₦airaland Forum

The National Leader of the All Progressives
Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu on Wednesday
urged party members in Lagos State to work
assiduously to deliver votes to the party on
March 9, during the governorship and state
assembly elections.

Tinubu gave the advice while speaking at a
stakeholders’ meeting at the party’s secretariat
in Ikeja.

Tinubu, who addressed party faithful in Yoruba,
said it was disappointing that APC performed
below expectation in Lagos in the Feb. 23
elections. He said the votes in areas like
Alimosho, Oshodi, Ojo and Amuwo-Odofin
were not good enough.

Tinubu said the party was not close to the
3million votes target in the presidential election,
urging members to make up for the low votes
on March 9.

The APC had 580,814 votes in Lagos in the Feb.
23 presidential election, as against the 448,016
votes recorded by the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) which came second.

“You should work hard to deliver massive
votes to our candidates on March 9.

“You should deliver your respective polling
units to ensure that our governorship
candidate and all our assembly candidates win
emphatically.

“The results of the Feb. 23 elections were
disappointing, especially in areas like Alimosho,
Oshodi and others; you must work hard to
improve the result considerably on Saturday,”
Tinubu said.

He urged party members to use the little time
left before the election to reach out to people in
their neighbourhoods to vote APC.

The APC leader particularly tasked party
canvassers to double their efforts to get votes
for the party.

A pan-Yoruba group, the Oodua People’s
Congress, has warned ex-Niger Delta militant
leader, Asari Dokubo, the leader of the
Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and those
planning to foment trouble during Saturday’s
governorship and house of assembly elections to stay away from the Southwest in their own
interest.

It also warned them to stop issuing
inflammatory remarks and threats of attacks on
the Yoruba.

In a statement issued yesterday by its
President, Comrade Dare Adesope, the group
said its men were prepared to protect Yoruba
and their Igbo counterparts in Lagos State.

He said: ” Asari Dokubo and others should mind
their choice of words while addressing Yoruba
people because it is very clear that the Yoruba
are not enjoying the privilege we give to the
Igbo and other tribes in their land.

”The presidential election is over and we are
looking forward to the governorship poll. We
have decided to stand up to the task and
protect our states by ensuring that the election
is violence-free. Any group planning to disrupt
the poll should have a rethink because OPC(R) is prepared to resist such act with our last blood.

”Heavy presence of our members would be
adequately felt in all the polling booths across
the Southwest.”

virtue of this , we are imploring all registered
voters to come out and exercise their franchise
without fear of attack from any quarters.

”And to all Igbo groups and persons
threatening to attack Yorubas, I am sounding a
strong warning that they should give it a
second thought because we are very ready to
defend our people. They should know that the
gentility of a tiger is not is not an act of cowardice.”

The spokesman of All Progressives Congress
(APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Festus
Keyamo says president Muhammadu Buhari
displayed the spirit of Jesus Christ by
congratulating former president Olusegun
Obasanjo on his 82nd birthday.

Despite their political differences, the president
Buhari congratulated the octogenarian, saying
he hold him in high esteem.

Keyamo, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN)
took to his Twitter and wrote: “Jesus Christ
said in Mark 5:44, “But I say unto you, Love
your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you, and persecute you”. Instead of raining curses as some do, PMB
just displayed the spirit of Christ here.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has showered praises on former President Olusegun Obasanjo as he turns 82 years old, saying that he is “a passionate and great patriot who deserves accolades for his immeasurable contributions to our democracy and national unity.”

The President said he would continue to accord Obasanjo respect, in spite of their political differences.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, the President said, “regardless of our political differences with Obasanjo, I still hold him in the highest esteem because his contributions to the development of the country overshadow those differences.”

Recalling their days together in the country’s Armed Forces, Buhari noted, “Chief Obasanjo gave a good account of himself and inspired his juniors with his wit and other leadership skills.”

On Obasanjo’s indelible marks, the President said, “Nigeria’s successful transition to democratic rule in October 1979 was one of Obasanjo’s remarkable contributions to national development.”

“As he celebrates his 82nd Birthday Anniversary , I wish Chief Obasanjo more good health, knowledge and wisdom in the service of Nigeria and humanity.”

muykem:
My president, I tapped to the anointing of love and favour in your head. I pray that one day I will be acceptable by my people just like you.

Sirjamo:
Why are you dreaming with your eyes wide open?

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday
welcomed traditional rulers in the country to
the “Next Level”, urging them to be prepared to
play a crucial role in the prevention and
detection of criminal activities in their domains.

Speaking while receiving members of the
National Council of Traditional Rulers led by the
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad
Abubakar III, at State House, Abuja, the
President noted that involving the royal fathers
had become necessary in view of the deep knowledge of their localities.

According to him, “You know all the families
who harbour criminals and you know those
who produce respectable individuals. You
know the weaknesses of our society. We need
your support to consolidate our achievements.”

President Buhari listed several significant efforts
by his administration to enhance national
security while emphasising the overall need for
stability in the country.

“What we need now is your support. No
government can serve creditably without your
support. We will always count on your
support,” he told the traditional rulers.

The President also welcomed the royal fathers
to his “second and final term, at the end of
which I will, God willing, go to Daura and settle
down.”

The Sultan of Sokoto and Co-Chairman of the
Council, told President Buhari that the body “on
behalf of all the Traditional Rulers in Nigeria, is
here to congratulate you on your re-election as
the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Urging “all Nigerians to accept the election
result as the will of God,” the Sultan assured the
President of the traditional rulers’ “continued
unflinching support in your laudable projects,
particularly your government’s cardinal
objectives of fighting corruption, containing insecurity, generally sanitizing the governance
machinery, entrenching discipline, hard work
and peaceful co-existence amongst the
citizenry.”

The Co-Chairman of the Council and Ooni of Ife,
Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, assured
President Buhari that their members would
work very closely with his administration to
fight criminal activities.

The Ooni urged the re-elected Nigerian leader to
be a President for the whole nation and father
to all citizens.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,
Godwin Emefiele, has reacted to reports that he
has been removed from office.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Emefiele
described the reports which made the rounds
on some online platforms on Monday as
concerning.

“I am confused and concerned about some
stories going around. At least you can see me; I
am doing my work, my tenure expires in June,”
the CBN Governor said.

Emefiele was appointed as CBN governor in
June 2014 by Goodluck Jonathan. Prior to his
appointment, he was the Group Managing
Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith
Bank Plc.

On Monday, reports emerged that the Federal
Government had asked him to proceed on
leave, more than two months before the
expiration of his five-year tenure.

While dismissing the reports, Emefiele is
optimistic that the intervention programmes of
Central Bank would continue with or without
him.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Monday
night, said the Deputy Director General (Admin)
of Atiku Campaign Organization, Barr. Tanimu
Turaki SAN, has been arrested by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

PDP warned that Turaki should be release
immediately and unconditionally.

It reads: “Since the people’s candidate, Atiku
Abubakar and the PDP expressed our
unwavering determination to reclaim our
victory at the tribunal, being armed with
overwhelming evidence, our leaders have been
subjected to escalated harassments, constant threats, blackmails, cajoling and contrivances by
the APC to drop our legal option.

“It is instructive to state that Tanimu Turaki
was arrested and detained upon invitation by
the EFCC to endorse a bail document for the
Finance Director of Atiku Abubakar’s company,
Babalele Abdullahi, who was arrested earlier by
the commission over flimsy allegations.

“The PDP, however, states in clear terms that
the APC and the Buhari Presidency are fighting
a lost battle as no amount of harassment and
threats will ever make the party to buckle in its
determination to take back the mandate, in line
with the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.

“Nigerians are resolute on this struggle to
reclaim the mandate freely given to Atiku
Abubakar at the polls and the PDP will pursue
this decision to its logical end and secure justice
for the Nigerian people”.

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom that the party’s votes which were stolen during the February 23 presidential/national Assembly elections would be reclaimed.

Buhari gave the assurance on Monday in Uyo during a Town hall meeting to appreciate Akwa Ibom electorates for casting their votes for the (APC) party on February 23.

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who represented the President, encouraged the electorates to defend their votes during the Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

He stated that it was not possible for Senator Godswill Akpabio to have lost the elections, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) robbed him and the party of victory and that all the wrongs that were done during the Presidential and National Assembly elections would be addressed.

“What happened on the 23rd of February was robbery. The votes of the people were stolen but we are not deterred. The President sent me to thank you today. We are going to make sure that everything that was stolen on the 23rd of February would be restored.

“It is not possible that Senator Godwill Akpabio lost. We are in no doubt that Senator Akpabio is the elected senator of Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district. I and Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the party have been in the opposition for long and we cannot be defeated anymore.

The Central Bank Of Nigeria, CBN has refuted
claims that the Governor of the bank, Godwin
Emefiele has been fired by the Nigerian
Government.

On Monday, the Nigerian media was awash
with reports of Emefiele’s Sack with many
making wild guesses about the government’s
reason for making such a decision just barely a
week after its Presidential Elections.

However, in a telephone conversation today,
Spokesman of the apex bank, Isaac Okoroafor
debunked the rumour saying that the governor
was in his office carrying out his daily duties.

He said; “I don’t understand what you mean…
as I speak to you, the CBN governor (Emefiele)
is in his office performing his duties”.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it had begun an investigation into alleged money laundering by the Finance Director of Atiku Abubakar’s group of companies, Alhaji Babalele Abdullahi.

Acting Spokesman of EFCC, Mr Tony Orilade, stated this in Abuja, on Monday, and confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria that Abdullahi was in the commission’s custody.

“We are investigating a case of money laundering against Abdullahi.

“We shall speak at the appropriate time,” Orilade said.

He declined to disclose the figure involved in the laundering allegation against Abdullahi, but NAN investigation revealed that it was about 150 million Euro

kitaatita:
I can get my job that you didn't read the write-up

You find Nigerians everywhere in the world.
One of the most annoying questions I
encountered in my six year sojourn in America
was “Are you from Nigeria? “ It is one of
Africa’s best known countries.

Some think because of oil, but it’s because of
their early encounter with the west. It is
believed that the first Nigerian to get a degree
in UK got it in 1819. Some add that corruption
has made Nigeria famous for all the bad
reasons. Did slavery also connect the country to the West?

For all their economic aggressiveness, Nigerians
have a bad name, seen as dishonest. But I am
told most ordinary Nigerians are humble
people, the few bad ones give the country a
bad name. Nigerians are well known in Kenya
for a number of reasons. One is movies. We all know of Afrisonema and its characters. One
local TV station has been airing these movies
for a long time. They are very popular with the
general population; their themes like witchcraft
are very familiar to us.

Nigerians are also very spiritual, with several
churches having roots in the home country
before spreading out. You have seen their
preachers on TV. Their churches, unlike the
indigenous Kenyan ones, seem to target the
elite.

To be fair to Nigerians, other economic powers
like USA and UK have their churches which are
still influential. Even Koreans have churches in
Kenya. Nigerians are following a well-beaten
path. Contrast that with Chinese or Japanese
who seem to have no spiritual agenda as they expand their businesses abroad.

Nigeria’s economic size, spiritual and literary
prowess has made it a
tempting role model. Should she be
Kenya’s role model?

We have over the years copied the Nigerian
socio-political model -some say including
making corruption a way of life. Though we
never had coups like in Nigeria, our politics
have borrowed a lot from this West African
giant. We copied from their constitution. We got counties, which are states in Nigeria and
have powerful governors. We overdid with 47
counties while Nigeria has 36 states. We are
not a federal government, but at times behave
like one.

Paradoxically, we copied what had been
copied; Nigerians copied the American
constitution. That model does not seem to have
worked well. The American constitution itself
was a reaction to British monarchy and the
realities of 200 years ago. Why do we think it would fit the realities of today? It seems that
despite the advances in science and technology,
governance has remained the same, still
inspired by Greek idea of democracy 2000
years ago. What one innovation in governance
can we talk of?

Does that explain why we find it hard to fully
implement the 2010 constitution? American
states are large and own
resources, our counties are small and need to
be subsidised. Now we want to further copy
Nigerians by having regional governments between national and counties.

That will add another layer of bureaucracy. My
hunch tells me the new dispensation will get
lots of support; it’s a source of “jobs”. One
lesson we learnt from Nigeria is how to make
the government not work. Political power is so
distributed that no one has enough power to make a difference.

We shifted to the extreme; from too much
power in one person to too little power leading
to decision paralysis. It is for this reason that
the few ministers who try to go beyond the call
of duty like Fred Matiang’i and John Michuki are
so popular. While writing this piece, Prof George Magoha and his Nigerian connection
joined the Cabinet.

Much like in Kenya, ethnicity is a big issue
in Nigeria. The civil war in Nigeria from
1967-1970 was the worst part of ethnic flare
up fuelled by oil in the delta region and
marginalisation. Tribal clashes in Kenya in
2007/08 showed our soft underbelly. Both countries used devolution to partially sort out
historical grudges.

We seem to have borrowed the ethnic
balancing in public institutions from Nigeria.
They call it the federal character. Reading
through the constitution of Nigeria, there is
preoccupation with controls, very much
like ours. No wonder the two constitutions are so long.

Looking at Nigeria after her independence, is
she the best role model for us? Which country
would be an alternative? Some have opined
that Nigeria is slowly and surely coming of age
and will soon take her place as a global
economic power, the epicentre of African century. They cite regular elections despite
insurgency in the east.

If Nigeria’s economic potential was fully
exploited, the country would be far ahead. Her
journey to the top has been long and torturous.
What can we learn from it?

Donmedra:
I just hope Donald trump doesn't congratulate buhari and ask atiku to reclaim his mandate.

Trump don't care about anybody including EU or UK.

Renowned United States-based university
lecturer and columnist, Farooq Kperogi has
claimed that Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, defeated President
Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives
Congress, APC, by over 2 million votes in the result released by International Independent
Observers: EU/UN/US for the just-concluded
presidential election in Nigeria.

Writing in his verified Facebook page, the
Nigerian in Diaspora said “this is the real result
of the election that international observers and
PDP’s situation room captured in real time from
polling units across the nation and stored
instantaneously in cloud-based technologies.

“It shows that Atiku beat Buhari by more than
2 million votes.”

The Associate Professor alleged that the results
INEC announced early Wednesday were
scandalously inconsistent with the figures
officially declared at polling units nationwide.

“It’s dumb to attempt to change election results
in the age of technology. But then Buhari and
his minions are dumb, so no surprises there.

“If Atiku accepts this election, he deserves his
fate. But for the sake of the future of
democracy–and of Nigeria itself–I’d urge him to
NEVER concede.

“This is daylight electoral robbery, which will
completely destroy the faith of Nigerians in the
integrity of the electoral process.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday hosted members of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council Situation Room to a victory dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the affected staff, who are mostly volunteers, were led by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.
Those in attendance at the dinner included the national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and other presidential aides.