At the twilight of 2011, LEADERSHIP SUNDAY’s SHUAIB SHUAIB looks back and tracks the key defining features of a politically and socio-economically tumultuous year
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On January 1, 2011, Nigerians woke to learn of bomb blasts at a military barrack in the Federal Capital Territory. It was the beginning of the much anticipated election year, so everyone just assumed it was politics. What no one could foretell was that the year would be defined by more bombs and Nigerians would have to stare terror in the face. On December 31, 2010, there was a bomb explosion at the Mogadishu Barracks that killed at handful of people. President Goodluck Jonathan in response said that “from the preliminary analysis of the explosives so far used in Nigeria, the ones used in the 1st October explosion has the same characteristics with the ones that happened in Port Harcourt, Warri and some parts of the Niger Delta.
There had been a few bomb blasts in the country in 2010 that appeared to be politically related. Jonathan said, “The one that happened yesterday from preliminary analysis is identical with the ones that happened in Jos. So there are two routes, so as long as the security operatives know the two routes we will get to where these things are coming from.”
Goodluck Jonathan Triumphs:
But the bombs were not enough to derail the 2011 elections and the presidential primaries of the ruling People’s Democratic Party went on as scheduled. On January 13, Jonathan defeated Abubakar Atiku to take the ticket in what could have been seen as a land slide. Professor Tunde Adeniran, the returning officer said 3,542 votes were cast during the primaries. Goodluck Jonathan received the highest number of votes—2,736—representing 78% of the total votes cast. He was trailed by Abubakar Atiku who scored 805 votes. Mrs. Sarah Jubril received one vote and a total of 61 votes were voided. In his acceptance speech, President Goodluck Jonathan said, “It is with great humility that I accept the monumental mandate which you have handed over to me as the presidential flag-bearer of our great party.??
This mandate is unique as it makes a decisive statement in the history of our great nation. This statement is that our people have chosen the unity of our country above all other considerations. It is a quantum leap into the great ideals to hold our great nation together. I promise all Nigerians that I will within my powers not disappoint this umbrella of unity you have entrusted on me today. I will carry this banner to all the corners of our great country to make sure that the essence of this unity is not lost on our people.”
The president naturally did not want to go into the election with a divided house. He said, “Let me very respectfully pay special tribute to Mrs Sara Jubril and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who all fought gallantly. I believe that the very lively presidential primary has prepared the Vice President and I and indeed the entire party for the forthcoming general election. I want to welcome Mrs Jubril and his Excellency Alhaji Abubakar on board so that together we can build a Nigeria of our collective interest, a Nigeria where ideas guide our dreams for a greater nation.”
For two months the president and his opponents from other political parties campaigned across the country. His main challengers, Ibrahim Shekarau of the ANPP, Nuhu Ribadu of the ACN and Muhammadu Buhari of the CPC were all candidates from the northern part of the country, When Jonathan was finally declared winner of the April elections, violence broke out across the north which some said was spontaneous and others said were planned. Along the way however, there were several casualties in the elections.
Speaker of the House Representatives, Dimeji Bankole lost his seat to opposition ACN candidate. But he was not the only casualty from the South West. The ACN virtually swept the polls in the region, unseating a few PDP governors in the process and also embarrassing former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his home state of Ogun. But the election outcome in the South West would shape what was to come in the National Assembly when newly elected lawmakers resumed to elect a? Senate President and House Speaker.?
David Mark Re-elected:
Senate President David Mark who had been re-elected at the elected had done his homework. On June 6, when the 7th Senate was inaugurated, he would reclaim his seat as the Senate President, making history in the process by being the only Nigerian to have achieved this. After being elected by his colleagues to once again lead the Senate, Mark said, “Your mandate is a sacred trust, and I promise to hold it in trust for you, to work for you, to work with you, and together, we shall all work for a greater Nigeria. I recognize that I am only a first among equals. I will be your humble servant and you my bosses. We have just made history in this hallowed chamber of the Senate a few minutes ago.
This is the first time since the commencement of our current democratic dispensation that an immediate past President of the Senate is re-elected to preside over the next session. “The same applies to the Deputy President of the Senate. I am deeply humbled and overwhelmed by this rare gesture and even more humbling is the unanimity of your confidence, which is reflected in the mandate you have given me today. This sends a strong signal about the new Nigerian spirit, the birth of a new National Assembly, and the increasing maturity of our democracy.”
Tambuwal’s Parliamentary ‘Coup’:
While Mark put himself on track to becoming Nigeria’s longest serving Senate President, it was a different ball game in the House of Representatives. The ruling PDP with the majority of elected representatives had zoned to seat of speaker to the South West. The only problem was that it had very few members from that zone because an opposition party had won most of the seats. The outgoing House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole was apparently not in support of the PDP directive to elect a new speaker from the few that made it back to the House from the South West.? He ended up being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over a N10 billion loan obtained by the House and the purchase of cars for House members.
In defiance of the party’s directives, newly elected members were however not intimidated and chose instead to elect as speaker, member from the North West because that zone had given the party the highest number of elected members. 252 of 360 lawmakers cast their vote for Aminu Tambuwal, from Sokoto, North-West, to defeat the PDP’s anointed candidate, Mulikat Akande-Adeola, who got 90 votes. A newly elected Tambuwal said, “As the new speaker of the House of Representatives, I acknowledge that representatives elected me largely on the premise of upholding the attributes of integrity and probity, not only in the House but also in the governance of our nation. We will provide the desirable legislative framework to support the executive’s vision for Nigeria.”
Resurgent Boko Haram:
Later in the month of June, just when Nigerians started to believe that the worse of the violence which had been ascribed to the election was over, Boko Haram came alive. A driver of an explosive-laden car blew up at the headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force after driving into the compound along with the convoy of the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim. There were reports that Ringim himself might have been the target of the attack, and that the bomber failed because he could not get to park close enough to the police chief.
That was not the end, on June 25 more people were wounded in a bomb blast in Maiduguri, Borno State. Troops were deployed to the state and the Joint Task Force (JTF), in the months that followed would be accused of using indiscriminate force in retaliation to the attacks, leading to the deaths of civilians and the destruction of homes.? Again, on June 26, bombs were thrown into a leisure spot in Maiduguri, killing about 25 people. The attackers threw three explosives from the back of motorbikes in what was believed to be targeted at police officers. On June 27, again in Maiduguri, three street vendors were killed in a bomb attack. The attack occurred in a beer garden after gunmen on two motorcycles attacked a packed relaxation centre late that day.
Single Six-year Term:
Just about a month later, in late July, President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan captured everyone’s attention when he would be sending a bill to the National Assembly to give the president and governors a single term of six instead of the current renewal 4-year term. The presidency also claimed that if passed into law, President Jonathan’s tenure will not be affected as the amendment would only take effect from 2015
According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, the proposed bill “is borne out of a patriotic zeal, after a painstaking study and belief that the constitutionally guaranteed two terms for presidents and governors is not helping the focus of governance and institutionalization of democracy at this stage of our development.”??
It was also contained in the statement that the president is “concerned about the acrimony which the issue of re-election every four years generates both at federal and state levels.”
It will be recalled that Dr. Jonathan became the substantive President after the demise of his predecessor, Umar Musa Yar’ Adua in May last year and he is currently serving a four-year term after being elected last April.
Ayo Salami Vs Aloysius Alu:
In the month of August, the entire country turned their eyes on the judiciary. A cold war had brewing between the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloysius Alu and the President of the Court of Appeal, Ayo Salami. They had both made counter allegations against each other and in the end gave the impression that they were representing or fighting the causes of political parties. The CJN looked every bit to be in defence of the PDP while the PCA appeared the ACN man. The war between them apparently started when the Supreme Court under Justice Alu stopped the Court of Appeal from delivering judgment in the election dispute between the governor of Sokoto, Aliyu Wamakko of PDP and Muhammadu Dingyadi of the rival Democratic Party.??
The wounds of that episode did not heal and with more crucial election cases coming up, Salami who was months away from retiring was elevated to the Supreme which he turned down. This led to the opening of a new chapter in the contest between the justices of the country’s highest courts. In the end Salami took the National Judicial Council to court over the issues that had arisen only for the same organ responsible for upholding judicial integrity to initially avoid being served the court process.
Despite the court case, the NJC released a statement and said, “Pursuant to the powers conferred on the NJC in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, Hon. Justice Isa Ayo Salami, OFR, President of the Court of Appeal has been suspended from office with effect from today 18th August, 2011. The decision was reached at the 7th Emergency Meeting of the Council held on 18 th August, 2011. The NJC further directs that Hon. Justice I.A. Salami, OFR, should hand over the affairs of the Court of appeal to the next most senior Justice of the Court.”
UN House Bombing:
And then the bombs came back with Boko Haram striking at the heart of the international community. On August 26, a car loaded with explosives crashed into the main United Nations’ building in Abuja with dozens killed. It was the first bombing incident that had an international dimension to it brought the attention of the country and the threat of terror faced by its citizens and foreign nationals living in it. The government naturally said it would find the perpetrators but the UN felt it needed to conduct its own independent investigation.
A U.N. official in Geneva confirmed to CBS News that it was a bomb attack, and a Nigerian security official told the Reuters news agency it was the result of a car bomb. Reports had it that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was also brought in from the United States to help with the investigation.
Enter Justice Dahiru Musdapher:
On September 26 President Goodluck Jonathan swore-in Justice Dahiru Musdapher as the Chief Justice of Nigeria to replace Aloysius Alu who had just retired. But Alu left in controversy.
Other than the Salami problem, his reign as CJN had opened a rift between the judiciary and the Nigerian Bar Association. But the problems left behind were acknowledged by both the new CJN and President Jonathan. During the swearing in ceremony, Jonathan said, “The reputation of judges, the public perception of their commitment and integrity, is central to the efficacy of the courts to uphold the law and dispense justice.?
Judges are expected to be impartial, independent-minded and fair to all concerned. A partisan judge compromises his or her oath of office and acts unfairly. A corrupt judge disgraces the Bench on which he or she sits and the title that he wears. Judges should have power, and they do, but just as the executive and the legislature must not abuse their powers, judges are also expected to be above board.”