₦airaland Forum

@KBrown, pls what is your point.
Tell us who you prefer as president of this your great country.
Your analysis is making me to prefer Buhari the more. I will prefer him to a president that will be pushed arround without foccus, I will prefer him to a mediocre.

Meanwhile, he is not the first millitary man to be president and your analysis are just predictive, no facts.

wesley80:
Another dumb thread destined for the front page!

Is that what u will say to the report of almost $600 million project?
Mr. Beaf, Your blind support for your master does not allow you to see errors where it's located.

Nsiman, sign in now, Oh sorry M-J-Blige & Wesley80 are still at work.
Beaf is becoming a robot, operating many laptops with diff Ids on a single thread.
A sign of prevailing moronic display.

I know one day Seun will do something about your case.
But Beaf, can't u post successfully without multiple IDs?
I'm linking it to INSANITY in your Brain Box.

Nsiman:
It is very unfortunate that most n.landers are duds (not dude). How do u analyse the possibilities of a candidate winning an election? U stay in your living room, fiddle your phone/computer and spew jagons. There are many possibilities for gej and the pdp to win the april polls. Leave prejudice to facts, tell us what makes u think buhari or any other presidential candidate will win the election in a semi one party state like nigeria.

Mr. Beaf, if u like u can also sign up with MJ Blige or Wesley80, To me BEAF remains Beaf.
You are always full of insults and rascal response for people that refuse to see things the way your eyes see it.

I join the group, GEJ has disappointed me.

This Beaf=NSIMAN=MJBLIGE=Wesley80 is an . Must you have 4 ID?
Do u know that u are making many NL members to hate GEJ the more everyday. You lack manner and u always try to be authoritative in your opinion. You are a bad GEJ representative on this site and you act like a software that specialises in converting friends of GEJ to his hardened enemy just by your approach, unguided statement and serial abuses when logical issues of national importance are being dealt with.

I know you will not see yourself like this but honestly you can only serve as a RASCAL PRO. That is the truth from the throne.

Meanwhile, Have u read this?

Senate Rejects Jonathan's Another Incompetent Nomination
« on: Today at 03:18:37 AM »
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-602389.0.html

Your man has fumbled again, He appointed a 72yr old retired judge as the Head of ICPC.
What a blunder?? Beaf, it's better u resign yur appointment. Stop disturbing Seun.

THEIR political future hanging in the balance, House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole and Ogun Governor Gbenga Daniel are begging their party’s leadership to save them.
They were in a fix yesterday, following the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the list of candidates submitted by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State.
The faction, whose primaries are recognised by INEC, is the one loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It has former military Administrator Gen. Tunji Olurin as governorship candidate. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Obasanjo’s daughter, is the group’s senatorial candidate for Ogun central.
The Daniel faction has Gbenga Isiaka as governorship candidate. The daughter of the late Chief Moshood Abiola, Lola Abiola-Edewor, is the faction’s senatorial candidate. Daniel plans to run in the senatorial race – a dream that has been dampened by the INEC hammer, following a court order.
His deputy, Salmot Badru, plans to run for a House of Representatives seat.
By implication, the Speaker has technically lost his nomination to return to the House and Daniel will not be able to vie for the Ogun East Senatorial District seat.
But Bankole and Daniel have rushed to the national leadership of the PDP to save their political careers.
Sources close to the Speaker and the governor said they were jolted by the INEC decision.
Although their faction was considering going to the Court of Appeal last night, there were fears that their application might not be disposed of before the April general elections.
It was gathered that the development forced all the affected parties to reach out to President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s acting National Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Haliru Bello.
A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: "The Speaker and the governor are in a very serious trouble because they are technically no longer PDP candidates for April general elections.
"The only option they have is to approach the Court of Appeal to save them. And given court records in Nigeria, their appeal may be decided after the general elections.
"This twist led to a series of discussions between the Speaker, Daniel and the PDP leadership yesterday."
The source added that the party leadership had already reached out to the President in Turkey, where he is on a three-day official visit.
It was gathered that the President, who is sticking to the rule of law, however, asked the PDP leadership to explore a political solution to the thorny matter.
Another stalwart of the PDP, who spoke in confidence, said that a political solution was being worked out.
He said: "We are working out a political option. Some of our leaders have agreed to prevail on the Speaker and Daniel to accept those fielded by Obasanjo’s faction, including Gen. Olurin as Ogun governorship candidate and the retention of a senatorial slot for Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello.
"As part of the peace deal, the Speaker and Daniel will retain their tickets to go to the National Assembly.
"If the Speaker and the governor accept the new formula, the PDP will be left with no option than to modify the list of candidates submitted to INEC, based on an earlier court order mandating the party to withdraw the previous list."
Asked how the governor received news of the INEC action, the source said he was devastated.
A source in the Speaker’s camp said: "Either way, Bankole’s mandate cannot be affected because all those who showed interest in his seat had withdrawn from the race.
"So, as far as the party is concerned, whether from Obasanjo or Daniel’s camp, Bankole is the sole candidate of the PDP for his constituency."
The two factions of the PDP in Ogun State yesterday continued to trade blames over the crisis of the candidates’ list.
While the Daniel faction blamed the Obasanjo faction of working in tandem with the opposition to sabotage the PDP at the elections, the Obasanjo faction described the allegation as baseless.
"The allegation does not hold water. It is akin to a lazy worker who is blaming his tools for poor harvest. Is budding politician Gboyega Isiaka also alleging that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) that issued a letter dissolving the Joju Fadairo-led executive is also being manipulated by the ACN?", Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, spokesman of the Obasanjo faction, led by Chief Dayo Soremi, said yesterday
He added: "Was it the ACN that issued the order of the Federal High Court, Lagos restraining Fadairo from parading himself as the chairman of the party and organising primaries and congresses? Was it the ACN that issued the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, invalidating the kangaroo primaries that produced Isiaka?"
Isiaka, in a statement by his media assistant, Bolaji Adeniji, said: "It is sufficiently clear that the Dayo Soremi group and their sponsors are agents of the ACN left in the PDP to reduce its fortune."
Gen. Olurin, whose name has been submitted by the PDP to INEC as the candidate of the party in the election, said yesterday that he owed his emergence to the rule of law.
"Right from the word go, the harmonised executive to which I belong followed the law and we have achieved what many thought was impossible.
"INEC’s action of rejecting the illegal list clearly marks an end to illegality in Ogun State PDP. It is victory for democracy and the rule of law," Olurin said on the telephone yesterday.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/web3

This film is becoming more interesting,
Oppositions dey laughhhhh oooo.

For your information, his name in Dr. Ogechukwu, Check The Nations newspaper of 2nd Feb 2011.

Dr. Sunny Ugochukwu was described as a businessman.
Check the profile of his and other VP here:

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/politics/26614.html

Sentiment apart, which pair is the best for the country, you can state your reasons.

What a useless thread,
@Becomrichm, when did u become clueless? Pls get your drugs.

BEAF=NSIMAN
What is your problem about other candidates against GEJ?
How many post per page by u for this topic? I know if it is the topic against GEJ, Beaf, you will be nowhere to be found. Like GEJ appoints Bianca as special adviser thread, You did not put a single post. Now it comes to Buhari, Your post is almost 25 on a page.
Get lost, You will lose with your PDP.
It has even started from INEC, get the newspaper and update your mental faculty. Poverty Development Party (PDP) is a gonner everywhere,

You can never hear that kind of package in Ogun State.
Hope you know why!!!!!

aguiyi:
am yet to see an opposition
buhari,dele momodu,ribadu etc are are just attension seekers.
ribadu failed for joining forces with the same tinubu he considered a rogue when he was at the efcc,dele momodu failed for joining a faceless party that has no office in major cities of the country and buhari has already failed for inconsistency and lack of convicing power while others just need compensation after the elections as they know they are heading back home after the elections

You can never see them 'cos they are not under the shameful and soon-to-tear up umbrella of inglorious PDP.
Behold, they 've laid an ambushment and your party, Poverty Development People(PDP) will soon be destroyed to the core,
No stone shall be left unturned.

Nsiman:
2day's pdp is different frm 2007's, alliance or no alliance pdp will win with clear victory

BEAF=NSIMAN, 'cos of their(PDP) advanced rigging techniques?
You've not learnt from Ekiti.
Delta's own was just overlooked 'cos of 3 month tenure for that Gov.

Dont always think the evil will always thrive. People's attitude to acceptance of rigging is also different these days.
You need to campaign better for GEJ if u want a win.

all wat u need is to leave dat house and never b alone 4 u not 2 b thinking of him.

This idea will definitely destroy ACN just like it did for AD during the days of Pa Abraham Adesanya.
If not for Tinubu who designed the AC platform, where will Baba Akande be today?
Imposition of candidate is just like employing somebody without proper interview, it reduces competitive spirit
and it makes the aspirants to think less about the electorates.
Chief Bisi Akande himself was a product of imposition b4 he became a governor. Then Iyiola Omisore was the financier of the party late in Bola Ige days. When they were launching the Party(AD), it was Omisore' Vehicles that were taking them round the southwest(Chrisore Engineering written on those vehicles). Then i was in OAU.
When the time came for the primaries, we were expecting Omisore to emerge when they just announced that a 63-man committee had met at Osun presidential Hotel in Osogbo to nominate Bisi Akande as the flagbearer and Omisore was to deputise. Because of frustration and other sidelining, he left AD to join PDP.
I love ACN 'cos of their unrelenting opposition but if this kind of trend should continue, I doubt their progress.

An Interesting and down-to-earth analysis, ,.,.,.,, So long, but only for the progressives.[color=#000099][/color]

By Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde
I present my esteemed readers this essay whose exceptional length I am guilty bound to acknowledge at its debut, but whose importance I will leave the impartial mind to acknowledge. I implore my readers to endure the length and carefully consider the logic of its arguments with an open mind.

The presidential primaries are over and the candidates are now known. On the one hand is the PDP and its candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan. On the other are three main opposition parties' candidate of ANPP, CPC, ACN, SDMP, NCP and NTP, Ibrahim Shekarau, Muhammadu Buhari and Nuhu Ribadu, Pat Utomi, Dele Momudu and John Dava respectively.

It can hardly be denied that the PDP and its candidate represent the unfortunate status quo. There is no need to argue on this. Whoever wants to squander his hope can argue otherwise. He can join the PDP train and I wish him a safe journey.


The opposition candidates are expected to offer change. But they are many, at least. They do not stand the least chance of defeating the notorious PDP behemoth unless they join hands and support one person. This is what informed the failed attempt of the opposition to merge into one party. The option of alliance, however, remains open and it seems that its main focus is between the ACN, which has the support and understanding of other parties like APGA and Labour Party on the one hand, and CPC on the other. One of their candidates, Buhari or Ribadu, is expected to step-down for the other.

The choice of who should step down for the other has remained a contentious matter. The general perception of the result is seen in exclusive terms: He that steps down has lost to the other who is seen as more superior, more popular, more favorably disposed to the electorate, more honest, and so on. He is the winner; the other loser. In this writing, I would like to deviate from this pedestrian thinking and suggest something that is different, where there will be no loser but winners on terms of both the candidates and the future prosperity of this country. I will try in the following paragraphs to put forward the premises of the argument that is inevitably lengthy.

First, perception is important. I will start with how I view the two candidates, Buhari and Ribadu. I see them as having similar orientation and record. They are like two brothers; one senior, the other junior. What puts both on the same pedestal before me is their records. Both are among the four people who have fought corruption in this country, the other two being the late Murtala and Idiagbon. I do not think any objective person will disagree with this. The record of my mentor Buhari on corruption is known and does not require any elaboration here. That of Ribadu, however, needs some clarification and emphasis. And to this I will now turn my attention for some moments.

Ribadu has fought corruption as EFCC Chairman, in addition to his less known similar roles as a police prosecutor. The gap which his absence created is acknowledged even beyond the shores of Nigeria. To appreciate his success, we need to factor in the circumstance in which he operates, especially if we relate him with Buhari. While Buhari fought against corruption as a military head of state with full powers of state during a period that had no existing constitution, Ribadu served under a constitutional government that accorded citizens freedoms of various kinds. Many criminals exploited those provisions through the courts whose judges were ready to grant orders that would frustrate their prosecution. We were witness to issuance of such orders and now the anti-corruption prince, as I called him in those days, had to navigate his way to success in spite of them.

More importantly, however, is the civilian dictator under whom he served and to whom he must refer cases for approval by law before he prosecute them. Despite this handicap, Ribadu prosecuted hundreds of cases starting with the then rampant '419' that earned a very bad reputation for Nigeria until he reached the high and mighty like governors and his very boss, former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun. We have seen thousands of police officers, army generals and jurists. Yet, few have surpassed Ribadu in his feat against corruption. If we are sincere, we will not find it difficult to place him in the league of those who fought corruption in this country.

One can just imagine what the fate of most of our governors would have been had Ribadu served as a head of state in a regime that is not encumbered with constitutional impediments like immunity and citizen's right. With an eye into the future one can as well imagine what he can achieve as a President in whose hand is entrusted not only the power of prosecution but also the command of the state apparatus of coercion. No objective mind can down play the manifestation of his courage and the determination of his pursuit in confronting the difficulties he went through, the risks he took and the dangers he faced.

Of course Ribadu did not prosecute every corrupt person for the simple fact that only God would have done so. Some say, why did not he prosecute Obasanjo in particular? How could he do so when he needed the approval of Obasanjo to prosecute any case? He was smart enough to realize the limitations of his office and the almost infinite power of the dictatorial President. He left that task to those that would come after him or perhaps, when time would be more auspicious. Unfortunately, that time was not offered him by Obasanjo's successor. Had he tried to be foolish during Obasanjo, he would have earned our applause, but the dictator would have crushed him and his EFCC, making the nation lose everything. We still have not stopped lamenting the fall of Buhari in 1984, a fact attested by our now decade long fight for his return.

Like Buhari, This record is all Ribadu has. Fortunately it has been acknowledged by many people in this country. It explains his popularity among civil society groups, the local intelligentsia and the international community."

The second property which he shares with Buhari is that he restrained himself from becoming a do-as-I-say preacher. There are of course the normal baseless accusations, which we expect to be propagated by those he fought against. The most popular one is that he has property in Dubai, just as I still come across writers who say that Buhari being accused of stolen $2.7 billion when he was the federal commissioner for petroleum in 1977! I laugh because I can claim that I know how dry the pocket of my mentor is. Buhari went to the primaries of 2003 with only N40,000 in his pocket.

The same thing with Ribadu. Can we compare him with any of Obasanjo's ministers though he has occupied a position that would have accorded him billions. One would need to meet him, see him and speak to him in order to appreciate this. But as the late Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman would say, anyone who sets out to fight corruption must be ready to face corruption because it will fight back. If Ribadu had anything like that, the Yaradua administration would have exposed him because it had the means to prove it and the power to prosecute him. It is in the absence of such evidence that it went for his persecution, including the despicable act of removing him and his family from the convocation hall of National Institite for Policy and Strategic Studies.

I will stop here and insert an email which reached me as I was editing this article and which I consider appropriate. It was written and sent to a friend by one Mr. Favour Afolabi, a lawyer from Lagos:

"While reviewing Ribadu, please remember that no one has ever accused the gentleman of collecting bribe! That is amazing in a country like Nigeria. While I was on a case at EFCC, one of his staff who was in the room the day he called his team to see the $15m cash that Ibori brought to him. The staff told me how till he dies it would be difficult to find someone else that he respects more than Ribadu. He described how the whole room were looking at Ribadu like he was a mad man. How could he be returning such monies meant for him as a person to the government coffers?

"It's IMPOSSIBLE for anyone to sell me that story of selective justice. What about no justice at all? EFCC despite all its flaws remains one of the things that generations to come would come to "fear" whenever they intend to behave funny; it has come to stay as an institution that has global acclaim; one that many third world countries dealing with corruption have not been able to rival; one that was built by Ribadu."

All I have attempted so far is to argue that Nuhu Ribadu too has a record of gallantly fighting corruption like Buhari though the circumstance and capacity under which each of them served are different. I have no doubt that Buhari himself, as a fair person, even in the competitive setting of this moment, would anytime anywhere attest to the anti-corruption record of Ribadu, something which, pitifully, many who support him cannot.

The next thing is to dismiss the accusation that I am equating Ribadu with Buhari, an accusation which some have labelled against me when I wrote my piece titled 2011: Jonathan, Buhari and Ribadu. Equality often does not lead to justice. In this case it is irrelevant. Though Ribadu is known, his goodwill does not match that of Buhari. He will be ready to confess this anywhere, I believe. But that does not mean that his record is any lesser. There are three reasons for this.

One, Buhari has the advantage of being a bigger celebrity by virtue of the higher office he occupied. Two, his memory has fossilized in our psyche given that his record has remained in our brains for almost twenty years before the arrival of Ribadu. Thirdly, Buhari joined politics before Ribadu and he did so especially at a time when the nation was under one of our most corrupt dictators. In contrast, Ribadu until recently was a public servant. It is not surprising therefore that Buhari has more goodwill especially among the masses than Ribadu.

So if we cannot base our argument on differentiating the two in terms of popularity, on what then can we successively persuade Buhari to concede the ticket to Nuhu? The answer, ironically, lies mainly in the goodwill argument we mentioned above.

Buhari has built a goodwill in this country which few, if any, can match. This goodwill is purely the product of his personality, not his handsome face or tall figure. Around this very rare personality have for many years rallied people whose dream of fighting corruption is not beclouded by mundane primordial considerations. What will be required to build a similar goodwill will be enormous in time, chance and effort. If we miss him today, I am afraid to say, we will miss that goodwill because, to my knowledge, he has not so far made any plan to share it or transfer it to someone. All avenues for doing so proved abortive or blocked in the past.

Tunde Idiagbon would have been one person who would have easily shared it with him today, undoubtedly. But Tunde died in 1999, just as the civilian administration was taking off. Even if he were alive, Tunde, the mentor of Ribadu, would not have been interested in politics. But he would have been in a better position to broker a deal between the two.

Buhari would have also transferred it to the governors of his former party, the ANPP, had any of them proved to be equally interested in transparency. Unfortunately, none of them could live to his expectations. Shekarau would have been one in his own right, but the unfortunate differences that developed between the two leaves no love lost between them.


Now, we have the golden opportunity for him to do so in a manner that will immortalize his name. Here is someone with the same traits like his, twenty years younger than him but matured enough by all Nigerian standards to lead, given the age records of most previous leaders. He is older and has served the nation longer than most of them as at when they came to office. The condition for the transfer is also as ripe as the circumstance is suitable. Ordinarily, Buhari would have invited Ribadu to join politics even without the latter indicating any interest. That is why I am not surprised to learn that when he heard Ribadu was aspiring for the presidency, he encouraged him after acknowledging his record in fighting corruption. When this is considered in addition to their previous linkages, we will happily realize that there seems to be more ground in the minds of the two for concession than there is for the desire of their parties to align.

The logical question that would be asked here is: why would not the junior come and follow the senior, deputizing for him or serving under him as he served under Obasanjo? This is where it is necessary to bring in other elements of the argument.

If Ribadu and his party will concede the ticket to Buhari and CPC, the benefit is just that Buhari again is running as a candidate and there is every chance of their opponents hoodwinking the south into believing that this is a northern affair. This may lead the south to rally around Jonathan.

Two, Buhari would then be vying to only occupy a seat which he occupied more than twenty five years ago with nothing new but new challenges; it is the same goal he has unsuccessfully attempted twice before. The possible outcomes here are three.

One, in line of the past two attempts, he loses the elections, especially when the south rallies behind Jonathan and the election is rigged as expected. This will be one sad outcome because hardly would the alliance opportunity present itself again in future between southern parties and a northern one; and even if it does, I doubt if Buhari, given his then age of 74, will be interested in contesting for the fourth time or able to convince Nigerians of possessing the strength to withstand the exacting rigor of transforming Nigeria into a transparent nation.

Two, if he wins the elections, the risk is even higher to him personally and to the aspirations of the nation generally. He may succeed or fail in his attempt to transform the country. If he succeeds in transforming Nigeria, it will be difficult for anyone to step into his shoes because the goodwill differential will just be too big. But many would readily argue with plausible reason that success in transforming the country by Buhari cannot be guaranteed. So it is important that we do not become blinded by our wish. So let us consider also the third possibility, that of failure.

The failure of Buhari to transform Nigeria meaningfully will be one of the most disastrous things that would happen to this country. It will wipe out any sign of hope and destroy any lingering aspiration. We have fired our last shot, the looters would gladly say. You see Nigeria cannot be salvaged, they will argue. Depending on the magnitude of that failure, as it is with the nature of man, Nigerians will start to develop a nostalgia for PDP days just as the Children of Israel longed for Egypt after their rescue from Pharaoh. Buhari himself would then not live any longer as a happy person. His failure will smash all his past record. God forbid.

I am compelled by two things to entertain the fear of his failure should he win the Presidency. One, age is not on his side, right now. Few people in history were able to transform their countries from the precipice at the advanced age of 70 and beyond. None of us can repeat at 70 somethings he did at 42. We see it even in the manner we manage our homes. We saw our parents become less and less thorough with age such that hardly did our distant juniors attain the home training we received. This is not a shortcoming on their side, may God shower his mercy on them, but an outcome of natural law. With advanced age, the ability of the body to replace aging cells with new ones of equal vigor declines; organs become weaker; and the body would require rest more than it will tolerate rigour. The result is a decline in achievement which means reduced efficiency and poor performance.

The heart, which philosophers describe as ever young, defies this reality and continue to exact the body with onerous responsibilities. It is left to the prudent mind to disobey it by realizing the declining potential of the body and behaving accordingly. The famous Shata at around 70, just about five years before his death, confessed to his friend Wada Nas the effect of aging on his output. He said: "Wada, cikin nan akwai waka, amma tsufa ta zo", meaning, "I have many unsung songs but for old age." This is the epitome of both wisdom and valour. Thus the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was reported saying, "God bless his servant who knows his capacity and operated within it."

So the Buhari we know today is certainly not the same as the youth who came to power in 1984. The latter exists only in our memory and wishes. Nobody could be physiologically and psychologically the same person after thirty years; and both are important ingredients of leadership especially at 70. This is the plain truth. This brings us to the second reason for my pessimism. It explains why as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the CPC he is finding it difficult to make the party live to our expectation. Some people say the same problems exist in other parties. But I would contend that if that is the case, why form the CPC then because Buhari would have as well joined the PDP if he cannot found a party that is different from others. If he were the Buhari of 42, he would have had the required strength to checkmate so many things and make the party really different from other parties. Those who are dissatisfied with him should be fair enough to ascribe to this factor any shortcoming they might have noticed in the conduct of the CPC. He has to rely on others who, unfortunately, are widely accused of not living to his principle.

I have heard many people foresee that if Buhari becomes the President the same CPC trend will manifest itself in the manner he will manage the affairs of the nation. I am not in a position to dispute them since I cannot guarantee the nature of the people that will work with him as ministers, advisers and heads of government agencies. I do not see many around him now and I doubt if there are some out there waiting to be called to service if they cannot offer their services to him during this hour of need. What I can assure Nigerians is that if he succeeds many would rush to him in a Tsunami that will not allow him the time to separate the chaff from the grain. The result of that situation will be disastrous.

The argument of age here is of the scientific genre, very different from the opportunistic "new breed" concept that has helped to destroy this country in the past two decades. I am not advocating Ribadu simply because he is younger but because he is young, matured, sufficiently experienced and similar to Buhari in character. Otherwise, I would have simply advocated the position to be given to Dr. Tilde!

But even if Buhari has remained as he was in 1984, the factor of time would create some problems for him. Our big brother may not be used to the sophistication of today as he was used to that of the seventies and eighties. The crooks he knew in 1984 have been supplanted by more sophisticated and merciless ones of the 21st century. This is not to mention the difference of the two systems - military administration and democracy - a line along which many have argued before me.

We are now in a better position to present the advantages of Buhari conceding the opposition ticket to Ribadu. One, the nation will not lose anything if he does so. In fact, it stands to benefit more because of the synergy that will allow the younger Ribadu to tap from the experience of his elder. The elderly advisory role is what would fit Buhari more than the exacting role of the President. The experience of the two will thus be organically fused, improved upon and handed over to future leaders thereby ensuring continuity, that is hoping that my friend Ribadu will open up opportunities to many young ones from various parts of the country among whom he will identify and elevate the promising. Nothing could be more beautiful than this.

Also, the failure of Ribadu during the election would have less consequences than that of Buhari because he will have more opportunities to attempt later than would Buhari. The damage of demystification as well as the chances of regime failure due to age or suitability would also be much lesser since Ribadu's experience in fighting corruption is almost up to date.

However, notwithstanding the importance of the above advantages, I am more fascinated with the beauty of the goodwill argument. Endorsing Ribadu would transfer the enormous goodwill of Buhari to someone who would keep it alive for many more years to come, thus saving the nation the energy of cultivating someone separately. Buhari must not die with his goodwill, in short. Even if we do not succeed this time ousting the corrupt regime at the centre and Buhari is not around to compete in the next elections, Ribadu can continue with the blessings he accords him now through the endorsement. The talakawa who now shout his slogans would be assured of a trustworthy successor.

More important than my fascination with the goodwill doctrine is the contribution that a Buhari concession will make to the political stability of this country. It will be the first time the northern masses would vote for a party with roots in the southwest because the southwest has also fielded a northern candidate also for the first time. And if a government is formed, it will be a government headed by a northerner under a ruling party that is largely southwestern. The two most contentious opposites in Nigerian politics would finally merge. The benefits in terms of political stability are obvious.

Finally there comes the humorous cultural argument of an elder with his junior brother who were presented with a food ration of one person, which in the case of an office is not a cake that could be shared. The elder is expected in all cultures to concede the meal to the younger one. And if they were to eat from the same plate, he would not scramble with the younger brother over the last morsel; he would concede it to him. Only then can he proudly walk with his shoulders high because of the altruism he exhibited. But if the elder brother would appropriate the only available ration to himself or squabble with the junior over the last portion of the meal then his estimation as a fair person will be greatly severed. What if it were a task to be undertaken? The able young is naturally expected to come forward and carry it out on behalf and to the delight of his elder.

These are the reasons why I strongly feel that Buhari should concede the ticket to Ribadu. I will not be surprised if the man on the street finds these reasons complex for his understanding, just as I will not be surprised if people with his mindset among the elite attack me for advancing them. I will leave such minds with the lazy stereotype arguments that Ribadu has served under Obasanjo (just as Buhari served under Abacha) or he is now sent by the former dictator and Jonathan to divide northern votes. The North can disprove Obasanjo by rallying around Ribadu with the approval of Buhari and pulling the votes of the progresssive south to an electoral success. Let Obasanjo attempt to test the resolve of a Ribadu president.

This campaign of smearing Ribadu among gullible Northerners which some elders are sponsoring is self-destructive to the country and to the North in particular. These youths may be destroying an asset that would be handy tomorrow. How many Ribadus do we have among the Nigerian elite? Those behind these campaigns do not possess half the record of Ribadu in transparency when they were in public service. After all, they were the architects of PDP, of its zoning principle, of shoving Obasanjo to power, etc. Why would they now use us, whom they oppressed, against Ribadu? They should focus on mediating talks between him and Buhari, not making one their scapegoat.

As a defense, I must say that the mettle of a writer does not lie with the popular but with the courage to differ from it whenever the need arises, for writing will be of no use if it will only parrot street views that it is supposed to guide and moderate. And no nation will advance beyond its present if its elite cannot think beyond the common regardless of the condemnation that might visit them.

I therefore intended my argument for the refined mind that would put reason before sentiment and has the courage to abandon the conventional for the novel that would preserve the good in the present, guarantee better opportunities in the future and lessen the chances of susceptibility to damage or exposure to risk. It is this refined mind that I hereby task with the burden of understanding my thesis and, thereafter, convincing the common minds within his reach using the simpler language for which I readily concede that I am not sufficiently gifted to display.


http://saharareporters.com/article/why-buhari-should-concede-ribadu

.,.,.,.,.,.,
Meanwhile, the INEC is expected to pay the family of the slain Corp member a sum of N700, 000 compensation, in line with the package announced by the Commission, under a group life insurance scheme it arranged shortly before the commencement of the voters’ registration exercise.
Professor Jega had a press conference he jointly addressed with the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Ismaila M. Tsiga disclosed that the insurance scheme taken to motivate corps members for patriotic service to their fatherland.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission has taken Group Life Insurance with comprehensive coverage for corps members, other ad-hoc staff as well as regular staff who will participate in the Voter Registration exercise and subsequently in the April elections.
“We believe that we have to do everything possible in order to motivate, to encourage and to inspire people to give their best for their country. And we believe that with this additional facility that we have taken, we will get our corps members and students in the tertiary institutions as well as our staff to give their best under any circumstance.
“There is perhaps no monetary compensation that can be considered adequate for this kind of national service. But still, we can only provide monetary compensation in accordance with budgetary constraints,” Jega stated shortly before disclosing that each corps member was being insured for N700, 000.
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2011/jan/19/newsbreak-19-01-2011-001.htm

Makes some sense, but i feel adequate security provision will be okay.

@Gbenga77.
You really dissappointed me, I got no point in your post.
Excuse me pls.

@marvix^^^^
I love your response, at least you are not attacking others' ideas & opinions like Beaf.
I really love GEJ sense of ruling and would love him to continue, BUT
I dont love his party, partymen and associates, i mean his mentors(u know them). PDP has totally dissappointed the masses and that is why we need to change our taste.

Take for example, I see no hope for our electricity under PDP led govt 'cos many of the major diesel importers
in Nigeriaa today are their Party Financier. They donate billions for the party whenever the need arises. U know the millions of litres of Diesel that will be left unbuy & unused by various industries when the electricity is okay. There4 they will never want their income source ceased.Three govt led by PDP(OBJ, UMYA &GEJ) have spent nothing less than $5.5billion on electricity without result. That is how PDP will continue to deceive us, unless there is a total change. For me(IMO) the presidency shoul shift to other hands, not PDP again no matter who is bearing their flag.

@ BEAF, your silence is a sign of defeat, talk now abi you don't have any sensible response?
i don't like IBB too 'cos of his past deeds but not to the extent of feeding people with fake, attention seeking and junk news all because u want them to see GEJ as the best. He could be the best but you are reducing his chances in people's mind through your overzealous campaign. Take heed!!!

Experience? What do we use experience for in the presidency today other than to steal, to kill
and to destroy erected structures, Follow me;
OBJ left about $65Billion in the foreign reserve and more than $30billion in Excess Crude Account, maybe he was thinking that the succeeding govt will embrace building of infrastructures which he did not cherish in his time. He handed over to 2-term governor of Katsin State(''experience''), i.e Umaru Musa Yaradua. $65 billion began to reduce while ECA's $30billion was been shared every month till date. What benefit have we gotten, has our electricity improved or has the money been used by the so called experienced people to reduce unemployment rate? You may not believe this; that the road network constructed, pened up or repaired during the millitary is far more than what has been done in this civillian regime(not saying millitary is okay to rule).
the fact is that RIBADU can rule this country better than many of these so called looting experienced leaders. It is the strategy that matters.
Fashola was a former Chief of staff b4 becoming a governor. He was never a councillor or a chairman of a local govt.
Advisory committee also matters in governance, a good result can come up when corruption is kept at the bearest minimum.
Gowon ruled this country when he was 27yrs old.
Let's talk of strategy and not the looting skills called POLITICAL EXPERIENCE.!!!

A man needed to clean up the rotten system.

In our very presence, truly, rigging phase one.
something must be done fast,
Prof. Jega, Over to you.

Yes, by his careless utterances and unneccesary criticism without points.
He is not the only presidential candidate against GEJ, but he beleives that the more he critcises his party man, the more acceptable he'll become,   oh Negative.
An adage says 'when you sell you relative cheaply, you can never get him bought back even in higher price'.

His utterances are just showing how low his IQ could be. He doesn't speak like a leader at all times, and you know what?
the more he criticises GEJ(a president from same party) the more i hate PDP. May be that is the way God want to get rid of the undelivering party in Nigeria.

What is your view?

Atiku is just an empty barrel that always like to make noise.
i pity his supporters like @krendo on NL.

Atiku is clueless to be my president, he is too open mouthed thinking he can just vomit anything, reply anyhow or adress the press anyhow in the name of  criticism.
I'm not sure he is still in PDP.

http://www./2010/12/sikiru-ayinde-barrister-is-dead.html

Alhaji Chief (Dr.) Sikiru Ayinde Ololade Olayinka Balogun (Barrister) is dead. He died this morning at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London after a brief illness

jabbok:
And they say Sanusi is lying . . . . . . . . Legislooters!

The only obstacle towards a free and fair election in 2011 is Jonathan. With his ambition of do-or-die as his father OBJ, we will see more automatic tickets in the coming days. Lord be our saviour

What concerns Jonathan with the Reps passing the bill? Are u responding to the post or u are
responding to what is disturbing your mind about the chances of your other fake friend's 'consensus' candidate in PDP. Concentrate abeg.

@ stranger
Stop the hatred, you have no points.
I'm not an ACN member, but dont deny the fact that The fear of Tinubu in the whole Southwest mainly and Nigeria in general for PDP is the begining of Wisdom in politics..

Haba, stop the hatred.

Blazay:
An educated presidential aspirant at last.

In his own dream,
Wake him up.