₦airaland Forum

“Lagos is a land of opportunities”. “Lagos is a commercial City” Not a day passes without one hearing or reading about one of those – about Lagos and the desire of every Nigerian to move over there, mostly because it is a land where we perceive any form of business thrives.

This has sparked a thought within me and the following questions beg for answers: What is going for Lagos State that is not going for Cross River State? Is it the fact that Lagos shares a common boundary with Benin Republic? Or alas! Is it the famous Lagos Port? Or is it just the desire of successive Lagos State Governments to make the State self-reliant?

The above questions must be answered if we are to get a head. Lagos State is strategically located and shares a common border with Benin Republic. As a result of which it is easy for goods, particularly fairly used vehicles to be imported into the State, from which point other Nigerians lift to their respective states.

Taxes and levies are paid in the process. The revenue of the state is greatly boosted in the process. There is no gain saying that the Lagos Port is the single highest revenue generating point in Nigeria and I dare say Africa. As a result of the functionality of the Lagos Port, it is the point where most of the goods coming into the country via sea arrive.

This ensures that there is constant traffic of people at the port as people are always arriving with goods, clearing them or buying. Of course, the resultant effect is that Lagos State is the highest internal revenue generating State in Nigeria.

In the 1st quarter of this year alone, the Lagos State government has generated over Twenty Three Billion Naira as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Because of the Lagos Port, companies find it convenient to site/establish their offices there as they can easily get the raw materials for production and of course, there is a ready market.

The fact that Lagos State provides employment to more Nigerians than any other State is overly obvious. Because of the busy nature of Lagos State, there are job opportunities for everyone. For the Lawyers, there is cause of action. For Engineers, there are construction projects. For doctors, people will naturally fall ill. Even for artisans, the need for their services is on the rise. Hence, everybody in Lagos has something from which he can earn a living, unless of course you are habitually lazy.

Over the past sixteen years or so, successive Governors of Lagos State have consciously focused on building an economy which can sustain itself devoid of the Federal Government. From the days of Tinubu when Lagos State was seemingly maligned by the Obasanjo led administration, the State found a way to survive on its own.

Maybe it is because the State has persistently been in the opposition. Hence, they found a way to survive. Necessity indeed, is the mother of invention. So why is our case different? Why are we only termed a “civil service state’’? Is it because the forces of nature have conspired to work against us or that as a people, we lack the initiative to look within in a bid to grow our economy? I think not.

Rather, I believe our problem is a direct result of our reliance and over dependence on the Federal Government. Before now, we used to be a seemingly rich State with oil wells as a result of which we were assured of a huge Federal allocation every month. But then came the judgement of the Supreme Court of July, 2012 declaring Cross River State a “landlocked State’’. A judgement which with due respect to the apex Court defies reason. I mean, how can a State bounded by so many waters be landlocked? Well, that is a discussion for another day.

That judgement has provided a ready excuse for the government as each time it fails to meet up the expectations of the populace, there is usually a ready answer viz: ’’we have lost our oil wells’’. The question then is: are we going to stay lamenting over spilled milk? Or like a Crusoe, we are going to see it as a reason to look within, tap our inner strength and find a way to survive?

Whichever way we decide will definitely provide the footprint upon which the incoming administration will build on. I’d like us to adduce a few reasons why we should choose the option of survival and most importantly how we can go about it.
First of all, it is important we agree that if we choose not to survive, we will remain a poor State, our people will remain unemployed, we will keep having huge debt hanging over our heads and our infrastructures which are in urgent need of attention will remain unattended to.

What then is the way forward? Firstly, the new Governor must ensure that in forming his cabinet it is not business as usual. He should take his time; gather the best of the best to form his team. He cannot afford to have commissioners who do not share his drive and vision.

What we need now as a State, is a case of a strong General with strong Lieutenants. He cannot afford to have weak or ineffective commissioners. He must do away with the old faces, they are now wasted. Bring in young, innovative and creative minds to reposition our beloved state.

Secondly, just like Lagos State, we are a border State. We have a common boundary with Cameroon. We might not be lucky enough to have a common border with a country where we can import fairly used cars, clothes etc., but we have something which Lagos State wishes it has. We have landmass. We have to take a good look at our agricultural sector.

This is an area where we have comparative advantage over and above most states in the Country. We have fertile land where we can grow different kinds of agricultural products. The incoming government should take advantage of the current Federal Government’s drive and agricultural policies. Cross Riverians should be encouraged to go into medium and large scale farming.

The government should encourage us by providing soft loans as well as grants for willing farmers. These agricultural products can in turn be sold to other states and also exported to other countries. This will provide employment for our youths as well as generate revenue for the State Government.

Furthermore, Cross River State has a plethora of estates across the state; rubber, palm, cocoa and what have you. These estates where the mainstay of the economy of the former South-eastern States. The questions then which beg for answers are: what happened to these estates? Did they vanish from the face of the earth? Have they been given out like our oil wells? Why can’t the state’s economy be built on these estates?

These estates are still very much in existence and under our control. The problem I see is poor management. The products are tapped “to their last blood”. No provision is made to replant the aging ones nor is there nursery of any sort with respect to these trees. The new government must therefore look towards this direction, retrieve these estates from the hands of the private individuals which they have been allotted and bring them back under the state’s control and management.

Thirdly, again like Lagos State, we are blessed with a seaport. The new government should as a matter of priority do all it can to ensure that our seaport is dredged and functioning. The importance of this cannot be over emphasised. It is even worrisome that something as important as this has been left unattended to for this long.

I am sure we all remember how busy the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) usually was sometime in the 90s when our port was functioning. There is an urgent need to go back to those glory days. If the Calabar Port is dredged, Calabar will also turn into a commercial city, there will be employment for our people and our IGR will skyrocket.

Fourthly, there is an urgent need to revisit our tourism potentials. Cross River was once Nigeria’s (if not Africa’s) premier tourism destination. Where did it all go wrong? We are as yet the most peaceful state in Nigeria. We are blessed with enormous tourism potentials. From Tinapa, the Obudu Cattle Ranch, Agbokim Water Falls, etc.

Many countries of the World survive mainly on tourism. We can revisit our enormous tourism potentials, show to the world that we are still a tourism destination and redirect traffic to our State in that regard. This will encourage visitors to come and take advantage of our very hospitable nature, improve patronage for those in the hospitality industry and also generate revenue for the government.

Fifthly and very importantly, we have to invest in our youths. The youths are the backbone of every economy. They form a substantial part of the work force, because they have the energy to drive them, If we continuously neglect this sector, then we have no futuristic plans for our State. It is important we invest in the education of our youths by way of scholarships etc. Job creation is also necessary.

The new government should also give the youth a chance to try their hands at governance. If we are not tested under their guidance, how are we expected to fare when nature charges us with the responsibility of handling state and national affairs.

Nothing stops a 30 year old from functioning as an S. A. to the Governor, a board member or even a Commissioner. That way they will be prepared to be governors in 10 years time or so. A people who do not invest in the youths, have no plan for succession.

Lastly but by no means the least important, none of the above suggestions can see the light of day without the required political will. There has to be a conscious effort on the part of the new government and indeed all Cross Riverians to reposition our State.

We have often deluded ourselves that because we are in the “ruling party’’, we will always be looked after by our big brother (the Federal Government). Now reality has dawned on us. We are in an unfamiliar territory; we are now an opposition State.

While we trust that the incoming General Buhari led government will treat all States equally and give every man his due, the time couldn’t have been more apt for us to re-evaluate our economy and think of ways to improve it. God forbid that we let the situation degenerate to a level where it is irreparable.

It’s about time we make that stitch and hope it saves nine others. While praying for the newly sworn in Senator Ben Ayade led government, we trust that he will do the needful and reposition our State in its pride of place.

Barr. Enome J. Amatey writes from Calabar via enomeamatey@yahoo.com

Over the past 12 hours or so, I have watched the international community, and indeed Nigerians, shower praises on President Jonathan. He is now synonymous with names like: ”a true democrat”, ”an agent of change”, ”selfless”, ”African hero” to mention but a few. All these names are born out of the fact that, to our minds (scratch that, ”their minds” is more apt), he provided an enabling environment for a free and fair election and after losing, rather than act like most African leaders of years past, he conceded defeat, called and congratulated the President elect.

Free and fair election? It is funny that once an incumbent loses, people automatically delude themselves that the election was free and fair. Before my eyes, I watched PDP rig. APC also rigged. Indeed, it was a contest in which the best rigger won.

Are we going to shut our eyes to all the pictures and videos of underage children voting in the North? Are we going to pretend we don’t know that the waiver granted the North by INEC to carry out manual accreditation gave Buhari an undue advantage? Do we earnestly believe that in spite of the insurgency and uprising in the North, Northerners still came out en masse to cast their votes without fear of an uprising or terrorist attack? I trust we are not that deluded.

There was no fair playing ground as the 28th March, 2015 elections were concerned, neither was it free. But it is okay to praise Jonathan for not using all the machineries at his disposal to rig the election. He could have done so if he wanted power so desperately. But he didn’t – for that we applaud him. Enough said on that.

To the issue of Jonathan’s new ”African hero” status. Make no mistake, with that singular gentleman’s act of calling Buhari, he has saved the country from violence. He has saved us from bloodshed. But is that enough to elevate him to an African hero? I think not. Jonathan is no Mandela. Indeed, he is not even an Awolowo or an Azikiwe, talk less of a Fela. Why Fela? He died speaking against the ills of our nation and Africa at large. Fela will definitely be turning in his grave seeing Buhari being the face of ”change”. Same Buhari he condemned along with other military leaders in his songs. This is more of a damming indictment on Jonathan than anything.

Jonathan’s defeat had been a long time coming. Those who have eyes could see it at least two years ago. I’ll keep reiterating that Jonathan lost the elections, not by the extra votes Buhari got from the North, but by the large number of votes he lost from the South. Because of the total neglect of the south over the past six years, Southerners did not see the need to come out and vote for a ”brother” who had failed them. Hence, Jonathan lost over 3.5 million votes from what he got from the region in 2011. If that was gotten in addition to what he scored in the March 28th elections, he would have been President elect.

Again, how did our ”democrat” emerge as the sole presidential aspirant for PDP? The process through which Jonathan emerged to be the flag bearer of the PDP was most undemocratic. He stifled all other aspirants and ensured there was no contest. Hence, he emerged unopposed. We are not saying he would have lost in a proper primaries, we are merely contending that other party members would have been more willing to work for him if he had emerged from a proper democratic process. This is an advantage Buhari had over him.

Permit me to bore you a bit by reiterating that Jonathan didn’t lose because the election was free and fair. No, he lost because he spent the last six years doing the wrong things.
There has been so much hullabaloo Jonathan’s call to Buhari. While it is commendable, I see nothing special in the act. He did the rational thing. He did what I would have done. There was nothing special when John McCain called to congratulate President Obama in 2008, why should this be celebrated? Africans must stop celebrating mediocrity. Let’s celebrate something exceptional, something special, something unheard of. Jonathan had to save himself from further embarrassment. He knew attempting to contest the results will expose his obvious inefficiency. So he did the honourable thing, he saved his face.

In spite of all the stick we have unleashed on him, make no mistake, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is not a bad man. He is just surrounded by the wrong people, by sycophants. He had good intentions for Nigeria, but this was stifled by his weakness and inability to take firm decisions. However, it is not all negatives, not all gloom. There are some positive lessons learnt.

We thank Jonathan for unconsciously opening the eyes and minds of Nigerians. Yes, because of his ineffectiveness, today, Nigerians have a new mindset.  Today, every leader will sit up because we now realise that power indeed resides in the ”people”.
Today, Nigerians have (either by hook or crook) voted out an under performing President. We have done it today, we can do it again tomorrow if the president elect under-performs.

From the little we know about General Buhari, he is a dictator, a tyrant, a sectarian and a religious extremist. Let us hope for the sake of Nigeria that he has repented. Otherwise, we will gather again as a people and vote him out in 2019.

There is a common saying that; ”you either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain”. By the singular act of calling Buhari, he has endeared himself to the hearts of many. He has chosen to die a mini-hero, rather than attempting to contest the results and probably living long enough to become the villain.

But is that enough to make us close our eyes to his cowardice and ineffectiveness over the past six years?
Is it enough to make up for the past six years of neglect and lack of proper infrastructural development in the South?

Is it enough to compensate us for all the foreign investors we have lost due to the insecurity in the North?

Does the phone call automatically make up for all the lives lost due to his inability to effectively combat boko haram?

I’ll leave it at that for now. You make the call… Jonathan; hero or coward

Enome Amatey Esq.
Email: enomeamatey@yahoo.com
Twitter: @iimperfecttme

While we celebrate with GMB for his victory and congratulate GEJ for not using the power of incumbency to wheel votes in his favour, it is important as youths for us to reflect on the events that have taken place these past few days and indeed the past six years.
Today marks a new dawn in the history of our great nation. If my memory serves me right, it is the 1st time an incumbent president will lose a reelection bid. It is however pertinent to note that GMB has emerged today, not because he is a symbol of the ”change” we require. He won because GEJ let him. He won because GEJ didn’t deliver on his promises. He won because GEJ let himself and all of us down.

In the six years GEJ has been in office, he has totally neglected the Southern Region (his brothers). He did next to nothing for the South. Our problems range from bad roads to a total neglect of our educational system. He probably did that in the belief that the Northerners (whom he had done everything to please) will give him a shot at a second term – yet even the Northern PDP Governors conspired and ganged up against him.

GEJ lost because he is lily-livered. He lost because he didn’t have the courage to do the right things. For instance, he would have stopped the merger between the North and West, which came in the form of a merger between ACN, ANPP and other parties. Yes, he could have done so legitimately. I remember a section of one of the parties refused the merger. Indeed, there were two different factions presenting themselves as APC. That was enough to disqualify them from registration.

Again, GEJ had enough reasons to have GMB investigated, prosecuted and thrown behind bars; particular for his comments pre and post the 2011 general elections. But once again, he was afraid of the Northern reaction.

Then came the issue of GMB’s certificate. To date, we have not ascertained whether or not the man has a certificate, he hasn’t shown us any, probably because there is none. He could have been disqualified from contesting. But once again, GEJ was afraid people would say he is witch hunting his main opponent.

The PDP and GEJ had long lost confidence in Prof. Jega and his ability to conduct a free, fair and unbiased election. There was also the issue of card readers. The PDP protested, but Jega and the APC insisted. In the end, the card readers were only used in the South, while Jega gave permission for manual accreditation in most of the North – the APC stronghold. GEJ would have had Jega removed before the elections, but he wasn’t man enough to do the needful.

What are the implications of the results declared today?
Today, we have a new President.
Today, power returns to the North.
Today, we have a 73 year old President.
Today, power returns to the military.

Let’s not forget our development is at a snail’s pace because of the long interference of the military with our governance. We eventually returned to democracy in ’99 and ever since we have been fighting hard to free ourselves from the shackles of the military. They have been President for the most part, been Ministers, Governors, Senators etc. They have essentially remained in the corridors of power. Today, we have put them back in the driving seat, back in full control. Today, we have elected a 73 year old man as president. It is noteworthy that APC didn’t put him forward as their Presidential candidate because he was their best or even second best choice. I mean,they had Fashola, Fayemi, Tambuwal, etc. All energetic and smart young men. But GMB was put forward because he is an acclaimed sectarian and the only way they were guaranteed of the Northern support.

This sit-tight attitude of our ”elders”, the youths are not given the opportunity to express themselves as far as governance is concerned this country.
When GEJ was elected into office, it gave us some hope. It made us believe that for once, we were having a young, very educated and energetic democrat as President. We had hoped that upon completion of his term, he would handover to someone younger, more educated, more competent, more knowledgeable and someone who would handover to a younger generation – to us. Instead, he has handed over to an old, incompetent and uneducated man.

Today, GEJ has failed us.
Today, GEJ has let our generation down.
Today, GEJ has taken us 32 years backwards. All because he didn’t deliver as President. If he had, the situation would have been different today.

We will however not lose faith. We will pray and support GMB. We will wish him well and hope he succeeds. For his sake, for our sake, for the sake of our children and for the sake of our great nation.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA.

Enome Amatey Esq.
Email: enomeamatey@yahoo.com
Twitter: @iimperfecttme

The card reader trick is evident that INEC has been compromised as it took the President more than 30 minutes to get accredited in Otuoke, even at that he and his wife had to be accredited using the incident form.


The APC trick with card readers is now confirmed. Card readers working well in APC strongholds (Buhari was accredited in less than 40 seconds). Card readers in PDP strongholds seem to be having issues (it took Mr President over 30 minutes to be accredited). Nigerians remain calm. God's will shall prevail! Amen


Mr President was later accredited using the incident book not the card reader o......

Card readers were apparently failing often at a polling booth near an Accenture staff's home. And the guy couldn't understand why...cos the readers were all new. So he approached the INEC woman. Inspected the reader. Only to find the protective film on the lense of the reader had not been removed. After a protracted argument he convinced the woman to remove it. The reader not only read the prior rejected cards, it was reading with even faster response time. Please share. It could help a lot.

INEC website hacked!


At this rate, only GOD knows how all this will pan out & end, but these combined card reader and INEC hacking issues, show that things are already being manipulated, electronically! So sad!

May GOD help Nigeria! Amen!

CLEAR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PA AWOLOWO (UPN) AND TINUBU (APC)- Richard Omoko

As the elections draw near it is critical for us to clearly understand what we are getting into and as such who our so called leaders are. While the two leading parties (ie. PDP and APC) have their plus and minuses, you cannot afford to turn a blind eye to critical issues of importance at this stage.
PDP may not be the messiah that we all yearn for but as an observer I would honestly tell you that this present administration has done remarkably well to deserve continuity which is a prominent component in our leadership vocabulary as a nation. There have been great leaders in Nigeria whom have left an indelible mark in our progress as a nation. For instance such leaders as Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Anthony Enahoro amongst others are people worthy of emulation. It is appalling that the virtues that these men once exuded are lacking in our democracy of today. They were indeed nationalist and statesmen who put self interest aside and pursued what was best for the country as a whole. Some were so involved in building the nation that at the end you would sympathise with their families that took the brunt of ridicules, in that after such a massive selfless sacrifice for their country they had little or nothing of personal worth to boast of. These men were so clear cut that parents named their children after them irrespective of area of origin or nationality in the hope that their wards would grow up to become like them, even Goodluck Jonathan was named after Azikiwe.

Differences between Awolowo and Tinubu
1. Pa Awolowo earned the title 'Leader of the Yoruba race' simply from his style of leadership, contributions to the society, and developmental strides he engineered for the Yoruba people irrespective of party inclination. He was loved by all Yoruba people and even by his enemies. Tinubu has divided the Yoruba people along party lines and has constantly shown disrespect to many Yoruba elders including the revered Afenifere group.
2. Pa Awolowo in many cases has shown selflessness and statesmanship in his approach and utterances. For instances after the results of the 1979 elections were declared by NEC, he did not go about on a campaign as to cause disaffection in the populace against the regime of Shehu Shagari. He took the defeat in good faith and concentrated more efforts in developing the states that his party had won in the elections. This attribute is lacking in Tinubu as you constantly hear his venomous and incisive statements that are a huge security risk even at a time like this with boko haram and the threats to security of the nation.
3. Economic/ Project agenda planning: This is another area you would duff your hat for Pa Awolowo. He took his time to articulate his policies and party agendas, and the beautiful thing there is the manner in which he dissected the economy and tell you how he is going to make provision for every project and policy he is promoting. He was never found wanting and because of his detailed approach the Yoruba people are still benefiting from his legacies. Tinubu has never provided any detailed economic planning to gauge his empty promises like the APC social welfare campaign promises of providing free food, free education, grants and monthly allowances for jobless citizens. If he were to do this effectively be sure that the fuel subsidy would be scrapped and taxes would be increased by over 30% to make available provision for payments in excess of N5 trillion. Of course you know who would benefit from the tax increases the citizens would have to pay. Tinubu's companies would receive 20% of taxes collected like what he has fully implemented in Lagos state over the years.
4. Systemic engagement: Pa Awolowo perfected his party programmes from the grass root up and not with empty promises that lacked intelligent applications. For instance the policy of free education was systematically injected from the local governments and state levels before he promised a national implementation during the election campaigns of 1979 and 1983. Tinubu on the other hand had always made promises without systemic approach and without adequate planning and preparation. Now the promise of monthly stipends/allowance for jobless youths, feeding of school children and so on are all policies he ought to have implemented in the states under his control and better prepare for its pros and cons before promising Nigerians. If truly APC were sincere about free education. Why then the 1,000% hike in school fees of LASU from N25,000 to N250,000? If the students had not reacted you sure would have seen this cruelty come to stay.
5. Stupendous wealth: Awolowo was a rich man no doubt but his wealth came mostly through hard work and wise investments and not land grabbing of Lakowe and Ibeju Lekki and other prime areas and properties belonging to innocent citizens and the people of Lagos state as Tinubu has been perpetrating over the recent past, through ARM and other bogus companies and cronies.
6. Irresponsible god fatherism: Tinubu is the alpha and omega of APC, whether Buhari or any other individual likes it or not. He is not called the jagaban for no reason. He is a master strategist who knows how to get his way however that may seem. He constantly calls the shot on who gets what and Atiku, Kwankwaso, Amechi, Oshiomole and Okorocha unknowingly have been burnt by this. Awolowo to my knowledge has not forced any candidate on his party UPN, everybody had equal opportunity as they must test their popularity through party primaries.

Interestingly in my discussions with many of the proponents chanting change. I inquired from them what they truly wanted to change in Nigeria as a nation. The responses you would get are corruption, insecurity, jobs, infra structural development, women empowerment, youth development, education being the critical areas needing attention. When I remind them and pointed out the transformational strides of this present administration, some understand and are already in conformity while some continue with their chants. For instance, in Nigeria now this is the first government that has achieved the full diversification of the economy. The minister of agriculture not only put to rest the monumental corruption in the fertiliser business of middlemen but also ensured that fertilisers as well as improved seedlings reached the farmers directly. This singular gesture has encouraged the farmers to produce more and store enough produce in renovated and newly constructed silos provided by the government. Insecurity has seen a remarkable boost with areas after areas being reclaimed by our military men upon receiving the right type of equipment. These equipments had to be produced, shipped and soldiers trained to adequately man them. An example of a case of corruption the proponents of change are quick to point out is the Police Pension bruhaha. I am also not happy with the outcome of this case,but the fact of the matter is this as I have come to realize this government has not acted like some others in quashing and arm twisting the other arms of government into doing its bidding. In contrary, it has allowed the Judiciary and the Legislature to act their roles, now an institution of government found an individual culpable of corruption, it arrested and charged the culprit to court but the judge in interpreting the law and meting out justice gave a judgement of a fine of N250,000 to someone who had stolen well over N2 billion. Is the Executive responsible for interpreting our laws and applying justice in this matter? The dire hard is quick to forget that this same administration is responsible for fishing out over 50,000 ghost workers, perfected the parole system of civil servants in order to minimise corruption to its bearest and also put a decisive stop to ghost pensioners. Is this not fighting corruption. Women know already that this administration has been true to its promise in having adequate representation of women in its government. For the first time ever we are having over 35% women representation in our government. The full involvement of the private sector has been an instrument for job creation and ensuring capacity utilisation in companies previously run by government. This is why BPE started with communication and now moved to power sector. NITEL and PHCN have not been properly run by governments in the past. These institutions have been a source of maladministration and a conduit for corruption and as such over burdened the budget.

The hassle of this proponents of change as I have realised, is not with this administration nor with the person of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan but with the party PDP. As such I want to ask that, Is it right to throw the baby out with the bath water? Of course no. PDP may have its faults but all indications remain that this current administration has performed creditably well Inspite of the menance of boko haram and so deserve another course for continuity to prevail in our development as a nation.

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plan to sponsor a military takeover should it lose the March 28 presidential election. Director of Media and Publicity of the ‎PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who disclosed this at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, also denied allegation by the APC that President Goodluck Jonathan had spent over a trillion naira from the national treasury to bribe traditional rulers, opinion leaders and on media advertisements.

Fani-Kayode alleged that the APC had produced a video aimed at creating the impression that the Federal Government was being dominated by people who took pride in enriching themselves at the expense of the national treasury.

Fani-Kayode’s press statement reads in part: “Worst of all, the producers of this video were attempting to incite the Nigerian people against the Nigerian government. They went as far as to suggest that when the presidential election is fought and won and President Goodluck Jonathan emerges as the winner, that the people should call for a full scale military intervention rather than allowing Jonathan to come back. They also specifically asked for the targeting and assassination of key members of this administration and a number of its supporters in the event of a Jonathan victory in the coming elections.

“We say in clear terms that the video in question and the intentions of those behind it is reprehensible, irresponsible and it is unacceptable. We wish to take this opportunity to let the APC know that under no circumstance will we allow them to rob us of our legitimate mandate which, hopefully, will be legitimately and freely given to the President by the Nigerian people on March 28.

“Secondly, we will not tolerate any act of violence or any attempt to assassinate anybody by their agents in the event of us winning and neither will the people of this country ever allow another military intervention.

As a party, we are committed to the democratic process. We believe that that is the only way forward. “We must not allow any political party that is being covertly funded and supported by shady foreign interests with an agenda of insurgency, butchery, murder, division and strife to take power in this country.

We must not allow a man like Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to set us back. We must always resist their attempt to incite people to violence. We must resist their attempt to prepare for war in the event of their losing and we must resist their attempt to demean and abuse the democratic process and set us back many years in this country.”

The PDP campaign spokesman, who also described allegation that the President had spent a trillion naira on campaigns in the form of bribery to traditional rulers in the South-West and North as untrue, Fani-Kayode said the allegation was a figment of the imagination of the APC leaders, pointing out that “we don’t have a presidential candidate that gives bribes and our traditional rulers don’t take bribes.”

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plan to sponsor a military takeover should it lose the March 28 presidential election. Director of Media and Publicity of the ‎PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who disclosed this at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, also denied allegation by the APC that President Goodluck Jonathan had spent over a trillion naira from the national treasury to bribe traditional rulers, opinion leaders and on media advertisements.

Fani-Kayode alleged that the APC had produced a video aimed at creating the impression that the Federal Government was being dominated by people who took pride in enriching themselves at the expense of the national treasury.

Fani-Kayode’s press statement reads in part: “Worst of all, the producers of this video were attempting to incite the Nigerian people against the Nigerian government. They went as far as to suggest that when the presidential election is fought and won and President Goodluck Jonathan emerges as the winner, that the people should call for a full scale military intervention rather than allowing Jonathan to come back. They also specifically asked for the targeting and assassination of key members of this administration and a number of its supporters in the event of a Jonathan victory in the coming elections.

“We say in clear terms that the video in question and the intentions of those behind it is reprehensible, irresponsible and it is unacceptable. We wish to take this opportunity to let the APC know that under no circumstance will we allow them to rob us of our legitimate mandate which, hopefully, will be legitimately and freely given to the President by the Nigerian people on March 28.

“Secondly, we will not tolerate any act of violence or any attempt to assassinate anybody by their agents in the event of us winning and neither will the people of this country ever allow another military intervention.

As a party, we are committed to the democratic process. We believe that that is the only way forward. “We must not allow any political party that is being covertly funded and supported by shady foreign interests with an agenda of insurgency, butchery, murder, division and strife to take power in this country.

We must not allow a man like Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to set us back. We must always resist their attempt to incite people to violence. We must resist their attempt to prepare for war in the event of their losing and we must resist their attempt to demean and abuse the democratic process and set us back many years in this country.”

The PDP campaign spokesman, who also described allegation that the President had spent a trillion naira on campaigns in the form of bribery to traditional rulers in the South-West and North as untrue, Fani-Kayode said the allegation was a figment of the imagination of the APC leaders, pointing out that “we don’t have a presidential candidate that gives bribes and our traditional rulers don’t take bribes.”

Facts are emerging on why prominent Yoruba leaders have vowed not to vote for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd.), in the March 28 presidential elections.

Prominent Yoruba leaders and groups, including the two factions of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPF), the Afenifere Renewal Group and individual Yoruba leaders have sent in a flurry of support and endorsement of the candidature of incumbent President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Sources close to the pan-Yoruba cultural group, Afenifere, have blamed the leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the woes that befell the South-West region in the present administration, especially as it concerns the loss of the Speakership of the House of Representatives.

One of the sources claimed it was Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that sponsored current Speaker, Aminu Bello Tambuwal, against the only Yoruba candidate to the post, Mrs. Mulikat Akande.

“The truth is that it was Tinubu’s backing of Tambuwal that eventually tipped the scale against the Yoruba nation. Because of that, the Yorubas are nowhere in the pecking order of this government. We are not the president, we are not the vice, we are not in the Senate and we are not in the House of Representatives. How do we support someone so selfish that he has to sell the privileges of the Yoruba nation to outsiders?” the source, who does not want to be named, said.

He went on to list other alleged sins of Tinubu and was certain that no Yoruba person worth his heritage would support anything projected by the man that is also popularly called the Jagaban.

According to the source, “The truth is that Tinubu has practically usurped the economy of Yoruba’s richest state. As we speak, the economy of Lagos is Tinubu and Tinubu is the economy of Lagos. We believe in equity and fairness and we are convinced Tinubu does not represent this.”

The source added that the position of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as vice president

Director, Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Chief Femi Fani- Kayode, has raised 35 questions he would like the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari to answer within three days, failure which the PDP would conclude that he was guilty of all issues raised in the questions.

Some of Fani-Kayode’s 35 questions directed at Buhari:

“Is it true that Buhari gets massive covert funding from Hamas, ISIS, ISIL, Al Qaeda and various shady Middle Eastern interests? Is it true that he was once nominated by Boko Haram to be their spokesman in proposed talks with the Federal Government?

“What is the true health status of General Buhari? What is the situation concerning his certificate? Does he have it or does he not have it?

“Did he perjure himself and lie under oath when he swore to an affidavit that his certificate was with the military?

“What was his role in the killings on the night of July 29, 1966 when 300 Igbo officers, one yoruba officer and the former Head of State, General Aguiyi-Ironsi were killed in a military coup? Was he one of those who killed one or any of those people on that night and was he involved in the butchering of the primarily Igbo army officers?

“What was his role in the terrible and tragic events that took place in parts of northern Nigeria in 1966 when over 100,000 innocent Igbo civilians were slaughtered including women and children? Is it true that he was among those who supplied arms to those who slaughtered these Igbo civilians?

“What was his role in the massacre and genocide that took place in Asaba in 1969 after the Federal forces re-captured the town of Asaba from the Biafran forces and liberated it? This terrible incident occurred when every single young Igbo boy and elderly man that were left in the town were summoned for a role call at the town centre, were lined up in rows like lambs to the slaughter and were shot dead in cold blood. This was despite the fact that they were nothing but defenceless and innocent civilians and non-combatants. The question is this: what was Buhari’s role, if any, in that incident?

“Is it true that General Buhari personally ordered the retroactive application of military decrees which led to the death of many simply because he wanted to teach certain people from a certain part of the country a lesson during his reign as Military Head of State?

“Is it true that General Buhari applied a very selective form of administration of justice which sought to punish southerners more than anybody else when he was military Head of State?

“What was his role in the humiliation and denigration of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late and highly respected Leader of the Yoruba? Is it true that he personally ordered that the home of Chief Awolowo should be raided and ransacked and that the highly revered elder statesman be humiliated for no just cause? If this was the case does he not believe that he owes the Yoruba people an apology for that? Should he not be begging the Yoruba for forgiveness after traumatising their revered leader rather than asking them for their votes?

“What was General Buhari’s role in the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) scandal and is it true that he misappropriated the sum of N25 billion as the Haroun Adamu report, which was submitted in 2002, suggests? Is it true that 2.8 billion naira went missing under his watch when he was Minister of Petroleum in 1977?

“What was his role in the agitation for political Sharia in 2000 in northern Nigeria and does he still believe that Sharia law should be spread throughout the country, including the south? Does he still believe that Muslims should only vote for Muslims and that they should only vote for those who will protect their interest? Does he still believe that it is not the business of any Christian when Muslims cut off their limbs for crimes that violate Sharia law?

“Does he still believe that an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the north? Does he have a secret soft spot and closet affinity for Boko Haram? What are his views about the terrorist organisations known as Al Shabab, Al Qaeda, ISIS and ISIL, all of whom are allies of Boko Haram? Does he believe that they have a point and does he approve of their violent methods? Can he guarantee that not one dollar of Al Qaeda, ISIS or ISIL money has been used to support his presidential campaign? Does he believe in a secular state?

“Does he still believe that those who oppose his candidacy should be killed as he said just before the presidential elections in 2011?

“Does he have any apology to offer or remorse to express for the slaughter of hundreds of people, including some innocent youth corpers, by his supporters in the north after the 2011 elections?

“What are General Buhari’s views about same s*x marriage and homosexuality? Is it true that, if he is elected President, he is considering scuttling the anti-gay laws in our country and is he really committed to pushing through legislation that would allow same s*x marriage as some form of compromise to the Western powers in return for their endorsement and support?

“Is it true that he supported the late General Abacha to such a point that he actually suggested to Abacha that Ken Saro-Wiwa, the famous poet and Niger Delta activist, should be executed in order for his south-south supporters to be taught a bitter lesson?

“Is it true that he has resolved to teach the de-facto leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the lesson of his life by prosecuting him and sending him to jail if he is elected as President or, in lieu of this, compelling him to return 50 percent of the money and properties that he has managed to acquire from Lagos state over the last 16 years?

“Is it true that he has a secret pathological hatred for those who do not share his faith or those who come from the southern part of Nigeria?

“Is it true that General Buhari is a hegemonist and a man who is totally remorseless?

“Is it true that he defied his Commander in Chief, former President Shehu Shagari and tried to start a war with Chad simply because he has a blood lust and an insatiable thirst for violence and war?

“Is it true that his cruel and merciless policies and actions, whilst he was Head of State, led to the premature deaths of Governors Ambrose Ali of the old Bendel state, Bisi Onabanjo of Ogun state and so many of our other past leaders?

“Is it true that he had a personal hatred for Alhaji Umaru Dikko, the late former Minister of Transport, to the point that he personally ordered his drugging, kidnapping and crating from the streets of London?

“Is it true that he has disdain for women and that he believes that women have no place in public office or at the forefront of current affairs? Is it true that he wants to scrap the office of the First Lady? Is it true that whilst he was military Head of State he jailed and tortured journalists simply for writing the truth?

“Is it true that he has no idea about how to run a 21st century country and that he has no understanding about the administration of justice and the application of the rule of law in a modern state? Is it true that he derives pleasure in just locking up and jailing people?

“Is it true that he has the intention of destroying General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and all the other former Military Heads of State and junior army officers who opposed his rule and toppled his government in a 1985 military coup? Is it true that he is vengeful and unkind?

“Is it true that he has ordered his supporters that under no circumstance should President Jonathan be allowed any peace if he wins the presidential election? Is it true that that he will make the country ungovernable if Jonathan wins and that he will make sure that the baboon and the dog are both soaked in blood?

“Is it true that General Buhari has no intention whatsoever to accept the election results if he loses and that he is poised to unleash violence throughout the country in the event of his losing? Is it true that Radio Chanji has been established with his blessing and support and for the sole purpose of inciting people to violence and causing mayhem after he loses?

“Is it true that he is terminally ill and that indeed his health status is the kind that will give Nigerians cause for alarm if it were made public? Is it true that he has refused to release a report that was put together by his foreign doctors about the true state of his health to the Nigerian Public because they would be very alarmed?

“Is it true that he is incapable of running the affairs of this country and, in the event of his winning the election, that he intends to concede the administration of the country to others?

“Is it true that he is a closet Islamic fundamentalist? Is it true that he is a secret collaborator and supporter of Boko Haram? Is it true that Boko Haram is the armed wing of his party the APC and that the APC is the political wing of Boko Haram?

“Does his party the APC still believe that Boko Harm should not have been proscribed as stated by their spokesman, Lai Mohammed sometime last year?

“Is it true that his party is Nigeria’s equivalent of the Egyptian Moslem Brotherhood or the Sudanese supporter of APC?

“Is it true that General Buhari has disdain for Christians and that his secret desire is to bury the Church?

Fani-Kayode said these are the questions that the PDP would like General Buhari to answer over the next few days before the presidential elections, so that the Nigerian people will have a clearer picture of who and what he really is.

“If he cannot answer every single one of these questions and tell us the truth then we reserve the right to assume that the answer to every single one of them is in the affirmative and that these assertions are true,” he said, adding that it would compel the PDP to conclude that Buhari is not just a menace to the Nigerian people and an enemy of the Nigerian state but also unfit to rule the country.

would have remained in PDP, if I knew my deputy would betray me--Gov. Amaechi

Following the return of the Deputy Governor of Rivers State; Engr. Tele Ikuru to PDP, governor Amaechi has urged members of the APC to remain steadfast. The governor who said that " Though I saw it coming, but I never believed it. Our movement to APC was a collective decision and Tele was even the one who seconded the motion for us to defect to the APC. So is unthinkable that he wld return to the PDP. This whole fight is about you ( APC members ). Not me! I can't be governor again. Like I keep saying, the world is aware of my fight with the President. And so many countries will grant me asylum and the President can't arrest me. So it's about you people. If I knew Tele was going to betray me and make peace with Wike, I wouldn't have left the PDP. I will encourage you to remain steadfast and expect the worst, because some commissioners will soon join him or will remain with us to sabotage our efforts. And how do you go to elections with a divided house and political moles? I'm learning people " --Gov. Amaechi
#Vote PDP at all levels

This piece is specifically directed to the international community, especially the Obama-led American government, which has exhibited a stark misunderstanding of the unique nature and challenges of the electoral process in Nigeria. I will address this issue from both the historical and contemporary perspectives, but with a special emphasis on the 2015 elections. The purpose is to flag some of what is right or wrong with the increased level of foreign interest in the 2015 elections. Below is the rest of my thesis:

One: It is noted that, like in previous elections, the pressure on INEC and Jega is just too much. But unlike 2007 for instance, Jega appears to have unwittingly stoked much of the pressures now arrayed against him. I say this because he freely allowed elements of foreign inter-meddlers who are passing off as either monitors, observers or advisers to gain too much access to the point that they now appear to be dictating policies on our elections.

By their words and actions, Jega and these foreigners are demonizing anybody or political party that dares venture a contrary opinion. The ruling party, the military, the NSA, the IGP, the SSS, and even the President are worst-hit, as they have been cast as villains and enemies to ‘credible’ elections. To Jega and these few foreign elements, credible elections means that everything they say, however so unjust, must be accepted by all and sundry. That’s very troubling, and it portends imminent danger to the elections, and to Nigeria’s wellbeing.

Two: Take the PVC for instance, and you get the the impression created by Jega and sold to these foreigners that the PVC can never go wrong. But it did and still does, in more ways than one. Up to this day, they are still in denial over the almost 20 million Nigerians who would have been disenfranchised had the elections held from February 14. It’s telling enough that, foreigners from advanced democracies, are not troubled by the skewed ‘victories’ that would have emerged from such patent anomaly.

It appears that they have come to believe that anything goes, provided it sits well with the opposition, not minding thatvdisadvantaged others. The deliberately or negligently disenfranchised Nigeria voters do not matter. Well-meaning Nigerians and foreign friends of Nigeria should please ponder this, and ensure that we don’t go into March 28 without ensuring electoral justice for all – the voter and all the parties fielding candidates.

Three: As for their opposition to the deployment of security forces on Election Day, Jega seems to have forgotten that organizing elections in the unique setting of Nigeria goes beyond INEC alone. Other pertinent national institutions like the police, the SSS, the military, and immigration, all have disparate roles to play. The police maintains civil order; the SSS acts as sleuths that detect and frustrate those operating covertly to rig or cause trouble.

The military ensures that we won’t have bloodshed as we did in 2011, and secures the areas, like Northeast, which still have pockets of terrorists intent on scuttling the elections in those locales. And the immigration secures our borders to keep away illegal aliens from coming to vote and thereby diluting the results of the elections. It is very disturbing that Jega and these foreigners see it otherwise. Is it a coincidence that the opposition also sees it the same way?

Four: Foreign funding of our elections has become too pervasive, and to the point of becoming a major factor in foreigners brazenly dictating our electoral policies. Unlike before, Jega appears to have stoked an unprecedented regime of INEC taking too much foreign funds. This is dangerous. Nigeria has come full circle to the point that we don’t have any business with asking foreign nations to help fund our elections.

If foreigners are not allowed to fund our political parties, why would we accept their strings-laden freebies to fund our electoral body? This is a national security matter which came to the fore when these foreigners demanded access to the biometrics of Nigeria’s registered voters in 2007. It was reported then that they were refused. It is not being reported now that they have not succeeded. Is Nigeria allowed free reign to fund American elections; and then run wild in America dictating to its umpire and insulting its leaders?

Five: Jega has missed two opportunities, in 2011 and 2015, to push for inclusion of the Diaspora vote. The fine idea of polling the diaspora vote developed out of the ‘Absentee Ballot’ system used in America, whereby Americans living overseas can cast their ballots at any of the American diplomatic missions closest to them. It doesn’t make sense and it is not fair that the Diaspora which remits quantum billions in forex that helps stabilize Nigerian economy are, to this day, still denied the right to vote.

In a close elections, such as we now might have in 2015, the Diaspora may be all it takes to determine who truly won the elections. Therefore, it is duplicitous that foreigners and a Jega who together tout the beauty of credible elections would ignore this fundamental angle to making elections much more credible.

Finally and most importantly, these foreigners, especially the Americans need to rethink this strange notion that elections in emerging nations are credible only when the opposition wins. That’s not true at all, as we can see from the recent reelection of Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu. In that very election, these foreign interests gave Netanyahu no chance but the Israeli voter voted otherwise but not before the foreign intermeddling has stoked an atmosphere of tension in Israel.

Here in Nigeria, the same atmosphere now exists to the point of this same people almost calling the election for the main opposition. This is reckless, and unfair to the Nigerian voter, as well as the other political parties that have been marginalized and treated like token players in the electoral process.

Well, I hear the case is in court, but let me still state my own Jo, after all as a Calabar man in Lagos I have a right to discuss these issues especially as it affects the price of affang in Ojuelegba. We have been hearing all sort of stories on Tinubu’s hegemonic and monarchical hold on Lagos. But to me, all these were in the realm of beer parlour talk. Not until I heard about the documentary and I read Shaka Momodu’s back page article that this whole saga came home to roost. Tinubu, you haff try. Kai. All these Land and Property, and they say you did not go to school?  How else could anybody weave such a complex and intractable web of folly without being educated in the best of schools. I have already asked for an admission form for my son to attend that university of Chicago or is it Chicago State University. He must attend that school, so he will come back and control Akwa Ibom the way you are controlling Lagos. I came out of that article with annoyance and deep resentment for a system that has allowed such profanity assuming all these allegations are true. Look at me owing GTB and working very hard to pay them off every month and one man acquiring and controlling all that is Lagos just because he is the Jagaban of Obalende. Life is so unfair. The greatest disappointment for me in all these is Fashola.  If all these happened  under his watch why is he still in the pulpit shouting change and Buhari?  How does he proclaim integrity if he is surrounded by all of these allegations?. I once asked Osibanjo who claims to be a Pastor at a lecture he gave while at the Lagos Business School how he stayed for that long serving a government that has been accused of all things. He mumbled something in Yoruba, coughed and asked for water to drink and sat down looking like a kid who had just been caught with his hands in the jar of cookie. Me I am afraid for this country, where is the change, who is the change and what is the change. The best I can see, is the fact that anywhere this pendulum swings, left or right we would still be saddled with mercenaries. At this point, shouldn’t we just stay with the devil we know instead of trying a new set of devils who will only just further enslave us. I’m in tears.

2015: The parliament decides
It was a full house. Everybody was in the house. The meeting was called so that we can all deliberate and come out with a candidate. The Igwe was in full regalia with his bottles, Emeka who normally does not wear trousers came out with his best Jeans. The one he bought at the okrika market in Yaba. Agada, Etim Esin and even Bayo Mustapha the short but very interesting insurance player was in full strength. So the question was put on the table by the Igwe. Who is our candidate, the skinny, gap toothed ex General representing the APC or the quiet, dark, shoeless ex fisherman with the boisterous wife representing the PDP?  Isah took the stand first, he spoke in favour of Buhari. He said he was voting for Buhari because he liked his skin colour. He also liked his accent and felt that with that accent, the Moroccan King would not have denied a conversation he clearly had with our President. He was immediately shouted down by Henry. Henry is from Kogi State, tall dark and broke. So his anger was palpable. He was for Jonathan, simply because of the stomach infrastructure that delivered Ekiti to PDP. He believed that if Jonathan was voted in, he like Tompolo and Gani Adams stand a better chance of winning a contract. He was aiming to win the security contract to guard all First Ladies. There he believed he could play a vital role falling back on his past experience as maiguard while in Lokoja.  The issue of documentaries came up and Val wonders why no sex tape had been released so far. That all these documentaries on Tinubu and the rest was kind of boring. He was waiting for a sex tape to ginger his interest in the whole political charade. This drew a lot of laughter which brought Emeka into the conversation. He preferred  a Jonathan Sex Tape as against a Buhari one. Before we could ask him why, he had dodged into the kitchen because he saw someone that looked like the guy who sold the jeans to him in Yaba, he was still owing on it.  Well after two hours of fruitful deliberation ranging from the colour of Buhari’s tooth brush, to Jonathan’s favourite bathing soap, through to who would win in a boxing match between Jonathan and Buhari, the Igwe announced a tie. The parliament for the first time could not come to an agreement, so every member was asked to go vote his conscience. Me? I’m still waiting for the sex tape to make up my mind. Teheeeheee!!!!!

AIG Mbu please save us from Inspector Everest Isiegwu and Constable J.Aliyu
I call on AIG Mbu who has over the years showed that he is a very astute and highly professional super cop to save motorist from the tragedy that is Inspector Everest Isiegwu and Constable Aliyu. These two with a motley crew of four have turned the Onikan end of the third mainland bridge which descends into the MUSON centre directly on top of your office at zone 2 into a crime scene every morning. He parks his green jeep with plate number HD 863 EKY on the bridge facing the CMS end and dispatches his goons to arrest and extort unsuspecting motorists. It was my turn, last week as I was accused of not concentrating during driving. I was weak as I asked the black policeman how else I was supposed to concentrate when the car was stuck in traffic and motionless. While attempting to enter my car and direct me to the green jeep which also serves as a mobile holding cell an unfortunate lady and her driver caught their attention and I was left alone. I ask, is it part of police work to control traffic with a service pistol drawn, hand on trigger and a menacing look on the face?  The modus operandi is very easy, they wait for motorist, who try to jump the queue and attempt to descend from the front of the queue. You are immediately accosted, one of them enters your vehicle, the bleached inspector takes you to his Jeep and negotiations commence. In the end you part with between 10,000 and 50,000 depending on your bargaining power and your state of fear. This is not fair and should be stopped. So sir, don’t say I am the one that told you o” cos if you mention my name, I will just deny you I no want die. Just wear your mufty and drive on that bridge between 7 and 7.30 in the morning and see things for yourself. I am sure in their greed, they will even arrest you too. My driver begged me not to write this piece but I have and like you have promised don’t call my name o. Or make I kuku dey enter ferry go work, I no fit shout.

Je suis Lekki
Lekki that highbrow enclave was attacked last week . Like it happened in Paris, a lot of blood was spilled and mothers and wives were left to weep for their loved ones who lost their lives in this dastardly act. I watched the video and saw the Robbers in full military attire walk down the street with so much confidence while the bodies of the policemen and the poor girl lay down in their pool of blood. This was so sad and even sadder that the politicians now chose to use it to play politics. Fashola that was so insensitive of you and Agbaje going to visit the scene is to achieve what. Why didn’t he visit the scene when the robbery was going on? That would have been just perfect. Can we just stop playing politics with everything. There is more to life than the ambitions of some wolves. My condolences and sympathy goes to the Police Force who lost some obviously gallant officers and also my deepest prayers goes to the poor mother of the young girl who lost her life simply because she was looking for something to eat. The system has failed her. Me, I remain in Shomolu and would never live in Lekki no matter what. What we have here are phone thieves who even appeal to you ever so politely that you should hand over your phone while giving you strong reasons as to why they should steal from you. Very polite thieves in Shomolu. God protect us all amen.

More tales from command secondary school
Last week I started a series which would involve me giving some tales about my time in that wonderful school. Let me tell you about the time we went into a Cocoa plantation to eat.  Those days they used to give us a staple Eko and beans. We never used to enjoy it, so the big boys, myself, Voke, Lukman, Buffo and Gbasqua would go into the jungle, pluck cocoa from the trees cut it open and suck on the seeds. But if you take into consideration that it takes about five years for Cocoa to get ripe and in all that time the farmer would be wallowing in poverty awaiting his harvest so he can sell and marry the new wife you will begin to see the damage we were doing not only to the farmer but also to the Nations economy simply because we did not like eating Eko and Beans. So when we get caught, we were flogged at the Assembly by Mr. Ajayi the restless Principal and proclaimed bad boys. These made us very popular and the girls flocked around us wanting to be seen with the bad boys who could take twelve strokes of the koboko without flinching and still passed exams. So if you wanted to get the most beautiful girls in command, raid a cocoa farm, get caught, get flogged don’t flinch, call yourself a ‘maye’and you will get the babes flocking around you like the ‘tambolos’ that used to bite us during labour. Where is Emmanuel Imogu. Great guy.

Aiico Insurance, Sahara Group, Victor Ikpeba join the crusade against kidney disease
Aiico Insurance that legendary Insurance provider has joined forces with other organisations like Sahara Group and Elixir Investments to blow the whistle against kidney diseases in Nigeria. They are supporting the Bow tie clubs Kidney Trust Fund. A fund that has been designed to raise monies in support of Kidney Patients in Nigeria. A charity match between ex internationals led by a victor Ikpeba, a one time African Footballer of the year and Nollywood stars led by Fred Amata has been billed for today at the mini stadium in Lagos campos square to raise the much needed funds to fight this scourge. Come and see me play with the sexiest bow legs this side of Hollywood.

Ben Kusi hope you are happy now
This man ever since I started writing this column has been begging me to mention his name. The fact that he has not contributed significantly in making our economy the largest in Africa does not deter his passion and need to be mentioned by me in this column. Last Saturday, he called and promised to buy me Kunu and also get my name on a bottle of coke if I mentioned that he just bought a new TV set at home. So Ben, I don mention your name, no disturb me again. You no dey kuku buy the paper, na for Ojuelegba bus top you dey read am free. Laugh want kill me.

APC sha, dose ppl lack d fear of God!

I watched with keen interest the APC town hall meeting of Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th March, 2015. Various questions were asked on how APC intends to tackle such matters as Security, Job creation, Power generation, women empowerment, The exchange rate amongst others issues.

In their response to the issues or questions asked, Buhari and his fellow APC stalwarts at the town hall meetings sounded like semi-illiterates when giving responses to this crucial matters of importance. Before we draw conclusions let us go back in history to how our economy used to be like before Buhari ceased power by force through a coup de ta in 1983.

As a young lad I can remember vividly that this was how Nigeria was before Buhari ceased power by force
1. When it came to exchange rate it was $1.00 exchanging for 0.60 kobo (yes if you didn't know that), the British Pound Sterling was £1.00 exchanging for N2.00.
2. We didn't require visa's to travel abroad. Now interestingly while you only needed to board a plane with your blank passport, your visa would be stamped at the point of entry in almost all nations of the world including the United Kingdom (UK). America was begging us Nigerians to come and visit (so we could spend our money there) they even offered free scholarships to most Nigerian students to study up to masters level, and when they finished their studies there were mouth watering offers of jobs and accommodation waiting for their picking should they decide to stay. Some Nigerians even had special luxury treatments given to them right from the airports at America.
3. In most shops in the UK they would close their shops to other customers once they learnt that you were a Nigerian and intend to shop there. This treatment is only now meeted out to Arab sheiks.
4. It was automatic citizenship for any Nigerian baby born in the UK, with immediate allowances for both baby and mother.
5. Our International Trade fairs used to be a big issue, with every notable company from all nations in the world fighting to ensure their participation. These companies even released their products to Nigerians with only a promise to pay.
6. The economy was bouyant and merriment was always in the air, every family had one reason to celebrate. People like Fela that were hooked on candies could afford to travel to the UK just to buy candies from his favourite shop. I could afford to buy my big dip for 50k.
7. Nigerians were driving only brand new cars. You were considered poor if you happen to drive a car that was more than 3 years old talkless of buying a 'tokubo' vehicle (ie. Second hand vehicle). The major automobile plants were working a Volkswagen beetle was N3,000, a Peugeot 504 was N7,000.
8. Prices of essential commodities were affordable, a can of liquid milk was 25k, a bottle of coca cola was 15k, a bag of rice was N15, a loaf of bread (family size) was 50k.
There are more happenings I can reel out, however this is enough for our youths to digest as they never new how Nigeria was before Buhari came in is usual manner of brute force with no economic knowledge and destroyed everything.

When Buhari ceased power in 1983.
1. Buhari immediately introduced import license when he ceased power. This policy favoured only his cronies as they were the only one who had access to import license. They only obtained the licenses and sold it for a price without importing anything. Some would use such license to import sand from Saudi Arabia, expired tires from Europe, empty containers etc. They did this just to pocket the exchange dollar. The resultant effect was the shambles this caused by increasing black maketeering, increasing smuggling, creating a scramble for foreign currency and hence devaluing the naira. For those who do not know it was in Buhari's regime that the dollar started to appreciate over the naira from what was 0.60kobo to $1.00.
2. Buhari's singular act of importing a human being in a crate (Umaru Dikko) from the UK resulted in the UK removing all those privileges that we enjoyed. From then on you can only come into the UK with a visa, and not anymore as a citizen of the common wealth. The United States also followed suit from this.
3. His regime introduced Price control. This lack of elementary understanding of Pricing and the forces of Demand and Supply caused a lot of hardship for Nigerians as you had long queues for such 'essential commodities' as bread, milk, tea, sugar etc. Of course traders hoarded their wares as you couldn't force them to sell at a loss thereby creating a sky rocketing inflation.
4. The overblown stance of corruption and Nigeria being a drug nation dealt a big blow on our image internationally as most nations started viewing Nigerians with suspicion, to them every Nigerian is either corrupt or a drug dealer. The killing of Bartholome Owho and two others without a convincing trial made other countries view us as babaric. They were no longer comfortable in having business dealings with Nigerians based purely on trust. This we are seeing Buhari repeat yet again.

Buhari's current clamour after 32 years
The chanting is yet to change after 32 years, the so called 'change' agent is still to change from his old ways.
1. On security: as usual he continues to blow it out of proportion hence scaring intended foreign investors whose Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) would having given a boost to the economy and helped in creating jobs. Agreed the current security situation is not perfect, however only until this week did he acknowledge the efforts of our gallant soldiers. His utterances in the past has caused a lot of security breeches that had costs lives and properties of Nigerians. These statements he made had helped increased both followers and symphatisers of boko haram.
2. On Economy: "I would create two million jobs in one year". Free Education, free lunch, free monthly allowances/stipends for jobless youths, he wants to build four refineries in less than four years, his claims of single handedly increasing the price of crude oil and so on just goes to show that he still is clueless on the economy and how it operates. For instance how does he intend to increase the price of crude oil when he cannot control it's demand and OPEC has limited control to its supply as a means of price increase instruments. They clamour oil theft (even though he would not tell you that it started way back in the 70's when he was Petroleum Minister). For those who care to know the US being the largest consuming nation of crude oil is using Fracking and other new technologies to explore for crude as a result demand for global oil is low and the price has to fall because supply is constantly increasing due to oil theft not only from Nigeria but from all ISIS controlled nations and Libya inclusive.
The clear difference between United Party of Nigeria (UPN) led by Awolowo and APC led by Tinubu is very simple. Awolowo would tell you that he would create jobs, industries, roads, free education and so on. Awo doesn't stop at that he would break down the economy for you and show you where and how he would raise the money to perform and fulfil all his promises. That is why the till today the western region is still living off Awo's legacies. Please someone ask Tinubu/Buhari (no pun intended as this is the ticket) to show us how they intend to raise the capital for their promises. They are only building castles in the sky.
NIGERIAN BE WISE AND DONT BE FOOLED - VOTE WISELY

We’ve been here before, it is unfortunate that we have seen Lagos state government treat us as commoners” James Zaphaniah says.

He continued, “but we know better now, they come in every four years to plead for votes but ignore our existence when they win”.

For residents of Sagbokoji Island, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, of Lagos state, nothing is particularly special about the 2015 general elections.

The forthcoming poll serves as another Charade of Campaign Promises and unachievable plans by the ruling Political party in Lagos, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“The APC government talks about change but deprive us of our rights to livelihood, I’ve stayed here all my life, ACN as we used to call it, now APC has abandoned us because we have continued to vote for the PDP,” Abi Jewel, an Ijaw settler says.

Just like the story with Makoko, a settlement on the Lagos Lagoon, forcefully demolished by the state government, which led to the deaths of many, residents express worry.

“Governor Fashola kept talking about mega city but the poor is not welcomed to such a city. Before the general election in 2011, they were in Makoko to campaign for votes but did you see what they did there? The government even called us foreigners, miscreants and thives”, Rosemary Magre, an Ilaje businesswoman in Igbologun tells me.



In the same vein, the Sagbokoji people have had to go to courts over the planned sack by the state government, having moved from Idiagbon community, another settlement sold to the rich and wealthy, says Abi Jewel.

“We are nomads’ but they come over here for votes when it’s time to woo electorates, we are waiting for the day of election so we can show those screaming ‘change’ a slogan that only protects the wealthy Lagosians but we will go all out to vote and we will see that our votes counts” Jewel maintained. “We have not forgotten and we cannot forget.”

The impoverished riverine settlers are right to consider their eviction a grave injustice. The government appears wholly disinclined to offer any housing assistance to evicted families.

Mrs Komolafe Ezikiel says “Fashola and APC do not want us but want our votes, they have moved against our means of survival by ignoring our existence and pushing for our eviction”.

“I am a trader,” she added, “all we have asked for is to be allowed to settle by the waterside to continue fishing, we do they sack us and now come for our votes,”



The micro-economy here survives mostly on fishing and the trade of basic staples, but that survival according to a fisherman Mr Deji Emerua, in Ilado, another riverine community in same Amuwo Odofin LGA, cannot be guaranteed by the APC led government.

A trip to Sankey Island, another community surrounded by wooden shacks, the riverine dwellers in strong terms vow to vote out the Fashola led government that it says has failed to provide the basic amenities for the people abandoned by the Babatunde Fashola government and successive governments since 1999. The riverine community is host to over a million settlera.



“We have seen them coming here to beg for our votes, someone has informed us reliably that Fashola asked the court to suspend the case until after elections, which means he wants our votes for Ambode and APC before sending his bulldozer to send us parking again for the wealthy to take over our Land”, the Baale, Ade Ogun, maintained.

“Can’t the poor live in Lagos”? The Baale probes further.

As I visited Igbologun, another settlement, and spoke with some of the settlers, I saw – and felt – fear and dashed hopes visibly written on the peoples’ faces.



“We have no boats for transportation, we have no healthcare facility, we’ve had to transport our heavily pregnant women to give birth in places like Apapa by paddling the boats, most have had to deliver their children on the high sea” explains Godson Abikwi, a resident said.

This revealing story represents the the accounts of close to 2 Million Riverine settlers in Lagos who are yet to witness any form of change under the APC government and see the Party’s promise as failed while insisting that Charity – must begin from home.

The Oba of Benin, Omon’oba Erediauwa, has assured President Goodluck Jonathan of victory in the forthcoming election slated for March 28.
The Oba gave the assurance Thursday in Abuja through his son and a chief in the Benin Kingdom, Ada Erediuwa, who led a delegation of princes and chiefs of the Benin Kingdom on a visit to a former Minister of Information and elder statesman, Edwin Clark.
Prince Erediuwa recalled that his father had met with Mr. Jonathan three times adding that while the first meeting was a private affair between the two leaders, the second meeting was a public function when the president went to Edo to commission the refurbished Benin-Lagos expressway.
He said the third meeting sometime in September 2014 was the most significant because the Oba presented a “red ododo” to the president.
The prince explained that the Oba deliberately gave the president the material to pass a message. He said it was the highest Benin traditional attire and the Oba wore it when he had to go to court.
“He wore it and trekked to the court to show he meant business,” Mr. Erediuwa said. “In Benin Kingdom, the ododo represents success and it is a sign of victory. Whoever wears it to the battle field must return home.”
Reports in recent past had suggested that the Benin royal house was in conflict with the presidency.
However, Mr. Erediuwa said the Oba had made it clear by his actions and words that he supported the president.
He, however, stated a “need for the Benin Kingdom to hold a private meeting with the president after the general elections to address all areas of concern.”
Mr. Clark, in his remarks said the president considered Benin home. He also pledged to ensure that a meeting between the royal house and the presidency was held as soon as the elections were over.
Mr. Clark also said the little misunderstanding between the president and the Benin Kingdom may have to do with the appointment of the former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, ostensibly to replace her husband Christopher Ogiemwonyi, who was from Edo State.
He explained that Ms. Oduah was appointed on her own merit having served as the treasurer in the president’s campaign prior to 2011.
He said she was appointed to represent Anambra State while an Edo man was also appointed on the constitutional slot of the state and was even posted to the same ministry Mr. Ogienwonyi served in.
“There was nothing the president did to spite Edo State,” Mr. Clark said. “What happened was a normal thing in government.”
Mr. Clark also said to avoid a repeat of such an incident, the Benin royal house would be consulted “on the appointment of a minister from the state”.
He also assured that after the election, which he said the president would win, “Bini will be accorded a pride of place in the government of President Goodluck Jonathan”.
On the endorsement of Mr. Jonathan, the elder statesman said he believed “the prince has spoken the mind of the Oba”.

No more freedom of speech for Nigerians!

Opposing bloggers, journalists, artists and critics, prepare to go on exile or be locked up! There will be nothing like fundamental human rights again!

GMB did it. GMB will do it again!

2. Retroactive laws will be invoked, again, including, public executions!

Bar beach Lagos will be soaked in blood, again!

GMB did it! GMB will do it again!

3. A minimum of 3 digit jail sentences will be dished out to mostly Southern Nigerians eg 362 years, 277 years, 322 years in imprisonments.

GMB did it! GMB will do it again!

4. GMB will bring back his stone age economic policies of trade by barter policies.

GMB did it! GMB will do it again!

5. International State sponsored kidnapping of ex officials (ie Umaru Dikko style, in diplomatic crates).

How can Buhari's Government fight crime and kidnappers, if Buhari officially sponsors kidnappers, even on a global basis?

GMB did it! GMB will do it again!

6. Public flogging of fathers, mothers, uncles and aunties who come one second late.

GMB did it! GMB will do it again!

7. Freedom of worship to be curtailed, as Buhari has said that he is supporting the Full implementation of Sharia, ALL over Nigeria.

What will happen to Christians and other religious groups in Nigeria?

8. No need for any academic certificates again. Letters of recommendations from "above", will be the main criteria, as qualifications will become obsolete.

GMB did it! GMB will do it again!

9. No more women in top Government positions again, as in his past regime.

GMB did it. GMB will do it again!

10. Boko Haram nominated Buhari to negotiate for them.

When did he meet them, how does he know them and what does he know about them?

GMB was nominated by BH to negotiate for them! GMB will be nominated by BH again!

11. Foreigners to be expelled from Nigeria, again.

GMB did it! GMB will do it again!

12. Buhari broke diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom. Buhari seized a British Caledonian plane. Buhari committed sponsored a crime of Stare kidnapping, on the soil of United Kingdom.

GMB did it! GMB will do it again!

13. Buhari, where is the USD2.8 billion of oil money that got missing under your watch as petroleum Minister?

GMB did it! GMB will do it again!

14. Buhari has always had some of the most corrupt sponsors behind him.

Please, GMB, declare are who your sponsors, and how much they gave you, or you and your sponsors will soon be exposed!

15. Buhari, you said you were retiring from politics in 2011 and that you will never ever contest for elections again.

GMB you lied to Nigerians!

16. You staged a coup in 1983 and truncated democracy. How can now call yourself a democrat?

GMB, you are lying to us, again!

17. Buhari, why have you not produced your certificate?

GMB, you keep lying to us!

18. Buhari, why did you dodge appearing before the Oputa panel?

GMB, why are you dodging appearing in a televised debate?

GMB, are Generals cowards?

19. Buhari, we hear that you have a case to answer at ICC Haque (International Criminal Court at Haque)!

Why dont you go to the ICC and clear your name, or are you afraid of joining Taylor and Gbagbo, at the Haque?

Yet, you are have promised Nigerians more bloodshed, if you lose this 2015 elections, by promising us, "that the baboons and dogs will be soaked in blood"!

You incited your followers during the post elections in 2011, and 800 people were brutally killed (RIP).

GMB, Nigerians are afraid of EVERYTHING that you represent!

Buhari, proceed to the courts & clear your certificate issue!

GMB, go the TV stations for televised debates!

Buhari, proceed to the ICC & answer your numerous cases!

Nigerians, have decided against your CHANGE!

Louis Ebodaghe was based in the United States until a few years ago, when he returned to Nigeria to join politics in a bid to contribute his own quota to the development of his fatherland. A medical laboratory scientist by profession, Ebodaghe believes Nigeria is well endowed to be a world power if its potentials are properly harnessed. He is not contesting the forth coming general election, but he has floated an organisation, Nigeria Prosperity Project, to, among other things, educate Nigerians on their rights and privileges under a democratic dispensation. Ebodaghe tells Vincent Obia that President Goodluck Jonathan has performed well enough to earn re-election. Excerpts:

You have been around for a while now, what is your assessment of the political situation in Nigeria ahead of the next general election, particularly, in terms of the preparedness of the electorate?
The atmosphere is charged and Nigerians are enthusiastic about the elections. However, there is also apparent apprehension in the air, with preparation by INEC and the security agencies, and so forth. Based on all the relevant information so far, it appears that there would be no need for much anxiety. People are eagerly waiting for the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote. In this regard, I would like to encourage all those that are registered and are yet to pick up their permanent voter cards to do so as soon as possible. This administration had requested INEC to extend the period of this exercise. This is remarkable and commendable because all eligible voters will have the opportunity to do so. For the avoidance of doubt, adherence to the rule of law is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength and faith in our democracy. Rain, not thunder, grows flowers. I think the present administration has not deviated on that focus. In a topical Nigerian scenario, there are two types of voters: “The educated voter” and “The non-educated voter”.

Could you expatiate on that categorisation?
The ratio of educated voters to the non-educated voters in Nigeria is estimated at approximately 90/10. The educated/non-educated refers to the basis on which voters will make decisions in this context.  Non-educated voters will make decisions based on the following: political party, religion and tribe.


Under this premise, the educated voter will make decisions based on the factors such as the economy, education, health, and general quality of life issues, etc., but will also question what impact the government or opposition will have on him or her.
Two eminent Nigerians are vying for the office of president. The choice is clear, that is why I expect Nigerians to rise above mundane issues in this election. It will not be based on religion, political party, or ethnicity, but based on record of achievement and focused leadership. President Jonathan of the PDP and General Buhari of APC are the major contestants. I believe that Jonathan is in a better stead based on his record of accomplishments. Buhari is an elder statesman who worked for the most corrupt leader in the history of Nigeria, General Sani Abacha and he once publicly declared that Abacha never squandered public funds. We all know better today.  His only democratic credential is that he toppled an elected democratic government in 1983.

Most Nigerians seem to be dissatisfied with the PDP-led federal government. How can you change this mindset ahead of the polls?
Let us not dismiss the achievements of this government on mere sentiments. Let us look at the facts on ground. For example the local content law, which has empowered Nigerian oil professionals and 30 per cent of oilfield services revenue, now goes to companies owned by Nigerians. This is projected to hit 50 per cent in 2015. For the first time in the history of this country, Nigerians quit the major oil service companies like Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, Halliburton and joined companies owned by Nigerians and get better conditions of service. Engineering plants and companies that were hitherto dormant have bounced back. Interestingly, our local content law has been copied by Ghana, Brazil, and Angola.


Besides, the initiatives of the government have resulted in the following: Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) oil production has increased by over 300 per cent under this administration and, currently, produces more oil than most countries in Africa. SEPLAT, a company created due to the government’s policies, now employs over 5,000 workers and produces over 70,000 barrels of oil per day.

But Nigerians believe that the government has done little to improve on the economy.
That cannot be correct. We have surpassed South Africa and our economy is now the largest in Africa and the 26th largest in the world. GDP growth is at 7%per annum for the past six years, the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to a recent World Bank data, the Foreign Direct Investment in the first six months of 2014 stood at $9.7 billion. The moribund automotive industry has been revived. Cars are currently being assembled in Nigeria after over 20 years. Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Peugeot, Stallion motors and Innonson motors and several others, now assemble/manufacture cars and trucks in Nigeria. Food importation has been reduced by over 45 per cent as at the end of 2014. Food sufficiency through the growth of the agricultural sector is the ultimate goal. Before 2012, there was only one world class rice mill in the country, but between 2012 and 2014, over 18 world class rice mills have been established across the country. A sugar backward integration policy is now in place that will see Nigeria become self-sufficient in sugar production between five to 10 years. Cassava, apart from being used to partly supplement hitherto imported wheat for bread making, is now being exported to countries like China.


The railway system once moribund has been resuscitated and the Lagos-Kano line carries 14,000 passengers on a regular basis, with work ongoing on other lines. The policies of this administration are highly commendable as we have witnessed an increase in the number of passengers conveyed by rail, which stood at 1,285,000 in 2009, to well over 4,000, 000 in 2013. Projections for 2014 was for over 5,000,000. This growth is expected to be surpassed in 2015 and beyond as the development of standard gauge under Public Private Partnership (PPP) is implemented over the next five to seven years, covering a total distance of approximately 8,139 kilometres, in line with the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIMP) document.

What would you say for the power sector?
Accepted, we are not where we should be in electricity supply, but we are not where we used to be, as a lot has been achieved. Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was unbundled; 10 new power plants for power generation and distribution have been established. These include Geregu 1 and 2 located in Kogi State and the gas plants in Gbarain, Bayelsa State. A number of dams are also in the northern part of Nigeria, with a good example being the Zungeru Dam in Niger State. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, power generation, currently at about 4,500 MW, is expected to exceed 5000MW by the end of January 2015. However, recent vandalising of power generating infrastructure may upset this target. It is expected that appropriate measures would be put in place to mitigate this wanton behaviour. I, therefore, encourage Nigerians, especially, those in the affected regions to be more vigilant and support the efforts of this administration to achieve optimal power supply.

What is your assessment of the state of infrastructure in the country?
At the inception of Jonathan’s government, less than 15 per cent of the federal roads were motorable. Today, the number has increased to more than 65 per cent. It now takes three hours to travel from Lagos to Benin and the road is in the best shape it has ever been in the past 20 years. Passengers slept on that road before Goodluck came into power. The East/West road is about 70 per cent complete and this road has been on the drawing board for the past 30 years. The second Niger Bridge that was commissioned last year is a reality. Last week, the president took a working tour of the project. Upon completion, the bridge will improve the East/West access corridor for increased commerce, job creation as well as be a boom to the local economy of the region.

What is your take on the allegation that the government is handling corruption with kid gloves?
Let us look at the facts on ground: the Transparency International (TI) 2014 report shows that Nigeria is making significant progress in its rating, as it attained one of the best ratings since 2003. Also the rating by Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a Washington-based research and advisory organisation on illicit funds transfer and corruption, shows that between 2003 and 2012, the average amount of illicit money transfers from Nigeria averaged $15.7 billion yearly, while between 2012 and 2014, it dropped to an average of $7.9 billion yearly. These were due to measures taken by this government, which includes e-payments for all government financial transactions, cashless policy, electronic payment systems for all government workers salaries,  eliminating ghost workers and diversion of funds, e-wallet for fertiliser distribution to farmers and the implementation of a single treasury account to track federal government  finances 24/7, etc.

Unemployment in Nigeria is worrisome. What is the way out?
The government has made certain policies and taken actions, which are geared towards massive job creation and expects rightly that in the coming years estimates of two million jobs will be created annually. The policies and measures taken include Agricultural Transformation Agenda, where agriculture is now being transformed from rural activity into businesses with involvement of the private sector through the sustained programme of exploiting the full value chain in all agricultural produce.


Rice growing, harvesting for paddy rice, to full processing in world class rice mills to international standards and marketing is now happening in Nigeria. From only one rice mill in the country two years ago to over 18 mills currently operational with associated rice farms. Last year, the president inaugurated the 105,000 metric tones Integrated Rice Mill in Nasarawa State. What does this mean? It is a commitment to reduce the dependency on food importation. It is also to encourage and boost local productive capacity. This initiative will largely impact the economy of the local communities through job creation efforts, especially, for youths and women. With large commercial farms, the area will equally attract funding for infrastructural development. Thousands of people are engaged in this value chain alone and this has been repeated for cassava. For grains, storage silos are being built across the country for strategic storage and reserve purposes. Backward integration policy for sugar is in place and being pursued vigorously. Sugar plantation, processing and marketing will all be carried out within the country instead of imports.


On industrialisation, specific policies have been drawn up with clear actions that will lead to industrial awakening in the country. The gas monetisation projects such as the over $26 billion gas revolution industrial city to be sited in Ogidingben  in Delta State is expected to be launched soon, where world class fertiliser, petrochemical, methanol and other gas based industrial plants are to be built and expected to create over a million direct and indirect jobs throughout when fully operational.


It is important to note that learning from past mistakes, all these initiatives are designed by the government to be private sector driven, which means that 95 per cent of the funding will come from the private sector. The new auto policy, which has seen car and truck assembly plants being set up in the country in the last one year, is expected to create millions of jobs simply because this is one industry that employs directly and indirectly very large amount of labour. Furthermore, production line attendants, car battery manufacturers, car accessories manufacturers, seat belt manufacturers, manufacturers of components of the vehicle/truck assembly plants like bolts and nuts, cables tires, rims etc., will witness an increase. All these are expected to run into hundreds of thousands of jobs.  Power generation transmission and distribution with the transparent conclusion of the sale of gencos, and discos, and government clearing up all legacy issues in the industry and the successful completion of some of the major pipelines to feed the gas plants, generation and distribution capacity is climbing steadily and is expected to hit 5000MW very soon. With the start of construction of private power plants like the Azura plant in Benin and the expected private sector led service delivery in this sector, hundreds of thousands of jobs are expected to be created yearly also

Lol

UK GDP to fall behind Mexico and Indonesia by 2030 – and they could push the UK and France out of the top 10 by 2050
But long-term UK growth, averaging 2.4% to 2050, could be better than other large EU economies, including Germany, France and Italy
China will clearly be the largest economy by 2030, but its growth rate is likely to revert to the global average in the long run
India could challenge US for second place by 2050
Nigeria and Vietnam set to be the fastest growing large economies over the period to 2050
The UK is predicted to drop to 11th place in the rankings of the world’s largest economies by 2050, as the global economic power shift away from the established advanced economies in North America, Western Europe and Japan continues over the next 35 years. This will happen despite a projected marked slowdown in Chinese growth after 2020, according to the latest in PwC’s series of reports on ‘The World in 2050’.
The report also finds, however, that the UK is doing well compared to its G7 peer group in terms of growth, which is projected to average around 2.4% per annum over the period to 2050. This is similar to the US and above growth rates in the major Eurozone economies, which are only projected to average around 1.5-2% per annum for the same period.
John Hawksworth, PwC’s chief economist, said:
“Emerging economies like Indonesia, Brazil and Mexico have the potential to be larger than the UK and France by 2030. Indonesia could rise as high as 4th place in the world rankings by 2050 if it can sustain growth-friendly policies.
“But despite expecting the UK to drop out of the top 10 largest economies by 2050, the projected average UK growth rate to 2050 is stronger than other large Western European economies such as Germany, Italy and Spain that face even bigger challenges than the UK from ageing populations and slowing productivity growth.”
The world economy is projected to grow at an average of around 3% per annum from 2014-50 – doubling in size by 2037 and nearly tripling by 2050. But there is likely to be a slowdown in global growth after 2020, as the rate of expansion in China and some other major emerging economies moderates to a more sustainable long-term rate, and as working age population growth slows in many large economies.
Table 1: Projected global GDP rankings in real PPP terms (at constant 2014 dollars)
 
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook database (Oct 2014) for 2014 estimates, PwC projections for 2030 and 2050
Beyond the largest economies, Nigeria, Vietnam and the Philippines are notable risers in the global GDP rankings in the long term, reflecting relatively high projected average growth rates of around 4.5-5.5% pa over the period to 2050. Malaysia is also projected to grow at around 4% pa on average in the same period, which is higher than China’s projected average growth rate of around 3.5%.
Japanese growth is projected to be the slowest of all countries covered in total terms, driven in part by a steadily declining population; as a result it’s projected to fall from 4th to 7th place in the global GDP rankings over the period to 2050.
PwC also estimates what its projections would mean for shares of global GDP at PPPs.  China’s share reaches 20% by 2030 but then levels off. The US’s share declines gradually from 16.3% now to only just over 13% by 2050, while India’s almost doubles from around 7% now to be more or less neck and neck with the US by the middle of the century in PPP terms (allowing for the uncertainty surrounding any such estimates looking that far ahead).
The EU’s overall share of world GDP is projected to decline from around 17% now to less than 12% by 2050. The UK’s share is projected to fall from 2.3% in 2014 to around 1.8% in 2050 as its growth rates, although healthy by G7 standards, cannot match those of the emerging markets.
 

John Hawksworth, PwC’s chief economist, said:
“Europe needs to up its game if it’s not to be left behind by this historic shift of global economic power, which is moving us back to the kind of Asian-led world economy last seen before the Industrial Revolution.
“The US may hold up better, provided it can remain at the global technological frontier, and the UK could also perform well by G7 standards if it remains open to trade, investment, people and ideas.”
ENDS

Gill Carson
PwC | Media Relations Manager
Office: 020 7212 1391 | Mobile: 07837 285466
Email: gill.carson@uk.pwc.com
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
twitter: @gill_carson
http://www.pwc.com/
Notes:

PPPs vs MERs: there is no single correct way to measure the relative size of economies at different stages of development. Depending on the purpose of the exercise, GDP at either market exchange rates (MERs) or purchasing power parity rates (PPPs) may be the most appropriate measure. In general, GDP at PPPs is a better indicator of average living standards or volumes of outputs or inputs because this correct for relative price differences, while GDP at MERs is a better measure of the relative total size of markets for businesses at a given point in time. However, historical evidence shows that MERs will generally, in the long run, tend to move up towards PPPs for emerging economies as their average income levels gradually narrow the gap with the current advanced economies. An econometric equation within the PwC long-term growth model that reflects this historical relationship forms the basis for the projections of GDP at MERs in the report. This also makes the common simplifying assumption that PPP exchange rates remain constant in real terms over time. Projections of MERs are subject to particularly high margins of uncertainty, however, which is why both the report and this media release focus primarily on projections of GDP at PPPs.  
The World in 2050 Will the shift in global economic power continue? presents long-term projections of potential GDP growth up to 2050 for 32 of the largest economies in the world, covering 84% of total global GDP. The report and supporting materials will be published on 10th February 2015 at http://www.pwc.com/world2050

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, now confronted with the reality of failure in the 2015 general elections, has intensified its frenzied deployment of false alarms aimed at throwing the polity into chaos and wreck the electoral process.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Monday said, “Having been exposed in its hypocrisy, lies and empty promises, the APC in obvious frustration is now engaged in dangerous mind game using wild allegations in a bid to cause panic, balkanize the nation and create the way for a reign of anarchy in the country.
“For the APC, it has become a matter of ‘if we can’t have it, then let’s destroy it’. In the last couple of weeks, this opposition party and its leaders have engaged in dishing out dangerous false alarms in a bid to discredit the electoral process, heighten tension, create fear in the minds of the people and push the polity to the brinks.
“For instance, how else would one explain the false alarm by the leader of the opposition, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Thursday, March 12, 2015 alleging that there were plots to assassinate him, a phantom claim which was followed on Sunday, March 15 by the APC in a statement that there were plans to kill their Presidential flagbearer, General Muhammadu Buhari.
“Also, on the same March 15, the APC in a yet another statement falsely claimed that the Federal Government paid N9 billion to ethnic militias to foment trouble, before, during and after the general elections. This was immediately followed by a release on Monday, March 16, in which the opposition, in their unrelenting effort to further discredit the process, alleged that the Federal Government has hired an Israeli expert, Gyora Berger to sabotage card readers on Election Day.
“In the same vein, on March 4, 2015, the APC released a false alarm claiming that there were plots by the Federal Government to frame its leaders and sensitive INEC officials and manipulate the electoral process. This is in addition to another statement on March 9 in which it alleged of plots to harass its financiers and cripple its operations ahead of elections.
“We are aware that the APC has lined up many of such false allegations and nuisance alarms, which would be methodologically released to the public to swell the tension as the elections draw nearer.
“APC’s history of lies has become legendary. Nigerians may recall that this party in their penchant for deceit had in June 2014 alleged that a plane carrying Kano state Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to attend a rally in Ekiti to support Governor Kayode Fayemi’s re-election bid was denied landing permission in Akure, only for Kwankwaso’s Director of Press Affairs, Baba Dantiye to announce that his boss was at another event in Kano and had no plans to travel to Ekiti state.
“It is indeed clear that the APC has no positive agenda for Nigeria but on a mission to grab power at all cost, failing which it has perfected plots to unleash mayhem and destabilize the nation.
“We therefore alert the entire nation, especially security agencies, electoral officials and our members to be vigilant as these allegations could indeed be a subterfuge by the APC to cover a grand plot to unbridle violence on innocent citizens”, the party said.
The PDP also charged its members to remain focused on the campaigns and not allow themselves be distracted, especially seeing that it is enjoying the support and confidence of majority of Nigerians.
The party restated its commitment to issue driven campaign, leveraging on the enviable achievements of the standard bearer, President Goodluck Jonathan, for which Nigerians are determined to give him a deserving second chance, while berating the APC for dwelling on lies and insults without articulating any positive programme for Nigerians.
“Our final advice to the APC is that rather than plunge our dear nation into chaos in the pursuit of their selfish interests, they should be humble enough to face reality, acknowledge their electoral inferiority to the PDP and surrender to the will of the Nigerian people,” the PDP said.

The irresponsible allegations of APC:
These guys dont realise that in Cote d Ivoire, there was already a civil war on, and the UN was part of the electoral process. Also, the opposition had the backing of a certain European Nation! This was why the UN and the AU accepted that the opposition form a parallel Government, after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the opposition, after the third count. Nigeria is a totally different scenario. No Western Gov is backing any opposition here (people should stop confusing AKPD/consultants propaganda with the neutral position of the US Government). There is no civil war on in Nigeria with the UN involved in our election. The threat of forming a parallel Gov should be treated as TREASON. The false accusations from Tinubu, Mbaka and co, "of Mr President wanting to kill them", should be legally dealt with! This is criminal, especially, when there is absolutely no evidence. Nigerians dont want desperate politicians to cause confusion and turn Nigeria into a bloodbath, simply because of their own selfish desperation to grab power at all costs!

I read the claims of the respected Rev. Fr. Mbaka and ever since I am trying to piece together the events leading to his fall out with Dame Patience and of course GEJ. Also bothering my mind is why at this time would he chose to make such an allegation.

Is he acting a script?

Is he by all means trying his level best to put a clog in the wheel of progress and the momentum the Jonathan campaign team has garnered since the postponement of polls to March 28, by INEC?

Are his political associate jittery at this stage and feel compelled to use him?

Has his political associates asked him to throw in the joker knowing fully well that the game is indeed up for them and the fat lady is about to sing?

Time indeed is a revealed of all things. If you would recall when dame Patience Jonathan visited him (Rev. Fr Mbaka) last year, he was practically all over her and even prayed for her and her husband. He also released four pigeons into the air, while three of them flew away and the remaining one fell to the ground, he had prophesied that to mean that the South, West and East were in full support of GEJ and that the only place he had problems was in the north. In his prayers for GEJ and Dame Patience Jonathan, he confessed openly that God is on the side of GEJ and that come what may, GEJ would defeat all his enemies and record phenomenal success in the coming elections.

God is not an author of confusion and as such he cannot send one message through his prophet and again send another contradicting message through the same mouth piece so as to cause confusion. I would at this point chose to remind the Rev. Fr of the story of Jonah in the bible. God had asked him to deliver a message to the king at Nineve, but his refusal cost him a lot of pains and suffering. However he finally complied and delivered the message. But alas the king had realised his faults and repented fully of his sins and attracted the mercies of God. He was forgiven by God and destruction did not come to Nineve and it's people. Jonah was angry with this and had to be scolded by God in a revelation.

Rev. Fr. Mbaka please you may refuse any gifts that the first couple may have sent to you, maybe, and I say maybe you have given your assurances to your sponsors. That I don't know of. But you as a human being cannot change what God has ordained and that is what you have acknowledge in your prayers earlier for the first couple, which is that God would defeat and confound all their enemies and also Jonathan would be returned as President to serve a second term in office.

Please be reminded that this is the only government that we have not experienced any politically motivated assassination ordered from the helm of affairs, irrespective of it suffering the most in criticism in the political history of Nigeria. This government has not even been irrational with the lives of perceived threats. Yaradua would have scaled this vital test had he not approved the killing of Yusuf the founder of boko haram.

Mbaka would have been picked up by Buhari and slammed into jail straight away. People who committed lesser crimes of criticizing Buhari were jailed during Buhari's administration, how much more when somebody falsely accuses the President and his wife of trying to kill him, with absolutely no evidence.
I pray Rev. Fr Mbaka is not committing the grave sin of blasphemy.

I can go on but as it 'time is a revealed of all thing'. More important people and serious political threats have not been assassinated nor thrown into prison so how come you are crying wolf?

THERE is no doubt that Nigeria is going through one of the toughest periods in its democratic history, writes Uju Okoye, a graduate student in Political Science from McMaster University, Ontario, Canada, specialising in comparative politics with a regional focus on Africa.

The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision in February 2015 to postpone the federal elections for six weeks, due to security concerns in the north-eastern states affected by the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, shocked and angered the Nigerian electorate and many international observers.

INEC’s decision increased existing tensions in what has become Nigeria’s most contested election since 1999, when former military ruler General Olusegun Obasanjo, backed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), beat his rival Chief Olu Falae.

While many voters branded the postponement as a dirty trick by President Goodluck Jonathan - who seeks to unfairly win the election - closer examination shows that delaying the election might have handed the win to the opposition party All Progressives Congress (APC), led by General Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria is enjoying its longest period of civil rule since its independence from the British in the 1960s and has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, recently surpassing South Africa as the continent’s largest economy.

However, corruption and insurgent groups have severely affected the lives of Nigerians, raising doubts over the ruling party’s governing capacities.

The PDP has won every election since 1999, thanks to an informal arrangement under which the presidency alternates between a candidate from the predominantly Christian south and one from the Muslim-majority north.

However, in the run-up to the 2015 election, the PDP splintered and the APC has emerged as the main opposition force.

On March 28, 2015, President Jonathan will face General Buhari, whom he had defeated in the 2011 poll. After that election, a dissatisfied General Buhari claimed the PDP had rigged the result.

Sectarian violence followed, which led to 800 people losing their lives and a further 65,000 being displaced. A crimes against humanity case on General Buhari’s name has been submitted to the International Criminal Court.

The INEC claims its decision to postpone the 2015 election came on the advice of the military, which said it could not guarantee the safety of the electoral commission in key areas where Boko Haram is active.

Both General Buhari and President Jonathan have narrowly escaped assassination attempts during the campaign trail, giving weight to the argument that insurgents are not simply against one candidate but against the very principle of a free and democratic Nigeria.

Many voters say this delay is a PDP strategy to win time and sabotage an opposition that had started topping opinion polls. However, there is more evidence to suggest that the INEC’s decision hurts President Jonathan’s popularity considerably more than General Buhari’s.

Goodluck Jonathan is Nigeria’s first president not to have links to the military, but his tenure has been criticised for its lacklustre response to Boko Haram and he has been at the centre of multiple corruption scandals.

There is no doubt that General Buhari will attract a significant protest vote. While Nigerian politics are often played according to religious lines, the retired major general has capitalised on his military experience and austere lifestyle to attract voters outside his traditional northern support base.

Thanks to some deft political manoeuvres, he has emerged as the wronged party because of the INEC’s decision, which has dealt a major – perhaps mortal – blow to the President’s camp.

But General Buhari has a checkered past. In 1983, he overthrew the feckless civilian administration of President Shehu Shagari and justified the coup by employing a strong nationalist narrative, painting himself as the strong man who would re-establish order and governance.

Despite the oil boom in the 1980s, Nigeria’s economy struggled, on the back of high inflation which made basic goods virtually unaffordable for the average person.

General Buhari drastically reduced social expenditure, scrapped subsidies on social services and opened health and education to private contractors. Under a nationalist agenda of rejecting outside help (including the IMF), he regulated the imports of foreign goods and tried to bring in line the country’s balance of payments. His heavy-handed reforms backfired and the country’s standard of living decreased dramatically.

In the face of decreasing public support, he was deposed in the 1985 military coup and jailed for 40 months.

How Nigeria will look after the election on March 28, 2015, is anybody’s guess. While it is unclear now if the recently formed transnational military coalition will succeed in defeating Boko Haram in time for the presidential poll, the terrorist group has suffered a string of setbacks lately, losing control of several towns. However, thanks to a renewed military offensive in the north, Nigeria’s security situation is on the upswing.

Many voters are likely put aside General Buhari’s past and rely on his promise to revamp Nigeria’s security. It remains to be seen if he can actually deliver on those promises.

Nigeria fights for its survival as a modern democratic state. Split between a Christian south and an Islamic north, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation, a battleground against Islamic terrorism, and a major oil-exporting nation. The country was thrown into the global spotlight thanks to its key role in the fight against Islamic radicalism and the spread of regressive Sharia law in Africa and beyond. While a transnational force made up of 7500 soldiers from neighboring Chad, Cameroon, and Niger has already been set up to help Nigeria, the U.S. has so far hung its ally out to dry.

Currently ruled by right-wing President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria is going thorough its most difficult moments in recent history. Although there have been setbacks along the way, President Jonathan has tried to forge a strong multiethnic state that respects democracy and economic growth in Nigeria. But the upcoming presidential elections, slated for March 28, could mark a stark turnaround.

General Muhammadu Buhari, a former dictator who was deposed in the 1980s after seizing power in a coup, is Jonathan’s main contender and polls put them neck and neck. Buhari has pledged to lock up Nigerian politicians and civil servants who oppose or hinder his policies if he is elected. During his time as president in the 80s, a disastrous 20 months which ended in a popular revolution led by military officers, Buhari imprisoned journalists and artists, sentenced to death individuals by applying retroactive laws, and gagged the media. After Buhari’s loss in the 2011 election, his supporters killed hundreds and displaced nearly 65000 in violence throughout Nigeria. For his involvement in the post-election violence, a case has been filed against him at the International Criminal Court. Moreover, in a bizarre confluence of minds with Boko Haram, the general has also pledged full allegiance to Sharia law and has vowed to impose it in Nigeria by saying “I can die for the cause of Islam. If necessary, we are prepared to fight another civil war. We cannot be blackmailed into killing Sharia”

Incredibly, not only is the Obama Administration tacitly endorsing Buhari, but it has connections with Buhari’s campaign. Obama confidante and political operative, David Axelrod, has been working as an advisor for the Buhari camp. Even Secretary of State John Kerry criticized President Jonathan’s temporary delay of elections to address the violent Boko Haram threat, deeming them “unnecessary.”

What the United States does not need is the rise of an illiberal, Islamist state that does not respect modern laws and economic liberties in Africa’s largest democracy. This is unacceptable for the American strategic vision for Africa, but this is a possible outcome if Buhari seizes power in Nigeria.

Had the White House been committed to stop Boko Haram and give hope to the Nigerians who are considering electing a 72-year-old former dictator running on a ludicrous platform of “The Change Team”, it would have lifted restrictions on the selling of weapons to the Nigerian military. Under the so-called Leahy amendment, the U.S. is prohibited from delivering military equipment to units and regimes believed to employ questionable tactics, or which have spotty human rights records.

Among strong allies that have received military aid under Leahy exemptions include Israel and Egypt, two nations currently locked in existential battles with Hizb’allah and the Muslim Brotherhood, respectively. Nigeria should be included in this list of regional powers that deserve our help in their fight against Boko Haram.

Dear General Buhari; I would’ve addressed this letter privately to you, but in the expectation that you may not receive it, I decided to make it an Open Letter, in the hope that you would stumble on it, read it and hopefully feel some of the pains and anguish that have been my lot. Having said that, permit me therefore to proceed with the rest of this missive from the grave of innocents departed.

Last night, while I was at my modest home in Katsina, relaxing and probably half-awake, I heard the voice of my cousin who was killed in the North in April 2011 during the post-election violence instigated by your loss of the presidential election. With bloodshot sad eyes, my cousin, looking apparition-like, was wailing “Gen Buhari, why why”. My cousin’s name is (or was) Mallam Yusuf Danfulani, a bright young lad originally from Katsina State, who was slaughtered in cold blood and set on fire by youths chanting “Sai Buhari”, like they are again now chanting in 2015.

Gen Buhari, in case you have forgotten, Yusuf was slaughtered in your name even though he never did any wrong to you, and even voted for you against Dr Jonathan. He lost his life just because the murderers you encouraged by your many hate speeches believed Yusuf to be from middle belt or southern Nigeria, most probably because of his bulky looks and brave, patriotic attempts to prevent the killing of an innocent Youth Corper, Ukeoma Ikechukwu. Even though he cried out in Hausa and Fulfulde, he was still not believed by those you (Buhari) managed to brainwash to see all non-Fulani Nigerians as conspiring to vote against you. In this very case, Yusuf voted for you but his ‘Sai Buhari’ killers never believed he did. Like you, Gen Buhari, the mob was baying for the blood of innocents.

If not for Yusuf’s best friend who was with him and was himself nearly killed, we would not have recognized his charred body that was burnt beyond recognition. And thanks to the same friend for recounting to us the little he could make out at the last moments of Yusuf’s life, the agony he passed through and the most important words he uttered before he gave up. It is the same words I heard him utter last night from the grave: ‘Gen Buhari, why why’. Yet, to this day, you (Buhari) have not cared to apologize or show any remorse, but you instead offered lame excuses for the bloodletting you had instigated, and still instigate. I now ask you this: Gen Buhari, must you always shade blood, like you started doing from 1983, to rule Nigeria? Do you recall how you killed Brigadier Bako in 1983 just so you could take power by force from Shehu Shagari?

General Buhari, Ukeoma Ikechukwu himself was reported missing that same day Yusuf was murdered by your supporters, and finally confirmed dead the following day when his charred remains was discovered in a hooded area. Apparently, your supporters had dragged him out of the open and tortured him before finally snuffing life out of him. Like my cousin, Yusuf, Ukeoma was very young and an innocent. Unlike Dr. Jonathan, they were not contesting against you. Yet, when they were killed, part of Nigeria was killed with them; the same Nigeria that you are now angrily campaigning to rule.

Yusuf and Ukeoma were not alone. Six other innocent Youth Corpers were also murdered in Bauchi, where you Buhari, polled 1,315,209 votes (almost 82 per cent), defeating Dr Jonathan who scored 258,404 votes and did not even hit the 25 per cent mark. The corps members were reportedly chased to a police station where they sought refuge. But the rioters, who were raving mad with bloodlust and chanting “Sai Buhari”, overran the station and murdered the young Nigerians in cold blood. So, Gen Buhari, as you can see from the Bauchi result and it’s aftermath, your supporters even shade blood when you win; still you have no qualms. Today, you are prancing around the nation, arrogant and angry as usual, behaving like you have already won the election; and thus setting up another bloodletting if you are not announced winner.

The story of Obinna Okpokiri is as heart-wrenching as Yusuf’s. The 27-year-old was butchered and burnt to ashes, in the service of his fatherland. Okpokiri’s own circumstances were as gruesome as they could be. He had run to the Corpers’ Lodge as the rampaging ‘Sai Buhari’ rioters targeted Youth Corper polling officers recruited by INEC for the election. As painful death loomed, the young Nigerians contemplated fleeing to the barracks. But they were not lucky enough. Your ‘Sai Buhari’ supporters caught up with them, slaughtered and set them on fire. Like Yusuf, these innocents are human beings and future leaders on the last laps of fulfilling their national duty before moving on to a bright future. But it was not to be because, in your name, Gen Buhari, they were slaughtered, sliced, soaked in petrol and scorched. Reduced to ashes in minutes and in the most callous fashion by those that are not better citizens or humans than them.

General Buhari, while you are now busy inciting another violence, please bear in mind that in 2011, your supporters turned violent in whole 12 northern states as they burned the homes, vehicles, and properties of innocent Nigerians, some of whom are also Muslims and Northerners like you and my cousin Yusuf. Your ‘Sai Buhari’ supporters also targeted and killed Christians and members of southern Nigerian ethnic groups, who were seen as supporting the PDP, and they burnt churches across the north. One particular attack in Bauchi stood out as most heart-breaking. According to Human Rights Watch, on April 17 in Giade, a rural town in northern Bauchi, ‘Sai Buhari’ mobs attacked youth corps members in the town. The Corpers, who were mostly from Yoruba, ran to the local police station to seek refuge, but the mobs stormed the police station. The mob killed the police officer on duty and burned down the police station. They raped two of the female youth corps members and then hacked them to death with machetes, along with five male youth corps members. In total, rioters killed ten youth corps members in that town alone.

A lecturer at the Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria, Kaduna State, described to Human Rights Watch how a mob of Muslims chanting “Change, Sai Buhari” attacked and killed several Christian students, a Christian lecturer and four Muslim students suspected of being PDP sympathizers on April 17: He said “Between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., they entered the school chanting slogans and shouting: “Where are the Christians and Muslims that supported the ruling party?” They had painted their faces black and were shouting that they needed “change”, the Congress for Progressive Change campaign slogan. The mob had all sorts of weapons – machetes, sticks, and clubs. They started breaking the glass on the buildings. The students ran away but the mob pursued them into the staff quarters and they had nowhere to go. The mob beat them to death. The lecturer they killed was Yoruba“.

Finally, Gen Buhari, let me end this letter by asking you this question: When are you going to apologize to me, to Yusuf’s aged parents, to Ukeoma’s parents, to parents of all innocents murdered by your brainwashed supporters, to Nigeria and to mankind? And here is Yusuf again, asking you from the grave: “Gen Buhari, why why”.

Bashir Yusufu.
yusufubashir@yahoo.com

‎GEJ is d 1st president to make sure there is a federal uni in each state of d nation. He established 9 new uni to make sure the 36 states of d federation have a fed. Uni.
> He provided leadership in d development of risk reduction measures and disaster management.
> 4,607 jobs were created for health workers in 2012.
> He rehabilitated the kaduna refinery after 15 years of neglect by past administrations.
> Restructuring of d nigeria civil authority (NCAA) to expand and promote safety oversight, surveillance and human capital development in d industry. 
> Development of a national counter terrorism strategy (NACTEST).‎Its has been tested and proven both scientifically and morally that GEJ has been the best leader the country has had and is still having.and will still have. My good people of nigeria vote for a peaceful leader and not a man who is filled with curse from d innocent bloods he has shed. Let's do this work.

Check dis out

Check dis out

Oh pls, m pretty sure he has secretly endorsd APC, after d oba of lagos endorsd Ambode and came out denying it. I tink we knw beta nw. Campaign or not frm d Obas GEJ will win. GEJ till 2019

APC pls tke. A cgill pill, you saw him standyn in front of gim, d u knw if he was reprimandyn d fam.? Alway cocludyn. Buhari n ur cohalt. GEJ till 2019

Dey r unconsciously cumyn to d winnyn team.hehehehehehhehehehehehehe