By Nzeribe Ihekwaba
SEVERAL years ago, the Ghanaian public got fed up
with that nation’s rut and economic meltdown and
simply demanded that its erstwhile leader, J.J. Rawlings
(then Ghana’s President at the material time), must do
something. In the streets, the crowd poured out and
chanted, “J.J., do something.” Their grouse was as
varied as the disparate groups had contentious
mission and agenda. At the end of the day, as they say,
Ghana witnessed a fresh breath of national renewal.
Since it is often fashionable among the developing
nations to copy strategies and doctrines, as pedestrian
as it is in some cases, perhaps the Nigerian powers can
own up to the reality of its misfortune: That the nation
isn’t moving anywhere. Proof is based on use of critical
indicia of national development. The political
leadership must finally own up to what everyone else
has known for a long time: that infrastructure is it. It is
time to fix it rather than the recurring posturing of fixing
blame on predecessors and partisan has-beens, the
so-called opposition and its relatives in amorphous
groups.
Yesterday is terribly gone. And the failed regimes of the
past are done even as they disclaim any responsibility
whilst many now live with the havoc they wrecked on
the system. The loots are also gone since the ICPC and
EFCC are doing feebly squat about that, much to every
one’s chagrin. The elite will never give up their own,
period.
Remorse and restoration
The justice of our fate is lost on the rank behaviour of
the perpetrators and their kin, that is, they will not
surrender to honesty and the greater good. None is the
proverbial Zacchaeus that would embrace remorse and
restoration. The pluck of the moment then is that the
Nigerian state, having found itself at a crossroads,
must look out for how best to dig itself out of the hole.
It is not really enough to dwell on the mistakes of the
past, not with the elite chokehold on the political
leadership, but a pragmatic reorientation can dislocate
the illogical refusal to have a robust reengineering
culture. The challenges of the moment have escalated
from infrastructure failure to critical security collapse. It
can only get worse if the leadership and a committed
followership are not bold enough to call the bluff of
underdevelopment. The nation must get through the
parlous state of its public institutions and programmes
using meaningful performance measures or rating
criteria to gauge success, functionality, and reliability-
based audits. .
Current planning and governance philosophy must
focus more on values added and infrastructure renewal
programming than partisanship and elite patronage.
Reduce, reuse and recycle are advisedly good
environmental protection options but must they be our
national ethos for governance? When will the focus be
on fresh ideas, millennial sustainability programming
and cutting edge expertise?
Cutting edge expertise
Some in the nation’s driving seat have doubtful asset
life and may not even be aware of new technology.
Paucity of asset funding, and contending fiscal
challenges, reinforce the need for an effective and
efficient capacity builders and asset management
programmers. And there is a compelling need for a
strong political will to harness the rethink these
facilitators and change agents will bring to the table.
But are we there yet?
Since material corruption can never be eliminated, due
to the nature of man, at least the new breed, if one
were to arise, can use asset audits and performance
score cards for quality and performance rating,
increase information accessibility and use, enhance
and sharpen decision-making, make more effective
investment and cost decisions, including the socio-
economic impacts of asset failures, while delivering
the desired service levels.
If President Jonathan must do something, now and not
later, he can avail himself of change agents and focus
on one of the critical public infrastructure sectors that
are in dire need for asset renewal. He can do
transportation: highways and waterways, rail, airports
and seaports. Or, he can target public utilities: potable
water supply, sanitary sewage, and storm water
management. Alternatively, he can focus on
healthcare: hospitals, pharmaceuticals, and related
facilities. He can even do the one with high visibility:
power generation, transmission and distribution.
These are just a sample of critical needs that beckon
for massive capital improvement. But Jonathan must
not spread himself thin trying to impress the entire
sector of the economy at the same time. Past
governments did so and today there is no single
functional sector in Nigeria worth the capital
commitment.
President Jonathan can do a thorough evaluation of all
sectors and their portfolio assets so that the public
receive value at the end of renewal cycle, even as it
generates historical data for long-term, decision-
making. History will be kind to President Jonathan if he
succeeds in delivering just one functional sector of the
economy during his tenure. Just one fully functional
national asset firing at all cylinders will give him
tremendous accolade. The collateral impact of, say, a
functional, reliable power sector will immediately wake
up the transportation, educational and or healthcare
sectors. Any subsequent investment in these sectors
will then yield a better return. The current state of
infrastructures is a testament of the effectiveness of
whatever asset management and capital improvement
programming had been in place before. The nation
needs to refine itscurrent best practices.
Private sector participation can complement.
Telecommunications is a good example where they
have excelled. Education can follow with proper
guidelines. Publicly driven economic and asset renewal
schemes will require an initial governmental boost via
a system-specific condition assessment, fiscal rating
and investment plan. These can be regionalized and
incentivized depending on unique local needs and
market forces. Government can also drive the
development of alternative strategies for various areas
to reflect location, manpower and capital budgeting
needs. One plan does not have to fit all. .
President Jonathan can even leave his good luck
imprints through proper investment, and user-funded
programme which feasibility can be tied to individual
markets and asset use. By deploying resources based
on asset demand, sector revenue returns, conditions
and lifecycle costs, efficiency can be activated for
economic renewal. And finally, President Jonathan can
really walk tall if by mid-term in his tenure he can
assert his success story, just in any one sector of the
economy, as his hard earned political capital to spend.
He can tell his story to the high heavens that he came,
he changed, and he delivered. Then the Nigerian public
can openly sing his praises and admit that the once
“shoeless” boy of Otueke is their national good luck.
That will be his mojo for the rest of life! President
Jonathan, can you do something?
* Note: This article was first published in 2011.
Engr. (Dr.) Nzeribe Ihekwaba, Ph.D., P.E., is now the
Assistant City Manager and Chief of Operations for the
City of Miami, Florida, United States.

www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/something-president-jonathan/

Capitalism & socialism are both not that good.
Report 1 But i'd prefer to live in a socialist country.
Socialism is missing the motivation that capitalism has for innovation and personal gain, but socialism focuses more on keeping every one in the country equal and alive. Capitalism is more for the individual and the people that want to be rich. Neither Socialism or capitalism are good systems, we really need a new system that is better then both

Report 2
Ultimately Yes Capitalism allows for more personal
freedom and awards hard work and innovation.
Unfortunately, with that rewards system comes the
high potential for greed and corruption. Immoral
businessmen propogate underhanded means of
prospering, and making our society very materialistic and competitive. Socialism is ultimately better for most people, levelling the playing field, ensuring the greater good

Report 3
Of course Socialism Socialism provides every citizen of the country with equal resources and serivices like health care, education and security. There are rich people in socialism but there isn't any poverty or unemployment. The country gives priority to it's citizens and their needs. While on the other hand, in capitalism, the government doesn't have much say, and the firms have nothing to do with people's needs. All the firms need are profit.

Report 4
Corporations sell out their jobs to immigrants. It's
cheaper to pay immigrants than actual citizens. Money is all that matters in a Capitalist society corporations use their money to control the media to promote multiculturalism and sacrifice the identity of what was once a wonderful nation. In Socialist societies it's more rewarding to the lower class which after time is eliminated and turns into a massive middle class while the upper class still exists. This in turn results in lower crime rates, national health care and happiness. Also
what happened in Germany before WW2 was workers got bonuses depending on how hard they worked. They promoted hard work they gave away free houses and even automobiles to hard workers as well as massive overtime pay. Also they industrialized Germany as well. Germany was able to sustain itself while still exporting that German automobile companies where exporting 8x more motor vehicles than it was before. This was so
successful that German happiness was at it's peak
because in 4 years 6 million people claimed new jobs and birth rates increased by 22% so that is my case on why Socialism is better than capitalism.

Report Post 5
The invisible hand of the market is inherently
flawed... Money is a tool of the measurement of
value. Therefore, theoretically speaking, wealth should be heavily concentrated in areas considered valuable by the given society. However, in the capitalist system, in an attempt to be a true meritocracy (in which hard work = higher standard of living), is hijacked and manipulated by bankers and investors who move the majority of cash flow, and its relative distribution. The capitalist system then perpetuates an unequal ecology of the concentration of money, which puts the valuable
individuals and institutions (ie. Teachers, medical
professionals, engineers, scientists, etc) at a significant disadvantage then to their manipulative counterparts, who prey on a weak minded culture that devours mind-numbing entertainment, reckless spending credit card users, and students trying to pay their way through school... Capitalism is wrong, and I believe a socialist system would better allocate the nation's money into areas considered valuable, and acquiring wealth would
still be possible... Rich people exist in socialism,
however, poverty is eliminated potentially, at really
only the risk of having too many billionaires...

Report 6
Capitalism can be transcended. Contrary to popular
belief Karl Marx was not anti-capitalist. He actually
praised Adam Smith and thought capitalism was a
great improvement upon feudalism. But the story
doesn't end at capitalism, according to Marx. Like it's predecessors, capitalism could come and go. Consider how a healthy market economy needs growth. Now ask yourself can this growth last forever? Globalization has led to a world saturated with capital. The system is now
struggling to find new investment opportunities for
trillions of dollars. This has led to "rent-seeking", the wealthy manipulating the system to create more wealth for themselves without creating jobs. The result is extreme inequality. Workers wages stagnate or fall causing a demand problem. This problem was solved with credit and people were encouraged to spend outside their means in order to keep the consumer economy alive. This would lead directly to the financial crisis. How long can an increasingly unequal society sustain itself? How far can we keep growing at the expense of the planet? What will happen when labour becomes increasingly automated by robots and software? Collective ownership in the means of production would mean the elimination of the capitalist
class, making society tremendously more equal.
Socialism can save the planet by freeing the economy from the "need" to grow. And under socialism we could be freed of our dependence on wage labour if production can be fully automated.
Posted by: YoungContrarian

Report Post 7
Socialism is better for 4 reasons 5 arguments: 1
Wealth Gap. The main capitalist country, the USA,
suffers from a major wealth gap where in 2011 the top earning 20% earned 50 percent of the counties salary. This means that 80% of the people have to share half of the countries money. 2 Externalities. With a completely free market anything can be sold and to anyone. This means a gun could be sold to a 5 year old. Drugs can be sold and there is no protection from these products. 3. Monopolies. Certain industries control a market and can sell products at any price. 4. Privitization. In capitalism corporations are able to buy any industry no matter what responsibility with the right amount of money. The US has a privitised prison system. Because these companies want the most amount of prophet the US has the most prisoners in human history where they are treated awfully. This can
also happen with other industries. For example water. A vital life supply. The argument that socialism fails due to lack of motivation is invalid as working hard and making the country earn more money may not improve living standards for yourself if all the country works all the people get nice things, facilities and luxuries.

Report 8
I personally think a socialist political system
benefits its citizens more. I believe that socialist
states, even borderline socialist states, such as the
Scandinavian states, benefit their citizens better in
terms of employment, finances and equality. These
countries are usually more free than capitalist
countries and rate higher in the happiness index, too. According to the research I have conducted, these countries are higher on the index because of the services they grant all of their citizens such as free health care, guaranteed jobs, and many more. In addition, as an economic system, socialism functions better than capitalism since there are no class gaps among the classes in the country. I base my argument on the fact that in socialism everyone is essentially equal and have the same rights and financial power, whereas in a free market - capitalism, people are required to work in harsh condition with hard competition in order to have the chance to attempt to grow wealthy, or at least live in acceptable living conditions.
Posted by: IdoZur

Report 10
Socialism is more sensitive to signals of wealth
inequality. Socialism is far superior to capitalism in
telling us that a specific member of the electorate is being left behind and that a gap in the wealth
distribution is widening. Moreover, it provides both the rich and the poor with equal outcomes. Therefore, it is more fair, organized, and political.

Report Post 11
Not old models of socialism, but new ones we
have yet to devise! Anything to save us from the
rapacious and resource-destructive 'free market
capitalism' that is currently destroying the planet. The compassion-free search for bottom line profit; the pandering to the basest of all the possible human motivating forces (ie greed and self-interest); the abstraction that is so embedded that we often fail to see it, ie that the world exists for us to conquer and use for our own ends; and.... Well, already that is a lot of strong arguments against capitalism!!!!

Report 12
History has shown Look at history. All socialist
states/countries limit freedoms of individuals. Take
away incentive to be productive. Take away a chance to become more or better and eventually fail. Look at China. Outside communist. Inside becoming capitalist. I predict they will move to a free market society as more citizens want to be able to have and do more.

Report 13
Of course capitalism is better The amount of
variety that America delivers is outstanding.
Consumers can always pick from what airline they use or what fast food restaurant they go to. This variety is due to companies having the opportunity to compete with one-another. If the government was the only industry supplying a product, consumers would have no options to pick from. Also, no competition would be available. When there is competition, people have personal incentives to increase their amount of supply
and demand. When there is more supply and demand, again more jobs are created and more money is circulating in the economy. Also, more technological advances are proven to occur when there is an increase in competition. For example, the jeep was created by the allies in WW2., along with many other weapons and technologies to help try and win the war.

Report 13
FACTS DON'T LIE No other system has ever
generated an increase in the absolute wealth of a
country and its citizens. People get caught up
complaining about a wealth gap and its increase
through capitalism but fail to realize that the absolute
wealth, even for those at the bottom increases with
capitalism. At no time in history have so many people enjoyed such a high quality of life as they do today in the developed world which is mostly built around capitalism - for example, families or individuals described as poor nowadays can still own two cars, travel abroad at least once per year and own several televisions. All we need to do is look at history to see that capitalism is THE most successful system known
to man even though it still has some flaws. Facts don't lie. People do.

Report 14
Free enterprise Free markets create the incentives to work hard, innovate, invest, and be efficient -- all for a profit. This self organization of the economy creates more prosperity for everyone in it. Business expansion is good. Say a company X has a store A and builds a new store B elsewhere. This new store will require labor to construct, labor to occupy and maintain, labor to create the goods that will go in the store, and creates demand for labor to transport these goods, create the various parts of the goods that go in the store, etc. All
of these mechanisms increases employment and
makes wages rise. Both are good for the middle class. Private investment is the fuel for this and is the reason the economy grows. A growing economy helps everyone as well. Socialism eliminates the incentives to work hard and succeed.

Report Post 15
Hard work is the key to happiness. Although
Socialism has its benefits that you are equal with
everyone else in a monetary sense, you don't have to work very hard for what you get. I believe capitalism is the best economic system because it strengthens the economy and it emphasizes the message that if you work hard enough for what you want you can achieve anything.

Report Post
Ultimately. Uhh, no. Capitalism demands
competition, where if one company improves their
product the competition must as well to stay in
business. Insuring top quality for your dollar, as well as giving a reason for employees to work harder for more money. Now socialism can give the illusion of "fair," but if you, the hard-working individual, gets paid the same amount as this guy, the person who could care less. Why bother trying at all? While capitalism awards those who work hard by increase in payment and possibly eventual promotion. Socialism condemns business, and as you can see, the number of socialist countries is rapidly decreasing. Why? Because capitalism flourishes
by rewarding good work, where socialism. Who cares? I'll get paid anyway.

Posted by: Skylark_Funderberg
Report 17
True Socialism is incompatible with democracy.
There Are no true Socialist States in the world today
they quickly turn into dictatorships this is because
Socialism requires a unified and unquestioned
government thus a dictator ship where freedoms are striped away so that no one can question the
government. The Two really shouldn't be compared
because socialism is both a economic and political
ideology while capitalism is a economic ideology that is usually pared with democratic political ideologies. Socialist ideas such as social security, minimum wage, welfare and unions have been shown to be beneficial to capitalism when use appropriately.

Posted by: Muhly
Report 18
Capitalism is far more advanced regarding
technology! Capitalism is a Economy really focusing on innovation, this means that most of the major goals humanity has achieved regarding technology was done
in a capitalist Country. Too much for something
wouldn't help humanity to develop. It would be terrible if a country was a so called "extreme capitalist country" but also the other way. The DDR also went out of money because they were a socialist party.

Posted by: TheGuyThatKnowns
Report 18
Capitalism is far more advanced regarding
technology! Capitalism is a Economy really focusing on innovation, this means that most of the major goals humanity has achieved regarding technology was done in a capitalist Country. Too much for something wouldn't help humanity to develop. It would be terrible if a country was a so called "extreme capitalist country"
but also the other way. The DDR also went out of
money because they were a socialist party.

Report 19
The socialism is not better than the capitalism In
the socialism there is no competition. You get your
money no matter how much you work. So the people will reduce the amount of work they do, because they are not motivated. This is different in capitalism. In capitalism there is always the threat that you lose your Job, if you do not work hard enough. So the people work more. Also there is more competition in capitalism, because with more success, you earn more money. So the more working of the people lead to more growth
and new inventions. This is good for the development of the country.

Is capitalism really the best economic
system? I think buhari should APC should adopt mixed economy or social welfares system but from my own perspective I think social welfarisim is d best for now may be later we can find another means of economy system because mixed economy system lead to capitalist, when am making my research clearly saw that some people in united state also dislike capitalist system, read this
Posted by Madonna Gauding
From the time we were children, we have been
indoctrinated to think of capitalism as the best
economic system on the planet, synonymous with
“freedom and democracy” and even America itself.
Capitalism is the “American way,” and it holds out
the promise to ordinary people, that if they apply
themselves, they too can become wealthy. So, no
surprise there’s a taboo when it comes to looking
critically at how our economic system is organized
and at whom it actually serves. To question
capitalism, or to suggest other economic systems
might be more humane and effective at helping
everyone, is considered deeply un-American.
If there is poverty, we are taught, it is caused by
individual lack of initiative and effort, or by social
problems like racism, or by bad parenting, not by the economic system itself. This view is repeated in
classrooms and churches, and woven into
advertising and media. University economics programs assume capitalism as a given, and
corporate owned media rarely questions capitalism
as a system. Even those who call themselves
“liberal” or “progressive” wholeheartedly support
capitalism. We are taught that this system is
superior because anyone has a chance to make it,
and if you don’t make it, it’s your fault. “Making it” is defined narrowly as making a lot of money and
owning the material possessions that go along with
that. All the other intangibles that make life worth living are left out of the equation. Capitalism creates poverty
In the United States, where we have the “best
economic system on the planet” the level of poverty is startling. We are a country of absolutely
enormous wealth, yet, according to the census
bureau, more than one in every six people in the
United States lives in poverty or near-poverty.
Poverty is defined as living on $23,000 for a family
of four—a ridiculously low and unrealistic figure. It’s
nearly impossible to survive on this without
government subsidies. Here’s a summary of Census data on poverty from Wikipedia:
In November 2012 the U.S. Census Bureau said
more than 16% of the population lived in poverty,
including almost 20% of American children, up from
14.3% (approximately 43.6 million) in 2009 and to
its highest level since 1993. In 2008, 13.2% (39.8
million) Americans lived in poverty. Starting in the
1980s, relative poverty rates have consistently
exceeded those of other wealthy nations. California
has a poverty rate of 23.5%, the highest of any state in the country.
In 2011, child poverty reached record high levels,
with 16.7 million children living in food insecure
households, about 35% more than 2007 levels. A
2013 UNICEF report ranked the U.S. as having the
second highest relative child poverty rates in the
developed world (behind Romania).
When we shift our focus from poverty as caused by
individual failure, and look at the economic system
itself, capitalism’s role in causing poverty is quite
clear. Rather than being designed to provide
economic wellbeing for everyone, from the
beginning capitalism was organized to allow a small elite to control most of the wealth produced by working people, along with the means to produce that wealth—the factories, machinery and tools. The capitalist system as practiced in the United States today, with regulations gutted and tax loopholes expanded, gives a massive share of total wealth and income to a small elite and leaves the remainder to be competed for among the rest of the population. Even mainstream media has
acknowledged that income and wealth inequality
are growing. Core capitalist myth: greed is good
It’s a core myth of capitalism that greed is the prime human motivator, a positive creative force that is justified because the wealth generated will “trickle down” to the majority. That myth persists even though a substantial level of poverty exists in the wealthiest country in the world.
Because the decision of what to produce is driven by considerations of return on investment, the effect that product or service has on the larger society is never considered. For example, corporations create unhealthy food products and contribute to climate change while spreading lies and misinformation to the public to protect profits.
The elite and the politicians who represent their
interests keep telling us that America is the land of
opportunity and that greasing the skids of
opportunity is the answer to income inequality. In
this mythical world, they say they want everyone to
“have a chance,” yet it is a chance in what they, and increasingly the general public, know to be a gamed system.
During the so-called “golden age of capitalism,”
right after the war and up to the 60s, the tax rates
on the wealthy were high and corporations and
banks were regulated. But when those protections
that allowed a middle class to flourish started to be
unraveled, first under Carter, then under Reagan,
Bush and Clinton, the middle and working classes
stated to go under.
Capitalism only considers wellbeing of shareholders, not society at large Capitalism as a system is designed to maximize profits, so it was only a matter of time before the system would assert itself again with force. In that system, and by law, there can be no consideration of the well being of anyone except shareholders. So absolutely everything is fair game, from undermining social programs in order to pay lower or no taxes, to dumping toxic chemicals into rivers, to destroying small businesses in communities, to
keeping wages as low as possible, to producing a
pesticide that destroys bees, to closing factories
and outsourcing jobs to poorer countries, to
spending enormous amounts of money to buy
politicians who, in turn, enact laws that enhance
their bottom line. This sociopathic behavior is
considered rational and normal, and even expected, within the capitalist system. The bigger the SOB you are in the corporate world, the more you are admired and valued.
Given the socially irresponsible behavior of
corporations and their owners within the capitalist
system, it’s no surprise that, in the United States,
one in 6 people live at or near the poverty level or
live in fear of ending up there. Contrary to
conservative views, the poor are not lacking in
initiative or intelligence. Many are working three low
paying jobs to stay afloat. This is what the capitalist
system produces. Poverty happens when behemoth corporations controlling massive amounts of wealth have no responsibility to anyone but themselves and shareholders.
Public debate about poverty focuses on the
individual rather than on the economic system
in which it occurs Public debate about poverty, what little there is, is almost always about the individual. Liberals want to help the individual, to shore them up with public programs, until they can get on their feet and get back into, or join, the capitalist system.
Conservatives, pointing to the failure of government programs like welfare and food stamps to lift people out of poverty, want to gut those programs claiming they cause laziness and dependency. Both liberals and conservatives avoid looking at the capitalist system itself as a primary cause of poverty. Individual effort is a factor in economic and social success, but we all participate in a capitalist system.
Leaving the system itself out of public policy
discussion completely ignores capitalism as a
causation factor in poverty, and allows the myths
and destructive aspects of the system to continue.
It’s time to have an honest discussion about how
capitalism really works, and for whom it works, not
how we imagine it works, or wished it worked. On a
personal level we may have to examine our own
tendency toward greed and our justification and
rationalisation for it. We may find that capitalism,
and the greed and hyper-individualism enshrined
within it, is incompatible with a humane, just, and
compassionate society.


www.occasionalplanet.org/2014/03/06/is-capitalism-really-the-best-economic-system/

I love my city

To end the logjam bedevilling the Oyo State
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the
controversies trailing the ward congresses held
twice in the state, the national leadership of the
party had settled for Teslim Kolawole Folarin as
the party’s gubernatorial candidate.
Two other leading governorship aspirants in the
state, former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and
Seyi Makinde, were offered ministerial
appointment and senatorial ticket respectively.
This is even as son of the late Azeez Arisekola
Alao, Umar, who is the Oyo State Commissioner
for Sports, lost his bid to pick the House of
Representatives ticket under the All
Progressives Congress (APC).
Incumbent member of the House from the
constituency, Abiodun Awoleye, was declared
winner ahead of Alao-Arisekola’s son and one
other aspirant.
The story was, however, different in the camp of
Dapo Lam-Adesina, who is the son of the state’s
former governor, Lam Adesina, and a serving
Commissioner for Industry, Applied Science and
Technology, as he won to contest for Ibadan
South-East/North-East Constituency.
Meanwhile, sources close to PDP told our
reporter that the proposal preceded the idea of
holding the governorship primary election today
(Monday), using statutory delegates alone.
The proposal, however, failed to say anything
about the fate of seven other gubernatorial
aspirants, who had been fighting tooth and nail
with the three leading aspirants on the
outcomes of the two ward congresses held
without acceptable results.
It was gathered that the national body of the
party asked Akala to come and take the Minister
of State for Defence dropped by Musiliu
Obanikoro, another governorship aspirant in
Lagos State, who resigned for the purpose of
contesting the primary election in the state.
Similarly, Makinde was asked to go and take the
Oyo South Senatorial slot of the party, a
proposal said not to have gone down well not
only with Akala and Makinde, but with the seven
other aspirants, following which it was learnt the
party settled for governorship primary, using
only the statutory delegates.

dailyindependentnig.com/2014/12/oyo-gov-pdp-settles-folarin/

Teachers across the country appeared to have
kicked against the proposed local government
autonomy being plan by members of the
National Assembly.
The teachers, under the aegis of the Union of
Teachers (NUT), have resolved to embark on
two days nationwide warning strike next week to
register their disaffection and displeasure over
the planned autonomy of local government
areas.
National President of the union, Comrade
Michael Olukoya, made this known at Ile-Ife
during the 5th quadrennial Sixth Delegates
Conference of the Osun State Council of the
union.
Olukoya noted that granting full autonomy to
local government areas would affect effective
running of primary education in the country.
He decried the agony experienced by teachers
when primary education was being handled by
local government, adding that the union would
not fold its arm and see its members been
subjected to untold hardship.
He maintained that the national executive
council of the union had resolved to declare a
two days warning strike to press home their
position on the proposed local government
autonomy.
Olukoya called on members of the union across
the country to prevail on their state Houses of
Assembly to reconsider the position and
canvass for rejection of the proposed autonomy.
On his part, the Second National Vice-President
and the outgoing Chairman of the union in
Osun, Comrade Saka Adesiyan, hinted that the
union would continue to champion the course of
its members with a view to improving their socio
economic status.
Adesiyan who called on warring members of the
union in Osun State to come back into the fold
of the union, urged them not to allow politicians
to divide the union for their (politicians) selfish
interest.
Highlight of the conference with the theme,
‘Education Reforms Agenda: Issues and
Challenges’, was the election of the new
executive members that would run the affairs of
the union in the state for the next four years.
Speaking in his acceptance speech, the newly
elected Chairman, NUT, Osun State, Comrade
Wakeel Amuda, promised to consolidate on the
achievements of his predecessor and ensure
unity in the union to make it a formidable body.

dailyindependentnig.com/2014/11/teachers-vow-fight-lg-autonomy/

Fellow Nigerians, let me state my interest in APC
very clearly and urgently in order to clear any
lingering ambiguity on the matter. I’m not a card
carrying member of APC and have no intention of
being one in the near future. I remain a member
of the National Conscience Party despite the fact
that we are undoubtedly one of the tiniest
political parties in Nigeria today. I’m of the view
that the crisis in Nigeria transcends what political
parties alone can tackle and handle with
requisite proficiency and competence. All hands
must therefore come on deck to save this sinking
ship before our nation is buried alive by
gamblers and vampires.
We must speedily correct the terrible impression
that Nigeria is the exclusive preserve of
politicians and political parties. There is ample
evidence that only about 15 to 20 percent of our
voting population actually belong to one party or
another. Majority of our people belong to the
Floater Party. It is just unfortunate that we’ve
allowed a tiny minority to bully the giant majority
for far too long. The reason for this anomalous
situation is simple; most Nigerians never paid
attention to matters of governance. They feel
insulated and foolishly careless in the
expectation that they can survive without any
support from government. Power has thus been
abandoned in the hands of those who
understand the game of how to manipulate
everything and everyone.
Our current crop of leaders has learnt how to
keep us permanently in bondage. They are
efficient at chaining us down like dogs with three
heavy padlocks: money, ethnicity and religion.
The average Nigerian would always swallow their
bait hook, line and sinker. But the discerning
ones amongst us can see better today that we
must rise above those primordial sentiments and
rescue this rudderless ship regardless of our
political affiliation. This has been a familiar
terrain for me and I have travelled this route in
the past.
I was not a member of SDP when I worked for
Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola’s
Presidential campaign in 1993. I was not a
member of NADECO party when I ran the
Yoruba programmes on RADIO FREEDOM which
later became RADIO KUDIRAT (from 1995 – 98)
and used my pseudonym of Saliu Elenuugboro
End Olorunopa. I was not a member of AD when I
supported the Presidential bid of Chief Samuel
Oluyemisi Falae against General Olusegun
Matthew Aremu Okikiolakan Obasanjo in 1999. I
was not a member of PDP when I took to the
streets of Abuja during the Enough-is-Enough
rally in support ,of then Vice President, Dr
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, against the
cabal that had prevented him from assuming
power while President Umaru Must Yar’Adua was
comatose and incommunicado. It is the same
way I have scanned our political landscape and
can see the road ahead at this moment. As
someone who hopes to answer the calling of
God sooner or later, let me give you the
predictions from me (Pastor Joseph in the
making). A lot of our prophets know this
unassailable truth and I wonder why they can’t
speak out.
There are not too many options left to us. The
first is to allow the charade called PDP to
continue dribbling us endlessly with no hope of
any, not to talk of monumental, achievement
now or in the future. When they made all those
high falutin promises in 2011, little did they
envisage that tomorrow would come anyhow
and today would arrive eventually! Now that all
those promises have come and gone unfulfilled
we are now being mesmerised again with sugar-
coated scorecards and a non-validated
hagiography by their spin-doctors. After 16 years,
Nigeria deserves a respite from a political party
that has failed to deliver and failed woefully.
The second option is to manage the only other
Party that has the muscle to wrestle power from
the PDP. I’m bold enough to admit that APC is not
our IDEAL alternative. The Party suffers its own
contradictions but in the Party lays flashes of
hope and new vistas of opportunities. At any
rate, it would be the height of foolhardiness to
suggest that we must live perennially with PDP
just because we are not sure APC would be
radically different. The sheer possibility of
sacking the unfortunate behemoth called PDP is
enough to drive the fear of God into present and
future politicians in Nigeria. I shall return to APC
shortly after examining the next factor.
The third possibility is anarchy which we must do
everything possible and necessary to avert. A
chunky part of North-Eastern Nigeria already
suffers from a state of Mobocracy. The situation
is such that our usually confident military has
virtually become lame-ducks and objects of
parody. If this goes on unabated, only one thing
is likely to happen; a sad return to military rule
like we have seen repeatedly here and
elsewhere. For me and my house, this is a No-No.
This is the reason many people have chosen to
embrace APC warts and all. It is our collective
responsibility to make the Party work whether we
are registered members or not. I’m reasonably
convinced that PDP is incapable of changing the
way it is presently configured but APC still has a
good chance of re-inventing itself (not least
because it is a reconfigured Party and is
therefore not overly burdened by the past) if the
ubiquitous godfathers allow good counsel and
common-sense prevail.
So far, so good, the APC leaders are still
presenting a public display of unity and
camaraderie despite the volcanic tension within.
The battle for supremacy is always a natural
manifestation in the power game. I can say
confidently that the reality APC must come to
terms with is that it has moved from being a
Limited Liability Company to a Public Limited
Company and many terms of the former
shareholder agreements and the Directors and
officers are no longer applicable or tenable. In a
PLC, the shareholding structure determines
many things. For example, when UBA was bought
by a smaller bank, Standard Trust Bank, the old
Board of Directors could not hold on to the levers
of control but bowed to the new wiz-kids led by
Tony Elumelu. Such is life.
Once ACN, CPC, New PDP, ANPP and others
agreed to work together, the big guns in those
Parties should have known that things have
changed. I’m aware that it takes time to adjust to
a new environment but in this case there is no
time to waste. I will now telecom you to the
future that awaits APC and Nigeria in the short
and long run. What I forecast is a precarious
situation which would have to be delicately
balanced for the sake of our country.
The first matter to be handled efficiently is that
of picking a Presidential candidate for the Party.
The strength of APC seems to be its greatest
weakness. The Party is richly blessed with the
most formidable aspirants in the race today as
opposed to the PDP which has saddled itself with
the sole-candidacy of President Jonathan and
shut the doors against its brightest stars like
Godswill Akpabio and Adamu Muazu. APC has in
its top four: General Muhammadu Buhari, former
Head of State; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice
President; Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, former
Minister of Defence and current Governor of Kano
State; and Waziri Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker,
Federal House of Representatives and latecomer
to the Presidential race. There are other
distinguished aspirants but let’s limit ourselves
to those four for obvious reasons. I’m certain that
Nigeria would benefit immensely from their
wealth of experience.
Let’s now attempt a characterisation of each of
those four. We shall begin with General Buhari
who’s breaking his own world record by
contesting for the fourth time in rapid
succession. No Nigerian currently has his cult-
followership. He has ostensibly become an idol
of sorts to many Nigerians old or young, an Icon
to be emulated. He suffers three major setbacks.
The first is on account of his age. If he gets the
ticket, he would be running against a much
younger PDP candidate, President Jonathan.
Many have dismissed the age limitation as
irrelevant by citing examples from other parts of
the world even in this modern era.
Ronald Reagan was born on February 6, 1911
and became President of the United States of
America on January 20, 1981. He was on the
knock of 70 and went on to rule for eight years.
Hillary Clinton was born on October 26, 1947. By
the time she runs her Presidential race, if she
gets the Democratic ticket, in 2016, she would be
close to 70. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of
Ghana has just been picked as Presidential
candidate by his party NPP to run for the third
time in 2016. Nana was born on March 29, 1944
which means he’ll be 72 by the time he runs the
race. The great Madiba Nelson Rolihlahla
Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 and became
the President of an independent South Africa on
May 10, 1994. He was close to 76 and he
governed for one term of five years. So there is
nothing new under the sun. The supporters of
Buhari are saying it is better to have a
responsible octogenarian as President than to
have an incompetent, reckless and profligate
youth in power.
The second issue about Buhari is on religion.
He’s perceived to be a Muslim fundamentalist,
an allegation that has not been proven by his
accusers till this day. He is a devout Muslim who
would defend his faith like any Christian would
defend his. Our President has been meandering
from church to church and jetted to Israel several
times on pilgrimage, yet no one has called him a
Christian fundamentalist. Buhari has related well
with Christians all his life. His first daughter was
married to an Igbo man, a Christian. Both his
drivers and cook were Christians. He allowed
Christians to observe free days on Sundays and
told Muslims they can’t be exempted from work
on Fridays because there was no such mandate
in the Koran. As Head of State, he even reduced
the number of Muslims going on holy pilgrimage
by half in order to find money for developing the
nation.
The third issue is psychological in nature: the
fear factor. The Nigerian Mafioso is united in its
pathological hatred or trepidation for Buhari.
Despite the fact that Buhari would have to
govern under a different democratic climate,
those folks are still scared to their pants about
what Buhari’s government portends for members
of the privileged. As a matter of fact, this is
the veritable source of all smear campaign and
fear-mongering against Buhari. But APC has
more than enough technocrats in and outside its
fold to help Buhari do his job in a civilised
manner. There is no doubt that PDP is hoping
that APC would indulge in some fanciful
experimentation by picking a candidate less
formidable than Buhari.
I will not write off the chances of other aspirants
but none could be brighter than that of Buhari. In
Buhari, APC has a ready candidate who can go to
the battlefield with passionate troops. The others
are still too scattered to assemble both the
troops and arsenal of war. The almost bizarre
and blistering attack against Buhari is
symptomatic of one fact; that he is the best
choice against a Party as entrenched as PDP. I
believe the ship of Atiku has almost hit the rocks
after sailing repeatedly in the stormy sea of PDP.
As for Kwankwaso, his boat is not yet big enough
to navigate in the wild waters of Nigeria.
I love Tambuwal. He was my first choice over a
year ago but he has become an after-thought to
his promoters who ditched him earlier. Those
dragging him into the Presidential race at this
late hour are doing so purely for selfish reasons.
Even a novice would know that the race ahead is
an unusual one that would be fought like a third
world war. It requires a well-tested combatant. If
APC picks Tambuwal, his exit from PDP is still too
recent and clinically fresh that the Federal
Government would have more than enough rope
to tie around his neck. I would advise him to pick
his Gubernatorial form and wait for another day.
APC has the brightest chance ever of dislodging
PDP and that is why the stakes are so high. The
control freaks in the Party should kindly give
Nigeria this one chance. The country has been
very kind to them. There is nothing more they
should desire other than a greater nation before
they all depart this sinful world. Who knows the
appointed date and hour with our Creator when
we shall all return to account for our good or evil
deeds on earth! Let’s all join hands and make
this dream realisable even if we won’t be the
direct beneficiaries at the end of the day. That is
the reason kingmakers are often more relevant
than the king.
The time has come for APC to make up its mind
about winning the next election at the centre or
whether to waste everybody’s time and sell out
to the highest bidder. It is one poser that would
haunt the APC apparatus in the future if they
mismanaged this incredible opportunity. I can see
something wonderful in my crystal-ball: what
APC is looking for in Sokoto (the far end of North
West Nigeria) is right there in their sokoto
(trouser pocket).
May God open their eyes soon enough.

www.newspunch.org/pendulum-a-note-of-caution-to-apc-dele-momodu/

Transcript of Full Speech By Omoluabi Governor
Aregbesola of Osun, at his Inauguration (Thursday
November 27, 2014)
Protocols,
CONTINUING ON OUR PATH OF GREATNESS
It is with deep humility and gratitude to the Almighty that
I stand before this faithful assembly. Exactly four years
ago, we stood before God and before you to take a
solemn oath to resume our journey to greatness. We
thank God Almighty for taking us through the first phase
of the journey and for enabling us to secure your
mandate to keep us on that glorious path for another
four years.
We are also here to celebrate the goodness of God and
the indomitable spirit of the good people of Osun. We
are here to affirm the triumph of good over evil. We are
here to celebrate democracy as the ultimate instrument
of political empowerment ever bequeathed to humanity.
The journey to our inauguration today began on the day
of our inauguration, exactly four years ago, when the
party we displaced began to unleash a wicked engine of
relentless falsehood to destabilise our administration
and bring our downfall. They have engaged in every
form of shenanigan and put every obstacle imaginable
in our way. They have made strident effort to stir strife
and sow the seed of discord. They made the most
disingenuous effort to break the chord of communal and
religious harmony that had existed for centuries among
our people. They made futile bid for office and pursued
power for its sake with a demonic frenzy. The climax was
the unprecedented effort to manipulate the election and
subvert the will of the people on August 9.
Before, during and immediately after the election, there
was a siege on the state. Every act of terror imaginable,
including the unconstitutional detention of my deputy,
was attempted.
Security agents of all hues invaded the state, many of
them in balaclavas, paraded the streets, shooting in the
air with every intention of putting terror in the people. At
the height of this outlawry, more than 700 leaders and
members of our party were arrested, mostly in the dead
of the night, and an unconscionable and treasonable bid
was made to seize the Government House.
But they failed and failed miserably and were routed and
given the electoral mauling of their life because God is
with us and our people are indefatigable and
indomitable.
And so, today we celebrate our people who stood firm
for democracy and liberty, who defied every form of
provocation and intimidation to make a democratic
statement by voting and standing to make their votes
count. They have shown that no gun or sabre rattling can
stand in the way of a people who are determined to
make a stand for liberty and democracy.
As the result indicates, the over 700,000 voters’ turnout,
making 54 per cent of the total registered voters was the
highest recorded in recent elections in the country. Also,
our 394,684 total votes, a whopping 55 per cent of the
total valid votes, was the highest for any candidate in
any recent governorship election. We are not boasting;
we are simply acknowledging the enormity of the
mandate given to us by our people, even in the face of
the most formidable terror machine arrayed against
them.
In the past four years, we have striven to keep faith with
the people on the mandate given to us. We set out to re-
enact the Obafemi Awolowo tradition of leadership and
good governance; a tradition that set the Western
Region apart. The formidable challenges
notwithstanding, we have delivered largely on our
promises.
We began with ethical reorientation by branding our
state ‘Ipinle Omoluabi’. We have been able to reawaken
the consciousness of the values of hard work, public
spiritedness, maintaining a good name, chivalry and
character moulding in our people.
Within 100 days, we provided jobs for 20,000 of our
youths and replicated same two years later.
We revamped agriculture and made it a profitable
venture for farmers. We have positioned our youth for
greatness by providing them with quality education. We
have redefined the infrastructure of education by
building state of the art schools, proving cutting edge
technology, free school uniforms, free meals and so on.
We have empowered our people economically through
all the ‘O’ projects: O’REAP, O’MEALS, O’BEEF, O’HUB,
O’HONEY, O’CLEAN and so on.
We have made micro-credit available to our people on a
large scale and with direct injection, we have lifted the
GDP of the state, making Osun the seventh largest
economy in Nigeria.
We have cared for the environment in an unprecedented
way. We have banished flooding and cleaned the
environment of filth. Our road construction projects,
completed and ongoing, are incomparable. There is no
local government that did not partake in our local and
intercity road projects. We have embarked on a most
ambitious urban renewal programme and we are fast
returning our urban centres to beauty and aesthetic
splendour. We have cared for the old, weak and infirm
while special people have not escaped our touch.
We have delivered on our six integral action programme.
Our performance in the first term endeared us to you
and convinced you to give us the mandate for another
term. We shall continue on this path and accelerate the
speed of development in Osun. Our vision is to deliver
20 years development in the next four years in
economic, social and political fields. We shall complete
all ongoing projects and start new ones. We shall touch
every community in roads, education and infrastructure.
We shall touch every household in wealth creation,
security of lives and property, social amenities, political
empowerment, political representation and much more.
We shall consolidate on the foundation we are building
and proceed to the superstructure of prosperity and
greatness for our land and people.
Though the financial challenges are daunting, we shall
do everything within our power and the unbounded
resources of our land and people to achieve our goals
without faltering.
The mandate you have given us covers all the peoples
of Osun in their social, political, religious and ethnic
heterogeneity. There shall be no discrimination or
disfavour against an individual or group on account of
identity or difference.
This is our credo of governance and we shall continue on
this path.
Our adversaries have taken the road to perdition by
seeking to divide our people along religious and ethnic
lines. On this path, they will travel alone. Our diversity is
our strength; God has bequeathed to us the freedom of
choice. We are at liberty to be Christian, Muslim,
traditional religious worshiper, atheist, Yoruba, Hausa,
Igbo, Ijaw or Efik. What is unnatural and quite strange to
Yoruba communal liberalism is to engage in conflict on
account such differences.
Lest we forget, the religion of PDP is poverty. Nigeria is
saturated with leaders who are ever so quick to parade
platitudes of their respective religion – denying its faith,
essence and positive values.
However, what we need at this time are God-fearing and
incorruptible leaders who will galvanize our people and
judiciously husband our resources to overcome our
challenges. We must terminate the regime of self-
seeking manipulators who currently parade corridors of
power, accruing political profit by turning us against
each other and further dividing us along ethnic and
religious lines.
The result of their politics of division is that Nigerians are
poorer in the last 16 years whereas Nigeria as a country
has never been richer save for recent months when oil
price has declined.
This manifests again in their continued lawlessness
evidenced in the desecration of the National Assembly
and the travesty at Ekiti Assembly. They have
demonstrated without doubt their inability to protect
Nigerians and the territorial integrity of our country. We
must therefore be determined to vote out the party that
has brought us to this sorry pass. We must show them
the way out. We must let them know that on their way to
hell, they will walk alone.
Our party, the All People Congress (APC) promises
prosperity, national unity and integration, security of
lives and property, job and wealth creation, rule of law
and constitutionalism and deepening of democracy.
All these have been showcased in all the states where
our party holds sway in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti (until
recently), Edo, Imo, Rivers, Kwara, Nasarawa, Sokoto,
Zamfara, Kano, Borno and Yobe. This is what we stand
for and this is why a greater number of Nigerians
continue to accept us and identify with us. Our present
travails therefore is temporary. The PDP on the other
hand stands for poverty, misery and insecurity.
They are prepared to sacrifice the entire country as long
as their hold on power is intact. Come February next
year, Nigerians are going to say enough is enough. We
are going to beat them because they are beatable. The
God that helped us to beat them in Osun will also beat
them for us in the national election. Do not be afraid, do
not despair. Victory is at hand.
To God almighty, the omnipotent and omniscient, we
owe our victory. I will however like to acknowledge and
thank everyone that contributed in one way or another to
our success. I will begin with our great party, the All
Progressives Congress (APC), all the national leaders of
the party down the line but permit me to single out my
leader and mentor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for
providing the inspiration to aspire, to seek, to find and to
triumph.
I will also like to thank my brother governors in APC who
have supported me in every way possible in the struggle.
My sincere appreciation goes to all the legislators in the
National Assembly from Osun, especially the Director
General of my campaign, Prof Sola Adeyeye, who
demonstrated uncommon doggedness and a youthful
heart. I cannot forget the party in the state, from the
ward to the senatorial districts and state officials. The
party was in the heat of fire, but they bore it with singular
courage and equanimity. I acknowledge the support and
the inimitable role of council chiefs and members of the
State House of Assembly under the astute leadership of
our indomitable Speaker.
I remain grateful to my governance team, the sharp
instrument of my administration, for their unflinching
support, for staying the course and for achieving much
from little. I am particular about my Deputy, the
Secretary to the State Government and my Chief of Staff.
My biggest thanks go to the people of Osun for their
faithfulness from time past even till the present. These
are the women groups, especially traders and market
women, the artisans, hunters, butchers, farmers groups,
commercial motorcyclists, transporters, drivers, civil
servants, teachers, students, youths, organised private
sector, entertainers, financial institutions, journalists,
God-fearing security agents, artists and artistes,
activists, traditional rulers, community based
associations, youth based associations, civil society
organisations and the coalition of political parties in the
state. I thank you all. Your government is here and we
will give our all to serve you.
Lastly, my thanks go to my family, especially my darling
wife, who has held our home front with exceptional
devotion. Her prayers, faith in God and in me plus her
sacrificial love are pillars of unfailing support. I will not
forget my mother, Iya Olobi, for her doting care, her
sacrifice and huge heart.
I thank you all for your kind attention.
Osun a dara!

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred
Martins, on Monday expressed disgust at the behaviour
of some members of the House of Representatives for
jumping over the gate of the National Assembly
Complex.
Martins said in Lagos that the lawmakers ought to have
restrained themselves from throwing decorum to the
wind, no matter the level of provocation.
“It gives us a lot of concern that the officials of the
National Assembly have to climb the fence in order to
arrive at what is supposed to be a hallowed chamber.
“It’s, indeed, a disgrace to the whole nation; it’s a real
disgrace to the whole process of governance as
represented in the legislative arm of government.
“And I think that whatever it is that lead to it should not
have happened at all because it doesn’t give us
confidence that the security forces are going to get
right the whole process of elections that are
forthcoming next year.
“Legislators should recognise their dignity as
legislators, and therefore whatever it is that is
disagreement among them should not go to such an
extent.
“They are representing the whole nation as well as
individual citizens within Nigeria.
“And herefore, whatever their disagreements are they
should not in any way let it go to this kind of extent that
we saw. I think that, that portends a lot of danger for
the nation.”

www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/archbishop-condemns-reps-jumping-nass-gate/#sthash.yJ9omHdE.dpuf

A former Head of State, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
(retd.) on Friday said he decided to retire with his
current rank in 1985, to defend and promote the
integrity of the military, instead of promoting himself.
Buhari said this at a public presentation of two books:
“Nigerian military in politics: 1966-2011 and Politics of
transition to civil rule in Nigeria” in Zaria, Kaduna
State.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the books
were published by Head of Political Science
Department, Federal College Education, Zaria, Nuhu
Ramalan
“It was the conviction of our regime that, being the
Head of State and Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces, does not mean that you are the overall
General.
“My ultimate goal as at then was to ensure integrity,
justice, equity, accountability and transparency in the
system. That was why I did away with unnecessarily
promoting myself to General,” he said.
Speaking on the military in politics, Buhari, the
presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive
Change in the 2011 general elections, identified some
weaknesses of the past military regimes to include
corruption and abuse of office.
On politics, he said the incessant military interventions
were due to the failure of politicians to respect the rule
of law, “characterised by massive corruption and lack
of accountability.”
The Chairman of the occasion and former Secretary-
General of the defunct Peoples Redemption Party,
Aliyu Umar, said the books would be resource
materials in the study of Nigerian politics.
“The two books are reflection of the present Nigerian
political scenario,” he said.
In a related development, Buhari has attributed
ineffective leadership in the country to the inability of
government to provide effective education for
Nigerians.
According to the NAN, Buhari said this in Zaria on
Saturday at a conference with the theme “Uniting our
People for Change” organised by a group, Movement
for a Better Future.
“The biggest problem of this ineffective leadership in
Nigeria is education. If you deny people effective
education, you have finished them.
“Education is a vital tool for human existence and
development. God has given Nigeria both material and
human resources but we have not used them
effectively.
“We have failed to organise ourselves to harness
these resources. We have been talking about
Sardaunana (Ahmadu Bello), (Obafemi) Awolowo,
(Nnamdi) Azikwe and Tafawa Balewa as great leaders;
why can’t we emulate them?” Buhari asked.
In his remark, Governor Ra’uf Aregbesola of Osun
State appealed to Nigerians to elect credible
candidates into various elective positions who would
help to develop the country.
The governor, who was the special guest of honour at
conference, stressed the need for Nigerians to work
together to actualise national cohesion, a bright and
progressive future.

A former Head of State, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
(retd.) on Friday said he decided to retire with his
current rank in 1985, to defend and promote the
integrity of the military, instead of promoting himself.
Buhari said this at a public presentation of two books:
“Nigerian military in politics: 1966-2011 and Politics of
transition to civil rule in Nigeria” in Zaria, Kaduna
State.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the books
were published by Head of Political Science
Department, Federal College Education, Zaria, Nuhu
Ramalan
“It was the conviction of our regime that, being the
Head of State and Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces, does not mean that you are the overall
General.
“My ultimate goal as at then was to ensure integrity,
justice, equity, accountability and transparency in the
system. That was why I did away with unnecessarily
promoting myself to General,” he said.
Speaking on the military in politics, Buhari, the
presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive
Change in the 2011 general elections, identified some
weaknesses of the past military regimes to include
corruption and abuse of office.
On politics, he said the incessant military interventions
were due to the failure of politicians to respect the rule
of law, “characterised by massive corruption and lack
of accountability.”
The Chairman of the occasion and former Secretary-
General of the defunct Peoples Redemption Party,
Aliyu Umar, said the books would be resource
materials in the study of Nigerian politics.
“The two books are reflection of the present Nigerian
political scenario,” he said.
In a related development, Buhari has attributed
ineffective leadership in the country to the inability of
government to provide effective education for
Nigerians.
According to the NAN, Buhari said this in Zaria on
Saturday at a conference with the theme “Uniting our
People for Change” organised by a group, Movement
for a Better Future.
“The biggest problem of this ineffective leadership in
Nigeria is education. If you deny people effective
education, you have finished them.
“Education is a vital tool for human existence and
development. God has given Nigeria both material and
human resources but we have not used them
effectively.
“We have failed to organise ourselves to harness
these resources. We have been talking about
Sardaunana (Ahmadu Bello), (Obafemi) Awolowo,
(Nnamdi) Azikwe and Tafawa Balewa as great leaders;
why can’t we emulate them?” Buhari asked.
In his remark, Governor Ra’uf Aregbesola of Osun
State appealed to Nigerians to elect credible
candidates into various elective positions who would
help to develop the country.
The governor, who was the special guest of honour at
conference, stressed the need for Nigerians to work
together to actualise national cohesion, a bright and
progressive future.


A former Head of State, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
(retd.) on Friday said he decided to retire with his
current rank in 1985, to defend and promote the
integrity of the military, instead of promoting himself.
Buhari said this at a public presentation of two books:
“Nigerian military in politics: 1966-2011 and Politics of
transition to civil rule in Nigeria” in Zaria, Kaduna
State.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the books
were published by Head of Political Science
Department, Federal College Education, Zaria, Nuhu
Ramalan
“It was the conviction of our regime that, being the
Head of State and Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces, does not mean that you are the overall
General.
“My ultimate goal as at then was to ensure integrity,
justice, equity, accountability and transparency in the
system. That was why I did away with unnecessarily
promoting myself to General,” he said.
Speaking on the military in politics, Buhari, the
presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive
Change in the 2011 general elections, identified some
weaknesses of the past military regimes to include
corruption and abuse of office.
On politics, he said the incessant military interventions
were due to the failure of politicians to respect the rule
of law, “characterised by massive corruption and lack
of accountability.”
The Chairman of the occasion and former Secretary-
General of the defunct Peoples Redemption Party,
Aliyu Umar, said the books would be resource
materials in the study of Nigerian politics.
“The two books are reflection of the present Nigerian
political scenario,” he said.
In a related development, Buhari has attributed
ineffective leadership in the country to the inability of
government to provide effective education for
Nigerians.
According to the NAN, Buhari said this in Zaria on
Saturday at a conference with the theme “Uniting our
People for Change” organised by a group, Movement
for a Better Future.
“The biggest problem of this ineffective leadership in
Nigeria is education. If you deny people effective
education, you have finished them.
“Education is a vital tool for human existence and
development. God has given Nigeria both material and
human resources but we have not used them
effectively.
“We have failed to organise ourselves to harness
these resources. We have been talking about
Sardaunana (Ahmadu Bello), (Obafemi) Awolowo,
(Nnamdi) Azikwe and Tafawa Balewa as great leaders;
why can’t we emulate them?” Buhari asked.
In his remark, Governor Ra’uf Aregbesola of Osun
State appealed to Nigerians to elect credible
candidates into various elective positions who would
help to develop the country.
The governor, who was the special guest of honour at
conference, stressed the need for Nigerians to work
together to actualise national cohesion, a bright and
progressive future.

A former Head of State, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
(retd.) on Friday said he decided to retire with his
current rank in 1985, to defend and promote the
integrity of the military, instead of promoting himself.
Buhari said this at a public presentation of two books:
“Nigerian military in politics: 1966-2011 and Politics of
transition to civil rule in Nigeria” in Zaria, Kaduna
State.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the books
were published by Head of Political Science
Department, Federal College Education, Zaria, Nuhu
Ramalan
“It was the conviction of our regime that, being the
Head of State and Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces, does not mean that you are the overall
General.
“My ultimate goal as at then was to ensure integrity,
justice, equity, accountability and transparency in the
system. That was why I did away with unnecessarily
promoting myself to General,” he said.
Speaking on the military in politics, Buhari, the
presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive
Change in the 2011 general elections, identified some
weaknesses of the past military regimes to include
corruption and abuse of office.
On politics, he said the incessant military interventions
were due to the failure of politicians to respect the rule
of law, “characterised by massive corruption and lack
of accountability.”
The Chairman of the occasion and former Secretary-
General of the defunct Peoples Redemption Party,
Aliyu Umar, said the books would be resource
materials in the study of Nigerian politics.
“The two books are reflection of the present Nigerian
political scenario,” he said.
In a related development, Buhari has attributed
ineffective leadership in the country to the inability of
government to provide effective education for
Nigerians.
According to the NAN, Buhari said this in Zaria on
Saturday at a conference with the theme “Uniting our
People for Change” organised by a group, Movement
for a Better Future.
“The biggest problem of this ineffective leadership in
Nigeria is education. If you deny people effective
education, you have finished them.
“Education is a vital tool for human existence and
development. God has given Nigeria both material and
human resources but we have not used them
effectively.
“We have failed to organise ourselves to harness
these resources. We have been talking about
Sardaunana (Ahmadu Bello), (Obafemi) Awolowo,
(Nnamdi) Azikwe and Tafawa Balewa as great leaders;
why can’t we emulate them?” Buhari asked.
In his remark, Governor Ra’uf Aregbesola of Osun
State appealed to Nigerians to elect credible
candidates into various elective positions who would
help to develop the country.
The governor, who was the special guest of honour at
conference, stressed the need for Nigerians to work
together to actualise national cohesion, a bright and
progressive future.

General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) a former Head
of State and a frontline presidential aspirant of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied
being an Islamic fundamentalist and has
declared that nobody can turn Nigeria into either
a Christian or an Islamic state.
Buhari made the clarification during an
interactive session with APC delegates in Port
Harcourt where he came to solicit their vote for
the forthcoming APC convention where the
presidential candidate will be decided on 10
December.
Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi
corroborated Buhari’s stance. He debunked
rumours by political opponents that APC is an
Islamic party, noting that, the party has no
intentions to Islamize the country if it wins next
year’s presidential election.
Amaechi also at that occasion exonerated
Buhari, stating that the APC is a party for
progressives who meant well for Nigerians and
the overall development of Nigeria.
“APC is not an Islamic Party. This is so because,
when General Muhammad Buhari (rtd) was
Nigeria’s Head of State as a young man, he did
not Islamize Nigeria, and to do that he needs the
endorsement of the National Assembly to debate
over the issue. Buhari cannot Islamize Nigeria.
Don’t be perturbed by what our detractors are
saying,” Amaechi said on Tuesday during an
interactive session with students at the Ignatius
Ajuru University of Education (UOE) in Port
Harcourt.
“I am an ardent Catholic Christian and I converse
with God a lot. It is not true that APC will Islamize
Nigeria. The National Chairman of APC, Mr. John
Oyegun is a Christian. Bola Tinubu’s wife is also
a Christian, Buhari’s cook is a Christian from
Igboland, his driver is also a Christian. As a father
to all of those Christians, Buhari gives Sunday as
a free day to these his domestic staff to go to
Church and worship God. So, no one can believe
what our detractors are saying about Buhari and
the APC,” Amaechi said.
“The political economy of Rivers state has been
stagnated by the Presidency and their detractors.
They are all thieves who don’t mean well for our
state. They caused mayhem in the last
administration. We assumed office and chased
them away. Now, as my tenure draws to an end, I
can see, they have brought them back. You and I
have a responsibility to stop them from
repeating what they did before. We will not allow
them again to steal our funds. Imagine, the
missing $20 billion that was stolen. We expect
that our President would have sacked all those
involved in the saga. But, he only threatened to
sack the former CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido
Sanusi, who was only doing his legitimate duty at
the time. Nigerians must have a rethink,”
Amaechi said. On the Rivers governorship race and the upcoming 2015 general elections, Governor
Amaechi said the plan by the PDP to usher in another Ikwerre governor in 2015 was unreasonable, not feasible and will fail. He explained that, “I am an Ikwerre man who has
ruled for eight years and I am surprised to hear
that the PDP is jostling to bring another Ikwerre
Governor in 2015. That man only believes that
votes can be bought with money. Amaechi alleged the governorship aspirant of PDP is an Ogboni man and not a christian. He further alleged one of the PDP aspirants was given N3 billion to fix the internal roads at the new Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in the Greater Port Harcourt City, he embezzled all the funds without doing any road. He further claimed that the aspirant was also given 14 schools to build
and furnish in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. “A thief can’t be a governor in Rivers state.”
As part of his visit, Governor Amaechi sensitized
the students and members of the university
community on the need to register as eligible
voters in the upcoming 2015 general elections.
“Rivers people and residents must register as
eligible voters to choose a credible governor. All
of us must exercise our franchise. We must do
that for the sake of the future. Public funds are
not for private pockets. They are meant for the
people”, Amaechi said. He urged those 18 years and above to register. He told them that as soon as INEC prepares to commence the issuance of voters’ card and registration of eligible voters they must obtain their own as that is the only way to stop
detractors in 2015. “You must stay at the polling
units and count the votes yourselves before you
declare them on the social media and as you do
that, you can stop them from rigging the
election,” Amaechi said. Reviewing his gallant strides in the state, Governor Amaechi said his administration has created employment opportunities for Rivers people, including the recruitment of 13,200 teachers, 5,000 workers employed by Risonpalm and thousands employed by the Banana Farm in Tai Local Government Area, the Songhai Farm as well as the Port Harcourt Mall which recently employed up to 600 workers.

Large crowd of the All Progressive Congress (APC)
supporters trooped out in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Wednesday, to receive a presidential aspirant of the party, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
Party enthusiasts and other residents of the state
crowded the secretariat of APC at Erepa Street in
Yenagoa, to catch a glimpse of the former head of
state whose slogan is “zero tolerance to corruption.”
Buhari was in the state to address the delegates of the party for the APC’s forthcoming presidential primaries. The aspirant and his entourage were received by the state Chairman of APC, Mr. Tiwe Oruminighe and members of the state working committee. Addressing the delegates, Buhari lamented the deep. rooted corruption in Nigeria, blaming it on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said the PDP had brought nothing but untold
hardship to Nigerians, adding that another four years of the PDP would further plunge the country into misery. He asked the people to compare 1999 when the PDP took over the reins of power with the present realities, observing that everything had gone from bad to worse. According to him Nigerians should either make a wise choice in the next election by voting the APC or remain in perpetual suffering. “If you want to know how much we have been suffering under the PDP since 1999, try and imagine what our condition was in 1999. We used to have Nigerian airways, we used to have Nigerian shipping lines, the roads were not too bad, even light itself was not too bad,” he said.
He said under the watch of PDP, many industries had closed shops, leading to backwardness in
industrialization. Buhari noted that the ruling party had shown total disrespect to democratic institutions and lack of political will to stop corruption. “What is wrong? What is wrong is massive corruption. If we don’t kill corruption in Nigeria, corruption will kill us,” he said, adding that corruption had made it impossible for the country to develop its potential. He recalled that under PDP many panels of inquiries were set up and people were indicted for corrupt practices in the petroleum and other sectors.

The President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Comrade Francis Johnson, has called on the Federal
Government, to prune the number of political aides attached to government officials, instead of imposing unnecessary austerity measures on
the people. Johnson argued that the huge number
of political appointees as aides attached to the Presidency, the ministers, state governors and their
commissioners are a waste of national resources and putting pressure on the economy. The PENGASSAN president also cautioned the Federal Government, es­pecially the Federal Ministry of Finance against stifling the economy through
withholding of funds for human and developmental projects but to tighten the noose around all avenues of leakages and wastages. He stated that instead of introducing austerity measures that will further impoverish and inflict more pains on
the people, governments should con­ sider reducing to the barest minimum the numbers of senior special advisers, special advisers, advisers
and other aides. “The cost of governance in Nigeria is too high and irrational and if we are looking for ways to cut cost, I think the first place to focus on is in the direction of reducing the numbers of political appointees to the barest min­imum. The huge amount we spend in paying these aides can be used on de­velopmental projects and boosting of
the nation’s economy “The governors, ministers and federal and state legislators should also be
made to reduce their aides to asizeable number that our economy can bear and whatever is gotten from this exercise should be used in
supporting and bolstering the economy,” he said.
The union leader also called on the Federal Government to develop othe sectors along with the extractive and manufacturing industries as a way of
diversifying the national economy from its over dependence on oil revenue. According to the PENGASSAN president, it is only the development
of the other minerals, agricultural and the manufacturing sectors that could help Nigeria to escape the vagaries of the challenges pose by the dwindling global oil price, especially as the
country’s agrarian potentials are being left under-utilised. Johnson noted that the price of oil is
critical to the world economy, given that oil is the largest internationally traded commodity both in volume and value terms, adding that only oil is
linked to some extent to the prices of other products.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/austerity-measures-pengassan-demands-reduction-of political-appointees/

The National Chairman of Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, Dr Frederick Fasehun yesterday demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should improve on its logistics to ensure that all eligible voters are captured in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration, CVR,
exercise. Fasehun made the demand at the
INEC office in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
He was in Abeokuta to clarify reports that the state chapter of the party has been factionalised.
In an interview shortly after meeting with the state Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Sam Olumekun, Fasehun declared that INEC must improve on
the CVR particularly in Ogun and Lagos states which has the bulk of voters in the country.
“I have not been registered. INEC should do more to cover all eligible Nigerians. Nobody should be
disenfranchised,” he said. Fasehun, who submitted the lists of the authentic executive officers of
UPN in the state to INEC, also dismissed the speculation that the state chapter of the party has been factionalised, stressing that the party
remained “one and united family.” He said the clarification was necessary against the backdrop of
reports that the party has been factionalised.
“I am here at INEC office, Ogun State as the national chairman of UPN. I registered the party and I have the certificate with me. I just submitted a
list containing the names of our chairmen across the country and the FCT, Abuja. “For Ogun State, Otunba Femi Soluade is the authentic chairman. Any other person claiming to be chairman in Ogun State is fake,” he said. He noted that the letter he submitted to the Ogun INEC had already been
given to the INEC headquarters in Abuja, adding that the state office of INEC has assured him of
communicating same with its headquarters in Abuja “just to straighten things out”

nationalmirroronline.net/new/fasehun-urges-inec-to-improve-logistic-to-capture-eligible-voters/

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project
(SERAP), has requested the ruling People’s Democratic
Party (PDP) as well as All Progressive Congress (APC),
to formally release costs of spending incurred in their
efforts geared towards the 2015 General election.
Adetokunbo Mumuni, Executive Director of SERAP, in
two separate letters dated 18 November, 2014, and
addressed to Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, PDP
National Chairman and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the
APC National Chairman, requested the parties to
publicly present information about the spending on the
electoral campaigns and other operations in line with
the February 2015 elections.
The Civil society group, SERAP hinged its request letter
on Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) of
2011, when it said: “Under the FOI Act, your party is
under a binding legal obligation to provide the
applicant with the information requested for, except as
otherwise provided by the Act, within 7 days after the
application is received.”
Similarly, SERAP maintained that “If the requested
information is not provided to us within 14 days of the
receipt and/or publication of this letter, the Registered
Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal
actions under the Freedom of Information Act to
compel you and your party to comply with our
request,”.
Embittered about the risks and increase in corrupt
practices around the country during electoral
campaigns for the general elections, the group
expressed dedicated worries, especially the role of
money in politics and the persistent failure generally to
comply with national and international law on political
party finance.
In addition, the Executive Director further stressed that
Nigerians have the right to know about spending by
political parties especially the major parties “like your
party with a strong possibility to assume government in
the future. Citizens should be able to examine financial
transactions of parties and be certain that politicians
are working for their voters, not their benefactors.”
However, SERAP noted that the parties cannot claim a
strange position from the FOI Act, saying “to do so will
seriously undermine citizens’ trust in their political
parties and lack of trust will inevitably destroy
confidence in the system and decrease citizens’
interest and participation in democratic processes.”
The letter signed by the Executive Director, reads: “We
believe that without free and fair elections there can be
no democracy. However, elections are only one part of
the democratic process, and a fair and effective
electoral system must be founded in an adequate
democratic infrastructure and responsibility of political
leaders.
“Therefore, releasing the information will help to
address the perception among the citizens that the
major political parties in the countries are less
transparent and accountable. The lack of transparency
and accountability in political finance is seriously
undermining the legitimacy and credibility of the
democratic and electoral processes, and invariably
contributing to denying the citizens the right to
effective participation in their own government.
“Transparency, accountability, integrity and
independence of political parties is also important to
achieve greater transparency in public life, to curb the
influence of money in politics, to promote a level
playing field, and to remove the risks to the
independence of political actors and would-be public
office holders and the risks of conflicts of interest,
including undue influence and corruption in the funding
of political parties.”
SERAP urged the parties to disclose information on the
party’s comprehensively documented budget, covering
the incomes and expenditures, with proper
identification of its sources including those derived
from federal, state and other institutions for the
campaigns and other operations related to the
February 2015 general elections.
Quoting Sections 2, 3(d, V) and 4 of the FOI Act, civil
group said: “there is a binding legal duty to ensure that
documents containing the necessary information are
widely disseminated and made readily available to
members of the public through various means. The
information being requested does not come within the
purview of the types of information exempted from
disclosure by the provisions of the FOI Act.”
Consequently, the group opined that treading the path
of transparency during campaigns could further
promote informed voting by citizens who would have
the needed information to make informed choices

thenationonlineng.net/new/inec-staff-caught-registering-voters-in-pdp-chieftains-residence/

An ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) simply identified as Nnamdi was on
Tuesday caught registering some prospective voters at
the resident of a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain at
Ebo community in Oredo local government area of Edo
State.
The PDP chieftain identified as Austin is the chairman
of Ebo Community Development Association.
The Nation gathered that the ad-hoc staff was
conducting voter registration at Ovbo Primary School,
in Ward 11, Ogba 111.
The bubble burst when some persons lured to be
registered informed some All Progressive Congress
chieftains about the illegal registration.
Some APC leaders led by the state Youth Leader,
Osakpamwan Eriyo, stormed the residence and after
they forcefully gained entrance, found two bags
containing laptop, NYSC uniforms and 58 temporary
voters’ cards.
Osakpamwan said he was informed that some persons
in Ward 11 were diverting voters to another place for
registration and he went there with some policemen.
He said, “When we got there, the gate of the residence
was locked but we didn’t know that there was another
entrance at the back. We forced our way in and saw a
bag containing a laptop, 58 temporary voters’ cards
and uniform of a youth corper.”
“We are warning the PDP that this state belongs to
APC. INEC should do the right thing. We are ready for
free and fair elections. The APC will not allow any
illegality in this state.”
An Electoral Officer in Oredo who gave his name as
Olawale confirmed that Nnamdi was sent to register
people in the area.
He said the police would be invited to investigate the
matter and placed a call to Nnamdi but another person
picked the call.

/new/inec-staff-caught-registering-voters-in-pdp-chieftains-residence/

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has
resolved to set up eight strategic committees,
which will work independent of the national
executive in the course of the election.
Sources close to a meeting held in Lagos, on
November 8, told the Nigerian Tribune that the
meeting resolved to put a closely knit team
together, which would not be under the direct
control of the national secretariat.
Each state chapter is required to fish out no
fewer than two persons to serve in the different
committees, a source confirmed.
The decision to set up the committees was
taken, following the adoption of a proposal by
one of the chieftains from the North- West on
APC’s strategies for 2015.
It was also gathered that the working proposal
called for setting up of a presidential election
monitoring committee, a committee to
specially monitor the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as
committees to monitor elections at other
stages in the states.
A source in the know said: “The proposal
concludes on the need to set up committees
one of which will monitor the 2015 presidential
poll. The proposal also consist of setting up of
various committees, which members would be
saddled with the responsibility of monitoring,
including a committee to monitor activities of
the INEC in the 2015 general election and
committee to monitor the presidential election
in respective states, as well as a committee to
look at APC’s chances at the presidential
election.
It was said that the chieftains at the Lagos
meeting, eight in all, however, raised concerns
over the possibility of securing the right
persons to man the committees, in view of the
fact that most of the quality hands were
involved in elections between now and
February.
A source said the party could rely on foreign
experts and consultants already engaged for
the assignment, while it was resolved that
chieftains should start submitting the
curriculum vitae of nominees to the committee
to enable the leader of the strategic meeting
investigate the identity of the nominees.
While ruling out the leadership of the
committee from the managing the strategic
working proposal, a source said the party
leaders needed to own the process and be
able to vouch for all committee members.
Though the source refused to give out all the
names of the strategic committees at the
meeting, the members were said to have
resolved that the mobilisation process should
start in earnest.
A source quoted one of the party leaders at the
meeting as saying: “Eight committees are
being planned for the programme, out of which
we have mentioned only a few for strategic
reasons, including that of INEC and states’
monitoring on the 2015 presidential election.”

/news/news-headlines/item/21834-2015-apc-plans-8-strategic-committees

THE Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), on Monday, officially lifted
the ban on campaigns for presidential and the
National Assembly elections slated for next
year.
The action is in line with the electoral timetable
released by the commission and in keeping
with the 90 days provisio, presidential and
national assembly aspirants have from
Monday, November 16 commenced their
campaigns.
However, governorship and state House of
Assembly aspirants will have to wait till
November 30 before they can begin their own
electioneering campaigns nationwide.
Speaking on the development in Abuja, on
Monday, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC
chairman, Mr Kayode Idowu, said the
commission had put all arrangements in place
to monitor the campaigns in line with the
provisions of the law.
According to him, “the commission has put
structures in place to track expenditures; that
structures did not exist in 2011, but now, we
have been able to put structures in place to
track the expenditure of partisans and we are
going to be doing that.”
According to section 91, sub-section 2-7 of the
Electoral Act, delves on Limitation on Election
Expenses “The maximum elections expenses
to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential,
governorship election shall be N1 billion and
N200 million, respectively.
“The maximum amount of election expenses
to be incurred of senatorial seat by a candidate
and House of Representatives shall be N40
million and N20 million respectively,” while “in
the case of state assembly election, the
maximum amount of election expenses to be
incurred shall be N10 million.”
Meanwhile, section 91 (10) said “a candidate
who knowingly acts in contravention of this
section commits an offence.
Similarly, section 92 (3) has spelt out that
“election expenses of a political party shall be
submitted to the commission in a separate
audited return within 6 months after an
election and such return shall be signed by the
political party’s auditors and counter-signed by
the chairman of the party and be supported by
a sworn affidavit by the signatories as to the
correctness of its contents.”
He pointed out that the law had put ceiling on
each offices and the commission monitor to
see whether it had been exceeded

There are other verses that Christians display to prove
their point that Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) was
sent for all mankind.
Mark 16:15-16
He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the
Gospel to the whole creation.
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he
who disbelieves will be condemned.
This raises two points;
1) There was some Gospel already in existence but
from history we know that the present day Gospels
were written by men much after the departure of
Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) from earth.
2) There is a contradiction as at other places, he says
to go only to Israel. A careful look at this verse reveals
that there is no contradiction;
GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Then Jesus said to them, "So wherever you go in the
world, tell everyone the Good News.
Other verses that Christians rely on for their claim;
Matthew 28:18-20 is the most solid proof a christian
can present!
"A Canaan woman from that vicinity came to him,
crying out, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My
daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.
Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to
him and urged him, 'Send her away, for she keeps
crying out after us.' He [Jesus] answered, 'I was sent
only to the lost sheep of Israel.' The woman came and
knelt before him. 'Lord, help me!' she said. He [Jesus]
replied 'It is not right to take the children's [Jews] bread
[blessings and miracles reserved for them] and toss it
to their dogs [the Canaanite, or the Philistines].' 'Yes,
Lord' she said, 'but even the dogs eat the crumbs that
fall from their masters' table.' Then Jesus answered,
'Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.'
And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
(From the NIV Bible, Matthew 15:22-28)"
Here Jesus calls all Gentiles as dogs. This is racism!
An interpretation of this verse given by Christians is
that that the woman had faith and for that she was
saved by Jesus. This is a false interpretation and
makes guaranteed salvation in danger for the
Christians as strong faith is required.
Furthermore, if my mother sends me to the market to
buy a dozen apples and on my way back, a beggar
stops me and aks for two apples. I tell him that I have
not been sent to give apples to beggars but the beggar
starts pleading and crying and due to pity, I give him
two apples. This does not change my mission. My
mission is still to bring apples for my mother!
Although Jesus (peace be upon him) did help the
woman, it was because of his compassion for the
woman's plight. But note that it is only this
single Gentile who was helped. There is no other
Gentile that Jesus (peace be upon him) had preached
to. Other related statements can also be found in John
11:52 and John 10:16, Matthew 10:5-6.
"Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of
the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel."
Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) is referred to as a
Prophet of Galilee and not of the whole world by the
ordinary folk in Matthew 21:11. It were the hypocrites
like Paul who changed his mission to suit their needs.
"And the crowds said, 'This is the prophet Jesus of
Nazareth of Galilee.'"
Jesus (peace be upon him) is definitely greater than
the disciples and his words are what matter most. If
there is a contradiction, the disciples should be
rejected on that matter!
"And Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not
without honour, except in his own country, and
among his own kin, and in his own
house. '" (also in Matthew 13:57, Luke 4:24 and John
4:43).
This is a wonderful prophecy as well. It not only says
that he is for Israel alone but also says that others do
not respect non fellow race Prophets. This has turned
out to be true. We see that the so-called followers of
Jesus (peace be upon him) do not respect him and they
have done this by associating man-made concepts like
Trinity to him.
The disciples were confused
Acts 11:19
"Now they which were scattered abroad upon the
persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far
as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the
word to none but unto the Jews only."
Acts 11:1-3
"And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea
heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of
God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they
that were of the circumcision contended with him.
Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and
didst eat with them ."
Jesus (peace be upon him) was sent for Israel only!

malvisguy212:
read here www.nairaland.com/1970166/lying-deity

According to the Qur’an the final miracle performed by Allah was a
huge she-camel that he produced out of a rock.
Surah 7:73: “Indeed there has come to you a clear sign (the miracle of
the coming out of a huge she camel from the midst of a rock) from
your Lord.” (Hilali-Khan)
But the people still, do not believe the prophets Salih, so Allah stop sending sign,that is why on many occation,in the quran,when muhammad is being challange to perform miracle , he always say "AM I ANY MORE THAN A HUMAN
MESSENGER?” yet the quran say jesus perform miracle, how could this be? Go through the thread, read and understand, non of your brothers were able to answer the op.

U don't av anything to say, u don't av proof word is just coming frm ur mouth quran never say in that verse that it is d last sign

malvisguy212:
saying Allah empower jesus to perform miracle, you are indirectly saying Allah lied, becau before jesu arrive ,allah has stop sending sign to the people.

You say the injil(gospel) in the quran? Is quran now gospel? Jesus say "i and my Father are ONE" THE FATHER IS GOD

Proof it in ur bible or Quran where Allah says I stop sign n wonder I d world secondly u said ( gospel ) is d book of jesus which was not written down at all

Pls my people why it so difficult to enter ( NDA ) nigeria defence academy but if u have any idea on how people can easily enter there pls let us know

I have said it before that when a nation is in crisis, the
people must search and fish out a great president.
When a nation is at crossroads, a competent and
strong hand is needed to restore normalcy. When a
nation’s territories are being threatened by external
forces, you need a president with military background
to put a stop to the insurgency. When corruption,
impunity and mediocrity ravage a country, you need a
disciplined man with puritanical disposition to be on
the driver’s seat.
General Muhammadu Buhari(GMB) has come of age in
Nigerian politics since 2003. He contested presidential
elections in 2003, 2007 and again in 2011. In 2007, he
was mercilessly rigged out of power and he went to
court to seek redress. The case went up to the
Supreme Court where the three Supreme Court judges
agreed that the elections were flawed while three
voted against. It took the vote of the Chief Justice of
the federation to save the country from national and
international embarrassment. GMB accepted the
verdict. In 2011, he returned to the ring to box again.
This time the electoral thieves got bolder in the South
East and South South. They loaded and loaded votes
until they became satisfied with the number. A friend
of mine who went to vote was told to go home
because they had got the required number. Again the
great betrayal by members of his party and the
inability of members to work together created the
room for PDP to retain power again. General Buhari
cried. He wept for Nigeria, he wept for the state of
nation and the level of impunity and corruption
ravaging the landscape and he wept for generations
yet unborn. He wept because he reasoned that
Nigerians do not want to fight for change. He wept
because the few who were choking Nigeria work
twenty four hours a day and seven days in a week
while the majority and those who should know better
go to sleep and pray 20 times in a day asking God to
come down to do the talking for them. GMB wept
because he considered that he has tried his best to
help restore Nigeria. He wept because he saw no hope
for this country when the evil ones are getting bolder.
The rest is now history.
In the last three and half years the rapacious greedy
lots in Nigeria, the corrupt, the meretricious mediocrity
and the nitwits became bolder. NNPC, Immigration,
Pension funds, NPA, etc became cash cows. It became
a big scramble for these characters to pillage anything
their hands could touch. NNPC could not remit all the
money accruing from crude oil sales to CBN. When the
former CBN Governor, now Emir of Kano, HRH Sanusi
Lamido Sanusi raised an alarm, he was sacked with
ignominy. Federal Ministers became laws unto
themselves, attacking the common patrimony with
reckless abandon, stealing what they do not need. The
great threat to the nation’s corporate existence
became the Boko Haram insurgency. Over 5000
Nigerians have been killed in the past three and half
years. While the ruling party and the opposition
continue to trade blames, the nation continues to go
down. Mutinies reared its ugly heads in the Army of
Nigeria. Junior officers started disobeying their
superiors and our combatant soldiers escaping to
Cameroun for fear of the rag-tagged insurgents called
Boko Haram. In the midst of this, our infrastructure
continues to decay. In 1999, our power generation
stood a 3000 plus Mega Watts and after almost
sixteen years we are now under 3000 Mega Watts
after spending billions of dollars in that critical sector.
Never in the history of this country has any leader
played up the dangerous issues of Religion and
Ethnicity as we have it today under President
Jonathan. The Vice President, everybody including this
writer fought so hard to make him assume his
constitutional responsibility as president when
President Yar Adua died in office, has put a knife on
things that have held us together as one political
entity. The president has systematically divided
Nigeria along ethnic and religious lines, something
unheard off in the history of Nigeria. Dangerously and
tragically he moved from being the president of
Nigeria to become the president of Ijaw nation. To
make matters worse, some cowards and efulefus
(nonentities) from his tribe took on other Nigerians,
pouring invectives on them for asking questions.
I guess it was these errors of history that drove
General Buhari to throw his hat into the ring once
again to see if Nigerians can go back to history and
take the right steps to right the wrongs of the past
sixteen years. After giving up hope for Nigeria, GMB
decided to return to take his last chance to help
Nigeria out of trouble. I may not know what informed
his decision to stage a comeback but I guess he
knows what is wrong with this country and feels he
knows what to do to reverse the trend.
I find it difficult to believe why the other equally good
candidates in APC cannot step down for GMB given his
antecedents, track records, history and character. No
other former Head of State in Nigeria can be said to
possess the discipline, honesty and integrity of
General Buhari, all things considered. As a war time
General, a former minister, a former Head of State,
former chairman PTF and a fourth time contender in
the race since 2003, I think that the man deserves all
the support from all Nigerians to make it this time.
Despite his dictatorial tendencies when he was the
Military head of state, Buhari restored discipline and
probity in Nigeria. His War Against Indiscipline (WAI)
paid off handsomely and Nigeria is still reaping the
fruits today. His intervention at PTF paid off too. His
fight against corruption stood him out.
If today, the people at the corridors of power hate
GMB, it is not because he is a bad man but the fear
that some of them will end up in jail for corruption and
impunity. They know that if GMB becomes the
President, things may never be the same again and
many of them will enter the next available flight to
anywhere outside Nigeria. They know that oil subsidy
looters will not go scot free. They know that GMB
knows all of them. They know money does not mean
anything to GMB and therefore he cannot be bribed.
Nigeria needs a tested and trusted Buhari now and
this is the reason why I am pleading with all other APC
presidential aspirants to step down for GMB. He is the
most prepared for this office at a time like this. The
little we saw of him in the 80s tells us that his wisdom,
courage, discipline, strong character, fearlessness etc
is what we need now to drive the new Nigeria of our
dream. We must seize the moment. We must grab it
with both hands or history will leave us behind.
Make no mistake about it, if we make the mistake of
allowing President Jonathan to continue in office
beyond 2015 we would have sowed the seed for this
great country to go down. With all due respect, and
without sounding immodest, President Jonathan has
nothing to offer Nigeria. His emergence in 2010 was a
big mistake. It was an error of history. It was
something that could never have happened if we had
known his innermost disposition, his training, his
background, his philosophy, his ideology and his
character. He cannot fight the insurgents, he cannot
fight impunity, he cannot fight corruption, he cannot
fight mediocrity, he cannot hold the country together
and he simply cannot get it. The age of his ideas
worries me to the marrows.
Let us help to get President GEJ out of the China’s
shop to forestall further colossal damage. HE has tried
his best and has made history for himself and his
people but his best is not good enough for the country.
This country is far bigger than the ambition of one
man and therefore President Jonathan should be
prepared to go because he will be roundly and
mercilessly defeated in 2015.
Joe Igbokwe
Lagos

malvisguy212:
jesus, a messenger of Allah? What message jesus preach? Allah say he gave jesus a book, were is the book? Allah did not empower jesus to perform miracle. If you say allah is behind the sign jesus perform, then at the same time, you are addmiting Allah lied, before the coming of jesus, Allah has already make a promies never to send sign, Allah the sign jesu did was not by allah command. read here https://www.nairaland.com/1970166/lying-deity

Pls jesus was sent by God and he preach oneness of God to isreal second his book is ( injil ) good news in quran surat mariam God promise mariam jesus mother dat she bear a son n he be a sign to d people of isreal and jesus miracle is by Allah permission jesus I can for myself do nothing .

Akpan107:
Buhari can never rule Nigeria again.
Get that into ur head.
Anything less than GEJ simply means the division of Nigeria.
GEJ must complete is his second term and leave in 2019. Anything less than that is unaceptable.

Who ar u and jonathan to divide nigeria you are just a minority who only shout without decision

Hiswordxray:


Is that the best answer you could give?

If u want answer gud answer ask gud question

malvisguy212:
jeus did not openly say it i am God because that will be boastfull.the reason why the jews want to stone him is because he claim to be God.

John 8.
48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” 52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon- possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that
whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do
you think you are?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would
be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was
glad.” 57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

The quran called him the spirit and word of God,and the bible called him the son of God, what is the difference ?

Jesus he never claim to be God either openly on secretly bcus he just a messenger of Allah

I vote vivly