Reps move to simplify impeachment process of President,Vice President

A bill with the aim of simplifying the procedure for impeaching the country’s President and Vice-President passed second reading at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The bill seeks to amend Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) “to remove the ambiguities in the process of removal of the President and the Vice-President from office on allegations of gross misconduct and to provide for a more transparent and democratic procedure for impeachment…”
Sponsored by a lawmaker from Bauchi State, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, it seeks to adopt the American model of impeachment by giving the sole powers to remove the President to the National Assembly.
According to Dogara, adopting this model will alter the present constitutional requirement where the Chief Justice of Nigeria will constitute a panel of seven persons to investigate any allegations of gross misconduct made against the President.
He stated that this power would now be transferred to the Senate, which would sit to convict the President after he would have been impeached by the House.
However, he added that the CJN would preside over the sitting of the Senate to convict the President.
Dogara claimed that the current provision whittled down the powers of the National Assembly, noting that should the CJN’s panel fail to establish the allegations levelled against the President, the legislature would be ridiculed.
He spoke further on why the current provision in Section 143 needs to be changed, “Once the omnipotent panel of seven is constituted by the CJN, who himself is an appointee of the President, and the panel reaches a decision, no authority, not even the courts can question it.
“This may ridicule the National Assembly to the high heavens.
“It will be unprecedently ridiculous for a body consisting of 469 members to pass a resolution supported by two-thirds of its members only for a panel of seven to throw it out.”
Dogora tried to rally support for the bill by telling his colleagues that President Gooduck Jonathan was not the target of the bill.
“This bill is not talking about a particular office holder here.
“It has nothing to do with the current administration”, he added.
Another lawmaker from Benue State, Mr. Emmanuel Jime, also told the House that Jonathan was not the target of the bill.
“This bill is not meant to impeach President Jonathan.
“It is an attempt to return to the House the powers that belongs to us to call check the Executive,” he added.
However, many members kicked against the bill, describing it as “unnecessary, “undemocratic” and “a waste of parliamentary time.”
Minority Leader of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, known for supporting such reform bills in the past, opposed this one.
The Action Congress of Nigeria legislator from Lagos State expressed concern over the “timing” of the bill, which he said could send the wrong signals over its real intention.

I’m Not Jealous Of Alariwo’s Female Fans — Wife

His real name is Rotimi Martins but many refer to him as Alariwo of Africa. A musician cum entertainer, he is married to Sola and they have three children. The couple, talk about their 17-year-old union
How long have you been married?
Alariwo: We have been married for 17 years.
What attracted you to her?
Alariwo: She visited my friend alongside her friend and I was attracted to her conduct. Immediately, I knew she would be mine. I knew I would be comfortable with her for the rest of my life and I proposed to her on the first day.
Sola: I met him in Oregun. That day, I went out with a friend and we ended up at her boyfriend’s place. That boyfriend happened to be Rotimi’s friend and we started talking. In fact, he proposed to me the first day he met me.
When he approached you, what went through your mind?
Sola: I had just the normal feeling but I liked him.
Was he a star when you met him?
Sola: No, he was just a Deejay. It was after I met him that he went to the studio to record his first album. That he was not a celebrity or star didn’t cross my mind. I just liked him and agreed to marry him. When he became an entertainer, I didn’t mind as long as it didn’t disturb my marriage.
Are there times you wish he was not a musician?
Sola: No.
How has the marriage been over the years?
Sola: Interesting but sometimes challenging. In all, our love for each other and our children has kept us going.
Alariwo: It takes the grace of God to be in a sustained marriage and be a father, a husband and a musician.
Do you get jealous when his female fans come around?
Sola: Why should I? That would be foolhardy of me because he is a musician. Entertainment attracts women and it would be unfair to send them away with my jealousy. I don’t get jealous because his kind of job entails women flocking around him. Besides, I know he is all mine when he gets home, so why bother with any woman outside?
In what ways has marriage changed the both of you?
Alariwo: Many ways. While we were dating, we never cared about any other person aside the two of us but now, we have responsibilities.
Sola: Some of the things we did while we were courting have stopped because of the children. Apart from that, I am not the outgoing type and I’ve never encouraged having a maid at home. When we go out now, we go as a family to see movies, eat out and party. We always observe a family holiday.
Were your parents happy that you wanted to marry an entertainer?
Sola: No, they were not angry but they were a bit apprehensive. Then, entertainment was no big deal and their initial reaction was expected. Later, they embraced the relationship and I don’t think they regret allowing me to marry him.
Alariwo: Initially, her parents were a little bit uncomfortable because I was an entertainer. When my parents met her, in less than an hour, they knew she was the right person for me.
When you quarrel who is the first to apologise?
Sola: Most of the time, I apologise first. I go on my knees and I tell him I am sorry.
Alariwo: If she is at fault she will apologise and vice versa.
Apart from apologising verbally, what other things do you do to show remorse?
Alariwo: I make it up to her by buying her gifts or I take her out on a date.
How do you spend time together as a couple?
Sola: See a movie or sometimes, we go out.
Alariwo: My schedule is very busy but I do create time to spend with them.
What are those things you dislike about each other?
Sola: I don’t like my husband’s temper. He gets angry easily. He’s hot-tempered.
Alariwo: She does not like my temper. I don’t like when she demands for money—her timing is bad. This is a common feature with most women and I don’t like it.
What would you say has kept your marriage going all these years?
Sola: Tolerance, love and the fear of God.
Alariwo: Patience, tolerance, understanding and the grace of God have been keeping our marriage.
Apart from being his wife, what else do you do?
Sola: I am into business— I buy, I sell and I make jewellery and accessories.
What are the best gifts you have given each other?
Alariwo: I have given her cars and she has given me three beautiful children.
What advice will you give to couples especially those who are in the limelight?
Alariwo: I will always advise that, ‘See but pretend you didn’t see. Hear but you pretend as if you never heard.’ That way, you are not influenced or controlled by external factors. This keeps your home in place.
Sola: First, I will advise the women. When you see anything, pretend as if you didn’t see. Whatever you hear anything, feign ignorance. That way, you will be at peace, your marriage is in place and you are happy. Moreover, couples should respect and tolerate each other’s shortcomings. You should know that you are from different background and had a different upbringing.
What kind of man is your husband?
Sola: He is very caring and loving as a husband. As a father, he is loving and second to none. He puts his family first in everything and he does not fail to provide for our needs.
Are there times when you are suspicious of your husband?
Sola: Yes, I am not a perfect woman and sometimes, such things bother me. But when I remember I am the only one in his life, I perish such thoughts.

AMAECHI ADAMANT,VOWS NOT TO STEP DOWN AS NIGERIA GOVERNOR'S FORUM CHAIRMAN

The Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, on Tuesday rebuffed suggestions that he should step down as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, following the emergence of a faction of the Forum headed by his Plateau State counterpart, Jonah Jang.
He said he will stick to the mandate freely given to him by his colleagues in the election two weeks ago in which he polled 19 votes to Mr. Jang’s 16.
Mr. Amaechi told journalists in Abuja after inspecting the NGF secretariat belonging to his faction that it was wrong to ask him to relinquish the office of the chairman he was elected into and reminded Mr. Jang and his self acclaimed deputy, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, that God hates liars and heaven is real.
“Mimiko and I are Christians and I think he’s a good Christian and one of the sins against God is the sin of lying, I am not saying he is lying but I am saying Mimiko voted,” the Rivers State Governor said while reacting to Mr. Mimiko’s statement in the media that he (Mimiko) did not vote during the controversial election.
“I think they suspected that they will (not) win and Mimiko was one of those who refused to vote, but when they whisper among themselves and they thought they will win, they all casted their votes. Those governors who were pro-Amaechi voted first and those against him voted last. Tell Mimiko that I said he voted. Mimiko voted, everybody there voted.”
Also speaking about Mr. Jang, Mr. Amaechi, who was in company of the Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, said, “I want to urge Jang because he said he is Christian, to know that God watches over everybody and whatever you say, say it according to God because beyond NGF you and I know that there is heaven and you can’t go to heaven if you don’t tell the truth and stand by the truth.”
The Rivers State Governor, while responding to the video clip of the election, which leaked to the media last week, explained that when he was informed that one of the governors was recording it, he did all he could to protect the interest of all the governors by calling the governor to order.
He said he has now realized that the governor was doing the right thing as the video has turned out to be a historical evidence about the election.