BUHARI'S ANTI-GRAFT WAR: A POT CALLING KETTLE BLACK

“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.” Coretta Scott King

With the ripples of probing hurricanes circulating in our political space, many are getting out of their patience thick blankets on when the true war will begin. While the tempo to tame the monster called corruption is being heightened by the President with support from the masses, some events that turned out in the last two weeks are causing obfuscation in the polity.

Firstly, the visit of two ex-presidents to Aso villa rolled in thoughts that could endanger the fight against corruption. It was reported that Goodluck Jonathan went to beg and Obasanjo went to affirm indictment of the former.

The second event was National Peace Committee visit's communiqué released by Bishop Mathew Hassan Kuka. It was later cleared that these
respected elder statesmen were not absolutely in consonant with yearning of a common man. Their stand on Buhari to fight corruption within the ambit of law is commendable and anything short of it will be injustice and unpatriotic. However, we should not turn blind eyes
to evil in the name of soft landing. So it is only a man without heart that will not want our looted collective patrimony to be recovered.

Our major concern on this war is noise making by some self sanctimonious set of people that are becoming holier than Pope.
According to Baltasar Gracian that a single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity, so releasing contradictory looted figures day and night might portend setback to this quest. Also, APC should stop acting like opposition and put on the garment of a ruling party. They should put up synergy with President' s posture on this crusade instead of creating sensational opprobrium.

In this quest, Buhari should be consistent and firm as a Chief Crusader because his words and deeds so far are parting. It could be recalled that he said during and after election campaign the
following, "...if we don't kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria..."

When it was perceived that the cabals could not lend him support he turned to "...I will start the fight from day one of my government so
people have nothing to fear as there won't be time to meddle into past book..."
After he made this statement, the cabals joined hands with him and some heartless government officials went on looting. Buhari later reaffirmed this stand, by saying the past is prologue...

But suddenly he turned the stick and said he cannot overlook the past atrocities and that caught many unaware. When the 16 years of PDP mess was gushing out from him and his co-travellers, many political spectators put their weights behind him to see the end of endemic cankerworm that has eaten our nation deep.

Surprisingly, when it was perceived that some gods and goddesses will be affected, the tune changed to '...probing course will be for
immediate past government as that is only available book at hand...'. This made some sections to cry and it was later turned to '...we are starting from immediate past regime...'. Even if many want to be hoodwinked, some of us will not. There were ready made reports to
access without stress, power probe, fuel subsidy scam and so on.

Beside inconsistency, Buhari should not forget that he was the only person that took loan to purchase form in his party, 90% of others who
bank rolled his campaign did that through their ill gotten wealth from national treasury. Just to mention a few, the man who purchased Jet
that was used for the campaign cannot boast he got that from his sweat. While those governors who took N50b bond and $600m loan for
their States last year cannot deny what they used it for. Hence, for APC to be looking for evidence to prosecute their helmsmen will remain an erroneous belief to concerned citizens. May be they are quick to forget one of their stalwarts that said "... You have stoned nobody; that is why we are stealing.........”.

According to Albert Einstein, whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters. As long as Buhari's in-law remained at helms of affairs of INEC, many people will not take him serious about anti-graft crusade. Buhari should also consider his household indictment in Haliburton scandal and recover those billions squandered under his watch as PTF chairman. Another small matter where we are expecting our President to dislodge his opponents is public declaration of assets that has been misconstrued and mismanaged by his aides.

Furthermore, if not for this clime, Obasanjo has no moral stand to wear white robe on the altar of corruption. A man who fathered do or die politics, squandered $16b meant for power sector and single-handedly anchor Petroleum Ministry for 8years should not be reference for integrity. In fact, Buhari should be weary of St. Mathew Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo as he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

In same vein, photoshopping governance and media propaganda should not be allowed to derail our collective efforts in this quest if we don't want to turn to laughable stock among comity of nations. For instance, APC promised video version for Ekiti gate is yet to be released let alone present before a court.

On a final note, if we don't want to play to gallery we must consider these cardinals to marshal this war for us to win. Foremost, we should recover these loots and bring the perpetrators into book within the ambit of law irrespective of side of divides they belong to.

Secondly, we need law that will mandate all stolen fund to be returned in its fullest instead of N0.5m for N7b. Likewise our priests in the
temple of justice should stop tagging stealing as money laundering. The latter gives just 2years to 14years of the former.

Lastly, we should have proper planning on how to expend the recovered loots so as to avoid previous scenarios and mechanisms to block
leakages should be put in place.


"The political process does not end on election day. Young people need to stay involved in the process by continuing to pay attention to the
conversation and holding their leaders accountable for decisions they make.".
Patrick Murphy


Ifedayo Obi

Good Governance Advocates[i]BUHARI'S ANTI-GRAFT WAR: A POT CALLING KETTLE BLACK

“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.” Coretta Scott King

With the ripples of probing hurricanes circulating in our political space, many are getting out of their patience thick blankets on when the true war will begin. While the tempo to tame the monster called corruption is being heightened by the President with support from the masses, some events that turned out in the last two weeks are causing obfuscation in the polity.

Firstly, the visit of two ex-presidents to Aso villa rolled in thoughts that could endanger the fight against corruption. It was reported that Goodluck Jonathan went to beg and Obasanjo went to affirm indictment of the former.

The second event was National Peace Committee visit's communiqué released by Bishop Mathew Hassan Kuka. It was later cleared that these
respected elder statesmen were not absolutely in consonant with yearning of a common man. Their stand on Buhari to fight corruption within the ambit of law is commendable and anything short of it will be injustice and unpatriotic. However, we should not turn blind eyes
to evil in the name of soft landing. So it is only a man without heart that will not want our looted collective patrimony to be recovered.

Our major concern on this war is noise making by some self sanctimonious set of people that are becoming holier than Pope.
According to Baltasar Gracian that a single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity, so releasing contradictory looted figures day and night might portend setback to this quest. Also, APC should stop acting like opposition and put on the garment of a ruling party. They should put up synergy with President' s posture on this crusade instead of creating sensational opprobrium.

In this quest, Buhari should be consistent and firm as a Chief Crusader because his words and deeds so far are parting. It could be recalled that he said during and after election campaign the
following, "...if we don't kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria..."

When it was perceived that the cabals could not lend him support he turned to "...I will start the fight from day one of my government so
people have nothing to fear as there won't be time to meddle into past book..."
After he made this statement, the cabals joined hands with him and some heartless government officials went on looting. Buhari later reaffirmed this stand, by saying the past is prologue...

But suddenly he turned the stick and said he cannot overlook the past atrocities and that caught many unaware. When the 16 years of PDP mess was gushing out from him and his co-travellers, many political spectators put their weights behind him to see the end of endemic cankerworm that has eaten our nation deep.

Surprisingly, when it was perceived that some gods and goddesses will be affected, the tune changed to '...probing course will be for
immediate past government as that is only available book at hand...'. This made some sections to cry and it was later turned to '...we are starting from immediate past regime...'. Even if many want to be hoodwinked, some of us will not. There were ready made reports to
access without stress, power probe, fuel subsidy scam and so on.

Beside inconsistency, Buhari should not forget that he was the only person that took loan to purchase form in his party, 90% of others who
bank rolled his campaign did that through their ill gotten wealth from national treasury. Just to mention a few, the man who purchased Jet
that was used for the campaign cannot boast he got that from his sweat. While those governors who took N50b bond and $600m loan for
their States last year cannot deny what they used it for. Hence, for APC to be looking for evidence to prosecute their helmsmen will remain an erroneous belief to concerned citizens. May be they are quick to forget one of their stalwarts that said "... You have stoned nobody; that is why we are stealing.........”.

According to Albert Einstein, whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters. As long as Buhari's in-law remained at helms of affairs of INEC, many people will not take him serious about anti-graft crusade. Buhari should also consider his household indictment in Haliburton scandal and recover those billions squandered under his watch as PTF chairman. Another small matter where we are expecting our President to dislodge his opponents is public declaration of assets that has been misconstrued and mismanaged by his aides.

Furthermore, if not for this clime, Obasanjo has no moral stand to wear white robe on the altar of corruption. A man who fathered do or die politics, squandered $16b meant for power sector and single-handedly anchor Petroleum Ministry for 8years should not be reference for integrity. In fact, Buhari should be weary of St. Mathew Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo as he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

In same vein, photoshopping governance and media propaganda should not be allowed to derail our collective efforts in this quest if we don't want to turn to laughable stock among comity of nations. For instance, APC promised video version for Ekiti gate is yet to be released let alone present before a court.

On a final note, if we don't want to play to gallery we must consider these cardinals to marshal this war for us to win. Foremost, we should recover these loots and bring the perpetrators into book within the ambit of law irrespective of side of divides they belong to.

Secondly, we need law that will mandate all stolen fund to be returned in its fullest instead of N0.5m for N7b. Likewise our priests in the
temple of justice should stop tagging stealing as money laundering. The latter gives just 2years to 14years of the former.

Lastly, we should have proper planning on how to expend the recovered loots so as to avoid previous scenarios and mechanisms to block
leakages should be put in place.


"The political process does not end on election day. Young people need to stay involved in the process by continuing to pay attention to the
conversation and holding their leaders accountable for decisions they make.".
Patrick Murphy


Ifedayo Obi

Good Governance Advocates[/i]BUHARI'S ANTI-GRAFT WAR: A POT CALLING KETTLE BLACK

“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.” Coretta Scott King

With the ripples of probing hurricanes circulating in our political space, many are getting out of their patience thick blankets on when the true war will begin. While the tempo to tame the monster called corruption is being heightened by the President with support from the masses, some events that turned out in the last two weeks are causing obfuscation in the polity.

Firstly, the visit of two ex-presidents to Aso villa rolled in thoughts that could endanger the fight against corruption. It was reported that Goodluck Jonathan went to beg and Obasanjo went to affirm indictment of the former.

The second event was National Peace Committee visit's communiqué released by Bishop Mathew Hassan Kuka. It was later cleared that these
respected elder statesmen were not absolutely in consonant with yearning of a common man. Their stand on Buhari to fight corruption within the ambit of law is commendable and anything short of it will be injustice and unpatriotic. However, we should not turn blind eyes
to evil in the name of soft landing. So it is only a man without heart that will not want our looted collective patrimony to be recovered.

Our major concern on this war is noise making by some self sanctimonious set of people that are becoming holier than Pope.
According to Baltasar Gracian that a single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity, so releasing contradictory looted figures day and night might portend setback to this quest. Also, APC should stop acting like opposition and put on the garment of a ruling party. They should put up synergy with President' s posture on this crusade instead of creating sensational opprobrium.

In this quest, Buhari should be consistent and firm as a Chief Crusader because his words and deeds so far are parting. It could be recalled that he said during and after election campaign the
following, "...if we don't kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria..."

When it was perceived that the cabals could not lend him support he turned to "...I will start the fight from day one of my government so
people have nothing to fear as there won't be time to meddle into past book..."
After he made this statement, the cabals joined hands with him and some heartless government officials went on looting. Buhari later reaffirmed this stand, by saying the past is prologue...

But suddenly he turned the stick and said he cannot overlook the past atrocities and that caught many unaware. When the 16 years of PDP mess was gushing out from him and his co-travellers, many political spectators put their weights behind him to see the end of endemic cankerworm that has eaten our nation deep.

Surprisingly, when it was perceived that some gods and goddesses will be affected, the tune changed to '...probing course will be for
immediate past government as that is only available book at hand...'. This made some sections to cry and it was later turned to '...we are starting from immediate past regime...'. Even if many want to be hoodwinked, some of us will not. There were ready made reports to
access without stress, power probe, fuel subsidy scam and so on.

Beside inconsistency, Buhari should not forget that he was the only person that took loan to purchase form in his party, 90% of others who
bank rolled his campaign did that through their ill gotten wealth from national treasury. Just to mention a few, the man who purchased Jet
that was used for the campaign cannot boast he got that from his sweat. While those governors who took N50b bond and $600m loan for
their States last year cannot deny what they used it for. Hence, for APC to be looking for evidence to prosecute their helmsmen will remain an erroneous belief to concerned citizens. May be they are quick to forget one of their stalwarts that said "... You have stoned nobody; that is why we are stealing.........”.

According to Albert Einstein, whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters. As long as Buhari's in-law remained at helms of affairs of INEC, many people will not take him serious about anti-graft crusade. Buhari should also consider his household indictment in Haliburton scandal and recover those billions squandered under his watch as PTF chairman. Another small matter where we are expecting our President to dislodge his opponents is public declaration of assets that has been misconstrued and mismanaged by his aides.

Furthermore, if not for this clime, Obasanjo has no moral stand to wear white robe on the altar of corruption. A man who fathered do or die politics, squandered $16b meant for power sector and single-handedly anchor Petroleum Ministry for 8years should not be reference for integrity. In fact, Buhari should be weary of St. Mathew Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo as he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

In same vein, photoshopping governance and media propaganda should not be allowed to derail our collective efforts in this quest if we don't want to turn to laughable stock among comity of nations. For instance, APC promised video version for Ekiti gate is yet to be released let alone present before a court.

On a final note, if we don't want to play to gallery we must consider these cardinals to marshal this war for us to win. Foremost, we should recover these loots and bring the perpetrators into book within the ambit of law irrespective of side of divides they belong to.

Secondly, we need law that will mandate all stolen fund to be returned in its fullest instead of N0.5m for N7b. Likewise our priests in the
temple of justice should stop tagging stealing as money laundering. The latter gives just 2years to 14years of the former.

Lastly, we should have proper planning on how to expend the recovered loots so as to avoid previous scenarios and mechanisms to block
leakages should be put in place.


"The political process does not end on election day. Young people need to stay involved in the process by continuing to pay attention to the
conversation and holding their leaders accountable for decisions they make.".
Patrick Murphy


Ifedayo Obi

Good Governance Advocates

BUHARI'S IMAGE CONTROL SYSTEM.

It will be very difficult for anyone to turn blind eyes to defensive template of our President's image makers. In fact, with the threshold they are going we might end up having a book on their incongruous stands on national discourse.

Image makers are meant to present their principals which could be
individuals or organisations in manners that will make their audience
keep abreast with situation of things. They are also to x-ray any perceived ambiguity in public domain on behalf of their principals as the need arises.

But the two aides handling this portfolio for Buhari are becoming
insensitive to their roles. They have been feeding us with cosmetic and contradictory communiqués that made many to be saying they are
malevolent to integrity of Buhari. Right from their day one assignment, they have remained controversial.

Just to cite few instances;
-'Buhari and his Vice have fulfilled one of their campaign promises by declaring their assets publicly today...' Garba Sheu. This took effort of many well meaning Nigerians to correct him that there is a wide gap between asset declaration to Code of Conduct Bureau and public. Instead of Garba Sheu and his co-travellers to admit being err, it was twisted that it will be after verification by CCB they will make it public.

- Buhari's take on limit of his age to his expected performance was
interpreted by Femi Adesina that old wine is better than new wine. May
be Femi was in haste to forget that ageing of wine only increases alcohol level that derail man from normalcy.

- Appointment of Amina Zakari as INEC boss that was tagged as nepotism by opposition but it was debunked by these aides and their
co-travellers. If not Yankassi that later gave us the true version we would have been living with theirs.

-It took Femi Adesina 4days after Buhari arrived from USA to feed us his doctored version of the visit. While Garba Sheu did after weeks.

-The last straw that broke the horse's back was the recent Femi Adesina's take on asset declaration. He beautifully goofed by claiming his boss did not make such promise and further separated Buhari from APC. We hope Femi will not wake up one day to tell us that APC manifesto is different from Buhari.

Without mincing words, these few instances clearly indicated that these
two aides are working in a parallel mode. If Garba earlier said it was a promise and Femi saying the contrary, then we need to ask if they
are serving different boss.

It is on this note we are calling on Femi and Garba to go back to their drawing boards and harmonise their points before it get to public domain.

Secondly, Nigerians are not gullible to the point that they could not understand English Language, so interpreting Buhari's statement will
continue to do more harm than good.

Lastly, the two spokesmen should beware of how volatile the current political landscape is and not everyone will succumb into their antics of half truths.

God help Nigeria.

"The political process does not end on election day. Young people need to stay involved in the process by continuing to pay attention to the
conversation and holding their leaders accountable for decisions they make.". Patrick Murphy


Ifedayo Obi

Good Governance Advocates

Before Aregbesola hoodwink us again.

As legislators at both National and State assemblies from Osun State gather like minds tomorrow to fashion out ways of ending financial mess in the state.

We will advise them to read our article tagged "Government Profligacy: A case study of Osun State" before attending the event.

Here is excerpts from the article, '...according to a Chinese proverb, fool me once shame on you, fool me again shame on me...'. Aregbesola claimed he received N19.3b as allocation for 2014 from Federal Government when that was what he received as total amount from January to June of same year.

This is just one out of many lies awaiting them tomorrow.

Beside, except these organisers want to be economical with the truth or are they pretending to be unaware when the Governor was taking loans in same pace with Lagos State forgetting that Lagos IGR is times 30 of his state.
For instance, a state that took loan to plant flowers on highways, spent 3 months allocation on OPON IMO alone and other white elephant projects should not be difficult to find herself in this mess.

Even as it stands today, N18b was earmarked for 19 agencies under office of the Governor alone.

Let the organisers be aware that posterity will judge them if tomorrow will just be a mere tea party to vindicate the Governor.


Sam Obi
For
Good Governance Advocates

The appointment of Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu as GMD of NNPC by President Buhari on 4th August, 2015 has been receiving accolades from
different quarters as a round peg put in a round hole. Without mincing words, the new GMD's credentials and wealth of experience in the sector march the seat but to as many hailing Buhari for this appointment as a giant stride should not forget that this is not a special record. The immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan did same in his time, he appointed Andrew Yakubu from Kaduna and immediate past GMD, Joseph Dawah from Borno State.

However, there is no how a coin will not have two sides. It was reported in some quarters that he came as an outcome of pact made with Buhari by some power brokers in the sector that bankrolled Buhari's campaign. While the other side claimed that Dr. Ibe came in as candidate of USA to protect their interest in the sector which is part of conditions to assist Buhari’s regime.

The new GMD came at a crucial time when many have lost hope in NNPC, some have even called for its head, while some are referring to it as the fattest body of corruption and other sort of names. Nigerians eyes got opened to the rot when Obasanjo left in 2007 and Yar'adua decided
to appoint Minister for the ministry. As we all knew nothing under Obasanjo's regime, who then doubled as President and Minister of Petroleum because he held all information to his chest.

As it is today nobody knows actual barrels of oil will produce daily let alone exporting. Also, with revelation from PWC audit report that grey areas are in NNPC books, then Ibe will need thick glove to correct the past. So many troubles to resolve from PPPRA template that determine subsidy claims to swap deals, TAM, PPMC and NPDC. NNPC! NNPC!! NNPC!!!

Beside all these hurdles, Ibe has a positive note to stand on, he arrived when all our refineries are about to reach their optimum levels of performance, kudos to immediate past government. Therefore, he should lend us his experience in the oil business as Nigeria is doing reverse of what other oil producing countries are doing. As we stand today, we are suppose to be exporting refined oil not crude as it is only a slothful man that will not roast what he gets from game.

We should leverage on our comparative advantage by supplying to some African countries instead of saddling cabals with the responsibility behind door. To be candid no illegal deal in the sector without consent of major multinational companies which happened to be Ibe’s constituency and connivance with security apparatus. This singular act has been encroaching billions of naira from our treasury without any remedy.

Another lingering headache is pipelines being vandalise at wills and wishes of organised cabals and we keep spending huge amount annually to fix problem generating by these vandals instead of spending on surveillance. If it is taking USA millions of dollars annually to combat this act then we should tow same path, we need latest technology not man to pipe approach.

To wrap it up, we need to open up this market for more refineries, if USA with over 300 million people can have over 150 refineries and
China is without oil yet has refineries to meet her demands. Even though, oil is not selling but it is still paying about 80% of our national bills.

Nevertheless, no matter how it turns out, Dr. Ibe will need to prove to all in no distant time where he stands by his action and inaction, whether he will tow the path of his former paymaster in foreign land or serve his father's land against the cabals called magnates.

Once again Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, you are welcome on board.



Sam Obi
For
Good Governance Advocates

President Buhari's Report Sheet from US visit.

The recent four-day visit of our President was another wish list event to many. The journey was propagated more than necessary in the media as if it will turn Nigeria to America. For a President with multifarious national issues that needed urgent attention to honour Obama's invitation within a month, that means expected returns would be germane in stemming our current tides.

What baffled us most was the glory attached to sleeping in Blair house, they called it historic and all sorts of accolades came from lips of our propagandists.

Except if we want to be economical with truth, the event cost us part of our claimed slim treasury. With official announced of 33 delegates and hundreds of unannounced associates as those delegates also travelled with their aides. Initially to us at GGA, spending N2.2b on such task that will help us get military latest equipment, arms and weapons, looted $150b and other diplomatic ties, quite worth it.

It also caught many unaware that Buhari could go with his son for a national engagement after promising to stop financial wastage. Our question is if Buhari's son has got automatic ticket to be a stakeholder in business of governance or has he been given an unannounced portfolio.

Back to main issue, from welcome address by both Presidents to Christiane Amanpour's interview, we got little and escalate war. In short, we just did as usual by putting a cart before the horse.

We came back with $2.1b loan to rebuild North East that is still a theatre of war, Leahy law denied us access to military assets, we established favouritism for 97%, we even lied against our host cabinet composition, searching beam light on stacked $150b in foreign accounts and goofed on many issues.

As for Governor Shettima, it was a bonus for him as he will get the largest chunk of the loan. The big question here is, can we rebuild a haven turn to a war stage while the war has not ended or won't that be a futile effort. If it costs US about $1.5 billion annually to protect her oil space from vandals, why won't we have a rethink to incur debt for a timely and more beneficial ventures. The immediate past government took $1b for arms, ammunitions and training to battle Boko Haram, we all cried but now we are taking $2.1b to rebuild again. Truly, Buhari is acting a script of 97%.

Surprisingly, we are crying foul on Leahy law against our hope of ending terrorism as if we were not there when echelons in today ruling party were painting our military with all sorts of hues. Now we are all suffering from their misguided utterances they used to get cheap political gain. Yoruba will say it is what the owner of calabash call his calabash that people will follow.

In same vein, it was evident from Obama's response that we are not ready for business, "...we're looking forward to hearing more about his(Buhari) plans...", "...I'm(Obama) looking forward to seeing him(Buhari) put together his team so that we can do everything...". We left for US with no clear cut policies on ground to show where we stand on issues we are asking assistance for. As many use to say, heaven help those who help themselves.

Also, it is quite disheartening that Femi Adesina could drag media profession into mud by repainting this lofty visit just to cover up his paymaster. It took Femi 5days after we have departed from US to give us another version when we all have what transpired in public domain. We believe what we should do now is to change market for military resources procurement and face reality instead of window dressing ventures.

In sum, reliance on foreign big brothers will not take us far as they always added conditions to their service. For instance, US gave us $5m in June to fight terrorism and loaned us $2.1b in July to rebuild when war still unabated.


Sam Obi,
sesanifedayo@yahoo.com
For
Good Governance Advocates

CURRENCIES OF EXCUSES

According to Winston Churchill, "politicians have the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it did not happen". We want to believe APC is strongly standing on this premise after all baskets of hope.

After our article titled "Lamentation against Expectation" where we decried rain of excuses showering by the current ruling party, we thought things will change but it seems this is how the journey will be for the next four years. Initially, we were told that Buhari will hit the ground running but the song has taken many octaves.

Few days to inauguration, the tune was transition committee of the former FG was not co-operating by planning to submit report late. Immediately after inauguration, it was same report is yet to be verified by their constituted committee. After verification of same report and recommendations submitted, it was empty treasury. From empty treasury to NASS crisis is delaying appointment ratification and from there to trillions debt inherited from immediate past government. While we are still cooling our impatience, they rang to our ears again non-remitted billions and age limiting extent our President can govern. Although the latter was interpreted in English that old wine is better than new one but they forgot that old wine only increase in alcohol to will deviate man from normalcy.

Before Nigerians could open their eyes, it was admonition galore on how we need to be patient as they are still busy cleaning 16years old of mess left by PDP. On security, we are winning as Boko Haram is only doing skeletal attacks unlike before that was guided attacks and hijacking of territories. To well meaning Nigerians, this response sound heartless and unkind from a party that promise safety. Why should modes of attack be more relevant than loss of lives?

The last straw that broke the horse's back was epistle reeled out by APC spokesman, Lai Mohammed during an interview last weekend. He grossly admitted that their campaign promises were far from reality with what they met on ground which means they got all their earlier facts and figures from the moon. Then we are wondering where he got his earlier appraisal from, that Buhari's six weeks was better than Jonathan's five years.

Actually, we are not praying for them to fail but we must set the record straight so as not to be bewitched by propaganda.Foremost, Buhari happened to be the only elected President that wanted to be President as others got it either by proxy or consensus. Shagari was going to Senate, OBJ was brought from Prison, Yar'adua was handpicked from sick bed and GEJ got there by same vehicle.

Having consecutively vied for 12 years and won at the 4th shot, we expected him to know the terrain better as he claimed during campaign. But regrettably he said in his inaugural speech that they are still understudy power sector. The man who claimed that there is nothing like subsidy is now putting it on weighing scale. The one who condemned GEJ's methods is now an Apostle of same.

Secondly, for APC to be referring to PDP 16 years of mess is another unfashionable joke from the world of fantasy. Would APC have sat on seat of power without formidable elements of PDP in its train? or they quick to forget that their current appraised coach was President for 8years. May be APC is trying to be ignorant of political origin of Amaechi, Saraki, Atiku, Kwankwaso, Wammako, Oyinlola, Patricia Ette, Tambuwal, Nyako, Farouk and others in its camp again.

Thirdly, you cannot clean mess with same laws, mechanisms and professionals that created it as you have claimed.

Furthermore, APC happened to be the first government to enjoy 60days between election and inauguration since 2003, so standing on the premise of 6weeks norms of previous government in forming cabinet cannot fly an inch.

In short, we will not like to dabble into other areas such as arm twisting decisions, personal vendetta, rumoured back door refunds and  double standard approach. Let us quickly remind our President that the era of putting Raphael in prison and Rafiu under house arrest for same offence has gone with military. For sake of our readers, Alex Ekwueme was Vice President to Shagari, the former was put behind bar while the latter was put under house arrest during the 1st coming of Buhari.

Meanwhile, we will not see good things and close our eyes, we appreciate President Buhari for publicly disowned his praisers by not taking credit for revamped refineries. It is on this same vein that we will want him to keep distance from these early dancers when there is no melody of governance. Also, as regards his subjects, we will advise him to give them riot acts to curtail their excesses as every buck will pile up on his desk.

Without mincing words, we will close it here with Plato, a Greek Philosopher saying, “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".
APC should not tell us that they are govphobia, fear to govern.

 Nigeria is bleeding and Nigerians are crying for good governance.


Good Governance Advocates

goodgovernance3g@gmail.com

CURRENCIES OF EXCUSES

According to Winston Churchill, "politicians have the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it did not happen". We want to believe APC is strongly standing on this premise after all baskets of hope.

After our article titled "Lamentation against Expectation" where we decried rain of excuses showering by the current ruling party, we thought things will change but it seems this is how the journey will be for the next four years. Initially, we were told that Buhari will hit the ground running but the song has taken many octaves.

Few days to inauguration, the tune was transition committee of the former FG was not co-operating by planning to submit report late. Immediately after inauguration, it was same report is yet to be verified by their constituted committee. After verification of same report and recommendations submitted, it was empty treasury. From empty treasury to NASS crisis is delaying appointment ratification and from there to trillions debt inherited from immediate past government. While we are still cooling our impatience, they rang to our ears again non-remitted billions and age limiting extent our President can govern. Although the latter was interpreted in English that old wine is better than new one but they forgot that old wine only increase in alcohol to will deviate man from normalcy.

Before Nigerians could open their eyes, it was admonition galore on how we need to be patient as they are still busy cleaning 16years old of mess left by PDP. On security, we are winning as Boko Haram is only doing skeletal attacks unlike before that was guided attacks and hijacking of territories. To well meaning Nigerians, this response sound heartless and unkind from a party that promise safety. Why should modes of attack be more relevant than loss of lives?

The last straw that broke the horse's back was epistle reeled out by APC spokesman, Lai Mohammed during an interview last weekend. He grossly admitted that their campaign promises were far from reality with what they met on ground which means they got all their earlier facts and figures from the moon. Then we are wondering where he got his earlier appraisal from, that Buhari's six weeks was better than Jonathan's five years.

Actually, we are not praying for them to fail but we must set the record straight so as not to be bewitched by propaganda.Foremost, Buhari happened to be the only elected President that wanted to be President as others got it either by proxy or consensus. Shagari was going to Senate, OBJ was brought from Prison, Yar'adua was handpicked from sick bed and GEJ got there by same vehicle. Having consecutively vied for 12 years and won at the 4th shot, we expected him to know the terrain better as he claimed during campaign. But regrettably he said in his inaugural speech that they are still understudy power sector. The man who claimed that there is nothing like subsidy is now putting it on weighing scale. The one who condemned GEJ's methods is now an Apostle of same.

Secondly, for APC to be referring to PDP 16 years of mess is another unfashionable joke from the world of fantasy. Would APC have sat on seat of power without formidable elements of PDP in its train? or they quick to forget that their current appraised coach was President for 8years. May be APC is trying to be ignorant of political origin of Amaechi, Saraki, Atiku, Kwankwaso, Wammako, Oyinlola, Patricia Ette, Tambuwal, Nyako, Farouk and others in its camp again.

Thirdly, you cannot clean mess with same laws, mechanisms and professionals that created it as you have claimed.

Furthermore, APC happened to be the first government to enjoy 60days between election and inauguration since 2003, so standing on the premise of 6weeks norms of previous government in forming cabinet cannot fly an inch.

In short, we will not like to dabble into other areas such as arm twisting decisions, personal vendetta, rumoured back door refunds and  double standard approach. Let us quickly remind our President that the era of putting Raphael in prison and Rafiu under house arrest for same offence has gone with military. For sake of our readers, Alex Ekwueme was Vice President to Shagari, the former was put behind bar while the latter was put under house arrest during the 1st coming of Buhari.

Meanwhile, we will not see good things and close our eyes, we appreciate President Buhari for publicly disowned his praisers by not taking credit for revamped refineries. It is on this same vein that we will want him to keep distance from these early dancers when there is no melody of governance. Also, as regards his subjects, we will advise him to give them riot acts to curtail their excesses as every buck will pile up on his desk.

Without mincing words, we will close it here with Plato, a Greek Philosopher saying, “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".
APC should not tell us that they are govphobia, fear to govern.

 Nigeria is bleeding and Nigerians are crying for good governance.


Good Governance Advocates

goodgovernance3g@gmail.com

PARTY SUPREMACY OR DICTATORSHIP

While many still believed that crisis rocking APC due to political chess board that evolved at NASS has ended, the silence broke by TINUBU on friday has further indicated that all is not well. The two chambers have further shifted their resumption by one week and this could not be far from settling dust blowing against their peace.

What bordering many about the whole scene is how to stage a clear distinction between the so called party supremacy and dictatorship. In reality, party decision cannot be overruled by any of its member but the context of such stand should not undermine overall well-being of the party.

Today, many people have tagged Saraki and Dogara with different sorts of bad names as if they are truly devils that will devalue change system brought in by APC. Surprisingly, our current political commentators on social media have worsen matter as they were not part of history because they just joined the train in 2014.

We keep wondering why people who planted Tambuwal's seed in 2011 should now be saint overnight or that supported him for remained as Speaker after wedded the minority side. Are they scare of bountiful harvest of indiscipline and disloyalty seeds planted and nourished to dislodge PDP? May be they quick to forget that without these guys, APC would not have won Aso rock. These and many more questions await answers.

In real sense revolution, we will keep laughing in Chinese whenever we hear them saying party discipline should be adhered strictly to, forgetting that APC is full of bricks with different sizes. The last brick that made APC formidable was orchestrated by same guys they are calling rebels today. APC accommodated them as aggrieved members of PDP with a lot of fun fair and should not throw away same horse they rode its back to power.

For as many who are not in the know, these people did not join without a course to chart and any attempt to undermine those unwritten pacts with them will keep heading to chaos.

From the beginning of whole show, it was learnt that APC zone Senate President to North Central while North East and South West were jostling for the position of Speaker and later we heard no zoning. This came up when a gladiator was pushing his interest above other blocks. When purported George Akume could not hold sway against Bukola Saraki, the drummer who earlier beaten fairness on the basis of religion that muslims should not occupy both seats later turned the drum stick. He quickly beat another sound by supporting Ahmed Lawan so as to pave way for his godson speakership, Femi Gbajabiamila. This calculation was to knock out Dogara by cracking his fold with position of Senate President going to North East. When all efforts seem clouded for the drummer, straw polls were conducted in away to expose any errant member. This was to the point that members could not act based on their right or what did you expect when you were to queue behind a candidate knowing fully well that your leader has his interest to protect. As if that was not enough, they further wanted to strike deal with opposition but they could not meet their demands. This is what they eventually tagged as party position.

It was when Buhari saw how former arrangement will be jettisoned that he quickly withdrew so as to be fair to all.

Party Supremacy! Party Supremacy!! Party Supremacy!!!
A decision that was insensitive to religion roles in our politics by saying Muslims should occupy NASS major two seats. A course that turned blind eyes to zoning arrangement or what is moral justification behind South West taking VP and Speaker. A decree that failed to accommodate other blocks in the house, CPC- President, ACN-VP, should ACN take Speaker then what will be the fate of New PDP, ANPP and partial APGA that were actively part of same struggle. Politics is an act of protected interests and if a party supremacy should fall short of all these factors then it is synonymous to dictatorship.

To scuttle the whole matter, APC decision on who occupy the remaining 4 posts in each chamber still undermining these factors. How can we imagine Deputy Speaker and Majority leader to be from same zone knowing fully well that other zones are not there to sell groundnut.

Our advice to APC is that they should embrace current NASS leadership that balanced religion, Muslim/Christian(Senate President/Speaker). Also, the current back door and background permutations to demonise and flaw processes that brought these men to power so as to remove them will end up as draconian. APC is a merger party that won based on political factors we have mentioned, it is too early to do without same template.

Lastly, as a nation in dire need of serious business from her managers, keep fanning the ember coined party supremacy will continue to undermine benefits of governance to entire populace. Let us place national interest above personal interest as zoning and religion roles cannot be underscored in our politics.


Sam Obi
For
Good Governance Advocates

HAPPY EID-EL-FITRI


We people at Good Governance Advocates are using this medium to felicitate with our Muslim brothers and sisters for successful completion of Ramadan fasting for 2015.

Our prayer is that all your quests in the period for tranquillity and unity of our dear nation will come to fruition.

However, our plight on the lingering problem of insecurity in the Northern part of this country still pending for resolution. As well meaning Nigerians, we strongly believed that more tactics should be added to current ones we are imploring, if we really want to win.

Records have shown us that the mission of Boko Haram is against everyone in this country and we will need synergy from religions stakeholders to stem the tide. With the rate of killings recorded during this year Ramadan fasting and another bad event that happened to Muslims going for Eid-El-Fitri holiday that were sent to early grave by same enemy of our national peace, we don’t need a prophet to tell us that the battle is for all of us.

 
Up till this moment, there have been series of countered accusation from the two major sides of our religion divide, while a side purported that is a war against her subjects the other side has not done enough to prove otherwise that this is a war against all.
 

Our aim here is not stir up argument or pitch tent with any side but to devise peace at all cost for our sovereignty to prosper with our co-existence. According to a common saying, ‘Charity begins at home’ this is to emphasise our earlier stand that no matter what outsiders bring to the table on this matter will not end this war. In consonant with what obtainable in countries ravaged by insurgents, no amount of pounding these guerrillas by military effort can totally eradicate this problem, for instance Somalia, Iraq and so on. 

It is on this note that we are calling on all Muslim stakeholders to devote more energy in educating their subjects to eschew war and embrace peace.

 Typically, the current head of Islamic Council in Nigeria, Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, can lend his wealthy experience in military to our security apparatus in combating this menace. We also want him to consistently join voices against this merciless acts by making public condemnation every week. Let other leaders in this fold as well start announcing their stands against Boko Haram publicly for their subjects to know that this war is against Islam. We will be very glad if sermons on every Friday will have allotment for war against Boko Haram and Quranic School syllabus realign to accommodate same.

Likewise, let community leaders in these States start educating their subjects formally and informally as there is no amount of stomach infrastructure that will equivalent to BRAIN infrastructure. The rich in this fold spend a lot to feed the poor but this act cannot stop poverty instead let them start building schools and sponsoring the less privilege for formal education so as to reduce their vulnerability in following Boko Haram. 

Islam is a religion of peace as claimed by many leaders in this fold and stated in Quran but Boko Haram is derailing this fact at every fraction of second. These guerrillas are just bringing shame to Islam by hiding under it as their faith, let our Muslims leaders start crusade against them as government or military will remain lone rangers in this war.
 
We will end it in this way, according to our President, Buhari that BOKO HARAM is a scam.
  
Happy Eid-El-Fitri                                                               
 
GOOD GOVERNANCE ADVOCATES

HAPPY EID-EL-FITRI


We people at Good Governance Advocates are using this medium to felicitate with our Muslim brothers and sisters for successful completion of Ramadan fasting for 2015.

Our prayer is that all your quests in the period for tranquillity and unity of our dear nation will come to fruition.

However, our plight on the lingering problem of insecurity in the Northern part of this country still pending for resolution. As well meaning Nigerians, we strongly believed that more tactics should be added to current ones we are imploring, if we really want to win.

Records have shown us that the mission of Boko Haram is against everyone in this country and we will need synergy from religions stakeholders to stem the tide. With the rate of killings recorded during this year Ramadan fasting and another bad event that happened to Muslims going for Eid-El-Fitri holiday that were sent to early grave by same enemy of our national peace, we don’t need a prophet to tell us that the battle is for all of us.

 
Up till this moment, there have been series of countered accusation from the two major sides of our religion divide, while a side purported that is a war against her subjects the other side has not done enough to prove otherwise that this is a war against all.
 

Our aim here is not stir up argument or pitch tent with any side but to devise peace at all cost for our sovereignty to prosper with our co-existence. According to a common saying, ‘Charity begins at home’ this is to emphasise our earlier stand that no matter what outsiders bring to the table on this matter will not end this war. In consonant with what obtainable in countries ravaged by insurgents, no amount of pounding these guerrillas by military effort can totally eradicate this problem, for instance Somalia, Iraq and so on. 

It is on this note that we are calling on all Muslim stakeholders to devote more energy in educating their subjects to eschew war and embrace peace.

 Typically, the current head of Islamic Council in Nigeria, Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, can lend his wealthy experience in military to our security apparatus in combating this menace. We also want him to consistently join voices against this merciless acts by making public condemnation every week. Let other leaders in this fold as well start announcing their stands against Boko Haram publicly for their subjects to know that this war is against Islam. We will be very glad if sermons on every Friday will have allotment for war against Boko Haram and Quranic School syllabus realign to accommodate same.

Likewise, let community leaders in these States start educating their subjects formally and informally as there is no amount of stomach infrastructure that will equivalent to BRAIN infrastructure. The rich in this fold spend a lot to feed the poor but this act cannot stop poverty instead let them start building schools and sponsoring the less privilege for formal education so as to reduce their vulnerability in following Boko Haram. 

Islam is a religion of peace as claimed by many leaders in this fold but Boko Haram is derailing this fact at every fraction of second. These guerrillas are just bringing shame to Islam by hiding under it as their faith, let our Muslims leaders start crusade against them as government or military will remain lone rangers in this war.
 
We will end it in this way, according to our President, Buhari that BOKO HARAM is a scam.
  
Happy Eid-El-Fitri                                                               
 
GOOD GOVERNANCE ADVOCATES

STOP SPONSORING PILGRIMAGES

We will like to start with a Norway's proverb that says necessity teaches a naked woman how to knit. With the current economy tsunami battling our nationhood we don't need rocket science to devise how to block some holes in our government expenses.

It is quite unfortunate that when people debate on economy downturn our prism usually diverge from unconstitutional adventures that have been contributing to this woe. One of these is huge public funds committing to sponsor pilgrimages by our 3 tiers of government. If you can recall that we mentioned it in our article tagged "BAIL OUT NOT MEANS TO AN END" and we still want to join voices against it again.

Historically, it was started by Awolowo under the defunct Western Region to assist and woo Muslims in the region which later extended to christians but has now turned to recurrent decimal at all levels of government. According to Section10 of the 1999 constitution, the government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State religion. While Section 38 affirms it, 'right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion'. So it is not a question of constitution but failure of our government to put religion in private sphere. It baffled us when El-Rufai was heavily criticised for stopping provisions for Ramadan fasting breaks in his state. Even though Nigerian politics has been polarised by ethnicity and religions, religion is still not business of government.

Let us do simple calculation of this annual venture, in 2014 we airlifted pilgrimages of about 80000 to Mecca (N720,000 per head), 35000 to Israel(N350,000 per head) and 2015 cannot be different. In sum, it is about N70b with our government responsible for 70% of it (N49b) which is more than half of annual budget of many states, pay twice of annual wage bills of Osun State in 2014 as well as other States. Beside this amount is concessionary rate(lesser exchange rate) usually granted to pilgrimages. For instance, in 2013, it was N144 against N158 to $1.

This huge amount wasting on pilgrimages can improve health facilities in rural areas to reduce mortality rate, build classrooms or solve part of unemployment crisis instead of indirectly exporting jobs to Saudi Arabia and Israel.

The horrendous part of this waste is composition of those embarking on these events every year. If you check records, over 70% of these people have been consistently appearing for same act for over 10 years with government bearing the burden. Also, government officials still hide under this guise after collecting estacodes for same event.

We are calling on all well meaning Nigerians to join us in compelling government at all levels to stop this wasteful act from this year.

Moreover, in contrast to recommendation made by Steve Orosanye's committee to scrap the 2 boards, we will suggest merging. The board should be under foreign affairs and saddle with sole responsibility of managing logistics affairs of those ready to travel without subsidy from government. We believe this will sharpen diplomatic aspect of it.

Please join us as we are saying capital NO to government sponsorship of pilgrimage.


God help our nation.

Sam Obi
For
Good Governance Advocates

STOP SPONSORING PILGRIMAGES

We will like to start with a Norway's proverb that says necessity teaches a naked woman how to knit. With the current economy tsunami battling our nationhood we don't need rocket science to devise how to block some holes in our government expenses.

It is quite unfortunate that when people debate on economy downturn our prism usually diverge from unconstitutional adventures that have been contributing to this woe. One of these is huge public funds committing to sponsor pilgrimages by our 3 tiers of government. If you can recall that we mentioned it in our article tagged "BAIL OUT NOT MEANS TO AN END" and we still want to join voices against it again.

Historically, it was started by Awolowo under the defunct Western Region to assist and woo Muslims in the region which later extended to christians but has now turned to recurrent decimal at all levels of government. According to Section10 of the 1999 constitution, the government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State religion. While Section 38 affirms it, 'right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion'. So it is not a question of constitution but failure of our government to put religion in private sphere. It baffled us when El-Rufai was heavily criticised for stopping provisions for Ramadan fasting breaks in his state. Even though Nigerian politics has been polarised by ethnicity and religions, religion is still not business of government.

Let us do simple calculation of this annual venture, in 2014 we airlifted pilgrimages of about 80000 to Mecca (N720,000 per head), 35000 to Israel(N350,000 per head) and 2015 cannot be different. In sum, it is about N70b with our government responsible for 70% of it (N49b) which is more than half of annual budget of many states, pay twice of annual wage bills of Osun State in 2014 as well as other States. Beside this amount is concessionary rate(lesser exchange rate) usually granted to pilgrimages. For instance, in 2013, it was N144 against N158 to $1.

This huge amount wasting on pilgrimages can improve health facilities in rural areas to reduce mortality rate, build classrooms or solve part of unemployment crisis instead of indirectly exporting jobs to Saudi Arabia and Israel.

The horrendous part of this waste is composition of those embarking on these events every year. If you check records, over 70% of these people have been consistently appearing for same act for over 10 years with government bearing the burden. Also, government officials still hide under this guise after collecting estacodes for same event.

We are calling on all well meaning Nigerians to join us in compelling government at all levels to stop this wasteful act from this year.

Moreover, in contrast to recommendation made by Steve Orosanye's committee to scrap the 2 boards, we will suggest merging. The board should be under foreign affairs and saddle with sole responsibility of managing logistics affairs of those ready to travel without subsidy from government. We believe this will sharpen diplomatic aspect of it.

Please join us as we are saying capital NO to government sponsorship of pilgrimage.


God help our nation.

Sam Obi
For
Good Governance Advocates

‪
BAIL OUT NOT MEANS TO AN END

Foremost, we want to appreciate President Buhari for bailing out States from economy quagmire. However, we will count this as a welcome development in temporal along with other two parts of his three-pronged relief as its has failed to address the root of this matter.

For the sake of our readers, means here is a process or method and end is a goal to achieve. As we all know that one of our national goals is to make States more independently sustainable economy wise. Another is to cut cost of running government with heavy pounds fist against corruption.

Here is our take on the first part (sharing of national treasury at pity of some failed governors), this is not the first time our Governors will be sharing money from national treasury aside monthly statutory allocation and some of them have not been able to account for it. May be we should ask them what they use to do with previous SURE-P and Ecological funds. Let us remember Governor Adams Oshiomole's takes at 2011 Town Hall meeting held in Lagos on fuel subsidy removal,  he said what to be removed should be given to them for projects but what have we gained from it.

Therefore, dashing out billions to Governors without measures for accountability and transparency for judicious usage will still tantamount to futile effort.

To the second part (soft loans range from N250b to N300b). To be candid, this part will continue to make our Governors unproductive and our feeding bottle federalism will grow more wings. Looking at the current debt profiles of some States that are unjustifiable with what they called laudable projects, so to increase this again will be unfair to unborn generations. Also, it will make them continue in using loans to plant flowers along highways, erecting tallest drum, building roads in the air,  the list is endless.

Now to the third part (reduction of debt servicing and extension of loans term). We strongly believed in this part but our major concern is what did they borrow loans for at first instance.   It is doubtless that this will lead to a situation where unborn generations will be responsible for cost of laughable and wasteful projects by these Governors.To this end, according to Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki's view on current unpaid salaries, ‘inability to pay workers is as a result of corruption’. We should not allow few elements to be squandering our treasury with their voodoo projects and financial rascality.Secondly, let there be mechanism to investigate what these failed governors either on seat or not did to allocations within period of unpaid salaries.Thirdly, this bail out must be monitored to avoid diversions and previous loans should be questioned. For instance, Ambode and Wike have been alleged of taking loans of N200b and N30b respectively within 35 days in office.Also, we want government at all levels to stop financing pilgrimage, this is another unconstitutional wastage that must not happen anymore. As at 2013, we airlifted 80000(with N750m per head) for Hajj and 30000(with N450m per head) for Israel. Our government was responsible for 70% of these. 

Lastly, we are calling on the 2Ms (Mohammed and Metuh) in political media to stop politicising workers welfare. The first M was claiming that last regime withheld bail out for APC States but he was quick to forget that Benue and Kogi that were owing workers would not have been so. While the second M was basking on enough treasury they left. Our advice for these 2Ms is to exchange office, Lai Mohammed should learn from Olisa Metuh what it takes to be a ruling party’s spokeman and Metuh should do vice versa, there is no campaign after election.
 

Thank you.

 

Sam Obi

For

GOOD GOVERNANCE ADVOCATES

 (We are synonymous to governance par excellence with mandate to bring government to their toes in  discharge of their duties for the governed to smile)

RE: Governor Rauf Aregbesola should be praised ...not victimised


Dear Egbon Dele,

Egbon Dele, Egbon Dele, Egbon Dele, I mentioned your name three times to emphasise my disappointment sequel to your above tagged article.

I started pitching tent with you on national discourse when you commented on NASS leadership against Tinubu's chess board but on this subject you were neither factual nor human.

In fact, I'm still doubting if you wrote this piece yourself. I want to ask you if you were accentuating financial recklessness, government profligacy and economy terrorism bewildering Osun workers or answering to brown envelope from a failed government. To be candid your points were fantasies, unfounded and disjointed when compare with reality.

Firstly, you made us believed that developmental projects carried out by Governor Rauf were enough to tag as good governance. Then I will ask you if aesthetic projects should be considered against economical viability ones or of what benefit is taking loans to plant flowers along highway to common man along the street. Let me inform you that none of these projects was carried out without loans and the hour of repayment met the state unaware. Today, if FAAC is distributing allocation, Osun will still be second to the last on the table and this is not far from the truth that creditors will first collect their shares with remnant left for your friend. "As Yoruba will say that to eat pork is easier than to pay for it."

Secondly, you added insult to injury by coining Osun workers as 1% that is gulping N3.6b monthly. It seems you forgot that your friend and his appointees bills take largest chunk of what you called inappropriate wage bill. Now to the N3.6b, if you multiply it by 12, it gives N43.2b annually but there was no year Osun state spent above N36b on wage bill according to your friend, the governor.

Also, let me teach you basic economics you failed to understand about 1%. Your 1% determine how cash flow in the state as you don't just dash money to populace, the 1% will pay rents, transport fares, school fees to private schools your friend is taxing, patronise market women and artisans. This is how everyone smile in the society. Beside all these, larger part of your friend's IGR comes from tax deduct from salaries of 1%.

You made it worse again by telling your sister to be patient in hunger and deprivation caused by your friend's ineptitude about governance. It was your friend that turn your sister and others to refugees. You even stated free meal as a big deal, Oyinlola started it without any cause for alarm.

To your OPON IMO, how can a state like Osun that is solely surviving by allocation spent her 2 to 3 months allocation on such project. The so called opon imo can hardly be found among students, it was distributed to SSS2 students in major cities only.
Even as rich as Lagos is, that cannot be embarked on.

Egbon Dele, your friend is using Lagos template in Osun forgetting that dog has been a domestic pal for years when monkey was still in the bush. Lagos generates about N300b annually against annual budget of about N400b to N450b while Osun generates N8.5b against annual budget of over N220b. May be you should help us ask your friend how he catapulted annual budget from Oyinlola's annual budget of N88b in 2011 to what it is now or workers salaries have been doubled. In this year budget approved in the state, your friend has 19 agencies under his office only that will take N18b instead of merging MDAs and reducing appointees to cut cost of governance.

Egbon Dele, you will need to recall your article and apologise to Osun people for mocking them unknowingly. We don't compare evil with evil to rejoice over our weakness, truly your friend has failed as he confessed it that he is helpless and the issue is beyond him.
So nobody is demonising your friend as you have claimed, he brought it on himself.

Let me close by laughing in Chinese to your praise admonition as we don't need to hire drum, your friend has built tallest drum in the universe for us to dance to.

May God help Nigeria, happy sunday.

By Sam Obi
On behalf of
Good Governance Advocates

Let us wait till 6th September, 2015, when it will clock 100 days in office. It is then we will find it easier to place propaganda beside policies for good governance and have evidences to educate some die-hard followers of change mantra.

So, let lies continue...

Well done bro.

WHERE IS ASIWAJU AHMED BOLA TINUBU?

Please can someone help us locate ASIWAJU, the political lion of South West, the Jagaban, unseater of former ruling party and the kingmaker of current ruling party.

We have observed that he has not been visible in public scene since emergence of Saraki/Dogara as NASS leaders.

Also, we have not heard him to comment on both national and his party issues for a while. Is this self ex-communicado or what?

To make it worse, he was not in attendance at yesterday, APC's NEC meeting, though he has choice to attend or not, but not at this critical point of his party.

While many believed he was still angry with NASS leadership result that was a rude shock to him. Some claimed he wanted to restrategise to harvest his share of the current political bullish.

However, whichever way it is, where, why and what?


From: Good Governance Advocates

GOVERNMENT PROFLIGACY: A CASE STUDY OF OSUN STATE

In Yoruba, we have a saying that if lies travel for 20 years truth will overtake it one day. As we were all aware of allegation made by Aregbesola that Goodluck Jonathan was withholding Osun State allocation but the truth came to fore when GMB was sworn-in and confirmed to the public that FG is not owing any states their statutory allocation. It was on this note that Aregbesola made u-turn by publicly admitted that he is helpless on backlog of salaries owing civil servants. I believed this would shock his supporters and apologists that have been taking flight from reality to land of fantasy. 

In my opinion, it is either Aregbesola was stylishly tagging himself as a failed manager or an incompetent leader. I would not have  started with his state until he made some contradicted details of his state treasury at opening of 6th Assembly of the state. What really pricked my heart was his claim that Osun got N19.3billion as revenue allocation for year 2014 with wage bill of N22.5billion. According to a Chinese proverb, fool me once shame on you, fool me again, shame on me!  For benefit of my readers that might not be familiar with public finance terms, statutory/revenue allocation is monthly/annual fund allocated to tiers of government while wage bill is monthly/annual salary to workers.

Let us put it to Aregbesola if for these 7months his aides, political appointees, himself and lawmakers are not having their take home up to date, or is the acclaimed meagre allocation fissile into air? or staff headcount has bloated to China demography scale? I have put below this piece in a tabular form the true stand of received allocation from Nov 2010 to December 2014 culled from BudgIT, takenotenigerian.com, federal ministry of finance (FMF), OAGF(office of the account general of the federation) and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for all to verify.

Now to claim made that Osun has most populous staff strength which he dated back to Western region and old Oyo state was mere gain saying, Osun State has been existing since August 27, 1991 so this excuse died on its arrival. For as many that are not familiar with Osun State, it has 2 state owned polytechnics(Esa-Oke and Iree), 2 colleges of education(Ila and Ilesa), partly owned LAUTECH with Oyo State, and Uniosun as higher institution. It has 30 LGAs with 1 area office and they have been there before Aregbesola. According to Niccolo Machiavelli, ‘

Politics have no relation to morals’.To the second claim that his administration has developmental projects to show the world instead of just paying salary is fallacious and unfounded. How can we explain taking loans for mere aesthetics or why are those projects not culminating to revenues after 4years. He arrived with 20000 OYES  of N10000 monthly per head which equivalent to N2.4billion annually. Though in practical they are 13000 with monthly take home of N8900 after tax. Roads were constructed with outrageous invoice of about over N1billion per km while a standard road cost $1million per km in USA. Billions of naira were used to plant flowers round the state. Only God knows how much billions of naira he has expended on agriculture yet farm produce has not change from the past. Osun State only enter Guinness book of record by building the tallest drum in the world. He is building airport which is of no economic importance considering the possible patronage and also flying jet to pursue criminals.

Let me digress to education, O'Meal project fanning around as achievement was started by Oyinlola through UNESCO programme where Osun State happened to be one of the 12 states. It was designed to improve enrolment in Primary schools and to be financed by 3 tiers of government. Though Osun is the only state running this programme now but Oyinlola did it without noise. Demolition of classrooms built by Oyinlola to build modern schools was another wastage of resources. Could you believe that as popular as Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo is, it was demolished and relocated to build Shoprite. Don't ask me who has stakes in shoprite. 

Another propaganda was unified uniforms for primary and secondary schools where a pair was distributed free to each student. Meanwhile, subsequent ones go for N1500 and N2000 per pair which you can only purchase from government. The last straw that broke horseback was OPON IMO meaning tablet of knowledge. It was a TAB loaded with pass questions and textbooks for SSS1-3. For your information it was first launched in Lagos State by Aregbesola's deputy, Titi Laoye with many billboards dumped round Lagos State. Then, you might want to ask if Lagos and Osun share borders. This cost N9billion according to some quarters and that is about 3 months allocation of the state. Today, you can hardly found OPON IMO among these students as few schools were picked for the project with distribution to only SSS2  students.

Without mincing  words, Aregbesola has mortgaged his state. The bad news is that all these projects are being financed by loans which was my reservations when people were praising him. In 2010, the budget prepared by Oyinlola for 2011 fiscal year was N88billion but jerked up by Aregbesola to N102.9 billion for reasons know to him. The state annual budget in 2012 was N146.7billion, N234billion in 2013, N234billion in 2014 and N201billion in 2015. Less I forget to tell you that Aregbesola said IGR has been moved from N300m to N1.6b monthly that is 3rd in Southwest and 11th in Nigeria but last year IGR was N8.5b in sum. If you consider revenue table below you will not doubt that this state has been swimming in unjustified loans. The big question here is what bloated these budgets?.

Truly, the debt temperature is high without doubt, aside unpaid salaries, what about deductions without remittance to RSA of workers managing by Pension Fund Administrator and this will be running to another billions, pensioners case is there and debts incurred on white elephant projects will be a story for another day.  According to Aregbesola, he took N12b loan to pay salary for the last 3 months before Nov 2014 and bank cannot borrow him anymore, what a misfortune. Beside this, if you check revenue allocation table, Osun is 2nd to last when comes to values, this is not far fetch than standing orders for debt servicing that must be deducted before its been handed over to the state. This is a pointer to allegation made by his opposition that Osun debt is hoofing around N480b with analysis of N10b by each local government which tantamount to N300b. I also pick a little fact from this, he constructed 10km each for the 30LGAs which equivalent to N300b at rate of over N1b per km.

Therefore, Osun state did not suddenly arrive at this unbecoming situation overnight it has been accumulation of financial rascality and recklessness as a result of overwhelming propagandas. May be the governor is reflecting his name, "moving with others to shine".

Osun is different from Lagos, in 2014 Lagos had N279b as IGR while Osun had N8.5b. So using Lagos template in Osun can only do more harm than good, as Yoruba usually says that the length of mouse's arms determines extent of scratching it can do on its face. The world has moved from cut your coat according to your size, it is now cut your coat according to your cloth.

Let's move to bail out, why outsiders were trying to assist the state from being in perpetual status of refugee camp, responses from state government have been discouraging. As at the time of writing this piece, Aregbesola is only lamenting on how painful it is to him to owe workers with no cogent action, his allowances such as security vote is still intact, numbers of convoys yet to be trimmed, political appointees are still with fat pay cheques, MDAs are not merging,  Jet maintenance is still there and pilgrimage bill is still in the budget. Why can't the lawmakers from the state at state and federal levels follow Ben Bruce acts to reduce workers pains? To make it worse, 19 agencies under office of the governor will gulp N18b in this year 2015 budget, what a misappropriation. 

Surprisingly, many stakeholders like Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana and co that are in Aregbesola’s camp have not uttered a word about this economy terrorism against masses. If you understudy the table below you will discover that Osun State revenue allocations from 2011-2013 was 24% of total budget for that period which implies that the state economy has been sitting on gun powder of loans all through these days Oyo state has 33 LGA, her budget for 2015 is N143billion compare to Osun state with 30 LGAs.

Let me close on this note, I am in support of bail out but the root of these nemesis should be considered. Firstly, feeding bottle federalism according to Ike Ekweremadu should be addressed. Secondly, benchmark for loan should be in place for states and lastly impunity clause should be totally eradicated.

Our eagle eyes will be viewing another state next week, for everyone to differentiate propaganda from policies.

 

Thank you all

Courtesy: Good Governance Group

‪
IF YOU NEED TUTORIAL ON POLITICAL CALCULUS, PLEASE MEET TINUBU.

Many people have made series of comments on TINUBUISM political theorem but I will be using this piece to give snapshot of his differential equations so far in Nigeria political landscape.

This piece is not to support nepotism or pitch tent with Tinubu as I am never his follower nor his sympathizer but it is to serve as lesson for players in our political chess board.

My caption will cover his odyssey from 1999 till date. Obviously, today, TINUBU has etched his name in sand of time, though we can’t like him for everything but we can pick one or two points from his political template.

The JAGABAN as he fondly called by his supporters was only Governor that retained his seat under AD party after 2003 April polls. There were many cacophony that presumed his victory. Was it the war staged against him by OBJ or Afenifere Group? While OBJ tried using Bucknor Akerele Kofoworola, the then TINUBU's deputy to wrestle Alausa seat from the latter in 2002, Afenifere was battling him on supremacy and Toronto certificate saga was booming. It was this course that cost Bucknor her seat let alone being JAGABAN's running mate in 2003. TINUBU's victory was also hinged on his refusal to join parley made at Ijebu Igbo between Afenifere, OBJ and other AD governors.

Immediately after 2003 polls it was done on OBJ to bring TINUBU under umbrella of PDP but this was  futile for OBJ and this degraded to a point that OBJ refused to give fiscal honour to TINUBU's 37 LCDA. It was on this note that JAGABAN had more sympathisers in the public.

Moreover, in order to register his political hegemony in South West being the financier in the zone, he broke away from AD controlled by Afenifere to form Action Congress ......................equation (I)

When 2007 looked like his political exit from Alausa, he quickly put up armour of Knight in SW zone political chess board. While many would have expected Jide Idris or Femi Pedro to succeed him, he brought in Fashola, a man whose identity was unknown to Lagos political farm. He extended this to other states in the zone and Edo State.

His choice of candidate always based on public perceived credibility and integrity.................this is equation (II).

Initially, this equation could not work in Lagos due to OBJ vested interest in the state. Many might want to know reason for OBJ obsession, this was not far from IGR. Lagos annual IGR is second to Federal government, times 4 of state next to Lagos on the list, times 3 of annual budget of many states and even more than some African countries annual budget. This made OBJ quest to add Lagos to his purview. Since perceived candidate of PDP was Funsho Williams, the man who gathered over 600 thousands votes in 2003 to come second, it was a readymade lost battle for ASIWAJU. Surprisingly, Funsho departure to another world beyond earth planet cleared way for PROJECT FASHOLA 2007. 

Equation (III) .............. the enemy of your enemy is your friend......
 

To be continued next week...... 

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OBTAINING AND MAINTAINING.
It is a common saying that it is easier to obtain success than to maintain
it, this will lead me to success management psyche of our current ruling
party.
Barely after 12days in power and about 70days of victory at the poll, APC
has been acting like a house boy that suddenly found himself overnight as a
king. They started with fear of governance premised on lamentation from all
ranks and files in their fold and this was followed by tussles of who get
what. This has not only affected direction of governance but putting their
enormous earned trust from electorates in doubtful flight.
While many would have expected them to hit the ground running after sworn
in, the power made horses have been barriers, for instance a serious and
sensitive position like SFG is yet to be.


Another spilled milk cry in their camp was the aftermath of law of karma
that surfaced in National Assembly on Tuesday. The Tambuwal seed planted by
ACN in the green chamber 2011 would not have germinated if the
horse-traders have been sincere and selfless. In Nigeria's political space,
we cannot jettison zoning along tribes and religions due to our making as
a nation. So the zoning arrangement turned down by APC for leadership of
National Assembly caused them to swallow same bitter pills they earlier
dispensed to PDP. As it stands today we have two major religions (Islamic
and Christianity), six geo-political zones and six major seats (President,
VP, Senate President, Speaker, CJN and SFG), thus any action not to
accommodate all these will spell doom of imbalance.
To many who are blaming the President, Buhari became neutral to who get
what in legislative arm when earlier scheme got twisted by some APC leaders
who have started scripting Buhari's end before his beginning (2019
supremacy). It was formerly North Central for Senate and North East for
speaker but when TINUBU discovered that his candidate George Akume whom he
presented as a christian to balance religion side of the coin will not be
able to outwit Bukola Saraki, he realigned and scuttled zoning. My question
is how could South west occupied two major seats, VP and Speaker, it seems
they wanted to toll last regime path where VP and Speaker came from North
West.

To this end, I will advise APC to appreciate what happened as a good note
to have power sharing balance, so to maintain the lacuna SFG should go to
South East and CJN to South South. Secondly, it is a big lesson for all
that evils men do live with them, Gbajabiamila as a case study.
Thirdly, APC should start learning what it takes to be a ruling party and
drop this syndrome of not conceding defeat, as leadership election does out
hold outside floor of the house.
Also, key players in APC should not forget they have five blocks, CPC, ACN,
ANPP, APGA and New PDP so they should give room for fair play ground in all
their decisions.

However, if this APC's tussle plunge into cracks and crises, it will not be
different from most jackpot winners who later turned bankrupt.
Let me leave you with my earlier testament, success is easier to obtain
than to maintain.

God help my country.



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Buhari's regime and hands of clock

It is a truism that uneasy lies head that wears crown, Buhari has 208 weeks or better put as 1461 days due to a leap year in his regime to fulfil all his glamorous promises to Nigerians. As time waits for no man, he has spent 10days in office since May 29th, 2015.

Here are summary of events so far; on his first day he made a quote from Eric Bordon that he belong to everybody and belong to nobody though committed plagiarism for not referenced the author. My call to his writers and editors is to be careful as this can paint us badly in global scene. Also, on same day he directed our national military command centre to relocate to Maiduguri. While this sound good to many but its demerits will outweigh its merits. It is quite primitive against what is obtainable in current 21st century war against terrorism. To me moving national command centre to insurgent zones that cover 16 out of 774 LGAs is unjustifiable. It is of no duobt that this act will boost our gallant soldiers morale but what will happen to our national surveillance. Secondly, it is a primitive approach as what is require to fight today 's war is sophisticated weapons and intelligence for effective operational strategies and executions not physical presence of high rank officials.

On day two, it was reported that both President and VP have fulfil one of their campaign pledges by making public declaration of their assets. Meanwhile it was only made to code of conduct bureau not public and it was not different from previous occupants. Surprisingly, Garba Sheu came after 8 days to retract his word that they will make it public after verification. I think this came as a result of dust raised by some of us, they should stop playing on our intelligence on moral issue like this. Finally, on second day Buhari got a plus by directing agencies not to stop anyone from moving out of the country which anchored on his inaugural speech that the past is prologue.

Last sunday was third day, while we are all clamouring for slim government, Buhari appointed 2 spokesmen for same speaking job and a State Chief of Protocol. My question is why wastage again?
The fourth day was a pointer to his seriousness about fighting insurgent by meeting with GEJ's National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki. He later proceeded to meet other service chiefs on the following day.
The fifth day also witnessed request made to National Assembly for the approval of 15 Special Advisers as it seems the logjam in ministerial appointment will delay his ministers probably till end of July when house will resume after recess for Ramadan.
Between wednesday and Friday, Buhari moved to Chad and Niger so as to ask for support against insurgency. This was the same act he condemned when Jonathan did it and one of his boys said then that Jonathan's visit to Chad was to strike more. Truly what goes around comes around, you cannot fight insurgency who capitalised on cross-borders lapses without cooperation from neighbour countries.

On saturday, we had APC mock elections for National Assembly leadership, an act many believed was schemed to favour a written script by APC stalwart in South west
Today Sunday, Buhari flew to Germany for G7 summit.

For as many that are saying we should be patient with Buhari, here is my take; Buhari has been jostling for 12years to become president so he supposed to have been familiar with our terrain of governance as he was the only aspired person to get the seat since 1979 against his predecessors who got it without aspiration. As at today no clear cut decision has been made concerning other sectors, with fuel scarcity and hike price looming, power sector been understudy as he claimed in his inaugural speech, withdrawal of corrupt charges against Sylva Timpere, Boko Haram had 8 attacks with about 300 hundred deaths within 7days which tantamount to be the highest in this year and two different attacks by Fulani herdsmen are food for thought.

Candidly, we don't expect miracle as governance is not supernatural but governance is firstly measure by actions and steps, any attempt to take us through experimental governance will only undermine our high expectations.
I hereby wish Buhari safe landing.

God bless Nigeria.

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LAMENTATIONS AGAINST HIGH EXPECTATIONS

I will like to adhere to my earlier stand on our incoming government epistles of lamentation gushing out on daily basis. Let me call their attention to what now seems obvious to them in the wake of their enthronement are main reasons some Nigerians voted for them. If it had been rosy we wouldn't have been part of their orchestrated change to offset the incumbent.
So, they should remember that Nigerians expectations have been raised by
their campaign promises with bad pictures they have portrayed the outgoing
government.
Therefore, all these sermons of outgoing government's failure preaching to our ears by the incoming will remain baseless for our highly raised hopes to be dashed.
Indeed they need our support but standing on premises of failure of outgoing government as reasons for non-actualizing their promised hopes will tantamount to their improper homework or misleading odyssey.
At this point, era of campaigning is over, so they should put on their thinking caps and stop demonizing the outgoing government.



Finally, our expectation should not be cut off, come tomorrow, May 29th,
2015, there should be no more excuses but actions to salvage our nation.



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This rubbish must stop

The untold hardship from current fuel scarcity and complete power outage is becoming unbearable for Nigerians. Transport fares have tripled due to selfish fuel price, no fuel to power generator and electricity supply is tending to zero.
If all these are happening on altar of politics, then these game players should have a rethink.
My two sides of a coin to this issue are; is either the outgoing government want to punish Nigerians for rejection at the polls by making this a migraine for incoming or the incoming want to gain political advantage by evil collaboration with these sectors stakeholders so as to end the outgoing government in frustration.
I strongly believed that oil market operators cannot be holding entire nation into ransom without any of these two scenarios above.

Also, it seems oil market operators are scare of subsidy removal, so they want to make undue gains because the said money owing them by outgoing government can still be paid for by the incoming. It is FG of Nigeria debt not a regime's debt.
In fact, with Ifeanyi Ubah's action today, it is clear that the whole scheme is sabotage. There is no subsidy on AGO called diesel yet is also scarce. We have fuel in stock and marketers are misinformed the general public that they don't have money to import fuel, woe unto them.

I will suggest strict measure to be taking against these oil market operators excesses to avoid this ugly situation resurfacing in future.
To GEJ, he must do everything possible to solve this scarcity so as to earn complete praise for conceding defeat.

However, anyone bringing on us this untold hardship through this artificial scarcity will not know peace.

God bless Nigeria

This mess must stop

The untold hardship from current fuel scarcity and complete power outage is becoming unbearable from Nigerians. Transport fares have tripled due to selfish fuel price, no fuel to power generator and electricity supply is tending to zero.
If all these are happening on altar of politics, then these game players should have a rethink.
My two sides of a coin to this issue are; is either the outgoing government want to punish Nigerians for rejection at the polls by making this a migraine for incoming or the incoming want to gain political advantage by evil collaboration with these sectors stakeholders so as to end the outgoing government in frustration.
I strongly believed that oil market operators cannot be holding entire nation into ransom without any of these two scenarios above.

Also, it seems oil market operators are scare of subsidy removal, so they want to make undue gains because the said money owing them by outgoing government can still be paid for by the incoming. It is FG of Nigeria debt not a regime's debt.

I will suggest strict measure to be taking against these oil market operators excesses to avoid this ugly situation resurfacing in future.
To GEJ, he must do everything possible to solve this scarcity so as to earn complete praise for conceding defeat.

However, anyone bringing on us this untold hardship through this artificial scarcity will not know peace.

God bless Nigeria

The timing is wrong, when the state is struggling to pay active workers and pensioners, this is wasting of scarce resources. I think AMAECHI want to exhaust his claimed N1billion monthly savings.

networkrecharg:
Following the 2015 RISIEC Declaration conduct a free, fair and credible elections without violence for 22 LGA Chairmen and 300 Councils of Rivers State. Curfew has been declared as floows:
Friday 22/05/2015 restriction of movements From 10pm to 6am (Next Day)
Saturday 23/05/2015 restriction from 9.00am to 6.00pm.
The police has promised adequate security throughout before, during and after the elections....Police PRO Akpo Mohammed
RISIEC has advised all voters to move towards the their polling units. Isirim Ovu advised RISIEC to conduct a free and fair elections against the war in the previous general election. The previous gobernoetorial elections was seen by rivers people as a war where 93 people where killed and accusing fingers pointed at the PDP agent and thugs
Amaechi, who spoke with newsmen at the Government House in Port Harcourt, said since RISIEC was acting according to the law, there should be nothing to stop council elections in Rivers.
It will be recalled that the state electoral commission had announced that local government elections would hold on May 23, 2015.
But the state Peoples Democratic Party has kicked against the announcement by RISIEC, saying the commission did not give 90 days notice as prescribed by the law.
However, Amaechi argued that since the PDP was not comfortable with RISIEC’s decision to hold council elections, the party should go to a state High Court.
Amaechi cautioned that only the state High court would entertain such a matter, adding that a Federal High Court has no jurisdiction on matters concerning local government elections.
“If they are complying with the law then they are in order, if they are not complying with the law then they (PDP) should go to the State High Court and stop it.
“If they go to the Federal High Court, they should know that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction and I hope that everybody will be careful this time because the Federal Government will be serious with anybody who decides to manipulate the system,” the governor said.
Amaechi reasoned that the elections would allow the electorate to choose who would govern them, maintaining that the people of the state were not allowed to choose thier leaders in the 2015 general election.
“You know in the last (general) elections, the people did not choose who will govern them. But this time, the people will be allowed to choose who will govern them as chairmen of council and councillors.
“I don’t see how they can stop the local government council elections from going on,” Amaechi added.
The governor dismissed claims that the All Progressives Congress was having internal wranglings over ministerial appointments and pointed out that the party had yet to conclude on the matter.
He said, “There has not been any crisis whatsoever since the elections. There has been only one meeting that was held that has to do with zoning of offices and they said the elders should go and zone the offices and the elders are yet to return to the party. So all you are hearing are speculations.”
He agreed with the position of President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), that ministerial appointees must declare their assets.
“They (ministerial appointees) don’t have any choice. If you want to serve in the new administration you will have to abide by the rule to publicly declare your assets,” Amaechi said.
abide IN PEACE

The timing is wrong, when the state is struggling to pay active workers and pensioners, this is wasting of scarce resources. I think AMAECHI want to exhaust his claimed N1billion monthly savings.

Buhari's victory: A tale of marriages of strange bedfellow

While many Nigerians are still basking in the euphoria of Buhari's victory with high sense of hope that there are better days ahead come May 29th, 2015. The political scene makers are already losing sleep on how they will remain relevant and reap fruits of their political labour. In fact, we don't need a rocket scientist to deduce that Buhari's emergence was as a result of political differential calculus played out on masses desirous needs. GMB has contested before even against his current team manager, OBJ, likewise against OBJ's wish in 2007 and 2011. The same things against TINUBU's wish in 2011, as ASIWAJU romance JONATHAN against the his party candidate.

It is not far fetch that there is no permanent enemy in political sphere but how long will these marriages last? Records have shown that OBJ's political marriages rarely last; his honeymoon with Yaradua in 2007 quickly hit rock when the latter refused to get network from the OTA farmer. It was so bad that some of OBJ's boys like EL-RUFAI, RIBADU and co could not step on Nigerian soil.
The death of President Ensure as it was fondly called led to another marriage with JONATHAN, the honeymoon was predefined to be a single term plus left over of ENSURE. But it was rushed to divorcement at the midway. Another local honeymoon was with BURUJI, whom OBJ used to polarise OGD's influence but now turned sour and no one know how this will end. My take here is why OBJ's political brides are always allow barbed wire fence stand in their relationship or his OBJ not a lovely political husband?

Currently, most surprising panorama are these newly marriages of OBJ and BUHARI, OBJ and TINUBU, TINUBU and BUHARI that gave birth to GMB's victory. I put it to you all, how long will these marriages of strange bedfellow be again and what would a common man stand to benefit? Secondly, these marriages will be standing on many terms and conditions like single term pact, so any digression can lead to another political somersault. Thirdly, will OBJ ever allow TINUBU to govern NIGERIA has been purported by some quarters who witnessed the matrimonial oath undertaking event?
Already OBJ has submitted master plan to BUHARI to serve as compass 101 while TINUBU is tailoring those that will work with BUHARI.

It won't be easy for BUHARI to satisfy two grooms with his siblings (NORTH) endless list of relevance.

May God help NIGERIA.



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According to a Norway's proverb that says necessity teaches naked woman how to knit. The blame game foundation laying by incoming government should stop for them to put on their thinking caps for us to move on.
The downturn in our economy will require our incoming managers to wear double layers of boxing gloves for us to really win. From fuel subsidy to power supply epilepsy, oil price to uncertain revenue and high cost of governance to high rising debt, truly this is a boxing ring adventure for incoming policy makers.
Nigeria has been treading on a risky path of importing fuel, what if our foreign sellers refuse to sell or ban like Iran? Then where do we turn. We are just synonymous to hunter who roast not what he gets from game but selling to mama-put that will curry it and sell higher. Removing fuel subsidy is good but it will have negative impact on citizens purchasing power if we cannot refine locally. For instance, USA has over 140 refineries meeting above their daily needs but here our 4 refineries with installed capacity of 445,000bpd are currently performing below 11%. The puzzle here is that how much is the little locally refined oil and who are the users or is there subsidy on it as well. We have had series of TAM (turn around maintenance) with no result. An effective TAM on our refineries will gulp about $8.5billion but where is the fund? It is high time we allowed private hands in this sector for us to gain. Nigeria is the highest producer of crude oil in Africa with daily consumption of about 40million litres of PMS(petrol). The implication of this is that we are just succeeding in exporting jobs that would have catered for millions of unemployed people to these countries where importing from. Ordinarily, oil price should not be making us to lose sleep if we are refining locally as over 200 products can be derived from this process. Singapore has no oil but running many refineries.
On this note, stopping subsidy and making our refineries to work at the same time will be like standing between deep blue sea and devil. So Buhari should strike balance.


Another attribute of a hunter that Nigeria is demonstrating is killing everything will get. As hunter will always kill any prey that come his way forgetting days where there might be none. We have had about 35 years work experience in spending without investing a dime.
Our recurrent expenditure always outweigh capital folds with 3 to 4 agencies doing the same task. Even monthly security vote(nearly half a billion) for governors is cancerous to development. With this current whopping sky scraping cost of governance draining our uncertain revenue, must we have 42 ministers when USA is less than 15, or why all the specials from states to federal; assistants, advisers and aides. I think we need more than moral justice to lean down our spending. However, this is another herculean task for Buhari to battle, as trimming ministers might contravene federal character laws that says each state must be represented. What a clime we have found ourselves?

The probing gospel of incoming government is another relay race with many batons. This is from revisiting old probe reports to electoral malpractices in selected states. We have had series of all these exercises in futility before, just a flashback to Oputa panel. Buhari will only be taking serious if he revisit all past probing reports such as Haliburton, Seimen, Power, COJA, CBN vs Lamido, fuel subsidy, and so on. Thus any selective war will be taking as sentimental injustice against the outgoing government or a particular region. On electoral probe, if Buhari thinks 2015 election was only free and fair at his winning base it means he is either dancing to tune of his party stalwarts from the lost base or he is being economical with the truth. The road that led him to power was not absolute, what can we deduce from a state that recorded no invalid or cancelled votes but roasting of REC and his family with another state governor reportedly torn result sheet.
Although going this way might not be wrong but do we have laws that will recover the exact stolen amount or jail electoral offender. My candid take is that Buhari should be mindful of resources and time that will be gulped by this probing adventure with loopholes in our law system. He should also remember that election is extremely costly in Nigeria, for him to take loan for just a form and those who funded his victory are part of these probes. As election is win in this clime by hook, crook and cheque book, will these sponsors not request back for their dollars?

To another integrity litmus test, population census will be another arduous task in 2016, considering our slim purse with inconclusive one in 2006 by OBJ we might embark on high spree borrowing adventure. The question is will Buhari stand on his integrity to conduct transparent and realistic census, for it is only in this clime that growth in coastland will be lesser than sahara.

Also, the unseriousness and laziness of some state governors should be of concern to our incoming managers. There is no truism that some states are not economically viable, Nigeria is so blessed with many resources and each state has pecuilar comparative advantage. It is just laziness and over-dependence on federal allocation that is causing their current failure. They should start thinking inwardly and stop enshrine policies of wastage and loans on white elephant project. In today state management, governors control two treasuries; the state and local, there is no governance in our local government again in our nation since 2003.
Therefore, Buhari should not embrace their baseless excuses.

Also, we have not been serious in diplomatic marriages. We are playing big brother roles in our continent and enslaving our nationhood in the hands of Western and Asian world. We dole out contracts without serious responsibility from these foreign parties that will benefit common man. We expose our citizens to ridiculous labour laws in the hands of foreign employers all in the name industrialisation for job creation. Some of these foreign employers are paying Nigerians in Nigeria 1% of what they will pay as salary in their lands with no corporate social responsibility to show us. Apart from salary, they also subjecting them some inhumane tasks. While in some lands you can't even run business without making their citizens priority. The last straw that broken horse back was recent contract awarded to China by FG, it was learnt that it will be the China greatest world contract so far. In fact, we gave it out without any CSR or technology transfer attached. Buhari, please check all these countries romancing you very well, we can't continue this way.

To wrap it up here, Buhari should not compromise to touch all the untouchables that are masquareding change with him, as any act of partial justice like jailing Isaac and putting Ishmael in house arrest(Ekwueme vs Shagari) will not go well. All these impediments are present in the boxing ring for Buhari to battle.

May God help Buhari and his government.

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According to a Norway's proverb that says necessity teaches naked woman how to knit. The blame game foundation laying by incoming government should stop for them to put on their thinking caps for us to move on.
The downturn in our economy will require our incoming managers to wear double layers of boxing gloves for us to really win. From fuel subsidy to power supply epilepsy, oil price to uncertain revenue and high cost of governance to high rising debt, truly this is a boxing ring adventure for incoming policy makers.
Nigeria has been treading on a risky path of importing fuel, what if our foreign sellers refuse to sell or ban like Iran? Then where do we turn. We are just synonymous to hunter who roast not what he gets from game but selling to mama-put that will curry it and sell higher. Removing fuel subsidy is good but it will have negative impact on citizens purchasing power if we cannot refine locally. For instance, USA has over 140 refineries meeting above their daily needs but here our 4 refineries with installed capacity of 445,000bpd are currently performing below 11%. The puzzle here is that how much is the little locally refined oil and who are the users or is there subsidy on it as well. We have had series of TAM (turn around maintenance) with no result. An effective TAM on our refineries will gulp about $8.5billion but where is the fund? It is high time we allowed private hands in this sector for us to gain. Nigeria is the highest producer of crude oil in Africa with daily consumption of about 40million litres of PMS(petrol). The implication of this is that we are just succeeding in exporting jobs that would have catered for millions of unemployed people to these countries where importing from. Ordinarily, oil price should not be making us to lose sleep if we are refining locally as over 200 products can be derived from this process. Singapore has no oil but running many refineries.
On this note, stopping subsidy and making our refineries to work at the same time will be like standing between deep blue sea and devil. So Buhari should strike balance.


Another attribute of a hunter that Nigeria is demonstrating is killing everything will get. As hunter will always kill any prey that come his way forgetting days where there might be none. We have had about 35 years work experience in spending without investing a dime.
Our recurrent expenditure always outweigh capital folds with 3 to 4 agencies doing the same task. Even monthly security vote(nearly half a billion) for governors is cancerous to development. With this current whopping sky scraping cost of governance draining our uncertain revenue, must we have 42 ministers when USA is less than 15, or why all the specials from states to federal; assistants, advisers and aides. I think we need more than moral justice to lean down our spending. However, this is another herculean task for Buhari to battle, as trimming ministers might contravene federal character laws that says each state must be represented. What a clime we have found ourselves?

The probing gospel of incoming government is another relay race with many batons. This is from revisiting old probe reports to electoral malpractices in selected states. We have had series of all these exercises in futility before, just a flashback to Oputa panel. Buhari will only be taking serious if he revisit all past probing reports such as Haliburton, Seimen, Power, COJA, CBN vs Lamido, fuel subsidy, and so on. Thus any selective war will be taking as sentimental injustice against the outgoing government or a particular region. On electoral probe, if Buhari thinks 2015 election was only free and fair at his winning base it means he is either dancing to tune of his party stalwarts from the lost base or he is being economical with the truth. The road that led him to power was not absolute, what can we deduce from a state that recorded no invalid or cancelled votes but roasting of REC and his family with another state governor reportedly torn result sheet.
Although going this way might not be wrong but do we have laws that will recover the exact stolen amount or jail electoral offender. My candid take is that Buhari should be mindful of resources and time that will be gulped by this probing adventure with loopholes in our law system. He should also remember that election is extremely costly in Nigeria, for him to take loan for just a form and those who funded his victory are part of these probes. As election is win in this clime by hook, crook and cheque book, will these sponsors not request back for their dollars?

To another integrity litmus test, population census will be another arduous task in 2016, considering our slim purse with inconclusive one in 2006 by OBJ we might embark on high spree borrowing adventure. The question is will Buhari stand on his integrity to conduct transparent and realistic census, for it is only in this clime that growth in coastland will be lesser than sahara.

Also, the unseriousness and laziness of some state governors should be of concern to our incoming managers. There is no truism that some states are not economically viable, Nigeria is so blessed with many resources and each state has pecuilar comparative advantage. It is just laziness and over-dependence on federal allocation that is causing their current failure. They should start thinking inwardly and stop enshrine policies of wastage and loans on white elephant project. In today state management, governors control two treasuries; the state and local, there is no governance in our local government again in our nation since 2003.
Therefore, Buhari should not embrace their baseless excuses.

Also, we have not been serious in diplomatic marriages. We are playing big brother roles in our continent and enslaving our nationhood in the hands of Western and Asian world. We dole out contracts without serious responsibility from these foreign parties that will benefit common man. We expose our citizens to ridiculous labour laws in the hands of foreign employers all in the name industrialisation for job creation. Some of these foreign employers are paying Nigerians in Nigeria 1% of what they will pay as salary in their lands with no corporate social responsibility to show us. Apart from salary, they also subjecting them some inhumane tasks. While in some lands you can't even run business without making their citizens priority. The last straw that broken horse back was recent contract awarded to China by FG, it was learnt that it will be the China greatest world contract so far. In fact, we gave it out without any CSR or technology transfer attached. Buhari, please check all these countries romancing you very well, we can't continue this way.

To wrap it up here, Buhari should not compromise to touch all the untouchables that are masquareding change with him, as any act of partial justice like jailing Isaac and putting Ishmael in house arrest(Ekwueme vs Shagari) will not go well. All these impediments are present in the boxing ring for Buhari to battle.

May God help Buhari and his government.

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It has been said that spectators will never know how pitch pinched the players until they become ball kickers, if not they will keep on using their mouths to mirage goals. We don't need a rocket science to interpret current economy epistle of Nigeria, so it is a crystal clear that all is not rosy. From backlog of salaries owed by many states to uncertainty of oil revenue with 100% importation married with devaluation of naira, it seems overnight promised change might not be feasible as prophesied by BUHARI and his party. To me APC and BUHARI should come out plain and explain reality of things to Nigerians against earlier fantasies instead of passing buck to outgoing/previous government. According to Thomas Jefferson that honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom, thus hanging on the previous failures as excuse of not being able to deliver speedy change will make people start doubting the incoming government. This might not only cause distrust but indicate lack of proper homework from BUHARI and his party who have not started but already taking reverse on their lofty changes such as manifesto is not Bible or Quaran, not a miracle worker, change cannot come overnight and so on. Truly, expectations of Nigerians have been astronomically heightened by their campaign promises but Nigerians can still lend them time.

To me this is not campaign time it is time for real business, so pinpointing holes again will be like treading the old path of previous leaders who solely attributed their failures to colonial masters and predecessors. Some theorists say will need clear picture of the past for the future to be coiled from the present but Nigerians are aware of the past and the present is not strange from them. So let all these noises about past and outgoing government errors stop for us to move on. For BUHARI to be quoting 16 years of PDP as failure, it means he has quickly forgotten the likes of OBJ, ATIKU, G5 and others who were parts of architects of these woes but now king makers in his camp. Let me leave that for another day.
To cap it here, I strongly believe in this project called Nigeria, so the incoming government should apologise to Nigerians for their unrealistic proposals before we start thinking that they are taking us for a ride. Nigerians are ready to support them for a better Nigeria.


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My simple reflection on different drama staged in Nigeria at this last Workers' day popularly called MAY DAY is quite from another prism.
To be candid, dignity of labour has either completely or almost faded away in our dear nation, NIGERIA. Some people posited that we only have labourers not workers again. This year MAY DAY witnessed the lowest turnout in the past 10 years due to groaning of many public servants whose economy downtime have reached depth below sea level. This resulted from grave insensitivity of some governors who delighted in blame game with Federal allocation against their solely responsibilities. While some states are paying half of actual salary, others are grossly owing three, five to six months. This is quite heartless and misgovernance in its entirety. My big question to these self seeking politicians is that are these governors' aides, commissioners, wives and so called legislathieves not collecting their monthly take home at due time.
The most surprising thing is that their workers cannot even stage any protest to press for their statutory demand let alone embark on strike. WHY? Labour leaders were already bought over or designed puppets of these governors. If all these could be happening to a green tree what will be the hope of dried tree, the PENSIONERS.
For a governor to have the effrontery publicly to justify reason for owing workers five months salaries and another one beautifully promising to pay pensioners who earn below N10000 their 13 months owed allowances signals a national worry for well meaning Nigerians.
Why many would have expected these to reflect outcomes of elections held in these states but reverse were the cases. However, kudos to some states, Ekiti voted out Fayemi and Benue voted against the wish of Suswan for Ortom to emerge, workers treatment played vital role here. But in a state like Osun where the incumbent governor woke up from slumber to pay workers 3 months owed salaries at eve week to guber polls and still won included subsequent elections, or other states where campaign funds were prioritised against workers' welfare for 3 months. I know many will want to disagree that percentage of public servants has no effect on election's outcome. But note its ripple effect, public servants have largest chunk of house rent payers, public transport passengers, common man market buyers, parents of students and unemployed youth, the list is endless. So when their wallets are tending to zero its effect cut across common man board.

To this end, I want concerned citizens to justify why an ex-governor should owned property worth 700million naira in Abuja as gratuity with another having N100million medical allowance as pension, why politicians should be collecting severance allowances as exit package, why life pension for people who served the nation for 4 or 8 years? why offices of first ladies keep getting about N30 million as monthly travelling allowances in some states? why states government policies cannot generate revenues but always serve as conduit pipes?

When will partisanship stop beclouding sincerity in governance and dignity will return to public service.

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My Dear people of Ekiti, it is high time we rose up against all political odds that about to give us a bad world record; a state where same governor will be impeached twice.
We should remember that we have toiled this part before and the cost became unbearable. We had about three to four governors in 3 years, first state to have state of emergency in SW, non indigene as governor, guber polls with run off election, 13:13 lawmakers saga, death tolls of citizens and worst more.
All these happened through external forces that feasted on our impatience, ignorance and hatred.
According to Groucho Marx, "Politics is the act of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it correctly and applying the wrong remedies". This is a clarion call to the two warring camps to reconsider their current actions and further steps.

Let us recall that Genesis of this current tide started when Fayemi accepted defeat and his party acted vice versa, when judiciary revisited eligibility suit to frustrate peoples' mandate, when Speaker Omirin prophesied to be Acting Governor, when governance issues were abandoned by APC lawmakers.
All these led to factional speakers (7>19), shutdown of legislative roles, minority ratifying cabinet and budget, unbecoming adverts and prophecies against GMB by Fayose.

Now impeachment gate, Ekiti, land of honour and knowledge, evil must not happen again on this land.
Let all stakeholders put hands on desk to savage our state from this disgrace. Both parties should put away partisanship for democracy to benefit Ekiti people. Fayose might have committed fouls while Omirin and his party might not be absolutely right.
Allowing external forces to decide our fortunes again will do us more harms than good.

Please let peace reign.

Long live Ekiti,
Long live Nigeria

[quote author=BestGovernance post=32571655]Today is another D-Day in our political testimonial, therefore let allow peace to reign in all our dealings.

Please before you cast your vote note this word of Mark Twain; "Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often and for the same reason".
Records have it that no second time crusaders perform than their first time. They use 2nd term to recoup interest of their 1st term's service. They became gods in their parties to the point of hijacking the whole structure. Their 2nd term turn people to servitude with nothing dey happen boldly written on their foreheads.
Just to mention a few, compare 1st term to 2nd term of Fashola, Mimiko, Aregbesola, Suswan, Adams, Aliyu, Rotimi, the rest is endless if we start from 1999. While they do hide under the guise of continuity to deceive us and forgetting that these states will outlive them, projects belong to state and policy that is for good will remain good. Continuity in our Political landscape has remained deceit and deficit, so let us be guided and put away partisanship.
If we can be determined to have good governance then only give them one chance and show them red card. Any ongoing project in your state that is meant for good living of citizens cannot be abandoned by anyone that will be dreaming 2nd term.
So let power change hand in your state for good governance to be enormous.
Familitrocracy and frendocracy should stop by your vote today as no political party is different from other, same people with different tags. Remember politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often and for the same reason.



God bless Nigeria,

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Let The Wind Of Change Blow Again