The lawmaker also raised an alarm that Ndukwe had, through bad advice, asked the Federal Government to give a five-year waiver to network operators operating in Nigeria, leading to a loss of what would have been internally generated funds for Nigeria.
————-Daily Sun, January 27, 2009 
Honourable Dave Salako was right by saying the Nigerian House of Representatives should not take the allegations against the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Vice Chairman Ernest Ndukwe to the press without discussing it on the floor of the house. On the other hand, Honourable Dino Melaye said he received messages telling him to drop the motion that could scrap NCC and Ndukwe’s appointment. There is a Yoruba adage that warns a grave digger of the implication of digging his enemy’s grave because he may fall in it. I am not trying to back Ndukwe or exonerate him from the allegation that he ‘helped’ GSM operators not to pay $1.7 billion tax in Nigeria etc. It is unfair to ‘nail’ a man without substantial evidence and Melaye should publish the facts in his possession if he is to be taken seriously. The same debate was intially 'sidelined' probably because of lack of facts and figures.
So far, it looks like a plot to get NCC out of the way and Ndukwe is being used as a scapegoat. The Nigerian Communications Act 2003 was passed into law by the upper and lower houses of the National Assembly, so how did Ndukwe advise the government to give GSM operators a five year waiver not to pay tax? Even if he did, did he force the Federal Government to listen to him? Did Ndukwe draft the rules and regulations of NCC? Please, let us be realistic. Experts from different parts of the world advised the government and NCC before the GSM spectrum auction. One of whom was a male University lecturer and Telecommunications Consultant in the UK. If the aim of the house is to remove Ndukwe and retain NCC then it may backfire because Ndukwe is in possession of vital documents stored in his head as the pioneer regulator of NCC. You don’t have to be a Professor of Telecommunications, Regulator or a graduate of Telecommunications Regulation to know that because it is common sense.
Alternatively, it could be better to merge NCC with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) like UK regulator Ofcom because that is the European Union (EU) framework and Nigeria was expected to comply since the EU controls world telecommunications. Experts in the UK knew Africa would excel in telecommunications a long time ago and as it was obvious that NCC would have problems. A few years ago, I asked a lecturer if NCC should remain alone and the female professor said that Nigeria should follow the structure of major regulatory bodies in the world. Nevertheless, Melaye should move the motion on the floor of the house as soon as possible. According to Matters Arising (AIT – SKY Channel 187) a large house majority want Ndukwe to resign. If Ndukwe is not guilty of the allegations levelled against him then those that called for his resignation should resign so that Nigeria can move to the next level. The allegations against Ndukwe are enormous but he should not allow himself to be bullied by the house of tongues…
Ekigbe Ole!
Nigerian lawmakers are currently at each other throats over the review of the constitution. The upper house (Senate) and the lower house (House of Representatives) are yet to come to a compromise. The lower house was enmeshed in ‘N2.3bn car scam’ as they thought it was more important to drive bullet proof cars at the expense of the masses that elected them. Both houses also mapped out a staggering allowance for ordinary refreshment aka tea or coffee and biscuits at N8 billion. Even idol worshippers do not need such a staggering amount to apace the gods of the land. The masses may probably have sent a spiritual SOS to BABA God in order to be ‘delivered’ from such recklessness.
Will tea or coffee freebies be flown to Nigeria from the US or UK and warrant such a bogus amount? If so, there are many businessmen and women who could fly tea bags, sugar, milk and snacks at a lesser amount and still smile to the bank. One wonders if the N8 billion was not actually for cargoes of cow leg, bushmeat, fresh/stockfish, apu, amala, eba and orisirisi etc. No matter what! N8 billion is too much a la singer Sound Sultan’s chorus EKIGBE OLE (shout thieves). The lower house wants to be equal in status with the upper house; can a vice president be equal to a president? No wonder everyone wants to become a senator. Wouldn’t you? Once you are a member of the house of tongues who can eat your way to the top. I doubt if traditional rulers got such freebies. Is that not legislative 419? If care is not taken it will become more prestigious to become a legislator than a Governor. After all, you can be called a senator for life. God help Nigeria!
UPDATE
Declare House, Senate equal , Reps urge court by Innocent Anaba
Nigeria: Senate is Senior, But Not Superior by Yusuph Olaniyonu
Seniority row: You’re ignorant ex-lawmaker tells reps by Remi Adefulu
Senate is superior to the House by Chris Akiri
Is the position of a senator or governor higher within the political system?
Articles of Atiku
OBJ and Atiku courtesy nigeriafirst
Why were people attacking former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo aka OBJ in favour of Atiku Abubakar? Did OBJ drag Atiku’s feet to OBJ’s farm? Some Nigerians are people who do not like to see or listen to the truth until they are in trouble or about to die. Atiku has the sympathy of some people at the moment but for how long? God has blessed Atiku enough and he should move on with his life since he is a former vice-president. There are about 140 million Nigerians and there is no need to recycle politicians. His visit to OBJ who was once his boss and political enemy indicated his will to move back to PDP in order to achieve his presidential ambition in 2011. Those who supported Atiku during his face-off with OBJ are now forced to bow like fools and goons. African politics is like drug addiction where politicians continue to pump money until they are totally disgraced.
The notion is that the masses are (Omugo) timid minded people or like a herd of sheep that moneybags can control at polling boots. Atiku is behaving like a fallen star who is trying to retrace his steps but probably forgot that some 'wounds' are like old newspaper articles that contain facts and statements made in a rage. Atiku’s next point of call could be Minna and OBJ may have the last laugh. Can OBJ ‘forgive’ Atiku? Have you ever 'seen' a foolish Owu man? Where? The Yoruba proverb Iyan ogun odun ogbona feli feli (A 20 year old grudge is as fresh as ever and as hot as pounded yam) is an example. 2011 should not be a do-or-die affair. If Atiku is destined to rule Nigeria those in high places would look for him and not vice-versa. His recent meeting with OBJ has caused a lot of his fans a high level of embarrassment. Smiling with OBJ in public is nothing but a political gimmick. Nigeria: Atiku and the Oracle of Ota
Boni Haruna dumps Atiku
Internet Lady?
It was supposed to be a ‘mothering’ blog but it turned out to be something else. I probably had a mother’s block a la writer’s block… I never knew that blogging would easily get me noticed until I was compelled to become less 'visible' online. Last year, I caught a TV presenter staring at me when it should have been the other way round. Some media students also felt that I must grant on-the-spot-interviews. Some days ago, I was highly embarrassed when a girl told a boy: That’s her, she is the lady on the internet. I don’t want to be the internet lady because I would prefer to shop in peace. Last year, I was harassed online because of some comments on Nigeria but that was not enough for me to make myself less visible… I am not scared of the SSS. Those in the know would tell you that they thought I was an SSS… because I was never arrested. Well, if the SSS had no powers to arrest me, should I have handed myself over? Nonsense… I once worked with a publisher who was rumored to be a CIA. It is a long story…
