2015 presidential election:

Nigeria boils as Jonathan declares for presidency

  -Senior ruling party official petitions court to reject Jonathan’s candidature

· -Renowned Islamic cleric predicts Jonathan’s re-election will set Nigeria ablaze

·  -Fears heightened influx of Nigerian refugees in case of instability could threaten Cameroon’s security

·  -Boko Haram threatens more attacks

By Kristian Ngah Christian in Yaounde with agency reports

Tension is reportedly mounting within the camps of political groupings and civil society leaders in Nigeria following the decision by incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan to seek re-election in February’s presidential polls. Even his ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, top officials have not only spoken out against his decision to run for presidency but have in anger taken to the law courts to seek for disqualification of Jonathan’s candidature.

President Jonathan who apparently conscious of the cat calls and protest that would greet his declaration for presidency had refused to confirm his candidacy for February’s election until early this week. The announcement to seek re-election comes as he faces mounting criticism over his handling of the Boko Haram insurgency and its abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls. The Nigerian government announced a ceasefire agreement with Boko Haram but with little to show for as the militants have continued to attack several localities there. Reports say the Islamic militant group has vowed to intensify attacks on the Nigerian soil should Jonathan run and eventually win next year’s presidential election.  

The Nigerian president is not only being accused of not doing enough to win the release of the girls, he is also blamed for failing to curb rampant corruption in government and state institutions. In addition, concerns have been raised about several high-profile defections from the ruling party, including most recently the speaker of the House of Representatives.

In what political analysts have described as rubbing pepper to an already deepening wound, an aggrieved presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Adamawa State, Umar Ardo, has gone to court; insisting that President Jonathan lacks the legal imprimatur to remain in office beyond 2015.

Ardo, in an application he filed through a senior advocate of Nigeria, A. Amuda Kannike, urged the appeal court panel to allow him to join as an appellant in the substantive appeal filed against Jonathan by a PDP member, Cyriacus Njoku, challenging the verdict of Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of an Abuja high court which had on March 1, 2013, declared President legally fit to vie for re-election next year’s crucial presidential polls. Aside Jonathan, other respondents in the landmark suit are the ruling PDP and Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Njoku who is a registered member of the PDP in Zuba ward, Abuja, in his appeal, insisted that the lower court misinterpreted the law, even as he urged the court to go ahead and determine “Whether Section 135(2) of the Nigerian constitution, which specifies a period of four years in office for the president, is only available or applicable to a person elected on the basis of an actual election or includes one in which a person assumes the position of president by operation of law, as in the case of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.”

Insisting that Jonathan is constitutionally barred from contesting the presidency in 2015, Cyriacus, further prayed the court to determine “Whether Section 137(1) (b) of the Nigerian constitution, which provides that a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of president, if he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections, applies to the first defendant, who first took an oath of office as substantive president on May 6, 2010 and took a second oath as president on May 29, 2011.”

He is also seeking a declaration that ‘the President Jonathan’s tenure of office began on May 6, 2010 when his first term began and his two terms shall end on May 29, 2015 after taking his second oath of office on May 29, 2011; and by virtue of Section 136 (1) (b) of the constitution, no person (including the first defendant) shall take the oath of allegiance and the oath of office prescribed to in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution more than twice.

He further asked the court for an order of injunction restraining President Jonathan from further contesting or attempting to vie for president after May 29, 2015 when his tenure shall constitution end according to the Nigerian constitution.

While challenging his locus standi to be joined in the matter, Jonathan, through his lawyer, Chief Ade Okeaya-Inneh, has urged the court to even go ahead and dismiss the substantive appeal filed by Njoku’s lawyers led by Obono Oblah and Ugochukwu Osuagwu for want of merit. In an 18 paragraphed counter affidavit, he branded the appeal as “legally defective”, adding that Ardo’s application was filed beyond the period approved by the constitution.

Even if sources in Nigeria say the court would throw out the case against President Jonathan and allow him to run for presidency, renowned Nigerian Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmed Gumi has foretold of violence should President Goodluck Jonathan go on to contest and win the 2015 presidential election. Gumi made this known in an open letter he wrote President Jonathan last Friday.

Read portions of the letter: “...We will not want it a burnt country with hundreds of thousands dead, maimed or displaced people because of the thoughtlessness and recklessness of its stewardship...You need to come out of the cocoon and face the reality. Denial of the truth can never solve problems...And sadly by your recalcitrance, you are dangerously leading this nation to chaos and turmoil that only God knows where it will end...Surely with the Christian votes and northern PDP followers, you can win another election but you will also set the nation into another turmoil because that segment of the nation that rejects you do so because they believe rightly or wrongly you are involved negatively in the Boko Haram Saga. The natural thing any good leader will do in this situation is to step down...I for a start, I am hereby candidly advising you to relinquish your presidential ambition because of peace, stability and well being of millions of innocent Nigerians...I rest my case here.”

Already, it is being feared that should the Nigerian presidential polls result in instability, Cameroon’s security would seriously be threatened because of the influx of refugees.  

Two candidates retained for SW FECAFOOT presidency

From Mua Patrick Mughe in Buea

The race for the South West regional FECAFOOT top job has now been reduced to just two candidates. Barrister Agbor Nkongho Felix and incumbent president, Senator Mbella Moki Charles will lock horns in the forthcoming November 7 elections described by football pundits in the region as ‘the clash of the titans.’

The dice may have been cast following last October 27 declaration of the electoral college by the Normalization Committee. Twelve regional clubs have been retained to participate in the forthcoming election though uncertainty hangs over the participation of Botafogo FC of Buea.

Meanwhile, Little Foot FC of Tiko that was never retained is likely to bounce back. Both Mbella and Agbor Balla, we gathered, deposited their candidatures last Wednesday at the FECAFOOT regional office in Buea.

While Mbella undeniably has chances of retaining the position he has held for close to a decade, Agbor Balla on the other hand may spring surprises and create the unexpected as we are told he has the support of several club presidents. Mbella, we have been hinted would declare publicly for the elections in a press conference to take place in the days ahead meanwhile Agbor Balla had long made known his intensions of running for the race. 

Both candidates now have less than 8 days to burn the midnight candle and canvass for votes even though vote buying is highly suspected just as it happened in the last election where some club presidents were ‘caged’ in two star hotels in Buea and reportedly offered huge sums of money.

Nouck Protus who until now was one of Mbella’s challengers had his team (Little Foot)  disqualified on the grounds that they never took part  in the 2013 season of the regional championship.

However Botafogo that was equally not part of the league and is currently not taking part in the championship was included in the electoral college.

Tongues are wagging over the matter but Nouck Protus, we are informed has petitioned the Normalization Committee and may have his team reinstated in the list of eligible voters.

Barrister Agbor Balla in a similar move has petitioned against the inclusion of Botafogo FC as part of the electoral college. In a three page petition letter, copy which The Guardian Post stumbled on, the legal expert argued strongly that Botafogo did not participate in the South West regional championship of 2012/2013 and is currently not effectively participating in the 2014 championship, adding that the decision to include Botafogo of Buea amongst the clubs eligible to be part of the electoral college does not conform to the provisions of the text.

“Botafogo FC did not take part in the 2012/2013 championship. Please see exhibit ‘B’ containing communiqué Ref: No. 007/SW/FCF/2013 of 29th May 2013 in which the secretary general of the South West regional league of FECAFOOT issued a radio announcement of matches for the 7^th day of the 2012/2013 league for Saturday and Sunday; 1^st and 2^nd of June 2013. The communiqué did not contain Botafogo. In addition, on 15^th August 2013, the homologation and discipline committee of the South West regional FECAFOOT issued a communiqué of the official classification at the end of the championship of both pool ‘A’ and ‘B’. This official classification did not also contain Botafogo,” part of the petition dated October 29 reads.

Meantime, the clubs retained for the elections include: Africa Dream FC, Best Stars Academy, Continental FC, Victoria United, Buea United, Botafogo FC, EMSA Tiko, Mount Cameroon FC, CINYODEV Football Academy, Kumba Lakers, Prisons FC and Eyonde FC of Mbonge.

UN demands release of Paul Eric Kingue

By Amindeh Blaise Atabong in Yaounde

 

Kingue

The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights, UNHCHR has called for the release, without further delay and conditions, of the jailed former mayor of Njombe Penja, Paul Eric Kingue.
A pro-Kingue pressure group recently announced the commission’s decision urging the government of Cameroon to free Kingue.

After the 70^th session of the commission which focussed on cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, the UNHCHR addressed letters to Cameroon officials, stating that Kingue’s arrest and subsequent imprisonment was ‘arbitrary’ as per the council’s procedures. 

Kingue’s defence counsel had even earlier on submitted that there were a lot of irregularities in the handling of their client’s case. They pointed out the fragrant violation of articles 3, 40, and 41 of the Cameroon criminal procedure code which stipulates that persons under judicial scrutiny must be informed of their charges. Again, Kingue was arrested in 2008 without an arrest warrant.

Yaounde authorities have on their part always maintained that Kingue’s arrest and conviction of embezzlement followed due legal procedures.

However, part of the UNHCHR official letter highlights that the government of Cameroon should put an immediate end to the incarceration as well as pay the victim for damages.

We also gathered that a notice in relation to the UNHCHR decision had been sent to Paul Eric Kingue who has been languishing at the Douala New Bell prison since 2008.

It is worth noting that UNHCHR which is a United Nations’ agency was instrumental in the successful liberation of Thierry Michel Atangana and Pierre Desire Engo who were also alleged to be political prisoners.
The UN’s recent move to orchestrate Paul Eric Kingue’s freedom comes to join calls made by other international organisations like Transparency International which vindicated the jailed former Njombe Penja mayor in one of their investigative reports earlier this year.

SCNC elective assembly to hold in Kumba

·   New plan of action for independence, election of new chairman on agenda

As we took to press last night, news reached us that the Southern Cameroons National Council, SCNC, would stage an elective assembly in Kumba in December. A fixed date for the ceremony was not given but sources say the historic gathering would take place before December 25, 2014.

The SCNC, The Guardian Post was hinted, would put forward plans to either dialogue with La Republique du Cameroun or seek complete independence should dialogue fail. A new national chairman is also expected to be elected at the Kumba general assembly to replace the late Chief Ayamba.

Roger Milla rejects calls to run for FECAFOOT election

By Ekellem Desmond Mbong in Yaounde
 

Roger Milla

Ace footballer, Albert Roger Milla who is also African player of the century has rejected calls to run for FECAFOOT elections scheduled to take place by the end of the year. The roving ambassador made public his standpoint last Saturday in his hometown of Japoma while starring the opening ceremony of a local football derby.

The legendary footballer attributed his refusal to run for the top football management job lack of transparency within the present executive of FECAFOOT which according to him cannot provide for fair elections.

Milla’s candidacy for the presidency of FECAFOOT had been proposed by the citizen’s committee to set an upright Cameroonian football. The president of the support committee for Milla’s candidacy, Dechateau Kamdoum had earlier declared that the roving ambassador and most eldest player to score in a world cup final had the adequate profile to revolutionize Cameroonian football. Milla in a previous reaction to the call had stated that he would first of all seek the head of state’s concern and would only go in if he approves.

Milla who has been a staunch critic of former FECAFOOT president, Iya Mohammed who is currently being detained at the Kondengui central prison over embezzlement charges had created the said citizens’ committee to redress Cameroonian football with Emmanuel Mve, another former indomitable lion guru.

Milla’s decision has provoked several debates on his sudden change of mind. It is not yet clear if the decision has been influenced by a ‘no’ from President Biya given that his choice to run or not depended on the president of the republic.

If the latter reason is not tenable, then it could be probable that Roger Milla prefers to keep his roving ambassador job than taking up a management job which is more challenging to his intellectual capacity, prominent online news site, camerooninfos-net holds.

It should be recalled that Milla has once been the honorary president of FECAFOOT. He was sacked when he launched an onslaught on the federation’s decisions and actions. He has been one of those lobbying for a total reform of the federation.