RE-FORCES AGAINST BUHARI

By Muyiwa Adetiba/Vanguard

Last week’s column, The forces against Buhari, received diverse feedback. I decided to share some of the reactions this week.

Brandon Landry

Excellent article! Bottom line message is clear: Nigerians must seize the destiny of Nigeria from the hands of its oppressive and corrupt ruling elites and install intelligent, competent and patriotic anti-corruption crusaders. India, China, UAE and Qatar used to be Nigeria’s contemporaries. They were at one point worse off than Nigeria. But look at how they have leaped forward today.
They got to where they are today not by looting the billions of dollars of national wealth, but by installing national leaders who deployed their national wealth and resources towards research and development, national planning and myriad far sighted nation building programs. India especially surprised me. About 35 years ago, India was poorer, further backward and less developed than Nigeria.
Today, India builds her own warships, fighter jets, nuclear missiles, commercial automobiles and many other high tech products. India got to where it is today by electing good leaders. It once elected a president who worked in the aerospace industry. No surprise India now builds her own modern fighter jets. India is a nuclear power today because it once elected a technology savvy political leader who marshaled India’s indigenous resources to develop her atomic bomb. Look at China, the economic wonder of today’s world.
China is run by experienced engineers and business savvy technocrats. Not less than 80 per cent of key members of the Chinese ruling party are MBA degree holders. Promotion within China’s ruling party is dependent on actual accomplishments in the professional and public sphere. Not by sycophancy, cronyism, god-fatherism or political gangsters.
The common thread among these nations is that they have either electoral or succession systems that install patriotic, competent and capable leaders. These leaders are not busy bragging about the fleet of limos and private jets in their private collections as they flaunt their ill gotten wealth. They are leaders toiling ceaselessly and planning tirelessly for their nation’s future.
In America, it is all about merit, transparency, competency and most especially….the Rule of Law. America’s system is bitterly allergic to corruption and public impropriety. It is Nigeria’s fault that she is not keeping pace with economic and technological development. Nigerians must elect leaders who will viciously stamp out corruption and enthrone meritocracy, accountability, transparency, professional competency and rule of law.

Etebele Julius

Honestly, I cannot see any sincere clamour for a “change” which APC wants Nigerians to believe; rather I see a high level conspiracy against Jonathan by the victims of Petroleum subsidy withdrawal and oil block license holders, who are acting on rumoured impending revocation of their licenses by Jonathan.
If APC’s angels of “change” are serious and are persons of integrity, why must they field a tyrant like Buhari or is it a “change” to tyranny? It is more so when it was glaring that Buhari’s educational credentials were controversial? If APC constitutes a true vanguard for change why should it accept as members of the change crusade, the PDP rejects, known for corruption?

Ify Onabu

There are indeed many forces against Buhari which this writer forgot to mention. I’d call them the forces of history and experience. History tells me that Buhari was a dictator between December 1983 and May 1985. I lived that experience.
History also tells me that Buhari brutally executed three young men at Bar Beach Lagos under a retroactive legislation. I lived that experience as well. The week those young men were killed, I could not sleep. I felt as if I was the one that killed them. That was how tender my conscience was.
History tells me that under Buhari’s dictatorship, tins of milk and packets of sugar were ‘essential’ items which our people queued up for; and got whipped by soldiers for not obeying the ‘laws of discipline’. I lived that experience as well.

Ismail Oriade

How can a man who appointed 11 Christians as state governors out the 19 states that made up Nigeria when he was a military dictator now Islamize a country when he has to operate under a state law that comprises of two other arms of government (Legislative and Judiciary)? These arms of Government are even more powerful than the position he will be holding if he wins the elections.

Aisha Sani

It won’t be untrue to say that Buhari has a hidden agenda for vying for the presidential seat this year again after saying that 2011 would be his last contest. With the way GMB is going, Nigerians need to be careful or else we will be likened to other Islamic nations like Turkey, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and so on who are always at war against themselves and others.

Sani Bature

The idea that Buhari wants to Islamize Nigeria is old news. It worked for Jonathan supporters previously, but now it won’t work. Nigerians are fed up with your Jonathan. Forget this divisiveness; change is fait accompli on 28th of March, 2015.

Henry

The writer has done a good job but it is just one side of the coin. About the other side of the coin should read the “Forces against Jonathan”. It is a common fact that APC propaganda machinery imported from USA is very economical with the truth with regard to the state of Nigeria economy. The President and his team have touched every department in Nigeria Plc – Education, Roads, Rail, Health, Power, Freedom of speech, Agriculture, New Initiative on non oil mineral, Foreign Direct Investment and others, the list is inexhaustible.
In reference to the above, General Buhari is no match to President Jonathan, soon Boko Haram saga will end but BuhariCertiGate is yet to be decided in the law court and if the court finds Buhari guilty, he will disqualified.

Joseph Ubiagba

“We must be prepared to hold out if we want to choose our leaders ourselves.” If we heed your advice, Nigerians should be in the street and protest for as long as it takes to force GEJ to resign if he wins. Prepare to be the first in the street, let others follow you.

Onaji Mohamed

GMB has nothing new to offer to this great nation. Since he left power over 30 years ago, he has not engaged in any viable venture or intellectual forum to update himself. He has continued to live off government’s largess and to consistently attend Islamic meetings and seminars. Buhari is a dictator who will never listen to his vice if voted in. A man who has chosen not to attend the council of state meetings since 1999 until two weeks ago sure has a lot of forces working seriously against his selfish ambition.

Osit Brown

The only force that I see against Buhari is the bewilderment of most Nigerians that Buhari has the boldness to come out again, to contest.

AIREBAMEN

Nigerians will be heading to ignominious end if we ignorantly vote in Buhari. I pity these young people who have been blindfolded to believe that there is a positive change associated with this very man.

UAlloy

Why this anti-corruption toga on Buhari? Is it not the same man that is rumoured to have helped the Emir of Gwandu smuggle in 53 suitcases into the country during the time Nigeria was changing her currency? Please give me a break!

Emmanuel Kaldick-Jamabo

Nigeria must go forward with fresh ideas and dedicated leadership anchored on godly principles.
Evangelist Emmanuel
Muyiwa, our problem is not the presidency but we ourselves. The change we need must start from us, not the presidency, because we are worse than the people we condemn.

Henry

There is nobody afraid of Buhari’s presidency on account of his anti corruption stance. The N2.8 billion that was unaccounted for when he was Petroleum Minister and his records with Afriprojects during the PTF days make a statement. Look at those who gave him the ticket at the convention in Lagos, where did they get the money used to bribe delegates?

Photo credit: ynaija

EKITI SEEKS VIOLENCE-FREE POLLS

The Ekiti State Government has urged residents to shun acts that could lead to blood shedding or violence in the forthcoming general elections.

Speaking With journalists in Ado Ekiti, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Modupe Alade, said no blood of Ekiti citizen was worth shedding because of anybody’s ambition.

She urged parents to warn their children and wards against being used by politicians to unleash mayhem on the people.

Alade said, "We hope it will be ballot without blood. There is no blood worth shedding. We won’t allow bloodshed in Ekiti because the Governor of this State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, believes that no blood of anybody is worth shedding because somebody wants to get to a certain position.

"So, we appeal to our parents to keep vigil on their wards. They should not allow them to be used as agents of destabilisation. Our youths also must shun violence for Ekiti to remain together after the elections to reap the dividends of democracy."

The SSG begged civil servants and residents to be patient with the government, promising that leave bonuses will be paid.

"We are not unaware of the fact that the civil servants are expecting their leave bonuses and outstanding salaries from this government.

"We are assuring them that all will be paid, but we are just pleading that they should exercise patience.

"You are all aware of the State of the economy in Ekiti. Things are just too bad that we cannot quickly meet all these pressing demands. But we are hopeful that all shall be done in due course.

"Governor Fayose is a friend of the masses, particularly the civil servants, teachers and Artisans, who are desirous of making lives easy for the people."

-PUNCH-

Photo credit: The Sun

WHY DONT YOU WANT JEGA SACKED, PDP ASKS APC

The Peoples Democratic Party has challenged the All Progressives Congress to come out clear and explain to Nigerians the links between it and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, which informs and propels its interest in his stay in office.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, said it was more than curious that the APC has continued to fabricate stories and show undue interest in Jega, adding that such raise a lot of questions for the opposition and the INEC Chairman.

He said, “Undoubtedly, the frenzy, hysteria and spate with which the APC has been inventing stories regarding Prof. Jega’s stay in office, even when nothing suggests that such was on the table, raise a lot of issues.

"We ask, is there any underlining issue or arrangement between APC and Prof. Jega which the opposition is hell-bent to protect, informing its anxiety and apprehension towards his stay in office?

"While it is noted that the APC is a party of one week, one lie, we in the PDP look beneath the surfaces to the deeper issues propelling the lies.
"We therefore challenge the APC to come out clean and tell Nigerians the real reason behind their false alarms and uncontrolled nervousness regarding Prof. Jega ahead of the 2015 general elections.

"Finally, we wish to remind the leadership of INEC that Nigerians are monitoring its activities and series of unfolding political events ahead of the elections, and will not accept anything less than the conduct of credible, free and fair general elections come March 28 and April 11, 2015."

-PUNCH-

Photo credit: Vanguard

PDP'S OATH-TAKING ALLEGATION AGAINST TINUBU OUTLANDISH, REACTIONARY- APC

The All Progressives Congress has said the “sickening and outlandish claim” by the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation that the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, plans to become Vice President through the back door is designed to divert attention from the success of the party’s presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), at the Chatham House in London on Thursday.

In a statement in London on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the PDP and the Jonathan Administration still did not have any answer to what the APC described as “an epochal moment that has separated the wheat from the chaff.”

The APC said, ”Our presidential candidate’s globally-acclaimed outing has presented Nigerians, and indeed the global community, with a choice between a bumbling, ineffective, incoherent, clueless, visionless and incompetent President and an assertive, knowledgeable, dignified, purposeful and principled President-in-waiting.

”Having failed to discredit the (United Kingdom) outing with a rented crowd, some of whom confessed to have been paid to carry placards they did not even understand, the PDP and the Jonathan Administration have now resorted to making nauseating claims that are totally untrue, absolutely incomprehensible and nothing but sheer bunkum.”

APC described the claim as the latest in “a series of desperate moves” by the PDP and the Jonathan Administration since the emergence of Buhari as the APC presidential candidate, and “the clearest indication yet that they have no answer to the unstoppable momentum of a man of history.”

It added, ”They have thrown everything imaginable at Gen. Buhari, but he has continued to wax stronger and stronger: They said he was not qualified, that he was too old, then they fabricated a medical report of an illness of their own choice, sponsored death wish adverts against him and instituted a myriad of court cases to stop him.

”After they failed to stop him, they went after the election itself, using the PVCs as a tool to launch a campaign for postponement and, when they realised that would not work, came up with the bogey of insecurity in the North-East to force a postponement of the election, hoping they can buy enough time to revive their electoral misfortune.

”With everything working against them, they engaged in a show of shame at The Chatham House that backfired badly, on the heels of their bare-faced lies that Gen. Buhari was hospitalised in London. The preposterous claim of a secret oath – reminiscent of what they do in their own party – by the apparently ailing spokesman for the Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, is their latest desperate act.”

APC said in as much as it had so far refrained from engaging Fani-Kayode in what the party called “his game of character assassination, abuses and irresponsible name calling, the party is becoming seriously concerned that he may be caving in under pressure and reverting to his undignified past of substance abuse.”

-PUNCH- 

Photo credit: Thisday

TINUBU WANT TO BE NIGERIAN PRESIDENT, PDP RAISES ALARM

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through its Presidential Campaign Organisation, today raised the alarm, that former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, wants to become Nigeria's president through the back door.

Besides, the ruling political party further argued that plots by the former governor, who is also a chieftain of the opposition All progressives Congress (APC), was to take over as the county's president if the APC flagbearer Muhammadu Buhari, wins the March 28, presidential election.

Specifically, Director of Media and Publicity of the PDPPCO, Femi Fani-Kayode at a press conference in Abuja said, "It should baffle well-meaning Nigerians why Tinubu has decided to draft Buhari, despite his age, acrimonious background and questionable health status, into the presidential race whilst ensuring that his stooge, Prof Osinbajo, was foisted on the general as vice presidential candidate.

"The reason is that the PDPPCO wishes to use this forum to expose the ungodly plan by Tinubu to seize the presidency of Nigeria by subterfuge.

"You will recall how Tinubu wanted to be running mate to Buhari in spite of the nationwide resentment for Muslim-Muslim ticket that he and Buhari planned to foist on their party men and women.

"Senator Tinubu had justified the (planned) ticket by saying that competence was the important thing and not the issue of religion.

"But when he and Buhari could not push through the agenda within the APC, he (Tinubu), after been given the opportunity to nominate a vice presidential candidate, decided to prop up his stooge in the person of Prof Osinbajo.

"Now, the real reason Tinubu nominated Osinbajo has been made known to us and we hereby offer a public service to the Nigerian people by drawing national attention to it.

"Credible pieces of information at our disposal indicate that Tinubu has perfected plans to come to power through the back door.

"Tinubu, according to our information, has compelled Osinbajo to swear to an oath that after six months in office, he would resign as the vice president, in the unlikely event that their party wins.

"The wicked plot, as laid out by them, is to force Osinbajo to resign for Tinubu to be nominated by Buhari as his replacement.

"The ultimate objective of this plot is to ensure that Tinubu becomes President. The script is simple: given the questionable health of Buhari, Tinubu, who is desperate to be president for his own selfish reasons, will simply bid his time in the evil expectation that Buhari will not be able to go the whole hog.

"How wicked can those that hatched this plan be?  How unfair can they be to the North, to Buhari and to Nigerians? We wish Buhari long life. Senator Tinubu’s dangerous plan is about getting power. This is sad. No thoroughbred Yoruba man or indeed Nigerian wants to get power through the misfortune of another person.

"But this is the perfidious path that Tinubu is passing through. This is repugnant."

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2015 POLLS: JONATHAN PROMISES NOT TO COMPROMISE PEACE, SECURITY

Presidential candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and incumbent Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, today in Asaba, Delta State made a vow that his administration would not compromise the security and unity of the country.

Speaking at the palace of the Asagba of Asaba, Professor Chike Edozien, President Jonathan who was accompanied by the state governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan alongside other prominent Nigerians, insisted that his administration would always do what was best for Nigeria.
 
Jonathan was in Asaba to meet with several stakeholders as part of his consultations for his re-election.
 
According to the president, "I want to re-assure you that as a party, we will do our best to bring peace and security to the country, and fast-track economic development in all parts of the country."

Jonathan added that his re-election would enable him reposition the country positively amongst the comity of nations.

He further posited that, "We have tarred over 25,000 kilometres of the 36,000 Federal Roads and we promise to complete the remaining ones and open up more arterial roads when re-elected.
 
"The implementation of the Nigerian content law in the oil industry has improved the participation of Nigerians in the industry and the implementation of our Cabotage Law with Nigerians now owning ships and more Nigerians have been employed in the shipping industry.
 
"We also saw the need to establish Maritime University for high-powered man-power development in the Maritime Sector; we are moving the country forward.
 
"We are not resting on our oars in concluding the privatisation of the power sector as we believe that to improve the small and medium enterprise sector, power is very important.
 
"We believe that by next year, we would have concluded 100 per cent privatisation of the power sector, it will take a life of its own with epileptic power supply becoming a thing of the past."
 
The President thanked the Asagba of Asaba and other royal fathers for their support for his administration assuring that he would not disappoint them.

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FAYOSE'S BLACKMAIL CANNOT STOP BUHARI, APC INSISTS

Nigeria's opposition All progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, today argued that Governor Ayodele Fayose’s blackmail of its presidential flagbearer, Muhammadu Buhari, will not frustrate him from winning the Presidential election.

The party consequently insisted that Fayose's criticism of Buhari, was driven by self-preservation over the governor’s past misdeeds and not in the national interest.
 
APC also maintained that the governor is fighting the battle of his life that runs contrary to the general mood of the nation.

According to a statement by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, "We advised him to concentrate his energy on how to ensure victo‎ry for PDP’s candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, instead of lecturing APC on why it should not field General Buhari as its candidate for the March 28 presidential election.
 
"Nigerians had made up their minds to have Buhari as their President. No amount of blackmail and rhetoric fueled by selfishness will change the course of change sweeping across the country.

"PDP has an agenda to kill all institutions of government as it is currently doing and make corruption a creed. Never in the history of this country have we recorded cases of frauds and scandals as we have today in Nigeria. These are the legacies that PDP can flaunt. ‎

"Unfortunately, Fayose is equating PDP to Nigeria. Fayose has turned APC to a PDP affair. He said former President Olusegun Obasanjo imposed a sick man, the late Umaru Yar’Adua, on PDP in 2007 and President Yar’Adua died after two years in office.

"The question is; is Buhari in PDP and he is now being imposed by Obasanjo again? How does Buhari’s old age threaten PDP’s bid to rule for 60 years?

"Again, Fayose said he had a vision that Buhari will never be president. If he is sure of his vision, why is he breathless about Buhari’s candidacy?
 
"The battle Fayose is fighting is for self-preservation and not because he wants a younger Nigerian to take the mantle of leadership to avoid the repeat of President Yar’Adua’s scenario. He is convinced that Buhari is the preferred candidate and that is why he is talking about Buhari as old-man-President.
 
"He doesn’t want a honest and disciplined President that will not tolerate impunity and lawlessness because he (Fayose) knows he can’t survive in any system where the law works‎. He is also haunted by his past and the fraud through which he was declared the governor in the June 21, 2014 election.

"Fayose is still facing criminal trial in Justice Adamu Hobon’s court at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, over alleged N1.3billion poultry project fraud. There are several unresolved murder cases during his first stint. Ekiti election fraud on tape and video being watched across the world is also there. He knows he can only survive these if his preferred candidate is the president.
 
"For what Fayose is, he will spare nothing in his campaign for self-preservation in a nation of 170 million people who want a reversal of what Fayose represents in private and public life."

Photo credit: Nigeriancurrent

JEGA'S RETIREMENT I'LL NOT BE INDUCED- FG

Supervising Minister of Information and Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, today revealed that the exit of Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega will take a natural course.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja at the headquarters of the Ministry of Information, Duke argued that Jega would not be fired as according to him, President Goodluck Jonathan had promised that Jega's exit from the commission would follow a natural sequence.

According to the minister, "On the issue of the INEC chairman, I align myself with what the president said that he has no plan to sack the INEC chairman.

"That is not to say that if it is time for the INEC chairman to naturally exit his office, then the natural course of things will not take place.

"It is like saying, a civil servant has done 35 years or achieved the age of 60; we now begin to say that he must not retire or he must retire. I think all of that is in the terrain of the presidency and he has spoken.

"I will also like to say once on that issue. I recall that for several weeks now; people keep threatening the president on the shift in the date of the poll.

"You begin to wonder that parties have a couple of extra weeks in order to reinvigorate their campaigns and try to reach as many voters as possible.

"Rather than do that, you begin to identify imaginary pockets of unlikely developments and then focus your attention on them and then when you lose election, you begin to complain."

It would be recalled that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Senate, had alleged that there was a fresh plot by the Federal Government to stop Jega from overseeing the forthcoming general elections.

According to them, "We have received information from a very credible source that next week, the Chairman of INEC will be given a letter from the office of the Head of the Civil Service to proceed on a terminal leave."

SAMBO SAYS APC'S MANIFESTO ON JOB CREATION FAULTY

The manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was today described by Vice President (VP) Namadi Sambo, as it touches on job creation, as faulty.

In addition, the VP argued that the number of jobs the APC promised to create annually if its presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari emerges winner in the forth coming elections,   is lower,  compared with the number of jobs the present administration is currently creating per year.

Sambo's presidential spokesman, Umar Sani in a statement said, "If you look at the APC manifesto, one area that you will know that there is something wrong is that they said they will create one million jobs annually, but we have 1.4 million jobs annually that comes up, so if you produce only 1 million jobs, what about the 400,000? Who will give them the job?."

Sambo also argued that the country would  witness what he termed a successful and peaceful election because according to him, "The  Federal Government (FG) is recording successes in curbing the spate of insurgency in the North-East."

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TWENTY THREE POLITICAL PARTIES WANT JEGA TO POSTPONE BORNO ELECTIONS

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega was today asked by twenty-three of the 28 political parties in Borno State, that elections should be postponed in the state till September this year.

Besides, the political parties equally thinks that an interim government should be put in place to run the affairs of the state on the expiration of the tenure of the present administration on May 29, 2015.

Speaking at a press conference under the aegis of Inter Party Advisory Council, the political parties through their chairman, Babagana Musa who revealed the signatures of 23 party chairmen, some who were at the conference, argued that the decision was arrived at by all other political parties except five — All Progressives Congress, Kowa Party, All Progressive Grand Alliance, Peoples Democratic Party and Africa Alliance.

Musa posited that, "The decision taken after a careful consideration of the situation in Borno State, showed that election could not be held in the troubled state.

"The non-distribution of the Permanent Voter Card in 175 polling units in the state, which represents approximately 500,000 yet to get their PVCs, is one of the reasons the polls should be shifted in the state.

"Another reason is the personal insecurity of opposition party official in the state; vandalisation of opposition party facilities and the indecent activities of the youth vigilance group.

"Because of the foregoing reasons and others not mention here, we are calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission, being the electoral umpire, to extend the conduct of the 2015 general elections for six months i.e from March 28 to September 26, 2015."

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ELECTIONS: SIGN UNDERTAKEN NOW, ACTIVISTS URGE NSA, SERVICE CHIEFS

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, alongside the Service Chiefs, were today urged by a  coalition of civil society organisations, under the aegis of Nigerians United for Democracy, that the elections would not be further postponed or disrupted.

Besides, the organisation equally expressed fears that the March 28 and April 11, 2015 dates for the general elections may not be sacrosanct.

While urging the National Assembly to extract what it termed a
serious undertaking from the security chiefs, the organisation argued that the undertaking should be made public consequent upon the declaration of the Court of Appeal that the armed forces have no role to play in the electoral process, the activists charged the President Goodluck Jonathan led Federal Government (FG) to investigate the revelations in the audio clip, recorded by an Army Captain, on the role of the military and other government functionaries in the alleged rigging of the June, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the organisation through two rights activist, Ezenwa Nwagu and Jaiye Gaskiya, issued a warning that any plot to install an interim government in the country would be resisted by the progressive forces.

They said, "In the circumstance, we wish to warn those who are planning to install an interim government or a coup detat to discard the idea. We have had enough of dictatorial regimes in Nigeria."

"We are however worried that the new election dates are not sacrosanct because according to the INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, when he appeared before the Senate only the service chiefs could guarantee that the rescheduled elections would hold.

"For reasons best known to them, the security chiefs have not assured the nation that security would be provided on the new election dates. We are compelled to call on the National Assembly to extract a firm undertaking from the NSA and the security chiefs that the general elections would not be further postponed or disrupted.

"The undertaking ought to be made publicly by the security chiefs in view of the categorical pronouncement of the Court of Appeal that the armed forces have no role to play in the electoral process. Since all authorities and persons are bound to obey the verdicts of our courts, the President and the security chiefs should demonstrate their commitment to follow the rule of law by withdrawing soldiers from election duties.

"Nigeria is on the march again, this time; no one will be able to halt the decisive will of the people for democracy and sustainable livelihood."

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KEYAMO PETITIONS INEC OVER ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTIONS IN ANAMBRA STATE

Wednesday, February 25, 2015
 
The Chairman,
Independent National Electoral Commission,
Plot 436, Zambezi Crescent,
Maitama, Abuja.
 
Dear Sir,
 
DEMAND FOR THE IMMEDIATE REVERSAL OF THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNLAWFUL SUBSTITUTION OF THE NAMES OF THE CANDIDATES  OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) IN ANAMBRA STATE NOMINATED FOR THE 2015 NATIONAL AND STATE ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS.
 
We are Solicitors to Okonwko Annie Clement, Benedict O. Obaze and all the nominated Peoples Democratic Party’s candidates for the Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly Elections in Anambra State who emerged from the INEC supervised primaries conducted by the Ejike Oguebego led Exco of the PDP in Anambra State (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) on whose instructions we write.
 
Our clients’ names were published by INEC as the authentic candidates of the PDP at the close of nomination by political parties on the 13th and 27th of January, 2015 having emerged as the winners from the congresses and primaries conducted through the Ejike Oguebego led Exco of the PDP in Anambra State for the 2015 National and State House of Assembly Elections. It must be noted that the primaries that produced our clients were the only ones that were held by INEC in Anambra State as provided in the PDP 2015 Electoral guidelines and the Electoral Act.
 
It is also worthy of note that the congress which produced the Ejike Oguebego led State Executive Committee of the PDP in Anambra State was equally held under the supervision of INEC in March, 2012. It is beyond dispute that the aforementioned congress and primaries that produced our clients were held with the blessings of INEC. This much was stated by INEC itself in three letters and a press release. The first letter dated 26th July 2013, the second dated 23rd October, 2014, were both written to the PDP National Chairman, the third also dated 23rd October, 2014 was written by INEC  to Taiwo Abe & Co. and finally a press release in August, 2013. Copies of the letters are attached herewith for ease of reference.
 
Furthermore, we wish to draw your attention to the fact that your Commission and the PDP were expressly mandated by an Order of the Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt Division in its ruling of 12th September, 2013, in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/213/13 between Ejike Oguebego & 2 Ors vs. PDP & 3 Ors to recognize and deal with the Ejike Oguebego led State Executive Committee of the PDP in Anambra State in all election matters in Anambra State pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter. This Order of Court which is binding on INEC and the PDP is still subsisting, remain extant and in force till date. In compliance with the above Order, your Commission on the 1st of November, 2014 monitored the congress that led to the emergence of the three man ward delegates that participated in the primary elections that produced the candidates of the PDP in Anambra State for the 2015 General Election. Attached are your Commission’s reports on the said congress for ease of reference. 
 
Although there has been a plethora of cases in court regarding this matter, none has upturned or reversed the aforestated Order of the Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt Division. As a matter of fact, it was also in obedience to this Order of court that INEC published the names of our clients as the validly nominated candidates of the PDP in Anambra State for the 2015 National and House of Assemblies Election.
 
While your Commission can be said to have initially obeyed the Order, the same cannot be said of the PDP. Thus in total defiance of the subsisting Orders of the Honourable court in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/213/13 between Ejike Oguebego & 2 Ors vs. PDP & 3 Ors, the National PDP proceeded to set up a purported Caretaker Committee to oversee the affairs of the party in Anambra State towards the 2015 General Elections. Two Court Judgments in Suit Nos. FHC/ABJ/CS/680/2014 between Ken Emeakayi vs. PDP & 6Ors delivered on the 27th of November, 2014 and FHC/ABJ/CS/854/2014 between Ejike Oguebego & another vs. PDP & another delivered on the 5th December, 2014 promptly nullified this.
 
Now, on what basis did INEC substitute our clients’ names with those listed on their website? Information available to us suggests that some of your officers, including Mr. Ibrahim K. Bawa who signed the new list of candidates dated 9th February, 2015, have erroneously placed reliance on the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on the 6th of February, 2015 in Appeal No: CA/A/737/2014 between PDP Vs. Ejike Oguebego & 3 Ors and CA/A/737A/2014. We make bold to say that the aforestated judgments of the Court of Appeal cannot be relied upon to substitute our clients’ names for the following reasons:
 
a.   The Order of the Federal High Court Port-Harcourt Division made on the 12th of September, 2013 in Suit No:  FHC/PH/CS/213/13 between Ejike Oguebego & 2 Ors vs. PDP & 3 Ors, which mandated INEC and PDP to recognize and deal with the Ejike Oguebego led Exco in all Election matters in Anambra State is still in force subsisting and binding on INEC and the PDP.
 
b.   The judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division in Appeal No: CA/A/737A/2014 and Appeal No: CA/A/737/2014 relied upon by the Commission for substitution of our clients’ names only affected the judgment of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court dealing with the validity or otherwise of the Caretaker Committee set up by the PDP and not more.
 
c.   The Court of Appeal’s decisions did not affect the order of the Port-Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court mandating INEC and PDP to deal with Ejike Oguebego led Exco in all election matters.
 
d.   The judgment of the Court of Appeal merely struck out the suit challenging the PDP’s Caretaker Committee. The lead judgment of the Court of Appeal simply held that:
 
“The Lower court’s judgment delivered on 5/12/2014 in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/854/2014 is hereby set aside. In its stead, I hereby strike out the 1st and 2nd Respondents’ action. The parties shall bear their costs”
e.   The effect of the above pronouncement by the Court of Appeal was only to the extent that the suit or action challenging the Caretaker Committee failed and nothing more.
 
f.       Nowhere in the judgment did the Court of Appeal direct INEC to accept the result of the primaries conducted by the Caretaker Committee or to replace our clients’ names with the ones emerging from any other Primary.
 
g.   Finally, the only subsisting positive order on the emergence of candidates of the PDP for Anambra State remains that of the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/213/2013 and INEC is under obligation as a law abiding establishment to abide by that order.
 
Sir, based on the reasons proffered above, we respectfully make bold to say that the substitution of the names of our clients based on the Court of Appeal decision is most unconstitutional, illegal and a direct affront to the subsisting order of the Federal high Court, Port Harcourt. In fact, the action of INEC in replacing the names of our client with the other names is contemptuous of the subsisting Order of the Court.
 
To further highlight the contemptuous nature of the actions of the Commission as regards the substitution of our clients’ names, we have raised the following posers for your consideration?
 
I.             Why did the PDP set up Caretaker Committee to oversee electoral matters in Anambra State in defiance to the subsisting Orders of Court mandating INEC and PDP to recognize and deal with the Ejike Oguebego-led Exco and to maintain status quo?
 
II.           Why should the aspirants who emerged from phantom primaries purportedly conducted in defiance to an Order of Court be used to replace the aspirants who emerged from the primaries that were conducted in obedience to the Order of Court and under the supervision of INEC?
 
III.          With the substitution, can INEC still say that they are in obedience to the order to maintain status quo?
 
IV.         With the substitution, can INEC still say that they are in obedience to the order to accord recognition to and deal with the Ejike Oguebego led Exco in all electoral matters for the Anambra State?  
 
V.          What is the legal basis for the substitution of our clients’ names by INEC in the light of the Order of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Division on his matter?
 
VI.         Does INEC have any positive order of Court mandating it to substitute our clients’ names?
 
Sir, with all sense of responsibility, we are of the firm view that the answer to the foregoing questions are in the negative.
 
Moreso, assuming but without conceding that the judgment of the Court of Appeal even affected INEC’s obligation to obey the orders of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Division, the implication of the substitution is such that if the judgment is reversed on appeal to the Supreme Court, or in the event of any contrary judgment, INEC would have to be substituting the names of the candidates on from time to time, following every twist and turns arising from the cases in Court. This would obviously not be tidy for the Commission and the electoral process.
 
OUR PRAYERS
We respectfully pray the Commission to reverse the substitution of our clients’ names by returning to the status quo ante bellum ordered by the Court and restoring our clients’ names as the nominated candidates of the PDP to INEC’s approved lists of candidates for the 2015 election in Anambra State as follows:
 
SENATORIAL LIST
1.   John Okechukwu Emeka
2.   Okonwko Annie Clement
3.   Ubah Chukwunedum C.
 
 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTIATIVES LIST
 
1.   Offiah Anthony Chukwudi
2.   Julius Oforma O.
3.   Anohu Chukwuemeka
4.   Hon. Val Ayika
5.   Nwene  Ejike Clement 
6.   Uche Ifeoma Obi
7.   Hon. Charles Odedo
8.   Hon. Emma Nweke
9.   Benedict O. Obaze
10.   Ifeyinwa Anazonwu
11.   Ignay A.O Nwene and
12.   All candidates nominated for the House of Assembly as candidates of the PDP by the Ejike Oguebego led exco.
 
Finally, we are convinced that INEC is a law abiding agency of the Federal Government and would not give credence to any unlawful action taken in violation of a lawful Order of a Court of competent jurisdiction. The PDP in setting up the Caretaker Committee acted in defiance of a valid Order of Court to maintain status quo. We therefore urge the Commission not to lend itself to such illegality by retaining the names of such candidates from the primaries of the Caretaker Committee. 
 
We thank you for your anticipated co-operation.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
 
FESTUS KEYAMO, ESQ.

Photo credit: Theeagleonline

2015 ELECTIONS: GBAJABIAMILA BEGS DEPUTY SPEAKER, HOUSE OVER TROOPS DEPLOYMENT

Minority leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, today apologised to the lower legislative chamber of the National Assembly, over the derogatory remarks he made against the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha.

In his words, "I withdraw that‎ portion where I called him the deputy speaker of a political party. We should be accommodating of each other as a House."

Gbajabiamila, it would be recalled had made a vow that the All Progressives Congress (APC) members would no longer accord Ihedioha respect as deputy speaker.

He had added that, "What you saw today (Wednesday) is yet another indication of what the PDP has brought on our country.

"We have a deputy speaker who has never hidden his ‎partisanship. He has always taken sides with the PDP, compared to the speaker (Tambuwal), who sees himself as the Speaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

Last week, the two contending political parties had disagreed over the deployment of the military for election duties.

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DEFECTION: FORMER NIGERIAN MILITANTS LAMBAST PDP GOVERNORS, URGES SUPPORT FOR JONATHAN'S PRESIDENCY

Former Nigerian militant leaders from the South-South geopolitical region, today descended heavily on some governors that moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Consequently, they called on the electorates to disregard hate campaigns against presidential candidate of the PDP, Goodluck Jonathan by the opposition and vote for him en masse during the presidential election slated for March 28, 2015.

The former militants under the  aegis of Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiatives, argued that Jonathan in his capacity as the country's president had stabilised the polity and performed creditably well in all facets of national life.

Specifically, the group through their National Coordinator, Pastor Reuben Wilson in a statement urged Nigerians not to be deceived by the use of hate words and violent utterances among political actors.

According to him, "The defected governors only played to the gallery without differentiating their achievements in office under the PDP and in office under the APC."

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2015 POLLS: JUDGE TO RULE ON APC'S SUBSTITUTION CRISIS MARCH 6

A Federal High court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba, today set aside March 6, 2015 as the day to deliver judgment in a suit filed by one Wasiu Sanni Eshinloku, challenging what he termed the unlawful substitution of his name as candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), into the Lagos state House of Assembly.

Eshilokun, who is the  immediate past Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government, had dragged APC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Masha, whom is name was substituted with as respondents in the suit respectively.

The judge arrived at the decision, shortly after parties in the suit adopted and argued their applications.

Specifically in his suit, Eshinloku wants the court to, "Determine whether upon a proper construction and interpretation of Sections 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Electoral Act 2010, the respondents, APC and INEC, were lawfully entitled to substitute his name with the name of Masha, having won the majority lawful votes in the primaries conducted by the party.

"A declaration that the second respondent (Masha) having lost the primaries of the party with respect to Lagos Island Constituency 1 to him (Eshilokun) woefully and the applicant having not withdrawn his nomination, Masha was not entitled to be nominated to INEC by APC as the candidate of the party for Lagos Island Constituency 1, in the forrthcoming House of Assembly election in the state.

"A declaration that INEC and APC were not lawfully entitled to substitute his name, having been declared the winner of the primaries election organised by the party and also having satisfied all statutory requirements culminating in the submission of his name to INEC."

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2015 ELECTIONS: APC LEADERSHIP ARMING YOUTHS-WIKE

Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, today accused the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), of arming youths and instigating political violence across the state.

Speaking at Okposi, Ward 7 and Erema, Ward 10 in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, in continuation of his ward to ward campaigns, Wike argued that after eight years in government, officials of the Governor Rotimi Amaechi led administration and APC members felt the only way they could remain competitive was to promote violence amongst the people.

According to him, "The officials of the outgoing governor Amaechi administration are now buying guns for youths and instigating political violence across the state.

"They are doing this because they have nothing in terms of projects to campaign with and they think intimidation will work.

“I have news for them. They will be victims of their plans to unleash violence on our people.

"We have informed law enforcement agencies of the actions of Amaechi’s commissioners and officials and we believe they will take action."

The PDP governorship candidate also lambasted the state commissioner for information, Okey Amadi, over alleged failing to attract development project to his people.

Wike called on Nigerians  to vote President Goodluck Jonathan, even as he added that his opponent, General Muhammadu Buhari has been known to truncate democracy in the past.

The governorship candidate also suggested that the future of Nigeria was dependent on the re-election of President Jonathan to consolidate on his transformation agenda.

In his reaction, traditional ruler of Okposi community, Gideon Nwokocha, assured Wike that he would get the total support of the people of the area.

Photo credit: Theeagleonline

2015 POLLS: GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI'S SPEECH AT CHATHAM HOUSE TODAY

Permit me to start by thanking Chatham House for the invitation to talk about this important topic at this crucial time. When speaking about Nigeria overseas, I normally prefer to be my country’s public relations and marketing officer, extolling her virtues and hoping to attract investments and tourists.

But as we all know, Nigeria is now battling with many challenges, and if I refer to them, I do so only to impress on our friends in the United Kingdom that we are quite aware of our shortcomings and are doing our best to address them.

The 2015 general election in Nigeria is generating a lot of interests within and outside the country. This is understandable. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, is at a defining moment, a moment that has great implications beyond the democratic project and beyond the borders of my dear country.

So let me say upfront that the global interest in Nigeria's landmark election is not misplaced at all and indeed should be commended; for this is an election that has serious import for the world.

I urge the international community to continue to focus on Nigeria at this very critical moment. Given increasing global linkages, it is in our collective interests that the postponed elections should hold on the rescheduled dates; that they should be free and fair; that their outcomes should be respected by all parties; and that any form of extension, under whichever guise, is unconstitutional and will not be tolerated.

With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War, democracy became the dominant and most preferred system of government across the globe. That global transition has been aptly captured as the triumph of democracy and the ‘most pre-eminent political idea of our time.’ On a personal note, the phased end of the USSR was a turning point for me. 

It convinced me that change can be brought about without firing a single shot. As you all know, I had been a military head of state inNigeria for twenty months.

We intervened because we were unhappy with the state of affairs in our country. We wanted to arrest the drift. Driven by patriotism, influenced by the prevalence and popularity of such drastic measures all over Africa and elsewhere, we fought our way to power.

But the global triumph of democracy has shown that another and a preferable path to change is possible. It is an important lesson I have carried with me since, and a lesson that is not lost on the African continent.

In the last two decades, democracy has grown strong roots in Africa. Elections, once so rare, are now so commonplace. As at the time I was a military head of state between 1983 and 1985, only four African countries held regular multi-party elections. 

But the number of electoral democracies in Africa, according to Freedom House, jumped to 10 in 1992/1993 then to 18 in 1994/1995 and to 24 in 2005/2006. According to the New York Times, 42 of the 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa conducted multi-party elections between 1990 and 2002.

The newspaper also reported that between 2000 and 2002, ruling parties in four African countries (Senegal, Mauritius, Ghana and Mali) peacefully handed over power to victorious opposition parties. 

In addition, the proportion of African countries categorised as not free by Freedom House declined from 59% in 1983 to 35% in 2003. Without doubt, Africa has been part of the current global wave of democratisation.

But the growth of democracy on the continent has been uneven. According to Freedom House, the number of electoral democracies in Africa slipped from 24 in 2007/2008 to 19 in 2011/2012; while the percentage of countries categorised as ‘not free’ assuming for the sake of argument that we accept their definition of free increased from 35% in 2003 to 41% in 2013. 

Also, there have been some reversals at different times in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritania and Togo. We can choose to look at the glass of democracy in Africa as either half full or half empty.

While you can’t have representative democracy without elections, it is equally important to look at the quality of the elections and to remember that mere elections do not democracy make. 

It is globally agreed that democracy is not an event, but a journey. And that the destination of that journey is democratic consolidation – that state where democracy has become so rooted and so routine and widely accepted by all actors.

With this important destination in mind, it is clear that though many African countries now hold regular elections, very few of them have consolidated the practice of democracy. 

It is important to also state at this point that just as with elections, a consolidated democracy cannot be an end by itself. I will argue that it is not enough to hold a series of elections or even to peacefully alternate power among parties.

It is much more important that the promise of democracy goes beyond just allowing people to freely choose their leaders. It is much more important that democracy should deliver on the promise of choice, of freedoms, ofsecurity of lives and property, of transparency and accountability, of rule of law, of good governance and of shared prosperity.
It is very important that the promise embedded in the concept of democracy, the promise of a better life for the generality of the people, is not delivered in the breach.

Now, let me quickly turn to Nigeria. As you all know, Nigeria’s fourth republic is in its 16th year and this general election will be the fifth in a row. This is a major sign of progress for us, given that our first republic lasted five years and three months, the second republic ended after four years and two months and the third republic was a still-birth. 

However, longevity is not the only reason why everyone is so interested in this election.

The major difference this time around is that for the very first time since transition to civil rule in 1999, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing its stiffest opposition so far from our party the All Progressives Congress (APC).

We once had about 50 political parties, but with no real competition. Now Nigeria is transitioning from a dominant party system to a competitive electoral polity, which is a major marker on the road to democratic consolidation.

As you know, peaceful alternation of power through competitive elections have happened in Ghana, Senegal, Malawi and Mauritius in recent times. The prospects of democratic consolidation in Africa will be further brightened when that eventually happens in Nigeria.

But there are other reasons why Nigerians and the whole world are intensely focused on this year’s elections, chief of which is that the elections are holding in the shadow of huge security, economic and social uncertainties in Africa’s most populous country and largest economy. 

On insecurity, there is a genuine cause for worry, both within and outside Nigeria. Apart from the civil war era, at no other time in our history has Nigeria been this insecure.

Boko Haram has sadly put Nigeria on the terrorism map, killing more than 13,000 of our nationals, displacing millions internally and externally, and at a time holding on to portions of our territory the size of Belgium. 

What has been consistently lacking is the required leadership in our battle against insurgency. I, as a retired general and a former head of state, have always known about our soldiers: they are capable, well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do their duty in the service of our country.

You all can bear witness to the gallant role of our military in Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Darfur and in many other peacekeeping operations in several parts of the world. 

But in the matter of this insurgency, our soldiers have neither received the necessary support nor the required incentives to tackle this problem. The government has also failed in any effort towards a multi-dimensional response to this problem leading to a situation in which we have now become dependent on our neighbours to come to our rescue.

Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently; that Nigeria will return to its stabilising role in West Africa; and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service, we will give them adequate and modern arms and ammunitions to work with, we will improve intelligence gathering and border controls to choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels, we will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan promoting infrastructural development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas.

We will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester, and I, Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front and return Nigeria to its leadership role in regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.

On the economy, the fall in prices of oil has brought our economic and social stress into full relief. After the rebasing exercise in April 2014, Nigeria overtook South Africa as Africa’s largest economy. Our GDP is now valued at $510 billion and our economy rated 26th in the world. 

Also on the bright side, inflation has been kept at single digit for a while and our economy has grown at an average of 7% for about a decade.

But it is more of paper growth, a growth that, on account of mismanagement, profligacy and corruption, has not translated to human development or shared prosperity.

A development economist once said three questions should be asked about a country’s development: one, what is happening to poverty? Two, what is happening to unemployment? And three, what is happening to inequality?

The answers to these questions in Nigeria show that the current administration has created two economies in one country, a sorry tale of two nations: one economy for a few who have so much in their tiny island of prosperity; and the other economy for the many who have so little in their vast ocean of misery.

Even by official figures, 33.1% of Nigerians live in extreme poverty. That’s at almost 60 million, almost the population of the United Kingdom. There is also the unemployment crisis simmering beneath the surface, ready to explode at the slightest stress, with officially 23.9% of our adult population and almost 60% of our youth unemployed. We also have one of the highest rates of inequalities in the world.

With all these, it is not surprising that our performance on most governance and development indicators (like Mo Ibrahim Index on African Governance and UNDP’s Human Development Index.) are unflattering. With fall in the prices of oil, which accounts for more than 70% of government revenues, and lack of savings from more than a decade of oil boom, the poor will be disproportionately impacted.

In the face of dwindling revenues, a good place to start the repositioning of Nigeria’s economy is to swiftly tackle two ills that have ballooned under the present administration: waste and corruption. And in doing this, I will, if elected, lead the way, with the force of personal example.

On corruption, there will be no confusion as to where I stand. Corruption will have no place and the corrupt will not be appointed into my administration. First and foremost, we will plug the holes in the budgetary process.

Revenue producing entities such as NNPC and Customs and Excise will have one set of books only. Their revenues will be publicly disclosed and regularly audited. The institutions of state dedicated to fighting corruption will be given independence and prosecutorial authority without political interference.

But I must emphasise that any war waged on corruption should not be misconstrued as settling old scores or a witch-hunt. I’m running for President to lead Nigeria to prosperity and not adversity.

In reforming the economy, we will use savings that arise from blocking these leakages and the proceeds recovered from corruption to fund our party’s social investments programmes in education, health, and safety nets such as free school meals for children, emergency public works for unemployed youth and pensions for the elderly.

As a progressive party, we must reform our political economy to unleash the pent-up ingenuity and productivity of the Nigerian people thus freeing them from the curse of poverty.

We will run a private sector-led economy but maintain an active role for government through strong regulatory oversight and deliberate interventions and incentives to diversify the base of our economy, strengthen productive sectors, improve the productive capacities of our people and create jobs for our teeming youths.

In short, we will run a functional economy driven by a worldview that sees growth not as an end by itself, but as a tool to create a society that works for all, rich and poor alike. On March 28, Nigeria has a decision to make. To vote for the continuity of failure or to elect progressive change. I believe the people will choose wisely.

In sum, I think that given its strategic importance, Nigeria can trigger a wave of democratic consolidation in Africa. But as a starting point we need to get this critical election right by ensuring that they go ahead, and depriving those who want to scuttle it the benefit of derailing our fledgling democracy.

That way, we will all see democracy and democratic consolidation as tools for solving pressing problems in a sustainable way, not as ends in themselves.

Permit me to close this discussion on a personal note. I have heard and read references to me as a former dictator in many respected British newspapers including the well regarded Economist.

Let me say without sounding defensive that dictatorship goes with military rule, though some might be less dictatorial than others. I take responsibility for whatever happened under my watch.

I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and the future. So before you is a former military ruler and a converted democrat who is ready to operate under democratic norms and is subjecting himself to the rigours of democratic elections for the fourth time.

You may ask: why is he doing this? This is a question I ask myself all the time too. And here is my humble answer: because the work of making Nigeria great is not yet done, because I still believe that change is possible, this time through the ballot, and most importantly, because I still have the capacity and the passion to dream and work for a Nigeria that will be respected again in the comity of nations and that all Nigerians will be proud of.

Photo credit: Punch

BUHARI COMMENDS MILITARY OVER ANTI-TERRORISM WAR

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) has commended the heroic exploits of the officers and men and women of the Armed Forces in their fight against the Boko Haram terrorists.

Buhari, in a press statement yesterday, said the Boko Haram insurgents had for several years made life hellish for many Nigerians, while creating the greatest security nightmare ever known by the country since the end of the Civil War.

The statement, signed by Mallam Garba Shehu, Director of Media and Publicity of APC Presidential Campaign Organization (APCPCO), quoted Buhari as expressing delight with the speed and efficiency with which several towns and villages in the North-East region of the country, namely Baga, Konduga, Dikwa and others, hitherto overrun by the terrorists and under their control, had been liberated by the Nigerian troops.

According to the statement, “ it is refreshing to realise as patriotic Nigerians that, indeed, we have a military that can hold its own in combat and by so doing be an inspiration and complement the efforts of friendly forces fighting alongside them.

“While we have noted the full display of professionalism and courage in combat exhibited by the gallant officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, we also pay tribute to their allies from Cameroun, Chad and Niger who are fighting alongside them.

Terrorism being the scourge of today’s world requires the collective effort and resolve of the international community and relevant regional forces to deal with.”

The APC standard bearer further stressed that, “As we celebrate the triumph of our forces and look forward to the eventual weakening and possible annihilation of the terrorists from our territory and the sub-region, we urge the Armed Forces to do more and ensure that territories already re-captured do not fall again to the terrorists and that reasonable security is provided to encourage the displaced population to return to their homelands.

“The APC Campaign again is very proud of the Armed Forces and its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, is particularly pleased that the Army, which he once commanded to fame and glory, is re-enacting the combat exploits for which it was known the world over.”

The statement further said, “We want to use this opportunity to remind the entire rank and file of the Armed Forces that under an APC government to be headed by General Buhari, the Armed Forces, as an institution, would be encouraged and given all it requires to continue to excel and fulfil its constitutional role of providing reliable and sound security for the nation.

“An APC government would ensure adequate provision of military hardware, logistics, welfare, training, both local and overseas, as well as decisive leadership that will ensure that never again will our country find itself in the type of security dilemma we have been subjected to in the last couple of years.”

-NEWSWATCH TIMES-

UPROAR IN REPS OVER APC’s BID TO STOP SOLDIERS' DEPLOYMENT FOR POLLS

Another attempt by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop the Federal Government from using the military during the conduct of the 2015 general elections failed yesterday.

The presiding Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, again ruled against the motion seeking to restrict military from elections.
The motion to that effect which was sponsored by the Minority Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos), was aimed at calling the lawmakers’ attention to the need to stop what he called ‘’an unconstitutional deployment of military personnel for election purposes.”

Gbajabiamila, in his motion, prayed the House to set up an ad-hoc committee that would investigate the role played by the military personnel and other persons who featured in the controversial audio tape on Ekiti State’s election and report to the House within four days.

He insisted that the government should not deploy military personnel during the upcoming elections in compliance with the decision of a Federal High Court in Sokoto until such decision is set aside, adding that the use of military personnel at election centres may intimidate the electorate.

According to him, the presence of military personnel in polling units and wards is capable of generating unwarranted apprehension that will scare away innocent citizens.

The lawmaker said the action was capable of preventing voters from peacefully and wilfully exercising their franchise.

The motion was challenged in a point of order moved by Hon. Karimi Sunday, (PDP, Kogi), who citied Order 9 Rule (7) (5) which says the House cannot comment on any matter that is pending in court and which in the opinion of the Speaker will prejudice the judicial outcome of same.

Hon. Sokonte Davies (APC, Rivers) and Gbajabiamila once again countered, citing same Order 9 Rule 58. They said Hon. Sunday breached the rules preventing a member raising a point of order from debating or reading from a text speech as he was doing.

Their points of order were sustained by the Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who also appealed to the lawmakers on the need to seek legal counsel on the matter.

“In view of the sensitivity of this matter and the unfolding events in the country, I want us to take this matter very seriously.

‘’Therefore, I would urge that the Committees on Rules and Business, Justice & Judiciary to meet on this matter and come back to advise the House on it by next week,” he ruled.

However, at yesterday’s sitting, presiding Deputy Speaker Ihedioha called on Hon. Sam Tsokwa, Chairman of House Committee on Rules and Business, to brief the House on the advice of the committee whether the lawmakers should deliberate on the matter or not.

Tsokwa, however, advised that the matter should be dropped. According to him, the Armed Forces Act gives the president the powers to deploy the military for the protection of lives and properties.

He said the president’s power to “determine the operational use of the Armed Forces in Nigeria for the purpose of maintaining and securing public safety and public order” is a constitutional mandate donated by the constitution and the Armed Forces Act.

At this point, the Minority Leader disagreed with Tsokwa, which led to a rowdy session.

Gbajabiamila said, “The report purportedly given by Tsokwa cannot stand the law or even the facts, because even by his own admission, he did not seek for any evidence because the part of order that was raised on the motion was that the matter was in court and, as such, we cannot discuss it and then in the opinion of the speaker of the House, he needed some legal advice.”

He argued that Tsokwa abandoned his terms of reference and decided to take the debate and ruled on the entire merits of the motion, stressing that, “It is unacceptable to us; we will not accept it is a travesty of justice and for us as progressives, this is what we cannot allow to happen.”

He added that the “deputy speaker is partisan, biased and we cannot accept this.”
However, the motion remained dropped as the presiding deputy speaker had ruled on it.

-NEWSWATCH TIMES-

ELECTIONS: FAYOSE ACCUSED OF IMPORTING FAKE SOLDIERS

Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, was today challenged by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to explain to Nigerians why he allegedly imported men in Army uniform, suspected to be thugs, into his country home in Afao Ekiti on Tuesday night.

According to a statement issued by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, Nigerians must be in the know as to why these young men were stealthily imported to Afao-Ekiti at night.

The party chieftain argued that, Last night’s importation of young men in six 18-seater buses to Afao-Ekiti home of the governor is a clear confirmation of our fear that Fayose means business as he has been boasting around that the presidential election will be a do-or-die affair.

"We were monitoring these young men from Ibadan yesterday evening. They were brought in a luxury bus parked under the bridge at Iwo Road, Ibadan, where the men in charge were looking for smaller buses to convey these young men to Ekiti.

"The conditions for their hiring included that they must know Ekiti State terrain and Afao-Ekiti in particular. The six buses left Ibadan late in the evening and arrived Afao-Ekiti at exactly 9.15pm and the men disembarked in front of the governor’s house.

"What gave them away was the discovery of Army uniforms in their bags when they opened their bags to buy hot drinks and akara from road hawkers inside the bumps at Ikire."

However, Fayose reacted, saying the opposition APC was only raising an unnecessary alarm because there were no soldiers being kept at Afao as the party alleged.

According to the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, "Election has not come; we have about 34 days to the election. What will that number of soldiers be doing in Ekiti when we are not in election period?

"Beside that, only Mr President can deploy military to provide security during election. I think the APC is already throwing in the towel for an election‎ that has not taken place.

"Rather than raising unnecessary alarm, the Ekiti APC should think of a way of helping General Buhari to overcome his credibility crisis, which is more fundamental.

"It is not unlikely that the APC is planning to import fake soldiers to Ekiti for the election because it has the habit of accusing PDP of what it has planned‎  to execute."

Photo credit: Nigeriancurrent

STOP ATTACKS ON BUHARI, JONATHAN URGED

Presidential candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and incumbent Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, has been called upon by the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO), to stop further attacks on the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Besides, the organisation maintained that it would no longer tolerate further attacks on Buhari.

BSO's Director of Media and Information Technology, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, at a press conference in Abuja explained that the group was holding the President to his word that his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

According to Maduekwe, "It has become imperative to ask Mr. President to rein in his aides if he must be seen to walk his talk, that his ambition is not worth any spill of human blood.

"His aides and associates are disingenuously currently working at cross purposes to this his favorite cliché by daily fanning the embers of hatred, pursuance of death wish and even going as far as stalking of GMB (Buhari) outside the shores of this country.

"The memories of a nearly successful assassination attempt on the life of GMB is still fresh in our mind. Our patience, our meekness, our prayerfulness and our patriotic commitment to maintaining the national peace should not be misconstrued for weakness."

Photo credit: Vanguard

INEC WANT STAKEHOLDERS TO SHUN ELECTORAL VIOLENCE

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Rivers State, Dame Gesila Khan, today charged stakeholders to prevail on their subjects to shun all forms of violence as the 2015 election approaches.

The call came when Klan took INEC's campaign against violence in the forthcoming poll to traders in Port Harcourt.

Speaking at the launch of the Market Outreach Programme organised by INEC at the Creek Road Market, the REC posited tha the was seriously’ concerned about the incidences of violence before, during and after elections.

She further posited that the commission had been appealing to stakeholders to caution their children to avoid been used by politicians to perpetrate acts that might lead to the disruption of the March 28 and April 11, 2015 exercise.

The REC gave an assurance to the traders that INEC was prepared to conduct free, fair and credible elections, adding that nobody should work against INEC’s preparation.

According to her, "The future of this nation is in the hands of the youths and they (youths) should help to deepen democracy in Nigeria.

"The commission is conscious of the importance of security in conducting effective, free, fair and credible elections, hence the formation of an Inter-agency Consultation Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

"This body is made up of all security agencies in the State including INEC. The agencies in this committee contribute their workforce together under the command and control of the state.

"The commission has been visiting and soliciting their maximum cooperation for the elections and this has been assured."

In responding, Rivers State President, Market Women Association, Mrs. Charity Abonyo, called on her colleagues  to collect their Permanent Voter Cards  (PVCs) in order to vote in the forthcoming general elections.

Photo credit: Premiumtimes

ELECTORAL VIOLENCE CAUSED BY IMPUNITY, SAY ONU

The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), today posited that impunity and disregard for the Nigeria's electoral laws as largely responsible for electoral violence.

This suggestion came through a member of the Board of Trustees of the APC, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu who also added that Nigerians, especially politicians, ought not to see election as a war since it was a means to seek public confidence to provide a service in order to develop society.

According to Onu, "There will be no violence if there is no impunity. You have electoral laws if you adhere to them, there will be no violence, and elections should not be seen as a war."

Onu advised that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should consider holding all elections on the same day.

He added that, "Doing so will save the nation huge resources. The benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. The benefits include: reductions of the cost of elections, eliminating the bandwagon effect, and improve on the turnout of voters as voters, who might not be interested in voting for particular candidates, might be interest in voting for others."

Photo credit: InformationNigeria

2015 POLLS: YOUNGER GENERATION'S FAILURE RESPONSIBLE FOR BUHARI'S EMERGENCE- APC

Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), today insisted that the party decided to field  Muhammadu Buhari as it’s presidential flag bearer on the reason of his integrity and consequent upon the fact that the younger generation has failed Nigeria.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo, state chairman of APC,  Gboyega Famoodun, argued that the younger generation represented by presidential candidate of the ruling Peoplees Democratic Party (PDP), Goodluck Jonathan, failed the nation in many areas.

According to Famoodun, "The administration of Jonathan encouraged corruption and looting of treasury. This was why former governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Charles Soludo and Sanusi Lamido cried out that the nation was witnessing an unprecedented level of corruption.

"General Buhari is 72 and he is active, strong and mentally alert to lead the nation. We are presenting Buhari because of his antecedents and because we have been disappointed by the younger generation especially in the administration of President Jonathan.

"Mandela came and rule South Africa at 76 and he did very well. The younger generation represented by Jonathan is not helping us. Buhari ruled at his younger days and he helped to salvage the economy. Buhari is a disciplined and forthright person; his detractors can even attest to this."

The party chairman further argued that the opposition party has confidence that Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor  Attahiru Jega, would conduct a free, fair and credible election.

Photo credit: DailyIndependent