₦airaland Forum

[size=28pt] Fr. Mbaka resurrects democracy in Igboland - SKC Ogbonnia:[/size]


Any political system without dynamic opposition necessary for the essential competition, accountability, and checks and balances is tantamount to dictatorship and abuse of power. But that has been the case with the presidential politics of the Southeast (SE) zone of Nigeria since the recent democratic transition. The rationale is that a wholesale support for the national ruling party offers best hope, and any counter opinion is a naked sin.

This idea had seemed like the ultimate game-changer. For the various national governments quickly reciprocated, offering rounds of elite portfolios to politicians from the Igbo Southeast. The presidents also backed their agenda with promises and policies that usually appear like the erudite solution to the Igbo’s ageless cries for marginalization. Yet the condition of federal amenities in the zone remains a bad dream told in a hurry.

To make matters worse, the vulnerable masses are usually told to stay the course, with most of the SE governors begging President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan not to campaign in the zone this time. To them, the Igbos should stand 100% behind the president, regardless of whether he delivered on past promises or not. They would argue that, even if not for performance, the people should lend their support based on the parochial mantra that Jonathan also bears Igbo names—“Ebele and Azikiwe”.


The obvious implication is that there is no day of reckoning in this part of the country for broken promises or the various projects funded but either poorly executed or totally abandoned by contractors in cahoots with their Igbo cohorts in the Jonathan regime. Worst of all, the mood of the governors had also hoodwinked the opposition parties to assume that SE votes were firmly in the president’s corner thus clearly negating the all-important competition and checks and balances fundamental for a true democratic culture.

Consequently, there is no strong voice alert to expose the failures of the federal government toward effective leadership in the SE zone. The quagmire becomes more glaring when considered that their two premier pressure groups, the Ohaneze NdiIgbo and World Igbo Congress, have become infiltrated by political buccaneers who sing the president’s praises at home and abroad. Perhaps individuals can raise pertinent issues, but a salient problem with the Igbos is that since the death of Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the zone has not identified a leader with mass following who could call a spade a spade.

Enter Rev. Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka, the dynamic Roman Catholic priest, whose words are enough to mesmerize his fiercest opponents, let alone the Christian faithful, including politicians, who throng day in and day out to his Adoration Ministry in Enugu for spiritual healing—and from far and wide.

One of such faithful is no other person than Dame Patience Jonathan, the ebullient First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who visited the priest on November 9, 2014 to seek heavenly blessings for the husband’s forthcoming 2015 presidential election. Given the dominant support the president enjoys in Igboland and within the Christian Association of Nigeria, Fr. Mbaka glowingly eulogized President Jonathan to the high heavens while invoking the Holy Spirit to stoke a fiery swipe at the opposition, brazenly associating the leading opposition party to the deadly Boko Haram insurgents terrorizing Nigeria. Lo and behold, the First Lady and the teeming congregation roared in agreement. The open aspersions on the opposition and consequent anointment of the sitting president easily served as a pious reminder that there would be no cause for competition for Igbo votes in the presidential polls. Even more, the supporters of the president across the country quickly hailed, lustily drumming the ocassion to further legitimize the reverend gentleman as an unsung saint. But that was then.


Fast forward to December 31, 2014, a day the priest had reserved for unveiling his traditional New Year blessings and prophesies. Fully informed by the true condition on the ground as it affects his adoring worshipers and the common people of the Southeast; and, more importantly, exigently inspired by the Holy Spirit; the Fr. Mbaka in his sermon, “From good luck to bad luck”, lampooned President Goodluck Jonathan, whom he initially endorsed, and equated him with failure on all accounts. The bottom line is that the Roman Catholic priest has swiftly switched his support from the president, a fellow Christian and Southerner, to his closest rival in General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), who is not only a Muslim but also from the far North.

As expected, the Prophesy sent shock waves throughout the breath and depth of the Nigerian polity. While the opposition embraced it with pomp and pageantry, the ruling party and its supporters have castigated the priest, now comparing him to the biblical Judas Iscariot.

But the two camps should have no cause for alarm. Prophesies are known to work in miraculous ways. Besides, objective criticism or competition should not discourage but challenge human efforts to greater purpose and possibilities. President Jonathan can overcome the trepidations of the prophesy by doing the needful, exhibiting true leadership, challenging himself to the greater possibilities, starting by Nigeria
Either way, Nigerians, particularly the Igbo masses are the true winners.

The objective fact is that Mbaka’s prophesy is far beyond the simplistic equate of voting for Goodluck Jonathan or Muhammadu Buhari as we know it. Rather, the Prophesy has profoundly resurrected democracy in Igboland for the greater good of the society. For the first time in a long time, the Igbo masses are witnessing in presidential politics a semblance of opposition and the competition vitally essential for democracy, and their votes will not be taken for granted this time. President Jonathan, who was previously dissuaded from campaigning in Igboland, is now truly asking for votes in the zone, rendering accounts of his stewardship, and offering new promises as well as the much needed portions of the presidential war chest. It is also a win-win for democracy that General Buhari, having previously written off the Igbo votes, now sees a huge opening and has begun to vigorously campaign in Igbo cities, offering alternative solutions and his own promises.

The immediate effect is that the Igbos have rediscovered their true DNA and are more emboldened than ever. The Ohaneze, which had maintained a naïve posture, has now discarded its original idea for blanket endorsement and instead opted to list conditions for the people’s votes. The pro-Igbo party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which had already endorsed President Jonathan, is also seriously reevaluating. Even Alexander Ekwueme, an eminent Igbo figure of the ruling party and a former Vice President of Nigeria, never known for careless vituperations, has erupted with his own salvo, admonishing Jonathan for actions instead of mere words.

The Igbo masses are not left behind on the heightened awareness. They have begun to ask pertinent questions, and openly and rightly so, on numerous abandoned or phantom projects, most of which are fully funded but nothing to show on the ground. They are also asking about mass unemployment and kidnapping in the zone, the state of federal universities and teaching hospitals, the quality and state of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, 2nd River Niger Bridge and its PPP/Toll implications, Onitsha Seaport, the sixth state for South East, revitalizing Coal-for-Power, Gas Pipeline across Igbo mainland, inclusion of more Igbo states in OMPADEC, the Southeast/Southwest Rail Line, the endless massacre of Igbo Christians by Boko Haram under Jonathan’s watch; and the state of other infrastructures, particularly the two most important thoroughfares in Igboland: the Enugu/Port Harcourt and Enugu/Onitsha Express roads, constructed under Obasanjo’s military regime, but have remained death traps for decades, even after billions have been allocated.

These dateless but largely ignored projects, ordinarily the anticipated democratic dividend central to the welfare of Igbo masses, are squarely resurrected as part of the national debate; Thanks to the Prophesy of Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka!


*Dr. SKC Ogbonnia is the Executive Director, Patriots United for Transparency and Accountability in Nigeria (PUTAN); Phone: 281-802-3449



http://dailypost.ng/2015/01/13/skc-ogbonnia-fr-mbaka-resurrects-democracy-igboland/

[size=23pt]2015: Rev Father Mbaka prays for Buhari, says President Jonathan disappointed Nigerians[/size]



Renowned Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has offered prayers for the All Progressives Congress candidate, Maj.Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to emerge the winner of the presidential election next month.

Mbaka, who heads the popular Catholic Adoration Centre in Enugu, said this in his New Year sermon titled 'From Good luck to Bad luck,' while addressing thousands of parishioners on Thursday night in Emene, Enugu State.

He urged all well-meaning Nigerians to vote for Buhari on February 14.

According to the cleric, Jonathan has disappointed Nigerians and cannot deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Mbaka subsequently knelt down in front of the altar, cried and asked God to give Nigeria a good leader and not Jonathan. He used the opportunity to beg Nigerians to vote wisely in the forthcoming elections.

'I love President Goodluck Jonathan and I used to be his ardent fan, but I want good for my people and that's why I want Nigerians to vote out Goodluck Jonathan and vote General Muhammad Buhari. I don't care if Buhari is a Muslim and from the North; all I care about is that Buhari can save Nigeria,” Mbaka stated.

It could be recalled that the same Mbaka had recently endorsed Jonathan's re-election bid when the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, had taken Jonathan's wife, Patience, to Mbaka, where the cleric said he would pray for Jonathan's victory.

However, after prayers, Mbaka said the sign he received from God was that Jonathan was not fit to rule the nation anymore.




Mbaka further explained that one of the reasons Jonathan is no longer fit to rule Nigeria for the next four years was the high level of insecurity which the President had failed to address as well as corruption in the country.

He said it was unfortunate that the over 200 Chibok girls who were abducted by terrorists over 200 days ago had not been rescued despite series of promises made by Jonathan.

He further urged the Federal Government to account for the missing $20bn and stop insurgency in the country.

Mbaka maintained that Buhari could not Islamise Nigeria as being rumoured in some circles.

He said he had never met the APC candidate but urged Nigerians not to forget that Buhari fought corruption to a standstill during his administration between December 1983 and August 1985.

http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/165638/1/2015-rev-father-mbaka-prays-for-buhari.html

hmm

hmm

hmm

hmm

hmm

hmm

hmm

hmm

hmm

hmmmm

hmmm

hmmmm

[size=28pt]APC jolts PDP in Cross River[/size]


Before Wednesday, January 7, 2015, the regular refrain among the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, leadership in Cross River State was, “there is no opposition in Cross River state” but the rally held by the All Progressives Congress, APC, on the above date has seemingly changed the political language and equation in the state.
APC

The rally, which was organised as one of the campaign stops of Major General Muhamadu Buhari (retd), the APC presidential candidate, attracted an unprecedented crowd of supporters which no opposition party has been able to muster in the past 16years of the present political dispensation and this marks a significant tipping point in the political affairs of the state
From all parts of the expansive state, crowds of the party’s faithful converged on the Mayne Avenue Primary School, venue of the rally as early as 9 am singing and dancing while awaiting the arrival of Buhari and his entourage whose delayed flight arrived the Margaret Ekpo International Airport , where another large crowd of supporters was waiting for him, at about 4pm before proceeding to the rally centre.
Many political watchers in the state were taken aback by the large turnout of supporters judging from the near comatose position of the APC and other opposition parties in the state.
Following their persistent battering by the forces of the ruling PDP right from the days of Mr Donald Duke who during his eight years tenure consistently wooed over many members of the opposition parties while those who remained adamant were decimated politically.
From being the majority with 13 out of the 25members in the State House of Assembly in 1999, the APC then called APP went down to zero in the 2003 elections as all those who contested elections for the positions of chairmen of councils, Senate, House of Representatives, State House of Assembly and even councilors on the party’s platform lost woefully until 2011 when Ernest Irek, a member of the PDP who lost nomination to Mr Fabian Okpa crossed over to the then ACN and won Okpa in the general election to become the House of Assembly member representing Obubra 11 State Constituency.

The cantankerous outcome of the party’s state executive council election of the party in 2014 did not help matters as some staunch members were expelled leaving many people disgruntled. However, like the proverbial kiwi which rises from its ashes, the party found its foot back in the months of November and December 2014 with the influx of some PDP members following the acrimonious outcome of the PDP primaries and this significantly boosted the ranks of the party.

Effectively, with the entry of defectors from PDP, the party which in 2011 could hardly present candidates for elections in half of the constituencies was able to fill every vacant position as many people, particularly the PDP renegades fell over themselves to pick the party’s tickets to contest elections for the various positions. So most of these candidates unlike the dead woods of the past were able to muster resources to ferry their supporters from across the state to the rally venue.
Elective positions

With the large turn out and the enthusiasm on the faces of most of the candidates an d their supporters, the state is set for a strong battle for elective positions beginning from the House of Assembly to the governorship and the presidential election.
The party may, however, need a miracle to win the governorship slot owing to strong political calculations and indices that prevail in the state.

But to say the party would lose all the positions it has fielded candidates has always been the situation in the past , would not be a wrong assessment of the political situation in the state.



- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/apc-jolts-pdp-cross-river/#sthash.LiaK1PY0.dpuf

[size=27pt]Clark’s daughter, students endorse APC in Delta[/size]


The granddaughter of the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, Ighosotu Clark, was among tertiary students who campaigned for the All Progressive Congress candidate in Delta South Senatorial District yesterday.


Ms Clark, an executive member of the National Association of Delta State Students, was also part of the team that paid a solidarity visit to the APC flag bearer, Prince Yemi Emiko, in Warri.
Emiko is challenging Senator James Manager, an Ijaw from Bomadi area, who has been in the Senate since 2003.
However, the leader of the student group, Comrade Bolokor Francis, said: “It is not the birthright of an individual or a particular tribe to represent the district for 12 years without proper accountability and transparency.
“It will be another terrible mistake, if Nigeria students fold their hands and allow the ills of the society to continue. That is why the students of the state are speaking in one voice and yearning for change and we believe that Prince Emiko and the APC can give us the change we need and deserve.”
He said the decision to back the APC candidate was taken after a critical assessment of Emiko’s track record in the public service, especially in Chevron Nigeria Limited, where he had worked for over two decades.
Emiko expressed joy that the students decided to endorse him without being lobbied by his campaign group. He said: “This is a clear testimony that there is still hope for this country,because what most students do these days is to ping and not concentrate on anything else.”


http://thenationonlineng.net/new/clarks-daughter-students-endorse-apc-delta/

[size=25pt]Why I’m campaigning with Buhari’s posters – Tata[/size]

Abdullahi Umar Tsauri Tata, Katsina State governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). He explains why he is campaigning for Buhari. Excerpts:


You were one of the leading governorship aspirants in the Katsina PDP, but suddenly you defected to APGA, which is considered unpopular in the state; why?
The result of the PDP governorship primary election was predetermined, and I knew it will be like that because I was never involved in party affairs since the day I joined the party. They manipulated the primaries in favour of one candidate. The result was not unexpected.
But prior to the party primaries, I discussed with my advisers and asked them: which is easier between winning the primary election under the PDP and winning the governorship election on the platform of another party?’ No one told me that it was easy to win the primaries in PDP simply because the state governor was totally against me for reasons that I can’t explain. It was under such circumstances that we conducted the primaries and there was no way I could have won. So, we looked at the options before us which were basically four in number. Number one was to remain in PDP and see how we could help the party to succeed, but we had no reason to do that.The second option was to join any of the other big parties in Katsina, APC or PDM that had already fielded gubernatorial candidates to see how we could assist them and probably defeat PDP, but I was faced with the problem that if I should do that then my aim of being in politics will be defeated.
What I mean is that I went into the contest because I saw governance as an opportunity to further expand on the little things I was doing for my people, then if I should join any other party, that opportunity is missed no matter what I may be given.
The only way I could help the people in Katsina is to be a governor. And if we are to replace the PDP with another party, I wanted assurances that the person coming in as governor will be better than the person we are replacing, but I had no such guarantee. So, I see no reason why I should pursue something I do not believe in.
The third option available to us was to leave politics since we couldn’t get what we wanted and that was not a good option. The final option was to look for a party non-existent in the state and bring it since I have worked extensively and touched the minds of the people in all the polling units.
We have 4,901 polling units in Katsina and at least seven out of every ten households know Tata in each unit. We decided to look for a party and take to the people and that was what we did.

How sure are you that the people will accept APGA?
Since I left the PDP we had that initial problem of putting the party on ground and passing through the necessary INEC procedures, and we were able to surpass all these difficulties.
We now moved into the second phase of taking the party to the people. I can tell you since I joined APGA in the last three to four weeks, I have not gone to Katsina and I have not done any campaigns, but you could be amazed at the acceptance of this party almost all over the state.
I will give you an example; during the permanent voter distribution and registration exercise, an old woman in one village who went to register insisted that she will not thumb print unless she sees a cock, the symbol of our party.
What plans do you have that are better than those of the PDP?
I am convinced that I will do better. I will add to the little amount of money the state is receiving to see how I can lift the people. My main target is to generate independent power in Katsina State and give the state 24 hour electricity supply. I will build 200 megawatts electricity around Daura. Gas will be supplied from Niger Republic to generate thermal power, which I will use to industrialize Katsina.
I have gone through the report of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and I saw the number of industries that closed shops basically because of lack of power. I want to lure the industries by providing them with the necessary incentives and use them to create the necessary demand that will consume my supply agriculturally and mineral resource wise. I want to generate labour and uplift the standard of my people.

Your party has resolved to support Jonathan’s re-election bid, but your posters are seen side-by-side that of Buhari. Why?
I supported Jonathan for almost four years now. And since I joined politics, it has been the same song that it was Jonathan that sent me, and I did my best for my people to understand me, but some people held on to the belief and I felt I should let it go.
I have said it since I left PDP that I will support Buhari and I will vote for him because I have no relationship with PDP whatsoever. If I had it before, it’s gone; I am in a new party. If you see my posters with the pictures of Buhari, it is the people that decided to vote for APGA in the governorship race and Buhari in the presidential election.
I don’t even know them for me to stop them and I pray that Buhari does not take offence. I heard that APGA had adopted Jonathan as its candidate, but you don’t expect me to be a governor in Katsina and behave like the governor of Imo State or you expect me to run the state like Lagos.

You and Labaran Maku defected to APGA at the same time, what is your relationship with him?
The only thing common between us is that if you look at the 26 political parties that are registered by INEC, and you are to choose one, coming from the backgrounds we came from; agrarian and half literate backgrounds, you discover that it is only APGA that has the symbol, picture of a cock that you can take to the people.
Maku was a minister under PDP government and I was nobody. Maku knew the good side of PDP and now he is seeing the bad side of it, but I only know the bad side of PDP.

There were allegations that security forces were involved in election rigging in the past. Are you confident that this year’s election will be free and fair?
Scientific rigging does not really involve the security forces; actual rigging starts from voter registration and you do not require any security to do that. Other stages of rigging such as distribution of material and collation of votes needed no security forces.
In my local government area, Dutsinma, we have 143 polling units and there were less than one hundred policemen in the area. So, the security forces do not even have the capacity to rig elections and one policeman cannot determine the outcome of an election in a polling unit that has over one thousand people.
With the technology available now, you can circulate election results at any polling unit without anybody seeing. So, I don’t have fears on the security agents and I believe in the sincerity of INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.
The Katsina state government is planning to manipulate the election not through the security agents but by sponsoring hoodlums to disrupt elections with security backups. They bought vehicles for that mission and I have a recorded speech of a party leader on the plans. They will not succeed because for the first time, we have four governorship candidates and we shall all do our best to safeguard the process.
Do you foresee an opposition party winning election at the state and federal levels in the future elections?
The PDP of today is almost running into extinction and this year’s election will prove what I said. For reasons best known to me, it is either the people in Abuja don’t know politics or they don’t want to know politics. You don’t stay in one place and allow charlatans to determine your fate. I doubt if such party, no matter the resources and security it has, will win elections.
Nigerians are not servants and PDP will lose elections. In 2011, Governor Shema was the campaign coordinator of Jonathan in the North West region but could not get the 25 per cent vote required in his state. I wonder how Shema can win election. PDP is gradually moving out of Nigeria, God Willing.


http://dailytrust.com.ng/daily/politics/43925-why-i-m-campaigning-with-buhari-s-posters-tata

[size=25pt]“We Believe You Are The One,” Ogonis Say, Endorsing Buhari[/size]

The four local government areas of Ogoni ethnic nationality in Rivers State on Thursday unanimously pledged their support in next month’s presidential election to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari. The Eleme, Tai, Gokana and Khana area declared their position during a brief ceremony to welcome General Buhari and other top APC officials to Sakpenwa, headquarters of Tai Local Government Area.

In a speech, the chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty King G. N. Gininwa, expressed appreciation to General Buhari for accepting to visit Ogoni land. “Ogonis have cried a lot,” he told the former Head of State. “We want a redeemer and we believe you are the one.” In another address, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, who represents the Rivers South East Senatorial District, declared support for Buhari on behalf of the Ogoni people.He drew attention to the impact of oil exploration and exploitation that has caused colossal degradation of Ogoniland, as a major contributor in oil production since 1958, and expressed regret that his people have been rewarded with devastated environment while their traditional occupation of fishing and farming are becoming extinct.

“Three and half years after the federal government sponsored UNEP report on Ogoni soil, no remedial effort have been made to address the damage outlined in the report despite the promise of the late President Yar’Adua’s government to implement the content unconditionally”.

He further recalled that three years ago, the government got a report that water in Ogoniland is contaminated with benzene, a known carcinogen, at levels of 900 times above the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline.

“As a deprived people, we have consistently placed in the domains of all governments, the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR) that seeks for equal representation of Ogonis in the affairs of the nation.

Senator Abe liked Buhari to Abraham Lincoln, stressing that the General’s era to serve and change Nigeria in line with the aspirations of its founding fathers has come, and that his people have decided to be part of history.

“As Ogonis, we know you have demonstrated an unimpeachable pedigree, high level of discipline, incorruptible and development-oriented leadership qualities as evident in your days in office as Head of States,” he said.

“Nigeria was for the first time, railroaded on the part of discipline and national integrity. Corruption took a back seat in national affairs and people learnt to submit to the processes of discipline which your administration enacted”.

And because Buhari considered Ogoniland to be a priority in the kick-off of his your national campaign tour, Senator Abe said the Ogonis will reciprocate the golden gesture and massively pool their votes to ensure that he emerges the President and Commander-in-Chief in May 2015.

Also speaking on the occasion, Rivers State Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who also doubles as the Director-General of Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, called on the Ogonis not to be intimidated by the use of military by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the elections.

Urging the people to vote for the APC at all levels during the general elections, Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, said, “If you vote for PDP Ogoni Kingdom will die…”

He noted that there is no strong governor coming on the side of PDP. “Those characters we have on the other side are thieves….Ask them…Nyesom Wike was my Chief of Staff, I have been speaker for eight years…show me the house that I have…speaker eight years, governor eight years…"

Also speaking on the environmental degradation of Ogoniland, Governor Amaechi said, “When UNEP came here, when they came to Nigeria to do a study of environmental crisis in Ogoniland, you people didn’t want them. True for false? You didn’t want them… forget now that the report is favourable. I addressed rallies in Ogoni to allow them to come in… and I said if you don’t trust Shell, if you don’t trust the Federal Government, don’t you trust me? And you said you trust me.

“As your governor I was running into the bush with Mike, we were chasing people, we were chasing criminals, there were attempts to kidnap (Mike) and other white people, but we maintained our desire to find solution to Ogoni crisis. And when they came up with the report, I met with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as governor of Rivers State. And I said to the President you see this report, please implement it for the Ogoni people, in fact….If nothing else the One billion dollars that they will invest in Ogoni soil if you don’t get anything you will get $500 million, it may not come to you as cash but as they continue to do one business or the other you also will do your own business, and you will benefit from it. Let the President tell us why he has refused to allow UNEP report to be implemented. There is no reason; because the money is not his, I hope you know”?

“The money is Shell’s. Just like Shell said they will pay 18 million dollars to Bodo. If the Federal Government say they won’t sign they won’t pay them.

“In this one all it takes is for President Goodluck Jonathan to sign them go ahead and implement. Gentlemen we would have started implementing by now. When the President was not implementing I called Shell, and I said of great importance to me as your governor is your life, that is, the life of Ogoni people, Can we give them water? And Shell agreed. We started from Eleme, Gokana had water provided by the Rivers State Government”, he said.

In his speech, the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun described Gen. Buhari as a man who represents the very best in the human race and assured the Ogonis of better governance as from May 2015.



“The Ogoni people have put environmental issues long before now, the Ogonis have been betrayed by the federal government but thank God you have finally recognized the powers in your hands. The fortunate thing is that for the first time you are going to be talking to a man (Buhari) who represents the very best in the human race, a man who is totally incorruptible and a man whose middle name is discipline”, he said.

In his response, General Buhari assured the Ogonis of his determination to fight corruption to a standstill if he wins the presidential election.

He said: “I am extremely impressed with the address presented by Senator Abe. I assure you of social justice, so mobilize your people and make sure your vote counts. I think we have really come a long way. I assure you…a lot has been taken from your land and relatively a lot will be given back. APC government will change the situation,” he promised.

http://saharareporters.com/2015/01/08/%E2%80%9Cwe-believe-you-are-one%E2%80%9D-ogonis-say-endorsing-buhari

[size=25pt]2015: understanding PDP’s N21 billion sweepstakes![/size]
Written by Muhammad Al-Ghazali

First, let me put the titling of today’s piece in its proper context. What occurred in the Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa last week, in which a motley crowd of pot-bellied politicians and their cronies contributed 21 billion naira to the campaign fund for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, did not qualify to be referred to as ‘sweepstakes’ in the strict sense of the word. For it to qualify, the president needed to be the only individual who stood to reap from the infamy.

What occurred was not just another dinner-fundraiser in the true sense of the word. It was the meeting of high profile ‘investors’ with various stakes in the comic tragedy that is present-day Nigeria. And the same investors have become so accustomed to taking Nigerians for granted that they can no longer conceal the open contempt they have for our collective sensibilities.

The president on whose supposed behalf they made the obscene pledges and ‘donations’ may have felt honoured but in actual reality he was also a victim like the rest of us if only he knew it. To my mind, there is a strong possibility that he also knows that he is indeed a victim but simply chose not to care or is too powerless to do anything about his condition.

Even the leader of a wretched banana republic such as ours is entitled to bequeath some form of legacy when he finally quits office. But only president Jonathan can chose exactly what type of legacy he intends to leave behind for posterity. The choice is entirely his.
Most of American President Barack Obama’s recent executive actions - including immigration reforms and the bankrupt and long overdue review of the stale U.S. policy on Cuba - are indications of a man determined to secure a favourable mention when the history of his presidency is recounted. But so far there is no hint yet on if President Jonathan cares about how his presidency will be reviewed when he eventually quits office. Didn’t he tell Nigerians he didn’t give a damn about their views not too long ago?

With such antecedents, can we expect the president or even his party that organized the embarrassing and highly unethical fundraiser to nurse any feelings of shame? And yet no leader with a sense of class or history can afford to toy with the important matter of their legacy.
Like ordinary mortals they forfeited the right to write their own histories from day one. Long after their departure from the corridors of power, history would converge to determine what becomes of their legacies. And history, by its very nature, can be very unforgiving.
Today, with our Chibok girls still at the mercy of a murderous gang of depraved insurgents almost a year after their abduction, and with ordinary stealing never the same as corruption in the eye of the administration, I shudder to contemplate the legacy of Jonathan’s presidency when it mercifully comes to an end.

In a nation crawling with serial felons, it is not as if Nigerians have known corruption in high places, but under the current dispensation perpetrators of various malfeasance appear to enjoy some form of official protection through the various actions and inaction of the executive arm of government.
Stripped of all pretences, every single individual, or group, that contributed varying sums of money at the PDP fundraiser last week, were guilty of corruption one way or the other. The entire process also had the nauseating stench of corruption, to say the least.
And If ever we required further proof that this administration has ventured into previously uncharted territory on corruption, last week’s event provided the final definitive proof. It was also the worst manifestation of crony capitalism imaginable. It proves why Nigeria will struggle to dispense with its high ranking among the most corrupt nations on earth.

What the Peoples Democratic Party did last week was to literally put the Nigerian Presidency up for sale to the highest bidders who will ultimately recoup their investments sooner, rather than later, at the expense of hapless Nigerians.
Let us remember that it is a few days yet since Christmas. And even if we excused the various donors for being in the festive mood already, they don’t exactly work for Santa Claus.

How could the same PDP government which claims to be doing all it can to fight corruption with all its might, be so comfortable with such a sleazy process and handouts from individuals who can hardly account for their massive wealth? When did Professor Jerry Gana join the billionaires’ club? Who were the faceless individuals behind most of the donations?
Having received such massive donations from various operators in the economy has the party not also forfeited all moral authority for any diligent oversight of their functions on behalf of the Nigerian people? What if the so-called friends of Jerry Gana and the rest also the same as those indicted in the fuel subsidy scam and the other well documented scandals awaiting prosecution?
What if the donations came from proxies of unfriendly foreign nation’s intent on dictating to the next the Nigerian government? What if they represented criminal entities like the Mafia or Boko Haram? It is precisely because of such prospects that serious nations the world over, never to toy with their electoral laws particularly as it concerns campaign funding.
The dangerous alternative is to entertain the risk their governments being hijacked one way or the other by either domestic or foreign interests intent on subverting the will of the majority.

In the last piece I contributed on the same subject matter before the 2007 general elections, I elaborated on McCain-Feingold law which dictates all facets of campaign funding in America with clear limits and disclosure requirements. Our own Electoral Act provides some cosmetic provisions to check abuses on campaign funding but is obvious that none of the parties or politicians takes it seriously.
But why does the PDP need 21 billion naira for the president’s campaign in the first instance? Sadly our experience has shown that the vast some would hardly be utilized to enhance the quality of the campaigns beyond the normal razzmatazz abuse-filled rallies. What we can be sure of with greater certainty is that the massive war chest would come in handy in compromising INEC officials and returning officers, along with security personnel.

The other need could be for the sake of employing the ‘stomach infrastructure’ strategy made famous by Ayo Fayose before the Ekiti gubernatorial election a few months ago. Should that be the case, as is most likely, then the PDP intends to stretch its contempt for Nigerians to another level.

Rigging elections to frustrate the legitimate aspirations of people yearning for change is one thing; exploiting their hunger to rob them of their collective dignity and self esteem through the bad leadership that can only be the result of such a flawed process, will be the height of sadism, in my view.


http://dailytrust.com.ng/daily/columns/tuesday-columns/42589-2015-understanding-pdp-s-n21-billion-sweepstakes

[size=20pt]Fr Mbaka and the Prophetic Voice in Nigerian Politics[/size],

By Stan Chu Ilo

When I think of how far Fr Mbaka has come from our time in the seminary in Owerri and from his early beginnings from the humble family of Mbaka in Ituku, it is simply a testament to how much God can do with simple people, who in humility and total trust place their entire life and ministry in the hand of God. I have been with Mbaka several times and remember over ten years ago when we went for a short stay at a lodging facility run by the DDL sisters. We had a good and engaging long evening and went to bed late. However, I woke up the next morning and saw him prostrate before the Blessed Sacrament, clutching his Bible with tears in his eyes. He was in that posture for more than two hours and I really regretted making that journey with him because I wasn’t prepared for such long prayers or having to fast the whole day. I do have a very deep respect for Mbaka and thank God for the work which has been accomplished in him. He is a very deeply spiritual and prayerful priest who meditates daily before the Blessed Sacrament, a lover of the poor, and a friend of God. I have never seen anyone who has devoured the bible and committed it to memory as Mbaka except perhaps Bishop Eneja. Mbaka has always been a man in love with God’s Word.

What Mbaka says of the ruling party at the federal level is true! It is only in Nigeria that $20 billion will disappear from the national treasury and go unaccounted for and the people will be dancing on the street for leaders who preside over this rot. It is only in Nigeria that 100,000 barrels of our oil wealth will be stolen everyday for the last ten years totaling a loss of over 35 billion dollars and people will be praising the ruling party. It is only in Nigeria that military barracks will be sacked by insurgents and hundreds of our boys and girls are being kidnapped, killed, and married away and people pretend that all is well. It is only in Nigeria that the unemployment rate of Nigerians under 30 years of age will reach 50% and we are claiming that we have a democracy or a government.

Our country is very sick and we need prophets like Mbaka to remind us of how sick we are just in case our social conscience have been dulled by the tokens which we receive from governments in election years. As a prophet, Mbaka should simply read the signs of the times and proclaim as he has done that the present situation in Nigeria today is not from God and needs to be changed. However, whether the PDP or APC can change this unacceptable situation is an open question because we have a deficit of leadership, character, vision, and integrity across both aisles? Nigeria has an unworkable and deadening dysfunctional moral and spiritual deficit and it is a serious albatross to us all whether at home or abroad. No prophet has a mandate to compel the conscience of the people; prophets can only stir the conscience and steer the wills of the people to embrace the ways of God by by rejecting anything in their lives and societies—economic, governmental, religious, cultural or social—which is contrary to the reign of God.

Professor Stan Chu Ilo is a Research Fellow at the Center for World Catholicism and Inter-Cultural theology, of DePaul University, in Chicago, USA.

http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=166513

[size=20pt]How Jonathan Killed His Good luck[/size],

By Adekoya Boladale

With a tension soaked atmosphere, the Nigeria general election hits a countdown of days as various political parties and contenders continue to rally round for the sympathy and votes of the electorates. Apart from the federating states with rainbow like contending parties, the presidential election which seems to have gained more international interest and attention is arguably between the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Initially, many pundits in spite of the on-going insurgency in the North East and unending daily bashing of whatever is left of President Goodluck Jonathan’s goodwill by the press and the opposition believes the President may pull this battle through and we were right in making such calls as at then. Looking at the factors that determine electoral victory, President Jonathan as at November, 2014 was still doing well in the race. His strongholds were still under his control. Public perception (though battered, still share some level of sympathy for him), the religion card, coupled with his frequent visits to Jerusalem and the apathy of voters’ towards presidential election were elements, if sustained could have earned him victory.

Events in the past few weeks have however shown clearly that the people with such believe of President Jonathan’s victory come February 14, 2015 may have overestimated the political exposure, determination and goodwill of the President. From available facts, President Jonathan seems to be suffering from cerebral leukemia- a blockage of the flow of reality to the brain, creating a delusional image of popularity and acceptability, hence decisions are irrationally taking without recourse to pragmatic events.

Undoubtedly President Jonathan hasn’t been the best president in the history of the country with unending allegations and counter allegations of financial misappropriations, downtrodden economy and perpetual insecurity in the North East but the zenith of this is his unholy charade with a renowned poster boy of a military junta and another captain of corruption who have suddenly leveraged on the inept trait of the president to take a sainthood form and rewrite their narratives. This window created by the president is unforgivable!

Away from the razzmatazz of social media, the defeat of President Jonathan at the poll in 2015 will be largely due to his own undoing. In all sincerely, a close examination of Jonathan disposition to the 2015 election shows a man who is tired of the pressures and demands associated with the presidential seat. Left to Mr. Jonathan, he would have thrown in the towel long ago and take a trip to the serene and calm village of Otuoke but for the notable cabals who benefit immensely from his incapacitation. For them, the demand for him to continue in office is overwhelming.

The All Progressive Congress on the other hand, having identified these elements took no time in unnecessary glorification of illusional popularity and worked vigorously at ensuring a united team, creating a strategic campaign system where people-focused manifesto devour of unnecessary ‘TAN-nated‘ dancers are passed directly to the electorates. Paint a message of anti-corruption ( though giving no convincing model to be adopted) against a generally perceived corrupt government. Build a mindset of change seeking electorates who would see the election as a form of revolution waiting to happen and position itself as the long awaited saviour. All these it got right!

President Jonathan’s campaign strategy is currently based around the following factors. Grassroot penetration, Religion, Southern support and achievements in office.

Grassroots politics has been identified as the strong pole of electoral victory as mostly those in the grassroot have limited access to the media hence their decisions are not based on press influence, they believe majorly the decisions of charismatic leaders they know and trust. Using this model in core consideration of the INEC election timetable which places National Assembly and presidential election on the same day one would have expected the president to ensure candidates of his party contesting for the National Assembly seats are people with massive grassroot presence, well respected and loved. The effect of this, is to have the president leverage on the popularity of these individuals at the poll, hence electorates are indirectly forced to vote for him without much ado. Unfortunately the list of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates flying around shows clearly that the president may not be well informed. A case study is that of Ogun State where Senatorial tickets are dashed out to concubine of kinsmen and renowned international fugitive who have lost every bit of acceptability and whose name continue to be a stain to the already tainted garment of PDP leaves the mind dazed.

In a similar way he has presided over Nigeria, President Jonathan has further carried his indecisive mode to the PDP. With few weeks to the election, the party is still engulfed in unnecessary division largely due to the inability of the president to call the shot and take a concrete stand on issues surrounding the candidature of some of the aspirants. This the party may soon pay for dearly!

As a Christian, President Jonathan believed strongly that almost every Christian would overwhelming vote for him come February 14 and he was right about this. If there is one thing the PDP has done successfully, it is the painting of General Buhari has a bigot, however, this was before the emergence of Pastor Osinbajo as the APC vice-presidential candidate. Unlike Pastor Tunde Bakare who was General Buhari’s running mate in 2011, Osinbajocomes from one of the most conscious and populated Church in the world, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and even though the General Overseer, Pastor Adeboye is yet to publicly endorse any candidate, members of the church are aware of the strategic plans some of the most influential pastors in the church (who are known to be the G.O’s footsoldiers) are putting up to ensure Pastor Osinbajo comes out victorious. This is not limited to theRCCG alone as close sources within the Catholic faith and other radical pentecostals are now much moresympathetic to the progressives cause having also revealed similar plans. If these works out, President Jonathan maybe more empty politically than we think. This is the price you pay when campaigns are based on religion rather than issues and policies.

As at last year, even though the All Progressive Congress controls majority the Southwestern states, pragmatic politics showed that the electorates may favour Jonathan (with exception of Lagos) compared to Buhari largely due to the rancour among leaders of the All Progressive Congress in the states and lack of connect of the Governors in those states with the electorates as against a perceived united Peoples Democratic Party. However, the lack of decisive leadership saw the party losing what could have been a bulk vote in Oyo state torn into shreds with the emergence of major political heavy weights under different party platforms. The implication of this is that the votes which ought to have been galvanised for PDP during the presidential election will now receive minimal attention frompolitical actors, some of whose parties are even without presidential candidates as the political exposure of an average Nigerian is still immature to result into voting for different parties in a single election.

The Southeast which was initially penned down as the unshakable stronghold of the president now appears as uncertain. The endless bickering on PDP’s gubernatorial candidature in Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo have opened aglimmer of hope for APC in those states. The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) believed to represent the political consciousness of the south Easterners has suddenly pulled out of its usual endorsement for President Jonathan to pitch tent with General Buhari. In a similar action, foremost Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohaneze Ndigboin spite of pressures to endorse Mr. Jonathan have refused to yield. The South South region also doesn’t seems united in having Jonathan win the election with divisions in Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom. The results from these regions may not only be shocking but catastrophical.

If there is one thing APC has gotten right, it is its campaign strategy. Beyond criticism, the party has been able to put forward a well coordinated campaign with the youth at the forefront of its media and mobilization section. This has helped the party reach out to minds of young ones in schools, Colleges, Universities and other tertiary institutions. The party has also done well in the management of resources, as funds get to the right hands and used judiciously.

The Peoples Democratic Party in spite of its huge resources continue to run an uncoordinated, uninspiring, ridiculous and tan-ated adverts which possesses little or no content but a choreography of dancers dancing to nowhere.

Let’s believe the world may have been bamboozled into believing lies and propagandas against the President but what excuse can the president give to these elements right under his control that he let slipped away?

Some say the time for change is now, I say let what will be, be. As for me, I stand with history in February, praying silently that this path would never be taken again!

Adekoya Boladale wrote via adekoyaboladale@gmail.com. Please engage on twitter @adekoyabeeand Facebook www.facebook.com/adekoyabee


http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=166515

[size=20pt]Our party full of injustice –PDP chair, Mu’azu[/size]

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, came hard on the political party on Tuesday, saying it was “full of injustice.”He said this was one of the reasons some PDP members defected to opposition political parties like the All Progressives Congress, the Labour Party and the All Progressive Grand Alliance. Mu’azu spoke at the inauguration of the Senator Amodu Ali-led PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation in Abuja.The event, which was held at the Legacy Building, Maitama, was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, a few governors and members of the National Working Committee of the party.

Mu’azu, who received a standing ovation from the guests after his speech, turned to Jonathan and said, “Mr. President, I want you to discuss with your governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives and other elected officials.

“We say that members of the PDP should not be used and dumped again. People leave the party because of lack of equity or injustice. “Monkey dey work, baboon dey chop. That must stop. This time round, monkey must work and monkey must eat. “A lot of people who left (our party) did so because of injustice in our party. The party is full of injustice.

“The membership of the APC, LP, APGA and others are increasing because of this. All these members are from our party. We must find out what is wrong and correct it.”

As soon as he said this, the gathering stood up and clapped for him.

Before then, Mu’azu had called on the opposition to limit their campaigns to issues and not religion, tribe and trivial matters. Responding, Jonathan told Mu’azu that he was aware that there were issues arising from the PDP primaries.

He said while the members of the party must come together to resolve them, he stressed that it must be clear to all that there must always be losers. The President added that there were other political offices which, according to him, were available during and after elections. He appealed to PDP governors to unite in ensuring that the party won the general elections .

On the February 14 presidential election, Jonathan said his government had done a lot to improve the quality of lives of Nigerians, including the youth .

He said that at the appropriate time, his opponents would tell Nigerians what they did while in government. The President said, “They will tell Nigerians how many nursery schools they built while in government. When the time reaches, we will speak out.

“Those who want to form a parallel government should continue to think like that. We are waiting for them. Anyone who causes trouble will be dealt with.”

He warned members of the party against joining issues with those he said might want to cause trouble in the country.

He said, “Some other politicians and campaigners are threatening fire and brimstone. Do not join them.

“Some other parties are pulling down other people’s posters. That is primitive. Please, do not join them. Every Nigerian must be free to campaign anywhere.”

The President charged those who would be responsible for his campaign to be civil, decorous and law-abiding.

He said he had already promised Nigerians and the international community that the elections would be free, fair, credible and violence-free.

The President said, “Without doubt, the forthcoming elections will mark a critical point in our nation’s history. The eyes of the international community are focused on the transition that lies ahead of us; the fifth post-military rule general elections that will be conducted under a civilian dispensation in Nigeria.

“The world is asking: will Nigeria get it right? My categorical response to that is: Yes, we must. And surely, we will. It is your duty to ensure that through your campaigns, and activities, this primary objective is not lost.

“Our commitment to free, fair, credible, and violence-free elections remains unshaken. That should also be your own commitment as we go to the field to seek the people’s mandate once again.”

He asked members of the campaign committee to always remember that the PDP belonged to democrats.

The President added, “You must always remember that we are a party of democrats, not a party of hooligans. We are a party of patriots, not a party of renegades.

“We are a party of statesmen and women. We are a party of builders and not destroyers. We are a party of committed servants of the people.

“You must let our people see once again, that we are in this to serve and to move Nigeria forward, not to move Nigeria backwards.”

In his acceptance speech, Ali said he was sure that marketing the candidacy of President won’t be a problem.

Calling on Nigerians to vote for Jonathan, he wondered why an opposition came up with an “octogenarian in this period when the world is moving toward the younger ones.”

None of the opposition party presidential candidates, including Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, is an octogenarian. Buhari is 72.

Making a mockery of the broom, the symbol of the APC, Ali said, “Never has it happened that a sweeper would become a king in the same palace where he sweeps. Not even with or without certificate.”

In his speech, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, asked the members of the PCO to work hard in order to win the elections.

Anenih said, “The presidential candidates of other parties cannot boast about any achievements in our democratic journey since they have not got the experience.

“So, I expect that Nigerians will prefer continuity of this administration’s robust Transformation Agenda to the so-called change just to satisfy some personal and narrow interests.

“Now, as we all know, the presidential election is the first in the series of elections scheduled by INEC to hold on February 14 along with the National Assembly elections.

“What this means is that we must work assiduously to win the best prize, which is the presidential election. Once we do that, the victory will expectedly have a bandwagon effect on the February 28 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.”

Others who spoke at the event were the Senate President, David Mark, and the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio.

Both described the President as a good product.

http://www.punchng.com/news/our-party-full-of-injustice-pdp-chair-muazu/

[size=15pt]2015 Election: Buhari leads Jonathan in poll organized by presidential aide[/size]

n October 15, the day former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, declared his intention to run for president in the 2015 election, news website, Sahara Reporters, activated an opinion poll asking Nigerians to indicate who they would vote for if the election were to hold that day between Mr. Buhari (as candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC) and President Goodluck Jonathan ( as candidate of the Peoples Democratic, PDP).

The poll lasted for only 24 hours, and out of a total of 15,435 persons that voted, Mr. Buhari got 12,246 votes, representing 79 percent of the total votes cast, while President Jonathan got 3189 votes, representing 21 percent of the total votes.
However, ostensibly to counter the survey conducted by Sahara Reporters, Mr. Jonathan’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Reno Omokri, also set up a similar poll asking almost the same question posed by the news website.

His poll, which is still running on his blog, “Build Up Nigeria” posed the question: “If the Nigerian Presidential election were held today, who would you vote for between President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari?”.
Mr. Omokri’s poll began a day after Mr. Buhari declared to run, but unlike the one ran by Sahara Reporters, which has since closed, the one by Build Up Nigeria is still running.

However, the result of the poll, as at 18:32 p.m. on Saturday, showed that Mr. Buhari was also leading by a wide margin.
While Mr. Buhari has 6,411 votes, representing 69.87 percent of the total tally, President Goodluck Jonathan has 2,455 votes, representing 26.75 percent of the votes cast.

Three hundred and ten persons, representing 3.38 percent of the total votes, were undecided.
For the polls, while Sahara Reporters used epoll platform, Mr. Omokri used poll daddy’s
Below are the two poll results:

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/169737-2015-election-buhari-leads-jonathan-in-poll-organized-by-presidential-aide.html

[size=15pt]How Fr. Mbaka rattled the PDP hierarchy and its grave implication.[/size]

Six months ago the PDP hierarchy took for granted the Igbo votes, boasting it already in the bag with Jonathan expected to do better than 2011, when he secured a landslide. Even the ohan'eze ndigbo was expected to go through the formality of endorsing him. Earlier in November Fr. Mbaka endorse Jonathan when his wife visited the parish and even allowed her to take reading from the Bible. On the brink of 2015, a devastating tsunami was unleashed on the political chessboard of south east Nigeria. Father Mbaka paid the politicians in their own coin and defected to the opposition. He launched a commando style devastating attack on the president: speaking from the pulpit he asked easterners to reject Jonathan, a Christian, in favour of Buhari, a Muslim.

The ripple of Mbaka’s attack was felt beyond the east and left PDP red face. Till date, the PDP propaganda machine has not given an articulate response to Mbaka’s attack. It’s left to sycophants and boot leakers to throw mud and threaten the man of God. The attack created an opening for APC, and made the Igbo asked, the hitherto unthinkable question: what did Jonathan did for the Igbo people? The answer unfortunately is nothing.

Even ohan'eze ndigbo could not agree on his endorsement. Day by day, Buhari is looking good, and sapping the energy out of Jonathan. Father Mbaka, looked the devil in the eyes, and took a leap of faith. Only time will tell.

[size=20pt]Buhari: A Symbol Of Ethics And Integrity, By Bámidélé Adémólá-Olátéjú[/size]

As we look to hire a new President to sweep off the horrendously incompetent Goodluck Jonathan, we need to consider the prescription of Warren Buffet, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Berkshire Hathaway. He said, “In looking for people to hire, look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don’t have the first one, the other two will kill you.”

The choice of General Muhammadu Buhari as the Presidential candidate for the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) is the triumph of integrity and character. Buhari is a man that is consistent in what he says and what he does. He is totally aligned with his values, beliefs, words and actions. Buhari embodies good moral character, even his avowed enemies attest to his honesty, trustworthiness and fairness. His victory at the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries is the people’s victory. Perhaps our traducers are finally convinced that we need a saviour. Perhaps they know they must atone for their sins and get absolution if this country must continue to exist. Who knows?

Leading with integrity is one of the great challenges of leadership. As a consequence, leading by example is walking the talk. Unfortunately, it is the point at which most Nigerians are found wanting. The social media went agog for Buhari all through the convention. All over the world, Nigerians kept vigil, wanting to know the outcome. Young people, who are notoriously apathetic, pined for Buhari to win. The feeling was fever pitched. It was euphoric!

The momentum since then hasn’t let out. This is because Buhari inspires to know, to do, and to be. The man Buhari, through his antecedents, is a leader whose qualities are rooted in his values and beliefs. What are his values? Love him or hate him, his values are seen in his attitude about worth. What does he consider important, worthy, or of value? While his peers revel in stolen wealth, fat foreign and local bank accounts, mansions in choice real estate markets around the world, we know Buhari had no such things. What are his beliefs? General Buhari has his beliefs rooted in his religion and his convictions in humanitarianism.

Even his harshest critics attest to his ethics and character. General Buhari is ethical, his conduct in any given situation is consistent with his values and beliefs. His character is impeachable and a summation of his conduct, values, and beliefs. These qualities, coupled with his military training and experience in various capacities working for Nigeria is a testament to his knowledge and skills in leadership. No one can be a leader without authority. Buhari is a leader with tremendous authority. His authority stems from the people’s belief that he will do right by his followers. He is the only Nigerian with millions of fanatical followers who believes; he alone can save Nigeria.

In his various capacities as a public servant, General Buhari presented a thorough blend of servant and custodial leadership. He was a good caretaker, guardian, keeper and protector of our funds and our trust at the time. He governed with integrity and was cognizant of his choice of service over self-interest. How did he do it?

He sought the best for Nigerians. He ignored self-interest and personal gain, and reached out to do the best. He was a good steward. As the leader of the Petroleum Trust Fund, he worked to guard the resources available to the fund. Not only that, he spent funds wisely, used the best contractors available and utilized the talents of his staff by developing them. Despite being out of power, he has never forgotten the ordinary Nigerian. Since 2003, He has been looking for ways to lead, to take responsibility, and to do a better job as a leader.

Dwight D. Eisenhower it was who said, “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionable integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.” Nigeria is a country where integrity does not matter much, where integrity is not talked about nearly enough. It is a country where the end justifies the means. We live in a country where a lost purse bulging with cash found by a stranger is considered an answered prayer. Where market women sell food items using measures that has been beaten in to reduce quantity. A place where merchants bring in substandard products and adulterated drugs not minding the consequences. A country where students pay to get grades. Teachers devote more time to after school extra lessons for which they charge than teaching during school hours for which they are paid. Applicants engineer their resumes because they desperately need a job. Companies overstate their earnings because they want to maintain their share price and look good to shareholders and the board of directors. The list is endless. In each case, every dishonest person convinces himself that the end result justifies their lack of integrity.

In life, the problem is: When you lie down with dogs you get fleas. Our life mirrors the lives of the people we surround ourselves with. If we surround ourselves with people who are dishonest and willing to cut corners to get ahead, sooner rather than later, we will find ourselves following a pattern of first enduring their behaviour, then accepting their behaviour, and finally adopting their behaviour. Such is our situation


in Nigeria. Maybe it is time for this country to be cleansed. Maybe God has answered the prayers of prayer warriors.

With Buhari as a stark choice against drift, terrorism, kleptomania, mediocrity, corruption, impunity and all that ails this great land. Maybe, we can finally take our place in greatness. I salute the delegates for voting our conscience. I thank them for voting integrity and character over money.

I leave you this week with the immortal words of Harry S. Truman – “A person who is fundamentally honest doesn’t need a code of ethics. The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount are all the ethical code anybody needs.”

Bamidele maintains a weekly column on Politics and Socioeconomic issues every Tuesday. She is a member of Premium Times Editorial Board.

Twitter @olufunmilayo

http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=166341

[size=15pt]Zoning Returns to Haunt Shagari, By Garba Shehu[/size]


There was an interesting episode way, way back during the Second World War in Kano City. That time, the colonialists were in power, during which they recruited very heavily from these parts. Our young men were merely given a short training and dispatched to the warfront, mostly in Asia.

An order had come down that all ward heads in the vast city should each submit ten names of able-bodied young men. Even in those times, you know that the local ruler will not write down his son’s name or that of his beloved in-law.

In this particular ward, there was a young man called Dan Umma – ugly-looking, massively built and aggressive-looking. No doubt about it, he was much hated by the ward-head. For this reason, Dan Umma himself knew that there was no way he could escape this hate list. His was the first name on it. As with the others, he was given his due share of Atampa wax print, a white fabric, ten Shillings and was asked to report at the Polo Ground where the recruitment officer would make his final selection. They lined up in their knickers and the white military officer made the rounds for his choices.

He looked at his young man up and down, then marked “x” against his name on the sheet of paper he held. “Dan Umma”, he thundered, “go home, you are rejected.” Delighted and relieved, the first stop he made was at the court of the Wardhead. “Dan Umma”, queried the ruler, “you are supposed to report today at the Polo Ground. Why are you here?” The recruitment reject’s answer was that everything has its time. “You may be my ward head but that is not to say your will must be done. The wish of a ruler is not a law” and vanished from the Court. This is the lesson I wish to take forward.

The out-going Deputy-Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Muktari Shagari has come last in the primary election organized for governorship aspirants in his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and since then, he has not stopped talking about why he feels cheated and that the results be upturned so that he can get the ticket. Shagari claims that he was promised the ticket eight years ago in a deal brokered by the national leadership of the party which, he now says, must be respected.

A report of the Sokoto primary in the Hausa newspaper, Rariya said that the winner, Ambassador Abdullahi Wali obtained 547 of the total votes cast. Senator Abubakar Gada and Minister Yusuf Suleiman came second and third and that Muktari Shagari got just a single vote, the one possibly cast by himself.
Since this incident was reported by this newspaper, it has touched off a chain of online reactions, with many of the commentators asking why Shagari, having lost the election is now crying to the party establishment in Abuja to retrieve the ticket from the winner and hand it over to him. Some are asking: Does he know the party he belongs to? Does honour exist in PDP? Do they keep promises made? Certainly no.

Muktari Shagari claims that eight years back, he won 80 percent of the votes in the PDP to stand as their Governorship candidate. In his manner of doing things, the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo looked at their candidate and party, and convinced himself that they did not stand a chance. He went on to negotiate a deal with a faction of the then All Nigeria’s Peoples Party, ANPP led by now Governor Aliyu Wamakko. And because Wamakko looked more promising upon defection to the PDP, the President gave the governorship ticket to the decampee and that is how Wamakko was made governor and Shagari attached to him as deputy.

It is possible that Shagari was promised the governorship upon Wamakko’s completion of term, but how many promises did the PDP make which they did not fulfill? PDP is on the record as having broken the major principle upon which it evolved; one that endeared it to Nigerians North and South, the policy of power rotation just so that it could suit the convenience of the sitting President, Dr. Jonathan Goodluck. Who did Mr. Jonathan use as legmen to sell this betrayal of the North to the North? Muktari Shagari was among the outspoken Northern leaders who urged the party on to break its rule and confer the title upon the President in 2011 and they are threatening to do the same in 2015.

When therefore he reeled out his story of the refrigerated or is it archived ticket, it shook many BBC Hausa listeners with laughter over the weekend. That was like rewriting the history in which he played a big part in smashing up. The whole North rose up to speak against the injustice of Dr. Jonathan continuing in office in 2011, that is after completing the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s term. The country said to PDP, keep your agreements, allow power to shift to the North. Muktari Shagari and his ilks made nuisance of these calls even as his boss, the Governor of Sokoto State, Wamakko stood solidly in support of the zoning agreement. Now, Mr. Shagari has become a victim of broken promises by PDP, there he is crying like a lost sheep.

Meanwhile, in total disregard to his cries, the PDP leadership in Sokoto had shrugged and moved on. Their Chairman says that: “any such agreement, if exists, is between you and Abuja. Go there and get its redemption. For us here in Sokoto, we were asked to organize primaries for all the contestants, which is what we just did. The winners have emerged and we are going ahead to submit the list of their names.”

Beyond the outward expression of the state party chairman, the hidden message he is sending to the aggrieved Deputy Governor is that if the man is looking for his promised free ticket, he should go and ask President Obasanjo who gave that promise. When President Yar’Adua died, President Obasanjo pushed to have Shagari appointed as Vice President to acting President Jonathan. Today, not only Obasanjo is out of office, he is equally out of the loop of the political power. He has no ticket to give anyone.

The story of Muktari Shagari is the story of the wheel of God. This man was one of the architects of a shameless chapter in the history of the country’s ruling party. He chose to side with untruth and as the wheel of God turns against betrayers and the unjust, the best action for all decent men and women to take is to watch and remain silent. He enjoyed the deprivation of his people to rightfully take their turn to govern, but cries out that his own turn is being taken away. What kind of selfish person is this? In other communities, Muktari Shagari would have been placed on the permanent blacklist of the betrayers of his community. He deserved his fate.


http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=166352

[size=15pt]JONATHAN’S EX-MINISTERS’ AWFUL OUTINGS AT PDP PRIMARIES[/size]



Until recently, they called the shots in their respective ministries. When they talked, people, except the critical members of the society, listened. When they gave orders, people obeyed. They mattered very much in the corridors of power. And they were also among the prominent members of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led cabinet. These ministers, namely Labaran Maku (Information), Onyebuchi Chukwu (Health), Emeka Wogu (Labour and Productivity) and Musiliu Obanikoro (Minister of State for Defence), left the known for the unknown, as they dumped their juicy ministerial positions and entered the gubernatorial race in their respective states.

What could have been responsible for this? Could it be due to over-bloated impression of themselves? Could it also have been due to their seemingly untested popularity? Maku contested in the PDP primary in Nasarawa State; Onyebuchi slugged it out with other contestants in Ebonyi State; Wogu slugged it out with other contestants in Abia, and Obanikoro, again, tried his luck in Lagos State.

But the outcome of last week’s primaries in those states showed that they were mere paper tigers! Before the primaries, these former ministers exuded so much confidence. Many even saw it as a demonstration of arrogance. But their individual ego was bruised, as they lost, in most cases, to less popular candidates. Maku, ex-Minister of Information lost to Yussuf Agabi; Onyebuchi, ex-Minister of Health, was defeated by Engr. Dave Umahi; Wogu, ex-Minister of Labour and Productivity, was crushed by Okezie Ipkeazu and Obanikoro, ex-Minister of State for Defence, suffered an embarrassing defeat in the hands of Jimi Agbaje, thereby giving his ambition of becoming the next governor of Lagos State a kiss of death.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/jonathan-s-ex-ministers-awful-outings-at-pdp-primaries/196633/

[size=17pt]Panadol for another person’s headache![/size]

Posted by: Mike Kebonkwu in Columnists, Tuesday 8 days ago

Tackling insecurity in Nigeria has become like a relentless migraine headache to both the Federal Government and the security services. The more we are told that the security forces will soon defeat the Boko Haram insurgents, the more grounds and territory the sect takes with trails of tears and blood. To put things in the right perspective, it is pertinent to ask ourselves some basic fundamental questions.

Are we truly winning the war against the Boko Haram insurgents? It does not seem so. The security forces from evidence have lost more grounds and equipment to the group in the recent past than any other time and have turned the weapons so seized against the military. Do we have the capacity to fight the war? Perhaps yes; but the military has not shown any appetite and commitment as troops are reported to be abandoning and fleeing their locations at the rumoured or real approach of the Boko Haram. Do we have the political will? No evidence. All we have is the political class playing politics with not just insecurity but every other thing that matters in the life of the masses of people and the nation at large. Do we have the right leadership? What we have across board and political divides do not reflect right leadership.

We have the misfortune of a leadership that is in power and government but not in charge and control of anything. Leaders that cannot put their ministers and Special Advisers (SAs) in check even when they cross the red line of law and morality. We have leaders who are incapable of fighting the monster called corruption but rather perceived attacks on official corruption as a personal attack on them and their offices by the opposition. Indeed, under the present dispensation, corruption has become a lifestyle just as the anti graft agencies have become comatose and dazed. The fugitives who were cleared of corruption charges by the judiciary in Nigeria perhaps on the evidence available to them have been convicted in Europe on the same allegations with copious evidence. The police till date and indeed the authorities concerned are still not able to prosecute the bribe taking members of the National Assembly in the Femi Otedola petroleum subsidy scandal. What we see is unnecessary inter-agencies rivalry and competition for attention on the tube and print media giving mere impressions of performance to justify their budgetary allocation. This is why till date, the alleged mastermind of the Nyanya bomb blast has not be arraigned, no thanks to the conflict between the Directorate of State Security and the Police on who should undertake the prosecution.

Is the situation hopeless? Methinks with the right mentality and patriotic fervour, we could change the tide and create new consciousness and new value system that will make us begin to appreciate democratic ethos and respect for law and order as well as the rule of law. For now, we are mired in a state of anomie and sinking deeper in despondency as security of life and property are slipping out of the hands of the state while the Boko Haram insurgents inch closer to a statehood. Rather than confront the problem and fight the cause with patriotic zeal to regain our national pride and territorial integrity, we are blaming our so-called ‘international partners.” Why would the United States or Britain for that matter take Panadol for our own headache?

It does not make any common sense that our leaders could find it convenient to tell the whole world that we are losing the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists because America refuses to sell arms to us or provide intelligence to our security forces in our soil and territory. Our grouse against the so-called international partners for not coming to our aid in the fight against insurgency is a misguided display of infantile reasoning akin to a lazy workman blaming his tool for his failure. What kind of people are we that we appear so sedated and dazed as not to know how to use our head and common sense in the face of challenges? It is not now that we should be talking about equipping our military? What has happened to the huge budgetary allocations to the Defence Ministry over the years?

Look at the show of shame in the premises of the National Assembly where the Nigerian Police and other security agents refused the Speaker entry into the National Assembly Complex. It is a despicable act of unparallel dimension and a gross violation of the sanctity of any known democratic norm. It has become obvious from the theatre of absurd that we have watched in the past five or so years that our political leaders of today under whatever guise or disguise and under whatever political apparition and platform have chosen to revel on the grave and misfortune of the Nigerian people. We should not be looking for enemies from outside, these crop of politicians are working towards breaking up the country from their actions and inactions, from what they have done and what they have failed to do.

In less than 24 hours after the Nyanya bomb blast, we saw our leaders and politicians celebrating at a political rally in Kano. In less than 24 hours after the killing of over 45 students in Potiskum, our politicians in their blind quest for power gathered at the Eagle Square Abuja in a political carnival subjecting residents of Abuja and environs to a most harrowing and gruesome torture flocking virtually every road that leads to the FCT.
Just as we are worrying about the unrelenting insecurity in the North-east and the expiration of the state of emergency and what next to do, our politicians are at it again scheming to impeach the Speaker of the House of Representatives who has defected to the opposition party. Look at the imbecility displayed by the Nigerian Police and some other security agencies. Which court orders were they enforcing? What has happened to those who had defected to other parties in the past; what kind of puerile selective justice are we applying in this country? In all this, we want America and Britain to come and carry our cross. Every public analyst and even our revered clerics that you would ascribe some modicum of knowledge of morality have sunk into that infantile logic that we are not able to defeat insurgency because America has refused to give us weapons and supply us with intelligence. It is a shame indeed that this could be the defence of our government even through diplomatic channel of our envoy to America.

It is a truism that the Nigerian military has been battle tested at home and abroad in International Peacekeeping engagements to the admiration and pride of every Nigerian and our international partners. However, the story coming from the theatre of operation in containing the insurgency about local hunters reclaiming towns and cities abandoned by fleeing soldiers should be a source of worry to any Nigerian that has the interest of the nation at heart. How did we get to this level of total and complete loss of sense of commitment to our land? The fractious nature of our army today and reversal of fortune in gallantry is due mainly to meddlesomeness by the political class who prefer to promote ethno-religious sentiments to serve their interest. In addition, there appears to be a paucity of critical leadership at the top echelon of Military High Command who care little about quality of personnel.

If at all we have a sensible leadership, it should occur to us that America is not the only known market for arms and weaponry. Syria today, does not rely on the weapons from America and Britain and the country has held out against formidable foes. Sudan has held out against rebel groups in Darfur and the Republic of South Sudan not with the weapons from America and Britain. Lately, Egypt has decided to look elsewhere for weapons and armament when threatened by America and Britain on charges of human rights abuses. We should stop chasing shadows and face our problems as a nation; nobody takes panadol for someone else’s headache; Americans have their own problem.

• Kebonkwu Esq writes from Abuja

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/panadol-for-another-persons-headache/

[size=18pt]How Nigeria destroys[/size]
Posted by: Gbogun gboro in Gbogun gboro 6 days ago

The great danger of being part of Nigeria today is that Nigeria tends massively to corrupt everything and everybody. There is hardly anything to look up to in Nigeria. In most directions that one may look, the beckoning is perpetually and relentlessly towards the low, the ignoble and the graceless. Most of the privileged and influential seek nothing but their own. In the reckoning of the typical powerful and influential Nigerian, the masses of ordinary Nigerians are, at best, cannon fodder for the reaching of his warped goals – and at worst, just despicable beings deserving to be ignored in their poverty, their ignorance and their hopelessness. The famous writer, Wole Soyinka, once wrote a book with the title The Man Died. Man with the higher qualities and nobler passions of man has almost totally died out in Nigeria.

Recently, in some other place, I pointed out one relieving feature in this generally depressing Nigerian landscape – namely, the strong spirit of religious tolerance and accommodation among Yoruba Muslims and Christians in a Nigeria in which most other Muslim peoples have turned the great religion of Islam into the reason for the massacres of their fellow men, the destruction of whole settlements, and the disruption of a whole country. But, unfortunately, in the realm of partisan politics, no such relieving feature exists anywhere in Nigeria – not even among the Yoruba. Everywhere in Nigeria, party politics has been bestialized into a horrible and unrestrained civil war in which prominent politicians set up whole propaganda outfits to lie perpetually and to cruelly besmirch opponents – and hire young men to attack, harass and murder political opponents. And the goal of all the beastly lying and the satanic plots to murder is never to gain political positions for the purpose of serving the interests of country and people; it is to enhance the politician’s access to the country’s money and other resources. Hordes of young people are easily available for recruitment because they are unemployed, poor, and desperate to earn some income – even if it is income from the hand of Satan himself.

All things considered, I believe that most informed observers would agree that one of the saddest aspects of this political debauchery in Nigeria is that it has become strongly entrenched among the Yoruba people, in the Yoruba South-west, too. This is one of the worst among the terrible legacies that Nigeria has bequeathed to any Nigerian nation. It should never have found acceptance and root in Yoruba soil. The Yoruba are the inheritors of nearly 1000 years of a supremely orderly political system and governance which respected the sovereignty of the people, emphasized respect of the rulers for the ruled, established powerful instruments for the moderation of the conduct of rulers and influential notables, and made government a reliable servant of the people. In modern times, when the European system of elected governments came to Nigeria in the 1950s, the predominantly Yoruba Western Region easily led Nigeria in orderly democratic politics, free and fair elections, and government that powerfully advanced the well-being of citizens. But today, the Yoruba seem to be very eagerly throwing away all their own wonderful political heritage and avidly grabbing Nigeria’s horrible political heritage.

Sadly, in today’s Yoruba South-west, persons elected or appointed into state governments come into office breathing fire and brimstone against political opponents, thereby destroying orderly cooperation between the constitutional arms of government, and generally giving the people whom they rule the terrible image of an unruly and barbarous people. Yoruba politicians serving in the federal government think that their duty is to launch attacks on Yoruba state governments controlled by other parties, and to use federal power and federal agencies to humiliate and disrupt such state governments. Most leading Yoruba politicians are armed with militias of cronies who are employed in such despicable tasks as mindlessly lying against their boss’s opponents, carrying out assassinations, disrupting the activities and meetings of opponents, and killing at random in order to instill fear into opponents.

In the background to all these is the fact that party membership has been robbed of all meaning. The politician who is powerfully seeking his party’s nomination for an election today, if he happens to lose the nomination, has no qualms whatever about becoming a contestant for the nomination of another party by tonight. Even a politician who has been loyally elected into government on the platform of a party, has no pangs of conscience at all about deserting his party for another party – he does not think of himself as having any duty to the persons who laboured to get him elected. In the context of all this horse trading and betrayal, the traditional sensibilities of Yoruba people are being massively distorted, and Yoruba traditional commitment to good governance is being ruthlessly destroyed.

Thus, for the most part, governors, elected representatives, and political leaders among Yoruba people today are not leaders and rulers of their people in any meaningful sense; they are brigands and desperadoes seeking nothing other than the chance to steal public money and to build up huge wealth thereby - so as to be able to squirrel money out of Nigeria for hiding in secret bank accounts abroad, for buying expensive real-estate properties in other lands, for taking girlfriends on expensive trips, and even buying expensive houses for girlfriends, abroad.

These acts of brigandage contribute greatly to poverty among their people. Of course, the accumulation of all power and resources in the hands of the federal government, and the general mess being forever compounded by the federal government, are the taproot of poverty in Nigeria. But state and local politicians, by their profligate behavior and betrayal of their people, add enormously to the poverty in two ways. In the first place, their stealing of public money adds much to the failure of state and local progammes of development. They leave very little chance of success for plans to improve the schools, to improve state and local roads and water supply, to assist businesses and increase job opportunities for the people, etc.

In the second place, the wild, noisy and unruly politics tends to drive or keep good businesses and employment opportunities away. There are great amounts of investment capital seeking to come from the richest countries to virgin countries worldwide, but no businessman or investor would ever want to bring his investment or business to a place where political life is unstable and frequently agitated. For some of the states of Nigeria, including some states of the South-west, promises by the governors or aspiring governors to attract businesses and improve employment opportunities are mere lies. Their disorderly politics makes any fulfilment of such promises impossible. Stable and orderly politics is the first requirement of economic development in any country or state.

All that I have said here about the Yoruba South-west are true of the rest of Nigeria. Indeed, some parts of Nigeria are much worse than the South-west. The crucial point about the Yoruba of the South-west is that they started off in modern times with a great and enviable political heritage and that, rather than build on that heritage, they have been junking it in recent times.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/how-nigeria-destroys/

[size=15pt]Does Jonathan Know The Price At Which Our “democracy” Was Bought? [/size]
By Ogaga Ifowodo


By condoning, if not authorising, serial acts of impunity, is President Jonathan transforming democracy by redefining it as minority rule? Or simply returning us to the forgotten epoch of might is right? The most popular definition of democracy remains that proffered by Abraham Lincoln in the famous Gettysburg Address to commemorate the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War. In the long closing sentence of the short 278-word speech, Lincoln uttered the words that every junior secondary school student knows by heart: “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

But Lincoln was a man who could see through the clang and clamour, the gore and rubble, of war to the underlying philosophy of his society’s core values. It is this quality that transformed him from a defender of the status quo of slavery and negation of the American national myth to “the great emancipator.”

As I read reports and saw images of how the police, six days ago, tear-gassed House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and opposition legislators — including, alas, some senators of both parties — in order to prevent them from entering the chambers of the National Assembly where the ruling party representatives sat in a furtive attempt to strip Tambuwal of his speakership as punishment for defecting to the opposition, despite not having the clear majority to do so, I was reminded of a major source of our predicament which I have written about before: our insistence on practising democracy without democrats. It is a phenomenon founded on a shocking contempt for history, ethics and plain decency.

Do the police, President Jonathan, and the PDP house members know the dear price at which our current “democracy” was bought? As they trample on every sacred principle and desecrate every state institution, blinded by a brute will to power or immediate personal gain, do they ever remember how many died, how many were maimed, and how many were denied their liberty in the struggle to end military dictatorship in our land?

Not questions, perhaps, that one who has been ferried blindly by sheer luck from one high governing office to another right up to the pinnacle might be expected to ask. And so in a short 15 years, we are in danger of redefining democracy against sense or logic.

Jonathanian democracy is encapsulated in the formula: 16>19 (sixteen is greater than nineteen). Consequently, Governor Jonah Jang who got 16 votes declared himself the elected chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum over Governor Rotimi Amaechi who got 19. Jang would even go on to claim divine sanction for the formula. “I contested and won. So, it’s the will of God,” he proclaimed, adding for our education that God is a founding member of the PDP: “God is a democrat, does not support rigging but if you rig and succeed, that means God approves of it.”

Jonathan’s democracy formula was next tried in the Rivers State House of Assembly, this time as 5>27. There, 5 out of the 32 members of the RSHA “impeached” the speaker for the offence of being pro-Amaechi. In Edo State, the formula 9>15 is at the root of the crisis that has paralysed its house of assembly. In Ekiti, the formula is 7>19.

There, where two-time governor Ayo Fayose had earned the reputation of Mr Impunity even before being sworn in, 7 out of 26 members of the house of assembly have purported to remove the speaker.

While we don’t know the exact number of the ruling party representatives who sat under police protection while their opposition counterparts were being hounded, it is a fact that they lacked the two-thirds majority for removing a serving speaker, thereby rendering a perfectly legitimate thing — removing a speaker and electing another — suspect.

Thus, ridiculous as it may seem, the opposition party members who defied tar-gas to scale the fence in order to gain access to their place of work and foil the plot, saved Nigeria the greater embarrassment. But not without giving further damning proof of the transformation of the police into the Jonathan and PDP Police Force. Not the NPF but the JPF or PDP-PF. No matter who the Inspector-General is, the police can be trusted to display a contemptible lack of understanding of the proper conduct expected of them as law enforcement officers whose duty and loyalty is to the constitution and the nation, and not to the president and his party.

Reuben Abati, Jonathan’s image launderer-in-chief, has let it be known that the president did not order the police to invade the National Assembly. We do not expect him to say otherwise. Still, Abati ought to know that people who wield immense power need not speak before they are obeyed. Spineless and fawning subordinates would anticipate their wishes on the basis of previous orders, statements, actions and inactions, even moods. In Jonathan’s case, his infamous declaration that he did not give a damn about leading his self-avowed “war against corruption,” long since abandoned, by personal example through a public, as opposed to a secret, declaration of his assets, was a foundational statement from which the police could read a licence to act against the public interest in perceived protection of the president’s personal benefit. You could also mention the president’s curious attempt to distinguish between stealing and corruption.

This, one would think Dr Abati, if no one else in Jonathan’s government, knows is the heart of the matter. And that it does not require being in government to “gain a better understanding of how government works” or to have “access to real information about what goes on in government” to know how the president unwittingly sanctions a pattern of outrageous behaviour by top officials. And if Abati truly believes that the police will investigate and indict itself or admit that it acted with the actual or implied consent of the president, then our problem is bigger than we can ever imagine.

“I don’t give a damn!” was Jonathan’s standing order to all willing and able agents to “deal ruthlessly” with the opposition. So the police could claim that opposition legislators were “thugs and hoodlums” while their ruling party counterparts, by definition, were ladies and gentlemen to be accorded every civility. After all, if the president doesn’t give a damn, who should?

Professor ifowodo, a lawyer, poet, and now aspirant to the Isoko constituency Federal seat in Delta State on the platform of the opposition APC . He can be reached via omoliho@gmail.com

http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=166204