THE governing council of the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti state, has suspended the selection process for a new vice chancellor for the institution.
Adeyinka Ademuyiwa, the institution’s director of corporate services, who announced this on Thursday, said the decision was necessary to address the concerns and complaints of some stakeholders involved in the selection exercise.
According to him, the council has received not less than 120 petitions before it.
“In a session presided over by the University Governing Council Chairman, Dr Lawan Yahuza on Wednesday, members agreed to temporarily halt the ongoing processes to appoint a new vice-chancellor,” he said.
“FUOYE governing council remains committed to credible, transparent, fair, and just processes; and is open to suggestions and corrections that will help to deliver on this sensitive assignment.
“Both Yahuza and the vice-chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, wish to appreciate the diligence, steadfastness, commitment, and patriotism of council members and friends of FUOYE.”
He added that since FUOYE is handling the process of appointing the vice-chancellor for the first time, human errors are bound to occur in what is essentially a learning process and assured that the institution management is ready to correct such errors and deliver an acceptable appointment process.
“The governing council will reconvene on December 17 to discuss the way forward.
“This is to further underscore the council’s unflinching resolution to deliver a credible, transparent, fair and just process which will result in the emergence of a new vice-chancellor.”
The ICIR can confirm that not less than 72 candidates are jostling to occupy the position of Kayode Somerekun, the current vice chancellor of the university whose tenure will be ending by February 2021.
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has announced the approval of the increase of N-Power and GEEP beneficiaries to one million.
He has also declared that the number of pupils fed through the Federal Government’s funded school feeding programme should be increased to five million.
In a tweet on his verified Twitter page on Thursday, the president attributed the decisions to his administration’s pledge to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.
“We remain committed to the plan to lift 100m Nigerians out of poverty. To this end, I have approved an increase in scope of our Social Investment Programme: Doubling of @npower_ng beneficiaries to 1 million; 1 million new @geep_ng beneficiaries & 5 million new pupils for @NHGSFP,” the president said.
The N-Power Programme is a job creation and skills empowerment programme of the Federal Government. It is designed to help young Nigerians acquire and develop life-long skills to become practical solution providers in their communities, enabling them to become innovative players in the domestic and global markets.
The programme such as N-Build, N-Creative and N-knowledge, which is designed for young people between the ages of 18 and 35, targets non-graduate applicants. For the graduate programme, the initiative includes N-Agro, N-Health, N-Teach and N-Tax. And under Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programmes, GEEP, there are interventions such as Trader Moni, Farmer Moni and Market Moni.
The National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) aims to deliver a cost-effective home-grown school feeding programme with a specific focus on increasing school enrolment, reducing the incidence of malnutrition especially among the poor; empowering cooks while supporting local agriculture through smallholder farmers, thereby stimulating economic growth through the socio-economic value chain.
Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development oversees many of these initiatives, some of which have now attracted wide allegations of corrupt practices.
THE World Health Organisation, WHO disclosed that Africa needs at least $9 billion to procure and distribute 1.4 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
Richard Mihigo, WHO Immunisation and Vaccines Development Programme Coordinator, revealed this at the WHO Africa online press briefing on readiness for COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in Africa on Thursday.
In a Twitter post, Mihigo emphasised that there is a need to ensure an equitable and timely distribution of the vaccines.
"As we have seen a rollout in the global north, the equitable distribution of vaccine in low income country is a real problem. Some countries have pre ordered doses of vaccines much greater than needed".
“We will definitely need to vaccinate between 60 to 70 per cent of the African population.
“So, if you consider that we have about 1.2 to 1.3 billion people on the African continent and you take 60 per cent of that with the assumption that you will need maybe two doses per population, we are talking about close to 1.3 to 1.4 billion vaccine doses that will be needed to immunise 60 per cent of the people in Africa to reach a herd immunity,” he said.
He explained that the cost of the vaccines was not problematic compared to the cost of delivering them and ensuring they get to the right locations.
“So if we compute that number with the preliminary information that we are getting with these vaccine manufacturers because it is not only the cost of the vaccines. There are also additional costs that are needed to deliver those vaccines,” he said.
According to an Oxfam report, Africa is not likely to recieve enough vaccines from COVAX to reach the goal of vaccinating 60 per cent of the population to achieve herd immunity because rich countries have purchased surplus of the vaccinces for their countries.
COVAX facility is a Gavi-coordinated pooled procurement mechanism for developing COVID-19 vaccines and ensuring fair and equitable access to make 20 per cent of the vaccines available.
The report states that Canada bought enough doses to vaccinate its population five times over, while South Korea, has bought sufficient vaccine for 88 percent of its population of more than 50 million people.
Mihigo added that there were no guarantees that there would be enough supplies for Africa before the end of 2021.
“We know very well that the preliminary rough estimation that is being done, we may need up to $9 billion.
“We are not sure that we are going to get enough supply to immunise everybody by the end of 2021. This may spill over to the year after but also to mobilise such an amount of money, I think it will be an additional challenge,” he said.
He also revealed that there are ongoing discussions with the African Union to work with other multilateral or development banks like the World Bank, Afrexim Bank to mobilise resources.
ABDULRASHEED Maina, former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Taskforce Team (PRTT), is the latest addition to the other Nigerian public officials that have created a dramatic scene during court trial or on National television.
Maina on Thursday, collapsed in the dock during the resumed hearing in his N2billion money laundering trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
And many Nigerians have branded his action as same old trick used by top government officials in the country.
Maina was recently extradited from the Niger Republic to Nigeria after he jumped bail and escaped from the country.
Before his dramatic collapse in the court, Anayo Adibe, Maina’s counsel was praying the court for an adjournment to enable him get records of court proceedings.
The case has now been adjourned till December 21 and 22.
Maina’s purported ill-health has been a major reason for his prolonged trial. In November 2019, his trial was stalled after a medical expert testified to his inability to appear before the court due to health reasons.
On another occasion, his lawyer claimed that Maina was bleeding during a court sitting.
Former Pension boss, Maina slumps in court
The ICIR in this report, compiles list of other top Nigerian officials who gave a “Oscar-worthy” performances when charged to court for a case of money laundering, fraud or any other crime.
These top guns often fall ill, get admitted to a hospital, and then show up in court in a wheelchair. There are those who also put appearance of sickness on national television.
Dino Melaye
Dino Melaye. a Nigerian politician that represented Kogi West Senatorial district in the 8th National Assembly, is one of them.
Melaye is aguably one of the most dramatic politicians in Nigeria, as no Nigerian politician feeds off controversy like him.
In April 2018, Melaye jumped out of a moving police van as he was being transported to face criminal charges in Kogi State.
On January 4, 2019, Melaye surrendered to the police after a seven-day siege was placed on his Abuja Maitama residence. Police officers had invaded his Abuja home on Friday, December 28, 2018 to arrest him for his alleged involvement in the shooting of a police officer, Danjuma Saliu, a Sergeant in July 2018.
Minutes after his surrender, Melaye slumped and was assisted to the police car. On arrival at the police headquarters, he appeared very weak and could not walk by himself and had to be helped into the office where he slumped again as he was breathing heavily. He was said to be asthmatic.
In 2019, Senator Dino Melaye slept outside the DSS hospital after he was moved there by police personnel insisting that he would not enter the DSS medical facility until he was told why he was moved from the Police Hospital in Abuja.
Dino Melaye sleeping outside the DSS hospital
Olisa Metuh
Olisa Metuh is a Nigerian Lawyer, politician and the former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He was arrested in 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) for the N400 million he and his company Destra Investment Limited allegedly received from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in 2014.
His drama started following a confusion caused by his sudden collapse in the court. The development forced the presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, to stand down the matter for almost half an hour to enable medical officials attend to him.
On February 5, 2018, Metuh appeared in court on a stretcher after Justice Abang ruled that he would have his bail revoked if he didn’t show up for the continuation of his trial. Again on March 14, 2018, Metuh appeared in court on a wheelchair. And on May 21, 2018, he collapsed while making his way to the dock for cross-examination.
After making several court appearances coupled with slumping dramas, Metuh was found guilty of money laundering and sentenced to seven years in prison on February 25, 2020.
Olisa Metuh collapses in court during trial
Ayodele Fayose, the famous “I am in pains” former governor of Ekiti
Peter Ayodele Fayose is a former governor of Ekiti State.
He is best known for one his famous line “I am in pains”, “I am in severe pains” acting on national television.
Fayose cried while speaking on Channels Television in 2018, saying he was in pains after he was allegedly “shot at” and manhandled by security agents.
He then broke down into tears, lamenting “I cannot take this anymore” before crawling away from the camera.
“How can I be Governor of Ekiti State and be treated like this in my own country? My people, I call on all of you: Stand and remain standing,” he said to the crowd. “I will go back to the hospital for a while to rest… I am having a lot of pains, but I prefer to bear these pains because of you. I prefer to bear these pains because of you…” Fayose said amidst sobs.
Lere Olayinka, spokesman of the former governor, said his principal lost consciousness and was taken to the Government House Clinic after policemen fired teargas canisters into the Government House.
Ayodele Fayose crying “I am in severe pains” on national TV
Daniel Pondei
Although, not a politician, Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei is a Nigerian professor and the current acting managing director of Niger Delta Development Commission.
The acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), fainted as the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC grilled him on Monday July 20, 2020 during an investigation on alleged financial misappropriation at the commission.
Pondei had been grilled for over an hour when he slowly slumped over his desk, appearing to faint.
Several people present at the hearing rushed to his aid, propping him up and attempting to stabilise him, with the proceedings halted.
He then appeared to be in a seizure with a man holding open his mouth as others held him upright.
Pondei, however, replied critics who desribed his action as shameful.
“I had an unexplained, unexpected health challenge. It is ridiculous to think that people believed I was acting.
“I would not pray for anyone to experience what I went through.
“I do not run from issues. I have put all that behind me,” he said in an interview with Vanguard.
NDDC Probe: Pondei slumps on National TV
Maj. Gen. Hakeem Otiki
The former GOC faces court martial in wheelchair over the alleged diversion of N400m by five runaway soldiers attached to the division in September 2019.
He appeared to be ill and was brought into the court on a wheelchair, having beside him medical officers of the Nigerian Army who monitored him during the trial.
On June 16, 2020 a military court headed by the army’s chief of policy and plans, Lamidi Adeosun, found Mr Otiki guilty of disobedience to service orders, theft of public property, diverting operational money and engaging in private businesses.
The tribunal ordered that he should be demoted from major general to brigadier general and dismissed.
Major General Hakeem Otiki, General Officer Commanding 8 Division Nigerian Army, appeared in a wheelchair during his trial.
Haliru Bello
Haliru Bello Mohammed, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, appeared before the Federal High Court, Abuja, sitting in a wheelchair.
The EFCC had on December 26, 2015, filed a four-count charge of money laundering against the politician for his alleged role in the diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms in the office of the National Security Adviser.
Haliru Bello Mohammed arrives court on wheelchair
Nigerians are tired of same script by government officials
The ICIR monitored reactions by some Nigerians online after news broke out that Maina also slumped during his court trial on Thursday.
A Twitter user identified as Sammie said “This is never a serious country. We have not recovered from Prof. Pondei’s fainting and Maina is slumping. Many pensioners died because of his reckless act, pls can the judge sentence him to death recklessly too, until strict laws are taken corruption will always become a tradition.”
Loho Samuel wrote “Very popular act! When the heat is on, they become like Pete Edochie and Ramsey Noah. I think these guys deserve oscars for their acting proficiency.”
Ogheneochuko said “I think certain English clubs need to start employing the service of Nigeria politicians. They are so skilled with different tactics to manoeuvre their way out of difficult situations.”
Abi Baiyewu tweeted, “The content on Nollywood has improved over time. Public office entertainers in Nigeria are yet to catch on. Same ol’, same ol’. Our dear #Maina followed the traditional courtroom script.”
Ebitu Promise said: “What’s really the mystery behind these politicians slumping when it’s time to question them about their corrupt activities.”
THE Akwa Ibom state police command has charged four citizens of the state with treasonable felony for leading #ENDSARS protest in the state on Tuesday.
The suspects, whose names were identified as Idopise Ette Oton, Obot MfonGod, God’sfriend Michael and Victor Nta George, are part of a group named ‘End Bad Governance Initiative’ in the state.
The ICIR learnt that they had gone to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to protest against bad governance, the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), freezing of accounts of ENDSARS protesters, border closure, increment in electricity tariffs, fuel pump price, misgovernance by the state government, among other sundry issues, when they were arrested by the police.
The police subsequently charged them before the magistrate’s court in Uyo presided over by Chief Magistrate Winifred Umohandy with fraudulent, malicious and frivolous charge of forming intention to overthrow President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Udom Emmanuel on Wednesday.
But the case was soon dismissed following an objection that the magistrate’s court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the treasonable felony charge brought against the accused persons.
However, The ICIR was told that no sooner had the case been dismissed that armed policemen acting on the directive of the governor through the commissioner of police arrested the accused persons right in the court’s premises.
Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer, who gave the account of the incident in a Facebook post has condemned the action of the state government and the police.
“The protesters who were freed by the court are still in the custody of the police. This shameful action by governor Udom Emmanuel is only the latest in a string of dictatorial actions that Mr Udom Emmanuel has carried out since he came to office,” he said.
It is shameful that Udom Emmanuel, who pretends to be an opposition leader in the country, has desecrated the hallowed temple of justice in his bid to quell all forms of dissent in the State. Akwa Ibom State is under a fascist regime that uses terror, fear and violence as instruments of control.
Effiong added that it is distasteful that the recently posted Police Commissioner, will reduce the State Police Command to a political weapon for corrupt politicians, and allow himself to be used as a tool by the governor to witch-hunt citizens who are exercising their rights under the Nigerian Constitution.”
He called for the immediate release of the protesters.
Every attempt to reach the state police command proved abortive as calls repeatedly put across to Nnudam Fredrick, the police spokesperson were not answered.
Also, a text message sent to his phone was not replied to as at the time of filing this report.
AN investigative report funded by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, ICIR, on Wednesday emerged winner at the 2020 Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR).
The 15th edition of the award programme which held in Lagos had in attendance investigative reporters, news editors and dignitaries.
WSAIR promotes and encourages best practices in journalism and works that focus on themes ranging from regulatory failures, corruption in the public and corporate spheres, and human rights abuses in the country.
Damilola Banjo, an investigative reporter with BBC, won the overall Nigeria Investigative Journalist of the year 2020 for her investigation on Justice for Sale: Inside the Lagos Anti-Cultism ‘Illegal’ Detention Centre which was published by The ICIR.
The joint investigative piece by Habib Oladapo and Damilola Banjo, “Inside a Lagos state school where A1 can be bought” (Part 1& 2), published by The ICIR, was commended in the same category.
Banjo’s report exposed the encounters of several Nigerians, old and young, with the police institution in Nigeria that brazenly violates the fundamental human rights of citizens and the country’s law through arbitrary arrests, illegal detention, torture, and commoditizing justice and bail.
Her investigation showed that at every point in the Nigerian justice system, there is a corrupt government official ripping innocent Nigerians off and doing it so brazenly.
Her second report exposes examination malpractices in a popular Lagos school during the last WAEC and JAMB exams.
A victory for grit, hard work and mentorship – Banjo told The ICIR
In a phone conversation with Damilola Banjo, she said emerging overall Nigeria Investigative Journalist of the year 2020 at the WSAIR is a victory for grit, hard work and mentorship. “I will like to give a special mention to the man who gave me my first shot, Omoyele Sowore, and every person that have helped me in my very young career,” she said.
According to her, there has been a frightening surge in violation of press freedom and human rights across the country. Just as journalists are being hounded and their words maliciously taken out of context, we have also seen war weapons deployed to quell peaceful protests.
“It is a hard time to be a Nigerian and indeed a dangerous time to be a journalist. Yet, it is the time for more rigorous, fact-based journalism that continues to uphold the truth, strengthen our democracy and hold everyone to account—not just the government.
“This award is to everyone who have labored for people like me to come through. To all the journalists putting their safety at risk to tell the much needed stories.”
Banjo went further to thank “Selase Kove-Seyram, an astute journalist from Ghana, the TigerEye Foundation and the International Centre For Investigative Reporting (ICIR) that funded the impactful stories that was awarded. Idris Akinbajo of Premium Times and Amzat Ajibola of The ICIR, two renowned editors who continue to show me how indispensable editors are. Editors are gods.
“I dedicate this to my two mums, single mothers who taught me perseverance and hard work, my little brother, my colleagues and friends. This is a victory for you all,” she said.
She, however, thanks Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism for the yearly encouragement they give to journalists in Nigeria.
Other winners from the 2020 WSAIR include Victor Asowata of Punch Newspaper, who won the Editorial Cartoon Category and Bukola Samuel Wemimo of TVC News as the winner of the Television category.
To reinforce WSCIJ’s three-day in-depth media conference and awards’ campaign on the theme – Masked not silenced, Juliana Francis, the 2014 WSCIJ-Nigerian Investigative Reporter of the Year, made a statement on behalf of the organisation.
The statement highlighted the fact that the media has been masked by many challenges, but it remains undaunted and cannot be silenced. Juliana concluded the speech with a call to action for reporters to investigate the death of Pelumi Onifade, the Gboah reporter who died in the custody of officers attached to the Lagos Task Force.
Held first in October 2005, the programme has produced 102 finalists with 11 investigative journalists of the year and 24 honorary awards recipients. This year, the winners, runners-up and commended works were presented cash prizes of N200,000, N100,000 and N50,000 respectively, plus a certificate of commendation. In addition, winners got award plaques and a laptop; runners-up got a smartphone and commended works got a hard drive.
The promo of “Child sex trade”, a documentary by Sharon Ijasan which will be aired on TVC on Sunday 13 December during the 10pm news, was aired at the award event. Ijasan received an anonymous grant at last year’s edition where she was runner up for her work on child labour. The 2020 ceremony was moderated by Deji Badmus, Executive Director, TV360, and three-time winner of the award. It was enlivened by a musical dance performance by the Kininso Koncepts which faulted the impunity with which politicians and men in uniform attack and harass journalists for speaking the truth to power.
JANET Bejide, a 75-year-old woman on Wednesday told the Ekiti State Judicial Panel of Inquiry how she was hit by a stray bullet shot by the men of the Nigerian Police Force at her shop in Ire-Ekiti, Oye local government of the state.
Bejide said the ugly incident happened on August 10 when the men in the uniform stormed the town and started shooting sporadically.
The woman, who said she was selling cooked rice at shop before the incident happened stated that she was only revived at the State Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital after she was felled by the bullet.
Bejide, who said her hand and body were perforated with gun bullets said she was rushed down to a private hospital and later to the State Teaching Hospital before regaining her consciousness
She said, “I was selling cooked rice and the policemen came shooting, I bowed down and cover my head with clothes and hand in order to avoid the impact of the tear gas.
I suddenly felt something hit my shoulder, neck and leg and that was all I knew before I woke up at the hospital.”
Bejide who could barely walk due to the impact of the gunshots in her leg prayed for compensation of N20 million from the panel, saying it would enable her to have adequate treatment.
“Since that time I have been having headache, I have not been finding it easy to live a comfortable life, now I have problem with my two eyes and my neck.
“My legs are paining me, I need more and adequate treatment on my leg, hand and all the weaknesses in my body, Please help me, so that I will not die from this pain.
“I need good health, I want to return to my normal life, please help me,” the woman pleaded.
However, Samson Osobu, the police counsel, told the petitioner that, “on the day of the incident, the town was celebrating the annual Ogun festival, and that there used to be gunshots during the festival, with large influx of people into the town.”
Bejide refuted the claim and stated that the day was not for Ogun festival, adding that nobody used fire arms but cane for Ogun celebrations in the town.
Justice Cornelius Akintayo (retd), the Chairman of the panel, adjourned the hearing to December 10 for continuation of hearing on other petitions.
JEAN Adukwei Mensah, Chairperson of the Ghana Electoral Commission on Wednesday evening declared the incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as president-elect of the 2020 presidential election.
Mensah said the ruling party won John Mahama, candidate of the major opposition with 515,524 votes difference from a total valid votes of 13,434,574.
While Akufo-Addo of the NPP polled 13, 434,574 votes from the total valid votes cast, Mahama who contested under platform of the National Democratic Party (NDC) obtained 6,214,889 votes.
Mahama was a former Ghanaian president whom many Ghanaians believed to have performed during his tenure, especially in the area of physical infrastructure provided across the country.
The election was conducted in 38,622 polling stations from across 275 constituencies in the 16 regions in the country.
“At the end of the transparent, orderly, fair, peaceful presidential election the total valid votes cast are 13,434,574. This represents about 75 per cent of the total registered voters,” Mensah the electoral commissioner said while disclosing winner of the presidential election.
She said the result excludes Techiman South Constituency which has a total voters population of 128, 018.
Mensah who was the Electoral Returning Officer for the poll said the decision to announce Akufo-Addo as winner without considering election results from Techiman South constituency was due to contentions of the result in the constituent.
She said collation was yet to be completed as well.
According to her, the 128,018 total population was insignificant if collated and added to the existing results of both candidates.
Her words: “It is important to note, however, that the difference between the total number of votes between the first and second candidates is 515, 524 votes. As a result, if we are to add the 128,018 full results to the result of the second candidate, it will not change outcome of the election.
“Hence, our declaration of the 2020 presidential result without Techima-South. Indeed, if we are to collate the entire result of the Techima South constituency and add to the percentage of the second candidate, John Mahama, he will obtain 47.83 percent of the total vote cast and Akufo-Addo will obtain 50.8 per cent of the total vote cast.
“It is on that basis that we say the outcome of the election will not change, hence, our declaration of our 2020 presidential election result without Techima south.”
“On the basis of the foregoing, by the power vested in me, I declare Nana Akufo-Addo President-Elect of the Republic of Ghana,” she declared. The ICIR had earlier reported an early win for the incumbent president follwing his major lead across most of the regions in the country.
REPRESENTATIVES of media and civil society organizations (CSOs) in Nigeria have scored Buhari administration low in the fight against corruption.
The groups are united in their views that President Muhammadu Buhari lacks political will to confront corruption head long.
They made this statement on Wednesday during a radio program “Public Conscience”, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development (PRIMORG), in Abuja to commemorate the 2020 International Anti-Corruption day.
Eze Onyekpere, the executive director of Centre for Social Justice, expressed worry about the reluctance of the Buhari administration to sanction public holders indicted of corruption.
He noted that the International Anti-Corruption Day should serve as a reminder to reawaken the consciousness of the government and Nigerians that the fight against corruption is not over yet.
He, therefore, called on the ģovernment to refresh its mechanism, processes and procedures in the anti-graft fight, urging the president to sanction those indicted of corruption.
He also advised that the government should be proactive rather than being reactive. And this could be achieved “through education, prosecution, investing in technology to detect those involved in fraudulent transactions and through taking all necessary steps like the judicial, legislative and administrative steps will take Nigeria very close to eradicating corruption in the Nigeria society,” he said.
In the same vein, Ajibola Amzat , Editor of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, ICIR, identified the lack of strategy by President Buhari-led government as one of the main reasons the country is not making expected progress in the fight against corruption.
“I still think this government does not have the method to fight corruption. The president may have a very good intention but it seems he does not have a clear strategy to fight corruption.
“And It is not a rocket science because already there are laws this government can use to ensure that corruption is fought to standstill. If the government is serious about fighting corruption, just make sure that every transaction of the government is kept in the open,” he said.
Amzat also gave pass mark to the media, saying the media in Nigeria has lived up to its responsibility of keeping the government accountable in line with the section 22 of the Nigerian constitution.
Fidelis Macleva, the investigative editor with the Daily Trust, lamented the prevalence of corruption and the abuse of power in the three tiers of government in Nigeria. He noted that lack of political will to punish perpetrators of corruption by the government was deterring Nigeria in the fight against corruption.
He also called on citizens to reduce their demands and pressure mounted on political appointees and high ranking public office holders which also encourages corruption.
“Politics comes to play here, the fight against corruption is selective. So, long as you allow impunity to thrive instead of frontally attacking the issues of corruption, we will continue to run in circles,” he stated.
Earlier, an investigative journalist with The Cable, Chinedu Asadu lamented citizens’ apathy in participating in governance. He stressed that the citizen’s attitude partly contributes to the culture of corruption.
Asadu called for active citizen participation in the fight against corruption.
He also expressed the need for strong institutional framework in order to build a sustainable system of fighting corrupt practice in the country.
“The attention is usually on the heads of government agencies, but we need to have a strong system when talking about sustainability. Most often the fight against corruption is on the heads and the key leaders but the system is just very fragile.”
Several callers who weighed in on the topic also berated the government’s lackluster effort to fighting corruption.
The United Nations has marked every 9th of December as the International Anti-Corruption Day.
JEAN Adukwei Mensah, Chairperson of the Ghana Electoral Commission on Wednesday says the commission has so far received 14 out of 16 results from the Regional Collation Centres, thus awaiting two outstanding results from two regions.
One of the regions is the Northern Region where Mensah complained of over-voting, a situation she said the commission was addressing. The Bono East Region is the next affected area.
“The commission has received 14 out of the 16 regional results,” she said while explaining the collation process.
“From the polling units level, the results are sent to the constituency collation centres in the presence of the party agents. And at the constituency collation centres, all results from the polling units are collated, recorded on the polling sheets and signed by all agents of the political parties from the polling units to the regional collation centre…”
The regional collation centre, she disclosed was introduced as a new initiative as part of measures to further promote transparency in the election process. Unlike previous elections where constituency collated results are sent to the national collation centre at the electoral commission headquarters, the constituency results are sent to the regional collation centre.
NORTH EAST REGION – CERTIFIED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS:
— Electoral Commission Of Ghana (@ECGhanaOfficial) December 9, 2020
As such, every region collates constituency results in its region, thus “if a region has 20 constituencies, you find on the regional collation sheet the details of 20 constituency results. Additionally, you also have a regional signing sheet. And you have the political parties involved. They verify and approve it thus makes it difficult for anybody to rig the election.”
But as of the time of her briefing, Nana Akufo-Addo, the incumbent President contesting under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has so far polled 6,375,560 votes while the major opposition candidate, John Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate got 5,879,737.
The entire 16 regions in Ghana include Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono East, Bono, Central, Eastern and Greater Accra. Others are the North East region, Northern, Oti, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western North and the Western Region.
All the regions are also made of 275 Constituencies from where Members of Parliaments (MPs) are elected to legislate for the next four years.
But the commission, she noted is working with the political party agents at the National Collation Centre within the Commission’s headquarter to review all the election results so far received.
“Two representatives each from the political parties, including representatives from the national democratic congress, are at the commission, working with the commission’s staff at the national collation centres,” Mensah disclosed.
According to her, 258 Constituencies from the 275 have so far been cleared. There are 17 constituencies left.
Also, from the 14 results received from the regional collation centres, only seven have been certified.
Reports from local media showed results from the parliamentary election has so far been tightly shared between the two major parties. The NPP got 131 seats while the NDC won 126.
In the briefing, the Resident Electoral Officer, however, apologised for the commission’s inability to declare the presidential result in 24 hours as promised.
The commission had earlier boasted the election result would be made public on Tuesday, 5 pm about 24 hours after the poll.
A total of 17,027,655 registered voters from about 17,027,641 eligible Ghanaian voters were expected to vote at the December 7 poll across the 38,622 polling stations in the country.
Based on the election declaration system, winner of the presidential election must have also polled 50 per cent of the total valid votes cast plus one.
The ICIR, however, gathered that for the major candidates to satisfy the above requirement, Akufo-Addo may need to poll extra 300, 000 votes while Mahama would need at least 800,000 votes from the two regions.
These figures amount to about 1 million votes to determine the winner of the election.
“We want the media to highlight some of these issues to inform the political parties. It may be important to share some of these details on your websites,” Mensah advised the media organisations as findings revealed that both parties and their loyalists have been celebrating, claiming victory even though the electoral body is yet to finally announce the winner of the presidential election.
“We are updating some of the results that have been declared on our websites to show how the results are arrived at.”
