As one who is from Rivers state, I can confidently beat my chest to posit that should there be a re-run governorship election, PDP will still win the election. My position is predicated on several variables that will work in PDP favour, amongst which is thus: quick and prompt payment of workers salary and pension benefits to pensioners in the state, the grassroots appeal of PDP and the last but not the least, Rivers people wouldn't want a governor that that will swivel to the whims and caprices of former governor Amaechi. In the history of Rivers state we have never had a governor that was remotely controlled by a so-called godfather behind the scene.

[quote author=rockafela post=37721582][/quote]

Why can't you guys show circumspection and maturity? Must you guys always resort to lampooning yourselves as a way of driving home your points? CC: Rockafela, mrkels.. meanwhile why was I mentioned in your tantrum against mrkels? For purpose of clarity I go by the moniker mrkel not mrkels. So take note.

Mhizkel:
MrKel

why was I mentioned on this thread? Cc: Mhizkel: plz clarify.

Churches in the right sense of it ought to be sited in isolated area where there is less human concentration. It is only in Nigeria were there is no clear-cut measures to fragment our city into residential and industrial area. It is wrong for churches to be erected in residential areas with high population density. The noise that is generated in the course of their activity is enough to make sane minds to lose their sanity.

einsteino:
hmm i feel this is a breach of the civil service law. The accountant general is a civil servant and can only be relieved of his job when he attains retirement or is found wanting. in the case he is found wanting, he should be officially queried and be brought before a disciplinary committee. anyways APC taught PDP how to witch hunt.

The governor nay President have right to relieve, retire or sanction permanent secretaries and the Accountant General. Of course you're aware that the Accountant General is at par with Permanent secretaries in ranking. Now to the question, Permanent secretaries and Accountant General are appointed at the discretion of the Governor. Ngozi Abu's predecessor was demoted to Director of Finance and Supply and subsequently posted to Ministry of Culture and Tourism by Amaechi. His crime was that he was appointed by Gov. Celestine Omehia.

Mr. Ngozi Abu was not even the most qualified DFS nor the highest ranking. The only reason he was appointed was because he worked as the DFS of Rivers state House of Assembly when Amaechi held stint as speaker for eight years. It was his closeness to Amaechi as speaker that culminated in his appointment.

And just so you know, the Rivers state government is the employer of all civil servants in the state and as such have right to relieve any one it so desire who isn't adding value or will be a cog in the wheel of progress of the government in power.

Gov. Sule Lamido is assumed innocent on all the charges preferred against him by the EFCC until proven guilty by the court. He was merely remanded in prison custody pending the hearing of the substantive suit. I believe by the next hearing his counsel will apply for bail for him and his sons. And the court, no doubt, will grant his prayer on self recognition.

CC: ishlove, lalasticlala... This article will be found very interesting by Nairalanders. Kindly move to front page please.

STRANGE ‘FIRERS’ AND ‘FIREES’

BY FUNKE EGBEMODE

As far as I know, and was taught, God was very clear on who should ‘fire’ who and how ‘firing’ should be done. He, in fact, provided the ‘firing’ equipment. However, in the last 10 days or so, this simple and specific contract has been receiving variations and I am distressed. From America to Germany and Japan, the definition of who should fire who and how has been modified in different courts, making me fall further out of love with the wig and gown, bar and bench. In America, the Su­preme Court ruled that it is now fine and proper for a woman and another to walk down the aisle and say ‘I do’. Irrespective of what the state laws say in the 50 states that make up the United States of America, two men can now exchange mar­riage vows and rings.

Writing the majority opinion, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy said that “by virtue of their exclusion from that institution (mar­riage), same-sex couples are denied the constellation of benefits that the States have linked to marriage. This harm results in more than just material burdens. Same-sex couples are consigned to an instability many opposite-sex couples would deem intolerable in their own lives.”

Fine, I’m not an American and I ought to leave Americans to sort out themselves and their choices. I should be focussing on the Tambuwalisa­tion of the National Assembly and its attending ripple effects but Nigerians tend to love American things and we look at that country as if only good things can come out of there. Well, folks, this is one bad thing we cannot and should not copy. This is one cul­ture we should not allow to infiltrate our sanity and space. Let us leave it with them. It is their thing, let them savour it and live with its pleasures and pain.

The thought of two men getting married, when it’s not making me feel like breaking somebody’s nose, makes me want to throw up. How ex­actly is it supposed to work out in bed. I’m imagining two men in bed; they kiss, run their hands over each other’s bodies, touch where and where? I’m stuck there. And when it’s time for the grand finale, one puts his nozzle in the exhaust of the other, because men don’t have tanks? Ok, let me break that down. When a car drives into a filling station, the petrol attendant puts his nozzle in the tank, never in the exhaust pipe, fills the tank until the car is blissfully happy and ecstatically in cloud nine. Isn’t that what happens all the time? Right, that is also what happens when a man and a woman are in bed.

The nozzle and the tank are in place to do what they were designed to do. But with two homosexual men, that nozzle will have to make do with the only opening and that is in the rear. And it is an exhaust, designed to take things out, not to take things in. I just heaved a sigh here. So, how do you use the exhaust as tank for years without some­thing untoward happening? I’m talking about the wear and tear, the type that kills an ‘okada’ used to carry killed cow from the abattoir. Those ‘okadas’ don’t last long. Is it that male-male couples don’t do it as much as female-male couples? I’m wondering if you can use that rear place consistently for 20 years without hefty damage.

The female-female couple leaves me even more confused and sick. At least, with the boys, there is a nozzle and an illegal entrance. What will the girls put in their two empty tanks? Don’t even bother with the intimacy gadgets explanation be­cause normal couples use them already these days. You don’t have to be Pam and Eve to enjoy them. So, did I miss something?

Let’s go to the logic of those who say ‘gays are made like that’. Like how and by who? By God who ‘made them male and female’, decreed that ‘a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife’ and ‘they should go and multiply and cover the face of the earth’? Are we talking about the same God and the same maker? The God who made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Madam or Adam and Steve? How is it that this God decides to make a few creatures that will go against every grain of creation and the principle of the Garden of Eden? How is it that God who made the tank, the nozzle and de­signed them for procreation is the same one who made these ones who cannot make anything? Are you as confused as I am or you understand that god who said sperm in the anus will bring forth babies?

I understand that evil infiltrated the factory line somewhere. That is why we have serial killers, serial rapists, nym­phomaniacs and paedophiles. Those are mental, psychological challenges. There are health facilities for them all over the world. If a man hears voices that tell him to kill every policeman he sees, he’s called a cop killer, right? How is a serial killer or paedophile a criminal then? They are made like that too. Yet we send them to prison. Why do we want to cuddle those who are a threat to the earth’s existence? Yeah, that’s what gays are because they cannot multiply, make babies, replenish the earth. If we all become gays, who will make babies?

Then this: why is it that a man who wants to marry a man and put his nozzle in an unproductive exhaust pipe also wants to have children? If they are made like that, they should leave those of us who are made to put the nozzle in a tank keep our children. Those who want to fire the exhaust should expect smoke, not babies. Nothing good grows in the anus because a growth in that re­gion means trouble . A male firer whose ‘firee’ is a man should be contented with the way ‘he was made’. When a woman who should be fired becomes a ‘firee’ of another woman, she should not come looking for an adoption agency, sperm bank or surrogate mother to get what her god did not create her to have.

People, let’s get to work and protect our seeds, children, proceeds of our legal firing equipment and effort from these people from another planet. We promise to attend the naming ceremo­nies of whatever they produce from their exhausts pipes, if we can stand the smell.

On a fine last note, I love Zimba­bwean President Mugabe’s conclusion: Even Satan wasn’t gay, he chose to approach naked Eve instead of naked Adam. So, who created these strange firers and firees?


http://sunnewsonline.com/new/strange-firers-and-firees/

As my Bayelsa friend will always say back then in school: "the boy is good, the boy is good, you must show working". Meaning to get a girl and keep her under your government you must invest in the relationship by showing visible working. The truth till remains that money is the lubricant that oils every relationship to the path of sustainability.

America is not signatory to the Rome Statute that gave birth to ICC. So to that extent the ICC has no locus to trial American citizen who engages in crime against humanity.

adioolayi:
Sudan’s Minister of Information says President Omar al-Bashir has
now left South Africa.
The case on request to arrest him for alleged war crimes, however,
continues.
Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, was in
South Africa for the AU Summit.
Details later…
http://www.punchng.com/news/bashir-flies-out-of-south-africa-court-case-continues/


Yes, the President as committed many atrocities, but it is unjust for SA government to hand him over to ICC on their own soil...if ICC want him...they should arrest him in SUDAN...
American soldiers did worse in Afghanistan... Iraq and the likes, not a single soldier has been prosecuted by the ICC...scallywags!

Traditional rulers are under the payroll of their respective state government in Nigeria. Beyond that traditional rulers also benefit from largess from coys that operate in his domains. Some traditional rulers are government contractors.

Traditional rulership succession these days are given to men of substance who have already carved a niche for themselves economically.

Kachisbarbie:
Someone should educate me, no harm/insult intended at all.
Is this man on Federal payroll? Or is there wealth in his lineage, I just wonder where he gets money to service his lifestyle and wives.

The baba and his wives they ball big time.


hahahahahahahahah...hehehehehehehehe
You are funny. You just opened my eyes to see their resemblance.

I didn't know that Mr. George Turneh's belly has swollen to this extent. The dividends of wacking NDDC money. Mr. George Turneh is the special adviser to the MD of NDDC on youth affairs. I believe it is from his facebook wall the op must have taken the pic.

Ymodulus:
He claims Jonathan was a good president. Yet rather than get an Innoson Vehicle as his official car. He got a foreign brand Range Rover Evogue. So much for transformation.

I Hate Transformation, I love Change!!

Too sad, Wike is for Patience Jonathan and Patience Jonathan is for wike. River State indigenes are doomed. They are lucky, that this doomness will not last long before they

see the light of Dakuku Peterside.



-Ymodulus
"I am for everybody; And I am for nobody. - @MBuhari. #EagleSquare #DemocracyDay #NewNigeria"

Keep living in Alice's wonderland of illusion. If you like don't take a reality pill to come to terms that Dakuku isn't smelling Brick House. The Tribunal you guys are hinging all your confidence in isn't father Christmas that award unmerited victory.

soe:
Dakuku Peterside will be to Nyesome Wike what Chibuike Amaechi was to Celestine Omehia

Mark my words.

6 months from now

You must be living in Alice's wonderland of illusion to posit that Dakuku will become the governor of Rivers state in 6 months time. My brother you really need to take a reality pills so you can stop this your mosquitoe induced dream that will NEVER come to pass.

12345DKO:

Akala succeded because he was in PDP which was the ruling party then at the centre, thus had federal backing with all its machineries.

Then Rochas Okorocha who also dissolved all the Local government in his state upon assuming office did same because he is a member of PDP, shebi? Many of you on nairaland are not grounded on the goings-on in Nigeria politics. You only come to this forum and display high level of ignorance. Who makes laws for the LG administration? Is it not the state house of Assembly. The state house of Assembly also determines the lifespan the LG should stay in office. In case you don't know, the LG is under the state. Am surprised that the op cited Lagos state as example where their allocation was ceased to buttress why Wike can't dissolve the 22 jokers garbed as LG chairmen in my state. You also forgot to inform us what led to the action by OBJ's government to cease Lagos Local government allocation.

NgeneUkwenu:
These are the reasons why Wike will not dare to dissolve the newly elected LG Chairmen without going through the tedious route of the Judiciary.

1. Rule Of Law: Barring any unforeseen circumstances, May 29th will mark a Turning point in Nigeria's nascent democracy, when the amiable and people general Muhammadu Buhari will return to power the second time. Buhari known for his strict adherence to Rule of Law will not condone any act of brigandage from Nyesom Wike or any of his lieutenants, and wike will not like to dare him either. Whatever it is wike feels about the election should be channeled through the court just like Peterside Dakuku, his main rival in April 11 election was advised to do.

The Police and Lawful Order: Just like the first point above, No commissioner of police Under the government of Buhari Post May, will be willing to carry out any unlawful order that is contrary to the Rule Of Law. So Wike's hope of using the police or the military to effect the removal of the LG Chairmen will collapse on his head.

Tinubu's Treatment: Should Wike goes ahead to square up with Buhari's commitment to the Rule of Law by unilaterally dissolving or removing the Local Chairmen, I am sorry, Wik e will have to make to do with State's allocation to fund the local governments, as the statutory allocation for the LG will be kept in a special account pending when normalcy and legitimacy returns to the LG.

Absence Of Jonathan and His Wife: Wike may have been used to the life, where he gets everything arranged, fixed and cornered for him, owing to the impunity in governance of his "Jesus of Okrika" and her husband are noted for. This time around, he will have adjust to a new life, where his supposedly enemy, the Lion of Ubima, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi will be fully and firmly in charge of the "home affairs". So no cover for the "Wicked" here!

The Law Of Karma: In a saner Clime, person like Wike would have been cooling in himself in one of the dilapidated prisons dotting our land, pending when the State DPP finish preparing his murder charges. But hell no! This is a Nigeria of PDP, where murderers, Drug Peddlers, thieves and ex Convicts are rewarded with public posts to keep them afloat. Or how else could one best describe a situation, where someone who has been universally adjudged to have benefited from the worst electoral process in Nigeria, in which more than 94 Nigerians were alleged to have been killed, coming out to say he was not going to accept a mere LG election, because his party was defeated or he was not allowed to make use of the State machineries?

Consequently, with above points in mind, there is no way, Wike should unilaterally contemplate of dissolving the newly constituted LG authorities without recourse to the Rule Of Law by going to the court to seek redress.

Article written by Miss NgeneUkwenu:

The fundamental question we should ask ourselves is whether the local government election was conducted in line with laid down rules. Which voters register did Rivers state Independent Electoral Commission use in conducting the said election? After the election, are we not suppose to have tribunal to entertain cases of those who are aggrieved with the outcome of the election? Has that been done?

Who told you Wike is afraid of Buhari and for that reason will not dissolve the sham called LG election that brought in the 22 jokers as chairmen? Let's watch and see. As a true Rivers man I know for a fact that the LG election will not stand. The same way Amaechi dissolved obio/akpor LG council under Hon. Timothy Nsirim, it is in the same measure they'll dissolve the sham called Local government election.

You're indeed a Sharp dude

Taylor86:


no mind d akpa amu

woman no fit come my house 3 times i no fvck am

unless say as a guy i dey for period

natnoble:
Wike d favourite to lose at d tribunal.

Wike will still win again if the election is re-conducted. The tribunal is not a father Christmas that will award outright victory to the APC. We shouldn't pre-empt the outcome of the tribunal ruling. APC has no place in Rivers state.

Sweetguy25:


Did Buhari win because of his manifesto? Or due to propaganda and lies?

Nice question bro?

Point of correction. Wike is from Obio/Apkor LGA while Gov. Amaechi is from Ikwerre LGA.

saintgp:
if apc couldnt win in ikwerre l.g.a(s) at least they should have share the seat with pdp considering the fact that wike is also from there.....but for labour party to display apc,smh,obviously goes to tell hw irrelevant apc/ameachi is to even his own people.....

Am sure the should b tagged as being politically "clueless"just like gej is usually tagged.cos despite all the money he invested on apc,it stil couldnt help him.quite pathetic.

What many people do not know is that Lagos state governorship election was also rigged. Despite the noticeable poor voters turn out in the election, yet the total number of voters in the said election was put at a million plus.

Is it that invisible marine spirit from the lagoon also queued up and voted during the election in Lagos state? Am surprised that people are not raising eyebrow.

Now to Rivers state, Amaechi has never won any free and fair election in his life before. As the law maker and speaker of the RSHA, it was Odili that did the abracadabra that saw to his victory at the tribunal and his eventual emergence as the speaker.

Even in the 2011 election, it was the same Wike that did the magic for Amaechi as the DG of Amaechi campaign organization. Amaechi has been a beneficiary of PDP rigging machine through out his political life and therefore lack the locus standi to question the validity of last saturday governorship election.

In my community in Port Harcourt, the election was devoid of rigging yet APC still failed abysmally. The fact is Amaechi's nuisance value now became so irritating and unbearable that the Rivers people stood in one accord to kick out the APC out of Rivers state that of PDP.

The fact is even if the election is conducted 10 times, PDP will still win. As Lagos state is the natural habitat of the APC, so is Rivers state.

Raiders:
Is that the reason why PDP decided to rig the election

My brother, the result thus far released is a true reflection of the wishes of Rivers people. In my PU in Port Harcourt, APC was beaten silly by PDP. They had just 5 votes against PDP 204 votes.

The election was fueled ostensibly by sentiment by the Rivers people that Amaechi was instrumental to the loss of Jonathan. So people all came out to cut their own pound of flesh from Amaechi.

Beyond that Wike campaigned so vigorously and combed all the nook and crannies and all the volatile spot in the state to solicit for vote.
The reward for his action is what is playing out now in the outcome of the result.

BCharlie:


These results are fallacy, well cooked figures. My interaction in Rivers State revealed only few wanted Wike. Anyway, whatever one obtains by lies would never last. My prayer for him if actually he rigged the conscience of the people.

"Never again will an Ijaw man rule Nigeria" because it's your father that owns the contraption called Nigeria right?

searching4love:


NIGERIA FORMING BIG BROTHER WHILE MANY OF IT'S CITIZENS ARE DYING OF POVERTY AND HUNGER.


#never again shall PDP or an Ijaw man rule this nation

False news from the staple of Tinubu's newspaper. In my ward 20 in Port Harcourt, PDP won virtually all the polling unit.

Dakuku am told failed woefully in his LGA of Opobo.

The Nation Biko stop spreading false news oh. Rivers people have rejected APC.

The oracle in my political shrine has tipped Wike as the winner of today's election in Rivers state.

So I totally and unequivocally align with your assertion that Wike will emerge victorious today in the guber race.

barcanista:
If they like they should burn down government house or keep burning their houses themselves in order to implicate PDP and stop the process, the election will go on. Wike shall be elected.

I am 100% Riverian
Rivers 4 Wike

The IGR of Lagos state in a month is more than the federal allocation that accrues to 6 states join together in the north east.

Lagos is the riches state in Nigeria by virtue of the huge IGR it generates every month. So using Lagos to compare with Akwa Ibom, Rivers state and Delta state is illogical.

Abayhormy:
[b]Do you know the Federal Govt takes about 54% of the nation's revenue ? The states share about 46%. Lagos despite having about 20million people to cater for and all the federal infrastructures abandoned for her when the capital was moved to Abuja, it takes just 55billion anually as allocation while Akwa Ibom recieves 135billion, Rivers 99.67billion, Delta 95.77, Bayelsa 82.04, now tell me, which of these other states have achieved what Lagos has achieved under the genius of Tinubu and Fashola which has been her past/present governors?

Do you know at a point, for years, The federal government wthheld lagos state government allocations totally and Bola Tinubu and Ambode the then acountant general of lagos state had to work together to be creative and work out the genius of running lagos? Just consider the level pressure on infrastructure in lagos, consider the demand for social amenities and compare what lagos gets to these other states and the FG. Mind you, lagos does not have oil revenue, and the Nigerian ports revenue people usually refer to are going to the federal purse. Nigerian Ports Authority is a Federal Parastatal. Somany people confuse it to be a source of state revenue. As at now, FG is owing Lagos 40 billion.[/b]

The poor outing of PDP at the presidential election and the attendant waves of defection of members from its fold, affords her the opportunity of going back to the drawing board with the view of strategizing on how they can become a formidable opposition party that can put APC in check.

I see intra-party squabble afflicting the APC in the nearest future as a result of its admission of all sort of dubious character into its fold.

APC hegemonic grip in Nigeria is only but momentary. I see PDP resurging back to prominence in the future. Let's never encourage one party system. It is anathema to any democratic system.

The essence of social media is to expand the frontiers of relationship. So a guy consumating a relationship with the opposite via this platform is absolutely in order. My colleague at the office got married last week in Port Harcourt. And he met his wife via badoo and today they're happily married.

Funny you.

loomer:


Why Nigeria girls una like meet for eatery, boutique and places where man must spend money.

Una no de meet for playground, gym, or even library?

missclasssy:


First of all, you took my original post out of context and you quoted me, foaming at the mouth, ranting and raving nonstop like a hag experiencing menopause or an orgasmic mad woman.....

I said it's always advisable for a couple to "know each other" before deciding to enter into marriage
This doesn't imply that you go around sleeping with every tom, _dick and harry.

This helps you in knowing if you are both sexually compatible.

There have been lots of couples who have had marriage problems just because one partner isn't sexually satisfied or just because sexually, they aren't just congenial, due to the fact that they hadn't engaged in sex before sealing their relationship in marriage

I will still continue to affirm my assertion that sex before marriage is always the best.

I absolutely concur with your line of reasoning. You've indeed hit the nail on the head. Sexual compatibility is key for the substance of any union. So it is important that would-be couple should look out for this feature.

What makes some women to indulge in the act of having extra-marital affairs with other men is ostensibly owing to the inability of their husband's to satisfy them. Also married women resorting to intimacy gadget as a way of deriving artificial satisfaction arises out of the weakness of their husbands in satisfying them.

I have never subscribed neither will I accept the injunction: sex after marriage as is being bandit by our religious institution.

Acceptance Statement by General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
April 1st, 2015

I am immensely grateful to God for this day and for this hour. I feel truly honoured and humbled that the Nigerian people have so clearly chosen me to lead them. The official announcement from INEC was the moment the vast majority of Nigerians had hoped and been waiting for. Today, history has been made, and change has finally come. Your votes have changed our national destiny for the good of all Nigerians.

INEC has announced that I, Muhammadu Buhari, shall be your next president. My team and I shall faithfully serve you. There shall no longer be a ruling party again: APC will be your governing party. We shall faithfully serve you. We shall never rule over the people as if they were subservient to government.

Our long night has passed and the daylight of new democratic governance has broken across the land. This therefore is not a victory for one man or even one party. It is a victory for Nigeria and for all Nigerians. Millions of you have worked for this day. So many have risked life and livelihood; and others have died that we may witness this moment.

And it is with a very heavy heart that I report many deaths and injuries amidst the jubilations yesterday. We send our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives; and wish speedy recovery to those who suffered injuries. I appeal to all our supporters to celebrate this victory with prayers and reflection instead of wild jubilation.

May the souls of those who died rest in peace. Let us take a moment of silence to honour all of those whose sacrifices have brought us to this fine and historic hour. As the results of the election have shown, their labour has not been and will never be in vain. Democracy and the rule of law will be re-established in the land.

Let us put the past, especially the recent past, behind us. We must forget our old battles and past grievances—and learn to forge ahead. I assure you that our government is one that will listen to and embrace all.

I pledge myself and our in-coming administration to just and principled governance. There shall be no bias against or favouritism for any Nigerian based on ethnicity, religion, region, gender or social status. I pledge myself and the government to the rule of law, in which none shall be so above the law that they are not subject to its dictates, and none shall be so below it that they are not availed of its protection.

You shall be able to go to bed knowing that you are safe and that your constitutional rights remain in safe hands. You shall be able to voice your opinion without fear of reprisal or victimisation. My love and concern for this nation and what I desire for it extends to all, even to those who do not like us or our politics. You are all my people and I shall treat everyone of you as my own. I shall work for those who voted for me as well as those who voted against me and even for those who did not vote at all. We all live under one name as one nation: we are all Nigerians.

Some unfortunate issues about my eligibility have been raised during the campaign. I wish to state that through devotion to this nation, everything I have learned and done has been to enable me to make the best possible contribution to public life. If I had judged myself incapable of governing I would never have sought to impose myself on it. I have served in various capacities and have always put in my best.

But despite the rancour of the elections, I extend a hand of friendship and conciliation to President Jonathan and his team. I hereby wish to state that I harbour no ill will against anyone.

Let me state clearly that President Jonathan has nothing to fear from me. Although we may not agree on the methods of governing the nation, he is a great Nigerian and still our president. He deserves our support and permanent respect by virtue of the office he has held.

This is how an honourable nation treats its servants and conducts its affairs; and this is how Nigeria should be.

I look forward to meeting with President Jonathan in the days to come to discuss how our teams can make the transition of administrations as efficient as possible.

Here, I want to thank my party for selecting me as its candidate. I thank our party leaders and members for the steadfast contributions they made to bring our dream to fruition. I thank INEC, the police and all other government agencies for performing their tasks in a proper manner and for refusing to be induced to undermine the election and the democratic process.

I also wish to thank religious Leaders, traditional leaders, the media, labour unions, Civil Society organisations, organised private sector, youths and students for their roles in this election.

I give special thanks to President Obama and his timely intervention and support for peaceful and credible elections in Nigeria and for sending Secretary John Kerry and other United States officials. The European Union – especially the United Kingdom, France, Germany and other nations that were actively involved in ensuring the success of this election are equally appreciated. My sincere thanks to the United Nations Secretary General Mr Ban-Ki Moon. The Commonwealth, China, India and other Asian and Gulf states are also hereby appreciated.

Finally our brothers in the African Union and ECOWAS have truly and clearly shown and demonstrate their commitment to our democratisation process. Former Presidents John Kuffour, Amos Sawyer, Bakili Muluzi and his team are well appreciated. I must also add my appreciation for the role played by civil societies, national and International observers, other world leaders in ensuring that Nigeria holds free and fair elections.

I assure all foreign governments that Nigeria will become a more forceful and constructive player in the global fight against terrorism and in other matters of collective concern, such as the fight against drugs, climate change, financial fraud, communicable diseases and other issues requiring global response. I want to assure our fellow African nations that Nigeria will now stand as a more constructive partner in advancing the matters of concern to our continent, particularly with regard to economic development and eradication of poverty.

Former head of state and president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General Yakubu Gowon, Alh. Shehu Shagari, General Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and General Abdulsalami Abubakar deserve commendations for their statesmanship and words of caution and counsel for peace during the tense moments of this electoral period.

Most of all, I thank the people of Nigeria for reposing their confidence in me at this trying moment. Our nation wrestles many challenges including insecurity, corruption, economic decline. I pledge to give you my best in tackling these problems.

The good people of Nigeria, your obligation does not end with casting your ballot. I seek your voice and input as we tackle these problems.

This will not be a government democratic only in form. It will be a government democratic in substance and in how it interacts with its own people.

No doubt, this nation has suffered greatly in the recent past, and its staying power has been tested to its limits by crises, chief among which is insurgency of the Boko Haram. There is no doubt that in tackling the insurgency we have a tough and urgent job to do. But I assure you that Boko Haram will soon know the strength of our collective will and commitment to rid this nation of terror, and bring back peace and normalcy to all the affected areas. We shall spare no effort until we defeat terrorism.

Furthermore, we shall strongly battle another form of evil that is even worse than terrorism—the evil of corruption. Corruption attacks and seeks to destroy our national institutions and character. By misdirecting into selfish hands funds intended for the public purpose, corruption distorts the economy and worsens income inequality. It creates a class of unjustly-enriched people.

Such an illegal yet powerful force soon comes to undermine democracy because its conspirators have amassed so much money that they believe they can buy government. We shall end this threat to our economic development and democratic survival. I repeat that corruption will not be tolerated by this administration; and it shall no longer be allowed to stand as if it is a respected monument in this nation.

I ask you to join me in resolving these and the other challenges we face. Along the way, there will be victories but there may also be setbacks. Mistakes will be made. But we shall never take you for granted; so, be rest assured that our errors will be those of compassion and commitment not of wilful neglect and indifference.

We shall correct that which does not work and improve that which does. We shall not stop, stand or idle. We shall, if necessary crawl, walk and run to do the job you have elected us to do.

I realise that the expectation of our people today is as high as their commitment to change has been strong and their belief in us unshaken. While we pledge to begin doing our best without delay, we would like to appeal to them to appreciate the gravity of our situation, so that we become more realistic in our expectations.

We will govern for you and in your interests. Your vote was not wasted.

This is not the first time Nigerians have cast their votes for us, and this is not the first time they have been counted; but this is the first time that the votes have been allowed to count. With the help of God, we pledge to do our utmost to bring forth the Nigeria you seek.

Thank you for your patience and attention.

General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR
President-Elect,
Federal Republic of Nigeria


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