₦airaland Forum

8 suspended Oyo lawmakers defect to ACN

By Ola Ajayi
THE rising profile of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Oyo State appreciated Thursday as the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the state, Mr. Samuel Adejumobi and other seven suspended lawmakers in the state House of Assembly defected to the party.

The broom party had, last Saturday, dominated the senatorial election in the state by winning two of the three seats leaving the remaining one to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

While addressing newsmen on the reason for their defection in Ibadan day, the spokesperson of the eight legislators, Adejumobi said they had seen from last Saturday’s election that ACN would clinch the governorship seat of the state.

They also explained that their defection was a huge sacrifice for the entrenchment of democracy in the state.

According to them, it was not easy for them to shelve their political ambition and parley with the party, adding that the love they had for the people of the state made them to align with the winning party.

The names of the lawmakers who defected are Kazeem Ayilara who, was until his suspension the Deputy Speaker of the legislative arm; Samuel Adejumobi was the Majority leader; Mr. Mohammed Inakoju who held the position of the Chairman, House Parliamentary Caucus. Others are Micheal Okunlade, Abiola Ayorinde, Tunji Ademola and Kayode Animashaun.

Only five of the lawmakers were present but the spokesperson said others who were unavoidably absent supported them.

Adejumobi withdrew from the deputy governorship race while Ayilara shelved his House of Representatives ambition even though he had lost the election.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/04/8-suspended-oyo-lawmakers-defect-to-acn/

[img]http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTbpix35C1ujJs_paCY3mUNexhDvb7cOxgxakIhmgSfAb626M1U&t=1[/img]

kasiem:
Ngige is in no way being considered an option? And he shamelessly wants to defie my state with Asiwaju Company of Nigeria? Amadioha gbalikwa ya elu

That is the true abomination in Igboland.

As I told my SW comrades, they were trading one tyrant for another. Hell no I do not want ACN East of the River Niger. Be careful what you wish for.

Orikinla:
This is the next PDP man for President in 2015.
Igbos are just be used as pawns by the PDP.

And Igbos care about the presidency? It is simply bragging rights. If Goodluck and Sambo do a good job, then why shouldn't we elect Sambo?

May the best man wins. I will choose a competent Hausa over an incompetent Igbo leader who may embarrass the Igbo.

My father should build a house in Abuja. Well that wont happen since he is Pro-East.

Sincere08:
As an African American I really appreciate your concern and warmth. It is nice to see that people really do understand that we are of African descent. I am saddened that more African Americans aren't concerned about embracing african culture. I have had friends that have said to me, " i'm not African American i'm Black American. I don't know anything about Africa and being American is fine with me." Such ignorance!

There are many African Americans who are interested though, and do not necessarily search for a connection to Ghana. Many African Americans would be happy to be apart of any country. Thanks again

No problem!

I believe that African Americans and Igbos should reconnect.

In the U.S., many people say I look African American and I always remind them that many African Americans are descendants of Igbos. If you look at Igbo celebrities, you can see resemblances with famous African Americans. Look at the Nigerian artist, P Square and see how Usher reseembles them.

The first thing that I would recommend is do not listen to anyone on Nairaland. Some groups are quite jealous and hate the Igbo people.

If you want to learn more about his people, ask himself or come to Igboland. Do not ask an internet forum. Ask him to take you to the cultural events. Yes, there are cultural differences, but I know many Igbo men who are happily married with African American women.

Don't worry who we Igbos vote for. Worry about your own dammn vote.

People need to stop meddling in our own affairs. Do we tell people how they should vote? No. . . I hate this dammn arrogance other groups show.

Kobojunkie statements are quite foolish. The foolish statement that she said in the 1st thread. And she has the nerve to laugh at others, when they make silly statements.

Just because the people look "healthy," does not mean they are healthy. Especially, when you are talking about people who are suffering from HIV.

Let me use the example of presidential elections. A person believes a candidate is going to win, because he sees a lot of signs of a particular candidate in his town. That does not mean that the president is going to win, because he does not know about the rest of the country.

Saying that these numbers are false, because you see a lot of healthy people in the state does not mean that they do not exist.

Alj Uche:
i don't think so

you see this is where we figth

If the Igbo are prosperous, everyone will be prosperous. Nigeria would be a better place if Igbos controlled the economy and finances of the country.

jason123:
The game is called politics  . You do not put all your eggs in one basket in politics. You have a lot to learn.

Haven't you realized Igbos do not give a dammn about politics? Igbo elite only cry about the presidency. Igbos are out there hustling.

Remember. . . 1st you get the money, then you get the power. Once you get the power, you get respect.

Chei! This is very sad indeed. The numbers are probably higher. These are the people that we know of.

Orikinla's people are lazy. That is why he has so much hatred towards the Ndigbo.

However, he continues to blame the Ndigbo for supporting GEJ, yet his people are fully behind him as well. This is so irrational to say the least.

All these anti-Igbo threads by this poster.

Why not state the Ijaws, Ibibio and other SS minorities living in Lagos who support Goodluck Jonathan.

@ Beaf

I see those crocodile tears. . . I don't think most people on Nairaland would understand what you are trying to say.

Violence in the SW due to politics?

People act as if that is new. Throughout Nigeria's history, the SW has always seen political violence.

Desola:
Why should Indigbo have to sell their votes to PDP all in the hope of being handed presidency come 2015, anyway?

Wrong! If that was the reason, we would not have support Goodluck, because zoning is dead. You all act as if PDP is bad everywhere.

Sullivan Chime is developing Enugu state.

Chibuike Amaechi is developing Rivers state.

PDP has given us two int'l airports

Now we are about to see a new port.

Please. . . The SW has a lot to learn. Instead of voting for a tribal aligned party. They should vote based on individuals.

Ha!

Ribadu is hanging on Fashola's coattails. . .

^^^

Sometimes you can be a sensible poster.

Jonathan is a calculating man.

This will cause friction among Northern leaders with Igbo leaders and allow him to be in the middle.

One family can control one state? LOL

Andre Uweh:
What a brainless crap from a castrated maggot. If Ndigbo were divided between Ribadu, Shekarau, Buhari and GEJ, this shameless maggot called Orikinla will be the first beast to attack Ndigbo for lack of unity. Now they are united behind Jonathan and you are still running your smelly mouth about the Igbo choice. Get a life you dirty P.IM.P. Ediott.

Gbam!

1st they say we are divided. Then they say we are follow-follow.

tpiah you are a fool. Most people say AA look Igbo than any other group. Especially not someone from East Africa. That is why everyone is laughing at you.

mikeansy:
The very idea that someone has to think like you or vote like you in other to be wise is in itself very short-sighted, narrow minded and dumb.

Ever heard the word democracy and freedom of choice?

I don't understand how the OP thinks. Just because one region votes along tribal line, why should others do that? Don't see how voting along tribal lines is wiser. Seem very backwards to me.

We now know who the REAL tribalist are. . .

Who cares about the South-West when even the North looks like they support PDP?

Enugu City

https://img202.imageshack.us/img202/1995/enugu5.jpg

https://img403.imageshack.us/img403/7310/enugu2.jpg

Let us all celebrate this if it is indeed true. Igbos it is time to come home. Our region is open for business. Two int'l airports, a port in Onitsha and Port Harcourt, vibrant cities such as Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri and soon Aba.

^^^

Gbam!

The Yoruba tribal chieftains are coming to defend Wole Soyinka. It is a valid question for the man.

Chinua Achebe tries to stay out of politics, but Wole Soyinka continues to be involved in politics. That is the difference between the men.

Someone stated why is Chinua Achebe silent. Chinua Achebe has not been nearly as critical as Wole Soyinka and he has been very optimistic about Nigeria.

Chinua Achebe = Optimist

Wole Soyinka = Pessimist

PDP has shown some success in the East. Look at Enugu state. Sullivan Chime is a PDP governor who is developing his state. Amaechi is a governor who is developing his state. Why throw away good governors such as these? Plus, PDP has given the Ndigbo an int'l airport in Enugu and now a port in Onitsha. Igboland is developing and even the kidnapping menace seems to be dissipating.

Sorry but I don't understand this nonsense. What is good for the SW may not be good for the rest of Nigeria.

And when did ACN represent progress? Tinubu is someone who is placing his family members in nice positions. Name one Igbo leader who has done that or has succeeded to do that? Orji Uzor Kalu and his brother both lost in Abia. I think Igbos are wise enough to not vote for known criminals.

Now listen those words before you make ridiculous statements.

Politicians, Military Behind Oil Thefts – Wikileaks

LAGOS – POLITICIANS and military leaders _ not militants _ are responsible for majority of the oil thefts in the Niger Delta, according to a U.S. diplomatic cable quoting an official and released by WikiLeaks.

The cable claims that a member of a government panel on troubles in the Niger Delta implicated Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, a general whose brother became president, and a former vice president as being the biggest forces behind the thefts.

Those thefts also fuel arms sales to the restive region while causing environmental damage and cutting production in a nation crucial to U.S. oil supplies.

The January 2009 cable quoted panel member, Mr. Tony Uranta as saying: “It is in the interests of these people to make it appear that the Niger Delta problem is intractable. As a result, they prop up the militants, including some who have an ideological basis for their actions.

However, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, denied the allegations Monday.
He said in a statement to the Associated Press: “This is a recycled old tale told again and again by business rivals unable to match the business success. Atiku is unaware of any links that the late General Yar’Adua had with bunkering and he believed absolutely that this is false accusation.”

Military dictator

Yar’Adua, who served as second_in_command of the country’s military government in the late 1970s, died in prison in 1997 after being arrested for criticicing military dictator Sani Abacha. His brother, the President Umaru Yar’Adua, died in May 2010.

The diplomatic cable quotes Uranta as blaming “no more than 15 percent” of oil thefts on militants operating in the delta. Instead, politicians, retired admirals and generals and others in the country’s elite profit from the thefts.

Typically, thieves solder or cut into oil pipelines running through the mangrove swamps of the delta. Some refine the crude into kerosene or diesel in crude refineries, while other oil sails out to foreign ports for sale.

“Uranta claimed that the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, the president’s brother, had been the ‘biggest’ bunkerer,” the cable reads, using the local term for oil thieves.

When he died, his holdings were taken over by his brothers but managed on their behalf by his close personal friend, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.”

The large_scale theft, compounded by anger over unceasing poverty and pollution in the delta despite 50 years of oil production, led to an uprising of militants in the region beginning in 2006. Military_grade weapons funnelled into the region, turning gunrunners into militant leaders who espoused political ideas _ but kept their eyes on the profits from stolen oil.

While much of the violence calmed after a 2009 government_sponsored amnesty programme, oil thefts continue unabated in the region. Uranta also blamed retired military leaders for taking part in both oil theft and the arms trade. A February 2009 cable quoting Dimieri von Kemedi, a youth leader in the delta, also blames soldiers on the ground in the region.

Kemedi said: “The military wants to remain in the Niger Delta because they profit enormously from money charged for escorting illegally bunkered crude and from money extorted in the name of providing security on the roads. The … foot soldiers are not the only ones who profit; the commissioner of police, the director of the State Security Service (and) the military all line up at the governor’s door asking for ‘favours.’

The cables also suggested militants received foreign military training and that the Israeli military equipped and trained some government soldiers.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/04/politicians-military-behind-oil-thefts-wikileaks/