₦airaland Forum

The part of his speech (no pun intended) that got me rolling in laughter was where he said he is richer and younger than Buhari.

That was a jab below the belt!

I hope people can now see what is being sold to Nigerians.

Chai, diaris God ooo!

Pardon the "break in transmission."

Nairaland Spambot banned me.

I am wondering why.

Transmission follows...

EGYPT

It is exactly four years after the people of Egypt told Hosni Mubarak that they had had enough of his 30 year rule.

They massed in Tarhir Square demanding that the ex-military ruler turned President step down from power.

Adamant Mubarak initially refused to step down arguing that the country would face serious challenges without him.

Hilary Clinton, then US Secretary of State proclaimed "Our assessment is that the Egyptian government is stable and is looking for ways to respond to the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people" in support of their long-time ally, Mubarak.

Eventually, Mubarak caved in and the army led by Field Marshal Tantawi took over the reigns of power.

Seven weeks after her earlier proclamation, Clinton was physically at Tarhir Square, now cleared of protesters by the army, declared "To see
where this revolution happened and all that it has meant to the world is extraordinary for me." She added that it was "just thrilling to see where this happened."

If that is not hypocrisy, what will you call it?

The same Clinton who refused to classify Boko Haram a terrorist organisation now calls President Jonathan incompetent.

I am not surprised.

She knows that next year when she campaigns for the US Presidency, the Republicans will have serious questions to ask her about this, the death of the US Ambassador to Libya in a violent attack in Tripoli as well as other things she bungled while in office.

Anyway, Mubarak was hauled into prison along with his two sons (one the heir apparent) by the military junta who took over the reigns of power ostensibly on an interim basis to stabilise the country.

Was that the change the Arab Spring Uprising revolutionaries called for? I seriously doubt it!

As a matter of fact, a sizable number of the arrow heads of the revolution are currently either in prison or exile.

What exactly did they think would happen? Did they think they could seize political power without the established power blocs - the military, the
old faces in Egyptian politics and the Muslim Brotherhood?

Eventually the military organised elections which the Muslim Brotherhood won to the consternation of secularists and the revolutionaries who
disputed the outcome of the elections. By this time, the revolutionaries who had instigated the earlier change had been weakened.

Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood President, clamped down on protesters hauling more of them into prison until he was also toppled and clamed into prison. He has not been brought to court again since his show in the court where he claimed he was still the legitimate president.

El Asisi, the army general who ousted Morsi promised elections and did conduct the elections.

The twist in the tale is that he eventually contested in that election and is now the civilian president of Egypt. Just like Mubarak who was also a military chief before he conducted elections and became president.

Exactly four years this week after the Egyptian uprising started Egypt has come full circle, his sons Gamal and Alaa walked home free men (for now). They are free to continue to lead their normal lives.

Mubarak himself has been acquitted of charges leveled against him and he is presently in a military hospital awaiting release.

What has changed since Mubarak's last days in office?

Four years ago, anti-government protesters clashed with police and many were arrested and clamped into detention just like they did this last Sunday.

Can someone educate me - what has changed?

Vultures are always waiting in the wings to capitalise on disorderly change

I hope Nigerians have been monitoring recent political events in Egypt, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Greece.

Well, I have. Here are my thoughts...

madgoat:
This is why we all need to vote for Buhari or else this kind of backwardness will continue... Change must come!

Ok. That's why this was posted in the politics section?

bushdoc9919:
Interesting article....especially as it shows how many Nigerians hoped that IBB was a different type of leader. Unfortunately....IBB turned out to be the opposite of what Nigeria wanted.(SAP, Austerity, Devaluation, Deficits, etc...and the Gulf OIL windfall that flew away....)

Buhari may have been a dictator...but he never told Nigerians that he would hand over to a democratically elected government....and then fail to keep his promise.

Exactly why I am wary of this hype about 'change!'

Even though I do not understand Hausa language, I suspected this was what Sambo said. He kept repeating that Namadina and I was wondering why.

He listed various muslim political office holders and eventually mentioned Pastor.

As he was saying all this, the crowd seemed to like it.

He repeated the same thing at Dutse but the people were not so enthusiastic.

This is totally wrong!

olu77:
I don't trust LG tvs and NTA. This is videoshop

How about AIT and SONY?

Babatunde13:
Who can show us a real picture of what is going on in kano right now without any sediments?

Here you go!

Change should be properly defined.

Some Egyptians asked for change. Is it the change they asked for they have today?

Some Libyans demanded change and did everything to bring it about. Is it what they had in mind that they have today?

Change is is the only constant thing in life.

Are Nigerians really ready for the change they are asking for?

Do Nigerians really know what they are asking for when they call for change?

Are the 'proponenets' of change really change agents or opportunists?

mazzi:
Op,those people in france are protesting against terrorism and not the govt,but over here,politicianz will sponsor protesterz to protest against the govt instead of terrorism.

Please give this man a truck load of ...

#BringBokoHaramToJustice

Why is this not on the FP?

#BringBokoHaramToJustice

ifyalways:
Abeg make we hear word!

Just the way, you Fashola stalled the Chevron pedestrian bridge because there are no tolls to be collected.

Please explain.

What is the story about this bridge?

I hope CNN does not report this as Nigeria

size38:
I don't pray for any violence. But if there is any violence, we will destroy whatever they left behind b4 they come back. The rich are d problem of our country.

Whetever they leave behind?

Like what?

Meanwhile in Nigeria, politicians are making capital of the situation and the sheeple are buying it.

Look at how the French rone in unison to condemn the Hebdo attack and the world joined.

Look at how Americans united after 911.

Why not in Nigeria?

This is a welcome development.

I saw some APC members handing out bills around Ojota/Ketu about a month ago.

Politicians should not take the electorate for granted.

Election violence fears: Politicians, CEOs move families abroad

JANUARY 17, 2015 BY DAYO OKETOLA, IHUOMA CHIEDOZIE, NONYE BEN-NWANKWO, SUCCESS NWOGU, FISAYO FALODI, GBENRO ADEOYE, KUNLE FALAYI, AND STEPHEN UKANDU

In a bid to avoid being caught up in violence that may erupt after the February 2015 general elections, politicians, many chief executive officers/ chairmen of companies, top businessmen and wealthy Nigerians have started moving their families out of Nigeria.

Over 800 persons, including 10 members of the National Youth Service Corps were reportedly killed in the North during the violence that trailed the 2011 general elections.

Investigations by Saturday PUNCH showed that some apprehensive politicians and top members of the business community started relocating members of their families abroad late last year.

Many, it was learnt, are still moving their families out of the country.

According to findings, medical check-ups, short vacation, among others, are being cited by wealthy Nigerians as reasons for their trips.

Aviation experts told one of our correspondents that passenger traffic in Nigeria is usually low between January and March but that is not the case this year.

The CEO of a travel agency, who identified himself as Damian and did not want further details about himself or his company in print, said many of his clients had made bookings to travel abroad for fear of being caught up in violence.

Damian said, “It is true that there is an increase in the number of transactions we receive; many people are making bookings to leave the country.

“People are afraid; they fear that there may be violence after the election. Those making travel plans are mostly businessmen. I am also running away. I will leave before the election and return after the person who emerges as the president of the country has been sworn in.”

Similarly, a popular travel agency on Lagos Island told one of our correspondents that many managing directors/chairmen of some companies in Nigeria had booked their flight tickets in anticipation of leaving the country before the general elections.

One of the senior workers with the company, who simply identified himself as Thaddeus, said aside politicians who thronged the firm to buy tickets, many companies’ MDs and businessmen had bought tickets from the firm between November 27, 2014 and January 14, 2015.

Thaddeus named the United States, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirate as the most preferred destinations of the MDs.

He said, “Some politicians made arrangement to travel out of the country after the election, while many of the MDs chose to leave the country with their families a week before the poll.

“Before the political parties’ primaries held late year, we procured tickets for the families of some politicians and we believe that they must have left the country by now. The politicians started procuring their tickets from the first week of this month.”

The development, according to some travel agents who spoke with our correspondents, boosted their businesses.

In the South-East, some prominent Igbo politicians and businessmen have also decided to go for “vacation abroad.”

An aide of one of the members of the executive committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo – the apex Igbo socio-political organisation – said his boss was among those planning to leave the country.

The aide who pleaded anonymity said, “I am aware that some politicians have already concluded arrangements to travel abroad after the election; some of them relocated their families out of the country many months ago.”

A travel agent, Mr. Nwaoka Iwe, who told one of our correspondents that he represents an Abuja-based travel agency in Enugu, also spoke of arrangements being made by politicians and businessmen to travel out of the country.

Iwe said, “The period after elections is when most of our big clients travel out of the country just like 2011, but we expect more businesses this year because of the fear by politicians that there may be trouble next month.”

Also in Kwara State, many politicians have booked their flights in advance.

An aide of one of the governorship aspirants confirmed to Saturday PUNCH on the condition of anonymity, that his boss would not wait for one day in Nigeria if there should be violence after the election.

Aides of five prominent politicians in Kwara State, who pleaded not to be named, also said their principals have asked to book their flights.

Commenting on the development, the Chief Executive Officer, Gadeshire Travels & Tours, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, confirmed that there had been an increase in ticket bookings in recent times.

Adebayo said, “Some wealthy Nigerians moved their families during Christmas holidays and we are not expecting them back home until after the elections.

“Their decision not to come back may be as a result of their anticipation of crisis or post-election violence, based on the experience of the last election.”

In the same vein, a worker with the travel agency in Surulere, who identified himself as Yunus, said the rush for tickets had led to slight increase in price.

Politicians, others speak

Though the National Chairman of Labour Party, Dan Nwanyanwu, said the election would be violent-free, he asked Nigerians to rise and stop whoever foments trouble from fleeing the country.

Nwanyanwu, who spoke with one of our correspondents on the telephone, said, “Nobody can cause problem for the people and run away. All politicians must remain in the country and address any challenge that may trail the election.

“Nigeria belongs to all; a few group of people should not be allowed to make the country hellish for the masses. So, we will stop whoever causes problem for Nigeria from fleeing the country.”

In his reaction, the National Publicity Secretary, Afenifere Renewal Group, a pan-Yoruba socio-political association, Mr. Mr. Kunle Famoriyo, condemned politicians for sending their families abroad and making travel plans in anticipation of post-election violence.

Famoriyo described such politicians as the corrupt ones who have stolen the country blind and are afraid of a backlash.

He said, “Such politicians will run away if they know that they have looted the country’s resources and that their hands are not clean. They know that they have skeletons in their cupboards and are afraid of the nemesis.

“It is condemnable because if they know their hands are clean, they should be with their people no matter what. It is the rich that will run away; I’m not running away. I can’t say that I will run away because there may be violence. A General stays with his soldiers at the battlefront. We should stay and build this country together. Most of our politicians don’t have any milk of humanity in them so they will run away.

“Can a poor farmer planting his cassava peacefully run away? Can a bus driver run away? Where will he run to? It is the rich and those who have milked the country that will be planning to run away.”

A human rights activist, Jiti Ogunye, said it is necessary that politicians refrain from manipulating the electorate and election results to avoid violence after the elections..

Ogunye said, “The first condition for credible election is the activation of electoral justice. Politicians should learn not just to preach peace but to do justice. If they manipulate the election results, there could be reaction of violence. So I advise that they play by the rules so that we can enjoy peace in this period. They should not rob the electorate of their decisions.”

Non-indigenes flee northern states

Besides plans by politicians, businessmen and others to seek temporary refuge outside the country, Saturday PUNCH also learnt that several non-indigenes plan to relocate from the North during the elections.

One of such people, Ebenezer Adegoke, who works with a telecommunication company in Katsina State, said he had rented an apartment in Ibadan ahead of the election.

Adegoke said, “You cannot predict what will happen after this election. I heard many stories of people getting killed in previous post-election violence. That will not happen to me.

“I will relocate my family to Ibadan a week prior to the election. We will not go back to Katsina until after the polls. At least in Ibadan, I will be closer to home.”

Also an Akure indigene, Idowu Omolagba, who resides in Kano, told Saturday PUNCH that he had relocated his family to Akure.

Omolagba, who is a commercial motorist in the Northern commercial city, said, “I won’t return to Kano until after the election.”

Similarly, Abuja-based Chinyere Uche returned to her home town in Ngor Okpala, Imo State, a few days after Christmas, but she has no intention of returning to her base.

The thirty-year-old mother of three said she would stay back in her village until after the general elections.

She said, “I did not come back home to vote; in fact I did not register in my village. I only decided to return home because of threat that violence may trail the next general elections.”

A Gombe-based businessman, Mr. Christian Utta, also brought his family from Gombe to his Mbaise home, Imo State.

Utta said, “I don’t want to be caught napping. By then, we may not even get transportation to come home. I am not praying for violence but it is better to be late than be late.”

Meanwhile, the Ohanaeze Youth Council, has called for the establishment of special polling booths for Igbos who are displaced from their places of residence in the North by Boko Haram .

OYC said since the Independent National Electoral Commission had concluded plans to set up special polling units for internally displaced persons in the North-East, “equity and justice demand that similar gesture be extended to other victims of Boko Haram forced to return to their home states in the South-East.”

National President of OYC, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, who made the call in Umuahia, said the failure of INEC to oblige the request would “convince OYC that the allegation that the electoral commission wanted to rig the forthcoming presidential poll is true.”

Isiguzoro contended that there has been mass exodus of Ndigbo residents in the North who have continued to flee the region because of escalating activities of insurgents.

The group therefore, gave the Chairman of INEC a seven- day ultimatum to correct the imbalance or resign his job.

http://www.punchng.com/news/election-violence-fears-politicians-ceos-move-families-abroad/

#ReportNigeriaCorrectlty and #BringBokoHaramToJustice

owo:
[size=18pt]Sometimes it is better not to be a Nigerian than to be a confused and ignorant one.[/size]

You nailed it!

“Corruption and hypocrisy ought not to be inevitable products of democracy, as they undoubtedly are today”

- Mahatma Gandhi quotes (Indian Philosopher, internationally esteemed for his doctrine of nonviolent protest, 1869-1948)

Seun:
All politicians tell lies all the time, so I won't hold it against him as a candidate. GEJ also said that he would only stay in power for one term.

GBAM!

I hope the pact covers cyberspace.

The e-war here is something else!