₦airaland Forum

There are no jobs in Nigeria but at least don't hurt people

Some of these pageants in Nigeria are unarguably poor

Everything is fake now. This is Nigeria

About this period, four years ago to be precise I had gone to visit a notable politician and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. Politics was very much in the air then as is the case now, and my host was neck-deep in it all. He was a major grassroots politician and a man of experience who brought into party politics so much enthusiasm and elan.

I observed him at very close quarters and it was right to conclude that he was one of President Goodluck Jonathan’s unwavering supporters. Publicly, he gave the impression that he had held down his state, and even a substantial part of his region for both the party and the President.

He reportedly ran a strong grassroots political structure which included traditional rulers, students, market women, religious leaders and the ordinary people who on election day were expected to vote en masse for the ruling party and put the then emergent and assertive All Progressives Congress and its leaders to shame.

During election season, there are persons like that in every political party. They are the people on the field. They take reports to Abuja, give feedback to the party at the national level and shuttle between their states and Abuja. They attend every major campaign. They say the right things. They pump up party leaders with adrenaline.
When they do a calculation of the party’s chances and how happy the electorate are with the leadership, you would feel like celebrating even before the polls. The really talented ones among them are for the want of a better term, charmers or perhaps illusionists. This particular politician, who shall remain nameless, is experienced and talented.
READ ALSO: President Buhari speaks about 2019 elections, what Nigerians should expect
We got talking. He asked me: “Reuben, what do you think of the PDP’s chances in the 2015 elections?” I told him everything looked good and that the Party will retain its majority status in power. I reeled off the achievements of the Jonathan administration. The APC Challenge? I dismissed the APC as a party of propagandists. “Those people? They will win in a few states, no doubt but they can’t take the Presidency…”
When you are around politicians and you listen to them everyday, you are very likely to believe them and even begin to sound like them. Loyalty is also important, but this was not just about loyalty. I felt the President’s good performance deserved to be rewarded by the Nigerian people.

“I don’t see us winning”, my host responded. I was shocked. I almost fell off my seat. I wasn’t too sure that I heard him well. I asked what he meant by that. The party primaries had been concluded. Turn-out at campaigns was beginning to build up. The state Governors were all upbeat, or so it seemed. The traffic of politicians to-ing and fro-ing the Villa was so much there were hold-ups at the gate.

“We are going to lose”, my host repeated.

“How?”

“I will tell you”, he said. “I have been in politics for years, and I have learnt to study the art very well. I can tell you that five months before any election, you can easily tell if your party is going to win or not. It is not even a matter of analysis.
As a politician, you will know – from what the people say, from listening carefully to your followers, from watching the body language of the international community, and by just generally looking beyond the façade. I don’t see us winning.

“But the ruling party looks good to me or am I missing something?”

“Yes, you are,” he affirmed.

He then proceeded to offer a state by state analysis of the party, painting a picture of grievances over party primaries, the imposition of candidates by the party’s National Working Committee, a growing pattern of deceit, the ethnic and religious division between the North and the South, and how the PDP had lost many of its faithful members.

He went on:
“I don’t deceive myself. Many of those Governors you see who are promising heaven and earth, you will see that when the time comes, they will not deliver. There are many aggrieved persons staying back in the party who will not lift a finger to help the party.

The people who have been badly treated during the primaries, and they have been ignored, nobody is listening to them, they will claim to be working for the party, they may even collect money but from what I see, it is only if a miracle happens.”

“This is serious”, I said. “But sir, why don’t you take this up at the highest levels, since you are convinced that the enemies are within”.

“I won’t call them enemies. I think it is something even more serious. When people join political parties in Nigeria, they expect to gain something in return. They want to be rewarded. They may follow a leader but you have to settle them. I think the party and the government have been overtaken by the spirit of error.”

“Spirit of error?”

“Yes, spirit of error. I have been around long enough to know when a political party begins to fail and when it begins to lose the people, and even its own members. That is where we are, everybody is just making mistakes.”

A few weeks later, I saw the same man, back-slapping at party campaigns, hailing the President and other party leaders. I was confused. Obviously, I thought the spirit of error had disappeared and there was renewed hope for the party. I called the man aside out of curiousity: “Sir, what happened? Is there hope now?”

“I am a politician,” he said. “Every politician is an optimist. It is not over until it is over.” I didn’t get a chance to ask him again about the spirit of error. But his prediction turned out to be prophetic.

I believe that history is about to repeat itself in Nigerian politics. The ruling party, the All Progressives Congress is exactly where the Peoples Democratic Party was in 2014/2015. APC leaders are making exactly the same mistakes.

The PDP which appears to have learnt some lessons, is suddenly a re-energized party and with the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its standard bearer and Peter Obi as running mate, the same Nigerian people who thought the PDP was bad are now turning around to say the PDP should be forgiven.

All sleeping cells of the PDP across the country are suddenly awake. The umbrella is up again, the rope that tied the broom together is loosened

The success of the PDP in the last few months does not necessarily owe itself to any ingenuous strategy on the part of the leaders of the party, however, but more to the many unforced errors, and own goals, by the ruling party and its government.

The government at the centre has lost the plot. When these days, its foot-soldiers and spokespersons argue that members of the PDP are corrupt, the quick response by even the worst critics of the opposition party, PDP, is that they can’t see any difference between the APC and the PDP. Some even insist that the PDP is better. In three years, the APC has frittered away its goodwill.

The same international agencies and platforms that used to promote the administration have turned their back on it. Internally, the party has been overtaken by all kinds of little Hitlers who have no qualms imposing their will on others and trampling upon the letters of democracy.
much was put on embarrassing display during the recent Gubernatorial elections in Osun, and the party’s primaries across the country, but notably in Lagos, Osun, Rivers, Delta, Imo, Zamfara, Ogun, Oyo and so on. In 2014, five Governors walked away from the PDP. In 2018, many leaders of the APC have also taken a walk.

The PDP told its disaffected members –
“good riddance.” The APC is also singing the same song in 2018.

In 2014/15, the APC’s selling point was President Muhammadu Buhari. He was promoted as a nationalist, man of integrity and a reformed democrat. He promised to fight corruption and the people hailed him. They were tired of the PDP. They wanted change. Many believed in him as the messiah who will turn Nigeria around.

Close to four years later, President Buhari is now at that point where most Nigerian leaders find themselves, covered by that standard, unscientific excuse: “the good man who is surrounded by bad people, bad advisers and bad politicians.” The economy under his watch is slow and unproductive.

In three months the country’s debt profile has jumped from N22. 4 triilion to $73.21 billion and the country wants to borrow more. His administration usually blames the previous administration. Many Nigerians no longer consider that a good strategy. They are similarly skeptical about the war against corruption.
This last point is well illustrated by the recent announcement of a plan to effectuate Executive Order No 6, under which the government proposes to place a travel ban on some yet unnamed and undisclosed Nigerians. Under the Order, the government seeks to stop persons indicted for corruption from travelling abroad, and to attach their properties.

The argument by government spokespersons that they are relying on a judgement by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Abuja Federal High Court has been exposed for what it is: a lie, a ruse, an attempt to misinterpret the court, knowing that the judge is not likely to engage in a market-place explanation of its own ruling.

That was the same thing they did at the 2018 NBA Conference, when they said the rule of law could be violated and that the Supreme Court had given them the right to do so in the Asari Dokubo case. This is not good for the state of our law.

The Court was clear: the Attorney General of the Federation can apply Executive Order No 6, only through the instrumentality of a Court Order. By by-passing the Court, the Executive arm seeks to be the judge, the jury and the executioner in its own case.

It usurps the roles of the judiciary and the legislature, and serves notice of a return to dictatorship. The Order as proposed has been correctly described as a reincarnation of the notorious Decree 2 of 1984 and a violation of Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

The newspapers published a list of 50 names but the Executive has since announced that it has not published any list, but the people concerned know themselves. How?

The combined effect of this opaqueness is that the government has imposed a regime of fear on the people. A secret watch list which can be applied at will is an act of intimidation against the Nigerian people. It is reckless and unwise, because political intimidation is the worst, most brazen form of rigging! In an election season, it is scary.

As a strategy, it makes no sense. At a time when the President and his party need the people’s votes, an open subversion of the rule of law is not a good method of votes solicitation. Whoever chose this time to take Nigeria back to 1984, has only strengthened the resolve of those who are already whispering that a second term for President Buhari would translate into misery for Nigerians.

Executive Order No. 6, rather than further advance the anti-corruption war, has merely promoted fear and intimidation as instruments of governance.

This is one more major error by the Buhari government. I may see the need to visit that senior politician again to give me the benefit of what old men see sitting down, which younger men may not see even when they are standing.

https://newsdey.com/2018/10/1198603-opinion-the-spirit-error-nigerian-politics-by-reuben-abati-html/

A Nigerian lawyer and prince identified as Barrister Olanrewaju Bolaji Otukoya, has been imprisoned in the United Kingdom for fraud.
Otukoya, son of Oba J.B. Otukoya, Fiwagbade I, the Oligun of Ilugun, Ogun State, was said to have masterminded a £1.8 million (about N864 million) scam.

The 53-year-old, who was said to have initially skipped bail and fled the UK to Nigeria, was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment at the Old Bailey last Friday, October 12.

Reports say an operation led by the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU) revealed that Otukoya headed the Luton-based gang that committed fraud by intercepting cheques in the post that were intended for local businesses.
He failed to answer his police bail in July 2014 and absconded to Nigeria, but the UK authorities later traced him and obtained a letter of approval from a Nigerian court in April, 2018 to extradite him back to the country.
The prince was said to have been previously convicted for several cases of fraud.

He was said to have recruited two other members of the gang, Moshin Abbas and Anjam Shah, who were workers at a Royal Mail sorting office, to steal post containing cheques destined for local companies. The intercepted cheques were then paid into business bank accounts that were set up and controlled by Otukoya, using similar names as the target company.

During his trial, Otukoya pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud users of Royal Mail Postal Services.

Abbas and Shah had been sentenced in 2016 to four years and five years imprisonment respectively.

https://newsdey.com/2018/10/son-of-oba-in-ogun-sentenced-to-5-years-imprisonment-in-the-uk-over-n864m-fraud/

Calers:
This man should just resign.

This is Nigeria. He won't, not when Bubu be presido

A 46-year-old pastor, Joseph Lawson, on Monday in Lagos, appeared at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, charged with the theft of a car valued at N1.2 million.

According to the prosecutor, ASP Clifford Ogu, the accused committed the offence on Oct. 1 at Oko-Oba, Lagos.
He said that the accused ran away with a car belonging to Mr Chikwukadibia Udeh.

“The complainant approached the accused for prayers, the accused told him that God told him that he should bring his car and the document for prayers.

“The complainant obeyed and after the accused collected the car and its document, he was no where to be found.

“Efforts made by the complainant to recover his car proved unsuccessful and the case was reported to the police,’’ the prosecutor said.
Ogu said that when the accused was later arrested, he claimed to have sold the vehicle.
The offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Section carries three years jail term for stealing.

The accused, who resides at Surulere, Lagos, entered a `not-guilty’ plea to the charge leveled against him.

The Magistrate, Mr J.A Adegun granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties as part of the bail condition.

Adegun said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The case was adjourned until Oct. 29, for hearing.

https://newsdey.com/2018/10/pastor-absconds-with-n1-2m-car/

Senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu on Sunday, October 14, alleged that some corrupt individuals are using monies they acquired illegally to compromise their investigation and sometimes prosecution.

Shehu who made this known during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics earlier said those who felt that the federal government has made a big mistake to place the travel ban on 50 Nigerians being investigated for corruption are at liberty to approach the court.

He explained that the move was in the interest of concluding cases that have dragged on for too long “and held our judiciary captive”

According to him, “Everybody is complaining, the judiciary wants to move forward. People are using illegally acquired money and property, they are using this to compromise the investigation and sometimes prosecution and they are making it very difficult for our courts to function.”

Speaking further, the presidential aide appealed to individuals who got their wealth through corrupt practices to return such looted funds to the nation’s treasury.

He added: “It is in our interest as a nation. If it is your money, you take it home. If it is not, you return it to the treasury.

”https://newsdey.com/2018/10/1198289-people-illegally-acquired-money-compromise-prosecution-garba-shehu-html/

You got an idea for your website. See my signature.

People are dying and Bubu not doing anything

Can't finish the long epistle but Atiku must win. Let him win

Try mgids. They are good but not the best. At least you can customise the way you want your ads to look.
Their cpm is also ok. You know they consider Africa too unlike other ad networks

You may be interested to know more about Atiku https://newsdey.com/2018/10/the-man-atiku-abubakar/

Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer of the late military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, on Sunday, October 7, emerged as the winner of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) presidential primary election.

Al-Mustapha defeated 2 other aspirants to emerge winner with 3,564,262 votes, The Punch reports.

The two other aspirants, Dr. Imuetinyan Igbinnosa and Chief Isiaka Olorunnimbe, scored 2,183,856 and 1,400,755 votes respectively.

The chairman of the Presidential Primary Elections Committee and Ekiti PPN Chairman, Dare Adekolu, declared Al-Mustapha as the winner after collating results from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory at the party’s Presidential Primaries/2018 National Convention held in Ado Ekiti.

Adekolu after announcing the winner said:
“PPN has come to redeem Nigeria. PPN has come to save Nigeria from poverty, lack, unemployment and underdevelopment, hence the need for support.”

Al-Mustapha, who was absent at the convention, was represented by Zakaria Husseini.
He promised Nigerians good leadership and promised to salvage the country and put it back on the path of growth and prosperity

https://newsdey.com/2018/10/1196803-abachas-aide-al-mustapha-wins-presidential-primary-ppn-html/

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Governor Akunwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has reacted to the outcome of the Lagos APC primary.

He congratulated the winner, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on his victory. Ambode also thanked the APC leadership, national leader, Bola Tinubu, among other stakeholders.

His full speech below:
“Fellow Lagosians, the last few days have witnessed intense political activities that have gripped the attention of the nation and created palpable tension in the polity. I strongly believe that the time has now come for the State to move forward in order that the gains of the last three and half years are not lost.

”Dear Lagosians, APC is a great party and the interests of our beloved State must always supercede that of any person or group. It is in this regard that I wholeheartedly congratulate the winner of the Lagos State APC Primaries, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and urge all Lagosians to immediately support our party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 elections and work for the success of our dear party.

”As Governor, I will do everything possible to ensure a smooth transition in the remaining period of this administration and ultimately to the new Governor, come May 2019.

”I therefore appeal to all our party members that we remain one family and unite behind the candidate of the party, so that we can continue to move this state forward.

”The progress of Lagos state is non-negotiable. It is a project that I have passionately worked for in the last three and half years as your Governor and one to which I will forever be devoted.

”I wish to use this opportunity to thank our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the leadership of our great party at state and national levels, all party faithfuls and all Lagosians.

”I thank all Lagosians for their faith and trust in me. I urge you not to relent in your support for our party as we prepare for the General Elections.

Long Live Nigeria
Long Live Lagos State
Long Live APC
Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko, lo jewa Logun”

https://newsdey.com/2018/10/ambode-reacts-to-outcome-of-lagos-apc-primaries-congratulates-sanwo-olu/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has announced approval of a 90-day special window to register businesses at a reduced rate of N5,000 only from N10,000.

Laolu Akande, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, office of the vice president in Abuja, said that Osinbajo made the announcement in Enugu.

Osinbajo, who was quoted as making the announcement at the launch of the 19th edition of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinics in Enugu, said the special window of 90 spanned from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

He said that the gesture was to further ease the process of registering MSMEs in the country.
“It was observed during some of the earlier editions of the MSMEs Clinics that a lot of MSMEs were finding it difficult to register their businesses as a result of cost.

“The practice since we began the MSMEs clinics is that most agencies offer price reductions, especially for registration, and all other pre-investment approvals, during the clinics.

“So, I am pleased to announce that the federal government, through the Corporate Affairs Commission, has approved a special window of 90 days from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 to register businesses at a considerably reduced rate of N5,000 only, down from as much as N10,000 previously.”

He said the action was taken to afford more MSMEs an opportunity to formalise their businesses.

Speaking on other initiatives by the federal government designed to consolidate the gains of the MSMEs Clinics, Osinbajo said that the federal government would be establishing shared facilities for MSMEs.

He said that the facilities would be based on a partnership between the federal government, interested states, Bank of Industry, NEXIM Bank, FIRS, NAFDAC, SON and interested private sector partners, as part of efforts at deepening the impact of the clinics.

“The purpose of these shared facilities is to have a fully-equipped place with machinery and equipment required for various trades and businesses. MSMEs can then do their businesses at those locations at a reasonable cost.
“This way, MSMEs are spared the financial burden of having to buy their own equipment in order to be able to do business.

“Where possible, these shared facilities would have been pre-certified by relevant agencies, removing the need for MSMEs to pursue these certifications by themselves.”

He also announced the federal government’s willingness to partner with state governments in establishing more one-stop shops, to further enhance business registration and facilitate seamless interaction between owners of small businesses and the relevant regulatory agencies.

The vice president said that the federal government was also aware that some states had gone on to set up ‘One-Stop Shops’ after the clinics.

According to him, the one-stop shops will bring all the relevant agencies together in one place so as to enable the MSMEs access their services on an ongoing basis.

“The federal government is also willing to partner with your state government to immediately set up one such place for the good use of MSMEs in Enugu state,” he said.
Osinbajo also said there were follow-up plans to ensure that all the finalists from the maiden edition of the MSMEs Awards were supported with publicity and media exposure, to enable them to reach even larger markets at home and abroad.

He said that the ongoing disbursement of collateral and interest-free loans given to petty traders under the GEEP TraderMoni programme would soon be launched in Enugu.

Earlier in his remarks, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state said the state government had already keyed into some of the social investment programmes initiated by the federal government.

Ugwuanyi promised that the state would continue to cooperate with all federal authorities to improve the well-being of the people.
The governor expressed appreciation to the federal government for inaugurating the national MSMEs clinics in the state as it would greatly improve the lives of many youths, especially those seeking employment opportunities.

https://newsdey.com/2018/10/1195994-jubilation-fg-slashes-business-registration-fees-by-50-percent-html/

Any NPO or NGO looking for volunteers or interns?

Her nose like ninja turtles

Where are the Leagoo phones that lie about their battery mAH