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Constituency Projects: Is Buhari Guilty of Peddling Fake News?
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By Eric Elezuo
As the Federal Government is coming down hard on fake news peddlers, even as the syndrome is causing untold crisis in the national life of most Nigerians, President Buhari may have joined the mass of persons guilty of committing the fake news blunder.
Recall that the President has brazenly accused members of the National Assembly of fraud when he stated that about Ten trillion naira has been budgeted for constituency projects, yet nothing to show for it, a statement a cross section of the lawmakers including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, have denied.
The President made the accusation in Abuja at a National Summit on “Diminishing Corruption in the Public Service organised by the Independent and Corrupt Practices and other offences Commission (ICPC) in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Buhari had categorically said that “It is on record that in the past 10 years one trillion naira has been appropriated for constituency projects, yet the impact of such huge spending on the lives and welfare of ordinary Nigerians can hardly be seen.”
Stakeholders, political and legal advocates have wondered if President Buhari did not make the statement in error, in as much it was claimed to have emanated from the office of the ICPC. They however, agreed that the peddler of fake news is as guilty as the originator.
Earlier, a bill to regulate the use of Social Media as well as curb fake news on the internet has passed second reading at the Senate. The bill, ‘Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulations Bill, 2019,’ sponsored by Mohammed Musa was introduced in the Senate about two weeks ago.
Musa said the bill does not intend to gag the media but to check the spread of false information on the internet.
“It is rather an opportunity to address the growing threats which if left unchecked, can cause serious damage to our polity and disrupt peaceful existence,” he said. That seems to be exactly what the Buhari comment has done.
Not long ago also, proposed a bill which recommends death by hanging and life jail term for peddlers of hate speech makers, invariably relating to fake news.
Only a few days ago, the Senate, through the senator representing Niger North Senatorial district, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, recommended that culprits of any form of hate speech should be penalised to die by hanging if convicted.
The Senate also provided that any person found guilty of the criminal act should be accorded life jail sentence and or five years imprisonment, depending on the gravity of the hate speech.
These severe penalties are provided in the proposed bill to establish the National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech which has passed first reading in Senate.
According to the Bill, “hate speeches are comments that insult people for their religion, ethnic, linguistic affiliation, racial contempt among others.”
By the establishment of the commission, if the bill is enacted, hate speech would become criminalised and the severe penalties shall be applied to offenders.
Also, the Bill, if enacted, would provide the offenders an option of fine to the huge sum of N10 million.
The Bill is expected to eradicate all manner of hate speeches peddled by individuals or organisations.
This would further ensure that hate speeches against ethnic nationalities or persons become a serious unpardonable crime.
In his reaction, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila noted that the statement credited to the President, and emanated from a report from the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) failed to distinguish between budgeted money and actual releases. He asked the commission and other related agencies to do due diligence in their investigation and not put the welfare of people at stake.
“I think it is a breach of our collective privilege as a house and not one person. My concern is the unintended consequences of words spoken. These are words emanating from a report by ICPC.
“There could be unintended consequences that could come out of it. You put people’s wellbeing at risk. I feel it is okay to use the National Assembly as the whipping boys. But it must be backed with facts. The fact is that there is the FoI (Freedom of Information) Act.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Emyinnaya Abaribe described Buhari’s statement as “erroneous.”
“We are not worried by the statement. The reason we are not worried is because we know that it was a statement that was erroneous, he said.
He noted that though the President’s utterance was a product of an ICPC report presented to him, there was still need for him to go through it, ask questions and make amendments before presenting it in the public domain, insinuating that having made the speech in the public made the utterance and as a result, the president is guilty of making erroneous and unconfirmed statement.
According to a legal practitioner, who craved anonymity, the President’s action is tantamount to agreement with the report, hence his reading it.
“If he had had any form of reservation, he would have questioned it,” he said.
Echoing Gbajabiamila’s position, Abaribe added, “Somebody must have written a speech and then put false information in the speech. I have done constituency projects and we have always said that they are not done by the Senators or members of House of Representatives.
“They are domiciled in the executive who execute the projects. If the President said he has not seen anything, he should ask his ministers and the agencies under him as the executive, as they are the people who have been executing these projects.”
A member of the All Progressives congress (APC) from Nasarawa State, who has become the Senate spokesperson, Godiya Akwashiki, dismissed the President’s accusation, saying it was mere comment since he had not written officially to the National Assembly about his concerns on the constituency projects.
He said the Senate would only react when President Buhari communicates his reservations over management of the Constituency Projects.
“Mr President has not written to the National Assembly officially on this matter. We have modes of communication and I want to believe if he has anything he writes to us, he will,” he explained.
Setting the records straight, House of Representatives Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu from Delta State, explained that one trillion was actually budgeted but never released. So it was a disservice to the lawmakers for the President to tell the public about one trillion naira.
“Yes, in the last ten years, N1 trillion was actually made available by way of budgeting N100 billion annually for constituency projects. Truly, our constituent does not have value for such provisions.
“My worry and why I am bringing this up is that, yes I got N100 billion was budgeted annually, but actual releases were not up to 50 per cent. In actual sense, and even this year, we have not gotten releases of more than 40 per cent. I can conveniently tell you that only about 30 percent has been released.”
Citing Section 4 of the 1999 constitution as amended, the lawmaker stressed that “We don’t award contracts. I don’t know of any member who is a member of the tenders’ board. In effect, the National Assembly has nothing to do with the execution of any contract.
“It is painful that the agency that generated that information failed to state that while it is true that N1 trillion was budgeted in the last 10 years, this money has not been released.
“I am not happy because the information is capable of giving me a bad name before my community. The ICPC that wrote this report failed to tell the truth of how much was actually released.
“When you say N1 trillion is budgeted like the President said, if that money was released completely, there will be value commensurate to the money. I wonder why the ICPC man failed look at what was released. Why should ours be a subject of debate that they will tell Nigerians we received N1 trillion when that was budgeted, but not released.
“My message is that we should let them know that while N1 trillion was budgeted for constituency projects, by way of releases, we did not receive that because what was released was less than 40 per cent.”
Further breaking down the constituency projects budgetary allocation, the lawmaker representing Bende Federal constituency, Mr. Benjamin Kalu informed a lot of misinformation was contained in the ICPC report which Buhari presented copiously, noting that 372 projects in total where brought to accountability, out of which 255 projects were completed which represented 60 per cent. There were about 108 projects ongoing, representing 25 per cent of projects in review. Again, during the investigation, according to Kalu, only five projects, representing one per cent were abandoned. And only three projects did not commence at all. And then eight projects were recommended for prosecution while 34 projects went back to site when investigation started.
He asked: “why do this kind of reportage? Why was the whole analysis not published? Why did ICPC tell not Nigerians that only eight projects were recommended for prosecution, and only five projects did not commence? These are the details in the reports. This is what we mean when we are talking about fake news.
Kalu accused the ICPC of the same misinformation when in August, 2019 it was reported that N900 billion has been recovered from the National Assembly, only for the same ICPC to come back two months later to say it was not so. He condemned the trend with the graft agency.
“And who is the victims of this misinformation? The Nigerian public, the citizens. The reason behind the non completion of some of the projects was because the money was not released 100 per cent. What they do is called roll over. And that means releasing 30 or 40 per cent for a job of 100 per cent. There’s no way you will release 30 per cent and expect a job of 100 per cent.
Mr. Kalu pleaded that the National Assembly just like every other ministry, department and agency including the military should be benchmarked based on the money released to them, not the budgeted amount. He reminded President that it is the “irresponsibility of the executive” that creates whatever loophole noticed in incompletion of constituency projects.
He also noted, according to the President, that contractors, complicit civil servants and project sponsors are to be held responsible for lapses in projects, saying that of the three, two are under the control of the executives.
“The blame goes to the executives; they are the complicit civil servants; they are the ones who select, supervise and pay the contractors. Not the lawmakers who do not even stay in the biding rooms when it is done. There’s a lot of false information out there, and they put it upon the NASS.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has dismissed calls for President Bola Tinubu to hand over power to Vice President Kashim Shettima, saying there is no leadership vacuum despite the President’s continued working vacation abroad.
Speaking on Tuesday, in Akwa Ibom State, while commissioning road projects executed by Governor Umo Eno, Akpabio addressed public concern over Tinubu’s three-week holiday, which was recently extended by one week. He insisted the President remains fully in office and continues to carry out his constitutional duties.
“I am the Senate President, and I am not the acting President of Nigeria, because President Tinubu is still in power. He is on a working leave, and there is no absence in Aso Rock. The world is a global village, and one can give instructions over the internet. So, why are people complaining?” he retorted.
Akpabio emphasized that only his office can declare a presidential vacancy and that no such condition currently exists. “Right now, there is no vacancy. Asiwaju Tinubu is still in power, and he is still running the affairs of Nigeria,” he added.
To underscore the President’s continued engagement, Akpabio disclosed of recent diplomatic contacts, including communications with French President Emmanuel Macron.
His remarks may have finally put to bed, unnecessary concerns raised by critics who claim the extended absence has hindered governance. Invoking modern communication, Akpabio argued a “remote” presidency can still function effectively.
The Presidency has not provided a formal return date for President Tinubu. Akpabio’s comments, however, signal a united stance within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) aimed at quelling speculation about a leadership crisis.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has asked the Presidency and the National Assembly to clarify who is constitutionally exercising the powers of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the expiration of the 21-day period announced for the President’s annual vacation.
Recall that Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for a three-week annual vacation in Europe. The President’s absence coincided with Vice President Kashim Shettima’s official engagements outside the country, including his current representation of Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In a personally signed statement on Monday, Atiku argued that the expiration of the 21-day period had raised questions under Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution regarding the transfer of presidential powers.
Section 145(1) provides for the President to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation extending beyond a specified period or when otherwise unable to perform the functions of his office.
Atiku said Nigerians had not been shown any such declaration transferring presidential functions to Shettima.
“President Tinubu left Nigeria on 30 August. The Presidency publicly announced a three-week vacation. Yet, to date, Nigerians have not been shown any constitutional letter transmitting presidential authority to Vice President Kashim Shettima.
“The 21 days have now elapsed. If such a letter exists, the Presidency should publish it immediately,” Atiku said.
The 2027 African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, said the constitutional provision also addresses a situation where the President fails to transmit the required declaration.
He referred to Section 145(2), which provides that where the President is unable or fails to transmit the declaration within 21 days, the National Assembly can, by a simple majority in each chamber, mandate the Vice President to perform the functions of President as Acting President.
Atiku therefore asked the National Assembly to explain whether the constitutional procedure had been activated.
“If it does not, then the constitutional mechanism contemplated by Section 145(2) has been triggered, and the National Assembly owes Nigerians an explanation as to why it has not acted.
“This is not a matter of political convenience. It is a matter of constitutional order,” he said.
Atiku further drew attention to Shettima’s presence in New York, where he is leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st United Nations General Assembly based on the President’s directive.
Atiku said the situation raised a question about who was exercising presidential authority in Nigeria and under what constitutional instrument.
“So again: who is exercising presidential authority in Nigeria today, and under what constitutional instrument?” he asked.
The former Vice President also criticised what he described as reliance on informal indications of presidential activity while the President remains abroad.
“Nigeria cannot be governed by assumptions. It cannot be governed by presidential social-media posts from Europe.
“It cannot be governed by photographs from private dinners at the Élysée Palace.
“It cannot be governed on autopilot,” he said.
Atiku also said President Tinubu should be in the country at a time like this, linking his concerns to recent domestic developments in the country, including the deaths of 37 Nigerians in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna.
He said the incident had led to investigations, suspensions and calls for independent scrutiny.
He also raised concerns about petrol prices, claiming that the product was selling for as much as ₦1,500 per litre in some parts of the country.
“These are not ordinary times. Yet the President is abroad. The Vice President is abroad.
“The Senate President is abroad. And Nigerians have not been told, in the clear constitutional language required of a serious democracy, who is exercising the powers of the President,” Atiku said.
Atiku acknowledged the diplomatic significance of Tinubu’s private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris but argued that Nigeria’s governance responsibilities could not be suspended while the President was abroad.
“President Tinubu’s private dinner with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris may serve diplomatic purposes. But Nigeria itself cannot be placed on vacation.
“The Constitution does not recognise a ‘working vacation’ as an alternative system of presidential succession.
“It provides a procedure. That procedure must be obeyed,” he argued.
Atiku consequently called on the Presidency to disclose whether Tinubu transmitted the declaration required under Section 145(1) before leaving Nigeria.
He also asked the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to state whether they received such a communication.
“If no declaration was transmitted within the constitutionally stipulated period, the National Assembly must explain why the procedure provided by Section 145(2) has not been activated,” he said.
Atiku concluded that the issue was bigger than the President’s personal movements, arguing that Nigerians were entitled to know who was constitutionally responsible for the exercise of presidential powers.
“Nigeria is bigger than any President.
“At a time of severe economic hardship, rising energy costs, security challenges and the shocking deaths of citizens in government custody, the country deserves visible, accountable and constitutionally grounded leadership.
“The question will not disappear: Who, constitutionally, is in charge of Nigeria?” Atiku questioned.
President Bola Tinubu has celebrated his wife, Oluremi, on her 66th birthday, describing her as his “truest friend and confidante”.
In a birthday tribute to the First Lady on his verified X handle on Monday, Tinubu praised her patience, courage, compassion and unwavering support throughout their years together.
The President, who described Oluremi as the woman who had stood by him through different seasons of his life, said she had shared his burdens and provided counsel during difficult moments.
“Today, I celebrate the woman who has walked beside me with patience, grace and uncommon courage. Àwọn àgbà sọ pé, ‘Ìyàwó rere ni adé ọkọ rẹ̀.’ A good wife is her husband’s crown,” he said.
Tinubu said Oluremi had given practical meaning to the biblical description of a virtuous woman, adding that she had remained a source of strength and understanding to him.
“The burdens that were mine to bear often found their way onto your shoulders. The thoughts I could not put into words somehow found their way to you.
“In difficult times, when the future was uncertain, you stayed calm beside me and prayed with me,” he stated.
The President described the First Lady as his “truest friend and confidante”, saying she was never afraid to offer him honest counsel.
“I call you my truest friend and confidante because you speak the truth plainly, even on the days I would rather not hear it,” Tinubu said.
He also praised Oluremi for her role in raising their children and grandchildren, saying her values of faith and kindness had shaped the family.
“Our home bears the lasting imprint of your devotion. Our children and grandchildren have grown beneath the shelter of your prayers. They carry your values of faith and kindness wherever life takes them,” he said.
Tinubu also highlighted the First Lady’s humanitarian activities, recalling her work through the New Era Foundation and the Renewed Hope Initiative.
“Nigerians know you for your compassion, kindness, generosity of spirit and steadfast faith. I have watched you touch lives quietly and consistently, offering hope and support to those in need,” he said.
He added that her initiatives had supported young people, widows, elderly citizens and women farmers across the country.
“From the New Era Foundation during our years in the saddle in Lagos to the Renewed Hope Initiative today, your care has reached many young boys and girls, widows, elderly citizens, and women farmers across the country,” the President stated.
Tinubu also acknowledged Oluremi’s advocacy for people affected by tuberculosis and other diseases, describing her as a compassionate advocate and determined champion.
He said her compassion transcended ethnic, regional and religious boundaries.
“For you, compassion has never recognised the boundaries of tribe, region or religion,” he said.
Reflecting on their years together, Tinubu said their shared experiences, including difficult decisions and sacrifices, had strengthened their relationship.
“A long journey teaches a man the true value of a good partner. We have travelled a long road together. I think of the difficult decisions we talked through for hours and the sacrifices no one else saw.
“Laughter and prayer carried us through many of them,” he said.
The President said he would choose Oluremi again if given the opportunity to relive his life.
“If life returned me to the beginning, I would choose the same road that led me to you. Through every mile, my heart has always remained at home with you,” Tinubu said.
The President wished the First Lady many more years in good health and happiness.
“Happy 66th birthday, my darling Oluremi. I pray that God Almighty will grant you many more years in good health and joy,” he said.
