SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY (DR.) ABUBAKAR  BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT A DIALOGUE WITH YOUTH AND YOUNG ASPIRANTS HELD AT SHERATON HOTEL, ABUJA, ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018.

PROTOCOL.

1. Let me say, once again, how wonderful it is to see so many talented and purposeful young people at this first edition of the Public Dialogue Series with Political Parties on Youth Candidacy and Party Primaries. Looking at you, I see future leaders who present themselves as capable and worthy to take on the mantle of leadership in this country, and this gladdens my heart.

2. From my interactions with many of you, and with your contemporaries across the country, I can see that we are blessed with a determined generation that stands ready to join with us to power a Nigerian renaissance. The quality of people I see here today affirms my belief that, indeed, you are Not Too Young To Run.

3. I deeply appreciate this opportunity to share some of my ideas about where we are as a nation, as well as the challenges before us as we approach the great decider that is the 2019 General Elections.

4. It is widely acknowledged that ours is a relatively ‘young’ country bursting with tremendous energy, ability and potential. More than 70 per cent of our population is under the age of 40.  You are indeed the future of this country. Ordinarily, such a young population would be the envy of many Western countries that are faced with ageing populations, but the dire state of our affairs tarnishes the youthful advantage that we have.

5. Up and down our country today, Nigerians are crying out for succour. Many of our children are hungry. Many people are dying of avoidable or otherwise treatable diseases. Many have fallen below basic living standards, and are now among the 87 million that sealed Nigeria’s position as the country with the highest number of people in extreme poverty. Our young people lack opportunities. The necessary education facilities and system to equip them for the future simply do not exist. We are not creating the jobs needed to usefully engage them in order to grow our economy. And too often, the youth feel shut out, prevented from having any say in the direction of this nation.

6. The harsh conditions of extreme poverty faced by the people, fuels the state of insecurity all over the country. Hunger, lack of education and lack of opportunities push many Nigerians into criminal activities including terrorism. Many of our communities are paralysed with fear – due to incessant communal crises, kidnappings and other social ills, as well as the threat of terrorism. We are failing abysmally to tackle the problems of today and to prepare for the future.

7. Our economy is broken and is in need of urgent revival in order for Nigeria to grow. GDP growth rate has declined. Diversification remains an illusion. Unemployment is at an all-time high. Businesses are shutting down. Jobs are being lost in record numbers, and the capital needed to jumpstart our economy is going elsewhere.

8. Nigeria is perhaps more divided now than ever before. We are increasingly divided along regional, religious and ethnic lines. Nigerians are also divided by class, a festering gulf between the ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have-Nots’. The fault lines of this nation are widening to an alarming degree. We must do something fast, and we must be brave about it.

9. We must ensure the security of lives in Nigeria. As things stand now, no one is safe in this country. No one feels truly safe. We must restore the sanctity of the rule of law and strengthen democratic institutions in order to build a just, fair and equitable society for all. We must rebuild the trust of our people in government. We need a new generation of leaders that are competent, with the capability to rise to the challenges of the 21st century. We must pull this country back together and rebuild, block by block, with dedication and commitment.

10. You will agree with me that this is an urgent task that requires the concerted efforts of each and every one of us. If we look around today, what do we see? What is the condition of our citizens? Where are we as a nation? How are we perceived locally and internationally? Why are we not making the expected progress? Why are we not growing? There is no time to waste. The time is now, to come together to stimulate growth in Nigeria, especially in the national economy.

11. The choice we face in the forthcoming election is either to keep things as they are, or make a radical departure from the old ways. To find a better way of doing things or keep repeating the mistakes of the past. To fix the problems or keep compounding them.

12. It is with all these in mind, and taking account of the challenges that I have outlined, that I have decided to answer the call of teeming youth who have asked me to run for President. Accordingly, I hereby announce my intention to run for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the coming General Elections in 2019 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). I do so with the firm conviction that I have what it takes to secure inclusive growth for Nigeria and Nigerians.

13. My Plan for Nigeria has inclusion in all aspects of the country’s affairs as a central pillar. Every citizen has the inalienable right to feel a sense of belonging, no matter their background or creed, or what part of the country they come from. No matter who you voted for or what your convictions are, government must work for you.

14. Your generation does not deserve to live in the poverty capital of the world. It is no longer an issue of how we got here, but how do we get out of this situation? I promise you that I will lead the fight and employ every God-given resource available to us in turning things around. I am determined to grow Nigeria out of poverty. We will stimulate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as one of the ways of energising the economy and to create wealth for our people, especially the youth.

15. I want to see the youth play major roles at all levels, not only in government but also in the private sector and indeed in every area of Nigerian life. This will be a government driven by youthful energy, innovation and a pioneering entrepreneurial spirit. Nigerian youth will be given all the opportunities to realise their potential to the full within a national framework that guarantees inclusiveness.  For youth who have ideas and capacity, we will make sure that there is funding for their ventures; and we shall build on the Made in Nigeria legislation as part of our job creation drive.

16. My plan is to secure Nigeria by redesigning our national security architecture, while adequately equipping our security agencies to fulfil their primary role of protecting lives and property.

17. I will address our infrastructural deficit through aggressive financing initiatives including mutually beneficial PPP arrangements, regular floating of bonds and other financial instruments, which will ensure stable, adequate and reliable funding to see to the completion of core projects especially road, rail and power.

18. My plan is to protect all Nigerians and defend their constitutional rights and freedoms. I will stand for and uphold at all times the principle of the rule of law, which is the bedrock of democratic governance.

19. Ours will not be a selective fight against corruption. The emphasis will be on strengthening institutions, with a particular focus on deterrence. We cannot afford to compromise our institutions with proxy wars against perceived political opponents. We see the fight against corruption as crucial to Nigeria’s economic development.

20. I offer leadership driven by empathy. Where leaders are responsive to the citizens. Where they know that government cares. We will not be indifferent or turn a blind eye to the real concerns of our people. Every single Nigerian life matters.

21. For me, the leadership we deserve is one that will be a source of pride to all Nigerians, one that will be respected and admired in Africa and around the world. It should be a leadership that can hold its own and stand tall anywhere in the world. That is the type of leadership I offer.

22. As a former two-term Governor and currently President of the Senate by the grace of God, I believe I possess a unique blend of executive and legislative experience to push for and implement reforms that will deliver real improvements in the daily lives of our people. I know what it takes to create jobs and grow the economy. I can make the tough decisions when it matters. I will spearhead a new agenda that can transform the lives of ordinary Nigerians in real terms.

23. Believe me when I say that it will not be business as usual. This will be a dynamic government of action that will pursue the growth of Nigeria with doggedness, determination and conviction. I will lead a result-driven administration. We shall set targets with clear timelines to ensure that anticipated deliverables are met. You can benchmark us and hold us accountable. In short, I assure you that I will deliver on all promises. What I envision is a new chapter in governance in this country. We will be driven by what is best for Nigerians.

25. I have deliberately chosen the opportunity of being here with you, my Number One constituency who I see as the future of our great country, to make my intention known. I believe the Nigerian youth are critical to rebuilding and growing the economy, and restoring our national pride.

26. I therefore ask you and all well-meaning Nigerians to join hands with me in this noble cause.

My brothers, My sisters, Let’s Grow Nigeria Together.

God bless you all.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON.

Learn & Share 

It is always important to pay attention to clauses in agreements wherein a procedure for seeking redress or registering a complaint is expressly provided. 

For, if you jump straight to court, your suit may be struck out for lack of jurisdiction.

#trademark #passingoff #law #legal #ip #iplaw #intellectualproperty #lawyer #lawyerlife #avocate #business #brands

Note: There is a provision of the CAMA that allows the court to lift the veil of the company and reach directly to the directors. E.g. fraud 

Learn and Share
#company #law #companylaw #lawyerlife #lagoslawyer #businesslaw #lawnews #legalnews #legalnaija #blawg

 

Paul Usoro SAN being handed his Certificate of Returns as the 29th President of the NBA, the results of the elections having been ratified at the NEC meeting.

Congratulations sir

#paulusoroconnect #puttingyoufirst #PaulUsoroSAN #nbapresident 

I have read the Preliminary Report that was prepared and released by Mr. Olumuyiwa Olowokure, the Leader of the Arthur Obi Okafor, SAN’s Technical Team, alleging irregularities that the Team purportedly identified in the just concluded NBA Elections.  In the Report, Mr. Olowokure attempts to rubbish the NBA Elections and calls on “the current leadership of NBA to act and cancel this fault laden process that declared Paul Usoro SAN the winner of the election”.

The election processes had its significant challenges which would need to be looked into and addressed by the incoming NBA administration, but the election itself, as far as I observed, met the standard of substantial compliance and Mr. Usoro won the Presidency of the NBA straight and square.  The current negative narratives by Arthur Obi Okafor, SAN’s Team amounts to unnecessary bellyaching and an attempt to call a dog (the Elections) by a bad name in order to nullify it.

The Elections results have been hailed by the majority of lawyers across the geographical spread of Nigeria and Mr. Usoro is positioned to take over as the 29th President of the NBA, by Divine Grace.  I know and can confirm that Mr. Usoro is focused on and determined to effect significant reforms in the NBA with the aim of making the NBA an institution of pride to all lawyers and non-lawyers alike.  Typical of him, he has been magnanimous in victory and has graciously extended his hand of friendship and brotherhood to both Prof Ernest Ojukwu, SAN and Chief Arthur Obi Okafor, SAN.

“Openmailbox.org”; “firemail.cc”; “airmail.cc” Domains

The crux of the AOO Report relates to the allegation that there were certain irregularities in the Election in regard to the verified voters’ list and the use of three main domains – “Openmailbox.org”, “firemail.cc” and “airmail.cc” – by some lawyers in their e-mail addresses in the said list.  According to the AOO Report, the lawyers’ actual e-mail addresses were supplanted by unknown persons with e-mail addresses from these three domains that did not belong to the named lawyers.  I took active part in Mr. Usoro’s campaign and represented him in meetings with ECNBA and can state categorically that Mr. Usoro’s Campaign Team was not aware of nor privy to any such actions assuming that they happened at all.

What is rather troubling and extremely alarming to me is the admission by Mr. Olowokure in the AOO Report that he and his Team may have hacked into and/or compromised the Crenet and Chams servers in the course of the Elections.  According to Mr. Olowokure, “a day before the election” he and his Team purportedly “discovered from the verification portal the incidences of some strange looking email addresses that surfaced as lawyers alleged email addresses for the first time.  These email addresses predominantly came from three domains “openmailbox.org”, “firemail.cc” and “airmail.cc”.

As we recall, at all times material to the verification, the candidates and indeed all lawyers were able to access the verification portal but could only see the names of lawyers, their Enrolment Numbers and Branches but definitely not the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.  The technical people in the PU Campaign Team who attended meetings of ECNBA with me and also acted as agents for Mr. Usoro during the elections inform me that these additional pieces of information could only be accessed from the backend of the servers – whether Crenet or Chams.  The backends of these servers were accessible only to the Crenet and Chams administrators and no other; in particular, they were not accessible to the candidates.

So, assuming that the AOO Team are telling the truth, how did they come by the information which they purport to have had and which the other candidates did not have?  For the avoidance of doubt, I have investigated and confirmed that none of the candidates nor their agents were permitted or allowed any access to the backend of the Crenet and/or Chams’ servers.  Mr. Olowokure and his Team may either therefore be lying about what they claim to have known or they had actually compromised and hacked into the service providers’ servers in the course of the Elections.  Only these circumstances would explain their purported e-mails to the ECNBA which were not copied to other candidates.

As at 17, 18 and early hours of 19 August 2018 when they purported to have sent those e-mails to ECNBA alerting the Committee to the use of those three domains, none of the candidates had been given the Crenet verified list of voters that contained the details and information which Mr. Olowokure and his Team purport to have had. It was not until 5,53pm on Sunday, 19 August 2018, following the further loading of data on to the Chams portal that the ECNBA released to the candidates’ agents the revised list of verified voters that contained the voters’ phone numbers and e-mail addresses.  By that time, as Mr. Olowokure now claims in his Report, his Team already had that data and information with them.

Given this scenario and the possibility that Mr. Olowokure may have illegally compromised and/or hacked into the Crenet and/or Chams’ servers, what moral or even legal right has he and his Team to raise issues of irregularities in the recently concluded NBA Election? With his Team having purportedly had such unauthorized and illegal access to the servers as they now admit to having had, what could, or may they have done to the Election data and processes that the rest of us may not have been aware of?

Purported Evidence – Annexure G

Still on the integrity quotient of Mr. Olowokure and his Team, Annexure G to his Report does great disservice to his integrity and that of his Team.  I have confirmed that Annexure G to Mr. Olowokure’s Report was not issued and/or given by the ECNBA to Mr. Olowokure and his Team.  So, where did Mr. Olowokure and his Team get that document come from?  It is either that the document was fabricated by Mr. Olowokure and his Team or they, as is now becoming obvious, had compromised and hacked into the Crenet and/or Chams servers to obtain the data.  I leave you, dear readers, to make your judgment on the credibility and probative value of documents of that nature, whether fabricated or illegally obtained.  Beyond that, I leave you to judge the integrity quotient of the people who engage in such illegalities and malpractices

Move On

In all of these, it is rather intriguing to me that the AOO Team, in the ECNBA’s Election Situation Room and beyond, were, while voting was under way, literally jubilating, back-slapping, gloating and rejoicing at the prospect of success, believing that they had won the Presidency of the NBA as witnessed by all in the ECNBA’s Situation Room. This euphoria continued until Mr. Usoro closed in on and overtook Chief Okafor in the evening of Sunday, 19 August 2018.  Assuming that that upset did not occur and Mr. Okafor had proceeded to win the Election, would Mr. Olowokure and his Team have seen and come out with the “warts” that they now claim to see in the processes of the Election?  Definitely not.

We know that it is a Nigerian attitude to always blame election losses on malpractices and irregularities, but we should strive to be different in the NBA Elections.  Losing an election does not make one any less of a Bar Leader and the respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Arthur Obi Okafor, SAN can still make tremendous contributions to the Bar under the leadership of Mr. Usoro, to the Glory of God and man. I therefore most respectfully implore him to accept Mr. Usoro’s olive branch and let peace and progress reign, in the overall interest of the Bar.

Victor Abasiakan Ekim

#IStandWithPaul