₦airaland Forum

I commend our President GEJ, the INEC Chairman and Nigerians for this successful exercise (NASS). As for next week, its GEJ 100%!!!

So which party candidates won in these constituencies where Iyabo and co lost?

@taj 1150
Most probably. In spite of the bombings and shootings in the few reported areas, Nigerians came out to vote.

For now, this is the freest and fairest election ever! At the polling station in Maiduguri (Jere LGA) which I witnessed, people voted freely and the votes were counted right in front of everyone! Peolple were even having fun regardless of defeat of their preferred candidates.

For Senate,
The PDP candidate Mohammed Zanna had the highest votes (320) followed by the CPC candidate (106) then the ruling ANPP party (48).

People here are tired of the ruling ANPP and have indeed expressed themselves by voting for credible candidates.

Great Jubilation at a polling Unit in Jere Local Gov't Maiduguri (Borno Central) (Senate)
PDP - 320
CPC - 106
ANPP (Ruling Party) - 48

It's just  ecstatic here.

Quote from Pataki

And yet SEVEN BOMB ATTACKS without a  single one been solved! AND YET, WE  WOULD HAVE A STEWPEED  PRESIDENT THAT WOULD TELL US TO GO  AND PRAY THAT THESE CULPRITS WOULD  REPENT AND CONFESS! HABAAAAAA!!!

   

You sure say they never solve All of them? GEJ fit don solve them come see wetin pass im power. Hence the best na to Advise Nigerians to Pray that the Culprits just repent and confess!

What I see is that the culprits span through different political parties. So anyone coming here to defend one party or the other is just wasting energy.

This baseless topic still dey?

Quote from Jarus

Two, on Abacha, Buhari felt discomfortable having him in his party or contesting under it, he made moves to deny him, but since Abacha family is still loved in Kano and many people, wrongly, still see Abacha as being persecuted unjustly just because other ex-presidents are alive, and some of them did worse. So this sentiment is still in Kano and it was easy for them to vote for Abacha's son as compensation. But what will Buhari do?

Pls just for a minute, keep whatever support you have for any of the candidates in your pocket and pls answer one simple question:

Is it a fact that Buhari (himself) made it known in 2008 that he sees Abacha as being wrongly persecuted?

Pls vote for credible and competent candidates, keeping in mind the ultimate goal of producing a good 'mixture' of most political parties in the NASS.
This is the tool you have at this moment. It will certainly work for the good of the ordinary citizen regardless of who wins the Presidential election.

Ah! Wetin happen nah? This one everywhere don quiet so, e resemble say some people don use all their energy insult tire com sleep on top their computer. Abeg, when no be gwament work!

Na wa o! Abeg make PDP dey go so the girls go get change of environment!

May the souls of the departed rest in Peace.

1. Can we first scrap that crap called Nysc? That total waste of time provides no form of security or even welfare for its corpers.

2. This bombing and also the related attempts in Kaduna clearly shows that there are worthless elements that have vowed this election will not take place.

1st attempt-Non-availability of election materials. To their utmost disappointment, this problem was quickly rectified. Now to kick-off the electoral process, multiple bombings/attempts. Before we begin any analysis here, first ask 'Why were the bombings  carried out this week? Why not last week when materials were 'supposed' to be unavailable?'

Then look at the areas affected. Obviously, taking into consideration the type of society we run, the source of the bombs is not far from the crime scene(s).
Whether anyone would like to hear this or not, the States involved are northern States where PDP clearly has the upper hand in regards to the presidential election. Why didn't it take place in Kebbi or Zamfara or Kano?
Or maybe I should be clearer here: these attrocities are to be carried out in Northern States where GEJ has strong support.

For those blaming it on PDP, you're  also right, b/cos I see no reason but sheer greed for making a rubbish zoning policy in the first place. It was obviously designed for generals and the elite to rotate power amongst themselves. But since the evil scheme got hitched, the northern elite/cabal have decided to act completely unreasonably. They've even carried their zoning madness out of the pdp to involve other parties, calling cpc, acn, anpp to bring a consensus candidate (since all these candidates happen to be Northerners). That hasn't been going well also between the parties whose members would find a hard time conceding his platform to the other.

If a section of the country finds it unacceptable to be out of power, then instead of taking innocent lives, we should all peacefully come to the table to agree on division so that each tribe can rule its section as long as it wishes. Or risk doing it the hard way!

There's no need comparing our country with others, if not the Grace of God, if other nations had the sort of division we have along ethnic lines and the primitive state of our religious tolerance, they would have been bombing themselves on a daily basis. And no amount of security measure would curb that.

Today's attrocities were carried out to create panic and ultimately prevent what is supposed to be the most credible election ever from taking place, and ultimately to bring about a complete state of anarchy!

GEJ Carry Go!!!

It is very necessary.

What Nigerians should do with their votes tomorrow is to massively vote for candidates of other parties other than the PDP. This would be very crucial for the National Assembly elections in order to discontinue the one-party monopoly of the PDP in the top arms of the government.
This will increase the probability of having members of different parties as leaders in the senate and house of reps,
But please, we should vote for credible and competent candidates.

FORENSIC FORCE: Buhari and the northern elite
By Salisu Suleiman April 7 ,  2011 11 :13 PMT

For many citizens planning to vote the Jonathan/ Sambo ticket in the presidential elections, the issue  is not about what the ticket has to offer or due to any sterling performance. The issue is not whether the  ticket is particularly inclined (or even desirous) of  fighting corruption. They will not be voting for  Goodluck Jonathan because he has any clear vision of how to rebuild infrastructure, revive ailing industries  or restructure the country. They will be voting for one  reason: it is the time of the south. They argue,  correctly, that the north has produced more leaders  than other regions without much impact. For these  people, no matter how bereft of ideas and colourless Mr. Jonathan and his dour deputy may be, they will  vote him because it is ‘our turn’. These people are  right. The north has produced more leaders and has  been in power longer than other regions.
The  governments of Shehu Shagari ( 1979-1983) , Ibrahim  Babangida ( 1985-1993) , Sani Abacha ( 1993-1998)  and Umaru Yar’adua (2007-2010) are best forgotten. 
To those not familiar with the idiosyncrasies of the  region, the ‘north’ is one huge mass of people who  have dominated the political space, especially the  presidency, to the near exclusion of other zones.
To  them, the death of late Yar’adua and the subsequent  ascension of then vice president Jonathan to the  presidency was a ‘divine’ coup and poetic justice of  sorts. The idea of willingly relinquishing the  presidency so soon, to another northerner, is an  anathema. No one should question their rationale or  judgement. It is one of the beauties of democracy  that people can vote for any, every, and no reason.
However, beneath the ‘it is our turn’ justification lies  the barely hidden desire to castrate the north  politically. In this calculation, if Mr. Jonathan wins the  election and quits (very unlikely) in 2015 , it will then  be the turn of the southeast to produce the next  president. This is the grand vision to politically  emasculate the north. But the question is, which  north? Are they referring to the north of Ibrahim Babangida,  Aliyu Gusau, Atiku Abubakar, Adamu Ciroma, Barnabas Gemade, Solomon Lar, Bello Mohammed Halliru,  Samaila Sambawa, the Sarakis, Ibrahim Mantu, David  Mark, Ahmed Makarfi, Jerry Gana, Sarki Tafida,  Jonathan Zwingina, Mukhtari Shagari etc? By ‘north’,  are they referring to the emirs, chiefs and traditional  institutions or the retired military generals and other  elite in the region? If the answers to these posers are yes, then they have missed the mark.
There is another north. There is a north that has  nothing to do with the usurpation of political and  economic opportunities to the exclusion of other  Nigerians. There is a north that is poor, hungry,  illiterate and devoid of hope. There is a north that is  as much a victim as the south of the corruption and  arrogance of these narrow clique of northerners that  is often presented as representing the entire region. For this north, the various administrations headed by  northerners have not resulted in better lives,  education or improved opportunities. This north does  not send its children to school in the United Kingdom, United States and other locations while local schools  are systematically ruined. This north does not fly to  Europe or America every fortnight for medical  checkups or shopping sprees in Dubai. This north  does not keep bank accounts in London, New York,  Dubai, South Africa, Jordan, Beijing and Hong Kong;  they own no bank accounts at all. This north does  not allocate all the best positions in the country to  its children, qualified or not.
There is a north that  simply wants change. And that is the north coming  out to speak.
So when we see millions of people  trooping to catch a glimpse of Muhammadu Buhari,  the presidential candidate of the Congress for  Progressive Change, it is not because they have  anything against Mr. Jonathan. The problem they have is the emissaries he has sent to woo their votes —  the same people that have systematically  impoverished the region and the country. Northern elite despise Buhari vehemently because  they know he will destroy their power base and end  their corruption and nepotism.
For those voting Mr  Jonathan just to defeat ‘northern domination’, the  twist is that a Jonathan presidency would actually  further enrich and empower these reviled northern  vultures because Mr Jonathan needs them (or thinks  he does).
The ultimate irony is that the real key to  eliminating the power base of this corrupt and  arrogant northern political class lies with electing a  northerner.

COMMENTS
Dear Reader. While we value your feedback we may block inappropriate  comment. Please feel free to respond to new comments. Note  also that 234 NEXT bears no responsibility for what readers  post and is not liable for any form of impersonation. reader comments (19)

Posted by  Onari  on Apr  08 2011
thanks for a wonderful and insightful piece. i truly enjoyed  reading it. your last sentence, even though is plausible, is  akin to eating an orange from the inside out. am afraid, not  all would feel comfortable drinking from a formerly blood  thirsty witch doctor. no matter how 'formerly'.

Posted by  ameriboy  on Apr  08 2011
what? this is what we do not need. more subtle tribalism. lets come together and be Nigerians. Thanks.

Posted by  Ogbuefi Udo  on Apr  08 2011
The logic behind the article is very weak and tired. If Buhari is  the key to destroying the powerbase of Northern elites, why  didn't he do so when he had the chance? The reason is that,  Buhari himself is one of them. He played an active role in all  military govts from Gowon and Murtala's to Abacha's. That is  the reason Yar Adua's cabal has found a cosy home in CPC. 

Posted by  Ekanem  on Apr  08 2011
Subtle ethniticism at its best. Mr Salisu,you donot have to attack Jonathan in such an irresponsible and tribalistic way  to make your prove your simplistic premise that he will be  voted  because he is a Southerner. As for me, I think Buhari is  a  tribalist, archaic and a spent force and he will not have my vote. Let me ask you one question, why is the North not supporting Ribadu? Is it because he is less of tribalist like Buhari?

Posted by  Sekura  on Apr  08 2011
Salisu, don't you think people are reacting to the way guys like you are heating up the system about a Northern  presidency  to the extent of looking desperate? At some stage  it gets on  people nerve, hence they are bound to react. Posted by  Sekura  on Apr  08 2011 Salisu, don't you think people are reacting to the way guys like you are heating up the system about a Northern  presidency  to the extent of looking desperate? At some stage  it gets on  people nerve, hence they are bound to react.

Posted by  tajode  on Apr  08 2011
Another fine outing, Mala. Salisu, and very insructive.  But I  fear you almost ruined an otherwise excellent case with the  use of the phrase "reviled northern vultures."  This is strong  and needlessly abusive, and it adds nothing to your  exposition.  The news society we seek to build must be based  ultimately on charity -- charity even to those who may be  considered undeserving because of their antecedents.  objectively. 

Posted by  Peter  on Apr  08 2011
And what can you say about the Niger-Delta? If one should follow your argument then there is another South that are wallowing in poverty just like the North you describe. In  other  words, your argument makes no sense.

Posted by  Geico  on Apr  08 2011
Malam, your subtle campaign for continuity in northern  domination of the political and economic resources of the  federal republic of Nigeria is not lost on me. It is too  soon…from one Katsina man to another. Haba! The point is  what are my options as a southerner who had been under  northern domination for decades? I knew what Buhari did with  PTF. PTF development nationwide was not equitable. The core  north got more of the development. Will Buhari end the  northern nepotism? No. He gave a lot of the PTF juicy contracts to Katsina folks. (This is not from my mouth o. I hear say El- Rufai talk am say Buhari enriched these guys). So voting for  Buhari will not bring much change anyway. What we will have  is window dressing here and there. So let the voters decide!

Posted by  Awarawa  on Apr  08 2011
Spot on my guy. Only the intellectually challenged will vote for PDP or JEG in these elections. A vote for PDP is saying all is  well with Nigerians which is saying the opposite. Don't you  think that our people have been stranded in fools' paradise?

Posted by  Anjibobo  on Apr  08 2011 Salisu.  It has always been thus but a lot of people, including supposedly sophisticated political commentators, couldn't  quite make the nuanced distinction you've made.  The fact that the elite of Northern extraction, who served their own  interests often to the detriment of the Northern massses and  ultimately Nigeria as a whole, claimed to be acting in the  interest of the North is one of the reasons Nigeria and its  politics has been underdeveloped for so long since they would  claim to the Northern masses they were protecting their(the  Northern masses) interests.  The press as an institution was(is still ?)often culpable in reporting that these few Northerners  were acting on the 'North's' behalf.  Alas, here we are.  Though elite from the Southern part also are part of this ruination of  Nigeria, the North as a whole is worse off.  Buhari would  definitely represent an attempt to smash the cabal that sits  cozy, satisfied with the status quo because of its parasitic  suffocation of Nigeria.  This is the precise reason they would do everything to prevent a Buhari presidency.  The same forces  and interests, who ensured he and Idiagbon ruled only for 20  months back then will also  work hard to ensure he doesn't  make it.  If by some miracle, he manages

It says ''A source told us that the campaign managers  appealed to the editors to try as much as they could to swat public opinion in favour of the worried president whose popularity is waning for his lack of vision and focus''. That was a reported statement in the narrative and not a  quote from the source.
The reporter was obviously mocking  GEJ during the narrative and added that bit. It does not mean  the campaign managers said so. If at all, the quote was  paraphrased and ended at worried president.

The clause 'whose popularity is waning for his lack of vision  and focus' is an example of an Adjectival clause!

Do you see why it pays to be attentive during classes and not  play pen fight?

I think I'll take this to the Jokes Section!

These Sahara Reporters are really doing great harm to nobody but themselves.
How can someone (claiming to be a journalist)  just take a picture of some items and claim they were given to him by some persons. And they expect us to just swallow such gist.
They would have provided pictures of the meeting with the PDP officials.
It may be true, it may not be true. But there is no proof available to back this allegation.
And it's funny this story is coming out a day after names of the contractors for election materials were released by a local newspaper.

Ok!

Quote from Ekt bear

Enforce the laws against underrage voting? Or is asking him  to enforce the laws too much to ask for again?

I dey pity this GEJ! From the reports, policemen were present alongside inec officials while underage voters were voting. I wonder which enforcement of law remain again. Abi Jonah go carry baton they go all the polling units to 'enforce law'?

After the cancellation of last week's elections Buhari was quick to accuse the PDP of being behind it all (whereas, as you rightly pointed out, inec was there for him to querry).  With all sincerity, I expected him to address the issue of underage voters, most especially as it concerned states that he expected to have the highest votes.

Quote from Ozin

Mr Mugu,it is only your likes the Dictator can fool with, he just came to power.A bloody criminal who overthrew a democratically elected government due to ignorance and sheer illiteracy went ahead to cancel a strategic project on a flimsy excuse of not knowing the Total debt of the nation and is scared of devalution and you are here like a baboon making excuses(Like papa like pikin) My friend you should be the one to google and find out the advantages of devaluation of a country currency and the benefit of a loan even if you have so much money in your account.And to the bolded,he just came in and was able to cancel great projects without taking time to find out the true picture of things is one of the many reasons the Dictator must not be voted in.Because as a dictator that he is,he will just go about cancelling projects without finding out the advantage of such project.Dumb head like you also should know that Americans and the so called great countries like Britain and co are all debt owing countries. I also have a feeling that a block head like you would prefer to ignore a loan to expand your business due to pride  and ignorance of the modern day business world like the dictator.

Chei! O boy you dey vex o!
Abeg, ke iya kuri don Allah!

Ok!

@ Kobojunkie
Madam, Calm down and get yourself together.

I simply made a request for the video to the poster, indicating that I was the 2nd person doing so on this thread.
I then expressed my view on the subject matter in a separate point; thus '2'.

Quote

Dear Nigerians, An African black mamba,rattler or a viper is never going to reproduce a bull snake,it will only give birth poison like itself. lets continue to wallow in ethnic,religious and regional sentiments and vote People who will sink us further into the abyss,our children and children's  children will thank us and immortalise us for it!!!!

Obviously, I haven't watched the interview where he reportedly made that statement. But from the quotation above, he could as well be referring to the CPC, because most of the top members of that party are products of the PDP. Also, many of their top figures are made up of old generatioonal politicians and military men who have been in the realm of power since independence, and still intend to cling onto power on different platforms.

I clearly get where Prof. Soyinka is coming from and took an objective approach to express my view in contrast to the prior insinuations that jhe was referring solely to the PDP!

1. As Kobojunkie rightly requested, you could just post the video

2. From what you posted above, I have every reason to believe that he was even referring to the CPC party because many members of the CPC party are products of the PDP party.
He might have been addressing the hulabaloos of insincere change.

Quote from Agaba123

When he could not perform in a debate you guys said he is a  man of few words
When he could not answer questions you chose to interpret it  as not having sugar coated tongue.

   

Quote from Xwolverine

China is corrupt, but their corruption is not harming their  economic growth, to me that is petty corruption. Not a situation where a local government chairman will refuse to construct a road in the LG all because of his in-law's burial  ceremony. You can not compare Nigeria's level of corruption to China's

According to the World Bank Corruption Index,
Nigeria - 2.8
China - 3.5

You can clearly see that China has the problem of corruption more than Nigeria, but their economy is making great progress.

The problem of corruption in our Country can only be solved when our individual citizens resolve to do the right things at all times, which can be encouraged by them witnessing and enjoying the benefits a prosperous economy.
Not by someone coming into power and using most of the time looking for who to probe.
I mean, how does he intend to go about this when
1. He claimed Abacha did not loot
2. He has the same individuals that were part of the country's problems now in his own party/administration
3. He (himself) also has querries to settle concerning 2.5bn unaccounted for in PTF. And he refused to honour the invitation to the Oputal Panel.

I too, have always wished to see all past looters brought to justice, but done without 'fear or favour'.
Probing some and leaving some out (and even speaking for some) is still part of the corruption, and the total work done would be zero!

Has this report been confirmed by any other source yet?

Ok. My concern is that the election should be free, fair and transparent with adequate security provided for the inec staff, voters, observers and the votes.

Well, here we go again! I just hope this Country remains in one piece after 2011.

They were Tip3 , a Spanish company represented by  Hashim  Dikko , and Graphic Inline (Gi) with  Sanni Lamido  as proxy. Also on the list were Kalamazoo, represented by  manliness  Jackson, a Nigerian-Briton married to a lady from  Kano ; Aero-vote  represented by one Yerima;  and . . .

Hold up!

Also on the list were Kalamazoo

wtf is that?

represented by manliness Jackson

 wtf!!! Jegahh!!!

^^^ No, correction!
Someone that blows himself up is a Suicide Bomber

Someone that involuntarily blows himself up is an Unfortunate Suicide Bomber

Naija! Suicide bomber ke? You neva even finish to find them for africa sef na Naija you wan come ask. Bros, you don miss road. Even the ones wey go train for Afghanistan just manage to be Unfortunate Suicide bombers!