₦airaland Forum

Na w Oooo... INEC

Fellow Nigerians, today is not June 12, 1993, but it has all the trappings of that fateful day. For those who may not remember, let me repeat for the umpteenth time, that was our most beautiful democratic day as Nigerians trooped out in droves to vote for a candidate of their choice. And it was a straight fight, but a battle royale, between Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the Aare Ona Kakanfo (a generalissimo) of Yorubaland and Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, a Kano businessman.  That election was epic because Abiola defeated his opponent black and blue all over Nigeria. 
As I write this I feel a deep sense of nostalgia. Chief Abiola was definitely a more popular candidate whose fame was well-known even in far-flung places. As such his opponent and the godfathers behind him were scared to their bones about the possibility of having a strong President who may not be easily malleable or readily manipulate-able. Thus all manner of hurdles were erected along a path of thorns for Abiola to surmount. All kinds of infamous associations and nebulous organisations came from the woods to oppose him and to make it impossible for the election to hold. Even on the eve of June 12, a judge still went out of her way to deliver a judgment that sought to stop the election in its tracks but mercifully it was ignored and promptly consigned to the dustbin of history.
Well, we thought the worst was over and didn’t consider the desperation of those forces we were duelling against. The election came and it was so well accomplished with Nigerians conducting themselves with dignity and decorum. It was the day we broke down our walls of Jericho and all the artificial barriers that divided us along ethnic and religious lines. No one would have envisaged the uncommon audacity of a few control freaks who felt Nigerians did not deserve such a glorious and momentous occurrence. As soon as it became obvious that Abiola was coasting home to victory, the enemies of change struck and what had come to be known as HOPE ’93 and its attendant mantra “Farewell to Poverty” was shattered to smithereens.
Unfortunately, our happiest day soon became our saddest nightmare. It was an act of unsurpassed oppression and we were told in very clear terms we were nothing more than slaves or lesser beings in animal farm. Nigeria was instantly teleported back to the Stone Age and it is my belief that we are yet to recover from that traumatic experience. I have had to repeat this tragedy of monumental proportions before history repeats itself in an even uglier way. I will explain my reasons shortly.
Let’s fast forward to 2015 and juxtapose the current election against that of 1993. Today’s event is expected to be a straight-forward battle between the incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan and a former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari. Ordinarily, the challenger should be the underdog but not in this particular match. In a reversal of fortune, for want of better depiction, the ruling party has been pummelled into pulp by a much stronger opposition. It is one of those mysteries of life that a General Buhari that most of us rejected and derided in the past has now become our cult figure. Indeed, if there is a rock star in Africa today, that man is General Buhari.  Such was the position that Abiola had also found himself in 1993 having come from being derided as an Islamic fundamentalist and a supposedly tainted moneybag to being touted as the Messiah of those times.
It is absolutely surreal that a General Buhari who had virtually given up on his perennial participation in politics and openly said he would not contest again is the same man facing a President Jonathan who had promised to spend only one term in power. That is not all; a much older General Buhari seemed to have gathered more momentum than a much younger President Jonathan. Furthermore, a man who was called unprintable names is now a walking super-brand, while a President who rode triumphantly to power under the effervescent slogan of Fresh Air is now the one desperately fighting for survival and clutching at one passing reed after another in an ocean where the current has been blistering and furiously against him.
But we have been warned by those who should know that a fully entrenched political party that has been in power for 16 years won’t go simply away of its own volition. The President is not necessarily the problem but the many acolytes who just can’t contemplate the thought of losing power and the endless lucre they continue to amass by being in the corridors of power. Their mind-set, according to impeccable sources is that much as they might have regretfully stomached and painfully tolerated defeat to any other opponent, they will never hand over power to a General Buhari because of his strong anti-corruption antecedents. Their fear is that this courageous and fearless warrior will not only haul them into jail, he will do the unthinkable by making them disgorge their loot leaving them with nothing to come back to after the ordeal of incarceration. This is why we must travel back in history to use as veritable example to those saddled with power and glory today.
When the June 12 election was annulled in 1993, President Ibrahim Babangida was not a candidate. The fear therefore is that if an election in which the substantive President was not directly involved could be so butchered what stops the candidate of today’s ruling party from attempting the same stunt. This is why all our men and women of influence, goodwill and great conscience should not just fold their arms today and assume that this cup shall pass over us without concerted efforts. The body language of those in power is ominously jumpy and nothing must be ignored or taken for granted.
This election must be free and fair. The acrimonious campaigns leading to this election has left no one in doubt that the hawks in the power conclave have taken over big time and only God can enter their hearts and calm them down. I believe our electoral body, INEC, has done its best. It is up to the politicians and electorates to make things work as planned. Despite the peace accord that has twice been voluntarily signed by the leaders, a portentous sign in itself; there have been skirmishes here and there. This may escalate from later today if care is not taken.
The major lesson to learn from June 12 is not how to win the election but how to manage the victory. The terminal error in 1993 was that Chief Abiola worked assiduously to win that election but did not prepare for any eventuality. There was no Plan B! The scenario on ground today is even more sinister and dastardly. We must immediately work out every plan possible.
The abuse of appurtenances of power has become too brazen. Our security forces have been polluted and dragged into the murky waters of politics. Both the Military and unfortunately, the President in his final election broadcast to the nation, have sought to intimidate, bully and cajole the populace with their control of the military might of the nation. The diction employed belongs in the military or coup day vocabulary, harsh, dismissive and condescending. There is no basis for an Army Chief or indeed the Commander in Chief to restate the obvious that the laws of the land lay down punitive measures for the few who breach the electoral rules and act with violence on or after election day.
Even a national State-owned television company that should be made available to all the candidates was hijacked and virtually monopolised by only one candidate and his governing political party. There should be a level playing field in politics. It would help to douse this tension and quicken the healing process post-election.
We cannot continue to run wild like animals in the zoo because of power and the perks of office. All the terrifying rumours concerning this election must be restrained and resisted to the end. We thank God that so far so good; the hawks have not had their way. By last week the impression was that this election might still be postponed, that Professor Jega would be sent on compulsory leave, that the card readers would be discarded, and all what not. At every step, and stage, there were serious insinuations about the credibility of the election and aspersions were cast on the government for its overbearing intervention in electoral matters.
Reports of wanton arrests of political opponents, allowing gun-wielding militants free rein on the streets of Lagos without hindrance from security agents has not helped matters. Again, the Presidential broadcast yesterday in which Dr Goodluck Jonathan promised to speedily apprehend and summarily deal with trouble-makers is as I have said worrisome because it was unwarranted as it is capable of misinterpretation. However, I pray God would give him the fortitude to do so across party lines. Once we can successfully conduct this election with minimal chaos, our next worry would be how to tame the many dogs of war ever ready to undertake any activity on behalf of their masters, whether they have been tasked with such opprobrious duties or not.
There is no doubt in my mind that it would really be helpful if the winner of the Presidential election wins convincingly. That would entail the following. Apart from obtaining the mandatory 25% in 24 out of 36 states, he must win the popular votes in at least four of the six geo-political zones. If the President wins he must take the lead in all the three zones in the South plus at least one in the North. If General Buhari wins, I would expect him to do so in the three Northern zones and in at least one Southern zone. I therefore expect President Jonathan to attempt a sweep of South South, South East and South West, plus one zone in North East, North Central or North West if he is victorious. I hope a winning General Buhari would lock down the North West, North East and North Central plus at least one zone in South South, South East or South West.
A situation where a Northern candidate wins only in the North and the Southern candidate is limited to victory in the South would make the winner very unpresidential. I can’t wait to see the candidate that would be able to cross to the other side of the regions in this particular election. It would also be exciting to see what happens at the level of the religious divide.
Religious affiliation has become a major factor, sadly, at this time and age. It wasn’t an issue in 1993 when Chief Moshood Abiola picked his fellow Muslim, Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe as running-mate and still won the election. It was less an issue in 2011 when Mallam Nuhu Ribadu picked his fellow Muslim, Mr Tajudeen Fola Adeola as Vice Presidential candidate, though they did not win.
Whoever wins today must demonstrate a capacity to carry people of other religious persuasions along. General Buhari should be able to garner substantial Christian votes in the South while President Jonathan should also be able to secure significant votes in the predominantly Muslim North. This would give everyone a sense of belonging within the polity. The present division along religious lines has become too volatile for any leader to remain in his cocoon.
My final wish for this election is that whoever wins should be magnanimous in victory and do everything to carry his opponent along.  The loser should also be noble and tolerable in defeat, provided of course that the election has been visibly free and fair! The reason for this palpable tension which now pervades the country is that fear of the unknown. A line of dialogue should be urgently opened in order to assuage feelings of persecution and oppression.
The last thing Nigerians want at this time of our existence is an election that is neither credible nor fair.  Happily the electoral Umpire has created an enabling environment to remove any doubts that it will be otherwise than free and fair.  Our politicians must not despoil this fantastic opportunity by trying to gain advantages by unfair, desperate means. As the President said in his election broadcast the whole world is watching us and it is high time the largest nation in Africa, indeed one of the largest in the world, took its rightful place at the upper echelon of the comity of democratic nations.
God bless our people.  God bless Nigeria.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/a-journey-back-in-history/205240/?utm_medium=twitter

I think some people need to go for brain scan

Wonders will never end in this Country. Anything that happens now in any State is cursed by Jonathan. A man can not in-pregnant her wife, JONATHAN… No good roads etc, JONATHAN.. I therefore ask a question, who’s responsibility, is to protect lives and property in the state? I guess some blind people we say jonathan becos the state Governor doesn't collect security Vote(Money)... It’s high time APC stop all these propaganda.

Wow

Nice One..... Transformation

Ah! BUHARI never fought Corruption . Buhari suffered from what ancient Romans called "TALLEST POPPY SYNDROME" #WeTriumphStill"

See who is talking?.... Boy Boy

Tinubu high blood pressure increase-- osun defender!!!
Arewa betray buhari- Chanji News(APC radio)
Jonathan to console Buhari with 5 Cow- Punch

One by One.....

May God deliver us from this power mongers who are bent on retaking power by all means.

Say yes CONTINUITY

AmucheJane:
Weather forecast for tomorrow shows is going to rain. So take your umbrellas along and leave your brooms at home. Vote wisely, Jonathan all the way.

Seconded.......

Your vote, Your duty!
Peace not violence!

Victory is Ours

WombRaiders:
Since the Catholic Church pulled out of CAN, there are no bombings of Catholic churches in the north.

The Catholic church is a den of ped0philles, homosexuals and satanists!

Guy watch ur mouth Ooo...

Mbaka again?.... The way this man is painting the church is not good at all....

NATIONAL BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR ON THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS,FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

 

 

Dear Compatriots,

As we prepare to go to the polls tomorrow, I have come before you this morning to express my immense appreciation for the opportunity you gave me to lead this great nation of ours in the past four years.
 

I also wish to place on record, once again, my sincere gratitude for the support you have given my administration without which the significant progress we have made in recent years would not have been possible.
 

In spite of the many challenges we have had to contend with since 1999, our present democratic dispensation continues to endure and grow stronger in keeping with the yearnings and aspirations of our people.
 

We have all worked very hard to nurture and strengthen our democratic institutions and promote the good governance practices which they were designed to deliver for the better well-being of  our people.
 

I believe I can say without fear of contradiction that we all clearly cherish the democracy we now have and will never willingly give it up for any other form of governance.
 

This much-cherished democracy of ours is about to be put to the test once again.
 

I urge you all to troop out en-masse to peacefully perform your civic duty of voting for leaders of your choice tomorrow.
 

As we do so, let us all – political party leaders, contestants, party members, party agents, supporters and ordinary voters alike, be very conscious of the fact that the eyes of the entire world are on us.
 

We must therefore comport ourselves in a manner that will further strengthen our democracy and consolidate our place in the comity of truly democratic nations.
 

 I made a commitment on assumption of office to progressively deliver freer, fairer and more credible elections in our country. In keeping with that commitment, the Federal Government has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) all necessary support to ensure that it conducts very successful elections tomorrow and on April 11.
 

We have all been assured that INEC is fully ready for the elections. I believe that we can all trust that they are certainly more ready now than they may have been before security issues and other concerns necessitated a re-scheduling of the dates for the 2015 general elections.
 

As an administration, we welcome the fact that millions of Nigerians who were yet to receive their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) as at February 14, and would therefore have been unfairly disenfranchised if the polls had gone ahead  on that date, have seized the opportunity of the re-scheduling to collect their cards and can now exercise their right to vote tomorrow.
 

We are also glad that our gallant Armed Forces have successfully stemmed the seizure of Nigerian territories in the North-East by the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
 

They have recaptured most of the communities and territories formerly occupied by the insurgents, making it possible for thousands of internally-displaced Nigerians to begin returning to their homes and communities.
 

I heartily commend the very courageous men and women of our Armed Forces for the immense sacrifices which they continue to make in defending the nation and protecting its citizens.
 

I also thank all Nigerians for keeping faith with us over the past six weeks.
 

I call on all political parties and politicians in the country to allow the free, unfettered will of our people to be expressed without any hindrance in the coming elections in keeping with the hallowed principles and tenets of democratic governance which we all profess.
 

The will of the people freely expressed through the ballot is the bedrock of all democracies and ours cannot be an exception.
 

Let us all therefore be prepared, as true democrats, to graciously accept the outcome of the elections as the rightful choice of our people from whom all political powers in our democracy must emanate.
 

My administration has done its utmost best in the past four years to deliver on our promise to positively transform our country.
 

Tomorrow’s election is another very important milestone as we continue our march towards the fulfillment of our God-given potential for greatness.
 

The election offers us another opportunity to empower leaders of our choice once again, and to show the world that genuine democracy is alive and well in our beloved nation.
 

I will like to restate my belief that no political ambition can justify violence or the shedding of the blood of our people.
 

I reaffirm once again, my personal preparedness to ensure fair play during the elections and to deploy the resources and institutions of state only in the manner prescribed by our laws.
 

Let me warn, however, that as President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am under oath to protect the lives of all Nigerians and the security of our country at all times. I will never abdicate my responsibilities in that regard.
 

Democracy allows dissent. It encourages differences and even fervent disagreements. But elections must never be mistaken for war or an opportunity to set fellow citizens against each other and tear our beloved nation apart.
 

 Those who may harbor any intentions of testing our will by unleashing violence during the elections in order to advance their political ambitions should think again as all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure that any persons who breach the peace or cause public disorder during or after the elections are speedily apprehended and summarily dealt with according to our laws.
 

The nation’s security agencies are also fully prepared and ready to deal decisively with any group or persons who attempt to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections or cause any form of public disorder.
 

 Our dear country, Nigeria is the largest democracy amongst black nations of the world. We are a nation of great accomplishments, with a proud history of evolving affinities.
 

Let us go out tomorrow to vote peacefully and set a fitting example of political maturity for other emerging democracies to follow.
 

I wish you all and our dear nation, very peaceful and successful elections.
 

May God Almighty continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
 

I thank you all.

http://www.punchng.com/news/full-text-jonathans-broadcast-message-on-the-general-elections/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

1.4 * #5000= #7000....
Jonathan........

sinkhole:
But news reports are not doing justice to the image of NA and Nigeria in general, why cant they say Joint Military Force captured Nigerian towns instead of saying Chad and Niger soldiers captured Nigerian towns? This is shame, they are shaming Nigeria!

It is not a shame... Just that in a game of war, everybody keep a score card.. In as much as peace return to the area.. I won't call it a shame to Nigeria

sinkhole:
Why is it always that it is only Chad, Niger and Cameroun soldiers that are always recapturing Nigerian towns, Nigerian soldiers seems to be doing nothing?

Nigeria army are working with them... Most of the information about Boko haram hide out is being pass to the other amry.. They now share information...

Theey don't want anybody to say that they are killing innocent people.. Remember: Attack to Bokoharram is an Attack to the North!!!

Chad and Niger troops have recaptured the northeastern Nigerian town of Gachagar from Boko Haram, as part of a regional offensive to combat the Islamist insurgents, Niger’s defence minister said on Thursday.

The operation in Gachagar, a town near Nigeria’s border with Niger, was carried out over the past few days and involved “air and ground bombardments”, Defence Minister Mahamadou Karidjo said.

He said there were “a few skirmishes” with the militants but did not give details of any casualties.

The troops will now redeploy to Malam Fatori, another border town, said Karidjo.

There has been contradictory information about the town, with Niger’s army saying that Boko Haram insurgents had regrouped near Malam Fatori and the Nigerian army saying it had the situation there under control.

Regional forces have gained ground against Boko Haram in recent weeks, retaking the town of Damasak, around 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the city of Diffa in Niger.

“Targeted air strikes have been ongoing for several days against the positions of Boko Haram in Nigerian territory,” an official from Diffa municipality said.

The jihadists made sweeping territorial gains in Nigeria’s northeast in 2014 but appears to have been weakened by the sustained regional fight-back since February.

There are fears, however, that the group, which recently pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, could target people during Nigeria’s upcoming elections.

More than 13,000 people have been killed and some 1.5 million made homeless since Boko Haram launched its bloody insurgency in 2009.

Mounting attacks by the Nigerian militants in neighbouring countries have led the African Union to endorse the creation of an additional regional force of up to 10,000 troops to fight the group.

http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2015/03/27/chad-niger-troops-reclaim-gachagar-from-boko-haram/

sylgreat:
I have done my screening. Make sure u hav all ur credentials. Expectially certificates and ur print out from net.what u will pay is just 3k for prospetus.. All d best. Sylvester civil engineering.

Good... Do you have any idea when the screening is going to stop and resumption date!!

Transformation!!!
Vote Goodluck Jonathan
Vote PDP...
ForwardNigeria

Should I call them coward?... I guess not.. If people keep running away from our collective responsiblity.. Then No one should complain because they are not readily to fix It!!!!

cyril10:
True word, Fashola should learn to speak with wisdom, He is running his mouth of recent without caution.

Yes he should, because..

The child that accuses his/her father of not grinding pepper right wants to hear about what sent his mother away from his/her father’s house...... That is fashola case!!!

Vote Goodluck Jonathan
Vote PDP
Transformation!!!!