₦airaland Forum

@ekt_bear
This is the entire point.

Ribadu has given his all and must have known that his support base was not what it was billed to be. Politics of substance has not fully arrived in Nigeria - if he stays with ACN they can jointly, slowly build that together. That is all he can hope for.

It was like yesterday, when Atiku jumped from PDP into ACN and became its presidential candidate, again without a base - only to jump back into the PDP at the slightest opportunity. Instead of really working with Tinubu to build up ACN in the north when they had time on their hands, Buhari relied on his soldier-go-soldier-come approach, and did not get very far, even in the north.

One thing is sure - PDP's corrupt hold is strong. GEJ may indeed win this election, but Nigerians better wake up - otherwise we are in for a great disappointment.

Ribadu has always been my candidate, but Nigeria does not seem ready - maybe we haven't suffered enough just yet.  Or perhaps we have a miracle coming on Saturday with a President-Elect Ribadu.

ekt_bear: Which candidacy has been damaged

A guy who is bringing nothing to the table and benefits more from the ACN than vice versa is complaining?

Heck, I don't blame him for complaining. . . I'd do the same. But imo he should be thankful he was given the chance to go this far.

Useless thread - Delete

If symbol is till like in symbolize, represent, depict the nature of - then Bode George just confessed that PDP is corrupt and not a respecter of the law.

If you read long enough you will see him go from silly to plain ridiculous. He compares himself to Awolowo & Mandela , and then showed he has no idea what the constitution says about jack.

[size=14pt]Hear him[/size]: "Papa Awolowo was charged with treasonable felony, if you remember, what was Mandela charged for, was it not criminal? We were accused of not following government’s regulation, secondly that we split contracts. It was the Lagos State Attorney-General and the Lagos State Government that convicted us for an offence that is supposed to be an offence at the federal level. So, if we don’t see political connotation in that, then, I don’t understand what you mean. We are waiting, we want the constitution of this country to be interpreted."

On April 13, 2011 · · In Politics
BY DAPO AKINREFON

CHIEF Olabode Ibikunle George, is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State. During the rescheduled National Assembly elections held last week, Chief George bared his mind on issues bordering on the recent defection of some PDP stalwarts to the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, his incarceration and the infighting in the state chapter of the party. Excerpts:

Would you say that PDP in Lagos State is prepared for this election?

Very prepared. It is not only when you see adverts in the newspapers, the base of the pyramid are the downtrodden and we have appealed to their hearts and minds. The people have found that they are the employers of those elected and not the other way round. With all the harsh pressures on the people, how do you get them to vote for you? The middle and upper class are crushing under the heavy weight of taxation; so, it is obvious to the people.

What is your take on comments  that some PDP leaders were angry that you are responsible for the division in the party?

You know people who were admitted to the PDP came from the Alliance for Democracy, AD. They are not used to the culture of the party; they came from a party which is undemocratic.

What of Wahab Dosunmu and Adeseye Ogunlewe?

They are the same, they both came from there. Remember, they jumped ship from the time they were in the Senate. That is the kind of character they exhibit; they refuse to learn the ropes, they want to be the big boys. But in this kind of game, you bid your time, grow with the party and learn the culture of the party. They cannot impose their own culture on the party.

Of course I was the symbol and I am still the symbol of the party in Lagos. Honesty of purpose, commitment and loyalty, they don’t have it. They don’t even understand these two words: loyalty and commitment, that is why they are junketing. They think they can just come through the back door and hit the roof top, it does not work that way.

Seriki came from the same back ground. You see when you come from the background of the AD, where one man selects and puts you in a position at his own whims and caprices, you cannot do that in the PDP. Why did he (Seriki) jump ship? He tried to be the governorship candidate but  lost, he feels he is now an acting big man.

But you have been accused of imposing Dosunmu…

But you people (press) covered the primaries. It is like saying that we imposed President Jonathan, did you not watch the primaries live? Was the Lagos State primary done in secret like the other parties? So, how could you say we imposed? I was not even there, I was in prison and the people decided. In terms of education background, in terms of intellect, service, exposure, academic laurels, he is the best. Which of them matches him?. People can decide on what they want to do and what they want to say, but for me, it does not make sense.

While in prison, you were said said to be the defacto PDP leader in Lagos?

That is what happens to most political leaders, if you are worthy of yourself as a leader, no matter where you are, people will gravitate towards you. When Papa Awolowo was in prison, what happened? When Mandela was in prison, what happened?

But people have argued that you cannot equate yourself with Mandela and Awolowo because they were political prisoners while you are not.

You don’t think that I was a political prisoner? Do you know what we were charged with? Was Papa Awolowo not charged with treason? What is treason by the Nigerian Constitution? Is it not felony? Those who are saying that, are talking out of malice and out of very little knowledge of the history of this country.

Papa Awolowo was charged with treasonable felony, if you remember, what was Mandela charged for, was it not criminal? We were accused of not following government’s regulation, secondly that we split contracts. It was the Lagos State Attorney-General and the Lagos State Government that convicted us for an offence that is supposed to be an offence at the federal level. So, if we don’t see political connotation in that, then, I don’t understand what you mean. We are waiting, we want the constitution of this country to be interpreted.

People like the former President Olusegun Obasanjo said you should not have been celebrated after your freedom, what do you say that?

That is Baba’s (Obasanjo’s) opinion and I have said that because of our culture, I will not take him on in the public.To me, that statement was uncalled for, I have said it before. I wish him the best of luck. I won’t say more than that. The charges are in the public domain, they did not say we stole any money, they did not say money from NPA was missing. It is not a matter of say: Where is N100 billion in a Federal government corporation? Does the board chairman, who is a part time chairman, have access to even the banks? Do we run the place on a daily basis? These is simple logic.

But it was the EFCC and not Lagos State Government that charged you?

Under which law? EFCC prosecuted me as chairman of a federal parastatal with the laws of Lagos State. What were we charged with? Were we charged with the laws of Federal Government? The Executive Director (Finance) was not arraigned, the Executive Director (Engineering) who brought the memo was not arraigned; so it is Bode George, who is a part time chairman, brought to Lagos State to be prosecuted. If it is not political, then what is it? I am not afraid of these jokers at my age. I was brought up in the Christian tenets that whatever you sow you would reap.

What are the chances of PDP in Lagos State?

We have appealed to the hearts and minds of the people, they have heard. Whatever comes out will be their decision. What we are saying is  let the people’s will prevail. If they now want to manipulate that will, then, they are looking for trouble.

Eventually, Nigeria has to make the center unattractive since this country is at least 3 nations forced to live together uncomfortably. A center that is strong in national security, but let the states take most of the other initiatives is all we need.

Look at what Lagos did for itself. If the center of Nigerian power won't fulfill its obligations to the SW, then we will go get the center of global power behind our development efforts. How about that?

fstranger3:
I agree.

Oh well!  so producing the speaker would be difficult as well.

Did we not just shoot ourselves in foot?

Both of you seem to be saying the same thing. PPP=Purchasing Power Parity, it simply adjusts the actual GDP numbers for the relative prices of goods/services between the country in questions and the U.S. for example.

But the map still displays total GDP numbers in each state (with the PPP adjustment), not per capita.

Beaf:
Do you think any state would be brighter than Bayelsa if it was GDP per capita only? Dude, Bayelsa produces 30% of our oil and has only 2 million people. LOL!!!!!
Learn the meaning of PPP.
Nobody needs your help.

ACN is not really the problem - the issue is whether CPC deliver the North for itself

If it is not clear to ACN whether PDP or CPC will carry the north, they simply need to stick with their party's candidate - that would be more honorable than going with the wrong one between PDP or CPC. It would also not look good to abandon Ribadu for political gain if he is not disposed to the arrangement - given that CPC has not shown itself to be able to handle PDP up north.

ekt_bear:
Fair enough. I understand your perspective. If OBJ and these military boys GEJ associates with were dead, I'd not mind cutting the deal. But perhaps you are right.

Anyway, if Tinubu rejects the deal, he had BETTER cut a deal with the CPC and destroy the PDP next week. If we want to battle, then no half-measures.

Same smoke and mirrors that Yar'dua used to decapitate ANPP. There is nothing like a government of national unity - it is total BS.

Beaf:
By the way, govt of national unity means that several parties form the govt, its not anti-federalism.

What are you talking about now?

Isn't it GEJ's manifesto to open up the Nigerian economy. Government doesn't need to develop jack. They need to fulfill their responsibilities in infrastructure, appropriate regulation and get the heck out of the way.

Who do you think buys this kind of bull anyway!!!

Beaf:
Nah, if GEJ wins, he's gonna develop Lagos in particular.

If Tinubu learned anything in dealing with OBJ it is that even when you are denied what is due to you your inner strength can propel you far ahead than if you had that easy "gift". Nobody needs to be negotiating $5 billion or any amount for the SW. If it truly belongs to the SW, then we must stand up in broad daylight and demand it, not in the back alley.

The rules for revenue sharing are clear enough anyway, and has nothing to do with party affliation.

Plus, Nigeria's political development needs to do away with this idea of GNU. In the first place, it kills off the much needed negotiation over this nation called Nigeria that needs to take place in broad daylight. In the second place, it is merely smoke and mirrors - look how well it worked for GEJ when Yar'adua became incapacitated.

ekt_bear:
@fstranger: Suppose the offer is $5 billion/year worth of federal projects in the SW and an overturning of the likely rigged elections in Kwara. And suppose you believe that the PDP would not renege. Wold you say no to that deal?

From President to pauper, from palace to world crimes tribunal - these leaders are cursed.

The guy could have handed over, get out of the country and go on a long vacation. Instead he believed in his "mystic" powers until put in the role of a common criminal.

Let other sit-tight African leaders take notice - it doesn't end well, that is the long and short of it.

How do you explain this then: "presiding officers there turned in 10,000 votes - all valid and cast in favour of the PDP".

EzeUche:
People are saying the word rigging to easily.

To be honest, these elections seem very fair.

Just because your party lost to the party in power, does not mean that there was rigging.

It claimed that voting did not take place in the entire Buga-Karmo ward, but the presiding officers there turned in 10,000 votes - all valid and cast in favour of the PDP. LWKMD.

With all these sores on last saturday's election can GEJ still claim to have fulfilled his promise?

I am telling you for the upteenth time [size=14pt]guard your votes closely this Saturday - the beast is ruthless at what it does best, rigging.[/size]

The chickens are coming home to roost.

Guard your votes next Saturday, I tell you - even ACN cannot afford to relax during the remaining elections.

[size=14pt]PDP's rigging machine is ruthless.[/size]

Kai, please calm down, don't get a heart-attack. You just insulted, in a really bad way, 1/3 of the population.

I smell reverse psychology here - the venom is just too much not to be pretentious (you know like a criminal that tries to make his crime random, but makes it look so random it had to be planned) 

What people will do for politics 

Orikinla:
No matter the stupidity of the political zombies of GEJ who are mostly tribalists from the South-south and South-east, the corrupt ruling party will be sacked and the revolution will be live on the CNN. The only reason the Igbo idiots are supporting GEJ is because he is GOODLUCK AZIKIWE EBELE JONATHAN and his wife's mother is from Umuahia. The fact is, if the devil had an Igbo name, the  Igbos would be falling over themselves to vote for him. Igbos have no conscience. They will never get the post  of President in 2015,  because they have sold their birthright to GEJ. Mrs. Dora Akunyili is already disgraced by Chris Ngige. Other Igbo hypocrites who worship Mammon while pretending to be "Christians" will be exposed  and disgraced. The political mugus in the South-south, after GEJ, what's next? Join the movement to sack the corrupt ruling party or be left behind sniffing and eating the rotten meat of corruption. You think GEJ is the one ruling? THINK AGAIN. But I promise you that the revolution will be live on the CNN.

This is funny no doubt.

President GEJ deserves some credit, but I have to say he is getting paid back with his own crooked coin. He and his cabinet did not hesitate to tell us that the presidential planes and independence day expenditures were approved under Yar'adua, as if he could not change it if he really wanted to.

What goes around comes around!

Beaf:
The way some anti-GEJ peeps are attributing all his good work to Yar Adua, I won't be surprised if the poor Yar Adua gets pissed from the disturbance, rises and gives them some really serious slaps!
Bad bele na killa!

It is really encouraging that a vital atery that links the SS, SE and Middle Belt has been given proper attention after so many years of neglect.

This is good campaigning. Press your case, but leave it in the hands of Nigerians come Saturday.

That way nobody can accuse GEJ of not doing his part. Thumbs up.

Hopefully, Nigeria can start to approach a steady state where we start to see serious arguments and counterarguments as important in a common march to the same end.

Has INEC attended to this [size=14pt]"little"[/size] matter of getting the results to us as they were recorded at the polling booths, and in time?

[size=14pt]Oh yeah, did I tell you to guide your votes closely on Saturday - against the PDP rigging machinery? [/size]

GEJ would surely like to believe this, but how can he expect the SS to deliver blockly for him and the North to fall apart because he "thinks" so.

Let's evaluate the situation next week. I will happy if you turn out to be right - really.

edicolove:
2. Buhari does not enjoy the support of the north like we were made to (almost) believe.
3. The north is no longer one voting block.

Myth already busted. please can we move on, dont derail the thread!

It doesn't matter who wins next Saturday we have to stay on their tails, otherwise they will disappoint us royally.

ekt_bear:
Anyway, whatever. I just hope the PDP doesn't suck over the next four years and isn't too corrupt.

@edicolove
Let me tell you what GEJ has to do next week - hold on to the votes PDP got in the North during the legislative elections. If he can do that then we might have a run-off depending on whether the SW guessed right about who the North will go for next Saturday.

As for the North's vote, what happened in Katsina is a warning shot from the North - I am not too happy about it, but this is politics and the north has never played with its interests. Other regions need to learn that, so we can really begin to have real negotiations about this nation called Nigeria. The SW is taking that lesson to heart right now, and I hope they don't have a short memory about what is really good for the people of the SW.

Take it or leave it!!!

edicolove:
ha! the biggest duns/olodo of them all has finally showed up. you are sounding like Buhari. clushing at straws. just like your name suggests. how did you escape from your hole after all your propaganda of CPC wave. now turned CPC failure. reads this for a change:

"Once upon a time, a certain party came out preaching change and while we were about to celebrate, they went and brought someone who has spent over 35 years in and around government as their candidate. How is that a recipe for change? A man that should be at home playing with his great grand children. This country na wa o! Change ko change ni!"

Buhari did deliver Katsina for CPC, which I think is a prelude to what the North will do next week b/4 they go back to PDP the following week.

Ribadu could not deliver Adamawa - he has no leverage in the North.

ekt_bear:
@koruji: Only thing that will work is if one of Buhari or Ribadu steps down for the other.

And I doubt Ribadu will want to step down for Buhari.

Hell, would YOU want to step down for Buhari, if you were Ribadu?   A guy that for whatever reason did not deliver his home base?

No, but that ACN & their supporters might have done their calculations so that a clear winner could emerge in the first round depending on which of ACN or CPC would be able to deliver the North's vote. If PDP is able to keep the North's vote next Saturday then GEJ has a good change of staying put in Aso Rock.

I am begining to enjoy the way it is difficult to simply count the presidential votes in Nigeria b/4 the actual election.

Future elections should have more substantive issues in play.

Basseti:
What kind of alliance?

That ACN votes will be magically counted as CPC votes

Exactly, I don't see any massive vote for the PDP in the SW in any of the remaining two elections - OBJ's 2003 betrayal was too great!

Ileke-IdI:
How possible is this?
Same thing. Even if CPC lost "woefully", I doubt pro-ACNs are Pro-PDP.  . . . . that's if this is a party election.

I have a strong hunch that CPC and ACN are in an underground alliance that will see BB likely winning the election next week.

Ileke-IdI:
People voted for individual, not party. I guess most of the favoured individuals are ACN candidates.

How is this election focused on the presidential election? Is CPC even popular in the SW?

Did you read what I wrote at all?

The great heave to throw out PDP is likely to occur next week - especially in the North , but it only has a 50-50 chance of succeeding. Did you see that CPC swept Katsina votes? - this is which is likely to spread north-wide next week. I have given you a good reason why the SE might go with CPC - take it or leave it. Then it remains whether SW goes ACN/CPC/PDP.

Nigerian politics is getting sophisticated, as it should be. Like I said, can't wait till next Saturday!!!

edicolove:
Again, you analyze like a real nairalander with no clue. I Live in Lagos and many of the people that voted ACN on saturday will vote GEJ next weak.  we did a count in my polling booth where i registered and almost everyone said they will vote fashola for gov and GEJ for president. most christians in Lagos will not vote a ticket with Bakare in it. He is like a plague to them. he insults their pastors. And combine that with Buhari, then you have a recipe for disaster. Did you not notice that ACN came close to loosing in some areas even after all the accolades giving to fashola? did that not suprise you?

And dont forget  that the winner must have the mandatory 1/3 from 25 states or so. Buhari clearly cant have that now. And why would ACN form an  alliance that will give CPC the presidency when they are doing far better than CPC. why not have it the other way around? You cleary are not thinking straight. CPC just went from major contenders to lame ducks in less than 48 hours.

You are counting your chickens too fast. This last election was all about local political following. It does show that Buhari's CPC is really the "phanton CPC", but I think you will see different next week.

President GEJ should be prepared for a good fight since the North has good reason to give most of its votes to CPC. PDP is probably spreading the "dollar" far and wide in the North as we speak - a big reason for their sweep up there in the legislative elections, and it might just work again. I think the SE would do the same because they are looking to take over in 2015. The Southwest is likely to split it two ways between CPC and PDP (mostly for CPC), while the SS goes for GEJ.

Why am I not mentioning Ribadu and ACN? Indications are that ACN is already in undisclosed alliance with CPC.

BB may still go to Aso Rock afterall, but GEJ has a 50-50 chance of staying put.

Can't wait till next Saturday.

edicolove:
Its time for Myth Bursting. Please let us know of any myths that you think have been busted from this election results and the voting pattern. I will list a few to start.

1. The election results shows Nigerians voted for persons not parties.
2. Buhari does not enjoy the support of the north like we were made to (almost) believe.
3. The north is no longer one voting block.
4. Bakare is not influential in the south west. He couldnt deliver much to CPC. Their results there were woeful
5. GEJ is not a stooge of PDP godfathers or OBJ. OBJ lost in his ward and his state. Bankole also lost. He left them on their own.
6. CPC has very little support in the south as a whole.
7. Bukola is more popular than his father in kwara. (nice one there)

please add more if you can.

Don't let's get carried away.

What ACN is today resulted from lessons learnt from OBJ's political sucker punch delivered to AD in 2003, and especially Tinubu's courage in singularly seeing through that game - paying dearly, but courageously for it too. Now the SW must make sure ACN fulfills its promises or get kicked out as well.

fstranger3:
Ezeuche, there is nothing to worry about.

ACN is here to liberate you and your people.

Just trust us, we know what we are doing.

From Yorubas with love.

This is why I have always refered to CPC as "phanton CPC". Buhari's two month to election strategy will never work. PDP has to be watched hand and foot to not use rough tactics b/4, during and after the elections.

Still, popular disatisfaction may give BB a chance at the presidency (very doubtful) - but without a significant party base in the national assembly we are in for another 4 year of useless back and forth.

Kobojunkie:
It seems the PDP dig sweep this election afterall

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5688444-146/election_results_live_updates__.csp

This is what I am talking about. PDP took the people's wishes under custody out of the public and observers eyes. I hope they realize what is at stake in the next two elections!!

Nasir El-Rufai Cries Out Against PDP Rigging Machine!

Nasir El Rufai Syas,

‎1. Attempt is being made at Amarc htqrs, Area 10 Garki to change d result of d Fct Senatorial Election in favour of d PPD candidate- Adudu. Heavy police presence there.

2. Attempt was made earlier 2day to change d result of Alhaji Abdulahi Adamu’s senatorial district of Nasarawa state, which he lost, by d REC, who took d results to her house to doctor.

….watch out at Collation Centers for PDP rigging strategy of changing results and being declared the winner…….Be Vigilant, the new rigging points are Collation Centres!

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=14452

In the middle of all the self-congratulations, especially from Prof. Jega, we are yet to get a consistent set of results from INEC. For sure, INEC promised to deliver results within 48hrs - but that means that the election is not over, voting was over, but not the election - so self-congratulations are premature.

At the time, 48hrs seemed reasonable, but events over the last few hours has demonstrated that the entire process can be easily rubbished by a large gap between voting closure and declaration of results. If this turned out to be so then our efforts would have been for nought.

There is no doubt that some shady happenings took place between last night and this morning. Given the higher stakes in the remaining two elections things can really go awry with this kind of gap between the polling booth and the results.

I would like to urge INEC to make two crucial adjustments for next week and the following one:

1. Make results available a maximum of 12 hrs after polls close in each location. Given that votes are counted and recorded at the polling stations there is no reason why they cannot be collated within 12hrs.

2. INEC needs to create a single web page on their site for the remaining elections to be updated regularly as each position is determined.

GEJ's freedom of the press policy? Freedom of the press should be the default in any well-governed society - it should not be GEJ or anybody's policy.

We have a lot of work to do to move from this mental tree to which we've been tied to for a long time - the chain is broken, seize your freedom and recognize that it had always been yours no matter what any autocrat claims.

The government is a collective employee of the Nigerian people, and must henceforth follow our wishes for freedom, peace, justice and pursuit of happiness.

efisher:
Don`t mind them. They are taking advantage of GEJ`s freedom of the press policy. They will soon land in court against INEC to face criminal charges.

If we have learnt any lessons in these past few years it is the following: A politician left on his own will use power to his advantage.

President GEJ can, after a successful conduct of the next two elections, rightly claim a legacy of free and fair elections under his watch. However, that is where his self-back-slapping should stop. We must not forget that, but for the sake of having another opportunity to do it again the election was a failure on April 2nd. If that date had been April 28 - the last day for elections allowed by the constitution - we 'll be in the middle of a serious constitutional crisis right now.

It is understandable that people would like to use this to further GEJ's campaign - it is what you are supposed to do - but they must also realize that Nigerians are going to be nobody's fool anymore. The totality of the current election's success is attributable to many factors each equally important like the stands of a three-legged stool:
1) Perhaps the most important, Nigerians have had enough of PDP's shenanigans and had the elections under close watch;
2) Jega finally got his acts together;
3) Emergence of two strong oppositions parties to keep PDP honest;
4) In-fighting within PDP; and
5) President GEJ has a good attitude to the elections - he is willing to play a little dirty politics, but he would not go as far as engage in outright vote stealing on behalf of his party (and we hope not next Saturday either) like OBJ, Atiku, et al . That attitude is very important, but without the others I bet if GEJ doesn't personally authorize vote-stealing, his party agents will do it freely and he would not refuse to be a beneficiary of the outcome.

Win or lose, with a credible election President GEJ would become an important force on the Nigerian landscape for a long time to come. However, winning through a fraudulent election would cause all hell to break loose

Jonathan promised to allow a free and fair elections and although he knew that his party PDP is unpopular, he kept to his promise even at the expense of partisan politics. That shows he can be trusted to do what he says he would do if voted in. I therefore enjoin all right thinking people to vote for GEJ. I think as between GEJ and Buhari, GEJ is the lesser evil.