The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Femi Pedro, on Wednesday resigned his appointment, causing a stir in the seat of government. The move is coming after he as the state lost his bid on Tuesday to get 72 hours adjournment of the proceedings of the seven-member panel inaugurated to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against him. The panel, inaugurated by the Chief Judge of Lagos State on Monday, said it could not grant adjournment because it would be at variance with the plan to speedily conclude the matter before May 29. Meanwhile, Governor Bola Tinubu through his Special Adviser on Media and Information, Segun Ayobolu said the letter of his resignation is yet to be received by the Governor, and that the last correspondence was his letter requesting to proceed on leave. Pedro, in a two-paragraph letter dated Tuesday May 8, 2007 and addressed to the Governor formally tendered his resignation as Deputy Governor of Lagos State with effect from that date. A mild drama nonetheless ensued at the Alausa Round House, Ikeja when a five-man legal team from the Gani Fawehinmi chambers led by Barrister Adindu Ugwuzor, a Senior Counsel, arrived the governor?s office at 2.21pm to submit the letter to the governor. They were turned back by officials of the governor's office. The officials after going through the contents of the letter claimed that they had been directed not to receive any such letter. The lawyers then proceeded to the office of the Secretary to the State Government. After exhausting all avenues, the lawyers put a call through to their principal Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who directed the team of lawyers to drop two copies of the resignation letter in the office of the governor, whether acknowledged or not, saying, "In law, it is acceptable." The letter was eventually thrown on the floor outside the governor's office by the enraged female receptionist and later picked up by an unknown man at about 2.52pm.Investigations however revealed that the mad man may have been an official of the State Security Service (SSS).

IT is not often that one is opportune to observe fundamental constitutional principles as they evolve. We are favoured (Femi Pedro I am sure would disagree) with such an oppor tunity with the on-going attempt to, by purportedly constitutional means, remove the deputy governor of Lagos State from office, three weeks to the end of a four-year term. I shall not dwell on how politically adroit such a course of action is, save to observe that at the confluence of the executive, legislature and the judiciary, the murky waters of politics have broken their embankments and seeped into procedures that the constitution makers sought to immune from the vicissitudes of political score-settling.

The effect of this trespass has been an invitation to trample upon sacrosanct boundaries. While the legislature was the first public voice on the imminence of removal proceedings against Chief Pedro, few were in any doubt that an executive organ grinder was orchestrating their pirouettes. While the organ grinder has had the good sense to loiter in the background, the monkeys have shown an abject willingness to go through any manner of hoops before the cameras.

The willingness of the House of Assembly to lie down and do the bidding of the governor suggests that we pay lip service to democracy without understanding what it requires of us. As with the other shameful exercises that have been laid low by our appellate courts, the Lagos deputy governor’s fate is set before the judiciary.

The issues before the court, as evinced from the papers filed by the two parties and as summarised by the judge, the Honourable Justice Candide-Johnson, suggests that they boil down to whether or not the notice of the allegations of gross misconduct was properly served on the office holder by the House of Assembly. The judge has rightly said that he will facilitate a quick investigation. Now the interesting bit.

The Chief Judge of Lagos State is by virtue of a constitutionally-defined role in the removal process, the check and balance on the fiat of an overweening legislature (in this case read a free-spending executive). He is also the third defendant in Chief Pedro’s action. So he is required to be as Caesar’s wife. In the event of that being beyond the Lagos State judiciary, our appellate courts have shown that they will not stand by while the Constitution of the Republic is toyed with and trampled on.

If the Lagos State judiciary is not to be the subject of ridicule and insinuations as so many others have been, it must ensure that the admonitions of our highest courts on what constitutes proper procedure preceding removal proceedings, as envisaged in section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, are assiduously abided with as anything less would be tantamount to craven acquiescence in a manner Lagos has a right not to expect from its judiciary.

To date, at every occasion that a questionable impeachment (and which of them haven’t been questionable) has been brought before the state high courts, the courts have managed to reason their way to acquiescing with those acting with haste and often in hiding. Many of the state judiciaries have played the role of willing participants leaving the dispossessed with the option of “going upstairs”. It is my humble submission that in so doing they are getting things the wrong way round.

It behoves our high courts to see themselves as the first line of defence of the Constitution of the Federal Republic; that is the raison d’etre of the principle of separation of powers, that no arm of government act in excess for fear of sanction by another. The question of whether men of sufficient calibre are present in the legislature to rise to the task has been answered. The incoming class will be looking and learning the wrong lessons before they even commence.

The hook of the dilemma is simply stated: If! If a sitting judge is considering whether or not the deputy governor was properly served notice of the allegations of gross misconduct; and, if proper service is a strict liability requirement for the removal procedure to be in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic ; and, if the Chief Judge is aware of the fact that such fast tracked and accelerated considerations are ongoing would it be judicious and in furtherance of the cause of justice for the Chief Judge to take a next step?

The role of elections in the democratic process is very much on the front burner. The act of wilfulness on the part of the outgoing Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Tinubu, in seeking the removal of his deputy governor three weeks before the end of their tenure should not just be waved through. For many, handing the Asiwaju his deputy governor’s head on a platter at the penultimate hour would appear like parting recompense for his artful deployment of patronage.

The judiciary in Lagos is blessed with men who have kept its heritage and contributed to its legacy. It is the spirit of that legacy and pursuant to its special and significant constitutional role as a check and balance on the activities of the legislature that we call on it to do as it ought.

The legislature has shown itself to be as sheep in sheep’s clothing, to look to them for succour is like turning to one’s tormentor for salvation. I for one am not prepared to accept that our judges, many of whom have personal family standards to live up to, have been suborned by the filthy lucre.


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even,a blind man can read behind the scenes that unfolding in lagos politics.unfortunately,tinubu who assumes himself as a maradonna will fall flat on his face.with the double-speech of the aides to tinubu and the deleted posting of the letter of resignation of pedro from the lagos state website,the credibility of tinubu and his gangs can not be trusted.

we have a big issue of intelligence quotient running dry in the way the lagos state affairs is being run.how can anybody in his right frame of mind think that declining to acknowledge receipts of a letter of resignation of the deputy governor stands that it is not received.what an error.

as a matter of fact,pedro's lawyer can even go further to advertise the letter on three popular newspapers,one radio and television stations respectively.

it is an open truth that pedro's resignation has alway been declined by the same tinubu many times both private and public.

moreover,where is it tenable anywhere in the world that tinubu and his debased house of assembly beggars(oops lawmakers) can impeach pedro whom they granted official leave.

another question begging to be answered is that can any thing meaningful be achievable within three days of sitting by any probe panel that is worth its salt,particularly as it relates to such a heavy political matter of this nature.does it mean that the outcome of this probe may have been fashioned out before their first sitting.

with reference to the press statement of the chairman of the probe panel that their mandate is to execute the impeachment process before may 29

it is only in nigeria that an impeachment notice must result in the execution of the impeachment process. where the outcome of a probe panel must always come out in favour of the convener.no wonder they consciously did not state the timeframe for the probe panel sitting?it will surprise all lagosians including tinubu if the probe panel does not find pedro guilty.afterall,its not new,PURE AMALA POLITICS THAT TINUBU IS KNOWN FOR.

in my opinion,candide-johnson has not administered justice on this matter at all.such impeachment process deserves to be postponed until when pedro arrives back from leave,through an injuction.

impeachment or no impeachment,pedro is still very much relevant in the scheme of lagos politics.moreover,the outcome of the probe panel does not hold water and will be quashed sooner or later by the court of law.we wait to see how tinubu will excape form EFCC AND ICPC AND THE BEAUTIFUL HOMOSEXUALS IN KIRIKIRI WAITING TO DATE TINUBU


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Drama as Tinubu Rejects Pedro’s Resignation Letter
By Deji Elumoye and Davidson Iriekpen, 05.10.2007

COMMENTS
Josh
05.10.2007 18:12
Trust when betrayed, what it produces is war (open or underground). I see the same scenerio of what happened between Obj and Atiku taking place in Lagos.

Trust allows you to have access to truth/secret and when you turn your back from the cordial relationship you can\'t undo the knowledge you have. Then you are stealing away what is dangerous to the host where you first have as your base.

Don\'t betray trust!!!


Is Tinubu not in support of the fracas between Obj and Atiku? There he is also eating the dog meat. When you are in the shoe, you know better.
Franklin Otorofani (USA)

05.10.2007 17:43
Now, somebody tell me, what the press is saying about Tinubu sacking his deputy? Somebody should tell me how Tinubu, who had sacked his first deputy, Ojikutu, and now set to sack his second deputy, Pedro, for disagreeing with him, is more tolerant and democratic than President Obasanjo who has been subverted, betrayed, and stabbed in the back by his deputy, and who, on account of that, wanted to get rid of a notoriously disloyal deputy?

Tell me how Governor Kalu who did the same thing in Abia state in a most humiliating manner against his deputy, is now more democratic and tolerant than President Obasanjo, when it comes to Atiku? Let the press and the opposition, please answer me, and answer me now! It\'s a shame and very disheartening, indeed, that Nigerians, especially the press and the opposition, would use different standards to judge people for the same or similar acts. It\'s all right for a governor to throw out his deputy for acts of disloyalty, and a cardinal sin for a president to do the same! When Tinubu and Kalu throw out their deputies at the drop of a pin, they are hailed as democrats but when Obasanjo moves against his own deputy, notorious for betrayal and dishonesty, he is labeled a dictator!!

Nigerians are a fuuny lot, indeed. They would not apply the same standards they used to judge others to judge themselves or their political associates. It\'s different standards for different folks! How can a country develop like that with no common standards of political behavior?

Governors Tinubu and Kalu, and indeed, virtually all the governors in the federation denied their deputies an opportunity to succeed them in office. All worked hard to frustrate the gubernatorial ambitions of their deputy governors even when there were no publicly known cases of disloyalty to their bosses as Atiku has demonstrated beyond every shadow of doubt in his official relationship with his boss. Yet, the governors still moved against their deputies and so, today, only one or two deputy governors, could be counted amongst governors-elect, and that was only made possible, courtesy of impeachment of their former bosses.

Otherwise all the deputy governors in the land would have been rendered political orphans by the governors and singing the blues.

At the Federal level, Obasanjo has been tolerating Atiku\'s treachery, betrayal, subversion, and legendary acts of disloyalty against his boss; and indeed, against his country, for that matter. But when his boss moved against him, the same press and the opposition, now pretending not to see what\'s going on in Lagos state, called Obasanjo names, for allegedly being intolerant and undemocratic for moving against a known enemy within his government.

It\'s a shame that the Supreme Court would, in a singular display of political myopia, and narrow mindedness allow Atiku to remain in power as Vice-President after deserting the party that sponsored him to the presidency. It\'s a shame that the highest court in the land would grant Atiku and by extension all deputies, licence for disloyalty to the government and the President. What happened to the principles of governmental unity collective responsibility?

It\'s a shame that the highest court in the land and the chief custodian of our values whould encourage, promote, or otherwise dignify barefaced political prostitution in our polity, by cloaking Atiku\'s clear acts of betrayal and disloyalty to his party and government with legality.

It\'s a shame that the highest court of the land would shut its eyes or, could not understand the larger security implication in having a disloyal, treacherous, and a veritable security risk within the presidency, all in the name of \"protecting freedom of association\" when the constitution clearly provides that both the president and his vice must be elected on the same party platform, and by necessary and reasonable implication, belong to the same party.

Now, we have a sitution where a disloyal Vice President is forced on his boss and the nation, and the public must bear the burden of having a disloyal Vice-President, who choose to do nothing but engage in subversive activities against the government of which he is technically a part of, and his country; and still be protected by immunity from prosecution.

Now, we have a situation where a disloyal Vice-President could actually succeed his boss that he had spent all his time undermining and betraying in the event of the death of his boss, and thus profit from his treachery and disloyalty.

Now, the highest court of the land has effectively legalised a divided presidency for the country, in the name of protection of freedom of association. Freedom of association is, to our Supreme Court, the overidding consideration and therefore effectively trumps the security of the nation and a united presidency. If the framers of our constitution wanted freedom of association to trump every other consideration no matter how grave, they would not have required both the president and the vice to belong to the same party. It\'s a commonsensical requirement and even primary school pupil would readily appreciate the wisdom in having both belong to the same party, but our myopic judges in the Supreme Court, intent on settling scores with the Federal Government for whatever reason, has decided to turn logic and legality on its head, and the nation is stuck with Atiku and a huge bill for doing nothing but subversion.

I should swiftly call for the immediate amendment of the constitution to clearly spell out the consequencies of a Vice-President or Depty Governor deserting his sponsoring party for another while in office. They cannot eat their cake and have it. It\'s immoral and unconscionable even by the Supreme Court admission. Our courts, least of all, the highest court in land and custodian of our national ethos and values, must not be seen to encourage political immorality that polutes the stream of public service. Nigeria must not and cannot afford to promote this cancer of political prostitution in our young democracy. And, this is the time to lay down the ethical ground rules before it\'s too late. Enough damage has been done to the presidency by Atiku. The nation must be spared a repeat of this show of shame that brings the Number One institution in the land and symbol of our collective, into disrepute.

When the presidency is defiled and debased it\'s the nation and its people that are defiled and debased; not the president himself. This Atiku nightmare must stop and stop now by amending the constitution to put a final stop to it. We cannot live through this again as a nation. It\'s an assignment for the incoming government.

abimbola kumapayi


05.10.2007 17:38
Why tendering letter to your arch-enemy, you must have been informed this won\'t be acknowledged giving the political impasse between you.
You automatically parted ways since the primary time, and you should have known this anyway.
Go out of the government as nobody chose you by any mandate.You are not constitutionally bound to oblige to any form of ceremonial impeachment.Forget them all,and move on- boy!
People, especially your followers understand your plights and are really behind you.
We have 125 million people in Nigeria amongst which your perceived followers are. So don\'t worry or weary, you remain perfectly on course PEDRO.You and Agbaje are not like others that chicken out at the ninety nineth hour.You refused to surrender your soul to anyone to manipulate.
You are a principled man.Go on boy!More blessing.
THANK YOU.
Olu Bamise

05.10.2007 17:05
If Gov. Tinubu were a true democrat he would accept his deputy\'s resignation letter without contest.
Since his hand-picked candidate won the so-called maligned/rigged April 14 Governorship election and would succeed him, he should learn the wisdom of magnanimity in victory. Tinubu\'s demand for his deputy\'s head is not in anyway better than OBJ\'s declaration of the Vice President Atiku\'s office as vacant.
It only reveals Tinubu\'s hypocrisy that were he in OBJ\'s position he would have done worse to his opponents.
I remember Tinubu\'s previous female Deputy, Mrs Bucknor-Akerele was subjected to similar humiliation and forced out of Tinubu\'s Government.
Tinubu must remember what goes around must come around. He should also be aware and remember that his immunity is wearing thin, and he would need all the friends he can find come May 29, 2007. It seems Yorubas have not learnt any lessons from our history. The politics of personal destruction started on our turf in Lagos and Western Nigeria of the first republic have led Nigerians through the wilderness of Military dictatorship through most of our post-independence years.
Nigerians would like to see for a change mature leadership at the top eschelon of Government. Nigerians should demand no less from any elected officials.
Olu
Osagie Ighalo
05.10.2007 17:03

If Pedro should be impeached because he refused to join Tinubu in his new party I think Tnubu should also be impeached.I use to pity for Tinubu when Obasanjo was dealing him, now I know who Tinubu is, he is the wrong man for Lagos state.
Tester
05.10.2007 16:59

Politicians are all the same ,Tinubu, Atiku -all are after selfish interest so I don\'t see reason why Tinubu should have right to comdemn PDP .Just see what the guy is doing to his deputy.
Emma Anyagwa

05.10.2007 16:49
Otunba Femi Petro outsmarted his boss by his promppt resignation. The gods were going to kill a man and on their way met people carrying the man\'s corpse. Their job was made easier. Gov. Tinubu must not punish his deputy unecessarily. If there is any criminal or fraudulent offence committed by Pedro, they can prosecute him now that he is no longer covered by immunity. If not, the man should be left alone.
Odeyemi Solomon Adebayo

05.10.2007 16:37
I have said it before here that Governor Tinubu is not better than President Obasanjo. We thank God to have given us the opportunity to witness the action of the so called democrats. I have followed up his actions and utterances and can see in him a non-tolerant person and a disloyal personality. You can imagine his reason for supporting Fashola ahead of Afikuyomi. The whole country knew how Afikuyomi placed his head down to save the Governor during his school certificate scandal. Yes he supported Fashola to govern Lagos simply because the guy was faithful to have sold some properties for him when he ran away from Abacha.

If I am Obasanjo I will not interfere and enjoy this drama to the end and later reverse it and tell the whole world \'\'see I am not alone in this business\'\'.
UKA
05.10.2007 16:11

It\'s a shame that despite Tinubu\'s claims to being a democrat, he alas is not diffrent from General Obasanjo. So where are the democrats in this country. Tinubu should stop behaving like an area boy. We have all admired his tenacity and strength of character in standing for democracy, but this is a shameful way to conduct government business. It is high time public affairs are conducted with decency in this country. Femi Pedro is within his rights to resign with some self respect. I am very dissappointed to say the least. This is shameful!
ALEXIUS NWANKWO

05.10.2007 14:05
You may never tell how a man will react until he faces an act. Two actions of Tinubu has made me rate him as bad as other politicians he had always criticised; the first was his refusal to keep a gentleman agreement between him and Late Funso Williams, the second is his insistence to frustrate his deputy. This shows that he too would do the same thing OBJ did to Lagos state if he was the president.
matthew oris

05.10.2007 13:43
It is interesting to note that this is the second time our honorable governor is getting his deputy removed. What kind of legacy is he passing down for those comnig behind him? He is one of those complaining about the president\'s attitude towards his deputy, and as can be seen, he is guilty of same. This man deserves a nobel prize for hipocricy and self-delusion. I wish him and his fellow puppet cabinets all the best.
odidigboigboi james

05.10.2007 12:49
Serves pedro right. Why should you fight your oga?
Ifeanyi Uhuegbu

05.10.2007 12:30
THE RESIGNATION OF MR PEDRO BRINGS TO TWO THE NUMBER OF DEPUTY GOVERNORS TO RESIGN UNDER ALHAJI AHMED TINUBU, GOVERNOR OF LAGOS state. THUS, IT SHOWS THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH HOW THAT OFFICE IS RUN. IF THE ISSUE IS NOT ADDRESSED THE SITUATION MAY CONTINUE EXCEPT THAT TINUBU WILL BE LEAVING OFFICE AFTER MAY 29.

AS OUR ELDERS SAY, UNTIL THE ROTTEN TOOTH IS REMOVED, THE MOUTH MUST CHEW WITH CAUTION.

IFEANYI UHUEGBU,
AUTHOR, AFRICAN WISDOM,
www.africanwisdomonline.com

Jaiye Duduyemi
05.10.2007 09:52
Tinibu, the soon to be disgraced out- going Governor of Lagos State has always been a pretending democrat. Lagos lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo was right. Tinibu has always dished out to people what he cannot take. Is it democratic not to have primaries, or a fair one at all the levels of elective offices in Action Congress? Starting from the ward level all the way to the governorship primaries, it was all a sham. How can the governor and his cohorts in Action Congress call themselves democrats while they give a return ticket to all members of the Lagos State house of assembly, house of representatives, and senate without any competition from other aspirants within the party? Give me a break. I will believe Tinibu to be a democrat when pigs fly.

Chima Okeke
05.10.2007 08:29
I like the way this drama is playing out, At least it has exposed one of the self professed democrats called Bola Tinubu, who made it his hobby in the past one year to throw insults at President Obasanjo ceaselessly over his battle with Vice president Atiku Abubakar.

So, what is the difference between his attitude and that of Obasanjo? At least in Atiku\'s case,he had a case to answer over corruption at the PTDF which created a big moral burden for me.Please,could somebody tell me what Femi Pedro\'s offence was.The man has even gone further to show that he is an honourable man by resigning his appointment,which Tinubu\'s mentor called Atiku has refused to do till today.Shame on you Tinubu.You have simply shown that you are a hypocrite.Femi Pedro has won the moral battle and I hope you will not cook up some terrible lies to send him to jail.Shame.

Chima Okeke
United Kingdom

Ismail Ewumi Old city of Riverdale,MD
05.10.2007 07:51
That is the kind of irresponsible leadership we have in Lagos state.Having read the story on Deputy Gov Femi Pedro,I ponder on the attitude of Tinubu\'s abusing and criticising OBJ\'s attitude to Atiku.Is this the manner of opposition we have? God bless OBJ for the support he gave to President-elect Alhaji Musa Yar\'adua.Please stop these corrupt career politicians.They are not fit to be leaders in 21st century Africa.So where is Atiku now,Gov Tinubu?
Did he advise you to carry on? US is no more a hidding place for ill-gotten wealth.o.k.




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