The FACTS
On the 5th of May, 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari, in exercise of his constitutional right and mandate, duly nominated 12 persons to fill the positions of the Governing Board of the North- East Development Commission, NEDC, whose then Governing Board was due to expire on the 7th of May, 2023.
President Buhari’s nominations were made known through two channels: Garba Shehu, President Buahri’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity issued a press statement, mentioning the fresh nominees as: Barr Bashir Bukar Baale, Chairman (North-East, Yobe), Suwaiba Idris Baba, Executive Director, Humanitarian Affairs (North-East, Taraba), Musa Umar Yashi, Executive Director, Administration and Finance (North-East, Bauchi), Dr Ismaila Nuhu Maksha, Executive Director, Operations (North-East, Adamawa), and Umar Abubakar Hashidu, MD/CEO (North-East, Gombe).
Others are: Grema Ali, Member (North-East, Borno), Onyeka Gospel-Tony, Member (South-East), Hon Mrs Hailmary Ogolo Aipoh, Member (South-South), Air Commodore Babatunde Akanbi (rtd), Member (South-West), Mustapha Ahmed Ibrahim, Member (North-West), Hadiza Maina, Member (North-Central), and a representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.
This was also communicated to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for due action, which shall be either confirmation or rejection of one, multiple or all of the nominees, as the Senate deems fit. To this day, Senator Ahmed Lawan’s 9th Senate has not acted on this important communication, despite receiving and acknowledging receipt of such.
After some 10 days of the expiration of the former Governing Board of the NEDC, abhorring an administrative vacuum via the non-action of the Senate, President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval for the fresh nominees to be sworn-in in Acting capacity, pending confirmation by the Senate.
The Gruesome Treachery
The un-Nigerian and unpatriotic act of knavery displayed by Ahmed Lawan’s 9th Senate in neither confirming nor rejecting President Buhari’s nominations for the memberships of the Governing Board of the NEDC, at its expiration, May 7, is not only disrespectful, but also bullyish and treacherous toward President Buhari’s constitutional right to choice of nominations.
In normal, lawful, respectful and seamless procedure, the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, was supposed to have read and conveyed to the Distinguished 9th Senate, President Buhari’s communication regarding nominations to the Governing Board of the NEDC. Then, the Distinguished Senate would move and act in either Confirmation of the nominees, or move and act in Rejection of one, multiple or all of the nominees. Unfortunately enough, and with an unpatriotic sting of mischief and wickedness, neither of the two actions was taken by the Senate. In fact, the Senate was denied knowledge and attention to President Muhammadu Buhari’s communication by no other person but the President of the Senate himself, Senator Ahmed Lawan.
After keenly opposing the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the coveted Nigeria’s Presidency, it would not be out of political thought to believe that Senator Ahmed Lawan is using this mean stance to get back at President Muhammadu Buhari, and also refuse to bequeath a condition of seamless governance to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Brazen Lie-Telling
The Citizens Action for Social and Economic Rights, CASER, through its lead advocate, Barr Frank Tietie, has written an advert article, claiming a call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to “Review the Constitution of the Board of the North-East Development Commission”. In this article in question, Barr Frank claims, in paragraph 8, that the current Board Members of the NEDC in acting capacity were “handpicked”. This is an insult on the character, values and personality of the former President Buhari, as these members were duly nominated and such nominations duly communicated to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In furtherance of his lie-telling reel, Barr Frank belched another oozy lie, in paragraph 6, that the then Minister of humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, “decided to swear in board members of the Commission in acting capacity without the authorization of President Buhari.” This is a despicable lie. Former President Buhari gave his explicit approval, through a letter which we have quoted above. It is instructive to note here that Barr Frank has already presented himself as a galloping trolley of lie-telling ramshackle baskets piled towards the wastebin. His tripping pen has inked him as an embodiment of pathological lies, and also of stark emptiness of the workings of the Nigerian system of governance and public administration. Needless to say, that neither educating nor schooling this lie-telling individual will produce a productive and patriotic citizen in him. His build is already complete: lie-telling, mischievous, and unpatriotic!
The Criminal Campaign of Calumny
Barr Frank Tietie has initiated a criminal campaign of calumny against the individual and collective persons of the nominated members of the Governing Board of the North-East Development Commission, NEDC, by ascribing “purported” to their due, legal and legitimate nominations. This is Barr Frank’s continuation of his uncharitable stance against former President Muhammadu Buhari, and also a misguided call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reverse the legitimate action of his predecessor.
This sickening and nauseating campaign of calumny is heightened further when Barr Frank described the nominated members as “illegal”, after they were duly nominated and then legitimately sworn-in in acting capacity. Barr Frank, characteristically, seeks to invoke and incite public hate against the individual personalities and collective memberships of these citizens of innocence and integrity. Of course, these honourable individuals have their rights to social and legal actions against the misdemeanour of Barr Frank.
Conclusion
This Governing Board of the NEDC, in Acting capacity, remains valid and legitimate, until the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria rejects their individual or collective nominations, as already communicated to it by the former President Muhammadu Buhari. And, the Distinguished Senators shall do well, when they confirm these nominations, without actually wanting to pitch President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Comr. Haruna Abdullahi
Maikano
Chairman
Comrade Raphael Terkura
Secretary General
