If I’m voted into power within the next four years, the issue of power will become a thing of
the past. Four years is enough for anyone in
power to make significant improvement and if I
can’t improve on power within this period, it
then means I cannot do anything even if I am
there for the next four years.” That was
President Goodluck Jonathan in February 2011.
And here is Muhammadu Buhari, two months
after Jonathan: “This campaign is the third and
last one for me, since, after it, I will not
present myself again for election into the office
of the President.”
The lesson here is a simple one: Politicians
ought to be careful about the statements they
make.
Having said that, I should also add that we
ought to acknowledge the fact that people are
allowed to change their minds. Four hours is a
long time in Nigerian politics, let alone four
years. If Jonathan and Buhari have decided to
change their minds, we should respect their
decisions. But I also believe that in the spirit of
the accountability that true democracy
demands, Nigerians deserve explanations from
both men.
This is where presidential debates will come in.
I’ll be looking forward to debates at which
Jonathan, Buhari, Atiku Abubakar and whoever
else is seeking to rule Nigeria between 2015
and 2019 are all made to confront their records
in word and deed. I believe we ought to have
at least three major presidential debates before
the election in February 2015, moderated by
credible, courageous and knowledgeable people
who can hit the candidates with tough and
uncompromising questions.
For those wont to dismiss the idea of debates
in our stomach-infrastructure-dominated
political system, I’d say that we shouldn’t let
the sad realities of today (cash-and-carry
elections) stop us from envisioning and
constructing the framework for a better future
(in which vision and intellect dominate).
Debates are a way to put some power in the
hands of the electorate, and to force candidates
to pay attention to the people who will be
deciding their fates. Let me also put forward
the eloquent argument made by Lagos State
Governor, Babatunde Fashola, at an event
organised by the Kukah Centre, in Abuja, in
September.
He said: “Debates help you to test the
candidates and be able to form an idea; that
this candidate has an idea what the problems
are. Those are the things that help people to
make choices.” He cited the example of the
best-known presidential debate in Nigerian
history, the one between M.K.O. Abiola and
Bashir Tofa, in June 1993. “Immediately, Tofa
could not answer what the price of fuel was, it
became clear to Nigerians that this was the
candidate who was disconnected… We should
not have people seeking high office without
participating in debates.”
At least, one 2015 presidential debate should
be devoted wholly to the economy. Another
should focus on the security situation – Boko
Haram, crude oil theft, ethnic militias, etc. A
third could take a more personal, less ‘policy’ –
route the one in which we expect the
candidates to defend their records and
credentials – cluelessness, bigotry, corruption
and everything in between.
I don’t think it matters which of the parties or
candidates wins the presidency, as long as
Nigerians are guaranteed a certain commitment
to improved governance; as long as whoever
that victor is realises that business cannot
continue as usual.
One big charge against the incumbent is that
he is clueless and incompetent; and not in
control of his government. I think the problem
– and even his prominent critics like Lamido
Sanusi and Tunde Bakare have put forward this
argument – is that we have a good man who
has allowed himself to be surrounded – and
derailed – by all sorts of shady characters, to
whom his natural proclivity for loyalty binds
him. He needs to be reminded that Nigeria
needs a decisive and visionary leader more
than it needs a ‘nice’ man. And we need a
President who is not only in charge, but is also
seen to be in charge.
President Jonathan, should he get a second
term, actually now has an incentive to rise to
the challenge of the Nigerian Presidency: If we
assume that he has pandered to all sorts of
interests because he’s got an eye on re-
election, he will no longer have that pressure
upon him in 2015.
On their own part, one big charge against
Buhari and Atiku is that they are ‘serial losers’
and ‘failed politicians’, with nothing fresh to
offer. That’s an ignorant thing to say, if you ask
me, considering that before winning the
presidency of Brazil in 2002, Luiz Inácio Lula da
Silva had lost three previous elections (1989,
1994 and 1998). The losses didn’t stop him
from eventually becoming one of the most
popular Brazilian presidents ever, and a
successful one at that.
Two years after losing the presidential election
to John F. Kennedy in 1960, Richard Nixon ran
for the Governorship of California. He lost,
prompting the widespread belief that his
political career was over. The morning after the
election, he famously announced to reporters,
at a press conference: “You won’t have Nixon
to kick around anymore because, gentlemen,
this is my last press conference”. Five years
later, he changed his mind, and went on to win
the 1968 presidential election.
It is in the very nature of politics for
persistence and the demonstration of staying-
power to be a defining element.
But beyond ambition and persistence, clarity of
purpose and a sense of vision are for me the
greatest qualities needed in persons aspiring to
elected office. And the leading contemporary
Nigerian model for that, in my opinion, is the
outgoing Governor of Lagos.
In his demonstration of his grasp of the issues
that matter the most to Lagos, Fashola never
fails to impress. At the Kukah Centre debate,
he told the audience that he came to office
with the full understanding of the city’s
residents and their wishes, and its problems,
based on two things: One, the fact that he’d
lived in Lagos almost all his life, and two, his
four-year-stint as Chief of Staff, which gave
him experience in the workings of a
complicated government system. When he
came to office, he said, he knew what needed
to be done urgently.
“Fundamentally, I saw the need to restore law
and order,” he said, adding that it explains why
he focused on equipping and motivating the
police force, through the creation of the Lagos
State Security Trust Fund. He said he met a
situation in which policemen were expected to
buy their own uniforms, and to “confront
criminals without ammunition.”
He also said something that cannot be
disputed: “In seven years, I have sat in traffic
with the people who elected me. I have never
used a siren. That is what gives me the moral
right to challenge those who do.” He was
alluding to the widely reported incident a few
years ago in which he arrested an army officer
for driving against traffic. “We didn’t have
governors arresting soldiers, it [used to be] the
other way round.”
Looking around the crowded field that is
Nigerian politics today, I can’t think of any
other person more qualified than him to be
used as a yardstick for the sort of President
Nigeria needs at this time. (I’m open to a
debate on this!)
It’s a shame, however, that a man who is
undoubtedly one of the most qualified for the
job of president isn’t even in the running.
Perhaps, we can work out an arrangement in
which Fashola can at least debate alongside the
main contenders, when the presidential
debates kick off. Even if he won’t himself be a
candidate.


http://www.punchng.com/opinion/lets-insist-on-presidential-debates-for-2015/

It is very sad indeed (and i take this personal) that Babatunde Raji Fashola, the best man for the job, will not be contesting due to accumulated baggages over the years in our chequered history (Ethnicity, Religious bigotry, Docility, Greed, Godfatherism, Intellectual dishonesty etc) But we should not give up, God can change the dynamics in a way to make it happen. Let me quickly add that our generation have been blessed with so many young men and women in various spheres of our national life with similar genetic traits and that is the source of our hope for a better tomorrow. For this to happen, we must continue to make positive impacts wherever we are. We must dared to be positively different no matter the cost, as BRF has continue to demonstrate this past 7 years. I hope the top contenders at the moment will have the courage to take up your debating challenge thrown their way!

Fashola lost the presidential election a long time ago.

Well thought out and i hope Nigerians will for once have a common denominator in the issue of bringing all our presidential contestants to a round table and seized them up.The incumbent shy away from debate in 2011 and it was not long before how shallow he is in solving the myriads of problems we have became noticable .It will be sad indeed for us to elect a man that is disconnected with the people despite the fact that they have been in the corridor of power for so long.

Ayekotoo:
If I’m voted into power within the next four years, the issue of power will become a thing of
the past. Four years is enough for anyone in
power to make significant improvement and if I
can’t improve on power within this period, it
then means I cannot do anything even if I am
there for the next four years.” That was
President Goodluck Jonathan in February 2011.
And here is Muhammadu Buhari, two months
after Jonathan: “This campaign is the third and
last one for me, since, after it, I will not
present myself again for election into the office
of the President.”
The lesson here is a simple one: Politicians
ought to be careful about the statements they
make.
Having said that, I should also add that we
ought to acknowledge the fact that people are
allowed to change their minds. Four hours is a
long time in Nigerian politics, let alone four
years. If Jonathan and Buhari have decided to
change their minds, we should respect their
decisions. But I also believe that in the spirit of
the accountability that true democracy
demands, Nigerians deserve explanations from
both men.
This is where presidential debates will come in.
I’ll be looking forward to debates at which
Jonathan, Buhari, Atiku Abubakar and whoever
else is seeking to rule Nigeria between 2015
and 2019 are all made to confront their records
in word and deed. I believe we ought to have
at least three major presidential debates before
the election in February 2015, moderated by
credible, courageous and knowledgeable people
who can hit the candidates with tough and
uncompromising questions.
For those wont to dismiss the idea of debates
in our stomach-infrastructure-dominated
political system, I’d say that we shouldn’t let
the sad realities of today (cash-and-carry
elections) stop us from envisioning and
constructing the framework for a better future
(in which vision and intellect dominate).
Debates are a way to put some power in the
hands of the electorate, and to force candidates
to pay attention to the people who will be
deciding their fates. Let me also put forward
the eloquent argument made by Lagos State
Governor, Babatunde Fashola, at an event
organised by the Kukah Centre, in Abuja, in
September.
He said: “Debates help you to test the
candidates and be able to form an idea; that
this candidate has an idea what the problems
are. Those are the things that help people to
make choices.” He cited the example of the
best-known presidential debate in Nigerian
history, the one between M.K.O. Abiola and
Bashir Tofa, in June 1993. “Immediately, Tofa
could not answer what the price of fuel was, it
became clear to Nigerians that this was the
candidate who was disconnected… We should
not have people seeking high office without
participating in debates.”
At least, one 2015 presidential debate should
be devoted wholly to the economy. Another
should focus on the security situation – Boko
Haram, crude oil theft, ethnic militias, etc. A
third could take a more personal, less ‘policy’ –
route the one in which we expect the
candidates to defend their records and
credentials – cluelessness, bigotry, corruption
and everything in between.
I don’t think it matters which of the parties or
candidates wins the presidency, as long as
Nigerians are guaranteed a certain commitment
to improved governance; as long as whoever
that victor is realises that business cannot
continue as usual.
One big charge against the incumbent is that
he is clueless and incompetent; and not in
control of his government. I think the problem
– and even his prominent critics like Lamido
Sanusi and Tunde Bakare have put forward this
argument – is that we have a good man who
has allowed himself to be surrounded – and
derailed – by all sorts of shady characters, to
whom his natural proclivity for loyalty binds
him. He needs to be reminded that Nigeria
needs a decisive and visionary leader more
than it needs a ‘nice’ man. And we need a
President who is not only in charge, but is also
seen to be in charge.
President Jonathan, should he get a second
term, actually now has an incentive to rise to
the challenge of the Nigerian Presidency: If we
assume that he has pandered to all sorts of
interests because he’s got an eye on re-
election, he will no longer have that pressure
upon him in 2015.
On their own part, one big charge against
Buhari and Atiku is that they are ‘serial losers’
and ‘failed politicians’, with nothing fresh to
offer. That’s an ignorant thing to say, if you ask
me, considering that before winning the
presidency of Brazil in 2002, Luiz Inácio Lula da
Silva had lost three previous elections (1989,
1994 and 1998). The losses didn’t stop him
from eventually becoming one of the most
popular Brazilian presidents ever, and a
successful one at that.
Two years after losing the presidential election
to John F. Kennedy in 1960, Richard Nixon ran
for the Governorship of California. He lost,
prompting the widespread belief that his
political career was over. The morning after the
election, he famously announced to reporters,
at a press conference: “You won’t have Nixon
to kick around anymore because, gentlemen,
this is my last press conference”. Five years
later, he changed his mind, and went on to win
the 1968 presidential election.
It is in the very nature of politics for
persistence and the demonstration of staying-
power to be a defining element.
But beyond ambition and persistence, clarity of
purpose and a sense of vision are for me the
greatest qualities needed in persons aspiring to
elected office. And the leading contemporary
Nigerian model for that, in my opinion, is the
outgoing Governor of Lagos.
In his demonstration of his grasp of the issues
that matter the most to Lagos, Fashola never
fails to impress. At the Kukah Centre debate,
he told the audience that he came to office
with the full understanding of the city’s
residents and their wishes, and its problems,
based on two things: One, the fact that he’d
lived in Lagos almost all his life, and two, his
four-year-stint as Chief of Staff, which gave
him experience in the workings of a
complicated government system. When he
came to office, he said, he knew what needed
to be done urgently.
“Fundamentally, I saw the need to restore law
and order,” he said, adding that it explains why
he focused on equipping and motivating the
police force, through the creation of the Lagos
State Security Trust Fund. He said he met a
situation in which policemen were expected to
buy their own uniforms, and to “confront
criminals without ammunition.”
He also said something that cannot be
disputed: “In seven years, I have sat in traffic
with the people who elected me. I have never
used a siren. That is what gives me the moral
right to challenge those who do.” He was
alluding to the widely reported incident a few
years ago in which he arrested an army officer
for driving against traffic. “We didn’t have
governors arresting soldiers, it [used to be] the
other way round.”
Looking around the crowded field that is
Nigerian politics today, I can’t think of any
other person more qualified than him to be
used as a yardstick for the sort of President
Nigeria needs at this time. (I’m open to a
debate on this!)
It’s a shame, however, that a man who is
undoubtedly one of the most qualified for the
job of president isn’t even in the running.
Perhaps, we can work out an arrangement in
which Fashola can at least debate alongside the
main contenders, when the presidential
debates kick off. Even if he won’t himself be a
candidate.


http://www.punchng.com/opinion/lets-insist-on-presidential-debates-for-2015/

Four years has come and gone and the last news we had is that because of vandalism of pipe lines power has dropped by 1000 mw.

Its very unfortunate.