedly e.g. regarding the appointment of the nation’s chief Electoral officer.
So the senate must o on the proposition irrespective of the infantile and subtaranean moves of the House of Reps on the vexed taxonomy Chairman or Co-Chairman.

By: Mahmoud

Mahmoud — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:06:14 +0000

The typical Nigerian politician as exemplefied by Zamfara and Bauchi Governors lack principle and see politics as a ‘do-or-die’ affair (apologies to OBJ). They are ready to cross carpet even if it’s the Devil’s party if it serves their personal interest nevermind the platform on which they were elected in the first instance. It’s a shame really.

By: Michael.M.Chukwu

Michael.M.Chukwu — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:47:19 +0000

It is realy an orchestra of deception.Mr. Mamora need not to worry because as long as it serves the purpose of PDP there can not be any thing morally wrong with the imoral action of Mr. Gogwin. Is it not shameful that the Senate President can be defending an indefensible simply because the man is crossing over to PDPf rom AC.The petinent question is ”If the Gogwin is crossing over from PDP to another party and someone is able to aduse the errors in the action as Mamora had done,would Mark not agree with him”?Now that the case of division in AC is in contention,is it not morally fine to institute an investigation into it and if no division ,fine, if there is let the constitution be defended. Shame to PDP.

CHUKWU, FROM WARRI.

By: Hardfact

Hardfact — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:21:06 +0000

Parties are supposed to be based on principles.
People of similar principles are then found in the same party.
Any politician, who shifts from one party to another, therefore has no fixed principle or ideal. Such men are ignoble. They are not reliable and should never be trusted with positions that require patriotism.
Any man who has a principle or philosophy of life will not abandon that principle or philosophy at the middle of the road and switch to another principle.
This shows that in Nigeria parties are formed as a collection o friends or family. That means our politicians are not going there because of what they think is right for the country but what they want for themselves
Mark these; Senator Satty Gogwin will not remain in PDP for long.