Jubilation over Oshiomhole's victory, as Jonathan congratulate Him

Women, children, the elderly and youths on Sunday took to the streets of Benin City in Edo State following the declaration of  

Jubilating residents of Benin after the result was declared Pix:The Nation

Governor Adams Oshiomhole as the winner of the last Saturday governorship election.

Market women who were about displaying their wares picked up brooms and started dancing.

They used the brooms to sweep away what they said were remnants of the PDP while Governor Oshiomhole embarked on a street walk as part of the celebration.

Commercial bus drivers and motorists held brooms while they blasted horns in celebration.

The residence of candidate of the PDP candidate, Major General Charles Airhiavbere was deserted when our reporter visited this morning.

Only four domestic staff who wore sad looks were seen around the house. The security on guard refused to say anything.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Governor Adams Oshiomhole on his re election as Edo State governor.

In a statement by his spokesman, the president urged Governor Oshiomhole to receive the fresh mandate given to him yesterday by the people of Edo State as an endorsement of his outstanding performance in his first term and an expression of their desire for a continuation of his focused, purposeful and dynamic leadership.

He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, its personnel and the nation’s security services for ensuring that the elections were free and fair in keeping with his administration’s commitment to continually strengthening democracy in Nigeria through the establishment of a more credible electoral system.

Jonathan said he was sure the Governor will work even harder in his second term to justify the confidence in his leadership clearly expressed by the Edo State electorate yesterday and assures him that the Federal Government will continue to give all possible support and assistance for development in the state.

 Source: The Nation

Media NGOs Submit Memo on Constitution Review to National Assembly

A network of media non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has submitted a Memorandum to the National Assembly seeking constitutional provisions to guarantee media freedom and independence, the right of access to information and the independence of media regulatory bodies.

Jointly submitted by the International Press Centre (IPC), the Institute for Media and Society (IMS) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA) on the platform of the Media Network on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, copies of the 50-page Memorandum were delivered separately by representatives of the three organizations to the relevant committees in the two chambers of the National Assembly - the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The organizations however said the proposals contained in the Memorandum were developed in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON), the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ).

They said other critical stakeholders and interest groups were also consulted, including through the convening of a consultative meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on June 14 and 15, 2012.

The organizations argued in the Memorandum that although the issues of media freedom and independence, freedom of expression and right to information were not specifically listed among the items in the “Call for Memoranda” issued by the Senate as issues upon which memoranda were requested from the public, “we believe that these are nonetheless critical matters that will promote good governance and improve the Nigerian State if adequate provisions are made for them in the proposed new Constitution.”

The Memorandum recommends that a constitutional backing for the right of access to information should be included in the proposed new Constitution as a sub-section of the current Section 39, adding that this new section should be a comprehensive section containing guarantees for a range of free expression, media freedom and access to information rights.  Specifically, it proposes that Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution should be amended to have new sub-sections that provide for the following:

· Express guarantee of right to press/media freedom, media independence and right of access to information

·Definition or categorization of state (called government) media, as one established to provide information gathering and dissemination services in the public interest

·Declaration that all laws or actions negating the principle of state media serving public interest are inconsistent with the principles of press/media freedom as enshrined in the constitution

·Decriminalization of libel and non-censorship of the media

·Nullification or invalidation of any other legislation that clearly undermines freedom of the press or media, including the Official Secrets Acts and the 1966 Defamatory and Offensive Publication Act

·Removal of managers and editors of state media from the control of the executive; appointment to be done through a process that subjects them only to the confirmation of the National Assembly or state Houses of Assembly or possibly through the recommendation of an independent commission

·Obligation of the state and private media to provide fair opportunities for the expression of divergent views and equitable access for political parties and candidates during elections

· Protection of journalism confidentiality privileges as contained in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

A summary of other proposals contained in the Memorandum are that:

·Section 22 of the Constitution be removed from the current Chapter II (Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy) and made a section (or subsection of section 39) under chapter IV (Fundamental Rights) to make it possible for the right conferred on the media therein to be legally enforceable.

· The new section/subsection should impose obligation on state and public institutions to uphold the provision and not do anything that encumbers the media in exercising the right to monitor governance

·The new section/subsection should guarantee the right of access to information as part of determining if the state is working in line with the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Chapter II.

· The new section/subsection should obligate the state to declassify information that is needed by the media to perform its monitoring obligations pursuant to the objectives and principles of state policy.

· The provisions in Section 39(2) that vests the authority to grant broadcast licences in the President should be amended.

· The power to authorize licences should be vested on the regulatory body in charge of broadcasting.

·The regulatory body in charge of broadcasting should be made one of the Federal Executive Bodies recognised in Section 153 and under the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution. It should therefore be listed in those sections accordingly. This is due to the critical role the broadcast regulator plays as an essential tool in aiding the development of the country's democracy through ensuring the effective development and regulation of the nation's airwaves, which remains the most critical source of information for the generality of the citizenry. Making the broadcast regulator one of the Federal Executive Bodies in the Constitution would therefore also guarantee to it adequate funding for its operations.

·All members of the governing body of the broadcast regulator should be appointed by the National Assembly after open public hearings, and they should be accountable to the National Assembly in order to ensure that the broadcast regulator is fully independent of government

·The dominance of government officials in the governing body of the broadcast regulator should be curtailed by removing representation for the State Security Service (SSS) and, possibly, the Federal Ministry of Information from the membership

· The process of appointing representatives of the different interests groups that constitute the governing body of the broadcast regulator should include a requirement for consultation to be held with the various stakeholders in each of the named sub-sectors of the Nigerian society when selecting their representatives for appointment to the governing body.

·The members of the governing body and staff of the regulatory body should have security of tenure and clearly defined conditions of service.

·Part of the functions of the regulatory body should be the exclusive power or right to issue and revoke broadcast licenses, through a transparent process with clearly stated criteria that are publicly available. This function should not be exercised with reference to or under the instructions of any other authority but the decisions of the governing body in this regard should be subject to judicial review. Consequently, the proviso to Section 39(2) of the 1999 Constitution should be amended to reflect this principle of empowering the regulatory body to so act.

·The collection or management of resources that belong to the broadcasting sector should not be assigned to local governments. This function should be assigned to the broadcast industry.

·Section 1(b) of the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution which empowers local governments to collect radio and television licence fees should be removed. This provision should be re-worded to give the power of collection and management to the regulatory body in charge of broadcasting. 

·The re-worded provision should be located in another part of the constitution where the regulatory body in charge of broadcasting is recognized/listed as a Federal Executive Body and included as part of its functions. 

Nigerians Endorse Rotimi Akeredolu For Ondo Guber Election

By Femi Oladapo

NIGERIANS from all walks of life have endorsed Chief Rotimi Akeredolu as the most suitable person among those jostling for the position of governor of Ondo state in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

Cross section of professionals, who spoke with our correspondents within and outside Ondo state, recently, expressed confidence that the real sun of Ondo state will shine if Akeredolu emerge as the next governor of the state, based on his wealth of experience and international connections.

According to the Coordinator of a non governmental organisation, Ondo State Democracy Forum, Comrade Olufemi Adelakun, the best thing that will happen to Ondo state is for a highly rated international legal luminary like Chief Rotimi Akeredolu to emerge as the governor of Ondo state on October 20, 2012.

In the words of Adelakun, “We need a clear departure form the present cosmetics government of Olusegun Mimiko and it is only a political personality like Chief Rotimi Akeredolu that we need to take our sunshine state to the Promised Land. We have been deceived enough by the present government and I think this is the best time to make a wise decision by voting for Akeredolu, in order to bring an end to the lackluster performance of Mimiko.”

Also, students across Ondo state have endorsed the aspiration of Chief Akeredolu because of their belief that he is known to be a man of his words, unlike those they described as dribblers, who prefer to toy with the destiny of thousand of students of Ondo state origin.

Hundreds of students of Ondo state origin at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Federal University of Science and Technology, (FUTA) Akure and Adeyemi College of Education told this paper in confidence that they will mobilise for Chief Rotimi Akeredolu so that he would help them to send Governor Olusegun Mimiko packing on October 20 this year.

The boldest among the students, Johnson Omolayo said Dr Mimiko deceived students to vote for him by promising that what his administration would do for them would surpass what previous governments have done, but all hiss promises, according to him were not fulfilled since he assumed the position of governor of Ondo state in 2009.

“I will enjoin my fellow students not to vote for the re-election of governor Mimiko. He has refused to pay our bursaries and scholarships since he came into power in 2009. For a governor to behave in that manner in his first term in office, now imagine the atrocities he would commit if given the opportunity to go for a second term.

Another area where Chief Rotimi Akeredolu may likely cost home to victory over his co-contestants is the legal arena were thousands of lawyers in Ondo state are reportedly rooting for his candidacy and eventual victory.

Majority of lawyers who spoke with our reporters were very happy to have a candidate in person of a former president of the Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA), presenting himself for service to the great people of Ondo state.

In the words of Barrister Soji Okewoye, “Everybody in Ondo state must rally round Chief Rotimi Akeredolu and ensure that he emerges as the candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria and as well become the next governor of Ondo state.”

“Akeredolu is attested and trusted leader. We have seen his achievements in the past offices he held and if given the chance to become the governor of Ondo state, I am sure the state would become an enviable one among its peers,” Okewoye added.

In addition, Igbo indigenes that are resident in Ondo state too, are not left out of those rooting for the emergence of Akeredolu as the next governor of Ondo state. Majority of Igbo indigenes across the eighteen local government areas of Ondo state, who spoke with THE PLATFORM were full of praises for Chief Akeredolu for being a detribalised Nigerian since he came into prominence. They claimed that, apart form the fact that he married an Igbo Woman, Mrs. Betty Chioma Anyanwu-Akeredolu, he has been displaying nationalistic tendencies in every position he assume, as well as in his day to day interaction with fellow Nigerians.

They all promised to contribute financially and morally to ensure that he is sworn into office as the next governor of Ondo state in February 2013.

Meanwhile, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu has purchased the form for indication of his interest in the governorship race of Ondo state at the national secretariat of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Abuja.

He was accompanied to the ACN secretariat, to purchase the form recently, by the Ondo state Chairman of ACN, Chief Adesoji Olusola; state Secretary, Hon. Adesipe Adegboyega; Treasurer, Engineer Ade Adetimehin; state Youth Leader, Enas Mohammed; and state Woman Leader Evelyn Modupe, among others.  

After receiving the nomination form, the constitution of the party and party guidelines from the National Secretary of ACN, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, Akeredolu told newsmen that power of incumbency would not work for Governor Olusegun Mimiko in the forthcoming election as he would defeat him without recourse to violence or thuggery. 

 "We are not going to engage anybody over the issue of incumbency. Where there is already abysmal failure, incumbency will not matter, he said".   

Born as Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu to Reverend J. Ola Akeredolu of Akeredolu family in Owo and Lady Evangelist Grace B. Akeredolu of Aderoyiju family of Igbotu, Ese Odo, on the 21st of July, 1956 in Owo, Ondo, State of Nigeria.

The then young Rotimi, now fondly called Aketi by his colleagues, friends and admirers, started his primary education at Government School, Owo. He proceeded to Aquinas College, Akure, Loyola Colege, Ibadan and Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, for his secondary school education and Higher School Certificate, respectively.

Aketi attended the most beautiful university on the African Continent, the great University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, in Ile Ife, Osun State, where he obtained his LLB degree in 1977 and the B.L from the Nigerian Law School in 1978.  His leadership traits soon came to the fore with his election as the Vice President, Students’ Union, University Of Ife, for the 1975 to1976 academic session.

He served the Nigerian Bar Association in various capacities at both the branch and national levels meritoriously. His record of service spans almost three decades. Aketi was the Secretary General of Nigerian Bar Association, Ibadan branch, 1985 to 1986. He has been a member of National Executive Council of the Association from 1985 till date. He served as the Publicity Secretary during the regime of the late Alao Aka Bashorun, a period considered as the golden era of the Bar, 1988 to 1989. He was also a member of Legal Aid Council of Nigeria from 1989 to 1991. He became the Vice Chairman of the Ibadan branch in 1991 and subsequently the Chairman between 1992 and 1994. His thirst for service compelled him to accept to serve the Old Boys’ Association of one of his secondary schools, Loyola College, Ibadan, as the Secretary General from 1995 to 1999.

He became the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State between 1997 and 1999 serving at the same time as a member of the Ondo State Judicial Service Commission. He embarked on far reaching reforms as the AG of the state. Some of his achievements are still visible in the state judiciary today. He was also a member of the Council of Legal Education during this period by virtue of his position as the AG. He first became a member of Body of Benchers at the same time, 1997 to 1999, and was subsequently re-appointed in 2006. He remains a member till date. He was the Chairman of the Legal Aid Council from 2005 to 2006. He was conferred with the prestigious title of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1998.

He was a member of the Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies between 2008 and 2010, a member of Council of Legal Education, a member of Council, International Bar Association and Pan African Lawyers Union during the same period. He currently serves as NBA representative in the National Judicial Council. A devout Christian, he is the Chancellor of the Anglican Church, Owo Diocese.

Aketi has been the recipient of many distinguished awards from reputable organisations both at home and abroad. These include the OAU Alumni Association Merit Award, 1995, NBA Award of recognition on the conferment of the SAN title in 1998, Loyola College Old boys’ Association Merit Award, 1995, Sports Writers Association Merit Award as the Legal Adviser, 1995, Sports Writers Association Merit Award as the Patron, 1998, Qatari Bar Association Award, among others numerous to mention.

He married Betty Chioma Anyanwu-Akeredolu of Emeabiam, Owerri Local Government. The marriage is blessed with four kids, Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu (Jnr), Dr Teniola Adanma Akeredolu, Miss Yejide Ayomofe Akeredolu and Babajide Ayotola Akeredolu.