My takeaways from Osun 2022
On July 16, 2022 history was made in our political space in Osun State. The incumbent lost his reelection bid to his arch rival in a keenly contested poll. It was sigh of relief to some and vice versa to others. But we have demonstrated a path to improve on as a nation.
Here are my observations;

-The new technology adopted has improved credibility of voting and result collation. However, INEC need to deploy more devices for subsequent polls, at least 3 per polling unit so as to reduce turnaround time.

-Votes buying and selling reduced voters apathy as many people turned up for solely trading. So the next hurdle for INEC is how to make voting more secret so as to cancel buying and selling of votes.

-The two major parties bought votes but the higher bidder failed to win due to rejection of the bidder by civil servants, intra party fight and other underlying factors. Imagine people leaving N10k for N3k.

-The election was peaceful to a large extent, thanks to our security operatives.

My congratulations to the winner and let me tell him the bitter truth. There is nothing special about being Governor of Osun State than the title. The State is wallowing in murky ocean of debt, so he should stop the party, throw away his dancing shoes and put on his thinking cap.

Governing Osun is not a tea party.

Subsidy Removal and Crusade for Deregulation.


There has been uproar from the public about sudden hike in price of PMS popularly called petrol with justification from Federal Government that end has come to subsidy on PMS.

Many people hinged their rejection to it based on resultant forces emanated from Covid19 pandemic, where people economy strength have been weakened globally. So, to them it is believed that this action came at the wrong time. Unfortunately, for our government it is the right time for us to let it go due to economy meltdown and this has been the narrative for both past and present government whenever there is cash crunch.

It seems our government is ready to dance to the tune of our creditors who are hellbent on this narrative since Prophet Mathew Obasanjo days. These people don't care about refining our oil locally but want us to treat symptoms without uprooting the cause.

Personally, I belong to the camp of deregulation of this sector not only world price reflection at our local filling stations. Noting that PMS is a sensitive item in our basket and any tinkling with it will take toll on our production costs and purchasing powers.

So subsidy removal without considering other indicators that are major in deregulation of the sector will remain a bitter pill for the masses to swallow and government might soft pedal to continue the monstrous bill.

Firstly, we don't refine the PMS we are consuming. Secondly, our refineries are in shambles with little or no production and there is no alternative. Also, our transport system and small scale businesses majorly relied on PMS and no alternative. We also don't have legislative framework to hasten our local refineries for action. Sincerely, PIB has been dancing Asonto before our government, both past and present. So how can we be allowing these oil majors to take oil from our land to their refineries outside our shore to refine. It is a slothful man that doesn't roast his game.

Therefore, deregulating price of PMS while all these factors remain unattended to will be a huge kneel on innocent citizens necks as we are already gasping for breathe. This current hike shows that government just want to pass the burden to innocent public while nothing happened to our rulers extravaganza. There is no part being shared by our political elites and you can't continue to suppress our purchasing powers while you live in affluence.

For subsidy removal to work we need to refine our consumption here, start selling our raw materials in refined states to avoid FX shortage, oil majors should be compelled through a legislative framework like PIB where 50% or more of what they explore is refined locally, NNPC should allow private companies to thrive in the sector from upstream to midstream and downstream and our government officials should live within our means.

However, if we pitch tent with this pricing crusade, we might give room for same subsidy cartels that will find importation of PMS lucrative than building refineries here. For instance, if oil price jump to $100/barrel tomorrow, a litre might go as high as N500 and these importers might become monsters that can frustrate refining business.
I doubt if this pricing deregulation can work without aforementioned factors.

Ifedayo Obi.

Photo Government, how can this help us?

A DAWN OF NEXT LEVEL
This is to congratulate all proponents and supporters of NextLevel for bringing this project to reality. You've fought a good fight and won a golden medal through thin and thick plus hook, crook and cheque book.

You told us in 2015 that if Buhari perform not, you will wholeheartedly vote him out come 2019. 2019 came and you supported him for another 4years because his performance surpasses expectation.

Nigeria is more safer than before except little hitches of bandits and herdsmen in addition to inherited Book haram that characterized his tenure. In fact, nobody in the hostage of any sects except those girls and nurses that refused to join their families.

There was no evil act that has not been punished including Rann IDP sincere bombs from their protector and reinstatement of Maina the fugitive.

The prosperity in the land is so enormous except deep retrogression in FDI, GDP, and other economy pointers. We have been able to pile up more debts in order to protect our hard earned revenue from PDP corruption. Job rate is higher than ever and those millions of job loss were job got through corruption, you can ask NPower if they are not living within their means.

Out of school children increased as a result of too much of food through our feeding program. We have invested in health sector that no government official had visited foreign land for medical reason expect the little days above hundred Buhari spent plus his son mere medical checkup for bike Olympics.

Truly, the 2019 was a referendum on the incumbent as we reinforced him for another four years for Osinbajo to takeover in 2023. May be you are not aware that we have fought corruption to a point where bullion vans can walk freely for election at bourdillon.

For your information, we have recorded new converts from our anti-corruption crusade, to mention a few Obanikoro, Omisore, Akpabio, Orji and co. Remember Tinubu is now Chief Priest in that temple.

Very soon our TraderMoni scheme will produce more Dangotes as we have put LAPO, SEAP, ASEA and GROOMING on their toes.

The 2019 election was so free and fair that in the course of collating results, 2 of his archenemies were arrested and one was released after announcement.

The process was so flawless that 2015 election could not stand beside it, it was just a fair contest like 2007 election.

Unlike 2015 that was not worth death of any, in 2019 we just recorded a paltry death of 39, may be the kind technology used to snatch ballot boxes was unknown.

In 2015 Geidam voted without obstruction from Boko haram, in 2019, he was obstructed but we still delivered hundreds of thousands of votes than 2015, thanks to technical defeat by our military.

Like he always affirmed, he cannot lose, what a bold faith that silent the roaring of Lion.

As you join this NextLevel, remember NextLevel of those games on your phone are not moinmoin but a mere task. I wish you more strength to sail through.

Once again accept my congratulations, you can help him to remove constitution so as to fight this battle beyond a reasonable doubt and ban social media platforms to avoid spread of fake news and hate speech against our good government.

Happy Democracy Game.

Ifedayo O.

An Open Letter to Omo Baba Oloye

As Nigeria politics is at gun point with BUKOLA SARAKI as one of the game changers, Wazirin of Ilorin should thread softly. BUKOLA should know where to pitch tent so as to enjoy the little goodwill that common Nigerian politician enjoys.

It is already too late for SP to be considering options, if he wants his political influence to get more weight. Despite Buhari's tyrannical style of government to nail him at all cost, BUKOLA has never repaid him. If there is any elected official that made Buhari to continue as occupant of Aso seat, it is Omo baba Oloye.

Despite all odds, BUKOLA had saved this government from national embarrassment on countless occasions. But Buhari and his acolytes have been humiliating, criminalize, vilifying and molesting Bukola from many burners.

Abubakar BUKOLA Saraki, it is high time you left this tent of vultures, there is no promise or agreement they can fulfill. How can a man that is overriding courts' decisions which is a constituted institution honor an ordinary paper?.

Mr. SP if you remain in their camp, you will end up in their belly. So it is better to hear voices of your supporters than pecuniary gains from enemy's table. May be I should remind you how a Chief Imam lost his son in a ghastly auto accident while praying for you against Buhari's CCT.

Those people celebrating your downfall, circulating your docked picture as accused and hounding you with unfounded charges cannot suddenly turn back to be asking for your hand in fellowship.

My advice for you is simple, just don't go the way the current 21st century AFONJA is going. Let me reiterate it that you are not infallible like other politicians in Nigeria but your records as Senate President has won you many crowns of democracy. Therefore, don't push your luck too far.

This is the right time for you to right the wrong that you and your colleagues did in 2015 against Nigeria. It is only a mentally blind person that will keep supporting the obvious failures of Buhari's led government. He has failed at all fronts including his so called integrity and any step to bring him back will tantamount to reinforcement of failures.

Finally, as you and your colleagues remain on the 2019 political chessboard, let it benefit the masses at least for once.

Ifedayo Obi,
Lead Partner,  Good Governance Advocates

Before 2019 Democratic Ritual. Part II

As promised last year that I will be sharing some issues related to our nation building through focused leadership train. Today 9th April, 2019, our President threw spanner to the wheel of our democratic progress by declaring for reelection in the coming 2019 general election. Thus there is urgent need to avoid colossal errors and misfiring that have engulfed our political space.

I will start from reoccurrence of promoting mediocres to Aso Rock as leaders which is too obvious in this current administration being led by President Buhari. How can someone like Buhari emerged as our President in this 21st century. He left power in 1985 and came back to same post in 2015.

During this period he had no record of upgrading himself. He attended no school nor institute neither local or international conferences on leadership, economy, business and public affairs management. He was only reading newspaper and listening to BBC Hausa. He had no foundation to support any human course neither did he manage any business than his cattle ranch of 150 cows.

He was fighting hard to get the topmost job in land without serious preparation. Maybe I should talk of his testimonials as Minister of Petroleum and later as Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund where billions of naira went into thin air.

Buhari, a man who pride himself with ethnic and religion sentiments cannot lead in a pluralised state like ours. Apart from all these credentials, his age is another serious barrier as affirmed by him during his visit to South Africa in 2015.

It call for serious question; how APC settled for him to bring change, why those Almighty intellectuals supported his course and what made those E-Politicians on social media became his fans. Though many have regretted their actions and apologized but some are still seeing him as their political messiah.

However, we need to check both groups senses of judgment and reasoning for supporting him in first place. Like I always say those that supported Buhari candidacy in 2015 and those still supporting his obvious failures in Aso Rock are under political spells of APC.
I'm not talking of those unpatriotic men and women benefiting from this malady called government but those whose economical status have been reduced by high cost goods and services.

As for me Buhari has not disappointed me in anyway, what we are seeing today are his best acts. He can't do better than these as a man of borrowed integrity, religion fanatic, ethnic bigotry and nepotistic champion.

He has brought Nigeria backward at all fronts and he still want to do more. I can't just hold it, why a man that is going for another medical tourism will get such effrontery to decide to run for another term. Let the truth be told Buhari cannot conduct free and fair election come 2019, I believed he is backing on $1bn he just approved and incumbency muscle.

It is high time we begged our political elites to stop imposing wrong people on us as flag bearer. Let the truth be told whatever come out of their political calculus will become our choices at the poll.

Ifedayo Obi,
Lead Partner, Good Governance Advocates
He tweets through @IfedayoObi

Why are they under political spell of Buhari and APC?

Without any reservation, anyone supporting Buhari and APC government is either under political spell or politically gullible. Except the person is reaping huge benefits from inadequacies of this current administration, if not, supporting Buhari in first place and still canvassing for him is the highest form of unpatriotic mission to endanger our dear nation.

I believed after reading my epistle today, you will decide where you belong. Some of you were bewitched to support Buhari in 2015 based on borrowed credentials ascribed to him without cross checking the facts. Why should APC used a mere votes gatherer to punish Nigerians.

They told you he took loan to obtain aspirant's form of N27m but you later heard he had 2 children studying in UK. At the peak of forex scarcity, he even boldly said he can afford Ivy league shcools while many of you were screaming to get same for your wards and businesses. You were so engulfed with him that you believed he lives in inherited mud house.

He was presented to you as a political saint with no stain of corruption but you forgot to ask why he said Abacha was not corrupt. Today his administration is beneficiary of Abacha's loot recovery. May be your mind escaped why billions of naira went into thin air while he was Minister of Petroleum under General Obasanjo and Chairman, Petroleum Trust Fund under Abacha.

They told you he will fight corruption to finish line but today he is an enabler of worst ever corruption saga in our national history. He heard of his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari of collecting bribe from MTN, Magu of multimillions mansion, Grasscutter SGF, Buratai's Dubai mansions through snake investment, $26bn Baru of NNPC, Maina reinstatement, NHIS Boss, the list is endless but he did nothing. He turned his party to political salvation platform where politicians with corruption charges migrate to for safety.

As a father of impunity and author of nepotism, he is flaunting court orders at will and appointing family members and ethnic associates to sensitive offices. Presently ,13 of his family tree are occupying sensitive offices.

As a dictator, he made several moves to gag your freedom of speech that he benefited from to clinch Aso job. He is not done yet with your freedom, your media outlets cannot do their jobs without permission from him. Nigerians are now at the mercy of foreign media outlets to know state of the nation.

As a weak retired General, he sent your Air force fighter jet to rescue cows from cattle rustlers but failed to nail a single herdsman since 2015. He told you BokoHaram has been technically defeated but came back to tell you after 2years that his military has failed. Even ordinary IGP, he cannot control but you want him to continue with all your veins.

He appropriated N3.8bn for State House Clinic in 2016 to stop medical tourism by government officials but his wife and daughter whistled to you that ordinary syringe cannot be found.

In less than 3months over 1000 people have been killed without fighting war. They bombed IDP at Rann and no single head rolled in military. Your military has now joined hall of shame in lying to the public like Audu Ogbeh rice mill and Lai Mohammed, the great prophet of lying ministry.

He stopped presidential scholarship for postgraduate study because of low patronage from his region and brought your cutoff marks to 120 just to promote mediocrity. Yet you are praising him.

He ran your economy into ditch and asking for your accolades for bringing it out of recession. Your purchasing power has been reduced to worst low ever in history due to high prices of basic commodities. May be you have not heard that he borrowed N11tn in less than 3years without any meaningful accomplishment. Your Naira is now 1:1 to dollar as he promised.

He knew nothing about fuel subsidy but paying N25bn monthly since October 2017 to subsidize PMS. Despite his promise to reduce pump price of PMS he took it to N145/litre and after a year you were queuing for months to buy it at N180/litre. Your refineries stopped working after two months of his body language but he deemed it fit to expend billions of naira on oil searching in Chad basin. What a misplaced priority?

Let me pause here with an analogy made by a friend, Team Buhari/APC is like a football team that will score own-goal and equalize to celebrate victory.
We need a patriotic leader that will be competent to utilize our best brains for a nation building not an ethnic bigotry.

Ifedayo Obi,
Lead Partner, Good Governance Advocates
My twitter handle is @IfedayoObi

I will start by saying it again that one can lie to get votes but can't lie to govern. The leadership disarray that has plagued our falling nation for few months is avoidable, if those supporting the anarchy are not the teeming youth.

The debate on social media about our national affairs is worrisome, seeing youth with vibrant energy and polished academic background turning to irredeemable sycophants.

They gave you a man with no knowledge of democratic leadership, economy growth and development. Let us agreed you bought it blindly but must you sojourning in ignorance. He told you he wished he came earlier than now as his physical and mental strengths are downwardly downward due to his age just few weeks he was sworn in, but you ignored it.

He appointed his close relations to sensitive positions, you said it doesn't matter as long they can fight corruption. Under him illegal recruitments to topmost MDAs were carried out but you said N-Power of 18months with 30k is your best luck.

He appointed 9 media aides, you said he is reducing cost of running government. They told you he has a special media center called Buhari Media Center where the staff are collecting hundreds of thousands naira monthly but you ignored it.

You are battling with skyrocketed prices of basic commodities on daily basis but you said it would have been worst if it was Jonathan in power. He hiked the prices of petrol, kerosene and electricity but you said you are paying for the sins of the immediate past administration.

They found money in unthinkable places, farmland but resorted to loan to finance budget but you couldn't ask why. They increased budget from 4trillion threshold to 6.08trillion and now 7trillion, but you agreed with them that they are clearing mess in recession.

You supported him for 6months paused mode without cabinet but he brought you same faces with 11 of them as lawyers. A cabinet where a Professor is a junior Minister to a journalist cum accountant in Ministry of Education, today your Jamb cutoff marks is 30% while his allocation to same ministry is dropping annually. But you still believe he has good intention.

Fulani herdsmen are destroying farmlands, killing farmers, raping their wives and children but he told you they were foreigners that needed grazing lands, you didn't object. He collected Shekau's flag, Quran and told you he has technically defeated him, you started doing thanksgiving and calling Dasuki name of all sorts.

They told you they were clearing mess of 16years of PDP but you are so shallow in memory to know that 95% of them were part and parcel of same period. May be I should tell you one, the current rats and rodents invasion broadcaster, Garba Shehu was spokesman of the then Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

They told you he went for mere medical checkup but he came back to say he was seriously sick but you didn't ask question why you were mandated to fast and pray for his recovery. He couldn't perform his official duties except Jumat appearance, yet you were celebrating him.

He went for the longest medical tourism in our national history and returned with threat. He was to return as lion king to deal with hyenas and jackals but ordinary small rats blocked him from entering office. Today, he is telecommuting the highest job in the land.

He has come to kill your freedom of speech but you are still calling him democratic Messiah. It was tagged disrespectful for asking details of his medical conditions and bills. The same man you supported against Yaradua for impeachment is now governing by proxy.

Time will not permit me to diagnose your level of political ignorance and gullibility, just go ahead to give us more names for being more patriotic to our nation than a demigod or political party. If we that are asking him to do the right thing are children of hate, wailing wailers, 2015 election bad losers and antiBuhari as you are posing then you children of political perdition and servitude should repent to help this nation.

To all elders in the land who are sitting on the fence, please have a rethink and pull this nation out of the jaw of the cabals that have been governing us through the backdoor since 19th January, 2017. Buhari should resign noowwwww.

To be continued...

Ifedayo Obi,
Lead Partner, Good Governance Advocates.

Who is the Presidency?

The above question raised by Engr. Bachir Lawal, the almighty Secretary to Government of Federation got me brain storming for hours. It was a question that raised more questions than answers. To worsen the whole denigration, Engr. Bachir Lawal' s gesture was nothing to laugh over as he was caught on camera rolling his tongue to mock journalists. Surprisingly, we swept it under carpet without considering its antecedent and consequences. For a high ranked official in the presidency to ask such question means all is not well with the highest seat in the land.

Truly, we need to ask same question considering the events playing out in the last four months. Presidency sent Magu of EFCC to Senate for confirmation as Substantive Chairman but same Presidency through DSS sent background checking report to Senate to nail Magu. This narrative continue when Presidency cleared the Commander in Chief of grass cutter of any wrong doing as alleged by the Senate. Just after 3months Presidency suspended same man for same offence. Quite numbers of time the Presidency insisted that President Buhari was not sick, but himself came back and called his acolytes liars indirectly by saying he had never been sick like that before.

These recent contrasts are telling us that continuous absent of President Buhari in official spots is heading the nation into anarchy. How can a house as powerful as Aso Rock be dividing against itself? If we can recall some months back that the President's wife, Aisha Buhari and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki publicly declared that the cabal had hijacked government from Mr. Buhari. I can't agree more, all is not well in Aso Rock.The cabals are feasting on our nation through President Buhari's illness.

Let me shock you all with this, President Buhari's presidency has ended on the day he departed for medical tourism, 19th January 2017. It seems his creator had made it possible for him preside over his nation twice on a period of 20months each and any attempt to drive his luck beyond it will spell doom. Whatever you have been seeing accorded to him from then till now is hoax and by proxy. The old man's health is no more in agreement with tasks of his office and the cabals are just holding sway in Buhari's government for their selfish interests.

Have you heard of 1bn Euro bond, $500m Euro Bond, and $6bn loan, all to fund 2016 budget that will end in couples of hours. To make it clearer, they came to fore between 19th January 2017 and 28th April 2017. We need to rescue Nigeria from the cabals who are bent on keeping an ailing President in power by force. We should not allow them to kill our President on the premise of their selfish gains, he needs to attend to his health and enjoy his old age with his family. President Buhari cannot take critical decisions for this country due to his illness, he must take the path of honour and resign now so as to deliver this nation from the cabals.

I don't want him to die in office, I also don't want my nation to descend into anarchy. He should handover power to Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo to avoid the avoidable and put shame on his enemies who want him to die in office. Currently, the cabals are his greatest enemies they have succeeded turning him to figure head while they are hiding under his name to rule the nation illegally.

Please allow President Buhari to attend to his health, Nigeria's current conditions require not an ailing President or part time President. Let us saddle Yemi Osinbajo with the responsibility of steering this ship to 2019. Enough is enough on governance vacuum, it is almost 2years and some agencies are still boardless.

I will end it here by asking again, Who is the Presidency?

Ifedayo Obi,
Lead Partner, Good Governance Advocates

Happy Retirement to President Buhari.

I want to assuage the fear of many about the President Buhari's current leadership panorama. I know before this month of April ends President Buhari will take the path of honour by resigning from his position as President but if he won't we should persuade him to do so. Though it is not synonymous to African leadership to relinquish power without external forces but President Buhari should change the narrative.

President Buhari should be grateful to his creator, the Almighty Allah for
making life to smile at him twice as President of Nigeria. He cannot argue with destiny again for having  20months twice in ruling Nigeria rather he should be thankful and throw in towel. He has done his bit and it is time to save Nigeria from autopilot that is sinking the ship with high speed.

If you are following government activities since President Buhari returned from unwarranted medical tourism, you will agree with me that governance has been out of its course. It has been pandemonium, melodrama and power horse trading. The calmness in Nigeria while President Buhari was away has disappeared suddenly and all is not well with both executive and legislature.

All these political episodes are pointing to 2019 race with an incapacitated incumbent President. To be candid, President Buhari has lost grip over his position and he cannot continue to help those selfish cabals to ruin Nigeria. In the word of Dr. Junaid, Buhari's presidency has ended since the day he left the shore of this nation for medical tourism. All happenings since then have been on proxy.

Dear President Buhari, if you truly love Nigerians and Nigeria, you will not listen to those sycophants and praise singers who are vowing to present you either dead or alive in 2019 race. It is better you accept fate and tell Aso rock bye bye. Let Nigerians know that your health and age are no more in tandem with your office demands. The patriotic Nigerians are ready to accept your fate and your path will remain indelible in history.

However, if you continue dancing to tunes of spoilers who are taking advantage of your health disadvantage to keep you in Aso Rock, the following might happen; they will commit more atrocities in your name that will ruin your integrity. They will run your government to stupor and desert you when eggs hit the rock. They will do what will make you to be the last president in Nigeria. Also, under your watch impunity will be on increase and embers of ethnic war will be alarming. They will turn you to paper tiger and you will remain a photographic President as they have been doing. 

Therefore, if you don't want hunger and war to finish Nigerians, please honorably resign now. It is better you take care of your health than to allow selfish cabal to denigrate your integrity. The situation facing the country does not deserve a part-time or sabbatical President. So let your retirement from public office start now so as to enjoy your old age in peace.

Wishing you happy retirement.


Ifedayo Obi,

Lead Partner, Good Governance Advocates.

President Buhari's Vacation: A Shameful National Ballet in Banana Republic.

I will start with the assertions of Reuben Abati, that there are demons in Aso Rock that turn its occupants brains upsidedown. If this is not absolutely true then the melodrama emanating from this highest seat of power over the 10-day vacation that turned to indefinite holidays won't have been a national choreography.

Surprisingly, people that supposed to furnish Nigerians with details are now pouring curse of death on anyone that wishes President Buhari death. I think they should buried their heads in shame for mismanagement of information about the President's leave and for taking about 180million people as fools. How do they want Nigerians to react when their President flew out of the country on 19th January while his leave letter stated 23rd January? What do they want Nigerians to do when their President transferred power to Vice President who was on diplomatic assignment in the far space of Switzerland? Please help me ask them if Nigerians should not be worried when there was vacuum for hours as the assigned Acting President was nowhere to be found on the shore of Nigeria? If the President was their blood father and he extended his leave on the ground of test cycle wouldn't they be worried?

If truly they are patriotic, then the above episodes are enough to be concerned about the President of most populous black nation. By now they should be on their knees apologising for turning our President to something else. May be they are shallow in public affairs management, if not they should know that President Buhari is no more a private person. Thus his health is too relevant to be shrouded in secrecy. Nigerians are the people paying his bills including them that have turned to constituted authorities, so Nigerians should be updated about their President.

Let me reiterate it, a President cannot be hale and healthy where everything about his nation is chaotic and yet extended his leave indefinitely. If President Buhari is truly fit as purported by these constituted authorities then he should return home and stop wasting tax payers money on medical tourism and luxurious vacation after spent N3.8bn for medical facilities in State house last year. It is still beating my imagination why a President on vacation will be receiving high ranked public officials on weekly basis as guests at the expense of innocent public. Can sending vacation pictures to a hungry common man solve his problem?

To make it worse, a President on vacation had diplomatic discussion with USA President. Does it mean Nigeria is having two Presidents at the same time? I will count this as a blunder from President Donald Trump, if truly he had official engagement with a President on vacation when power has been transferred to another person. Nigeria should not be treated as a banana republic where anything goes. Meanwhile, President Buhari found it better to speak with President of a nation where systems are working as designed but ignored his people calls to address them in an audiovisual broadcast. President Buhari should know that Nigerians brought him to power not outsiders or political elites, therefore he should accord more respect to them than anybody. Let me remind him that those telling him to disregard his people are putting him on the line, Nigerians, both old and young are his paymasters not these enforced constituted authorities.

Dear President Buhari, if you don't return home this weekend and resume as President, then it is either all is not well with you over there or you are desperately wicked for spending our scare resources on vacation in recession time. If you don't return home as soon as possible and make a State broadcast then your handlers have succeeded turning you to a photographic President running a Photoshop government. Nigerians voted you as President not pictorial leader on social media, please come home. President Buhari should know that Aso Rock is different from London Rock where is cooling his head and not all Nigerians can afford flight ticket to his new official residence in London.

My advice for my brother from Osun State, Femi Adesina is that he should stop disrespecting Nigerians in the course of doing his herculean task. Please if you don't know before let it sink to your brain now that the President is not a private person, the President has no right not to speak to his people, the President has no right to be on indefinite vacation when there is no deviation from his normal physiological and psychological states and it will be heartless for President Buhari to be spending tax payers money on vacation indefinitely.

Likewise to those asking Nigerians to be praying for a hale and healthy President, please what should be our prayer points after seeing him photographically and reportedly cracking jokes.

Please bring back our President, #BringBackBuhari, #BBB

Ifedayo Obi
Lead Partner, Good Governance Advocates.

Mr. President Be well Soon

It is my great pleasure to write you, Mr. President Buhari while you are still abroad. I count this style most appropriate since you are fond of speaking more from abroad than home. It is highly surprising to see you taking three medical tourism in less than 2years you ascended throne. It seems you can't cope with the steam of governing a complex nation like ours. Our dear nation does not deserve a leader that cannot be up and doing at this critical time.

You came in when Nigeria has been placed inside furnace of hatred, division and uncertainties. To the point that some of our offshore big brothers prophesied dismemberment of our diversity but somebody saved the day for you and made your 12years dream a reality. Surprisingly, either knowingly or unknowingly all your actions and inactions have been stoking more burners into already heated furnace. May be it would have been better for you to quit as you earlier asserted so as to save this sinking ship you are captaining.

I still believe you can disappoint people like me who strongly sure that you lack what it takes to operate in a democratic setting let alone leading Nigeria in 21st century. My candid advice is that you should apologise to Nigerians who bought into your mandate then quit power. However, if you still want to continue in Aso rock, there are tasks before you in order to succeed.

Firstly, you should admit that you were dressed in a borrowed robe to gather votes, that your party was founded on lies and propaganda which have made your electoral promises a tall order. Then apologise to Nigerians for defrauding them their electoral values. Just tell them you and your party are on training mode and you will soon be through.

Secondly, you must stay away from the pitch of blame game, as anyone that keeps blaming his or her failure on work experience of his or her predecessors is not ready to accept responsibility. Spending two years on blaming this and that, is a sign of irresponsibility.

Thirdly, you should admit that the cabal in Aso rock are having a field day in your government. This has made it possible for nepotism, impunity, disobedience to law court orders, incoherent policies, selective anti-graft war, zero freedom of speech, sensational and Photoshop governance thriving under your watch. Let me remind you what you said in 2015, "I will take responsibility for everything that happens under my watch". But you have never accepted responsibility for once. For you to win, you must change your tune and ask your spin doctors to adhere strictly to it.

On the fourth note, no matter how you strive to win you will not, if you don't act on killings episodes orchestrating by your kinsmen called Fulani herdsmen and foot soldiers called security operatives. The blood of people of Agatu in Benue State, Nimbo in Enugu, Southern Kaduna and all unarmed protesters will not allow you to succeed until justice reign.

Finally, the economy is not smiling at common man as prices of basic commodities are skyrocketing on daily basis. You should review your tariff policies on these items, your revenues generating agencies should not be smiling to banks at the expense of innocent public. Except you want to govern another nation, dear President, all has not been well under you, just change your course or resign honorably.

From all of us at Good Governance Advocates, we are wishing you quick recovery. #PresidentBuhariBeWellSoon

Ifedayo Obi
Lead Partner, Good Governance Advocates.

Mr. President Be Well Soon by Ifedayo obi https://m.thenigerianvoice.com/news/244220/mr-president-be-well-soon.html

It is disheartening seeing our revered leaders manipulating truth on the tripod altar of ethnic, religion and political sentiments. This was my reflection on sudden response of the Supreme head of Islam Council of Nigeria who also double as Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar to recent self defence statements made by some preachers.

While I'm not in consonant with any speech that can fan embers of war or incite people against their leaders, but we should always do well to trace the arising matter to its root. Countless of innocent blood are being shedding by Fulani herdsmen killer squad without knowing when it will stop. In Kano, a woman was butchered by the jihadists and another woman was slaughtered in Abuja for preaching her faith. The perpetrators were acquitted and Sultan of Sokoto could not find his voice on the matter.

From Agatu in Benue State to Nimbo in Enugu, now to the ongoing massacre of Southern Kaduna people, no single perpetrator has been arrested or docked and yet the Sultan of Sokoto could not find his voice. Despite, the perpetrators umbrella body coming out boldly as brain behind all these atrocities, Supreme head of Islam could not find his voice.
Do they want people to accept their lame excuse that this Fulani herdsmen killer squad is from outside Nigeria? Or do they want this narrative to be enough for people to fold their hands while their killers have field day? No, I mean capital NO, people will not continue to allow this. They will defend themselves against this murderous Jihadists since government at all levels has failed to do so.

I have called attention of this constituted authority to disastrous movement undertaking by Fulani herdsmen as far back as August 2015 and later February 2016. You can read them through the link below;
https://m.thenigerianvoice.com/news/187079/fulani-herdsmen-serial-attacks-another-unnoticed-war-boomin.html
https://m.thenigerianvoice.com/news/207352/fulani-herdsmen-serial-attacks-an-avoidable-war-looming.html

If this current government is not collaborator in this saga then why has it not arrested a Fulani herdsman. The narrative that they are foreigners is against the position of Myetti Cattle Rearers and Breeders Association of Nigeria, who always claim responsibility for herdsmen attack. The Northern Governors Forum's assertion of Mali and Senegal as origin of this Fulani herdsmen is a clear departure from herdsmen umbrella that keep tagging their attacks as reprisal for cattle slaughtered by farmers.

I put it to Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar to ask for arrest of Garba Sheu, the spokesman of Mr President for supporting blood shedding in Southern Kaduna by his misguided utterances. Garba Sheu claimed the killing in Southern Kaduna was as a result of PDP controlling the senatorial district. It would have been better for the Supreme head of Islam call for the arrest of stakeholders in Myetti Cattle Rearers and Breeders Association of Nigeria than calling religious leaders that want self defence for their followers. It will be more good to hear Sultan of Sokoto calling for the arrest of Governor Nasir El'Rufai for paying killers of his people than indirectly condemning self defence.

As for those Governors shifting post on this matter may their children and relations be slaughtered by this foreign herdsmen one day, so they can feel the pains. Likewise to those ones in the South and Middle belt carving out their lands for Fulani herdsmen to graze, may their children also be victims of Fulani herdsmen killer squad.

By tomorrow Monday, 30th January, 2017, two Christian leaders will be at DSS headquarters office in Abuja for asking their followers to embrace self defence. This is my warning to these so called constituted authorities, if they don't desist from protecting one of the world ranked deadliest group called Fulani herdsmen at the expense of innocent public, their government will fall like pack of cards. No matter how they try to manage this nation, they will keep failing from one sector to the other. They are incurring the wrath of the Almighty God with their actions and inactions, therefore miserable deaths will not cease from their camp.
We are talking of human lives and one police officer called IG is busy doing arithmetic with number of causalities. May his children also be victims of Fulani herdsmen killer squad. For all sponsors, collaborators and sympathizers of this Fulani herdsmen killer squad, I wish you can repent and place human lives above cattle lives. But if you will not repent, may what happened in Agatu, Nimbo and Southern Kaduna be your homes portion speedily.

To Mr President, enough is enough, you sent fighter jet to rescue cattle from cattle rustlers but turned deaf ears to massacre of human lives. You also deemed it fit to send troop to Gambia but no troop to arrest the menace of Fulani herdsmen killer squad. It is high time you told us what you stand for and where you are standing.

To this end, I'm calling on all well meaning Nigerians to save this nation from ruins. Let us say no to the grazing bill and save the minorities and innocent farmers from oblivion.

Ifedayo Obi,
Lead Partner, Good Governance Advocates.

It is disheartening seeing our revered leaders manipulating truth on the tripod altar of ethnic, religion and political sentiments. This was my reflection on sudden response of the Supreme head of Islam Council of Nigeria who also double as Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar to recent self defence statements made by some preachers.

While I'm not in consonant with any speech that can fan embers of war or incite people against their leaders, but we should always do well to trace the arising matter to its root. Countless of innocent blood are being shedding by Fulani herdsmen killer squad without knowing when it will stop. In Kano, a woman was butchered by the jihadists and another woman was slaughtered in Abuja for preaching her faith. The perpetrators were acquitted and Sultan of Sokoto could not find his voice on the matter.

From Agatu in Benue State to Nimbo in Enugu, now to the ongoing massacre of Southern Kaduna people, no single perpetrator has been arrested or docked and yet the Sultan of Sokoto could not find his voice. Despite, the perpetrators umbrella body coming out boldly as brain behind all these atrocities, Supreme head of Islam could not find his voice.
Do they want people to accept their lame excuse that this Fulani herdsmen killer squad is from outside Nigeria? Or do they want this narrative to be enough for people to fold their hands while their killers have field day? No, I mean capital NO, people will not continue to allow this. They will defend themselves against this murderous Jihadists since government at all levels has failed to do so.

I have called attention of this constituted authority to disastrous movement undertaking by Fulani herdsmen as far back as August 2015 and later February 2016. You can read them through the links below;
https://m.thenigerianvoice.com/news/187079/fulani-herdsmen-serial-attacks-another-unnoticed-war-boomin.html
https://m.thenigerianvoice.com/news/207352/fulani-herdsmen-serial-attacks-an-avoidable-war-looming.html

If this current government is not collaborator in this saga then why has it not arrested a Fulani herdsman. The narrative that they are foreigners is against the position of Myetti Cattle Rearers and Breeders Association of Nigeria, who always claim responsibility for herdsmen attack. The Northern Governors Forum's assertion of Mali and Senegal as origin of this Fulani herdsmen is a clear departure from herdsmen umbrella that keep tagging their attacks as reprisal for cattle slaughtered by farmers.

I put it to Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar to ask for arrest of Garba Sheu, the spokesman of Mr President for supporting blood shedding in Southern Kaduna by his misguided utterances. Garba Sheu claimed the killing in Southern Kaduna was as a result of PDP controlling the senatorial district. It would have been better for the Supreme head of Islam call for the arrest of stakeholders in Myetti Cattle Rearers and Breeders Association of Nigeria than calling religious leaders that want self defence for their followers. It will be more good to hear Sultan of Sokoto calling for the arrest of Governor Nasir El'Rufai for paying killers of his people than indirectly condemning self defence.

As for those Governors shifting post on this matter may their children and relations be slaughtered by this foreign herdsmen one day, so they can feel the pains. Likewise to those ones in the South and Middle belt carving out their lands for Fulani herdsmen to graze, may their children also be victims of Fulani herdsmen killer squad.

By tomorrow Monday, 30th January, 2017, two Christian leaders will be at DSS headquarters office in Abuja for asking their followers to embrace self defence. This is my warning to these so called constituted authorities, if they don't desist from protecting one of the world ranked deadliest group called Fulani herdsmen at the expense of innocent public, their government will fall like pack of cards. No matter how they try to manage this nation, they will keep failing from one sector to the other. They are incurring the wrath of the Almighty God with their actions and inactions, therefore miserable deaths will not cease from their camp.
We are talking of human lives and one police officer called IG is busy doing arithmetic with number of causalities. May his children also be victims of Fulani herdsmen killer squad. For all sponsors, collaborators and sympathizers of this Fulani herdsmen killer squad, I wish you can repent and place human lives above cattle lives. But if you will not repent, may what happened in Agatu, Nimbo and Southern Kaduna be your homes portion speedily.

To Mr President, enough is enough, you sent fighter jet to rescue cattle from cattle rustlers but turned deaf ears to massacre of human lives. You also deemed it fit to send troop to Gambia but no troop to arrest the menace of Fulani herdsmen killer squad. It is high time you told us what you stand for and where you are standing.

To this end, I'm calling on all well meaning Nigerians to save this nation from ruins. Let us say no to the grazing bill and save the minorities and innocent farmers from oblivion.

Ifedayo Obi,
Lead Partner, Good Governance Advocates.

It is now a crystal clear to all sane minds that President Buhari lacks what it takes to govern a complex nation like ours in this 21st century. I'm standing on his admission to abscond from his elected obligations after few weeks of his ascension to Aso Rock. I think it would have been better if he had resigned than flip flopping with our economy. If President Buhari's assertion is anything to consider, is that it shows how unprepared him and his acolytes are for business of governance. This is because his recent assertion is in consonant with his earlier agreed diminishing return on his age.

No wonder every outing on economy or politics has been with one punch or the other. At least for someone that has been pursing a singular goal for 12years to lack what it takes to manage the goal is disheartening. Since advent of democracy in 1999, President Buhari is the only person that wanted to be President and later became President. Thus he should have got many options to solve any possible event that may occur.

$30billion loan!!! This is the easiest way for an incompetent government to ply. I keep asking where are those billions they recovered from looters? What happened to N3trillion they celebrated as success through TSA?  ....More than N3 trillion has been saved by the federal government from the Treasure Single Account (TSA)..
https://www.naij.com/780004-presidency-opens-buhari-will-n3trn-saved-tsa.html 
Have they forgotten those money they found in soak away, those billions of dollars returned by looters? www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/200bn-stolen-money-stashed-in-dubai-shehu-sani/

What happened to N6trillion stole by a former Minister under immediate past administration? Where are those billions of naira returned by their ghost looters? Where are billions saved from fuel subsidy removal and ghost workers elimination?

Here is the position of BudgIT, "the 2017-2019 MTEF as provided to BudgIT through the National Assembly is incomplete as it does not include Federation targets as well as clear classification from revenue lines. It also does not include a detailed 2016 budget performance report as at Q3 2016. In terms of comprehensiveness as previously seen, this is a setback. 
We also noticed that there was not 
enough heft in the macroeconomic 
indices as expected for a medium term fiscal document".

From the above submission, this proposed loan is a voodoo economy gambling that will mortgage the future of this country. It is disheartening that this government wanted loan by all cost without proper planning. They just want loan before thinking of what to do with it which made them to publicly announce that they will resubmit the loan request. Why must they resubmit every proposed policy? From budget to loan and now to ambassadorial list.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that Nigerians have bequeathed this nation on the wrong hands. If not why this current government is always in confusion when it is been confronted with vital businesses of governance. It seems they are only good at politicking while becoming helpless when task to govern show case.

Let me categorically state here that there is nothing bad in taking loans. But when purpose for it is having k-leg and repayment parameters cannot be ascertained then we need to ask more questions. A situation where the position of Debt Management Office is at arms length with government's position on loan request is a pointer to ineptitude of President Buhari led government.

President Buhari and those governors parading themselves as custodians of our Commonwealth should look inward. They should reduce cost of governance to reflect current obtainable system. Mr President, your 5 aides on media and publicity is erroneous in time of recession. Likewise those governors having hundreds of appointees occupying spaces without portfolios should have second thought. Like Abuja like other state houses.

President Buhari, many of our innocent public are dying daily due to your government ineptitude. Let me ask you if trillions locked up in CBN as TSA is yielding interest. TSA is good but your government implementation's timing was wrong while the approach should be reconsidered as well. Let me remind you, Mr President that you were asked while campaigning how to finance your bogus promises. Your response then was that recovered loot will cater for it, you did not promise to resort to $29.9billion loan neither did you foresee the fall in oil price as a blaming tool. If not your level of depth in loot recovery is shallow, you would have learnt from Abacha's loot that is still trickling in after 18years.

As one of well meaning Nigerians, this loan request should not be granted under any guise. This is because the largest chunk of it will end up in the hands of those ignobly celebrated cankerworms in your cabinet. These are people fond of spending N80million for a Nobel Laurel birthday, N78million for N3million website, and other fantasies called projects. They are not different from other Commonwealth robbers that are still parading themselves as lovers of innocent public. It is a matter of time, God will fight for the common man.

Mr President, your $29.9billion loan is not the panacea to our current economy woes. Until you stop blame game and lame excuses your government will never amount to anything good.

Secondly, your nepotism, tribal sentiment, inter and intra religion apology, regional bigotry and ratio 97:5 are another spectra of your failing government. If you don't desist from them and become President of all, Nigeria will not move forward under you.

Thirdly, spending 95% of your government time and resources on politicking for 2019 which started from your inception into Aso Villa will continue to leave governance in disarray. 
Economy does not answer to brigandage approach but it respects sound and applicable policies. So stop militarizing our economy.

Lastly, we need an inclusive government where all Nigerians are equally participating. Until we agreed that Nigeria is a nation where tribes and religions are not under threat, our unity will remain on patching mode.

Dear President, you need to think on these factors serving as barricade to a sane government. However, if they are tall order then you should call it a day and quit Aso Villa. No nation becomes great in disunity, apprehension, fears, injustice and official murdering from security apparatus.

Ifedayo Obi
Lead Partner, Good Governance Advocates.

The template used in Ondo will resurface in 2019 if Buhari decides to run for 2nd term. This template has been tested and trusted, welcome to one Nigeria, one party and one polar hegemony. Nigerians are in for a long ride of militocracy. There were many of Victor Olambitan that Ghana-must-go thumb printed ballot papers without been caught.

Acephalous Aso rock and Nemesis of Nepotism.

I was listening to President Buhari's response to activities of the cabal in Aso Rock headed by Mamman Daura at Osasu show,  I cannot but advice President Buhari to take stocks of happenings in Aso Rock in order to come with terms. Except Mr President want Nigerians to believe that all misruling under his watch got his approvals.

Dear President you are not in charge, your wife has made it opened and secretary to government of federation has attested to be one of them. It is evident that the time you are spending to patch your health in Aso Rock and outside Nigeria is denying you some avenues to address issues of governance. Whenever you are indisposed, somebody is acting for you unofficially.

If you are truly in charge, 2016 budget would not have been messed up, stolen, replaced by your aides on NASS matters and padded by rats has alleged by Professor Olaleye, the honorable minister of health.  If truly you are in charge, Abba Kyari, your Chief of Staff won't have been on the board of NNPC. Your plagiarised speech on change begins with me won't have been written and approved by your nephew.

If you are in charge, you would have been listening to 12 lawyers in your cabinet to avoid abuse of rule of law and misconstrued of constitution on Zarkazy and Co. 
If you are in charge Amaechi surrogates(Semanantri and Dakuku) won't have occupied NIMASA and NDDC. If you are in charge, Buratai, Danbamzzau, Kyari, Amaechi and Adebayo Shittu would have been relieved of their jobs by now. Remember Stella Odua, Bat Nanji, and Phillip Odimegwu of Jonathan's cabinet.
Adebayo Shittu won't have collected NCC fine from MTN, Buratai's savings won't have saved his multi billion property in Dubai.

If you are in charge, Fulani herdsmen killer squad that is holding sway won't have been tagged as foreigners. If you are in charge, religious right of shittes wouldn't have been jeopardized by sitting governors. If you are truly in charge, DSS won't have been on operation sting on judiciary.

My dear President, what nepotism will cost your government will soon be more threatening and unbearable for our nascent democracy. You cannot put your brother from Daura as head of a sensitive agency like DSS and expect professional ethics. They will go any length to satisfy your body language at detriment of your government. Also, this apply to all fronts you have coated with nepotism. To be candid, your government is fantastically nepotistic and this is resulting to dictatorship and tyrannical misdemeanor.

My candid advice is that it is better now than never to retrace your government steps to avoid political and socioeconomic hurricanes that can turn Nigerians against you.

Nigeria, I hail thee.

Ifedayo Obi,

Lead Partner, Good Governance Advocates.
He tweets @IfedayoObi

Happy birthday, Barcanista

Since inception of this current government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, it has been demonstration of craziness instead of democracy. While many thought President Buhari would have repented as an ex-coupist and put on AGBADA that will accommodate all irrespective of our tongues, regions, and beliefs. But it was late for his supporters to believe that no matter how you rebranded a man; a leopard cannot change its spot.

To be candid, we don’t need a soothsayer or a rocket scientist to show us where our democracy is going. From nepotism to dictatorship, dumping of rule of law to bin of history, ember of ethnic chauvinism to religious bigotry, fantasies to rising social inequality, in fact the list is endless.

Our democracy has degenerated to the point that outsiders are now taking us to the cleaner. But to my greatest surprise, there are still people including grandfathers that are bent to portray to the whole world that all is well with Nigeria.

If this regime of change should continue at this pace, 2019 might be a one party affair without any alternative for the innocent public. The congressman of USA, Marino has said it all and it is evident to all. http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/09/04/fg-says-us-congressmans-comment-on-buhari-out-of-tune-with-reality/ .

Minister of Image defence, Alhaji Lai Mohammed should save us some time and stop calling black white. It is not all Nigerians that are under political spells of APC. The spells have bewitched many elites, innocent public and brain drained youth that are going to any length to defend and sing praises of their demi-god.

Considering our diversity and sensitivity to the same course, a democratic government without inclusion is tantamount to annihilation of other components. A situation where Mr. President can only trust his kinsmen and belief’s family tree cannot work in a nation like Nigeria. This government is adding insult to injuries of this nation that is united in fragility through all her actions and inactions across all sectors.

The pointers are clear to all including the most gullible and political illiterates, it is nepotism to put your family members in sensitive position. As at the last time I checked, about 12 close relatives (in-laws, cousins, nephews and nieces) of Mr. President are ditching out commands in his government. It is nepotism of the highest level for him to put his hometown brother as head DSS. There is nothing to call it than nepotism for Chief of Staff to be on the board of NNPC. Many thanks to core Northerners, that came out to condemn this on several occasions. This style of democracy does not fit our current fragile unity.

Another pointer is disobedience to rule of law which Mr. President sworn to uphold, you cannot be the judge, the prosecutor and the accuser at the same time. According to Coretta Scott King, “Freedom and justice cannot be parcelled out in pieces to suit political convenience. I don’t believe you can stand for freedom for group of people and deny it to others.” So it is a precarious situation in a democratic government for a police officer to be throwing thrash to our entire judicial system just because he is bossing over EFCC and nobody has called him to order.

It is wrong for EFCC and her paymaster to be shielding their political friends and families from prosecution despite all evidences. When I heard EFCC will start probing Ex-Governors without Fashola, Amaechi, Fayemi, Ngige, George Akume, and Tinubu on the list, I called it another melodrama. Apart from EFCC, there are other agencies that are carrying out their roles outside the rule of law without any check from their paymasters. Mahmoud Abbas once said "we cannot build foundations of a state without rule of law". It is wrong to be fighting impunity with impunity.

Ethnic chauvinism and religious bigotry are other pointers that are our democracy is under a serious threat. We have no record of arrested and prosecuted Fulani Herdsmen that have changed to blood sucking militias by any of our security outfits yet a man that named his pet was detained and brought before a law court within 7days. We have heard our Airforce fighter jet rescued 55 cows from rustlers likewise security outfits are busy arresting cattle rustlers on weekly basis.

I ask you all to determine who is posing more dangers between Fulani Herdsmen Killer squad and pet’s owner. It is highly insensitive on the part of a government saddled with responsibility to protect lives and property to allow animal grazing to be taken citizens’ lives unabated. I think Ugwuanyi of Enugu should be relieved of his position for failing to protect his people. If it is not an attempt to fan ember of ethnic attrition then what is it?

Same government that allocated N90billion for grazing reserves is asking farmers to pay security apparatus for protection. On the part of religious bigotry, killing other citizens for not practicing same faith has become alarming and yet our government of change has not deemed it fit to arrest and prosecutes any perpetrators. It has always ended at the point of arrest.

I keep wondering if President Buhari is still using Nigerian Constitution to govern; human lives should be more than a mere press release for condemning all these monstrous crimes. Dear President Buhari, you are President and father of all citizens irrespective of their tongues and faiths, please don’t be the last President of Nigeria if God has not destined you to be so.

Now to the Inconclusive National Electoral Commission that prophesied inconclusive elections for 2019, if this is a predetermined agenda to throw us into more political confusion then the current helmsman of INEC should be relieved of his job and APC apparatchiks should buried their heads in shame .

This is not the same INEC that conducted election that brought APC to power. It has been thousands of steps backward since APC has started conducting election. If an electoral body that cancelled elections few months ago can come back to declare ghost result, then our electoral system is sitting on gun powder.

If INEC has not deemed it fit to conduct elections for people to be represented at NASS after 15months of this 8th Assembly, I think we should ask APC what they are doing. Many have been crying that INEC is not constitutionally composed but our government is not seen anything bad about it until eleventh hour. Election is a process and not just for voting and results; let us improve on where we stopped at 2015 general election.

To sum it up here, what Mr. Tom Marino of USA said is a whole true picture of our democracy under 15months of APC and my able President Buhari. Many of us have been painting the same picture since day one of this government but they are turning blind eyes to it. Instead of looking inward to retrace their steps, they are tagging us with unpleasant names. To make it worse for them are sycophants and praise singers that are taking briefs for them at all costs. It is better to address all these now before they become irredeemable.

If our leaders want a better democracy, then they should eschew draconic, dictatorial and political intolerance style of government. Let me quickly add this, no emergency power for economy reform should be granted to the Mr. President as those little ones we bequeathed to him are under threat and abuse. In the words of Albert Einstein, "whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters".

Once again to the highly political illiterates and sycophants that have dominated political space on social media, you should not be more patriotic to your party or demigod than to your nation, it is either they have hijacked presidency from President Buhari or he is not in touch with consequences of the ongoing antidemocratic wind blowing over his government. The law of cause and effect will soon be evident to all. Before APC and PDP there is a nation called NIGERIA and after President Buhari’s reign there might still be a united NIGERIA.

Ifedayo Obi,
(Lead Partner, Good Governance Advocates) He tweet through @IfedayoObi

IBRAHIM MAGU: ANOTHER STUDENT OF HISTORY ON THE FAILING PATH

The current EFCC helmsman, Ibrahim Magu has become popular in the anticorruption war. But may I shock you that this young man has failed to understand that integrity, impartiality and, sincerity are the major tools in winning the war against corruption.
Aliens to Nigerian politicians, as well as their counterparts in some other African countries, are these attributes, and therefore it is cumbersome for any government to win this anticorruption battle.

This is not far from the fact as 95% of their campaign funds are usually from the public treasury. So how can a man supported and promoted by commonwealth robbers to attain the highest political office in the land, fight corruption appropriately if we are not chasing shadow?

To be candid, Magu is trending the same path with the first Chairman of EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu. Ribadu was used by the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo to castrate his political enemies under the disguise of anti-graft war. The records are there for all to see. Here is the testimony of Nuhu Ribadu after his tenure: “there are worse people than James Ibori in Nigeria. I think probably, James was not the smartest one among them. There are some crooks worse than James, I still see them. Some of them are even been celebrated right now in the country".[b][/b] http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/144636-thieves-worse-ibori-walking-free-nigeria-nuhu-ribadu-2.html

Let me intimate you with recent assertion of the founder of EFCC, Olusegun Obasanjo, “EFCC is a toothless bulldog…” [/i]http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/efcc-is-a-toothless-bulldog-obasanjo/

Without mincing words, the above assertions have said it all. Ribadu was only partially better than Magu in his time as the former was fighting within his principal’s party while the latter is persecuting majorly political opponents on other side. I will advise Magu to ask Ribadu why he fled Nigeria at the inception of Musa Yar’adua.

What Magu and his praise singers are failing to understand is that every regime has an expiry date and no principal can rule forever. All injustice and impartiality shall be revisited and there will not be room to accommodate the piper. If fighting corruption is by playing tunes of the man paying the piper, then time will tell.

Please don’t misconstrue my view, we must get rid of corruption but not the way we are going about it. Institutions must be independent, holistic and professional in their approaches. A situation where any perceived political enemy is guilty and incarcerated before trial is not a serious fight. According to Coretta Scott King that, “Freedom and justice cannot be parceled out in pieces to suit political convenience. I don’t believe you can stand for freedom for group of people and deny it to others.”

Therefore, Magu should retrace his steps and find out how the institution under him can be relieved of interference from her paymaster. If you are facing ex-governors, face all, if it is the campaign funds, face all political parties and stop being a crusader of character assassination.

I will leave Magu to his conscience with these words of elders; Jonathan Sack says [b[i]]"true freedom requires the rule of law and justice, and a judicial system in which the rights of some are not secured by denial of rights to others".[/b] While Malcolm X says, "you are not to be so blind with patriotism, that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it"


Ifedayo Obi,
(Lead Partner, Good Governance Advocates)
You can follow the author on twitter @IfedayoObi

BUDGET 2016 HULLABALOO: ONE WRONG TOO MANY

Without any iota of doubt, it is now clear to all that the current government that prides itself with integrity is not worthy to bequeath our commonwealth. They have been failing on all fronts, to the extent that their sympathizers are finding it hard to defend them daily. If there is anything not to toil with in governance, it is the national budget.

This current led government by President Buhari has demonstrated its ineptitude in handling the national budget and those criticizing the members of the House of Representatives on the current melodrama about the 2016 Budget should look inward and take a deep breath. This is not to side the legislators neither do I intend to absolve them, for there is little or no difference among Nigerian politicians regardless of their parties.
Even though many had castigated NASS for all the evils surrounding the 2016 budget, it will be wrong to shift the blame on the legislators without considering the executives that started the process on a wrong note. According to a Yoruba saying, a load carrier that was being blamed of a tilted load has directed his accusers to consider his bent legs.

This was a government that presented a national budget, only to later steal, sneak in another version to NASS and deny the allegations. It will be never too late to remind them how they sneaked projects (for instance, Lagos-Calabar rail) into the budget while undergoing defence before the same NASS they are accusing of padding. I will like to relay to you from the start, the tale of this whole avoidable national shameful outing of a government that rode to power on the back of transparency.

Our calls for a reliable budget were ignored and in contrary, they presented a zero-based budget of N6.08trillion that was characterized with the addition of many zeros to irrelevant items and repetition of many white elephant projects. It was the worst fiscal outing in the history of this nation and after critically scrutinizing the 2016 budget, I discovered that about N1.58trillion of the budget should be deleted and we should stick to N4.5trillion. This is to avoid overburden from deficit and debt servicing that can mortgage our future with frivolous spending that will not amount to growth and development.

The budget was padded with items not initially proposed. In fact, this singular act gave room to pad the budget from all sides by the executive and NASS. If there is any strong impeachable offence by President Buhari, it was the 2016 Budget mishandling from its presentation to the inclusion of projects that was supposed to be under the supplementary budget.
Today, we are having the first ever 3 versions of a national budget under a government of change!
Now to Abdulmumin Jibrin that is blowing hot and cold over the padded budget, I will say this young man is playing an ostrich game and should not been taken serious. His lately holier-than-thou can only take us more backward. According to Niccolo Machiavelli, ‘Politics have no relation to morals’. If not, how can the same man that admonished the President to assent the budget without details suddenly woke up from the slumber of integrity to tell us the same budget was padded.

There is I think, something synonymous to Kano State legislators; Salisu Buhari, Farouk Lawan and now Jubrin. If this man's attempt is to act the script of those cabals that want the gavel of National Assembly to sound from their bedroom at all cost, then he should help look for another banana peel, not the 2016 budget that its CAPEX is at 18% of implementation.
Please note here again, that I do not support Dogara and his cohorts. However, telling the whole world that the APC government of CHANGE is implementing a padded budget will paint us completely black. As Plato, a Greek Philosopher once said, “in politics we presume that everyone who knows how to get votes knows how to administer a city or a state. When we are ill..., we do not ask for handsomest physician or the most eloquent one".

With all sincerity, I pity the APC led government for only knowing how to get votes but deficiently deficient in all credentials meant to govern a nation.
Yes, many will say it is too late to cry over spilled milk as 2016 is just about four months left, but we need to prevent this national embarrassment from reoccurring as the 2017 budget preparation is around the corner.

As for well meaning Nigerians, let us save Nigeria from the ineptitude of this current government and stop being distracted by their politicking.


Ifedayo Obi,
(Lead Partner, Good Governance Advocates)
You can follow the author on twitter @IfedayoObi

When I heard that Federal government will be arraigning the Senate President, his deputy and clerk of NASS for alleged forgery of Standing rules used to inaugurate the 8th National Assembly, I got laughing.

I keep wondering if Buhari and his co-travellers in APC were day dreaming when they sent Ministerial list to NASS for screening and approval. Were they short of memory for sending 2016 Budget to same NASS?

If NASS was forged then Buhari's government must be reconstituted and 2016 Budget will be null and void. Also, all bills orchestrated by Federal government should be repealed and a new NASS should use Standing rules of APC for another Senate.

It is a pity that this current government is delighting in insulting our collective intelligence at will. If not they should have faced realities at common man's market and stop demonstrating their political crass inexperience.

I put it to all sycophants hailing this current trial, that where is the original Standing Rules for the 8th Assembly if the current one is fake? What will the innocent public benefit from this alleged forgery if eventually the leadership changes? How can this bring down the prices of basic commodities?

It is high time we started telling them to stop playing politics in the name of distracting us from the reality of our economy. This current trial is clear to all that Buhari and some APC cabals are bent to leave governance for political fight at any given opportunity.

Bukola Saraki is not different from any of these apostles of change. Nigerians are tired of political comedy they want positive changes.

Ifedayo Obi,

Good Governance Advocates
goodgovernanceadv@gmail.com

SINS OF PDP, THE SINNERS AND THE PRIEST.

If you want to deceive a gullible leader just tell him that his failure to deliver is as a result of the ineffectiveness and incompetence of his predecessors.

It is the height of insensitivity to see individuals who camouflage as statesmen to be blasting stale stories into our ears over and over again. According to Niccolo Machiavelli, "Politics have no relation to morals", if not, they should not have been found anywhere near our politicosphere. Earlier, we had corrected them in our article tagged "16 YEARS OF PDP MESS: ANOTHER FILMSY RANTING FROM HALLUCINATIONS" But these individuals seem bent on covering their ineptitude and failures with this "blame anthem."

Some simple questions begging for answers are as follows; who are the sinners? and where are the SINNERS? Since they have appointed themselves as Priests for political atonements, they should also deem it fit to answer the questions raised above.

Going by their assertions, the SINNERS are Olusegun Obasanjo, Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Tambuwal, Aminu Masari, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, George Akume, Segun Oni, Patricia Etteh, Chris Ngige, Audu Ogbeh, Bukola Saraki, Ahmed Abdulfatai, Samuel Ortom, Aliyu Wammako, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Muritala Nyako, Barnabas Gemade, Farouk Lawan, Kawu Baraje, in fact the list is endless. 

The above named are formidable Shepherds and Bishops in same congregation with the self acclaimed political saints. They are makers of APC and without them, the APC would still be a pipe dream political party.  

Why should Nigerians be paying for sins of these people after they have become political saints by moving to APC.

It will be too late for history to forget how TINUBU postrated before OYINLOLA and promised him Ministerial appointment, all in the quest of the latter to support AREGBESOLA's bid for re-election as governor of Osun State in 2014. Today, Aregbesola is a living testimony of mis-governace, and according to Remi Oyeyemi, "the man is messing up Osun State to the best of his ability".

History will never delete records of trips that TINUBU made to Obasanjo Hilltop, in Abeokuta to ask for advice, support and blessings of Ebora Owu in the enthronement of BUHARI as APC flag bearer and later President of our nation. Were Tinubu and his co-travellers in APC hallucinating or day dreaming when they were welcoming and conducting atonement for these people in their fold? Have they forgotten how they turned APC to Aggrieved Politicians Congress? Were they blinded when same people were footing APC bills?

Tinubu and his acolytes should save us from all these lamentations and put on their thinking caps for the governed to smile. They should know by now that; not all Nigerians are gullible and not all Nigerians are under the spell of their brooms. What the innocent public are concerned about is how to stop spending their productive time in filling stations with their cars and generating plants. They want their purchasing powers that have been decimated by the astronomical prices of essential commodities to jack back to life. They want solutions to their sufferings compounded by 10months of wrong policies and blame games. In the world of blame gaming, nobody wins prizes, enough is enough.

Tinubu should advise his enthroned king to decimate his 4 aides on media and propaganda when no single adviser for economy has been appointed. He should direct his energy to save our slim foreign reserves by telling Buhari to stop globe-trotting. What exactly should we expect when a Minister of Petroleum is always on the sky. Buhari has made 25 trips in 10months spending our scarce dollars while the world President, Barrack Obama has made just 45trips in 7years. Also, Tinubu should advise his party on how CBN policies can stop undermining our earnings from Customs Service, about N230bn was just recorded as shortfall. They should stop playing politics and start governance.

If it was under Jonathan that Nigerians are queueing to buy fuel at N300 per litre when the oil price is $40 per barrel, APC and so called Statesmen would have produced dictionary of reasons Nigeria is under bad leadership. Let us remind them this, that you can get an 'A' in Election Calculus does not mean you will know how to govern a city.

We will conclude with Proverbs 24:21-22 "My SON, fear thou the LORD and the king: and MEDDLE not with them that are given to CHANGE. For their CALAMITY shall rise SUDDENLY..."(KJV)

Nigerians have meddled with change agents but God will have mercy on us and deliver us speedily.


Ifedayo Obi,

(A member of Shadow Cabinet of Nigeria and Lead Partner of Good Governance Advocates)
@IfedayoObi

AYODELE FAYOSE VS AYODELE DADA: IT IS BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

This is to draw attention of Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose to a colossal neglect of an academic excellence icon called Daniel Dada Ayodele by his administration. A Nigerian Daniel with an excellent spirit from Ekiti State recently made our nation proud by graduating with a CGPA of 5.0 from Department of Psychology, University of Lagos.

If Mr President is turning blind eyes in celebrating this record breaker and maker of academia, Mr Fayose should not do because he doesn't travel out like the former. Dada Ayodele has re-echoed to our ears that Ekiti State is truly a fountain of knowledge in Nigeria. Ekiti people and book are like fish and water as age will never limit them to study to any length. I could remember few years back when Ekiti men were Vice Chancellors of about five universities at the same period in this nation. History will not forget Sam Aluko, the great Economist, Tunde Adeniran, Oyebode of Unilag, Afe Babalola and other icons.

Just like other writers have opined on this issue, if Dada's exploit was from entertainment or sport arena, the whole nation would have spread red carpet. Social Media warriors would have dedicated weeks for different hashtags and pictures to Dada. Telecoms companies who have made him ambassador. But thanks to MTN, UNILAG Alumni and others that rewarded Dada's academic exploit. Also, thanks to the five companies that offered him jobs. Nevertheless, these accolades and prizes will be incomplete without Ekiti State Government's input.

If this great feat was made in developed nations, Dada would have become an idol and many avenues to make him grow to his full potential would have been made available. They would have outlined how they will tap into this unusual brilliant box for their countries development and growth.

However, if Mr Peter Fayose will not deem it fit to host Dada in a red carpet party and give him gift, the great men and women from Ekiti should do this in no distance time. If Mr Fayose is not ready for it, Ekiti State Students Union and National Association of Nigerian Students, Ekiti State Chapter should bring all the Kabiyesi in Ekiti State together to shower blessings on this young man of excellence.

If Mr One man-opposition could compensate political loyalist with a car gift, Hon Gbenga Akanni who suffered ordeal in the hand of DauraSS then Dada deserves better for this great feat.

Yoruba will say your daughter cannot have a wide waist and you will put beads on waist of another man's daughter.
Dada has made Ekiti, Nigeria, and the whole black race proud.
Ayodele Fayose should reward Daniel Dada Ayodele. It is better late than never.


Ifedayo Obi,
(Lead Partner of Good Governance Advocates) You can follow me on twitter @IfedayoObi

AFTERMATH OF MARCH 28, 2015

Starting with the postulate of Plato, a Greek Philosopher that “in politics we presume that everyone who knows how to get votes knows how to administer a city or a state. When we are ill..., we do not ask for handsomest physician or the most eloquent one".

Without mincing words, Plato's position is what Nigerians and Nigeria are experiencing currently.
The journey to 28th March, 2015 was historic and significance to our democracy as a nation. It was an event that many prophets of doom became political shepherds. It was a national episode that put the Country before the screens of the world with great fears of unknown. Even our big brothers from white lands gave up on possibilities of our unity as a nation.

Eventually an opposition party that pride herself with CHANGE MANTRA became the ruling party with the help of an incumbent President that placed his nation above his ambition.

Exactly one year today, the stocks are numerous. With many asking why they made such a decision for a Septuagenarian, a repented coup plotter, a born again politician from the lion tribe of Military, a true son of born-to-rule kingdom to become President through ballot box. It seems they were quick to forget history, Buhari had said it during grand finale of CPC campaign in 2011 that he will not contest again after 2011. So those who sold him as a political brand to save Nigeria were aware of this. Buhari has withdrawn his expertise to govern Nigerians since then. If you see him not performing don't blame him but blame those who allowing history to repeat itself.

From His inauguration till date, it has been blame games and excuses at every fraction of second. For a serious government, 30th March to 29th May was an ample opportunity to align manifestos and promises to suit governance. But their unpreparedness to govern a nation has brought them shame.

Nepotism is booming like tornadoes, as kinsmen are now the only trusted and capable hands to occupy public offices. It is Nepotism that turned DSS to DauraSS. Without any prejudice, Akwa-Ibom and Ekiti Invasions were products of this.
For an author from Tinubu's media dog to put Buhari as a man Nigerians should trust their money with but not their lives indicates that rule of law and constitution will become history in no distance time. A nation where the alleged is pronounced guilty in the court of public opinion before trial according to Chief Dele Momodu cannot be a save haven.

For the first time in our history, a national budget was stolen, denied, padded and disowned by same presenters. This just passed budget 2016 was nothing but mantra of wastes and profligacy. How sincere is our President's crusade of prudence, when allocation for presidency is N39bn against N25bn in 2015. What is the essence of having 4 advisers on Media and propaganda when no single one for economy.

It seems Nigerians are hypocrites, if not protest of all kinds should have been organised against the perpetual fuel scarcity as government approved its extension for another two months.

Our decision for change has made INEC to become Inconclusive National Electoral Commission, power supply to become worse, inflation to be double digits, Stamp duty to be purse taskmaster, President to be on foreign missions, democracy to be dictocracy, parallel market to be king, policies to be somersaulted (rice importation), media trials above law court, herdsmen to be lawful killers and invaders, Minister to be Commander in Chief for a Rerun election, elections to be war zones, State of Confluence to be Confluence of Confusion, manifestos to be untrue, promises to be denied and statements made in English to be translated in English.

Just as Franklin P. Adams put it “the trouble with this country is that there are too many politicians who believe with a conviction based on experience, that you can fool all of the people all of the time”. If not migration from PDP to APC would not have been tagged as change. The current government has turned governance to season films. When Nigerians are trying to recover from one lie another melodrama will surface, all in the quest of distracting them from incompetence of their leaders.

I will advise the APC led government to desist from propaganda, cosmetic governance, blame games and excuses of incompetence. A true leader accepts responsibility as it comes without excuses and blames. While Lies can thrive during campaign they are not sustainable in governance.

Let politicking be reduced for governance to thrive, election was held a year ago. This wind of change that is blowing against the hope of masses should stop now.


Ifedayo Obi,

(A member of Shadow Cabinet of Nigeria and Lead Partner of Good Governance Advocates)
You can follow me on twitter @IfedayoObi

YAKUBU MAHMUD: IT IS TIME TO BOW OUT.

Considering the feats recorded by INEC under the leadership of Professor Attahiru Jega, Nigerians are expecting days that elections will be without litigation. But it seems Jega's legacy left INEC with him. Jega enjoyed independence as leader of INEC with support of the former President Jonathan who refused to interfere.

Surprisingly, INEC under this current dispensation of CHANGE has become a serious concern for all lovers of democracy. Its outings under Prof Yakubu has been inconclusive back-to-back with many wondering what has bedevilled INEC for such poor performances.

We don't need any rocket scientist to discern the root cause of these happenings, the political intolerance of government that pride itself with CHANGE MANTRA is the cog in the wheel of our electoral system. Except the President want to pretend is not aware of his party infiltration and interference with INEC. What happened in Kogi that turned it to Confluence of Confusion has no place in the constitution. For a living man to inherit a dead man's votes and later became Governor without a Deputy is a SHAM.

It took INEC about 40days to conclude governorship election in Bayelsa of just 8LGAs. Apart from conducting rerun twice in Rivers State, INEC has turned out to be JAMB and WAEC that usually withhold results.

Surprisingly, INEC is now a law unto itself as many rerun elections are now beyond electoral acts stipulated schedules dates.

Continuing with INEC in this manner will not be different from sleeping under a burning roof. It is high time Buhari and his co-travellers stopped desecrating established institutions on the altar of politics. In his(Buhari) word at the last NEC meeting of his party, APC, he is only ready to do things lawfully by the next general election without considering Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Osun and Ekiti guber polls that will come earlier than 2019.

As for Professor Yakubu Mahmud, it is better to quit now than later. Evidences have shown that he is malleable and only ready to support his paymaster.

INEC! INEC!! INEC!!! why taking hundred steps backward? If the last presidential election had been declared inconclusive would there have been a Buhari as President?

Please let us save our nation from ineptitude and winner-take-it-all attitude of the current ruling party by always asking them to do things within the ambit of law.

Happy Easter to you all.


Ifedayo Obi,
(A member of Shadow Cabinet of Nigeria and Pioneer of Good Governance Advocates)
@ShadowCabinetNG, @IfedayoObi

YAKUBU MAHMUD: IT IS TIME TO BOW OUT.

Considering the feats recorded by INEC under the leadership of Professor Attahiru Jega, Nigerians are expecting days that elections will be without litigation. But it seems Jega's legacy left INEC with him. Jega enjoyed independence as leader of INEC with support of the former President Jonathan who refused to interfere.

Surprisingly, INEC under this current dispensation of CHANGE has become a serious concern for all lovers of democracy. Its outings under Prof Yakubu has been inconclusive back-to-back with many wondering what has bedevilled INEC for such poor performances.

We don't need any rocket scientist to discern the root cause of these happenings, the political intolerance of government that pride itself with CHANGE MANTRA is the cog in the wheel of our electoral system. Except the President want to pretend is not aware of his party infiltration and interference with INEC. What happened in Kogi that turned it to Confluence of Confusion has no place in the constitution. For a living man to inherit a dead man's votes and later became Governor without a Deputy is a SHAM.

It took INEC about 40days to conclude governorship election in Bayelsa of just 8LGAs. Apart from conducting rerun twice in Rivers State, INEC has turned out to be JAMB and WAEC that usually withhold results.

Surprisingly, INEC is now a law unto itself as many rerun elections are now beyond electoral acts stipulated schedules dates.

Continuing with INEC in this manner will not be different from sleeping under a burning roof. It is high time Buhari and his co-travellers stopped desecrating established institutions on the altar of politics. In his(Buhari) word at the last NEC meeting of his party, APC, he is only ready to do things lawfully by the next general election without considering Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Osun and Ekiti guber polls that will come earlier than 2019.

As for Professor Yakubu Mahmud, it is better to quit now than later. Evidences have shown that he is malleable and only ready to support his paymaster.

INEC! INEC!! INEC!!! why taking hundred steps backward? If the last presidential election had been declared inconclusive would there have been a Buhari as President?

Please let us save our nation from ineptitude and winner-take-it-all attitude of the current ruling party by always asking them to do things within the ambit of law.

Happy Easter to you all.


Ifedayo Obi,
(A member of Shadow Cabinet of Nigeria and Pioneer of Good Governance Advocates)
@ShadowCabinetNG, @IfedayoObi