₦airaland Forum

jason123:
Apart from what I stated, he is also handling the most ethnically diverse state in Nigeria if not Africa, yet, there has been no conflict compared to a state like Kaduna, Kano . .etc
He also has the most ethnically diverse cabinet in Nigeria. He fore-saw the most ambitious project in West-Africa (Eko atlantic). Now, he is building a monorail.
Some good projects might not be people oriented but that is a minor price we must pay for development because development does not come cheap.

Most ethnically diversed cabinet in nigeria? Who told you that lie? Cross Rivers state alone is a babel, check the different ethnicity in their cabinet. I guess you haven't check the Riverstate cabinet,not to talk of up north. Also, I don't think Igbo,Hausa,etc. would be complaining of not having spots in his cabinet if it was the "most diverse". Heck, even the aworis were claiming discrimination of getting spots in his cabinet.

Oversaw the most ambitious project in West-Africa(Eko Atlantic)? Where that come from?! And what is ment by "most ambitious"?

Isn't Amaechis monorail like complete right now?.

Bad examples you gave,dude.

Amaechi,hands down. Why mention Akpabio? He's tarnished everything with the violence and extreme rigging in the gubernational elections and leading up to the elections as well. If he was as good as claimed, he wouldn't have had to have his opponent thrown in jail and then rearrested after he got bail,just my opinion. Amaechi is the man.

Odunnu:
JEGA is a saint Chyz!

Satan was once a saint too.

JEGA should head down to Imo State and monitor what will go on. Of course, that is to say if he is not part of the rigging.

Why not?

[size=15pt]New Power Sharing Arrangement: PDP’s zoning knocks off South-West zone[/size]

On May 1, 2011 · · In Special Reports



This report explores why South-West geo-political zone may not feature prominently in the emerging zoning arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. With the least number of legislators at the National Assembly, the zone is not solidly positioned to pitch for either the Speaker’s position or those of either the Senate President or Deputy Senate President. This is the emerging reality that leaders of the party in the South-West have to contend with. On a bigger scale, how would the PDP re-arrange its zoning formula to contain the plethora of disparate interests, while not hurting sensibilities in the run up to the 2015 elections.

By Jide Ajani, Editor,
Northern Operations

It hit Chief Olabode George like a thunderbolt; and he never forgave Olusegun Obasanjo, then President and Commander-in-Chief.

It was in the build up to the handover ceremony of May 29, 2007. George, Obasanjo’s Man Friday, who had played a significant role in the presidential campaign of late Umaru Musa YarÁdua, was cruising home to becoming the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. It was an internal arrangement which, though unwritten, was obvious to all. George was also banking on the relationship which had existed between him and the senior General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, with whom George had worked during the preparations for the 1977 Festival of Black Arts and Culture, FESTAC – George had worked on a sub-committee with the senior Yar’Adua in charge and a relationship was struck. With that relationship, George, sensing that an Umaru as President and leader of the PDP would not be averse to his becoming the national chairman of the PDP, felt comfortable and saw no need to fret.
Alas, Obasanjo had another agenda.

As the supreme leader of the PDP, he whimsically re-ordered the emerging zoning arrangement in the party. He swung the Speaker’s seat to the South West and gave the party chairmanship to the South East. It was his own way of re-paying a loyal member of the House of Representatives, not even from his own Ogun State. Patricia Etteh, from Osun State, was primed for the Speaker’s seat and Obasanjo, even after he had left office, pulled all the stops to hand her the seat. That was how the South-West zone ended up with the number four position after Obasanjo from the same zone had used up the presidential slot for eight years.

Today, the people from the South-West are in for a rough time.
Reason: The last elections, specifically the national legislative elections, saw the zone performing woefully when compared with other zones.

For that reason, any meaningful zoning arrangement within the PDP, according to party insiders, consigns the zone to the position of either chairmanship of the party or Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The six slots open for grabs are:

President and Commander-in-Chief – South-South

Vice President – North-West

Senate President – North-Central

Speaker, House of Representatives – South-West

Chairman of PDP – South-East

Secretary to the Government of the Federation – North-East

The present arrangement would have to be tinkered with.

In the case of the South-West and its previous hold on the speakership, that would change.
The National Assembly elections have demystified the claim of the PDP as having a strong footing in the South- West and, by extension, any form of relevance in the PDP.

The offices of president and vice president remain where they are.
But the Senate President’s position, which presently is in the North-Central, may remain there for the purpose of continuity.

And whereas the South-East held the office of the Senate President while another southerner, Obasanjo, was President and Commander-in-Chief, the experience of Nigerians in the hands of South Easterners remain fresh – every state in the zone produced a Senate President in eight years because of the crises of attrition that ensued. Evan(s) Enwerem, Chuba Okadigbo, Anyim Pius Anyim, Adolphus Wabara and Ken Nnamani from Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States, respectively all served the slot of the zone within eight years. This creates a possible knock off effect for a possible return of the seat to the South-East particularly, not because of the attrition but, because the incumbent, David Mark, enjoys the confidence of President Jonathan. The North-Central zone also stood behind
Jonathan but for Nasarawa State which was lost to the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. The South-West PDP has only a Senate seat and it is not ranking.

For now, the chairmanship of the PDP resides in the South East.

Even at that, Abia State, from whence Chief Vincent Ogbulafor hails, has served its turn while Enugu State, with Dr.
Okwesilieze Nwodo, has also served its turn.

It may be left in the hands of the leaders of the zone to demand a return of the slot to the zone or opt for the number four position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In terms of the slot for the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the North-East, with Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, holds sway. With his commitment and his decision to stay course and lean towards Jonathan in the heady days of late President Yar’Adua’s health crisis, the North-East may have to contend with Ahmed’s pre-eminence as a solo occupier.

This is because his firm grip on the office and manifest commitment to Jonathan may cause the slot to be retained in the zone because of his person.

If that happens, the South-West would be at the mercy of whatever the South-East leaders want between the offices of the national chairman and that of the Speaker, House of Representatives.
Interestingly, between the speakership and the chairmanship positions, the South-West zone can not lay serious claim.

The reason is because in the House of Representatives, the zone would have the least number of members and, therefore, would lack the moral turpitude to stand on firm ground.

If the zone is offered the national chairmanship, the same scenario plays out – a national chairman whose zone produced the least membership support for the party.

Just as it was during the Second Republic when the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, held sway at the centre, its national chairman, Chief Augustus Meredith Adisa Akinloye, did not enjoy the popular mandate from the Yoruba-speaking western part of Nigeria where the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, was in charge. But Adisa, being a tactful politician, held his own in national politics.

Today, who in the South West Zone, has such demonstrable political sagacity to occupy the position of national chairman?

Well, there are two former state governors who fit the bill: Otunba Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, formerly of Osun State and Governor Alao Akala of Oyo State. And whereas there is Segun Oni, formerly of Ekit State, the chairmanship position may console the South-West.

But all these would require serious horse-trading as the permutations would have to be considered with or without prejudiced to the 2015 general elections. That year, especially within the context of President Jonathan’s promise not to seek re-election, the South-East zone would have to be very tactical in its approach, just as the North-Central and North-East zones would have to weigh the options open to them – the North-West produced the late Yar’Adua, albeit, short lived.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/05/new-power-sharing-arrangementpdp%E2%80%99s-zoning-knocks-off-south-west-zone/

jason123:
I have told my SS brothers (including the So called Ogoni man) that we are the uniting factor in the Southern Nigeria. Once we start pointing fingers at the Igbo or Yoruba, that is the day the Southern Nigeria or South-south will collapse. We must remain neutral in this never-ending feud between the Yorubas and Igbos.
@Beaf, your point is well taken and supported.
@Chyz, you call yourself a SS man but yet you point fingers. Until the day Igbos stop insulting Awolowo, there will be no peace. I have been to several internet forums, its the same thing over and over again with Igbos blaming Yorubas for their every ill and yet we all live with them . Do you not sense hypocrisy??
@ Ezeuche, keep it up. You will surely reap the rewards.
@ Op
Southerners are not weak minded but they are not stupi.d. Before any attack, it must be well planned. It's not cowardice but common sense.

You call yourself a SS man but yet you say nothing when fools from the SW attack our intelligence and hardwork. You have no reason to call me out . Now about Awolowo, Let their be no peace for as long as the Ikemba's name is mention from a dirty mouth we will strike infinitely, you can count on that.

Ndigbo is SS as well, im a pure example of it. There is no Igbo/yoruba anything. Caution the yorubas about worrying about Igbo.

seanet02:
GBAM!!!
Ezeuche only thinks after Talking.

fck you.

step1:
Yes the SW has many problems but it is not jealousy and envy.

How so?

EzeUche__:
What the hell is wrong with you Anambra Igbos? 

The pendulum of power in Igboland needs to swing to Eastern Igboland, because you all are allowing a tribalistic party to make inroads into the very heart of Igboland.

Ezeuche, as long as they are igbo than its really not that big of a deal. Its serves us good to have a hand in every party at this moment. Look at the benefits coming out to Ndigbo on a national bases. We good.

Beaf:
Nah dude, I don't wish to point fingers, don't let fools like Rhino 5dm force your hand.
There is much too much bad blood between the SE and SW, that singular fact is really holding the country down. That is what the core-North used to wrap the vastly more educated parts of the country around their fingers.

My heart really weeps each time I see the sort of senseless quip from seanet that kicked off the current bash fest.

GEJ has created an easy rapport between the SS, Middle Belt and SE (especially the SE), being from a neutral ethnic group he must strive to build the same rapport with the SW and work to stop this self-destructive madness; otherwise, as soon as he's gone, we will be back under the boots of the core-Northern hegemonist cabal.

The main problem in the SW is their jealousy and envy, once they get past that then it'll be good for them.

Kobojunkie:
Hello . . .  that was more than half a century ago. Why are you not standing up for YOURSELF(not pretending others have to stand by force with you) NOW? Why is Ibo Land in the hands of thief and deceivers as local politicians?

The same reason why every other part of nigeria is.

godobi (m):
I think it will be nice to state that 'you dont want Ohakim to be your Governor' and not 'we dont, '. Some of us would love Ohakim to be given another chance. [b]Mind you that according to my calculations from whatever inec made public, pdp won about 49% of the declared votes and YOUR ROCHAS got 51%. So it will be an understatement to say that 'we' dont want Ohakim as our governor. Yes, I just created an account like you pointed out to write nonsense. It is a shame that most of us have just forgiven and forgotten about Udenwa who did not do a single thing for Imo state when he was a governor but now calling on Ohakim who as far as I am concerned has done much to be crucified. Give him a chance becuase he is human and not 'god sent' like your ROCHAS.

That was even cooked up. There is no way Ohakim could have come close to Rochas, fact. Go look at the votes from his home Okigwe,people that dont even like him, he won by unbelievable margins.Obviously he rigged there.

godobi (m):
I sincerely see your point but I think the Ohakim will be humbled and would be doing all the right things IF he gets a second mandate. He might be proud, dubious etc but this will teach him a great lesson that people of Imo State are not pushovers as he thought. I also think that Ohakim's running mate Prof. Onwuliri will do her best to put him on the right footing. I am calling on everyone in those LGAs to please give Ohakim another chance.

They don't need to give anyone another chance. He shouldn't have been treating the people as peasants that don't want development. They chose Rochas, so give them Rochas.

[flash=350,350]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzIDubvDVTE[/flash]

mikeansy:
So if Ohakim wins there then the election must have been rigged, but if Rochas wins there then the election is free and fair.

This is why Dede_1 said democracy is not designed for Africans and I agree with him.

How can people honestly have such a mindset before elections? It is simply a recipe for catalysis.

We Igbos have been living in a democracy for hundreds of years, so, your second statement doesn't apply to us. For your last statement, people go in with this mindset because people like ohakim have done desperate rogue moves to benefit himself in the passeed. he also bragged about having the power(structures) to rig.

Isn't this the same thing we did last time? And what happened, the guy stayed in office for 4 years. If you want him gone,do it physically but get ready for the consequences. His governorship is favorable to the Anioma people. We don't need urhobo domination like Ogboru is planning. Anyway, I'm for Anioma State.

Andre Uweh:
@The OP. I prefer Owelle Rochas to Ohakim. Having said that, it will be difficult to dislodge Ohakim because of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta areas. PDP is very very strong those areas. Also, that is where Nzeribe and Opiah hails from.
The results may read like this: Oguta PDP 60,000; APGA 4,000. Ohaji/Egbema PDP 70,000. APGA 3,000.

Oguta and Egbema people hate Ohakim. The people are different than the politicians from those areas. The only way Ohakim can win those areas in through rigging heavily.

emexc:
By God's special grace, d wishes of d imolites will be granted by 6th may 2011. Rochas will be formally declared d winner of imo state guber election. No long talk

It shall come to pass.

[size=15pt]If Buhari is arrested, nothing will happen —Asari Dokubo[/size]

By WOLE BALOGUN

Saturday, April 30, 2011


Leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujadhadi Asari Dokubo, has said that presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari, should be arrested and prosecuted over the riots that claimed lives and properties in the North.
Speaking with Saturday Sun, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Dokubo said that the violence in the North could have been caused by what Buhari said when he voted on April 16. He also spoke on other issues.

What is your feeling about President Jonathan’s victory in the presidential poll?
It is a very great achievement and I think he deserves it. He won fair and square. He won overwhelmingly in four zones of the six zones and made significant inroads in the two other zones, winning Taraba and Adamawa, in the North East zone and this election is better than Abiola’s. It showed the overwhelming support of the people of the South for the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan. When Abiola contested, Akwa Ibom, Rivers Anambra and Imo states did not vote for him. They voted for Tofa. But in this election, the people of the South overwhelmingly voted for Goodluck Jonathan. The people of the North Central of Kwara, Kogi, Benue, and Nasarawa also voted for him. This shows the preponderance of these zones. Over 90 per cent of the ethnic nationalities that were forcefully conscripted into Nigeria supported Jonathan and this is a good omen for all of us. It shows that those who refuse and who have always considered themselves born to rule, going by what Orkar said during his coup, do not want to be part of us.

Which people are you saying in particular?
I mean those rioting.

What is your reaction to the carnage that trailed the elections?
I think it is unfortunate; but they acted true to type. The bloodletting and senseless killing were premeditated. All signs of pre-plan war were there. Why is it that youth corps members were singled out for attack in Niger, Bauchi, Kaduna, Gombe and Kano? Why were they going to the youth corps members’ lodge if there was no communication among them? Statements made by Buhari did not help matters. I watched Buhari on the day of elections, on Ajazeera, where he said that the polls had been rigged but that he was not going to court. He said that if his party wants to go to court, it should. They thought that they could intimidate Jonathan and INEC. They thought that INEC would not continue to announce the results. Why didn’t Buhari say that 2003 and 2007 elections were rigged? The 2007 elections were adjudged the worst. His kinsman, Yar’Adua, was declared winner. Why didn’t he decry rigging then? Why didn’t the North riot? Why didn’t he reject the National Assembly elections? It is obvious that this carnage was planned and Buhari should be help responsible. In fact, the CPC, his party, is culpable.

What agenda would you set for President Jonathan after May 29?
The most fundamental agenda that should be before Jonathan is the convocation of a sovereign national conference. We must sit down and address even the aftermath of the elections and the events after the elections. The post-election violence has clearly shown that we cannot be together and there is an urgent and compelling need for us to sit down and discuss, in a conference, how we are going to live together or pull apart, as it has happened in Sudan. Also, in the short time, Jonathan must have zero-tolerance for corruption. There should be good governance, following the rule of law strictly. He must also cut down wasteful expenditures. Why should there be so many cars in the villa? It should be reduced. Why should his aides live in hotels? He should cut down on foreign trips. He should look at the contract papers and cancel padded contracts and, therefore, give the wealth back to the people. He should ensure his energy programme works and should enhance transportation by constructing and rehabilitating roads. He should open up the country. All these should be in the front burner and he must be just to all.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called for Buhari’s arrest. What is your reaction?
I think that Buhari’s arrest is overdue. There must be somebody held responsible for the painful loss of the lives of young ones and innocent peoples, especially the youth corps members because their parents sent them to school and they have gone to serve their country. They conducted elections that have been adjudged free and fair, but a man decided to send his mob out to kill people. Somebody should be punished for the atrocities credited to the CPC. If you look at it critically, Jonathan won overwhelmingly in the North Central, South West and South South, South East. The respect some of us have for Buhari has been lost.

After the elections, I saw him on the screen saying that ballot papers were being flown and thumbprinted. Who was he telling that rubbish? Did they need to thumbprint ballot papers and fly it when, in unit per unit, you can easily thumbprint ballot papers? So, how can somebody just manufacture a lie like that, a lie that even my smallest daughters cannot believe? I have been involved in elections. Ballot papers are thumb-printed at the units. They can go and hide in some places, close to the units and snatch the ones in the units, to replace them. So, such lie by Buhari is ingenious.

They planned the reaction, and the carnage to test us. Unfortunately, we did not react. It is not that we cannot react. They know that we are capable of reacting and if we react, they would look foolish. Buhari never campaigned, from the start. Jega, the INEC and the North prepared to rig elections and that was why the North was given more registered voters than the South. The tentative INEC voters’ register had 60 million voters, but instead of the figure coming down, after the verification, which saw the removal of double registrations etc, the North’s registered voters surprisingly went up and we now have 73 million. Extra votes were added in the North because they thought that Buhari never needed our votes. He was only banking on a run-off, which would be after the first ballot, where he requires a single majority to win. So, he never needed the votes of the other tribes: the Efik, Igbo, Yoruba or Ijaw.

He thought that there was a monolithic North that would give him victory in a run-off.
As far as we are concerned, somebody must be responsible for the carnage and be prosecuted. We cannot continue to indulge this barbarous, murderous mob in the North. Each time they carry out the carnage, we sweep it under the carpet; that cannot continue. If we also had to vent our anger in the same manner, they would lose more than us, because there are more of their people in our midst. But we cannot do it, because being a Muslim I find it very difficult to take the life of a fellow Muslim. We found ourselves in a quagmire. My family and my children and many of my people are Muslims. The Imam in my house is from Maiduguri. So, am I going to kill him? The man teaching my children, in my school, is from Maiduguri and I cannot kill him. My people see me as a leader; so the northerners and Muslims among us see me as their brother and a leader.

It is really unfortunate. People like Buhari should not be allowed to be moving freely after that carnage. They should be brought to book, to show that they are not above the law. The president must assert his power and arrest the man; nothing will happen. I repeat, nothing will happen. The worst they have done is the killing of innocent people and they cannot do that any more. If they do more, they know that others would not fold their hands and watch.

The Igbo hope to take over from Jonathan in 2015, which explains why they voted for him. Is this possible?
I don’t believe that the majority of the Igbo voted for Jonathan because power should be given to them in 2015. There is no where the Igbo sat down with him to discuss that. But I believe that naturally, for equity and justice, power should go to the Igbo in 2015. If we want to run a country that is balanced and equitable, where justice reigns supreme, then we must look at the number of years ruled by each of the zones. The most disadvantageous zone now is the South East. They have held executive powers for less down one year. And naturally everybody should concur and give them political power. And I am totally in support of that. I would be in the forefront to fight for that, even as we should continue to go into convocation of a sovereign national conference. In the interim, I believe that every one of us, in all the zones, should work together in the same way they worked together to elect Jonathan, to give power to the South East, even by the so called zoning. The North Central has ruled, with Yakubu Gowon. Murtala Muhammed, Sani Abacha, Shehu Shagari came from North East. We had Tafawa Bafewa and Yar’Adua from North West. After the South South, the South East is the most disadvantaged.

What in your opinion will cause Nigeria to break up?
It is the continuous act of impunity, on the part of the people from the North West, the Hausa Fulani and those who have been collaborating with them. The act of impunity has continued. They cancelled an election that was widely believed to have been won by a South western, MKO Abiola, in 1993, murdered him and we accepted it. They committed pogrom with the Igbo, in the civil war and there is a continued act of genocide every time. But we cannot continue to condone this, because they are signs that they cannot continue to be with us. This was what Gideon Orkar said in his attempted coup. We cannot continue to condone people who think that they would continue to rule us. They think that they have better right to lead us and this has nothing to do with religion.
I don’t know how many northerners are better Muslims than my children and I. The only way to stay together is to see us as equals. So, there are people who talk about Zaria and others, but in a federal nations, where there are many nations, in a heterogeneous nation, like ours, every one would be allowed to practise his beliefs. And where the Muslims are in the majority they have a right to sharia. No law can be imposed on theirs. So, it is mutual respect that is lacking with these people in the North West and the North East.

What would make you and the Niger Delta Volunteer Force to go back to the creeks?
I don’t think that we are contemplating that. Jonathan is president; we supported him and we worked for him. We would continue to stand with him, not because he is good luck but because we believe in him. He represents our interests and we are going to protect that interest. We will continue to demand and advocate the convocation of a sovereign national conference, which was our primary objective and fundamental demand before Goodluck Jonathan came to power. We will continue to press for this, but in a very peaceful way. There will be no need for us to go to the creeks’ no need whatsoever.

Members of your group used to say that they had one more river to cross. What is that river and have you crossed it?
No, we are at the shores, and I think the activities, the acts of impunity taking place and engineered by the Hausa-Fulani of the North would provide the boat for us to cross to our destination of reclaiming our stolen sovereignty.

What do you mean by stolen sovereignty?
Yes, the British people came and signed protectorate treaties with our forebears, which gave birth to various independent nations, even among the Ijaws. I am from an independent state called the Kalabas, the kingdom of Kalabari. We signed treaties with them. Other nations, include the Ishekiris and all these nations, signed protectorate treaties with the British, but those treaties were jettisoned when the British imposed colonialism on us. In 1914, they said that they had amalgamated us with people we don’t even know, without even seeking our consent. So that is the stolen sovereignty that we are fighting for. And we would fight until we get it back.

Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, once recommended division of Nigeria along North and South line. What is your reaction to that suggestion?
The respected comrade brother, might not have the full information. Those of us who have been in the progressive front and who have had to meet with him on several occasions have educated him on this. It is not possible to divide Muslim-Christian South/North. We have said that there must be a sovereign national conference. He is right in his demands, because we are not the same. I don’t see any affinity between me and an Hausa or Fulani man. Even with religion, as Muslims, he does not consider me as his brother; so why should I consider somebody who does not consider me as his brother? A people must unanimously decide to live together; we have not done that and until we do that, through a conference, we may continue to have problem. What Gaddafi said does not arise.

If a military coup sacks Jonathan, how would you want the Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria, in general to react?
I don’t even want to hear about it. It would never happen and if it happens, we are going to retaliate in one million fold. They should never attempt it. Obasanjo stayed and completed his tenure and left. Yar’Adua stayed and completed his tenure. God took him. So, Jonathan will also stay and continue his tenure. It is only God and the people who voted him by the constitution that can remove him. The consequence of using extraneous means to remove him cannot be imagined.

What if he dies in office?
That is in the hands of God. But we are praying that he should be alive because we believe he is going to be the best person to rule this country. He is the most acceptable person. He is the one that the people of this country have given their mandate freely and fairly and we pray to God to preserve his life for us. But any attempt to truncate his regime and tamper with his life will be met with the greatest resistance ever imagined.

What is your appraisal of the amnesty programme?
I am not a militant and I am not competent to answer that question, but if there is such a programme, it is okay. After all, the government has been doing this to one section. They have nomadic and almajiri education. But the amnesty has no legal backing, because none of the people being given amnesty has been found by the law to have committed any crime. And people should not be criminalised for standing up for their rights, for standing up against the fraudulent confiscation of our land and embezzlement of our national resources.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/apr/30/national-30-04-2011-001.htm

EzeUche__:
You know who will suffer the most. Are there even many Ijaws in the North? They are mostly found in the Niger Delta. But our brothers are found everywhere. If they attack these people, you know who these animals will attack. Remember the Ndigbo has been the benefactor of Goodluck Jonathan.

Benefactor or no benefactor. It doesn't mean that they should live as bafoons even after recurring massacres. Also, our so called leaders are weak and they are to blame if anything happens when mend attacks. Igbos in the north need to bring their behinds back home anyway. If anything, what mend said along with other people saying the same people should be called to book, GEJ would be pressure to go after those low lives.

Crude Oil:
Rochas would floor Ohakionu in a re-run. I am patiently waiting for that.

It's too late for a run-off.It would be against the law to do so as of now.It had to be within 30 days to May 29.

Abu-Maryam:
Aprill fool of the year!!! i can't stop laughing, Let them try any funny thing na small almajiris go finish you before Northern Army of Nigeria take over, You see one nation by force

I can remember this same talk from your leaders around the PDP primaries, but still, nothing dey happen well GEJ won. GEJ is president,no disintegration and anarchy like they said. Too bad for you people. Get ready to accept Christ.

EzeUche__:
I swear these Ijaws are trying to drag the Ndigbo into this conflict. Many people already think they are Igbo.

By force they are going to bring us into this conflict, because Hausa will target Igbos and Igbos will finally join the carnage. 

If that indeed happens, I don't want to hear anyone from the SS bash the Igbo, because you all are dragging us into this conflict.

You can't blame them for avenging their people's deaths. Just because our leaders and ethnic organizations are weak doesn't mean they(MEND) have to be.

Kc3000:
Pornodude is a b.a,stard, choke on a di.ck. All u petty traders that sit in Aba and rain insults on the Ngwa people that were grateful enough to welcome u in their mist, are going to get what you have been asking for one of these days. U think you are special because every christmas you all climb into those lorries like sardines and go back to those hills and caves you come from, I don't have an iota of respect for any i.diot that thinks he can emerge from no where to insult my folks. All that mature politics that our fathers tried to play with u people is about to be over, cause half human beings like you are beginning to mistake us for cowards. An Ngwa individual is bound to emerge as governor in 2015, at which point you can go ahead and commit suicide!!!
To all the reasonable Igbo folks here, I apologize for my outburst, but I cant stand such imbeciles.

Apology accepted. You are still our brother. Don't mind him. Its all about who is best in the state to lead the people. Maybe his own clan has not ruled Abia also.

[size=15pt]Enugu governor invites opponents to join government[/size]

BY FESTUS OWETE

April 28, 2011 07:24AM





Enugu State governor Sullivan Chime, who was yesterday declared winner of Tuesday's governorship election, has invited those who contested the election to join him in the task of rebuilding the state.

Mr Chime, who will run Enugu for another four years, pledged in his acceptance speech to run an open administration with a view to making the state the best in the country.

The governor contested on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and garnered 419,790 votes to beat his closest rival, Okey Ezea who got 30,135 votes.

Others in the race were Dan Shere of the People for Democratic Change (PDC) who won 29,565 votes; Valentine Nnaedozie of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with 5,086 votes; Obinna Obiegue of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) who had 2,658 votes; Osita Okechukwu of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) with 504 votes; and Emma Orji of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) who won 1011 votes.

"I shall continue to run an open administration which welcomes that all hands must be on deck to make Enugu the best state in Nigeria. In this wise, I extend my hand of fellowship to my brothers who contested the election with me. I invite them to join us in the onerous task of re-engineering our state," Mr Chime said.

"We are all winners today and shall remain so as long as the best interests of our people are served. With God on our side, I am confident that the gains of the last four years will be multiplied. Together, let us march forward with the burning desire to recreate our state and make it the destination of choice in our country."

The elated governor, who expressed gratitude to God and the people of Enugu State for his victory, said he accepted their verdict and that he was humbled by their endorsement, as amply demonstrated by the overwhelming number of votes which resulted in his landslide victory. He thanked the people for the confidence reposed in him and his deputy, Sunday Onyebuchi, to renew their contract for another four years.

Winners all

Mr Chime also congratulated all the PDP candidates in the house of assembly election who have emerged victorious, as well as the leadership, members of the party and his campaign organisation for a job well done. "In a special way, I congratulate all our party's House of Assembly candidates who also emerged winners in yesterday's election. In equal measure, I congratulate the entire leadership and membership of our party, the PDP and our campaign organization for a job well done. My gratitude equally goes to the security agencies for ensuring the peaceful conduct of all the elections in the state," he said.

The governor also extolled the critical role played by Enugu's traditional rulers, religious leaders and other individuals and groups which, he said, ultimately resulted in not just his victory but in the building of a virile democratic culture in their state.

He assured that he and his team will continue to offer selfless service and good governance to the people, stressing "our four-point agenda shall remain our guiding blueprint with which we will continue to deliver democracy dividends that shall take Enugu State to the next level."

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5694703-146/story.csp

Sonofpeace:
Another empty rant from MEND. This people are good in making statements/threats that they cannot accomplish, knowing fully well that GEJ will not arrest the above mentioned names that are of Northern extraction or else he(GEJ) want a civil war during his tenor. Anyway am waiting for their strikes.

They've carried out all that they have said,so you should be worried as a northerner.The empty rants you are talking about were from the northern fools trying to pose as mend to screw jonathan's chances of presidency,it didnt work. This is the real deal.

[size=15pt]Babangida Aliyu lambasts Buhari[/size]

From AKIN ALOFETEKUN, Minna

Friday, April 29, 2011



Newly re-elected Governor of Niger State, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu yesterday asserted that Nigeria had become so politically sophisticated that sectional leaders and religious bigots would not ascend to the presidency of the country. According to him, any politician aspiring to the position of president of Nigeria must be one who has been able to build bridges of friendship across the various divides of the country. Aliyu stated this while receiving the results of the Governorship election conducted in the state in which he emerged victorious, from the Director-General of the 2011 Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, Barrister Tanko Beji at his residence.

“Anyone who wants to rule Nigeria must cross borders, he must shun sentiments, he must guard the language he uses,” Aliyu said in a veiled reference to the CPC presidential standard-bearer in the last presidential election, General Mohammadu Buhari. He said in the present day Nigeria, everybody must be carried along and condemned supporters of the CPC who, because of their principal won in their localities, had the impression that he had won the entire election, saying some of them felt that Minna is Nigeria.

‘We should embark on serious voter education to avoid this type of misconception in the future,’ Aliyu said.
The governor was also not happy with the leadership of the PDP and political appointees in the state, saying but for providence and last- minute intervention, ‘we would have failed’. ‘Where did we go wrong that things almost became difficult, we must do an assessment on why people did not care about our performance. We must reconnect properly with the people, we must not be carried away by this success but resolve to do more for the people’.

Speaking before presenting the result Barrister Tanko Beji said ‘the outcome of the polls had swept away people who have called for change in Niger state’ In the final results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission Gubernatorial returning officer in the state Professor Salihu Mohammed Audu PDP polled 543,205 votes to beat his closest opponent CPC’s Bako Shettima who polled 244,770. ANPP’s David Umaru came third with 68,368 votes and Abubakar Bawa Bwari of ACN got 49,060.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/apr/29/national-29-04-2011-009.htm

[size=15pt] INEC may announce winner today[/size]

From FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, Abuja

Friday, April 29, 2011




Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is in a quandary over its inability to conclude the gubernatorial elections in Imo State. The INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega and the National Commissioners will meet today, to take a final decision.

The Imo State Returning Officer, Professor Enock Akobuzor had declared the elections inconclusive and hinted of a rerun to ascertain the winner. The decision to declare the election inconclusive stemmed from the cancellation of results in a couple of local governments where elections were not held in all the wards.
The two leading contenders, Governor Ikedi Ohakim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chief Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) were running neck and neck before the sudden suspension of the election.

However, Daily Sun gathered yesterday that the national headquarters of INEC was in a state of confusion over the Returning Officer’s declaration of the election as inconclusive as the Commission would run foul of the law if it holds any re-run election after April 28. The Electoral Act provides that election into an office must be held not less than 30 days before the expiration of the incumbent holder of the office which in this instance is May 29.
INEC Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Kayode Robert Idowu said yesterday it had held consultations with its team of lawyers on the next line of action and had been advised appropriately.

Consequently, the commission’s leadership will be meeting today (Friday) to take a position on the controversial election. However, a Daily Sun sources squealed that the Commission might announce a winner of the election today otherwise, a State-of-emergence will be declared, an option the Commission would try to avoid.
Idowu would not confirm if the commission would announce the winner after its meeting today as he declined comments. Meanwhile, in a statement yesterday, the Commission solicited for the patience of the people, asserting that a final decision was about to be taken on the inconclusive elections.

Said he: “In view of the difficulties experienced with the April 26, 2011 governorship and state assembly elections in Imo State, which made the Returning Officer to declare the election inconclusive, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had consulted with its lawyers for advice on the next line of action. “The commission is scheduled to meet tomorrow, Friday, April 29, 2011 to take a final decision.

“INEC hereby urges everyone concerned to be patient and await further directives, which will be communicated as soon as a decision is taken. The commission also urges everyone to be peaceful and avoid taking the laws into their hands.” Efforts made to speak with the National Commissioner in charge of Publicity, Solomon Shoyebi on what the decision of the commission might be following its lawyers’ advice, proved futile as several calls made to his cell phone were not responded to.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/apr/29/national-29-04-2011-002.htm