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AG MNYIM MISLEADING THE ALIA ADMINISTRATION

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…He Should Honourably Resign

By Terver Akase

We read a newspaper report in which the Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim, was quoted as saying, “the present government is still suffering from the consent judgments amounting to N3.6 billion entered into by the immediate past administration of Samuel Ortom.”

We recall that in October last year (2023), the same Attorney General, Barrister Mnyim, claimed in a widely published report that the current government inherited a debt profile of over N14 billion as consent judgment from the Ortom administration.

The apparent contradictions in the statements of the Attorney General smack of the schemes of an official who, though appointed to advise and guide the government on legal matters, is on a mission to mislead the same government and set his principal on a perpetual collision course with others for reasons only known to him. If the Attorney General has no idea what his role in government is, the honorable thing to do is to resign instead of engaging in hackneyed anti-Ortom narratives to massage his motives.

Barrister Mnyim, as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, is expected to know that a majority of the issues he raised in the said media report pertain to pensions and gratuity cases. There are records to show that the Ortom administration inherited pension and gratuity arrears that spanned several previous administrations, with many court cases filed by pensioners still unresolved when Chief Ortom took office in 2015.

One such case was the enhancement of minimum wage for Benue teachers. The teachers had concluded plans to embark on a strike before His Excellency Ortom was sworn into office in 2015. He had to swiftly meet with the aggrieved teachers, who explained to him the source of their frustration. Governor Ortom pleaded with the teachers to shelve the planned strike and assured them that his administration would not only implement the N18,000 minimum wage but also begin to pay the teachers’ salary arrears that had accumulated before he took over. Governor Ortom fulfilled the promise to the relief and appreciation of the teachers.

When the present administration came to power in 2023, relying on the advice of the state Attorney General’s office, the payment arrangement that the Ortom government had agreed upon with Benue teachers—who felt betrayed and approached the court to seek redress—was jettisoned. So if there is any garnishee court order, the Attorney General knows better than anyone else that the decision to default on the arrears payment agreement the government had with the teachers is one of the bases for the litigations resulting in garnishees.

It is equally imperative to state that when Chief Ortom came to office in 2015 and met pension arrears of other retirees running into billions of naira, some of the court cases had led to the garnishing of accounts of the state. In his characteristic humanitarian approach, Governor Ortom recognized the fact that the senior citizens had served the state honourably and deserved to be treated with dignity. Consequently, he chose not to contest the claims of the pensioners in court and instead sought amicable resolutions to the disputes.

The State Government under Governor Ortom reached an agreement with the retirees and began to pay their pension arrears and gratuity as financial resources permitted at the time. This was in the face of a challenging economic climate characterized by significantly reduced federal allocations to states. Nigeria experienced two separate recessions in 2016 and 2020, while the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the economic situation.

The Attorney General should blame himself for the wrong advice that resulted in the government’s decision to abandon the payment arrangements established by the previous administration, prompting the retirees to revert to legal action.

Interestingly, the current Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Mnyim, previously represented clients who litigated against the Benue State Government. He should clarify to the media whether the cases he handled contributed to the garnishee orders leading to the reported N3.6 billion.

The former Benue State Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, prays for his successor, His Excellency Governor Hyacinth Alia, and wishes that he succeeds in providing the dividends of democracy to our people. This is why since he left office over a year ago, he has not engaged in any act of sabotage against the Alia administration, and he has no intention of doing so.

Chief Ortom will continue to pray and wish the present administration well, believing that the success of Governor Alia is the success of all Benue people.

Terver Akase, is a media Adviser, to the immediate past governor of Benue state.

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SERAP sues Akpabio over ‘failure to reverse unlawful suspension of Natasha Akpoti’

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The group argues that the suspension is unlawful and violates her fundamental right to freedom of expression.

SERAP is seeking a court order compelling Akpabio to reverse the six-month suspension, reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan, and restore all her legislative privileges. The organization also wants an injunction preventing the Senate from imposing further disciplinary actions against her for expressing her views.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended after she reportedly spoke without permission and rejected a new seat assignment in the Senate chamber. As part of her suspension, her salary and allowances have been withheld, and she has been barred from identifying as a senator.

In its suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP contends that the suspension deprives Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents of political representation. The organization also argues that penalizing a senator for exercising free speech creates a chilling effect on other lawmakers.

“No one should ever be punished for speaking without permission,” SERAP stated. “The Senate should uphold the rule of law and protect human rights, not suppress them.”

The group cites constitutional provisions and international human rights treaties, including Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

SERAP maintains that the Senate Standing Orders cannot override constitutional guarantees of free speech. The lawsuit emphasizes that restricting a senator’s expression undermines democracy and violates Nigerians’ right to receive information and participate politically.

No date has been set for the hearing of the case.

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Market associations, women groups knock el-Rufai, rally support for Tinubu, Gov Sani

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Ahead of the 2027 elections, hundreds of members of market associations and numerous women groups in Kaduna state at the weekend, occupied Kaduna metropolis in a peaceful demonstration where they reiterated their loyalty and support to the administration of
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The protesters who alleged that they had bitter experiences during the El-Rufa’i administration, said they would remain where Governor Uba Sani stood and advised the citizens of Kaduna not to be deceived by doing the contrary.
They recounted their ordeals during the 8 years of the previous administration, alleging that hundreds of market shops belonging to individuals were either seized, demolished or confiscated, a situation that triggered ill health in many traders and business owners leading to paralysis and multiple deaths of their colleagues.

“We’ve been in the market for over 40 years and have never experienced the kind of set backs we suffered under the previous Governor.”

“A lot of lives were lost,a lot of finances were ruined by reason of his kind of policies. We are here to speak with one voice and say that anything that would kind of revive such kind of philosophy in Kaduna market, we don’t want it,” Daniel Audu Maigari, a stakeholder of the Kaduna Market associations, has said.

He explained that “this incumbent Governor began by healing the wounds, the wounds that were really severed by the former Governor. Governor Uba Sani has been doing so,so very well and that’s why we’ve been with our leader, Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, who like Governor Sani,has been charting the right course, ensuring programmes and plans that will heal these wounds .”

He said there was never been a time they are having the impact of leadership in Kaduna market, like they are having now.

” Now we’ve lots of incentives, lots of policies that are driving us to progress .We are now standing with one voice to denounce anything that would reverse this,” he said.

Alhaji Daiyabu Ismail Mai Gwanjo, Chairman Stakeholders of the Kaduna State Market Traders associations, said on behalf of their leader,Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, his EXCO and all trader leaders in the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, they have gathered to unilaterally declare an unalloyed support to Governor Uba Sani who had taken care of them and protected their interests.
According to him,” we have to say so,haven had the harrowing experience in the hands of the past administration. The scar still remains and many are yet to recover.”
“But when Almighty Allah sent Governor Uba Sani to us,he declared he would not do anything bad to traders because the world thrives on businesses.All the most cherished countries like China, Canada, UAE, India,are very proud of and supportive to their traders and other business persons.”

“Unfortunately, we found ourselves during the previous administration that neither showed empathy nor sympathy to traders. An approximate number of 36 markets were demolished at that time.None of these markets was completely rebuild ,till date,and we are suspicious of the collaboration between the previous administration and the market developers.”

“We are therefore calling on Governor Uba Sani, our Governor of sympathy and understanding, to look at this issue with a view to resolving it.We are with Uba Sani a hundred percent, ” he added.

Hajiya Hadiza Abdulaziz,a woman leader of the market association,said they have gathered in multitudes to reiterate their support to the APC and Governor Uba Sani who has tremendously supported the market men and women in Kaduna State.
” Most of the market women had no shops because the shops were collected. But now we give God the glory everybody has gotten their shops back and nobody will collect it again,” she said.

She expressed happiness that those making the market women not to achieve, had left the party and government.

“We’ve been crying, a lot of market women don’t have capital, they have been deceiving us.But now,I believe Governor Uba Sani is going to assist us,”she added.

The protesters later took to the streets ,displaying placards with various inscriptions denouncing the previous arrangements, and chanting slogans in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
” Most of the market women had no shops because the shops were collected. But now we give God the glory everybody has gotten their shops back and nobody will collect it again,” she said.

She expressed happiness that those making the market women not to achieve, had left the party and government.

“We’ve been crying, a lot of market women don’t have capital, they have been deceiving us.But now,I believe Governor Uba Sani is going to assist us,”she added.

The protesters later took to the streets ,displaying placards with various inscriptions denouncing the previous arrangements, and chanting slogans in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and the All Progressives Congress, APC.

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Obasanjo bemoans selection process of traditional rulers in Nigeria

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised concerns over the selection process of traditional rulers in Nigeria, stating that criminal elements have infiltrated royal institutions. He lamented that individuals with questionable backgrounds, including drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits, and kidnappers, now hold positions of authority as traditional rulers.

Obasanjo made these remarks in his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, unveiled last week. He criticized the rapid increase in traditional rulers, many of whom, he claimed, lack the training and moral integrity required for the role. According to him, this deterioration has weakened the institution’s ability to contribute positively to the nation’s socio-political stability.

“Today, there are criminals, drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits, and kidnappers as so-called traditional rulers,” Obasanjo stated, stressing that some have abandoned their cultural responsibilities and engaged in misconduct. He cited an example of a monarch allegedly involved in electoral malpractice, questioning the moral integrity of such leaders.

“How do we account for a traditional ruler snatching a ballot box at an election polling station and running away with it?” he queried.

Reflecting on the past, Obasanjo noted that traditional rulers once commanded immense respect, especially during colonial and early post-independence eras. However, he said, their influence has been diluted due to the lack of proper training and moral reformation.

“The class of traditional rulers with their distinction, honour, and dignity, as we knew them in the colonial days and early post-independence days, has been diluted and polluted,” he remarked.

Calling for urgent reforms, the former president stressed the need to restore the lost dignity of traditional leadership. He emphasized that rather than being a liability, traditional rulers should play a vital role in national development.

“That dignity, aura, and respect should be brought back, and traditional rulers should be an asset to Nigeria’s development and greatness, not a liability,” he asserted.

Obasanjo further called for moral rejuvenation among traditional rulers, particularly those from historically significant institutions. He maintained that if properly positioned, they could contribute significantly to Nigeria’s long-term progress.

“There is a need for moral re-armament among the traditional rulers—the ancient and historic ones. They can and should make meaningful contributions to the Nigeria of our dreams that will serve the purpose and interest of all,” he concluded.

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