₦airaland Forum

Good news. It shows PDP is actually defeatable in a free and fair election.

This is good news for Ribadu and AC.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/10/kayode-fayemi-take-over-in-ekiti-state/

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-532421.0.html

Beaf:
Kwarans have rolled over and died, they have given up their freedom. Kwara is owned by the Saraki's and its indegenes feel too powerless to put up a fight.

It is quite strange when Kwara people critisice the politics of free people outside Kwara; indeed, the single burning desire within every Kwaran should be how to free themselves and their loved ones from the yoke of the Saraki's. After they have rid themselves off the Saraki's, their voices will become acceptable without question nationally.

How can a state be owned by a family in this day and age for goodness sake?

Honestly, I don't like to defend the Sarakis, but a few questions:

- has he been winning the elections by rigging or violence?
- are Americans sheeps too, when they had a father as president, later son, and another son as governor?
- Oyo state is believed to be more sophisticated and populated with Profs and what have you, but a common, barely literate thug determined who got what in the state, how do we explain their case?
- and what state are you from?

I have been challenged so many times on this forum and in other places why we Kwarans have been so 'sheepish'. I put this up as a formal statement of my opinion on the whole Kwara politics. This is strictly my personal opinion. Most of my opinions on issues are mid-way, so don't be disappointed if I fall short of expectation. I'm not a radical.

http://www.dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4641:action-not-words-will-loosen-sarakis-grip-on-kwara-politics&catid=7:opinion&Itemid=12

[b]Since news filtered into the Nigeria’s political space that the undisputable czar of Kwara politics, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki, has endorsed his daughter, Rukayyat Gbemisola, a serving Senator, to take over from his son, Abubakar Bukola, himself vying for presidency, as the governor of Kwara state come 2011, analysts and commentators have been having a field day discussing the topic.

Columnists have commented, even if in passing, on the development. And I expect virtually all Nigerian columnists and public affairs commentators to lend their voice to the issue in the coming days or weeks.

As a Kwaran, I have suffered the ignominy of being called all sorts of unprintable names. In discussions on other topics, especially as they pertain to national politics, I have been asked to shut up my mouth and go fix my ‘house’ first, as if my vote is enough to dislodge Saraki’s hold of Kwara that pre-dated my birth. Such is the level people descend to in discussing Kwara politics.

With Saraki’s oracular pronouncement of his daughter as the next occupant of the Ahmadu Bello government house in Ilorin, opposition has been kicking. This time around, the opposition is coming from four directions. First, other parties. Secondly, opposition within PDP, backed by Saraki’s governor-son himself. Thirdly, the many anti-Saraki political groups under various nomenclatures. Four, the council of ulamma who believe that it is against Islamic injunction to have a female as the number one citizen of a state that has Muslims as the majority.


Various permutations and strategies are being evolved to put end to the man called Olooye’s grip of Kwara politics, specifically to prevent his latest attempt to install his daughter as the next governor of Kwara state, failure to achieve which will be seen as the end of his legendary reign as the kingmaker of the state’s politics.

With all sense of solidarity to the opposing groups, I frankly do not see Saraki not repeating his 1979, 1983, 1999 and 2003 feats in 2011. Defeating Saraki goes beyond those lunch-time analyses in our various offices and those beautifully analysed strategies in newspaper stands. Not even the various meetings by the almost countless number of anti-Saraki groups in the state appear to have the weight to upturn Saraki’s wish. The greatest challenge Saraki may face is not even from the politicians, but from the Islamic clerics in the state. This is so because many of the politicians claiming to oppose Saraki are political featherweights. Muhammed Lawal, a retired admiral of the Nigerian Navy, with money and incumbency factors on his side, was far stronger than the whole opposition today put together, but the Idi-Ape man was not successful.

Religious leaders have some following in the state and some of them have been used as Saraki’s tools in the past, but with their house also divided already, we may have to wait till another time – and I hope it’s not going to be after the inevitable catches with him – before he can be unseated. Some of the clerics, after all, are issuing their own fatwa that there is nothing wrong, in Islam, in having a female leader.


We can continue to talk and write all the way from Lagos, but the reality remains, until the generation of those old, poor and highly vulnerable Kwarans, mostly women, at home leave the scene, defeating Saraki may continue to be a mirage. A few questions: To those of us in Lagos, when last did we go home? To those at home, how open are our doors to the poor masses? How many of us have voter’s cards? How many of us can queue in the sun, like the Saraki women, for hours because of elections? How many of us do they know in our communities, or without asking for too much, in our wards? How respected are we among our folks?

This is by no means an endorsement (oh, that contentious word again) of Saraki’s amala and N50 brand of poverty alleviation, which has turned into electoral magic wand for him in the last thirty years at least, but a reminder to our people that winning people’s hearts should be practical, rather than some rhetorical lamentations that don’t get to the Iya Kabirus of Ile-l’oke, who, unfortunately are the people that constitute the majority of the voters.

With such corrupting absolute power, one can easily situate Saraki’s unabashed hand-picking of his daughter, a Senator with no outstanding records in the Senate, as the best person to rule the state in the next four years.

Surely, Saraki’s current attempt, like one of the columnists puts it, will not come as a common gift from a loving father to a dear daughter, but if opposition as it is on ground in Kwara today is what is relied on to forestall a Gbemisola governorship, then I’m afraid we may be in for the same old story of ‘nearly happened’.

Olusola Saraki has built a deeply rooted, cult-like followership over years. Disentangling the state from his stranglehold will also take years of conscious, calculated political strategy, with reorientation of the poor masses as a basic ingredient. Convincing the present, though ageing generation of Saraki followers, may be an utopian dream, but working on the psyche of the new generation Kwarans, is at least thinkable. Lawal may have failed in 2003, he was already building the kind of structure that would have been useful in the future to demystify the Saraki myth, but with the structure appearing to have died with him, I have yet to see another giant in Kwara that can lead the ‘revolution’.

Extricating Kwara from Saraki’s clutches, if possible at all, surely goes beyond all these talks and empty rhetoric from opposition and even non-partisan concerned Kwarans. This is no defeatism, but a blunt statement fact. And I will like to be proved wrong.[/b]

It's a good material I take around. Very great collection of du'aas

ladygaga:
wo, yi o ye o omo yii, wa sere gba

Se ara ile w'aja ni?

I honestly don't see any reason GEJ should be on NL. He doesn't need it. Even those facebook comments, I strongly believe, are managed for him.
This is not to discount NL, but it is unpresidential to have GEJ commenting himself on NL. NVS is more formal, but even at that, it is still unnecesary to have GEJ himself. What then will be the job of his image handlers(Chief Press Secretary, Media adviser, SA on Media, information ministry etc) if he has to himself be on a private public forum like NL or NVS? This is taking closeness to people too far.

That said, I expect his image handlers to have known NL. Whether they have decided to explore it or not is what I don't know, but I have not observed there is a coordinated GEJ PR job here.

One political personality I can bet is using NL in his image laundry is Bukola Saraki. Whether he himself is the one using those guys or his handlers is what I don't know.
Bisola Oni, Kola Yusuf, Bisi Lawal, are few of the many nairalanders(if not same person), I know actively and guidedly doing PR job for Saraki here.

Dele Momodu also knows what's going on here. Prof Pius Adesanmi orf Next & NVS, Dr. Reuben Abati of Guardian, Joseph Adeyeye(Editor, Punch) are other people I know are visitors on NL.

@Dis Guy,
For somebody conscious enough of Nigerian politics/public affairs to be active on NL politics section, not schooling in Nigeria doesn't seem genuine enough to me not to know Prof Babafunwa.
Discussing IBB without knowing the likes of Fafunwa, Kalu Idika Kalu, Olu Falae, Omo Omoruyi, Sam Oyvoibare, Alhaji Alhaji, and other top men that held sway during IBB regime is incomplete. It's like somebody talking about Obj without knowing el-Rufai, Soludo, Ribadu or discussing Yar'adua but find a name like Aoandokaa or Abba Ruma strange.
This is not about knowing every minister by name but the likes of Fafunwa and co are too popular during and after IBB regime for a follower of Naija politics not to know.

Was Prof up to 87? I doubt it.

@Ileke-Idi,
How on earth, will a literate Nigerian, up to 20 years of age not know Professor Babs Fafunwa?

TOP 5 INFLUENTIAL NIGERIANS BY MY RECKONING
1, Olusegun Obasanjo: The man that can give order to the president
2, Sultan of Sokoto: More than 50 million Muslims in Nigeria wait for him to declare when to celebrate sallah, start fasting
3, Pastor E.O Adeboye: Governors and presidents fall on one another to see him.
4, Olusola Saraki: The first African to have two children as governor and Senator at the same time. Daring to install daughter to take over from son as state governor. 3 million Kwarans and indeed millions of other Nigerians can kick, but doesn't have effect over his singular wish
5, P-Square: influence on youths goes beyond shores of Nigeria, but Africa at large.

There is problem with defining influential here. Is it by the respect they command or by followership or by popularity or by power they wield?

RSA and Muki, how market?

Naija wife, oh sorry, SA, should win this one

ola olabiy:
POSER

'It is high time . . . . . . . . .'

In what form do you expect any verb that follows this clause?

Present tense?

Past tense?

Past participle?

Abeg, make una answer.

This one na common JAMB question now . . .past

419

May God give the family the fortitude to bear this incalculable loss.

But Naija get players sha

So everybody that speak against GEJ is an IBB person

Good job, Ola.

I remember an incident that happened few weeks ago in my office here. I asked the lady that works with me to prepare a latter, and, while editing it, I saw her spell 'Refridgerator' as 'Refrigerator'. I was raking at her for that error, but she told me it was prompted by the system(word document). I told her the system was wrong, or at best, mixing American and British English etc. I was so sure that it was spelt 'refridgerator'.

I just decided to search for the correct spelling on answers.com and I found out that it was 'Refrigerator', not 'Refridgerator' as I had always spelt it all my life. Refridgerator is neither American nor British, it is completely wrong.

I had to apologise to the lady. We learn every day.

[quote author=na_so link=topic=525669.msg6881033#msg6881033 date=1286296342]Dont mind jarus, he wants to use the poll to advice ribadu, either to continue or pull out of the race.[/quote]Was I not the one that opened the PDP primary poll where GEJ is dusting other aspirant?

I don't even know whether to caution you or sit back and keep enjoying it

In any case, let the mudslinging stop o or else . . .

And a quick one: why are Nairalanders usually at their creative and grammatical best when e-fighting?

But there was this vendor, yeah, a newspaper vendor, who was 'like' a brother to me. He really helped me. I used to read at least 5 newpapers every day. And, at least 10 magazines every week. I had access to these weekly magazines: TELL, Thenews, TheWeek, HINTS, Hearts, Sweet Heart( Kayode Ajala), Razor, Fame Newswatch, Vintage People, Newsweek(international), TIME(international), The Economist (I am still a subscriber), Complete Football, Business Policy, Masses, Ovation, and many others. At a very young age, I became well-informed. I began to write publishable articles. I had my articles published in many newspapers: Frontline News (Rueben Famuyibo's paper), Third Eye (Akanni Aluko), The Nigerian Tribune. I also had letters published in Daily Sketch and TELL magazine. Some of the sharpest minds in journalism in Nigeria became my heroes. Mentors, if you like. Dele Momodu (Pendulum), Dare Babarinsa, Nosa Egiebor, Kunle Babajide, FAJ, Mayor Akinpelu, Kunle Ajibade, Bayo Adenuga, MEE, Dapo Olorunyomi, Femi Kusa, Lade Bonuola (Ladbone), Bayo Animashaun, Mumuni Alao, Sunny Obasu-Ojeagbese, Kunle Bakare, Toni Kan, Kayode Ajala, Dele Omotunde, and many others. Politics became my passion. I became completely enthused with the English language. I could debate an array of subjects. I felt comfortable with debates about the economy, politics, culture, science, music, technology, world affairs, sports, celebrity issues, Nigeria, history and many other areas of human endeavours. I became well-versed in a dazzling array of topics.
And, I became even more enriched in English language.
Then, one day, I had a brainwave. I decided to to do something with my notebooks. A compilation it was but an outcome of extensive personal research, as well. Then an obstacle: no money. No backers. I discussed my idea with a girl who was working in a business centre. She promised to get it typed at a very cheap rate. I gave her some of the materials from my notebooks. Immediately she started, I realized it was going to be too much and that I would not be able to afford it. I got it reduced, and reduced. Until it became a very 'small' book. I went to a lithographer and became friends with him. He had it on plates for me at a very cheap rate, again. Then, I went to buy yellow cardboard (for its brightness), had it into 'cut 7' and I rushed to a printer immediately. I told him he was my brother. He was also impressed because I was really young. He didn't expect anyone at that age from 'that' background to be that aware. Again, I had it printed at a very cheap rate. He used just 2 colours. But, hey, I had it published, eventually. That was when my family got to know about it.

Then, the big question. how to get get the book sold. I sold the books through English language teachers in secondary schools and newspaper vendors in Ibadan. I was very happy. I also made a handsome profit. That was when I realized that publishing could be very lucrative.

Ola, why are you talking about this?

This is very interesting. We have many things in common, especially love for newspapers at early age. I remember my Junior secondary school days, 1995-1998, when I used to run away from school to go and read newspapers at the vendors stand, and I was caugtht one day. That evoked my interest in politics and improved my English, but the main difference between us is that, unlike you, I'm not patient or organized enough to mind the use of words in those papers. I was more interested in the items in the papers than the grammar, until recently when I began to pay attention to the use of words too. But I'm still too lazy to make any notes on English grammar.

Most of the guys you mentioned up there were also known to me then, but I was too young to have deep grip of their essays then.

Enter into these threads and let's have your input on the subjects:

NAIRALAND MOCK PDP PRIMARY: https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-515408.0.html
JONATHAN'S APPROVAL RATING: https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-525669.0.html
FINAL PRESIDENTIAL POLL: https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-585935.0.html

Jonathan is 5 months as substantive president and C-in-C of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria today.

How, in your opinion, has the country fared?


If you feel he has performed above average, pls click APPROVE.
If you feel he has been disappointing, please click DISAPPROVE
If you are undecided, let us know too.

Meanwhile, this has nothing to do with presidential ambition viz-a-viz other aspirants. This is purely on his performance in office.

Mobinga:
So Jonathan clinches the PDP ticket, by Nairalands Standards. Moderator how bout setting up the real mock presidential polls?

To make it more realistic, this should be after primaries, when each party would have had its candidate. For example, who will we choose as PDP flagberaer in the poll?

[quote author=na_so link=topic=525284.msg6878634#msg6878634 date=1286275173]For where? dem sabi me pass you sef. from amala general, to yilata, to iya ikebe , to iya shamsideen. I be life patron [/quote]ok u go hear from me . . I, General Jarus Tompolo Shoot-at-sight 1

[quote author=na_so link=topic=525284.msg6878537#msg6878537 date=1286274407]Brighter grammar BOOK 1. If grammar no kill dis country nothing go kill am. People dey hungry and somebody bring rice for dem. simple and short. The only mistake was with the organisation which should have been better handled.[/quote]u nor serious o
when next u go to Offa, my people go kidnap u o

While the woman's greed is also not excusable, the manner Patience went about the Rice distribution is not only uncivilized, it is most disgusting. Preying on poverty level in the country and distributing food to people in the most animalistic manner one can think of, in a manner comparable to a farmer feeding his goats.

Moved to career section.

Happy baiday my oga

Moved to Culture.
Thanks

I read it in one of the papers that published it.