₦airaland Forum

hum

Gen Buhari, what is this copy paste about?

i just saw this on fb
OPEN LETTER TO THE NIGERIA INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE

The love i have for my country makes me to feel concern and the desire to have a country we can boldly call our own push me to put my pen on paper. I write to you, the Inspector General of Police. I am sure you are aware of the facts contained in this letter, they are not new, they are notorious but ignored.

The majority of the recruited police officers in this country are semi illiterate, who can hardly speak simple English, who are ignorant of every necessary law that are related and affects the job of policing. The crop of police officers you have recruited do not know their left from right, let alone the awareness to respect the fundamental rights of the citizens of this country.

The police officers you breed for this country use gun carelessly and kill innocent souls unjustifiably. The students of this country are mostly the victim. For what purpose is the Nigeria Police established? The rate of extrajudicial killing courtesy of Nigeria Police is alarming, if something urgent is not done to rebrand the Nigeria Police, it will commit the highest murder (extra judicial killing) in 2014.

It pains me! The low level of awareness of majority of police officers in Nigeria, most of who are semi illiterate, they are ignorant of law, yet this country waste its tax payers money on this dangerous species.

It is my advice that the country should not recruit in to the police except persons who are duly educated and worthy in character. The minimum requirement of NDE or NCE should be the criteria for recruiting persons in to Nigeria Police, the history and antecedent of every applicant should be scrutinized before they are recruited in to Nigeria Police and when the history of any person is dented and blur, such a person should never be recruited in to Nigeria police.

I still considered it as insufficient, the so called training that the Nigeria police undergo, the orientation of these police officers after the training reflect this.

I am of the opinion that henceforth, life ammunition should not be used to curb or suppress students’ protest again in Nigeria. Enough of extra judicial killing in this country!

The officers of Nigeria Police, most of them are not different from tout; therefore, urgent reorientation is needed to bring them to the level suitable for this country.

Since you are not unaware of the series of chaos and lawlessness that the unprofessional attitude of police has caused this country, I hope you will see from my perspective to quickly draft formula for rebranding the police force that we may have police force that is aware and respects human rights, who does not carelessly terminates human lives extra judicially.

Thank you,

Yours faithfully,

ABDULSALAM ABDULFATAH LIBERTY
NACONS, NATIONAL PRESIDENT
COLUMNIST AT NIGERIAN VOICE

YOU MAY BE RIGHT

the environment is already working as stated in the post, kidney transplant take place here with no any complain.

Rash, who is us or against you refer to in your post?

If you say OBJ or IBB institutionalized corruption in Nigeria, pls read Nzeogwu Kaduna's speech where he stated the reason for the Coup...

THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD, SEE PROVE.


PLACES OF WORSHIP
MOSQUE = 6 letters
CHURCH = 6 letters
TEMPLE = 6 letters

GOD ACCORDING TO THE RELIGION
ALLAH = 5 letters
JESUS = 5 letters
SHIVA = 5 letters

RELIGIOUS BOOK
QURAN = 5 letters
BIBLE = 5 letters
GEETA = 5 letters
ALSO...

This means that, Every one believes in just one thing, i.e, 6-5 = 1.
GOD IS THE SAME :::::

Copied from an unknown writer and rewritten into this form.

Jumah, Power of a sitting Governor? which governor? Na chief of Staff they ooo...

Amelian, na wa 4u oo

lol

Ll

Ll. Na a

Huh

lol...

you finish this guy oo

Tex, the hospitals doing it don't need phcn to get it done.. they have been doing it. the guy from unilorin would do his right here too..

The politician don't need donation to go abroad for their medication, my concern is if you have to seek for donation from Nigerians for the transplant, why can't you do the transplant here in Nigeria since we have competent hospitals?

Who Governs Kwara?

The relationship between Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki is generating a huge controversy as allegations are rife that the overbearing pressure of the Senator is hampering the running of Ahmed’s government and sustaining a massive legacy of corruption
By Oluwasegun Abifarin
I am a soldier, Bukola Saraki is the General and the Commander of the troop. As a soldier, I must simply obey my General wherever he directs me or whatever he directs me to do.” This was Ahmed in 2009, then the State Commissioner for Finance answering a reporter’s question in his GRA house in Ilorin on the allegation of being anointed by the then Governor, Bukola Saraki for the gubernatorial race.
When the whistle was finally blown for the People’s Democratic Party’s gubernatorial primary election in November 2010, Ahmed simply obeyed his Commander. He not only joined the race, he emerged as the only fighter in the ring, courtesy of Saraki who had allegedly intimidated other contestants to drop their gloves.
In the build-up to the primary election, Isa Bio, then a Minister of Sport, had, on the prodding of Saraki, resigned from his job, having been assured of the PDP ticket. Shuaib Abdulraheem Oba, a Professor and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, also riding on the assurance from Saraki, joined the race. The same assurance was given to Razak Atunwa, the then Commissioner for Works, who eventually emerged as the Speaker of the House of Assembly in 2011.
Twenty hours before the primaries, Saraki summoned an emergency meeting of PDP stakeholders, including the aspirants. After hours of waiting for him, he drove into the venue and announced to party chieftains who had surged forward to welcome him that “we have agreed to field Ahmed, and whoever is aggrieved can go to the primaries.” Meeting ended, and nobody was courageous to challenge the “Commander”, not even Oba, a Professor of Literary Criticism. The aftermath was fatal for Bio, who developed complications that led to stroke and he is yet to recover. Ahmed later carried the PDP flag and coasted to victory in the April 26, 2011 gubernatorial election, even against the wish of the Late Olusola Saraki, Bukola’s father and godfather, who wanted Gbemisola, Bukola’s sister, who carried the flag of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, floated by the elder Saraki.
Since Ahmed became governor two years ago, the magazine’s investigation revealed that he has remained a ‘committed and loyal soldier to his commander.’ Opposition elements insist that the governor was just in office for the past 24 months, but not in power. They cite instances of the governor rushing to the Ilorin airport to wait anytime the Senator is coming to town. They also alleged federal allocation to the state cannot be disbursed until the Senator arrives to give approval. The only time the governor made disbursement in his absence, the magazine learnt, almost led to a crisis. The disbursement order was reversed allegedly on the order of the former governor. Council officials across the State who spoke to the magazine lament the delay and the irrational disbursement.
The era of former Governor Lawal, they said, was glorious for local councils, when, even with little allocation, they can execute project without resort to the governor. “It is very sad indeed. To him he has a mandate to lead Kwara, but it has been in trust for Bukola. This is shameful. He is a King on mat while the man with the crown sits on the throne. He is the custodian of the treasury but the key is with his lord. He has the pen but must be instructed when and where to append his signature. The governor is not a king, but a king’s servant,” the Late Biodun Kolawole, a democracy activist and Secretary, Kwara Freedom Network, wrote in a press statement late last year.
In March last year, pensioners in the State jumped for joy when the State radio announced that the government was ready to pay the money deducted from their pension and gratuity by the Saraki’s administration. The joy was short-lived when the government reversed the decision allegedly on the order of the former governor.
The pensioners had gone to court to challenge the decision of the government to deduct 50 per cent of their pension arrears, which is about N1.68 billion, for what Saraki’s government called “development project.” The State High Court ruled in favour of the government, but the aggrieved pensioners, under the aegis of Kwara State Concerned Pensioners, re-filed the suit at the Federal High Court, Ilorin and got a favourable judgement. Saraki’s government appealed the judgement, but lost at the Appellate Court. Dissatisfied, the government went to the Supreme Court, where the case has since been stuck.
Counsel to the pensioners, Tos Gbadeyan, accused Governor Ahmed of using delay tactics to obstruct justice to his clients. According to Abraham Aransiola, the Chairman of the Concerned Pensioners, the former governor deducted their money without their consent. He appealed to President Jonathan and the Chief Justice of the Federation to prevailed on Governor Ahmed to release the money.
A source in Kwara state government house also revealed that early in the life of Ahmed’s regime, some foreign investors came to Ilorin to meet the governor. After being ushered in to the governor’s office, for Ahmed to receive them, the investors caused a mild drama, when they insisted that Ahmed was not the governor they wanted to meet. They stood their ground until one of the governor’s aides suggested they should be taken to Saraki at the Presidential lodge, also inside the government house. “We know the governor....this is not the governor...the governor is one Dr...,” the source quoted them as saying.
“A fair assessment of this administration so far only confirms the fear of our people that Bukola’s choice of Ahmed was meant to achieve a third term through the backdoor,” Olayinka Erubu, a Youth leader in the State and Financial Secretary Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF told the magazine in Ilorin. Erubu points to the character of Ahmed’s cabinet to buttress his point, saying that almost all the Commissioners and principal officers were picked by the former governor. The magazine learnt authoritatively that only three slots were given to the governor. His Chief of Staff, Toyin Sanusi, was the Personal Assistant to the elder Saraki for many years.
Also, members and principal officers of the State House of Assembly were all loyalists of the former governor. The Speaker, Razak Atunwa was Saraki’s Commissioner for Works and was enthroned to put Ahmed in check. Other members of the House like Nimota Ibrahim, Ebun Owolabi, Moshood Bakare and Segilola Abdulkadir are also personal aides of the former governor.
Prince Sunday Fagbemi, Deputy Governorship candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC in the 2011 election insists that Ahmed’s regime is a third term of Bukola Saraki’s administration. He added that his emergence as governor was to cover the scandal of the previous regime. “ Fatah Ahmed is an offshoot of Saraki fraudulent government. They stole Kwara money together, as you can see, there is no project going on anywhere,” he told the magazine in Ilorin. Fagbemi, a former Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN State Chairman, added that Ahmed was chosen as a cover up for the former regime, insisting that Ahmed is never a governor and that Saraki is the defacto governor.
Also, while governors in other States are scheming for 2015, Ahmed dares not. The magazine learnt that before he finally got the party’s ticket, Ahmed, who hails from Share in Kwara South, agreed with Saraki not to seek re-election. Sources within the State PDP hinted the magazine that the former governor has zoned the 2015 ticket to Kwara North.
The choice of Ahmed, the magazine gathered, was largely informed by Saraki’s bid to cover the tracks of his eight year administration. Ahmed was a key figure in the regime, first as Finance Commissioner and later as Planning and Economic Development Commissioner. Not a few people believed the regime was corrupt and series of petition were sent to the anti-graft agencies. One of such petitions was written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in November 2011, by Kwara Freedom Network, KFN.
In the petition signed by the group’s Chairman, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, the KFN alleged that the eight years of Governor Bukola Saraki witnessed an unprecedented network of corruption in the history of Kwara State. “We at KFN, are not deceived as we know that the reason in the first place to make Abdul-Fatah Ahmed, the current governor, the successor to Dr. Bukola is simply to make the new government cover all the tracks leading to possible uncovering of the history of Bukola’s stealing. Our conviction is more reinforced by the fact that Fatai Ahmed has a long time worker-master relationship with Bukola Saraki dating back to Societe Generale Bank Plc jointly ruined by the duo,” the group said.
KFN alleged further that between May 2004 to May 2011, the State Government operated what is referred to as Kwara State Local Government Joint Project Account with Intercontinental Bank, PLC (now Access Bank) 24, Wahab Folawiyo Road, Ilorin. All the 16 Local Governments were made to undertake commitment to pay certain percentage of their allocation to the account, with the understanding that the state government will also pay certain percentage of its revenue to this account. While all the Local Government were faithful in their payments, the State Government was not. KFN said the amount deducted from the councils for this purpose in the 84 months is estimated at N8,389,539,14 Eight Billion, Three Hundred and (Eighty Nine Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Nine Thousand, and Fourteen Naira).
The opposition also alleged that as part of the legacy of corruption, Kwarans are still in the dark with regards to the content and in fact the status of the controversial pension package which the last House of Assembly gave Bukola. “It is on record that the so-called obnoxious pension bill was not publicly signed following the public outcry that trailed it. We support our people’s demand to know the status of this bill, and we are in fact requesting the Ahmed administration to confirm to our people whether the multibillion Naira mansion under construction at the tip of the Ahmadu Bello Way in Ilorin is among Bukola’s pension package,” the State ACN said at a press conference last year.
Many Kwarans are at loss as to why the anti-graft agencies refuse to act upon the petition against the former governor. “Bukola has no right walking about a free man, since he has no immunity again. The anti-graft agencies have enough document to prosecute him. Even though Ahmed has immunity, it does stop him being a prosecution witness. The governor is only immuned against being prosecuted, he can be invited to court to give testimony,” Fagbemi said.
Wahab Oba, Chief Press Secretary to the governor debunked all allegations against his boss. He insisted Ahmed is too intelligent to be pushed around by anybody whatsoever. He maintained that the governor is a very passionate and committed administrator who rose to the present position as a result of his diligence and brilliant performance in the previous administration. “The opposition elements are just looking for cheap popularity, the governor has been doing excellently in terms of his promises to the people in the areas of education, employment, infrastructure and health care. Ahmed is the only one holding the mandate of the people of Kwara and he is the only one to be held accountable,” Oba told the magazine.
Apart from Oba, many Kwarans also lambast the opposition for playing to the gallery. They blame the ACN particularly, for fielding Dele Belgore, perceived to be a wrong candidate, that led to the party’s loss at the 2011 election. They described Belgore as an inexperienced politician who lacks focus, commitment and sagacity to wrestle power from a strong political force like the Sarakis.
Yemi Afolayan, the State PDP Secretary told the magazine that “Kwara is one big family, and Senator Bukola Saraki is the leader. We are contented with the political structure under the leadership of Bukola Saraki.”
Akintoba Fatiregun, Saraki’s Media Assistant described the allegations against his boss as very incredible. “Everybody has his cross to carry, Bukola Saraki has his mandate to represent Kwara Central in the Senate, and he has been delivering on his mandate. He is not interfering in Kwara politics at all,” he said.
He equally dismissed the allegation of corruption against Saraki as a worn out thesis that lack substance.
Additional reports by Olawale Abideen.
http://www.thesourceng.com/coverstoryJune172013.htm

If you can not read this, go and read the transformation agenda of GEJ. fresh air

I do not intend to question where and why any would choose to do his or her kidney transplant anywhere they choose, but somebody of OJB status who require donation to raise the required sum in my opinion is suppose to do the transplant here since we have competent hospital and capable specialists.

I don't see any reason why the kidney transplant shouldn't be done in Nigeria since we have several successful transplant that had been done here in places like University of Ilorin teaching hospital, university of Benin teaching hospital etc.

Secondly as widely reported, a university of ilorin student named Lukman babatunde who also had kidney damage require similar transplant like oJB and he is presently undergoing dialysis at the UITH while his friends are trying to raise funds for his transplant.

I personally interacted with the specialist at the UITH and i was made to understand that the required fund for kidney transplant is N4million naira with additional N1million for post transplant care.

So, i ask again, why travel abroad for kidney transplant when it can be done here? why N16million when N5million can do it?

Note pls, the UITH had done successful transplant which was widely acclaimed even in recent time.

Why are you not interested in having multiple branches of your church?
No pastor can pastor two churches. God created nations and imaginations. Men devised denominations. To denominate is to divide, men did it for their own sake. I’m not saying it is wrong to plant churches. Latter Rain Assembly has missionaries in Morocco, Tunisia and in Sudan. And many people I have raised here planted churches. And I supported those ones. Every church planted must be self actualising. But what we have today is Macdonald franchising whereby we have seven churches belong to same organisation on the same street. It’s Macdonald franchise.
Do you believe you and Buhari could have won the election. And what impact could you have made?
That is now for people to analyse. Firstly, I do not see credibility in the 2011 general elections. It was not free and fair as Jonathan is claiming. And if it was, when Justice Salami ordered for the ballot papers to be brought to the tribunal, government said it will amount to security breach. They dismantled the tribunal, set up another one in the same court. That was the first time I saw a situation where the court, said they were not bound by the ruling of a previous tribunal. If they brought the ballot papers to court you would have seen that the election was highly rigged.
Another point was that CPC was registered few months before the general election. Within four months of registration, the party had 12 million votes. Even Obasanjo said that Buhari is a spirit, that it will take a spirit to gather such multitude in a short while. We did not have much presence in the South east as well as South west. But you know that Jonathan did not just win the election in the South west, but some people opened the door for him to win because they did not have their ways.
By the way, the first round of election was not favourable to Jonathan. That was why it was stopped. I remember that I received a call from one of my former lecturers who told me that, it was clear CPC is winning the election. They canceled it and hinged their action on short supply of ballot materials. They used the instrument of incumbency to stage-manage things. We had the opportunity to win the election. That was why people went to the streets because they believed they were robbed, but we never instigated anybody to go on rampage. In fact, we went to court to calm people down, assuring them that we will get justice in the court.
But people believed Buhari's statement before and after the election incited people into violence (cuts in)?
What was the statement. Can you say it. Rueben Abati said so, but he later recanted. In fact, Abati had to formally write us to apologise. What the retired General said in Hausa language is that if two elephants fight, the grasses will suffer. In other words, he was only telling them to line up and defend their votes. He did not ask them to go and burn places.
I remember one day, during electioneering, we were in Port Harcourt, Governor Rotimi Amaechi was there, and some traditional rulers. Somebody got up and said, we have a better chance and that if we didn’t win the election, it’s going to be bloody. That day, General Buhari swiftly responded that nothing will make it bloody because he’s not a bloody man.
When violence started after the election, many people started calling us, asking General Buhari to issue a statement to calm the tension. Late Owoye Azazi called me and I told him its not about me. I also wondered why President Jonathon said nothing until six days after the election because he has lost all moral spirit to say anything. I’m one of those who persuaded Buhari to speak before he made a statement pleading that people should sheath their sword. A day after the election, Buhari was coming from Katsina, the mob attaked him, and caused some damage to him. They did not know he was the one.
Former Minister El-Rufai once described Buhari as an unelectable presidential material. Could that be the reason why he lost the election?
Well, he must have his reason to say so. Perhaps, he has said so many good things about him. Why are you now singling that out? He said a lot of positive things about him.
Do you agree with the view that El-Rufai became an opposition element because he was unable to get what he wanted in Yar’Adua and Jonathan’s regimes?
I don’t know where you get your information, but I know El-Rufai was offered series of positions which he rejected. I’m aware Jonathan offered him a lot of position in government. He refused and he said he cannot work with PDP anymore. He said PDP has become a chicken that eats its own intestine.
Why do you think your fellow ministers of God and other Christians failed to support you during the 2011 election?
Where did you get your fact from. I can tell you some key leaders who did not only support us, but also gave me money to execute the project. Powerful pastors and notable Christians, including non Christians, muslim scholars and faithful, contributed in no small measure towards my political ambition.
People thought the leadership of CAN, PFN and other Christian bodies would have come out openly to support your aspiration (cuts in)
Which CAN? The CAN that has been rewarded with a private jet? Don’t forget Jesus himself said it in the Bible in John Chapter 6 verse 56 that many will depart from him and work with him no more. That’s Jesus. If they walk away from Jesus, who else can they be honest to? You should know that those who love darkness cannot play game with light. They are afraid of their selfish lives. That if Buhari and Bakare should emerge in the government, they will not be able to continue the waivers and excesses they are getting. That does not mean some of their key leaders did not support me. I can show you the video tape where Pastor Adeboye said that he’s happy that his son is now running that he prayed and did a lot of things in support. But many say one thing and do another.
But the same Adeboye prayed and anointed President Jonathan?
Look, you cannot stop a man of God from praying for anybody not even the president. The Bible says you must pray for those in authority of power. It doesn’t say how. Some will pray for them to perpetuate their rule while some will pray for them to go.
What is your view on the state of the nation. The build up to 2015 is already generating heat and the crisis in the Governors Forum is yet to abate?
I don’t react to such things. If Nigerian Governors cannot hold a simple election among themselves, I doubt if there is hope for the future of the country, except Nigerians take back their sovereignty from the hands of those who should be behind the bar. Because they have wrecked our nation and bastardised our infrastructural development. I have no comment in the show of shame that is going on in Nigerian Governors Forum.
But as far as 2015 is concerned, I still stand by my conviction that there would be election before 2015. I have seen the vision and I pray over it day and night.
Because if things continue like this to 2015. If God does not intervene in the affairs of the nation before 2015, we may just kiss Nigeria good bye. I tell you what I mean. The Northerners are saying that unless a northerner emerges as president, we would kiss Nigeria goodbye. The South south and Southeast say if Jonathan did not get renewal mandate, we should forget about Nigeria. So, we need God to intervene and help us before 2015. By the way, so that nobody will misunderstand me or say we are calling for a coup, if we must follow the question, then election must be held in 2014. The constitutional provision requires six month to run the election. I pray to God to intervene because I forsee desperate people who are ready to set the whole nation ablaze because of political ambition. We should pray fervently to God to save Nigeria from disintegration and save Nigerians from the hands of the devils in disguise. It was a lecture on one Sunday, and when the SSS came and asked if I was calling for a coup, I said they said so, not me. I gave them copy of the tape.
El-Rufai also wrote in his book that Obasanjo wanted to support Buhari in 2011. Were you aware?
I was aware. Obasanjo sent El-Rufai to Buhari and he came to me. I urged him to join CPC so that I can have a formidable team to boost the economy because the role of the Vice President is actually to run the economy of the nation. Obasanjo gave the condition if they can drop me and pick Okonjo-Iweala. We were in Transcorp Hilton. I was happy then because I have not filled the form. I told Buhari five reasons why he must allow Ngozi to be his running mate. But he said there is mischief down the road. Buhari does not trust Obasanjo. And truly the reason why he was fighting Jonathan was because Jonathan did not give his daughter Senatorial ticket. When the situation changed he reversed his decision. The man, Obasanjo is one of our problem in this country.
Do you ever regret working to ensure Jonathan became acting President?
I have never regretted my action because I did not do it for Jonathan, but I did it for constitutionality. And I will do it again even if it is a goat that is there? It’s a march to save Nigeria not anybody.
What is your impression about Obasanjo being the longest serving President in Nigeria?
I’m sure wherever Obasanjo sits now, he will sometimes reflect that he blew the opportunity to be the greatest Nigerian that ever lives. He would have gone down in history as a father of a great nation. But he was so concerned about being the father of modern Nigeria. And I said to people that modern schools were not good schools in those days. We want a new nation not a modern one. Obasanjo has been a lucky man all over his life. He did little compared to the likes of black scorpion, Benjamin Adekunle, a Colonel, who fought during the civil war. Yet he got a lot of accolades when Biafrans surrendered. Obasanjo did not participate in the 1975 coup that toppled Gowon, but he benefited from it. He became a deputy to Murtala Muhammed. He had the privilege to hand over in 1979 to a civilian administration. He was the first military Head of State to do so in our country. He became famous in the whole world. From there, Abacha put him in prison. Like Joseph, he was called out again to come and be the nation’s president where he reigned uninterruptedly for eight years. I have only met him twice in life. And whenever I see him now, I’m going to ask him a question. Who killed MKO Abiola? The reason to direct such question to him is simple. Because the only time IBB came back to the South after he fled to the North since he left power was the time he came to request Obasanjo to run for the president of Nigeria. And I understand all that happened. MKO paid for Obasanjo’s life. I still don’t believe MKO died a natural death. Later or sooner, the truth will be known. Obasanjo sabotaged the destiny of this nation by imposing the sick and the weak upon us. That was to retaliate on the entire nation that he was not given the opportunity of third term in office. Ever since they voted out the third term agenda, Obasanjo has never remained the same. He’s trying to bounce back now but let us see whether he will be able to fool us again.
How would you describe Christianity in Nigeria as regard to commercialisation of Christendom and the craze for private jets by pastors?
I don’t blame jet pastors. And I don’t blame anyone who commercialise Christianity. You blame those that patronise them. If they open their shops and people do not go there, they won’t continue what they are doing. Some people must be benefiting from what they are doing. The Bible says like the people like the pastor. Not the other way round.
What is your assessment on Jonathan’s mid term report?
To whom much is given, much is required. Jonathan will be remembered as a Nigerian who assumed power without a godfather. He rose from deputy governor to the presidency within ten years. A speed record. He will make history as shoeless school boy who assumed power and disallowed Nigerians from walking again.

Critics describe your prediction against Obasanjo in 1999 as a false prophecy coming from a man of God. What is your reaction?
I have lived long enough to know what to respond to and to know what to ignore. I would have expected that journalists, reputable media organisations like The Source, investigate the matter before jumping into conclusion. I have not recalled the tape from the archives. And there is no editing at all. I have heard people saying all sorts of things I never said. Some said I say Obasanjo will die. Some said I say Obasanjo will not be President. I can remember verbatim what I said on March 7, 1999 when I was preaching a message titled: No More Wars. And then the prophecy came that “Rejoice not yet, O land, for your joy will be temporary. I’m bringing your leaders to my pressing floor, and after I destroy them, I will return to you a permanent joy." That was it. The second stage was that if by any means Obasanjo became the President, three things will happen. Firstly, there will be the revival of the Occults, Secondly; family life will disintegrate in Nigeria; Thirdly, corruption will get to its peak. I gave those tapes to Obasanjo’s first wife when she came here to plead with me.
I can tell you things that happened. Architect Kola Balogun came here to say what can we do, that when I speak, he knows there is authority in it. And I told him not to risk his life. They later killed the man. I warned M.K.O Abiola that he’s embarking on a journey he’s not going to come back alive. I told him not to allow himself to be used. In 1993, I prophesied that NRC will lose, SDP will fail, military hierarchy will fall. They all mocked. I prophesied the election will be annulled. But when it happened. People recalled I said so. The tapes are there. Now you are singling out that I said Obasanjo will… people do not even know the content of the message. Over a thousand Pastors were gathered in Ota to pray against the prophecy. Is that the prophecy you are condemning? The man of God, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, when they were invited over the prophecy, came and asked me what do I say. I asked him what he saw too. And up till now, I’m still here. I’m not running away. If the prophet is not accurate, why do they gather people to pray against the message. It is not my duty to balance the story. I deliver the prophecy as God reveal it to me. When people repent and call unto God over a prophecy, God may relent, perhaps, who told you Obasanjo is free. Who told you he will not reap what he has sown. The prophecy of God may take a long time to manifest. I prophesised when I said when a killer wants to kill, he shall be killed. It came to pass when Abacha who wanted to kill Diya died mysteriously. Here we are now, Obasanjo forced the ill and the weak upon the nation and we are still unable to get out of the hook. May God help this nation.
The Save Nigeria Group, SNG, has been silent for some time. What happened?
Not at all. Are we silent when we were in Ojota for fuel hike protest? We brought Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to Lagos to come and explain to Nigerians why they were converting our Naira to Dollar before they disburse state allocations. We are not silent. We don’t just jump on the road. We see, we sit, we plan before we act.
Is there a crisis in SNG because sometime ago, someone claimed you have ceased to be the convener of the group, that you have been suspended. What is the true position?
Where are they? If you invited someone to your child naming ceremony. And the person says he does not like the name you gave your child and he walks away, does that make him the father of my baby? Please let's talk about important issues.
Now that you have ventured into partisan politics. Does it affect the SNG?
It will be inappropriate to dodge questions. There is no way that our participation in partisan politics will not be misconstrued by the mischief makers. Our desire is to seek reversal of policies that dehumanise Nigerians and those things that take dignity away from the people. But we cannot change policy without securing power. Aside from that, I wonder why people make mountain out of mole hills. But I know it’s because of limited knowledge. A man like late Gani Fawehinmi of blessed memory fought gallantly against every military and civilian government in this country. He used the law as instrument of his struggle. He later formed a party, the National Conscience Party (NCP), and contested on the platform of that political party. Does that take away his credibility? Likewise, Femi Falana, SAN whom we recently nicknamed a veteran of many progressive battles also ended up being the chairman of NCP. Does that remove his credibility. Wole Soyinka whose presence at the SNG rally added value to the protest in Abuja formed a political party and registered it. Does that take away his credibility? We must make up our minds as people in this country on what exactly we want. Do we want good people in politics or do we want the bad, the ugly to be in charge? Save Nigeria Group remains a civil society organisation. SNG, as a corporate body, will not align with any political party. Each member is at liberty to play politics outside the shore of the group. Yinka Odumakin and I and some other key players of SNG agreed not to compromise the standard of the group. Infact, it’s structured in such a way that even if some of us who venture into politics do anything wrong, SNG will still rise against us, so that they will bring us to order. SNG played an important role in the process that led to Jonathan’s presidency during the Yar’Adua health crisis. But when President Jonathan was going off, we went out also to let him know that we cannot continue business as usual. We challenged and put him into his position. SNG still remains a virile political organisation. Some said opposition sponsored us to Ojota for the fuel subsidy rally. That shows how uneducated many people are. There is no opposition in Nigeria, a situation where, in a presidential system, a party controls the centre and the majority in the parliament. It’s not a parliamentary system. Nobody sponsored us.
Talking about the Ojota rally, don’t you think some of your statements then were too ridiculous to the office of the President?
What were the utterances.
You called the President names. You said you disown him and that he is no more your President. You also called for regime change (cuts in).
I’m glad you are saying all these. What you will get from me always is to stand by my words and actions I will never deny what I said. SNG was not in charge of the NLC and TUC strike. But we mobilised Nigerians to Ojota. And we made up our minds before then that we are not going to be chasing shadows. We are saying that corruption needed to be killed, not Nigerians. And corruption is the bane of our country. It is the real issue. For Christ sake, we marched on the streets for Jonathan to be President. It occurred to me that God commanded Samuel to go and anoint Saul and later God called Samuel that He rejected Saul from being King. Go and anoint somebody else. In a democratic setting like ours, it has to take four years unless God intervenes in any other way. I preached here on how to change government peacefully. The SSS came after me. I gave them the document that any government that enjoys corruption should be rejected by the people. We are against the corruption of the regime. Now, you are the judge whether your life is better now after 14 years of PDP ruling in Nigeria. Is the country progressing?
Do you think the Ojota rally achieved its goal?
That is judged by the fact that the government reviewed downward the pump price. Initially, President Jonathan was adamant. He later bent his stand. That is one achievement of the rally. Who buckled? Who rolled out tanks, used military to harass us for exercising our constitutional rights? They never knew the turnout would be like that. And they could easily take out NLC and TUC. They also knew we cannot be bought. So, they used the military to deprive us of our fundamental right. The same regime we fought to install few years back. And the same Nigerians who voted for President Jonathan in 2011 later became subject of intimidation, and were forcefully dispatched against their wish. The government used force to remove us at Ojota, and used money against others.
It seems you always criticise without seeing any good thing in any government.
I’m not a critical spirit. A critical sprit is the evidence of false ministry. Let me remind you. When Yar’Adua came into power. I saw a President who was a former lecturer. I saw the Vice President who has a Ph.D. I saw a Minister of Education who seems to be equal to the task. I began this song here that may the reign of Yar’Adua be a blessing to all. Then, his performance as a governor in Katsina, then he was the first President to openly declare his asset. It’s so unfortunate that sickness did not allow him to perform. So, I didn’t criticise Yar’Adua. In fact, I can give you a tape where I prayed that the king is not dead. But Yar’Adua's health challenges had been there before. It may have been the reason why he left so much money in the Katsina treasury because money is not supposed to be kept but to be invested on the lives of the people.. I don’t criticise every leader. We did Democracy Audit on June 12 and we invited the Jonathan government to come and exhibit their performance. And Information Minister, Labaran Maku was sent to represent the regime.
Some of your admirers describe your venturing into politics as a costly gamble.
How much did it cost them? If the gamble is costly, how costly was it to them? I don’t gamble anyway. Let me share this with you. David was a shephered. The Bible says in Psalm 78: 70-72 that “He also chose David, His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds." From following the eves that had young, He brought him, to sheperd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. “So, he shephereds them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.” It says I took David from following the sheeps to shephered Israel. And he shephereds Israel with the integrity of his heart. There is transition in the role a pastor can play. A pastor can be called to pastor a nation. A good example is found in the Bible. David was a king, he was a prophet, he was a servant and there was no gambling in it. It is ordered by God. If you look at the involvement of ministers of God in politics, you will discover its importance. In America, although Martin Luther King did not contest for any election, his influence produced a Black man in the White House. If they had known a black man would be there, they would have called A White and Black House. But, one man has a dream and he spoke it out. If you look at South Africa, you’ll see the role of Bishops. The Pope is not only the Head of the Catholics, but also head of a nation. So if it is good for the Pope, its good for me.
Does your involvement in politics have any effect on your church?
Let me tell you one thing. Throughout the election, despite the fact that we were campaigning from place to place, I missed Sunday service only one day. That day, I was in Maiduguri, and I could not fly to Lagos.
If you had won the election, would you have been coming from Abuja every Sunday?
If we won the election, protocol may not permit me to come from Abuja every Sunday. That is why the leadership of Latter Rain Assembly is not centered on a single man. Right now, I don’t preach here every Sunday. But I come to Church every Sunday. I don’t even come here during the week. Pastoring is not my occupation. It is my vocation. It is the calling of God upon me. Our Lord Jesus was a carpenter for 18 years, from the age of 12. He did ministry for three and half years and He changed the world. When Joseph brought his brothers to meet Pharaoh, he told them Pharaoh will only ask you one question, and that is what is your occupation. Jobless entities now start churches because they have no job. Paul who wrote two third of the New Testament was a real estate manager in his days. Peter was a fisherman. Mathew was a tax collector, Elisha was a farmer. God does not call lazy or jobless people.
Now, if security will not permit me to pastor here every Sunday, I have raised enough ministers of God. By the way, what happens if I die? I’m not immortal. If I die, the ministry continues.

Cover Story
“Obasanjo Sabotaged Nigeria’s Destiny” - Pastor Tunde Bakare
Pastor Tunde Bakare

A lot of Nigerians will not hesitate to describe Pastor Tunde Bakare, presiding Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Ogba, Lagos, as a Prophetic-Apostolic pastor. He has received national and international attention for his televangelism, which has sometimes been critical of the Nigerian government. His sermons, just like his predictions, have also ruffled feathers.
In the build-up to the June 12, 1993 presidential election, he had predicted that the National Republican Convention, NRC, will lose and the Social Democratic Party, SDP will not win. The election was held, and true to the prophesy, there was no winner. The election was annulled, even when the SDP's presidential candidate, the Late MKO Abiola was believed to have won. The subsequent crisis consumed the key actors and almost consumed the nation.
In 1999, his prediction against the Obasanjo presidency also caused a stir. Since then, the lawyer turned Pastor has been very active. In 2009, he led his group, the Save Nigeria Group to march on the streets of Abuja and Lagos to demand that the provision of the constitution must be respected with regards to the health of the Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. President Jonathan, then a Vice President, rose on the strenght of that agitation, to become the Acting President.
By 2011, Pastor Bakare entered the political ring as the Vice Presidential candidate to General Muhammadu Buhari to fly the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC's flag. The duo lost to President Jonathan’s PDP. In January 2012, Bakare’s SNG was on the street again mobilising Nigerians to reject the new fuel price hike announced by the government. While the battle lasted, Bakare was very visible at the barricade,denouncing the Jonathan regime, an act which has continued to generate mixed reactions from Nigerians since then.
Today, Bakare remains a Pastor, a politician and a leader of thought who rose from a humble beginning to a position of influence. He was born to a Muslim mother and a Muslim father, whom he did not grow up to know. His mother, Madam Abigail Eebudola Bakare raised him up along with other siblings. Although he did not enjoy a conventional childhood, he struggled through life’s phases with his faith in God and the determination to make something of himself.
Married to Mrs. Olayide Bakare in 1984, Pastor Bakare’s marriage has played a strong pivotal role in his life, career and ministry. Mrs. B, as she is affectionately referred to by her husband, has been involved in the work of Ministry all her adult life and has served alongside her husband since their wedding in 1984, first as a co-pastor of The Latter Rain Assembly and presently a member of the board of trustees of the Church. She has also raised two girls and three boys born in their twenty six years of marriage.
His conviction: “God will not justify the wicked, He will not forsake the righteous; the wickedness of a wicked man will fall upon his head and the righteousness of a righteous man will answer for him in the days to come”.
“The minority that is right will become the majority and the majority that is wrong will become the minority, it’s just a matter of time”.
After our editorial conference, three weeks ago, where the idea of an interview with Bakare was discussed, the magazine set to work to get across to him. Within a few days, our contact got back to us that the Pastor was ready for us penultimate Sunday after service at his church, Latter Rain Assembly, in the Ogba area of Lagos. The Source team comprising Oluwasegun Abifarin, Deputy Editor; Chidiebere Onyemaizu, Assistant Editor; Olawale Abideen Senior Reporter and Yakubu Yusuf, Photor Editor took on the pastor on the state of the nation and other issues. It was an interesting encounter.

A lot of people describe you as a political Pastor. What do you have to say about this?
The last time I checked my Bible, I didn’t see anything like political Pastor there. I know there is Evangelist, Pastor, Teachers and so on. There are clergy men who patronise politicians or hold political office. But I have never come across political Pastor. And as a citizen of this country, I participate in politics so that our nation can have a breath of fresh air.
Those who hold that view say you mix pulpit with Politics.
The world pulpit occurs in the Bible only one time. Those who mix pulpit with politics what do they really want? The Bible says when the righteous are not in politics, they will be governed by the wisdom of fools. The Bible did not say we should fold our arms, stay in the four walls of the Church, only to criticize or condemn bad governance and unrighteousness. Or are we only to encourage our people to go out and fulfill their civic responsibilities? Don’t forget the Bible refers to those in government as ministers of God. There is no where the Bible says you cannot mix Church and politics. There are priests who later become kings and Kings who are priests and I read the scripture of Revelation Chapter 5 today where such example is given. There’s nothing like the view that if you are a priest you cannot function in politics.
People say politics is a dirty game, and as a pastor, is politics not too dirty for you to be involved in?
That question is informed by people not by your opinion. Because if it is by your opinion, I’m sorry there is no hope for this country. When I was in Deeper Life Bible Church, Brother Kumuyi said the television is a devil's box. But today, he preaches through the television. When you say television is dirty, you are talking about dirty programmes. Politics is a dirty game when dirty people are involved in it, or when people involved in politics do dirty things. Therefore, good men of God must be there to sanitise it. Clean men must be invited to man the affairs of this country.
You were retired General Buhari’s running mate in the 2011 presidential election. A lot of people wonder why you pitched your tent with a man you once criticised. What is your reaction?
I just finished a sermon where I gave an example of similar situation that says “I knew you when you are crude; who will take your past and put it upon your head.” General Buhari is not the only one I critised in Nigeria. I exercise my fundamental human right of speech to say this is wrong and this is right. The fact that I criticised him does not make him my enemy. As of 2011, Buhari was the only man standing when we talk of anti-corruption and certain level of purity in public life. Therefore, when he requested me to be his running mate and I discussed with my colleagues, the response was, lets give him the best that we have. So, yes I did, I never deny that. He was not the only one I criticised and most people don’t even know what I said about him. I was only preaching that day and I said none of these military men are coming back. I then began to name them and I forgot his name. I said what is the name of this fair man and people shouted his name.
Some people said General Buhari has been making some inflammatory statements and you failed to react or advise him against such comments. Why?
General Buhari will be 71 this year. He was a federal commissioner, now Minister. He was a former Head of State. You can disagree with his opinion. He has his fundamental right. If you disagree with his opinion, you bring your own opinion, that’s how the society develops. You don’t harass a man for making his opinion known. I was in Global Leadership Summit in Malaysia when the so -called statement was made and I called him to make clarification. He responded then that he said the same thing that he said before: That the Boko Haram crisis needs a holistic approach so that it will not be seen as something done against the north. I was not here when he made the statement and I never read the interview in a paper.
Be that as it may, linking him (Buhari) with Boko Haram is uncalled for. When the Federal government invited him to dialogue with Boko Haram, he simply declined because he believed the group is evil. And that even the Quran forbids what they are doing. Buhari said he does not even know them, and that he has no idea of how to relate with them. He said he has nothing to do with a sect that terrorises the nation.
Boko Haram actually listed Buhari, not the Federal Government, among those that could mediate between it and government and this may warrant the insinuation that he had a link with the group. (cuts in).
Look, you are journalists; one of the assets you have is ability to investigate. That Boko Haram said they could listen to him, to me, just means they know him as somebody that will not compromise his stand and principle. That he turned them down also means he has nothing to do with them, even if they have suggested that. A lot of public officers in Nigeria will tell you that their people call them to serve them whereas in actual sense, they are serving their pockets. Honestly, after the panel set up to investigate it, the panel did not find anything to nail General Buhari. If they saw anything, they would have nailed him by now. And he’s not afraid to be questioned. Once upon a time, key leaders of OPC (Odua People's Congress) came to me. They wanted me to do something for them. I simply told them that two people cannot work together unless they agree. I told them I do not know them very well and I recommended that they should go to Chief Gani Fawehinmi. That those OPC members came to me does not mean I endorse everything they are doing. We have to be careful of everything we make public so that we will not be ordinary rumour mongers.
Despite the burning of Churches by Boko Haram, you have not been too active in speaking out to condemn them as people would expect. What happened?
I have spoken loud and clear against them that they are wicked. Not only burning of Churches or killing of Christians alone. What about non-Christians. They have killed many innocent Nigerians and I have been voicing out against them in many platforms. They may be fighting a religious war. I’m not going to join them in their craze. Don’t make it a religious thing. Boko Haram is evil. To kill any Nigerian is abominable. To bomb the way they are bombing is nothing but wickedness. But listen, anybody who has enough presence of mind will know that Boko Haram is an instrument of high criminal Nigerians. We were in this nation when President Jonathan said Boko Haram is in his government. That the sect has infiltrated every sector, including the Nigerian Armed Forces and the National Assembly. He said so. Has anybody asked him to fish them out since he knows them too well? Please let us call a spade a spade. Don’t let us continue beating about the bush. What we are seeing on ground is more than a religious sect somewhere trying to upset the nation. We can see all kinds of Boko Haram with big time flavour in our nation. The price of liberty you and I know is vigilance. Let's be vigilant as citizens of our country. To kill a Christian, a Muslim or any human being that you cannot create is wickedness. I have said it over and over and over again here. One slowpoke saw me one day and said, ‘oh you are looking so young or have you gotten the Boko Haram connection. I just ignored him because he is a fool. Many of them have their brain under their sole. They wear the cross but they are far from Christ.
You have not been visible in the on-going merger talks between your party and other political parties. Do you have any problem with the merger?
What problem would I have with the merger? Each party has a merger committee so that they can go and deliberate and report back to the party. We have given them the authority, so we have to let them work. I have no problem with the merger process. I’m not a member of the committee. So, I’m not positioned to grant interviews on the process of the merger. Remember, I was the first person to move the motion in Abuja empowering CPC to go into merger talk with other parties. If the merger process is concluded then you’ll know who have problems with what.
Under the merger arrangement, do you still have a political ambition?
I have never had political ambition in my life. I sit here minding my business in championing SNG (Save Nigeria Group) to mobilise our people towards better governance. SNG is not working for any political party neither does it support the political ambition of anybody.
And as to the political ambition you are talking about, nobody can be a member of a non -existing party. It does not exist yet. I cannot sit down here and be nursing ambition in a party that has not been registered. I’m not so politically ambitious.
Are you still a member of the CPC?
Is CPC still alive? I’m a member of the B.O.T of CPC. But CPC is going into merger and it will cease to be immediately after the conclusion of the whole process. I’m not a politician who look for opportunity to corner anything.
If they consider me worthy, they will call on me. I’m a nation builder. When politicians think of next election, statesmen think of next generation. How Nigeria will be saved, changed and become great is my concern.
Do you have to be called upon? As a member of CPC, is it not fundamental that you key into the new party after the merger?
You have forgotten that Southern Cameroun used to be part of Nigeria and now is no longer part of Nigeria. The main reason I became part of CPC is because of General Buhari. I was not there when the party was being formed. I was part of CPC because one, I was invited, and secondly, I saw that there is a ray of hope there, that corruption will come to an end in our nation. When APC is formed, I’m not a person who gives up to frivolity. Strategy may change from time to time, but principle must remain firm.
What is your impression about the rising profile of former Lagos state governor, Bola Tinubu whom many describe as the emerging leader of the Yoruba?
I don’t have any comment about him (Tinubu). We have seen rising political figures in the Southwest before. We have seen those whose profile is larger than life. We have also seen the end of many of those figures. Therefore, I don’t have any comment about Bola Tinubu. I have only met him twice or thrice in my life. Except I have more facts about him. Those who are very close to him can talk about him. Whether he is a rising figure or not, is left for people who have long relationship with him. I don’t know.
Some describe him as a political leader of the Yoruba for now (cuts in)
Ask those people to give you their reason. Anybody can assume something. Assumption is the lowest level of knowledge. Those who are saying he (Tinubu) is the leader of Yoruba race, I hope they will still be part of human race when the time comes.


http://www.thesourceng.com/DestinyJuly12013.htm

FEW IN APC TRULY HAVE PROGRESSIVE CREDENTIALS- ACN SENATE ASPIRANT

An aspiring senator under the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Egheomhanre Eyieyien has declared that,only Few in APC truly have "progressive" credentials.

Mr. Egheomhanre stated this on Thursday, 27 of June 2013 on his facebook page.
In his words, ''The political party I am joining in pursuit of my Senatorial bid (the Action Congress of Nigeria) is going to be part of the proposed All Progressives Congress (APC).

Expressing his displeasure with such alliance, Mr. Egheomhanre stated that, I wish this were not the case.

While giving his reason for the displeasure he further said, ''Few in APC truly have "progressive" credentials.

He also maintained that,he hope APC does not make the mistake of giving its Presidential Ticket to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Nasir El Rufai, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi or a disgruntled PDP chieftain.

My question is, DOES THE ACN Mr. Egheomhanre represents have any progressive credentials that is better than that of the CPC?

What’s Next for Security in the Niger Delta?
Published:
April 26, 2013
By:
Aaron Sayne

The Nigerian government’s 2009 amnesty of militants in the Niger Delta dramatically reduced the violence that had plagued the region and restored preinsurgency levels of oil production. However, many of the problems that sparked violent confrontations remain unaddressed. This new Special Report draws on the views of many sectors of Nigerian society to gauge whether peace on the delta can be sustained.
Special Report: What’s Next for Security in the Niger Delta?
Summary

The Niger Delta has now enjoyed four years of relative calm. However, there is a significant chance the region could see renewed violent conflict in the next one to two years.

Dividends from a 2009 amnesty for local militants are real and substantial. They include dramatically improved oil production and revenues, fewer deaths and kidnappings, more relaxed travel restrictions, better elections, and job placement for some ex-fighters.

Critics of the amnesty claim the program fails to treat the root causes of conflict, is corrupt and unsustainable, and promotes warlordism and the spread of organized crime, among other things.These criticisms are not without basis, but they often lack context and balance.

Major conflict drivers in the delta are still in place, and no long-term peace plan exists. The coming period likely will bring strong flash points and triggers, particularly around the 2015 presidential and gubernatorial elections.

Wavering leadership on security, the closedown of the amnesty program in 2015, decreased support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s candidacy, and close electoral results could all lead to violence in the delta.

It is possible nonetheless that the election season will pass without a major, prolonged return to violence in the Niger Delta. Nigeria’s fractured opposition parties may fail to produce a consensus candidate, and the delta is likely to vote overwhelmingly for President Jonathan.

The role played by distributions of oil wealth is a particular wild card. It is also still very much unclear how far conflict around the 2015 elections will reflect deeper sociopolitical divisions in Nigeria, or how deep such divisions run.

This report finds only limited consensus on how any future violence will look. A majority of sources agreed only on a few likely trends—for instance, an increase in kidnappings and the spread of armed attacks outside the Niger Delta.

About the Report

Nigeria’s restive Niger Delta region has stayed relatively calm for four years, but how stable is the peace? Based on interviews with a wide range of stakeholders, this report assesses the 2009 federal amnesty program for local militants, a central part of the Nigerian government’s security policy in the region. It also analyzes possible future conflict triggers and trends for the delta. The report finds that there is limited consensus on the prospect and scope of future violence in Nigeria, particularly with regard to the upcoming 2015 presidential elections. The report is part of the United States Institute of Peace’s long-standing support for conflict analysis and resolution initiatives in the Niger Delta.
About the Author

Aaron Sayne is the principal of 104 Consulting. He advises governments and private investors on energy, security, and anticorruption issues, foremost in Nigeria.

Midterm Challenges in Nigeria
Elections, Parties, and Regional Conflict
Published:
May 13, 2013
By:
John Paden

At the midpoint between presidential elections in Nigeria, the country’s leaders need to take stock of the conflict resolution mechanisms in place to deal with the political divide between north and south, Muslim and Christian, and to prevent electoral violence in 2015. Depending on how it contributes to regional balance, power sharing, and perceptions of fair play, the coming phase of party coalition building may well determine future national stability.
Midterm Challenges in Nigeria
Summary

Nigeria is by far the largest country in the world with a population evenly divided between Muslims and Christians. The political party system, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, requires that a presidential candidate achieve not only a plurality of votes but also at least 25 percent of the votes in two-thirds of the thirty-six states.
Given Nigeria’s great ethnoreligious diversity, creating “national unity” in Nigeria is a challenge, especially between its “Muslim north” and “Christian south.” The aftermath of the last national elections in 2011 witnessed extreme violence in the country ‘s north.
With the next round of national elections scheduled for 2015, the positioning of political parties is in full swing, and grassroots pressures are growing in the far north, including from extremist religious elements that became emboldened in 2011.
A new political party has been formed in opposition to the dominant party. The opposition All Progressive Congress is national in scope and ties together all six of the country ‘s zones. It selfidentifies as “progressive.”
One of the main political questions is whether President Goodluck Jonathan will run again. The northern wing of the dominant Peoples Democratic Party is considering selecting a northern candidate to run in 2015. The south-south faction of the party, led by President Jonathan, is trying to counter this move.
The country ‘s major political issues have strong regional implications, especially with regard to the activities of Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram and security issues in the north and violence in the Niger Delta in the south-south.
The country ‘s political dynamics also affect questions of sustainable development and regional economic disparities. Education and jobs are urgently needed in the north, which is being left behind from a development standpoint. Further political and ethnoreligious violence may make it even more difficult to initiate development reforms there.
At this midpoint between presidential elections, it is imperative to take stock of whether conflict resolution mechanisms are in place in the country as a whole and within the two evolving major political parties. Political coalitions are crucial, but how they are designed and implemented may determine whether there is stability or instability in the country.
The next phase of party coalition building may determine the stability of the national system, in terms of regional balance, power sharing, and perceptions of fair play. Thus, real efforts should be directed towards the growing disjunction between the political elites and the grassroots communities they are intended to represent.

About the Report

Echoes of the 2011 national elections in Nigeria, when extreme violence rocked the north of the country, remain strong in the lead-up to the country ‘s scheduled 2015 elections. This report, sponsored by the U.S. Institute of Peace, assesses the emerging political party system at this midpoint and searches for lessons from the country ‘s historic pattern of election-related conflict. The author is grateful to both the U.S. Institute of Peace, which has a long-term concern with conflict analysis and resolution in Africa, and the George Mason University School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, which has a commitment to working with Nigerian counterparts on issues of conflict mitigation.
About the Author

John Paden is Clarence Robinson Professor of International Studies at George Mason University. He has served as professor of public administration at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and founding dean at Bayero University, Kano. He was an international election observer in Nigeria in 1999 (Kaduna), 2003 (Kano), and 2007 (Katsina).

StarBoy ‘Wizkid’ Buys New Car , Replaces Crashed Porsche

Barely two weeks after crashing his Porsche Panamera, Wizkid has taken delivery of a new one. He posted the picture to his instagram with the caption: ‘BLESSED!!!’ - See more at: http://www.tiwasblog.com/2013/06/starboy-wizkid-replaces-crashed-porsche.html#sthash.gjxcgano.dpuf

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