₦airaland Forum

mekaboy:

@KORUJI, AND YOU THINK THEY CAN TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORN ? BUHARI IS AN HONEST MAN, NO DOUBT , BUT MY QUESTION IS, IF THIS HONEST MAN SAYS **ABACHA DID NOT STEAL*** I WONDER WHAT HE WOULD CONSIDER STEALING.

RIBADU, WAS SIMPLY CARRYING OUT AN ASSIGNMENT BY OBJ, HE CLAIMED TINUBU WAS A THIEF, NOW HE IS UNDER THE THEIVES UMBRELLA.

WHICH OTHER PART OF NIGERIAN, REJOICED AT THE ***BOMBING OF WORLD TRADE CENTER****? WHERE THOUSAND OF LIVES AND PROPERTY WHERE LOST ?    IS IT NOT THIS SAME NORTHERNERS ? HOW AN THEY REJOICE AT SUCH AN INCIDENT ? YOU MIGHT ALSO NEED PROVE, ASK CNN.

NIGERIA DOES NOT BELONG TO ANY TRIBE, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE MAIN INTENTION BEHIND THE NORTHERN CANDIDATES , IS THAT POWER BELONGS TO THEM AND THEY WILL FIGHT TO WIN IT BACK .

I BELIEVE THAT THE TRUE CHANGE WOULD HAVE COME THROUGH CHRIS OKOTIE OR PATH UTOMI, BUT SINCE THEY ARE NOT GETTING THERE.  I,LL RATHER HAVE A ONE NIGERIA GOVT, THAN A GOVERNMENT THAT BELIEVES THEY COUNTRY BELONGS TO THEIR TRIBE.

bisola_oni:
Exit polls show Dr. Bukola Saraki as having won the senatorial race for Kwara Central in the NASS elections, which were held yesterday. Contrary to a number of unconfirmed news reports, it seems that Dr. Bukola Saraki has won the senatorial elections for Kwara Central. The official results are currently being eagerly awaited. The conduct of the elections were peaceful and free. Official results will start coming in from 3am this morning and there is a high sense of expectation among political watchers. The results of these elections will greatly impact the gubernatorial elections in Kwara, and they are being monitored closely.

Remii:
eh eh he, even when an Hausa man is about to give you the first truly free and fair election? after Ademola, Ovie Whisky, Ani, Ephraim, Nwosu, Guobadia , Iwu and the rest? I dey laugh.

You should support who ever can deliver the goodies, you have only one life, if you allow any kind of bigotry, religious or tribal,  to mess it up you are done for.

mekaboy:


YOU MIGHT FROWN AT MY OPINION, BUT YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE NORTH GOES BEYOND THE NORTH,  MAJOR SPONSORS OF TERRORISM FROM MOST ARAB COUNTRIES ARE FUNDING THESE ISLAMIC MILITANTS, SUPPLYING THEM WITH EXPLOSIVE, AND MOTIVATING THEM TO KILL INNOCENT CITIZENS, IN THE NAME OF FIGHTING TO MAKE NIGERIA A MUSLIM NATION .

THESE EXTREMISTS  ARE NOT JUST NIGERIANS, BUT TERRORIST FROM OTHER ARAB COUNTRIES. WHEN  WE FINALLY HAVE A NORTHERN MUSLIM PRESIDENT. WHAT WILL BECOME OF NIGERIAN ?

Prof JYK:
this is very disturbing news o, the wind of change blowing across the country could not locate Benue South? why is this happening.

fried-rice:
Going through  the post on Reclaim Naija, I broke down and wept for Nigeria

ghostmaile:
http://www.livestream.com/saharareporters

Follow updates and  live reports on saharareporters.com.  streaming live. Join the chat/debate via facebook . twitter and skype. u can also call in .

http://www.livestream.com/saharareporters

Kobojunkie:
Do you mind updating the topic to let folks know that the site actually allows them to log complaints, and also vote to verify complaints of malpractice and other issues at their polling stations.

Kobojunkie:
What media player are you using there?

Take a legible picture of the results sheet in order to prevent changes or modifications.

Echala:
I witnessed the sharing of money in my voting center. I recorded and uploaded on youtube.com

April 9, 2011 - National Assembly Election at Ikota Primary School, along the Lekki/Epe Express way. Polling Unit: PU:24/08/04/031.

N200 naira notes being shared by the man in black and white stripe Tee shirt.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzkIXkW8IAQ

fstranger3:
What special qualities does he possess?  How is he different from OGD  or Orji Kalu?  He copied someone else's play-book, how does that make him special. Believe it or not, he is a common criminal, but he was lucky to have gotten away.

Beaf:
They had very likely wanted to rig and need more time to regroup now.

Beaf:
I enjoyed the article indeed. Jonathan is one man that has impacted my outlook on life with his calmness, wisdom and tact. The days of the Yar Adua saga saw me watching in awe at just how powerful and effective these simple tools could be against raging wolves and demons in human skins.

GEJ has a lot to offer Nigeria; he is the right tonic to reclaim the Nigerian psyche from years of abuse by military jackboots.

Go GEJ!

Men of of the Nigerian police claimed they foiled a bomb plot at the venue of Muhammad Buhari's rally in Katsina earlier today. Policemen protecting the venue of a massive rally inBuhari'shome state, Katsina said they apprehended and retrieved two bombs hidden a bag before the rally.

The bomb plot is coming on the heels of an attempt to bribe the Emir of Katsina by an advance team sent by President Jonathan, according to a palace source, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida and Isayat Balat met with the Sarkin Katsina before a scheduled meeting between Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and nothern emirs and mallams in Kaduna to offer some monies in dollars but the Emir rejected the bribe.

The emir reportedly told Jonathan's emissaries that the People's Democratic Party (PD) was buried with late president Umaru Yar'adua in the ancient burial ground of the city of Katsina.

After the meeting in Kaduna with National Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), each of the particiapnts were reportedly offered N1 million ($7,000) for transportation back to their respective states.

By Tunde Odesola, Osogbo

An explosive allegedly planted under the podium, which Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, was to use for a campaign rally in Okuku, was discovered by the police on Thursday before it could explode.

The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, Mr Solomon Olusegun, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday, confirmed the incident. He described the explosive as a hand grenade.

But the Director, Action Congress of Nigeria, Osun State Chapter, Mr. Sunday Akere, in a statement on Thursday, said the discovery of the alleged explosive highlighted the desperation of the Peoples Democratic Party to cause chaos in the state.

“Even if it is hand grenade, why should it be planted under the podium the governor was to use for campaign?” Akere queried while condemning the incident.

Okuku is the hometown of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who is vying for the Osun-Central Senatorial District on the platform of the PDP.

A source at the Bomb Disposal Unit, Osun Police Command, disclosed to our correspondent on condition of anonymity that the explosive was uncovered during a round of routine check on the podium.

“We had combed the arena four times. The governor was still being expected. We embarked on another round of routine check only for our equipment to buzz repeatedly,” the police source said.

Akere, who said election was not a do-or-die affair, added that the PDP would stop at nothing to achieve its dastard aim of throwing Osun into chaos.

We warn, however, that nothing untoward must happen to Governor Aregbesola.”

“We commend the Anti-Bomb Disposal Unit for been diligent in their work and preventing loss of lives and injuries to many but called on the other arms of the security apparatus to put a close watch on both the deposed Governor Oyinlola and the PDP Senatorial candidate in Osun-East Senatorial District, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, so as to ensure a crisis free election on Saturday.”

Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to Oyinlola, Mr Lasisi Olagunju, said the ACN was making wild allegations.

A statement by Olagunju reads in part, “The ACN should stop making wild claims. It is the duty of the police to confirm if there was anything strange at the venue. The ACN are not qualified to announce a discovery of explosives.

“That venue is an open space along an interstate road to Kwara State. The ACN people have been around that venue since Wednesday when their man was originally billed to campaign there.”

To repeat myself the choice between CPC and ACN in this presidential election is not clear. As for PDP, Nigerians need to let them go and cool their heels away from Aso Rock. We know the PDP is still likely to dominate the states and National Assembly, but they need to watch others lead from Aso Rock. Do not listen to PDP when they tell you about continuity or their plans, we heard it in 2003 and 2007. They need the break to go back to the drawing board to come up with new ideas for uplifting Nigeria's teeming population.

In any case, Nigerians must be prepared to hold whoever is elected in the upcoming elections to a very high standard. In the meantime, please vote wisely - it is your right and your choice.

That leaves us with Ribadu and the ACN. This party and this presidential candidate have demonstrated in their previous political opportunities that they can be accountable. Ribadu is particularly fearless, raw and not without weaknesses. Although the ACN has produced some good governors in the states under its control - who genuinely seek to improve people's lives, god-fatherism seems to be an issue rearing its ugly head. Without a solid political base in support of his own ideals these god-fathers might prove to be more torn in the flesh than Ribadu envisaged. Like Bakare, he will not take it lying down, and with the power of the presidency he should be able to deal with "political miscreants" with ease. Still, would power go to his head as some people have claimed. For me, the personality of Ribadu represents the best bet to keep PDP or other old hands from toying with our "father's jewels" - an act that will bring our democracy to a screeching halt.

I have always had my doubts about the tall General Buhari, and what I have called his "phantom" CPC. First, he was a military head of state and particularly responsible for cutting short democratic rule in Nigeria during the so-called second republic - although this was greatly helped by the NPN's attempt to play with our "father's jewel". His & Tunde Idiagbon's record on human rights are bad -there is no other way to describe it. Gen. Buhari had no qualms working for the hand on which the "five leprous fingers" sat. Although he has paired himself with the firey Tunde Bakare (what is with Buhari and Tundes anyway?) to address questions about his sharia-bent, that is not what worries me. What worries me is that, like Yar'adua, the old friends of Buhari from his days in the Abacha group are set to capture his government. In order words, Tunde Bakare may be another GEJ in the making but we know for a fact that he is not the kind to take anything lying down, and Gen. Buhari may take better control of his government this time around.

Isn't there something to say for the personalities themselves? Well, let's take a look.

May be GEJ could turn a new leaf on the PDP disaster? I say do not hold your breath.  Recall the optimism that trailed the campaign and election of Yar'adua, and oh yes GEJ. We knew he was sick, but his "saint-hood" was proclaimed far and wide across the land. There was great talk about NEEDS and 2020 Vision and continuity. We all know the rest of the story. It is the same set of people, particularly the ever vociferous, jocular, do-or-die politician, but ever willing-to-die-for- Nigeria General OBJ, who are now vouching for GEJ. We have no basis for believing OBJ or GEJ's promises this time. The same GEJ that sat quietly while the Turai dominion lasted. In the last one year, he has not proven to be decisive enough to handle Nigeria's multitude of diseases. Though often proclaimed to be humble, he was not humble enough to reduce his presidential plane order from three to one during a time of economic depression. The emphasis on his humility reminds one of the "saint-hood" confered on Yar'adua - it is likely to be another great "ruse of law" in the making. Yet, President GEJ has a compelling story that cannot be ignored, so he may yet pull another surprise on his doubters.

For 12 years PDP has stolen elections and dominated our political landscape by patronage and brigandry, playing the politics of do-or-die. Despite their luck in arriving on the scene during a period of global economic boom and the attendant rents from high oil prices, PDP left Nigerians high and dry. Sure, there were "achievements" such as paying off the national debt, but most of PDP's run at the mill turned out to be a great disaster. After years of pillaging the treasury they brought us the third term fiasco. The security of life became frighteningly low, governor's stole, picked their own rogue "justice" minister and eventually got the corruption fighter fired. Non-existent economic and electricity programs were fed 10s of billions of dollars, disappearing into oblivion. The Niger Delta declined into complete anarchy for a long time, and human sacrifice on the Jos plateau became a constant feature of national life. Bombings has suddenly become familiar to the average Nigerian. The National Assembly meanwhile is a fattening house that is the envy of cows in the barn - consuming almost a quarter of the national budget. Filled with men and women of easy virtue, completely impotent in the face of national emergencies, except when the matter is about their pockets. Above all else, we were visited with the jaw-dropping, unbelievable, shameful, and down-right-indefensible-enough-to-cause-mere-university-teachers-and-the-like-to-declare-an-alternative-government-in-the-disapora 90 nights and 90 days of rulership by thugs and scoundrels under the Turai dominion.

Half of the above is fodder enough to forment a bloody military intervention in Nigeria's time past, but for the mere fact that the military has proven beyond any iota of doubt that their cure is worse than the disease. Rather than realize their unique opportunity to reform, revamp and remake Nigeria into a great nation that we can always be proud of, the PD behaves like spoiled children. As the Yorubas are wont to opine "a kid cannot be so spoiled to demand his father's jewels for a toy".

The crux of this note to every lover of Nigerian democracy is that another four years for PDP would be another round of licentious political living. Mark my words, if we are hoodwinked into giving PDP another 4 years at the till they will be emboldened to demand ours and our "fathers jewels" for a toy. We would show ourselves to be insufferable slaves to this group of oppressors. Don't be hoodwinked by the sudden sign of life at the National Assembly, with the president suddenly signing bills into law at the speed of light - who would have thought?

Kobojunkie:
This was definitely not a debate  . . . . !

Ah, the sweet smell of democracy. Isn't this just great? Today, Nigerians are neither talking about the five fingers of a leprous hand nor the intransigence of a maximum ruler with his callous goal-post-shifting and murderous assassins. We fought the ambitions of politically bankrupt personalities, such as IBB and Atiku, to a standstill. Today, we are actually preparing to go to the polls with the expectation that votes will count. Despite the threat of violence and harassment of opposition candidates through arrests and denial of campaign venues, as well as accusations and counter-accusations of rigging plans, we as Nigerians are actually for the first time presented with real choices as to who to make our president.

The million-dollar question is: who deserves our votes? In the deepest parts of my bone marrow, I wish that a non-northerner would get another chance to rule Nigeria. And why not? Don't we need to demonstrate to the NPLF, and the like, that no interpretation of the Nigerian constitution says the north must have another 4-year term. What's more, northerners whether in military or civilian clothes have dominated the administration of this nation since independence. It makes good sense then to let a non-northerner, specifically President GEJ as the "strongest" one left in the race, to be given a 4-year extension. Afterall, most of the resources on which Nigeria feeds comes from areas around his region of the country.

Then it hit me. Nigeria's problem is not really about North vs. South, East vs. West or the like. No, Nigeria's problem has always been autocrats of the same plumage from the North, South, West and East of this country. It occurred to me that President GEJ was/is Yar'adua and vice versa, and both of them were in turn the Western and Northern candidates of OBJ and IBB, respectively.

No, the choice before us is not really North vs. South or, as some of have suggested, voting for personalities. If we are to sustain our democracy we must start thinking in democratic terms, with the needs of the average Nigerian in mind. Once we make this slight adjustment in our thinking we would realize that the choice we need to make is the combination of party platform and  presidential candidate likely to do something meaningful about the serious issues confronting the Nigerian nation - corruption, corruption, corruption, and oh yeah electricity, economic reform, security of life and property, etc.

•From ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Kaduna
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sun News Publishing
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Kaduna State and organising secretary of the campaign team that brought the immediate past governor of the state to power, Namadi Sambo, in 2007, Engr Namadi Musa, has sensationally revealed how the party rigged previous elections in the state.

Sambo is the current Vice-President of Nigeria.
Musa made the revelation at Arewa House in Kaduna while delivering a paper titled: “Credible Leadership for Good Governance: Beyond Regional and Ethno-Religious Sentiment,” at a one-day interactive session tagged “Countdown to 2011 General Election,” organized by the Initiative for Moral Rebirth in Nigeria.

Musa, who is still a member of the PDP, however said he decided to reveal the dirty past of the party because he was now a reformed individual and was no longer willing to participate in rigging in future elections.

But he contended that even though the latest voters registration exercise had reduced the PDP’s chances of rigging by over 60 per cent, the party would still win the presidential poll. But he was silent on what would become of the party in the April governorship election in the state.
Musa, who is now vice chairman of the Political Committee of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, further said: “I am in PDP; I like PDP and I will be in PDP but the party is bad.

However, I don’t want us to completely blame PDP for Nigeria’s woes because since 1999 the party has always co-opted members of other political parties in the running of the affairs of the country. Therefore, the political arrangements we have in the country have contributed in no small measure to Nigeria’s problem.

“But let me say that the recent registration exercise has reduced our chances of rigging by over 60 per cent. I say so because most Nigerians now have the statistics of how potential voters registered. So inflating the number, which is one of the many ways we rigged, has been reduced.
“Historically speaking, PDP has never won in Kaduna North, Sabon Gari and Zaria councils. But we have about 13 ways of rigging. One of them is by increasing our votes without tempering with the votes of the opponent.

“For instance, if on the voters register the number of registered voters is 100 and at the end of election in a polling unit we scored 20 while the opposition scored 80, all we do is to tamper with the register by increasing the number of registered voters to 400 and award all the 300 votes to the PDP. By so doing, we have not tampered with the votes of the opponent but we have increased ours. But, like I said, it is unthinkable to try this method in the forthcoming elections because most people have the figures now.

“Another one is to use the opposition party to rig itself out. We use this method especially in strongholds of the opposition to rig them out. We monitor such polling units and approach the opposition party agents, who unknowingly will play along with us. If say in a polling unit the opposition recorded 300 votes while PDP had 20, we just say: “This PDP people are useless people, we even hate them. Take our votes, add it to your candidate’s own so that the number will increase.”

The agent will be happy, thinking we are helping them. Once we start collating, we will raise eyebrow to say number of those who voted is more than the number of those who registered. And you know one vote more than registered number of voters will lead to automatic cancellation of the results. This is why most times you hear that results of polling units where ordinarily the opposition would have won would be cancelled. So once those cancellations are made, it gives us upper hand.

“But I will not do that again. Allah is my witness. May He forgive me for the ones I have done in the past. I will not be party to it this time around. We have to say the truth for the sake of our tomorrow. Politics provides the direct key to heaven or hell fire. So politicians have a choice,” the PDP chieftain added.

On the presidential poll, he was emphatic that President Jonathan would win, not because he likes it but, according to him, it is based on the present realities on ground, even as he called on the opposition to prepare for 2015.

“For 2011, it is all over because we (PDP) will win. In the past, say 1979, Nigerians voted for party. But these days, it is individuals that are being voted and not party. I like (Muhammadu) Buhari but CPC (Congress for Progressive Change) is not in any way different from the PDP. If Buhari leaves the CPC today, the people will follow him.

So that shows you that it is about individuals and not about party. I pray Buhari becomes the President but it is unlikely. The truth is that I will be happy if Buhari wins, because it will force the PDP to go back to the drawing board, where we will now sit down to address our problems. But it will not happen.

“I see Buhari’s party as a northern party and his winning the northern votes alone cannot make him President. If the merger between the CPC and ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) had worked, PDP would have been finished. It is not realistic for ACN to have dissolved into the CPC. So if Buhari wins the North, he won’t get the spread.”

Asked if it was morally right for him to remain in the PDP, considering what he referred to as the ungodly things himself and the party had been involved in in the past, Musa responded: “Morality is a relative term. When Sheik Gumi was alive, he once said it would be nice to have a Muslim as the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries, and people said ‘haa!’, and he continued by saying as long as he would reduce the quantity of beer produced. So you can remain in a place for the purpose of reforming the place or to further wreck the place, which is one.

“Two, during the PDP presidential primary, some Mallams were preaching in the mosques that people should collect Jonathan’s money but ensure they do not vote for him. Is that morality?” he asked rhetorically.

Lagosboy:
The write up was a bit stretched too far but the general idea and message is simply the truth. GEJ is unfit to be the president of 150 million Nigerians. Ribadu would be checked by the god fathers that put him there if he wins. Buhari remains our only hope as his godfather is indeed the Almighty God and the godfather of Bakare as well is the almighty God.

Two honest men deserve your votes.

Igwe-1:
Watched this Debate. Buhari is the dumbest politician i have listened to in my life. He has no substance and can barely articulate anythin about the country or issues, yet he has more support than shakarau who i actually think understands the issues better. This tells me how dumb Nigerians and the northern population is. Buharis brain is almost empty. I do not know this shakarau guy but i will rather have him represent Nigeria in the world stage than any of these guys debating. It would have been nice if GEJ was standing side by side with these guys debatin the issues. We have better individuals in Nigeria but we have choosen the worse amongst us. Its a shame.

EzeUche_:
^^^
People who live in glass houses, should not throw stones.
This is a few words of the wise. You have been warned.