At least eight offshore companies in the British Virgin Island have been linked to the immediate past Senate President, David Mark, in a secret assets scam released by a German newspaper, Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Senate President, David Mark
The German newspaper had on Monday released the Panama Papers, the biggest leak in the history of data journalism, publishing online 11.5 million documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, which showed how prominent people including the family of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, a former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, Argentinian footballer, Lionel Messi and criminals hid money using anonymous shell corporations across the world.
The Panamanian law firm, regarded as one of the world’s most secretive companies, according to the documents, has helped clients launder money, dodge sanctions and evade tax.
The data was obtained by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and shared by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists with over 100 other media partners in 82 countries.
Files seen by online medium, Premium Times, show the eight offshore companies traced to Mark are Sikera Overseas S.A, Colsan Enterprises Limited, Goldwin Transworld Limited, Hartland Estates Limited, Marlin Holdings Limited, Medley Holdings Limited, Quetta Properties Limited, and Centenary Holdings Limited.
It was, however, unclear as to what business dealings Mark had with the companies.
Attempts to get Mark’s reaction to his alleged involvement in the Panama assets scam failed on Tuesday as his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, failed to pick his calls while he did not also respond to the text message sent to him.
Meanwhile, the Presidency on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari would not dabble into the issues of Saraki and Ibori, who are named in secret offshore assets.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said this in an interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja.
There were reports on Tuesday that Saraki’s family and Ibori, were among some prominent Africans named in a newly discovered secret offshore assets released by Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Quoting the report, Premium Times had said the undeclared assets by Saraki included Girol Properties Ltd., Sandon Development Limited, and Landfield International Developments Ltd.
Girol Properties, the report stated, was registered on behalf of Toyin by Mossack Fonsecca on August 25, 2004, in the British Virgin Island, a year after her husband, Bukola, became the governor of Kwara State.
When asked what steps the President would take over the revelations and those mentioned in the report, Adesina said Buhari would not dabble into issues that might later become major legal matters.
He said although the present administration’s anti-graft war was on course and gathering steam, the President respected separation of powers.
“This President is not precipitate. He will not dabble into what may become major legal matters. He respects separation of powers. The anti-graft war is on course and gathering steam,” the presidential spokesman simply said.
Supporters and admirers of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Benue South Senatorial District, David Mark, are celebrating the electoral victory of the four term senator.
Meanwhile, the former Senate President is set to address the press at his residence.
All Middle Belt Youth Forum, (AMBYF) has condemned in strong terms the nullification by the Appeal Court of the election of former Senate President, David Mark, as the lawmaker representing Benue South Senatorial district, Benue State.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Leader, Comrade Moses Ojeh, and National Secretary, Comrade Andzayi Jabez Jonathan, the youths said the judgement has no place in electoral history and Nigeria’s legal system.
They described the nullification as a war against the Middle Belt region and an affront on Benue South Senatorial district electorates who chose Mark through their votes.
They added that the judgement was a fulfilment of the statement by one of the APC leaders; “If we don’t win at polling units, we win at the courts” and called on the Benue South Senatorial district electorates to reaffirm their decision by re-electing Mark at the election re-run.
“With regards to the nullification of the Rt. Hon. David Mark’s senatorial election not based on electoral fraud or manipulation, we register this as a war against the Middle Belt Region intended to deny the region right of participation at Senate by coming after one of their finest and distinguished Senate President emeritus who is by virtue of power and seniority also doubles as the PDP’s arrow-head at the National Assembly.”
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State are back in the trenches following last weekend’s nullification of Senator David Mark’s election by the Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi.
The appellate court had, in that ruling, also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a fresh election in Benue South within 90 days.
Mark’s victory in the Benue South senatorial election on March 28, 2015 had been challenged by Daniel Onjeh of the APC, who petitioned the Benue State Legislative Houses Elections Tribunal, asking for the cancellation of the election and the conduct of a fresh poll in the district.
The Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu-led panel, on October 7, 2015, dismissed Onjeh’s petition on the grounds that the evidence tendered before the tribunal was documentary hearsay.
But, in a unanimous judgment read by Justice Peter Ige, the appellate court dismissed the verdict of the tribunal and upheld the plea of the appellant that Mark’s election failed substantially to meet the provisions of paragraphs 39 and 40 of the INEC approved electoral guidelines and Sections 73and 74 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.
Sunday Vanguard sought the reaction of the INEC Returning Officer at that election, Prof. Latif Tiamiyu, on the position of the Court of Appeal that he declared the result of that election while collation was ongoing in seven of nine local government areas of the senatorial zone.
Tiamiyu insisted that he applied himself to the provisions of the laws.
The university don, who said he was ready to defend his role in that election at any for a, said, “The senatorial election result in Benue South was announced by me after the collation of the result in the nine local government areas that make up the district.
“The information that the result was announced while collation was still going on is not correct.That didn’t happen. I have an integrity to protect and I am ready to defend that anytime.”
Also reacting to the appellate court ruling, the APC candidate at the election, Onjeh, said it was a verdict that he had longed for after the senatorial election which he said was skewed in favour of the former Senate President.
Onjeh, who took a swipe at Mark and the electoral process that ushered him into the Senate for a record fifth time, making him the longest serving senator in the history of the country, said he was the victorious candidate in that election.
Onjeh said, “I am ready for a rerun against Senator Mark because I know I will defeat him if an election is conducted today because we have not enjoyed any dividends from his stewardship .”
Meanwhile, the Media Director of Senator Mark Campaign Organization, Dr. Adakole Elijah, faulted the judgment of the appellate court describing it as ‘shallow and defiling all legal logic.”
“Onjeh merely complained that results were declared while collation was ongoing just because he noticed an error where the Returning Officer who signed the result dated it April 28., 2015,”Elijah stated.
“That does not in any way invalidate the result because the result that was announced did not in any way conflict with the figures appended to by all the agents of the parties after the collation of the result of that election.
“The Appeal Court relied on a result sheet which was not pleaded and listed by the petitioner. An evidence that was rejected by the trial court and was not pleaded at the Appeal Court by the appellant was relied upon by the court to nullify an election that was adjudged credible, free and fair. It clearly showed that the court had vested interest”.
While referring to Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa’s (now President of the Appeal Court) judgment in Senator Mark against Alhaji Usman Abubakar in 2007, the Media Director recalled that she held succinctly that an election was like pyramid which grows from bottom to top, stating that the Appeal Court misapplied the judgment.
He highlighted the achievements of his principal to include the construction of Agatu-Oweto Road which, he said, was at 75 percent completion stage, and the Loko bridge linking Benue State with Nasarawa State.
Other achievements, according to him, are construction of a multi-purpose dam with hydro component in Otobi/Akpa in Otukpo LGA at the cost of N17 billion, construction of blocks of classrooms in the nine local government areas of the senatorial district including Onjeh’s country home of Adum Onah Ipega, Orokam, Ogbadibo LGA.
He added that Mark attracted an earth dam to Otobi Onobi, Otukpo LGA, influenced the construction of rural roads in Oju as well as constructed a borehole in the College of Education, Oju to stem the incessant clash between students and the host community and also awarded scholarship to over 12,000 students of Benue State.
While the people await the decision of INEC on the data for the rerun, political activities are however gradually building up in the senatorial district as the parties prepare to engage in a battle that may decide where Benue tilts in future elections.
ABUJA- FOLLOWING the nullification of his election by the Makurdi division of the Court of Appeal and call for a re- run of the poll within 90 days, former Senate President David Mark said yesterday that he will win 100 times if conducted that period of time.
Senate President, David Mark
It would be recalled that the All Progressives Congress, APC Senatorial candidate for Benue South, Daniel Onjeh had challenged the decision of the National and State Assembly Petition Tribunal to uphold the election of Senator David Mark of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
In a statement yesterday, Senator Mark urged his constituents to remain calm and be law abiding over the judgment, just as he asked his people not to be deterred by the verdict, but be strengthened ahead of the re-run.
In a statement by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, former Senate President Mark said believed that he won the election convincingly, adding that he has no doubt that his constituents would turn out en masses to vote for him again.
He said, ” What ever the situation may be, one thing I know is that my people are solidly behind me . They also appreciate the fact that I have done more than enough to lift up Idoma nation to a position of eminence in the contemporary political history of Nigeria.
” I won the election clean and clear. If we go back to the polls 100 times , I will still win convincingly”,
Earlier yesterday, the Appeal Court had ordered a fresh election to Benue south Senatorial district.
A Court of Appeal, sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, has nullified the election of former senate president, David Mark.
The court faulted the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to declare Mr. Mark, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, winner of the March 28 senatorial election in Benue south.
A rerun of the poll must be conducted within 90 days, the court ruled.
Mr. Mark’s purported victory was challenged by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Donald Onjeh.
Among other claims, the APC candidate said INEC declared the result of the election while collation was ongoing.
That claim was earlier dismissed by the Benue State National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, which upheld Mr. Mark’s victory.
The election of former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has been upheld by the Legislative Houses Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Mark’s victory at the Benue South senatorial district election was challenged by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate at the election, Daniel Onjeh on the grounds that the poll was marred by irregularities.
In a two-and-half-hour judgment delivered by Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, the tribunal held that the petitioner failed to adduce enough evidence to prove that the election failed substantially to meet with the provisions of the law.
Relying on sections 124 and 135 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, Justice Dipeolu held that “the petitioner contested the results of election conducted in 700 out of 1,015 pulling units but failed to adduce both oral and documentary evidence to prove his case.
“The petitioner called only two witnesses who directly participated in the election, in a suit in which he is contesting the result of the elections held in 700 polling units.
“Most of the testimonies given by the petitioner’s witnesses were contradictory, hearsay and circumstantial evidence which is not admissible in law as provided by Section 126 of the Evidence Act.”
Justice Dipeolu further held that the petitioner merely succeeded in dumping documents at the tribunal without making concerted efforts to adduce oral evidence pursuant to the matter.
She also wondered why the petitioner raised criminal issues in his petition but negated in his responsibilities to prove same.
“The burden of proof in this matter lay with the petitioner as provided by law which he failed to discharge, therefore the petition failed and is summarily dismissed.”
Reacting, counsel to Senator Mark, Mr. Ken Ikonne, lauded the judgment and asked for no cost, “our gesture is in the interest of peace and reconciliation,” he said.
The petitioner said he would consult with the hierarchy of the APC before taking the judgment before the appellate court.
According to a statement by Mark’s media assistant, Paul Mumeh, the former senate president in his reaction, hailed the judiciary as the last hope and defender of the rights of the oppressed as he expressed appreciation to it for reaffirming the mandate given to him by the people of Benue South senatorial district.
I write to you our Honorable Lawmakers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I write to you to eradicate certain viruses that threaten the peace of our beloved “One Nigeria”. I choose not to join those that love to just sit down and criticize the government without suggesting any solution in any way. I want to be a part of the solutions to the problems we have in this country. This is the purpose for this open letter.
Senate
The just concluded 2015 election exercise was one full of tension. The polity was so heated up and as a lot of people fled the country in anticipation of a post-election war. Why? The polity was being heated up because different versions of “hate speeches” were flying all over the place by various politicians, religious and traditional leaders.
We heard a former presidential candidate threaten that “dogs and baboons will be soaked in blood.” An Oba threatened the Igbos in Lagos with the lagoon. A former first lady was insulting Northerners, calling them “born throw way”. Some religious leaders told their followers not to vote for Jonathan because he is an infidel. After the elections, a certain man told the Igbos not to expect anything from President Buhari and that they are free to leave Nigeria if they want to. And another man is on radio insulting the Yoruba’s and Hausas/Fulani’s. These are people that have all their family members chilling in Europe, and America while they provoke people and incite violence in Nigeria. And in the event of any break out of violence, they will be among the first to jet out of the country. People who make such derogatory, inciting, provocative and hate- filled statements are enemies of the peace of Nigeria and henceforth should not go unpunished because they love to capitalize on the gullibility and stupidity of their followers to cause mayhem in Nigeria.
What caused the Nigerian Civil war 45 years ago? Everybody has their side of the story but on taking a closer look, what led to the war were hate speech/messages and hate crimes. The civil war, ethnic/tribal wars, religious killings, pre/post-election violence were all fueled by hate speech and hate crimes. The Boko Haram we are all battling with today was built on the foundation of hate speech and hate crime before it was hijacked by some ghost sponsors.
The Nigerian government has always been a reactive government. We have never had a proactive government. We were warned to diversify our economy. We were warned that the shale oil production in America plus world oil politics would affect our crude oil dependent economy. Cameroon gave us an early warning about releasing the water from their dams. But what did the usual reactive Nigerian government do about all these? Nothing! We have developed a dangerous habit of waiting till things gets really messed up before we take action. This yeye attitude of governance by both the executive and legislative arms of government will not lead this nation forward. It is high time we developed a proactive system of governance.
One that solves problems before they occur, and prevents impending crises from shaking the nation unnecessarily. And if we must stop future violence and unnecessary killings in Nigeria, we must legislate against hate speech, hate crimes and tribal bigotry. . Hate speeches usually lead to hate crimes, and we cannot afford more episodes of violence or useless killings in this country. I therefore ask our lawmakers to pass a law that criminalizes and punishes hate speech, hate crime and tribal bigotry in Nigeria. This law will greatly minimize future election violence, religious and tribal killings, and totally bring more peace in Nigeria than we are having now.
Hate speech is a speech that attacks, threatens or insults a person or people because of their tribe, religion or political views, etc. Hate crime is a traditional crime like murder, arson, vandalism, etc, meted at an individual or group motivated by prejudice, intolerance or hatred for an individual’s tribe, religion or political view. Killing people in the name of religion or because of their tribe is an example of hate crime.
Therefore, I propose that henceforth, any politician, public office holder, religious leader, traditional leader, social icon, celebrity or public figure that publicly mutters any form of hate speech or encourages hate crimes against any tribe/ethnic group, religious group, political party, political opponent, whether during election campaigns, or through the internet or social media, TV or radio, should therefore be sentenced to life imprisonment or death by hanging, and without the option of an appeal. For the common man on the street, if found guilty with enough evidence, he should be sentenced to 50 years imprisonment. People should not be insulted, oppressed or killed because they belong to a certain tribe, have a certain political view or have a preferred choice of religion.
Freedom must be limited if not there will be anarchy in the land. If people are free to do what ever they like then armed robbery and kidnapping shouldn’t be crimes in Nigeria. The fact that armed robbery is a crime in a democratic setting means that people are not “free” to do whatever they like. Thus, freedom of speech and expression cannot include hate speech and hate crimes. Hate speech and tribal bigotry offenders are enemies of Nigeria and should be given the capital punishment because their sole aim is to disrupt the peace of this country. If our Nigerian lawmakers ignore this call, Nigerians will know that our elected lawmakers are not interested in the peace and progress of this country. We will be fully convinced that the “One Nigeria” concept is a scam.
It is a common thing that human lives are not valued in this country. That is why people are killed anyhow all over Nigeria and nothing is being done about it. And nothing is being done about it because we do not have laws that protect the lives of the average Nigerian on the street. Boko Haram we are struggling with today was a baby monster built on the foundation hate speech and hate. Today it has grown into full time terrorism.
I served in Bauchi State long before boko haram came to the lime light, and there I saw with my very own eyes that Nigerians can be slaughtered simply because of a page of the Koran that was found on the street. There were several religious killings during my service year and I thank God that I came out from there alive.
The Federal parastatal were I was posted to offered to retain me but I refused the offer because I couldn’t risk being slaughtered one day because of a page of the Koran being found on the floor, and I vowed never to go to the North for anything for the rest of my life. Why on earth should I work and live in such a place? I would rather be unemployed and alive than live in a place where Nigerians can be killed because of a cartoon on Mohammed that was made in a far country? A lot of my friends and colleagues lost their lives while serving their fatherland. I saw churches being burnt with reckless abandon. I saw lives being wasted for nothing. How many mosques are being burnt down in the south? And I also observed that the killings were not just religiously inclined, it also had serious tribal undertone because if it was just religion, then the Yoruba Muslims would have been spared. But the Yoruba Muslims had to also join us to run for their lives. Such hate crimes cannot continue to go unpunished in this country. It is high time our lawmakers passed a law that forbids and punishes all forms of religious, ethnic and tribal killings as hate crimes. Boko Haram is supposed to have taught us a lesson as a nation. And any right thinking government will thus make laws that will permanently prevent any issue that is a threat to human life in any capacity. Human lives must be valued in this country.
It looks to me that boko boys are going to be handing over the terror mantle to their Under-17 squad pretty soon. They are popular referred to as the “Fulani herdsmen”. These guys are going about killing and kidnaping people in the name of cattle rearing. And if we do not do something about these rascals who have no value for human life early enough, we will be moving from one regime of terrorism to another. Besides, nothing stops the ghost sponsors of boko haram from recruiting this bastards and giving us Boko Haram Reloaded to deal with, and maybe change their name from the popular Fulani herdsmen to “Fulani Gladiators”. By then we will start running to the US, France and all our allies in the West to help us fight “Fulani Gladiators”. We will ask the World Bank to lend us $1 billion to fight “Fulani Gladiators”. And maybe the PDP who is desperate to come back to power will use “Fulani Gladiators” as their major campaign strategy just as the APC did with Boko Haram.
Nigerians are being killed continuously in Plateau State, and this has been going on for the past 14 years and no one is doing anything about it. Maybe the Nigerian government is waiting for a new edition of Plateau-Haram before they act. We are not animals, and Nigeria is not an animal kingdom. Therefore, this attitude of waiting for things to go sour and get really messy before we jump into action and start dealing with the effects without even handling the root cause has to stop. It is high time we placed maximum value on human life. The lives of Nigerians must become important to the Nigerian Government.
Someone has to be held accountable for lives being lost in any part of Nigeria. When no one is held accountable by the law for religious, ethnic and tribal killings, people will go ahead and create such menace because nobody will take the responsibility of protecting the lives of Nigerians. It is high time the National Assembly makes laws that holds and punishes traditional leaders, and religious leaders for any ethnic/tribal or religious killing carried out under their watch. I believe that if the Imams, the Sultans, Emirs and Fulani leaders risk being jailed for life, they will be able to discipline their followers to respect other people’s tribe, religion and to value human life.
I do not mean to offend anyone, but I have seen people come out from the mosques to perpetrate violence and kill people in the name of Allah, and there is no way you will tell me that the Imam doesn’t know such people. If he is held accountable, and proven to be innocent and have nothing to do with such crimes, then he should be able to produce such people to face the music. The lives of Nigerians are more valuable than any religious, tribal or political sentiments.
Someone would say why not call the police? Well, we all know that the Nigerian police is the comedy department of the Armed Forces. And usually before the police even shows up the scene lives must have been wasted for nothing. The police and army cannot prevent religious and tribal killings but religious and traditional/tribal leaders can. We have to stop dealing with the effects. We have to start dealing with the root causes of stupid killings in this country. We have to pass laws that prevent such killings, and it will be a lot easier of people are held accountable by law. The army and police cannot prevent crises but laws can. Lives will keep being wasted until someone is held accountable. We have to set up mechanism to re-orient people on the value of human life. Boko haram experience is enough to teach us a lesson in this nation, except we don’t want to ever learn.
The Nigerian constitution is bigger than any religious belief, ethnic group or tribe. Nobody should be killed in any part of Nigeria because of his religion, tribe or ethnic group. I should be able to go to the North, live there and do business without being constantly afraid that one day I might just be butchered like a cow. I should be respected as a Nigerian irrespective of my tribe. Nigeria is a country with various tribes and ethnic groups and each tribe and ethnic group must be respected by others according to the law. I should not be insulted or oppressed because of my tribe. And the issue of “minority” tribe or ethnic group has to be abolished in this country because we are all important. No tribe is superior to the other and we must make laws that uphold this.
I noticed that an American citizen is always proud enough to tell anyone anywhere in the world that he’s a citizen of the United States of America, not just because America is the most powerful nation in the world, but because America as a nation values the life of its citizens, and he has hope and belief in his country that whatever happens to him America will protect him. I wish we could say the same of the Nigerian government. I am looking forward to a Nigerian Government that has maximum value for human lives.
We have always relied solely on the executive arm of government for protection but it has failed us woefully in the past. This is not an APC or PDP issue. This is not a matter of Christians vs. Muslims. We voted for CHANGE. Not for a political party. We needed change in the system. We needed change in the country. This is a matter of National Security and I therefore call on all Nigerian Lawmakers to prove to Nigerians now and again that the term “One Nigeria” is not a scam and that the life of every Nigerian is valued by the Nigerian Government.
As speculations mount over the future of embattled Senate President Bukola Saraki, plots by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to supplant the majority All Progressives Congress (APC) and take over leadership of the senate are intensifying.
The Nation had reported a few days ago the PDP was plotting a sensational take-over of the upper chamber of the National Assembly in the event that Saraki is consumed by his ongoing trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
The party is mobilising its members in the Senate to ensure one of its own replaces Saraki if the presidency of the senate becomes vacant. With that as a goal, it is said to be seriously considering one of the trio of former Senate President David Mark, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, as possible candidates for the position. The Nationalso learnt that the three senators are being supported by various groups within the party and the senate.
The opposition party’s calculation is that some APC senators, especially those in the pro-Saraki’s Likeminds group, may either defect to the PDP or work with the party to once again produce the president of the senate if Saraki is convicted by the CCT.
“The party hopes to win to its side some APC senators to vote for our candidate along with the PDP senators. This is based on our belief that many senators across party lines are unhappy with the ongoing trial of the Senate President and we all know where this is coming from,” a PDP senator told The Nation.
Reliable sources said a meeting of PDP senators and members of Saraki’s Likeminds has been schedule for tomorrow in Abuja to discuss recent developments within the upper chamber and decide how the pro-Saraki lawmakers will react.
“While I know we will be discussing how to stall any plan to remove Saraki from office, I am also aware that we will be talking about how to ensure that APC doesn’t take over the leadership of the senate even if Saraki has to go. Already we are positioning our men in readiness for another political battle on the floor of the senate. If Saraki is forced out, we will replace him with one of our own,” another source said.
The Nation learnt that those pushing the candidacy of Ekweremadu are of the opinion that being the current Deputy Senate President, it is only normal that he be supported by PDP senators and Saraki’s loyalists to emerge as the Senate President should the latter lose the battle to remain in office.
“Ekweremadu is the current Deputy Senate President. He has shown loyalty to his boss and he is a loyal party man too. Many of us are of the opinion that it is natural that he be supported by PDP senators and Saraki’s loyalists to emerge as the Senate President should the latter lose his position as a result of his ongoing trial.
“We have made this clear to the caucus and the party leadership and he is seriously being considered by all stakeholders as a good candidate for the job. Ekweremadu’s experience as a Deputy Senate President of many years is also a great advantage. He is well suited for the job and he is well loved by many of his colleagues,” our source said.
Another factor working in favour of Ekweremadu, The Nation learnt is the quest by the South East geo-political zone to be represented among the top political office holders in the land. “The fact that he is from the South East is another factor working for him. Many senators will reason with the need to give the zone some sense of representation in the current arrangement,” our source added.
For Akpabio, the possibility of replacing Saraki as the next Senate President is being pushed largely by those opposed to Ekweremadu’s emergence. He is also said to be enjoying the backing of former governors now in PDP and Likeminds senators.
“Akpabio is the choice of those opposed to Ekweremadu for one reason or the other. He is also the candidate of his fellow ex-governors who are in Saraki’s camp or in PDP senate caucus. Their desire to ensure Ekweremadu is stopped from becoming Senate President may split the camp of pro-Saraki lawmakers,” our source added.
Meanwhile, a third group is said to be rooting for the return of David Mark as the Senate President to forestall further friction between the pro-Ekweremadu and pro-Akpabio camps. According to reports, the former Senate President’s status as the unofficial leader of the party in the National Assembly largely informed the decision to draft him into the race.
“Senator Mark is the real leader of the PDP caucus in the National Assembly. So, many of us feel he is the best man to be returned to the position after Saraki. His choice will also end the dangerous rivalry between the other groups and ensure that we do not lose the contest should the need arise,” our source added.
PARTIES to the election petition challenging the re- election of the former Senate President and Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, David Mark yesterday adopted and closed their written addresses with counsel to Mark asking the tribunal to dismiss the petition.
Comrade Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressive Congress (APC) had petitioned against Senator Mark at the National Assembly Tribunal Sitting in Makurdi alleging massive irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.
Onjeh’s counsel argued that in the instant petition, there is no evidence of holding or collation in 107 polling units spread across the senatorial district where Form EC8A (1) for the said polling units were produced.
APC and Onjeh’s counsel also submitted further that on the admission of the 1st and 2nd respondents that collation at all levels had ended as at 28th March, 2015, the same date the first respondent was declared winner, the results of seven other local government areas, which were proved to be collated on the 29th of March, 2015 cannot be of the votes upon which the first respondent was returned and urged the tribunal to expunge them and order for fresh election in the affected local councils.
But, arguing on why the petition should be dismissed, counsel to Mark, Mr. Ken Ikkone said the petitioner failed woefully to make out any case against the election of his client and has failed to show the tribunal that the election was not properly conducted.
Ikonne averred that the burden of proof squarely dwells on the petitioner’s failure of which has proved fatal to the petitioner, citing several authorities in support of his submission.
“It is trite in law that he who alleges must prove,” Ikonne stated.
Mark’s counsel further submitted that most of the allegations complained of in the petition are criminal in nature, but the petitioner failed to prove those allegations, stressing that those allegations cannot be severed from the petition as the petitioner was trying to do now, adding that it would amount “to an amendment of the petition, which the petitioner cannot do at this point,” citing the Electoral Act.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended immediate-past Senate President, Senator David Mark and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu for the mature and patriotic manner they conducted the affairs of the last Senate especially in stabilizing the upper house, which contributed immensely in deepening the nation’s democracy.
Senate President, David Mark
In the same vein, the party commended the immediate-past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his deputy, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha for their efforts in steadying the ship of the last House despite unpredicted daunting challenges.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Sunday said the leadership of the party notes the efforts of the last National Assembly under the Chairmanship of Senator Mark in ensuring unity among lawmakers and leading the federal legislature to provide the much needed direction for national development.
The party also showered encomiums on Hon Ihedioha and other PDP leaders in the last House of Representatives for their steadfastness to the party and the nation at large.
“The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and members of the our great party nationwide appreciate the commitment of our leaders and members in the Seventh National Assembly for their selfless contributions to the development of our nation.
“Indeed, we are pleased to underscore that in line with the undying values, tradition and manifesto of the PDP, our leaders and members in the last Senate and House of Representatives respectively, amply demonstrated that the true essence of statesmanship lies in employing its uncommon values to the benefit of the people rather than self and for this, we are very proud of them”.
This, the party said “reflects in their commitment in oversight functions as well as many landmark people-oriented legislations especially the amendments to the 1999 constitution to further reflect the wishes and aspirations of the citizens while strengthening the unity and stability of the nation.”
It also listed the passage of Freedom of Information Act, which further guarantees personal freedom and greater transparency in governance; amendments to the Electoral Act for credible, free and fair elections which the nation enjoys today at all levels, among scores of other important legislations passed under the PDP-led National Assembly.
The party said it is particularly satisfied that the out-going PDP leadership in the National Assembly laid very solid foundation upon which the nation’s legislature can always leverage for greater productivity in the interest of all.
A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu and the outgoing Senate President, David Mark, on Monday disagreed on the need for National Assembly to cut its budget in line with the current economic realities in the country.
Senate President, David Mark
They spoke at a retreat organised for the Peoples Democratic Party National Assembly members-elect in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
Ribadu had stirred up a hornet’s nest by calling on the lawmakers-elect to make their monthly salaries public and also cut their budgets. His call immediately attracted side talks by the participants which included governors and the leadership of the PDP.
Obviously aware that his advice was not being welcomed by majority of the lawmakers-elect, the former anti-corruption czar, reminded them that they would be going to the National Assembly as the minority.
He said that Nigerians would not support the PDP if they (Nigerians) did not know what was earmarked for the National Assembly and how much a senator or a House of Representatives member earns.
Ribadu, who was the PDP’s Adamawa State governorship candidate for the March 28 election, pointed out that patriotism and quality contributions by members of the PDP in the National Assembly would go a long way in reinventing and preparing the party for a successful comeback in future elections.
He said, “If Nigerians do not know how much is earmarked for the National Assembly or how much money a senator earns, they will not support you. We must understand the pulse or the mood of the nation.
“The first step, therefore, is to open up the National Assembly by ensuring transparency. Public office is what it is; public. Also, at this critical time of austerity, be champions by slashing your own budget.
“My very good friend, Ben Bruce (a senator-elect) has already spoken about this. There are many others already saying it. For you to excel, you must put in extra effort than your colleagues in other parties.”
He stressed that the PDP lawmakers-elect must not only be champions of probity and discipline, they must wage war against corruption in the system and ensure strict compliance with appropriation as well as due process.
Ribadu added, “As legislators, you will be going to the National Assembly as the minority. There is a sense of personal loss no doubt; but there are good opportunities for all and democratic practice in Nigeria.
“Your patriotism and quality contributions as members of the National Assembly will go a long way in reinventing our party and preparing it for a successful comeback in subsequent elections.
“You must demonstrate personal will and commitment towards being above board if you really want to checkmate others. The first charge for you is to be champions of probity in the workings of the National Assembly as well as the Legislature-Executive relations.”
But Mark, who showed his dissatisfaction with Ribadu’s charge, wondered why “every time, people will talk about National Assembly budget.”
Explaining that the budget of the Assembly had always been in public domain, the outgoing President of the Senate argued that Senators and House of Representatives members had always made sacrifices in line with the nation’s economic realities.
“Every time, people will talk about National Assembly budget; for Heaven’s sake, unless you would say you have never seen the national budget, it is a public document. The National Assembly budget is there with every other budget,” he stated in an angry tone.
Mark,who added that the National Assembly members “ were the first to make a cut in 2015 budget,” said that “ people should appreciate what we are doing and not to come and give an impression that our budget is bloated while every other person had made a cut.”
He stated further, “We are trying our best more than any ministry today. I can put my hand on my chest without fear of contradiction at all and say we made a lot of sacrifices in our budgeting system.
“Our budget is open; what we earn as National Assembly members is open. If anybody wants to receive his salary and donate it, he is free to do so. He does not need to consult us. I think we should not play politics with what is a very serious issue. Our budget is in the open and everybody can see it.”
Mark however charged the PDP lawmakers-elect and other PDP members to always speak in one voice.
He said, “We must subject our individual interest for our group interest. In the election of principal officers of National Assembly, we must vote in one accord. We must know that united we stand, divided we fall.
“We must take our destinies in our hands. We must be ready to provide credible, vibrant, determined and focused opposition to the party in power in a manner that would guarantee development and good governance.
“In doing so, we must maintain a strong synergy between our members in the National Assembly and the National Working Committee. The PDP is still a brand all Nigerians know. We just need to reinvent the wheels and move forward.”
He decried the spate of defections from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress after the elections and appealed to those remaining to be steadfast with the ideology of the party.
In his keynote address , Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu maintained that playing the role of the opposition was not a death sentence, but a soul searching for the way out of the predicament.
Ekweremadu stated that the PDP stood a great chance of regaining power in 2019 should its members put their house in order.
He added that the governors elected on the platform of the PDP were expected to play a major role in restoring the party’s fortunes.
Ekweremadu said, “May I also remind you that you have a big role to play in restoring the political fortunes of the PDP because PDP governed-states will now be the major yardsticks for evaluating our performance in the next four years.
“I call on you to demonstrate unbeatable and undisputable capacity for good governance such as would stand the PDP-governed states out as models in uncommon transformation and actualisation of all the blessings and promises that democracy holds.”
Earlier, Governors of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa; and other governors, who were elected on the platform of the PDP gave various strategies on how the party could regain power at the centre in 2019.
Nigerian lawmakers managed to approve only 106 new laws out of 1,063 brought before them in the last four years, despite spending more than half a trillion naira within the period, earning the notorious title as the world’s highest paid legislators.
Senate
The figures mean for the National Assembly, with a combined annual budget of N150 billion since 2011, returned 10 per cent in efficiency and averaged about two bills each month.
Each year, the Senate, House of Representatives and allied institutions, compete for government funding with projects designed to provide jobs, healthcare, education and roads to the citizens.
While the Goodluck Jonathan administration has shown its preparedness to cut financing to those vital services to Nigerians in the face of dwindling revenues, the government has helped the lawmakers retain their super N150 billion budget per year in the last four years.
Not even the present oil crisis has been enough to force the government to minimize the lawmakers’ comfort, by redirecting funds to critical areas badly starved of resources.
A typical example is the 2015 budget, affected massively by sliding oil price. The dwindling revenue forced the government to slash spending for roads – Ministry of Works – from about N160 billion to N11 billion for the entire nation. But the federal lawmakers refused to allow even a dime to be sliced off their N150 billion annual budget.
While the National Assembly budget also covers legislative aides, the National Assembly Commission and the Legislative Institute in Abuja, the biggest chunk of the appropriation goes to the 109 Senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives, each year.
But while the lawmakers take so much, their work rate has been dismally poor, PREMIUM TIMES analysis show.
The miserable worth of Nigerian legislators’ output is amplified when compared with their American counterparts, for instance.
While the legislature, under the leadership of David Mark and Aminu Tambuwal at the Senate and House of Representatives respectively managed to clear 106 bills in four years, the U.S. Congress passed 297 just between 2013 and 2014.
That figure was indeed one of the lowest for any U.S. Congress session as the two chambers passed 604 in just 1999, and 460 between 2007 and 2008.
Yet, the Nigerian lawmakers are the highest paid, according to a 2012 analysis by the UK-based Economist.
The report compared lawmakers’ earnings with their countries’ GDP – what each citizen is worth if their nation’s total wealth was shared by the population.
The analysis found Nigeria ahead of all other countries of the world, with its lawmakers taking 116 times what an average citizen takes of the GDP.
Kenya and Ghana followed with ratios of 75 and 29.8 respectively.
Norway’s ratio was 1.8, while U.S. lawmakers took 3.8 of what their citizens received.
The United States pays its lawmakers an average annual salary of $174,000 while Britain pays parliamentarians $105,000.
Nigerian lawmakers officially receive a modest pay of about $50,000(about N12m) yearly.
But they also pocket several illegal allowances, including the huge quarterly allowance which is nearly a $1m (N220m) a year.
Bills passed in the 7th assembly
Even with the limited numbers of enacted laws, records show most of the bills came from the Executive. Many were budget bills.
While the lawmakers’ turnover has been poor, several critical bills lie abandoned.
The most notable is the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which has been at the National Assembly since 2008/2009.
Pressed on why the few bills passed by the Senate are mainly executive-sponsored, the Chairman of the Senate Business and Rules Committee, Ita Enang, said the upper chamber gives no preference to bills before it.
“We don’t select bills to pass, we pass bills based on priority. We don’t say we pass a bill because it is an executive bill,” Mr. Enang said.
Sam Tsokwa, the House of Representatives chairman on rules and business, did not respond to our questions despite scheduling several meetings with our correspondent.
The infographic below illustrate how the N600 billion spent on the National Assembly would have served Nigerians, if well deployed.
Senate President, David Mark, on Monday, reviewed the activities of the parliament at the state levels in the last 16 years of Nigeria’s democratic experience and lamented that members of the legislature at that tier of government have reduced themselves to stooges of their governors.
Senate President, David Mark
Mark stated this at the opening of a week-long induction programme organised for newly elected state lawmakers by the National Institute for Legislative Studies, in Abuja.
He noted with concern that the general impression of Nigerians was that the state legislatures have remained an appendage of the governor offices.
He lamented a situation whereby the State Assemblies could not have the political courage to muster enough votes for their financial autonomy when the first constitutional amendment was done, was a sad development.
He said, “As law-makers, you must avoid holding your sessions in the Council Chambers of the Government Houses.
“It is ignoble to use the Mace outside the Chamber or borrow Local Government Legislative Council Mace to conduct your affairs or resort to self help by using your Mace to perpetuate violence.
“You must conduct your sittings in line with the provisions of the Constitution and the extant rules of the House. As State legislators you must restrain yourselves from the excessive use of the constitutional provision that empowers you to impeach either your speakers, executive governors or their deputies.
He argued that impeaching a public elected official remained a very serious legislative process that must not be abused or taken for a joke.
Mark said, “Impeachment is not designed for a few days exercise. Where it has become the last resort, it must be painstakingly conducted within the hallowed chamber of the parliament in accordance to the extant rules of the House and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The senate president canvassed for a synergy between State Assemblies and the National Assembly, adding that a strong partnership was also required between the executive and the legislature in order to achieve Nigeria’s developmental goals, increase transparency, accountability and curb corruption.
He also said there was the need for a collaboration between the executive and the state legislatures on matters of public good.
ABUJA – AS the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, continues its blame game over its woeful performance at the April general elections, the Senate President, David Mark has advised the gladiators in the fight to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.
The Senate President said presently the party is already in comatose and haemorrhaging as further squabble by its leaders would lead to its final destruction.
Senator David Mark painted the sad picture of the party in Abuja Wednesday when the Chairman of the PDP post election assessment committee led by its Chairman and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu visited him.
He expressed worry over the continued acrimony between factions in the party, and warned that, “unless we halt the bleeding and find the necessary therapy, we may be heading for the final burial of the party”.
According to him, “the party is already in a comatose status and we should do all we can to resuscitate the party rather than this unnecessary rancor and bulk passing.
“The emerging factions are absolutely unnecessary. The combatants must sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue. My appeal is that we should not do anything further that would damage the already fragmented house.
“Everybody should come together and rebuild the party. We have gotten enough bruises. We need not inflict further pains on ourselves, with continuous bickering.
“Enough of this blame-game. We should return to the drawing board and need not wash our dirty linen in the public, anymore.
“I believe a useful lesson has been learnt from the PDP electoral misfortune. As for me, it is time to put on our thinking caps and chart a new course”.
“I trust Senator Ekweremadu that he and his team will do a good job and unearth the remote and immediate causes of our misfortune and make recommendations that will enhance the future of the party”.
On the capacity of the Deputy Senate President to deliver in the his assignment, Senator Mark said, “I have worked closely with the Deputy President of the Senate over the years and I know his capability and capacity to handle issues.”
Senate President, David Mark on Sunday, told Peoples Democratic Party faithful to put the failures of the last elections behind them.
David Mark
He said they should be prepared to build a strong and united party, ready to play a credible opposition.
Mark, according to a statement in Abuja, stated this at a parley with PDP Senators and House of Representatives members -elect in Abuja.
He said, “We must accept the ups and downs as an opposition party. That is what the PDP is now. We must remain a united family and face the reality.”
Mark added, “The not too impressive showing of the PDP in the last elections may, in the long term, be a blessing to the party and the nation.”
“We are going back to the drawing board to do a critical review and fashion out a blue print that would get us out of the woods for good.
“The role of opposition is strange to us but it is not a death sentence. We should be ready for the challenges. We are prepared to play a credible opposition. I believe the nation and indeed Nigerians will be the best for it.”
Mark, however, stated that the bickering within and among party faithful, all trading blame over the poor showing at the polls, should stop.
He said, “There is no need weeping over lost opportunities or mistakes of yesterday. The failure of yesterday should be our lesson for a better today and a triumphant future.”
Senate President, David Mark, on Wednesday said he was not considering joining the All Progressive Congress, stressing that he will rather work hard to bring the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP back on its track.
Mark made this remark during this at a special service to mark his 67th birthday at St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy Apo in Abuja.
He futhers, “I have no reason to jump ship. I will not leave the PDP. I will be the last man standing for the PDP. The party gave me the platform to be where I am today.
“I will stay in the PDP to contribute my quota to the rebuilding and restructuring of the party.” He said
He also added that it was normal that in a democracy, winners must emerge while the losers go back to the drawing board and rejuvenate.
“The outcome of the presidential election in favour of APC is the will of God and majority of Nigerians.
“We, in the PDP have accepted the result in good faith.
“Those drifting to the APC now are fair weather friends of the PDP. They are seeking new green areas. When the PDP bounces back, they will seek another return to the PDP.
ABUJA—Following the release of the results of National Assembly elections held last Saturday by the Independent National Electoral Commission, indications have emerged that the South East Geo-Political Zone may have lost the opportunity to produce the next Senate President of Nigeria
The Zone did not vote for any candidate of the APC in the last election, thereby shutting out itself in the reckoning for such a post.
From the results posted by the INEC, the South East neither returned any of its APC senators nor voted for any politician to emerge on the APC platform.
It was learnt that the non-availability of any ranking APC Senator from the region to take the slot of Senate President might compel the party to zone the slot to the North Central, where the current Senate President, David Mark hails from.
Although Mark would have emerged the best choice given his rich background and experience, his membership of the PDP, which will now be in the minority in the next Senate, knocks him out of the reckoning for the post.
APC has won no fewer than 65 seats in the last NASS election pushing PDP with 45 Senators to the second position in the upper legislative chambers.
But there was unconfirmed report on Wednesday that Mark was being pressured by political interests to defect to the APC after the inauguration of the National Assembly in order to retain his post, a claim dismissed by sources close to the Senate President as mere rumour.
The source told Vanguard that it was not possible for any Senator to decamp to any other party until after being sworn in.
The source said: “The truth of the matter is that you cannot decamp to any party after election until you are sworn in. It is not an issue now and I don’t think that anybody should contemplate that at all and even the opposition party will not even welcome you.
No way for Mark—APC chieftain
But an APC chieftain told our correspondent on Wednesday that it was not possible to concede the Senate Presidency to Benue State after it had occupied the post for eight years through David Mark.
The official said that there was no way APC would accept Mark as its Senate President since there were many qualified Senators from other states in the North Central to occupy the post.
It was learnt that given the absence of any ranking APC Senator from the South East or South South, the APC would still retain the Senate Presidency in the North Central but pick the Senate President from another state outside Benue.
Former Kwara State Governor and Senate Chairman on Environment, Dr. Bukola Saraki, is being considered for the top post. But if the party keeps the post in Benue, the current Senate Minority Leader, George Akume, is likely to emerge as the Senate President.
Senate President , David Mark has congratulated the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), for his victory at the polls.
He also described the victory as a reflection of the wishes of majority of Nigerians.
Mark in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, commended the political resilience of General Buhari.
He also noted that Nigerians have rewarded his efforts with this victory at the polls.
Mark urged the President-elect to be magnanimous in victory and govern Nigeria equitably and fairly irrespective of party affiliation or creed.
He also commended the sportsmanship of President Goodluck Jonathan describing him as a worthy statesman.
Mark said: “President Jonathan has assumed a clear leadership in the comity of African nations where Heads of Government are perceived to be sit-tight leaders.
“He (President Jonathan) has set a classic acceptance of the aphorism that power belongs to God and He grants it to whoever He pleases. For this, history will be kind to him.”
He also urged Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful during this process of transition stressing that “this election has further demonstrated that democracy has come to stay in our country.”
Senate President, Senator David Mark, Saturday said the conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday was largely peaceful in his constituency but expressed concern over the reported cases of malfunctioned card readers.
Mark, accoording to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, said after casting his vote in Otukpo Ward 1, Otukpo, Benue State that the exercise in his constituency was “generally peaceful and well-organised. The voters queued and complied with the rules.”
He, however, said he was worried by the malfunctioning of the card readers in some polling units even as he urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to swiftly salvage the situation.
He said: “The Otukpo Ward 1 to me is a very well organised polling unit. The people here have been on queue. I have no report of any failure or lapses. But the reports from some areas indicate that card readers have been malfunctioning.
“This situation may not allow many people to participate in the elections. INEC should as a matter of urgency rise up to the challenge and salvage the situation.”
