An Emir, A Chief and Prado Jeeps
Lamido of Adamawa strips chief of title for criticizing SUV gifts from the governor
Cocktails
Adamawa Royals and Greek Gifts
Mukkadas Adamawa, Umar Mustapha is in hot water for criticizing Gov Ahmadu Fintiri, who recently gave five first class traditional chiefs in the state brand new Toyota Prado Jeeps. Atop of these are five Hilux van pilot vehicles into the bargain. Because of his flippant tongue, he’s been kicked out of the sanctum sanctorium of royalty out in the cold to hobnob with commoners.
Umar Mustapha had criticized the governor for the gifts, saying “it is a misplaced priority to spend 200 million naira getting vehicles for traditional rulers. He further described the jeeps as Greek gifts.
“ The good gesture done to the revered monarchs is a misplaced priority and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri wants to bribe his way by buying the conscience of the traditional rulers building to the 2023 elections.” The EFCC should take note.
More, he said, “the decision to get the exotic vehicles for the traditional rulers while persons are dying of hunger, battling to pay their children's school fees is gross insensitivity of the government toward the common man whose pension and gratuity is their right.”
As far as Umar is concerned, the jeeps qualify to be called a bribe to the traditional rulers. Being a member of the emirate council, Umar Mustapha had literally committed class suicide because of his acidic comments on the governor's gifts.
The gifts were presented to the royals at the end of the Adamawa Emirates Council meeting in Government House, Yola. Governor Fintiri had praised them for their support for his administration and for maintaining the peace. The vehicles, he said, are meant to ease their logistics and help them contribute more to peace building.
Responding on behalf of his fellow royals, Lamido Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa expressed appreciation to the governor, promising to use the vehicles for the betterment and unity of the state. How? Will commoners enjoy a ride in the luxury cars? That's a long shot.
However, stung by this criticism, Lamido Adamawa in a statement signed by the emirate’s secretary, Khalil Kawu, said Mustapha had been stripped of his title. Of course, Umar got his commupance for spewing such nonsensical drivel.
He must have forgotten that in terms of gravitas, clout and substance, Lamido Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa is one of the most prominent traditional rulers in the north. Apart from that, he's both a former businessman and politician. As a royal himself, Umar doesn't have to be schooled that, in the past, Adamawa emirate extended up to Taraba State and parts of Northern Cameroon, parts of Chad and Central African Republic. With such a glorious past, the emir deserves all the perks for his creature comforts.
Because of Umar's garrulity, and also for getting the governor's goat, Adamawa Emirate Council further said in the statement that Umar Mustpha, an APC chieftain, is no longer fit to hold the title of Mukkadas Adamawa. Remember this same upstart had run for the APC gubernatorial ticket, along side Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.
“The paramount ruler of the Fombina said Umar Mustapha does not deserve to hold the title as a result of his deliberate attack on the governor on the presentation of the vehicles to first class traditional rulers in the state. The unguarded utterance on the governor is unwarranted an is an affront on the traditional institution which he is part and parcel of,” the statement said.
For fishing in trouble waters, Umar Mustapha got a kick in the groin because he cast aspersions on the governor who had extended the usual end of year largesse to traditional rulers, even though the governor’s subjects were dying of hunger and wallowing in penury. Of course, pensioners may as well rot in hell for all the governor cares. With an eye towards 2023, the royals deserve to be pampered and buttered. They have the magic wand to produce votes unlike hungry and destitute pensioners. Naturally, the governor knows where his bread is buttered. Smart Alec!
Now, Umar is out in the cold and left to lick his wounds. Will the commoners come to his rescue? That's a tall order. Perhaps, this will teach him a bitter lesson. Next time, he will learn to hold his tongue and allow the royal fathers enjoy their royal rides in peace. In days gone by, he would have been thrown into the dungeon, where he will be left to purge himself of any excesses.
Despite all the brouhaha over Prado jeeps, Umar may yet supplant Gov Fintiri if he decides to recontest the gubernatorial elections in 2023. But the royals will be waiting for him.
Furore Over Marriage Registry
A Federal High Court's ruling in Lagos has created furore in the land. It has set many on edge because the judicial pronouncement had virtually nullified marriages conducted in Marriage Registries under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Interior.
Yet this news item had turned out to be a piece of misinformation based on records of the court judgement. The court had only granted partial reliefs to the plaintiffs in the case instituted by Eti Osa Local Government Council and three other councils against the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the federation.
In granting partial relief to the plaintiffs, the court perpetually restrained the federal government through the Ministry of Interior from further contracting marriages under the Marriage Act, 2004 within four local government councils in four states.
The four councils are: Eti-Osa, Lagos State, Egor in Edo State, Owerri Municipal, Imo State and Port Harcourt City council, Rivers State.
Regarding the plaintiffs prayer for an order sealing all federal marriage registries in the affected Local Government Councils, the judge granted the prayer in part.
He granted the prayer to the extent that there shall be no Federal Marriage Registries in the Marriage Districts of the aforementioned local councils, save Ikoyi and Abuja Federal Marriage Registries which predate the 1999 Constitution.
Moreover, the order, the court held, is without prejudice to Minister of Interior's “exclusive powers” to issue licences to places of public worship to celebrate marriages all over the federation.
No doubt, this judgement had brought to the fore the clamour for devolution of powers to other constituent units of government. Many had expressed concern over the involvement of the federal government in marriage issues, despite having many things on its plate.
Even a cheeky On Air Personality (OAP), Ifedayo Olarinde, aka Daddy Freeze had stated tongue-in-cheek that his first marriage that was solemnized at Ikoyi Marriage Registry had crashed right from the onset because the marriage was built on shaky grounds, considering the recent court ruling.
However, Justice D.E. Osiagor had granted partial relief in favour of Eti Osa Local Government Council on the registration of marriages and issuance of marriage license to newly weds, saying the Federal Government had usurped the statutory functions of the local governments.
Justice Osiagor held that only the local government marriage registeries were empowered to do such by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). He further declared that the conduct of marriages and issuance of certificate were statutorily the job of the local government as provided by the law.
A similar judgement was handed down in May 17, 2018 by Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor of the same court. He had issued a restraining order against Ikoyi Registry for conducting marriages, saying it was unconstitutional for the federal government to perform the duties of states and local governments. He also pronounced that the marriage registries in local governments were the authentic and legally binding government divisions established to carry out such functions.
However, the Federal Ministry of Interior has clarified that all marriages conducted by the Ikoyi Marriage Registry are valid and legal.
Permanent Secretary/Principal Registrar of Marriages, Dr Shuaib Belgore, in a statement, stated that there's existing court judgement empowering the Federal Government, through Federal Ministry of Interior to conduct marriages, by virtue of Legal Notices issued pursuant to the Marriage Act.
“It is further worthy to note that the issue of formation, annulments and other matrimonial causes are by virtue of Item 61 of the 1st schedule of the 1999 Constitution exclusively reserved for the federal government,”
The general public is invited to note that these judgements are all still subsisting, competent and have not been appealed against till date.
Therefore, the current decision of the Federal High Court delivered by Hon Justice D.E Osiagor of court 6, cannot set aside a previous decision of the same court, which is of coordinate jurisdiction, and that will amount to the court sitting on appeal over its own judgement.
The Ministry of Interior is expected to file an appeal in respect of this conflicting and confusing decision in line with the provisions of the law.
Dr Belgore appealed to the general public, international community, to couples who had hitherto had their marriages solemnized at Federal Marriage Registeries, duly licenced places of worship and to all intending couples to be calm and continue transacting their normal business at all federal marriage registries. For now, Belgore said the status quo will be maintained.
According to Dr Belgore, the same issue was adjudicated in the case of Olumide Babalola vs Ikeja Local Government and the registered trustees of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in suit No LD/1343/GCN/2016 delivered on 15th May, 2017.
The court held that while registration of marriages are regulated by Local Governments, being under the concurrent list, formation of marriage is under the exclusive legislative list, within the jurisdiction of the federal government, regulated by the Ministry of Interior.
Buhari Heads To Cattle Ranch in 2023
President Muhammadu Buhari marked his 79th birthday in far away Istanbul, Turkey away from hangers-on and supporters. Born December 17, 1942, he will relinquish power in May 2023 at the age of 80.
Buhari who is on a visit to Turkey for the Turkey-Africa Partnership summit had assured the nation that at the end of his tenure in May 2023 he would head straight back to his farm in Daura to tend his cattle and farm. By this, the president had put paid to any call for a third term or tenure elongation.
However, it is interesting to note that the president practices ranching on his farm, yet has remained inflexible on the issue of open grazing, and has continually harped on maintaining grazing routes, despite the fact that this has been a source of friction between herders and farmers, leading many states in the south to promulgate laws against open grazing by herders.
Still, President Buhari declared his intentions when the delegation in his entourage led by the minister of foreign affairs, Mr Godffrey Onyeama presented him with a surprise birthday cake.
The president said he thought he had escaped preparations for his birthday by the brigade of guards in Abuja only for him to be ambushed in Istanbul, Turkey by members of his delegation. He promised to give everything he had to make the nation a better place for all.
“The Guards Brigade had written to tell me what they wanted to do on this day. Now here we are, far away in Turkey, and I still didn't escape.”
“In his Facebook official page, President Buhari said “I look forward to 2023 when I finish my tenure, to go home to take charge of my farm.”
Furthermore, the president declared that “between now and that time, I will do the best that is possible to advance the interest of the nation and its people, and carry out my duties as provided by the Constitution.”
Though his critics and the opposition have continually needled him that his best is not good enough. They cite the growing insecurity in the northwest and parts of the north central as a chink in the amour of the president’s stewardship. The question is how the president repairs things as he heads to the last lap of his administration.
Notwithstanding all this, the president went on to say, “I thank the Almighty God for this day. Now the work continues!”
Mr Onyeama who spoke on behalf of members of the entourage congratulated the president on his birthday and thanked him for the good work he’s doing for the nation. He prayed for renewed energy to enable the president focus on his assignment and to reposition the nation. Mr Onyeama also expressed happiness that the president had overcome his health challenge and had gained more spring in his step.
On marriage, I agree that it should not be a thing for the federal government. But we must ask why the local governments lost their popularity on what ordinarily should be their function. It is because of bribery at the local government offices. People have found out that foreign countries don't recognize marriages contracted in the local governments because they could be faked. That is how Ikoyi Registry became popular. There must be a new provision in a new restructured Nigeria to divest the federal government of this function but the local governments must also clean up themselves and earn people's confidence.