Nigerians Expectations In 2010

A LIST of expectations for the year 2010 which includes stable power, security and electoral reforms was presented to the Federal Government yesterday.

Nigerians spoke in response to the call by the government on Thursday that they should keep hope alive. But the citizens said yesterday hope could only be kept alive if the necessary conditions exist.

They urged that in the New Year, there should be a full disclosure of the state of health of President Umaru Yar'Adua, focus on infrastructural development, corruption and the rule of law.

Speaking on the state of the nation, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu said the nation was rudderless. He said that he expected nothing from the government because he did not know who was leading.

"Well, I expect nothing from a government I don't know who is leading. I don't know who is leading the government now. Until we know who is in charge, we cannot know what to expect from them.

"But if it is what we have now, if it would be the same old faces, this country will continue to grope in the dark; we do not have a good leader, from what we have seen and what has been happening. That is why the NBA is challenging these actions. The NBA can do its best, but the point is that it is an unfortunate development," Akeredolu said.

On the swearing-in of the new Chief Justice of Nigeria by the outgoing one, Akeredolu said it was illegal because the new CJN could not be sworn-in or assume office until the out-going CJN vacates office.

"We cannot have two CJNs at a time; we can only have one. So, who was the CJN between when the new one was sworn in and when the old one vacated that office? The drafters of the constitution were very careful. When they said that either of the two could swear in, they would have anticipated that with regard to the CJN, it will be the President, because the current CJN would have vacated office before you can swear in another person to fill the position.

"So, somebody cannot be sitting and swear in another person to replace him. How do you explain that in law? How does it even sound that I am still in office and swear in another person to replace me?"

On his part, Prof. Martin N. Oluba canvassed attention on stable electricity since it is the engine of industrialization and growth. "Enhanced power supply in this country will substantially reduce production costs. To make progress going forward, the Nigerian government must genuinely and aggressively pursue the achievement of a truly constitutional government , " he said.

The Secretary General of the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) Tony Uranta warned that there was a danger facing the country.

On his expectation from government, Uranta said: "All we need to do is respect the constitution. As flawed as the 1999 Constitution is, if Nigerian leaders were to respect and abide by its tenets, we would still have very pleasant existence in this country.

"As it is now, we are not obeying the constitution. We have an Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), who is bent on carrying out war against the war on corruption, who is bent on siding with corrupt elements, who is bent on doing the will of certain leaders in the polity behind the scenes manipulating the processes of law and justice to their benefit."

To Chief Ayo Opadokun, the National Coordinator of Coalition for Democrats For Electoral Reforms (CODER), government should re-order its priorities and be honest with Nigerians and responsive to genuine aspirations of the people.

His words: "Specifically, political operators must allow the constitution to take effect on all national issues, be it as it affects the medical situation of Yar'Adua and other critical matters, particularly electoral reform.

"The overwhelming majority of Nigerians, in their submissions, demanded the full implementation of Justice Mohammed Uwais recommendation on the electoral reforms.

"Government should do that to satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians. We must use modified open-secret ballot system. An electoral offences commission should be enacted so that an independent prosecutor would do prosecution of electoral offenders.

"It is a shame in our country that government promised 6,000 megawatts of electricity, but we have little to show for it even in a new year. So government has to improve on power."

The first civilian governor of Enugu State and former National Secretary of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo said that good governance, security, constitution and electoral review, employment, power and employment should top government's priorities this year.