chosen04:

Its appalling how you will hail Dora and attack a repentent IWU who just few days ago conducted a "fair" election in Anambra state.

Just like your heroine Dora repented after more than 60 days and started telling the truth, Iwu too has repented as evidenced from the fair (s)election he conducted recently.

Seriously, People like you should stop setting different standard for public servants.

Thats the quintessential Nigerian mentality . . . . . . . different standard for different people.

@Poster

What is refreshing about the above article? . . . . . Please explain.

rebranded:

You must be very silly for that statement!

You must be an imbecil.le for not understanding the essence of freedom of speech. . . . . Ewu!!

aisha2:

It will be pointless arguing with you bout several court judgements where Elections were overturned, the judges openly scolded INECs role in Election Malpractice so this whole Iwu is not the problem campaign is at its best ridiculus. If I write an exam and score myself 90% and half of those exams are declared wrong my my lecturers, do i scold myself or do i keep tellig myself that am not the problem and blame the system? Iwu set himself up for failure by bragging, several Court judgements have proved him the woirst electorial officer, he is a big part of the problem

I still dont get your argument against Iwu;however, I must tell you that Prof Iwu remains the best choice to oversee the 2011 elections. He now has more experience than any potential nominee that might replace him. A little correction to the mistakes noticed in just conluded Anambra guber election, which was widely accepted as free and fair election, would likely yield a well accepted general elections in 2011.

Also what many Nigerians dont know is that the man who oversaw the last Ghananian general election which was widely accepted by the international community has been in that saddle for 18 years. Before he conducted the last election that was widely accepted, he had also conducted elections that was widely condemned by Ghananians and the international communities;incidentally, his last election proved that the theory of natural selection also applies to human occupations.

Iwo must not go, he is not the problem of INEC.

Ndi Awka ekele m unu !! Ndi Anambara ekele m Unu!! Igbo bu Igbo ekelekwa m Unu !! Rie nu, muo nu, zucha nu, kacha nu!! Iseeeeeeeeeeeeee!

aisha2:

Talk is cheap, If he is stronger let him come and do a better job

Another imbecilli.c statement!!

nex:

Well, Jonathan is weak, but Chinua Achebe is a bloody cripp[/b]le! If he was so powerful, why didn't he become Nigeria's president so he could use his Things Fall Apart wisdom to solve all of our problems.


I used to respect this man so much, but if he continues like this, there will be nothing left to remember him by. This is the [b]same rubbish that Wole Soyinka has thrown himself into. Prescribing literary solutions to real life issues.

At your age, can you tell us what you have achieved in life with your pot belly stomach and F.ugly face . . .

I strongly believe that Prof Iwu will perform better than any novice that might be appointed to replace him. Iwu has accumulated the experience that would help him in conducting the up coming 2011 general elections;at least the just concluded Anambra elections was above average.

Iwu & Afari Gyan: Between Ghana & Nigeria Elections. Salmon Salami, Mar 29 2010 10:24am

I do not drink wine. But those who do have told me that wine matures with age. I still need to speak with my former teacher (in Ife) on this, since I was made to understand that he relishes cognac. And despite this he remains a master of its art.

It is so important and central to the mastery of any trade or vocation that rational human beings go for people with experience. Even in job placement or vacancy. Hardly will one see a vacancy for appointment (at least serious and competitive one) without mention of so – so – so year of experience. It is that serious and desirable. And it is more so, on issues of election and related matter.

Kwadwo Afari Gyan, the chairman of Ghana Electoral Commission has been in the saddle in the last 18 years. He conducted many disputed elections in Ghana. Despite the fact that many Ghanaians were dissatisfied with the conduct of many elections, they did not ask for the head of Gyan.

Unknown to many of those especially in Nigeria who wax lyrical on the successes of elections in Ghana the fact that Chairman of Ghan’s Electoral Commission has been in the saddle for eighteen years makes a difference.

Actually,the peculiar nature of the people of Ghana, and the political environment of it, coupled with the mind set, the temperament of the political class, and the desire of Ghanaians to invest in and sustain the. spirit and culture of intellectual inquiry Ghanaians persevered,kept faith with their electoral commission and its leadership.Today, they are perceived to have done better and they are reaping the fruits of democratic dividends. The reason for their releativwe success is simple;they nurtured the process of democracy with patience and decorum and the interest of no individuals was made to be more than that of Ghana.

It is sad to note that Nigerians lack this spirit and culture of intellectual inquiry these days. We are rather quick to condemn. We are quick to abandon just as we are impatient to go the whole hog in our bid to find lasting solution to our problems. We prefer the quick fix, which is no fix, approach.

Nigerians, a peculiar people with equally peculiar problems are always unwilling to allow the first eleven to take charge. We always prefer the back benchers. And unfortunately for the country, especially the political class, if truly there is one, they have not helped matters. We prefer to condemn than to proffer solutions to o9ur problem.

How,for instance can anyone still believe in the theory of mono causality. Or, how else can one explain the banal argument that the beginning of any electoral reform should be the removal of Prof.Maurice Iwu? This is nothing but plain pettiness and envy.

One agrees that Iwu’s critics have the fundamental and constitutional rights to free speech, as regards their crusade for Iwu’s ouster from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). But more than this how will Iwu’s exit automatically translate into a conduct of free, fair, credible and transparent election in an environment where the forces opposed to free elements are always on the rampage? How can any one call for a change in the management of the electoral process especially at this crucial stage of our democratic endeavour?

It may be convenient for many people to pretend today, but many factors are responsible for the problems that have always bedeviled Nigeria’s effort at conducting free, fair, credible and transparent election.
Such problems have been amply described as being institutional, internal, external and, to some extent, cultural. It includes the weak state of political parties and their lack of internal democracy, the poor method of selecting candidates, the troubled mind set of Nigerians about elections, gender inequality and, lack of true independence of INEC. These and many more are the issues that should engage the minds of the patriotic and discerning Nigerians. Our minds and attention should be focused on how to overcome all these outlined impediments rather than singling out one man and vilifying him. Denigrating Iwu, rather than doing hard – headed thinking with a view to strengthening our institutions is just a wild wind that blows no one any good.

Unlike any chairman before him, Iwu has indeed repositioned INEC,introduced several reforms and such that the institution is able and ready to deliver to Nigerians, a free, fair and credible election.

Several workshops, seminars, symposia and sensitization campaigns have been held in various parts of the country where election was the subject of discussion. His efforts have produced a reform agenda that INEC is currently pursuing. The reforms are meant to make the commission more proactive, transparent and efficient in its handling of elections. Already the results are showing, as in the Anambra state governorship election on February 6, 2010.From all indications, the 2011 elections and future elections, would benefit tremendously from the reforms Iwu has introduced in the electoral process.

Despite all his achievements and strivings, the professional critics and “never do gooders “would stop at nothing to get Iwu out of INEC. But for whose purpose are they doing all this?
If they could pooh, pooh the Anambra election which the now informed international Community described as satisfactory, the vocal minority claiming to have the monopoly of idea as to how to conduct election in Nigeria are, indeed, a desperate and unpatriotic lot.

Nigerians have a duty not to allow the group of implacable critics and self serving activists to plunge the country into another avoidable political crisis.
Iwu, to the chagrin of the unrepentant prophets of doom, conducted a free, fair and credible election on Anambra State because he has continuously researched into the problems bedeviling our electoral growth, and in the process, mastered them.

Unknown to many, especially the arm chair critics, the resounding success recorded in Anambra State and indeed during the numerous bye – elections conducted by INEC was a product of adaptive management style of Professor  Maurice Iwu-led INEC.Let he truth be told,Prof.Iwu is a visionary leader and a man of immense patriotic zeal. As at today, Iwu is the best hand in the land to man the electoral process.

His experience, dexterity, ruggedness and intelligence count and should not be discarded by the nation because of the interest of a few.

The National Assembly and the Acting President should extend Iwu’s tenure and allow him improve on what he has been doing.

The 2011 general elections are too close for a novice to conduct

Experience has no substitute. It is here that Iwu comes in. It is in the best interest of our country to extend his tenure.



•Salmon Salami, a media consultant, practices and lives in Abuja.

davidylan:

not really. For the first time Netanyahu is showing Israel can do without the backing of the US. All this is a smokescreen, Obama has no choice as Israel will never give up Jerusalem.

Exactly my point . . . . . .The Israeli defense minister was quoted yesterday saying that "Israel can always survive and protect itself without the support of any state".

dlox01:

now this tread has officially been closed coz you Eze Ndigbo has spoken, i heard it on the news yesterday that there shouldnt be anybody outside his land that is entitled to the name 'Eze', so, hope you are all satisfied??u hungry Igbo f$%ks on NL praying your family member steals tha title to cash in on 2011 elections!?!!!!!!LMAO, you Eze Ndigbo's of NL should go back to your land and kill him coz as it stands you guys are criminals and can be prosecuted for impersonation
IGWE_USA, hope u heari dont wanna see you with all your beads and jeweries behind bars

Rantings of a hopeless Yoruba knucklehead. . . . . Get a life homie!!

doyin13:

The thing tire me oo. . .

''The system is the fault'' has become so popular so quickly especially among
the politicians, you wonder if this form of self flagellation hasn't been aided by
public relations Nigerian style.

They want us to forget elections were successfully conducted under Professor Nwosu and
initially under Professor Guobadia in 1999. I guess there was no system in place
then.

By referring to the 1999 charade as a successfull election tells me that you might be pulling off some jokes.

mekusxxx:

Anyaoku should run as fast as his legs can carry him. The motor-park tendency of Nigerian politics will sully his image before you say Jack.

Exactly my opinion . . . . These evil men are always out to rubbish well respected Igbo technocrats. As I said earlier, the overall system is the cause of INEC failures and not Prof Iwu. However, if the Jonathan still want to appoint a new INEC umpire, there are alot of people from other tribes willing to accept the job.

@poster

Another imb.ecillic thread . . . Proundly name your tribe so that I would know where to start with you fool.

marvix:

What does Falana thinks he is in this country that will make him write to d presidency tellin them wat to do, if he is WABA president that is his prob, if evry Nigerian starts to write to tell d president to sack who and employ who where would we be by now.
Let's not 4get Falana was a candidate in the 2007 elections where he lost, is that d reason y he must ask for Iwus head @ any oportunity he gets. The person who employed d man said his tenure is not ova, then u who was not there wen they were apointin him u are now tryin to tell dem wen his tenure expired.
On d issue of Iwus tenure, he was not promoted to take over instead he was nominated as chairman and sent 2 d NASS for screening, so as xpected he got a new employment leta, just like if an individual was nominated from outside so he is entitled to his 5yr term as chairman INEC

My sentiments exactly . . . .I think that some of his actions are now becoming irritating,I guess he is still recovering from the shock of loosing an election.
Just few months ago, he wrote the NBA challenging their decision of denying him the Senior Advocate of Nigerian Award as if he was the only lawyer that failed to make it.

sammyzacks:

If the INEC chairman is Principled, the system can change. Just imagine Dora or Ribadu occupying the same seat, I don't think elections will be as bad as they have been. Believe you me or not, Iwu is a critical factor.

Was Prof Iwu the INEC umpire who conducted the horrible 1999 and 2003 general elections? I will make bold to say that Iwu will perform better than any novice that might take over from him because he Iwu must have learned from his mistakes.

Infact, for you to mention Ribadu as a better replacement gives me this feeling that you might be joking. It seems that you have forgotten how  Ribadu was used  to frustrate the 2007 election participation of opposition candidates. Also how many loyal PDP thieves were prosecuted through out his reign as EFCC czar? An answer to these questions will expose you to the truth which is that Prof IWU is not the problem but the faulty system .

mbulela:

since the entire system called Nigeria is faulty, should we suspend the rule of law and let criminals go scot free, close the courts, dissolve the police and retire all judges?
since almost everything is wrong with the country, lets just close shop and go home, abi?

You just hit the bullseye . . . It should be a case of "To your tents ooh Isreal".
Changing Iwu cannot solve the problem . . . .God will keep us alive to witness the next general elections ,and you will see the same people who pushed for Prof Iwu's dismissal would immediately start calling for the dismissal of the new Chairman who they advocated for.

I did not see how Netanyahu is endangering Isreal's security;infact, he is emboldening it. Isreal do not even need the support of USA to survive and defend itself in the Middle East. Obama is just playing to the democratic party gallery, Isreal still enjoys enermous support from Americans and conservatives.

Falana you can blow hot and cold to any extent that you deem fit, Prof Iwu will remian the chairman. Prof Iwu is not the problem but the system, even a new chairman will not perform better than Iwu in the upcoming elections.

monkeyleg:

Real prostitue that man, he really stands for nothing

Atiku made a nice move. . . .Why should he be wasting his time in AC that has the same MO as that of PDP.

Having gone through most of the opinions on this thread, I can only say that Nigerians are really weak when it comes to political analysis and predictions.
As for the ministerial lists, I didnt percieve any fresh aura emanating from it. The acting president just re-appointed the old beltway boys and girls who had been part of the establishment.
I'm also trying to figure out the reaon why PDP leadership of my home state, Anambra, deemed it fit to select Mrs Anenih using our slot. What is her political antecedants?In what capacity has she pushed the agenda of Ndi-Anambra ? I just see her appointment as a reward for the role she played during the failed OBJ third term project. It also shows that Anambra PDP leadership is bereft of ideas and good intention for Anambra peope.

SapeleGuy:

Fashola should clear his name or at least allow EFCC to do so. We don't want anything to get in the way of his VP ticket with Donald Duke.

The dude wont allow EFCC or any financial crime body to investigate him because he knows that the allegations againt him are true.
Why is he using the judiciary to block an investigation by his party memebers? I wonder what he could have done if he was the governor of Anambra state where all the house of assembly members are from the opposition party-PDP.
AS for him being a V.P candidate, he is already a loser.

RoadStar:

Once again it is very hard to support Obi without being verbose.
What were Obi acheivement in material.

You sound biased and contradictory.
Firstly you said you are not here for Ngige and the you go ahead to talk of Ngiges true colors.
You talk of Education, Health, Sanitation, Security ?
What of macro-economic indices, developmental economics and the likes. .
Any proof on such indices ?
And how Obi improved it.

Give achievements like this
Before Ngige, teachers were owed 9 months salary areas.
Ngige cleared them.
Pensioners were hardly paid.
Ngige cleared them.
The state of roads in Anambra was worrysome.
Even the blind cannot deny Ngiges impact.

Give me figures, facts and proof to Obis imapact and stop being evasive.
I am waiting for your indices

Every governor since the inception of Anambra has always used this misconception that Anambra was a poor state.
Ngige debunked the claim.
And you are trying to parade such a lie.

Anambra has always been a state undermined by the outright insincerity/greed of its citizens.
Unfortunately, it will continue to be so for the next few years.
With what I can see in towns like Onitsha and Nnewi since Obis inception.
Some people can still come out to praise the guy.
It just goes to show how bereft of expectation the people of that state are.

The above gibberish reeks of ignorance and I would encourage Emperoh not to dignify it with a response

Dr Kitaun:

Metal gong

U are d pusillanimous doofus that cant lead a meaningful protest against d judiciary, infact anybody with an IQ of a dog or swine should know dat Justice Abiru's judgement was FAULTLESS!

You are a dunce! ike ezi.

Sky Blue:

LOOOOL. Gosh too too too funy. Amusing to witness the air of enlightenment you are trying to portray on the whole matter, considering you didn't even know the supposed "wonders" the man was performing. How many times did I ask you to name ONE achievement? Please I mean no offence but you need to stop this, you might be indirectly embarassing yourself.

As I told you earlier, your question was a silly one and thats why I deliberately ignored it. Emperoh even wasted his time to pen down some of Okwute's achievements;predictably,you didnt disappoint me as you kept on asking him the same silly question.
You even asserted that Chime of Enugu is the best without naming any of his achievements.

@ Emperoh

I would advise you to stop wasting your time arguing with KOBOJUNKIE and SKYBLUE. These folks are really ignorant of the wonders Peter Obi ( OKWUTE ) is performing in Anambra state.

Peter means ROCK (Okwute) . . . Upon this rock, a new foundation is being laid in Anambra state and Nigeria. Ride on my citizen governor!!!

It is obvious that this Fashola is a latent crook.
Why is he using the judiciary to block an investigation of his government's financial activities? Unfortunately, some people are defending the undemocratic actions of someone who called himself the leader of a state.
Anyway, this is one of the things that separates Anambra state governor from all these rogue politicians.

Kobojunkie:


It is one thing to cheer someone for a well-deserved win and another to just offer undeserved congratulations. I understand the man won but is it really reason for anyone to be happy? Have we suddenly chosen to forget that this same man is reason why the state has continued to remain in the state it has for the past couple of years? Two years ago, th excuse was that he had so much to do, but I think the validity, if any of that excuse died a long time ago.

I am not in anyway pointing to election fraud, or trying to say someone else should have won. Peter Obi won, but what does that really mean for Anambra state? is it cause for celebration? I urge my people to start thinking hard about these things rather than allowing themselves continue to get carried away each time we get shoved yet another reason to drink more beer.

Stop contradicting yourself with the above gibberish. Peter Obi was re-elected in Anambra state because his is an action governor who had performed excellently.

On the otherhand, I would like you to spend more time questioning the reason why your governor ,Fashola, used the judiciary to block an investigation into his financial dealings with tax payers money. An answer to the above question would give you one of the many reasons why Peter Obi was re-elected.

Sky Blue:

Please spare me the diversionary tactics, they are embarassing and I would not dignify them. Return to the question please. What are Peter Obi's achievements? Or do you not believe in judging a gorvenor by his works? Why is he the best please, educate us. Just list a few of the outstanding things he has done, or is that too much of an ask?

Why wont a silly question be embarrasing?
How can you insinuate that my citizen governor has no solid achievement while the truth is the reverse.
How can an honest person be talking about judging a governor by his works whereas Ndi Anambra had thanked him for his good works by electing him for another four year tenure. Are there any other way to judge a politician rather than going through the electorates?
Are you wiser than the majority of the electorates who re-elected him and also his top political opponents who had congratulated him for a victory well deserved?
By grinding through the above questions, you would easily deduce the reason why your previous question was a silly one.

mikeansy:

I don't understand how anybody will conclude that because a candidate was voted in one state then he has better records than every other state Governor in South East?

Everybody knows that what won Obi this election is not his records in office but cynical electoral tactics. he did not even run on his records of achievement.
But I don't want to go there because elections are over and its time to move on.

But what I wont accept is the conclusion that because Peter Obi was elected in Anambra then he is the best Governor in SouthEast.
I don't understand the premise of that logic.

I was not surprised when I read the highlighted sentences. Infact, that was why I earlier made the audience to know that you and your preferred candidate, Soludo, are still nursing a political wound inflicted on you guys by Peter Obi.