₦airaland Forum

Today 28 feb. On my way to ofis ds morning i dropped some leaflets at a vendor stand. In ofis there has been a memo dat we shd not campaign in ofis so i complied, only dat i gave a copy of my leaflet to d auditor dat came to audit, who has become my friend anyway. He appeared already 4 bb. On my way home i opened the discussn inside company staff bus. 2 ladies staff were interested. One was 4 ribadu. D oda, who was more informed and used 2 discussing politics wt me, picked on me and said she had issues wt buhari altho her husband was 4 dem. We are stil on it, discussn continues 2moro by God's grace. I quickly branched at d recharge cards centre of yestday 2 get reassurance 4rm d guy and woman i won yestday. Didnt meet d woman but saw d guy who reassured me of his vote 4 bb. I also spoke wt d vendor guys i dropped leaflets wt in d morning, but they are asking for money. Their own is stil on hold. Meanwhile i met d fiercest resistance ds evening wen, afta circulating leaflets to 1 woman and 1 guy, I followed it wt talk. They were these anti-bakare pentecostals. The woman said buhari wil introduce sharia, bakare was wrong 2 join politics, d guy said buhari cant win etc. When our talk reached deadlock, i just discharge dem and challenge dem we wil meet at d poll

Demdem:
if na becos of structures the uni was rated 1st then they no try at all. me feel OAU structures are far more superior than that of ilorin

Definitely not because of structure. That OAU leads teh pack in terms of structure, followed by ABU, is not a matter for debate.

Great Ife students, vote for BUHARI/BAKARE. Great Ife is a progressive school, let's vote for the progressive ticket.

JustGood:
If I could vote, I'd never vote for this combination. It smells of rotteness. A PASTOR who is unequally yoke with a non-christian and a known tribalist coming together to do what

Their combination works against everything that they have both professed in the recent past and therefore smirks of misdemeanour. I'd rather vote for unknown quantities than a couple of unprincipled people who jettison what they have preached and professed just so they can get into power.

mchewwww

No problems. We will meet at the polls.

Aare Musiwa,
You have said Yoruba will not vote for Ribadu or Jonathan, and their vote will not be split. So who will they vote for? You?

This private revelation by this journalist impressed me:

I was editor of Satellite the Enugu based newspaper in 1984, when Buhari as Head of State paid a four-day state visit to Anambra State. The Governor, Allison Madueke had ordered the arrest and detention of my colleague and editor of Sunday Satellite Chigozie Ozim on the flimsy excuse that he published a letter to the editor considered to be offensive to the Anambra State government. All entreaties for clemency by the management of the company and other sympathizers fell on deaf ears.

Ozim’s Wife Urel was six months pregnant when her husband was arrested and had been delivered of a baby boy two weeks before Buhari’s visit. The baby, because of the incarceration of the father could not be named. Mrs. Ozim thus seized the opportunity of Buhari’s visit to cry out for help.

With her baby in tow she came to the newsroom and broke down in tears. “Please help bring the plight of my husband to the knowledge of the Head of State, I have suffered a lot”, she cried with tears flowing freely. Pointing at her baby, she continued, “This child won’t grow up a happy boy if he is reared in bitterness, agony and avoidable hardship. You can see this baby has no name because his father is not around and I have no access to him”.

The next day, September 24, 1984, we published the story front page, together with the picture of Mrs Ozim and her baby. The minister of internal affairs, Major General Magoro who was on the entourage of Buhari drew his attention to the story and Ozim was released even before the end of the tour. For a man who often appeared to be uncompromisingly strict in public, such manifestation of considerable personal empathy in private is an enamouring attribute of great leaders

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/editorial/opinion/29295.html
From all indications Nigeria looks set for the April general election. Although one expects a hitch-free exercise, Muhammadu Buhari’s recent warning against rigging and against the replication of the North African scenario in Nigeria bears amplification. I believe that the only revolution possible here is a progressive one and President Goodluck Jonathan has already kick-started it, unwittingly though. Thus, as from April, we only require a proactive government in order to take it to the next level.

Nigerians afraid that the revolutionary wind sweeping across North Africa and the Arab world could spill over to the rest of the continent should perish the thought. Anyone familiar with the history of North Africa will attest to the fact that the unfolding scenario is hardly strange to the region. There will be nothing like that in Nigeria in April or the nearest future. The people of Tunisia are united by religion, tribe and tongue. Ditto for the Egyptians, Algerians and Libyans.

By promising free and fair elections and pursuing the same, and refusing to echo the familiar refrain of the Obasanjo/Ogbulafor satanic ballad which said that the PDP would rule the country for 60 consecutive years, Jonathan has unwittingly unleashed a tethered polity. He has thus encouraged liberal politics which has enabled even his ministers to resign and join parties of their choice without being victimized.

This to me is revolution par excellence.

Today, the PDP must embrace reform or disintegrate like the Whigs suffered in 18th century Britain as a result of inexorable socio-political reforms necessitated by the agricultural and industrial revolutions, resulting in the emergence of the Liberal Party which took over control of governance from 1760. Since the end of World War II, the Tories or Conservatives and Labor have taken over.

The ongoing realignment of forces has significantly enriched our politics. It has helped the Action Congress of Nigeria ACN to attract members who have broadened its outlook with the possibility of winning not just ordinary seats outside the southwest but also gubernatorial contests. Above all, the unleashing of the polity has ensured the emergence of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)-as a party to watch. In fact, I must confess that I am fascinated by the concept of the CPC and its presidential ticket. It appears to be the party with the most thought-provoking title and most profound message.

The idea of “progressive change” couldn’t have been arrived at by rule of tongue. The change that could effectively take root in Nigeria, let me repeat for the umpteenth time; will be progressive unlike in North Africa where it happens in one fell swoop.

Therefore, I do doff my hat to Buhari and co for their wisdom, maturity and foresight. Buhari is a beacon. Even though for four consecutive years (1975-1979) he was in a position to amass wealth (as state governor and as Petroleum Minister/Chairman, NNPC and later (1994) as Chairman Petroleum Trust Fund) he was never swayed by material possession, perhaps believing like Chaucer that “overplenty feeds the pride which poverty conquers.”

Anyone who has closely followed his political career will appreciate that though he is self-effacing and near taciturn, he is honest and resilient, consistent and courageous, patriotic, frugal, selfless and hardworking. Let me also confess at this point that I have never been enamored of the idea of any transformed military officer leading a democratic dispensation in Nigeria. But all that has faded in the face of the hydra-headed troubles of the land.

It is true that President Jonathan is not doing badly in the face of all this, but to what extent can he cope in the years ahead? The office today requires a person with “big biceps”. If Jonathan’s biceps are not big enough, which of the other parties, beyond sentiment, can save us from a situation that calls for real courage, gumption, initiative, decisiveness and a measure of aggressiveness?

President Jonathan is of the mould of Jimmy Carter-a dovish kind of leader-whereas the contemporary challenges of the office call for either a Ronald Reagan, or Bill Clinton or a Charles De Gaulle since the Churchills are very rare breed. I would prefer a president like De Gaulle of whose image Buhari reminds me.

In 1958, France’s many woes-domestic and foreign-forced the return of De Gaulle, a World War hero and highly disciplined leader, back to power. Thus was born the French Fifth Republic.

Conscious that part of the country’s troubles stemmed from official ineptitude and colonialism, De Gaulle made up his mind right from the beginning to let go of all colonies. To achieve this, he had asked for and obtained the enabling constitution plus the powers of executive president. He then systematically proceeded to out-maneuver the notorious French forces at home and abroad, decimated the OAS in Algeria, stopped political terrorism and in the end France stepped out majestically and was able not only to explode its own nuclear bomb in 1959 but also look NATO in the face and say no.

In view of the Nigerian situation which resembles that of France in 1958, I am inclined to think that between Jonathan and Buhari, only the later can effectively manage here. The combination of Buhari and Bakare is novel and unprecedented in Nigerian politics. I don’t know Buhari from Adam and although it is difficult to forgive and forget his jailing of Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor, he appears compassionate.

I was editor of Satellite the Enugu based newspaper in 1984, when Buhari as Head of State paid a four-day state visit to Anambra State. The Governor, Allison Madueke had ordered the arrest and detention of my colleague and editor of Sunday Satellite Chigozie Ozim on the flimsy excuse that he published a letter to the editor considered to be offensive to the Anambra State government.  All entreaties for clemency by the management of the company and other sympathizers fell on deaf ears.

Ozim’s Wife Urel was six months pregnant when her husband was arrested and had been delivered of a baby boy two weeks before Buhari’s visit. The baby, because of the incarceration of the father could not be named. Mrs. Ozim thus seized the opportunity of Buhari’s visit to cry out for help.

With her baby in tow she came to the newsroom and broke down in tears. “Please help bring the plight of my husband to the knowledge of the Head of State, I have suffered a lot”, she cried with tears flowing freely. Pointing at her baby, she continued, “This child won’t grow up a happy boy if he is reared in bitterness, agony and avoidable hardship. You can see this baby has no name because his father is not around and I have no access to him”.

The next day, September 24, 1984, we published the story front page, together with the picture of Mrs Ozim and her baby. The minister of internal affairs, Major General Magoro who was on the entourage of Buhari drew his attention to the story and Ozim was released even before the end of the tour. For a man who often appeared to be uncompromisingly strict in public, such manifestation of considerable personal empathy in private is an enamouring attribute of great leaders.

Godwin Nzeakah, a journalist writes from Lagos

Topic locked for misinformation.

Pweety4me:
[color=#550077]55. which nairalander male always has discreet looking pictures?e.g covering eyes[/color]

DEBOSKY

marvix:
Jarus you make sense. That is what I also believe as a mata of fact its a win win for the people of Nigeria if either Goodluck or Buhari wins, Goodluck has put paid to zoning, while Buhari victory will be a victory 4 d masses, either way Jonathan will be a winner because if he loses he wld lose gallantly and gladly handover to Buhari and would go down in history as the man who conducted a credible election,lost and handed over while if he wins fairly Buhari would gallantly accept the defeat knowing that he did his best and go to his retirement a happy man. Let the best man win! God is in control!!!

Honestly, I feel for GEJ. I don't have problem with him. I preferred him to Atiku. I just feel at this time in our country's history, we need strong men. Obj was strong but he used his strength negatively, unfortunately. Other European and Asia countries were all once in this stage. Think of Meiji restoration in Japan, the French revolution, the industrial revolution of Europe, even in Asian 'Tiger economies', in China, even in nearby Ghana. We need positively strong men first to put things in order then soft, well-intentioned men can come later. GEJ doesn't appear to me as very corrupt, I don't see him packing billions, but my fear is he cannot deal with people packing it, I see impunity becoming the other of the day.

GEJ did not start out desperate, he started quite indifferent, and this can be buttressed by wikileaks and the appointment of Jega, but like any other human, he was tempted to give it a shot, not to blow this golden opportunity, and 95% of people will do that, less than 5% of men will do the Mandela option. As time went on, he became desperate and more involved, partly because of the embarrassment that will follow if a sitting president loses, which to the best of my knowledge, will be the first time a sitting African leader will lose(except Gbagbo). It was the interplay of these factors that make GEJ turned into just another PDP politician.

But are we going to sacrifice the progress of this country on the altar of sympathy? I don't think it's worth it. That's why I'm for BB.

Tokotaya:
It's a pity that the incumbency factor is still very strong in Nigeria. That alone tips this scale significantly in favour of GEJ. I have no faith in the ability of Jonathan to take Nigeria out of the woods. He doesnt have the courage. He is too ambivalent. And I'm afraid, not smart enough. But unfortunately, he will win. And the suffering of Nigerians continues. Sad.

Your one vote can make the difference. Just cast your vote and wait and see. Don't be pessimistic.

mekaboy:
GEJ CAN ONLY BE DIFEATED IF ALL POLITICAL PARTIES COME TOGETHER AS 1. BUT SINCE THEY ARE DIVIDED, YOU ALL KNOW THE SAYING "UNITED WE STAND" DIVIDED WE FALL.

MY PRAYER IS THAT GOD WILL USE WHOEVER WINS. I LIKE THE BB TICKET, BUT GEJ BROUGHT ABOUT SOME CHANGE TO ZONING.

RATHER THAN DEPENDING ONLY ON VOTING, WE NEED TO PRAY FOR NIGERIA EVERYDAY. LET GOD HAVE MERCY ON NIGERIA.

REMEMBER IT IS GOD THAT DECIDES WHO TO RULE NIGERIA, IF HE GIVES US A BAD LEADER, ITS TO PUNISH NIGERIANS, BUT IF HE DECIDES TO HAVE MERCY ON US THIS TIME. NO MATTER WHO WINS, HE CAN USE HIM TO DO GOOD.

MY BIBLE SAYS, THE HEART OF THE KING IS IN THE HANDS OF THE LORD, AND HE TURNS IS TO WHERE EVER HE PLEASES.

LET US PRAY THAT WHOEVER WINS, THE LORD SHE TURN HIS HEART TO FAVOR NIGERIANS.

Yes, prayer is important. But act too. So cast your vote, for the BB ticket

I made very tangible efforts today and it yielded result. I have done leaflets today and started circulating. I went out in public transport this evening and circulated my leaflets. I distributed inside the bus I took from VI to Ajah. I realized that these people don't know anything about the candidates and are not fanatical about anybody yet, so I found it easy to speak to them. Most of them read my leaflet with passion, altho some asked for money, who I told what they will gain from BB goes beyond money. The lady beside me promised to vote for them, ditto for the guy that sat beside me by the other side even though that one asked for transport money saying he didn't have any money for his next transport and I gave him just his transport money. I collected their nos and promised to call them. I'll still call them, and on election eve. Another guy in the bus who I spoke with after we alighted said he was for Buhari already, no need to talk to him.

When I got down, I stopped at a recharge cards tent and bought card even tho my mission was actually to tell them about Buhari. After buying card I gave them my BB leaflets and told them about BB. They initially laughed at me saying Buhari ke. I kept talking to them passionately. The middle-age woman present was the first to accept. He promised to vote for Buhari. The guy proved tough, saying he preferred Ribadu that Buhari was old etc. I tried all points in the book, he was unyielding then I played Sanusi card. I told him that in 2009 when people were doubting Sanusi I stood for him that I knew this man to do a good job although I only met him once when he was First Bank boss and he didn't even kno me altho he may have been seeing my name in newspapers as his defender. I also referred them to an article I wrote in Punch of today on Sanusi and Buhari. I told him how I vouched for Sanusi then and how his performance vindicated. Thankfully, that same point is used by newspaper vendors in the morning and the guy appeared knowing quite much about Sanusi thru vendor stand discussion. The guy nodded his head and said 'yes I agree Sanusi did well' I told him the same thing people were saying of Sanusi then was what they were saying of Buhari today. That was my joker. The guy agreed to vote for Buhari.

Earlier, since I didn't drive out today, I also took two okadas. I saw Buhari sticker on the first one already so I didn't talk much for that one. The other one, though Hausa too, told me he was for Jonathan. After dropping me I engaged him for two minutes about Buhari, he not only switched side, he swore, without being asked to, to vote for Buhari. The man was so happy.

Also today, I sent sms to about 50 people on Buhari. One of them, who we don't talk politics just pure business, called back from Osogbo on getting my sms promised to vote for Buhari but was afraid of his vote not counting. I told him not to think like that, that he should vote first.

By the grace of God, I belong to this category. My secret? God's help of course.

But from experience, the following could be useful:
1, NATURAL BRILLIANCE: Most First class grads are naturally brilliant,not strugglers. Sure you still have to read. Yes, you just have to read. But if you see student X and student Y read for 3 hours, subject to the same condition, and X scores 80%(or let's say graduates with with Firts Class) and Y scores 50%(or more generally, graduates with 2-2), what is at play there is natural brilliance. First Class materials don't struggle academically, they are naturally brilliant. In my class for example, the guy that read most was not among the Top 60 students in class. Likewise, I wasn't among among the Top 20 heaviest readers, if hours spent reading is anything to go by.

2, OPTIMISM & SELF BELIEF : Most First Class students have self-belief that they can make it, right from year 1. They don't get swayed by the common pessimistic ranting of majority of the students that YOU CAN'TMAKE FIRST CLASS;THEY WONT GIVE YOU. First Class materials dismiss such claims, and go ahead pursuing it.

3, LONG TERM TARGET Most First Class studenst don't use the Fire Brigade approach. It involves setting targets and being conscious of it. I started a conscious pursuit of it right from my year 1. I always targeted A in every course.


4, CALCULATIONS: Most First Class students always have their brains doing calculations and permutations on how to achieve their target.Don't be surprised if you see a First Class reading a purely theoretical course but having calculator by his side.He is using the calculator, not for the course he's reading, but for calcualting stuffs and assumptions like: 'If i had B in this course,what will my GP be?', 'What if I misfire in a 30 marks questions(i.e misinterprete) in this course and eventually score D, won't i drop from First Class'. He will simply take his calculator by his side and work out what his GP will be under these assumptions.I, for one,didn't look at A from the point of scoring 70% but from missing 30 marks. 30 marks is too big to miss in a course.So in any course I didn't miss up to 30, I scored 70% and above and that was A. Later, A became so easy for me. I scored A in 76.6% of all the courses I did from year 1 to 4.

5, COMPETITION: I have always hated playing the second fiddle in my life. I think many First Class students also share this. I can't stand not being among the 'frontliners' anywhere I find myself. So the desire to top my class motivated me to study hard. My class was especially very competitive, and I can't afford not to among the best, if not the best.

I hope that helps!!!

I'm lost o

^^^
yeah, seen, and replied.

The above is the content of a one-page leaflet I just prepared for circulation to penetrate my area. I have done as many copies as possible.

BUHARI/BAKARE 2011
Dear reader,
If asked to state Nigeria’s major problem today, your answer, if not exactly, will be close to CORRUPTION and INDISCIPLINE, all manifesting from our poor national attitude

Despite knowing our problem, we have refused to make attempt at solving it. We continue to lament about the state of our country. We have tried PDP since the return to civil rule in 1999, but the situation has not changed, if anything, things keep getting worse. In April, we shall be marching out to cast our votes for a new president, the person to pilot the affairs of this nation for the next four years.

In all honestly, respected reader, I do not see current President Goodluck Jonathan, leading us to the desired path of progress. The reasons are glaring, but I will highlight a few:

1, President Goodluck Jonathan is under ex-president Obasanjo’s control. We need an independent-minded president, and it is only in Buhari/Bakare we can get that.
2, President Goodluck Jonathan has proved to be another PDP politician, and you will agree with me that PDP is responsible for all failings of this country since 1999.
3, Security is key to the growth of any nation. President Jonathan has shown that he cannot guarantee the security of this country with the spate of bombings and uprisings in all parts of the country. We need a firm president. And in Buhari we can find that.
4, President Jonathan has committed too many gaffes(blunders) that clearly present him as somebody that is not a presidential material
5, It is common saying that ‘show me your friends and I’ll tell the type of person you are’. See Jonathan’s friends: Ibori, Alamieyeseigha, Obasanjo, Tony Anenih

It is for these reasons I invite you to join the team that holds the key to the change Nigeria needs, the team consisting of GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI and PASTOR TUNDE BAKARE contesting under the party CONGRESS FOR PROGRESSIVE CHANGE(CPC).

You may not have heard about Buhari/Bakare team or the party CPC in this area but you can put a call through any of your friend or family up North and they will tell you the popularity of this ticket/party. So don’t be discouraged, don’t say you have not heard about them. They are very popular. In fact the Buhari-Bakare team is the most popular and acceptable on the internet. You can go to websites like Nairaland.com, Nigeriavillagesquare.com, facebook etc and gauge the popularity of this team. So please don’t be discouraged, don’t say you have not heard about them on TV or radio or not seen their posters. Empty barrels make the loudest noise, you will agree with me.

Respected reader, Buhari and Bakare are two incorruptible men that will not steal Nigeria’s money. They don’t need it. Buhari was a former president, a former minister of petroleum, a former state governor, a former chairman of Petroluem Trust Fund yet he is not rich. He doesn’t have house in Abuja, he doesn’t have a petrol station not to talk of oil bloc. Despite all these opportunities to steal, Buhari did not. Is it now that he will steal? Haba.

Tunde Bakare is a top pastor. They may have fabricated all lies against Buhari as a Muslim fanatic, as an ethnic champion. They are all lies. Will a Muslim fanatic pick a pastor as deputy? I am a Yoruba man, I have never met Buhari, I did not collect 50 kobo from him, yet I am spending my money to campaign for him. And there are many people doing this for Buhari/Bakare. Dear reader, how many candidates can people do this for? It shows Buhari’s level of integrity and the level of trust placed on this man.

Respected reader, don’t be deceived by the misconception that Buhari is just another northerner, that northerners have ruled Nigeria for more than 30 years and they should let others rule too. It may interest you to know that the real northern leaders and elites like Atiku, IBB, Ciroma, etc are not supporting Buhari. It shows that these people, who we all know their records, are not for Buhari because he is not just another Hausa, he is a different breed.
Good leader can come from anywhere. Lamido Sanusi, a Hausa/Fulani man, is doing so well as CBN governor and Nigerians, whether Yoruba, Hausa or Ibo, like him, who says there are no good Hausa people? Buhari, like Sanusi, is a Fulani man that has the interest of Nigeria at heart.

It is also important to let my Igbo people know that only Buhari can give promise and we can believe in it.
It is for these reasons I appeal to you to come out on APRIL 9, 2011 and cast your vote for Buhari and Bakare(CPC). Tell your friends and family too about Buhari/Bakare. I assure you that, by the grace of God, Nigerians will not regret voting for these honest men.

Compiled by: Jarus, Ajah/VI, Lagos, 08061198625

My latest status update on facebook reads: 'Pls like this post if you will vote Buhari-Bakare in 2011'. I'm using that to guage the popularity of BB among my FB friends, and in few hours tens of them have liked it. The interesting part is that majority of the people that 'like' the post are Southerners and Christians, meaning the north, Islamic perception of Buhari is gradually fading away.

I plan to put up another later by God's grace to read: 'Like this post if you will not vote for BB in April', to know my friends who are currently not for BB so taht I can talk to them.

I had a discussion with a top guy in my area this morning. He normally comes to my flat to collect newspapers, reads and returns later in the day. Buhari is not popular yet in my area, so what I first did was to be writing VOTE BUHARI 2011 on my newspapers so that when he takes their newspaper to their area joint, where he normally takes it to and discusses politics amongst other things with his friends and other area youths, it will genertae curiosity and I can set the ground to talk to them later.

When he came thsi morning, I told him pointblank: 'bros, let's vote for Buhari o, he is teh only one that can bring teh change we need'. I started by asking him who he wanted to vote for but he didn't appear to have decided yet but he leaned towards Ribadu or GEJ. I tried convincing him that Buhari is the best we have out there, but he was already deep into these anti-North sentiments. He was saying we cannot vote for a northerner etc. I told him Buhari was different bla bla. I ahve not been able to win him yet but I know in subsequent talks he will see reason.

Being a popular area guy in the area, I asked him whether he can help organize boys and let me talk to them. He wanted money, but I told him money is not everything. At least, I'll organize soft drinks for them if the meeting can hold, but will not give them cash. We are still on it sha and my plan now is to do get him organize area boys for me, and I'm looking at next weekend.

I'm also planning doing leaflets to disabuse people's minds about this sentiments against Buhari

seanet02:
Jarus, i saw your message but you did not Put the Principle of Fairness into use, at least you are suppose to digest what went on between us on the thread. I did not refer to him as the one going to the graveyard, go back and view that post again, we were talking about whether GEJ can jail TINUBU or not, i only said that will be possible if GEJ's hired posters are ready for the graveyard, is beaf an hired poster of GEJ? Are you trying to say you did not saw all the insults that beaf was hurling at me and anybody who was against his campaign of calumny. I have not been able to ascertain why you tend to change like the british weather, sometimes you play fairness sometimes you simply throw it to the winds. beaf was the same person calling people all sort of names all over the place. And moreover, you saw how One Rahmon was creating anti YORUBA thread yet you simply look the other side. Now when he reported the comment to you, did you try to ascertain what happened. This your good today bad tomorrow is not fair. You need to be fair. Beaf is somebody without manners. Always calling people all sort of names. Though i accept i should not have use the word but you simply sided with beaf. Referee sojoro Olohun o fee.

I warn all these people too, recommend them for ban if need be, as well as delete their posts, threads when against forum rule.
It's not only you.

That was the lamentation of a PDP member who saw the trend.

Even if Kwankwasso of PDP does well in guber, his supporters are all for Buhari.

Now, anybody who says Buhari cannot get 90% in teh NW, which has the largest voting bloc, should have a rethink.

Even in Kaduna, a very close friend of mine who was in Sambo's ward during registration told me that Sambo cannot even win his ward, given the massive support Buhari enjoys in that area.

Buhari's joker now is winning the SW, or at least doing reasonably well, say 40%.

Since the conduct of the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, a lot of worrisome issues and ugly landmarks  hitherto unknown to  the political heritage of Nigeria have found their way to reality.
Indeed, the national convention was one political exercise that ambitiously challenged the unity and staying power of the Nigerian state against the background of the debate on zoning that bred so much hate to the extent of distorting the bond of friendship among fellow Nigerians.

The contest featured a former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as the consensus candidate of the North against the incumbent president, Dr.  Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan, as we all know, is from the oil-rich Niger Delta area, an area that should not have produced the president going by the PDP arrangement on zoning. At the end of the crunchy encounter, Jonathan polled a landslide victory against his opponent. The rest, as they say, is now history.

However, the ripples of that national convention are still interred in the present and overheating polity, especially the Northern parts of the country in a way that is adjudged negative and cancerous and counter-productive. In the North, depending on the voting patterns of the delegates, their leaders and key stakeholders are either being politically devoured or adored by the local communities, who had expected all their delegates to have voted for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Those of them, like the leader of the Kano State delegates, whose delegates voted against the line and mood of the majority of party men and women, have since returned home to a hero’s welcome and have been luxuriating in the applause of a crowd that saw the convention from the eye of a war between the South and the North.

What is not in the public domain, however, is that the delegates from Kano State voted against the Jonathan/Sambo ticket, despite the fact that their leader holds a key position in the Campaign Organization and had assured all who cared to listen of the votes of Kano delegates. And that if not for politics, such an act is nothing but a betrayal.

However, not satisfied by all this, yet another ugly trend has been surfacing in the state. This is a trend whereby PDP supporters participate in defacing the billboards of Jonathan /Sambo. One of such example was the case of the billboard situated at the end of the Eastern bye pass.

In addition, a new slogan has also been invented to replace the controversial and partially obsolete chants of “Kwankwassiya amana”. This slogan goes this way:  “Kano Sai Kwankwaso, Nigeria Sai Buhari”.  And the meaning of this slogan is self explanatory, clearly stating that those who chant it, will engage in anti–party voting, and will no doubt vote in favour of the CPC’s presidential candidate.

On two or more occasions, these party supporters have presented themselves in this dismal light. One of such occasions was at the stakeholders’ briefing with the press, following the purported dropping of the candidate’s name by the party headquarters late last month.

There, at the press center and before the world, the crowd roared and rained abuses on the Jonathan/Sambo’s presidential bidding while their leaders watched them commit the ugly act. Party chieftains, a Senator and a member of the House of Representatives, were present at the event. But none of them bothered to call the crowd to order. Observers were left worrying: have things gone these bad in the PDP?

Another example of this attitude was recorded last week. The crowd that converged to receive party’s gubernatorial candidate still made it a duty to hit at the president. At the various interjections of the reception, the shouts and chants of “Sai Kwankwanso, Sai Buhari” swallowed all the noise in the air to the point that one would mistake his homecoming rally as a CPC event.


Yes! It is typical to excuse some of these inexcusables and callous actions as the actions of thugs and jolly fellows, which should not be taken seriously. But why is the party not stopping them?

What is rather hard to discern for a number of us who are equally members of the ruling party in the state is, why these thugs had reserved this amount of hatred for the President and his Vice and why also, up till this moment, they have carried on as if they are not aware of the universal injury they are inflicting on the party as a whole.

A political party is supposed to be a congregation of men of shared values and vision and not a confluence of ethnic jingoists or certified bigots. It is painful that the only reason they can count on for plotting to ditch their presidential candidate is not clear.

In conclusion, today is still the right time to change this style of politics and be defined by a more progressive and liberal approach to conflict resolution. This is the only way to move the party forward
http://sunday.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6125&catid=7&Itemid=113

fstranger3:
Ileke-Idi and SEFAGO
Jarus and Jarusat
Mukinatu and OAM4J

Baaadd boy. Who be dat?

Any one notice the civility of this discussion? I noticed the same thing on BB discussions on FB. I leave you to guess what that says about on BB fans.

Yet another rhetoric from a PDP politician. Deep down, even Mrs Ciroma knows CPC will beat PDP hands down in North-West, including Sambo's Kaduna.

Despite being a die-hard Buharist, I agree with your analysis. I like the fact that despite being a GEJ supporter you admit Buhari is gaining popularity, while you also admit GEJ is losing votes. The most ingenious part was your observation that many people are switching camps from Ribadu to Buhari.The only area I disagree is where you said after being given 1000 the almajiris will vote for GEJ. No, they will collect GEJ's money and vote for Buhari.
In summary I agree with you that if elections are conducted today, GEJ stands a very high chance based on the points you highlighted, but I believe the situation can still be remedied. Hurricane Buhari is spreading at alarming rate. We are hopeful.

[quote author=eku_bear link=topic=610580.msg7801655#msg7801655 date=1298662572]Esteemed Jarus,

What concrete steps are you and other alums taking to save Ife, though?[/quote]Well, I don't see as problem students resisting attempt by management to force obnoxious charges on students. Ife is perhaps teh cheapest university in Nigeria. I paid less than 2000 as my school and hostel fees in 2001, and by the times I graduated in 2006 I paid around 17k for same. If the trend is not checked and resisted by students, Ife's egalitarian posture will be lost. In Ife, students cut across various classes: the poor, middle class and rich. Farmers' children go to Ife. In Ife I had a friend who couldn't raise N2000 as school fees in 2004: I even wrote an article then in protest: http://www.punchng.com/Article2Print.aspx?theartic=Art200711191601443

Today, that friend on mine is an investment banker with a top investment banking firm. I have another friend, who in our final year struggled to raise that 17k, in fact he couldn't report in school for teh first 2 weeks of resumption, struggling to raise school fees. Today, this friend of mine now works with a popular Oil and Gas MNC, having a house already.
The point I'm making is that if these guys were not able to raise these fees and dropped out from school, where would tehy have been today? That is why I believe the protest by teh students that led to this closure is in order. A lot of people will not be able to afford that 20k. Ife is a school for teh poor(and rich). That tradition should not be lost.

Ife has no peculiar problem as far as I'm concerned. The long term effects of these students' struggle should be put in perspective. These friends of mine would not have been able to go to a school like Lag, and today because of teh affordability of a school like Ife, they have been able to reduce the list of poor families in Nigeria by two.
That is my own stand.

15 REASONS WHY IFE IS SUCH A GREAT SCHOOL

1, The only University in Nigeria whose students are capable of influencing national policies. 3 examples: i, Ife/Ibadan expressway was dualized in the early 1990s due to agitations of Ife students after an accident claiming students' lives; ii, Ife students led the Ali-Must-Go struggle of 1978 against FG's obnoxious policies on education iii The national clampdown on cultism in all Nigerian institutions was triggered by Ife students in 1999.

2, Ife Varsity enjoys the best welfare facilities among public universities in Nigeria. Good roads, water, constant electricity, very conducive learning environment.

3, The only Nobel Laurette in Nigeria won it as Ife lecturer. Wole Soyinka.

4, A good percentage of Ife products are highflyers in their chosen professions

5, Ife is the most progressive university in Nigeria. It is only in Ife that a fumbling serving minister with all the security details will be denied access to University campus(Bayo Ojo, 2005); it is only in Ife that a presidential candidate with anti-students antecedents will be told top his face(Obasanjo 1998); it is only in Ife that a powerful head of government agency wil be drilled by students, without fears as to his activities (Nuhu Ribadu, 2007) etc
6, There is this inbuilt inoppressibility and unsurpressibility among Ife students and products. They know their rights, go any extent to defend it. Authorities think twice before coming up with one policy.

7, It may interest you to know that the now common 'GREAT this, GREAT that' started with Ife in the mid 1970s. Today every glorified secondary school copies Ife as Great X, Great Y, but the real Nigerians know who has the 'copyright'

8, Webometrics rating. Yes, currently, Ife is not on No 1, but it occupied top spot some three, four years ago. But at least all ratings by NUC, Webometrics, ICU etc have always placed Ife in Top 4, perhaps the only consistent Varsity to appear in Top 3 by any rating. Even a sincere Unilorin student will tell you Ife na Baba

9, Ife is the most beautiful campus in Nigeria. A serene environment is conducive for learning

10, Ife students are the proudest and most respected in the country. They also have the most enviable espirit de corps. Dispute this? Go to NYSc camps, organizations etc. Even on NL here, any abservant lander should have noticed how Dayokanu, TKB and co come to my defence on issues.



11, Ife students gave Gani Fawehinmi SENIOR ADVOCATE OF THE MASSES honour in 1988. It became a nationally quoted award. What does that tell you? Ife awarsd are not just mushroom awards some students just give. It is nationally recognized.

12, Gani Fawehinmi, Nigeria's most respected progressive said on his death bed: If University of Ife wants my corpse, give it to them. What does that tell you? Why did he choose Ife, and not UI, his alma mater? No, there msut be something great in that school. Your guess is as good as mine: Ife represents his ideals.

13, Ife, students and as a school, has won any continental awards, including SIFE African champions and global 2nd runners-up in 2007 world competition(www.sife.org)

14, Ife Students' Union are the most vibrant. Indeed Ife is a training ground for fearless activists that later in life shake the country: See the list: Femi Falana, Justice Oyewole that sentenced Bode George, Mike Ozekhome, Bamidele Aturu, Opeyemi Bamidele, Mamora Olohunnimbe, Olaolu Alli etc

15. Ife is the most sought-after university in Nigeria. Check JAMB records. Despite the notoriety of the school for students spending more years in school, people still die for the school, still want to go there. No, there must something great about that school.

I hope I have asnwered teh person that asked teh question what is great about that school/

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/freekick/2009/oct/14/freekick-14-10-2009-003.htm
[b]If University of Ife wants my body, give it to them’ Gani Fawehinmi, shortly before he died. For anybody who has a sense of history, late political activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s choice of University of Ife as the institution deserving of having his corpse will not come as a surprise. University of Ife(now Obafemi Awolowo University) is Gani institutionalized.

Like Gani, Ife students, and indeed various workers’ unions in the institution, are known for their stance against oppression. Ife students and lecturers have over the years led the cause for the evolution of a fair society.

Ife campus politics is usually as hot and intriguing as the national one, but unlike what obtains at the national level, you don’t win elections by the depth of your pocket, but rather by your antecedents, what you have to offer and your intellectual worth, and if you get good judgment on these criteria and get elected into office, Ife students will not hesitate to send you packing if you derail on getting there( like Tunde Fagbohungbe 1991,Yinka Sotade 2002, Elegbede Muhammed Hemhem 2005).

Prominent activists like Femi Falana, Bamidele Aturu, Fred Agbaje and Lanre Arogundade all started their activism in their days as Ife students. Falana was Students’ union PRO 1980/81 session and Arogundade the last NANS president from Ife(1984). Other activists and social critics like Wole Soyinka and Dipo Fasina were/are Ife lecturers.

From the sixties through seventies and eighties and even till today, University of Ife(now OAU) has been at the forefront of genuine national struggles for the emancipation of the oppressed masses from the clutches of the cabal that has continued to feed fat while the larger populace are being pauperized.

Ife students fought successive military juntas to standstill despite having no more than their pens and placards as weapons. The June 1998 pro-Abiola protest led by Ife students is a case in point.
More recently, Ife students have protested strongly against anti-poor national policies like hike in fuel prices, hostel privatization, tuition fees introduction, unchecked proliferation of glorified secondary schools in the name of private universities etc. Many national policies have been reversed in the past because of agitations spearheaded by Ife students and lecturers.

It is only in Ife that a disappointing minister with all his security details can be refused entrance into university campus by students(Bayo Ojo, 2005); It is only in Ife that a presidential candidate with anti-students antecedents(Ali-Must-Go crisis of 1978) can be taken to the cleaners by students(Obasanjo 1998); It is only in Ife that a serving powerful head of government agency can be grilled by students and confronted with questions about his hypocrisy in a public lecture(Ribadu 2007). Such is the place of Ife in national consciousness.

Gani was never an Ife student or lecturer, but he was proudly associated with the school because he shared common aspiration with the students and lecturers of the institution. For this reason, he was always ready to defend Ife students, financially and in the courts, whenever injustice is being meted on them for speaking against the state. My first encounter with Gani would have been sometime around December 2001, when he came to Ife campus, on the invitation of Students’ union, to deliver a lecture, but I couldn’t make it to the sports complex venue as the time clashed with my lectures.

It should not be forgotten that the now generally quoted Senior Advocate of the Masses honour for Gani was conferred on him by Ife students in 1988.
All these have not come without a price. While Gani Fawehinmi and other pro-masses radicals were being sent to jail, Ife, being an institution rather than individual, is being punished in its own way. Successive governments have continued to neglect the school because of the radical nature of its students and lecturers.

Obasanjo revenged the 1998 Ife ignominy by totally ignoring the school throughout his eight years rule while a school like ABU got a multi-billion naira ultra modern teaching hospital complex.

Finally, this is not an endorsement of Gani’s wish that his corpse be given to University of Ife if they request for it, rather than been given an immediate burial as prescribed by his religion, Islam. As a Muslim, I do not approve of that, but I feel his choice of Ife requires some reflections.[/b]

It has been sent to the bin.
At least, you are still able to post, and not banned.