Bankole: Finding another shelter in comfort zone

DIMEJI BANKOLE
ABIMBOLA ADELAKUN examines the metamorphosis of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, from his assumption of office to his current travails and concludes that he has a strong survival instinct.
In this season, when a lot of political ambitions are being truncated and politicians are running in every direction – from the Judiciary to outright defection­ from their party – to secure tickets for the April polls, one man’s name stands out as surviving the various blocks on the road that will take him back to the National Assembly in April.

He is Dimeji Bankole, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. For Bankole and many other indigenes of Ogun State, the situation in the state is currently tense as two elephants – former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Gbenga Daniel are not only trampling the grass beneath their feet, they are also crushing every smaller animal that is caught up in their fight. There is a dichotomy of candidates’ lists as a result of parallel primaries conducted on both sides and up until now, it has not been concluded, which of the lists will eventually be used in April. Both Obasanjo and Daniel are sparring, aiming at each other’s chest and they are relentless in their efforts in trouncing the other as both sides have obtained court injunctions against each other.

Caught between Obasansjo and Daniel are Bankole and other Peoples Democratic Party’s candidates in the state. But unlike others, the speaker has managed to squeeze himself out of the friction between the warring factions based on various political calculations. The latest list released by the Independent Electoral Commission showed that names like Daniel and Mrs. Lola Abiola-Edewor, the daughter of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola, were missing.

The name of a former Commissioner in the state’s Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Segun Alawode, appeared for the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, which Bankole represents.

But when the list was displayed, there were indications that Bankole’s last card had not been played.

Bankole has played the two sides so successfully, that although he emerged victorious at the primaries for his constituency conducted by the Daniel group, his name was said to have appeared on the list submitted to INEC for clearance by the Martins-Kuye faction, which has the support of Obasanjo.

Either way, Bankole is deftly picking his way through the rubbles that are building up as a result of the Obasanjo/Daniel fight. He is obviously not going down with the two fighters because, on Sunday, Alawode, withdrew for him and now, Bankole will be coasting on the party ticket to contest the April election.

It is curious how Bankole managed to emerge as the candidate for both factions. It was less than a year ago when the rivalry between him and Daniel came to a head and he allegedly attacked Daniel in a bus fight.

There had been stories that Bankole was interested in Daniel’s office and was scheming to upstage the governor. There were series of fights between them, many of which they denied. On many occasions, Daniel made some very derogatory remarks about the Speaker. For example in July 2010, at the inauguration of the Ota bridge, the governor said that Bankole had no achievements in the state.

He was quoted as saying, “Tell the Speaker to stop claiming responsibility for the construction. The project was started by the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, and we want to thank him. Tell my younger brother, the Speaker, that he should do something before his tenure lapses. We all have less than few months to leave office.”

At a public ceremony last year, Daniel denounced Bankole, saying that he was a curse to Ogun State.

Today, both parties are allies with Bankole attending the state’s last Christmas service with Daniel. Even though the speaker led many politicians in the state to fight the governor, when the primaries were to be held, Bankole jettisoned his supporters and reconciled with Daniel.

The governor was not the only person he fought. There was also the case of a member of the House of Representatives, Independence Ogunewe, over a simmering issue between the two, which started with a lousy joke and nearly ended in an exchange of blows. Beyond all the fights, Bankole has faced several impeachment threats in the House.

Just in January this year, there was another impeachment threat against him, which, like the others, was eventually quashed.

Some members of the House, enraged that they didn’t get their parties tickets to return to the House, schemed against the speaker and threatened to remove him. Like so many other scandals, once again, Bankole survived this plot.

His appearance at the Ibadan presidential rally for President Goodluck Jonathan, where he was given a flag, was the initial indication that he had scaled another hurdle, which Daniel is still battling.

Bankole, was a bachelor and not so known when he became speaker; the man who wept before the representatives of the Children’s Parliament has transformed into an eel and is snaking his way through the various hurdles others have found difficult to scale.

Since he became the Speaker after Mrs. Patricia Etteh’s resignation, Bankole has gone through several challenges and has survived most, if not all of them. When he was taking over the mantle of leadership from Etteh, he was the youngest person to become the Speaker. Unlike another Speaker, Salisu Buhari, who had to resign over a certificate scandal, Bankole came in well educated that it fired a zeal among younger people that it was time for youths to begin to take over sensitive positions in the country.

Bankole himself said at his inauguration, “I am taking over the mantle of leadership at a very difficult time. But these are hard times, we need to build confidence again and assure the populace that we are still their representatives. I want an independent house that Nigerians will be proud of. This is my first task.”

The various crises he would encounter in office started coming one week after his inauguration. His political opponents claimed that Bankole did not complete his one year National Youth Service Corps Scheme, which is mandatory for all Nigerian university graduates of 30 years of age and below. Bankole scaled that hurdle and then faced another when the story broke that an executive session he presided over approved the purchase of 380 units of Peugeot 407 cars; five for each of the 76 committees of the House.

Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, which supplied the vehicles, allegedly supplied inferior vehicles at a much lesser cost than what was approved.

Although, the Chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri, said the commission had sent a report of its findings to the Presidency, the latter denied ever receiving any report from the EFCC, and advised the agency to follow the rule of law as the Presidency was not supposed to vet law enforcement reports.

The N3.2bn car scandal, has more or less, died a natural death like other allegations.

Since then, one scandal after the other has erupted in the House. These include the N5.2bn rural electrification scandal and the alleged mismanagement of N9bn out of the N11bn allocation to the legislative house in 2009.

In June 2010, Bankole suspended 11 members, led by Dino Melaye, indefinitely for fighting in the house. The group of 11 has since gone to court and won. Initially, they were prevented from going into the lower chamber until public outcry rose against Bankole, forcing him and his men to backtrack on Melaye and the rest.

Now, with the April elections approaching, Bankole still has more battles to win on the political arena. He will need to contest and work hard enough to win and make it back to the House, not just as a Representative but as the Speaker to show just how politically astute he is. This time, if either of the southern candidates contesting as president makes it to Aso Rock, Bankole will need to employ his political wizardry to ensure the zoning formula ends up in his favour and takes him back to the seat he currently occupies.
Source:Punch


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South-West ‘rascals’: I was misunderstood – Jonathan

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN
President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday explained that his comment on the people of the South-West, during his presidential campaign in Ibadan, was “grossly misunderstood.”

Jonathan, on his facebook page posting at 7.23am, which he titled, “I am grossly misunderstood” said that his comment was “twisted beyond the intended meaning,” adding that he did not disparage the zone.

He explained that during the campaign on Tuesday last week, he spoke about the level of education and sophistication of the region.

The President said, “In my opinion - and in the opinion of many informed Nigerians - the South-West is of critical significance to the economic and political advancement of the country. The progress of the zone is the progress of Nigeria. It makes perfect sense that such a critical segment of Nigeria is governed by those who have what it takes!”

In Ibadan, the president had said, “The entire South-West is too important, too sophisticated and too educated to be in the hands of rascals.”

But, he explained in his facebook posting that what he meant was that “unreliable or mischievous behaviour or notions ought not to be acceptable in any part of our body politics especially not in the South-West, where the population has had the privilege of a head start in education compared to other parts of the country.

“It is unhelpful to public discourse if we constantly twist words beyond intended meaning. Surely, even the most zealous detractor of the interest of the South-West would not desire that anyone would wish upon such a sophisticated part of our country, the activity of unreliable or mischievous intentions.”

The President said that his message was clear: “Abhorrence for such behaviour should be our proclivity, especially considering the disposition of the people of the Western States to governance standards.”

“But by laying so much emphasis on the latter part of the sentence we dither profoundly on nuances, and this typifies the general tendency to dwell on the negative which we must, as a country, refrain from.

“My qualification of the West as highly educated and sophisticated was easily dispensed with, while the fact that we should not expose such civilised and educated populace to rascality was played more upon, with emphasis on the rascality.”

“But we easily forget, perhaps because we have neglected for far too long the important role that our educational institutions play in development, that the foundations of our independence movement burgeoned its fruits from the discussions which emanated from the sophisticated ‘Ibadan School of thought’ as the liberal Arts faculties of the then University College Ibadan was then known.”

The President said that he had a high regard for the South-West, which he said was unique in its “unequivocal stand for justice.”

Jonathan stated, “As true leadership requires, I take responsibility for any misunderstanding of the context in which my statement was made. In a time of active politicking, when scoring political points have taken precedence over our overarching goal of nation building, we must not allow those strong bonds which tie us together as a nation...to be dispensed with by the mere nuance which we attach to words.”

The President said that he and Vice-President Namadi Sambo would continue to respect and pay tribute to the hard work and patience of all Nigerians.

Jonathan added, “I made a commitment to Nigerians that our campaign will be about issues and livelihood advancement. I am determined to remain true to this commitment.

“In this regard, we made the promise and will zealously deliver on, amongst other things, a stable, constant supply of electricity which will revolutionise the way business is done in our country.

“We will pay special attention to the security of lives and property. We will focus on access to good quality health and education for all Nigerians and job creation for our youths, for this is the only way we can defeat poverty.”

According to him, his administration will focus on agricultural and infrastructural development, the expansion of the economy and the complete transformation of the nation’s national security.

Jonathan had last Tuesday in Ibadan during the commencement of his campaign in the South-West, said that his party must take over all the states in the region.

According to him, “We (PDP) must take over all the states in the South-West. The zone is too important to be left in the hands of rascals.”

Specifically, the President noted that Lagos State, being the commercial and industrial hub of the country, must be governed by the PDP.

Three of the four states mentioned by the President are governed by governors elected on the platform of the ACN. They are Mr. Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) while Labour Party’s Olusegun Mimiko calls the shots in Ondo.

In their separate reactions, the Chairman of LP, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, wondered when Jonathan had started talking in an uncouth language.



He said he was sure that the President had been contaminated as a result of the people he associated himself with.

Also, the Presidential candidate of the ACN, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, agreed with Nwanyanwu.

He added that the President resorted into foul language because he had nothing to showcase as his achievements. He also described the President’s comment as “unbecoming of a President” and “one that smacks of desperation.”

The ACN itself also condemned Jonathan for his statement, saying it was unbefitting of a President. The party said it believed that Jonathan was “giddy with excitement on the soap box,” and consequently jog his memory that he remained the President of all Nigerians and not that of the PDP and its supporters.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that if its governors were ‘rascals’, then Nigeria needed more ‘rascals’ in government in order to enjoy the dividends of democracy being delivered in the states mentioned by Jonathan, including Edo State which is not in the South-West but being ruled by an ACN elected governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.

In his reaction, Fashola said the office of the President of the Federal Republic was a very high office, adding that the kind of language coming from a PDP presidential candidate was un-presidential.

He said, “I have asked myself if the President is more concerned about who is the Governor of Lagos State or becoming the President. I think if the PDP is ready to swap candidates for the Governorship of Lagos, I will be ready to face him because his candidate is not talking about what he wants to do in Lagos.”

In his futile attempt to defend his boss, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, who reacted to the misgivings, said the President did not name any of the governors of the concerned states when he made the comment. He said, “Please note that the President didn’t call any names when he said the South-West was too important to be left in the hands of rascals. “So anyone who wants to appropriate the name to himself is welcome to do so.”
Source:punchng
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Saraki, Nnamani, Dokpesi, Ciroma’s wife join Jonathan’s campaign Dangote, Otedola lead campaign donors

The  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  yesterday released the list of the Presidential  Campaign Council (PCC), a week after President Jonathan  had concluded  zonal presidential campaigns. The list has the former Director-General of the Jonathan/Sambo campaign organisation which operated from Plateau House as the Director-General  of the council.

The council, which is to be inaugurated today,  will operate from Legacy House. The list also revealed a harmonisation of members of the Plateau House, which handled the campaign outfit of President Goodluck Jonathan, while he was a presidential aspirant and national officers of the party to douse the cold war between those who led  President Jonathan’s campaign team  and national officers of the party at Wadata Plaza, the PDP national secretariat.

In  fulfilment of his pledge to accommodate members of his rivals, former vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki and former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida,  the party  will today inaugurate the PCC with pro-Atiku and Saraki’s men as members.

Saraki was one of the four presidential aspirants screened by the Northern Political Leaders Forum, (NPLF) before the Mallam Adamu Ciroma  Committee of wise men picked Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as its anointed candidate.
According to the list of members of the PCC Governor Saraki is the chairman of the Reconciliation Committee with pro-Atiku campaigner and former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, as member.  The former Senate President was initially with former military president, Ibrahim Babangida and moved to the Atiku team, after  the latter’s emergence.

The Director General of the Atiku Campaign Organisation and chairman of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Alegho Dokpesi, is a member of the PCC Publicity Committee and will wear a second cap as one of the resource persons for the presidential campaign.
The wife of Adamu Ciroma, leader of the NPLF, Inna, is also a member of the reconciliation committee, which also had the former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Segun Agagu, and former minister of information, Prof. Jerry Gana.  Others in the committee are Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Alabo Graham Douglas, Senator Ladan Shunni and Ambassador Aminu Wali.

Former chairman of PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, will serve the PCC as campaign adviser while former national secretary of PDP, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, is secretary of the PCC. The six zones will be co-ordinated by serving governors that did same job for Jonathan before the January 13 national convention.

They are Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State (South-south), Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State (South-east), Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State (South-west), Gabriel Suswan of Benue State (North-central), Isah Yuguda of Bauchi State (North-east) and Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State (North-west).
Senate President, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerenmadu, and the Deputy Speaker, Usman  Nafada,   are all expected to co-ordinate the National Assembly for the presidential campaign.

The former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, will head the security committee while oil magnate, Oba Otudeko, is the chairman of the finance and fund raising committee.  The inter-party relations committee that will handle affairs concerning political parties that adopted President Jonathan as their flag bearer has Chief Ebenezer Babatope as the chairman.

Names of  Nigerian business executive,  featured under the list of donors to the presidential campaign with billionaire business mogul, Aliko Dangote, leading the pack. His business rivals, Femi Otedola and Mike Adenuga  also  made  the list of donors. Others are Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu of BUA Group;  Tony Elumelu; Alhaji Kashim Bukar; Chief Emeka Offor of Chrome  Oil; Alhaji Sayyu Dantata; Jim Ovia (former Zenith Bank chairman) and  a close ally of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, Dahiru Manga and Kola Salako.

 Source:234next


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Ogun PDP candidate asks Daniel-led faction for cooperation

 Tunji Olurin extends hands of friendship

The governorship candidate of the People's Democratic Party in Ogun State, Tunji Olurin, yesterday extended a peace offering to the opposition within the party led by the state governor, Gbenga Daniel, asking that they work together to move the state forward rather than sit on the fence.

Mr. Olurin spoke with journalists in Abeokuta shortly after a church service to mark the second year's anniversary of Chapel of Christ The Glorious King, located within the complex of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.
"We are all citizens of Ogun State; there is no winner or loser in this issue. It is our responsibility to join hands together to develop Ogun State. Those who are in opposition, I will personnaly call them, embrace them to come together with me on board to develop the state," he said.
Accompanied by his running mate, Tunde Oladunjoye, the party candidate who emerged from the Olusegun Obasanjo faction of the party said his administration's focus would be to make rural areas attractive and stop rural-urban migration.
"By the time we make rural areas attractive, we will not have rural-urban migration anymore, because most of our children go to the cities to sleep under the bridges because they couldn't make ends meet in their villages," Mr. Olurin said. "We want to transform the villages, we want to give them the same facilities they could not get in the cities, so they can remain there, we shall accelerate development."
He said he is very confident about his ticket, just as he said he would embark on his campaign soon.
The Daniel faction of the party, however, appears to have foreclosed working with Mr. Olurin. The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy Sina Kawonise, said there was no going back on the stance of his group, which he said was to stick by the recent ruling of an Abeokuta High Court which declared the Obasanjo group as illegal, null and void.
"The court judgement still stands; the law is clear on that," Mr. Kawonise said, adding that the former president was earlier given a proposal to resolve the crisis, but rejected it.
Reports at the weekend alleged that Mr. Obasanjo had refused to entertain the plea of a reconciliation committee sent by the party to harmonise the list of candidates produced by the two factions. But the chairman of the PDP's harmonised executives, Dayo Soremi, described as false reports that the former president tore a purported peace list supposedly sent by President Goodluck Jonathan.
One list
In a press statement issued yesterday in Abeokuta, Mr. Soremi said: "Our BOT chairman and elder statesman has absolute respect for the office of the president, which he had occupied as a military head of state and as a two-term civilian president. We wish to state categorically that there were no two lists of candidates in Ogun PDP, other than the one submitted by the harmonised executives and approved by the national leadership of our party.
"The list containing our party's flagbearers have been submitted and accepted by INEC. The only alteration we made was the accommodation of Dimeji Bankole, as directed by President Goodluck Jonathan."
Mr. Soremi expressed his happiness over the reaction of people to the Olurin/Oladunjoye governorship ticket since it was confirmed with the presentation of flag in Ibadan last Tuesday.
"I can tell you that even opposition parties in Ogun State are already imploding since the ticket was announced," he said.
A socio-political organization, Gateway Democrats Coalition (GADECO) at the weekend described the gubernatorial candidacy of Mr. Olurin as a unifying force for the 2011 gubernatorial election in Ogun State. The group noted that the political situation in the state required a leadership that would return it to its prosperous past and restore hope in the citizenry.
"We believe firmly that Adetunji Olurin's candidacy will restore needed hope, peace and bring back the unity of Ogun State," GADECO National Coordinator, Adeola Shoaga, said. "The recovery of Ogun State from the scars of political crisis that has overtaken development activities in the state in the last five years depends solely on the election of a credible and "big picture" leader like Mr Olurin."
Source:234next

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Candidate steps down for Bankole

 Bankole can now be presented as the candidate of the party

The PDP candidate for the post of House of Representatives for Abeokuta South constituency from the Jubril Martins Kuye-led faction of the People's Democratic Party in Ogun State, Peter Olusegun Alawode, yesterday withdrew his candidacy in favour of the speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole. Mr. Alawode, who disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Abeokuta, explained that his withdrawal was on the order of the party's leadership and that he had no ill-feeling over that, stressing further that he could not go against the wishes of the party authority.

"Thanks be to God Almighty, we have been able to resolve issues and that is based on the order of my leaders and elders, the likes of Buruji Kashamu. There is no way I could go against the wishes of the party and not only the party but the elders and the leaders," Mr Alawode said.
Denying speculations that he withdrew following financial inducement from the camp of the speaker, the former candidate added that the party leaders are in control.
"If I should be asked to step down for the speaker to go back to that seat, there is no big deal," he said. "I want to say yes, wilingly and without much pressure. I was able to say okay, I agree with you. No any ill-feeling. The decision of me serving in Olurin's cabinet is solely the affairs of the party and leaders."
Ongoing consultations
On the crisis rocking the party, Mr. Alawode said that the party leaders have been making efforts to resolve the issues.
"There are lots of consultations here and there in order to resolve issues because time is not on our side; we do realise that. My leaders and elders are trying their best in resolving these grievances," he said.
Mr. Bankole participated in the primaries of the party organized by the faction of the party loyal to the state governor, Gbenga Daniel. Although he won the ticket, his name could not be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission because the commission recognised candidates supplied by the Martins-Kuye faction of the party. These candidates were last week presented with the party's flag at the presidential rally held in Ibadan, Oyo State. Mr. Bankole received the flag on behalf of House of Representatives candidates, although his name was not on the INEC-recognised list. Mr. Alawode's withdrawal of his candidacy means that Mr. Bankole can now be presented as the candidate of the party.
Source:234next

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Party members lament imposition of candidates

 

Party members lament imposition of candidates 

Criticisms have continued to trail the alleged imposition of candidates by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in its last primaries in Lagos.



Some party members and residents of Amuwo-Odofin local government area have also condemned the imposition of Susan Olley as the party's candidate to represent the constituency at the House of Representatives, despite losing at the primaries to the incumbent, Ganiyu Olukolu.
Mr. Olukolu's name had appeared on print and broadcast media as winning the primaries and emerging as the party's candidate for House of Representatives in the constituency, in what was described by party members as an overwhelming victory.
"The delegates voted willingly for him because of his first term performance, and he had won, but the godfathers in the party insisted that Mrs. Olley should be the one to go and her name has already been submitted to INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission)," said a party member who asked not to be named.
"They are imposing the woman on us. ACN proclaims to be an advocate of justice, yet its ways of doing things in the party are undemocratic," he said,
Disgruntled constituents
Some members of the party's youth wing have held protest marches to the homes of some party leaders to express their displeasure over the development. However, the leaders have continued to defend their decision, based on an unwritten zoning formula.
The president of Festac Town Residents' Association, a constituent of Amuwo-Odofin, Jola Ogunlusi, who also described the development as shocking, appealed to political parties to stop imposing candidates on them.
"People to represent us have always been imposed on us," he said. "We are tired of imposition. There should be fairness. It would have been different if he had not contested in the primaries and won," Mr. Ogunlusi said.
Highlighting some of the things which endeared Mr. Olukolu to the residents, Mr. Ogunlusi said he was the first to have a constituency office among the people he represents.
"He is responsible for the National Integrated Power Project nearing completion now, which will boost power supply," he said. "
It was initially on paper that it was completed; but he came, took photos, and presented it to the House that nothing had been done. He relates with us, knows our problems and has been representing us well, unlike his predecessors or the woman who we do not know. He has constructed a block of classrooms for the pupils of Iyagbe Primary School, installed three transformers, donated boats to ease the movement of students schooling in riverine communities, and empowered the people with tricycles, bicycles, motorcycles, grinding machines, freezers and cash, to alleviate poverty," he further said.
Source:234next

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Guber poll: PDP okays Orji, Chime • As Jonathan woos Igbo in South East rally

Despite the court orders restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting and listing the names of embattled Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji and his Enugu State counterpart, Mr. Sullivan Chime as candidates in the April governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday handed over the party’s flags to them.


Before the scheduled flag-off of the Jonathan-Sambo campaign in the South-East yesterday, there was tension as the party had been stopped by high courts in Abuja, which restrained the PDP from submitting names of Orji and Chime to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidates in the April polls.

But at exactly 3:28p.m yesterday, the PDP acting national Chairman, Alhaji Bello Mohammed, at the rally held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, in Enugu, called up Orji and handed him the PDP flag, urging him to lead other candidates in Abia to victory at the polls.
After Orji, Governor Martin Elechi received his own flag at 3:30p.m followed by Chime, who got his at 3:33p.m and lastly Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State by 3:37p.m.

However, the duo of Orji and Chime are expected to return to the court next week, where Chief Ikechi Emenike and Chief Anayo Onwuegbu are respectively claiming to be the recognised candidates of the party in Abia and Enugu states.
The duo of Eminike and Onwuegbu were, however, absent from the rally that saw in attendance President Goodluck Jonathan and his deputy, Namadi Sambo and an avalanche of PDP stalwarts from across the country.
Speaking to the large crowd at the stadium, President Jonathan promised the Igbo that he would see that kidnapping, which has become rampant in the region, was stamped out even as he would set machinery in motion to ensure that facilities that would enhance the enterprising spirit of the Igbo are put in place.

He reminded them that his administration decided to upgrade the Enugu airport to international status to ensure that cargoes from Igbo business men and women arrive very close to them.
Similarly, he said they are in the upbeat in the dredging of the River Niger, just as a dry port would be built in Aba for easy access to Igbo traders.
Jonathan also promised that the completion of the Second Niger Bridge would be of utmost priority to his administration if they return in the second dispensation.

He saluted the entrepreneurial skill of the Igbo, thanking them for taking him as one of their own.
Though he said they had not come to campaign, he urged the Igbo to vote for him in the April 9 polls, saying that he believed in the Igbo as they always keep to their promises.

According to him, the coming out of all the traditional rulers from the various states of the region to welcome him, which was the first of its kind since he started his campaign, was a clear signal of his acceptance in the region.
In his welcome address, Governor Chime told Jonathan that he had not come to Enugu to campaign, but to identify with his people who are committed to returning him in the April polls.

He advised Jonathan to go to sleep and never bother to come back campaigning in the region, as the governors of the states and their people are on top of the situation and would surely deliver the party at the polls.
Also, former vice president, Dr Alex Ekwueme, toed the line of Chime, as he assured the president of the support of the zone.
Ekwueme pointed out that the PDP got landslide victory in 1999 in the zone, advising that what was left out now for the party in achieving the same feat was for the leadership to align and reach an accord.

Also Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, whose party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), held its national convention the previous day in Anambra State, where they adopted Jonathan as their presidential candidate, tried to explain why they took that decision.
Obi, who spoke in Igbo said he and the national leader of the party, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as well as APGA factional chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, agreed to do so.
Besides, he said that the South-East governors had agreed to support Jonathan, just as they vowed that none of them would vie for the positions of president or vice.
Source:sun
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The shape of battle against Yuguda becomes clearer

Yuguda
Following the just concluded party primaries in the state, the question in the hearts of many residents in Bauchi State, is who will eventually emerge as the governor of state in the forth_coming April general elections.
Political pundits have opined that the People Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate stands a better chance, given the fact that the PDP has penetrated the political cloud of the state, in addition to the incumbency factor.  It could be recalled that during the PDP governorship primaries, that the state governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, contested with two other governorship candidates in the PDP. namely, Senator Baba Tella and Ahmed Iyiasu.
As the time for the primaries drew near,. Senator Baba Tella, withdrew his candidacy just some days to the primaries, based on what he described as, “lack of internal democracy and justice in the PDP”. On the other hand, Ahmed Iyiasu, who was the only candidate remaining to contest during the primaries, later stepped down for Yuguda, a development that was alleged by some politicians to be a calculated arrangement by the incumbent governor..
Now that Mallam as Yuguda is called has clinched his PDP ticket as governorship flag bearer for the state, the next question is, what chances do Mallam have in the forth_coming elections, who are the major contenders in the other political parties? Lastly, how will the  incumbency factor, help save his neck, going by the present leadership fracas in the state House of Assembly?
Aside the PDP, the major contending parties that are participating in the forth_coming April general elections are the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigerian Peoples Party, (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC). Others and their candidates are KOWA _ Haliru Abdullahi, Alliance for Democracy AD _  Musa Umar Gwasskwaram, African Liberation Party (ALP)_ Danladi Musa  NPPP and the APGA _Kawuwa Umar Abdullahi.
One unique thing with some of the gubernatorial candidates in these parties is the fact that most of them are decampees from the PDP.
Senator Baba Tella who is currently the ACN gubernatorial flag bearer for the state, was previously in the PDP. Sentor Nazif Gamawa was previously in the PDP too. But when he decided to run for the position of the governor in the state, things began to fall apart between himself and Mallam. This was one of the reasons amongst several others that made him leave the ruling party..
In the senatorial category, the present Deputy Governor of the State, Babayo Garba Gamawa is the senatorial candidate under ruling PDP for Bauchi North while the former Deputy Governor during the Ahmadu Mu’azu led administration, Abdulmalik Mahmud is contesting  under ACN for Bauchi North just as the former Minster for Police Affairs, Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, made it for Bauchi South under same party.
Other  senatorial candidates  are, Adamu Ibrahim Gumba, PDP Bauchi South, Bappa Aliyu Misau, CPC, Bauchi Central, Abdullahi Ahmed Ningi, PDP Bauchi Central, Ibo Jibrin Ibrahim, CPC Bauchi South, Shehu Mahdi, Bauchi North, Usman Yakubu, Labour party,  Bauchi south.
Others include, Isa Hamma Misau, Bauchi Central ACN, Abdurazak Gambo, Bauchi South APGA, Manu Ghadi, Bauchi North APGA,   Abdullahi Mohammed Mukhtar, ANPP Bauchi North, Mohammed Alhaji Mohammed, ANPP Bauchi Central and Haruna Ibrahim, ANPP Bauchi south.
A critical analysis of these governorship candidates, will give one an insight to what may transpire during and after the elections in the state
MALLAM ISA YUGUDA
Having polled 754 votes during the primaries from the 20  local government areas of the state and the incumbency factor to his advantage, it is going to be tough for other governorship candidates  to contend with. Although, most of the governorship aspirants have said that incumbency factor is not a threat in realizing their mandate as they claim that the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has assured that the 2011 general elections will be credible, free and fair.
In addition, Yuguda being the campaign coordinator of the North_East zone for the Goodluck/ Sambo organization definitely  has the support of the presidency in realizing his second_term bid. But one major factor Yuguda has to contend with is the present leadership fracas in the state House of Assembly. With the impeachment of Alh. Ahmed Faggo, the former Speaker of the house, activities in the legislative arm of the government is not normal again. Ahmed Faggo, is alleged to be a loyalist of Mallam Isa Yuguda.
The impeachment notice, which was signed by 21 members, has caused a breakdown of law and order in the house. This also means that, whatever transpires in the house, directly affects the government.  The current Speaker of the house, Hon. Jikka, lost out when he contested the PDP Bauchi North Senatorial primary election. Himself and some members of the house, who were defeated during the primaries, decamped to other political parties, a move that is alleged to be preparatory for them to impeach the Speaker in the house.
They faulted the former Speaker on what they termed, “lack of quality and purposeful leadership in the house”. Now the house has two factions. One is the Faggo faction, while the other is the Jikka faction and they all hold sittings in the house at different times. To worsen situation, each of the factions have filed court orders against one another, which has further compounded the leadership crisis..
Another contending issue is that, some aggrieved politicians, who failed to clinched their tickets during the primaries, are faulting the state governor for not redeeming them during the elections. They claimed that if only Mallam had stood by them, they would have emerged victorious and retained their seats.. Mallam would have to mend these fences  before the April general elections.
SENATOR NAZIF GAMAWA
This is the governorship candidate for the All Nigeria Peoples Party in the state. Senator Gamawa hails from Gamawa local government in the state. He was elected as a senator on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) and later decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party in order to retain his seat in the senate and foster friendship with the state governor. . Another reason, was because his boss, former presidential candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar decamped to the PDP,. No sooner had Senator Gamawa declared his intention to run for the position of governor that things began to fall apart between himself and the governor.
This even led to the state leadership of the PDP refusing to screen him as a governorship aspirant in the party. In a bid to realize his ambition, he defected again to the ANPP where he emerged governorship candidate. His minus is that frequent defection from one party to the other has wounded the confidence and the trust the people of the state have for him. In addition to this, his youthful exuberance has been perceived by elder statesmen as a sign of arrogance as he does not heed to their advice.
SENATOR BABA TELLA
Senator Baba Tella is the governorship candidate for the ACN. Tella also hails from Bauchi North in Gamawa local government area. His major minus is that he has never contested for a position as high as the governor.
Second, his platform, ACN, in the state, has grown weak, hence it does not have the support of the electorate. Lastly, some residents in the state have faulted him for not being rich in charity works as he does not bring the people close to himself.
In the Congress for Democratic Change, (CPC), there was no definite governorship candidate initially, because all the three governorship aspirants that contested during the party primaries claimed that they are the governorship candidate of the party.
The three governorship aspirants that contested during the primaries are, Abullahi Dan China, Alh. Nuhu Gidado and Aminu Turka This was as result of the on_going leadership fracas in the party, but with the release of the INEC list for gubernatorial candidate, Aminu Turkur has been officially approved by INEC as the gubernatorial flag bearer of the party, CPC. One major plus for this gubernatorial candidate is that the platform of the party he is contesting on has gained some level of acceptance in the country especially with the person of  Rtd. Major General Buhari as its presidential candidate
Source:vanguardngr.com


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Kano politics stands on four tried legs

 Kwankaso and Abacha
In Kano, the political terrain had in recent times witnessed new alliances due largely to the hullabaloo generated by the outcome of primary elections hitherto in the 3 of the 67 active parties in the state.

Interestingly the inability of the stakeholders to manage their in house disagreements gave birth to Action Congress of Nigeria taking a foothold in Kano through the incumbent Deputy Governor, Tijjani Abdullahi Gwarzo. This has thereby widened the frontiers of the theater of war for Kano Government House.
The existing scenario gave credence to those who hold the opinion that the impending general election in the city state at least for now is  too close to call.
The four active parties with retinue of faithful today in Kano include the ruling All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP with Malam Salihu Sagir,  the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP having the former Defense minister and former Governor of the state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as flag bearer, the Congress for Progressive Change which has Muhammad Abacha, eldest son of the former Head of state, General Sani Abacha and lately the ACN whose flag will be flown by the incumbent Deputy Governor, Gwarzo known in Kano political circles as Mr. loyalty.
The contestants:  their strength and weaknesses.
Malam Salihu Sagir  (ANPP) Salihu Sagir was chairman of Takai local council on the platform of APP in 1999_2003. Highly revered for his religious piety among the clerics in the commercial city, Takai as he is fondly referred to by admirers cuts the mein of level headed personality that believes in equity.
A local breed intellectual, Takai had all his education career in Kano, and had committed a large chunk of his private life to serve his people with a record of unbroken promises and humility in the discharge of his duties which perhaps explains why his choice dwarfed others considerations when the outgoing Governor anointed him as a successor.
However, Salihu Sagir Takai’s anointment by Malam Ibrahim Shekarau sparked off a kind of political tremor in the party culminating in the exodus of founding fathers of the party in protest.
The long list of defectors include the deputy Governor, Tijjani Gwarzo, the quintessential youth leader, and erstwhile Director General of the Kano Pilgrims Welfare Board, Sani Lawan Kofar Mata. Mata’s is believed to be soul of the ANPP in Kano and was largely central to Shekarau’s victory for a second term in office.
As it stands today, the ANPP Governorship candidate requires elevating his political dexterity beyond the religious biases if he is to make appreciable impact in the election.
TIJJANI MUHAMMAD GWARZO, (ACN)
A grassroot mobilzer, he is the incumbent Deputy Governor of the state. He is arguably the most loyal deputy Governor in Kano’s recent history. He came from a zone that has not been opportune to rule the state since the advent of participatory democracy.
Loved by many for his political maturity, Tijjani Gwarzo is one candidate that enjoys cross spectrum of support in the state. His strength lies among the dwellers of the Kano’s 44 councils, and also at home with the elites. Gwarzo’s grip on the grass root and subsequent decampment has altered the calculation for the coveted trophy.  He also enjoys the respect of those in the opposition camp.
MUAHAMMAD SANI ABACHA (CPC)
Muhammad Sani Abacha, eldest son of the late Head of state, General Sani Abacha presents a serious challenge to the Kano guber race ahead 2011 General election, no thanks to stupendous wealth at his disposal.
His enormous wealth, connection, grassroot support, influence makes him a candidate to beat. Though ill experienced, the scion of Abacha family is surrounded by a name that makes Kano politics tick. His major problem lies within the top echelon of his party in Abuja who had openly demonstrated they preferred another aspirant to flag the party flag in Kano.
Pundits are of the opinion that the circle of friends around him is not genuine hinging their argument on the near absence of aggressive campaign in his camp. If eventually his party decides to lie low over his candidacy, Kano may witness a fierce fight in the history of competitive election.
RABIU MUSA KWANKWASO (PDP)
The former Governor, former Defense minister, former envoy to Sudan, leader of domineering and disciplined political clan known as the Kwankwasiyya group. The fall out of the PDP primary where an attempt was made to remove him following perceived wrongs against Abuja’s godfathers buoys his popularity among the Kano resident.
Although Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was swept out of power by ANPP in the 2003 general election, that episode had failed to erode his presence from the political equation in Kano.  His influence and power has continued to rise. Once described by late Abubakar Rimi as a ‘gentleman difficult to work with’, his group is seeking for his return to power.
Kwankwaso’s major impediment is the elite within and outside his party who see him as one who behaves like an emperor. As it stands now Kwankwaso’s candidacy towers above others as demonstrated on the streets, in the neighbourhood, among the clerics, students, peasants and artisans.
That Kano may be bowing for his second coming was shown as a huge and orderly crowd turned out to welcome him to Kano last Sunday.
The elite who pitched against him have been pushed to a tight corner, and whether they still possess the power to reenact the magic that sent him packing from Government House in 2003 will certainly be seen by April.
Source:vanguardngr.com

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AFTER THE PRIMARIES: PDP moving on shackled legs

Atiku and Jonathan
IF there is any problem the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP will have to contend with now after the primaries it conducted nation wide, it is the headache of how it will heal the wounds, the party and members sustained during and after the primaries.
Prior to the presidential primaries of the PDP, the party was polarized between the North and South. The issue of a consensus candidate came up when it became very clear that some people especially those in the north were of the view that President Goodluck Jonathan ought not to have shown any interest in contesting for the position against the backdrop that there was a zoning arrangement on ground before the death of late President Umaru Yar’adua.
This became a very serious issue and eventually Mallam Adamu Ciroma led Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPFL came up with Atiku Abubakar as the consensus candidate for the north. He was chosen ahead of former Military President Ibrahim Babaginda, ex_National Security Adviser, Aliyu Gusau and Kwara state governor, Bukola Saraki who were in the race for endorsement by the Mallam Ciroma Committee.
From the Presidential primaries of the party held at the Eagle Square on January 13, 2011 where President Goodluck Jonathan defeated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to clinch the Party’s ticket, there have been ill-feelings especially from the other side of the divide. The result caused serious bitterness in the Atiku’s camp.
Weeks after the primaries, Atiku Abubakar who got 805 votes at the Convention as against the 2,736 votes President Goodluck Jonathan polled, has refused to congratulate the winner and move on. Only last week he said he was now ready for dialogue, but that was immediately contradicted by revelations that he had petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC over the conduct of the party primaries.
In the states, the PDP has witnessed very massive division after the primaries, even as parallel primaries took place in some of the states and this has led to mass exodus of aggrieved members to clinch tickets of other parties like Labour Party, LP, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, among others.
Crisis in Ogun state is still raging with two parallel primaries conducted. There was the one conducted by the factional Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Party, Chief Joju Fadairo, which produced Gboyega Isiaka as its governorship candidate and another primaries conducted by the faction loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo which produced Major_ General Adetunji Olurin(rtd) as the governorship candidate  They both picked and filled the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC forms.
In Enugu state, there is also a very serious crisis as to who emerges as the authentic governorship candidate of the party following parallel congresses by the two factions. While the Vita Abba led Executive came up with governor Sullivan Chime, the Okey Ogbonna’s faction produced Engr. Anayo Onwegbu.
The problem is not only in Ogun and Enugu States, it cuts across all the states of the Federation where following irreconcilable differences, many of the PDP members dumped the party for others. The deputy governor of Plateau State Mrs Paullen Tallen left to clinch the Labour Party governorship ticket for the state, Senator John Shagaya also left for LP. Some other governorship aspirants from the state like Jimmy Chetto, John Alkali, among others from Plateau state are aggrieved, waiting for the process of internal healing.
In Nasarawa State, some PDP members left the Party to fight the governor, Aliyu Akwe Doma, they include the CPC governorship candidate, Alhaji Usman Tanko Al_Makura, former Minister of Works, Hassan Lawal, among others.
Senators George Akume, Joseph Akaaghegher have dumped the party to fight the Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswan.
In Anambra, former Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili dumped the PDP and the government to get the APGA Senatorial ticket, even as former Taraba state governor Jolly Nyame is now a Senatorial candidate for Taraba North on the platform of ACN while General Buba Marwa, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa who lost out to the Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako dumped the party.
In Kogi, those who lost out to Jibrin Ali from Kogi East in the gubernatorial race are aggrieved especially those from the other senatorial districts against the backdrop that besides the East Senatorial district, other senatorial districts have been shortchanged in the quest to produce the governor of the state.
The party must as such act fast because of the lurking presence of a formidable candidate in the ANPP, Prince Abubakar Audu, the former governor of the State. The party must reach out to the likes of Deputy Chief of Staff in the Presidency, Sola Akanmode, ‘the bridge’, former Minister of Justice and Attorney_General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo, among others.
In Kwara state, the fight is in the family of Olusola Saraki. While the governor, Bukola Saraki remains in the PDP, the father left the party with his daughter, Senator Gbemisola for the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN to actualize his ambition of making his son hand over to his daughter as governor while the daughter will at the same time handover to her brother as Senator.
The question now is, how is the national leadership of the party handling the process of internal healing of wounds?
Former President and Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT of the party had on Tuesday at the Ibadan rally suggested that a reconciliation committee be put in place. It is hoped that the party will immediately set up the Committee, at least to bring back everyone who left and those who are about leaving because at present, the main opposition candidates the party now has especially at the state level are those who left the party to get tickets from other parties.
The party must act fast or a replay of the Anambra scenario where PDP members went to other parties and got their tickets because the house was not in order and at the end of the day, they lost out to Peter Obi of APGA.
The Party had last week through the National Publicity Secretary, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali beckoned on those who lost out at the primaries to sheath the sword.
According to Alkali in his statement titled, ‘’Time to move on”, said, ‘’Now that we have submitted our list of candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission, we call on all members of the PDP, especially those who also sought to fly the flag of our Party unsuccessfully to eschew all bitterness and rancour and rally round our Presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, His running mate Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo and all candidates of our Party at all levels to ensure that our collective interests as a Party are advanced and protected.
‘’We appeal to all our Party men and women to realize that no matter who the candidate of our Party is, the ultimate consideration is the Peoples Democratic Party which is the only Party in Nigeria that accommodates all the creeds, cultures and socio economic tendencies in our country.
‘’We are happy that the tortuous process of nomination is now behind us. It is time to move on and confront the challenge posed by our opponents in the forthcoming general elections.
‘’With the zeal and enthusiasm demonstrated by our members during the nomination exercise and the transparent manner of our National Convention, it is clear that the PDP remains the most organized, most democratic and most detribalized Party in Nigeria. We are therefore confident that Nigerians will continue to identify with this great Party which represents every interest in Nigeria.”
As events unfold in the country and ahead of the April general elections, we wait to see how the PDP, the self acclaimed largest party in Africa will address its internal problems as we wait for the setting up of the reconciliation Committee.
Source:vanguardngr.com

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ACN will transform Nigeria – Ribadu

Former Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu
The Presidential candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said his party will transform Nigeria if giving the mandate in the April general elections.

Ribadu, who spoke in Abuja on Thursday at the public presentation of a book, titled ‘’The Peoples’ President,” which chronicles Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole’s eight years leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress said only the ACN could lead the country out of its present predicament.

Ribadu commended the role by the former NLC President.

He said the governor had also shown that he had good leadership qualities with the way he was handling the affairs of his state.

He said, “Adams turned out to be the best president NLC had. He talked and people listened. We have seen what is happening in Edo state, we have seen the change in Lagos and Ekiti states.

“He is going to lead what we want to do in Abuja – that is, bringing good government to Abuja. He did that for Edo state, he will do that in Abuja.”

He called on Nigerian leaders to show more honesty, fairness and sincerity in what they do and also, look beyond helping just their families.

Others, who spoke on the antecedents of the former NLC president, commended both his past and present achievements.The book was written by Alhaji Abdullahi Gulloma and reviewed by a Lagos based lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, the former president of the West African Bar Association.

Also speaking, Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, described the event as a merit to Oshiomole.

He, however, called on the leadership of the NLC to continue to work with the media and the civil societies towards achieving credible elections in April.

Oshiomole, who said he was grateful to those that were at the occasion, especially the chairman of the event and a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar(retd.), said that leaders must use their power consciously, as they would be accountable for it someday.
Source:punchng

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PDP has enslaved Nigerians for over 10 years – Okotie

Rev. Chris Okotie
Presidential candidate of the Fresh Democratic Party, Rev. Chris Okotie, in this interview with MUDIAGA AFFE, assesses the Peoples Democratic Party- led Federal Government and preparations for the forthcoming elections. Excerpts:In most democracies, it is a difficult task to defeat an incumbent president. How prepared are you to defeat President Goodluck Jonathan in the coming presidential poll?

We are prepared and I think the circumstances have dictated his political destiny. We have seen the life and structure of Jonathan. Moreso, the situation within the Peoples Democratic Party is that the party has lost its cohesion and it is on the verge of implosion, the enemies within it will help us to fulfil our mandate.

But Jonathan emerged the winner of the PDP’s presidential primaries and reconciliation with his opponents is ongoing. So, where will the implosion come from?

Within every democratic setting there are institutions enshrined in the constitution that guarantee joint participation, an all embracing philosophy for the people so that democracy will take natural progression. That was why within the PDP, there was a zoning agreement that was enshrined in their constitution. When a political party circumvents its own constitution arbitrarily based on some personal agenda, it erodes the authenticity of their pursuit of democracy. In a federal system for instance, you have centrifugal and centripetal forces which combine in such a way to guarantee the security of the weaker units so that federalism is strong and their place within that union is established. Within an executive, you have Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. In the PDP, what happened during the primary was a circumvention of the constitution. It was done with such impunity that it creates a situation of fear in the hearts of people like me. This is because, if a political party can circumvent its own constitution, it shows that it is the beginning of autocracy and totalitarianism. With this kind of circumvention, the ruling party can excise a whole part of this country through an executive fiat. There had been a debate on workability of relocating those of us from the South-South. The PDP has the power to do it with what it has done now so blatantly. My take on this is this: If our democracy is to be guaranteed, then the North must respond and all progressives in Nigeria too.

How do you want them to respond?

You see, what the PDP has done is that it has demonstrated an unprecedented show of power and masquerading under the guise of geo-political equation by saying it is the South-South. So, the sentiment of the South-South beclouds the reality of what they have done. I come from the South-South and I know it has nothing to do with the region but purely a PDP affair. They have done it irrespective of what the North thinks, irrespective of what the progressives and other Nigerians think. That is why I am saying that if democracy is going to have any form of longevity, the North must respond. The North has two options. The first refers to diametrical opposition- that means they will get someone from the South-South to run against Jonathan. This is because if they do not frustrate the PDP, the North will become totally irrelevant in the politics of the nation. The second option is disruptive persuasion- this idea is based on the Hegelian concept of chaos. Karl Max, in his laws of dialectical materialism came up with thesis, anti-thesis and synthesis. The situation that the PDP has created now is the thesis. The North and other progressives must engender another situation that is opposed to this (anti-thesis). Then they will harmonise both and arrive at the third situation (synthesis). They must do this so that the PDP will no longer think of trivialising the importance of the North and other parts of the country. Because it is politics, you will now negotiate, not Jonathan, but a neutral person who will now become president. If Goodluck Jonathan becomes president of this nation, I can assure you that our democracy is gone.

But, with the way things are going, don’t you think Jonathan is on his way to becoming the president in the April elections?

I do not think so. I know they have made their permutations and calculations, but they are those kind of shenanigan calculations and because PDP has bitten more that it can chew, I believe that the situation is going to turn around. Nigeria is greater than a political party and a group of political juggernauts. I believe that Nigeria has not been as polarised as we are today. The emergence of Jonathan as the candidate of the PDP has polarised our nation and balkanised the country like never before. This is the first time in the political evolution of our nation that we are on the brink of fragmentation because the PDP would not be guided by rules and regulations. Now if you look at it with common sense, the PDP has enslaved this nation for over 10 years, what will be the criteria for its re-election? No stable power supply, universities are in a state of squalor, there is violence on our streets, insecurity, economic disequilibrium, and so on. So, on what platform are they asking for re-election, if not that they know that their only survival is rigging.

Since 2003, you have been saying you have a divine call to rule this country. Do you still hear that divine voice?

Definitely that call is still there. If not, why do you think I am still around? If I was seeking a political career, I would have done otherwise. I would have joined the political party that would have provided that base for me. I would have fraternised with people, who believe in godfatherism, and establish myself on point where I can build on my career to where I should be now. But I have refused to join the bandwagon. I have set myself in diametrical opposition to the status quo. I have demonstrated that I believe in a vision for Nigeria and that this philosophy is encapsulated in the ideology of our political party. So, it shows you that this tenacity can only be predicated on my desire to obey the mandate.

There are security challenges like bombings and assassinations in different parts of the country. How do you react to all this?

This is a characteristic of the PDP and this is what they have always done. If you recall, in 2003 when we were ready to go to the poll, they made sure the universities were closed. They engender a temporary state of emergency and while the confusion is going on, they rig themselves into power. I believe that this government has shown itself to be incapable. In Biology, there is a phenomenon that is called the ‘circadian rhythm’, it occurs every 24 hours, what we are seeing is a circadian rhythm of political ineptitude demonstrated by the PDP. It is a consistent demonstration of their inability to govern. The PDP’s only common denominator is to annex wealth and that is why you see the confusion within the party.

What vision do you have for Nigeria?

I believe that the time has come us to motivate the development of our people to the level of strategy and therefore we must concentrate on human capital development. That is the key to Nigerian growth because we must shift emphasis from things to people. If investments that have been made in the oil sector have been put into the lives of the Nigerian people, I believe that you would see a quantum leap. But because the government of the day is not interested in the Nigerian people, they have these development programmes that are mere attractions without any meaning to the lives of the people. We will concentrate on the Nigerian people-that is why in our slogan, the people come first. Education is vital. We must redesign the curriculum and build new schools, train teachers and motivate our students. There is a suggestion that the National Youth Service Corps scheme should be used as a finishing school because of the deplorable state of the higher institutions. The people that are enlightened can become economically viable. The hospitals are just mortuaries. The whole structure is moribund, it must be addressed. The transport, housing, pension scheme would be revamped. We shall focus on things that will enhance the lives of the people within the short term because the power issue is vital, but it is a long-term projection. We are not going to be involved in carrying out so many programmes at once so as not to make the mistake of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who went into multiple tangent syndrome. We will concentrate on things of immediate needs before addressing the long-term projects.
Source:punchng


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INEC Removes Chime, Alao-Akala As Candidates For April Poll

National Electoral Commission (INEC).
OYO STATE GOVERNOR ADEBAYO ALAO-AKALA WAVES A SYMBOLIC PDP FLAG RECEIVED FROM ACTING NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, DR HALIRU BELLO MOHAMMED AT THE SOUTH-WEST RALLY IN IBADAN, OYO STATE TODAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2011.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 08, (THEWILL)  - The names of Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State and his counterpart in Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime were today erased from the lists of candidates eligible to contest in the April general election by the Independent 
The move came as a huge surprise to the two governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and political pundits as both Alao-Akala and Chime were earlier listed to contest the governorship election in the lists made public by the electoral commission on Monday.
INEC said it removed the governors as candidates following court injunctions which as a law abiding institution it is bound to obey.
The delisting of Alao-Akala came just after he was handed the PDP Governorship flag for Oyo State at the South-West rally of the Jonathan/Sambo campaign held in Ibadan.
Explaining INEC’s action, National Commissioner in Charge of Legal Services, Mr. Phillip Umeadi told reporters that the names of the governors made the INEC list in error. He said their names ought not to have been published in the first instance.
Umeadi said the commission had received the PDP lists before the court orders were served the commission.
He also noted that the commission has received several court injunctions as aggrieved aspirants have continued to seek redress in courts.
A similar court injunction also stopped INEC from giving its clearance to the Governor Gbenga Daniel’s faction of the PDP in Ogun State.
Source:delight

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God didn’t ask me to run -Bakare

As the 2011 presidential election gathers momentum, Senior Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly and vice presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Pastor Tunde Bakare has said he never at any time said God told him to participate in the election. He said he was contesting the election based on a personal conviction and warned that no man should use the name of God in vain.


Bakare made the clarification while addressing members of   his congregation on his decision to get involved in partisan politics. He spoke during a service of the church yesterday in Lagos.
The preacher was nominated last week as the running mate of the former head of state and presidential candidate of the CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) in the April 2011 election. His nomination and decision to go into politics had attracted mixed reactions across the country.

Rationalizing his decision to get involved in politics, Bakare said all it would take for evil to flourish in the land was for godly people to refuse to get involved in the political process. He said his involvement in politics would neither change his person nor his Christian faith. The Later Rain Assembly pastor stated that if anything, his decision to participate in the forthcoming presidential election would impact on the country positively.

According to him, “if Buhari wins,  we will make the difference. If he does not, Nigerian politics will not remain the same. We are going to influence the environment.”  Quoting copiously from various portions of the Holy Bible in a message entitled: A tale of  three priesthood, the fiery preacher said the bane of the nation had always been bad governance epitomised by corruption and other social vices.

Bakare said it was only when the righteous were in authority that the people could rejoice. But  that when the wicked were in authority, the people would groan. According to him, a wicked ruler in a country was like a bear on the prowl.  He wondered for how long Nigerians would continue to groan. Speaking further, he said a lot of people had expressed concern on how himself and General Buhari would get money to fund the campaign as both of them were known not to be billionaires.

The CPC vice presidential candidate said just as was the case during the election of President Barack Obama in America, they would be depending on the ordinary people to fund the campaign. He expressed optimism that the common people would be willing to support the campaign with the little they had because they would see a difference in the CPC team.

He said though the campaign had not started, he was already receiving support from Nigerians. According to him, about 600 Nigerians on the social networking site, facebook had volunteered to be part of the campaign to realize the Buhari/Bakare presidency. Bakare displayed before the congregation, a branded T. Shirt with the inscription ‘Buhari /Bakare 2011’, which, he said,  was  prepared by some individuals as part of their support to the CPC presidential ticket.

 “Ordinary people will give us money because they will see the difference. By the Grace of God, we are going to raise standards. “The campaign has not started  and already they are volunteers.  We are going to dethrone money politics in Nigeria. We are not seeking power. We already have power.”

“It is a new day. The future is here. The hope that is shattered is returning to our country. This is going to be one of the greatest elections, because we are not depending on money bags but on God,” he declared.
 He said though many had wondered whether it was possible for the shepherd of the church to shepherd the nation?

“A pastor can actually transit from leading a church to leading an entire country. Why die a local champion when you have the opportunity to reach an entire nation?” Bakare queried.  “Nigeria will be saved. Nigeria will be great in our time. It is time to pastor the nation. It is time to restore. Let’s build a great nation,” he urged.
Source:sunnewsonline.com
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How far can ACN, CPC alliance go?

Buhari
Plans for a mega party
In the past year, politicians from some leading parties like the Action Congress of Nigeria(AC N), led by Bisi Akande, the All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP), formerly led by Muhammad Buhari’s Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Attahiru Bafarawa’s National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Mustapha Tanko, Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) led by Olu Falae, Prof. Pat Utomi, Lateef Jakande, Chief Supo Shonibare and others were working together to form a mega party that could beat the PDP in this year’s election.

When the plan was still in the works, Shonibare had confidently told Daily Sun that there was no way the plan for a mega party would fail going by the caliber of people involved and their determination to ‘restore’ sanity to the country by ousting the PDP.

“Considering the pedigree of the people involved in this plan, Nigerians should be assured that it will sail through and we will defeat the PDP in the 2011 elections. We are going to form a formidable party where all our structures will be collapsed into one and we will present one presidential candidate with our combined forces” he had said. Even though the plans looked promising at the beginning, observers were skeptical that the political ambitions of the proponents of the party will come in the way of the plans.

It was learnt that the parties that were formerly involved in the plans had agreed to adopt the AC which later changed to the ACN as its platform. The conditions by which the agreement was going to take off, it was also learnt, was if the AC changed its name entirely, its headquarters, elected officials and carry out new registration for members.

The ACN’s refusal to the conditions may have stalled the plans and made it difficult for other parties to merge with it. But while the plans were still ongoing, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar defected from the ACN to the PDP), and Buhari, who was a chief proponent of the mega party formed the Congress for Progressive Change(CPC).

The reason for their defection was to contest the 2011 presidential elections, and for people like Bafarawa and Utomi who remained, many believed that their political ambitions also stalled the process.
Utomi has registered the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) on whose platform he will contest the presidential elections.
ACN and ANPP’s proposed alliance
When the plan for the mega party failed, the ACN and ANPP began another alliance talk. The plan was for the parties to liaise and present a common candidate for this year’s presidential elections.
ANPP’s National Chairman, Ogbonnaya Onu, had told newsmen that the ANPP and the ACN were in an alliance talk and when it was concluded the result will be made public. “We are having alliance talks with the ACN and the plans are still underway. If any arrangement is reached, we shall inform the public” he had said.

If that plan sailed through, it would have been the second time the ANPP (formerly APP) would be entering into an alliance with another party. It will be recalled that in 1999, Onu had won the APP presidential primaries against the likes of Harry Akande, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Bode Olajumoke. But in order to present a common candidate, the leadership of the APP entered into an alliance with the Alliance for Democracy (AD) of which Olu Falae was its presidential standard bearer.

However, after some party arrangements, Onu was dropped for Umaru Shinkafi who became the running mate to Falae in the 1999 presidential elections.
Falae lost to former president Olusegun Obasanjo of the PDP.
It is however not clear why the ANPP/ACN talks did not sail through.
ACN and CPC alliance
With the collapse of the ACN/ANPP alliance talks, the AC N started another alliance plan with the Buhari-led CPC.
The South-West chairman of the CPC, Mutalib Badmus, had confirmed this to Daily Sun during the party’s Lagos State primaries.

His words: “We are working on an alliance where the ACN will produce the vice presidential candidate and the CPC will produce the presidential candidate. We want to do it this way because we believe that Buhari stands a very strong chance in this year’s election and he is the one Nigerians will vote for.”
While CPC was pushing for Buhari to emerge on the platform of the alliance, it was learnt that the ACN leaders were pushing for its presidential standard bearer, Nuhu Ribadu who is younger to fly the flag for the alliance while Buhari serves as his running mate.

The inability of both parties to reach an agreement on the choice of a common presidential candidate may have thwarted their plans for an alliance.
And the alliance crumbles
“The reason for alliances between political parties is the need to build viable opposition in the country if democracy is to survive. And such arrangements can only thrive where there is honesty and unity of purpose. It should be devoid of personal ambition if it is to survive”. These were the words of Balarabe Musa, former governor of Kaduna State.

This assertion is not far from the truth. The last political alliance in 2003 between the PDP and AD which was to ensure Obasanjo retained power in the South-West saw the PDP sweeping the South-West states where AD was in control except Lagos. That experience left bitter memories in the minds of the members of AD and the party never recovered from the loss.

Analysts argued that Buhari, who has contested the presidential elections in 2003 and 2007 will not concede the opportunity to run again to anyone. The alliance talks collapsed. Indeed, Buhari on Monday picked Pastor Tunde Bakare, the General Overseer of Latter Rain Assembly and the convener of Save Nigeria Group (SNG) as his running mate for the elections on the CPC platform.

Yinka Odumakin, the spokesperson for SNG and the Media Adviser to Buhari told Daily Sun that the General was going to pick someone with the right credentials as his running mate. In a statement he made available to Daily Sun, Odumakin said Buhari’s decision was to ‘put the best feet forward’.

Buhari will be contesting the elections on the platform of the CPC, which brings to an end the possiblity of ACN and CPC fielding a joint candidate. Meanwhile, Ribadu has intensified his campaign and is said to be making negotiations on forming a group of experts that will draw up a blueprint for the development of the nation.
Source: sunnewsonline.com

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