Yet another state of emergency declaration in Nigeria. No thanks to some over-zealous state legislators and a dirty governor. The south western state of Ekiti is the second to go under federal government-declared state of emergency after Plateau experienced same in 2004. While there are some similarities between the two states, it was the gross disregard for proper constitutional process that led to the  suspension of the democratic institutions in Ekiti. The state will be ‘ruled’ for the next six months by an Ex-military governor hand-picked by the president.
After the disposed governor, Ayo Fayose, was indicted on corruption charges, the state legislature went into overdrive, and after series of constitutional faux pas sacked the state Chief Justice (CJ), the panel constituted to probe the governor,  and then impeached the governor and his deputy. The legislature shot itself in the foot by sacking the CJ, an action it can’t (and shouldn’t have) perform under the constitution, and which several constitutional lawyers have condemned.
Events took a worse (and a comical) turn when the speaker of the legislature (the third in the chain of command) and the (impeached) deputy governor started staking claims to the office of the governor. The impeached governor took a cue from this drama and proclaimed he remains the bona fide governor. The cumulative effect was as messy and hilarious as it was dangerous to the sociopolitical integrity of the state, and the nation at large. That the feds stepped in and put the state under locked-down is no surprise and much expected. And given the course of events, it’s an appropriate step even if undesirable.
At present, impeachment process is ongoing in at least two others states in Nigeria. Of the two governors impeached before Fayose, one was removed under very questionable circumstances. One governor lost his seat when an electoral tribunal ruled that he got in under fraudulent means. It is interesting that these governors all came into office under the banner of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party in Nigeria. A party that has had some rough weather in recent times: assassination of key members, political gangsterism, financial scandals, impeachments, and lately the mudslinging between the president and his deputy.Â
Given what the PDP has put Nigeria through in the last seven years, it shouldn’t be a surprise that some quarters are clamoring for changes when the nation goes to the poll come 2007. While this change may be desirable, the real need as far as I’m corcern, is accountability, afterall, several of those wanting a change are former members of the PDP.
Have you seen the latest from the Nigerian EFCC? I left a comment over at Chippla’s place (see Defining Corruption post) and would advise you to read the Oct 20th BBC News article:
“Nigerian leaders stole $380bn”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6069230.stm
They’re back… in business again. Or were they ever out of business under the leadership of President Obasanjo?
The Nigerian EFCC chief Nuhu Ribadu’s life is about as worthless as a plug nickel if he begins to layout prosecutable evidence against serving government leaders and prominent businesspeople who are guilty of these alleged crimes in Nigeria.
October 20, 2006 at 9:58 am
The bulk of this money was stolen before Obasanjo/Ribadu. The truth is that if Ribadu has access to all the evidence there are, it will be a miracle if any of the living Nigerian presidents (including Obasanjo) and their close associates escape the dragnet. But this is a sheer fantasy, it won’t happen.
So let Ribadu continue gathering the prosecutable evidence and deal with those he can. A lot depends on the incoming administration’s will and desire to continue the purge that Ribadu has started. For me, this is one important yard-stick to use in determining who among the presidential aspirants should be taken serious.
October 20, 2006 at 11:41 am
[...] The EFCC’s strategy of generating some buzz around corruption is necessary, and I welcome that. However, the agency has to do more than just issue proclamations on dirty public officials by building prosecutable cases that can stand the rigors of the court of law. As BRE (Jewels of the Jungle) states in a comment, ”the Nigerian EFCC chief Nuhu Ribadu’s life is about as worthless as a plug nickel if he begins to layout prosecutable evidence against serving government leaders and prominent businesspeople who are guilty of these alleged crimes in Nigeria.” [...]
October 29, 2006 at 1:16 am
[...] Obi is the second state exec to lose his job in 4 weeks. It appeared the run-away Anambra state legislature acted out the scripts of the Oyo state legislature that fired its governor some 9 months earlier. The last time a state exec got fired (Ekiti state), the impeachment got botched and hell broke lose, the feds had stepped in and put the state under-lock down, by declaring a state of emergency. It is amazing what some belligerent hyperactive Nigerian legislators can do. [...]
November 3, 2006 at 10:12 am
[...] Dariye is impeached, and - just as the Ekiti governor who was kicked out about a month earlier - has gone into hiding. He has simply disappeared into thin air. [...]
November 14, 2006 at 7:41 pm
[...] Using events in the southwestern state of Ekiti as a pivot - a state that has suffered some political misfortunes in the last two months - and profiling Kayode Fayemi, a former pro-democracy activist turned gubernatorial candidate, the NYT article captures the rot that has eaten deep into the Nigerian political fabric. [...]
November 24, 2006 at 4:37 pm