₦airaland Forum

BetaThings:
Zoning is in PDP's constitution. It IS NOT an unwritten agreement

Section 7.2
(c) In pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness, the party
shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public
elective offices and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive
committee at all levels.

http://www.peoplesdemocraticparty.net/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=34&Itemid=37

The Associated Press
Thursday, November 25, 2010; 1:26 PM

ABUJA, Nigeria -- A Nigerian court on Thursday charged an Iranian and three Nigerians for arms trafficking in connection to an arms shipment officials seized last month at Nigeria's busiest port.

The Magistrate Court in Abuja said it had charged Iranian national Azeem Aghajani for attempting to import prohibited arms into Nigeria with the intent of sending them to nearby Gambia.

The court also charged three Nigerians, Ali Usman Abass Jega, Aliu Oroji Wamakko and Mohammed Tukur in connection to the seizure.

Aghajani said he needed his embassy to represent him before he could present his plea. The three Nigerians pleaded not guilty, but only one of them was represented in court.

The Nigerian's lawyer argued for bail, but the prosecutor contested the request.

"This is a matter of great national importance, and if I may add, it has international implications," said prosecutor Matthew Idakwo. "These arms were imported from Iran to our country. It is of great interest to the world. In fact, the United Nations has interest in this matter."

Nigeria reported Iran to the United Nations after Nigerian security officials in October seized a hidden shipment of military-grade arms that originated in Iran and passed through Nigeria's busiest port in Lagos.

Artillery rockets and other weapons, loaded in 13 shipping containers that were labeled as building supplies, were seized Oct. 26.

Magistrate Judge Hafsat Soso said the four men would remain in the custody of Nigeria's State Security Service as investigations continued.

Kobojunkie:
How you came about the above, I have no clue. Considering the two men have no real records to gauge them on, I am not sure how anyone can make such a definite statement of any of them. I remember some also made similar claims of yar adua.

Kobojunkie:
Balderdash!!! Is this like fighting crime by committing more crime or what? The post you even pretend to agree with says nothing close to what you keep coming u with here.

What real change? how can getting more of the same old baggage give you the best hope for real change? What are you smoking?

Kilode?!:
^^ Koruji, I read it. I also read OBJ's so called clarifications and Osuntokun's rhetoric. You and I know these people are liars and care only about their own present profits. It's Politics. As you can read from my earlier post. I do not just detest Zoning, I also hate it's grandfather; Federal character

These same retards enjoyed zoning while they were appointed. They've always used Zoning to limit My peoples ability to choose their leaders based on merit and from a well represented pool of candidates, they are still doing it. PDP, ANPP, ACN and all the other silly opposition parties have never challenged the federal character principle or even zoning in court (I know court appointments are zoned also) This same zoning occurs during Senates elections and Legislative appointments, Gubernatorial election, State assembly elections, Commissioner appointments, ward elections etc. It is Practiced by all the parties, These same Fools probably allow zoning at their Children's PTA clubs.

It is disingenuous, Hypocritical and dishonest for them to keep releasing stupi.d press reports and interviews condemning and denying an act they practice everytime they conduct an election or appoint civil servants. These bunch of losers are not serious.

Unfortunately, our people are still too unenlightened to challenge them and counter their falsehood. I have no time for half hearted political shenanigans and My people should not encourage it.

OBJ, GEJ, Ribadu and the rest of them can deny Zoning till they get blue in the face but, until they start correcting the foundational defects that continues to tear our people and the polity apart, I will not take their statements seriously. They can all wrap their babanriga around their neck and commit seppuku. My people won't be foolish forever though, that I'm sure of.

marcdunu:
It is time to cut the crap.
Let Atiku and Jonathan defend their records on National TV face-to-face.
Atiku should fire the first salvo and challenge the President and lets how the President responds.
It is time to have this two men challenge each others economics, security, energy and foreign policy.
No more dishing out press statements through Ima Niboro and Garba Shehu. Let all who call themselves credible come out and tell us how they have been running the country.
No more taking newpaper articles to talk policies. Lets see you live on TV.
Anybody who shy away from the debate is not qualified to lead 2011 Nigeria.

From: GODWIN TSA Abuja
Thursday, November 25, 2010

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday told an Abuja High Court that as a sitting president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has the constitutional right to contest election in 2011 by virtue of the fact that he has not exhausted his second term in office.

Besides, the party said section 42 of the 1999 constitution protects him against any form of discrimination based on his geographical zone, tribe, religion and political affiliation.

These were the submissions of the PDP and President Jonathan in the suit brought against them by a member of the party, Cyriacus Njoku, who is asking the court to stop the president from participating in the presidential primaries because the presidency had been zoned to the North.

Meanwhile, the court presided over by the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Lawal Gummi, would on December 1, this year, deliver its judgment on the case.
On the same date, judgment has also been fixed on a similar case instituted by a presidential aspirant of the party, Alhaji Dustinma, who is contesting the decision of President Jonathan to contest the election on the basis of the zoning arrangement of the party.

At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, counsel to the PDP, Chief. Olushola Oke who is the legal Adviser of the party prayed the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that it was incompetent and not within the jurisdiction of the court. In his preliminary objection to the suit, the PDP attacked the locus standi of the plaintiff to file the action while also contending that the subject matter of the suit was purely a domestic affair of the party and urged the court not to intervene in the party’s internal affairs.

The legal adviser told the court that under section 137 (1) (b) of the 1999 constitution, a sitting president was allowed to run for a re- election so far as he had not exhausted his second term in office. Besides, he said the plaintiff had, by virtue of not meeting up with his financial obligations to the party, by implication, forfeited his membership of the party.

He further argued that the plaintiff did not show the court that his peculiar interest would suffer if Jonathan was allowed to contest the election and accordingly urged the court to not only dismiss the case but also the claim of the plaintiff.
In his objection, President Jonathan urged the court to throw out the suit on the basis that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

The president, who was represented by Chief Alex Izinyon (SAN), described the plaintiff as a meddlesome interloper and busybody who had no requisite legal rights (Locus Standi) to institute the case. While emphasising that the matter was a domestic affair of the party, he urged the court to decline its jurisdiction and to dismiss the suit as well as the claim of the plaintiff.

Earlier, Counsel to the plaintiff, Ugochukwu Osuagwu, prayed the court to dismiss the preliminary objections for not meeting up the statutory requirements, especially section 87 of the Evidence Act and Order 7 rule 3 of the High Court rules. But when the court overruled him, he asked for an adjournment to file a written reply to the objections and it was granted.

The Jonathan/Sambo campaign organisation yesterday reacted swiftly to the accusations made by ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Mr. Sully Abu and Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi in a statement yesterday said Atiku’s allegation that President Goodluck Jonathan broke the Peoples Democratic Party agreement on zoning “is not new.”

“He and his political associates have persisted in rendering this untrue account of the evolution of the zoning policy of the party since they entered the race earlier this year. Our understanding of the issue, however, is that until August 12, 2010 when the National Executive Committee of the party approved a zoning policy, the party had none.

“Whatever existed before then was a whimsical arrangement among some party leaders that could not replace the provisions and guidelines laid down by the constitution of the party for decision-making and policy formulation.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the subsisting zoning and rotation policy of the party is: where an incumbent president dies in office, his successor shall, notwithstanding his zone of origin, be entitled to the rights and privileges of the previous occupant of the office, including the right to seek re-election. This is the policy enunciated by the NEC on August 12 and the agitation of Atiku against President Jonathan’s aspiration, which is in line with this policy, is in keeping with his knack for disrespect for the authority of the party.

“Let us be clear about this: Vice President Atiku’s endorsement by one of the numerous informal political associations in the country represents no serious challenge to the aspiration of President Jonathan because the PDP and its members are not looking for a sectional leader whose antecedent suggests he is an unreliable party man. A man who will abandon the collective simply because of a temporary setback is certainly not one to be relied upon as the party’s flag bearer.

“This in any case is subterfuge; an exercise in futility that will lead its participants absolutely nowhere because we are confident that in January, our party men and women will separate the wheat from the chaff.”

The statement said “Atiku has continued with the selective use of facts to contradict even experts’ opinion that the economy is being well managed and that the fundamentals of the economy remain strong.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/19807.html

Kilode?!:
I see your point. BUT

First, It shows there are too many things wrong with the Nigerian Constitution. The Federal Character law like Zoning, reads like an entitlement program that contradicts basic principles of equality and due process. So go figure, It's like an affirmative action recipe for disaster.

FC is one of the chief impediments to Nigerian Unity. It enhances and magnifies the differences we have. It essentially says that a Nigerian from say Kano cannot aspire beyond the allocated provisions for Kano state. It is a lazy, Dumb policy and the champions of this divisive and puerile principle are always the first to scream One Nigeria!

On Zoning; Why can't those who disagree with Zoning push to change the rules? It is laziness to jump ship everytime you disagree with people, We need politicians who can articulate their positions well, fight and influence those in their group to agree with them.

Zoning the presidency may be pragmatic for the PDP but it is a lazy policy/strategy because it limits the candidate pool and relegates merit to the background. But lets not kid ourselves, all Nigerian parties as far as I know practice Zoning, I'm aware that the AC/ACN as progressive as they claim do practice zoning down to the local Ward levels.

Also, IMO the Pro-Zoning side of the PDP have a stronger moral argument to make on this issue as I do not buy the OBJ camp's explanation that Zoning was not part of the PDP Constitution/Arrangement. They enjoyed the arrangement when they were elected and they are yet to take a case to court to challenge the constitutionality of that arrangement -which goes down to how Senators, Governors, Commissioners and even Ward candidates are chosen.

These I.D.IOTS they need to act based on their stated beliefs and quit playing bold-face games with gullible Nigerians.

Onlytruth:
@Marcdunu and koruji

I'm enjoying your arguments about Jonathan's Nigerian constitutional rights and the PDP constitution.
What I don't know is whether the right to contest elections is a FUNDAMENTAL human right according to the Nigerian constitution.

From the much I know, a criminal cannot contest for elections in Nigeria, but has a FUNDAMENTAL right to a fair trial in courts.

Therefore if the right to contest elections is a FUNDAMENTAL human right, then the PDP constitution is VOID to the extent of its "deviation" from, or inconsistency with the grand law -the Nigerian constitution. If on the other hand it is not a FUNDAMENTAL right, then the PDP constitution could enjoy a strong legal position in court.

marcdunu:
The PDP Zoning policy is only a selection method.
The Nigerian Constitution gives parties the right to elect, select or nominate any candidate of their choice.
If within the party's selection method they choose to include a power sharing formula or a pruning down mechanism . . .then I dont see how that tramples on anyone's fundamental human rights.
PDP is not saying anybody has lost their right to be voted for. They are only saying to prevent acrymony let have a system of power rotation that encourages fairness to all groups and ensures that at the end of electoral process people do not hit the streets engaging in ethnic fracas because folks of different ethnic groups or regions took part in election.
So the PDP Zoning formula is a selection method which majority of members of the agreed is how candidates should be chosen at different times.
It is a political decision which those who disagree with them can only leave the party.

Kobojunkie:
Can I say that is a moot point to make in this case? I say that because the word ZONING itself implies that certain candidates will not qualify especially when the office is being zoned to a region they do not belong to.
Let's assume for one second that the candidature is current zoned to the South East. Sure, a South Westerner may feel to contest but since he does not belong to the group the ticket will eventually go to, he is likely wasting his time contesting. So again, Zoning itself implies that candidates that do not meet the base criteria will probably never get the chance at the win, even if they contest.
It does not have to spell out the agreement in A B C for us to get it. The main point is zoning applies and so it is part of their constitution, no matter who wants to contest.
Agreed! But the Zoning law which stipulates that only candidates from certain areas can seriously contest is not unconstitutional. Other parties do the exact same. Many of our ministerial offices are zoned in much the same way so I don't see how we can now label the practice which is sanctioned by the constitution, unconstitutional at this time.

Me sef:
Monkeyleg,

Looking outside the PDP is looking for a needle in the middle of the ocean. I think people who are suggesting the implosion of PDP are the lazy ones. Here are my reasons for saying that:

1. Except we like to decieve ourselves, no other party has the reach, the structure and the financial muscle that the PDP boasts.

2. Checking out all the alternatives, no existing party is worth following! Yes, none. Tinubu's ACN is comprised of disgruntled members of the PDP and AD of yesteryears (Tom Ikimi and Co). ACN is not genuinely progressive. They are just waiting for the opportunity to give you a worse government than PDP especially as Tinubu's godfatherism holds sway there. APGA is too sectional to be taken seriously. ANPP is dying slowly because of intolerance and dictatorship of Buhari before they booted him out. ANPP is still directionless and being led by known losers like Ogbonnaya Onu and John Oyegun all of whom have lost relevance in their various states.

I think the wise thing to do is for well meaning Nigerians to penetrate the PDP and hijack it from the anti-progressives. PDP is a gold mine if the progressives can come together in strong force to depopulate it of these rogues parading themselves as leaders. If we (the progressives) would rally Jonathan and help him win the presidency, we might just stand a chance to outsmart all these guys for good because GEJ's temperament (i may be wrong here) suggests he might be inclined to teaming up with vibrant, honest and focus young men who will turn-around this country.

I may be wrong, but this is the only thing that seems plausible to me at the moment.

Kobojunkie:
The application of the word ZONING in this context sort of puts down your side of the debate though.  It may not be in the Nigerian constitution, nor spelled out exactly the way you want it to in the PDP Constitution but the fact that it is allowed in the constitution is what matters.

November 24, 2010, 11:19 AM EST

Nov. 24 (Bloomberg) -- The International Monetary Fund said Nigeria’s economic growth is expected to be “exceptionally high” this year thanks to a “strong recovery” in oil production and growth in other sectors.

Still “inflation remains stubbornly high and international reserves continue to fall as the authorities support the exchange rate,” W. Scott Rogers, the IMF mission chief for Nigeria, said in an e-mailed statement today in Washington.

The IMF recommended the country’s central bank “conduct monetary policy with a view to reducing inflation to a single- digit level,” according to the statement.

--Editor: Kevin Costelloe

To contact the reporters on this story: Sandrine Rastello in Washington at srastello@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Wellisz at cwellisz@bloomberg.net.

marcdunu:
In PDP internal affairs, the PDP constitution is the will of the many and is the primary law.

In the context of the PDP internal affairs the Nigerian Constitution is a secondary law.

marcdunu:
The PDP Constitution is not in conflict with the Nigerian Constitution because you do not have to belong to the PDP.
A State Constitution becomes void when in conflict with the Nigerian Constitution  because all within the State have right to live in their State as Nigerians and if the laws of the State tramples on their fundamental Human rights as Nigerians then the law must be changed because most times they have no where else to go.

A political party is a union of people who freely associate based on shared political values. You do not have to be a member, if you do not agree with them then you leave the association and form your own. There is no need associating with people you are meant to agree with only to turn around and disagree with them.

The Nigerian Constitution gives you the right to associate freely, but it is not the place of the Constitution to define how you must relate with your friends. If you join an organisation then you are bound by the rules of the organisation, when you no longer agree with the organisation and you believe that the organisation is trampling on your fundamental human rights. You can only quit.

It is not for you to use the Nigerian Constitution to impose the will of the few over the will of the many.

The Constitution gives Jonathan the right to run for election. He can pursue that right by leaving PDP. If he wants to remain in PDP then he should subject himself to internal PDP rules.

marcdunu:
South Africa works

Under Zuma they effectively hosted the World Cup.

The country is stable and their economy is growing.

What has Jonathan done? Depleted the foreign reserve, depleted excess crude account, promoting corruption.

Zuma was cleared by court of law, and yet you call him corrupt? Is this how you people judge others?

This is why an Atiku that is yet to be convicted by any court of law in the world is being branded corrupt.

Thanks for posting the pictures again though.

Atiku is headed for the Presidency. He is truly Nigeria's Jacob Zuma. And certainly better than the clueless GEJ.

L. KRavitz:
Donald duke for president say no to jonathan! he is a quack

marcdunu:
There is a difference between Nigerian Constitution and PDP constitution.
When you join an organisation you have a duty to subject yourself to the rules of the organisation. If you don't like the organisation then by all means quit.
It is like a tennant disregarding his tenancy agreement not to host noisy parties in his flat and claiming that the Nigerian constitution gives him the right to associate freely.
If you do not like the agreement you entered into then quit.
Jonathan should leave the PDP if he does not like the zoning formula.

Abagworo:
Nigeria is on the verge of being liberated from the PDP mafia.Jonathan's loss at the PDP primaries will be a first step towards that direction.

DapoBear:

Quote from: marcdunu on Today at 04:55:47 PM
Nigeria's Jacob Zuma is on the match again.

Just like we stopped OBJ 3rd term. Jonathan must be stopped. Rules are Rules; they must be respected. Incumbency or no Incumbency.

It is a silly rule. In what sort of godforsaken country can a man not run for office in some years due to his ethnicity? What type of moronic rule is this? Where else is this practice done? Shouldn't everyone in the land who is of age be able to contest for presidency?

Boboribo:
@Koruji
The singular problem I have with IBB bashers is that you sound as though all had been well with Nigeria before 1985 when be became Head of State and EVER since everything has gone gaga and will not be put right except the man suddenly drops dead. How can you in all honesty still complain about the man 40 years from now when you'd have had at least 10 different Presidents from 1993 till then.

IBB bashers are simply his Chroniclers and have simply refused to Chronicle Nigeria which is bigger than the man himself. It was very fashionable for Obama when he ascended the Presidency to heap all the ills of America on Bush until the American people somewhat spoke in the last mid-term elections.

My point is simple. Move on. The blame game is not catching on anymore.

The Jonathan/Sambo campaign organisation yesterday reacted swiftly to the accusations made by ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Mr. Sully Abu and Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi in a statement yesterday said Atiku’s allegation that President Goodluck Jonathan broke the Peoples Democratic Party agreement on zoning “is not new.”

“He and his political associates have persisted in rendering this untrue account of the evolution of the zoning policy of the party since they entered the race earlier this year. Our understanding of the issue, however, is that until August 12, 2010 when the National Executive Committee of the party approved a zoning policy, the party had none.

“Whatever existed before then was a whimsical arrangement among some party leaders that could not replace the provisions and guidelines laid down by the constitution of the party for decision-making and policy formulation.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the subsisting zoning and rotation policy of the party is: where an incumbent president dies in office, his successor shall, notwithstanding his zone of origin, be entitled to the rights and privileges of the previous occupant of the office, including the right to seek re-election. This is the policy enunciated by the NEC on August 12 and the agitation of Atiku against President Jonathan’s aspiration, which is in line with this policy, is in keeping with his knack for disrespect for the authority of the party.

“Let us be clear about this: Vice President Atiku’s endorsement by one of the numerous informal political associations in the country represents no serious challenge to the aspiration of President Jonathan because the PDP and its members are not looking for a sectional leader whose antecedent suggests he is an unreliable party man. A man who will abandon the collective simply because of a temporary setback is certainly not one to be relied upon as the party’s flag bearer.

“This in any case is subterfuge; an exercise in futility that will lead its participants absolutely nowhere because we are confident that in January, our party men and women will separate the wheat from the chaff.”

The statement said “Atiku has continued with the selective use of facts to contradict even experts’ opinion that the economy is being well managed and that the fundamentals of the economy remain strong.”

Another deadly cargo from USA
News Nov 24, 2010 By Godwin Oritse & Harriet Eramrerai
LAGOS— THE Tin-Can Island Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Command, NCS, yesterday  intercepted another set of arms and ammunition concealed in four vehicles in a 40″ container.

This is the third time in less than two months that security operatives would be intercepting and confiscating arms and ammunition in the seaports.

Speaking to newsmen on the development, Customs Area Comptroller, Mr Austen Warikoru, said  the vessel, MV Safmarine Texas, that brought in the container from the United States had since gone back, adding that the importer and the clearing agents had been arrested.

He also stated that the items had actually gone through examination and were about to exit the gate when a second examination exercise was carried out following a tip off.
Also found in the container with number UESU 456777-3 includes 1,431 round of live ammunition, two hand guns, a large military bag, and  two military camouflage wears.

He noted that the way the four vehicles were packed in the container, it was really difficult to carry out a proper examination externally.

His words: ”To be sure of the content of the container, we had to carry out a second and proper examination.”

He also said the seized items, the suspected importer, Mr Ume Uzoize and the clearing agent, Mr Ifeanyi Edom, have handed over to the Police for further investigation.

Meanwhile, operatives from the Nigerian Navy Intelligence have also intercepted eight illegally imported military trucks just as two person have also been arrested in connection with the import.

In a statement the Federal Officer Commanding Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor said that some of the seized items include a Chevrolet double cabin vehicle covered with a camouflage tarpauline spread neatly into a container.

“Inside the vehicle were some pistols, hundreds of live ammunition, bullet-proof jackets and military boots and sundry prohibited items.

“In addition, heavy duty military trucks used for the movement of troops and logistics were also impounded by the Command”.

He stated that the onslaught against these criminals will continue until they desist from the unlawful activities.

Kobojunkie:
Seeking re-election has little to do with justification. The man definitely has a right to run again. What you ought to ask is why the people would allow him come back again, or remain in that state after his term is over.

The Gambia has said it is cutting all ties with Iran and ordered all Iranian government representatives to leave within 48 hours.

Officials from the small West African nation gave no reason for the move.

But last month Nigeria said it had intercepted an illegal arms shipment in Lagos from Iran, destined for The Gambia.

Senior Iranian official Alaeddin Borujerdi has said the move was taken under US pressure.

The Nigerian authorities said they had discovered the weapons, including rocket launchers and grenades, in containers labelled as building materials.

The France-based shipping company CMA CGM which transported the shipment said attempts were made to send it to The Gambia before the Nigerian police seized it.

Mr Borujerdi, chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Iran's parliament, confirmed that a private Iranian company had sent the arms to The Gambia but said this was "in line with international laws", reports the official Islamic Republic News Agency (Irna).

Nigeria has reported the seizure to the UN Security Council.

Iran is under UN sanctions because of its nuclear programme and is banned from supplying, selling or transferring arms.

'Embarrassed'

"All government of The Gambia projects and programmes, which were [being] implemented in co-operation with the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, have been cancelled," the Gambian foreign ministry said in a statement.


The weapons seized by Nigerian security officials in Lagos included rocket launchers and grenades Correspondents say ties between Tehran and Banjul became closer after Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh came to power in 1994.

When The Gambia hosted the African Union summit in 2006, the Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was a guest of honour.

The Gambia has been among those developing nations who have defended Iran's right to nuclear power.

Charlie Zrom, who has published a paper on Iranian foreign policy for the American Enterprise Institute, a think-tank in Washington, says the move is a surprise and will be an embarrassment for Iran.

"Iran has sought partners around the world especially as sanctions have come on the table in the last few years," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.

"West Africa has been a key priority for them and we've seen a number of visits both from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and from the defence minister.

"It's a tool by which Iran tries to prevent measures harmful to it, or it believes harmful to it, being passed at the United Nations."

Correspondents say the decision to expel all Iranian diplomats will bring an end to several projects funded by Iran, such as the $2bn (£1.2bn) agreement to supply The Gambia with heavy and commercial vehicles.

The two countries, both of which have faced criticism over their human rights records, have had fairly close ties.

asha 80:
you think Amala has time to respond to court injuctions

Kobojunkie:
They need to get to the courts ASAP. No Pay since July?

Three Down, One To Go…
11.22.2010

Reputed as the ultimate strategist, Atiku Abubakar developed the “consensus candidate” idea to get his Northern opponents out of the way. The next man in the firing line: President Goodluck Jonathan. Imam Imam profiles the consummate politician who can be described as a cat with nine lives

From political wilderness to the Northern candidate. That sums up the most recent political journey of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who was yesterday named the consensus candidate of the Northern Political Leaders who are battling to wrest the presidency from President Goodluck Jonathan.

Atiku’s emergence as the preferred choice of the Adamu Ciroma-led committee underlined his shrewd mastery of the political game, considering the fact that not many gave him a chance to go this far when he left the Action Congress (AC) to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in April this year.

The Turaki Adamawa has over the years proven to be a survivalist, and his never-say-die attitude has defined his politicking. For one, he has had to battle for his political life since he publicly fell out with his former boss and president, Olusegun Obasanjo, when the two were still in power in 2005. Atiku’s differences with Obasanjo were practically transformed into a battle for the PDP, then led by Dr. Ahmadu Ali.

In 2007, after numerous legal challenges, he abandoned the PDP, a party he helped to establish, to contest the presidential election under the AC. He lost at the polls to eventual winner, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the PDP.
His effort to return to the PDP was earlier frustrated but he manoeuvred his way back and secured a waiver to contest the presidential primaries.

Many have attributed the idea of having a consensus candidate from the North to Atiku. He went further to have the members of the committee populated by his political allies who at one time or the other faced similar fate with him in their struggles within the PDP.
Atiku has based his campaign on five key areas: employment generation and wealth creations, power generation and infrastructural development; security, good governance and war against corruption; education, health and social services; and the Niger Delta.

Born on November 25, 1946, Atiku was the vice-president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He was an influential member of the PDP.
He attended Jada Primary School between 1954 and 1960. He was at the Adamawa Provicial School, Yola between 1961 and 1965 before he went for the Advance Level studies in Economics, British Economic History, Government and Hausa Language.
He was also at the School of Hygiene, Kano between 1966 and 1967 and graduated with Royal Society of Health Diplo-ma, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1967 and subsequently bagged a Diploma in Law in 1969.

Atiku joined the Customs and Excise Department in 1969. He served in Seme, Kano, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Ibadan and Lagos. He rose to the rank of Deputy Director of Customs. He attended courses in Leadership Management, Drug Enforce-ment and Control in Finland, Egypt and United States of America. He later went into private business after his retirement, with interests in oil services, agriculture, food and beverages, print media, insurance, pharmaceuticals, and education.

He first and most senior wife, Hajia Titi Abubakar, is an Ilesa-born Roman Catholic. They have four children and five grandchildren. Atiku has three other wives – Rukayat, the daughter of the late Lamido of Adamawa, an influential monarch whom Atiku served as a ranking nobleman of his kingdom; Fatima, a lawyer based in Lagos but from Kanuri in Borno State and the third, Jamila, formerly Jennifer Iwenjiora, an Igbo from Onitsha.

She was a television newscaster and attained her doctoral degree in the United States.  In all, Atiku has 27 children. The Turakin Adamawa was, as vice-president, a power broker in the PDP and the North in general.
In the first term of the Obasanjo presidency, nobody got anything in the North without having to go through Atiku, with the exception of Mallam Adamu Ciroma and Lt.Gen T.Y Danjuma who were appointed ministers solely by Obasanjo.
However, his disagreement with his principal and his defection to AC eroded his influence in the PDP which he is now trying to rebuild.

Despite his emergence as the consensus candidate, the general opinion is that most of the power brokers in PDP, especially the governors, are not well known to him.
This is where he will face a great challenge as he prepares to face President Jonathan in the battle for the PDP presidential ticket.

By Tunde Odesola, Ibadan   
Tuesday, 23 Nov 2010   

TEACHERS in the employment of the Oyo State Government will on Wednesday (tomorrow) hold a fasting and prayer session to seek God’s intervention against the Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s administration alleged “tendencies of oppression, discrimination and hostility.”

Teachers in public primary and post-primary schools in the state are to, among others, petition God over the non-payment of their July salary and “all outstanding and current demands of teachers from Oyo State Government” during the spiritual exercise.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers, Oyo State chapter, in a statement entitled, “Oyo Teachers’ July salary,” which was made available to The PUNCH on Monday, said the exercise was aimed at begging God to touch the heart of the state governor.

The statement, which directed all headmasters, headmistresses and principals to ensure compliance with the exercise, said the prayer and fasting session would take place at designated centres in the 33 local branches of the NUT in the state.

Signed by its acting state Secretary, Mr. S W Olojede, the statement said the decision to embark on the exercise was taken at the union’s standing committee meeting held on November 18.

It read in part, “The Nigeria Union of Teachers, Oyo State Wing, has directed all teachers in the state public primary and post-primary schools in the state to observe a one-day fasting and praying session in order to seek the face of the Lord over all outstanding and current demands of teachers from Oyo State government.
“The prayers session is further directed to assemble teachers at designated centres in the 33 local branches for serious interdenominational supplications to redress the tendencies of oppression, discrimination and hostility currently being suffered by teachers in all ramifications.”

Directing all branches to ensure proper coordination of the exercise, the union said the prayer and fasting session will commence simultaneously in the local branches between 12pm and 1pm.

“I urge all teachers to treat the prayer session with all sense of seriousness and must be emphatic on selected prayer points that will put the devil to shame and chain,” the union said.

Appealing to the Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala administration to urgently address the various demands of the union, the teachers lamented that the government had refused to conduct promotion exercise for teachers in 2007 and 2008.

Olaolufred:
When a mad man thinks soooo deep,
He comes up eating sand.
Claiming it is the best grains ever.
Think deeper and conclude better.

Big B1:
IBB doesn't need to steal.
IBB's main objective is to restore things in this country and leave a better legacy.
IBB completely understands Nigerians and clearly knows what Nigeria needs to move forward.
IBB knows one or two things about leadership.
IBB knows what needs to be done to empower unity among all Nigerians.
IBB has the respect, experience, knowledge and stamina to vigorously tackle all obstacles Nigeria is currently up against.
Believe it or not with what is currently on the ground, Nigeria needs IBB more than he needs Nigeria.

Goodluck is a total waste of time and ( a waste) of an incredible opportunity to bring this country back to the top.

I'm more than 1000 percent sure that Uncle Jonathan will not win this coming presidential election.
They can delay the primary election till 2012 if they want, but it is certain that the right man (IBB) will be elected as our new president.