* Obasanjo’s search more rebels could invite violence – Dumeezor Sampson
Chief Ogbonna Nwuke (right) at an award giving ceremony. On his left is Engineer Sam Ali.
A former member of the National Assembly and one-time Commissioner for Information in Rivers State, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the amended Electoral Act into law.
Nwuke said on a live programme, Open Conversation broadcast on Atlantic Television that there was no justification for the President to withhold accent after the National Assembly had finished work on the amended act.
Nnamdi Izoukwu (Host), Chief Ogbonna Nwuke and Dumeezor Sampson on set
“The President should sign the bill” Nwuke stressed while speaking Monday on the programme, “That’s what he (President) owes Nigerians.”
“There are mathematical calculations”, Nwuke hinted, which have to do with timelines that INEC would eventually set before an election, saying the delay to initial the bill was not in the best interest of the nation.
The erstwhile spokesman of the APC said he understood the growing restiveness that is coming particularly from a group of civil society organisations, but said, the president himself, has agreed that he is “Baba Go Slow.”
The former lawmaker argued that the wisdom and advice of the nation’s Attorney General could not be equated with the yearning and aspiration of the Nigerian people as articulated by their elected reps in the National Assembly.
Nwuke argued that the electoral Act is one of the most amended acts, saying “we cannot have all the amendments that we need in one bill.”
Urging the President to sign the bill into law, the newspaper publisher observed that there was still room because of the dynamism of time to introduce further amendments to the act in future.
On the new party manifesto that the PDP is proposing, Chief Nwuke said it was a bold effort by the party to clearly articulate its social contract with the Nigerian people and bring it up to date with social realities on ground.
Acknowledging that the core values of the PDP manifesto would still remain, he explained that the party was determined to pursue its historic mission and respond to the desire of the Nigerian people.
Dumeezor Sampson weighs in, in support of President Muhammadu Buhari
Also speaking, Dumeezor Sampson, representing the Freedom House, a group led by Senator Magnus Abe in the APC, said Nigerians are wondering why the PDP would tinker with its manifesto at this time.
He argued that the PDP which was kicked out of power in 2015 is yet to fully implement what it has put together as its manifesto, stressing it was too early for the opposition party to contemplate a review of its manifesto.
Dumeezor disagreed with Lukman, former Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum, PGF, for making skating remarks about the APC that have been credited to him in the press.
Dumeezor also disagreed with comments credited to former President Olusegun Obasanjo which suggested Nigeria needs more rebels in order to effect a change or speak truth to power.
He said such comments were capable of inciting violence and derailing democracy in the country.
He aligned with President Buhari on his decision to cede the reworked Electoral Act to the Attorney General for advice, saying “the President is not a lawyer.”
President Muhammadu Buhari (right) having a walk with former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
In his reaction when a question was put to him, Nwuke said the move by the PDP to update its manifesto showed “the PDP is ahead of the APC” in terms of its resolve to address national issues.
Chiding the ruling party for being unable to organise its National Convention, for watching the slide in the value of the naira vis-a-vis the dollar, the former member of the APC said it was clear the party’s poor policy permutation has landed Nigerians in serious trouble.
Comparing the two leading parties in the country, Nwuke said the APC cannot be compared to the PDP.
He said the PDP was ready to face the Nigerian people whereas the APC is unable even to defend its actions in government.
On Obasanjo’s remarks, the former lawmaker said “Nigeria is in search of patriots who would speak truth to power not rebels.”
He however admitted that the former President may have spoken figuratively when he made the remark about Nigeria requiring more rebels to speak truth to power, a comment that is becoming a major talking point.
Recall that Obasanjo had made the said remark at a book launch.