LEGISLATIVE MUSINGS: ISSUE #3 - CESSATION OF OFFICE OF ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS DUE TO INFIRMITY OF THE BODY OR THE MIND

EGHEOMHANRE EYIEYIEN FOR SENATE 2015 (EDO CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT - ESANLAND)

LEGISLATIVE MUSINGS

ISSUE #3.

CESSATION OF OFFICE OF ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS DUE TO INFIRMITY OF THE BODY OR THE MIND

Sad to say, but Gov. Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State cut a very pathetic sight yesterday as he was being helped to disembark from the chartered aircraft that brought him to Abuja after undergoing ...

medical treatment abroad for about ten months following the injuries he sustained when his self-piloted plane crashed on October 25, 2012, in Yola, Adamawa State. He was frail, emaciated, and still looked unwell and unfit. Why did he allow himself to be put under such needless trauma?! Gov. Suntai should still be in a hospital.

The Taraba State House of Assembly should immediately declare him incapacitated and unable to perform his duties as the State Governor. And the Deputy Governor of Taraba State should be sworn in as the substantive Governor.

Section 189 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has the following provisions with regard to the cessation of the office of a State Governor due to infirmity of body or mind:

"(1) The Governor or Deputy Governor of a State shall cease to hold office if
 

(a) by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of all members of the executive council of the State, it is declared that the Governor or Deputy Governor is incapable of discharging the functions of his office; and
 

(b) the declaration in paragraph (a) of this subsection is verified, after such medical examination as may be necessary, by a medical panel established under subsection (4) of this section in its report to the speaker of the House of Assembly.
 

(2) Where the medical panel certifies in its report that in its opinion the Governor or Deputy Governor is suffering from such infirmity of body or mind as renders him permanently incapable of discharging the functions of his office, a notice thereof signed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Government of the State.
 

(3) The Governor or Deputy Governor shall cease to hold office as from the date of publication of the notice of the medical report pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.
 

(4) The medical panel to which this section relates shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the State, and shall comprise five medical practitioners in Nigeria -
 

(a) one of whom shall be the personal physician of the holder of the office concerned; and
 

(b) four other medical practitioners who have, in the opinion of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, attained a high degree of eminence in the field of medicine relative to the nature of the examination to be conducted in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section.
 

(5) In this section, the reference to "executive council of the State" is a reference to the body of
Commissioners of the Government of the State, howsoever called, established by the Governor and charged with such responsibilities for the functions of Government as the Governor may direct."

 The above provisions of the Nigerian Constitution need to be amended as soon as possible as they can and have been abused where a loyalist of an infirmed Governor serves as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly as is often the case in our country. Which Speaker would dare to set up a Medical Panel which would certify in its report that "in its opinion the Governor or Deputy Governor is suffering from such infirmity of body or mind as renders him permanently incapable of discharging the functions of his office"?! We seem not to have learnt anything from our experience with late President Umaru Yar'adua's sickness and the intrigues by the Turai Yar'adua-led Cabal to keep him in power even when his incapacity was obvious. Section 189 of our Constitution is superfluous and cannot be implemented as is in reality.

Indeed, it is imperative that all sections of the Constitution which relate to the cessation of office of all elected officials (the President, the Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Federal or State Legislators, Local Government Chairmen and Local Government Councillors) be amended. The Constitution should simply state that an elected official who is absent from work for a cumulative period of ninety (90) days within one calendar year on account of infirmity of the body, infirmity of the mind, or any other reason would have his/her office declared vacant and he/she would be replaced as provided for by the Constitution.

Esan di fure!

Nigeria di fure!!

LEGISLATIVE MUSINGS: ISSUE #2 - THE LAGOS RESIDENTS REGISTRATION AGENCY

EGHEOMHANRE EYIEYIEN FOR SENATE 2015 (EDO CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT - ESANLAND)

LEGISLATIVE MUSINGS

ISSUE #2.

THE LAGOS RESIDENTS REGISTRATION AGENCY


Is this new Residents Registration Agency set up by the Lagos State Government actually legal? Can a state government conduct a population census in Nigeria or parts of it? What are the possible implications (or consequences) of the on-going residents registration exercise in Lagos on the rights and liberties of its residents?

I personally don't mind the Lagos State Government conducting its own population census IF it is legal and not unconstitutional. I have always lamented the fraudulent population census of our country since the colonial times. I know, for example, that Lagos State, which once had the same population of 9million+ with old Kano State sometime in the 1980s, cannot have half the total population of Kano and Jigawa States as revealed by the 2006 census figures!

But I am wary of the possibility of Lagos State using the information gained through the residents registration exercise as a tool for its continued oppression of the poor which it obviously hates and would rather send packing from Lagos.

Esan di fure!

Nigeria di fure!!

SAVING NIGERIA

I was probably among the first people to share Tim Newman's article about his tour of duty in Nigeria on my Facebook Timeline after I read it on Preye Aganaba's. The article has since gone viral and generated heated debates in the social media among Nigerians.

There is really nothing new in what Tim Newman said. But he brought our national malady home to us in a very lucid and vivid manner.

I don't think Tim Newman was being malicious as some have alleged; if anything, one can tell that he obviously likes Nigeria and that is why he has signed up for another three-year contract which would bring him back to Nigeria many times.

I am one of those who believe Nigeria is special. I believe Nigeria was and is God's Idea. I believe Nigeria is critical in God's End-Time Kingdom Agenda and that the Renaissance of Africa and the Black Race is dependent on Nigeria and Nigerians.

As the late British Missionary, Pastor S.G. Elton, said in a prophecy which God gave him to declare during a Christian Conference in Limuru, Kenya, in 1983, and as many have echoed thereafter, Africa is like a hand-gun turned downwards. And Nigeria is Africa's Trigger. The Destiny of Africa and Africans is connected to Nigeria and Nigerians. Princes shall rise from Africa!

I hate Nigeria-bashing. I have been labelled with all sorts of names by some folks for speaking against the tendency of many Nigerians (particularly some Nigerians in the diaspora) who just love to read and promote the worst about Nigeria. I do not understand the mindset of those who relish bad news about Nigeria. They thrive on putting down Nigeria. I think it is perversion of the worst kind that such folks think they are actually being "patriotic" in seeing nothing good and saying nothing good about our beloved country.

Nigeria will be great. Things will get better in Nigeria. But we must walk the talk. Let us get off our high horses and engage in lifting Nigeria. Faith and positivity alone will not do it.

I have personally chosen to be part of the solution. I wish many more critics and commentators would join me and others who are offering themselves for elective office come 2015 rather than remain in the political periphery and continue to merely lament our woes.

Of course, not every one is called to be involved in politics. But most of those whom God has specifically called to politics and governance have been sold the lie that politics is "corrupt and corrupting" so they have left it to the thieves, occultists, thugs and the very worst elements in our society. They then begin to "pray" that God would bring good fruits from the bad trees in politics!

Nigeria needs saviours. We can save Nigeria. We must save Nigeria!

God bless Nigeria!

Nigeria di fure!!

HARD LESSONS WHICH I HAVE LEARNT IN MY SIXTEEN YEARS AS A BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR IN NIGERIA: LESSONS 1 and 2

HARD LESSONS WHICH I HAVE LEARNT IN MY SIXTEEN YEARS AS A BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR IN NIGERIA (AND DID NOT READ IN ANY BOOK OR HEAR IN A CLASSROOM):

LESSON #1.

Never employ someone who you cannot sack or whose sack would have negative implications or unpalatable consequences because of the nature of the person's relationship with you.

When you employ the person, you will be celebrated by him/her and his/her family and friends as a hero.
When you sack the person, you will be called names by the person and despised by his/her family and friends as if you were never a good person in their estimation.

Employ staff based strictly on merit and not on emotional or sentimental grounds. If you must get a job for a family member or friend (or their family members and friends), do so in a company in which you have no significant equity investment.


LESSON #2.

Making money in Nigeria is very easy.....that is if you have no moral restraint and you do not really fear God.

If you are truly committed to doing business in Nigeria with utmost integrity (that means that you do not give bribes under any guise and that you will not act as a front for public officials or persons in private companies from which you are seeking business), you need more than a great business idea, wonderful products and/or services, adequate capital, great employees, an impressive profile, powerful connections, a wonderful business strategy, aggressive marketing, competence, great execution, legendary customer service (our training subsidiary, Pharez HCD Ltd., has a training programme on how to deliver "Legendary Customer Service" and go beyond Exceptional Customer Service. That should interest you. :-D)determination, focus, perseverance, great advertising, referrals, an impressive website and professionalism to succeed.

Of course, you need all those factors which I have listed. They are actually imperative. But, in Nigeria, they are not enough.

In addition to those things, and most importantly, YOU NEED GOD'S GRACE AND HIS DIVINE FAVOUR TO HAVE GOOD SUCCESS IN NIGERIA'S MURKY BUSINESS TERRAIN!!

LEGISLATIVE MUSINGS: ISSUE #1 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY

EGHEOMHANRE EYIEYIEN FOR SENATE 2015 (EDO CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT - ESANLAND)

LEGISLATIVE MUSINGS

ISSUE #1.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY

I have read some posts and comments on Facebook praising the ten APC Governors for rejecting autonomy for Local Governments (LGs) through a proposed amendment of the Nigerian Constitution. Some have argued that giving the statutory revenue allocation directly to LGs as eing proposed would undermine our federalism and impose a unitary system of government. This they say would give the Federal Government control over the LGs.

I disagree.

Local Governments actually already have constitutional autonomy. The problem is that State Governors have rendered most LGs ineffective at best and, in some cases, entirely redundant by illegally diverting funds due to them to other uses. Most Local Government Chairmen, even when the Governors allow elections at the LG level, are treated as mere political appointees of the Governor and stay in office at the pleasure of their State Governor. Our Governors have subverted the Nigerian Constitution which they swore oaths of office to uphold.

Local Governments should be protected from the undemocratic and despotic tendencies of our "Governors-General".

All Local Governments should open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria and, after the monthly Federal Accounts Allocation Committee meetings, the Accountant-General of the Federation should simply advise the CBN to credit the LGs with the funds due to them. This will significantly shield Local Government Councils from being manipulated by their Governors; and, hopefully, enable them perform their constitutional duties to their people.

Esan di fure!

Nigeria di fure!!

EGHEOMHANRE EYIEYIEN FOR SENATE 2015: MY MANIFESTO - ISSUE NUMBER THREE: QUALITY PUBLIC HEALTH CARE

ISSUE NUMBER THREE: QUALITY PUBLIC HEALTH CARE

A few weeks ago, I saw an advertisement in one of our national daily newspapers which underscored for me how really bad things have become in our health care system: an Indian hospital was advertising its services in Nigeria for Nigerians! The hospital wanted to be the first choice of Nigerians who were going to India for sundry medical reasons. India has become the place to go for all types of surgeries, organ transplants, treatment of various cancers and other diseases which had defied solution in our numerous University Teaching Hospitals and other “tertiary” medical institutions. And India is a developing country.....like Nigeria.

As has been the case since the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) started publishing the Human Development Index (HDI), Nigeria’s 2013 HDI statistics and the World Health Organisation’s World Health Statistics 2013, tell a woeful story about our health sector:
Human Development Index

Read more about the Human Development Index

v Expenditure on health, public (% of GDP): 1.9%

v Under-five mortality (per 1,000 live births): 143

v Maternal mortality (deaths of women per 100,000 live births): 630

v Life expectancy at birth (years): 52.3

v Population without access to improved drinking water: 39%

v Population without access to improved sanitation: 69%

v Medical personnel per 10,000 people:
Physicians: 4; Nurses and Midwives: 16.1; Dentists: 0.2; Pharmacists: 1.

 

In summary, Nigeria is presently one of the worst places to be born and to live in the world. Our infants are dying needlessly; our young mothers are dying too. It is a true miracle when a woman survives child-birth and has her baby alive!

The World Health Organisation noted in its World Health Statistics 2013 Report that unsafe water supplies and inadequate levels of sanitation and hygiene are two of the main preventable risk factors that are associated with increased mortality and morbidity in developing countries such as Nigeria. It stated in the report that “unsafe water supplies and inadequate levels of sanitation and hygiene increase the transmission of diarrhoeal diseases (including cholera); trachoma; and hepatitis”. Consequently, it is essential that there be synergy between our National Health Policy and our National Water Policy. The provision of safe drinking water nation-wide must be a critical element of our health care strategy.

Nigeria must improve funding for health care and ensure that we not only retain our medical professionals but attract those in the diaspora who left the country in search of greener pastures.

As a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will advocate and push legislation to ensure that at least 20% of the Annual Budget of the Federal Government is devoted to the health sector. The increased funding that shall become available shall be used in improving facilities at public hospitals and to enhance the remuneration of our medical personnel so as to ensure parity with their peers who have similar qualifications and experience in western countries. I shall also promote the provision of safe drinking water nation-wide as an imperative for the good health of our peoples.

Like India is today, Nigeria can become the preferred destination for medical tourism within the next ten years if we commit ourselves to build and maintain world class hospitals and bring back our numerous medical professionals who are the leading lights in many health-care facilities in Europe and North America.
We can do it.

Esan di fure!

Nigeria di fure!!

EGHEOMHANRE EYIEYIEN FOR SENATE 2015: A DIALOGUE ABOUT SOME SALIENT ISSUES FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

A dialogue about some salient issues for Constitutional Amendment:

This dialogue was initiated by my Facebook friend, Stephen Dieseruvwe, in response to my Facebook post of Monday, 29th July, 2013, in which I said in part:

"Many people have asked me why I chose to run for the Senate in 2015 instead of trying to serve my people in another capacity in the political terrain. My answer: Senator Odion Ugbesia.

Senator Ugbesia has been warming the seat in the Senate (when he shows up) and collecting the illegal salaries and allowances which is widely believed to be about US$3million per annum. I have said repeatedly that the present pay of legislators is illegal and cannor be justified when about 70% of Nigerians wallow in poverty. It is contrary to the remuneration specified by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), the only statutory body that can fix the remuneration of public servants. I reiterate that I will not be part of this day-light robbery of Nigerians by their legislators when I am elected a Senator by God's Grace. I will only accept the NSIWC-approved pay for legislators. Please quote me on this."

 Stephen Dieseruvwe:

"Egheomhanre Eyieyien, you have spoken well on the Jumbo Salaries of members of the National Assembly - Senate and House of Representatives. Apart from you rejecting the "illegal and armed robbery" salary, how would you impress it on 'your colleagues' to do the same?.
Due to the current stand of the Senate on a number of issues in the Review and Amendment of the Nigerian Constitution, what are your views on the following?:
1. Abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions;
2. Abolition of States and Local Government Joint Account;
3. Removal of the immunity clause;
4. Autonomy of Local Government;
5. Independent Candidacy in elections."

 Egheomhanre Eyieyien:

"Stephen Dieseruvwe, one cannot control the mindset and behaviour of adults; one can only try to influence them. I hope other like-minded legislators in the National Assembly would be emboldened by my rejection of the illegal pay of Senators (and full disclosure of the actually salaries and allowances to the public) to do the same. Many cowards are challenged and encouraged to act brave when they say someone else take a courageous stand.

My thoughts on the issues you raised:

1. Abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs):

I am in support of the abolition of SIECs. The overwhelming influence of State Governors in Nigeria is a threat to democracy. Governors have undermined the Constitution and usurped the functions of Local Governments and stolen their funds; they have compromised the State Houses of Assembly; and the dependence of SIECs on Governors is evident.

Even my Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who I had praised for performance has shown that he can't even tolerate a very popular candidate of an opposition party (PDP) winning the Chairmanship of my local government, Esan North East LGA. Most people in Uromi voted for Hon. John Yakubu, who I publicly endorsed for a second term after I returned from Uromi and saw some of the good things he had done; but Gov. Oshiomhole did not allow "one-man-one-vote" in Esan North East LGA simply because he wanted to "win" in Chief Anthony Anenih's local government.

The Independent National Electoral Commission can be strengthened through legislation to ensure true independence (e.g. Appointment of the INEC Chairman by the National Judicial Council) and it can handle ALL elections in the federation.

2. Abolition of States and Local Government Joint Account:

Supported for same reasons as in item 1 above.

3. Removal of the immunity clause:

Not supported. The legislators in the Federal House of Representatives were merely being vindictive and immature by removing the immunity clause for the President, Governors and their deputies since they have no such privilege.

But I will initiate a Constitutional amendment that allows a three-man panel of Justices of the Supreme Court to decide if there is a prima facie criminal case against the President, Governors and their deputies to warrant the immunity clause being inapplicable so as not to pervert the cause of justice with all the kleptomaniacs in some State Houses.

4. Autonomy of Local Government:

Supported. See 1 above.

5. Independent Candidacy in elections:

Wholly supported. I am still undecided about a political party to join since they all are the same. I really wish I could run for the Senate as an independent candidate."

Esan di fure!

Nigeria di fure!!